Guyana Chronicle PepperPot_11-11-2018

Sunday, November 11, 2018

One of the many floats that were part of the 2018 Diwali Motorcade which is hosted annually by the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha. (Delano Williams Photo)

The Festival of Lights Diwali 2018

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The elling v a Tr loats F

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

Golden Fleece and Spring Garden Mandirs excel at Dharmic Sabha motorcade

Youths from the Golden Fleece Mandir after winning at the biggest motorcade in Georgetown

By Indrawattie Natram Persons from the Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir and the Spring Garden Mandirs , in Region Two, have described their experiences at the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s motorcade as an unforgettable experience.

Golden Fleece Mandir copped first position in the large category at the Essequibo Motorcade on November 2, second at the West Coast Demerara motorcade on November 3, and third at the biggest motorcade held on November 5 at Chateau Margot Community Centre Ground. In addition to their third position, they copped first for the Best Design and first for the Most Creative Float in the motorcade held on November 5.

Spring Garden Mandir copped second in the small category at the Essequibo Motorcade, first at the West Coast and Second at the East Coast of Demerara motorcade. They

were adjudged second Best Design Float at the main event.

Apart from taking home cash prizes and hampers, the youths were thankful for the precious moments they gained and challenged the young people from other Mandirs throughout Guyana to come out and have that experience next year.

The main designer of the Golden Fleece Mandir float, Vishnu Mahadeo, said he was given the support from other members of the mandir. He said with their encouragement he was able to craft a beautifully decorated and creative float this year.

“I can tell you it wasn’t an easy task, it was everyone’s effort; we were so happy when the judges announced that Golden Fleece emerged as the most decorative and creative float, it shows that with togetherness anything is possible,” Mahadeo said.

Mahadeo started to attend the mandir at an early age and after de-

veloping a passion for Arts and Culture, he started to become involved in activities along these lines. It was during his participation in the motorcade that he realised his true potential, and today he owns his own special occasions’ decor business.

The Golden Fleece Mandir Float depicted the true meaning of the festival and the coming of the Hindu Goddess, mother Lakshmi from the Churning of the Milky Ocean. Many persons from throughout Guyana who had the opportunity to view the float were amazed at its workmanship and creativity. Work on the float commenced two-weeks prior to the motorcade.

When asked what prompted the Mandir to journey on the West Coast, the local designer said it was the motivation from the youths. “Whenever Diwali comes up the youths are eager to join and add their ideas. All Spring Garden Youths with Mahindra Sharma, centre

The Spring Garden float

ideas are put together and the float is crafted. This year we wanted to show Guyanese our talent and so we decided to make the sacrifices,” he said.

Meanwhile executive member of the Spring Garden Mandir, Mahindra Sharma said that their float was constructed by youths from the mandir, “Everyone put their hands on it and the end result was beautiful, it shows that youths can have a huge impact once there is cooperation.”

Sharma said it was the first time that their mandir decided to come with a big design at the motorcade.

Previously they would make a regular float but this year the efforts were more. The Spring Garden Mandir depicted two legends of the festival- the coming of Goddess Lakshmi and the return of Lord Rama from exile.

The mandir after copping second at the Essequibo motorcade

decided to venture to the West Coast, and having copped first in the small category were motivated to journey further.

Both Mahadeo and Sharma related that they were encouraged by the President of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, to take the illuminated floats to the West Coast and as such the mandirs took up the challenge. They have related that they have not regretted and are happy for the experience gained. Members of both mandirs took the opportunity to thank the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha for providing them with the opportunity, especially the youths, and therefore encouraged other mandirs to come on board next year and join the “travelling floats”. The countrywide motorcades were part of the Sabha’s festivities to usher in the festival of Diwali.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

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The month dedicated to ’ r e b m e v o Men’s Health Awareness It’s ‘M

By Gibron Rahim

There are health issues that are unique to men. As we find ourselves in the midst of Moustache November, also called “Movember” and “No Shave November” it is time that we highlight men’s health issues in Guyana. This is vital since men as a group tend to neglect their health.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke to Dr. Dennis Bassier, Coordinator of the Men’s Health Unit at the Ministry of Public Health, to ascertain the health issues currently facing Guyana’s male population. He noted that, apart from issues that exclusively affect women, men are susceptible to every health condition. “But the ones that are prominent that we try to focus on are prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, male infertility and colorectal cancer,” he said. He pointed out that those conditions are among the most prevalent in men. That is in addition to hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes.

Dr. Bassier noted the difficulty in getting men to manage their hypertension and diabetes. There has been more success in getting men involved when dealing with health issues such as prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction and male infertility, which in their view affects their manhood. He related that male infertility is especially of concern in East Indian communities because the men afflicted in those communities are often

unwilling to accept the possibility that the issue might be theirs, and are even less likely to go to a doctor and get a medical check.

Colorectal cancer can be caused by poor dietary habits, according to Dr. Bassier. Persons fail to consume a lot of fruits and vegetables or drink a lot of water. At the same time, they consume a lot of meat and pepper.

He noted that the warnings do not register until it is too late. They do not take heed until it happens to them or to one of their loved ones he said. There are also a number of issues that afflict both men and women but that disproportionately affect men. Among them is HIV. “Men are the least tested but they have the highest numbers of HIV infections,” pointed out Dr. Bassier.

PROSTATE CANCER Prostate cancer is one of the slowest developing cancers Dr. Bassier noted. There are four grades or stages of cancer. Once the disease progresses to stages three and four it is virtually untreatable. “In grade two and grade one, those are the times when it presents with no signs or symptoms,” related Dr. Bassier. Those grades first manifest when a man is in his early 20s or early 30s.

It usually progresses to grades three and four in the 40s and 50s. “It’s a very tricky line to walk with prostate cancer,” he said. But even at those late stages, attempts can still be made to operate or administer chemotherapy. However, early detection and treatment

drastically improve the odds.

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION Erectile dysfunction is inevitably treatable according to Dr. Bassier. He noted that once there is nothing physically wrong with a man such as the condition of micropenis or a blockage or bend preventing erection, the problem is psychological.

Once a doctor confirms that the problem is not physical, they can then work along with the patient to ascertain the source of the psychological blockage. Dr. Bassier related that there are also medications and herbal substances that assist erection. However, he said those are only used as a last resort as men have the tendency to abuse them. He noted that there are cases where young men have had heart attacks and investigation by health professionals revealed that they overdosed on erectile dysfunction medication after having consumed alcohol. He pointed out that alcohol is a depressant which prevents erection.

MALE INFERTILITY Male infertility is treatable to a certain extent. Any attempt at treatment first requires that men go into a healthcare facility.

They can first be seen by a doctor at a health centre and then referred to a lab where a semen analysis can be done. The semen analysis determines whether there is sperm in the patient’s semen or whether sperm is

malformed, there is a low sperm count or the semen is too acidic or alkaline. “It’s a variety of things,” said Dr. Bassier. The issue can then be further discussed with a healthcare practitioner and a solution worked out.

Dr. Bassier related that colorectal cancer follows a similar pattern to prostate cancer, though it does progress faster. The disease is also more prevalent in older men but it is not as prevalent as prostate cancer. “Once any cancer is caught early enough you can always have surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy or whatever is available at the said point in time.”

The Ministry of Public Health started a men’s health clinic initiative in 2017.

The clinics were established in Regions Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10. “The clinics are basically counselling clinics,” noted Dr. Bassier. The aim is to get men to go into the clinics and discuss various topics. He pointed out that the topics can be specific to communities, such as talks on malaria in mining communities. “It’s just getting men to come into health facilities,” he said, “getting them educated or simply educating them for the first time about certain health issues that could affect them and their families and then taking the next step from there.” He related, “We’re trying to work on behaviour change but, of course, behaviour change takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

The Guyana and Ghana Connection

By Francis Quamina Farrier AS mentioned at the close of my feature article on Ghana two weeks ago, there is more I need to share about my most recent visit to that West African country, (September/October 2018). First, I have to say that there is a special connection between Guyana and Ghana, which I will reveal later. But let me relate some of what transpired when I paid my second visit to the infamous Cape Coast Castle, from where millions of captured Africans were kept in the most unimaginable and horrible conditions, before being shipped off to the West. For many of those unfortunates, they were sent to what is now Guyana, after an equally inhumane and horrible journey across the Atlantic Ocean. And for over three centuries, they were made to give free labour, including the digging of hundreds of miles of canals and building dams which are still in place, among other back-breaking tasks, with no monetary or other rewards.

During the journey from Africa to the West, tens of thousands of the captured died on board the ships and their bodies were dumped into the Atlantic Ocean. In Guyana, there is the annual Maafa (Holocaust) ceremony which is held at the Georgetown Seawalls to the memory of the African Ancestors whose bones rest at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

While at the Cape Coast Castle, I went down to the beach where there were some young men tending to their fishing boats and fixing their fishing nets. I introduced myself and told them about the Maafa cer-

Farrier at the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana where millions of captured men, women and children were kept before being shipped across the Atlantic to the West

The statue of mother and children in front of the General Post Office in Accra, Ghana

are all brothers and sisters,” one elder told me, “And we must never let it (slavery) happen again.”

In more recent years, more Guyanese have been living and working in Ghana. While many residing in the United States and Canada, have been touring West African countries, including Ghana. There is a special and

emony across the wide Atlantic Ocean in Guyana. They had absolutely no knowledge of it. In fact, they knew nothing of Guyana.

I thought inwardly, “There’s work to be done,” by those who advocate for Reparation for the suffering of the enslaved Africans in Guyana and the rest of the western world, which has benefited tremendously by the African slave trade.

The tour guide at the castle related how many of the women and girls were raped by

African proverb: “It takes a village to raise a child”. Teachers and parents escort young students from their school to their nearby homes in Ghana. (Photos by F.Q. Farrier)

the European slave traders, while they were held in dungeons below the castle. I returned into the dungeons for a second time - the first being when I visited Ghana in 2012. It was difficult to comprehend how so many of the captured survived such torture. Of course, some died, as the tour guide related.

The tour guide also explained what it was like for those unfortunate souls captured by their fellow Africans and sold into slavery. It reflected the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis in the Holy Bible, which relates to brothers who sold their youngest brother Joseph into slavery; Genesis 37:28, “...and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites.” However, those Africans who were sold into slavery during the African Slave Trade, did not themselves, like Joseph of Genesis, rise to prominence in their new homeland where they were subjected to the most inhumane treatment one human could subject another to, for over three centuries.

A few months ago, an African Chief in Ghana did what was unimaginable just a few years ago; at a gathering of people of African descent in America, he extended “sincere apologies” on behalf of those Africans who were partners with the Slave Traders in the past centuries. Ghana seems to be the country leading the rest of Africa in coming to terms with its own human frailties and using history as a teacher. “We

relatively unknown Guyana and Ghana connection. Guyanese-born, USA-based Aubrey Stephenson, AA, who is the CEO and President of Federal Management Systems, Inc., with headquarters in Washington, DC, and a branch operation in Guyana, has been giving financial support to the Calvary Apostolic Ministry, Inc., in Ghana, over the years, and through his philanthropic generosity, the church has been expanding in Ghana.

Aubrey Stephenson who was born in Buxton on the East Coast Demerara and spent many of his adolescent years at Mocha, on the East Bank Demerara, has the middle name “Aggrey”, which he told me is from Ghana.

He has that spiritual love for Ghana which as yet, does not have a Guyana Embassy in Accra, the capital of Ghana.

Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Guyana’s first President Forbes Burnham had a personal close relationship. During this, my third visit to Ghana, I have observed the many similarities, including the many areas of construction and the freedom of worship.

In Ghana, prayers are said by Christian and Muslim leaders at the beginning of all official functions. Ghana has set itself the national objective of making that country, “The Most Peaceful Country in Africa” and to root out all forms of corruption in government affairs.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

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Uitvlugt boy now Vice President for

Multi-Billion dollar company

By Telesha Ramnarine ALTHOUGH Chris Latesh Singh migrated to Canada more than 30 years ago, the West Coast Demerara Village of Uitvlugt continues to hold a special place in his heart. In fact, he credits the enormous career success that he is enjoying today to what he had learned on the streets of

He had a booming pharmacy and medical practice in Uitvlugt and strongly believed in keeping the community healthy and doing whatever it took to achieve that objective.

“Quite often, late at nights, he would be summoned from his bed to assist someone, even when he knew that in most cases, they would not be able to pay. He never turned anyone away,” Chris recalls about his dad.

Chris with his mom (third from right) and sisters Dolly, Indira, Seeta and Angie.

Uitvlugt as a child.

Chris, 48, was born at Ocean View, Uitvlugt and moved to Uitvlugt ‘Front’- another section of the village- when he was nine years old. “I spent five years living in Uitvlugt [Front] and it was easily the best years of my life. I have stayed close with many families and have enduring relationships even to today,” he told the Pepperpot Magazine in an online interview recently.

Although the family ran a thriving business in Guyana, Chris recalled that his dad, Niranjan Singh (now deceased), wanted to provide more opportunities for the family.

So, in 1985, the family “tearfully” left Guyana. While he often debated whether or not to leave Guyana, it was a foiled robbery at their home which helped Mr. Singh to make his final decision.

Even though he is no longer around, his values and work ethics remain with his children. “To this day, his name only brings forward positive conversation,” Chris said.

Mrs. Betty Singh, Chris’ mom, was also a successful businesswoman who ran a distribution business for the entire West Coast of Demerara. She solely held the wholesale distribution rights for cooking gas, tobacco and alcohol.

“She was and continues to be, extraordinarily kind and generous. She gave freely to others who were less fortunate and made kindness a currency. I think I get my sense of humour from her too; she’s quite the prankster,” Chris says.

The youngest of six children, Chris has four sisters, Dolly, Indira, Seeta and Angie.

When Chris was just nine years old, his

brother, Amrit- who was the eldest- passed away.

EVERYONE IS EQUAL Chris recalls that both his parents were passionate defenders of the doctrine that all lives are equal and that they resented anyone with racist beliefs. “I was taught at a young age that Afro Guyanese and Indo Guyanese were equals. This made me integrate into a predominantly Afro community of Uitvlugt quite well.”

At 10 years old, Chris was the captain of the Uitvlugt, Under 14 football team. “Most of my successes today can be credited to what I learnt from the streets of Uitvlugt,” he said, adding, “I learnt that poor people had ambitions and hopes no different than the rich. I learnt that cleanliness was not restricted to any race. I learnt that courage was

Chris Latesh Singh

greater when hardships were present. I learnt that religion had nothing to do with who you worshipped but how you treated others.”

As a child, for instance, he ensured that he helped the needy. “I made sure that wealth was distributed to others less fortunate.

Sometimes I would sneak money to help my friends who had little. To this day, I love to help in any way that I can. Some people lacked the vision and practice of selflessness and equality and they viewed this generosity as stupidity.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

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Foodmonkey Satisfy your appetite with Guyana’s first mobile food app

was to launch the business last year according to Carter.

Unfortunately, it was not ready then. It was launched this past September instead. Of the name of the business, he said, “I wanted to come up with something that would be catchy.” He recalled having come up with several names that turned out to have already been used elsewhere. The name “Foodmonkey” turned out to be the best fit.

Much like Uber Eats, Foodmonkey is essentially a directory of restaurants which allows the customer to access menus, place their orders and have the food delivered to them. “What it does is give the user the ability to

By Gibron Raheem AN idea is only the first step in the process of starting a business. Indeed, it takes a great deal of determination to turn an abstract idea into a functioning business.

And establishing the business itself only marks the beginning in a continuous process of growth and development. This is the case with Guyana’s newest business, Foodmonkey.

The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with Foodmonkey’s founder, Nigel Carter, who explained that he has had the idea for the business for quite a long time. A computer programmer with a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Carter explained that he had always wanted to create something that Guyana did not already have. He recalled that, back in his days at the University of Guyana, he and one of his friends had come together and decided to create an online mall. The website was weonlinemall.com and unfortunately was not well accepted since he noted Guyana was just not ready for a venture of its nature at the time.

Carter and his friend returned to the drawing board.

They realised that there was an opportunity in the area of entertainment and the entertainment website they created lasted for a few years. “But I always felt like that wasn’t it, we needed to do something else,” he said. “I needed to do something that would have more of an impact.” He originally thought of a taxi app for Guyana, similar to Uber. Unfortunately, someone else came up with the idea first. At that time he had already been doing his research.

He decided to take what he already had and focus on food.

Foodmonkey was born from this idea.

Creating the application at the heart of Foodmonkey involved using an existing framework, and building on top of it along with a lot of programming. The intention

interface directly with the restaurant,” Carter explained.

“The delivery charges are automatically calculated based on your location,” he said. He noted that he also added a time estimator to the app that gives a rough estimate of the time between ordering and delivery, taking traffic into consideration. He pointed out that, though traffic conforms to a pattern, it is still unpredictable, however. The traffic at any of the given restaurants is also unpredictable, he said.

Carter has also established a live chat in the app to address queries customers may have.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

‘Made in Kwakwani’ – Kwakwani women agro-processors empowering themselves with pepper and green seasoning business

Nathelyn Benn-Dequoy showcasing some of her bottled pepper sauce.

Lavern Padmori showcasing her bottled pepper and all-purpose seasoning.

KWAKWANI women are answering the call of President David Granger to diversify and are processing and bottling viable raw material ingredients.

The women of this small Region 10 community are empowering themselves financially as they pioneer the first agro-processing business in the area, and train others to follow their example.

Nathelyn Benn-Dequoy’s ‘Made in Kwakwani’ line is a small-scale manually manufactured pepper sauce and green seasoning venture, made from ingredients found right within arm’s reach. She very carefully selects and manually processes onion, garlic, various green leafy herbs such a thyme, eshallot and celery with a dash of pepper, ginger, salt and already packaged powered seasonings to make her one-of-a-kind bottled green seasoning.

Benn-Dequoy makes five gallons of seasonings within days, as large quantities are also pre-ordered. Similarly, bottled seasonings can be found in groceries. Dequoy noted that residents love her ingredients and the high-quality of her product.

As the demand grew quickly, assistance was sought from others within the community. Realising that communal entrepreneurship is more beneficial to the development of the entire community, Dequoy opted to share her agro-processing skills with others, making it a women’s empowerment movement.

She was amazed by the response as other women came on board to make it a community project. “It was always my heart’s desire to see this movement in my community, and I have encouraged other women and taught them the necessary skills to manage similar businesses because when I am not around, other women will be able to fill in and keep the customers supplied,” Dequoy noted.

One of the women who was taught by Dequoy and now makes her own bottled seasonings and peppers is Lavern Padmori. She commenced her agro-processing venture two years ago and can today testify to its expansion. Padmori says her immediate goal is to focus on the quality of both the product and the packaging, as she believes this will attract more customers.

BRANCHING OUT After realising the many benefits of agro-processing, Dequoy began making local processed fruits by utilising the surplus of fruits in the community. “I decided to take those fruits and process them. Today, I send over 400 pounds of locally processed fruits to New Amsterdam to sell; I send to Canje, East Coast and neighbouring villages such as Aoriama,” she related.

Dequoy believes that this agro-processing venture can also be the answer to social ills such as teenage pregnancy, school-drop outs and unemployment in the community. She is calling for the relevant authorities to initiate training programmes in the community, in order for young girls to learn similar skills in agro-processing and empower themselves.

(DPI- Story and Images: Vanessa Braithwaite)

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

Red Creek’s HEYS programme gets a boost

AS the government continues to boost skills training via the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme, residents of the Red Creek community in Region Eight received equipment to commence sewing and carpentry workshops.

A team from the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs handed over the equipment which included, a sewing machine, a generator, carpentry tools among others.

Minister within Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the initiative, which is geared at creating an enabling environment allowing the participants to be self-sufficient, is a beacon for many youths in the hinterland regions.

“In this community, it is challenging for the children to attend school since they do not have transportation to attend school and the nearest village from here is Paramakatoi … It takes about two to three hours to reach Paramakatoi. So, they are unable to go to school. What HEYS has been doing since it is a flexible programme is allowing the facilitators to teach the children,” Minister Garrido-Lowe said.

She noted the need for the establishment of an educational facility in the community, and assured that she will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry.

According to Minister Garrido-Lowe, those participants in the carpentry workshop will be taught to make benches and desks which in turn will prove useful when establishing a school in the village.

Eunice Sergio, one of the participants of the HEYS programme, said that she is appreciative for the opportunity to have been a part of the programme and will do whatever is necessary to impart her knowledge to others in the community.

Sergio proudly shared that she utilised her stipend from the HEYS programme to build a much-need bridge in her community of Red Creek. (DPI - Neola Damon.

Images by Karime Peters.)

Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) facilitator demonstrating to the young participants

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

◄◄◄ From page V

Chris conducting a presentation or SAP in Barcelona

Chris with his uncle and friend from Uitvlugt

Chris’ dad Niranjan Singh and one of his sisters

A PROSPEROUS CAREER Over the last 18 years, Chris has been visiting Guyana twice every year and has hosted a party for his mom almost every year at the Pegasus Hotel, which happens to be her favourite place. “Normally, 20 of us return to celebrate. I would love to return on a semi-permanent basis and run a business in Guyana,” said Chris.

In Canada, he helps to run a $30+ Billion a year business and works with most of the largest companies on the planet. He is the Senior Vice President and Global Head for Customer Success Management for a company called SAP. SAP has over 94,000 full-time employees globally and is the world leader in Enterprise Application with over 413,000 customers worldwide and a market cap of over $126 Billion.

Consulting, business development, head of innovation and engineering, software and development, cloud computing and services are some of the key positions that Chris has held.

Chris has said that he would love to bring his experience to Guyana but three factors which restrain him are historic corruption in the country, security and marginalisation of the experienced in Guyana. “Perhaps it can be attributed to persons who may have faked or overstated their experience, and as such many people in the business sector or government feel wary of what you have to offer. I have the means to invest. However, because of the above-mentioned factors, I have been deterred. I do see the people asking for more transparency and at least the government has taken some steps in this direction,” he said.

While his plan is being on the SAP Corporate Board someday, Chris said his ‘daydream’ job would be to become the Chief of Police in Guyana. “So many people desperately want to have security. On Maslow hierarchy of needs, security is amongst the most basic of needs. I have the firm belief that if you complain about something, you better also have the solution,” he said.

Becoming the top cop would not be a significant challenge to Chris because he said he has done this kind of reform on a much larger scale and would, therefore, welcome the opportunity to fix security issues locally.

“The people of Guyana are the very finest in the world and are deserving of a country where you can walk freely and sleep peacefully at nights. Guyana has produced a lot of talented people,” he said. “It needs to be a place where people feel comfortable to grow and where opportunities are open to those willing to work hard. Guyana is a place like no other; culturally diverse and rich in its heritage. Its beauty is incomparable. I, one day, wish to see her fulfill her true potential.”

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

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Guyana-Born Woman Triumphs in US Midterm Election

ROXANNE Persaud is a Democratic member of the New York State Senate, representing District 19. Persaud won the general election on November 6, 2018, after advancing from the primary on September 13, 2018. Persaud also ran in the 2018 election as a Working Families

Party candidate. She was first elected to the Chamber in a special election on November 3, 2015. Persaud served in the New York State Assembly, representing District 59 from 2014 to her election to the State Senate in 2015.

A native of Guyana, Roxanne Jacqueline

Persaud migrated with her family to Brooklyn, New York at a tender age. She graduated from Pace University with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree before entering a career in education.

She spent many years as a Higher Education Administrator prior to being elected to the State Legislature. In addition, she is a longtime advocate for the community.

She served as President of the 69th Precinct Community Council in Canarsie, a member of Community Board 18 and Commissioner on the New York City Districting Commission.

She also is a graduate of the NYPD Citizens Police Academy as well as, the New York City Office of Emergency Man-

agement-Community Emergency Response Team. Additionally, she was a member of the Community Action Board of the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development and Chairperson of the Neighbourhood Advisory Board – District 18. She also serves on organisations highlighting domestic violence and cancer awareness among others.

Her dedication to community involvement and her interest in helping others stretches well beyond Brooklyn. She has traveled overseas on several occasions as a volunteer on medical and social outreach programmes. She encourages everyone to be actively involved in the community. (https://ballotpedia.org)

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

The Festival of Lights Scenes from the 2018 Diwali Motorcade

ON the eve of November 5, 2018, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha hosted its annual Diwali Motorcade where scores of Mandirs across Guyana competed in commemoration of the Festival of Lights. In case you missed it, here are some scenes from this year’s iconic event. (All photos by Delano Williams).

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

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Sony’s PlayStation Classic is as simple and fun as you’d expect you won’t have to furiously watch out for flash sales at Amazon or GameStop. (You can preorder a PS Classic

The PlayStation Classic is a copycat, and Sony seems largely unashamed by that fact. The device, a retro miniature console launching next month for $99.99, is nearly identical in every way to Nintendo’s NES Classic and SNES Classic devices, save for its slightly more up-to-date library of 20 PS1 games and the noticeable shift from 2D to 3D graphics many of those titles represent.

Still, if you’re a fan of the mini-console trend and a sucker for retro gaming nostalgia, the PS Classic is going to satisfy most of your needs. Sony invited members of the press down to its San Mateo, California offices earlier this week to get a good look at the console and play any of its games for a few hours. The most obvious takeaway I can provide is that the device is everything you’d expect.

The console is well-designed and adorable. It’ll be an instant show-stealer of a collectible for those who miss the old-school console aesthetic and are already making room for it on their shelf or in their living room gaming setup. As for how it functions, it’s just like Nintendo’s devices, down to a near-identical carousel interface for selecting games and managing saves.

Similar to Nintendo’s mini-consoles, Sony is even replicating some of the frustrating elements of 32-bit gaming, including a lack of wireless gamepads. Granted, you do get a longer 1.5-meter cord for both of the two included classic PlayStation controllers, which is a huge plus. And those controllers use standard USB, not a proprietary connector.

But Sony says the controllers can’t be plugged into other USB devices, like a PC or PS4. And unfortunately,

there’s no button on the controllers themselves that kick you back to the menu, meaning you have to physically press the reset button on the PS Classic to leave one game and open another.

The same issue exists on the NES Classic and SNES Classic, and it’s a huge pain.

One workaround has been using retro Bluetooth controllers from a company like 8bitdo, but it’s puzzling why Sony didn’t see this issue with Nintendo’s devices and try to solve it.

One other complaint you could probably make about the device is that the games may not hold up that well, at least not like the 8-bit and 16-bit classics you get on Nintendo’s consoles. I struggled to wrap my head around the controls for Cool Boarders 2, and I found the original Metal Gear Solid to be alarmingly obtuse, having last played it maybe 15 years ago.

Now, if you’re a hardcore fan who remembers those games like you played them yesterday, you’ll probably be fine. But it’s worth noting that this era, while a golden one for a certain type of game fan, is not going to be quite as accessible as the SNES generation of hits.

The Verge will have a more comprehensive evaluation of the PS Classic’s lineup later this month when we get our hands on a proper review unit and spend some more time with the device’s library.

All that said, the PS Classic is a faithful and well-made little device, and it’s easy to see how popular it will be among former PS1 owners. Given the likelihood that Sony will also make enough of these devices to go around, that makes the prospect of buying one at some point in the future a lot more justifiable, knowing

right now.)

The device starts shipping on December 3rd, and the $99.99 purchase gets

you two controllers, with quite a few of the titles supporting local co-op.

Even as a dedicated Final

Fantasy VII and Tekken 3 machine — one that’s a lot of fun just to look at — that’s not a bad deal.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

#SupportCreativity

The Haunting of Hill House (Part I)

By Subraj Singh

I haven’t slept properly in over a week now. The reason is a Netflix show called “The Haunting of Hill House” (yes, I am currently watching a string of Netflix gems – welcome to the new era of viewership). The horror show has completely metamorphosed my nightmares and my home (which is ironic in a way because nightmares, and the central house of the title, are both important elements in the drama).

I have started dreaming again, after an extremely long period of dreamless nights. In my mind, floating in the sea of unconsciousness, I see storylines being played out where I am a ghost, floating at my own funeral-pyre and screaming at my family members like an angry poltergeist.

I dream of myself in an ocean, watching a young man next to me struggle and then sink into the watery depths. I see scenes of the anger within myself unfurling like a snake and lashing out at people who are close to me. My dreams, it seems, are reflecting the themes of “The Haunting of Hill House,” a show filled with various forms of death, ghosts, violence, and betrayal.

My own house too has learned some tricks of its own. The sleep paralysis I experienced as a child has returned to haunt me during the nights. Like one of the show’s central characters, Nell, I become immobilised in my bed at night and the clothes piled in a corner of my room turns into a slumping woman or a floating man. My little alarm clock looks, out of the corner of my eye, like the head of a child. There is often a scratching sound that emanates from my doorframe. There are cold spots in my bed. The plumbing of the shower makes hissing sounds. Once, I swear, I heard whispers outside my room. My house, like Hill House, might be alive.

Of course, the more logical scenario is that my mind, riddled with the fear evoked by the show, has started to alter the common everyday scenes and sounds and happenings to frightful and disturbing illusions. It is all in my mind, and it is all because of “The Haunting of Hill House.”

This brings us to an important conversation that needs to be made about art and the psyche. How can there still be people in the world who deflect art as being nothing more than fanciful imaginings and pretty pictures, when art (films and novels and paintings) have the power to alter our very perception of the real world? How can art be disregarded when genres such as horror have the power to dictate how we live our lives? How can people not see the ability of the arts to influence us when art itself seeps into our sleep and darkens our dreams? It is a strange thing, to have a fictional television show interrupt so many aspects of my life – and now that I sleep with my lights on, I reflect on the fact that I have had several nights of insomnia because of a piece of art that writers, a director, and many talented actors came together to create.

The horror exuded by “The Haunting of Hill House” is at once both fresh and familiar. The humanness of the ghosts casts a chilly hold over anyone who watches the show. We are transfixed because they are so like us – human in form – and yet so unlike us, with their pale skin, dark eyes, and eerie expressions. Also, the kind of horror the show relies on is of the kind that includes jump-scares, but, like the Shirley Jackson novel on which it is based, the show includes various elements of terror rather than horror. This means, that there is not much blood and gore, but there is still a myriad of spine-tingling moments, whether it’s through random sounds that the principal family hears, the creaking of doors, spectres floating through hallways, time-jumps, a shift in certain characters’ personalities, etc. The kind of fear that “The Haunting of Hill House” imparts to the viewer is the kind that makes your blood run cold. It is not the horror-porn brand of terror where blood is spewed in copious amounts and limbs are hacked off. “The Haunting of Hill House” affects you psychologically, injecting rather than brandishing the fear it brings.

Of course, any evaluation of horror would require a clear focus on the subjects who experience the horror – in this case, the Crain family (parents and their five children) who move into the haunted Hill House one summer. In the battle between good and evil, there is usually, in horror movies, representations of goodness and innocence that get into conflict with the supernatural. In this case, the Crain family represents goodness – with all of the potential that goodness has for being transformed into evil. The family plays a significant part of the film’s portrayal of fear, especially because, in an unusual manner for a horror show, there are many important themes (relationships, depression, sorrow, etc.) that are tied into the overall horror element that runs through the film, which needs to be thoroughly analysed in forthcoming articles, if one is to ever get a full and total understanding of how horror exists and operates through the terror that is found in “The Haunting of Hill House.”

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

Developing and Promoting Ecotourism in Guyana WHAT comes to mind when you think of tourism? I bet you visualised blue waters, white sandy beaches massaging your feet, palm trees, massive hotels towering towards the sky. What if I tell you there’s scenery even more breathtaking? Think about connecting with nature, cooling down under a soothing waterfall, a walk in the forest canopy or just some time to connect with nature, watching in amazement as the lush rainforest come alive. These are just a few elements to Eco-tourism.

A term being used more and more these days. We are hearing it being mentioned on TV and in conversations; reading about it in the newspapers and even on social media. But what really does ‘eco-tourism’ mean and more importantly, why is it so important for Guyana’s development?

ECO-TOURISM AND A GREEN STATE The term ‘Ecotourism’ is defined as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people and involves interpretation and education” (The International Ecotourism Society, 2015). Therefore, it does not only enable for the protection and conservation of our natural resources, but it also creates jobs and training for local people especially in the indigenous communities. It is noteworthy to mention that ecotourism includes education for both, the persons working within this field and the tourists. People are able to connect to nature while developing an understanding and appreciation for the local culture. Additionally, this form of tourism allows persons to move away from our traditional means of earning an income by diversifying Guyana’s economy.

In fact, Guyana is in the process of becoming more environmentally conscious and the Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) will guide this transition. Developing and promoting eco-tourism as one of our main economic activities, directly ties into more than one of the GSDS principles particularly, Well-being, Education and Good Life, Sustainable use of Biodiversity and Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Finances and Investment.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

Social Anxiety I’VE just finished a thread on personality types and a reader informed me that he would consider himself an introvert, not by choice but due to what he believes to be social anxiety. I’m going to talk about this today as it is indeed a very common disorder.

Everyone feels shy at times; occasionally we are nervous to meet new people, speak in public or simply, to walk through big crowds. However, it doesn’t typically affect our day to day life.

Social anxiety - also called social phobia - is a consistent discomfort or fear in interacting with others or just being in crowded spaces. Some believe it is just a fear of public speaking but those with social anxiety have issues doing routine activities. Even one on one conversations can be taxing, as these individuals often feel stressed and worry about saying or doing the wrong thing.

They often miss out on exciting opportunities due to their intense fear of being judged, laughed at, embarrassed or criticised. They feel intense discomfort doing things that others consider normal such as eating in public or taking public transportation.

If they are in situations that create or increase discomfort, physical symptoms such as sweating, headaches, stomach issues or rapid heart rate may even be experienced. If the fear becomes too intense, panic attacks can also occur.

Symptoms of social anxiety typically begin in teenage years and levels of anxiety can either improve or decline with age.

While it is rare, it is possible to detect social anxiety in young children with symptoms such as avoiding interaction with other children, avoiding activities at school, not asking for help when needed or frequent and unusual crying.

If you feel as though you may be suffering from social anxiety, it is important to seek the right treatment as the disorder can have severe negative effects on self-esteem, self-confidence and overall self-worth. It interrupts normal social learning, relationships as well as school or employment life.

There are many possible treatment options (for various levels of anxiety) but if you are experiencing social anxiety to the point where it is negatively affecting your daily life, I would advise you to go to your nearest health centre and share your concerns.

You may see a general practitioner who can refer you to a mental health professional or if you are already aware of one, you can go straight to them.

These individuals will typically ask a series of questions or may ask you to fill out questionnaires to get an idea of the extent of the anxiety. From there, they are able to decide what type of counselling method is right for you, as well as whether you need to be referred further for any medications that will help decrease some of the symptoms of anxiety. A combination of both counselling and medication is typically the best way to treat moderate to severe anxiety.

There are also things you can do on your own. However, self-help alone is typically for those who have only mild anxiety. By now I hope you all know that education and awareness is the most important thing, to not only understand your disorder but to accept it. Research anxiety and know everything there is to know about what you’re feeling, including signs, symptoms and triggers.

You can also start to practice something that researchers call ‘graded self -exposure.’ It entails making a list of all the situations that create or increase your anxiety and expose yourself to them little by little. For example, if you have a fear of eating in public, you start with something small, for a short period of time and then further progress. The theory here is that you can train yourself to become tolerant of all exposures.

If you have access to the Internet, you can go online and do activities that are dedicated to reducing anxiety. These usually consist of workbook activities that teach you how to challenge negative thinking and irrational patterns of thoughts that may result in anxiety. (Tip, you can google or YouTube how to do those things).

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

XIX

E FILES S A C T COUR

Appellate Court freed convicted robber because of bad identification

By George Barclay

Robber identified by means of gold tooth IN 1975, a married couple were sightseeing in the Le Repentir Cemetery, when the wife was attacked and robbed of her wrist watch and gold finger ring by a gold-tooth robber.

Later at a police identification parade that gold-tooth robber was identified to be Vibert Hodge. He was subsequently arrested, charged, tried, convicted and was sentenced to prison.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the prisoner represented by lawyer Malcolm Taharally, appealed to the Guyana Court of Appeal.

The State was represented by Mr. Nandram Kissoon, a Senior State Counsel (who later became a Justice of Appeal).

The appellant complained to the Appellate Court that since he was the only man on parade with gold tooth, he considered himself wrongly identified at an identification parade which was unfairly conducted.

The Appellate Court constituted by Chancellor J.O.F. Haynes and with Justices of Appeal, VIctor Crane and Keith Massiah, heard an appeal which lasted three days.

They allowed the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence after finding that the identification parade at which the prisoner was identified, was unfairly conducted.

The facts of the case disclosed that the appellant, armed with a knife, attacked and robbed one, Violet Ramadan, of a wrist-watch and a finger-ring. When removing the ring he opened his mouth as if to bite her finger to get it off. It was then that she saw he was wearing gold tooth. Some five weeks later Ramadan identified the accused at an identification parade as the robber.

At the trial, there were three different versions as to how the appellant was identified at the parade. The first was given

by Violet Ramadan who said she identified him initially by his appearance, but in order to make doubly sure, she asked him to open his mouth. The second was by Inspector Troyer who conducted the parade. Troyer said Ramadan asked him to cause the men on parade to open their mouths, and that when they did so she then touched the accused on his shoulder.

The third version which was given by the accused was substantially the same as that given by Inspector Troyer with the difference that, whereas Troyer said that there were others with gold teeth, the accused insisted that he was the only man on parade with gold teeth, which meant he was urging that the parade was unfairly conducted in that he was identified solely by his gold tooth.

The Appellate Court found that in his summing up, the trial judge did not bring to the jury’s attention the apparent conflict between Ramdan’s and Inspector Troyer’s evidence, nor the fact that Troyer’s evidence that the accused was identified after he had opened his mouth, tended to support the evidence of the accused. The judge merely left it to the jury to find as a question of fact, if they were minded to believe Ramadan and Troyer, whether the identification parade had been properly conducted.

The accused also said in defence that the charge against him was a trumped-up one, that he had been “framed” by the police because he and the policeman who charged him had an altercation over a girlfriend, and that the policeman threatened “to throw the book at him”. Nothing was said about this important aspect of the defence to the jury, the Appellate Court had found.

The Appellate Court held: (1) That the apparent conflict between Ramadan and Troyer’s evidence should have been pointed out to the jury, who ought to have been advised to be cautious about accepting Ramdan’s testimony that she had primarily identified the accused apart from his gold teeth.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

Premedication of children EVERY dental professional knows that children as patients present a challenge when drugs are required during the course of dental

treatment. Special consideration should be given to the route of administration (mouth or injection), selection of appropriate agents,

and correct dosage for optimal effect.

Premedication is the act of giving the child a drug before the dentist attempts to perform

any clinical procedure,` so as to tranquilise the child in order that he or she may cooperate during treatment. The goals of premedication are

to allay apprehension and prevent attempts to resist treatment. The judicious use of premedication agents can, therefore, be substantially beneficial both to the child and the dentist.

Although not a substitute for psychological management techniques, preoperative sedation, when used with certain medications, can significantly expand a range of patients that can be treated in the office environment.

antidote is currently available to reverse any adverse effects should they occur. Side effects are minor and the taste is frequently reported to be objectionable.

Hydrazine has historically been one of the most popular sedating agents used in children. Available as Atarax and Vistaril, this drug tranquilities; prevents vomiting and inflammation as well as it relaxes the muscles. It comes in tablets of 25mg and 50mg.

The patient should remain conscious and responsive to commands with the protective laryngeal reflexes (a cough) intact. An ideal agent should be efficacious at a level of dosage that minimally alters vital signs and allows for rapid recovery with a low prevalence of adverse reactions.

While the so-called “laughing gas� nitrous oxide is among the best premedication agent, most dentists using preoperative sedation in children prefer the oral route of administration. This method has been shown to be largely effective even though variability in absorption is sometimes observed. The major advantage of the oral route is that it is an innocuous delivery system, less likely to be perceived by the child as threatening or suspicious.

Chloral hydrate selling under the brand name of Notec is the oldest drug of hypnotic groups. It closely resembles a barbiturate. The drug is available as a syrup and the child can take two spoonfuls 45 minutes before the dental appointment. A major drawback to the use of chloral hydrate is that no specific

The suspension and injection are also manufactured.

Recently, diazepam, which is widely prescribed for control of adult anxiety, has gained in popularity for use in the preoperative sedation of children. It has been suggested that a dose the night before and the day of dental appointment are necessary to achieve optimal sedation.

Promethazine is widely used in medicine and dentistry as a comedication for narcotic agents. Other similar drugs are meperidine and alphaprodine.

Parents and guardians should know that it could be dangerous to give a child any premedication agent without the consent and control of the dentist. This article does not provide information such as dosage in relation to the weight of the child, the specific dental procedure to be performed and its relation to the type and dosage of the drug etc. in addition, the mental state (hysterical etc.) age, medical history and clinical status of the child, all must be taken into account before premedication is prescribed.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

folklore

XXI

By Neil Primus

FLIGHT OF THE BATS

HE bats were becoming pests. They had invaded our home on the bank of the mighty Essequibo River and had decided to stay there. I wouldn’t mind if roosting was all they did. These creatures were also into interior decoration. Their dung with its putrid smell and ugly dark stains was everywhere. On the floor, carpet, shoes, clothes (which remained permanently stained) and anything that had the misfortune to lie under their place of residence.

The sudden appearance of two or three large bats heading directly towards you caused pandemonium at times.

We would panic and duck hastily to avoid the dark ‘stealth bombers’. With unerring deftness, they would glide pass you and onward to their next dark area for their feet-first rendezvous. Somehow we had to get them out of our home.

Anthony and Michael, my 11-year-old twin brothers, decided to catch them. After a few futile attempts to sneak up on them they changed tactics. It was quite amusing to watch them silently advance on the bats. As soon as they got within three to four feet of the creatures, the bats bailed out, often straight towards the great hunters. There was the expected dive for safety from the twins as the bats relocated.

Their new plan of attack was a missile barrage. Slingshots were made and pellets collected. The crack of shots rang out around our small house and frightened bats scattered every-which-way but outside. The girls screamed and fled. Mom dropped her favourite dish in the melee and it smashed into irreparable pieces. The slingshots went and the bats stayed.

My uncle, who knew everything, paid us a visit. He directed us to use aluminum foil paper, cut them into strips and tie these to the roof in the areas the bats frequented.

According to his ‘expert knowledge’, the bright colour and noise of the foil hitting each other – somewhat like chimes- would surely scare the bats away. This had a ring of confidence and authority so we all chipped in and soon had the place looking like a Chinese Den. The next evening everyone waited in anticipation for the bats.

When at last they appeared it seemed to be working.

They flew around in uncertainty and confusion and we laughed heartily sensing victory. By the next evening, the bats were happily roosting on the strips. So much for an expert advice.

By now we were fed up and thoroughly frustrated with the little progress we had made. We resorted to the unsophisticated approach. The brooms were kept in strategic locations and when the bats were seen we would grab the broom or anything handy and make violent swipes at our tormentors. Needless to say, the only things we hit were walls, roofs, windows – one, unfortunately, broke – and sometimes any person in the vicinity of the battle.

This method was abandoned when we had to pry the twins apart to stop them from mauling each other. Mike-as Michael is fondly called- was engrossed in a spirited chase of the bats. As he ran he swatted violently at the bats that were outmanoeuvring him. This caused him to get angry and he redoubled his efforts oblivious to all else, including a howling Anthony, who absorbed a swipe that would make a Samurai Swordsman proud. They locked horns kicking and biting and had to be pried apart.

Tenesha loved reading and when there was nothing interesting happening she would bury herself in a book. She adored Nancy Drew and Enid Blyton. When in this mode she was lost in the book world. Her second hobby was questioning. Anything she heard she asked about. Sometimes Turn to page XXII►►►

XXII ◄◄◄ From page XXI

she would irritate us and we would make fun of her. This didn’t daunt her spirit.

She came home from school one day and announced to everyone’s surprise that she had found out

how to chase away the bats.

We listened politely and tried to keep straight faces knowing that if we laughed she would take it badly and sulk. We would be hard pressed to find a willing ally

when we wanted help with chores or an alibi in cases of error. Her eyes were bright with excitement and her hands gesticulated in a flurry of movement. Her voice rushed over the explanation, eager for our approval.

During class, she had

approached her teacher and was told that getting rid of bats was child’s play. She believed. Mrs. Foster, you see, was her favourite teacher and obviously, Miss must be right. According to the teacher turned terminator, Aerosol insecticide was the

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018 answer. Buy a large can and keep it handy. Whenever the bats appeared, spray the heck out of them. End of problem. The spray was bought and kept within easy reach, and then we waited.

That night Tenesha decided she would do the necessaries. The can was positioned at her side. The bats flew, the spray spewed.

The disoriented bat landed in Tenesha’s excited face with an ugly ‘splat.’ She let out a scream like a banshee and took off for places unknown slapping lustily at her face.

The bat returned to its lair and settled down. After that, she lost interest in the bats and poor Mrs. Foster.

We were poor and thus unable to buy white paint to paint the entire roof, as suggested by another pundit.

Instead, we tried spraying liquid insecticide we had begged from our neighbour.

In a short space of time, the house reeked of insecticide and became difficult for us to remain in for long periods. The bats stayed. We ended up washing off most of the spray. With Christmas approaching things became desperate. We could picture our annual Christmas party invaded at its brightest moment by a flight of bats.

Vivid images of bats in the food, drink, cake and all over the attending children caused me much concern. My friends would be there and any such occurrence would be difficult to live down. Somehow I was going to send those dirty night-dwellers packing. But how?

I decided to try my luck.

At age fourteen I felt a confidence that belied my age.

My spirit was both exhilarated and wary of this new challenge. I am not lazy, mind you but I have discovered many ways to reserve my energy so this venture was a departure from the norm for me. So far, the entire bat episode was a comedy of errors. There was a dire need for a professional approach and I intended to provide this.

The first course of action was to find out more about bats. I asked my buddies and by the time they were through with me, the bats became a confused mixture of monster vampire and rabies carrier. This was cause for serious concern.

Two of my best friends decided to help out. They came around after school and brought the equipment needed; a net. This was attached to a loop made from split bamboo and the end tied firmly. With net at the ready, two persons would climb up into the rafters and keep the bats moving while another try to catch them in the net.

Try we did but the bats got the better of us. I was one of the climbers and had the pleasure of sending them to the trap. David the trapper was not as agile as was required for the task. The bats flew to him, and by him yet he caught none. He was more occupied with ducking and swinging wildly at them in an act of self-preservation.

In so doing my father’s radio and cassette player, which he guarded with firm authority ended up broken on the floor. The hunt was abandoned. My exemption from flogging, which I received on becoming a teenager, was temporarily withdrawn.

The next day I mentioned the bats to an Amerindian friend who sat two desks away from me at school.

Sherwin was a quiet fellow who had recently been transferred to our school from the interior. Some of us laughed at him because he wore rubber slippers and old looking clothes. I liked him and decided to make friends.

This kid was no dresser but we soon discovered that in the water he was king.

No one could challenge him there. Even his detractors were quick to admit that he was by far the best swimmer in our school.

We met in the schoolyard during recess and leaned against the fence talking.

“We’ve got plenty of bats and they won’t go away.”

He grinned and his round features brightened.

“Catch one,” he offered.

I glanced at him and realised that he was serious. “How, and what for?”

He laughed softly.

“Don’t you know anything about animals?” he questioned. Thinking about it I was forced to admit that my knowledge in this field was negligible.

“Use a net and catch one.

Paint it and release it. The painted bat will scare away all the others.”

This sounded crazy enough to work but my last experience with a net compelled me to seek another alternative.

“Don’t think I can.”

He contemplated this for a while then announced, “Get a cat and it will eat them.”

Of Course! Why hadn’t I thought of that before? It was so simple.

That afternoon Sherwin dropped by. In his hands was a black cat.

Mom made a fuss at first but Tenesha adopted it immediately. It was soon after rats, lizards and bats.

The cat stayed and the bats went. Mother gave in and we kept the cat permanently. The twins are now finalising plans to take it fishing.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

XXIII

Go out and vote!

WITH a few hours left before the opening of the polls for this year’s Local Government Elections (LGEs), I cannot overemphasise how important it is for everyone (once you’re eligible) to vote.

There are 596 constituencies, in 80 Local Authority Areas (LAAs) with 1,676 polling stations. Residents of each community have both a right and a responsibility to elect a representative who will work to advance the communities’ best interests.

LGEs are about promoting local governance and democracy. Fixing roads, cleaning drains and fostering community development are just some of the decisions made through local governance. It is community-based and community focused.

These elections are unlike the Regional and National elections and there are no winners or losers. There are just persons who will be tasked with representing communities on the local bodies. And better yet, the persons contesting and elected are persons from right in individual communities- people who live and share in the same space as you and who should be cognisant of the community’s needs.

This will be the first election that I will be eligible to vote in. And it feels good to finally be able to exercise my franchise in this manner. I feel excited to know that my vote has the power to select the best person(s) to work in my interest.

But among my age demographic, it is disheartening to know there are persons who are

reluctant to vote because of what they deem an entrenched system of race-based politics, or because they generally have no knowledge of Local Government systems.

The time for voting along the lines of race or due to party loyalty should be long gone. I mean come on man, it’s 2018.

It is your civic responsibility and duty to vote and vote for your community’s development. I don’t believe that you can sit and complain about issues in your community if you haven’t exercised your franchise.

More importantly, this is our chance to have our voices heard.

In preparation for the polls tomorrow, I reflect on the recent U.S. Midterm elections.

In my opinion, it was an election of firsts because of the sheer amount of barriers broken (First Muslim women elected to Congress, etc etc).

What I like to direct focus to is that the Democrats’ takeover of the House of Representatives was in part attributed to the massive support from the 18-24 age group.

According to information published in the Guardian: “A clear 68 percent of voters aged 18-24 chose the Democrats according to exit polls – a group that is credited with helping to boost the overall turnout figure.”

In its current state, many might deem the U.S. government as a flawed system- and I’m not going to argue for or against that, but I

A true all-rounder

Akeaba Singh

F G GIRLS have been breaking barriers over the years, advancing themselves professionally, academically and even athletically. Akeaba Singh, a 16-year-old Sixth Form student of St. Stanislaus College, is one such girl who has been challenging herself to be an all-rounder.

The aspiring neurologist is steadfast in her quest to achieve her goals. Her journey started just after completing her studies at the St. Joseph High School this year. Singh immediately enrolled in the science field at St. Stanislaus College where she intends to excel.

“I want to be successful in life but aside from pursuing a career in neurology, I aspire to inspire, motivate people, make my environment a friendly place and most importantly make myself and parents proud,” she said.

Although her studies require a lot of attention, Singh has managed to balance her life with books, sports and co-curricular activities.

She has been actively involved in hockey, swim-

ming and even debating. Singh had the opportunity to captain her high school’s hockey team in Trinidad and Tobago at the Paragon’s Hockey Tournament where the school brought second place.

The aspiring neurologist had also been involved in the national leg of the local swimming competition.

She also proved herself as a good debater during Youth Parliament 2017 and the JOF Haynes debating championships.

Those achievements, she said, will serve as a motivator for her as she strives to achieve her goals and aspirations.

“My parents have also made great sacrifices to ensure that I am where I am, so they are my main motivators and supporters,” said Singh.

She challenged young people to also do their best and always remember that self-esteem is important.

“Believing you can do it, believing you deserve it and believing you will get it,” she said, adding that just as Willie Nelson said: “positive thoughts breed positive results, so think positive,” she said.

will concede that every government inherently has its flaws. What’s important is the U.S., in my opinion, sets the benchmark for what a democracy should aspire to be and now, it has shown just how much power the people have in enforcing democracy.

Over the past few weeks, and months even, parties and candidates would have campaigned to try and garner the support of voters. And, crucial to anyone’s success- I believe- will be the ability to garner the votes of young persons, like myself. Of course, the larger parties understand this and would have included this in their campaigns.

But through diligence and actually scrutinising candidates, would lead you to understand what they stand for. Those that have caught my eyes, ears and mind are all of those who seek to use their voices to amplify the voices of others-those who seem as though they will use whatever position they are placed in to effect some sort of positive change in society.

Party loyalty is one thing, and I have no qualms with that if you truly believe that the party candidates will act in the best interest of the community. But if you are blindly supporting without scrutinising what the candidates stand for, I cannot understand that.

Now tomorrow, bright and early-starting from 06:00 hours- we each have the chance to go play our part in enforcing our democracy. I cannot emphasise how important it is to vote for policies and not personalities nor parties. Go out and vote!

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

First Lady’s Self Reliance and Success in Business workshops empower hundreds with business skills - Co-ops formed from the workshops benefit from $6 million SLED grants EMPOWERMENT is the process of becoming stronger and more confident, and it is particularly important in helping a person to become comfortable in making decisions that affect his or her life.

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, who has long been an advocate for the empowerment of women and girls, has spearheaded, and supported, several programmes which have played a pivotal role in equipping women across the country with the education and skills necessary to become decision-makers and business owners. Chief among those programmes is the Self Reliance and Success in Business workshop, which is hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Social Protection and Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated.

The programme, which targets women who are prospective business owners and business owners, is an intense five-day workshop which teaches the participants how to operate a legal business. It also includes a Quality of Life Plan and a Community component, which teaches women how to balance their responsibilities in the home with those of their business and how to contribute to their communities.

At the close of the workshop, the women are given a Certificate of Completion, which is recognised by the Small Business Bureau of the Ministry of Business. To date, 30 workshops have been completed across the country and 1,500 persons, including some men, have graduated.

Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally, who has thrown her support behind the Self Reliance workshop since its genesis in October 2015, said that it has benefited many women, families and communities across the country. Minister Ally, who first partnered with Mrs. Granger to host the workshops during her tenure as Minister of Social Cohesion, said, “The First Lady has a lot of initiative, a lot of drive and she is there making contacts and advancing how women can improve their lives in all spheres, and so we found it very opportune to work with the

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger addresses participants at a Self- Reliance and Success in Business workshop last year.

First Lady… so that we can finance them because these are very good programmes….

I can tell you for sure that it has really helped our women folk and so we have no hesitation in helping to finance [them].”

Director at Interweave Solutions (Guyana) Incorporated and Senior Facilitator of the Self Reliance workshops, Mr. Sanjay Yohann Pooran says on hearing the name of the workshop, many persons often only think of the economic impact, but this programme is more comprehensive.

“I will assure you that this programme facilitated by Interweave, an initiative of the First Lady, helps to solve social issues, we deal with challenges that you experience in the home, in your communities. We try to organise you into groups which are intended to help communities solve their own problems, which are intended to help women overcome challenges in the home,” he said. Additionally, he noted that the benefits of the workshop have been far-reaching and many graduates often contact him to testify of their success,

to express gratitude for the workshop, or even to exchange ideas and fine-tune their business expansion plans.

Ms. Loraine Hooper, a graduate of the January 2017 workshop held in Sisters Village, West Bank Demerara, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara (Region Three) is now the owner of Brilliant Minds Daycare. “I can assure you that the training did very well for me in terms of my personal business,” she said.

Since the training, Ms. Hooper now chairs the West Demerara Proactive Women Producers Co-operative Society, which was formed in fulfilment of the community component of the workshop. The group has also benefited from a $3 million grant from the Ministry of Social Protection’s Sustainable Livelihood Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) programme, to start a salt fish processing facility at Stanleytown Village, West Bank Demerara.

“After the programme we were really motivated as a group to do something and we [sought] advice and that led us to this co-operative…we have two staff that get their money as we work… When we started, we did many hundreds of pounds of fish and then, in the end, we didn’t have any market to take it off … so we identified the problems and we realised that we cannot do all of that fish at one time, we have to do it in stages… if we do 300lbs or 400lbs of fish now, we wait until half is sold before we do another set,” she said.

According to Ms. Hooper, the facility has been a boon to the community, which had been experiencing low morale since the closure of the sugar estate. “But things like these is what we need; we need even more training programmes to come into our community, especially for the women of the community. In Sisters, one of the things I recognise is that the people of that community, they never thought that a time would come when education especially, would be important,” she said.

The opening of the facility has also caused her and others to rethink what it means to earn a living and to consider becoming entrepreneurs. “We need to stop thinking that we only

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First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger interacts with participants of a Self- Reliance and Success in Business Workshop held at Fort Wellington, Mahaica- Berbice (Region 5) last year

can collect a salary, it is time for us to start paying out salaries and this training programme that we did is one that can assist you in doing that,” she said.

‘THINKING DIFFERENTLY’ According to Mr. Pooran, Ms. Hooper’s journey is one of several success stories from the workshop. “There are numerous examples of women who have gone back and made a change. They have started either businesses or grown or expanded enterprises which they had prior to joining the course; they have gone back and formed community groups and made a change… some of them have even gotten active in politics to take part in the Local Government Elections, because they have become more involved in the community,” he said.

Ms. Hooper has also acknowledged that the training has greatly impacted her views on women’s empowerment. At the Chairman of the Green Life Floral Co-op Society, Ms. Rohilda Glasgow, attends to plants at the co-operative’s nursery.

Ms. Deborah Fernandes and Ms. Barbara Boyce, were also invited to join the Co-op. In November 2017, the Co-op also benefited from a $3 million grant from the Ministry of Social Protection through the SLED programme.

Ms. Glasgow underscored that while many persons in the community have various skills, they don’t know to how to properly utilise them for trade. In order to provide employment opportunities for some of these persons, the Coop will soon start to cultivate cash crops. “We’re hoping to expand the co-operative because there are some persons within the group who does Ms. Loraine Hooper, beneficiary of a Self-Re- catering, some do knitting, some do liance and Success in Business workshop hair and nails and we are hoping to in Region Threee and Chairman of the West showcase everybody…In Sophia, Demerara Proactive Women Producers there weren’t really many activities Co-operative Society, stands in front of the going on, a lot of people had skills co-operative’s fish drying facility. but they didn’t really know what to do with it, so that is one of the main level of the community women’s empowerment is very important, she said, especially in reasons we started this…I think this is a very the country area where she resides. “Women good initiative, because one of the women believe that their place is really in the home… who came, she was able to use the money that but now it helps you to see that you can be a was given to her as a stipend and turned it over part of things, you can be a part of community and invested in pastry making. Now she has a development, for example, I am now running little business, she makes pastries and sells… for council. It helps you to see that women There was another one doing handbags and I can do things out there, we don’t have to stay think the training session encouraged her a lot at home… The smallest thing in the training to expand her business,” she said.

Ms. Glasgow praised the Office of helped us to start thinking differently, we want to be out there, we want to be involved,” she the First Lady and the Ministry of Social Protection for bringing the Self Reliance said.

The Self Reliance workshop has started workshop to the Sophia community. “It a movement of women inspired to change was very good for Sophia because before, their communities. Retired Police Officer, people in Sophia, we didn’t feel like if we Ms. Rohilda Glasgow believes that even after were counted, but then to have the First her retirement, she can still contribute to the Lady come in and do these projects in here, development of her community. A graduate it uplift us a lot, people feel real appreciated of the May of 2017 Self Reliance workshop, and they know that the Government has she pioneered the Green Life Floral Co-op this area at heart and they are going to do Society in North Sophia, which she operates a lot for us…I’ve been living in Sophia for along with her fellow graduates, Ms. Shellon the past 25 years, when we came there was Carmichael, Mr. Peter Elias, Mr. Abram no road, no light, no water, we came as Stokes, Ms. Roberta Thompson, Ms. Shaqua- pioneers. Since the new administration has na Chisholm, Ms. Keyanna Mars and Ms. taken office it has been transformed a lot.

Marilyn Abrahams. Two residents from the I know we have a long way to go but there community, who are known for the love of has been quite a lot of improvement in the cultivating ornamental plants in their yards, area,” she said.

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NAREI bids farewell to international partner PROPEL - Partnership impacted the local farming community AFTER years of making significant strides in the agricultural sector, the partnership between the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and Promotion of Regional Opportunities for Produce through Enterprises and Linkages (PROPEL) has ended.

PROPEL funded by the Canadian Government and implemented by World University Service of Canada (WUSC) assisted NAREI in the areas of sustainability, capacity building through training, and equipment support.

According to Dr. Oudho Homenauth, CEO of NAREI, “The partnership has progressed for some time now and has harvested positive results, some of which have been highlighted on numerous occasions…In fact this partnership has placed specific emphasis on promoting the cultivation and use of new crops and varieties, in this case, onions and potatoes.”

Through collaboration, the following key initiatives were administered throughout Guyana: Black Sigatoka Disease (BSD) Management Strategy; Pineapple Rehabilitation Programme; Crop Diversification through onion and potato production; and Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Trials.

BLACK SIGATOKA DISEASE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Between 2014 and 2016, PROPEL supported NAREI to produce extension materials to manage the BSD that affected the plantain industry. Farmers subsequently received technical training to enhance the production of plantains. As part of the

initiative, BSD Management Manuals and Tech Packs were developed and distributed.

Seven hundred farmers who benefited had adapted smarter farming techniques and gained more access to improved varieties. This resulted in better yields, improving efficiency in farming approaches and maximising profits. The quality of plantains available from these farmers was significantly improved countrywide.

PINEAPPLE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME In 2016, PROPEL supported NAREI to address some of the pest and disease issues experienced by pineapple farmers. Focus was placed on the transfer of production management practices for pineapples as a means of improving quality to meet new and emerging market opportunities.

Sixty-five pineapple farmers from Salem, East Bank Essequibo; Bonasika Creek, East Bank Essequibo; Linden/Soesdyke Highway and Canal No. 1 & 2, West Bank Demerara participated in the programme. They received extension service support, training in crop nutrition, and pest and disease management.

Each producer was provided with four different insecticides and a plant growth regulator. Through farmer to farmer contact and experience sharing, recommended practices were disseminated to the wider circle of pineapple producers. A year later, PROPEL’s Agricultural Extension Facilitators visited the farmers in the programme and reported widespread changes in the pest control approach among producers and significant increases in

locally grown onions and potatoes. This was done to examine consumers’ perception of the taste and preference of different varieties of potatoes and onions that were harvested. The event saw the participation of the Canadian High Commissioner to Guyana, His Excellency Pierre Giroux along with representatives of other key organisations.

production in the pineapple producing communities.

CROP DIVERSIFICATION In 2016, action-oriented research and demonstration plots for potatoes and onions were carried out for Guyana.

Despite the inclement weather, the potato and onion trials yielded evidence that these two crops can be commercially viable. BLT Enterprises supported the potato trials while Health 2000, Massy

Industries and Agro-In supported the onion trials. Each of these trials proved that these crops can be central to a market systems approach to agriculture development based on an import substitution and export-oriented approach.

A year later, PROPEL in partnership with NAREI and the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) hosted a Taste Testing forum inviting key officials to sample some dishes prepared using the

ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE TRIAL NAREI, PROPEL and input suppliers Health 2000, Massy Industries and AgroIn in partnership with farmers cultivating pineapples, vegetables and plantains conducted an Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Trial (ESAT) whereby a comparative analysis was done to assess the performance of organically based agro products and conventional agro-products on crops.

The majority of producers were aware of the use of environmentally friendly farming and the benefits of using organic inputs have been observed. Some noticeable or favourable results of trial plots included: • Extended shelf life for trial plots of crops such as bora and tomato • Production of more fruit/higher yields • More uniformed fruit • Increased fruit sizes • Better quality fruit • Decreased incidence of pests and diseases Farmers will continue using organic inputs due to the observed benefits mentioned above. They are now prepared to buy these inputs if they can be guaranteed a steady supply. Farmers also stated that the use of organic products will be better for aquatic life, which has been

seriously depleted because of the amount of pesticides used in cultivation.

NAREI’S SOIL TESTING ABILITY BOOSTED The soil testing capacity of NAREI was enhanced thanks to the PROPEL project through the donation of a LaMotte Soil Test Lab with reagents. NAREI is now able to provide farmers with recommendations following onthe-spot soil test for liming requirements, nutrient levels and fertiliser content.

CAPACITY BUILDING Participatory Farmer Field Schools The FFS participatory approach helped NAREI, PROPEL and other partners to provide critical capacity building to farmers who adapted to their local contexts so as to increase agricultural production and improve livelihoods.

This approach provided a forum for the exchange of experiences and expertise among farmers and extension officers, and helped farmers to learn by doing and provided them with the tools needed to analyse their practices and identify solutions to their problems.

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and PROPEL provided trainers to conduct several capacity building sessions focused on ‘Facilitating Participatory Farmer Field Schools’, for extension officers and technical teams of input suppliers who usually engage with farmers. The training covered aspects of modern extension techniques and emphasised ways to implement a participatory farmers’ field school for producers.

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Legal protection and social acceptance should be accorded to the LGBT community IN Guyana and Western societies as a whole, little serious and constructive attention had been paid to those persons of different sexual orientation until much after World War II. Such persons were never mentioned or discussed

in polite society or conversation. The celebrated case of Oscar Wilde, the great writer, was well-known. Most persons felt, at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, that the justification for his imprisonment for

homosexuality could not be disputed though it was deeply regretted that the career of one of the most brilliant writers in the English Language and one who could have contributed even more to world literature should have been destroyed by his imprisonment. Though there was apparent calm on the homosexual question, there always existed a deep underground of violence, harassment and vicious persecution of homosexuals which, from time to time, come into the open.

After World War II, sociologists, medical doctors, scientists, human rights activists and persons of compassion began to speak out about the plight of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender persons (LGBT). Vast numbers of people all over the western world began to feel the guilt of being complicit in the violent persecution, human rights violations, terrorisation and generally unacceptable barbarism which were being imposed on a number of innocent fellow-citizens and which they discovered for the first time. Accordingly, in several developed countries, the laws affecting LGBT people were reformed and they were given protection and rights they had never enjoyed before. This trend is gradually beginning to affect the developing countries, several of which are now mooting legislative reform.

In Guyana, the Human Rights Institute issued a Report on LGBT persons which gave instances of cruel and horrific violence meted out to such persons. These range from murder to being shunned and disowned by one’s family.

Despite the exposure of the wrongs and injustices which LGBT persons suffer, there is still a strong body of persons who genuinely believe that these people are cursed by God and that their sufferings are divinely ordained for their alleged wickedness. They strongly believe that extending tolerance to LGBT persons will destroy society, and they often quote the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorrah to support their belief.

This harsh attitude towards LGBT persons has its roots in the Semitic faiths. In East Asian faiths such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Hinduism, LGBT persons are never a special issue and coexist with all others without any special attention being paid to them.

In the Indian sub-continent, for example, LGBT persons are quietly given a special place in society. One of the common names by which such groups are known is ‘Hijerin’, a term which is descriptive rather than pejorative. The Hijerin are fully accepted in certain professions as singers and dancers though, no one is perturbed if Hijerin people are engaged in other employment. The Hijerin are almost regarded as a third sex. There is no negative or repulsive profiling of such groups in Asian societies unlike in western societies.

The tolerance and indeed acceptance which Asian societies accorded to LGBT persons over centuries has not led to the collapse of such societies nor has the wrath of God been especially inflicted on them. Indeed, over the last generation, Asian countries such as India and China have been growing in wealth, power and cohesion.

African societies which are still affiliated to their own ancient indigenous religions, and which have not been influenced by the Semitic faiths of Christianity and Islam, tend to be tolerant of LGBT persons and accord them acceptance.

There is no LGBT issue.

Asian countries, though they accord social acceptance to LGBT persons, have been gradually adopting Western legislation thus strengthening the protection of this group.

India, for instance, through its Supreme Court, has recently made same-sex marriages legal.

Though the focus of progressive Western governments is to establish and extend legal protection, social acceptance is very uneven and needs to be cultivated.

This could be approached through the education system where the myths relating to LGBT persons are exposed and the rational and scientific reasons for the existence of the LGBT orientation are taught. If some religious leaders are brought on board, it could help to quicken social acceptance. In Guyana, the movement towards social acceptance and full legal protection is now irreversible and we need to work single-pointedly towards the achievement of a more humane society.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018

Beyond the Runway

with Dr. Sonia Noel

... Inspiring lives through fashion MY friends are messaging me, telling me they are hopeful that I am resting from a hectic trip. I recently returned from the second phase of the LIVING WITH INTENTION US Tour and got into action immediately. Hours after getting off the plane I was worshipping at Love & Faith Ministries with Pastor Claude Brooks and the rest of the team. A couple hours after church I joined my two co-hosts, Dr. Colleen Bovell and Joan Jackie Butcher on the LIVING WITH INTENTION Radio Show on 96.1 Voice FM. My friend Mandy picked me up from the radio station for us to attend the Guyana Open Golf Tournament which was amazing. The Empowered Leadership Conference was on Monday and Tuesday and it was an honour to be on the panel with Ms. Michelle A. Nicholas, Nico Consulting Inc. and Mrs. Jacquelyn Gates - Shipe, Global Ties Alabama. I attended the Turkeyen and Rain Talks at the Pegasus Hotel. “Biodiversity and Guyana’s future” was the topic.

Congrats to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, Professor Ivelaw Griffith and team for these initiatives.

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association Award Presentations and Dinner was on Thursday evening and I was a guest of Clem Duncan and Swansea. I received two awards from GMSA a few years ago, and appreciate the gesture that they are acknowledging people in the manufacturing sector. Events like these allow me to catch up with people I have not seen in a while and to also meet new people. I admire how humble and cool Shyam Nokta is, and he has regained the status of president unopposed of the GMSA. In his welcome remarks and year in review, Mr. Nokta reiterated the decline in our economic performance in the manufacturing sector “One of the major challenges to manufacturing is energy the high cost coupled with issues of stability and reliability has pushed many manufacturers off the grid and to self-generate. Tax measures introduced in Budget 2017 such as VAT on electricity further compounded this issue and continue to affect manufacturers in 2018. The GMSA hopes that Budget 2019 will be crafted in a way that overcomes these problems and stimulates the economy to put the country back on track to five per cent or more growth.

The GMSA sees a critical role for the manufacturing and services sector in helping to realise this,” the GMSA president said. He touched on critical issues such as local content, legislation for a Petroleum Commission and a Sovereign Wealth Fund legislation.

Guest speaker was Honourable Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar. She was so sophisticated in her mate gold outfit with turquoise highlights. She emphasised the importance of the continued great relations with Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

She advised Guyana not to make the same mistake Trinidad made and continue to give attention to other sectors such as agriculture.

She advised on the strengthening of our education and health sectors and not to neglect the human resource which is the most valuable of all resources. I know a lot of us will agree with that because if we don’t add value to our people we will not realise the development that is anticipated.

I was with the beautiful Alexandra Correia who shared table 16 with us. We spoke on the phone and communicated by mails but met for the first time. I must say when I solicited a prize for the LIVING WITH INTENTION raffle she did not hesitate to offer a trip for two to Baganara Island. I also had the chance to chat with the charming and confident Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar about the importance of vital leadership positions for the healing that is so badly needed in the world. We also discussed some mutual friends we have in Trinidad. She reassured me that she will be back as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and I believe she will.

Listening to her reminded me of a quote by Rosa Parks: “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up,

GMSA Award Presentation and Dinner this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

I am inviting you to join us this afternoon at 15:00hrs on 96.1 Voice FM as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page VII

Nigel Carter, Owner and Founder of Foodmonkey

The customer has one version of the Foodmonkey app.

“The restaurant receiving the order will have another app, the delivery guy has another app,” Carter related. “So it’s three apps synchronised and they speak to each other.” The customer places the order through the app. The restaurant receives and accepts the order, estimating a preparation time.

The deliveryman also receives a notification that an order was placed along with the order details. He accepts the order and gives an estimated delivery time. The customer receives all of these updates on their version of the app. The app is available for both customers and businesses to use free of charge, Carter noted.

He explained that establishing a business, the nature of which had never been done in Guyana before, required a lot of groundwork. “I took a lot of things into consideration,” Carter said. He acknowledged that there are many delivery services that have already been established. His goal in establishing Foodmonkey was to eliminate the middleman, as it were. The app allows customers to interact directly with the restaurants and have their food delivered without having to first contact a delivery service. Carter revealed that the delay in the launch of Foodmonkey was due to him needing to finesse and ensure that he had taken everything into consideration.

There is always room for improvement according to Carter. It is constant work keeping track of improvements that can be made in future upgrades of the Foodmonkey app.

“The coming months will be really exciting, you’re going to see a lot of new changes [and] a lot of upgrades,” he said.

Though there have been a few hiccups, thus far, Carter is sure to communicate with valued users and update them on any difficulties being experienced with their orders. In some instances, he has waived delivery charges when orders take an especially long time. “I’m not looking at profits right now, I’m looking to get this app out there.”

Carter programmatically tests the system as much as possible. He looks for common errors that users might make and corrects them. “I test the system daily,” he said. “It’s user-friendly but there’s always room for improvements.” He also tries his best to get feedback from users. Carter has an aim in mind. “What I want to do is make this app a one-stop shop,” he affirmed. He hopes to be able to someday soon offer groceries and bakery products through Foodmonkey. He is also working on an addition he is keeping under wraps, one that he said will require legislative changes and is in keeping with a ‘green’ Guyana.

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The foldable phones are coming

Futuristic-looking bendable tablets and smartphones have captured our imagination for years. Whether it’s the folding tablets found in Westworld or the many booklike slates with foldable pages in Microsoft’s future vision videos, a phone that folds out into a much larger device is dreamlike. Samsung is now trying to make these wild concepts a reality.

The Galaxy maker showed off its new Infinity Flex Display earlier in the week, a display technology that will allow a tablet-sized screen to fold into a device that approximates the size and shape of a smartphone. While we’ve seen flexible and bendable wearable devices, this is one of the first times we’ve seen such a display in a phone that’s rumoured to ship in 2019. Samsung’s device was “disguised” by what appears to be a chunky case, and shown only under dim light, but it’s far more than just concept art.

Samsung is actually using two separate displays to create its foldable phone — one on the inside, and a smaller display on the outside — unlike Royole’s FlexPai, which uses a single folding display on the outside of the device. Samsung’s internal display is 7.3 inches with a 1536 x 2152 resolution (4.2:3). It folds in half to reveal a second display on the front of the device. This second “cover display,” as Samsung calls it, functions as a 4.58-inch phone interface with a resolution of 840 x 1960 (21:9). It’s also flanked by much larger bezels at the top and bottom compared to the internal display. Although it looks very stocky, Samsung says the device hiding inside the disguise is actually “stunning.”

This combination of displays has given us an early glimpse at what to expect from foldable phones in 2019 and beyond. As glass is not pliable, Samsung has had to develop new materials to protect its new display. The Infinity Flex Display uses a polymer that Samsung says is both “flexible and tough,” meaning it can keep its strength even when folded and unfolded “hundreds of thousands of times.” Samsung has combined this with a new adhesive that laminates the various display layers together to allow them to flex. None of this is glass, though, so it could feel a little different than what we’re used to with modern phones, tablets, and touchpads.

Just as smartphones started off with plastic resistive Turn to page XXXII►►►

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displays and stylus input, before the iPhone showed that capacitive touch on glass was the future, this foldable era will include compromises before the technology advances.

Samsung’s device, while pocketable, didn’t look particularly thin compared to modern smartphones. The bezels when folded for use as a phone are also giant compared to modern edge-to-edge flagships, and the folding display Samsung has chosen makes the device very tall when closed. ”Folding phones are the 3D TV of the mobile world,” proclaimed Wall Street Journal tech columnist Christopher Mims on Twitter. Samsung, LG, and many other TV manufacturers famously pushed 3D TVs to consumers at various annual Consumer Electronics Shows, but they never really caught on.

They were seen as a gimmick to sell more 1080p TVs without offering a superior viewing experience. Not everyone agrees that foldable phones will flop, though.

“Few are debating ‘if’ foldable or rollable mobile displays are the future of smartphones, the only question is when and by whom,” explains Patrick Moorhead, an industry analyst at Moor Insights and former AMD executive. “The core benefit of a foldable smartphone is that the user can have the benefit of a larger display but can still fit it into their pocket, coat, or purse.”

In 2011, the giant 5.3-inch display on the Galaxy Note was met with guffaws in tech circles. Today we just call phablets, phones. Similarly, the curved display on the oft-ridiculed Galaxy Note Edge and Galaxy Round eventually morphed into the Infinity Displays found on Samsung’s modern S-series of flagships. If foldable phones follow a similar journey, then Samsung’s first device won’t completely capture the design’s potential — instead, it’ll mark the beginning of an emerging battle over this intriguing display technology.

“This isn’t just a concept,” says Justin Denison, SVP of mobile product marketing at Samsung. “The breakthroughs we’ve made in display materials have been matched by breakthroughs in manufacturing. As a result, we’ll be ready to start mass production in the coming months.”

LG’S ROLLABLE TV The emergence of mass production means device makers will be able to pick this display just like they already do with Samsung’s OLED panels. Huawei is reportedly planning to release a foldable handset next year. Lenovo and Xiaomi have also teased their own prototypes, and LG is also working on its own flexible OLED displays and TVs that roll up into a box. The 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in January could be an initial battleground for foldable devices, fueled on by Android’s official support for foldable displays.

Google’s support will be key, as this type of new form factor will require a close coupling of hardware and software.

Samsung is creating its own Multi Active Window software that will allow its foldable phone to display three apps at the same time. Multitasking is only one aspect of software, and Samsung together with Google will need to optimize the entire Android UI and experience for these types of devices.

Apple has traditionally excelled at hardware and software integration. In fact, there are rumors that a foldable iPhone could appear within the next two years.

Foldable phones are the obvious initial market for this screen technology, but manufacturers will get far more ambitious as the display technology matures. Samsung is also promising rollable and stretchable OLED displays in the future. Imagine folding or rolling a 55-inch TV into something that will fit into your bag, or finally replacing pen and paper with a foldable tablet. It sounds unbelievable right now, but we’re only at the very beginning of our flexible future.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 11, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XVII

CURRENTLY, IN GUYANA… Many indigenous persons are already being trained and are working in this field. Let’s take as an example, the Iwokrama International Centre. It is one of the main eco-tourism destinations in Guyana which allows tourists to experience the serenity of the country’s rainforest. The visitors, who stay at the Iwokrama River Lodge, are able to enjoy the scenery through hikes, camping activities and water sports. Most of the persons employed at the centre are the local indigenous people who are trained to accomplish the jobs they are hired for. It is noteworthy to mention that the Centre also allocated areas for sustainable logging, forest management training and research, encouraging a variety of job opportunities for the locals.

Through ecotourism, indigenous communities are able to be more economically independent. Many of these communities in Guyana are developing their capacities to come on board this journey. For example, Surama Eco-Lodge is a community-based ecotourism which allows visitors to experience nature and the indigenous culture. The project is managed by the local people who also make up the entire staff body. Locals make use of their natural and traditional culture to develop an ecotourism experience for tourist to enjoy.

There is even a two-week jungle survival course guests can take part in. In addition, the lodge is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and the entire operation relies on solar energy. Travelling to Guyana is an experience like no other, many tourists flock Kaieteur National Park, Shell Beach, and Arrow Point Nature Resort.

APPROACHING WITH CAUTION Indeed, Guyana is already benefiting from ecotourism and we should continue developing this sector. However, if areas are not properly managed, it can have a significant effect on wildlife and can lead to environmental degradation The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorises ecotourism lodges, particularly those that are in sensitive areas and/ or have 10 rooms or more rooms, since it is likely that a large number of visitors would result in environmental impacts. If this happens, it defeats the purpose of promoting ecotourism, as the conservation aspect which is a crucial part of it, will be removed. Further, the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is working with Swiss contact to strengthen the capacities of leaders in the travel and tourism sector and move towards a demand-based approach to guide tourism product and infrastructure development.

If you wish to know more about the state and trends of Land Resources in Guyana, you can download the State of the Environment Report 2016 from the EPA’s website, www. epaguyana.org You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram ◄◄◄ From page XVIII

Try mindfulness meditation! While I understand that many people don’t believe this works, it is very effective in reducing common symptoms of social anxiety. Mindfulness is a meditation technique designed to acknowledge and accept where you are in your life. It is an attempt to control your breathing and quiet your thoughts, only allowing yourself to focus on the present.

People with social anxiety tend to over think and mindfulness teaches how to get back to the present as well as settle the jumbled thoughts in your head.

The controlling of thoughts will help with the anxiety that comes with interaction. During a conversation, those with social anxiety are preoccupied with their own irrational thoughts rather than what the person is actually saying. For example, you may be focused on what you previously said, how the person may have taken it if you have something in your teeth and a million other things. Practising mindfulness will result in a more focused present.

I realise it is difficult to seek help for social anxiety with social anxiety! It requires a lot of strength and tolerance.

However, I need to reiterate how crucial treatment is as untreated anxiety can lead to other mental health issues such as depression, substance abuse and agoraphobia which occurs when the fear becomes so intense that even leaving the house becomes an issue. Please let me know if there are any other disorders you would like to talk about.

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 – 223-0001, 223-0009, 6234444 or 600-7896 Do not be afraid to reach out!

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(2) The jury should have been told that if they accepted Troyer’s evidence then, Ramadan’s identification at the parade was unsatisfactory hence, they should attach little weight to her identification in court.

(3) The jury should have been directed that if they believed that the accused was the only man on parade with gold teeth, the parade would have been unfairly conducted and they should attach little weight to it.

(4) The defence was not properly left to the jury. The accused was alleging oppression and victimisation on the part of the police, and the judge should have told the jury to acquit if they believe this was so.

(5) The trial judge was in error when he allowed the accused after conviction to plead to six other charges, forming the subject of five outstanding indictable offences with a view to having them taken into consideration, and to proceed to sentence him in respect of those charges.

(6) The correct procedure is for the judge merely to ask the accused whether he admits his guilt on the outstanding offences. The accused must be sentenced only once, i.e., in respect of the offence for which he was tried and found guilty. The idea of taking other offences into consideration is merely to measure the appropriate sentence.

The Appellate Court allowed the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentences.

Delivering the judgment of the Court, Justice of Appeal Mr. Keith Massiah had said “The appellant was indicted with and convicted of robbery under arms, contrary to Section 222 © of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01. The allegation of the State was that, while armed with a knife he had robbed one Violet Ramadan of a wristwatch and a ring. There was evidence that while she was in the Le Repentir Cemetery with her husband on March 30, 1975, at about 4.15 p.m. the appellant went up to her, placed a knife to her chest, pulled her wristwatch from her left hand and opened his mouth as if to bite her finger to get off the ring. Ramadan told him not to bite her and in fear handed the ring to him.

“Five weeks later, on May 4, 1975 at an identification parade conducted at the Ruimveldt Police Station Ramadan identified the appellant as the person who had taken her watch and ring. Counsel for the appellant contended in this court, as the appellant had complained in the court below, that the identification parade was unfairly conducted.

“At the trial three different versions were given as to how the appellant came; to be identified. Ramadan said that she identified the appellant and then asked him to open his mouth “to be doubly sure” and that “the gold teeth in (his) mouth made (her) doubly sure”. Inspector Hubert Troyer, who conducted the identification parade, said something different. He testified that Ramadan “looked at the parade and asked (him) to cause the men on the parade to open their mouths” and that when they did so, Ramadan “then touched the accused on his shoulder”. The appellant, in his statement from the dock, said that the men on parade were first asked to show their teeth and that he was the only man who had gold teeth.

He was clearly saying that he was identified by his gold teeth.

“The sum total of Ramadan’s evidence on this issue is that she identified the appellant partly by his gold teeth, whereas Troyer’s evidence suggests that she identified him wholly by them. What must be noted, is that Troyer’s version was the same as the appellant’s, save that whereas the appellant claimed that he was the only person on the parade with gold teeth. Troyer said that there were others.

After citing a number of similar fact cases in which the Court of Criminal Appeal had allowed appeals and quashed the convictions, Justice of Appeal Massiah, who later became Chancellor of the Judiciary, allowed the appeal and quashed and set aside the conviction and sentence. Chancellor Haynes and Justice of Appeal Crane concurred.

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STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Even though your examinations are not a test of spelling; you, an aspiring professional, as well as being able to express yourself, should also be able to spell. A great spelling ability is a huge asset to any self-respecting person. It is also a great expectation of any organisation. Examiners constantly stress the need for good spelling. Teach yourself to spell your own list of problem words. Try to eliminate spelling mistakes from every facet of your life. Be wise.

Love you THE PASSAGE a. There’s something sad

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English

about the glass with lipstick on its mouth that’s pointed at and given back to the waitress in disgust Like the girl with the hair-lip whom no one wants to kiss b. Alone he walks He walks alone He has no friends And has no home I noticed something from the back He is alone because he’s black c. Cause and Effect He thought before the war Of conflicts, heroism, enemies Who had to be crushed; Causes that had to be fought for.

He had no time before the war For bright skies, fields, the warm

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Sun, his woman – only Causes that had to be What is am epigram? A dwarfish whole, fought for.

Its body brevity, and wit its soul.

I see him now after the SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE war (1772-1834) In my lifetime. I noDid certain persons die before they sing. tice his love Of the sun, bright skies, fields, his woman: (the phase of grammar which deals Causes that have to be fought for. with the relationship of words within Something to Do a sentence), try to show wisdom in 1. Read the poems through until the following questions. you clarify them in your mind. Then 1. In the first sentence find an addo the following: jectival phrase and the noun it moda. Write the meaning of each. ifies. Find the other adjective and b. Describe the structure of each in describe it. simple language.

2. In the second sentence underline c. Tell about the imagery in each. two main clauses, and one adjective 2. Use a suitable graphic device clause. like a map, web, or any other way of 3. Is the third sentence simple, illustration to express key words in a, complex or compound? Say how you b, and c, using key words taken from arrived at your response. the text.

4. Find an adverb clause of time 3. Ask your study partners to in sentence four. What time are we explain to one another how and why reading about? they produced their diagrams.

5. Say whether the fifth sentence is 4. Write a report, on the efforts of simple, complex, or compound. Tell the group, to cover all three areas. why.

6. Name one noun, one verb, one GRAMMAR adjective, and one adverb in the last Once the area around the main sentence of the passage. park had been residential and fashion7. Look at this sentence: The duckable. But the people who had lived lings crossed the busy intersection at there had emigrated or had moved up Brummell Place. State the complete to the hills; and the big private houses predicate, and the object of the verb. around the park had been turned into government offices or restaurants or LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS business offices and later, with indeVocabulary and spelling pendence, into embassies and consulA.. 1. In the last edition, the pubates. The Prince Albert was still, in lishers made changes. 2. The slugger spite of renovations and additions in hit the ball into the upper tier of seats. concrete, and in spite of its internal 3. Immortal books should be in every iron pillars, like a grand old-fashlibrary. 4. Mr Butterfly’s attitude ioned estate house, an affair of timber could test anyone’s patience. 5. All and polished floors, with an open the partners agreed that the supervisor veranda-like lobby. Once it had been had made a judicious decision. 6. barred to black people and received When the work hours were shortened, tourists from the cruise ships coming the morale improved. 7. The superdown from the north, sightseers only visor implied that I could go to the in those days, the tourists went to the conference. 8. The judge instructed beach hotels; the Prince Albert had two disinterested parties to decide become local. The uniforms of door- the dispute. 9. A large number of man and waiters were not as crisp out-patients were awaiting their turns. and starched as they would once have 10. The company’s decision will afbeen; the building itself had begun fect all new employees. to go in parts, with yielding floorB.. Matching definitions with the boards in the lobby. At lunchtime foreign words and phrases the renovated air-conditioned bar was 1. cognoscenti g) the knowlbusy, with people who worked in the edgeable; 2. a priori f) presupoffices nearby; so that the atmosphere posed through experience; 3. was casual, where once it had been ennui d) boredom; 4. ne plus exclusive. But to Jimmy the name, ultra c) the best possible; 5. hoi Prince Albert, still had a wonderful polloi a) the common people; 6. sound, still suggested privilege and troika h) three who govern; 7. splendor. junta e) a council that governs; Something to Do 8. ingenue b) an actress who plays As a revision purpose in syntax a naive young girl.

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Rasgulla INGREDIENTS 6 pts fresh milk 2 lbs white sugar (approx.)

Lime juice or vinegar (Yields 30-40)

INSTRUCTIONS Boil milk.

Add lime juice or vinegar to turn (curdle) the milk.

Drain in a cloth placed on a colander.

When completely drained, soften the cheese (paneer) and form into small balls.

Make a thin syrup of sugar and boil for five minutes, using proportion of one cup sugar to four cups of water.

Drop the balls in boiling syrups.

Cover and cook for fifteen minutes.

Cool before serving.

PS. You may add 1 tablespoon white flour and 1 teaspoon ghee to the paneer before shaping it.

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