Guyana Chronicle PepperPot E-paper 11-18-2018

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Dr Remeeza McDonald, Opthamlogist and Medical Superintendent attached to LHC

‘My role is to serve’ Linden’s lone ophthalmologist aiming to provide quality eye care service to residents

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Tailoring

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

A dying trade

The Ramnarine brothers at work in their tailor shop at Alexander Street, Kitty Ravi sewing a suit from scratch

By Michel Outridge TAILORING is a trademark in the Ramnarine family, who operates a tailoring shop at Alexander Street, Kitty.

The brothers are Rajesh and Ravi Ramnarine, who work side by side to meet deadlines to outfit customers with clothing that give them a ‘good fit.’

Rajesh, in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, said tailoring is a profession that has to be ‘in your blood’. For Rajesh and his brother, they have followed in the steps of

their late grandfather and father.

In his boyhood days, the family had a tailor shop on Regent Street and it was there he spent many of his days. Both his grandfather and father were village tailors and he used to watch them work and since then he knew he knew what he wanted to do for a living.

The Ramnarines are originally from Covent Garden on the East Bank of Demerara but they relocated to Alexander Street, Kitty where they have been residing for the past 30 years.

They are well-known tailors in their com-

munity, as such, they have a busy schedule and their place of business which is also their home, is often frequented by customers.

Rajesh said that being a third-generation tailor is rewarding for him because he likes what he does, and it has been his occupation since he formally exited the school system.

Rajesh is hoping that the profession is passed down to his children but if doesn’t, that’s no problem, he said.

“This is what I know and I have been doing this for the past 30 years. In this job you got to love it to keep going, because you encounter all kinds of people, that is, customers and it is rewarding if you know how to deal with them,” he said.

Rajesh, who is married with two children, said his day of work starts 08:30hrs up until 19:00hrs daily and he has no choice but to work weekends too to meet the demand of customers.

DYING TRADE But while his business is still a busy one, Rajesh said that tailoring as a profession is a thing of the past because these days, young people are hardly looking toward that kind of trade.

Rajesh recognised also that there aren’t many tailors around, maybe a few scattered here and there, he said, but not very many people do the work these days.

He related that mostly women work in the sewing business nowadays and fewer men are tailors, adding that back in the days older men were good tailors.

CHANGING TRENDS Rajesh told the Pepperpot Magazine with the changing trends in both men and women, he must keep up with ever-changing fashion since people want to be in style.

He admitted that back then, people wore simple clothes like a ‘bell-bottom’ pants and a saltire shirt complimented that outfit. Today it is different since every day is a new style and customers want to make a fashion statement.

The Ramnarine brothers specialise in suits for men and women as well as work dresses, pants among other things.

Rajesh candidly joked that neither his father nor grandfather would have been able to cope with the ever-changing fashion of today.

“Customers come with a specific pattern and you have to get it right the first time for that perfect fit and that is how you keep customers happy and they will come for services,” he said.

He explained that on any given day they divide the workload because customers would want their suits a certain day and they have to finish them because they don’t want disgruntled clients.

Rajesh pointed out that when he is able to please his customers it is a good feeling, knowing they sew a good skirt or pants and when the customer puts it on and it is well fitted, that’s really good for business and self-satisfaction.

Being a good tailor is always about conditioning the mind, says Rajesh, who believes that everything is possible with the right attitude and self–application because being a tailor requires a lot of patience.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

‘My role is to serve’

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Linden’s lone ophthalmologist aiming to provide quality eye care service to residents

By Vanessa Braithwaite IT may seem an overwhelming task serving as the only person in an entire region giving hope to persons in need of improving their vision, whether it is through surgical procedure or treatment. This may be the case of Dr. Remeeza McDonald, who, in addition to being the lone Ophthalmologist in Region 10, also serves as the Medical Superintendent of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC). She, however, does it selflessly and diligently and has received overwhelming commendation and positive feedback from the hundreds of patients she has attended during her stint.

She is the reason hundreds of Linden patients are receiving better eye care daily. McDonald has been a pillar of strength for many residents and has made their dreams for better vision realised. She has been described as a thoughtful and highly esteemed doctor who seeks nothing but the best care and solutions to eye diseases, and her many success stories and clean track record can attest to this.

McDonald is a wife and mother of two and has been a general medical practitioner for 13 years but has specialised in ophthalmology for the last six years. Within that period, she has performed cataract and other related eye surgeries on hundreds of patients in Linden. It was to fill that gap that McDonald decided to specialise in ophthalmology. “We didn’t have anyone in Linden to deal with any eye diseases. Patients had to be referred to Georgetown, so when the opportunity came for me to study

Dr McDonald attending to a patient

in the field, I took it,” McDonald said.

She, however, did not realise that her service to her community would have been so treasured and this, she says, brings her the greatest joy since she is able to give back to her community, which she loves very much.

“I’m happy to give back to Linden. My town has given me so much, in love, in teaching and in fellowship. I love Linden. It’s a closeknit community that embraces and looks out for its people. It’s a safe place and most importantly, anything you need, you can find right here in Linden,” she noted.

The happy faces that patients have after surgery, McDonald said, motivates her the most as many of those patients would have attested to being fully dependent on family members for daily care. With her blessed hands, she is able to assist them in regaining

sight and independence. This, she said, is what she loves about her job the most.

Despite her recent promotion to the second highest rank at LHC, she remembers that her priority is to serve and to serve those who need eye care. Hence, she ensures proper time management to balance her workload.

With the recently opened, spanking new ophthalmology department at LHC, McDonald said the standard of the eye care patients receive has definitely improved and has, therefore, made her work easier. “We have

an ideal set-up where the Ophthalmologist and Optometrist work in the same area. That makes referrals quicker. We also have a great complement of nurses who work very well in managing the patients daily.” Her only little challenge, however, is, “…getting the equipment and materials needed for continuous surgery and glaucoma tests,” she said.

While she may be there to treat and save the eyes, McDonald’s theory is that prevention is better than care and so she continues to urge residents of Linden and citizens of Guyana, in general, to take care of their eyes since losing one’s sight can be devastating. Her tips are: 1. Wear protective glasses when one is about to hammer a nail. Too many eyes were lost through this simple act. Use protective glasses at work when doing any construction.

It may look ‘not cool’ but God only gave us two eyes, let’s try to keep them.

2. Use sunglasses when outside to protect against the UV rays of the sun. This can prevent Cataract.

3. If you have children whose eyes seem to be looking the other way or are not straight, bring them early to the eye clinic 4. If you have family members with glaucoma, kindly come in for a check-up because you may have it too.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

‘Teaching took me out of poverty’ Well-loved teacher reflects on his decades as an educator Pepperpot Magazine, Beepat said that he began teaching at the Riverstown Primary in 1999 as an Agriculture Teacher. He worked until 2013 then moved to Smith Memorial Primary in Georgetown where he pursued his studies at CPCE and the University of Guyana.

He was recently appointed as a Graduate Headmaster of Mashabo Primary School which is located approximately 20 minutes from the Huis T’ Dieren Public Road. Pupils from the school who wrote the Grade Six Assessment while under his watch were able to gain entry to “List A” Secondary schools, which was a first

Sir Modi Ram Beepat

By Indrawattie Natram Growing up as a small boy, finances were among the major challenges Modi Ram Beepat of Vilvordeen Village on the Essequibo Coast. However, this did not deter him from pursuing his education and becoming a high-respected individual in his community. Sir Beepat has 20 years’ experience in teaching and currently holds a Trained Teacher’s Certificate and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (Primary).

The father of two is presently in his second year pursuing a Master in Education, Management and Supervision at the University of Guyana. During an interview with the

Beepat with teachers from the Mashabo Primary

for the school after more than 30 years. This, he said, was his greatest achievement.

“I am motived to work even harder with this new batch. One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, or the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child,” Beepat explained.

STRUGGLES Beepat drew inspiration to become a teacher from his illiterate father.

He said his father did Beepat with the pupils of Mashabo Primary not get to pursue an education because he had to drop out of school to support his siblings.

He further explained that his father worked tirelessly as a labourer to send his children to school, and in return he pledged to make him

‘Reading is the gateway to knowledge. I believe that children learn to read then read to learn. Once they can read, it is possible that they will pass their exams and cope with life in the wider world,” Beepat said.

When asked what his biggest challenge was growing up, he said finance, since his parents were poor. “I had gained a place at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School (ARMS) when I wrote the NGSA [which was called the Secondary School Entrance Examination at the time]. I attended ARMS for the first year. During that year I usually walked to school from Columbia. My parents then transferred me to Abrams Zuil Secondary and purchased a bicycle for me. I rode for four years from Vilvordeen to Abram Zuil and motivated myself with my dream of becoming a teacher. I am proud of my accomplishments today,” Beepat reminisced.

20 YEARS OF TEACHING Having taught for 20 years, Beepat said that he found it enjoyable and he doesn’t think there is any other job more satisfying than teaching. He said teachers determine the future of children and if you don’t put 100 per cent into it, then you won’t get that satisfying

Sir Modi Ram with the children from Mashabo Primary

proud by joining the teaching profession so he can educate others.

“I usually keep this quote close to me:

feeling when they graduate.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

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Revolutionising cane juice for a safer, healthier drink become a businessman.

Blackman said that though his dream was real and felt like fire in his soul he did not go for it immediately. After completing secondary school he started working at then Guyana Electricity Corporation (GEC) as an apprentice in 1990. The apprenticeship programme lasted four years after which he became a permanent member of staff in 1995.

He was later promoted from an apprentice to Technician III; later Technician II and Technician I after passing a number of tests and doing other programmes.

“In 2006 and 2011 respectively I completed the Diploma and Degree programmes in Electrical Engineering at the University of Guyana, after which I continued to function

Samuel Blackman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of B&S Green Fields Sugarcane Juice

By M Margaret Burke “THERE comes a time in life when one cannot ignore the constant whisper in your head; a whisper that gets louder by the day; hence my decision to act to that voice which was telling me not only to become a businessman but to make a difference Odetta Nedd, fiancée and business partner of B&S Green Fields Sugarcane Juice with their son, Colin Blackman, along with Samuel Blackman

in the process,” said Samuel Blackman, Founder of Blackman and Sons (B&S) Green Fields Sugarcane Juice.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that at the age of 11 years old he remembers his father asking him what he would like to become when he was older. He said that without hesitation, his response was that he would like to

in different capacities at GPL for 23 years; my last position being that of an Electrical Engineer in the Transmission and Distribution area,” Blackman stated.

PREPARATION FOR BUSINESS He said that he believes that in all of his pursuits he was being prepared for the role he now has in business. In addition to his electrical qualifications, in 2017 he went on to become a Certified Associate in Project Management from the PMI Institute in the United States of America. At the same time, Blackman said that he functioned in an engineering capacity both at the Power Station and Transmission & Distribution level.

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STEM

By Gibron Rahim

WE live in a time of rapid technological advancement. Young people, in particular, are leading the way into the future with drive and dedication. STEMGuyana is at the forefront of training and empowering young people to live up to and even beyond their potential. Indeed, the impact on their lives goes well beyond the knowledge they gain.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Guyana

Changing the lives of young people

Jahi Ghansam joined STEMGuyana in October 2017. He told the Pepperpot Magazine that he met the organisation through a seminar held at Starr Computers. He recalled that STEMGuyana showcased a robot that could build a Rubik’s cube at that event. “And that really grasped my attention and I wanted to find out more about what they do,” he said.

Jahi has learnt numerous soft skills as a result of being a part of STEMGuyana.

Notable among them are critical thinking

Ghwan Lynch

skills and cohesive skills. He admitted that he had always been a shy person who kept to himself. However, working in teams brought him out of his shell. He recalled that there was a competition involving a Lego Mindstorm Kit earlier this year. That was his group’s first major project amongst themselves. “It was nice working with a team,” said Jahi.

“We learnt stuff like programming the robot [and] building it, you had to think outside the box.” Such experiences motivate participants to leave their comfort zones and express themselves, he explained.

The skills Jahi has gained can be applied to other life challenges. He related that he used to fear presentations but now he flows with them. His interactions with other people have improved. His area of interest is computer science which he studied at the Government Technical Institute (GTI). Jahi’s goal is to work in software development. “You need problem-solving skills and [STEMGuyana] aided in the development of such skills,” he said.

STEMGuyana provides opportunity and exposure according to Jahi. “They give youths who don’t really have much exposure to technology a chance to showcase their talents,” he stated. He pointed out that a lack of finances can act as a barrier in today’s world. He noted that STEMGuyana currently has numerous ongoing programmes. Among

them is the FIRST Global Challenge which was started in 2017. Guyana took the 10th position in last year’s competition. Jahi took part in that competition. He related that he got the opportunity to travel overseas and meet new people while at the same time getting to work with his team on their project. There is also the Scratch Programming League which introduces coding in a child-friendly manner to youths across Guyana.

Michael Sampson has also been part of STEMGuyana since October 2017. He was part of the same GTI computer science class that attended the seminar at STARR Computers. He recalled that computer programming, an area he is interested in, was mentioned among the programmes being offered. “I went up to them, had a conversation with them and found out how I could join and that was where I started from,” he said.

Michael mentioned critical thinking as one of the skills he has learnt since being part of STEMGuyana. He noted that he has found greater confidence in his work. “I communicate better with persons,” he explained.

“I look at problems differently from how I previously used to look at them.” Michael pointed out that before STEMGuyana he was not very confident speaking to or approaching people he did not know.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

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First-time voters: Empowered and filled with Pride a right and a responsibility.

“Voting should not necessarily be an option, it should be a priority,” he stressed.

Shiwprashad, just a bit more mellow than Rajak, shared that it was important to vote so that someone in his community with a vision or goal would have a chance to represent and improve his community.

The young man shared: “I felt a sense of pride being a first-time voter. I felt I was doing my part as Guyanese in talking the first

Kenita Roberts

ocratic right to say what we want done in our communities and in our country and voting is the way we express that right and express our voices,” he opined.

The young man also posited that the only way to effect positive change is by electing someone capable enough of doing just that- representing people’s needs and sees that they are met as best as possible.

And for him, this is not just a choice, it is

Noah Rajak

By Vishani Ragobeer ALMOST an entire generation would have grown up without ever experiencing Local Government Elections (LGEs). But these elections have found their way back into Guyana’s governance landscape and persons have the opportunity to elect their community representatives once more.

The elections made their comeback in 2016, but then Noah Rajak and Timothy Shiwprashad- both 19-years-old, were not of the voting age. This time around however they were, and they wasted no time in exercising their franchise.

“I feel like, for the first time, I can truly have a say in the way things are, and need to be done, in my community,” Noah explained and added, “It makes me feel as though I finally have a seat at the table, and I’m ready to place my order.” Evidently excited about being able to vote for the first time, he described it as an “empowering” experience (emPOWERing for emphasis).

“As eligible citizens, we are given a dem-

Timothy Shiwprashad

step in making a change.”

Shiwprashad, a student at the University of Guyana (UG), noted that there are some changes he would like to see in his community. And not just because he wants a nicer, more aesthetically-pleasing living space, but so that members of the communityparticularly the youth- can dwell in a better community.

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One Hundred Years since the end of World War ll

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

By Francis Quamina Farrier LAST Sunday, November 11, 2018, many countries around the world, including Guyana, observed Remembrance Day as their citizens paid tributes to those who served in the First and Second World Wars and especially to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice with their WW ll Veteran Benjamin Durant at his Birthday Bash last very lives.

Thursday. (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier) There were clouds over Hindu and Muslim - showing that there is the City of Georgetown as veterans, government and other officials religious freedom and religious tolerance in and civilian made their way to the Cenotaph Guyana. The clouds which blanketed the city at the junction of Main and Church Streets at that first of the two Remembrance Day for the traditional 08:00hrs Wreath-Laying ceremonies, this year, were more protective Ceremony. Also present were members of than threatening rain. By the 11th hour, the the Diplomatic Corps. Many laid wreaths, clouds had all but drifted away revealing an including Prime Minister, Hon. Moses Nag- almost entirely cloudless blue sky.

Unlike previous years, there was a second amootoo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Carl Greenidge, Mayor of Georgetown, Remembrance Day Wreath Laying Ceremony Patricia Chase-Green as well as the heads of this year. This special ceremony was held at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th the Disciplined Services and others.

During the laying of the wreaths, the month, 2018, which was exactly 100 years Guyana Police Force Band played sombre after the signing of the Armistice Document music. Of note, and what is so often taken which signalled the end of the First World for granted at this and other ceremonies, is War; the war which was promoted as “A war the saying of prayers by representatives of to end all wars”.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page VIII

Unfortunately, the Second World War commenced a short 21 years after the First World War ended. Laying wreaths at that second ceremony at the Cenotaph in Georgetown last Sunday, were Guyanese veterans of the Second World War - all of them are now in their nineties. The oldest, Benjamin Durant, celebrated his 100th Birthday a few days later, on Thursday last, with a worthy 11th hour last Sunday morning.

Guyana’s last surviving World War One Veteran, Gershom Browne, was up to the very end of his long life, going to the Cenotaph in Georgetown on Remembrance Day, and laying wreaths. He created history by being the only (so far) Guyanese to write a first book at age 100. The book entitled, “A history of Bagotville”, was about his hometown on the West Bank Demerara.

In his address to the veterans and guests at the Guyana Veterans Association headquarters on Carifesta Avenue in Georgetown, the British High Commissioner to Guyana, Greg Quinn, stated that, “The UK government, through the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Service League, will be providing funding to ensure additional support to 7,000 Commonwealth Veterans and their widows from some 30 countries, including Guyana.”

The High Commissioner further told the story of one of the heroes of the Second World War, Guyanese Cy Grant, who was born on November 8, 1918 at Beterverwagting, on the East Coast Demerara and spent some of his boyhood years at New Amsterdam in Berbice. Grant joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1941, as one of 500 men recruited from the Caribbean as aircrew. “Cy was commissioned as an officer and joined the 103 Squadron as a Navigator, based at the RAF Elsham Wolds in Linkinshire, and was one of a seven-man Lancaster Bomber crew,” the High Commissioner revealed to the audience.

Continuing the gripping story of the Guyanese hero, Quinn said, ‘In 1943, Cy Grant was on a mission as part of The Battle of the Ruhr and was shot down over The Netherlands.

He parachuted to safety, but was captured and imprisoned in Stalag Luft lll where he spent the next two years before being liberated in 1945,” the British High Commissioner pointed out, adding that, “Cy contributed to the defeat of the Nazis in ways which few of us here can really understand.” This comment prompted a listener to remark, “Guyana, where are your heroes?”

After he was demobbed, Cy Grant went on to study and qualified as a Barrister-at-law in 1950, and also had a very successful career as a singer and movie star. On his last visit to his homeland in 1972, Cy Grant did a concert at the Theatre ◄◄◄ From page VII

“Personally, what I want to see changed is the community centre- [it should] be repaired and maintained, so as to allow the youths of the community to have a place to spend their time rather than idling or engaging in illicit activities,” he noted.

Just like Shiwprashad, 19-year-old Kenita Roberts shared that she was filled with a sense of pride.

“It’s kind of a very proud moment when you walk into the polling station to cast your vote because you’ve finally reached the age where you are officially legal and you’re able to help to make decisions within your community,” she said.

For the Georgetown resident, she believes that the alleyways in her community need regular cleaning.

Furthermore, she highlighted: “Voting is important because it gives you the right to have a say in what goes on, in this case, in your community. It helps you to choose the person that you think is fit to move your community forward.”

Rajak, on the other hand, highlighted that local governance is more than installing lights in the community and developing the garbage disposal facilities, but rather it is about creating safe and developed neighbourhoods.

“I’d like to see more community-oriented projects being done, and not just in my community, but in every community in every part of Guyana,” he related. These “community-oriented” projects should include safe spaces, such as recreational areas for young people to “thrive and explore”, he said.

Additionally, Noah advanced: “We need better infrastructure that will last decades, where we can pass down memories and vital lessons and experiences. We need places where no matter who you are, no matter your race or beliefs, you can feel free, safe and united with those around you.”

And in achieving this, he noted that faith will be placed in the elected local representatives with the hope that they will advocate for the communities and help better them.

The voter turnout for this year’s LGEs was quite low; in Georgetown- the populous capital city, it was recorded as 28.3 percent. Encouraging others to vote at the next opportunity they have, Noah said: “We have a chance to shape Guyana as a model nation in our region and the world. And it starts in the community level.”

Cy Grant with Farrier in London, England in 1981

IX Guild Playhouse in Kingston, Georgetown, where he sang many well-loved folk songs, among others, as he accompanied himself on the guitar. I have to mention that I was one of the star-struck members of his audience that memorable evening. I later visited with him at his London home in England in 1982. Another internationally known Guyanese who served in the RAF during World War ll, was the Teacher, Diplomat, and author of “To Sir, With Love” and other best-selling books, E.R Braithwaite.

Cy Grant passed away at age 90, Gershom Brown at age 102 and E.R Braithwaite at age 104.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Essequibo scholar shines at University of Guyana

By Indrawattie Natram

TWENTY-one-year-old Rovindra Lakenarine, who lives in Golden Fleece Village, Pomeroon-Supenaam ( Region Two) has graduated as the Second Best Graduating Student for the Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Guyana. Lakenarine was given the award at the 52nd Convocation Ceremony held on November 9.

The award is given to the student who has obtained at least a credit and made significant contributions to the University in areas other than academics. During an exclusive interview with Lakenarine, he was very A section of the graduating class with the Assistant Dean and Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

much elated over his success. According to him, his biggest dream was fulfilled having successfully completed his studies at the University of Guyana.

Both his parents, Deonarine Lakenarine, who is a farmer and mother, Banmattie, were very proud of their son’s achievements.

Coming from a humble beginning, Lakenarine said that he left the agriculturally0based community of Golden Fleece in the year 2014 to pursue a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Biology. Lakenarine will be the second person in the community of Golden Fleece to earn a Bachelor’s of Science Degree.

Remaining focused throughout his studies, Lakenarine said one of his major challenges was adjusting to a new environment and moving from a rural area to the city.

“It took a while to adjust to the Georgetown lifestyle, but I remained focused and with the support of my parents and sibling, I managed to achieve success,” Lakenarine said.

Another challenge for him was coping with a large volume of work after leaving high school, “University life was definitely new for me. After finishing my studies at the Anna Regina Multilateral Secondary School, I immediately enrolled at UG. It was so new, jumping right into university where you have lecturers instead of teachers, where you are taught PowerPoints in the classrooms with over 500 students. I must admit that the lecturers took the roles of teachers and assisted me tremendously into the tertiary level,” Lakenarine said.

Having shared his experiences, he intends to pursue postgraduate studies in the areas of Marine and Climate Change Biology. He said he is particularly interested in understanding the effects of anthropogenic after affecting marine organisms.

ACHIEVEMENTS Lakenarine said that he has graduated with a distinction from the University of Guyana. Prior to his graduation, he had attended a few conferences representing the Faculty of Natural Sciences. During conferences such as the Latin America and Caribbean Congress for Conservation Biology (LACCCB); University of West Indies, St Augustine Campus, University of Guyana Undergraduate Research Conference 2018 and at a conference held at the National Agriculture Research Extension Institute, Lakenarine used the opportunity to introduce his research which was based on the “Impact of climate change on farmers and their adaptive strategies along the Essequibo Coast, Guyana”.

Having grown up in a farming community, he said he gathered most of this knowledge from his father who is a rice farmer. During the LACCB he received the award for the best student presentation.

During his time at the University of Guyana, he was elected as the President of the Biology Club (2017-2018). As president, he organised the first Earth Hour event on campus; Women and Girls in Science Seminar; World Wetlands Day presentation; hosted a tree planting and clean-up of the Biodiversity Centre, among others.

He was one of the proactive leaders in his class and most times was the representative for the Faculty of Natural Sciences at several events, including the UNSECO/UNDP Webinar “Youths on the frontline of Climate Change” 2018. He was also the coordinator for several events including the Guyana Gateway Initiative Workshop, which hosted several international researchers and a statistical analysis workshop for final year biology students.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page X

Rovindra Lakenarine standing with his relatives after his graduation

Rovindra Lakenarine with his supervisors, Diana Seecharran and Mark Ram, at a recent conference

Twenty-one-year-old Rovindra Lakenarine, of Region Two.

His free time was spent participating in several workshops/trainings/short courses which included, From Source to Sea Sustainability; Wildlife Research Techniques; Guiding Tools for Scientific Writing; Qualitative Research Methods for Wildlife Conservation; Parrot Conservation Workshop; Field Guides Museum Workshop and Mushroom Cultivation and Vermicomposting Workshop.

Having completed his studies at the University of Guyana and reflecting, Lakenarine said the experience gained was truly transformational. He encouraged youths to pursue their education at the University of Guyana and not to stop at a secondary education. He wishes to thank his family, relatives and the staff from the Department of Biology and the Centre of Study for Biological Diversity, for guiding him through his studies.

Lakenarine said that his family was his greatest motivation. His favourite quote is a Mark Shamley one which says, “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Climate change and its impact on public health

By M. Margaret Burke TWO words that can be found at the centre of many discussions, debates and resolutions across the globe

today are “climate change”.

It refers to the changing weather pattern and associated changes on land surfac-

A female farmer showing the negative impacts of climate change on her harvested corn

es, oceans and other related changes in the atmosphere.

These changes have been occurring over a long period of time – more than 30 years.

Studies have shown that climate change can be due to the actions of human beings, as well as through natural processes, such as volcanic movements, radiation of the sun and other climatic conditions.

The Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences (FEES) of the University of Guyana (UG), in an exclusive discourse with the Pepperpot Magazine refers to climate change as a statistically significant difference in either the average state of the climate or in its unevenness, which has been continuing for an extended period.

“It is a phenomenon that impacts our ecological systems causing disruptions that impair the biological health of plants, animals, and humans. This relationship between human health, disease and climate is thought to predate written history,” representatives of the FEES stated.

Health, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. According to the FEES, climate change may impact all of these aspects, thus the need to examine some of the potential health impacts it can have on public health.

The WHO emphasises the fact that the complexity of the relationship between climate change and health is not yet fully understood. This is because of the far-reaching effects on the atmosphere, hydrosphere (all the water on the surface of the earth), lithosphere (crusty outer parts of the earth), and the biosphere (all the ecosystems of the earth), which are all major parts of the earth’s life support system. Therefore health effects will vary geographically with respect to the environment, topography and vulnerability of the resident population; the populations in developing countries are particularly vulnerable since they are constantly grappling with major public health concerns such as access to water and sanitation facilities and the required nutritional intake.

HEALTH IMPACTS According to the FEES, warmer average temperatures will lead to hotter days and more frequent and longer heat waves, which have significant impacts on the health of human beings; noting that the WHO, this year, has indicated that in excess of 3.5 billion people are currently at risk due to a dramatic global increase in incidence, while the 2006 Stern Report estimated that a 4°C rise in temperature could increase the risk of dengue fever for approximately 2.5 billion people.

The primary ways in which heat waves impact health are due to dehydration and heat stroke. Heart failure and respiratory distress may all be induced by heat waves. Scientists have noted that heat waves have increased in frequency and intensity due to climate change. Weather conditions are also expected to adversely affect air pollution, which may further increase the risk of asthma attacks and other respiratory and cardiovascular health effects.

NATURAL DISASTERS Increases in surface temperatures induce increases in the rate of evaporation and hence the intensity of rainfall which in turn increases the risk of flash-flooding. Climate change will, therefore, have dynamic effects on the hydrological cycle (evaporation of water from the ocean) to the extent that it will increase the frequency and severity of droughts and floods in many areas.

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XIII

Black Friday brings out hackers looking to rip you off

Researchers found hundreds of malicious apps pretending to offer discounts.

With shoppers on the lookout for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, thieves are creating malicious apps to steal from eager buyers, as well as targeting online retailers with malware, according to researchers.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which come right after Thanksgiving Day, are two of the most popular days for shopping online, with retailers offering big discounts and deals to capitalize on the holiday season.

Last November, Cyber Monday was the largest online sales day ever, with people spending $6.59 billion, according to Adobe. Black Friday brought in more than $5 billion in sales. With all that money comes hackers looking for a quick payday from unsuspecting shoppers, whether it’s through attacking retailers or tricking people directly.

“Black Friday and Cyber Monday are great days for getting deals while shopping online, but it’s also a time when hackers get more active,” Russ Schrader, the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s executive director, said.

Hackers are fully aware of how much money they could steal from eager shoppers online looking for low prices. In a survey of consumers by DNS security company DomainTools, 62 percent of respondents said they would still buy from a brand that’s been breached if the deals are good enough.

That’s good news for websites such as NewEgg and stores like Target and Adidas, which have suffered breaches.

“This year’s respondents were clear that they are willing to overlook previous breaches in lieu of a Cyber Monday deal,” Corin Imai, senior security advisor at DomainTools, said in a statement.

If shoppers are willing to take risks for discounts, thieves are ready to take advantage. Researchers from RiskIQ, a security company, found hundreds of fake apps and websites pretending to offer deals while stealing information instead.

Researchers looked up “Black Friday” in app stores, and found that 237 of 4,324 results were malicious, and 44 out of 959 “Cyber Monday” apps were also malicious, RiskIQ said. For the top 10 retailers of Black Friday in 2017 -which RiskIQ declined to name -- researchers found 6,615 malicious apps pretending to offer deals.

“With the staggering amount of money spent by consumers each year over the Black Friday weekend, it’s no surprise that we detected so much threat activity,” Yonathan Klijnsma, a head researcher at RiskIQ, said in an email.

“While we can’t tell exactly how successful these malicious apps and landing pages are, the fact that we see them spun up every year indicates that they’re working.”

Hackers are also ramping up their attacks on popular retailers. Researchers from Kaspersky Lab found that from July to September, hackers attacked online stores 9.2 million times. That’s compared to 11.2 million attempts throughout all of 2017, the security company said.

Kaspersky Lab was tracking 14 types of malware targeting 67 different websites, which range from electronics and video games to clothes and toys. Hackers were attempting to inject banking malware that would steal your credit card information for hackers to use, Yury Namestnikov, a principal security researcher at Kaspersky Lab, said in a statement.

He noted that this malware has been common in the past, but hackers are now specifically targeting online shoppers. “As we come into the busiest online shopping season of the year, we urge consumers and retailers to be extra vigilant about their security, and to check and double check the integrity of websites before entering or downloading any data,” he said in a post.

In some cases, if a website has already been compromised, it’s hard to know until it’s too late.

Magecart, which comprises multiple hacker groups, has been targeting thousands of websites and stealing financial information from unsuspecting customers. The thieves have hit British Airways, Ticketmaster UK and NewEgg in the last five months. Because those were the official websites, customers wouldn’t be able to tell something was wrong until their information was already stolen. There are some

steps you can still take, however.

If you’re going to shop online, especially looking for Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, security experts recommend watching out for scams and fake websites.

The NCSA recommends avoiding deals coming in via email, and suggests heading to the store’s website directly.

Fake deals will often have typos and suspicious email addresses, Schrader said.

RiskIQ noted that you should only download apps from Google and Apple’s official stores, and be suspicious of apps that ask for more information than a shopping app would likely need. Be wary if a shopping app asks for access to contacts or passwords.

XIV ◄◄◄ From page XII

The WHO reported during this year that weather-related natural disasters have tripled since the 1960s and more than 60, 000 deaths have been attributed to these disasters annually, primarily in developing countries.

These extreme weather events influence the availability and quality of water – an

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

essential for life. Further, these changes will affect the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases, which includes water-related diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and dysentery, as well as amoebiasis, giardiasis and cryptosporidium.

The organisation, therefore, estimates that 1.7 billion cases of childhood diarrhoeal disease and 525 000 deaths in children under five will occur globally every year; the majority of

Climate change means that sometimes there is either too much or too little water available for cultivating the land

which are attributed to unsafe water supply, bad sanitation and hygiene practices.

These farmers are of the view that climate change means that there is much more work to be done in preparing and maintaining the farm

PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS The floods of 2005 in Guyana were attributed to increased rainfall which resulted in an increased incidence of water-related diseases. Floods and droughts are generally associated with an increased risk of diarrhoeal diseases. This is due to the fact that heavy rainfall washes contaminants into water supplies, while drought conditions can reduce the availability of fresh water, leading to an increase in hygiene-related diseases.

Public health professionals noted that diarrhoeal diseases are extremely sensitive to climate, indicating that temperature and relative humidity have a direct influence on the rate of replication of bacterial and protozoan pathogens, and on the survival of enteroviruses in the environment. Diarrhoeal disease is one of the most important causes of disease burden deaths in developing countries.

“The incidence could be further increased since the coastline of Guyana is approximately two metres below sea level and this makes the country extremely vulnerable to flooding due to sea level rise,” FEES stated.

of anthropogenic activities (such as bad land use practices, socioeconomic and cultural conditions, the use of pest control, access to healthcare, and human responses to disease risk) as other critical factors that will favour increased incidence of vector-borne diseases.

THE EFFECTS ON FOOD The 2018 United Nations report on The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World suggests that there are 821 million people now hungry and over 150 million children stunted… Malnourished individuals are extremely vulnerable to high levels of infection due to unsafe and inadequate water and sanitation facilities. Malnutrition is both a medical and social disorder and is responsible for 23 million child deaths annually. The WHO in 2003 deemed it the single most important risk factor to global health, accounting for an estimated 15 per cent of the global disease burden in disability-adjusted life years. It would appear that little has changed in the intervening years.

According to the FEES, the complex relationship between climate change and health cannot be overemphasised. There remain several areas of scientific and contextual

The Potential Health Impacts of Climate Change, Patz et al., (2000)

OTHER SIGNIFICANT FACTORS Changes in temperature, precipitation, and extreme events will also facilitate an increase of mosquito or vector-borne diseases.

The Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex mosquitoes are vectors of malaria, yellow fever, dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika; West Nile fever and Lymphatic Filariasis. And it has been projected that not only will these diseases increase in incidence but that they will emerge and remerge due to the lengthened geographical range as a consequence of the changing climate. “Guyana has certainly seen the emergence of Chikungunya and Zika in the last five years,” FEES indicated.

Studies have however stated that climate change alone will not be the only contributory factor to the increase in public health problems. In fact, they emphasise the importance

uncertainty since climate change is one of several global environmental changes that affect health. This, however, does not underscore the need to act now.

“It is clear that the impacts are far-reaching and have implications for the physical, mental and social well-being of populations everywhere. In our quest to accomplish the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as well as to make our world more climate resilient, we must seek to improve our understanding of the impact of climate change on human health; the level of effectiveness of our education and awareness campaigns to aid prevention of disease; and our health surveillance capacity to the extent that it is able to forecast the size of developing epidemics, depending on the degree of climate change, in an effort to provide essential health care,” FEES advocated.

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‘Caring for Others’

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Striving to eradicate poverty in Linden communities WITH continuous food, clothing, agricultural tools and toy distributions in several communities across Region 10, the charitable organisation ‘Caring for Others’ has shown time and again its genuine care for the less fortunate residents of Region 10, especially those who are in dire need resulting from unfortunate and untimely circumstances. For 2018 alone, the NGO has conducted scores of distributions and drives in neglected communities within the region, and residents are expressing their gratitude to the organisation for extending a figurative shoulder on which they can lean.

Making representation for these communities is executive member of CFO, a resident of Linden and Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira who with his team, spearheads the distributions and ensures that those more in need are placed on the front burner. Communities such as Old England, Siberia, Ituni, Nottinghamshire and Speightland where there are high unemployment rates, have all benefited from several food and clothing drives. Other communities in Linden that have recently benefited are Blue Berry Hill, Andyville and Block 22. Victory Valley, Wisroc, West Watooka, Silvertown and Kara Kara have also benefited.

MP Figueira said that he is cognisant that a one-time effort cannot create the impact needed to bring real assistance to the residents, and so he has been making representation Jermaine Figueira

for containers of clothes, food items and agricultural tools be shipped to Guyana to cater for continuous assistance. “Poverty is definitely being featured within our communities, and we are doing our little part in making significant contributions in our efforts to eradicate some degree of poverty that a number of households have been experiencing,” he said. “It is not a one-off event, but a continuous event and this shows this is not for likes but to show love for those really in need.” The MP also said that to give a man a fish is one thing, but to teach him how to catch is even a greater thing and so agricultural tools and seeds have been distributed to help families to provide for themselves through subsistence farming.

Noticeably also is the help provided to those who would have experienced tragedies in their lives such as fires. Only a few weeks ago, a massive distribution of foodstuff, mattresses and building materials were given to a family who recently lost their home in a fire. Caring for Others is a New Jersey-based NGO managed by a Guyanese philanthropist Eslene Shockley. Figueira said that a container of toys is expected for Christmas which will see many of the less fortunate children within the communities receiving a toy.

Figueira and his team distributing clothing to the residents of Blue Berry Hill

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

The Haunting of Hill House (Part 2) HORROR is one of the oldest genres. Humankind has always managed to create elements of the supernatural, built on our fears to prey on our fears. We have always been capable of whipping spirits out of shadows, demons out of the earth, and spirits pulled from the watery depths of the ocean. Given how old horror is, what do filmmakers and writers need to do in order to keep the genre fresh and alive with hauntings and other spooky factors that creep us out and keep us out at night? The answer lies in humanising the would-be innocent party (or parties) that go up against the villainous ghosts and ghouls.

Revealing these hero-type characters has always been an important part of having audiences/readers identify with them throughout the entirety of literary/film history. It is hard to feel the fear/sorrow/joy of the character if we do not relate to the character, if we do not see ourselves as the character. The special thing about “The Haunting of Hill House” is the way in which this technique is used to the maximum – building characters we want to root for, characters we want to come out of the house alive,

“The Crain Siblings in Netflix’s ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ – Image via: Netflix”

but also characters who are so ruthlessly flawed – such hubris-packed heroes and heroines – that it is virtually impossible to not identify with at least one of these characters, and most people seem to identify with all of them at various points throughout the show. “The Haunting of Hill House,” then, piles on the relationship between audience and character, so the emotions and conflicts within the characters affect us in joyously terrifying ways.

The eldest child in the central family terrorised by Hill House is Luke Crain (played well by Daniel Huisman and Paxton Singleton). Luke grows up to ignore his siblings’ tales about the eerie activities in the house (ghosts in the basement, banging on the walls, etc.) and he is the sole representative of the family who seems convinced that his family is not afflicted by the paranormal, but rather, a disease of the mind – a kind of madness that is hereditary.

He represents the skeptic within us all. Luke is every one of us who scoffs at the supernatural, choosing to believe in logic and science, while spurning at tales of the paranormal.

This similarity between Luke and a great number of us who watch the show works in the favour of the show because as Luke’s walls come crumbling down with the realisation that his siblings were right all along, it forces us to ask ourselves the question: What if we too, like Luke, are wrong? What if ghosts do exist? What if they live among us, haunting our homes and lives? That in itself is a terrifying thing to contemplate – and when it becomes real for Luke, it momentarily becomes real for us also.

The second sibling is Shirley Crain (played Lulu Wilson in a winsome performance, and then later in an almost perfect performance by Elizabeth Reaser) whose reaction to the ghosts that afflicted her childhood morphs over the course of her life from fear to anger. Shirley’s inability to control the house and the effects it had on her family transformed into a kind of compulsory need for order and control. It might be read as her attempt to control the disorder and mayhem inflicted on her by the house, by always being in control of every situation presented to her in her adult life.

Shirley’s character is interesting because she represents the human belief in doing the opposite of something that will automatically put the world in balance. Later, Shirley and the audience realise that this is false when Shirley’s life is revealed to be riddled with secrets and the ghosts that have never really left start to manifest in her life again. Shirley’s response of countering disorder with order, life (having a family as an adult) with death (losing an important member of her family as a child), has failed, and this is all the more jarring to the audience because it makes us realise that some forces are so strong that even counter-actions are not strong enough to counter them.

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XVII

Navigating the world through GIS “THE world is getting smaller” is a statement that now holds true, with technological advancement, we are now able to chat with our families and friends in real time across continents. More so, we can use Google Earth to take a virtual tour of any country on the Earth without having to leave the comforts of our living room. The advancement in technology is making the world more connected and more accessible. One such technology is the Geographic Information System (GIS), this technology can do numerous things such as help citizens predict areas of flooding and map soil quality to ensure efficient land use.

GIS DAY, AN ANNUAL EVENT The third Wednesday of November, each year, is designated internationally as “GIS Day”. On this day, users of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) celebrate the technology and its multiple applications in the real world. The recognition of this day was initiated on November 19, 1999 by the combined efforts of the National Geographic Society, Association of American Geographers (AAG) and Esri, one of the leading GIS service providers.

A geographic information system (GIS) is a framework for gathering, managing, and analysing data. The system integrates many types of data and organises it into layers so as to create a holistic and accurate depiction of the world. It aids in smart decision-making by revealing underlying relationships, patterns and trends through maps and 3D visualisations (Esri, 2018). This interoperable system provides a means of manipulating geographic data which can be viewed and analysed in any desired scenario or context.

The applications of this technology are endless and offer a range of possibilities across all sectors. It is currently being used globally in almost every discipline, including telecommunications, transportation, urban planning, disaster management and mitigation, surveying, public health, agriculture, security systems and a number of uses in environmental management.

Schools and universities now have geosciences or the use of geospatial data as a core component of academic curriculums, in order to provide awareness and strong foundation for students. Over the years, GIS software has become cheaper, and now even for free with the use of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

THE IMPORTANCE OF GIS TO THE WORK OF THE EPA The Environmental Protection Agency of Guyana (EPA) relies heavily on accurate and relevant data for planning, monitoring, research, and data dissemination. The use of geospatial data is a critical component to the functioning of the agency, particularly in the regulatory role it plays. Using GIS in the routine activities of the agency include mapping field information obtained through environmental inspections, and overlaying it with baseline data to identify and address potential conflicts or issues which may occur in a specified region.

Since activities in the environment do not happen in isolation, it is essential for much collaboration with other regulatory agencies and organisations with regards to overlapping and cross-cutting issues. Environmental complaints and pollution sites are also mapped to locations of high-risk activities and hotspot areas can be identified and managed. GIS technology also allows the EPA to determine the distribution of permitted and non-permitted operations in relation to other sites such as protected areas, medical or educational facilities, water bodies, etc. and provide informed and data-driven decisions.

THIS YEAR’S OBSERVANCE Annually, EPA takes time out to celebrate this import-

ant day. This year, the Management Information System Programme Area conducted a presentation focused on how GIS can be used for monitoring particularly freshwater ecosystems.

Additionally, a demonstration was made to showcase how drones are used to collect information.

The uses and applications of GIS continue to evolve and improve with advancement in the technology. This tool is not just useful to organisations and large entities but also to every person who desires information for decision making and planning. It is envisioned that the importance of GIS will escalate as persons recognise the need for real-time information, to make routine decisions as simple as which road will take them to a particular destination the quickest.

On a larger scale, GIS has the potential for helping us to understand interactions in our environment, communicating across sectors and addressing issues faced by the population. The need for establishing clear policies and guidelines with regard to data sharing, standards and security, adequately trained personnel and quality, updated information is therefore critical in the smooth functioning of the system.

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. Source used:http://www.esri.com, http://

www.gisday.com, https://grindgis.com/blog/gis-applications-uses

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Gum disease and cancer MECHANICAL oral hygiene procedures to remove dental plaque, including tooth brushing and flossing unequivocally enhance periodontal health. Gingivitis, although nearly universal among children and adults, is

reversible. Periodontitis, a more serious condition, can lead to irreversible and progressive loss of bone and soft tissue that support teeth. The progressive form is commonly called “gum disease� and is the major cause of

tooth loss globally.

In addition to removing bacterial plaque by tooth brushing and flossing, other interdental aids and methods of subgingival irrigation and professional scaling and polishing, are helpful in the prevention and control of periodontal diseases.

Chemotherapeutic agents such as chlorhexidine also have been shown to be beneficial. Effective and efficient use of available methods to prevent and control periodontal diseases depends on commercial availability, provider encouragement, and individual psychosocial and family lifestyle factors.

It has been proven scientifically that an unhygienic mouth can also enhance very deleterious consequences. For example, the use of tobacco products in any form is a major risk factor for cancers of the mouth and throat. Depending on the amount and type of tobacco used, there is a fourfold to fifteen-fold increase in the risk of developing these types of cancers. The most common sites are tongue, lip, the floor of the mouth, soft palate, tonsils, salivary glands, and back of the throat.

In the United States, more than 90 per cent of all oral and pharyngeal cancers occur in individuals over age 45. Like many other cancers, risk increases with age. Cigarette smokers who smoke more than one pack a day are 1.5 times more likely than light smokers to develop oral cancers. Although men are more likely than women to have oral cancer, there is concern that oral cancer in women will rise because of their increased use of tobacco products. In addition, the increase in smokeless tobacco use has been associated with an increase in oral cancers in younger populations.

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

While oral cancer generally has a high mortality rate, injury to the mouth and oral structures should also be taken seriously. This can be prevented by taking individual and collective steps to make school, playground, and home environments safe. For example, using mouth protectors during contact sports and wearing helmets while riding bicycles and motorcycles provide protection against head and mouth injuries, which frequently result in loss of teeth and broken jaws. Appropriate use of seatbelts and child restraints in cars also reduce injuries to the head and mouth. Spousal and/or child abuse that can result in traumatic mouth and face injuries requires preventative interventions both at the interpersonal and societal levels.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

XIX

E FILES S A C T COUR

Full Court affirms magistrate’s novel ruling

By George Barclay

Exhibited jurisdiction to order a rehearing

IN 1973, the Guyana Full Court of the Supreme Court affirmed a Magistrate’s decision for granting an application to a respondent, for a rehearing of a building land possession case, on the ground that the magistrate had a discretionary jurisdiction to do so.

Through a misunderstanding, the appellants Bhagmatie & Seepersaud who had a possession land case against Mamas, had the matter heard and determined in their favour due to the absent in court of the respondent Mamas, on the day in question.

Mamas through her counsel appealed to the Full Court, which affirmed the Order of the magistrate, after taking into account that the respondent might have been genuinely absent in court through a misunderstanding.

The facts of the case disclosed that due to a misunderstanding, neither the respondent nor her legal adviser attended court when an application for possession of certain building land was heard and determined in favour of the appellants.

The respondent thereupon filed an application for a rehearing supported by an affidavit and the magistrate made an order granting the application.

An appeal was made to the Full Court against the magistrate’s order by the appellants.

The Full Court, constituted by Justice Keith Massiah and Justice Maurice Churaman, held that in affirming the order, that the magistrate had a discretionary jurisdiction to grant a re-hearing, and in the circumstances of the case it was proper to make the order.

The appeal was dismissed. Order of magistrate was affirmed.

Attorney-at-law Mr. E.A. Gunraj appeared for the appellants while Mr. Bernard De Santos, S.C. represented the respondent.

Delivering the judgment of the court, Justice Churaman said, “This appeal raises the interesting point as to whether and in what circumstances, an application for the re-hearing of a cause or matter in the magistrate’s court can or ought to be granted.

“The appeal under review arose out of the grant of an application for a re-hearing of a claim for possession of building land.

After innumerable adjournments, at each of which it would appear the respondent was in attendance, the possession claim was finally determined in favour of the appellants on January 7, 1972, the respondent on that day being in default of appearance.

Both the respondent and her legal adviser were genuinely under the impression that the case had been set down for hearing on January 10, 1972, and on attending the magistrate’s court on that date, the respondent discovered to her surprise that the

case had been determined in her absence three days earlier; she forthwith informed her legal adviser, and on January 25, 1972, the respondent filed an application in the prescribed form for a re-hearing supported by an affidavit.

“It is of primary significance that the learned magistrate found on the hearing of the application for re-hearing that the respondent and her legal adviser genuinely believed that the case had been set down for hearing on January 10, 1972 and not January 7, 1972. “Of equal significance is the fact that the respondent asserted a defence which, if accepted, would have afforded a formidable resistance to the appellants’ claim for possession; and of yet further importance is the fact that the appellants (landlords) have in no way whatsoever, altered their position in consequence of the determination of the possession claim, nor would they suffer any prejudice which cannot be reduced by costs.

“It was against this background of circumstances that the learned magistrate granted a re-hearing of the case from which order the appellants now appeal to this court.

“Counsel for respondent raised before us a preliminary point as to the jurisdiction of the Full Court on the basis of the appellants ‘non-compliance with ss 4 and 5 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Appeals) Ordinance Chapter 17 [G.] We decided to defer ruling on this preliminary point and to hear arguments on the merits. In view of the decision we have reached, it is necessary to deal with the preliminary objection, and we express no view on it.

The main contention advanced before us, as indeed also before the learned magistrate, is the question of the jurisdiction of the learned magistrate to hear and determine the application for re-hearing.

The submission, in other words, questions the jurisdiction of the learned magistrate to hear and determine the application for re-hearing, in as much as the application though filed and served on the second named appellant within 28 days and was not served on the first-named appellant until May 28, 1972, i.e. some four months after the date of filing.

“It is here convenient to observe that the evidence suggests that this delay was due not to any tardiness on the part of the respondent in posting same , but to the facility or rather the lack of it , in effecting delivery. This much debated point of ‘service within 28 days’ arises from the wording of rr.4 and 5 of Pt. 20, of the Summary Jurisdiction ( Civil Procedure) Rules, Chapter 12 [G.] (Sub.Leg.) which read thus: Turn to page XL ►►►

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Panic attacks LAST week, I spoke about social anxiety and I briefly mentioned the words ‘panic attack’. Since then, I’ve gotten two requests for me to speak about them as not very much is known, despite its commonality.

Panic attacks are strong, sudden and usually unexpected feelings of anxiety and or fear. It is a very frightening experience as the person feels as though they have no control over their thoughts or body.

Panic attacks come with a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms such as trembling/shaking, hot or cold sweats and even an inability to properly breathe.

There is typically such a pounding heart rate that many feel as though they are having a heart attack. There may even be some nausea and vomiting, dizziness and disorientation, as well as a choking sensation.

These symptoms, while awfully discomforting are not life-threatening and it is possible to find a way to calmly experience these panic attacks which can last anywhere between five to 45 minutes.

There is no one clear cause of panic attacks. Researchers have found many causal links such as stress caused by traumatic events or significant changes in one’s life or genetics (if

someone in your family also has them).

The National Institute of Mental Health has determined that women are two times more likely to suffer from panic disorders than men.

If you are experiencing a panic attack, do not attempt to distract yourself from it. The only way to properly handle the situation is to be fully aware of what’s happening to you. Confront the fear and discomfort. It’s okay to go around someone that you’re comfortable with for reassurance that everything will be fine but you can also certainly get through this on your own. Medical advice would only be necessary if you continue to feel unwell after the attack has passed meaning you’re still experiencing a rapid heart rate or issues breathing the next day.

There are suggestions given by both physical and mental health professionals that can help, as well as reduce the possibility of experiencing panic attacks. Those who often experience panic attacks have options of counselling, talk therapies as well as prescription medication to help with symptoms. If you regularly experience panic attacks, I’d advise you to see a health professional as consistent panic attacks can be due to Panic Disorder, an anxiety disorder that is identified by reoccurring panic attacks. However, not everyone who experiences

panic attacks has panic disorder.

If you just want to practice self-care, there are also a few possibilities. It is important to partake in regular activities that reduce or manage stress and anxiety- the main causes of panic attacks. This includes exercise (particularly cardio), a healthy diet of regular meals, getting good sleep and an avoidance of any drug use including caffeine, nicotine (cigarettes) or alcohol.

However, one of the most important things needed is breathing exercises.

As the intense fear of dying is usually brought on by the inability to breathe and subsequent gasping for breath, the key to calmly riding out a panic attack is slow and controlled breathing. If anyone feels out of breath, they typically gasp harder for air. However, this worsens the situation as it causes additional headaches, dizziness, weakness and subsequent panic. I’ve spoken about breathing techniques many times in the past. If you have access to the Internet, you can go on to YouTube, type in ‘calming breathing techniques’ and choose the best one for you. If you don’t have Internet access, here is one you can try.

Find a quiet and comfortable space to be alone. You can sit upright or lay flat on your back. Close your eyes and try to drown out everything that is happening around you; simply pay attention to your breathing. Inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth. Do this five times and then return to normal breathing. At this point, you are supposed to feel your muscles relax, your heart rate slowed and your breathing controlled. If you have any thoughts, gently bring your thoughts back to only your breathing. You can do this for as long as you are comfortable doing it; there is no pressured time frame. You can also do it at any time of the day; studies show that morning breathing techniques help relieve stress to better handle the day ahead while doing it at night help with a better night’s sleep. So why not just do both?

Remember, you can use this as a preventative measure as well, not just when you are experiencing a panic attack. Honestly, it is difficult to do during a panic attack so practice will make it easier to do when necessary- like a fire drill.

These suggestions are all important as untreated panic attacks or panic disorder are linked to many other complications such as the development of phobias, issues at school or work, depression, isolation, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.

I want you all to remember something, especially during the experienced panic attack. The actual attack, while uncomfortable is not life-threatening. What makes it feel worse than it is, is our negative and scary thoughts while it is occurring. If you practice the above suggestions, it will be an easier experience.

If panic attacks still persist, I strongly suggest the guided help of a professional. 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!

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

folklore

A PLUMBER IN THE HOUSE MY kitchen sink was acting up. In fact, it began throwing up and causing a mess in the kitchen. My wife, Valerie, sent for Mr. Reece the plumber. He was old and slow, but reliable. He got it fixed even though it took the better part of two days. Val (Valerie) complained about how slow he worked. “That old man does things real slow. He can’t complete anything in less than two days.”

I sighed. She was just warming up.

“And he wants service while he works.”

She was referring to his regular request for cold water or something hot to “break the wind”. The latter usually meant coffee and a snack.

I grinned and immediately regretted it. She got angry.

“You could laugh. You don’t have to deal with him.”

“There is nothing to deal with, Val. Just humor him. It’s not that hard.”

“What about his belching and farting?” She nagged. “You think it easy holding your breath around him all the time?”

I tried not to smile and held my tongue. This did little to abate the onslaught.

“Next time something goes wrong you deal with it!” She sounded as if she was serious so I tried to pacify her.

“Sweetheart, if he’s such a pain let’s find another plumber.

We could use one of those modern companies.”

Her reply was terse and final. “You do what you like. I am finished with it.”

And that was that.

A few weeks later I got a call from Val; the plumbing had gone bad again. This time it was the bathroom. I checked the yellow pages and contacted a plumbing service called ‘We Fix It’. I arranged for them to meet me at home in an hour. Leaving work early I hurried home. As I suspected, Val was out.

The plumber arrived two hours later and I made clear my dissatisfaction with his tardiness. The man assured me that this was not a reflection on their professionalism. I felt relieved and led him to the affected area. As he worked I relaxed in front of the television and watched a movie. Soon the repairs were forgotten.

A dry cough caught my attention and I turned to see the plumber in the doorway. He was soaked through and through and looked quite unhappy.

“Could I see the pipes downstairs?” he asked.

I led him down to the storeroom /laundry room where the pipes from the bathroom led. He thanked me and I headed back upstairs. For some reason, I was bothered by the idea that a plumber would be soaked like that so I headed to the bathroom to make a spot check.

The sound of running water greeted my ears as I drew nearer. I hurried to turn off the pipe he had left flowing and ran into my first shock. There was a gaping hole in the wall where the pipe had been and water was gushing out and hitting the wall opposite with some force. Luckily it was the bath so the water went straight down the outlet. Stepping into the bath I peered down into the outlet and recoiled in shock. A pair of eyes stared back at me.

The plumber had removed the fittings downstairs and I could well imagine what was taking place in my storeroom. I raced down and confronted him.

“What is going on?” I demanded rudely.

The fellow was nervous and tried to explain. “The pipes are clogged so I had to remove the fittings.”

“Then why didn’t you turn off the main?” I roared in anger.

His face lit up and I realised that he had forgotten the most fundamental thing. He hastened to comply and I glanced around ruefully at the chaos this mistake had caused.

There were at least two inches of water on the floor and everything in sight was soaked. I cursed silently. The water slowed to a trickle then stopped altogether. Thank God for that.

When he returned to the storeroom I dispatched him back to his office with the understanding that I would contact them later. He tried reasoning with me but I was firm. A quick call to Mr. Reece got the usual response; he’ll be right over.

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By Neil Primus

Half an hour later he was examining the damage done by the other plumber. He was astonished and angry that we had gone to someone else who had ‘mucked up his work’. I apologised and he relented and decided not to leave. He then got busy, if his efforts could be so described.

Valerie returned and her delight at my misfortune was palpable. She had faced many situations when repairs were needed and so far none had been as chaotic as this. She checked the area that was damaged and smiled in self-satisfaction.

My embarrassment was equally noticeable and I tried to conceal it from her by keeping out of her way until the job was finished. This I knew to be quite impossible since Mr. Reece could take anywhere from two days to two weeks. I sighed and resigned myself to my fate.

The next day I stayed at home and was ready for the usual requests of the old plumber.

“Could I have some cold water please?” He got it promptly.

“You have something hot, thanks?” Coffee and sandwich were offered.

Whenever I went downstairs and my nose was assaulted by his potent farts, I would grab the new can of air-freshener and give the area a brisk spray.

“It’s damp and smelly down here,” was how I excused this action.

Mr. Reece plodded on and on the fourth day announced that the job was completed. I was elated by this news. Val had been peppering me with smart remarks about my first ‘job’. It was finally over. She took a shower and was pleased with the work done. I paid the old man well.

The next day I visited “We Fix It’ and demanded to be reimbursed. They paid up and apologised for the trouble caused.

They explained that the young man sent to do the repairs was only an apprentice. So much for professionalism.

The secretary who disclosed that the manager was out of the country and his assistant was out of town, conveyed to me that it was not the first time things of that nature had occurred. I thought of suggesting a change of name for their establishment: ‘We Fix It-Eventually.” I decided against this and got out of there.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

ADDRESSING COMPLAINTS RELATING TO MINIBUSES THE public transportation system is of perennial concern to consumers. There are three areas of such transport which affect Guyanese: there is air travel, both internationally and locally; water transport, crossing the big rivers and travelling along the rivers themselves; and road transport, the most important element being the minibuses. In this offering, we will focus on the minibuses since they impinge on the lives of the overwhelming majority of citizens on an almost daily basis.

One of the first discomforts which greet commuters who

join minibuses at the parks is the army of touts who pounce down on them, to literally drag them into the buses for which they work. These touts often have loud quarrels among themselves, occasionally breaking out into fights, over what they consider their territory. In the fray, young women are sometimes indecently assaulted.

But the problem is not merely uneducated and unskilled young men trying to earn a living; the problem is largely occasioned because there is no order among the buses. Each bus as it arrives begins to jockey with those who were there

before and this results in three or four buses fervently trying to fill themselves simultaneously and in this struggle, they rely on the touts to bring in the passengers. This accounts for the overzealous aggressiveness of the touts who are paid on the basis of how quickly they fill the bus for which they are working. This milieu contrasts with the UG bus park which is the only one which is run in an orderly fashion. The buses keep in line as they arrive with the last bus in line being the first to be filled. In this system, there is no need for touts so there are none of them. Establishing order among the buses and eradicating touting could only be achieved initially by police presence and by the buses themselves accepting the necessity for orderliness as they have done at the UG park.

The noise nuisance is one of the worst discomforts minibus travellers have to suffer. Almost all minibuses equip themselves with music systems from which they blare out loud and raucous music, and oftentimes vulgar and indecent songs.

This music is played 100 to 130 decibels which impair hearing. When passengers complain, the conductors and drivers intimidate them with aggressive abuse or they sometimes reply that the passengers like such music and they would continue to play it. Continuous exposure to 100 decibels or more has caused most drivers and conductors to become partially deaf.

Passengers, even for one journey, are in danger of having their hearing impaired. Parliament had passed legislation many years ago to ban music and loud noises on the buses and for the seizure of noise-making instruments. When the legislation was passed, the police acted on it with some alacrity and commuters enjoyed relief for several months. The police must again begin their anti-noise campaign, especially now when we are at the threshold of the Christmas Season. If any passenger insists on having music when travelling, he or she should be recommended to have his or her tapes and earphones.

The buses are often dirty with unswept floors with an accumulation of food boxes and sweets and food wrappings.

Some buses have attempted to place small bins in the buses but these could never be used since there is no central space to place such bins. The only answer to this problem is to sweep the floors every two or three hours and this could conveniently be done outside of the rush hours. In further improving the health standard of the buses, the conductors must ensure that the windows are kept open so that the bus could be ventilated by a free flow of air. If the windows are not properly opened, it allows for air-borne diseases such as colds to easily infect other passengers.

Many bus drivers drive recklessly and at very high speeds.

This danger is compounded by the fact that most buses use second-hand or reconditioned tyres and never new ones.

Second-hand tyres are inherently dangerous and have been responsible for many fatal accidents. Overloading not only inconveniences passengers, but it also makes the buses unsafe.

The Guyana Consumers Association has from time to time invoked the help of the police to deal with the noise nuisance and overcrowding but their help and assistance have only been sporadic.

The Consumer Department of the Ministry of Business led

by Ms Cheryl Tinnis, Director of Consumer Affairs, has, over the years been battling with the minibus problems. Though Ms Tinnis is one of the most experienced and respected consumer advocates in Guyana, her efforts in dealing with the minibus problem have always had to be on-going as there could be no permanent solution. Late last month, the Minibus Association produced a Code of Conduct for the minibuses and they met the Ministry of Business at a meeting chaired by the Minister, Hon Dominic Gaskin. The minister gave some useful guidance and pointed out that the Union, the public and the government have to work together in addressing matters relating to minibus operations in the country.

At the meeting, Ms Tinnis outlined the many consumer complaints to the minibus operators and suggested how they could be addressed in the Code of Conduct. Among the many complaints, she underlined were speeding and reckless driving, touting, overloading, overcharging passengers within routes and extorting higher fares at night.

Now that the Christmas holiday season with its plethora of traffic and minibus problems is a few weeks away, Ms Tinnis’ interface with the minibus operators was much appreciated by the consumer community.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

‘The original craftsman’ Finding treasures of art in the backyard

By Vanessa Braithwaite MANY go to great lengths to source raw material to create beautiful works of art. The rarer the material, the better the quality of the product, or so, some might feel.

For Ivan Sancho of West Watooka, Linden, the only lengths he goes to source raw material for his works of art is right in his backyard. Vegetation cannot only be used for food and the diversification of various kinds is becoming more popular, especially for medicinal purposes.

For Sancho, when all is eaten and scrapped out, some forms of vegetation can be used for the finer things in life, such as art. His new best friends are the coconut and calabash shells of the trees he planted himself years ago. He transforms them manually, into beautiful home ornaments and purses which he sells. He started this craft business some time ago only with coconuts but has recently expanded by even establishing his own craft shack at the corner of West Watooka, where thousands of vehicles pass daily,

The raw coconut shell and calabash that has been transformed to purses

especially those journeying to interior locations.

The coconut shell is used to make purses and ornaments and the branches and other parts to make mats, hanging baskets and pointer brooms. The mats are also made from ship ropes which he journeys to Georgetown to collect, free of cost. The calabash from the calabash tree in his yard is also used to make very decorative, neat and unique purses.

He commenced the business at his West Watooka home which he transformed into a craft workshop, but because business was slow, he decided to move to a more public location. “I came out because I needed to advertise my work, I needed to expand. I woke up one day with a vision and I decided to work on it and since then business has been better,” he said.

Sancho has been into craft for the past 35 years and it has become not only a means of earning but a way of life for the Rastafarian. He is originally from New Amsterdam and but now lives in West Watooka, taking care of his seven-year-old grandson while practising his craft in addition to subsistence farming. “The calabash when I pick it, I does design it first, bore the hole first before I cut it. The coconut shell same thing, but you have to bore the hole with heat.

When you cut them you clean them out, some people have machine, but I have a special knife I have that I clean it out and the lacquer it,” Sancho said Turn to page XXXIX ►►►

Ivan Sancho posing at his craft shack at West Watooka junction

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

CELEBRATION TIME Beyond the Runway

with Dr. Sonia Noel

... Inspiring lives through fashion

LAST year, this time, it was a few days away from the launch of the first of my four books, ‘Living with Intention’ on Amazon. It is hard to put into words the

emotions I experienced on this part of my journey. One sentence from one of the emails from Amazon I will remember until the day I die: “The content of your book has been accepted”.

As a child I thought about doing many things but writing a book was not one of them. Sometimes God positions us on paths we never dream of but he knows our abilities.

God has been opening many doors and he needs to get the glory for the things he has done. I will always be grateful to Shiv Dindyal who designed the cover and was by my side until the end; Richard Young who is my Editor and Creative Director; my spiritual father Pastor Claude Brooks for contributing the forward and Sean Duncan for capturing that beautiful cover photograph on the seawall in Georgetown.

To all the persons who downloaded, bought books, wrote reviews on Amazon, attended the book events and sent words of encouragement. A big thank you to Kathy Kidd and team Kidd Marketing for their guidance and support. Thank you to UG Vice Chancellor Professor Ivelaw Griffith for hosting a launch at the University of Guyana.

“Determination, faith, focus, self –discipline and consistency can make anything a reality.” This was the first sentence and I BELIEVE it to my core because I am a living testimony. I look back and think of my journey thus far: “That young girl from Bartica that thought it was possible.”

I encourage you today no matter what your situation is not to doubt yourself. My journey has taught me that there is power in the valley and I celebrate more when I am in the valley than the mountaintop. They are no mountains without valleys and if the mountain was smooth you could not get to the mountaintop. I went on to publish a total of four books (including two anthologies) in four months and many thought it was not possible. Presently I am working on the third Women Across Borders anthology, Men Across Borders and Motherhood-The Mountains and the Values.

I believe everyone has a story that will inspire and I would love to assist people in getting their stories out there.

I did a course on how to teach people to craft their stories and self-publish their books. A complementary course will be among the many prizes that will be given away at the launch and mini-expo of the Women in Business Expo at the Pegasus on November 23, from 10:00hrs to 20:00hrs.

The event is open to the public and admission is free.

These books can be a great gift to someone. You will have the opportunity to buy a copy of the book and ask me any questions. We will be having free downloads on Amazon Kindle on the 23rd and 24th as part of our appreciation and celebration.

As I think about how I feel as I write this column, I came across the words of Ralph Marston which accurately describes my thoughts: “I am joyful, for I know that a moment of true, unencumbered joy is worth more than pure gold. Getting organised helps me to stay effective and to make the best use of all the resources available to me. I know that I think more clearly, I’m more motivated, I feel better and am healthier when I regularly lose myself in joy. People just like me have started with much less and have achieved incredible things. Every day is full of opportunities for improvement.

By making use of those opportunities, I know that I will be closer to my goals by this time tomorrow.”

Maybe there is something you have been thinking about for a while but keep procrastinating. Today I urge you to feed your faith and starve your fear. Looking forward to interacting with you at the Pegasus on Friday.

Join our FB page https://www.facebook.com/search/ top/?q=living%20with%20intention%20ambassadors and I can assure you that you will be inspired and motivated as we continue this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

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Post-LGE thoughts

IF IT was not clear to me before, the Local Government Elections (LGEs) managed to successfully illustrate key issues and misconceptions in our local governance.

The biggest bugbear for me was the low voter turnout. Yes, I understand that generally, fewer persons are inclined to these elections than they are to the general elections but I cannot understand why.

In Georgetown- Guyana’s capital- the voters’ turnout was 28.3 percent. The city is a heavily populated area in Guyana and to have less than 30 percent of the people turn out to vote, is worrying.

I was speaking to a friend in Trinidad about the elections and when I told her about the low voter turnout in Georgetown, the first conclusion she made was that people were not satisfied with the candidates and would not even bother coming out to vote. I don’t disagree with her.

Deterrence to voting in Guyana, among my age demographic at least, is the entrenched system of ‘party’ and ‘race-based’ politics. From my understanding of the LGEs however, there is the unique opportunity to vote independently since it’s on a much smaller scale.

From perusing the Guyana Election Commission (GECOM)’s preliminary report on the results across Guyana, the Profit/Rising Sun Local Authority Area (LAA) in Region Five was the only area where a majority of independent candidates were given a chance to represent their community as against those in the major political parties [the People’s Progressive Party/ Civic (PPP/C) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)].

Knowing that members of the community stepped up to show that they wanted to work for the best interest of their constituencies and that the people trusted them enough to elect them, I couldn’t be happier.

There are 80 LAAs across Guyana, however, and Profit/ Rising Sun stuck out like a sore thumb in results that were almost entirely defined by Guyana’s larger parties.

I would say that the people continue to have faith in these parties or their loyalty is strong. And each person has the right to choose and to vote based on their beliefs.

And if that’s what the people vote, that’s what the people want- because that is how democracy works.

But in this case, it does not necessarily mean that the people want those who have

been elected to represent them. Some of the people do- the ones that came out to vote for them. But those that stayed away have to contend with representatives that they did not vote for because they did not turn out to vote.

That is all there really is to it.

Another bugbear is that many persons have yet to grasp the concept of local governance and LGEs. People still believe that at the end of these elections, there will be an overall ‘winner’. They believe that by voting for Party X, they are voting to enable this party to govern the entire country as against their smaller constituencies.

Education is vital. People need to understand the critical nature of these elections and the role they play in developing their communities. These elections have a direct impact on a community’s infrastructure and people.

What exacerbates how saddened I am by this misconception is that voters have shared with me personally, that representatives from the established political parties are exploiting people because of these misconceptions. One man in Region Five shared that voters in his area were told to vote for a particular party because independent candidates would not be able to represent them adequately.

Once elected to the council, each person has a say and the council is given a determined amount of requisite resources. It baffles me how some persons can stoop to the level of misguiding people to garner votes. It just baffles me.

Perhaps, however, now that it is apparent that local government elections have returned and will be held consistently, I am confident that persons will eventually learn more and be able to safeguard from these misconceptions.

After almost an entire generation would have grown up without these elections being held, however, I’ll concede that it will take some time for us to get it right. Rome was not built in a day. We have already taken a step in the right direction by fostering the return of these elections.

One day I know that the firm grasp the major political parties have on Guyanese will loosen. I know that with each passing election, fewer people are voting on racial lines and more on policies and development. And I know my people are becoming wiser and more headstrong. I truly believe that as it relates to governance, better is already on its way.

Music as a catalyst to spread positivity Azharuddin Lalljee TWENT Y O N E YEAROLD Azharuddin Lalljee, is a singer and songwriter that records under the Vizion Sounds Records Label, in Guyana, and uses his music as a medium to spread positive energy to everyone who hears it.

Lalljee, who goes by the stage name “LA” is the second child of three siblings and was fond of singing from a very young age.

He said that he would often sing different songs while playing with his sister when they were younger.

“We would perform at school concerts and so on, that time I was about eight. But as I grew older in high school, I started taking it more seriously and when I was about 14 years old I said ‘hey this is what I want to do. I want to do music’. So I started writing my own songs,” he said.

After graduating from school he worked on the set of the film ‘A Bitter Lime’ an Australian-American-Guyanese

independent drama film that was mostly shot in Guyana.

LA said that the experience was ‘enthralling’, the interaction with the actors gave him the courage to pursue singing.

After working on the sets he took part in a competition that was held at the Club Nexxt, Princess Hotel, called Guyanese Karaoke Star in which he won an award for the Most Promising Contestant, because of his composing and writing of his own songs to perform in the competition.

The young artiste said that after winning the award and securing third place in the competition, he was published in the Guyana Chronicle newspapers as ‘Guyana’s Diamond in the rough’. It was after the publication, he was seen by many producers and was approached

by Vizion Sounds to work with them on his album “Lifeline”. The first song from the album was released November 4, 2016 and can be found on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and other music download platforms.

LA has since performed in various places in Guyana and he is currently

looking to make his place in the music industry, and hopes to inspire and make a change in the lives of all his listeners.

He is mostly into the genres R&B, Pop, Hip Hop and Soul Music, and is inspired by all the people around him who believe in him and motivate him to keep working. “I just want to be a musician and put music out there with messages that people can relate to and even help them get through the hard times of life,” the young artiste said.

When asked what advice he would give to young people like himself, who are still finding their way, LA said “I know sometimes you might be trying and trying to find your purpose and do what you love, and things might not work in your favour. Sometimes you feel like you’re stuck at that one spot not moving, and people are getting ahead of you. But just know that everyone has their own clock and you should keep trying because if you really want it, you should keep trying, and when your clock starts ticking, no one can stop it.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Streamlining citizenship and immigration services in keeping with the needs of a modern Guyana SERVICES provided by the Department of Citizenship are perhaps the most important public services.

This Department paves the way for every citizen, native-born or naturalised, to enjoy the freedoms and rights that the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana guarantees, such as healthcare and education.

It is this Department, by dint of its work, that enables people to exercise their franchise in choosing their own leaders. For those who think this is an immaterial feat, speak to someone who is deemed “stateless”.

When he swore-in his Ministers in 2015, President David Granger recognised that “Citizenship is very important not only for voting but to ensure that the rights that we

registration services.

EFFICIENCY Since its establishment, so much has been accomplished by this new Government body that its detractors have gone silent.

Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix, explained that the level of efficiency with which people are able to process vital documents has improved by leaps and bounds when compared to what existed before.

“Let us start from the Immigration Department, I was a policeman who served in both urban and rural Guyana for many years and I can tell you of the trials and tribulations we had managing the long lines at the Passport Office. Later as [Police]

“In less than two years, those lines have been removed. We have decentralised the passport offices thanks to some generous people.

The Linden NIS [National Insurance Scheme] assisted with space so that we can receive applications in Linden.

We’re removing the lines. We’re removing the need for people to come to Georgetown.

Similarly, we invested in rehabilitating parts of the police headquarters in New Amsterdam so that some work could have started there, and we will be extending our reach to Essequibo and Bartica. These were not initiatives taken prior to 2015,” Minister Felix said.

The Passport Office is not the only place where efficiency has improved. The Department of Citizenship, located at Shiv

Central Immigration and Passport Office, Camp Street, Georgetown

accord to citizens are protected.”

It is against this backdrop that the Government of Guyana when it took Office in 2015, established the Department of Citizenship and removed the Immigration Department from under the purview of the security sector; giving it the importance it warrants. The Department is responsible for immigration, naturalisation, registration and the status of persons who are citizens of Guyana. With a unique population density that is heavy on the coast and somewhat scattered in the hinterland, Guyanese need focused administration to gain access to

Commissioner, I had several issues with that Immigration Department in terms of the backlog in passport application, but in three years, we have done it,” he said.

Who can forget those long lines in front of the Passport Office that sometimes extended all the way to Barrack Street, Kingston; Berbicians, Essequibians, Lindeners and hinterland residents with small children, leaving their homes in the wee hours of the morning only to end up waiting in line in the hot sun or pouring rain in front of that Camp Street head office. Inhumane is what that was!

Chanderpaul Drive, sees hundreds of people on a weekly basis, including those who are applying for visas, who have been married to Guyanese and need registration and those who have been living in Guyana for a long time and need to have their status upgraded.

Minister Felix said that, “In every area, whether it is births, passports, visa or immigration issues, we have justified the establishment of this Department…when it was under the then Ministry of Home Affairs, its capacity was severely limited. The registration of births could not remain in the bottom flat of the Ministry of Home Affairs

anymore, I am telling you it is too large.

When you see the number of applications for visas and registration of aliens and applications for naturalisation, you would realise that under any other system, under any other method, this Department could not have been functioning efficiently and delivering quality service to Guyanese and other persons who visit Guyana for various reasons.”

DIGITALISATION The Government of Guyana with support from the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), commenced a project of digitising birth, death and marriage records. This project, which initially had a 2020 deadline, is scheduled to be completed in 2019. Minister Felix informed that the work is currently at an advanced stage, at the end of which, a person would be able to obtain a birth, death or marriage certificate within five working days. As it stands right now, the process takes about 21 days to a month.

Similarly, any person from any part of the world could now easily apply for a visitor’s visa online and the Department is working closely with the Ministry of Public Telecommunications to develop the programme to have other categories of visa applications available online, such as student, work and business.

Development of a National Identity System The main thrust behind the Department of Citizenship’s work is to ensure that Guyana is not left behind in this technologydriven era. In this regard, plans are in train to develop a National Identity System whereby, a unique identification number will be assigned to Guyanese citizens at birth.

That number will be linked to the person’s driver’s licence, Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) certification, bank accounts et cetera, and will complement the ongoing digitisation process.

Recently, Minister Felix participated in a study tour in Estonia, a country that is very committed to a paperless environment.

He said that while local software engineers can develop this system for Guyana, the Department will need guidance on its implementation.

“I am working with the Minister of Public Telecommunications on this project and I think that by the time we are finished with the digitisation project, we might be able to commence the development of a registry of births to link with deaths and marriages et cetera, and will complement

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018 the ongoing digitisation process,” the Minister said.

TARGETING 100% BIRTH REGISTRATION COUNTRYWIDE In order to ensure that all citizens are registered and issued with a birth certificate in 2015, President Granger made it clear that, “from the time a child is born and that child is a citizen of Guyana there should be a registration process that would ensure that that child’s registration continues up to the point of death.”

The President had also expressed concern that due to “slippages” in the system, many children reach the voting age of 18 years without having being documented or registered as citizens of Guyana.

In response to this, the Department has commenced outreaches in outlying communities; essentially taking the services to the people. Minister Felix explained that the target of 100 per cent birth registration is achievable.

“It is the right of every citizen, regardless of the wide and expansive nature of our country. We have gone into Regions One [Barima-Waini], Eight [Potaro-Siparuni] and Nine [Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo], to communities that have been identified to us, but they are in no way exhaustive

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passport’s data page: the holder’s name, date of birth, and other biographic information. In some countries, including Germany, E-passports include two fingerprints as well.

E-passports are designed to increase security, making it more difficult to change data recorded on a passport and therefore limiting the chance of fraud.

Moreover, the Department will be introducing a new 46-page passport, in addition to offering the current 32page passport. The Minister explained that very often, the passports of frequent travellers, such as government officials and business people, are filled long before the fiveyear period of validity is up.

“The 46-page might be more expensive and so people will have a choice. We do not want to increase costs on the public because not everybody would need a 46-page passport. So, we leave the 32-page passport within the affordable reach of the ordinary citizen and have the 46-page passport for those who are frequent travellers, in order to give their passport a longer life,” Minister Felix explained.

Venezuelan migrants The Department’s 2019 budget will also make provisions to address the influx of Venezuelan migrants, which might include the construction of a shelter. Over the past several

Meeting of the National Multi-Sectoral Coordinating Committee that was set up to address the influx of Venezuelan migrants

of the communities that we should visit. We have also been doing what is called ‘late registration’ for persons who were not registered within the first 12 months of their birth,” he said.

In terms of ‘bedside registration’, Minister Felix confirmed that this is being done at all Government-run hospitals, while steps are being taken to streamline the registration of births at private health facilities. “I have a suspicion that the private hospitals might not be paying attention to the registration of every birth, so this is something we are looking into with a view to ensuring that the system is uniformed throughout the country. Where birth registration is concerned, there must be a uniformed system for public and private hospitals,” he said.

2019 budget priorities As the Government prepares to present its budget for the fiscal year 2019, Minister Felix informed that, this year, his Department will be focusing on extending the decentralisation of the Passport Office to Regions Two, Seven and Nine. In fact, last month he visited Region Two to get a first-hand look at the plot of land that has been identified by the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) in the town of Anna Regina where the Region’s passport office will be located.

“We are in the final stages of completing the construction of an office at Linden and in New Amsterdam and then we are proposing offices for Bartica, Lethem and Anna Regina. Apart from that, we will be making provisions for the continuation of the digitisation of the GRO [General Registrar Office],” he said.

Additionally, the Department will be procuring the necessary equipment to facilitate the transition from machine-readable passports to E-passports. The latter is a biometric passport which includes a chip, which can be used at the automated E-passport gates instead of having your passport checked by an immigration or border officer.

The chip holds the same information that is printed on the

Minister of Citizenship, Mr. Winston Felix

months, Minister Felix has taken the lead in coordinating the work of the National Multi-Sectoral Co-ordinating

Committee that was established by President Granger to manage the country’s response to displaced Venezuelans.

This Committee comprises various Government agencies and international bodies such as the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UNICEF and the IOM. Considering that the influx of migrants was a relatively novel challenge that the Government was faced with, the Committee’s work has significantly stabilised the situation by ensuring that assistance is directed to where it is most needed.

Co-ordination with the international agencies has also paved the way for the acquisition of food and other relief items, and the introduction of helpful tools such as the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), which hitherto, was not available to the Government.

At the Committee’s most recent meeting on November 5, it was disclosed that the current number of documented migrants stood at 2,943. Those persons have also been screened and vaccinated by personnel from the Ministry of Public Health.

Judging from the scale of work that the Department of Citizenship has been doing, it is clear that the Government’s decision to establish the Department is more than justified. It not only improves citizens’ access to a vital public service, but it also serves to administer the State’s immigration system and policies in a manner that is in keeping with the laws of Guyana.

Below is a table showing the communities that benefitted from outreaches.

Region

Applications

L a t e Registration

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Barima-Waini • Mabaruma • White Water • Hosororo • St. Anslem • Unity Square • Black Water • Koriabo

244

491

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23

Potaro-Siparuni • Micobie • El Paso • Princeville • Campbelltown • Mahdia • Paramakatoi • Kato • Bamboo Creek • Hill Foot • Yawong

194

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89

12

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336

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

More to karate than fighting

Rohoman and her children

By Nikeisha Adams “KARATE is not just about violence; it is a way of life and helps with discipline and self-control,” says Sensei Nadia Rohoma, who is the president of the Guyana Karate Association (GKA). This ambitious 32-year-old single mother, who has been a Sensei for 10 years, is also a representative of the World Union of Karate-Do Organisations (WUKO).

Additionally, Sensei Rohoman works as a Refractionist at the Diamond Optical in the City Mall.

Rohoman told the Pepperpot Magazine that many people have the wrong ideology about karate. She, however, explained that karate is not merely focused on fighting, but teaches one to have discipline and self-control. “A lot of people run away with the wrong idea about karate. People would ask, ‘What is the sense of learning karate when I can go and get a gun?’ But that makes no sense because karate is not just about violence,” she said.

Turn to page XXXII►►►

Sensei Rohoman during practice at the MYO

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Facebook will reduce reach of ‘sensationalist and provocative’ content

Facebook is once again tweaking how stories spread through the News Feed, this time going after posts that are “sensationalist and provocative.” The goal isn’t just to cut down on clickbait, but to cut down on misinformation and problematic posts that don’t quite warrant an outright ban on the site.

In a blog post, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg writes that people naturally engage more with sensationalist content.

Engagement with this content, he says, increases the closer it gets to being so problematic that it has to be banned.

So instead of moving the line of what’s banned, Facebook is going to alter its distribution algorithms. Posts that Facebook’s AI detects as needlessly provocative will be distributed less and less, preventing them from seeing a spike in engagement.

Zuckerberg believes this will discourage people from creating and posting this kind of content in the first place, ultimately leading to a better experience for users and less polarization.

Facebook uses the term “borderline content” to describe what stories will be affected here. The blog post gives two examples: “photos close to the line of nudity, like with revealing clothing or sexually suggestive positions” and “posts that don’t come within our definition of hate speech but are still offensive.” Zuckerberg only explicitly says that the algorithm has been adjusted when it comes to nudity, but the implication is that it applies to news stories and more.

“Divisive groups and pages” will also be suggested to users less often, as a result of these changes.

“I believe these efforts on the underlying incentives in our systems are some of the most important work we’re doing across the company,” Zuckerberg writes.

The changes were announced today alongside a host of other updates on how Facebook handles problematic content. Facebook said it would expand its appeals process for content moderation; the company will also create an independent oversight board meant to essentially act as a Supreme Court when it comes to dealing with challenging moderation issues, as a way to partially take the problem out of Facebook’s hands.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Microsoft to Launch Disc-Less Xbox One for Under $200 in 2019: Report

Microsoft may launch a disc-less Xbox One ? 4,599 in 2019 according to sources familiar with the company’s plans. In addition to forsaking physical media, it also plans to allow Xbox One owners to trade in their existing games on disc for digital downloads. The reason for such a drastic move is to get the price of the Xbox One lower and ensuring its under $200 (around Rs. 14,000).

“Currently, it costs about $299 to buy into the Xbox One family of devices,” writes Xbox insider Brad Sams. “Microsoft is looking to lower that price by possibly as much as $100; the new console price point is expected to be $200 or less.”

If you’re in the market for a new Xbox One that can play games without having to go online or worry about Microsoft’s servers being unavailable, you’re in luck. There will be another Xbox One S variant that ships with a disc drive. Sams states that “Microsoft is moving forward very carefully with this product as it knows that a sizeable portion of its users do prefer to buy physical games and not download them.”

Though if this was really the case, it wouldn’t be exploring a disc-free Xbox One to begin with.

And while the company may allow Xbox One owners to trade their games on discs for digital downloads, it’s not entirely new. Sony had a similar program for its PSP users in Japan during the launch of the PS Vita though it never saw the light of day outside of that country.

Previously Sams stated that Microsoft had two Xbox One streaming devices in the works. The first will be built along the lines of the Chromecast and priced at around $100. The other will be “like the Apple TV”, possibly integrating with Windows 10 apps and supporting lightweight games. It could be priced between $150 and $175. These will help Microsoft target and hopefully win back the living room. It appears that these plans have been put on the back burner as it focusses on simply removing the disc drive from the Xbox One, which we hope doesn’t come to fruition given that accessing your library of content depends on Microsoft’s servers being online and having a super fast Internet connection is mandatory.

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XXXII ◄◄◄ From page XXIX

Sensei Rohoman started to practice karate at the age of seven. When asked what motivated her to start practising karate, she replied that she wasn’t given a choice; it was a path that her parents chose for her. Despite this fact, however, she said that she grew to love karate as it became a way of life for her.

Sensei Rohoman is an international karate judge and referee and has been nominated for national sportswoman for three years, but did not receive this position due to misplacement of documents. However, the karate body proposed a national award for the Sensei to make up for this loss. She was awarded a national karateka. “I held both female senior and junior [positions] for more than a decade,” she said. In addition to her positions, Sensei Rohoman was awarded silver and gold medals at the International Shotokan Karate Federation /Japan

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Karate Association Pan American championship (ISKF/JKA).

She is also an international karate judge and referee.

The karate expert is also now an instructor at the Guyana Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO, after being approached by the MYO which requested assistance in teaching some karate classes to some children. According to Sensei Rohoman, the organisation felt that youths in society have lost discipline and respect for persons thus, they felt like practising the sport would help in this regard. She stated that thus far the classes have been successful.

Sensei Rohoman stated that she teaches karate classes three days per week, for one hour, to prevent karate from affecting the performance of their academics. “The reason why I do it on that small range; I don’t want it to hinder any the of kids’ school work,” she explained, adding that she respects

Rohoman in her office at Diamond Optical

and understands the importance of education.

Asked what are some of the challenges that she faces in her position she said, “It has never been hard because I have always been in this [practice of Karate],” she explained. She says, however, that she faces challenges with having cooperation since martial arts is a male-dominated sport.

OTHER VENTURES Working as a Refractionist, Rohoman explained that she was motivated towards this field, due in part, to a comment made by a classmate in high school. She explained that when she attended high school one of her classmates commented to her that “Athletes and Sports stars have no education. They are not smart; all they can do is get by their ability to do sports.”

She explained that this comment stayed with her throughout the rest of her life, especially during that time of her young adult years where she had come to lose some interest in karate.

It was at that time that she had begun to question which professional field she would be interested in. Subsequently, with the help of a friend, she applied at the University of Guyana to pursue her Diploma in Optometry.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that after she had sent in her application to the University of Guyana, she was accepted.

She also added that at the beginning of the programme she was not much interested in Optometry since she had no clue as to what it entailed. However, when she was given an opportunity to have a hands-on experience in the field, she began to love it. “A patient could come in here with all loss of hope, they can’t see, and you just speak to them and you are able to help them out,” she said. Rohoman explained that some people may not have patience in this field of work but thus far this field has been very satisfying to her. She also added while studying and working, she would always remember the comment of her classmate and that it was that comment which had made her more determined to pursue her education.

Rohoman had planned to, later on, pursue a Degree in Refraction but took time off to care for her son and ailing father.

When asked if her children also practice karate, she replied, “My older son never understood why mommy is that popular.

He tended to drift away from it when he was smaller,” she said. She, however, explained that her son is now practising karate, adding that her reason for not pressuring her son into the sport was because she was pressured by her parents to do karate.

She said that she could have been more successful in the path of karate but she ensured that family life was more important.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page VI

Jahi Ghansam

“I was not confident in sharing my ideas and thoughts on various issues but since I actually got involved in STEMGuyana my confidence level has risen,” he added. He has greater self-awareness and now notices flaws in old habits. “I try to improve them on a daily basis to make myself a better person.”

Being part of STEMGuyana has taught Michael that hard

Michael Sampson

work pays off. This was particularly evident to him this year when he was part of the team that represented Guyana at the 2018 FIRST Global Robotics Challenge that was held in Mexico City. He related that STEMGuyana encourages young people to get involved in science and technology by introducing an element of fun to the process. As an example, he said that many children enjoy receiving remote-controlled toys at Christmas. STEMGuyana teaches skills to actually build them. “Anything that you can imagine it’s actually there for you to implement and that’s something really exciting for young people to actually know.”

Ghwan Lynch found out about STEMGuyana last year through a flyer that was posted about an exhibition showcasing the robots created by Team Guyana Robotics. That same team had competed in the FIRST Global Robotics Championship in Washington DC in 2017. He was fortunate to have a close friend who was involved with STEMGuyana. “Later that day, after consulting with that friend, he gave me some directions and he also bought a ticket for me to attend the exhibition,” he explained. He attended the event and was amazed by the national team’s robots. He decided to find out how he could

become a part of STEMGuyana.

Though the process took a while, it all worked out according to Ghwan. “I was exposed to technology on a different level,” he said. He recalled that co-founder Karen Abrams was very encouraging and this contributed to him leaving sessions feeling inspired. He began attending classes, going to voluntary occasions and interacting with people. He learnt more about Lego Robotics and worked on simple building projects. Things progressed in this manner for months until around this past January when Ghwan decided that his next goal was to become part of the national robotics team.

Ghwan took part in various competitions leading up to a grand final competition. For a final project, with help from his coach, they were able to build a robot. “The robot took me three days to build because of school and lessons and so on,” he recalled. Ghwan had to present on the robot he built

XXXIII and share his reasoning behind building it and the problems it would solve. “From then I started to gain more confidence,” Ghwan stated.

As the FIRST Global Robotics Championship drew nearer, the national team’s robotics kit arrived and Ghwan and his fellow members started brainstorming ideas.

They spent up to 17 hours going through ideas on some days. “Because of that energy that I brought, because of that value, I was then selected to be a part of the national team.” Ghwan’s motivation has not waned even though that goal was accomplished. “Every day I still feel more in terms of inventing and doing new stuff,” he said. “Even down to today I still feel that need to give back and to share my knowledge with persons who were not fortunate enough to make the national team or with persons who are interested in robotics.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Cop every opportunity you can!

– says new lawyer Raeanna Clarke

By Telesha Ramnarine RAEANNA Angela Drewshur Clarke, who likes to make the most of every opportunity, believes in investing a lot of time and effort into any project that she chooses to under-

take so as to be able to produce quality work.

Born and raised in Georgetown, Raeanna completed both her primary and secondary education at Marian Academy and used those years to participate in as many activities as possible.

Raeanna Angela Drewshur Clarke.

Through them all, Raeanna would strive for excellence; and would ensure that she takes whatever tasks she undertook seriously.

“When I have a task to do, I am someone who put in a lot of time and effort into ensuring that there is quality in anything I am doing. I believe that if anything is worth doing, it should be done to the best of your ability. Otherwise, don’t bother to waste time doing it,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine during an interview at her office recently.

The eldest of four siblings, Raeanna has always believed in being a well-rounded individual. “While in school, I tried to be involved in as many activities as possible. Every year, I would receive academic awards and subject prizes.”

The President Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) is an initiative that deeply impacted the life of Raeanna and instilled in her qualities that she still holds dear.

Because it had a lot to do with offering herself in community service and the like, Raeanna said PYARG taught her to be humble and show gratitude. “You come to appreciate how fortunate you are when you look at the situation of others, and it develops empathy in you. I also found that teamwork helps you achieve more because the qualities and abilities of others refine yours,” she said.

While completing her two years of CAPE at Queen’s College, Raeanna continued to involve herself in as many activities as possible. “I believe when you are in an institution, you should try to make the best of every opportunity that you’re given. I don’t believe in just existing; if you have certain gifts, develop them and use every opportunity to harness them,” she advises.

She also endorses the fact that the manner in which someone carries himself speaks volumes about him. “When you carry yourself in a certain way, it speaks for you. So sometimes you don’t even have to say anything; the way you conduct yourself tells a lot about you.” This has worked to Raeanna’s advantage in certain instances.

She pressed on at the University of Guyana and then the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad and Tobago where again, she continued committing herself to various activities.

She decided to join a bible club while studying law overseas. “I soundly believe that God is very important in everything that you do. I believe that every achievement I have is because of God’s grace, his mercy and his favour.”

Raeanna especially believes that God helped her because the family was not very wealthy and she was also part of a single parent home. “It was only by a miracle that I was able to attend law school. When I received a scholarship to go…

Turn to page XXXV ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

With fellow students at Hugh Wooding Law School. ◄◄◄ From page XXXIV

that left me in tears.”

Raeanna also credits the support she received from her family, whom she said supported her in every possible way.

Her mom, Eva, along with her grandmother, Joan, and her aunts has especially played a pivotal role in helping her achieve success.

LAW SCHOOL Commenting on her years at law school, Raeanna said the life is quite different to university life here in Guyana.

“Law school calls for a greater level of analysis and you’re not spoon-fed in any way. You have to work very hard and you have to manage your time well. My years at law school also helped me to mature in the sense that it was no longer about going home and finding dinner ready. It’s now that you have to be able to manage going to school, manage assignments and exams; knowing how to manage your money well and at the same time, you need to eat. You also need to manage your time well enough to factor in going to the market; how you’re going to use your food. So you have to factor in market time, cleaning, laundry, as well as being able to go to school and do your assignments and remain social.”

The hard work and sacrifices paid off because Raeanna did very well upon graduating from law school.

She was admitted to the Guyana Bar Association last October 29 before Justice Roxanne George and now works in the Attorney General’s Chambers on Carmichael Street.

“I don’t know where life is going to take me so that’s why I believe in taking every opportunity. One of the things that stifle persons is that they have a vision but don’t take steps to effect that vision. But a vision is just a vision unless you actually take steps towards achieving it. While your steps have to be practical, sometimes your steps have to be leaps of faith,” says Raeanna.

Raeanna and her grandmother, Mrs. Joan Butcher.

XXXV

With family and friends on the day she was admitted to the Guyana Bar Association.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XVI

Theo (astoundingly eschewed as a child by Mckenna Grace and then later played by Kate Siegel in a committed performance) the middle child, seems to be the fan-favourite character of the series. This could be because she is highly intelligent and uses her skills (including the ability to learn things about people and objects by touching them) to better the lives of the children she works with. On the flip side, however, Theo rejects emotions and attachments, building walls all around herself to keep others out. Theo’s response to the horrors of Hill House might be a representative of the human’s ability to protect itself from trauma, particularly of the emotional kind, after having encountered it for the first time. The main death that occurs in Hill House clearly affects all of the Crain children and Theo seems to believe that refusing emotional attachments might be a mechanism to guard her heart against any future pain. Her lesson, the lesson passed on to all of us watching, seems to be that refusing to feel anything is oftentimes more difficult than feeling the harsh emotions, such as sorrow or fear, because in the end, Theo craves feeling and rejects the numbness that she believed could have protected her from the harshness of the real world, as well as the supernatural world.

Luke Crain (played assuredly by Julian Hilliard and Oliver Cohen-Jackson) is the twin brother of Nell Crain (two very strong performances by both Violet McGraw and Victoria Pedretti) – and together, they represent the faction of the Crain family who is most obviously and most pronouncedly affected by the ghosts of Hill House, with the exception of, perhaps, their mother, Olivia, played by the always-fabulous, Carla Gugino, in a scene-stealing, staggeringly good performance. The twins, as children, are the ones who have to deal with “the bent-neck lady” and the “tall man.” They are the ones who are convinced that what they have seen is real, and they are the ones who often have to deal with the consequences of others’ disbelief. As adults, the twins go their different ways, though each fervently remains committed to their belief in the haunting of Hill House. Luke becomes a drug-user, resorting like many other people around the world who use opioids to deal with his pain. Nell, on the other hand, never gives up on unravelling the mysteries of Hill House and goes there to find answers. In many ways, this duo highlights the “fight or flight” response – but in metaphorical ways. Luke chooses to fly, to escape his memories, in drugs. Nell, however, chooses to confront the forces at Hill House. Both of them eventually fail against the House; Luke is consumed by ◄◄◄ From page XXIII

Ivan Sancho plaiting the mats he sells

After perfecting his skill, Sancho decided to sell his products and it is now his primary means of earning. He said that he sells his craft so that he can get money to buy fertilisers, seeds, manure and other necessities to plant the crops to provide for his family. “[If I don’t] do this I does can’t get to farm. When I sell the stuff I does buy back things to get to farm,” he said. A vegetarian for most of his life, Sancho said that he farms his own food so that he can be confident that he is eating fresh organic produce as he needs to stay healthy to make the craft items. “I does plait in the day and stitch in the night. I mostly work in the night. I does enjoy the work mostly in the nights. I does deh pun it all the time even if sales not coming is something within me that I can’t stop,” the craftsman shared.

He then journeys to Georgetown regularly to source the ship ropes. “First we used to use the rice bag but after the rice bag start get scarce, I started using the ship rope because I use to work on the ship as a small boy so when I go, rope always there for me,” he said.

Sancho is hoping to live a long life filled with strength to continue crafting so that for a long time he will enjoy his title as ‘The original craftsman’

his drugs and Nell, like others, is eventually consumed by the house. The “fight or flight” response – the only two options given to characters, in one form or another, throughout all of history, fails the characters in “The Haunting of Hill House,” and what is more terrifying than that?

The ways in which the show allows us to see ourselves in these characters and misleads us into thinking that each character’s response is stronger than the last when it

XXXIX comes to dealing with the supernatural, only to have each of these defence mechanisms crumble before the hungry house is alarming, off-putting, and jarring. It makes us uneasy that the responses of the main characters display the responses we, the viewers, would display and when their responses fail, it is a stark reminder that ours are also not infallible, and being unprotected to the world, to everything seen and unseen, is truly terrifying.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XIX

‘An application under section 32 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Petty Debt) Ordinance for a new hearing may be made at the same sitting of the court at which the action was heard, if both parties be present , or not more than 28 clear days after the date of the termination of the action of which a new hearing is desired.

‘When it is intended to make an application contemplated in rules 1, 3 and 4 of this part of these rules at a subsequent sitting of the court, the applicant shall deliver to the clerk a notice of application in accordance with Form 52 in the Appendix and serve on the opposite party a copy of such notice containing the date of hearing of the application.’

Continuing, Justice Churaman said “It is fair to observe at this juncture that the parties herein litigated this matter in the court below as one properly arising under Section 32 (supra), and it is equally evident that the learned magistrate determined the contest on the footing that Section 32 was the applicable and appropriate section. But was it the appropriate section covering the circumstances of the matter under review? We are of the clear view that it was not, as this section embraces a number of situations which may give rise to a party seeking a re-hearing.

“Among those situations are fraud, improper conduct on the part of the successful party, or if the unsuccessful party was prevented by ‘causes beyond his control from placing his case fully before the court’.

According to the judge, “This last situation appears to have lured the respondent, as a relevant and pertinent ground upon which the application ought to have been predicated.

“We take the view that a mistaken belief as to the date of hearing of the cause does not fall within the scope of ‘prevented by causes beyond his control’, as these words seemingly relate to the will of the party having neither the ability nor the competence of any control over the causes envisaged in the section; additionally this section envisages a party putting forward his case at least up to a certain point, but not “fully” in the sense that “much more” could have been put forward.

Concluding his judgment, Churaman said “Appellate jurisdiction is always statutory; there is in the statute no restriction upon the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal , and, while the appellate court, in the exercise of its appellate power, is no doubt entirely justified in saying that normally it will not interfere with the exercise of a judge’s discretion except on grounds of law, yet if it sees that on other grounds the decision will result in injustice being done, it has both the power and the duty to remedy it.”

Justice Churaman declared, “We adopt Lord Atkin’s view so admirably expressed. He added, the appeal is accordingly dismissed, the order of the magistrate affirmed with costs to the respondent. ◄◄◄ From page IV

“I usually observe the pupils and see what they like to do and I work on that. At my school, the pupils like to sing. I usually walk with videos from YouTube as a re-enforcement for every topic. Most of the videos are songs. When the pupils sing, they remember the concepts. I allow my pupils to play games based on the concepts taught. Once the pupils are having fun, they will remember the concepts.

Gone are the days when teachers use to fill the chalkboard with notes. It is only wasting their time and the child’s time. Most of the time pupils do not re-read what they have written. I try to summarise my content in points form,” the teacher said.

Beepat is, therefore, encouraging young teachers to be dedicated and committed to their job. He said that teachers need to be role models to students and to give them attention whenever they need. “[They should] always be regular and punctual and carry themselves worthy of the profession in and out of school. I found the enquiry approach to teaching very useful. When pupils discover for themselves, they remember the concepts for a longer time.

Teachers need to focus on concepts and not content.

Make lessons fun by using different strategies and inculcating the use of technology,” he advised.

Beepat was rewarded as a student on the Honour Roll list in his first year and was the only person in the Bachelor of Education (Primary) programme to graduate with a distinction.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page V

Blackman said that his knowledge in the sugarcane juice industry started with his father years ago, when he was just a child. However, the problem with cane juice having a limited shelf life was never addressed until now, he posited.

“Knowledge of the controlled pasteurisation process that is required in the preservation of cane juice created an excitement in me, especially since it has never been done in Guyana before – as far as I know,” he said.

According to Blackman, his knowledge in the cane juice industry created a natural and smooth transition, from that of being an engineer to becoming a specialist in the pasteurisation and preservation of cane juice. Apart from this, he said that he has always had a desire to operate his own business, hence his decision to submit his resignation to the GPL in May this year.

DETERIORATION PROCESS According to Blackman, B&S Green Fields Sugarcane Juice could have been considered as going through a preparation mode for a long time. However, with the full advent of B&S Green Fields Sugar Cane Juice and the implementation of the pasteurisation process, the general public can consume this drink from a supermarket or shop near their place of residence. He said that this speaks to his vision of making available this product throughout Guyana and the Caribbean even if there is no cane available in their local area.

“Cane Juice deteriorates very fast even if refrigerated.

Hence many lovers of cane juice cannot enjoy this healthy drink at will. However, my engineering instinct, coupled with my project management certification, continues to propel and motivate my efforts as I work towards revolutionising the cane juice industry in providing safe, pasteurised cane juice that is healthy and that offers great value to Guyana and the Caribbean,” he stated.

He noted that the pasteurisation process removes all the bacteria from the juice, thus allowing it to have a shelf life of up to six months at room temperature. The non-removal of these bacteria is what causes the juice to spoil so quickly – within 24 hours.

“In order to make the availability of cane juice at all times as a soft drink, prepared under electric motorised, sugarcane crushers [with] hygienic conditions, a method of bottling the cane juice has been developed and we at B&S are proud to be the pioneers of this process in Guyana.”

He added that a preservative is indeed used in the process.

However, the percentage of preservative used is minuscule, and this was obtained from local experts and research. This preservative that is used has no negative impact on the health of the consuming public and is the same used in most soft drinks.

Blackman stated that sugar cane juice has many health benefits and the quality offered by B&S Green Fields Sugar Cane Juice only adds to that value. At the same time, he noted that as the founder of B&S Green Fields Sugar Cane Juice his goal is to make his brand and quality of pasteurised cane juice available in all of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana, as well as in the Caribbean.

In terms of future plans for further exploring the sugar cane, Blackman said that he has some serious plans to explore other products from the sugar cane and juice, but was not ready to share such at the time.

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XLIX

English

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STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, It is commendable to improve your presentation skills continuously. They are very important for budding professionals. They can make the difference between a pass and a marginal failure in your examinations. Every examiner pays attention to response management.

It therefore is rewarding to have a firmer handle on good presentation skills.

The basis of good presentation skills are effective arrangement and presentation, clarity of expression, logical argument, clear and concise English, good spelling, and legible handwriting. Be wise.

Love you THE PASSAGE My Stackpole grandfather had huge, richly veined hands. His fingers and thumbs were stout and powerful, but what

made his hands truly enormous was their breadth. … But despite their immensity, these hands could wield a carving knife and fork with the sweetest dexterity. He did everything with a theatrical flourish, and his performance over a roast chicken never failed to fascinate me. And when he tackled a job, he did it properly. There was no hacking or pulling: he shaved off the breast in perfectly proportioned wafers, and severed the joints of legs and wings with single, devastating strokes. He laid out the slices on each plate in an elegant pattern, nearly separating the white meat from the brown with a strip of crisp skin.

He always adjusted his arrangement with a few delicate flicks from the point of his knife before passing on the plate for my grandmother to add the vegetables.

When everyone was served, he would bend over his own plate and invade it with awe-inspiring heartiness. He had a way of piling up his food on the back of his fork, which I have never seen anyone else achieve. Every part of the meat -

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

leg, breast and skin, potato, sprout and carrot – would be stacked up in little chunks, compressed into a solid, Prose = words in their best order; stratified block, drenched in gravy and briskly transported poetry = the best words in the best order. to his mouth, where it would SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1772be engulfed in one cavernous 1834) Table Talk, 12 July 1827 bite, leaving not a scrap on his moustache. Having eaten 1. In the first sentence: Adjectival everything else, he would phrase – “around the main park” modiscoop up his gravy with his knife, flattenfies the noun “area”. “Residential and ing its blade against the plate and leaning fashionable” is a compound adjective. on it with all the strength of his formidable 2.

In the second sentence: Two of the hands as he scraped off the last spots. He three main clauses - “But the people had invariable left his place so clean it could emigrated”; “or (the people) had moved have been put straight back on the shelf up to the hills”.

“Who had lived there” – without being washed. adjectival clause.

3.

The third sentence is (Fraser Harrison A Winter’s Tale) simple. It contains ONE verb. 4. There is no adverb clause of time, but there is a ABOUT THE PASSAGE This extract from Fraser Harrison’s time adverb – “Once”. in sentence four. autobiography study serves to demonstrate It tells time when. 5. The fifth sentence the author’s method or use of language. is compound. It contains THREE main You are not expert writers, and language clauses. 6. Choose one of the following use is a very complicated matter; and you nouns: Jimmy, name, Prince Albert, sound, are not expected by examiners to show privilege, splendor. One verb – “had”. such propensity in the examination. What One adjective – “wonderful”. One adverb they are looking for is the application of – “still” which is used to indicate ‘up to commonsense and the consideration of a this or that time’.

7. This sentence: The ducklings crossed few basic skills of presentation. the busy intersection at Brummell Place.

The complete predicate is “crossed the WHAT TO DO Read the passage again and try to un- busy intersection at Brummell Place”; the derstand its meaning, and then develop object of the verb is “intersection”.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

the image you think the author wishes to convey about the grandfather.

What are your thoughts about the writer’s purpose and his methods?

What relationship between the young and the grown up can you discern from the way the writer’s thoughts are expressed?

Do you see the grandfather as a domineering man? What effect had he upon the writer as a child?

How could the adult prowess be viewed by you at this time of your reading?

Try writing a closely observed portrait, with strong emotional undertones, of a person you once knew.

VOCABULARY and SPELLING A. These words are often confused: detract, distract; carton, cartoon. Write each in a sentence that illustrates its meaning.

B. Should a or an precede these words?

Opposite; half; appetite; egg; ulcer; cancer; harvest C. Complete the following by adding ar, er, or or – whichever is correct.

Supervis___; lawy___; regul___; direct___; monit___; sweep___ LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS Grammar Revision in syntax (the phase of grammar which deals with the relationship of words within a sentence).

SIMPLE DIAGRAMS Using diagrams in study In study, using diagrams can be very helpful. Diagrams are graphic texts explained as the following: i) Illustration and words which work together to make meaning. ii) Illustration that simplifies, generalises or symbolises the subject, rather than shows surface appearances (such as its colour or texture).

While the simplest of diagrams help you define subjects or concepts visually, they also show relationships between parts of a subject; define differences, varieties and categories; and organise vocabulary lists into meaningful groups and sequences. And while labels name parts of the picture, the picture helps to define the labels.

Pictures help to improve memory and expression. As you define pictures more meaningfully in study, you are better enabled to envisage descriptions of people, houses, machines, or whatsoever in the examination.

For instance, story plot and characterisation can be helped greatly. Of course, your approach to any aspect of written work will be determined by your skills in producing ideas and by your personality in being able to handle their presentation.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018

Tamarind Punch

INGREDIENTS 1 bottle tamarind syrup 1/2 pt water 1/4 pt rim sugar to taste (if necessary) dash of bitters 2 bottles cream soda pieces of ice INSTRUCTIONS Mix the syrup, water, and rum.

Add sugar, if necessary, and a dash of bitters.

Immediately before serving, add cream soda.

Add a solid piece of ice and serve.

Makes 6-8 glasses

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 18, 2018