Guyana Chronicle E-Paper 10-09-2023

A way of life

18 residents of Nappi, Parishara, and Hiowa learn the dos and don’ts of beekeeping

To be an effective beekeeper, the fear of bees must first be dealt with

Sunday, September 10, 2023

A way of life

18 residents of Nappi, Parishara, and Hiowa learn the dos and don’ts of beekeeping

By Telesha Ramnarine

PASSIONATE about beekeeping from as far back as he can remember, Yimochi Melville wanted to share his knowledge and train others in the field, even if it meant doing so voluntarily. ‘If only people can see the benefits of beekeeping and how they can turn it into a side hustle,’ is what he’d think.

So he thought about starting training at the St. Ignatius Secondary School, and in his village in the years leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic, only to have to stop because, suddenly, no one

could show up for the training.

Imagine his de -

light when Yimochi, of Mabadap, Culvert City, Lethem, was hired last

year by the Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agricultural Development (HESAD) project to train 18 persons from three indigenous villages - Nappi, Parishara, and Hiowa – in beekeeping.

Starting last year November, Yimochi, owner of his honey business Mabadap Apiary, commenced the training with the residents, visiting their villages to provide the sort of hands-on training he knew they’d need.

Thanks to the HESAD project, Yimochi was able to provide the 18 persons with some of the equipment needed like the bees’ boxes, protective

suits and other gears which the village folks made right there in Lethem.

“So far, it’s been very successful. Being part of the project, you get a startup package with the training and protective gears. We help you to get your first set of bees to get a start and so far, everyone has gotten their bees; some of them have already gotten their first reaping of honey,” Yimochi shared in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

The project has been benefitting persons of

various backgrounds like school leavers, housewives, farmers and even some of the older village residents. “Some of them have gotten bottles and sold the honey right in their villages, or some would bring it out to Lethem for sale. The local demand is very high, so it’s very easy to find market.”

Yimochi would himself help the persons he trained to sell the product in Lethem and this would be the easiest task ever for him as he’s managed to

Yimochi and his family displaying their honey in Lethem

Beekeeper Yimochi Melville

Residents of Nappi, Parishara, and Hiowa were able to benefit from the beekeeping training

‘Caribbean Paleo’

Guyanese chef celebrating Guyanese food, family and values

By Shaniya Harding

THE joyful familiar atmosphere, as sounds of happy conversation and laughter among family, rises throughout her grandmother's home as the smell of food resonates

as a young woman growing up in Campbellville, Georgetown, Guyana.

Althea Brown is a Guyanese-born chef. After leaving Guyana as a teenager, Althea saw the need for Guyanese food in her life and other people's lives

The book, which combines healthy gluten-free foods with authentic Guyanese flavours was launched in true Guyanese fashion on September 6, Althea's birthday. The event was hosted at Herdmanston Lodge, and many of Althea's family

from the kitchen where the women of the family come together to create dishes celebrating culture, tradition and above all else, family. These are some of the memories Althea Brown could relate to

seeking to recapture the true Guyanese essence in food. After the long and arduous process of learning to cook and learning to teach others with her recipes, Althea is finally launching her book titled 'Caribbean Paleo'.

and friends were there to support her. But the evening's question and answer segment between the author and the audience was perhaps the most memorable, with the audience tossing questions to Althea about

her experiences, opinions and future endeavors.

"In terms of the book, I really wanted this book to be a true representation of who I am. And yes, I am Guyanese. Undoubtedly, I am Guyanese. And there has to be Guyanese recipes in this book." Althea then went on to say, 'I wanted to show that we can enjoy the flavours and authenticity of Guyanese recipes with some slight tweaks." Althea admitted that has had her fair share of issues with different foods, particularly her sensitivity to gluten. And being Guyanese, she set out in her book to craft healthy recipes for those who love Guyanese and Caribbean foods but may have certain sensitivities or allergies. In her recipes, she swaps regular flour for cassava flour, among many other things, to make the food she loves healthier and better for those like herself.

The evening came to a close with Althea signing books for the numerous fans, friends and colleagues at the event. One of the questions asked was if Althea feels as though she has made her country of Guyana proud. Althea expressed that yes, she does. But countless happy, supportive Guyanese people said that Althea has taught them so much that

both she and her book are proudly considered Guyanese.About the author

At 18, Althea’s family moved to the United States of America. The change, she said, was drastic, but it also made holding on to her sense of tradition all the more important. “It was a huge culture shock for me. I grew up in Campbellville. I feel like I had a very sheltered life. I basically went to school, went home, went to church, those kinds of things. And suddenly, I was in Brooklyn, having access to everything you can think of. Everything around me was new, and I was soaking it all in and then also feeling the pressure to be successful like, this is it,” Althea told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Altha’s first love for cooking was instilled in her by the women of her family. And she says that her family played a big role in shaping how she is. “It’s hard to say who I am without talking about where I’m from. I went to Bishop’s and I spent the first 20 years of my life thinking I wanted to do law. And then going to school and studying law and then working in marketing. And then I had a life change when I had my son and decided to be a stay-at-home mom. And I started really focusing on nurturing my

family and suddenly I have this American kid, but I’m Guyanese. How can I make sure he understands where we’re from and what our culture is and what would that look like?” She said,

Althea admitted that at the beginning of her cooking journey, she was not, as she puts it, nailing the flavors. She was, in the beginning, still very invested in pursuing law. So, the leap she took from law, to marketing and then to the culinary arts was a very uncharacteristic move for her. “I think me as a person is really a mix of this really buttoned up person that wanted to be a lawyer and wanted to dot my i’s and cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s. And this mom who wants to be nurturing and giving things back to the family. And then this person who is overtly Guyanese and wanting to make sure that my kids understand where we came from and that food is a big part of who we are and where we came from,” Althea said.

“I absolutely hated everything about school. Even though I was good at it, it was never what I wanted to do forever. But I thought this is what I had to do,” she explained. Althea finished college a semester ahead

The enigmatic Althea Brown at the launch of Caribbean Paleo (Travon Barker photos)

Althea alongside her ever-supportive husband

Keeping indigenous art and craft traditions alive

LEOME Willis isn’t just a gifted craftmaker but loves what she does for a living, and makes all her products by hand, a tedious process, but she does it anyway.

Willis is the owner of the only craft shop in her village, and in her employ are two migrants who have exceptional craft skills. She is from the Arawak/ Warrau tribes and a native of Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and for the

Exhibition Site in the city during Amerindian Heritage Month.

Willis resides at the Mabaruma Compound, the township's central point, and employs the two female Venezuelans whom she also accommodates, and she would ensure they have meals, and they do get a salary for their work as well.

Willis explained that the women are very skilled, and their method of craft is

to work, and they provide excellent customer service as well as craft,” she said.

Willis reported that she would sell the craft made by all the local people in the community at her Craft Shop.

She is seeking to expand to a city location for her own small business and is exploring the options of a grant/ loan for that purpose.

Even though the craft is all hand-made, it takes

ful she can do the same in her family.

Willis revealed that her mother is 92 years old and lives with her and she would constantly lean on her for support morally because she is a wealth of knowledge and is very versed in arts and craft.

“The young people are not willing to take up the tradition of craft-making and they seem to be moving away from their culture,

takes to stay in the business.

She is also the caregiver of her elderly husband, who is 72 years old and visually impaired, and her aged

to the city is quite fatiguing and very costly by air, and she would have to pay by pound for her products.

“I love to see my vi -

past four years, she has been participating in the Arts and Craft Exhibition at Sophia

unique. “They brought fresh ideas and talent, and I had no problem taking them in

a long time to produce the final product, but it is all in the day’s work for Willis and her team of two because they love what they do, so it is certainly not a burden.

Willis has in stock hand-woven baskets in all sizes, colours and shapes, hammocks, hand-held fans, colourful earrings made of beds, feathers and bamboo, hanging baskets, purses, backpacks, bracelets, headpieces, jewel boxes, rocking chairs and so much more.

These products are made from muckru, tibisiri, nibbi and mosurie rope, all of which she would have to buy locally from people in the village and farther afield.

Willis told the Pepperpot Magazine that craft is part of her family and it is their heritage, her grandparents were gifted, and so was her mother, whom she learned from.

She has been practicing for all long as she can remember, and she grew up watching her family hand down the tradition through generations and she is hope-

but she believes in time, some will step up to remain grounded in their heritage,” she said.

Willis believes that craft-making is set deep within her roots and it is her daily vision she creates fresh, new pieces and with her quick eyes and willingness to learn, she has what it

mother.

Willis is the mother of five and her youngest child is 19 years old while her eldest is 34 years old and she is of the view that she will only participate in the arts and craft exhibitions for three more years.

She explained that the commute from Region One

sion manifest into arts and crafts products. I am still in this business because of the love for it, it has nothing to do with money. I truly promote my culture and it feels good inside of what I do and the fact is people can take a piece of my product with them,” she said.

Leome Willis

Some of the hand-made products of Leome Willis (Japeth Savory photos)

Leome Willis displaying one of her hand-woven hammocks

Leome Willis’s business banner

Doll it up! Local artist explores passion for art through jewellery and doll ornaments

By Dillon Goring

NATASHA David is a woman who loved crafting and making craft items from an early age. She told Pepperpot Magazine that she started making craft and jewellery from dolls.

“I started off with dolls, then I decided to put them into jewellery and clothes. I tried the costume, and it worked out, and that is where I started my business. I also do straw baskets, leather baskets, and much more,” David told Pepperpot Magazine.

David shared that she gets her inspiration from dolls, and as a child grow-

ing up, she did not have the time to play with dolls, but as she grew older, her fascination with dolls became more increasing as time went on.

David recalled that she would go into a store, purchase a doll, take it home, dress it up, and just put it up. She did not care how many dolls she had; she was so fascinated with dolls that she had to get one.

David also shared that she met Sonia Noel, who inspired her to go into the fashion industry, and since she has been doing this, so far, it is good.

The craftmaker shared **that she started making costumes for dolls, even

though she still finds the time to do the jewellery because she has been making it for the dolls. In spite of the fact that she has not done a jewellery course, it is a natural gift.

“Because whatever I want to put on the doll, it just comes to mind. I do head wraps too, the African wraps and I started off doing it on dolls, and I do it on a business venture,” David noted during her interview.

David described her impact on the lives of persons who patronised her business as good due to her quality output. She shared that she has gained a lot of customers who would call

and find her wherever she is, particularly at prominent events such as emancipation festivals, heritage month and all national holidays in Guyana. Originally from Leguaan, Natasha now lives in Linden and told Pepperpot that she began the business at a tender age. The Craft maker noted that her only complaint is that she has to travel great distances to get raw materials.

The Amerindian craft maker noted that all her children work with her, and together they enjoy what they do and do for a living.

Natasha’s craft

Natasha David

Batavia The beautiful ancient district

By Shaniya Harding

THE village of Batavia was founded and the name has been said to mean ‘The ancient district’. At the time, the village was a small group of farmers, hunters and fishermen. Today, the village of Batavia is 600

people strong with more than 130 households. This little village located along the Cuyuni River was selected as this year’s Heritage Village as part of the 2023 Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations. Batavia runs alongside both banks of the Cuyuni River, and for the people

of this little community, boats are a must for life on the river.

Donna Boyal is Batavia’s Deputy Toshao and as a deputy, teacher and villager, he deeply understands the village of Batavia. Donna grew up in Batavia and she recounted what life as a child in Bat-

avia was like. “As a child growing up, I enjoyed coming to school because we used to paddle in our canoe to get to school.

I live on the right bank of the Cuyuni River, and growing up, there were ten of us in the family. And there were only two girls. I was the baby, the favou-

rite, because my father passed away a very long time ago when I was like three years old. And growing up without a father was very hard as a child. But my mother always tried her best for me,” the Toshao recalled.

Batavia village stretches for several miles along both banks of the Cuyuni River. The people of Batavia use the river the same way people elsewhere use roads. With small speedboats constantly traversing

the water, school boats bringing home children and neighbours calling to each other from bank to bank, the village of Batavia is truly captivating. Batavia is made of many different areas, with the infamous Arian Island being the focal point of most of the community’s activities and where heritage month activities will be held this month. As Donna explained the village’s many areas, she

Donna Boyal (Shaniece Bamfeild photos)

A family crossing the river in their boat

Arian Island Batavia

TURN TO PAGE XIII

The Gatekeepers of Batavia

Making representation for the vulnerable

By Shaniya Harding

"AS gatekeepers, we are the ones to overlook our neighbours and even those in our home circle because sometimes, there may be somebody going through a problem and they don't know who to tell it to."

These are the words of Sharon Prince, who is part of a small group of people called the Gatekeepers in Batavia. This group of people work tirelessly and wholeheartedly in the fight against domestic and sexual violence.

Located along the banks of the Cuyuni River is the beautiful village of Batavia. The community on the water is home to more than six hundred vil -

lagers and has a culture that is as strong as its people. With its beautiful waterfalls, peaceful atmosphere and hospitable people who live on the water, Batavia is a fully intrinsic experience. And just like anywhere else in Guyana and the rest of the world, the community has its struggles.

One of the most significant issues the village faces is the problem of violence against women and children. Sharon is the chairman of the community's policing group. She, the other gatekeepers, and the village council receive regular reports of domestic and sexual abuse. The reports are most often resolved within the community with the occasional

help from Bartica authorities. The gatekeepers serve as a bridge, linking those who feel trapped to the people, places and resources which can help.

"We are the ones to tell somebody like the those who are working at Bartica. To assist and what advice they would give us or what they would do to solve the problem," Sharon said. Although the Gatekeepers do their absolute best, Sharon admits that there are instances and cases just too big for them to handle. As she stated, "There are problems that we face. We have the Toshao and the village council, and I work along with them. But sometimes, whenever the Toshao gets a report he talks to

them. But sometimes, when there are problems, we cannot solve, we take it out to the police station."

Sharon explained that many victims of abuse, prominently women and children, are not always open to addressing ongoing abuse along legal lines. She explained many women would rather their abusive partners have a talk with village leaders and councillors rather than take real legal action, as they would say, "Because it's my husband".

Children, Sharon are among the particular demographic they are trying desperately to protect. Because as Sharon sees it, if the adults don’t change,

TURN TO PAGE XI

Sharon Prince

Life in Batavia The way of life and culture of people in Batavia

By Shaniya Harding

THE village is undoubtedly beautiful. The people, places and scenery are fully enthralling and the villagers are still in tune with nature and their surroundings.

Apart from the occasional nurses, teachers or young men who leave the village in search of other jobs, most of the community people work in and for their village.

The main economic activities in the village are still to this day logging, hunting and farming. Log-

ger and villager of Batavia, Gladuston Williams, has been doing logging for a few months now. He has lived in Batavia for 29 years and says that while the community has seen a barrage of changes, the way of life and work remains, more or less, unchanged.

The 59-year-old explained that the Batavia he knew had very few homes and even fewer people.

Gladuston explained that currently, he is part of a group of just four men who do logging in Batavia and the surrounding areas. He

said, "We go into the falls, and we cut down trees like the crabwood, the big ones. We cut it and best the skin. We use man power we don't have a tractor. We pull with rope."

The ability and workload these man are able to accomplish is stunning. As Gladuston said, "Sometimes we cut ten, 15 or 20 of them. We most likely find them close to the river. There are special people in the crew that will look for the right trees."

Wanita Miguel is a mother of seven living in the village of Batavia. Like

many others, her family is involved in farming and the authentic way of hunting. "My husband hunts with his dogs. And he doesn't have a gun, just arrows. He goes out like three times a week. And he makes the arrow and bows himself."

Wanita explained that her husband doesn't go after bigger game, like wild cows or hogs. But he rather goes after smaller things like labba. Wanita states that her husband learned to hunt because of how he was raised. From small bouts running around with makeshift arrows and

bows, to hunting for a living now.

Wanita and her family, hunt and farm in order to sell at the Bartica market. She says selling here is a lot easier than it was before, but the matter of water is still a issue for the community. "We are using the pond. We would be happy to get the well. We're using the pond water every two or three days. And we have to bail it out to clean it. So we would be happy if we had a well."

Many people who come to live in the village quickly adapt to the way of life. Most of the village's population are native indigenous persons. But a few people have come into Batavia,who are not indigenous and have made the village and its practices home. And they have been welcomed with open arms.

Ryan Joseph is a young man whose life has had an interesting beginning. At 37 years old, Ryan came to live in Batavia as a young child after having moved all around Guyana in his childhood. Ryan explained that, "I wasn't really born in Batavia. I would more so say I grew up here. I spent most of my childhood,

from five to eight years old in the interior. I started school very late at the age of eleven."

Because of the way he was raised, Ryan says that Batavia was a nice, peaceful and stable change for him. He explained that, "I like the place. I have always had a heart for nature. I don't like business or noise. Batavia is a very quiet place, with fresh breeze and trees, and especially the river. I can't really do much without the river. I only feel comfortable when I am around water "

The way he grew up and was accepted in the community of Batavia has led Ryan to take the position as one of the village's councillors. Ryan works primarily with the youth. He works towards teaching them about themselves and hooning their potential, as he explained, "As a councillor I deal mainly with the young people. I would have educational talks with them on family planning and sexual and reproductive health. We try to gather them and influence them to be better people in the future."

"It helps me to feel

Wanita Miguel

The school boat for the village

Tourism and Culture in Beautiful Batavia

By Shaniya Harding

BATAVIA is special in the unique way that its people combine and preserve tradition and work in harmony with its surroundings. For people living in Georgetown, getting to Batavia would include a trip to the port village of Parika, then next to Bartica. And finally, in a boat for the twenty-minute boat ride into the little village of Batavia.

The village is heavily involved in farming and, interestingly, herbal medicine while simultaneously having plans and hopes of becoming a tourism destination with its falls and rapids being the attractions.

Every culture and every age have had their own interpretation and way of caring for their sick. Today, most of the world's population look towards medicine and care administered by doctors and nurses.

But there are still people who believe in other forms of medicine. Whether it began out of pure necessity or it was culture, many people still believe in herbalists and their work. Many Batavians may find going out of the village in search of care a difficult task. This leads them to the herbalist or 'bush doctor'.

Irving Miguel has lived in one of Batavia's subdistricts for over ten

years. And he has been practising his work as a herbalist for more than twenty years. Irving is aware of the apprehension people may have about his herbal treatment. He believes that the work he does is not hearsay or imaginary. But he considers it ancient knowledge passed down to keep its people safe and healthy.

Irving explained that "My skills are really agriculture, herbalist and crafts. I got the knowledge from my generation. My ancestors, my grandfather was a herbalist and he taught me these herbs, showing me the herbs." And for the last 20 years, he has made it his mission to become fully versed in treating many ailments with herbs right from his backyard.

Irving initially turned to herbs as an alternative to the medicine he and his family couldn't access. "The medical help was not like at this time. In that time, we didn't have health posts in the Amerindian villages. It was very hard for us to come out. We didn't have transportation; we had to paddle. It was very hard for us to come and see doctors. So I had to study something to make medicine to secure my family."

The 73-year-old says that his medicine and teachings have reached a number of people all across Guyana. And in cases where he meets peo-

ple who don't believe in his treatments, he urged them to just try it. "I tell them this will help them. If it works, call be back, and they do. So it has been approved."

Irving admits that there are things that he cannot fix. Things like broken bones, he says, are beyond his medical constraints for fixing. "If your body or bones break, I can't help with that. You would have to go to the medical doctors." He went on to explain that there are women, called bush nurses, who have an interesting way of dealing with sprains and fractures, "The ladies don't know how they learn, but it's a gift. They can fix the bones that have been sprained and move and fix it."

Irving believes that both herbal medicine and Western medicine could prevail if they work together. Everything in Batavia seems better, simpler and easier. The village has a simplistic and fascinating way of dealing with things. The people have a

Herbalist Irving Williams (Shaniece Bamfeild photos)

The Five Star Falls

Tourism and Culture in Beautiful...

FROM PAGE IX

strong sense of culture and tradition, surrounded by beautiful and breathtaking scenery.

Irving himself lives on a hill that overlooks the Cuyuni Batavia. Despite the challenges the village may have, the fact that they have managed to hold on so profoundly to their traditional ways and practices makes the atmosphere of the village feel like a breath of fresh air.

The village is home to a series of waterfalls. Including the 'Small Matope' and the 'Five Star Falls', both of which attract a number of people every year. With the upcoming heritage month, the village heads have plans of showcasing Batavia's falls as a must-have on visitors’

list of places to be. The village's council expressed that, on the 17th of September, people visiting Batavia will have the opportunity to have a guided tour among the rapids and through the falls.

Irving himself will be taking part in the village's heritage celebrations. He will be making a variety of craft in the form of miniature matapees and sifters. The 17th will be a culmination of traditional pieces and displays. This unique mix of originally maintained culture and the all too exciting idea of tourism is what makes Batavia an interesting find and an enigmatic experience.

The famed Small Matope Falls

The Gatekeepers of...

then at least they can help the children. As she emphasised, "I'm asking for more sup -

port for the child care agency. They need strong support, not only that family, there

are other children going through it, and they can't talk." The Gatekeepers of the village

at present are only 15 members strong, and they are facing a variety of difficulties in

getting to those who need help. As Sharon stated, "We are finding it difficult. Because to go around, we need gasoline, we need boats. I have a policing group boat. And sometimes I take my money and buy gasoline to assist people in whatever problem."

Batavia is one of the target communities of the EU/UN Spotlight Initiative which aims to combat violence against women and girls. The community works with local NGOs and receives sensitisation and other resources and efforts towards this goal. The Gatekeepers group was formed while working with Blossom Inc. un-

der the Spotlight Initiative.

The harsh reality is that Sharon, the Gatekeepers and many of her fellow villagers are waging a war on violence. A war that is not specific to their village, the region or even Guyana. Today, with the help of the Batavia Gatekeepers, and similar organisations like the Batavia Mountain Movers, survivors have an avenue to seek help and support. Violence and crimes of a sexual and domestic nature exist is many places, making cases in Batavia no different than those that happen anywhere else.

A resident of Batavia

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Caribbean...

FROM PAGE III

with two undergraduate bachelor’s degrees. After she successfully completed college, Althea was hit with the hard fact that law school is expensive. She decided to take a year off and work in order to tackle law school. She got into marketing, and it sparked her creativity, causing her to never look back. “I loved the creativity of marketing. A part of my brain was turned on in a way that I didn’t know could be

years, I struggled with it being called Metemgee. It was out there, but I wasn’t proud of it. I had to constantly explain what Metemgee was to people who weren’t Guyanese. It was such a pain for me I wanted to rename it to something like Althea’s Kitchen or Cooking with Althea. But my husband told me, no, you build a brand and you let people learn it,” Althea said. Today, Althea takes pride in explaining that Metemgee is a Guyanese

turned on just looking at ads and campaigns. Even that creativity goes into my platform and what I am doing, which I love.”

Althea never returned to complete law school but rather embarked on an entirely new mission: the creation of ‘Metemgee’. Metemgee is Althea’s online platform that gave rise to her first set of recipes. It began just after she moved to a new state, where there were no Guyanese cook shops or food nearby. But Althea had her mother and sense of culture, and she began crafting her recipes. She began taking notes from her mother and began sharing them on her blog in 2013 as a hobby. Her blog went through a variety of name changes, first called ‘Honeymooning with Food’ and the name ‘Pepperpot’ was even considered. But Althea settled on Metemgee and as her recipes grew, so did her following. Althea admitted that at first, she wasn’t too fond of the name Metemgee.

As she stated, “For

dish. And, of course, she is always happy to answer the question that often follows: where is Guyana?

One of the reasons why Althea and Metemgee skyrocketed was because of the authenticity she displayed. Althea sought to show her life and recipes in the most natural, real and raw ways possible. “I didn’t want to have this persona that most people have on the internet; of my house is clean or my kitchen is fancy, look at me. But life is hard. Life as a mom is hard creating content and sharing is hard. But I love food, here’s the food.” And in 2019, she officially relaunched Metemgee, treating it as a job, with full dedication. And within a few months, Metemgee took off.

Caribbean Paleo will be available on Amazon and in other stores in Guyana. Althea dedicated the book to both of her grandmothers and to all the women who made magic in the kitchen because of what they were taught.

Althea Brown

Life in...

FROM PAGE VIII

good about myself. Being somebody that started school very late and also knowing what it's like without schooling at a very young age. I don't want to see people go through the very same thing. And I don't want them to think that this is all life has to offer. There is more out here and once they put themselves up to the challenge, they can be people of the village that can benefit their community in a very

positive way."

On the matter of why he thought the village was so accepting of different types of people other than themselves, Ryan explained that there is always a connection. "Out of a hundred per cent, only 10 to 15 percent of the population are not indigenous. I'm mixed Amerindian and afro Guyanese. So there is always that connection with the Amerindian part," he said.

As a villager and councillor, Ryan could not be

more excited for Heritage Month. He said that Batavia will come alive on the 17th ."Batavia is very exciting. It's a place you could come and relax. We have the falls. On that day, I will be doing archery. We will have the tour and the cultural items will be skits and dances. The cassava processing; they will show the different stages. It will be a very exciting day," he said.

Batavia

FROM PAGE VI

stated, “From the right bank of the Cuyuni River, we have a place named Greenfield. Then we have the Bamboo landing. Then we have the tiger bay and the Pine Tree landing. We have the Flat Rock area and going up, we have the Upper Kamaira, and then the lower Kamaira. Coming down to the left bank of the Cuyuni River, we have the Sandhill area.”

Heritage in the charming little village of Batavia has always been an occasion the people look forward to. So, when the news that they were chosen was delivered, all works and preparation by villagers commenced almost immediately. Donna stated that “The Arian Island is the proposed sight for the heritage celebrations on the 17th.

When I heard the news that we were selected as the national heritage village I was happy. And my people were so excited. My residents will prepare our traditional drinks. Because we always have the best Paiwari, cassiri and beltiri, and when people come, they always enjoy our local drinks and food,” she said.

Batavia has a wide array of their own schools, centres and institutions. Batavia has an ICT hub building, a market building, and the women’s cross centre, where many of the indigenous crafts are still handmade by the women and girls of the village. The village still has a very strong sense of tradition, culture and community. As Donna explained, most of the economic activities of the village are centred around farming, hunting, fishing and logging. Many of the village's young women have jobs in the field of nursing or teaching.

As a teacher in the past, Donna is very passionate about the education of her people. She has been deputy Toshao of Batavia for a little over two years now, and she is working towards bettering the education of the children in her community. “My responsibilities are concerning education and tourism. For education, my role is to make sure the children come to school regularly, mostly based on attendance.”

The responsibility of education in Batavia is a big one, as the commu -

nity has a high dropout rate. Many of the village youths leave school before completion and, more often than not, don’t further their education. This results in one of the village’s biggest issues currently is unemployment.

As Donna explained, “The issues we have are with the dropout from school. Many children aren’t finishing school. We want more people to learn new skills, especially more women, because a lot of them are unemployed. We really want them to learn a skill to help themselves and help their families.”

The community is working towards resolving this problem, however, by trying to get more training in the village, particularly for women and girls. The community is in high anticipation for the upcoming heritage celebrations. They are planning an occasion that will allow visitors to indulge in their beautiful culture and traditions, with everything from speedboat races to arts and crafts.

And Donna is giving the rest of Guyana a special invite, as she stated, “I am inviting the people

Batavia man logging

develop a great reputation over the years for having quality honey.

He’d not opt to sell just anyone’s honey. He’d look for those who emphasise, like him, providing the best quality on the market. “People who get the honey the right way and are not being deceptive,” he said about those whom he’d help.

The “right way” means that they’d reap it at the most appropriate time, when it’s really ready. “Certain people who have not done any training do not know when to reap the honey and they will reap it when it’s too green, and then when they get it, it ferments or bubbles up. Others don’t use the right equipment, maybe something unsanitary,” Yimochi explained.

He reflected on Pres -

ident Irfaan Ali’s pledge to assist some of the communities with their honey production. “He wanted to develop a brand of honey from here. I think that’s a great initiative, and I see a

lot of potential for it,” he expressed.

Reflecting on some of his early days in beekeeping, Yimochi recalled buying his first beehive box in 2012 and capturing

his first hive in the same year. “Since then, I have managed to increase the bees. Sometimes, I have four hives at a time. I had no one to reach out to, to help me understand. But I

had them there and I went along by trial and error.

In a previous interview, Yimochi had advised that to be an effective beekeeper, the fear of bees must first be dealt with. “So far, I have captured hives from the wild; trees in the savannah, under a bridge, in someone’s home. I take my hive boxes to the location and place the bees inside. Sometimes you are not successful, but as I go along, I learn how to capture more successfully. You need your smoker,

not comfortable, they will leave. They usually go out to feed, but once they are comfortable, they will always come back. You make sure the queen is laying well and if not, get another queen. The queen is larger in size, has a longer abdomen, and is a bit more reddish coloured.”

“Sometimes we help them out with some syrup made of white sugar mostly, so they can start attaching their combs to the frames that you have in the hives. Once

To be an effective beekeeper, the fear of bees must first be dealt with

veil, gloves, hive tools, and proper boxes.”

Explaining the process, Yimochi said: “You try to make the bees comfortable in the box so they would make it their home. If they have combs, when you capture them, you put the combs in the box the way they would be in nature so they would feel it’s their home and stay. If they are

they start doing that, you know they are comfortable. As you see them increasing in size, you need to keep adding boxes because if they run out of space, they will split in half; half will go and half will remain. They will remain in the hive and if you’re lucky, you will get honey,” he continued.

Some of the beneficiaries of the HESAD beekeeping training

“You try to make the bees comfortable in the box so they would make it their home.”

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Change will always whisper, ‘go here and do that’

THE other voices we hear at times are the things you may have heard before, sometimes years before, from an adult, while your thoughts were elsewhere, but a seed was planted when you did not want to listen.

One of the oldschool timetable practices that helped my generation to decipher the art of the choice was that Wednesday afternoon session they called, ‘Reading’, when we would read

from a school library book of the teacher’s choice. ‘We’, meant one student reading a paragraph or two, then another student would follow with the next two paragraphs. Perhaps it was Ulysses telling the Cyclops (who were mythical giants), that his name was ‘Nobody’. So when he made his cunning but brutal escape from Polyphemos, the man-eating Cyclops, and the oth-

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- but what do we call that other voice that whispers, ‘Think...’

Change will always...

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er giants came to help their screaming fellow, and he told them that ‘Nobody’ had hurt him, they walked away, presuming that he was mad.

Such fables did help to create an understanding of good and bad,

and that sometimes in dealing with the bad, you, too, may have to be bad, because, in life, we will meet friends who will propose initiation rites or group habits into acceptance that may not be beneficial. I can point to a real example. I onced

worked at Rice Marketing Board for some years. There was a habit every Friday to proceed into Kingston at a shop Frankie’s lady owned and drink beers. I made enemies with my fellow workmates, because I opted out of that Friday rendezvous.

So, there was a price to pay. I became a focus for aggression, not physical, but sarcasm and name-calling. Suddenly, I was a miser and a Jew. Fact is, I had some furniture at ‘Bow Foot’s joinery shop on Princess Street, and I was eager to pay them

off, and make my ‘crib’ look good for my then lady friend when she visited. It happened that she stayed, till now. Therefore, some choices make you dislikeable, so ‘join de style’ will guide one way ‘fuh de moment’, but ‘thinking’ is the inner voice of the future.

Sometimes fate drops you in a spot, a choice between the humbleness of a relentless struggle, while change beckons with easy prosperity, at the cost of your soul. Your mindset may be defined by the principles you’ve believed in from late childhood into your teens. ‘Change ‘ will urge you on, “Who cares, bro, mek ah change; yuh ent getting younger, yuh might never get another chance like this. Plus, once yuh get through, yuh ent got fuh reason with no one.”

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE

Change is inevitable, but change must collaborate with the process we call, Thinking it out. ‘Thinking’ reminds you, “Yuh got fuh reason with yuhself. Every quiet moment, yuh gon ask yuhself is wuh ah do? Next yuh got fu tek thing fuh sleep, ‘cause quick change gone; only you leff”. Some proverbs seh “duh body born widout soul”; it ent mean everybody born suh. Think; remind yuhself that the ancients said, “Man, know thyself” first.

Life has a way of teaching you the truth. How that manifests depends on how you go about it. Do not make bad choices willingly; explore the commit -

ments and obligations you will have to stand by. Whether ‘change’ is pursued legally or illegally, there are separate rules; all require sacrifice, not controlled by Salawala and spirits, but by you on your life and those loved ones who depend on you. Indeed, some sacrifices will be greater than others. Take, for example, in the arts, there is a saying that while you pursue your dream, ‘keep the day job’ - unless you can entwine your skill successfully and retain and insert protection of rights into the day job. Some things take time because there is so much you need to know to protect your sanity in your quest for fulfillment. ‘Change’ is inevitable, but ‘Thinking’ and not the excitement of euphoria is the greatest companion of ‘Change’ if you can get these two faculties of your nature to work together.

In closing, this article was composed for some anxious friends, trying to make sense of the world within and without that we now live in and its real options. I’ll close with Aesop the Ethiopian, who related the story of the wily Leopard who wanted to eat the three bulls, but what prevented him was their bond of friendship that kept them together, so he began to spread rumours among them until he had created so much jealously and distrust among the bulls, that they moved away from each other, and with their broken bond. The Jaguar slew and devoured them all, one by one.

A month of celebration

September is a much anticipated month for celebration in Guyana, especially for the indigenous people in all regions. I attended "Indigenous Imagination, " a pre-celebration featuring indigenous designers. A group of young people hosted the ‘The All Nine

Art featured a beautiful hand-painted collection.

They specialised in portrait painting and drawing, cartoon animation, mural and backdrop painting. Hand-painted clothing, tailoring and alteration. Matt and Annie's Art is owned by husband and wife Courtney Matt

products. LEA first started as an online business to

provide unique, stylish streetwear and apparel products.

The idea of LEA came from a lack of and the need for stylish, contemporary, quality souvenir tees when travelling, com-

bined with the passion to promote Indigenous culture and representation. You don't have to wait until it's September to represent. Their products can be worn anywhere and any time of the year.

Presently, they offer T-shirts, handbags and cups with the vision to expand into other apparel products targeting the local Guyanese market as well as the diaspora. Their

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Nations’ event led by former Miss Amerindian Heritage Queen Sherica Ambrose. The collections consist of ready-to-wear casual, traditional attire to indigenous wedding attire. Matt and Annie's

Douglas and Aneeza C. Douglas.

Lethem Exclusive Apparel

They are a business partnership aimed at designing and providing quality Guyanese and Indigenous-themed apparel

A month of...

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products are suitable for souvenirs, gifts and casual wear.

Their current perma-

The intricate details on Andy & Elizabeth Williams caught my attention. These two indigenous costume designers are

nent location is at the Lethem Public Market but you can also find some of our products at the Visit Rupununi Office in Lethem and also available online at: https://kapohn. etsy.com/

I remember meeting Leroy in Lethem and was very impressed with his vision. He was studying in Cuba then and is a doctor now.

from Paramakatoi Village Region 8. They mostly design indigenous outfits using local materials from the environment. Their passion for designing started in 2005 when they designed and made a traditional outfit for Sondra Cheong in 2005, who was contesting at Miss Amerindian Heritage Pageant as a representative of Region #8.

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A month of...

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She was crowned a queen, and her costume was the best in creativity.

That inspired them to continue making traditional wear outfits. After that, three other costumes were the best in 2007, 2009, and 2017.

It takes one month to complete one outfit, and the materials that are used are spun cotton balls, feathers, shells, bamboo beads, crow eye beads, buck beads and other indigenous materials that are found in my Region.

They both chose to make and design traditional wear because they believed that sharing their talent with others was a blessing from the Creator.

Watching Vanda Designs reminded me of how nervous she was getting ready to showcase at Guyana Fashion Week. She has come a long way, and I am proud of her. She describes her collection as "It's our twist to Indigenous fashion in today's world.Our aim is to provide quality and affordable wearable Art

of our indigenous culture, environment and way of life."

Vanda Allicock of Vanda Designs is also a massage therapist. At Vanda designs, we not only make you look good we make you feel good and design for both men and women.”

Natasha David showcased an amazing crochet collection with indigenous influence.

She is ranked amongst the best indigenous designers in Guyana and

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A month of...

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the Caribbean. She started her career creating beautiful dresses from banana leaves for dolls in 2007. In 2009, she participated in Guyana Fashion Week, creating a full collection for the first time. This runway provided her with the platform to be recognised. Her creative mind did not allow her to stop there, and she went on to create the most amazing jewellery collection and indigenous costumes. David's creation is known as a brand with unique merchandise that sets her apart from others. Her work was featured in magazines, newspapers and Expos in Guyana, including Wom-

en in Business Expo,the Caribbean and the USA. Natasha is proud of her indigenous culture and believes in giving back and has facilitated many workshops teaching banana leaf designs and the Art of jewellery making. I sat and looked at her, taking her walk after her collection and felt emotional. I remember a shy lady who introduced herself to me at GuyExpo years while making Banana Leaves dresses on dolls. I challenged her to create a collection for Guyana Fashion Week, and did, although she did it scared. Her story is a testimony that it is possible even when you doubt

yourself. Natasha was the first indigenous designer to showcase at GFW.

Marcella Allicock's designs graced the GFW stage. She hails from a small village in the North Rupununi called Surama.

" I started being creative by doing crochet and embroidery on pillowcases, hand towels and potholders. My creative journey took an inspiring turn towards acrylic painting 20 years ago, starting with painting on wall mats of birds and wildflowers. I was later inspired to try Acrylic painting on shirts(male/female), dresses and skirts of indigenous petroglyphs, birds, animals, and flowers of the

rainforest and fell in love immediately.

I was fortunate to have purchased my first set of painted clothes by Mr. Sydney Allicock, which helped turn my paintings into a small business."

She started getting orders for not only painted clothes but bags, towels, etc., from tourism lodges in the Rupununi for souvenirs and tokens of appreciation to visitors. Since then, she has created every piece with the rich Art of our indigenous people.

Creativity runs in the DNA of this family; hence Marcella's daughter, Manicy Allicock is also designing. She stated, "My crochet and knitting is a

venture born out of a deep love for expressing my creativity and imagination through the selection of colours, patterns and designs. Like any Indigenous child having a wide eye for exposure and curiosity, a needle and yarn caught mine. I'm so lucky to have a mom who is also creative, hence me being taught every little thing I know today. I hope to one day have my work provide a platform for me to showcase my unique and authentic Indigenous designs and create items that reflect my rich heritage background."

Indigenous Imaginations' is the first Indigenous Fashion Show featuring designers, artists, make-up artists, graphic designers and more. I had a wonderful time not only viewing the collection but indulging in the delicious cassava bread pizza and

fly wine.

The Indigenous Month celebration continues and I invite you to join us at Tower Suites on Main Street for a special Indigenous celebration on September 17th from 10 am to 3pm. A wide range of indigenous cuisine to choose from: Pepperpot, Cassava bread ,Homemade Bread ,Vegetable Farine and Rice, Tuma, Steamed fish, Cassava Pizza,Farine Marigold ,Pot bake and salted fish,Farine Cake ,wild meat kebab ,Cassava custard , Bush Tea, Coffee and Juice. Indigenous Art, jewellery, and wines will be featured at the brunch and fashion display. For reservation, call 225-2222 or 6848129.

Let's celebrate our first people as celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

What does hyperindependence look like?

Independence means freedom for most people. Independence, in hindsight, is also self-sufficiency. I’ve always admired the concept of independence and all that it stands for. From an individualistic standpoint of what it means to be an independent nation—freedom can be calming and effective for growth. It is usually seen as a positive thing to have in one’s life. With that in mind, an overdose or overuse of anything can be harmful to us all. The same can be said for independence, in this case, hyper-independence. Hyper-independence can be defined as an excessive

ask others for help because you feel you can’t be protected or rely upon their help or support? Well, that’s a prime example of hyper-independence. You may even feel as though you don’t deserve the social support offered. It’s as if you are meant to make yourself whole and be all that you need for yourself, by yourself—without a shoulder to lean on or a hand to hold.

People with hyper-independence simply do not rely on others for help, guidance or accomplishments. They may also always have their “guards” up when they’re in relationships. A hyper-independence person might also

as you know best is necessary and healthy. In the same breath, we must acknowledge the reality of hyper-independence and understand that it is not healthy behaviour. You shouldn’t be stifling healthy and meaningful relationships while trying to carry the world on your shoulders by yourself. I know there’s a thin line

between the two, but if your sense or idea of independence turns out to do more harm than good, then you should stay clear of such behaviour. If you or anyone you know is experiencing hyper-independence, you must first do some self-reflection, understand how you got to that point, and assess how it affects your

life daily.

If by chance you're unable to function within social groups due to this behavioural response, then you should speak with a therapist or counsellor for further assessment and help. You may have been trying to recover from past trauma, but in the process, you become overly inde-

pendent to the point where you don’t trust people, you don’t want attachments or you feel as though you cannot ask for help in times of need. It may have started as a form of protection for your own good, but what good is it when you can’t enjoy the goodness of social support, love and care?

need for self-reliance. Individuals experiencing it actively avoid dependence in any form, relying on others for support or asking for help or assistance when need be.

It can result from a high level of emotional distress that was probably caused by betrayal and neglect. This type of behaviour can directly affect one’s relationship as it highlights the inability to seek emotional support, connection and help whenever it’s needed. It is often believed that hyper-independence is an interpersonal trauma response. Have you ever felt or know anyone who felt it’s exhausting to

be an overachiever and may have a very hard time delegating or sharing tasks with others. They may also experience a high level of stress and burnout and it’s obvious because they try to do it all without asking or looking forward to help from others. Being hyper-independent is not a badge of honour, nor should it be celebrated.

People who have this behavioural response are usually seen as strong-minded and capable individuals, but don’t let that misconception deceive you.

Being independent should be celebrated. As an adult, having that sense of freedom to think and do

IN LOVE WITH YOU IV

AFTER he left, it took a long while for her to breathe easy again, overwhelmed by the rising emotions she had locked away in her heart. After all the years since the painful break-up with her

husband, someone she least expected had walked into her life.

She hadn’t believed in the love he spoke of, but he had slowly unlocked that door with his sincere words, casual

charm and the undeniable love in his eyes. She took a few deep breaths, running her hand through her hair to bring some calm to her mind, but it wasn’t easy, for she could still feel

his lingering kiss.

“It’s true love,” a voice seemed to be saying to her, “for he never forgot you.” But somehow, she just couldn’t dispel the stubborn doubts.

“I had loved once,” was the little cry in her mind.

Bryan came the next day with a Mediterranean lunch and his usual cool manner.

“I thought since you didn’t sleep well last night,” he said to her, “This might be good for you.”

“How did you know I didn’t sleep well?”

He looked at her with a look that seemed to pull her closer and he said, “I just know.”

She looked away and said, just to ease into something else to talk about, “Thank you for the lunch.”

The food was delicious, Nathan quite enjoyed it and after they had finished he told her, “I’ll be off to the West Coast, a little later and will be back tomorrow.”

“Sports?”

“Yes, an academy is opening there soon.”

“It’s great, what you’re doing for sports and the youths.”

“Yep, gotta give something back.”

He helped her to clear the table, then he said, “I was wondering if I can take you out to dinner tomorrow night.”

“Ah, I’m not sure—”

But before she could finish was she was about to say, Nathan interjected, “Yes, you can.”

Rachel looked at him, taken aback with surprise.

“Nathan, you can’t—”

Bryan wisely took that moment to leave, “Excuse me, I have to go now. I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow.”

“No, I—” Rachel said hurriedly, but he was gone.

She turned to Nathan, not too pleased.

“What have you done?”

He apologised with a little guilty look.

“I’m sorry, Mommy, but Bryan is such a nice guy and he likes you.”

She sighed, sorry she was upset with him and hugged him, “It’s fine.”

Her six-year-old had just set her up on a date!

The next night as she dressed for the dinner date, a nervous feeling pulsed throughout her body. Since her divorce, she had never felt

any attraction to another male, never invited anyone into her home, nor dated until now.

She opted for a simple, off-shoulder, blue dress that defined her body with a touch of sensuality, and looking at herself in the mirror, she voiced quietly, “It’s been a long time.”

Bryan looked at her, admiringly, and hugging her lightly, he expressed, “Simply beautiful.”

He took her to a Thai restaurant and touching her hand lightly after they had been seated, he said, “Try to relax, I know you’re nervous.”

She exhaled slowly and smiled a little with the

glimpse of the happiness she once had.

So much of herself had been lost along the way.

Dinner was a nice affair, and she found herself relaxing in Bryan’s company. He told her a little about his life overseas and the successes he had gained through hard work.

“You have been doing great,” she stated.

“Thanks, I took your advice.”

“Happy that I impacted your mind to strive for your goals.”

He nodded and smiled, a smile that made her feel there was something more he wanted to say to her, but instead, he asked, “So what are your plans? Are you going to continue teaching?”

“I never gave a thought to anything else because I love what I do.”

“It’s of great value, and that I know.”

After dinner, he took her for a little drive, then back to her home.

“It was a nice evening,” she said, “thank you.”

Fighting calculus and plaque

The first thing a physician or dentist learns during his training is the characteristics of normal organs. Studying diseased organs then becomes easy. Let us look at the most common diseases of the teeth and how they are cured.

First, let us examine what causes dental caries - tooth decay, cavities or rotten teeth. The biggest dental problem we face is plaque. What is plaque? Plaque is a soft, sticky, colourless film made up of germs constantly forming on the surface of your teeth. It combines with sugar and starches to form acids, which melt the enamel of the teeth, resulting in cavities.

What can you do to avoid tooth decay? You can do the following:

(a) Brush your teeth thoroughly, carefully and regularly.

(b) Floss at least once a day.

(c) If you can, avoid sticky, sugary foods.

(d) Visit your dentist for a check-up at least every three months.

(e) Eat a balanced diet. In other words, use plenty of greens, milk, and fish or meat.

How would you know if you have cavities? The first thing that happens when your tooth starts to rot is that it changes from its normal colour at that spot. You may observe dark streaks on the biting surfaces, or brown to chalky patches on the smooth surfaces. Instead of being intact, the spot may be soft or presenting a hole. Pain may or may not appear at this stage.

What should you

do if you think that you have cavities? Act right away before it's too late. See a dentist as soon as possible. Right now, there are one hundred and thirteen registered dentists in Guyana and nearly all are accessible. They may be able to fix the problem either permanently or temporarily. Perhaps what you thought was tooth decay may not be. Let the professional confirm it.

Plaque also causes tartar or calculus. What is calculus? Minerals in saliva combine with plaque and harden into a rough deposit called calculus. This is mostly mineral, and it provides a rugged surface to which more plaque can attach, making thorough plaque removal impossible for the victim. Your toothbrush and floss cannot remove calculus. Calculus can be properly removed only by regular prophylaxis (cleaning and polishing) performed by a trained person with adequate equipment and instruments.

Calculus is a major factor that results in people losing their teeth the world over. How does this happen? It happens because calculus causes gum disease (also called periodontal disease).

When the hard, infected calculus penetrates beneath the gumline, it destroys the delicate fibres and tissues there. Also, the supporting bone around the neck of the teeth is forced into absorption due to the constant presence of germs and their poisons. The sick gum then swells and produces spongy tissue filled with blood vessels. These

burst with the slightest of pressure; hence, the typical “bleeding gums”

is evident during normal brushing. Eventually, pus may ooze from

around the teeth as the gingival abscess process may emerge when

the situation becomes chronic.

GUYANA MODEL OF DEPLOYMENT OF OIL REVENUES WIDELY RESPECTED

There is an old saying that 'Money is the root of all dissension', and this has become an actuality

now that Guyana has become a country earning substantial oil revenues. There have been numerous

voices demanding how the funds should be utilised, but the three proposals which most have settled

on are: Firstly, that all the revenues should be periodically distributed to every citizen at a million dollars

each time; secondly, that the bulk of the revenues be similarly distributed with a small proportion being spent of social services; and thirdly, that a part of the revenues be kept as reserves, a part spent on social services such as health and education; judiciary, increasing salaries, pensions and grants given from time to time for specifics such as school uniforms or assistance to fishermen so that they could maintain the fishing industry with the major part of the revenues being devoted to investing in developing the non-oil sectors of the economy.

The present Government have adopted the third alternative. They have been meticulously putting aside reserves and spending on social projects such as in health, education, judiciary, pensions, salaries but the major part of spending is directed to investment in developing the non-oil sectors of the economy. This commitment to diversification of the economy is intended to guard against the almost magnetic pull of becoming dependent on oil. Countries which become dependent on oil suffer great hardship and even poverty when the oil reserves become depleted or when oil prices fluctuate downwards. This scenario is known as The Dutch Disease. Several countries have been afflicted by the Dutch Disease, Venezuela, Guyana's neighbour, being one of the most prominent.

Guyana, in addition to the social spending as mentioned above, that is, spending on health, education, pensions, increasing salaries and giving grants for specifics, has been heavily investing in infrastructure, agriculture, mining and forestry.

The various new roads, the repair of older roads and the building of new bridges are interconnecting the country, and for the first time, the interior and the coast are being united. The privately owned aeronautical industry is being supported with the repair and construction of new airstrips countrywide. This interconnectivity is providing the

foundation for the economic take-off of the country. Indeed, without the new infrastructure, the other aspects of the economy which are being developed could never attain full fruition.

Agriculture is the other aspect of the economy on which most investment is being made. The rice industry is being successfully expanded and Guyana is even helping Trinidad to resuscitate their rice industry. Sugar, which was almost consciously destroyed some years ago, is beginning to have a new lease of life. Honey, which is a profitable niche market, is fast growing and new crops such as wheat and millet with soya and corn are being grown. Livestock with sperm from Frisian sperm banks and Blackbelly sheep from Barbados are improving this sector. Fish and shrimp farms are being developed and many fishermen, with government help have renewed their boats and engines. And there is a Caribbean market of six billion dollars to absorb all of Guyana's agricultural products.

Manufacturing industries such as food packaging, production of spices, jams and preserves, wooden furniture for a niche international market and even some types of garment manufacturing are already being entered in expectation of the cheaper power which will come with the "Gas to Shore Project" in less than two years.

Mining, especially for gold, has been expanding and quarrying for stone and sand has been growing with the demands of the construction industry and infrastructural developments. The Forestry industry has been expanding at the same time, paying attention to Low Carbon Development from which Guyana has been earning millions of dollars.

The economic and developmental model as a new oil-producing country that Guyana has been pursuing has firmly avoided the Dutch Disease, kept inflation under control, and would still be prosperous when the oil resources would have been depleted.

LOVE WITH...

“Not me, you got your son to thank. You do realise he wants to see you happy?”

“Yes,” she accepted, “But I—”

He put a finger gently to her lips and said, “Then give me a chance to help you find that happiness.”

He was standing close to her, his invigorating masculine scent overpowering her resistant mind, and he kissed her, softly, “Hope you have a good night’s sleep tonight.”

She did, wrapped in the embrace of something new and unique happening in her life.

He visited regularly, taking them out for drives, movies, ice-cream and Rachel was starting to have to answer questions from family and friends. All she said to them was, “He’s just a friend.”

Of course, no one believed that because they all knew what she went through and wanted her to have someone new in her life.

One day, whilst she was responding to Bryan about something funny he said, Nathan pointed out to her, “Mommy, you’re laughing.”

Rachel paused and realised she actually had been and glancing at Bryan, she responded to her son, “Yes, baby, I am.”

He knew she hardly ever did before.

Things were starting to be different now and it was a joy for the little boy.

Bryan spoke of his future plans with her, detailing, “I am looking at some long-term investments so when I return from the States, I must have something solid to stand on.”

“But you have several years more, I guess.”

“Nope, just maybe a few seasons left to play. My shoulder injury had been acting up too often.”

“Ah, I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s all part of the game.”

“So why not invest overseas?”

“Because I want to come back home, build my own house with comforts, settle down and contribute to sports.”

“You seem to have it all planned.”

“Yeah, I came back with those plans, and to find you.”

“And if I was still married?”

“Well, I would have had to give up everything and go back, or,” he paused, then added, “I could have impressed you to run away with me.”

“What?!” she laughed, “You say these things in such a casual way, like it’s so easy

to happen.”

“I like to think positive.”

“Like thinking of stealing another man’s wife?”

“Well, I loved her first.”

She laughed out loud this time, “You’re really amazing.”

“And do you like that?”

“Ah, sort of,” she said with a tease.

“I wait for that day,” he said, putting his arms around her, “When you can tell me everything that’s in your heart. You know what’s in mine.”

Every time she saw him, she felt herself pulled closer and closer to him, the past and the pain receding further and further away, “Am I falling in love?” she asked herself.

The feeling of delirium that filled her being was the answer to her question and she sat down and cried quietly from the realisation.

On Sunday, Bryan came to spend the day with them after church and after lunch, he said to her, “You seem different today.”

“How?”

“You haven’t said much. There’s a softness in your smile and a glow on your face,” he paused, “Like someone in love.”

She didn’t say anything for just like that first say when she had realised who he was, she was again left at a loss for words.

He got up and kneeled in front of her, declaring, “That’s the moment I was waiting for.”

He called Nathan who had been playing in his toy corner and said to him, “Can you stand next to your mom?”

Rachel looked a little puzzled, and finding her voice, she asked quietly, “What are you doing?”

Bryan took out a small jewellery box from his pocket and opened it so she could see the sparkling diamond ring inside.

“Rachel, will you marry me?”

That she did not expect and became so overwhelmed with emotions, she couldn’t answer at the moment but Nathan did.

“Yes, she will.”

Rachel looked at her son, tears filling her eyes, then at Bryan and answered softly, “Yes, I will.”

He slipped the ring on her finger and hugged them both as she cried with joy.

She hadn’t believed when he told her about his love for her but now she did, for her heart was saying those same words to him, “I’m in love with you.”

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear student, Welcome dear friend.

There might just be that you do not understand some words of the passage you are reading at times. If so, some of the facts will probably escape you. And if you do not understand how thoughts are connected within sentences or between sentences, you may fail also

to recognise the value of what the passage is communicating to you. Connective words can either signal a conclusion, give an example, or furnish an idea. Be wise.

Love you.

THE PASSAGE

Connecting a succession of sentences

In the following passage, most of the connective words are missing. Rewrite the text, adding link-words where

necessary. Be careful! Many structures have to be changed and you will probably not keep the same number of sentences. Here are some of the link-words you may find useful:

Then; And; When; That’s how; However; But; Yet; instead; The only result; Although; So.

Television was invented by John Logie Baird. When he was young he built an

aeroplane. He tried to fly in it. It crashed down below. When he was older he tried to make diamonds from coal. There was an enormous explosion. He was not injured. He became a businessman. His business failed. He thought of working at television. His family advised him not to. He did not listen to them. He rented an attic. He bought the apparatus he needed. He started working. He worked for a long time. He was not successful. One day he saw a picture on his screen. He rushed out to get someone he could ‘televise’. He found an office boy. He took him back to his room. No image of the boy appeared on the screen. The boy, terrified, had put his head down. He put it up again. His picture appeared on the screen. Television had been discovered.

GRAMMAR

Being explicit

A. All the following sentences contain phrases that are confusing because they are in the wrong place. Underline what you think is confusing.

1. The supervisor watched the driver pick up passengers from the back of the bus.

2. There is a report on the art teacher’s desk that contains the information that we need.

3. The baking chart is on the wall that includes all the critical dates.

4. The shopping agent bought the air frier who was here last week.

5. Many new homeowners buy fire insurance for their houses that they do not need.

6. My brother works for a company that repairs children’s miniature cars two evenings a week.

7. Mr. Simon promised after lunch that he would instruct us on company ethics.

8. I could hear the rain scampering off the zinc sheets while talking to my mother.

9. I could see the hospital attendant working through my office window.

10. If you take advantage of our offer, you will receive a sturdy reading lamp that will not topple for one thousand twenty dollars.

B. Now revise the sen-

tences in Exercise A so that they are clear and correct.

THE POEM

To paraphrase is to make a summary or recapitulate a piece of literature. This is not to enhance the work but to say what it is about in the simplest form. Paraphrase this first stanza of the poem Eldorado by Edgar Allan Poe.

Gaily bedight, A gallant knight, In sunshine and in shadow, He journeyed long, Singing a song, In search of Eldorado.

GRAMMAR

Answers to exercises from last week

Correct any errors in the following sentences. Write OK if the sentence has no error. The correction will appear in brackets.

1. Needless to say, both Harry and (I) will do our best to complete the science project as scheduled.

2. Neither Chopra nor the other applicants (were) given complete instructions for taking the intelligence test. [to agree with applicants]

3. As we already mentioned, (we) canteen managers are willing to work overtime during the busy season. [If an appositive is necessary to understand the identity of the noun or noun phrase that is being modified, the appositive is restrictive. Restrictive appositives are not set off with commas.]

4. Mrs. Hennessey is one of the quality control supervisors who want to change our entire system. [O.K.]

5. Is this manual one of the six references that (were) recommended by Mrs. Ger-

ber King? [to agree with references]

6. As of July 4, the John’s expenses were already 30 percent higher than last year’s expenses during the same period. [O.K.]

7. To handle this heavy workload, we are hiring four more videography personnel next December. [O.K.]

8. Do you know (who) on the personnel staff will be assigned to handle medical benefits for immediate family members? [who … will be assigned]

9. Fortunately, consumption of oil and oil-based products has not (risen) as steadily in the last five years. [Intransitive. Raised what? No answer.]

10. We try our best to ensure that salary increases and promotions are given to those employees who most (deserve) them. [to agree with employees]

11. As you know, (there are) not enough forms for all of us, so we will photocopy a few more. [to agree with forms]

12. A distribution representative must be sure to establish a feeling of confidence with (his or her) district distribution centres. [to agree with distribution representative]

13. Next fortnight we will interview five more applicants; of course, we will then hire the candidate (who) we think has the greatest potential. [who … has]

14. Rachael (did or has done) all she could possibly do to convince Dean’s Bakery to buy our products.

Climate change and health

More recently, I’ve been reading a lot more stories about the impact of climate change on human health, and though it is one more thing that gives me anxiety about existing in this world, I believe more people should know what we’re dealing with.

Several weeks ago, in July, I did a simple Google search after a spike in dengue cases locally and found an article from the United Nations (UN) on dengue and climate change.

That article referenced the World Health Organization (WHO) and stated that the global health organisation was warning that a spike in dengue cases globally was due to global warming.

“Global warming marked by higher average temperatures, precipitation, and longer periods of drought, could prompt a record number of dengue infections worldwide,” the article noted.

After reports of dengue in Guyana became more frequent, public officials, including Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, highlighted that the local surge in cases wasn’t unlike what was being experienced across the Americas. Again, I used the trusty search engine to see the dengue situation in other countries. In truth, the WHO noted that about three million cases were recorded in the Americas for the year so far (that is, up to July when I searched for information).

This figure was significantly higher than usual.

And the WHO said several factors were contributing to the surge, including possibly climate change (specifically, global warming).

“The consequences of the current high transmission scenario depend on several factors, including the current capacities for a coordinated public health response and clinical management, the early start of the arbovirus season in the southern hemisphere, high mosquito densities, and the possible impact of climate change and El Nino phenomenon in the southern hemisphere, lack of vector surveillance and control activities during the COVID-19 pandemic

and high proportion of the susceptible population for arboviruses in the region,” the WHO noted in July.

The references to climate change caught my attention. Though I still think many people don’t know what climate change is, I believe many more people are talking about it and connecting it to various fields. The impact of climate on agriculture, for example, is something not lost on Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders; in fact, it is a central focus in the bloc’s ambitious plan to slash its massive food import bill by 25% by 2025. So, learning more about climate change and human health is something I think I should be following.

And so I did.

I read more about the dengue situation and eventually contacted the former Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), Dr. James Hospedales, for a story I published with the News Room. During our conversation, he affirmed that there is a substantial link between warmer temperatures and increased rainfall (both associated with climate change) and rising dengue cases. However, he acknowledged that other factors, such as poor sanitation, contribute to increasing dengue cases too.

Finding the links between climate change and public health and raising awareness about those links is part of Dr. Hospedales's work through the EarthMedic Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) he founded. It was interesting hearing from him why more officials and people need to be wary of the greater threat to human health caused by climate change. An important point he raised is that when we are faced with new or exacerbating threats, it is often the most vulnerable people who feel the brunt of the impact.

Importantly, though, the worsening dengue situation is only a recent example of the nexus between climate change and human health. The WHO, for example, notes that increased heat can cause heat exhaustion and strokes but also lead to increased transmission of

diseases (not unlike dengue) and, potentially, more accidents.

In a newsletter for Climate Tracker, my Jamaican colleague, Candice Stewart,

also highlighted that breastfeeding women face climate threats such as water-related illnesses, heat illnesses, and respiratory illnesses. She also noted that floods and droughts - again, both disasters associated with climate change - impact food sustainability, and that itself can severely impact human

health.

If you’re thinking this all seems daunting, just know that I feel the same.

If it wasn’t enough that we had to worry about rising sea levels and finding enough money to protect ourselves from the worsening climate crisis, now we have to think about

how that crisis affects our health. Maybe we (I) should have expected this all along, but now that I am learning more about it, it is a sobering journey.

If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous work, please email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.