Guyana Chronicle E-Paper PepperPot 01-12-2020

The President

Sunday, January 12, 2020

and the

environment A review of four books by David Granger – Air, Earth and Water: Protecting Guyana’s environment; Iwokrama: A university of biodiversity; The Green State.

Environmental security and biodiversity in Guyana; and Trees: Guyana’s covenant with the earth.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

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First goalkeeping

Eon DeViera

academy in Guyana ― Training youngsters for professional careers

By Telesha Ramnarine

OCAL sportsm a n E o n DeViera is quite passionate about goalkeeping in Guyana and wants to do all that he can to train youngsters in a manner that can see them achieving a professional or even an international career.

While a lot of emphasis is placed on the actual football sport, DeViera, a national goalkeeper coach

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with the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), feels that not enough is being done to train goalkeepers, whom he said are usually expected to create all of the magic on the field.

Having a love for football for as long as he can remember, the idea came to DeViera to establish a non-governmental organisation that can allow him to help youths between the ages of eight and 13 in the goalkeeping field.

In 2018, the 42-year-old started the Eon DeViera Goalkeeping Academy Inc. which became registered in 2019, and which is now housed at the YMCA. “We want to nurture and develop young goalkeepers and our main focus is to create

behaviour change in them.

It’s not just to concentrate on the sport, but to help to create rounded individuals; to prepare them for life and for an international career,” Eon expressed during an interview

For instance, sportsmen and women who are very aggressive would require special attention. “A lot of the players come from various backgrounds, so we want them to learn public speaking,

Training young goalkeepers

Eon is a national goalkeeper coach with the GFF

Not a lot of attention is given to training goalkeepers

with the Pepperpot Magazine.

He said that apart from focusing on the sport only, attention needs to be given to other vital aspects of it.

“In sports, we tend to focus entirely on the sport, but the sport for a professional cannot stand by itself.”

non-violent behaviour, etc.

Drug abuse sessions are also very important because the youths are exposed to drugs that are easily accessible,” he said.

The academy has three trainers with about 23 youths at the moment, both

male and female. They meet on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday afternoons, and the training is for free! “I’m doing it as an NGO (non-governmental organisation) because we don’t want to lose anyone because they can’t afford it.

In many cases, the guys who can’t afford it are the most talented.”

Eon said the focus is also on helping the youths to acquire the right technical ability since this has been lacking in the goalkeeping department in Guyana. “For all the years, goalkeepers have been neglected. Normally, you have the teams practising while the goalkeepers are just put in a corner with no one to work with them. Yet, when the game is playing, they expect the goalkeepers to create all the magic. But no energy is put into giving them the right technical ability. So that’s one of our focuses; to be able to feed them into the national programme.”

The academy wants to get all of the at-risk youths involved, and the ones who are not so fortunate. “We want to show them that they have an alternative. We don’t want it to be looked at just as a sport, but as a career opportunity,” Eon said.

While being very passionate about goalkeeping, Eon also enjoys working with young people. He taught for several years at the Government Technical Institute. “You see the need for it and you see what sports can really do for young people and families.

We shouldn’t limit any of these youths from where their potential can lead them; they can end up in any part of the world,” he observed.

Speaking about the importance of goalkeepers in a game, he reflected that in world football, there has never been a team that won the world cup or any major tournament without having one of the best goalkeepers.

And so he is proud that his academy is the first of its kind in Guyana.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

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and the President environment

Book reviews:

The

A review of four books by David Granger – Air, Earth and Water: Protecting Guyana’s environment; Iwokrama: A university of biodiversity; The Green State. Environmental security and biodiversity in Guyana; and Trees: Guyana’s covenant with the earth.

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avid Granger, President of Guyana, has emerged as a passionate advocate for the protection of the environment. The release of a collection four books, authored by him and detailing his environmental policies, cemented his reputation as an authoritative voice on the global environmental landscape.

represents his address at the 30th anniversary of the Pledge of the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development on 30th November 2019.

Iwokrama was conceived 30 years ago following the 11th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malaysia in 1989. Hailed as Guyana’s great ‘gift to the world’, this 371,000-hectare forest concession was supposed to become a model of sustainable tropical forest management and conservation.

It has survived in relative obscurity, bedeviled by a sixyear delay in signing the agreement to establish the Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Develop-

President David Granger is the first sitting President to cross the canopy walkway at Iwokrama (MOTP Photo)

Taking the lead: President David Granger plants a tree as he encourages others to do the same

Concise and written with clarity, the collection reproduces President Granger’s addresses to local and international audiences on Guyana’s environment from 2016 to 2019.

Air, earth and water: Protecting Guyana’s environment, the first book, constitutes the text of the President’s address on the occasion of World Environment Day on 11th October 2019.

He made bold, but controversial proposals, for regulating the mining sector in a country whose main mineral export is gold. His proposals were all the more audacious considering that he had been President for only four years and of a country which, historically, has been economically dependent on the extraction of its natural resources.

Guyana suffered mixed economic fortunes for the greater part of its pre-Independence era and is considered still to be among the poorest states in the western hemisphere. The exploitation of its mineral wealth – bauxite, diamonds, gold and manganese – could offer rich rewards and a path to economic prosperity.

The adverse effects of the extractive industries on the environment, however, are no secret. Mining and logging are associated with increased deforestation the rates of which, despite being low, come with risks. The most serious of these is the pollution of the rivers and land by the deadly poison, mercury, which is widely used in the gold-mining sector.

The average politician, in the absence of a serious crisis, would hardly be inclined to undertake controversial measures, especially in an election year. But David Granger is no average politician. He has displayed pluck by placing people before profits. He is a statesman who is prepared to make difficult decisions to balance development with environmental protection and human safety.

Air, earth and water: Protecting Guyana’s environment is a small, absorbing and book. It argues a cogent case for the implementation of measures to reduce deforestation and environmental pollution. Granger’s proposals demand that Guyanese, both rich and poor and, particularly, his country’s powerful loggers and miners, make hard choices in pursuing his lofty vision.

Iwokrama: A University of biodiversity, the second book,

ment. Problems with financing, occasioned by shifting donor priorities, have slowed the Centre’s growth.

Guyana is dismayed by the international community’s neglect of Iwokrama. President Granger is not a man to be discouraged easily, however; he is on a mission to protect his country’s environment. He re-conceptualises Iwokrama in this small book without straying from the Centre’s original objectives. He unveils his new ‘covenant’ – one which will warm the hearts of environmentalists and students of biodiversity.

President Granger, in seeking to realize his vision for Iwokrama, knows that he will need international cooperation and must become more adept in obtaining it than his predecessors.

Guyana’s first peoples have a saying that: “Trees hold up the sky. If the trees are cut down, the sky will fall.” It is their way of reminding humanity that the planet is protected when trees are protected. Trees are all around; we often take them for granted.

Trees: Guyana’s covenant with the earth, Granger’s third book, encourages the reader to look at trees in the same way. The book – the text of an address which the Guyanese President gave on the occasion of National Tree Day on 11th October 2019 – is a stirring exposition of the immense value which trees make to human life.

Granger’s rejection of unrestricted logging sends a message to people, both at home and away: we will not cut down the country’s forests in the pursuit of profits. There is a real rejection here of absolutes – the state can achieve food security, economic prosperity, and hinterland development without mass deforestation.

The book sends a simple but stirring message: The world must first protect its trees. Saving the world begins with saving the forests and safeguarding the forests.

The Green State: Environmental security and biodiversity in Guyana is the fourth and most substantial of the four books.

It is a masterful work which shifts the global environmental discourse by highlighting the underrated and undervalued role of small states in protecting the environment.

The key message of the book is that small states – particu-

The cover of ‘Air, Earth and Water: Protecting Guyana’s environment’ one of the books on the environment written by President David Granger

larly small island developing and low-lying coastal states – are not mere victims of the effects of global warming but are part of the solution to arresting climate change.

The book’s publication is timely. The euphoria of the Paris Agreement of December 2015 has subsided, owing to successive failures to make substantial progress in climate negotiations. These failures have disappointed hopes for meeting the agreed targets set in Paris four years ago.

Granger’s book offers a bright and fresh approach, divorced from the commodification of environmental services and establishing rules for carbon markets. He points the world in a new direction by establishing a model of low-carbon, low-emission economies. It is the tonic needed to reboot the world’s environmental movement, wearied by recent setbacks in the ambition to stem global temperature rises.

Granger matches rhetoric with responsibility. His actions speak louder than his words. He is prepared to deploy his country’s environmental assets to help reduce the greenhouse effect but he wishes also to ensure that human development is not imperiled. He is clear-eyed about what is to be done.

The President has set himself and his country the ambitious goal of developing what he calls a ‘green state’, one in which emphasis will be placed on conservation, the protection of biodiversity, the promotion of energy generation from renewable sources and the adoption of measures to enhance climate mitigation and adaptation.

Guyana is a leader in environmental stewardship. Guyana’s President faces a stern test in changing the development trajectory of his country, however. Transitioning to a ‘green state’ will require time, resources and a change in attitudes, no easy task for a small state still seeking to overcome the strictures of underdevelopment.

Granger, if he is successful, would have given the world a replicable model of a low- carbon state and demonstrated the vital role which small states can play in finding solutions to global problems while addressing their vulnerabilities.

The world should take heed of this new voice of environmentalism. Granger’s four-book collection is worth acquiring and reading.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Elevation and Consecration

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Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel ... Inspiring lives through fashion

HE euphoria lasted for hours as I celebrated New Year’s Eve at Love & Faith Ministries. There is always a feeling of optimism for me when I fellowship at Love & Faith, but this was extra special. I am not blessed with a singing voice, but I was actually singing and not pretending to sing, lol! The end of the year can also remind us that we are not where we desire to be and make us feel inadequate. There are many things I had planned to do but did not accomplish, but on the flip side I did achieve many, and I am thankful. Did I end this year as strong as was anticipated? I would say strong enough to make a difference in others’ lives.

The word for last year was ELEVATION and this year it is CONSECRATION. Apostle Brooks explained that our level of consecration would determine our level of elevation. He repeated it twice, which allowed me to internalise this profound phrase. He also reiterated the importance of our source to live a fulfilled life. My source is God and I know he wants me to live an abundant life and serve. It reminded me of Ephesians 4:15. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love - like Christ in everything. I believe for us to live this decade with purpose, we have to be intentional about loving and valuing people every day. Also, every day I look for ways to add value to people and encourage others to add value to people. I love this quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

You can only win in deciding to serve every day, and most times, it does nothing or very little. “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be happy are those who will have sought and found how to

serve.” Albert Schweitzer I am fortunate to have grown up in an environment where serving was natural and my kids model themselves after that and God’s will, my grandkids will do the same. Someone once said “It is more important what we leave in our kids than what we leave for them” and I concur.

My elder daughter Mariska and her dad joined me for the New Year’s Eve service and it felt great to have family joining you in prayer for this significant point in our lives. After church, my friend Raquel invited me to come by her home for her favourite indigenous dish “Tuma”, and now it is my favourite. It is very different to pepperpot. Her brother in law Rickey has mastered the art of the dish and all the persons at her home were raving about it also. I could not say no to an invitation for a demonstration on how they prepare this delicious meal. He was so patient and went step by step with explanations why these ingredients were used and the time they were added. Raquel took pics not to miss a beat when she is preparing for her guests the next time. The smell of the Tuma simmering made my mouth water as I waited to have my portion. We had a wonderful afternoon in the breezy backyard devouring the delicious spicy Tuma with cassava bread. The talented Mosa also joined us and enjoyed this meal. Sometimes we take these little moments for granted. Very soon, I will be inviting a few people over when I prepare my Tuma. Send me a message if you need to sample. Don’t be afraid because I am a good cook and I learn fast.

Send me a message if you desire to be on the guest list as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020 PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

n a u o y Are ? r e k n i h t r e v o

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RECEIVED an email from an avid reader who asked me to speak about overthinking today. It was such a great suggestion as the majority of us are guilty of doing this- myself included.

Over-thinking is exactly what it sounds like – when we simply think too much. We over analyse every situation and read into too many details that (most of the time) aren’t necessary or even have a positive effect. It is a common method of self-destruction.

There are those that overthink current and even future situations and then there are those that over-think by replaying past situations over and over. These are called ruminators.

Both affect our ability to accurately dissolve situations, to make effective and healthy decisions, to take action and are constant consumers of time and energy. It’s one of those things that take away our inner peace. One of the biggest issues with it is that only some of us know we are doing it. I believe most of you know by now that something cannot be fixed unless it is first identified and accepted.

Normally, as we fall into REM (deep) sleep at night, our brain files events away into our ‘memory bank’. We forget most of the unimportant daily activities during this time; if we may have tripped on the stairs, what emotions we felt when we saw our loved one and so on. However, this wouldn’t happen so easily for the over-thinkerespecially if they are losing sleep over analysing these situations.

SO, DO YOU OVER-THINK? Now, everyone thinks about both past and future

situations- this is normal. It’s very healthy to think things over – to both praise ourselves for a job well done and to learn from our mistakes. However, when does it become unhealthy and unproductive? Affects our mood, energy levels and overall wellbeing? When we overthink, we make every little thing an issue, even when there isn’t any. We also make any issue bigger and scarier than it is.

When we over-think, it looks a little something like this.

You go to work and your boss doesn’t smile at you the way he/she usually does.

The first thing that pops into your mind is ‘I did something wrong- what did I do wrong?’

‘Maybe when we last spoke, I said this and he/she is still upset by it.’ You come up with a million explanations as to why/how your boss is upset with you and ruin your mood.

OR you go the other route and have a whole new opinion on that person’s character. ‘I thought they were nice but look how rude he/she was so they must be awful people.’

When the simple reality is that maybe they just had a tough morning. Maybe they smiled and you missed it. Maybe it doesn’t even matter.

This is very common with intimate partners as well. ‘I said I wanted to see him/her and they texted back ‘ok’.

‘They must not want to see me. They must not like me very much. They must be cheating.’ They could have simply meant okay.

the solution but rather the problem on repeat * Often think in the negative * Often think about the worst-case scenario * Often create problems where there aren’t any. * Often create possible, negative scenarios in our minds * Often think about what you could or should have done differently in situations * Often worry about what we say and what we do * Often distracted/ have poor performance What are the harms of over-thinking?

Over-thinking interferes with our overall mental health.

Dwelling on our mistakes or potential future mistakes increases the risk of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. This pattern of thinking causes a high level of stress, unwanted memories as well as heavy burden and regret. It interferes with both our eating and sleeping patterns. I believe we have all had sleepless nights because of something we cannot get out of our minds; something that really bothered us and we cannot fully explain why.

Because of these effects, over-thinkers must have a high level of coping abilitywhich sadly is often not the case. Subsequently, they turn to alcohol/drugs or food as comfort which could potentially develop into substance abuse or eating disorders. All of these potentials often lead to self-hatred, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

IN GENERAL, WHEN OVERTHINKING, WE: * Cannot stop thinking about a certain situation/thing/ event * Read too much into other people’s behaviour/ actions towards you * Are not thinking about

SO, HOW CAN WE OVERCOME OVER-THINKING? I’m not going to lie- this is/ will be very difficult to do.

I have been trying it this last week and can say it takes a lot of effort and commitment- but it is worth it!

There are quite a few

things

we can do.

Basic distractions are very good for taking your mind away from obsessive thoughts.

THESE INCLUDE: * Exercise – walk, jog, run, swim, ride a bicycle etc. * Music/ television * Journaling – writing down the accurate situation always helps * Get creative – draw, paint, adult colouring etc.

Basically, do whatever you find enjoyable.

Pay close attention to your thoughts. Counter negative thoughts with positive/ more realistic ones. When you think of a situation, ask yourself- is what I’m thinking true? Is this as important as I’m making it seem? Will this even matter in a few days? This helps to put things into perspective.

Set time for thinking and deadline decisions. Many of us do not do this as it is much easier said than done. Allocate a certain, scheduled amount of time to think about a certain event. When that time is done, try one of the proven to work distractions.

Try focusing on the solution, rather than the problem.

Repeated thinking of the problem does nothing for us- concentrate on solutions instead.

USE POSITIVE SELF-TALK I’ve said this time and time again- we need to stop putting ourselves down. This decreases confidence and self-esteem. This is important as when one has high selfdoubt, they are much more likely to over-think.

Try to be more presentlive in the moment. This means, avoid worrying about things that have already happened or haven’t happened yet.

Spend time with the right people. This is something even I hate to admit, but we

become who we spend a lot of time with.

Our personality tends to change to suit who is around us. Just like when we become the most mannerly person ever when our bosses or elder family members are around, we tend to adapt to everyone else. Think about it, there are always people that permit us to curse more, that compels us to talk name more, or even forces us to be more kind.

This means, some people dwell on the past and future events that force us to do the same thing. Identify these people and limit the time you spend with them. This is hard, I know but until you have mastered counteracting and positive thoughts, being around these people will harm more than help. Keep in mind that this is not only personal individuals but also social media platforms. Limit your time on these as well.

Do progressive relaxation and deep breathing techniques. These help to calm and relax the mind.

PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION Progressive relaxation involves relaxing all parts of the body from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.

Sit up straight (but comfortably) in your chair. Start by paying attention and feeling the tenseness in your toes.

Twirl them around and feel the stress releasing. Tense the muscle and release it for a few seconds. Work your way up your body. Do the same with your fingers- squeeze them tight and then release. Work your way up to your neck- rotate it- feeling all the muscles relax. This whole process should take 10-15 minutes When your body is relaxed, your mind will soon follow.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE If you would like to calm down in a shorter amount of time, try a quick breathing

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exercise. Breathe through your nose for four seconds and out through your mouth for eight seconds. Only pay attention to your breathing at this point; drown everything else out. This quickly helps to relax the body/mind. Repeat at least 3 times (or as much as you need).

Lastly and very importantly, accept that there are certain things we just do not (and will never have) control over. Overthinking (especially for future events/ scenarios) is a way to attempt to control what’s going to happen- which we cannot do. This is not all bad. Not being prepared for certain situations forces us to step out of our comfort zones, learn invaluable lessons and develop resilience.

What worked best for me was asking myself ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’

I still get nervous giving speeches/lectures and I asked myself this question before I performed yesterday. Of course, the answers were ‘I could forget what I have to say’ ‘I could fall down’ etc.

However, when the worst was played out in my head- I realised it wasn’t that bad. If I forget, I refer to my notes; if I fall, I get back up.

Again, all of these are much easier said than done.

So do it in small steps if you like; a small step in the right direction can be counted as a leap. It will take some time to perfect this but my research on the topic has allowed me to believe that I can indeed overcome over-thinking. I severely dislike when people say “I haven’t hurt you, you let me hurt you” but they are right. The only thing that’s making it a thing is that I keep thinking about it. Accepting that my mind is my own worst enemy is a comforting fact because unlike other people’s actions and thoughts, I can work to control my own. Criss Jami said it best- “The older you get, the more you understand how your conscience works.

The biggest and only critic lives in your perception of people’s perception of you rather than your own perception of you.”

Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail. com Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers (open 24 hours) : 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444 or 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

VII

2020, A NEW WORLD OF LIVING, THINKING AND EARNING

And only with honesty can we save the collateral fall out

I

T BEGAN in the late 1980s, early 1990s; thousands of jobs were lost on the water- ront. The beginnings of Georgetown were that of a port-town, but by the modern periods mentioned above, modernisation had ended its labour-intensive force; they were not the only ones. The public service, printing jobs in media, advertising agencies all would demand less labour. In the advent of Facebook and other media, internet and email would further terminate bodies like office assistants, copywriters, filing clerks and paste-up artists. International commerce and priorities have diminished the capacity of both bauxite and sugar, loss of jobs continue, none of this can be attributed to ‘local politics.’ Even contracting sites don’t require ‘labour,’ most teams are all skilled. Still, there are those, thousands among us who are semi-literate and illiterate, who need to live, but how? Around all of us is a virtual world, through the crystal balls of smartphones, tablets, Facebook, smart TVs and malls that are now a norm in Guyana, that are shaping the values of ‘the good life.’ Much of this is advertising projections that are targeted at small, top-earning groups. I read about this phenomenon some time ago in a special edition

have fallen like the proverb implies, “Throwing watta pon duck back.” Thus, the landscape remained the same as if that conference had never existed with automaton response to international impositions, like CARIFESTA, Mashramani. But no innovative movement that reflected inspiration from within or without towards expanding the economy via the means of cultural industries. This atmosphere was recognised by the APNU+AFC government after 2015 even as the inevitable contraction of the sugar industry loomed, and a recognition of how many drop-outs existed in the nation and where the trade winds of our times were blowing on an ill-prepared Guyana. That training had to be intensified among our youth in every vocational area. STEM had to be activated, the Business of the Arts had to be adhered to, because, becoming an oil-rich nation with an inept working and career-building population, unable to appreciate, understand and emulate what previous generations have done, both positive and in-error, and with no vision impetus is a prerequisite for colonisation, and modern colonisation is far worse than its historic 18&19th centuries definitions.

Managing new platforms are complex, knowledge-based driven, for the Arts, Sports, Technology, legal astuteness all

statement would, among other areas, involve cultural industries.

I have inputs in this area, understand its potential but recognise that the absence of broader knowledge in how to interpret its structure and physiology will strangle any development, including this. With incomprehensible, accustomed bizarre interpretations, if handled by officials who are fixed in templates that hinders rather than expedite along its original mandate.

It is the broad realm of cultural industries and cultural policy that I will expound on in this and a following article, especially now that for the first time since our independence, courtesy of this administration in the context of expanding our economy, relevant to the expertise of citizens that represent an awakened platform of industries, continuously existing, but are stymied, high-potential areas.

I will begin with an example of what I mean by a hovering impediment to creating new platforms, when the Honourable Minister Winston Jordan issued me, after some deliberations, with an executive letter on cabinet’s approval for a subvention to cultural industries, which represent registered businesses (struggling) that employ their talents towards their livelihoods.

We- myself and Burchmore Simon- were directed to the office

of Newsweek, December2005 to February 2006, titled: “The Knowledge Revolution. Why victory will go to the Smartest Nations & Companies’: “Finally, the very forces of concentration fuelling the growth of the global creative economy are also giving rise to levels of extreme inequality between the relatively small number of advantaged regions and the rest of the world. Friedman argues that “you no longer have to emigrate in order to innovate” But for the vast majority of the world’s population, that doesn’t hold true.’ March 16-17, 1994; a workshop of the CARICOM Directors of Culture was held at the then CARICOM Secretariat. The chairman was a friend of mine and a creative person, Carol Lawes. Guyana was well represented by administrators relating to cultural activities but void of the understanding and motive of how to develop the procedures to engrain talents into industry.

Even so, the government in 1994 was ambivalent and benighted to matters that determined ‘Guyanese Culture’; thus, any recommendation that emerged from that historic meet would not

overlap, into a must-know, no room for crucial errors structure, to which costs must be attached before any début celebration can be justifiably announced. It is acknowledged that no efforts to divert this economy were ever attempted during the past administratio, using the reference expertise of the population within a hands-on awareness collaboration, outside of the common impediment of our political and social culture of comfortable with clueless kith, kin and kindred inclusion that always lead to the counterproductive failure of any idea. Two declarations in 2016, the president’s referring to the opening of the aluminium plant, and “Tackling unemployment, to expand private enterprise to address unemployment, by the then Minister of Business.”

I’ll begin with the former, in reference to the by-product of Kaolin-bauxite ceramic proppants which was described by a chemist, Ras Dalgetty, that it was suitable for the production of ceramic ware, commercial and industrial products and ornaments. This I had learnt from a conversation some time ago from the Ras, about the potential of this by-product. The other

of PS Welch at the Ministry of Education. The PS was not pretentious; he immediately admitted to having no expertise in our area, so we both packaged itemised presentations on our agenda.

The PS then arranged for us to speak to his assistant, a pretty young lady to further inform on what is and are, the need/s of cultural industries. In the exchange the young lady enquired, in words to the effect, “So you will get this subvention in the budget, you’re not going to want to get this every year, right?” I had to regroup to politely answer, “Well we’ll follow the public servants, so when you get the coming raise of pay, you wouldn’t [need] one for the next few years, no allowances or duty-free concessions either.”

What amazed me was that our collective ancestors after the 1834 abolition of slavery were forced to give the planters a following four years of a ‘Subvention of Labour’ erroneously masked in full view as ‘apprenticeship.’ This was an indicator of an unprepared mindset, that pray, the public service college emancipates.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Bringing his art into the world Introducing one of Guyana’s mosT promising new artists,

Roberto Teekah R

By Marissa V. Foster

OBERTO Anthony Teekah’s work is no stranger to social media and the young Guyanese generation. He has painted a legacy for himself through canvases and is a true inspiration for many other upcoming young artists. Roberto was always a quiet and reserved child who preferred reading and watching nature documentaries over playing sports or socialising with friends. His imagination was untamable and he spent many hours daydreaming about the wildest of scenarios. Roberto has been drawing, painting, and creating ever since he can remember; it has always been something natural to him. He attended the Bishop’s High School (BHS), where even though he focused on Science subjects, he also had the chance to nurture his love for art. The Visual Arts curriculum offered at BHS is truly unmatched in his opinion. Teekah is thankful for both the practical skills and theoretical knowledge that the school has to offer. Sadly enough, he stressed that many other art students do not usually get exposed to that kind of teaching. He was always taught to never settle for mediocrity and to push to become a better version of himself. Ultimately, those lessons continue to push him forward-- into the successful artist he is today.

When asked what challenges he faced throughout his journey, he explained that it was deciding between art and science. This task became even harder after he completed CAPE at Bishop’s. Teekah was indecisive on the direction he wanted to head and he felt pressured to make a “hasty” decision. In that frenzy, Roberto registered for the University of Guyana. After a week-long period at the University, he was bombarded with the emotions of unfulfilled, empty and uncomfortable. He eventually realised that he shouldn’t have rushed into such an important decision and decided to take some much-needed time off. During that period, his art truly blossomed rapidly, and he realised that is exactly what he needs to be doing. Teekah finally felt that sense of fulfilment that he was longing for. At this point, he decided to continue his tertiary education but at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art. “I wouldn’t say my journey has been easy, but it also hasn’t been as difficult as I’d imagine,” stressed Roberto.

Yes, he has faced a lot of internal conflicts and pressure from society, but that was balanced out by the amount of support and positivity that he has been given from well-wishers, supporters and even strangers. He is very grateful for every compliment and also every bit of criticism because they allowed him to grow as an artist and as an individual. Today, he is currently a second-year student at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, pursuing a Diploma in Fine Arts. Roberto works mostly through commissions from customers and he tries to pursue any creative opportunities that cross his path.

Thus far, he has participated in many creative shows/exhibitions including ‘Filling the Void’, and the GVACE 2019. He explained that his biggest accomplishment is receiving the Promise Award at the Guyana Visual Arts Competition and Exhi-

bition 2019. He has never been one to plan out a future arduously, but Roberto would like to continue his art education at the University of Guyana, pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts; but if another, better opportunity arises he might be open to it. Whatever decision he makes, the ultimate goal and number one priority is his very own happiness and contentment. He thinks too many people spend their entire lives chained to monotonous routines and he does not intend on being one of them- life is too short.

Roberto would like to advise other young and upcoming artists by saying, “You should recognise the power that you possess. Artists historically have always been the vanguards of society, and that has never changed. Society will often portray us as dropouts and dreamers, but we are much more than that. An artist is a free spirit, a radical thinker, a mover and shaper of society, an intellectual. Use your art as your voice, use it as a weapon- learn to speak and write about your work, never let anyone talk down to you or your art. Look at artists like Da Vinci and Michelangelo. Look at our own Guyanese artists- Bernadette Persaud and Stanley Greaves. These are all brilliant minds that could easily outperform any conventional textbook-thinker.

Realise your true potential and develop it to the best of your ability.”

Guyanese visual artist; Roberto Anthony Teekah

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Bringing an extra bit of joy

IX

Retired Staff Sergeant brings cheer to veterans

By Wendella Davidson

B

EVERLY Somerset is a retired Staff Sergeant of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). She currently functions as the Veterans Welfare Officer, a job that is dear to her heart, as she loves as it involves helping out her former colleagues, especially those who are physically challenged.

Somerset is a reliable “go-to” if you need information about any army veteran. She knows where they live, who are their relatives, their respective ages, their record of tenure in the army and the ailments from which each suffer, as well as ensure that they receive whatever financial assistance they are entitled to from the army. “I go and visit them and carry hampers for them monthly…we get supplies from Food for the Poor and

other veterans living abroad to sustain the programme,” she said.

In addition, Somerset says that she ensures that whatever functions the GDF has, the veterans are “kept in the loop” and arranges transportation to shuttle them to and from the venue.

One of her most treasured event that she and the other veterans look forward to, is the annual luncheon hosted by the Roraima Group of Companies at it Duke Lodge, Kingston, location.

Speaking with the Pep-

Veteran Welfare Officer , retired GDF Staff Sergeant, Beverly Somerset

perpot Magazine on Thursday, December 19, 2020, at an event the Roraima Group hosted this year, Somerset, who was nicknamed `Thriller’ in the army, says it is an exciting time for her as the veterans all look forward to the occasion.

“Even before the date for the event is finalised

by Roraima, the veterans would begin calling because for some, that is the only event that they get to go to and as such they are excited to come out and meet with their squaddies and chat.

“I know they look for-

ward to this event so I ensure that once they are feeling okay, I ensure they are here. It a joy to see them laughing and chatting with the other soldiers,” she added.

When Somerset retired from the GDF she left with a distinguished record of not only being among the early set of females to venture into a traditional male

arena, but has been a renowned training officer and is known to have trained several of the females who subsequently obtained high status in the army.

She is on record as the longest female training officer at the Tacama military base, having trained some current officers.

She is also on record as the first female soldier to climb to the top of Mount Ayangana, located 85 kilometres east of Mount Roraima and with a height of 2,041 metres, a feat many

male soldiers would only dream of doing.

Such is the deftness of Somerset who wanted to prove to her male counterparts that she was fit and was no walkover as a female soldier. During that expedition to climb Mount Ayangana as part of the annual Operation Arrowhead to commemorate Guyana’s Republic Anniversary, she was the only female among 11 men.

Born on September 30, 1956, Somerset who hails from Beterverwag-

ting on the East Coast of Demerara, always had a penchant for competing with boys. It was in 1975 that she applied to be a part of the GDF, but when she got no response, she went into the Guyana National Service (GNS) where she spent one year and upon graduating became a member of the People’s Militia. Somerset has never looked back since as she never let any feat be a deterrent because she is a female.

X

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Former Chutney Monarch calls for copyright laws as he launches 2020 Chutney Monarch entry

2020 Chutney Monarch competitor, Pooran Seeraj, (left), WITH Triple C Consultancy Representative, Rahul Chintamanie

By Tamica Garnett

F

ORMER Chutney Monarch, Pooran Seeraj, made a plea for the installation of relevant copyright laws, and more corporate support for singers, as he officially launched his entry for the 2020 Chutney Monarch competition at a ceremony on Wednesday at the Critchlow Labour College.

A veteran in the local Chutney arena, Seeraj will be entering the competition with a number called “Roti and Dhal” which he says pays tribute to his favourite meal and some of the lovely women in his life that prepares it for him.

Even as he spoke of his confidence in his 2020 entry and his hopes to return to the top spot, the 40-year-old father of three, stressed his gratitude to his sponsor Triple C Consultancy, noting that his video and song production would not have been possible without their support.

“We need to get some form of protection through copyright. If it wasn’t for Triple C Consultancy I’m not sure I would’ve done a video for my song for the Chutney competition,” Seeraj shared.

Representative for Triple C Consultancy, Rahul Chintamanie, shared the company’s pleasure to support the cultural art form.

“Triple C COnsultancy is proud to be a part of Chutney Monarch 2020, supporting the song Dhal and Roti by our very own Pooran Seeraj. Triple C always recognise and support local talent, more specifically in rural areas,” he said.

Seeraj acknowledged that to attract fans and supporters singers need to produce quality work, but notes that a lot of investments needs to go into quality work, and when the returns aren’t there, it places undue stress on artistes.

“If we want locals to buy into our music we have to give quality. But I produce about six songs per year and I get not a dime from it. If you want to dive into videos, I did like two videos last year and the videos I recall goes up to like $100,000 leaving out recording in the studio. So when you

look at that, to make that investment from your own pocket, it takes a lot. So we really need businesses to come on board, sponsors to come on board and to get some form of protection through copyright laws,” the Berbician stressed.

He also called our artistes and other stakeholders in the business to come together and support each other.

“We need more local content so we need more cooperation from the private sector, promoters, and the DJs, so we need to work as a whole. In Guyana, Chutney music gets a hype around Mash and after Mash, it gets “mash up”, you don’t hear songs coming out, you don’t hear local music.

We need more cooperation among artistes in order to move the art form forward,” he said.

The competition The Chutney Monarch is one of several cultural competitions held annually in the lead up to Mashramani, Guyana’s celebration of becoming a Republic.

This will be the ninth time entering the Chutney Monarch for Seeraj, who first tried his hand at the event in 2008.

His catchy “Roti and Dhal” entry, was produced by Shakti Strings, and the video features scenes of Seeraj seeing at the recently unveiled “I Love Guyana” monument and at the seawall.

He performed in the competition last year, where he finished in third place, behind champion Steven Ramphal and runner up, Bunty Singh.

Both Ramphal and Singh are back out this year, the pair along with Seeraj are a part of a total of 17 participants who have entered the competition. Ramphal is putting up a strong defence, having already released a video for his entry “Jo Sangeet Main Gaata; while Bunty is coming with an entry called “She Want Me Be She Raaja”.

Seeraj however that he is not afraid of any competition, in fact, he welcomes it.

“I feel very confident going into this competition this year. I wouldn’t say it’s a long road but it’s a stiff fight this year, and I must say based on what I’ve heard already I

feel the vibes coming. The level of Chutney has risen the competition has gotten stiffer. But if we didn’t have a competition we wouldn’t have a monarch,” Seeraj conveyed.

Seeraj says he remains undaunted because he believes in the strength of his entry, backed by his experience.

“Since I won in 2014 it has risen my confidence level and after winning I know the key ingredient that you have to bring, and my lyrics have been more focused,” Seeraj expressed.

Seeraj won the competition in 2014 with his famed song “Under the Maaro”, on his fifth time participating in the competition. That year he was praised for his originality and stage energy. Seeraj says there’s going to be more of the same this year.

Cultural connotations Seeraj confidence is also high having done several performances overseas, including in India, where he studied for two years. At the launch, he spoke of his love for “Roti and Dhal” and his plans to channel that in performance on stage.

“Roti and dhal have been with me a long time so I think it’s time I pay tribute to the persons preparing delicious roti and dhal. In Guyana, in many Indian homes, and even some other cultures, one of the main dish is roti and dhal. Since I was small a young man growing up that is my favourite dish and it started from there, my mother would always prepare a lovely roti and dhal. Then I met this girl and she got me trapped with this roti and dhal issue,” Seeraj joked.

“Roti and dhal was the concept but working down through the lyrics, I sat and I tried to put a lot of humour into it. A lot of chutney songs, when you look at the lyrics, it’s a lot of repetitiveness so I stepped out of the box a little and, Roti and Dhal, I think it’s making a hit.”

He credits Chutney stalwarts such as Trinidadian Sundar Popo as his inspiration and notes that he had first decided to get involved in the business, after watching others Chutney singers perform on stage and knowing he had the talent to do the same.

Focus CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

XI

on the Village

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

X

Vive-La-Force Primary School

Withstanding the test of time

Vive-La-Force

By Michel Outridge

HIS week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to the old-fashioned, little village of Vive-La-Force, West Bank Demerara and interacted with residents about their way of life and developments.

Vive-La-Force is a small community which comprises of Indo, Afro Guyanese and a large population of people of mixed race.

T

it doesn’t take much effort to get to know your neighbours and a place where crime and violence are almost non-existent.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke with the headteacher of Vive-La-Force Primary/Nursery School and she was very happy to see visitors since not very many people go that way and she said it is like they are forgotten at the location.

Gaitrie Matuhura-Smith said 66 students are enrolled in the school system and the children

need of a facelift, a paint job, new chairs for the teachers, a play area and other supplies.

“It would really nice if the business community or some like-minded person can donate a play park or a recreational area for the children to play because here there isn’t much go-

Head Teacher Gaitrie Matuhura-Smith with a student (Carl Croker photos)

The village, sandwiched between Vriesland and Free and Easy on the West Bank of Demerara, is home of the hardworking folk of farmers, teachers, nurses and others.

The community has a school which is multi-grade and serves as the nursery and primary schools for 66 pupils within the village.

It also has a Health Post, many small roadside shops and a few bars, along a long stretch of which a canal runs opposite and vast backlands.

With the area being so small

are not very exposed to the ‘outside’ world, so to speak but the village has produced some academics.

She related that most people have their farms of cash crops and produce are sold within the village or at market while, some have small businesses of livestock, cattle and chickens, small shops and others work in the city and nearby villages in offices and at Wales Sugar Estate.

Matuhura-Smith added that the school building is in dire

ing on and at least the children will be able to have something to do other than attending school,” she said.

The headteacher stated that the school also needs internet

service and at least one computer which will be useful for both teachers and pupils given the advancement of technology the children can benefit.

She pointed out that within recent times

they have h a d some h e l p from business people, who donated school supplies and other items they requested and they are very thankful for the support over the Viv e-L years. a-F orc Last year, Gafoor’s eV illag donated two bags of rice e per student during an outreach in the village and gifted students a bicycle each to assist them in getting to and from school daily since transportation is very costly and children had to walk long distances to get to school.

“These children are not very exposed because they do not leave this village often and they are unaware of a lot of things since they were brought up in an old-fashioned way and they need to experience the digital and technology age,” she said.

Matuhura-Smith told the

Pepperpot Magazine that she like others would like to see more visitors in the village because they are a remote community and she believes much people don’t even know the place exist.

“I am from this village and choose to remain here to be of service to the people because education is the key to enhancing lives. But I want to say something else because people here don’t go out much and they are friendly and would like to meet others. When I went to a function and met President David Granger, I felt so good because it was my very first time and the people here would like to have that same experience too,” she said.

More than often, the headteacher opined that they are viewed as ‘back dam’ people but they are people who are steadfast and resourceful because when the estates closed they had to seek alternative jobs to provide for the families.

Apart from the need of upgrading the road, she reacted that there is a need for more teachers at the school because at present one teacher has to tend to two classes and they don’t have time to focus on individuals as such, some students are not able to learn as quickly as others.

Matuhura-Smith stated that in Vive-La-Force, especially during the holidays, people tend to play their music a bit too loud but people live in harmony and there isn’t much to worry about noting that life is simple there.

“Before the internet we used to have a lot of fun, playing cricket, ‘sal-out’ on the road, swimming in the canal and have a steady bush cook but now folk don’t do those things anymore, some people on their cell phones a lot,” she said.

XII

Focus on the Village

Nurse Tomica Sutton (Carl Croker photos)

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Serving her

community

Nurse Tomica Sutton

By Michel Outridge

OUNG Tomica Sutton is a Nurse at the ViveLa-Force Health Post and is considered by the residents to be one of the nicest persons in the village. Nurse Sutton, who is also from the community, started working there in 2018.

The small health post serves the communities of ViveLa-Force, Free and Easy, Vriesland and others way down the backlands area.

Y

largest clinic at the health post.

She stated that Vive-La-Force is a nice community even though it is small with about 300 residents.

“If you grew up here, this is a place you wouldn’t want to leave because you get accustomed to the simple, uncomplicated life and remain here to serve the community,” she said.

Nurse Sutton reported that the village has no conflicts and people are very sociable with each other and it is one of those villages where you can still scold a child without

She added that they have good patient-nurse relations and that nobody is racist or different there and they live in unity and relative peace even during elections time.

There is a government ICT hub at the Vive-La-Force Health Post which has 10 internet-ready laptops which was donated by the Ministry of Public Telecommunications and is the place where the children and youths go to do their homework and school projects.

Nurse Sutton added that the ICT hub was launched more than a year ago and they welcomed the project be-

Inside the Vive-La-Force Health Post

Vive-La-Force Health Post

Nurse Tomica Sutton and Clinic Attendant Parbattie Persaud

It is opened from 8:00hrs to 16:30hrs from Mondays to Fridays and offers maternal and child health services among others and also does simple dressings with its three staffers and a visiting doctor and a midwife.

Nurse Sutton told the Pepperpot Magazine that their chronic diseases clinic sees the most patients and many people from age 30 years old and up suffer from diabetes and hypertension within the community and further afield.

The doctor would visit every second Friday in the month and conduct chronic disease clinic which is the

A student utilising the government ICT-hub at the Health Post

the parents being upset and it is as if the entire village is raising the children.

She reported that the children are well-behaved and since they are not very exposed to certain things they have good morals and are very mannerly, making them manageable in school.

Nurse Sutton disclosed that they try to assist everyone that visits the health post be it to treat seasonal illnesses but the most serious cases are referred to the West Demerara Regional Hospital or at Good Intent Health Centre.

cause it is very beneficial for the people, who have been utilising it but there is need for a skills training centre.

She reported that a volunteer comes in at 17:00hrs every day and stays up to 20:00hrs to assist children and youths.

“A Resource Centre is needed because a lot of youths here are unemployed, after finishing school there isn’t much one can do here and skills training can play a part because they can get a job or become self-employed if they have a skill,” she said.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

The hospitable, hard-working residents of V

XIII

Aunty Rosey is 95 years old

Vive-La-Force

By Michel Outridge

IVE-La-Force, West Bank Demerara, is home to 95-year-old Rosalind Persaud better known as “Aunty Rosey”, who is living out her days in the comfort at her home, which has a lovely garden of flowers.

Sandra Sookram is the daughter of Aunty Rosey, who was sitting under the house, taking some cool country breeze before she retired for a nap.

Sookram takes care of her mother, whom she said was a very hardworking woman, who planted crops of ground provisions, pine and sugar cane, on a farm they had at La Harmonie, which is located a few villages away.

The 56-year-old related her parents worked tirelessly on their farm and when they became aged they left their village of La Harmonie and relocated to Vive-La-Force village in 1990.

Sookram added that her mother is hearing impaired but she is still aware of what is taking place around her and would still listen to the radio and do things for herself.

Sookram is one of many that resides along the Side Line Dam at Vive-La-Force, West Bank

Demerara and came from a family of nine siblings.

When the Pepperpot Magazine visited she was doing some alterations work to her mother’s skirt on her traditional peddle sewing machine.

“Ma tell me the skirt get too slack and I just take it in for her,” she said.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Verna Ali, who was at the time babysitting her grandson and they were by the canal, taking some fresh air by their rest area which is a makeshift wooden bench.

Ali reported that she is originally from Wakapoa Mission, North West and about 20 years ago she settled in Vive-La-Force, West Bank Demerara when she married.

The union produced five children, two of whom resides overseas and she has eight grandchildren, the one she was holding is the youngest.

The 57-year-old stated that she doesn’t work anymore and the children upkeep the home since she and husband are both pensioners.

Ali added that the village is a nice place for the family life but they will be even better if they get an all-weather road.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Seeta Persaud, a housewife, who had finished preparing her meals via a traditional fire-side which is located in the yard and

was relaxing.

The mother of two said she is originally from Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara but when she got married she relocated to Side Line Dam, Vive-La-Force village and occupies the front house on the lot.

Persaud noted that her in-laws reside in the large house behind hers and they live in harmony and life there is comfortable.

She has been residing there for the past nine years and is one of about seven families that live on the Side Line Dam. Her husband has a full-time job but is also a seasonal fisherman, who has a small wooden boat which was moored in the canal adjacent to their house.

“Life ok here once you work you can live well and we don’t have any problems here, it is very peaceful and quiet,” she said.

In Vive-La-Force the people take great pride in preserving their environment as such, they have lovely flower plants and in every yard there are fruit trees in great abundance.

Seeta Persaud

Sandra Sookram, at her sewing machine

Home of Seeta Persaud (Carl Croker photos)

Seeta Persaud’s fire-side

, e c r o F a e-L

XIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Development over the years

Viv

By Michel Outridge

hile on a walkabout in this small yet large village, the Pepperpot Magazine met Lloyd George, who has a business in the community.

This friendly and mild-mannered resident said back in the ‘hay days’ the village was sparsely populated and over the years more people came and constructed houses and settled there.

Today, the houses dot the land which runs along the canal that extent way down into the back lands to other villages.

The 64-year-old is retired and has a grocery shop which is managed by his spouse and a welding/fabricating/vulcanising shop, he is in charge of and it provides employment for a young man from the community.

George disclosed that over the years the village has developed and is more populated now than before because more folk have moved in and remain even though some left.

He has been residing there all his life, his parents are

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Lloyd George’s place in Vive-La-Force village (Carl Croker photos)

then and now

from the village and he grew up there, got married and is still there.

George is the retired Area Manager of the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) and was stationed in Georgetown. He retired in 2007.

He recalled travelling after walking out the long, long road to the public road to get a bus and going to University of Guyana (UG) and would return home sometimes 4:00hrs and still had to go to work the next day.

“This road was a dam and

nothing about it has changed over the years and the only time it was properly done was in 1992 and it deteriorated rapidly after and was only repaired from time to time by grading the fine bricks that make up the road,” he said.

The father of six related that two of his children are overseas and the next is living with him and they are comfortable since they live at a place they like and the place is a very peaceful and breezy.

“Some people have migrated from this village but

The road in the community

the people that remained here are from the village and others came here to reside,” he said.

George told the Pepperpot magazine that Vive-La-Force welcomes visitors and it is a lovely little village that only needs a better road to make it more accessible.

He added too, a place for youths is also needed so they can spend quality time doing something meaningful such as a training centre.

“For me it is not where you came form but it’s what you made of yourself,” he explained.

One their way home from school

One of the many relaxation areas in the village

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

XV

Focus on the Village

A Simple way of life

Parbattie Persaud

Hubert Ramlall on his way home from his farm (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge

arbattie Persaud is the Clinic Attendant at ViveLa-Force Health Post and is from Sister’s Village.

She has been at the location for the past five years and makes the journey every Monday to Friday because she likes her job and serving people is her ‘thing’.

“I like my job because I feel good helping people and when they come here I try to assist them in whatever way I can,” she said.

Persaud would make herself useful by tidying up the clinic area and assisting with blood pressure and diabetes testing during busy clinic days.

“This job is rewarding and I assist in the areas needed and we work well here because we help each other to maintain good patient care,” she said.

Persaud is of the view, if one maintains good relations with patients they will return for the service and it takes nothing out of you to be nice and cordial with people.

She related that they

P

would try to establish one-on-one talk with patients to assist them to better manage their health and medications etc.

Persaud stated that the people of Vive-La-Force is very friendly and one thing she admires about the folk there is the children are very mannerly and well-behaved and they are very serious about preserving their surroundings by keeping it clean.

“This village has managed to maintain its good morals and old-fashioned way of life, because they are not very exposed to the ‘outside’ influence,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Pepperpot Magazine spoke with a retired teacher, Aunty Rosy, one of the village’s oldest residents. She is enjoying her golden years, at her home, a few doors away from the Vive-La-Force Primary School.

Aunty Rosy is advocating for a playground for the children and youths to be engaged in recreational activities and for officials to visit and have talks with the youths and school children to make a lasting impression on them.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to Hubert Ramlall, a cash crop farmer, who was on his bicycle home from his farm which is located aback of Vive-La-Force

Road to Vive-La-Force village

village.

Ramlall, 70, lives in a nearby village and has his farm in the backlands of Vive-La-Force.

He has crops of cassava, plantains, eddoes and corn, of which he sells within his village and surrounding communities.

He stated that it is easy to go on his bicycle because of the distance and had completed spraying some pesticide on the dam he uses to get to his farm which was overrun by bushes.

The 70-year-old disclosed that he is planting on a quarter acre of land to earn to assist him in paying his bills and had finished working on his farm early that day because he was ‘going out’.

“I have to do something to earn because I can’t just sit and there is plenty of land here and why not use it,” he said.

Ramlall said the road runs for about five miles from the road front to way down the backlands to other villages and the backlands are even larger which stretches for about seven miles, way down to the conservancy.

He stated that the lands are owned by Guysuco and NICIL and are utilised by farmers.

XVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Fair and unbia Technical staff at the Department of Public Information (DPI) at the Annual Media Brunch held in the Baridi Benab at State House

President David Granger shares a light moment with President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA), Ms. Nazima Raghubir

“

Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan engages members of the media

President David Granger, First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger and Ministers of the Government with members of the Me

THE communications media are vehicles through which citizens receive and transmit information... Restrictions in the flow of information deny citizens the opportunity to participate fully in decision-making and, thereby impair democracy.”

These are the words President David Granger used to describe the importance of the open media, which delivers to Guyana’s people one of their inalienable rights, free access to information.

This year, the Guyana Press Association (GPA) is celebrating its 75th Anniversary and the President sought to commemorate this occasion with a closer look at the journey, to date, of the press in Guyana. This edition of Government in Action explores the importance of fair and unbiased news reporting, especially as Guyana approaches General and Regional Elections.

Investing in Guyana’s media

Every year since taking office, President Granger, has hosted an annual Media Brunch, held under the Baridi Benab in the State House compound, aimed at improving State and media relations.

Having once been a media professional himself, the Head of State recognises the importance of news that informs the public, without bias. President Granger emphasised this point in his address at this year’s Media Brunch, held on Sunday, January 5, 2020.

“I brought along this Pocket Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus. Your president asked if I would make a presentation to her or to the media and well, I just opened it at ‘F’ – fair: treating people equally; equitable, honest, impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced, neutral, even-handed. Can you imagine? When somebody speaks of fairness they are speaking about impartiality, unbiased, unprejudiced, neutral, even-handed,” the Head of State said.

To provide contrast, President Granger also gave the Dictionary’s definition of the word ‘fake’.

“On the other hand, on the same page, you have ‘fake’. ‘Fair and ‘fake’. Fake: counterfeit, forged, fraudulent, sham, pirated, false, bogus. I would urge that before we issue statements, we check with this little book… and see what fair means I would urge that your statements in future be guided by accurate representation of the words of the President,” he said.

President Granger also spoke about the importance of training and education within the

communications sector and gave his commitment to help fund the training of Guyana’s media.

“I still hold to my vow that I am prepared to make an annual subvention to the Guyana Press Association coming from my funds called the National Endowment for Science and Technology (NEST), to assist the Guyana Press Association, without any interference from me or the Government, to conduct training in the course of 2020,” he said.

The Guyana Press Association

President of the GPA, Ms. Nazima Raghubir offered a brief history of the GPA. “The [Guyana] Press Association is the second oldest press advocacy body in the Region… the oldest being the Jamaican association… Not a lot is known about the origin of the Press Association, other than it was formed in 1945. That is not because people don’t want to know…

The Press Association and Guyana itself has not had a very [strong archive to provide that history for us… The Press Association has about 120 members and they span from journalists to cameramen, photographers and even some student memberships and other people who are not full members,” she said.

Relevant in a modern world

The landscape for media is changing around the world. The rise of social media and ever advancing mobile phone technology has given any civilian the power to produce ‘news’ and openly opine on national and international issues. Unfortunately, this also gives any individual the power to disseminate distorted information as the average person is not bound to the scrutiny that comes with fact-checking and multi-level editing.

Ms. Raghubir said the traditional media still has a relevant role in modern society: disseminating the truth.

“The media has a very important job and that is to fact-check and to be able to put factual information out there that has been sifted through the mills of fact-checking and resources, and ensuring that we provide the accurate information. Not all the time the social media commentators and [content] on social media can do that. While social media has its role in putting news out there, traditional media has its own role and we’re beginning to understand that,” she said.

Ms. Raghubir also acknowledged that today’s media consumer wants information at their

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

XVII

ased reporting President David Granger reads from an advance copy of the book Guyana Press at the Annual Media Brunch held in the Baridi Benab at State House

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Communications Network (NCN), Mr. Enrico Woolford

Chief Editor of News Source Guyana and popular media personality, Mr. Gordon Moseley

edia and the Public Information and Press Service Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency at this year’s Media Brunch

fingertips. While this is understandable for the age of information, the GPA president encourages all consumers to compile their news from multiple sources.

“I read one story from multiple sources and if there is something that I’m not too certain about, I do my own research on it… One of the things you have to do is try to get your news from multiple sources. Maybe that is the way that you ought to be better informed… I think people need to think a lot more when sharing articles. They see something catchy and they don’t even click on it, they just share it. They don’t read it. We have to be very cognizant of what we’re doing, where we’re getting our information from. If you know these are the legitimate sources, stick with them. That’s very important… Coming on to elections time, everything can go haywire… If you want to add to a national conversation on anything, make sure it’s coming from a credible source,” she said.

Chasing the truth

On the side-lines of this year’s Media Brunch, media professionals offered their views on the role of the media today. Chief Editor of News Source Guyana and popular media personality, Mr. Gordon Moseley spoke on the privileged position of media personnel and the weighty responsibility that accompanies that privilege.

“The media has a unique role. We have a front seat to anything and because we have that front seat, we’ve got to ensure the information we put out… informs and educates above anything else, and then you can entertain. I think what we’ve seen over the years is the media landscape changing. So, now Facebook and social media has given everyone a TV station, a radio station in their hands and I think sometimes people confuse journalists with an ordinary man out there with a camera doing a live [video]. I think the role of media is to generally ensure that the information that is put out there is done in a fair manner. It’s objective and that it’s truthful. I think those are the hallmarks of good journalism,” he said.

MR. MOSELEY OFFERED THIS ADVICE TO TODAY’S CONSUMERS:

“I believe now more than ever [that] the role of the media is important because we’re

doing this in an age of social media where people are going to put things out there from ten years ago and make it appear as if it was [said] today. I always tell people [to] ensure [their] news sources are real. Ensure your news sources are objective. And read multiple sources. Do not bury your head into one newspaper and think that is the gospel. Get as many sources as you can so that you can formulate what is put there for you,” he said.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Communications Network, NCN, Mr. Enrico Woolford said that in addition to balanced reporting, Guyana’s media personnel face the challenge of disseminating information across this vast nation.

“Guyana is a vast country. 83,000 square miles is a lot of square miles and therefore, we need to have people connected via content and via the carrier. We must have satellite distribution of signals. We must have fibre optic distribution cables. We must have roads and other connects. People feel connected to a country if they are connected,” he said.

Mr. Woolford also urged the media to pursue truth instead of merely pursuing the story at hand.

“The Guyana Press Association played a very, very important part in the development of the country in terms of fair and balanced coverage and making sure there is objectivity and so on… The Guyana Press Association has to, and has held, all parts of the society… to that higher standard to ensure that when we carry a story, we carry it without fear or favour, affection or ill-will… The young people say, ‘stay woke’…

You must ask… why is somebody coming to tell me this story? What is the intent of the communication? The intent of the communication sometimes is more important than the communication itself. Why are you trying to tell me this narrative?” he said.

The Guyana Press Association will continue to work alongside, educate, and encourage Guyana’s journalists and media personnel to be fair, balanced, and, most importantly, truthful in their reporting. As Guyana moves closer to General and Regional Elections, Guyanese can be assured that the information disseminated to them by media workers is meant to empower and inform their decision-making. The GPA will rise to the occasion of educating and informing the nation as it has done for the past 75 years.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Demand better from the people you want to elect!

B

Y now, you ought to that Guyana’s Regional and General elections are

less than two months. And I believe that now is as good a time as any to drop a reminder that we ought to

be demanding better from those politicians we want to elect to serve us as our government and members

of the National Assembly.

On Friday, there was Nomination Day, and since the Friday before, on January 3, the election campaigns and rallies began. By the time this column is published, I believe Guyana will be in the height of the ‘Election Season’.

Assembly.”

Now, this statutory declaration form must be signed in the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths/ Justice of Peace, and it is expected that in so doing, the person signing it is doing so in good faith. Even if one wanted to

is what guides and drives a country towards innovation and productivity. But, there comes a time when you have to be critical of the promises made and think about how achievable they are.

While ranting on my Whatsapp status last Sunday,

On Nomination Day, the political parties contesting the General and/or Regional Elections would present their list of candidates, and the nominators for those candidates. For the upcoming elections in March, 19 political parties are contesting.

And, for general knowledge, a party has contest regional elections and garner one of the 25 seats allocated in the National Assembly for the Geographical constituencies (otherwise known as the 10 administrative regions).

What is important to note is that each candidate on each list is expected to sign something called a Statutory Declaration Form. This form lays out several prerequisites which determine the eligibility of a candidate. These include whether the candidate is a Guyanese citizen (by birth, descent or naturalisation) and whether the candidate has any form of citizenship to another country. The second part is what I really want to direct your attention towards.

After signing one’s name, giving one’s address and providing the name of the political party the candidate is being nominated for, this for, reads: “ [I] Do Solemnly and Sincerely Declare… That I am aware of the provisions of articles 53 and 155 of the Constitution with respect to the qualifications for election as a Member of the National

argue previously of ignorance to the constitutional provisions on dual citizenry and eligibility to be a member of the National Assembly, it is hard to believe that someone could claim ignorance when this is stated on the Statutory declaration form. Learning this made me immediately annoyed, cognizant that over the past few months the matter of “dual citizenship” of a handful of parliamentarians was brought to the fore.

Imagine, the people that are asking you to elect them to serve you would have aspired to these high political offices even though they would not have honestly met that eligibility criterion. Dat makin’ any sense?

For now, I take some solace in hearing that the elections commission will be looking into this. And I also take into account the matter of dual citizenship and it rendering persons ineligible is quite well-known, so I will presume that persons would be smarter than to pursue these positions knowing that they are a dual citizen.

Now for my other thoughts, right now, about this Election season. During this politically-charged election season, it is quite common to hear grandiose plans for development. I have no qualms with that at all; I believe vision- and more so aggressive, ambitious, long term vision-

I pleaded with whoever paid me any mind to demand more for the persons who want to be elected to serve us. I heard one candidate promise to create 50,000 jobs, across all sectors, over the next five year, if elected. I didn’t internalise this until I was out with some friends, and they brought it to my attention.

When I began pondering, I couldn’t possibly imagine how that many jobs could be created in just five years, and to date, I still can’t. My point is not to illustrate how stupefied I can be sometimes (though this is a given); it is to advance that when we’re spoon-fed these big plans and promises, we should be able to understand how these will be achieved as well. Politicians making these statements are akin to eating ah dry buns- you gah get ah cold drinks to ker it down!

So, if one overarching point I’d like to make this week, it would be to demand more from the people you are electing to represent and serve you. Don’t settle for the nice slogans and the grandiose promises.

Demand practical solutions and policy change. Think about whether they have pragmatic plans to mitigate some of the pervasive ills (you know, like racism and discrimination) in our society. And you know, no dual citizens this time around.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

XIX

Is it fear of pain or fear of the dental procedure?

A

LTHOUGH avoidance of regular dental care is often attributed to economic reasons, irrational fear is the frequent culprit.

The fear patients experience with a visit to the dentist is traditional as well as the fact that the mouth is really a special organ. Most people would not mind an injection on the hip/buttock area but expressions of anxiety and apprehension are always present when the injection is to be given in the mouth.

This fact amplifies the neurological and psychological sensitivity of the oral cavity. In reality, the mouth and face are richly innervated and heavily invested with emotional significance.

Dentists have become increasingly aware of the need for something to influence the psyche of the patient while the local anaesthetic blocks the pain. Fortunately, the old, punitive, “sit still and take it” attitude is quickly fading from the practitioner’ routine.

While office general anaesthesia has been developed to a high degree primarily by oral surgeons in the US who have had advanced education and training in its use, they constitute a small percentage of practising dentists and are obviously limited by their specialisations to surgical procedures. For most dentists and for most patients, dentistry under general anaesthesia would be ill-advised

and unnecessary. Nevertheless, some things are needed to enhance patient acceptance of dental treatment. Nitrous oxide/oxygen psycho sedation has been widely employed as a helpful modality for managing the conscious patient.

Expanding the dentist’s scope of patient management has also included the use of oral and intramuscular premedication. Both of these routes are subject to considerable variation in patient response, take longer to exert their effect and to wear off, and require, at best, an approximation of the appropriate dosage. The most reliable way to achieve the desired effect with a drug is to feed it slowly, directly into the bloodstream, anticipating objective signs and symptoms in the conscious, responding patient.

The ultimate aim in intravenous sedations is to achieve a level of relaxation and cooperation without oblivion and compromise of vital functions. It must be emphasised that there is no predetermined dosage and that each patient must be individually titrated to his or her own effect. The smallest dose administered which achieves relaxation and cooperation is the proper dose for that patient.

Local anaesthetic must be administered for any anticipated painful procedure. It will be more profound in its effect because of the control of the patient’s anxiety by

the intravenous agent. But incidentally, I’m still perplexed by a female patient who has extensive visible tattoos, and who has admitted to me she has a ring pierced through her clitoris but yet exhibited morbid fear of me numbing a molar for her extraction. Is it the fear of dental procedures or the fear of pain?

I am not aware of any local dentist who routinely uses general anaesthesia in his office. All over the world such procedure is only permitted after specific laws have been enacted. So then, how do we dispel the fear of the dental chair in the local context? This is done by education, pre-medication or obligation.

Through education, which ideally should begin in early childhood, the individual must understand that dentistry is essential to health and wellbeing and that everything the dental practitioner does is in pursuit of this objective. Pre-medication involves the patient taking anti-anxiety drugs a few hours before visiting the dentist. Finally, in some countries, (and I can vouch for Cuba where I spent three years), a requirement by law is that persons to be employed, to enter educational institutions, etc. must present a report from a dentist certifying a good oral health status. The State, therefore, forces the individual to restore his/her oral health. Should we do we do this here in Guyana?

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

XX #SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

Terrace House: I THINK it has now become a well-known fact that most reality shows are not ‘real’ at all. Interference from producers, scripted dialogue, staged fights and more, have become staples in reality TV – all in the name of stirring up drama and getting more viewers to tune in. Of course, in theory, this makes sense.

Putting a group of people together and, without interference, expecting them to remain relevant and interesting in such a way that the audience’s interest remains piqued week after week seems like a bit of a longshot. What if interactions

between the participants remain normal and focused on the ‘mundane’ things in life, like work and family? What if the participants are free to wander and pursue any arising conflicts according to their choosing? What if contestants slowly, achingly, develop real feelings for each other over an extended period instead of whenever the network needs them to ham it up for the cameras?

Logic dictates that a reality show with such a premise would not work because the scheme is rather laissez-faire and relies too much on the innate humanity of its participants rather than writers

o y k To 2019 – 2020

and producers who might orchestrate drama, developments, and endings for all involved. It seems natural to want to dismiss the idea that watching people come together in a single space, and communicate, allowing their natural emotions and feelings to build and develop over time might not work, and yet, some shows prove the opposite: that it is indeed possible to have a reality show that is unscripted and reliant on the natural experiences and emotions of the participants rather than orchestrated drama.

The ‘Terrace House’ series, built on the simple premise

of having six participants (three men and three women) live in the same house over several weeks, carrying on with their jobs and lives, even as they get to know and develop feelings for each other, is one such remarkable series. I am currently watching the most recent edition, ‘Terrace House: Tokyo 2019 – 2020,’ and although I fully expected to be bored going into it, I can now say that it is one of the most interesting and emotional reality series that I have ever come across, despite the premise being based only around these six individuals and their interactions with each other.

The show is set in Japan, and therefore ‘Terrace House’ becomes not just another experience in reality TV, but also an opportunity to view, learn from, and relate to an entirely different culture from what you may be used to, while at the same time allowing yourself to be able to appreciate the points of similarity that may exist between viewer and participant in the show. Such moments of appreciation may come, for instance, when you meet the participant named Kaori, who is an illustrator that left a previous job to pursue her dream of being in the arts.

A connection may occur between a viewer and the young man named Shohei who does not believe in settling for doing one thing as his occupation for the rest of his life, or Haruka, the actress whom Shohei initially butts heads with, for both her emotional awareness and

instead? Whatever it is, there is sure to be something in this show that underscores our common humanity and proves the point of there not being any need for a forced script to stir up drama in ‘reality’ television.

Conflict is natural and inevitable. Perhaps ‘Terrace House’ teaches us that the journey there can be as entertaining as the conflict itself; that maybe, sometimes, a conversation or a date or a group of friends having dinner together and talking about their day at work can be as interesting and as entertaining as a fist-fight.

‘Terrace House: Tokyo 2019 – 2020’ and the way it has allowed me to observe these six individuals go about their lives, leads me to think that perhaps our daily lives are all much, much more interesting than we think and that our individual stories, while banal and mundane

‘Terrace House, Netflix, 2019 – Image via: IMDB’

her focused confidence. The moment of relatability might occur in a moment of action rather than through a character. Do the participants going on dates to cute restaurants around Tokyo make you reminisce about your own dating life? Do the moments when the participants are rejected by the person they are attracted to also make you teary-eyed? Is the participants’ wicked sense of humour something that you relate to, or perhaps you relate to them being terrible cooks

to us, might be much more amusing or entertaining to someone who is on the outside looking in – and that to me, is all the support I need for the blue days where I feel like I am not enough.

This show reminds me that I am enough; that my life has enough ups and downs worthy of a reality show; all our lives do. Our idea of ‘normalcy’ is merely another person’s idea of fantasy or heartache or amusement or joy.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Fire Department warns against danger of squibs and explosives

By Shirley Thomas

T

This call was recently made on Wednesday by Fire Prevention Officer, Sheldon Sauns, in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine.

Giving an outline of the nature of fires, how they are caused and what can be done to prevent them, Sauns declared: “What persons ought to know is that fire is a chemical union between oxygen fuel and heat. Meanwhile, a squib is a device that comprises a flammable material.

With any of these constituents being present in their right proportion, then a fire would occur. Hence, we need to be very careful and ensure that we avoid a combination of the three.”

The Fire Prevention Officer expressed that over the past year, the Fire Service would have responded to numerous fires as a result of children playing with squibs - whether inside or outside of their homes.

The discharging of squibs near live electrical wires Alluding to the scenario where some young men and boys discharge squibs above housetops or over electrical wires, the officer warned that this is a dangerous practice and can lead to the complete obliteration of the property to which the electrical power is being fed if not expeditiously dealt with.

Referring to it as virtually a recipe for disaster, Sauns said “If you have a combination of energy where there is an electrical device and then you are going to throw a squib towards that device, then you have three things: an explosion, the arching and sparking of whatever the electrical device and fire in its full fury He observed that in homes today, there are breaker/panel boxes or devices which deal with the smooth flow of electricity, warning: “Once that system is interrupted, the fluctuation of electricity can cause an overload in the electrical circuit, after which it can develop into a fire. This is because the electricity would have no feasible means to be distributed and so it could escape and develop into a fire.”

Against this back-drop, the Fire Prevention Officer also called on persons who are so inclined, to desist from going on to stealing electricity, and also interrupting electrical distribution to their home or homes.

Beware Sauns, made a call for persons to desist from tampering with electrical distribution wires and desist from overloading electrical circuits and points within their homes or businesses, since such malpractice can develop into large fires, affecting not only individuals, but the economic growth of our country in some ways.

Meanwhile, substantiating the fire official’s admonition about the dangers of throwing squibs above, beside or around electric wires, the Guyana Chronicle on December 27, 2006 covered a story about the complete destruction of the home of an elderly septuagenarian couple, Pastor and Mrs. Neville Adolphus of South Ruimveldt whose home was razed on Boxing Night 2006, as they joyfully celebrated their wedding anniversary with other family members at a son’s home in Kitty.

In the height of jubilation on that Boxing Night the couple received a message that their home at South Ruimveldt was on fire, then hurried down, only to behold the smouldering embers. They lost everything they had worked for and acquired through the years. Painfully, they subsequently learnt that the building went up in flames after a squib thrown by someone had hit a live wire, paving the wat for a conflagration.

Meanwhile, the CPO recalled that some years ago a ban was placed on squibs, but was unable to say to what degree of success that ban has been realised adding, once there is a ban on it, there is expected to be

XXI

penalties.

But even though the sounding of squibs at Christmastime adds to the fun and excitement associated with the season, the dangers associated with it by far outweigh the good, hence it should be revisited.

Among other instances cited, that drive home the dangers associated with throwing of squibs and flare are: * The risk of heart attacks to which persons with heart diseases are exposed, when such heavy sounding devices are set alight and released into the air, (as attested to by health authorities) * The fear they drive into dumb animals such as dogs and cats that immediately go into tremor and hiding on hearing them explode.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

THERE IS A NEED FOR MUNICIPAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

IN the fortnight before Christmas, there was much stirring in Local Government circles. There are 10 municipalities in Guyana but except for Georgetown and New Amsterdam, the other eight are of recent birth. These were in effect the most important villages in the Region and trade and commerce gravitated to them. Now that they have been elevated to townships, they have mayors and deputy mayors, elected Councils and formal Administrations, all fashioned after Georgetown.

Some months ago, this column reviewed the new towns and suggested a number of activities which could make them more relevant to their citizens and to move into the path of greater growth and development.

One of the important suggestions made which no one so far has considered is that all eight new towns should engage a city planner to plan the town and its growth and development just as Washington D.C. was planned in the 19th century

by L'Enfant or Brazilia was planned in the 20th century

by Niemayer. Planned towns would grow into aesthetically beautiful and comfortable places to accommodate their citizens.

Among the main stirrings in Local Government circles, last December was President Granger swearing in the mayors and deputy mayors and his charge to them. He charged them to serve their constituents irrespective of political affiliation and that in addition to offering municipal services, they must become agents of change, drivers of development and protectors of the Environment. They should continuously revamp and retool their administrative systems to enable them to become

engines of enterprise, agents of employment and engines of economic development.

In all this activity, the municipalities must act in collaboration with the Regional Administration and the Central Government. President Granger was speaking in broad, all-encompassing terms and his charge was very relevant.

The mayors and elected councils have been complaining that the Municipal and District Councils Act 28:01 needs to be reformed since it impedes the work of the Councils in several ways. The Councils do not have any executive power as such authority resides with the Town Clerk who is considered the Chief Executive Officer or Chief Administrator and having the general responsibility pf conducting the work of the Council.

There are several other elements in Act 28:01 which need revising: For example, the fines which were set for various penalties were arrived at much over 40 years ago and bear little relevance to present realities.

The building codes need to be updated. The taxes and rates cannot cover the expenditures of the Councils and need to be revised and the financial systems need to be overhauled. In particular, taxes cannot be increased except serious effort is made to collect the tens of millions of dollars owed and the City Treasurers cease to accumulate monies owned from year to year. Every three years Local Government elections are held but the mayors are elected every year. All the Mayors have been complaining that one year is too short a time for them to do any substantial planning and they all feel that the mayoral term should be for three years.

Mr Hamilton Green who had served as Mayor of Georgetown for over

Turn to page XXIV ►►►

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

For the love of farming

W

hen you love what you do for a living it is no longer a job. Fiftynine-year-old Balaram Bridgewater is a second-generation farmer who enjoys farming. At a tender age, Bridgewater knew he wanted to dedicate his life to farming.

Even with the opportunity to branch off into any other field, he stuck with farming just for the love of it.

“My father was a farmer. We are from Parika and had access to farmlands. I used to help my father on the farm as a little boy but my parents ensured I went to school. After I finish secondary school I went to the Government Technical Institute and studied Agri Mechanics. That two-year programme focused on many aspects of agriculture,” the farmer said.

Bridgewater whose permanent residence is at Parika, East Bank Essequibo spends many days on his 22-acre farm situated on the Soesdyke- Linden Highway. Instead of travelling daily, he built a small comfortable abode on his fruits and vegetable farm.

This allows him to start the day early, dedicating enough hours to his crops before heading to the market.

The farmer plants a variety of crops including papaws, sweet pepper, cabbage, and sweet potatoes.

He wholesales a portion of the crops and retails the remainder at Stabroek and Boarda Markets. His days are usually enjoyably busy.

Bridgewater’s life thus far has been hectic. But, he

has good support- his wifeRaywattie Bridgewater.

The duo works assiduously to build their business to ensure the best for their three children.

“I spend most of the day on the farm. I try to finish up to head in town for three O’clock. On Fridays and Saturdays, I sell at Stabroek Market. On Sunday I sell at Bourda Market. I prefer to wholesale my goods. I wholesale some. My wife and an employee help me at the Markets,” he added.

Regardless of his hectic schedule Bridgewater is satisfied with the independence farming brings. He finds the venture profitable.

“I like being self-employed. You are your own boss. I usually get good price for my goods. And I don’t really get spoilage.

My goods usually sell out.

And I find there is hardly any disease and pest on the Highway affecting my crops. That is one of the reasons I move from Parika to here pest.”

The farmer declared that the most challenging aspect of farming is securing reliable labour. Farming provides employment opportunity not only for the farmer but farmhands, drivers, mechanics, etc.

However, having yearround workers is difficult.

“Currently I have three labourers and this is good for the work I have at hand. But sometimes there is a shortage of labourers, which causes the work to back-up.

Most young people don’t want to get into farming.

They don’t know what they are missing out,” he stated.

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XXIV

THERE IS A ...

20 years empathised with Mayor Narine who had complained about the Town Clerk and departmental heads such as the City Engineer, the Chief Constable and the City Treasurer act as though they are a law unto themselves ignoring the councils and the needs of the citizens.

In this regard, the Mayor of Georgetown Pandit Ubraj Narine lamented the non-performance in the City's administration and their failure to serve the citizens. "Over the years," lamented the Mayor "numerous complaints have been coming forth against the

Heads in the City Engineers and Constabulary Departments . . . and the Human Resources Department (HR) has done nothing to follow up these complaints."

The Mayor, with justification, felt these officers were over-compensated. "They collect a hefty salary and a number of allowances including house allowance, free telephones and a mileage allowance when they drive to work . . . and if there is a delay in payment of salaries, their Union would nail us to the cross without coming and seeing if these people are performing."

The Mayor pointed out

◄◄◄ From page XXII

that he and the Councillors work harder than the staff; he, for instance, is at City Hall at eight o'clock in the morning and leaves eight or nine at night which is far beyond the call of duty but he has to be present to ensure things are being done. He felt mayors and councillors should receive a proper salary rather than a stipend.

The functionality of the Municipalities and Local Government as a whole needs to be reviewed and in particular, Act 28:01 needs to be reformed and this should be a priority after the National Elections in March.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Print Photography

“

A PRINT is the p h o t o g r a p h e r ’s statement about the light, the mood, the space, the spirit and

being of the image, and that interpretation may change with time, with technology, and with the photographer’s own in-

terpretation of the image.

A print is the completion of a photograph; without it, the image is suspended in time, without interpre-

tation.” – Eric Meola.

Have you ever taken a photograph to a printery and the result was not what you expected? After I encountered some challenges with my printed pieces, I decided to converse with someone whom I considered a more seasoned photographer, about finding a solution. Michael Lam is a selftaught photographer and the manager of DD Signs. He has years of experience as a graphic artist and extensive knowledge about the printing process. He started to dabble in photography in 2010. Over time, he de-

Mahaic

a Can

each genre are gifted and respected for mastering their craft. In most instances, unless a photographer is printing photographs for a client, he/she does not print his/her work. Everything is digital. But consider this, if photography is the art of taking a picture, printing is the science of making a picture. The process of printing is a key component of understanding photography. The on-screen image is one interpretation but when an image is placed on a flat surface it takes on a different characteristic.

As a photographer, you can change how the viewer interacts with your photo by

veloped into a renowned photographer.

What makes his work so unique is how he processes it rather than the subject matter itself. According to Michael, he creates ‘Drama.’ Michael mostly shoots seascapes and landscapes.

He processes his images in black and white, adjusting the contrast and using filters to create a dramatic effect.

In 2012 he displayed his works in an exhibition entitled ‘Coastal Wonderings’ at Castellani House. His work was also displayed at ‘Capture Guyana’ in 2014 and in 2016 and 2018 at ‘Visions’ exhibition which he helped to organise. He has also won the bronze medal twice at the Guyana Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition GVACE. Photography has several genres. These include wedding, party, funeral and other events, portrait, street, art, macro and food photography. Photographers in

al pho

tograp

h by M

ichael

L

adjustment. The light in a room affects how you see the image on your screen.

Michael shared that if he were to print an image sent by a customer the way they sent it, the image would be dark and some details they may see on their screen will no longer be there. Thus, it is important to have your work printed by professionals who will make the necessary adjustments for you to have a good quality print.

The surface on which the image is printed, affects the final image. A good analogy would be using water paint on canvas and paper. The result of painting on canvas using water paint will be far different from using water paint on paper. Also, printers use different ton-

am. the surface or paper you use. It’s ers so a scenario where you are t h e resulting trying to transform the feel- colours would be different. ings you had when taking We can conclude therethe photo to an image on fore that; printing phothe wall. tography is not a simple Three main things you process. Many photograneed to understand about phers complain about their the printing process are printed pieces because of colour, light and surface. their lack of understanding When you purchase a com- of the printing process. It puter, for example, you is a widespread problem adjust the colour tempera- amongst photographers. ture of the screen. It may P h o t o g r a p h e r s s h o u l d be warm or cool. Computer therefore print their work as screen calibration is not a part of the learning process. neutral thing. Your screen “Fine art prints crecolour setting will affect the ated by the artist, or the way you see your image and artist’s collaborator, are so would potential viewers. important because they In addition to this, some best represent the artist’s persons use their phones to vision. Images displayed take photos. Most phones on digital devices are subhave what is called a blue ject to the non-uniform light filter that changes how nature of different disthe screen looks. The edit- plays and they may aping software you use has its pear radically different own colour adjustment, and than the artist intended.” printers also have colour – Mac Holbert.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

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XXVII

This year we will support our local Guyanese businesses

ORE and more people are becoming aware and educated about the importance of small businesses.

Some people may find operating a small business venture is best suited for them rather than sitting in an office or working under the management for others. Other people might have an existing passion or liking for something and they realised that it can generate income. I am a bit of both. Yes, I also have my very own small business. Apart from writing, I have a passion for makeup artistry and body art. As such, I have developed that very passion into a business venture called; MArt. I have been trodding this path since the year 2017 and I think it is only fitting that I share my experience with you all.

to hand-written letters for customers and even personalised packages; it’s all ‘warm touched’ and thoughtful. I am not saying that bigger enterprises do not do the same but a small business tends to pay mind to the smaller details and customisation.

Tips and advice can go a long way to help you and your small business. In fact, that is my first tip to you all; researching tips, ideas and success stories of other small businesses, you will surely learn a lot. When I first started my small business, I asked myself a simple question that completely changed the playing grounds for me and my business.

That question was, “what do I want to bring to the table that isn’t there already or that’s different?”. You do not have to share the answer with others but when you answer it; always keep the

Starting a business venture on your own is not as easy as it sounds. Unless it is a partnership or you have very supportive friends and families, you automatically become the business’ founder, CEO, director, treasurer, receptionist, public relations officer and so much more.

You are generally in control of almost everything and sometimes, it can be quite a struggle. While that might be overwhelming, there are many positives to such a venture. For starters, small businesses help to blossom local economies and keep the flow of money closer to home. The more small local businesses a community has; the more money will flow and more self-employed jobs will be created. There is something about small businesses that I call the ‘warm touch’. From the creative posters and business cards, cozy store spaces,

answer in mind and use it as your motto/driving force.

Your business should also be formed on a great passion and purpose. If you’re truly passionate about something then you won’t automatically give up on it, even when tough times are near.

Likewise, if you are passionate about your business’ cause/purpose then eventually, you’ll get bored of it and that is as honest as I can get. I also urge small business owners to allow record-keeping to become your best friend. Finances, stock, products, profits, etc. should all be accounted for and should have physical evidence and proof of their existence. Many small local businesses make their big debut on something we’re all very familiar with; social media. Online advertisement blur the lines and gaps in geography and time. It allows you to expand your

product/service to persons outside of your community.

Facebook and Instagram pages, blog posts, YouTube videos, website and domain, online promotions, discount codes, cyber-sales, online shopping-- just to name a few, are all great ways that will help your small business flourish even more!

This is a very important conversation and I think it deserves to be discussed a bit more, expanding the lingo to what and who we know right here in Guyana. We ought to realise the importance of small businesses in Guyana, its economic impacts as well as, the overall positive in-

fluence it has on the lives of the owners and their families. It opens a door for many opportunities and it is a means of receiving an honest income, through hard work and determination. I urge you all to keep a look-out for the second part of this article, as I further discuss the said topic.

To my fellow small business owners, I do hope this serves as an inspiration to you all and if you’re reading this to gain a bit more insight on the topic, then I hope I was helpful. See you next week and don’t forget; “this year, 2020, we will support our local Guyanese businesses!”.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

Beef Curry

Ingredients ► 2 lbs. beef ► 1 potato ► 1 1/2 tsp. curry powder ► 1 tsp. garam masala ► 1 tsp. roasted ground geera ( cumin } ► 1 head garlic ► 1 medium onion ► 2 stems scallions ► 2 stems celery 3 stems regular fine thyme 2 leaves broad thyme ( puddina ) black pepper to taste pepper to taste salt to taste

Method ■ 1. Wash and prepare ingredients ■ 2. Pound or blend garlic, thyme, pepper and the chopped onions.

■ 3. Mix that along with the curry powder , roasted ground geera and garam masala with some water to make your curry paste ■ 4. Heat some oil in your pot and add the paste ■ 5. Fry for about 2 mins, turn to prevent burning ■ 6. Add the beef, add salt and black pepper to taste, add the quartered potatoes as well and let cook and evaporate ■ 7. Once the meat has released it’s juices and evaporated, add water to cover meat.

■ 8. Stir well and let cook, average and remove potatoes when done as they will be done before the meat ■ 9. continue to cook the meat until soft and has evaporated to your liking ■ 10. Return the potatoes to the curry and mix in, careful not to break them.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― January 12, 2020