Guyana Chronicle E-Paper PepperPot 11-24-2019

Guyana

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Land of

Many Waters

The M.V. Malali ferry traversing the mighty Essequibo River. The vessel plies the Parika/Wakenaam route and is used by hundreds of Guyanese daily to get to and from the island. Ferry travel is quite common in Guyana and, apart from its affordability for passengers, it is the- only means by which large vehicles can be transported to certain locations. (Carl Croker photo)

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

Reflections of two scouts from the colonial era

By Francis Quamina Farrier

THE Scouting Movement in Guyana wrapped up its 110th anniversary celebrations in Georgetown with a series of activities at Scout Headquarters on Woolford Avenue.

Participating in the National Camp were 270 scouts from 14 Scout Groups in Georgetown as well as from Linden, Bartica and far-away Mahdia.

Some of the activities included a parade and of course, a Campfire. Attending the camp

and addressing the scouts, was His Excellency President David Granger. Well-known entertainers who performed for the scouts included singer/ songwriter Hilton Hemerding and folk singer Gavin Mendonca. “This 110th anniversary celebration was one of the largest in the history of the Guyana Scouting Movement,” said one of the scout leaders.

What must be told, is that many of the Scout Groups in Guyana at this time are sponsored by the Guyana Police Force, others by education institutions and religious bod-

Founder of the Scouting Movement, Englishman Lord R-obert Baden-Powell, meeting with scouts while on a visit to British Guiana

ies. Also of note, is that girls are members of the Scout Movement here in Guyana and women are scout leaders.

Especially for this 110th anniversary, I approached two overseas-based former scouts who are now in their mature years and asked them to share some of their experiences of their own scouting adventures of over half a century ago.

Raymond Robinson, a former well-known broadcaster, is one of them. He entered Queen’s College in 1948, the very year Clairmont Griffith, the other scout featured in this article, was born.

While I have known Robinson for over half a century -- he produced my “The Tides of Susanburg” and “The Girl from Susanburg” on local radio -- I got to know Griffith in 2014. “Truth be told, I have no picture of my youthful days including my Sea Cub and Sea Scout days, and very few as a soldier,” the retired Guyanese Defence Force founding officer Griffith told me. “Almost all went missing upon the passing of my beloved father in July 1987, and at times would get an old picture from my 68-year-old ‘baby’ sister.”

Griffith who can be classified as “An Officer and Gentleman”, had his life’s impecca-

Members of the Brickdam Parish Scout Troop in Georgetown (Photo by Francis Q Farrier) ble groundings partly in the Scouting Movement.

Ten years the senior of Griffith, Robinson joined Troup 27 of the Queen’s College Boys Scout in 1948 -- the very year Griffith was born. At that time Queen’s College was located at the eastern-most end of Brickdam in Georgetown, just west of where the 1763 monument is now located.

Robinson recalled the moving of Queen’s College from that Brickdam location to its present location at Thomas and Camp Roads, Thomas Lands, in 1951, and the relocation of the QC Scout den along with it. It is appropriate for me to remind you that the very first Scout Troop in British Guiana was established at Queen’s College in 1909, 110 years ago.

British Guiana is in fact the fifth country in the world in which scouting was established; something all Guyanese should be very proud of. Back in the earlier days of Scouting in British Guiana, there was a wider range of scouting activities in the colony than pertains now in The Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Air and Sea Scouting, for example.

“As a Sea Cub in 1957 under Mr Clarke, we practised at the TH&D Railroad dock on Water Street, immediately north of the Abattoir,” Griffith recalled.

“In May 1958 (Griffith was just 10 years old at the time) the Cub Pack participated in a parade that included soldiers on the said wharf that greeted Princess Margaret (of the Unit-

ed Kingdom) upon her arrival in British Guiana aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia. After the parade, Cub Pack members visited the Yacht for a walk-around tour,” Griffith reminisced. His activities in scouting inculcated his desire and love for travelling all around the country of his birth. When he joined the Guyana Defence Force as one of its founding members, he was ready to go “From Pakaraimas Peaks of Power to Corentyne lush sands” and beyond, based on his previous scouting activities. Griffith was well equipped and ready for soldiering such as the attack and routing out of the Dutch invaders from the New River Triangle by ranks of the Guyana Defence Force.

Griffith was also active in a branch of scouting which no longer exists here in Guyana.

“As a Sea Scout under Clement ‘Skip’ Gomes, we practised on a decaying wharf along the Demerara River located aback a sawmill immediately north of the Molasses Storage Depot,” he recalls.

“Like all scout troops we were organised in patrols and ours were all named after Guyanese fauna,” according to Robinson. “I was assigned to the new Mongoose Patrol as Patrol second to Wordsworth McAndrew. Robinson is a six-footer; McAndrew was just about 5’ 5’ in height. However, Robinson related the fact that Wordsworth McAndrew who became regarded as one of Guyana’s foremost folklorists,

was well-loved and respected since, as a leading scout. “He was fondly known as ‘Scouter’ because he lived by the creed.”

As we all know, “Scouter” Wordsworth McAndrew is regarded as one of Guyana’s foremost folklorists and poets. His “poem “Ole Higue” is one of the most popular Guyanese poems of all time. I have performed “Ole Higue” on four continents; North and South America, Europe and Australia. Like Wordsworth McAndrew, there are some great Guyanese who have had their groundings in the Scouting Movement over the past 110 years.

“Once a scout, the memories of your experiences never go away,” Griffith said. “As a scout, I was in the Pelican Patrol and we had a 10-man rowboat and a small sail Yacht named “Roseann” – the name of Skip Gomes’s daughter. We rowed the Demerara River on selected weekends towards the base (Atkinson Field - now Timehri) and would escort swimmers across the Demerara River. Camping included many weekend trips to Camp Jubilee in the base past the Red Water Creek.” Creeks, rivers, lakes and the Atlantic Ocean were stomping ‘grounds’ if you will, of the Sea Scouts in Guyana in past times.

No longer active, maybe the Sea Scouts may be revived in this “The Land of many Waters” over the next 110 weeks; who knows. So, like the scouts, let the rest of us “Be Prepared.”

Scouts marching along Main Street, Georgetown, after the Remembrance Day Ceremony 2019, at the Cenotaph (Photo by Francis Q Farrier)

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

III

It makes ‘cents’ to refill those empty plastic bottles and save the environment

Some of the detergents made and bottled by Dwayne and Melissa Younge (TidyUp Facebook photo)

By Wendella Davidson THE passion of a husband and wife team for the environment and to help in the campaign to ban single-use plastics has led them to open Guyana’s first detergent refill business, which they started in March 2018.

Some 20 months later, Dwayne and Melissa Younge who manage the locally-branded Tidy Up Detergent Refill Centre at Complex Mall, Third Avenue, Diamond, East Bank of Demerara, (EBD), are basking in the success that in addition to the main distribution centre, they have been able to help some eight other persons to open their own businesses and become franchise distributors.

The relatively young entrepreneurs are located in Plaisance and Cummings Lodge on the East Coast of Demerara; on the Essequibo Coast, Parfaite Harmonie and Bella Dam, West Bank Demerara; Leonora, West Coast Demerara; and Wortmanville and Sophia.

Meanwhile, his business is receiving good support from the Diamond community and its environs.

Speaking with the Pepperpot Magazine, Dwayne said while he would like to see more persons grasp an understanding into the concept behind the business, he is nevertheless thankful to see the success it has had so far, as he seeks to help rid the community of plastic. To this end, he is urging private sector business,

government ministries, corporation and janitorial services among others, to sample his products.

Alluding to the slogan of the business, `It makes “cents” to refill’, and the 3R goal – recycling, reduction and the reuse of resources, he explained what it all means is that households and businesses can refill their empty plastic bottles with any of the eight liquid detergents – dishwashing, hand soaps, disinfectants, multipurpose cleaners, fabric softener, laundry detergents, degreaser and washing detergents for cars, that are available for a fraction of the cost for a new bottle. Any of the detergents can be had in either small or large quantities, with prices ranging from as low as $100 and $200.

Dwayne noted his disgust in seeing as a common sight, plastic bottles and other plastic receptacles that have been wantonly discarded, floating in the country’s waterways and around the mouth of kokers, especially during flooding and hampering the free flow of water.

Reiterating that the initiative stemmed from an overwhelming call in Guyana and by extension the world, for all-out efforts to reduce the use of single plastics that ultimately end up in the country’s waterway causing blocked drains, canals and kokers, Dwayne said he realised that some of the bottles can be reused The business evolved with Melissa, dubbed the mix mistress or the chemist of the

initiative, in the kitchen and laundry room of their home, using a bucket and paddle, with several trials and errors, before arriving at what they thought is a perfect solution that would appeal to the public.

They were cognizant, though that whatever product is produced would have to compete heavily with the international products already on the shelves, hence the products at all times need to be top notch.

Dwayne said one of the biggest challenge

facing this country is the impact plastic bottles have in our community, noting that it takes about 450 years for a single plastic bottle to be degraded into our environment.

Reminding of the plans by the government to gradually phase out the use of single-use plastic containers by 2021, Dwayne posits that such a move would see Guyana being on par with several countries that have already implemented similar initiatives.

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

Young pandit and his devotion to social change through religion

DEODAT Persaud is more than just a Hindu religious leader.

He is a man of his words and a true humanitarian advocate. His life’s journey helped to shape who he is today. It all began with the motto of his primary school: ‘Service before Self. It implanted in his mind a purpose of service to others. As a child, Persaud realised that he was meant for great things. He knew what he wanted to do would disrupt the status quo, but leadership will always be one of his strong areas. He grew up in Canefield Settlement, East Canje and comes from a family of ordinary citizens. His father is a former Guysuco employee and his mother, a housewife and a sister. They placed education as a priority in his life by often reminding him that as poor people the best gift they can give him is a good education. He recalled once when the then Minister of Education Dr Dale Bisnauth visited his primary school and asked what they were aspiring to become. Everyone said things such as, “doctor”, “teacher” or “lawyer” and all the other popular professions. However, Deodat blurted, “President of Guyana.” Everyone appeared confused and suggested that his answer was unrealistic and that he should have said something else, since that was an impossible goal. In his defence, it was the most spontaneous response he has ever proffered.

Though he was considered a bookworm at primary school, that changed at secondary school. He did enjoy the game of cricket in the street (something you rarely see these

days) during the August holidays. Most of his outings occurred during these times, as in-term meant to be fully absorbed in studies.

Attending mandir every Sunday was compulsory; he can even recall the pandit recognising his record as the only person who attended all 52 Sunday services in a year.

Deodat stressed that his community helped to shape his values and created an appetite to become a changer. He witnessed wives abused, fathers exhaust their weekly income on alcohol and children beaten mercilessly. These are things he detests, and he grew with the intention of wanting to change these situations. All of his hard work paid off in the end. No doubt, he was quite eager to attend President’s College. His mother was hesitant but his father was firmly in support and they all have no regrets. The said institution exposed him to Guyanese of various backgrounds; thus, instilling in him the belief that racial harmony is an achievable goal. Around the age of 18 he developed an appreciation for Law. Factors of cost were determined as well as, not wanting to deprive his sister of her education. He settled for a Diploma in Public Management. After completing that, he realised that Management is a field that he is connected with and he saw the relevance in society. The journey continued with a Masters in Public Administration and currently, he is wrapping up his MBA journey. Yet still, he has not lost sight of Law. Though his qualifications are important, he does not want to be defined by them—life

is bigger than that. After completing his secondary-school education he returned to Berbice; he was concerned about youths in his community: the lack of youth-centric activities, and the absence of a hub to facilitate meaningful youth participation, propelled him along and other like-minded youths to form the Golden OM Dharmic Youth Organisation-- the leading youth organisation in the East Berbice area. As president, this platform allowed him to inspire youths to become leaders of tomorrow by addressing as social issues (which left a dark, indelible impression in his mind during his childhood) youth empowerment, and community services through art, drama, and music. He also works full time at the Guyana Elections Commission and serves as a commissioner with the Ethnic Relations Commission. Deodat also serves as priest at the Reliance Settlement Sanatan Mandir and volunteers at the Caribbean Voice NGO. Recently, he was appointed Ambassador for the International Youth Committee, an NGO in India. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and working with youths especially. It is his desire to see young people take their rightful place in shaping the future of this country, since he believes we have the potential to disrupt the obsolete and divisive mentality which sought to entrap us for decades. Fortunately, he was able to visit each region in Guyana and the sentiment remains the same for almost every citizen.

Becoming a Hindu priest happened through the persuasion of his Guru, Pandit Chandradatt Persaud (his Godfather). This was never in planning. He said to Deodat that he recognised the impact he was creating with youths at the youth group level and suggested that he should bring a religious dimension to his works. Like anyone who seeks to impact society and people’s behaviours, there will always be resistance. In his earlier stages of life, he was bullied, body-slammed, and even called names. At one time, he did contemplate suicide. Today, he has converted each of his weaknesses into areas of strength. He can look at these negatives as lessons, since they prepared me for a tough world, which was inevitable. In fact, upon reflection, had he not been subjected to these challenges, he would have never discovered his inner strength. He is driven by the motto of the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha, ‘Action Thy Duty, Reward not thy Concern.’ He is not driven by self-gratification but instead, it pleases him to know he is inspiring youths to become better individuals in our times. His lowest point in life perhaps was when the President’s College dormitory was burnt; it was weeks before his CSEC exams and he was almost rendered hopeless. He lost five

Hindu Religious Leader Deodat Persaud years of studies. In the end, Deodat wrote and gained 11 subject passes.

This pandit with a passion for youth development is not sure what is considered an accomplishment, since service to humanity is seen as his duty in his books. In 2015 he was awarded the Arapaima Award for Social Work in Suicide Prevention. In the said year, the Department of Culture recognised his volunteerism works in Region Six. In 2017, he was able to join over 25,000 youths across the world for the 19th World Youth and Student Festival in Russia. In 2016, he also was selected for a three-week Know India Programme-- a cultural exchange programme attended by 40 youths from across the world.

He is grateful that the youth organisation he helped to build is still in existence after 14 years and it continues to impact youths. Deodat explained that he will continue his works with youths in Guyana. He wishes to expand the services of Golden OM Dharmic to allow for lobbying on issues affecting youths at the workplace and otherwise. He also wishes to position himself to contribute to the emerging oil and gas sector. At the mandir and youth group levels, Persaud will continue his work on leadership, empowerment and addressing social issues, especially suicide, gender-based violence and bullying. It is his desire to see Diwali and Phagwah declared non-alcoholic days, hence an increase in activism in this regard.

This religious leader with a passion for youth development advises to youths to, “never allow anyone to limit their potential. Oftentimes, we limit our pathways, by inserting the word impossible; this must be replaced by ‘it’s possible’.”

He continued by saying, “Serve, not for recognition and fame (that will come), but act out of a sincere passion and concern.

Lastly, your failure must never define you, the human body is meant for great things; use it as a vehicle to make a positive difference in the world.”

Deodat Persaud alongside members of the Golden Om Dharmic Youth Organisation

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

V

Media and Mental Health

THIS is a topic I’ve written on many times but still have never seen a change.

Today (again) I would like to talk about the effects that the media can have on our overall mental health. Media includes newspapers, television, radio, internet and of course social media. At this time of existence, I believe it can be categorized as a necessity or daily need. Many of us wake up and almost immediately check our favourite kind of media. How else are we going to know what’s going on right?

Media, in general, has the power to strengthen or weaken a society. A perfect example would be the racial discrimination happening within the United States right now. It allowed many of the African American community to come together while at the same time, almost forced the rest of the world to believe that most Americans are prejudiced.

The media affects our perception, opinions, attitudes, behaviours and our beliefs- it is one of the biggest influences in the world. We go buy the most expensive phone as the media almost portrays it as a necessity. We dislike people or places that we have never met or been to simply because the media portrays them negatively. Most of the time, we aren’t even aware and are unconsciously affected.

I’m surely not saying that the media is solely bad as it has countless benefits which including staying up to date with current events, remain in contact with loved ones, and most importantly is one of the biggest sources of general education. However, what happens if the public awareness being created is focusing on the wrong aspects of the topics? What if the wrong idea of what is important is going out into the world? The easiest example of this would be how fame and fortune are instantly perceived as success but how the fame materialised is disregarded.

Studies show that the media has a direct effect on our mental and physical health. The research shows that too much television can increase the possibility of obesity. Certain programs can causes issues with self-esteem and subsequent eating disorders. Too much violent programming can increase violent behaviour (especially in children). Certain T.V and radio shows can promote irresponsible sexual behaviour.

It has also been no secret that the suicide rate drastically increased in Guyana because of how it was being reported.

It was common to see the person who died from suicide -as well as when, how and why they took their own lives – on the front page of multiple newspapers. This promotes the wrong kind of education. The way that mental health is reported in the local media almost encourages stigma and discrimination.

Our media typically portrays the mentally ill and substance abusers as aggressive, dangerous, untrustworthy, and undeserving, hindrances to the community.

Even if rehabilitated, this prevents the individual from living a normal and productive life.

It prevents them from developing sufficient self-esteem and confidence which is needed for continued rehabilitation.

HOW CAN THIS BE PREVENTED? It is fantastic when media brings mental illness to public attention as it raises general awareness, changes attitudes and beliefs on the topic as well as breaks the discomfort and stigma that is usually present in the conversation. However, if proper guidelines aren’t followed, it can do more harm than good.

I’m going to offer some tips to the media, using the specific example of suicide which hopefully will be taken into consideration.

Firstly, leave out unnecessary details of the suicide. This includes a picture of the person, why they did it, how they did it, their address, or whether the method is “quick” or “painless”. Including information on how and why a person decided to take their own life can cause imitation. It can teach others ideas of how to commit the act, especially if it is “advertised” as quick. You can be informative yet vague.

Reporting that someone died due to ingestion is okay while

mentioning what and how much they used is not. It is also incorrect to report a definite reason as there is never any one reason why someone may take their own life. If you report specific reasons, vulnerable audiences may be able to identify with that, resulting in an attempt of their own. Disclosing personal information can also intrude on the grief process of the people closest to them.

More importantly, this information has graced the front page of the newspaper countless times but I have yet to see the Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers on the front page.

This means that the media is promoting the problem rather than the solution.

Include a written or spoken piece from a family member or friend that was left behind. Most people who attempt to or take their own lives believe that those they leave behind would be better off. They feel like a burden to those around them. If you include a piece from a friend or family member who is in pain, it may change that opinion in someone who may be considering suicide.

Guyana has also been branded as a low educated popula-

tion. This doesn’t just mean school drop- out and/or illiteracy.

Having insufficient education includes not knowing what help is available within your community. It should be the media’s responsibility to spread that awareness. That being said, do sufficient research when reporting on specific topics. If you are reporting on a case where someone was heavily using drugs, end the piece by telling the audience where they can get rehabilitated. If you are covering a murder-suicide, inform everyone where help is available for domestic violence. We already know what the problem is- offer some sort of solution.

Simply because something is legal to print, does not make it moral. Reporting on mental illnesses and suicide requires empathy, sensitivity and thoughtfulness.

The media must accept responsibility and fairly decide what is in the public’s best interest. Thank you for reading and please send in any questions, comments or topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com.

Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers: 223-0001, 2230009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Open 24 hours! Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

VI

Addressing the ‘man is dog’ stereotype

‘MAN is dag’ or for better use of grammar, ‘men are dogs’ is a trending phrase used amongst us young people today.

Yes, I used the word ‘us’ because I am very much guilty of using the said phrase as well. This topic crossed my mind as I was reading articles and post that are related to International Men’s Day. This said day was observed Tuesday last and it was a day held to observe the contributions and sacrifices men have made throughout history to this very day.

Based on my research, there isn’t

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

much to be said on the topic apart from memes made for humour and battle of the genders social media debates. I wanted to focus mainly on the perspectives of men on this topic. Some men may feel ridiculed because they find the statement to be very derogatory while some might join in for the laughs and there are others who just don’t seem to care. Controversial? Yes, indeed, it is but it should also be opened for discussion. Men should be able to defend themselves and we should be able to understand why such a phrase was even invented, to begin with. As a

writer and at the same time, as a woman, I have realised that I cannot write on behalf of all men and their views. As such, I invited two men to give their perspective on this topic—as we always should.

First, Reuben Latcha is a fellow male colleague of mine. He had his ‘two cents’ to share on this topic by saying, “The notion is pretty simple these days, it’s easy for women to say it, believe it or not.

For me, I always take it as a joke. I’ve been called a “dag” before but I guess once you’re aware and know that women should always be respected; you do right by them and it shouldn’t bother you.

Where all of this gets sad is when some women start to believe it and at some point in time, I personally think it’s our fault as men. We just let down our women one too many times but that still doesn’t mean as a woman you should start believing that every man is a “dag”. Saying it as a joke is one thing but believing it is another something and personally, this stereotype will always be one thing to me; a joke.”

Patrick Huntley, the vice president of the University of Guyana Student’s Society and a well-known youth advocate.

His thoughts are as follows: “Well the slang ‘MAN IS DAG’ (note not Dog) is simply the opinion of a FEW women who decided to label ALL men as the same all because of their one/two bad experiences.

But they do not realise that we attract who we are, and if said women were women of standards they would have had quite a different experience with men. Good men are not appreciated enough or recognised for what they are. We generally tend to overlook the fact that men will treat you

with respect if you so demand it.” Patrick continued by saying, “Women often times try to find various reasons to justify that statement ‘man is dag’, but I disagree with that as if there is one man who has done wrong there are three more willing to do right by them and most times women won’t even give those guys a chance.

In the end the slang is used by women who have been hurt by 1 individual and then go on to label all individuals the same, this creates a cycle and this hinders the development of healthy, progressive relationships as a woman who harbours resentment to men will discourage other women from exploring and finding a significant other.”

Both Patrick and Reuben have great points but sadly their opinions cannot sum up all the perspectives of all the men out there. Nonetheless, the key point that I have noticed is that men believe that the statement, ‘man is dog’ is very much generalised. While there are men of questionable character, in this said case, one bad apple should NOT spoil the entire bunch. There is no doubt that men have contributed tremendously to our society.

The observance of International Men’s day is truly deserving to the men of our society. Women may have their reasons as to why they use this statement but are we willing to throw all good and deserving men under the bus at the same time?

I know my female colleagues will have a whole lot to add to this discussion. Hence, I will be continuing this discussion next week by inviting my female colleagues to the stand. I do hope this piece opens up a respectful dialogue on both sides.

With that said, see you next week!

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

VII

Contemporary street art in Guyana

“The Good Fight”, mural by Collin Simon and Nigel Butler I RECENTLY saw a Facebook post by artist Nigel Butler where he mentioned himself and others taking their art to the streets.

The post included a time-lapse video of him and another young artist, Ransford Simon painting a mural. Since graduating from the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, Nigel has been making a name for himself by painting several murals at various learning institutions and social spaces. His work is aesthetically pleasing and thought-provoking.

A few days after his initial post, Nigel shared an image of a project he completed with fellow artist Collin Simon.

It was a mural entitled “The Good Fight” located near the Courtyard mall Robb street between Camp and Wellington Streets. It’s the beginning of street art in Guyana. I’m excited!

Street art gained prominence in the 1980s as an illegal protest in large cities in the United States and Paris.

Hip hop culture made it popular. Today, it is quite common. Street art is about social activism in public spaces.

It provides context to history, politics, culture and at times serves as a means of self-expression for the artists. Street art includes murals, installations, stencilled images, and stickers. Street Art’s status as vandalism often outweighs its status as art. However, beyond our borders, many artists are finding more

opportunities to create artworks where previously it was forbidden. They can now partner with organizations that offer outdoor public spaces in which street artists are permitted to execute works. This seems to be the approach of our local artists. Anyone willing to partner with them can contact them via their Facebook page, Art in our Heart.

Early street art emerged from graffiti. Graffiti, is an illegal form of visual communication, involving the unauthorized marking of public space by an individual or group. The common image of graffiti is a stylistic symbol or phrase, spray-painted on a wall most commonly by a member of a street gang. However, not all graffiti is gang-related. Graffiti can be understood as antisocial behaviour performed to gain attention, fame or as a form of thrill-seeking.

I thought it was important to mention this so that persons will be cognisant of the difference. These young artists have no intention of defacing our streets with their work. Rather the intention is for us to think about issues that concern us. I hope Guyanese can get as excited as I am, to see where they’ll take this venture will lead to. I remember my visits to other countries and how fascinated I was by street art.

To have it here would be quite refreshing.

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

Dentures WHAT is probably my scariest experience occurred when I was about seven years old.

My paternal grandfather took out his total upper dentures and showed it to me.

I remember running away and screaming with fright believing he had removed his upper jaw. Eventually, when my parents calmed me down it was explained to me that when people lose all their teeth they are replaced with fake ones. My young mind remained perplexed for a long time after and I was afraid to ask the many questions that plagued me. For instance, what kind of accident would make someone lose all their teeth and not cause physical damage to their face and lips?

Most people do not realise the problems that arise after dentures are placed. How would you like to have an artificial leg rather than your natural leg? I feel on very safe ground in assuming that you would emphatically answer: “Definitely not!” So, replacing your natural teeth with either a full or partial denture is about as desirable as having an artificial leg.

Dentures allow you to chew; an artificial leg allows you to walk. The problem in both instances is the performance quality of the artificial replacement in comparison to what nature originally provided. Quite simply, the artificial replacement will never function as well as your natural teeth no matter how good it looks.

Dentures are not maintenance-free; they need adjustments. It is not that the denture change; it is the tissues under the dentures that change. A denture adjustment is necessary when the denture material must be removed from the denture to relieve pressure at pressure spots that occur when bone and tissue shrink. Since tissue shrinks as it heals, dentures that are placed immediately after the teeth are extracted sometimes need to be relined as soon as the tissue has healed. All dentures need relining periodically to adjust for normal tissue changes. So a denture is not one-shot cure. It is very important to see your dentist once a year so the tissue under the denture can be monitored.

With this overview, let me offer a word of caution. Your dentist may offer you options on types of tooth replacements possible in your case. Offering you treatment options is part of your dentist’s obligation.

This is where you need to become a wise, informed dental consumer so you can discuss with him the best decision for your situation.

As a general rule of thumb, fixed prosthodontics (crowns and bridges) are more expensive, than removable prosthodontics (full or partial dentures). However, fixed prosthodontics is usually a more desirable replacement. Dentures also vary in cost depending on the type of teeth, the material used to make the denture base, and the number of steps followed to construct the prosthetic device. If you find a place that claims to be able to make your denture in one day for much less than the fee being

charged in the area by most other dentists, you will probably get exactly what you pay for. Let the buyer beware! They are no bargains in healthcare!

The name immediate dentures sounds like something produced by a fast-food version of a dental office. However, ‘immediate’ in this context means that the denture is placed immediately after the dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon extracts the teeth.

Here is a typical example of what happens in preparation for an immediate denture. The first phase is the removal of all teeth posterior to (behind) the cuspid teeth.

These ridges are then allowed to heal and act as a stable base for the future denture.

After the healing has occurred, the denture is constructed. Then, the natural teeth are extracted and the dentures are immediately placed in the mouth. This keeps the patient from having to be without his or her anterior (front) teeth at any time.

There are many advantages to immediate dentures, besides the immediate esthetic considerations. They protect sensitive extraction sites, help control bleeding from the tooth sockets, and protect the surgical area by covering it, thus keeping food and debris out of the extraction sockets.

An additional advantage that you might consider worth the extra expense of the immediate denture is that your dentist knows how your “natural” teeth appeared. Thus, he is likely to be able to construct a denture that more closely resembles your natural teeth. This makes the transition easier when you see your friends and family because your appearance is minimally changed. The other option is that it is possible, if you want, to change your appearance with new dentures.

Finally, an immediate denture gives the dentist a better idea of how your natural teeth were biting. He can construct a denture that better stimulates the bite you had before extractions.

Esthetically, immediate dentures are a better way to have dentures inserted than having dentures made after going through a period of being toothless. However, they do not present more problems.

More denture adjustments are needed when immediate dentures are placed, and these dentures sometimes need to be relined a short time after they are seated.

The reason is that the tissue, including the bone in the area, shrinks during the healing process after the teeth are removed. The healing process lasts about six months. This shrinking causes the denture to become loose, and the fit is altered. Relining is not needed as soon for conventional dentures fitted on ridges where time has elapsed after the teeth are extracted.

Usually, the immediate dentures themselves are not any more expensive than conventional dentures.

However, since immediate dentures usually have to be relined as soon as the ridges have healed, the reline is usually an additional charge.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

Regaining consciousness through Caribbean literature CARIBBEAN literature has been an avenue for Caribbean people to highlight their experiences and culture, channel the narratives for their real stories and generally, express themselves. Some may argue, however, that we may be losing touch with our sense of Caribbean literary consciousness.

The Pelican Book Club at the University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus hosted a roundtable discussion recently on Raising Literary Consciousness. This roundtable discussion, as far as I know, was the first of its kind and it sought to promote a space to initiate a conversation on the importance of local (Trinidadian) and regional literature in representing the Caribbean culture.

As you would expect from an overarching theme of ‘Regaining Consciousness,’ the conversation ventured upon what exactly defines being authentically ‘Caribbean’, and to what extent does the literature created in more recent times reflect this idea of authenticity?

Is it enough to be authentically Caribbean by just being a Caribbean citizen?

And would any literature created by that person is deemed “Caribbean”? Or is it that one is required to combine Caribbean elements (whether highlighting the culture, integrating the Region’s experiences, inter alia) in the literature produced in order to be deemed “Caribbean”?

I held the belief of the latter, that authentic Caribbean literature required that you use the platform to speak on those tenets that shaped and continues to shape the Caribbean. Subsequent to that forum, however, I will concede that it was myopic on my part to think that Caribbean literature can only be defined as “Caribbean” if it combines those Caribbean elements.

Instead, what I learnt was that one’s consciousness is inherently shaped by one’s cultural experiences and social settings, but it is also influenced by external factors. These factors include globalisation and increased and ready access to information, and those things.

Importantly, in more recent times, these external factors have become increasingly abundant in everyday life; the influence of other cultures and social settings have become intrinsically tied to how we experience the world around us. A practical example of this is Halloween. Halloween is not indigenous to the Caribbean, yet it has become something that many of us observe and/or celebrate. But that’s just

the thing about culture, it is not static, it is constantly evolving.

And so, it is too prescriptive to think that Caribbean literature would only be considered as such, if it solely reflects the beautiful natural patrimony distinctive in each nation, or the grim history of the region’s formative years, or the colonial and post-colonial struggles of forging sovereign states and crafting new identities. Caribbean literature, I’ve learnt, amalgamates any means the creator wishes to express, representing actual experiences or simply conjured from his/ her imagination.

Simultaneously, literature and creative avenues, generally, have been able to propel our expression as Caribbean people, and as individual nations. For me, the standout literature indigenous to the Caribbean, to a fairly large extent, has been those pieces that were microcosmic of our societal experiences and culture.

These pieces were created by some of our beloved literary giants: Derek Walcott, who received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1992 and was an avid writer of the Caribbean cultural experience, and right home in Guyana, we have had Martin Carter, who was skilful in crafting poems of resistance, protest, and revolution.

At the forum, it was made known that each year, fewer persons are registering for degrees with the Faculty of Humanities and Education, where they would be able to pursue avenues in writing. And perhaps, this signals that there is a lower inclination towards literature, which may also be indicative of that loss of literary consciousness. I have not seen empirical evidence in this regard, but if this is indeed the case, I would be saddened to know that we may be losing touch with an avenue that has allowed us to unapologetically be ourselves and create our narratives. I think if there is one thing history has taught all of us is that telling our own stories is imperative, lest we fall prey to misconstrued tales (Yes, I am speaking about those highly misconstrued European accounts of the Caribbean).

Our literature is a powerful avenue of highlighting who we are, but it is also a stark reminder to ourselves of those unique components of our culture, and we should be proud of that.

And while it may appear as though our literary consciousness may be dwindling, there are other avenues that we have to begin looking into to ensure that we are represented on all fronts.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

Glimpses of hell on earth Part II

Drugs in Guyana WE were a social class, caste and regulated society when we became colonials early post-emancipation. Georgetown, New Amsterdam and much later (in the mid-90s the rising Linden town) were the principal towns that shared the same woes of unemployment and other social problems of regimentation.

Our economies remained fixed before and after independence; the Forbes Burnham government was well aware of the dangers of these impediments, thus initiatives were enacted to create a new economic sector; but despite the liberating ideology of socialism, we embraced to justify systems that would cultivate a new national consciousness.We were subject to be dragged into the economic world arena and mauled by the tides and currents over which we had no jurisdiction. With the 1973-79 oil crisis, GRL, Sunbelle products, Textile Mill, BATA, our clothing industry etc., new agricultural ideas and the practical ambitions of our manufacturing sector were gone. Our flirtations with socialism which were necessary to lift the lid that was screwed ideologically over the social evolution of sections of society had passed, the socialist management of the working class mirrored the colonial past; plus, there were the haunting memories of days before, of the macabre 60s still politically hovering.

But party politics eclipsed the glaring fact that we had emerged out of slavery in the established reality as a people rooted in small vending businesses, independent thinking and cottage industries, that contradicted socialist idealism; this was an inner reality that had returned as a friendly haunting whispering spectre alive in the ‘being’ of the people. It took eventual redeployment to realise and unleash that inner spectre, that longed expression. But, we must be reminded, that as an independent nation Guyana had entered the global ideological Cold War politics, on the natural moral side of the fraternity of third world nations, boasting of their natural resources as an asset for survival and progress, nationalising here and there, forgetting that despite these assets, we neither had the transfer of manufacturing technology, the energy resources nor had access to the market forces necessary to ensure sales and joint business development.

The latter was problematic with respect to the new tenets of third world trade with the former colonial first world.

With redeployment came the foreign currency shortages, the hold-out against the IMF, which if adhered to, would not have assisted Guyana in its socialist format. These developments brought into relevance and now forgotten an army of citizens-- male and female-- mainly urban, mostly young, teachers, public servants, technicians-- all. They became the ‘suitcase traders’ travelling to every port, with our rum, rice, sugar, jewellery for sale, clothing made in Guyana. Can you remember ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ a shirt design and produc-

tion company? Vanceram’s Tie-dye and batik clothes, fish products etc. The suitcase traders were an integral link to all trade that followed and should not vanish from our consciousness.

It was through those links that marijuana was imported into Guyana, not necessarily by those traders, soon after, cocaine that constituted at one time, a minority ‘spoil chile, rich chile’ market would enter Guyana in diluted forms, in the more severe and dangerous crack form,

the promise of economic expansion drowned all and any reflections of the consequences on a national level, thousands have died directly from the invitation of cocaine into Guyana.

The world of the suitcase trader had expanded into a mindset that private initiatives were the way to go, a collapse of the dependency of job security and the option of ‘RUNNINGS’ overpowered any inclination to direct energies towards any new area that

included study and practice. I was in 1981 exploring art and writing which were talents haunting and taunting me for years, family and friends predicted that I would go mad. Where I lived marijuana was pressed and eager mules departed for other places and trading was the active ‘Ting.’ I did some trading to the North West but had eased it. I can remember a young lady, my cousin’s partner, her child father was a dread from Tiger Bay who was what the females termed a ‘Lazy Lion.’ She was the wage earner, the sister was busted, my cousin broke into tears. ‘The lazy Lion’ smoked a spliff and departed with lamentations to Jah. We didn’t see him for a while. I came home one afternoon and there was a sombre mood.

They had found him dead in the room where they lived in the ‘Bay,’ possibly from abuse and depression.

A knowledgeable sister in ACDA years later told me, “Barry ganja does put yuh to sleep, all off yuh to sleep.” This was frightening and it made me reflect on a posse from old 110th Street, as Robb and Wellington Streets were called after the famous movie.

Whitney, Brave, Sailor, One-eye Bomus, and many others are gone in a puff ah smoke. I recall encounters with them in the periods I refer to as decline, and they seemed distant and trapped by choice in an alternative reality; you stopped engaging them after a while.

In the literature I have read over the years on mind-altering drugs, marijuana plays an integral part in maintaining the caste system of India, of course, it is prohibited to the Brahmins and allowed to the low castes, callous but neat system. One of the last conversations I had with the late Clarence Young of the PHOENIX Recovery Project was about the incident of a youth who had tried synthetic marijuana, something called ‘Spice’ he was hospitalised, but died four days later. The products of narcotics have sadly expanded, and since whistleblowers are punished in crucial areas, matters remain the same.

Mind-altering drugs that include alcohol are also linked to insanity; why people use these things are for a diverse chronicle of reasons, traumatic events such as rape, sexual abuse, crash of an entitled ego, low self esteem, most of the inducements revolve around the promotion of drugs by pushers and addicts who come as girlfriends, problem-solving-Mystics, party buddies, offering alternative reality comfort zones to whiners, and not identifying one’s own unique responses to these intrusive instant ‘Make you happy Alternatives’ while no public information exists to be debated as alternative rebuttals to pusher propaganda about the badness of mind-altering drugs. From my end what I know, comes from what I saw, lived and experienced and the literature I searched for to find clarifications.

Next, we visit what is known beyond these shores and beyond our times.

Focus Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

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on the Village

Charity Stelling

Charity is synonymous with farmers and business

By Michel Outridge

THE Pepperpot Magazine recently visited Charity, Region Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam) and went on a walkabout and spoke to some regular people, who shared their views.

One of those persons, we talked to is Ray Benjamin, who is a resident of Charity Housing Scheme.

The father of two related that he is a security guard and a pump attendant attached to Alfonso’s Gas Station and other businesses within Charity, owned by the businessman.

“As you can see, Charity is a place of business, especially at the waterfront area, which is centred on the market, wharf and the stelling where the farmers come out to sell their produce and do their shopping to return to their respective villages within the Pomeroon River,” he said.

Benjamin reported that Charity is divided

Purple Heart Hotel

Xenon Hotel

A villager of Charity (Carl Croker photos)

into four sections, namely: the squatting area, the extension scheme, the new extension scheme and Charity Amazon.

However, most economic activities take place on the waterfront, where there is the market day on Mondays, which is the busiest and it is much quieter on weekdays.

Although he is originally from the Pomeroon River, he left there and relocated to Charity many years ago in search of a better life and employment.

“Charity is faster than in the Pomeroon River. You get easy access to goods, services, electricity and in there we have to use a lot of fuel for generator and boat etc., and it is very costly in there so I came out to look for work and here I am,” he said.

Benjamin added that his job is easy because he does what he has to do and there is no room for stress in his life.

This young man told the Pepperpot Magazine that he noticed over the years the

sea defence at the waterfront is sinking and it needs upgrading, because of the weight of laden trucks and other heavy-duty equipment that are parked there.

Benjamin stated that trucks are not supposed to park at the waterfront area but yet they do and coupled with the spring tide, the water is reaching land and the place is sinking rapidly.

He is “living home” and is quite comfortable with his life as a family man, even though he hasn’t tied the knot yet, but just might soon.

Benjamin related that the Alfonso Group of Companies has other businesses and they rotate duties at the mall, the RCA television station, the Oil Mill and the Ice Plant.

Meanwhile, the Pepperpot Magazine encountered Cyril Stoll, a beef vendor, who is from Grant New Port, Pomeroon Turn to page XII ►►►

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

The ‘Crab-catcher’ of Charity The lives of self-made residents

By Michel Outridge

KISHORE Jewan is a simple and honest man, who has been providing for his family adequately by being the village “Crab Man” for the past 40 years.

The 57-year-old was spotted on his bicycle in Charity selling a salt-bag of ‘Buck’ crabs he caught with his own hands at the foreshore at Berks and Somerset, a few villages away, also on the Essequibo Coast.

Jewan related that he began catching crabs on the mudflats after he exited the school system and was looking for work and decided to try his hand at ‘crab-catching’ when nothing else seemed possible.

Kishore Jewan, the ‘Crab Man’ (Carl Croker photos) “I does usually catch crabs every day; doing this since I left school, about 40 years now. This catch wasn’t too large because of the tides and these crabs is from the catch the day before since the water was in the bushes among the mangroves making it was difficult to get a good catch,” he said.

Apart from crab-catching, he also catches hassars, which is also sold within the village at a reasonable price; that day when the Pepperpot Magazine met him, he had already sold his hassars.

This Charity resident is the father of two and believes that hard and honest work pays in the long run, because

Irene Ramlall at her snackette

Some of the women of Charity and Pomeroon River

Turn to page XIII►►►

Charity is synonymous ... ◄◄◄ From page XI

Vending at Charity

Cyril Stoll, beef vendor River.

Stoll is working with a butcher and was about to start work, but went to sharpen his cutlass and was on his way back to the stall when he spoke to us.

He was, however, displeased about the happening at the waterfront where he like other vendors cannot sell.

“Several years now coming on to Christmas time I noticed that Alfonso does bring his big vehicles and park it on the waterfront and a lot of people can’t get access to the area to do their weekly business,” he said.

Despite this, however, the vendors try their best to make it as they continue to enjoy the other perks of living in the lively Charity village.

An uphill task for this woman fetching a bag at Charity

Farmer’s Wharf at the Waterfront

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

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The ‘Crab-catcher’... ◄◄◄ From page XII

one simply cannot feel good about themselves doing unsavoury things.

“Well you know life is how you make it and if you don’t work, you can’t expect to eat and that is my motto since a young boy; and it stayed with me all those years and motivated me to work hard,” he said.

Jewan is, however, worried about the welfare of the youths within the community, who he said have the tendency to “act out” and he is hoping they can be gainfully employed to enhance their lives.

“We must focus on youths more because they need a better life, and for that to take place they have to get jobs because I see what’s happening and I done big already,” he said.

FARMER’S WHARF One of the friendliest faces at the Farmer’s Wharf at the Charity Waterfront is a vendor, Julie Williams.

She is a resident of Dredge Creek, Pomeroon River and has been a vendor at Charity since 2010, when she retired as a health worker in her community.

“I started to vend, buying and selling cassava bread, cassareep and work on my small farm at my home and try to make a living this way,” she said.

Williams related that be-

ing a vendor is not an easy task and it requires a lot of patience, because some days she doesn’t sell much.

“Business not really good because the prices differ depending on the produce; and I am here every Monday to vend like most people that reside in the riverine areas in the Pomeroon River and at Charity.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met the charming Irene Ramlall better known as “Rena,”, who operates a snackette at the Charity stelling and has been providing hot meals for people for the past 20 years.

A local of Charity Public Road stated that she is very comfortable in her home village and gets by very well since she is often busy at her place of business.

Ramlall reported that she has in her employ five persons from within the community and with the assistance of her only child, a son, they co-exist at the snackette daily.

She noted that all foods are prepared fresh daily and transported to the location and they open from 04:00hrs to ensure farmers and others get a hot meal before starting their day.

“Life is good and Charity is a peaceful place to live, except recently we have been having a few incidents of petty robberies,” she said.

Ramlall noted that at a

The ‘power juice’ home-made soursop juice produced by Ramlall.

Vendor, Julie Williams

very young age he became engaged in troublesome activities.

“A lot of youths don’t work, some came from a single-parent background; there is the need for skills training because at age 12 and 14 they need to be in school instead of drinking and smoking,” she said.

Ramlall’s snackette is also known for its juiciest, fresh, local soursop juice, which is home-made daily and served to the eager residents of Charity and beyond.

Charity Stelling

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

A hard-working man Proud to make an honest living to support his family

By Michel Outridge CHARITY is located on the Pomeroon River which provides a gateway to this part of Guyana’s interior and Venezuela.

Many Guyanese as well as, none nationals use this waterway to travel back and forth between Guyana and Venezuela where they work, ferry goods and trade.

Charity is the last village on the Essequibo Coast and the village sits at the edge of the Pomeroon River.

It is a central focus for the farmers, who live in the riverine areas of Pomeroon. They bring their products to this location every Monday and from here it is trans-shipped to other townships such as Anna Regina and Parika, and to the capital city of Georgetown.

It is on Mondays the place is transformed into a huge market area where, vendors bring out their produce to sell especially at the Farmer’s Market at the River’s Front and New Road, Charity.

There, plying his simple but honest trade is the father of four, Enoch Hoyte, a very pleasant man, who is also very mannerly when approached by this reporter, even though he was busy ferrying bags and goods he took a few minutes off to entertain me and my questions.

He related that when he quit gold mining in the interior he was out of work and decided to create his own job, becoming self-employed as a metal push-cart operator at Charity Waterfront.

“I left the bush some years ago and I had no job waiting for me back in Char-

Push-cart operator Enoch Hoyte (Carl Croker photos) ity and I knew I had to do something to support my family financially and I came up with this idea of push-carting,” he said.

Hoyte added that he has been at it for the past eight years and it has been feeding his family since but it is a discipline he had to get used to.

The 37-year-old resides at Charity Squatting Area and described life there as fair but challenging at times but one simply cannot give up.

Pomeroon River

Hoyte carrying some bags from the waterfront to another location Hoyte is one of many metal push cart operators, who does manual, hard labour daily at Charity Waterfront, fetching produce and just about anything else form one point to another for a fee of a mere $300 or more depending on the weight and amount.

“I worked in the interior as a gold miner and because of the times and how things are I quit that to be closer to my

family and here I am,” he said.

Hoyte told the Pepperpot Magazine that starts work from 04:00hrs and on Mondays, it is all-day work because it is Market Day at Charity, a day when all the produce comes out and goods go in the villages in the Pomeroon River.

He pointed out that depending on the people flow he would work up until 16:00hrs then make his way home which is within walking distance.

Hoyte stated that during the weekdays he would get work to load lumber boats that go to the city.

“I carrying these bags to another point from the waterfront to aback the stelling and it is not easy in this heat so you can imagine how strenuous it is to push such heavy load on a daily basis,” he said.

Hoyte told the Pepperpot Magazine that every work has its challenges but at least it is honest work and it puts food on his table and with that said he is not ashamed of it.

“This is very hard work at least you have to do it because you cannot go and thief and I am doing this because of my family.

This is my honest hustle, in this life you can’t get pride or you go hungry so you have to do what you have to when it comes to work because with a wife to look after, children to send to school and putting food on the table is a priority in every house and I am doing this for them,” he said.

Fetching produce at the waterfront

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

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A hot point for businesses and economic boom

By Michel Outridge

RYAN Van Sluytman, a resident of Charity and a Manager with Alfonso Group of Companies told the Pepperpot Magazine that his historical family roots are deep in the village of Charity.

Van Sluytman, giving some background on the village, said that Charity was owned by a man named Joseph Gouveia and he had a daughter named Lycia, who got married to Timothy Van Sluytman.

He pointed out that Gouveia later gave Charity Village to that same daughter and it became the home of the Van Sluytmans.

However, after many years the van Sluytmans gave Charity to the then British rulers for a land development scheme.

“We didn’t sell Charity, we gave them free of charge. Timothy Van Sluytman and my grandfather were first cousins, so it is in my bloodline and we didn’t arrive here, we are from here,” he said.

On another note, there is a constant face-off between vendors and the businessman who owns the Alfonso

A truckload of bananas

Manager and Councillor Ryan van Sluytman (Carl Croker phots) Turn to page XVI ►►►

The Pomeroon Oil Mill, home of Golden Brook cooking oil

One of the many well-maintained houses at Charity

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

A hot point for businesses and economic ...

◄◄◄ From page XV

The clearing of internal drains in Charity

gas station. Consequently, he has had to secure the place with armed security because the situation was out of control with vendors and stalls were blocking the entire waterfront area.

Van Sluytman noted that the gas station is a private business and directly in front of it there is a floating gas station for the convenience of the riverine people, and the vendors were blocking the cameras, adding they have money transactions and for security reasons, the situation was not good.

“This is a private business and they can’t sell here, to construct structures on the sea defence here, it is illegal. A letter was issued to the NDC about three years ago, but they took no heed until the minis-

ter had to intervene; we create a stairway for the people and they came and block it,” he said.

Van Sluytman stated that he is a councillor with the NDC and a lot of people don’t pay their taxes, noting there are existing political disagreements among the councillors.

Apart from the few infractions, Van Sluytman related that Charity is a nice place with the same economic ventures and it is a place where you see people “sporting” on a Monday instead of the weekend.

He added that Mondays are the busiest at Charity, because it is the market day when farmers ferry out their produce and take “sin” goods.

Alfonso’s Service Station at the Charity Waterfront

THIRTEEN An amazing experience

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

SOMETIMES when you are having a busy week deciding how to invest your 24 hours can be a challenge.

I value every second of each day because I am intentional about using time - which is one of the most valuable resources- wisely. I did that last week when Marcia Bosshardt Marcia (in the photo provided ) invited me to an art exhibition at Castelanni House. Malena Mandiola is extremely talented but also a great story teller.

She was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and lived in Mexico DF, Paris, Lima, Shanghai, Tokyo and now Guyana. Things that are different always appeal to me and this exhibition certainly captivated my creative mind.

I love working with various fabrics and admire the creative masterpieces she created from pieces of scraps. I walked around viewing the amazing work of Malena and found myself wondering about the places I have never visited. I love the little bench that was featured and I could have seen women sitting on them while doing chores or just relaxing. The name of the exhibition is THIRTEEN and I will share the info she shared: Thirteen compositions suspended in space to be traversed and observed from both sides. A sinuous path linked by a red thread, a constant element that interlaces and sustains. The works are made from a collection of scraps, old, used and some new; of distant, familiar, classic and current designs.

The fabrics are superimposed creating particular stories, grouped in the retina and difficult to grasp. Layers of saturated colours: some bright, cheerful; others of

creative sector, especially in Guyana, gets the respect it deserves.

Let’s commit to supporting the creative arts and you can do that today by attending STYLE MISSION at the Pegasus at 20:00hrs this evening.

I am thankful for my creative mind and appreciate the creative as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

dark colours, a unique composition in black and white.

We travel a succession of transparencies and opacities: a call to spy and discover. A journey of glitters, silk, lace, cotton, wool...the impulse to touch awakes.

Secrets and mysteries, certainties and uncertainties.

Thirteen knots painted in acrylic displayed horizontally.

The kimono, Japanese traditional apparel, is adjusted and supported by an obi, a girdle four meters in length that tie into a beautiful, elegant and tight knot. Beneath an apparent fragility, hides heavy layers of refined fabrics. Guardians jealous of the most sacred secrets.

Thirteen sculptures twinned from fabrics, colours, designs, diverse materials and interventions.

An object formed from a traditional popular Chinese stool, “xiaodengzi”, connecting travels of the West with those of the East.

Childhood memories with current experiences. The daily life of an object.

“The esthetic acts is, perhaps, the imminence of a revelation which does not

happen”J.L Borges.

“During the eight years I lived in China and Japan, I walked the streets and travelled extensively on public transportation. Subtly, I was weaving stories of my country with those of the East, the experiences of my childhood with current ones, twinned with fabric, colours and designs. On my journey, I explored the feminine world and its mysteries in-depth discovering more about its particular complexities and the way they persist in reappearing over time-geographies and different cultures since the beginning of time,” the artist said.

Travel truly teaches us things and impact our lives in such a major way. Malena was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and lived in Mexico DF, Paris, Lima, Shanghai, and Tokyo. She is now Guyana with her husband I am sure when she leaves here she will create another masterpiece. I knew about the Japanese kimono but that evening I learnt the significance of it. We can learn about so many journeys through art and wish the

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

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

XIX

Social Cohesion A national priority

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IN 2015, President David Granger made social cohesion a national priority by creating a department mandated to ensure that all persons are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities necessary for enhancing their lives and creating a well-functioning society.

The concept of social cohesion is articulated in our national motto, “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” and enshrined in Article 13 of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

President Granger reiterated this concept in his address at the opening session of the Social Cohesion Roundtable on September 3, 2015, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal.

At that forum, the President said, “It is not sufficient to apply technocratically and bureaucratically sound policy frameworks, while disregarding people’s desire for inclusive political processes.” He explained that “cohesiveness cannot be nurtured in an unequal environment,” while noting the need to reduce the disparities between the hinterland and the coastland.

Mrs Natasha Singh-Lewis, Programme Coordinator (Ag) at the Department of Social Cohesion, said the Department is very keen on promoting inclusivity and equitable development.

“Whatever is available for the hinterland or the coastland should be available for everybody. Whatever is offered for the tertiary-level students, should be offered for all other students and so equal access to education, equal access to economic development; those are areas that we also want to promote,” she said.

The department has the following achievements to its credit: the implementation of a Five-Year Strategic Plan; an annual cultural extravaganza, Harmony Village, along with a roster of activities that celebrate differences and promote inclusion on Social Cohesion Day; additionally,the department has trained over 7,500 across the country to be social cohesion ambassadors.

BRINGING RELIGIOUS GROUPS TOGETHER Several core groups among the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Rastafarian communities were also established.

The core groups are part of a mechanism that aims to include religious organisations in the planning and execution of their activities.

According to Mrs Singh-Lewis, it is religion that appeals to morality, tolerance and respect, which are critical factors in achieving a cohesive society.

“We have used religion as a very important tool and… in a very structured manner.

We have organised four core groups…we are now in conversation with the B’hais and we have had conversations with the Faithists of Guyana,” she said.

Meanwhile, Mr Neil Bacchus, a repre-

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

President David Granger greets patrons on his arrival at the National Emancipation Festival held at No.53/Union Village, East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six), on August 1, 2019. Also pictured behind President Granger is Regional Executive Officer (REO), Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five) Mr Ovid Morrison sentative of the Muslim core group, said he was happy to capitalise on the opportunity that the Department of Social Cohesion has provided to bring the Muslim community together.

“The Muslims have been working, but they have been working quietly and independently. The opportunity given by the department to bring the Muslim leadership

to work together, I think that’s very good and it’s something we want to continue to embrace and move forward with in our country,” he said.

Mr Bacchus said one of the first initiatives the group has undertaken was to engage the Mayor and City Council of Georgetown about the conditions at Le Repentir Cemetery.He said the group made it clear that the

President David Granger (centre) with the dancers of the Mission Chapel Congregational Church, New Amsterdam, East-Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) at its bi-centenary anniversary celebrations in August 2019. Reverend Tyrone Sulker is also pictured first, right

current state of the cemetery was inappropriate for Muslim burials, which has resulted in the allocation of 28 “beds of land” for this purpose. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will soon be signed between the two parties.

Chairman of the Christian Core Group, Bishop Michael Pereira, said he believes that social cohesion must first be demonstrated in the home, particularly by the leadership of his group, before it is filtered to their demographic.

“If we are to achieve cohesion in the wider society as a Christian core group, that cohesion must be accomplished and sustained among us as a leadership team… My appeal is that we work beginning with the home that is essential. If there is to be cohesion in the community, there must be cohesion in the home. Someone has said that “as goes the home, goes the community, as goes the community, so goes the church and as goes the church and the community, so goes the nation and by extension the world,” he said.

Bishop Pereira said he intends to use sport as a variable to get more young people involved. “We have to recognise that the youths have a critical role to play… We have lots of young people within the different churches that are very active in sports and we believe that in bringing together the churches from different denominations, that in itself is a powerful tool to enhance the message of social cohesion,” he said.

INVOLVING YOUTH AND SPORT According to Mrs. Singh-Lewis, religion, culture, youth and sport are important vehicles that can be used to achieve social cohesion.

In this regard, the Department of Social Cohesion, in 2017, was incorporated with the Department of Culture, Youth and Sport, which previously fell under the purview of the Ministry of Education.

Mr Gordon Braithwaite is employed by the Department of Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport as a football coach, with responsibility for Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight). He says he has been coaching football for 44 years and has seen the positive impact that sport can have on social cohesion.

“Sports bring people together. It is a very effective thing for social cohesion in any part of the world and we need it as a developing country…I tell myself I’m not a coach, I’m a social worker… so when I go into the interior, it’s the same kind of thing: it’s people that don’t get a lot of coaching, they feel disenfranchised in some way and football can help; football promotes team-building, it’s the greatest team sport because no player can be successful without the other components of the team…We need more sport for social progression,” he said.

Another means of youth engagement is the inter-village exchange programme for capacity building and knowledge sharing; a programme exclusive to interior locations

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(From right to left) Minister of Social Protection, Ms Amna Ally; Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr George Norton; Mrs Sita Nagamootoo and her husband, Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, third and fourth from right; Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr Basil Williams and Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, view the Diwali celebrations from the Baridi Benab at State House.

President David Granger receives a copy of a holy text from Swami Shivashankaranandaji during his visit to the Cove and John Ashram for the observance of Maha Shivaraatri in October 2017 that caters for youths aged 14-25. Since and entrepreneurship among other dis2017, over 350 young people spread across ciplines.

Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY Nine); Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two) Mrs Singh-Lewis said people are now and Potaro-Siparuni (Region Eight) have learning more about their differences benefitted from the programme.

It is an annual activity which provides and how it can be a strength and not a learning opportunities in the areas of weakness.

She is adamant that the differences in the appropriate socialisation, volunteerism

Diyas set out on a table under the Baridi Benab, State House, in October, 2019, during a Diwali celebration programme, attract several persons

demographic of the Guyanese society can be respected and celebrated and still serve to unify the country. Using the analogy of a salad, she explained that the beauty of Guyana is its diversity.

“If you’re going to make a fruit salad, you know the colour of the salad is what brings the mind to it, so we need all of the little things that are red and green and the other colours… I would like to see, in the short term, that we try to practise a little bit more respect for each other, so you understand that the Muslim child in the school should be given the opportunity to pray on Friday; the maturing Muslim child should be allowed to wear their beards… We understand that Rastafarian child should

be allowed to wear their[sic] locks and to practise their religion, whether in schools or in society as a whole. We understand that in the schools when there are religious holidays, whether it’s a Christian-populated area or a Muslim-populated area or it’s a Hindu holiday, the children should be allowed to practise, they should not be deterred,” Mrs Singh-Lewis said.

Guyana’s human resource is its greatest asset.

As the country prepares for first oil, the government remains committed to ensuring that all development plans are people-focused, so that all can benefit as Guyana transitions into a sustainable, oil-producing nation.

A group of young women performing a cultural item at the Diwali celebrations hosted in the Baridi Benab at State House

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Giving back to the community Victoria Adventist Youth Leadership Award Club pays it forward

THE Victoria Adventist Youth Leadership Award (AYLA) club last Sunday made their presence known in the East Coast village, when it held a health talk

with footballers and other youths.

The talk was conducted

by Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Karen Cummings, who is a member of the club, and it focused on giving the young men tips on how to keep their bodies healthy.

The talk was well received and fruit bowls were distributed upon completion. The club members then moved to another section of the village where clothing and other items were distributed to a number of villagers. A wheelchair was also presented during the exercise. Dr Cummings commented that it is all about giving back to the community and helping the needy. The AYLA is part of the Seventh-day Adventist worldwide initiative and in

Guyana there are a number of such groups of junior and senior youths. The club is designed to train senior youths, who have a mission to respond to the needs of youths and society as a whole and to train them to be better equipped to fulfil this mandate. Training young people and working with them in their churches are also an important aspect of the initiative. On completion of the training the successful members are invested and given distinctive Adventist Youth (AY) pins which can be worn with their AYLA uniforms.

In photographs Dr Cummings and other club members can be seen during last Sunday’s activities.

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#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

Young Hollywood shines in 'The King' “THE KING,” while presenting factual events and figures, is a film that can be regarded as being inaccurate in some areas when it comes to history.

The film is based on the “Henriad”, a series of what is known as William Shakespeare’s History Plays. “The King” is one of many, many period films that focus on the long, bloody rule of the institution that we have to regard as the British Monarchy. Despite our postcolonial resentment pertaining to the Monarchy, such period films draw us in again and again simply because it is human nature to want a peek into the lives of rulers, so we can see their loves and excesses, their torment and griefs, their treasons, their joys, and their inevitable fall from power on account of several common factors, such as greed, lust, ambition, or hubris. From the “The Lion in Winter” to “The Tudors” and “Reign,” from “The Other Boleyn Girl” to “Belle” and “The Favourite,” there are too many of such films to choose from. “The King” tries to cater to the current generation of audience-members by casting young, handsome stars, such as Timothée Chalamet and Robert Pattinson in the lead roles, and although both of them are very good, especially Chalamet, the casting is not enough to hide the few flaws that make themselves known to the viewer.

The major problem that I have with the story is with regards to characterisation. Henry V (Chalamet) is presented as a wayward prince, initially, a drinker and whoremonger, who stays away from court, in part because of his failed relationship with his probably-insane, war-loving father, King Henry IV (Ben Mendelsohn), before transitioning, upon made king after the death of his father, into a morally upright, peaceful man who seeks to do all that is right. There is, of course, nothing wrong with such a transition. Characters can change. The problem has to do with how the change comes about and the presentation of the change in a visual medium such as film. In “The King,” Henry V’s sudden desire to be ‘good’ seems abrupt, out of character, and too immediate to be wholly accepted. Thankfully, this is the film’s only major flaw, apart from that feeling of the film needing a bit more tension in the scenes that required them.

Nevertheless, the storyline eventually finds its way, offering up to the audience strong depictions of its characters, a hero to root for, a villain to hate, and a surprise in the ending that functions as more of a buzz than a bang. Chalamet is in very fine form as the lead character – handsome, lithe, and delivering a strong use of voice and athleticism that is a big departure from his previous roles, in films like “Lady Bird” and “Call Me by Your Name.” Without a doubt, he is going to go on to be one of the biggest movie stars in the world. Robert Pattinson has come a long way since his “Twilight” days. His performance as the evil Dauphine is gleefully off-kilter, and he makes for a fitting opposite to Henry V’s morally upright hero. Joel Edgerton seems to be playing two different roles – even though he essays Falstaff, a friend and mentor to Henry V – in the way his character, like Henry V’s, dramatically changes, without enough buildup and fluid transition, from a loveable drunk to a strategic warrior. The two depictions of the character, while individual, are individually well executed. Ben Mendelsohn, as with all of his other roles, delivers extremely good acting as Henry IV. The film’s biggest surprise for me exists in the form of Lily-Rose Depp (daughter of Johnny Depp) who plays Catherine, the French princess who later becomes wife to Henry V. Her character’s feminine energy is a burst of freshness in what can be regarded as a very ‘masculine’ film, and she brings with her brief role,

“The King, Netflix, 2019” – Image source: IMDB

much body, vitality and charm in her keen-eyed presentation of a role that in another actress’ hand might end being even slimmer than the love interest of the main character. Depp is truly tremendous in a small role, with a very convincing French accent. She is definitely a rising star to keep an eye on.

Overall, the film was satisfactory, presenting a necessary addition to the works of Shakespeare that have been adapted for the screen, while also offering the audience another chance to see luminous performances from Hollywood’s new generation of superstars in the making. I’m

now more eager than ever to see Chalamet in the “Dune” adaptation, Pattinson in “The Lighthouse” and Lily-Rose Depp in “Dreamland.” They remind me that I have officially reached a point in my life where the actors that I have known and loved for a very long time are no longer ‘young’ enough to be considered the future of the movie industry as they were several years.

Nevertheless, I have much faith in this new generation and I can’t wait to see what they will bring to our screens in the near future.

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E FILES S A C T COUR nisi’ through trick on wife e e r c e d ‘ d e n i a t b o d Husban

By George Barclay

o t n o i t c a s e Wife los ’ i s i n e e r c set aside ‘de

IN 1968, husband Alexander Daniels, by means of a trick on his wife obtained a decree nisi in an undefended divorce suit.

By this trick, the wife Babra Daniels did not defend or attend the divorce proceedings and continued cohabitation until October 18, when she learnt that the court had granted her husband a decree Nisi for the dissolution of their marriage.

Accordingly, she instituted a summons to set aside the decree nisi.

But, High Court judge Justice Victor Crane who heard the application dismissed the action on the ground that the applicant had taken the wrong course and ought to have taken her information to the Attorney General for action.

More particularly, the wife stated that a few days before June 12, 1967, the date when the citation and petition were served, he had persuaded her to resume cohabitation, and after the petition had been served, he had instructed her to inform her lawyer that they had resolved their differences. She did so and about July 9, 1967, the conjugal state was resumed and sexual relations recommenced.

It was not until October 18, that she learnt that decree nisi had been pronounced, and she accordingly took out a summons to set it aside.

Justice Crane held (i) there is no distinction between the application to set aside a decree nisi and one calling upon a petitioner to show cause why the decree should not be

made absolute. (ii) Under section 12 (1) of the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance, Chapter 166, the respondent was not a person entitled to apply to show cause, and, therefore, she could not apply to have the decree set aside; (iii) Her proper course was to give the information at her disposal to the Attorney General, as the Queen’s Proctor, for him to take such action as he considered appropriate.

The summons to set aside the decree nisi was dismissed.

Senior Counsel Mr. Rex H. Mc Kay, appeared for the appellant, while Mr. Bernard De Santos, S.C., represented the respondent.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Crane said that on October 2, 1967, the husband obtained a decree nisi of dissolution against the wife in an undefended suit. The wife, though duly served with the citation and petition, did not appear to defend.

According to the judge, “This is the wife’s application by way of summons for the following orders: that the decree nisi be set aside; that she be at liberty to file an entry of appearance and an answer to the petition; that she be granted her costs and such further or other relief as may be just.

“The main ground on which her application rests as revealed in her affidavit in support, is that there was condonation following on which there was a resumption of cohabitation. This

was brought about, she says, by a ruse on her husband’s part in the following manner: she had been persuaded by him a few days before June 21, 1967, the date the citation and petition were served on her, to resume cohabitation with him at 147 Garnett Street, Kitty, and was instructed by him to inform her lawyer not to proceed any further and to discontinue proceedings as differences between them had been resolved. “ Accordingly, on or about July 9, 1967 the conjugal state was resumed and sexual relations recommenced. This state of affairs continued until October 18, 1967, when she left him having ‘heard that a decree nisi had been pronounced against her on October 2, 1967 in proceedings which he had led he to believe were abandoned. She is now desirous of entering an appearance and filing an answer and, in the circumstances, prays that the decree nisi be set aside.

“The husband strongly denies there was a resumption of cohabitation as alleged, or that he ever instructed his wife not to proceed further in defence of the petition, although he admits that his wife did return to the matrimonial home, he however insists that she performed no matrimonial chores nor slept in the same room with him when she returned. He brands the allegations contained in the affidavit in support false and malicious and designed to embarrass and cause him unnecessary expense. In paras. 8 and 9 of the

affidavit in reply he avers that this summons is misconceived both as to jurisdiction and for reasons of non-compliance with procedural requirements of Chapter 166 and the related rules, Justice Crane declared.

He added, having given this matter some thought I must perforce agree that the objections raised by the husband are weighty and must prevail; and that I have no jurisdiction to entertain this application.` Justice Crane agreeing with the objection of counsel for the petitioner that the correct procedure had not been observed added, “What clearly ought to have been done by the applicant in this matter was for her to have given the information of what she has sworn to in her affidavit to the Attorney General; he is the Queen’s Proctor in matrimonial cases, and it should have been left to him to take such proceedings under section 12 (4) of the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance, Chapter 166 as he thought fit , bearing in mind, as the extract from Halsbury’s Laws of England shows , that the real object of the interim period of six weeks is for the Attorney General to make enquiries into the petitioner’s case.

Justice Crane declared that for the above reasons. ” I must rule that it is now too late for the wife to enter an appearance and file an answer. These proceedings are misconceived and the orders sought are consequently refused.

Summons dismissed.

International Jaguar Day is November 29 THE jaguar has long been intertwined in the fabric of Guyanese history and culture; it stands on Guyana’s Coat of Arms and is considered our national animal.

These majestic animals have earned their place as kings and queens of our forests and are protected by law. In 2018, at the Conference of the Parties for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB), November 29 was designated annually as International Jaguar Day. This Day was created to raise awareness about the increasing threats facing the jaguar and the critical conservation efforts ensuring its survival from Mexico to Argentina.

Jaguars play an important role in maintaining the health

of our planet. As apex predators, they help to maintain a balance in the population of the species they prey on. As such, they contribute towards the regulation of the global climate and ecosystem resilience which ensures we benefit from clean water, as well as materials for food, and medicines. The need for jaguar conservation is ever-present. The jaguar has lost 50% of its natural range and its population is declining. In fact, jaguars are now extinct in El Salvador and Uruguay.

The main reasons behind the decline in the population of jaguars are conflict with humans, habitat loss due to activities such as mining, logging and agriculture, overhunting of the jaguar’s prey and poaching. Recent estimates suggest that Guyana’s ‘potential’ jaguar population is approximately 4300 (J?drzejewski et al, 2018). However, further studies are needed to better understand Guyana’s jaguar population and to inform conservation efforts.

The Government of Guyana stands committed to advancing the Jaguar 2030 Conservation Roadmap which aims to strengthen the Jaguar Corridor, ranging from Mexico to Argentina, by securing 30 priority jaguar conservation landscapes by the year 2030.

The Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission (GWCMC), as the agency responsible for the protection, conservation, management and sustainable use of Guyana’s wildlife is actively involved in conservation efforts to protect the jaguar.

Since the beginning of 2018, we have participated in

outreaches in approximately 22 communities across the country in a bid to better understand human- jaguar interactions and develop solutions that will reduce conflict between humans and jaguars so we can co-exist mutually.

We urge all residents to be cognizant of the importance of the jaguar and understand that we all have a role to play in the protection of this species.

Ganges Street, Sophia.(592) 223-0331; 223-0939; 223-0940.wildlife.gov.gy wildlifemanagementauthority@ gmail.com Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission

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Valuing Mangroves: Local Community Benefits of Guyana’s Mangroves BESIDES breaking waves, mangroves forest provides a natural habitat for marine life.

For generations, persons residing close to foreshores have earned their livelihoods from this richly diverse marine life.

Local community beneficiaries include those in fishing, agriculture, timber and charcoal, leather, honey production, as well as tourism. Unfortunately, the loss of mangroves forest has a negative impact on their abilities to earn.

SHRIMPING Had the estimated loss in mangrove area not occurred, the Guyanese fishery industry would have gained US$544,320 annually with the sale of seabob landings on the international market.

That puts a dollar value of US$1,389 per hectare of mangroves forest with respect to fisheries.

This is one of the findings from a recent study conducted by Duke University under the “North Brazil Shelf Mangroves Project” funded by the Global Environment Facility and implemented by Conservation International. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute was the local implementing partner.

Data assembled from multiple scientific publications on mangrove-fishery linkages illustrates variations in shellfish catch due to changes in mangrove cover. The research concluded that a 1.68 percent loss in shellfish catch per year is expected in Guyana due to mangrove loss.

The study received inputs from local fisher folks from La Grange, Zeeburg, Ogle, Hope Beach, Goed Fortuin, and the Georgetown Fish Market. Most of the fishermen catch the same finfish species,

including catfish, trout, banga mary, mackerel, kingfish, gilbaka, curras, hardhead, snook, basha, paku, as well as seabob, shrimp, and sherriga crabs.

Most of the catch is sold to wholesalers or middlemen, or to women. Several support workers aid in the fishing industry, including net menders, and boat repair workers.

Catch of seabob shrimp did not appear to be affected based on the discussions with fishermen at Zeeburg and Ogle. According to some fishermen, these changes were only moderately tied to changes in mangrove ecosystems.

Others described this connection as direct and strong, and understood the critical importance of mangroves to fisheries and their coastal communities.

FISHING Catch volumes and species are very important to all employed or involved in the fisheries sector because the catch is directly tied to pay.

As most trips are self-funded, the livelihoods of fishermen, as well as other workers, are heavily dependent on fish and shrimp catch.

Fishing was commonly described as a lucrative industry that can “make a person rich”. Even with such promising outcomes, hard work does not attract young men. Those fishermen who have been in the industry for a long time derive all of their income from fishing. In some areas such as La Grange some of the fishermen were not full-time fishers.

They find employment in the construction sector as well.

The mud crab season (July-August) is described as a time to build and maintain inter-genera-

tional connections within one’s family.

Crabbing was mentioned as a common ac-

tivity both among fishermen, as well as the indigenous communities in Region One, Fishermen

tend to keep some of the catch for their own and

families’ consumption, amounting to about 5-10

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Commonwealth youth work week and the enrichment of youth programmes BETWEEN November 4-10, “Commonwealth Youth Work Week” was commemorated in the 53 nations of the Commonwealth under the theme “Youth Work in

Action”.

The Week was launched by the Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland, who has West Indian roots. In her brief but com-

prehensive address titled “Young People need our Support- We must seize this tremendous opportunity” she outlined the national and personal developments which youth

work could bring and at the same time mentioned some of the training opportunities which the

Commonwealth offers.

These offerings include the new Commonwealth Degree and Diploma in Youth Work and the Commonwealth Alliance of Youth Workers Associations (CAYWA) which is an international organisation of professional youth work associations facilitating the cross-pollination of ideas and collegial support among the Associations.

Over the last several years, Guyana has had many valuable youth programmes organised by both Government and NGOs. Such programmes had offerings on Education in various fields, Sport, Technical training in various skills and development of entrepreneurial capabilities and ventures. The latest youth effort is the organisation of an NGO named ‘Youth and Oil Association’ which is directed at helping young professionals and entrepreneurs to take advantage of the budding Oil and Gas sector. The media has been giving fairly generous and continuous coverage to these Youth Programmes and it is probably this that has led to the comparatively low-keyed coverage of “Commonwealth Youth Work Week”.

It would be in Guyana’s interest to strengthen its Commonwealth connections since it could result in the development of “special relationships” with several important Commonwealth countries.

Such countries could lend international support to Guyana. In this regard, both the media and the Commonwealth desk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs could be more active.

In the majority of developing countries, youth

now forms 60 percent to 70 percent of the population and this has made it incumbent that youth development should be a priority both from a national and individual standpoint.

Nationally, it would ensure that there would be an efficient and sufficient workforce to successfully man the economy of the next generation and individually, youth programmes are designed to produce well-rounded persons and to help young people to channel their energies and talent in positive directions and be guided towards healthy and productive lives.

In Guyana, we have tended to develop Youth Programmes without a full understanding of linkages with the entire span of life.

Three or four generations ago, when there were no youth programmes, socialisation and the training of youth was done by the family and community.

The youth were taught the basics of earning a living and given a religiousethical grounding. and an indication that his present life was linked to the entire span of life. In all the ancient cultures, the phases of life were precisely articulated. Among the most known in Guyana is the Indian system - the fourfold division of life, which we will give as an example.

In the Indian System, the span of life is divided into four segments- the first quarter of life was known as Bhramchari or the time of studentship.

During this first segment of life, the young person is educated in the skills which he would require in the rest of life.

For instance, he would learn a trade or profession, reading, writing and numbers, given a

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Valuing Mangroves: Local Community ... ◄◄◄ From page XXVII

percent of total catch, according to one of the fishermen.

ECOTOURISM Regarding the future potential of the sector, fishing driven ecotourism was described by fishermen as a potentially successful endeavour, with large tarpon and other sport fish farther away from the coast, in the “blue water.”

One of the stakeholders, the operator of the Mangrove Tour out of Cove and John, described the culinary and cultural components of the tour, but fishing is currently not included among the activities that visitors can participate in.

Aquaculture is only present in Regions Six, and could potentially yield high volumes of fish and shrimp, such as cockabelly, or black shrimp, but the impact on mangroves must be mitigated.

CHALLENGES Some long-time fishermen in Anna Regina and Hope Beach see mangroves as a challenge to overcome.

Specifically, they have noticed an increase in sedimentation rates with the expansion of some mangrove areas, making it more challenging to catch fish and shrimp close to shore as they were able to do in the past.

Also, they need to take their boats out farther; some fishermen estimated they had to go out almost one mile as compared to a quarter-mile or less, from years ago.

Commonwealth youth ... ◄◄◄ From page XXVIII

grounding in ethics and religion - in effect preparing the young student for the next quarter of life - the stage of being a householder.

In the Householder’s stage, known as gharhastya, the young person would be married, bring up a family earn his livelihood, create his home and other material things and learn something of the Arts.

The third segment of life is known as Vanaprasta, when the matured man gives public service however best he can, be as charitable of his time and substance as he can afford, and still offers guidance to his grown-up children and grandchildren. In this stage, the person learns to free his hold of material things or vice versa, the hold of material things on him. He also begins to turn his mind to philosophy and God. In the fourth or final quarter of life known as Sanyasa, the ageing man settles his worldly affairs, prepares for death, and devotes himself to God. These four stages are not mutually exclusive but dovetail into each other.

These various youth programmes would be enriched and made more relevant if participants were to realise that their programmes had linkages to the entire stream of life as outlined above in the Four Segments of Life.

Though over the years there had been many modern and valuable youth programmes offered or supported by Government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), there had never been any formal and methodical evaluation of them.

This omission needs to be corrected since evaluations would help to better future programmes and increase their impact and success.

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English

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STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student,

WHEN note-making, there are certain characteristics you need to maintain as you translate what you hear, see, or read to what you comprehend.

Your notes must be easily read, brief, clear, organised the way you personally can learn from, and relevant to your requirements. These characteristics if maintained, lead you to have good quality

notes by which to refresh your memory.

Make accessible notes to your advantage.

Think about your bright future always.

Love you.

THE PASSAGE I began working on journalism when I was eight years old. It was my mother’s idea. She wanted me to “make something” of myself and, after a level-headed appraisal of my strengths, decided I’d better

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

start young if I was to have any chance of keeping up with the competition.

Every public action which is not customary, either The flaw in my character is wrong or right or, if it is right, is a dangerous precwhich she had already spotted was lack of “gumption.” My edent. It follows that nothing should ever be done idea of a perfect afternoon was for the first time. lying in front of the radio reading F.M. CORNFORD (1874-1943) my favourite Big Little Book, Microcosmographia Academica, vii Dick Tracy Meets Stooge Viller.

My mother despised inactivity.

Seeing me having a good time raphies often present their subjects as an in repose, she was powerless to hide her example from which readers can learn a disgust. “You’ve no more gumption than lesson. a bump on a log,” she said. “Help Doris Some autobiographies and biogrado those dirty dishes.” phies are short essays that focus upon an My sister Doris, though two years episode in the subject’s life. younger than I, had enough gumption for a The excerpt above should help you dozen people. She positively enjoyed wash- notice how the personality of the writer, ing dishes, making beds, and cleaning the Russell Baker is presented. house. When she was only seven she could WHAT to DO (Cont’d) carry a piece of short-weight cheese back to 4. What do you think Russell Baker the A & P, threaten the manager with legal wants you to think is important about his action, and come back triumphantly with work? Why? the full quarter-pound we’d paid for and a 5. a) Think about Baker’s mother, few ounces extra thrown in for forgiveness. sister, and home and become inspired. b) Doris could have made something of herself What persons, place(s) would you write if she hadn’t been a girl. Because of this about in your life? c) Write some sentencdefect, however, the best she could hope for es naming events you could include in a was a career as a nurse or a schoolteacher, portrait of yourself. the only work that capable females were 6. What are some of the details that considered up to in those days. enable you to “see” the places or events This must have saddened my mother, Baker tells about? Think about enabling this twist of fate that had allocated all the details you could include in your writing. gumption to the daughter and left her with 7. Write to a good friend urging him to a son who was contented with Dick Tracy try an autobiography on one episode in his and Stooge Viller. If disappointed, though, personal life (just like what Russell did), she wasted no energy on self-pity. She for you, along with your study partners to would make me make something of myself comment upon. whether I wanted to or not. “the Lord helps those who help themselves,” she said. That IMPRIVING YOUR WRITING was the way her mind worked.

Reviewing the sentence variety you use (Taken from NO GUMPTION by Rus- in your daily writing. sell Baker) NOTE: a) Sentences can be classified according to meaning, such as, declarative, ABOUT the PASSAGE interrogative, imperative, and exclamaThe excerpt was taken from the writing of tory. (You will be reminded later of this a newspaper columnist, author, and humorist classification.) who grew up during the Great Depression, a b) Syntax is that phase of grammar period in the 1930s of poor business condi- which deals with the relationship of words tions and major unemployment. Baker was within a sentence. fatherless, as his father had died when he c) Structure is that phase used to was five years old. See what Baker revels of classify sentences as simple, compound, himself with the details so far in the excerpt. complex, or compound complex. Only the Get to your libraries and web sites to find out simple sentence will be used today. about the Great Depression worldwide.

(You will be reminded later of others in this classification) WHAT TO DO A simple sentence: This sentence type 1. What do the following sentences and has only one main clause and no suborphrases indicate about Russell Baker? dinate clauses. It contains only one verb a. “She wanted me to ‘make some- (predicate) and one subject, either or both thing’ of myself…” b. “The flaw in my of which may be compound. It expresses character which she had already spotted one main idea. E.g. was ‘lack of gumption.’” c. “‘You’ve got a. Paint brightens. (simple sentence) no more gumption than a bump on a log,’ b. Comedians and clowns entertain. she said.” (simple sentence with compound subject) 2. Find a picture to depict a portion c. Comedians entertain and amuse. of the excerpt. Explain to your group of (simple sentence with compound predistudy partners what it is representative of cate) and what role Russell’s mother played in d. Comedians and clowns entertain and it. Is the writing a biography or an auto- amuse. (simple sentence with compound biography? subject and compound predicate) Biography and Autobiography Also, the simple predicate is the verb In an autobiography is the story of a alone. The complete predicate is the verb person’s own memories from childhood to plus all its modifiers and complements. the present day as written by the person. The simple subject is the noun or pronoun He explains his actions, provides insights (or substantive) about which something is into his choices, and shows the personal said. The complete subject is the simple side of events as he writes. Important ani- subject plus all its modifiers. E.g. mals and places experienced might appear e. i) Stories about our old folk entertain in an autobiography. adults and children alike. (simple sentence In contrast, in a biography, a writer expanded) tells the story of another person. Writers ii) The vagrant crossed the busy inof biographies often write to analyse a tersection at Camp and Regent Street. person’s experiences and actions. Biog- (simple sentence expanded)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Chronicle Pepperpot November 24, 2019

Barbeque Cheddar Sliders Ingredients

2 lbs 80% Lean Chopped beef 2 tsp onion powder 2 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper 1 tsp ginger powder 2 tsp salt 1/4 cup of your favorite bbq sauce 1 tbsp finely chopped parsley 1 green onion finely chopped 16 mini sandwich buns Toppings Barbeque Sauce Salsa con Queso Plum Tomatoes sliced METHOD COMBINE the first 10 ingredients and mix well.

Form into 16 patties, about the size of your palm.

Place on a hot grill 2 mins per side.

These are tiny, so they cook very quickly.

Brush with 1 tbs of bbq sauce just before taking the patties off the grill.

To assemble place one patty on the bottom of the mini sandwich bread, place 1 slice of tomato on top of the meat patty.

Spread 1 tbsp of salsa con queso on the top of the bun and place the sandwich and voila!

Your very own homemade sliders! jehancancook.com

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