Guyana Chronicle E-Paper PepperPot 12-22-2019

Sunday, December 22, 2019

Bringing

Christmas cheer to the community

Members of the Perseverance Group from Haslington, ECD decorate a Christmas tree in their community as part of many planned activities to bring Christmas cheer this season (Carl Croker photo)

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

Don’t Mess with

Christmas and Independence

By Francis Quamina Farrier

F

OLKS stop me all the time to share some of the things which bother them as citizens of The Cooperative Republic of Guyana, asking me to write about whatever the issue is.

John’s issue was about two special days on the Guyanese calendar - Christmas and Independence. Since we are now in the festive season I was not surprised that he wanted to bare his soul about some of what bothered him regarding this particular year-end holiday.

“Too commercialised!” he blurted out, regarding the pre-Christmas commercial activities as one of those music carts went by blasting “All I want for Christmas is You”

by Maria Carey. Incidentally, after 25 years, that very popular Christmas song has finally reached Number One on the charts this year. Deep inside, I thought to myself that the commercial activities at the end of the year which include the Christmas holidays are all part of the culture of many countries around the world, including our own beautiful Guyana. Of course, that was so since we were British subjects in colonial British Guiana; the

only English-speaking country in South America. Back then we made our own ginger beer, sorrel drink, black cake, garlic pork and pepperpot and

Guiana, over 60 years ago, I wrote a radio play entitled, “Home is for Christmas” which was broadcast on Radio Demerara. Another radio play of

tion of Christmas. That play way back then focused exactly on what John was concerned about. I have been hearing the complaint about the commer-

The independence flag raising ceremony in Georgetown, eclipsed by a show at the National Stadium (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)

varnished our furniture and displayed cotton wool to represent snow in our tropical homes.

My own contributions to the Christmas spirit in British

his government and the Guyanese people at large, scrapped the unwelcomed suggestion from whence it originated, and sang the beautiful Guyanese Christmas song “Happy Holidays” by Billy Moore and the Four Lords. Another beautiful Guyanese Christmas song which pepped-up the Guyanese Christmas Season was the popular “Christmas morning is here again” by Capt. Elmo McKenzie. So it can be decided that the idea to de-emphasise Christmas here in Guyana has gone forever. Never again will anyone dare to suggest that the “Silent Night, Holy Night” lullaby be put to rest for “My Baby King”; which is a newer

ny. “That should be the only crowd-attracting public event happening on the night of May 25 every year,” he said. “How could we, a little country with far less than a million population have a big bacchanal at the very same time we celebrating we Independence? Yes, have you carnival, and you big show, but not at the same time with the Flag Raising Ceremony. And then to have a foreign man just out of prison in New York, come to Guyana and to compete with we President Granger! Disrespectful. It was wrong. Wrong!” In a way, John was saying “Don’t Mess with our Independence” and in a way, exercising his freedom

mine with a Christmas theme was “A Family Christmas” which, as the title suggests, was about a family caught up with the commercialisa-

Santa Claus is coming to town, riding on a big truck on Main Street, Georgetown (Photo by F.Q. Farrier)

cialisation of Christmas ever since I was 18 and I am now 81 and still hearing it. While many things change, some do not. Many people both here in Guyana and abroad would like to see less of the commercial aspects of Christmas and more of the reason for the season the birth of Jesus.

About 45 years ago, there was a call to de-emphasise Christmas here in Guyana.

Shocked, are you? It was during the early years of the Burnham administration. President Forbes Burnham himself is not on record as the person who actually made the call to de-emphasise Christmas and up-grade Independence.

The suggestion simply floated around the country with the speed of a Route 41 minibus racing along Norton Street in Georgetown. It was a “Hot Topic”. Many citizens were expressing their views, and those views were not favourable to any down-playing of Christmas in Guyana. The source of the idea was somewhat mysterious like the whistleblower in the President Donald Trump Impeachment saga. No one knew exactly who the person or persons were. But some citizens were pointing in the direction of President Burnham. Anyway, it was mere speculation.

However, the voice of the People was loud and clear, which in so many words was: “Don’t mess with our Christmas.” So President Forbes Burnham,

Guyanese Christmas Song.

Having listened attentively to John’s grouse regarding the attempt to de-emphasise Christmas in Guyana so many years ago, I was about to move on, but he informed me that he had another matter that is bothering him - Guyana’s Independence celebrations. “I damn mad about this Carnival thing and big show thing at the National Stadium on Independence Night,” he blurted out as another of those Music Carts with the big ‘Jumbrella’ went by playing “Christmas in the Ghetto” so loudly, that I wanted to thank the young fella who was pushing it, for giving me a free chest massage. I wasn’t sure how to react to John about his concern regarding the Carnival in Guyana issue. Some citizens are of the view that if there are those who can bring visitors to Guyana with a Carnival, then all power to them. Others are of the view that Guyana’s Mashramani celebrations should be improved. However, I wanted to hear more from John. “Is a serious matter, Mr Quamina,” John stated angrily.

“Look, is years and decades and centuries we fight for we freedom - we independence, and to see how it is disrespected by some Guyanese make me very angry.” To put his points altogether in capsule, John believes that nothing should eclipse the Independence Flag Raising Ceremo-

of expression in his country of birth, the Cooperative Republic of Guyana.

John also raised the issue of the missing Ruimveldt Independence arch which was removed to facilitate the widening of the public road just south of the Ruimveldt Police Station. The Guyanese people were told by the previous government that the arch would have been returned after the road works were completed, but that was a promise which was never kept. For Guyana’s Jubilee Year Celebrations in 2016, BANKS DIH Ltd funded the construction and erection of a new Independence Arch which is at the southern entrance to the city of Georgetown at Agricola. As someone who grew up in that area, I wrote a poem about that BANKS DIH funded Independence Arch and recited it when I did a Poetry and Storytelling Session at the St. Ann’s Primary school, which is my Alma Mater.

John thanked me for listening to him. “Hope I going read ‘bout it in Pepperpot.”

As he walked off he was saying something, but another music cart was coming along, this time playing “Silent Night, Holy Night” extremely loudly, in one of the noisiest cities on the planet.

As such, I needed to shout very loudly to him and you, “HAPPY CHRISTMAS!”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

III

Christmas behind bars

Celebrating the holidays on ‘the other side’

Mazaruni Prison (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge

VERY year around this time, the Pepperpot Magazine highlights how Christmas is spent behind bars and this year, the team visited the Mazaruni Prison, Mazaruni River where several inmates shared their experiences.

“This place is nothing like home,” said inmate Kelvin Josaga Singh. “You can never get used to life here but you must condition your mind to serve your time and get out. At Christmas we does get a special meal, all the foods we usually get at home, so you are not missing much and once you behave and work it is all good.”

Singh, who also sang a song for the visiting team, has been incarcerated since 2016 and for him, it’s been hard adjusting to prison but he is determined to make it out.

The 30-year-old said he will participate in the friendly game of dominoes with other inmates and they will try to make each other happy because it is always sad, especially at this season without family.

Singh, who is a barber by profession, added that he keeps busy by cutting hair and is also a tattoo artist. He said that he will also sing a song or two for the holiday, one of which is called “Better Days”- a mix of rap and gospel.

He is from Berbice and is hoping his family will visit him for the holidays so they can reconnect and whatever goodies they bring he is willing to share with others.

Singh told the Pepperpot Magazine he is looking forward to eating cake and having some ginger beer

Trying to be comfortable Michael Abrahams said the officers try to put things in place for them to be comfortable and have a good Christmas by preparing good food and beverages and they have some activities he will partake in.

They have a concert and he will assist in getting the group to practice their songs and will provide guidance in terms of helping them to control and lift their voices.

Abrahams told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is from the city and he is allowed phone calls and that’s how he would connect with family and is of the hope they will come for the

E

holidays to see him.

“In jail one of the things you miss most is being around family and at Christmas, it is often difficult to cope but being here you have to try,” he said.

Abrahams related that they don’t have a choir but they have a hall where activities are held and they use that area as the chapel, as well.

The prisoner added that he is doing carpentry, plumbing, art and craft and sheet metal classes in the Trade Shop at the prison.

Abrahams said Christmas is a lovely time of year and it is one of his favourites and in jail he will make the best of it by caring and sharing with his fellow inmates, adding that it is different from the rest of the year, because of the activities

proved a lot because we getting black cake, pepperpot, bread and drinks too like regular folks and we make merry like it supposed to be to lift the ‘spirits’ of each other in here as much as possible,” he said.

Parker explained that he used to be a bus driver and when he was a free man he never had the time to celebrate Christmas because he used to be on the road ‘hustling’.

He is, however, looking forward to ushering in the new year with his family since he is expected to get out around then.

Parker works with the Medical Officer in the prison and has been behind bars for the past 16 months and promises to spread joy by helping others.

will recite a poem for his peers.

The last inmate that the Pepperpot Magazine spoke to was Mahesh Hassan, a conscious young man from the Essequibo Coast, who explained that he doesn’t have much family.

He pointed out that it is his second Christmas in jail and he is the front gate attendant and he does what he has to survive in prison.

The 28-year-old seemed pleased to report that he will be finishing his time in April next year and with his good behaviour he is hoping to get some remission to leave prison even earlier.

For the holidays, Hassan said he will eat whatever is prepared and presented at lunch and breakfast in which the officers are present.

Security Checkpoint manned by the police

prisoners, some of whom are serving long sentences.

David added that Sibley Hall Prison is designed for first offenders and they found out that it is easier to control prisoners housed in this section and they separate them because they don’t have to mix with convicted inmates.

“We have a lot of youths here and we incorporate them in the relevant classes since most of them are school drop-outs and I can attest to the vibrant training programmes we have here at Mazaruni Prison,” he said.

He stated that they have skills training for inmates in the Trade Shop and classes for anger management, among others.

David reported that the Level Two Security Block is an area

Visiting Booth

Garfield Parker

Michael Abrahams

and foods they are served.

Lifting each other’s spirits

Garfield Parker, a man with a solemn face, is one who does not smile much, though it seemed that he came quite close to doing so during this interview.

He stated that he worked in the kitchen last year Christmas and helped to prepare the meals for that day which was good and no doubt this year will be the same.

“Things here have im-

Keeping busy

Mark Opie was the next prisoner the Pepperpot Magazine spoke with and he is an ever-smiling fellow, who seems cool and calm.

He is originally from Lethem and it is his first Christmas in jail. There, he has two close friends but he is hoping to get out next year.

Opie has been in prison for the past seven months and works as a hard labourer. At the upcoming Christmas concert, he

Kelvin Singh

“Me nah mek styles pon food, me ah eat everything except pork and in here it is alright once you behave and work,” he said.

Inside the Mazaruni Prison

The Pepperpot Magazine had a sit-down with, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, Gornell David, who related that the Mazaruni Prison is divided into two sections, Sibley Hall which for first offenders and the Level Two Cell Block, a maximum security facility for convicted

Superintendent of Prisons, Carlton Cameron

for hardened criminals and it is a maximum security cell block.

He noted that they have a staff complement of 20 and he has been at the location since 2000 and he would normally spend Christmas there but this year he will spend Christmas at home and the new year at Mazaruni Prison.

David stated that annually they prepare special meals for inmates and officers would have breakfast and lunch with them.

In addition, they grant in-

mates calls to their relatives and family members and try to bridge the gap between inmates and relatives. Twice a year, there is also a Bonding Visit, one of which occurs on December 21 when relatives can visit the prison to sit and chat with inmates with a meal or goodies.

David said inmates usually work in the kitchen under supervision by Carnegie-trained officers that would prepare pepperpot for the inmates. For inmates who are vegetarians, they get pepperpot with chunks.

Giving back

Meanwhile, Superintendent of Prisons, Carlton Cameron told the Pepperpot Magazine that this year they will not have their annual Christmas Tree Light-Up. Instead, they are gifting toys to the children of the indigenous villages of Karau and Skull Point.

He stated that from this gesture they will do a billboard and erect it at Mazaruni Prison and this initiative will be done by all officers of the facility.

Despite some challenges, Cameron said that they have housing facilities for prison officers since some are from outlying areas and are therefore away from home and their families for lengthy periods.

He disclosed that over time they have seen an increase of the prison population since most inmates are serving long sentences, some of whom were convicted for serious crimes.

Presently, there is the construction of new prison blocks at Mazaruni Prison with Phase Two already started and the project is expected to be completed in the New Year.

The $4 billion expansion will hold 400 prisoners to help with the overcrowding at the other prisons across the country.

Phase One is about 40 per cent completed. When finished there will be a U-shaped, two-storied building that will house cells, offices and a courtyard for the prisoners.

Phase Two of the project is a square-shaped building that will house offices, training centres and accommodation for the prisoners and a road will also be constructed to link the two prisons.

Also, before the expansion of the prison, 12 living quarters earmarked for prison staffers at the Mazaruni Prisons have been completed.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

IV Dawn Cambridge at her job, performing her duties as a security guard (Delano Williams photos)

r e h t o y r e v e e k i l y A da

Working the Christmas shift

By Michel Outridge

M

ORE often than not, the role of security guards is not recognised as it should be and they are often overlooked and taken for granted. But they do play a vital role in the companies and businesses they are attached to as they provide a service of safety.

We e n counter them every day, be it at work or visiting a place of business. They are there to ensure things are in order and nothing is out of the ordinary and it would take nothing out of us to be kind and courteous to them, as we do to others.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke to several female security guards, who are attached to a private security firm to find out how they would be spending their Christmas because most of them have to work during the festive season.

“Being a security guard is very new to me but I can’t eat my pride because I have a family to provide for and I have to work to fulfil my obligations,” Dawn Cambridge said.

The 56-year-old woman related that she is from Kaneville, Grove, East Bank Demerara and she would undertake the jour-

ney to the city daily for work.

Cambridge added that she has been with the security service for 11 months and would report for the 15:00hrs to 23:00hrs shift.

The mother of seven noted that she will be working on Christmas Day even though she would have pre-

ferred to be at home with her family.

“It is my first Christmas working as a security guard so I don’t know how it will be but I will prepare my meals like I do every year and spend some time with the children before I go to work,” she said.

Cambridge stated that whatever she prepares she will bring to work and share with colleagues and before she gets to work and she will also share with family and friends.

She reported that she will bake a cake and prepare the usual ‘fancy’ dishes like she does every Christmas and since it is

the time of year where we spread joy and good cheer by sharing she will ensure the people around here are given something.

Cambridge also has another job where she works with the Herstelling

Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) clearing drains and gutters.

The woman related that her eldest child is 36 years old while her youngest is 15 years old and she has two minors to take care of.

FAR FROM HOME The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to Shenika Bernard, a young woman who left her hometown of Bartica in search of work and a better life, leaving her toddler in the care of her mother.

The 25-year-old said

she will also be working on Christmas Day but she will prepare her son’s favourite meal and spend some time with him before she comes to work.

“My three-year-old likes to eat fancy foods so I will make him some to ensure he gets what I used to as a child.

I haven’t seen him in three months so I save up some money to buy him a tablet so I can talk to him via the intern e t and

we c a n

s e e each other as well,” she said.

Bernard disclosed that she started to work as a security guard in September this year and the adjustment was good because things are cheaper than in Bartica and the

only thing that absorbs her money is travelling expense.

NO FUSS Muriel McKay also spoke to the Pepperpot Magazine telling us her plans for Christmas Day since she will be on duty.

She explained that she was with the security service for five years straight then she broke her service when she left but returned to the same job in September this year.

The Cove and John, East Coast Demerara resident stated that since her children are all grown-up she doesn’t make a fuss over Christmas like she used to years ago but ensures the house has all the goodies.

“On Christmas D a y I

don’t do any cooking because my husband does that and he would prepare all the meals such as fried rice with fried chicken, salad, fruit juice and of course the tra-

ditional black cake and Pepperpot with homemade bread,” she said.

The mother of six added that years ago when her children were younger she used to ‘go all out’ to ensure they get the best in terms of foods and toys and fix up the house nice,” McKay said.

To date, her household consists of three occupants, herself, husband and a child and on Christmas Day she is not sure which location she will be placed but she is required to work.

McKay disclosed that the only day she will be at home is on Boxing Day and she will be attending a wedding, in the company of her son.

This security guard added that on Christmas Day she will pass the day eating whatever her husband makes and s h e

will also play t h e word games f r o m t h e newspapers like she usually does. “ O n Christmas Day I will be assigned to the 15:00hrs to 23:00hrs shift and I will try not to think of being at home too much,” she said.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

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Looking forward to

a better Christmas She said that she would usually clean her home for Christmas and would decorate it with used curtains and used mats given to her from kind-hearted persons. She said her grandchildren would listen out every Christmas morning for vehicles to blow in front of their home to see if anyone is coming to provide them with gifts.

“The holidays are special but for us. If we get chicken to eat it’s special, we are contented. I do try. I make broom to sell for a living,” she further explained.

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Anuradha Ramdeo who was supposed to be in school said she didn’t attend because her mother cannot find her birth papers and the school was not accepting her. She was dyeing her grandmother’s hair when the Pepperpot Magazine visited. She said that Christmas for her is “normal” and she just wakes up and does

Ramdeo and her granddaughter Anuradha

By Indrawattie Natram

F

OR many families, they wake up Christmas morning to a pot of traditional pepperpot and loaves of bread, however, for the Ramdeo family, it’s quite different. In this household, Christmas morning is just like every other morning and for them, Christmas has no special meaning. During an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, 59-yearold Bowandai Ramdeo, a resident of Anna Regina, said that Christmas is only special whenever the community brings over gifts.

Ramdeo lives with her eight children and 19 grandchildren in a small shack next to the Anna Regina Cereal Factory. Ramdeo has been squatting over 20 years on the plot of land however she has been given a house lot recently and has intentions of moving to the Onderneeming area. Speaking about Christmas, the matriarch said that every year she wishes for a better Christmas for her children and grandchildren.

She said that during the year she collects used toys from her neighbourhood and puts them in a carton box specially to give her grandchildren on Christmas day.

“I really can’t afford a new toy. My husband is don’t get regular work. My children are not getting regular work. We survive with lil bit money. Holiday after holiday is the same for us but we do want a better future,” Ramdeo related.

Ramdeo’s grandchildren moving around Anna Regina in their cart as a vehicle

Ramdeo’s grandchildren

Ramdeo and her grandchildren posing

Ramdeo taking out some of the used toys

The house in which they live

her chores. Anuradha has a desire of wearing a Princess dress and to also attend Christmas parties but was never fortunate to do so.

“When we hear about parties I do want to go but we cannot afford it. I do want to go to eat apples and grapes and cake. We don’t get cakes often unless someone brings over,” Anuradha said.

A special meal for the family is chicken and rice and some Pepperpot. That was the most they ever had. Some of the other children related during the interview that they usually play with their used toys on Christmas morning. They also find joy in moving around with a cart that was constructed by their uncle Rajesh Ramdeo for them. On Christmas Eve, they would move around the town of Anna Regina on it. Some of the children were fortunate enough this year to attend Christmas parties fully sponsored by their teachers. The family is yearning for a better Christmas next year. Anyone who wants to help this family can contact Bowandai on 657-4063.

One of Ramdeo’s grandsons with his bottle that he uses to fetch water from the drain nearby

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

Christmas and Mental Health

o all those celebrating Christmas- I wish you the very best that the days have to offer. To those who aren’t, I hope you are still using the day to relax and spend time with your loved ones anyway as these days have shown to have important mental health benefits.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day have always been my favourite days of the year. Most importantly, how I feel about it and what I enjoy

the most have evolved and grown as I have. When I was a child, nothing made me happier than to see the gifts pile up under the tree, like most I’m sure. Now, I get a quarter of the presents I once did but the same excitement comes from the simplest of things. I feel genuinely happy when I hear my sister sing her favourite carols, I feel instant joy when I see Christmas decorations and I get almost too excited when I smell Pepper pot and Christ-

mas cookies.

I would like to acknowledge those that may be suffering from mental health issues and therefore, are not in the ‘Christmas Spirit’. As much as I love the holidays, I am aware of the added stress, pressure and overindulgence which may negatively influence so many.

If you feel this way, I want you to know that you’re not alone and I hope this piece can provide some sort of relief and maybe even joy.

When we think of Christmas, many things such as holiday leave, indulgence, family time and presents enter our mind. While these have their faults, like anything else- they also have wonderful benefits.

For the lucky ones, family traditions come out at Christmas. Whether it is opening presents while eating breakfast together, watching ‘Home Alone’ or carolling together, family traditions unite all generations and create memories that strengthen the family unit.

good time, I tend to think of what I have to do or what I should be doing. I notice that I do not feel that way during the holidays- I enjoy my time off, I enjoy every conversation and I enjoy the present moment- and you can too!

As importantly, Christmas encourages generosity, gratitude, kindness and forgiveness. You do not have to conduct scientific studies to come to the conclusion that giving and receiving gifts come with an emotional high. Forget receiving for a second, the selfless act of

1. Get proper sleep and rest!

2. Keep eating and exercising well. If you haven’t been at all, do it. Both release good endorphins as well as keep you happy and energetic. Also, considering the amount of food and alcohol one might consume, it couldn’t hurt.

3. Decide which events and activities are the most significant and only do those.

Try not to overexert yourself.

4. Have realistic expectations of what these events are going to be. Some people

This happens as most people are in a better mood during this holiday season.

I am certain that I smile and laugh more at Christmas than at any other time of the year. This is great as my research shows that a good belly laugh lowers blood pressure and stress while increases mood and general immune system functioning.

The season encourages socialisation. We actually see most of our friends and family face to face rather than on a screen. This type of communication drastically improves our mental health and physical well- being.

The season is also a baby booming one – my research shows that contraception sales double in December.

Slightly inappropriate I know but completely true.

I also love Christmas as it keeps me in the now. Very often, when I’m out having a

giving strongly correlates with happiness and has uncontrollable benefits. We all know that feeling of giving someone special a gift that we know they will love. I believe that money cannot buy happiness unless you spend it on other people.

Kindness and giving are contagious. When we give, we aren’t only giving to the immediate recipient but we are creating a ripple effect of kindness and generosity that may reach even hundreds of other people which we have not yet met. I also love Christmas because I know charity increases during this period. Be a part of that chain!

If you are still worried about how you’re going to get through the remainder of the season, here are some simple tips for keeping your Mental Health good and stable.

aren’t nicer with the season.

5. Take some personal time and relax.

6. Practice gratitude.

7. Speak to a professional if needed.

I believe that we all want to feel happy, loved and at peace and what better time to push for that than now, when the feelings of joy and appreciation are everywhere we look – the decorations, the joyful words and songs streaming through our radios and television? Do your best to remain positive and hopeful.

Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail. com Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 6007896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

VII

#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

‘Fleabag,’ the Perfect TV Show for Millennials

‘FLEABAG’ is one of those shows that I had been hearing about for a long time without really taking enough of an interest to actually pursue it. I mean, it was British, it had an awful title – I had to google what a ‘fleabag’ is and even then it didn’t really make complete sense – and it was also less flashy and, therefore, was regarded as less interesting than all of the cool, flashy shows that I was watching. However, I changed my mind about ‘Fleabag’ when I found out that its creator and lead actress, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is actually the creator of a show I really enjoyed, ‘Killing Eve.’ This persuaded me to give ‘Fleabag’ a chance and now that I have finished both seasons, I can honestly say that it is one of the best shows I have ever seen. It is a funny, intelligent, modern example of great television, with a protagonist that will seem all too familiar to the millennials who watch the show.

Fleabag is a young woman, living in London, running a small café, and constantly trying to find true love. She is a bit of a

narcissist, in the way that millennials are described as narcissists. Initially, she puts her own feelings and needs above others’. Her journey towards not needing attention is something that manifests itself even in the form of the show, which is one of the things that makes it truly unique. Fleabag constantly breaks the fourth wall, addressing the viewers with direct sentences, questions, commentary, winks, smirks, and eye-rolls. The technique here reinforces her selfishness and need for attention by pointing out that even the people (the other characters) around her are not enough and she must also break the fourth wall and seek out the audience for constant validation. The character’s growth is tracked when we observe how at the beginning of the show she preens and makes a show of herself to the audience, but in the final season, she starts to resist the camera and viewers, by flicking us away or by walking away, attempting to keep her private and personal moments to herself, without feeling the need to seek validation or attention. If Fleabag represents millennials, whose identity is rooted in the façade of social media,

‘Fleabag,’ (2016 – 2019), Amazon Prime

then the character’s decision to no longer perform for us, the audience, is indicative of her growth and shows that by the finale, her character arch has been completed.

Of course, none of those technical elements really matter, unless you really want them to. First and foremost, ‘Fleabag’ is a comedy and it can be enjoyed on the merits of its genre alone.

The dating life of the pro-

tagonist – though there’s actually more casual sex than dating, which is fine because millennials do find casual sex easier and more rewarding than the complexities of dating, anyway – are filled with humour, of the kind that is often very specific to today in its irreverence and disregard for societal expectations. One of Fleabag’s boyfriends, for example, breaks up with her because of her sexual attraction to Barack Obama. In another instance, Fleabag seduces a ‘hot priest’ and they make out in a church. Another example, which highlights both the irreverence and the relatability can be found in a scene where Fleabag confesses that she worries about whether she would still be a feminist if she had larger breasts, which is exactly the kind of conversation (one navigating the allure of contradictory ideologies, such as gender norms and feminist advocacy) that one would expect from the dialogue of millennials.

The cast is stacked with talent. Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the lead role is simply astounding, and it is truly difficult to decide whether she is better as a writer or as an actress, simply because she manages to handle both parts so well. Sian Clifford,

as Claire, Fleabag’s uptight, wealthier sister, is perfectly cast against Waller-Bridge, as their sisterly connection, complete with fights and moments of deep reconciliation, are profound and help Fleabag to establish what truly matters in her life.

Oscar-winner, Olivia Colman, as Fleabag and Claire’s godmother/stepmother is laugh-out-loud good as a vain and pretentious artist who constantly puts down and challenges Fleabag. If there was an award for ‘Best Thrower of Shade’ this year, Colman’s character would win it, hands down.

‘Fleabag’ might not be enjoyed by everyone, but, undoubtedly, it is the perfect show for millennials. Its depiction of the difficulties of forming and maintaining relationships, its casual treatment of sex and religion, its presentation of a narcissistic and initially unlikable woman as the lead, and its inclusion of sub-themes like gender roles and mental illness, and the way it highlights the tragicomedy of life, might be off-putting to some. However, for millennials, it should be the perfect show, because its themes are the same ones that constitute a great part of our identity.

VIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

The dynamism of T

Christmas

HERE aren’t very many occasions I can think of that engender the sheer blissful feeling that is omnipresent at Christmas time. Trite as it might sound, I believe that Christmas is a joyous occasion, regardless of religious persuasion.

But the question remains, what causes this observance to be such a blissful occasion?

Could it be that the underpinning religious significance has attached some sort of intrinsic and pervasive meaning to it? Or is it because the season comes at the end of the year as a catharsis (of some sort) that allows for reflection on the year gone by, and can usher in a renewal for the New Year?

Perhaps, the answer cannot be easily discerned because there is a myriad of factors that can influence individual choices and feelings. From my experiences in Guyana, I think there are certain things about the season that stand out.

The more profound features of Christmas, in my opinion, are the emphasis on togetherness and goodwill. Cognizant of this, I would say that one of the more poignant features of the festive season would be spending it alone. Before now, I never had a reason to ponder upon what prompted members of the Guyanese diaspora to return home, in their numbers, for the Christmas season. But now, I do.

It simply cannot be the allure of the Pepperpot or Black cake. And, while there is a thrill in the last-minute shopping on Regent Street, I don’t believe that this alone is enough to encourage any person to book a plane ticket, hop on a plane and come back home. For me, I think the allure lies in the kinship values our society places some emphasis on and the underpinning compassion present.

A few weeks ago, a Trinidadian friend asked me and two other Guyanese students to have a conversation so that she could study our dialect for a linguistics assignment of hers. You would think that having a conversation, Guyanese style, would be the

most natural thing for the three of us. Except that it wasn’t; it was awkward and inhibited. We were eventually given certain prompts to help with the flow of the conversation, and it was here that the three of us realised that we come from a deeply compassionate country.

Our simple mannerisms of greeting each other with a ‘Good-morning’ or ‘Good Afternoon’, the growing volunteer culture that is being propelled by the youth demographic, and our will to engage in activities that would bring joy to others (simple things like communal Christmas tree ‘light ups’) are all microcosmic of the compassionate society we live in. And it was easy for me to realise and recognise this fact because being away in Trinidad had provided much leeway for me to observe the differences between my home country and here.

Added to that, the Guyanese trio were asked to talk about Christmas in Guyana, and one factor for us and as far as each of knew was the sheer emphasis on kinship.

Again, this is reflective of the society that we live in.

Despite all that I have written thus far, the one pervasive feeling I have however is that for the first time, in a very long time, I am very disconnected from the usual happenings of the Christmas season in Guyana.

I’m sitting in my school’s library, feeling increasingly nostalgic about the Christmas culture in Guyana. The Christmas lights on Main Street, the pavements of Regent

Street flooded with people, the Masqueraders at every traffic light and street corner and the endless bottles of cassareep needed to make the Christmas morning pepperpot, all have a stronger appeal now.

At the same time, however, part of me is enthused to be experiencing the Christmas culture in Trinidad.

Here, Christmas seems to be synonymous with ‘Parang’. I had heard my Trinidadian friends speak about ‘Parang’ as the ‘Trini thing’, but when UWI hosted its Parang event, I was pleasantly surprised when the performances were done in Spanish.

According to Trinidad’s National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), the term Parang is derived from the Spanish word “parranda”, which means a spree or a fête.

In the twin-island republic, parang evolved and grew and came to also refer to the song sung, especially during the Christmas season.

By the time this column is published, just a couple of days before Christmas day, I will be out of the parang country, however, and back in Guyana, fully ready to make up for the lost time. While I hope you all enjoy your Guyanese Christmas as much as I will, I do hope that the dynamism of this season also encourages you to share the joy with somebody, anybody.

Merry Christmas!

Focus Christmas in CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

IX

on the Village

The Christmas Tree in Fifth Street, Haslington (Carl Croker photos)

Haslington Village

By Michel Outridge

HIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited Haslington, East Coast Demerara and the people of this close-knit community will be featured as this year’s “Christmas in the Village”.

On the way into the village, the Pepperpot team encountered a group of women who were fixing up a Christmas Tree at Fifth Street, Haslington.

The group was motivated, a year ago when they were out celebrating the birth anniversary of one of its members when they began to talk about doing something special for the community came up thus, the idea was conceptualised.

Marcia Rose, a member of Perseverance Group out of Haslington told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is with great determination of enhancing the lives of others in their community that the group was formed.

She related that they began to raise funds among themselves and got a few donors who assisted in their clothing drive and they pooled their resources to make it happen this year.

Rose reported that this is the second year they are hosting the children’s party and Christmas Tree light-up.

She added that it is their way of doing their bit to spread joy and bring people together for this festive season, the happiest time of the year.

The Perseverance Group consists of six

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women, all residents of Fifth Street, Haslington and they will usher in Christmas with their annual Christmas tree light-up in the village.

The ladies will be hosting a Christmas party for 25 children within the community under a big tent where they will be served a scrumptious lunch after which they will be gifted toys and a bag of goodies.

The Christmas tree will be outfitted with fairy lights that will be switched on December 18, 2019, following the children’s party.

Rose stated that they will also be having their annual clothing drive where children in the community will benefit from clothing which was donated by overseas-based Guyanese Roxanne Sandy, Let’s Dance Group and One Love Outreach.

She noted that in August they held their back-to-school event for the second year where school-aged children received a backpack with stationery and school supplies for the new school term.

Rose stated that this year the children’s party will have Santa Claus and his helper in the form of an elf and they will be on hand to present gifts to the children.

Rose added every child will get the opportunity to be photographed with Santa Claus as they receive their gift.

Another member, Wanda Benjamin, who is the head cook told the Pepperpot Magazine that she will prepare a delicious lunch for the children. She explained that the six members came together and contributed $5,000 each towards the purchase of the chicken and other groceries for the preparation of the meal.

The Perseverance Group also beautifies their environment by planting cactus plants in a neat row along Fifth Street, Haslington and they do self-help cleaning of the area daily.

The cactus lined Fifth Street, Haslington

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

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Decorated house of NDC Councillor, Ingrid Holder, a resident of Haslington (Carl Croker photos)

The people of Haslington are very

‘Christmassy’ Ingrid Holder

By Michel Outridge

aslington/Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Councillor Ingrid Holder told the Pepperpot Magazine she is a “Christmassy” kind of a person and one can tell from the way her house is decorated because she went over and beyond to ensure her abode is adequately decorated.

During a visit to the village, Holder told the Pepperpot Magazine that Christmas is a season most people look forward to and it is a time when people are very giving and villagers celebrate by decorating their houses inside –out.

She explained that in Haslington, Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays and they do outshine the rest of villages because the cleaning and putting away would start from weeks ahead of Christmas.

Holder added that the residents wanted to do a “Christmas Village” on the road-front, but the time is too short since Christmas is next week and they cannot pull that off so quickly.

“People around here are big on Christmas and they share and spread joy in their own ways to make others happy and we do have a real traditional Guyanese Christmas in this village,” she said.

Giving some information about the village, Holder stated that Haslington is a large place which extends from the seawall, on both sides, way down to the backlands and even accommodates a large housing scheme.

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She disclosed that the community has good roads, drainage and the basic infrastructure and strides are being made to regularise all sections of the village including the squatting area.

Holder related that the people in Haslington are not lazy and do not sit by idly and they get up and do many things to sustain themselves; they participate in a lot of self-help initiatives to beautify the environment and to enhance the lives of others within the community.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that many residents are either soldiers, police officers, teachers or cash crop, cattle or poultry farmers and some work in offices in both the private and public sectors.

Holder added that Haslington has a nursery school, a large playfield, many shops and churches among other things and the nearest secondary school is at Golden Grove.

Presently, she is engaged in the cleaning of the cemetery at Nabaclis and some other community projects in which funds were provided at the NDC level.

Haslington Village is about 15.2 miles from Georgetown and is bordered by Enmore and Golden Grove.

What Christmas is like in Haslington

The Pepperpot Magazine met a lovely young lady, Kelisha McCaulay, who has invested a lot of time to make Christmas bright for her family.

Being the only daughter in the household of seven siblings, she knew from the onset it was her place to get going with the decoration

McCaulay’s decorated house

Kelisha McCaulay

of their two-storey house in Haslington.

The 21-year-old said she started one day from 07:00hrs and finished around midday, just to sort out decorations and then affix them to the walls and ceiling of the verandah.

This young woman stated that doing the decorations is no hassle and in fact, it is something she enjoys doing because she likes Christmas and feels there is no better time to give.

“Being the only girl for my family, I took up the place to decorate because I feel so happy this season like every year. Christmas is all about giving and not just receiving and we plan to share and just spend the season at home and it is usually a festive season here indeed,” she said.

The nurse related that this year, for their meal they decided they will make a stuffing for the chicken and roast it instead of baking it to go with the rest of the meals they will prepare.

“We are a giving family, and if we don’t give we don’t feel it is Christmas and not just during this holiday season we normally give all year from the little we have and I feel Christmas is all about making people happy, especially children,’ she said.

McCaulay told the Pepperpot Magazine that inside the house is almost set for the holidays and on Christmas Eve night they will prepare all foods including, pepperpot and bread so on Christmas day they don’t have to spend all day in the kitchen cooking.

“Almost every year, it does rain so we normally spend Christmas indoors and I feel it is the way to pass the holidays with family, friends and others and we will share as well because things does be just nice around here,” she said.

Christmas then and now

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

Eloise Benjamin, village elder (Carl Croker photos)

Home of 84-year-old Eloise Benjamin

By Michel Outridge

HE highlight of this season for 84-year-old Eloise Benjamin was the senior citizens annual Church Christmas Social which was held on December 19 in the nearby village of Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

This elderly resident of Haslington told the Pepperpot Magazine that her daughter who takes care of her does not like her going out alone since she has arthritis in both knees which causes severe pain and leads her to often fall.

At the time of this interview, the event had not yet occurred and Benjamin explained that she really wanted to attend the event.

“I’m determined to go. I does walk with aid of a walking stick and I will try to make my way there which is not very far because I want to be with people my own age group and spend the day out,” she said.

Benjamin, is one of the oldest residents in Haslington and she resides with her daughter, who takes care of her, but she manages to do chores such as

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laundrying. When the Pepperpot team met her, she was washing a bundle of clothes on her front steps.

She also does some light cooking whenever the need arises and plans to enjoy a little bit of everything in terms of eatables on Christmas day. The woman also has a yard full of children and relatives to keep her entertained.

Benjamin has her own house but shares the plot of land with her grandson who has an extended family, so there are children around.

The mother of seven said she used to have a large family but four of her children have since passed away; she however has a lot to be thankful for even in old age.

Benjamin added that this year, too, she will pass the season quietly as usual because things back then, that is, her heydays are quite different to now.

“From then to now, a lot of things have changed and it is not like before. We used to enjoy Christmas in our own country-style ways but the young people of today have their ways,” she said.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

The residents of Haslington are ‘people-friendly’

Desiree Philadelphia at her stand in Haslington

By Michel Outridge

aslington, East Coast Demerara is a place with its noticeably large mango trees in abundance and just about every other local fruit tree you can think about is in almost every yard in this village.

The Pepperpot Magazine recently visited the community and spoke to several residents.

One of those persons is Eon Saul, who was on his bicycle, making his way home with two salt-bags of wood shavings for his chickens.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that he went to buy two bags of shavings for the chicken pen because it needs cleaning.

The Haslington New Housing Scheme resident stated that he will replace the soiled wood shavings to make the chickens comfortable for healthy growth.

Saul explained that he is fairly new to rearing chickens as a small business and he has been at it for the past two months.

He reported that his chickens wouldn’t be big enough for the season nevertheless, he remains optimistic they will be sold when they attain the age of six weeks old.

Saul explained that about a few years ago when the New Housing Scheme was established he moved in after he got a plot and decided to do something for himself, to earn a living since he is in his ‘golden’ years.

He described life in Haslington as “not too bad” but one must have a job to be comfortable since life is no “walk in the park”.

Saul related that he will pass the holidays as normal because he has things to do but will spend some time with the family too.

Small business owner The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to Desiree Philadelphia who has been vending for 45 years.

The 63-year-old added that she has her small business, a grocery shop at her son’s residence and just outside the property she has a stall which she sells vegetables, fruits, pillows, water cans, and parrot cages among other things.

Philadelphia said she usually buys greens from a man from Ann’s Grove, a few villages away and would re-sell at her stall in Haslington.

The mother of six, one of whom passed away, reported that she makes a small profit and she would use that money to re-stock the shop.

“I done clean up the entire place, the walls in the house was wiped, the windows cleaned, the yard is clean too and is just a few things in the house needs to be set up and I am ready for Christmas,” she said.

Like many women in her village, she also likes the season and even finished putting up new curtains.

“This village is a nice place to live and earn because most people here either planting or rearing cattle, goats, sheep, pigs or chickens and some have small shops,” she said.

Philadelphia told the Pepperpot Magazine that the people of Haslington are a peaceful people and they live “good” there and most people are self-employed.

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Eon Saul on his way home (Carl Croker photos)

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

XIII

The soul of the Guyanese identity

A respect and awareness of self above no one else

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E CAME out of colonisation fragmented and padlocked in stereotypical pens. As colonials, we looked to everywhere else for inspiration and judged ourselves in very narrow terms for expectations that nurtured esteem. At least most of the post-emancipation population that included indentured immigrants that naturally morphed into self-defining rather than collective identities, and based on the periods of our journey here disparities evolved that became entrenched through our treacherous local politics; that enhanced transported prejudices, that were then forged into divisive placebos against the collective consciousness that could be described as the Soul of the Guyanese Identity, which is not a mythical religious theory, but just coming to grip with who we are.

This at no time must be identified with any kind of uber alles nationalism. But when a citizen by documentation is determined to aspire to public office in this country, a notion of identity, outside of one’s ambitions of acquiring wealth beyond any known era before with some collective timelines, is the sole impetus and occupying space here towards that end is all there is. Thus, that individual should be quizzed on things nationally Guyanese, to explore the loyalty and whether trust can be attributed to managing the national identity and its assets with loyalty to the nation and not to overseas accounts and Real Estate. What am I talking about with this quiz? Simply, in a conversation, they need to know and be able to publically deliberate on their place of birth, its history from inception. To be able to answer questions on the evolution of this country from especially the post-emancipation period, with supporting references. How they can interpret this backdrop of past social events labelled History in their perspectives towards the modern relative evolution, which must be encouraged from the exposed expertise available.

For as a nation we hardly manage our proven national expertise in a meaningful way, instead, we trade institutional knowledge for the popular sentiments of fresh blood. Such a conversation must evolve and be conducted from an empowered national institution. The President’s initiative for a Heritage Commission would be the

perfect entity to conduct such a quiz-conversation, what we now have are charlatans, plagiarists, and tragic characters cast upon the stage by the metaphoric- callous opportunistic

none have developed the argument for the even more crucial aspect of interfacing with the expanses of the myriad national consciousness.

By exploring the active

political director, whose priorities are narrow and self-centred “Dance to meh music and ah gon give yuh a Bribe.” There must be a vetting ground.

November 14, 2018, in Henry Jeffrey’s column ‘Future Notes’ he penned; ‘Guyana has never been the home of all Guyanese’, though a political article its main gist was shared governance. As a founder member of ACDA, shared governance has been our mantra, the APNU-AFC Coalition has proven it can work; their achievements tangible and intangible have out weighted the PPP by lengths, though they have left in place many opposing personnel to which APNU subordinates have protested at times unreasonable actions.

The reality, however, is that more expertise was brought to the functional table, though I agreed in principle with Jeffrey’s article he spoke with a context of ‘National reconciliation’ though he nor any of the advocates of such have ever advocated the details of the mechanism that would facilitate such a reconciliation. In keeping with the concerns of constituencies, all proposals must develop around the pulse of the masses, whose interpretations and perceptions be they misinformed, imaginary or emotional, are still rooted in a percentage of truth, that has to be deliberated with. But because Jeffrey is a politician, his aspirations are rooted in political mechanisms, which will contribute in a great way towards involvement, save that a history of the practice of political deception and sabotage must be intercepted through strong laws. He did not, nor has it been ever reflected upon, that the underlining problem rests with choice separateness from the ‘Identity of Guyana’ and

and subliminal realms of the nation’s historical and cultural knowns and unknowns towards liberation through appropriate methods of dissemination, here the arts will play a most pivotal role. This will impact and disintegrate the volumes of stereotypical doctrines that exist and have been made real by political cultism. I can refer to select aspects of our political and social history, which the late Lionel Peters referred to as ‘Our Sordid History’ conveniently misrepresented, or by a stretch of optimistic imagination, I could say that the writer did not know, and neither did his editor, or the editor did not care.

Misrepresented articles on A-‘Racism in the Police Force from its beginning’, B‘Massacre at Wismar?’ which I heard reverberated by a loud, rich and intensely ignorant public business character with access to audience, but devoid of real comprehension of the subject topics exploited, historical articles that leave out the contributions of certain ethnic groups. To think that Guyanese still believe that Queen Victoria had anything to do with the abolition of slavery; the lady came to the throne in 1837.

There is an awareness deficit that exists where the media itself have to become the class teacher, providing, they have the editorial expertise.

The ‘Identity of being Guyanese’ can only be realised when public policy entails that all about ‘us‘ be known by if not all, then by most of us, will help in the clarification of misrepresented political conflict engagements, and not allow far and in between embellished references to be launched to nurture discord and the obsessive worse.

Guyana can be a comfortable collective home for all, in some cases rejection of what Guyana is, is itself a projected complex, becoming a choice, driven by

conscious or unconscious innate bigotry manifested in resentment. Stabroek News 3, April 2004 Amar Panday penned a letter to my colleague Abu Bakr titled ”In-

dians don’t want to embrace Creole Culture”. The impetus of the letter was not racism, but rather the ultimate fear of change and cultural metamorphosis, which Africans, Amerindians Chinese, many Indians and Portuguese have evolved through, survived and Creole Culture has manifested. That today is the cultural foundation of all New World peoples. The irony is that the writer wrote it in English, and I suspect was living in the New World when it was written. In closing, the cultural and Edutainment path towards the ‘Identity of being Guyanese’ has to commence, the future is now and is indifferent to all procrastination.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

MAY ALL ENJOY CHRISTMAS AND THE HOLIDAY SEASON WITH GUSTO!

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UYANESE people from the mid-19th century have been celebrating and enjoying Christmas in the same spir-

it as we do today and have always nostalgically looked backwards to the charms of by-gone Christmases with the hope of recapturing them. Thus the festival be-

came richer and richer with the passing of each year and they were able to coopt many valuable customs from the various immigrant groups who were brought

from Europe, Africa and Asia. Such customs included, for instance, boldamel cake derived from Portugal and chicken or mutton curry and roti which became part of the Christmas menu and the use of paddy pots in decoration which were contributed by Indian indentures.

various Christmas goods including ingenious toys and gifts. The grocery stores were stocked with all kinds of exotic fruits, mostly from the temperate zone. All business places, especially the shops and groceries, were decorated to transform them into a wonderland of fantasy. Street music - masquerades and lat-

From about the 1890s to about the 1980s, the various customs which became uniquely attached to the Guyanese Christmas became fully integrated and the various immigrant groups were encompassed in it with important social consequences such as the unification of the various racial groups into a Guyanese patriotism and the occurrence of cultural exchanges among them. This period was regarded as the high years of Christmas.

During these high years, weeks before Christmas, people set their black cakes and various wines such as jamoon wine, rice wine, ginger beer and sorrel which was brewed during Christmas week. The art of making fruit and sponge cakes was brought to perfection. It was a time when homes were given a thorough cleaning and all furniture was renewed or revarnished or repolished.

The shops were stocked with

er steel bands - began to have their rehearsals in preparation for Christmas week. House parties and public dances also took place in Christmas week. The whole society was suffused with nervous energy and a sense of pleasant expectation.

The religious face of Christmas was always prominent. Christmas music, especially carols, were heard everywhere and was regularly broadcast. The Christmas story enacting the birth of Lord Jesus and the Three Kings was performed in the schools and some churches.

The Churches held services during Christmas week and among the most memorable were the colourful midnight masses of the Catholic Church. Some Hindus and Muslims participated in and enjoyed the religious aspects of Christmas since these were universal and conformed to their Faiths.

Christmas cards, some of

these painted with scenes of great beauty, were widely exchanged. Such cards were sold by vendors in the markets and streets who usually read out aloud the poetic Christmas messages they contained.

During these high years of Christmas, everyone was overwhelmed with relaxed happiness and there was a genuine feeling of goodwill towards all men. Then from about the 1980s, Christmas began a gradual decline. This was attributed to a variety of causes: The Government of the day adopted a policy of “de-emphasising Christmas”, wheaten flour and other ingredients for cake-making became unobtainable, chicken and eggs became scarce and the economy and employment contracted resulting in less money being in circulation and citizens were driven to focus on the necessities of survival. Above all, the country experienced a massive emigration which has continued to today resulting in more Guyanese residing abroad than now live in Guyana.

At the time of writing this offering which is about two weeks from Christmas, it seems that Christmas 2019 would be low-keyed since we have not seen the liveliness and vibrancy which was so much part of the running-up to past Christmases. Yet, there are indications that the spirit of Christmas is again energetically manifesting itself - shopping is beginning to pick up; the religious side of the festival is beginning to evidence more activity than a few weeks ago and its celebratory aspects will inevitably resurge making it as memorable a Christmas as ever there was We should gear ourselves to enjoy a very Merry Christmas!

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

XV

y h The Art ofotograp Ph “Cinderella horizon”, (photography by Teshauna Moore)

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S I mounted a photography exhibition for my church’s youth group last Tuesday called “Creation”, I thought about the art of photography, more so, the difference between photography as the man in the street knows it, and fine art photography. As I looked at the entries, I was quite pleased with the level of work produced. Viewing them primarily from a perspective of photography, I looked at how the photographers used the elements of photography, namely, using the rule of thirds, creating depth of field, using the different camera angles, composition, leading lines, balance and more. I also noted their interpretation of the theme “Creation.”

While each photographer had his/her own unique style, the exhibition managed to bring them together quite cohesively. It was a combination of portrait, landscape, action, architecture and seascape printed in colour, black and white, and a combination of both.

The entries fell under the category of photojournalism, and pieces frequently found in publications and calendars that feature images taken with the camera with little or no manipulation. They captured the scenes as they existed at a precise moment in time.

Photography is the art of capturing images that preserve memories and document history. A photograph is a picture or likeness obtained by photography. Images can be printed on film,

“The man in the Tree” fine art (photography by Merna Bernard)

paper, vinyl, canvas or stored in digital memory. Photography also includes moving images captured on film or video. Whether moving or still, a photograph not only captures images like the human eye, but technology has also equipped us with the tools needed to manipulate/ edit the image in infinite ways. “Cinderella horizon” demonstrates a representation of photography.

However, photography that meets the criteria of the art world has one distinguishing element. Fine art photography is first and foremost about the artist.

It is not about capturing what the camera sees; it is about capturing what the artist sees. The artist merely uses the camera as a tool to create a work of art. Fine art photography goes beyond

the literal representation of a scene or subject. It should express the feelings and vision of the photographer and reveal that the work was created by an artist and not by just a camera. Myrna Bernard is a Guyanese artist who worked in fine art photography. She was a former member of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association, and her work was usually displayed at our annual exhibitions. Ms. Bernard has migrated, and I’m hoping other photographers or artists take up the mantle of producing fine art photography. “The man in the tree” is an example of fine art photography.

“Creation” was one of the many art events that occurred during this Christmas season. ‘Tis the season to support the artist.

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hristmas is so close; we can already smell the excitement and pepperpot in the air and the rush that everyone is in to make this day unique and memorable.

However, while the holiday season brings good cheer for most people, it also brings a lot more waste, harm to the environment and additional debt to an average family. Here are some environmentally smart tips for a less wasteful -- perhaps less stressful -- holiday this year: 1. Wrapping gifts- Instead of buying more and more wrapping paper, only for it to be ripped up and thrown in the bin, get creative and try using colourful

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pages torn from magazines to wrap small gifts, and old maps or the Sunday comics for larger boxes. Avoid using paper entirely by using reusable decorative tins, baskets or boxes. If you do buy wrapping paper, look for ones made of recycled paper. Reusable cloth ribbons can be used in place of plastic bows. Finally, unwrap gifts carefully and save wrappings for reuse next year. Boxes can be used to create gifts, snowman and more, just think about the creativity that you can fabricate using reusable items all around us.

1. Electricity - Your electricity bill can quickly shoot skyward as you find yourself preparing for the big day. Here are some tips

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to reduce your consumption and your bill; * Whether you’re decorating your tree or outside of your home, use LED lights instead of incandescent ones. LED lights will help save you around 80% of electrical power and not to forget it will also last longer too. * While your Christmas lights make the street or your house looks prettier, no one will be able to see it while they are all asleep.

Leaving them on overnight will not only cost you more but also waste energy. * After the gift exchange, spend some quality time with your family by opting traditional board games and put away new gadgets and devices and

USE DUCE CYCLE

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

USE this DUCE CYCLE Christmas

turn off the television. By doing this, you will be able to keep consumption at a minimum. * As the day comes to an end before you slip into bed, make a special effort to switch everything off rather than leaving it on standby.

1. Decorations - Turn old Christmas cards into beautiful decorations. Every year after Christmas, many houses are left with a wealth of Christmas cards. While they were prefect to display around the home during the holiday season most of these cards end up in the bin after the festivities end. Rather than disposing of them, we can create something perfect in the spirit of the season, e.g. make garlands or gift tags.

1. Donate: Instead of throwing out your old decorations donate it to someone who needs it.

1. E-Greetings -Instead of sending cards to your loved ones, technology plays a vital role in our lives; you can send your greetings/wishes in an email or on social media.

What are some Green Resolutions that YOU canconsider for the New Year?

Here are seven ways to reduce your impact on the Earth: 1. Recycle. If you aren’t in the habit, start today, and encourage others to do the

same. Recycling not only saves natural resources but also saves energy! Start by composting!

2. Remember the other important “Rs”- Reduce and Reuse. Help to lessen the amount of waste by buying items that use little or no packaging, or “buying in bulk” which reduces unnecessary and excessive packaging; and find ways to use items over and over again (e.g. refilling your empty water bottles).

3. Buy recycled-content products. Remember to “look for it; ask for it.”

Resolve to “buy green” by purchasing at least one recycled-content product regularly, such as paper towels or computer paper that is made with post-consumer content.

4. Free your home from toxins. Don’t flush paints, solvents or chemicals down the toilet. Toilet bowl deodorizers, cleaning solutions with lye and many spot removers con- t a i n harmful s o l -

vents.

Baking soda and vinegar substitute as great all-purpose cleaners. A wide variety of non-toxic cleaners can be found in numerous stores. Cut down on pesticides and fertilizers in your garden and limit what you wash into rivers, bays and oceans.

5. Spare the Air. Re-

solve to minimize using your car whenever possible. Use public transportation, carpool or bicycle once or twice a week for more exercise and cleaner air.

6. Learn to Compost.

Convert yard clippings and vegetable peelings into nature’s fertilizer. Your garden will love you for it.

7. See the Great Outdoors. Whether city, county, regional or state - visit the parks/ gardens. Park volunteer or docent opportunities and special programs geared to kids represent ways to contribute to your community and enjoy nature at the same time.

Christmas is a perfect time to practice your green habits. Make upcycling/ recycling during Christmas a new holiday tradition for your family and have a very Merry Christmas from the Environmental Protection Agency.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit. epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

XVII

Good vibes and friendly people Haslington is a lively village

By Michel Outridge

uring a visit to Haslington, East Coast Demerara, some villagers took the time out and entertained the Pepperpot team in friendly conversations on life

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The 67-year-old stated that he has managed to erect a chain-link fence around his property recently and in the new year he is hoping to rear some chickens as his small business venture to supplement his income.

“When I finish cleaning

Basil Williams (Carl Croker photos)

in the village and their plans for the upcoming Christmas holidays.

Basil Williams, who was trimming trees in his aunt’s yard, said he is assisting in cleaning up the place.

He had trimmed excess leaves and branches from plants and the coconut trees in the plot and had already cut some coconut branches to make some pointer brooms to aid in sweeping the house.

Williams added that he lives across the road, a few doors away and was over at his aunt’s place helping her out. He said that he is originally from Region One (Barima-Waini), a small indigenous community of Waramuri.

I can relax and on Christmas Day. I will buy a bottle of vodka and invite two friends, and we will share and make merry,” he said.

Williams noted that he has already finished cleaning his house and will relax during the holidays adding that there must be celebration after hard work.

Meanwhile, as for his aunt, Elizabeth Goodridge, she doesn’t celebrate Christmas because of her religion as a Jehovah Witness but will prepare fancy meals for the family.

Farthers down the road, there was Gillian Roache, a spritely woman, who has a grocery shop in her yard which accommodates two houses for

her extended family.

The 48-year-old resident of Haslington reported that she is looking forward to the holidays which she deemed as the ‘nicest time of the year’.

Roache added that she is trying with her business, where she sells every little

thing and provides a service to the community.

The mother of five stated that two of her sons are married and with the large size family she is in the process of enhancing her house to an acceptable standard so everyone will be comfortable.

“On Christmas Day I will prepare and put all the foods and goodies on the family table, and every member of my family will partake for lunch, and I am sure it will be good as last year,” she said.

Roache disclosed that they will pass the holidays reflecting on the year gone by and make plans for the new one.

For Roache, Christmas isn’t a Guyanese one without local foods and beverages, and all those foods will be prepared as a ‘must-have’ to welcome the holidays.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to Ronald Romario Threl, a very friendly and welcoming resident of Tarmac Road, Haslington.

He explained that being a Rastafarian, he is not ‘too big’ on certain things and tries to live a simple life, most of which includes farming.

The 46-year-old added that he has about two plots of land on which he has crops of fruits and vegetables, all organically grown and he

Gillian Roache would sell his produce at his small shop.

Threl stated that he has been at the location since 1988 and is trying with the country life of a farmer and always has food for visitors.

When the Pepperpot Magazine met him, he had just finished preparing an aromatic pot of calaloo simmered in coconut milk and cooked rice, some of which he offered to the Pepperpot team.

Some friends were at his cottage and they were enjoying the meal during the interview.

“My place is always open to anyone, and I always have food to share with visitors because this is who I am, a simple man,” he said.

Threl reported that life aback Haslington is good and he does his gardening after which he would relax and prepare for the new day.

“Things quiet at the back here and we live in peace and unity and there is no separation or racism

Ronald Romario Threl with his freshly prepared meal

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

Preserving Guyana’ G

uyana has always had a strong spirit of diversity and inclusion. People of different ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds have blurred the lines of isolation to create traditions that embody the uniqueness of Guyana’s culture. The celebration of Christmas is no different. During the final days of the season, Guyanese will be completing their shopping lists, prepping for their extensive Christmas menus, and putting the final touches on their homes.

While for so many Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, Guyanese must not forget the reason why this holiday came into being. In this edition of Government in Action, Pastor Simon Harris of the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre discusses the true Christmas story and the Christmas message.

The Christmas story and message “The Christmas story is what is recorded in [the] Scripture. This is when the angel a p -

peared to Mary [and] said “you will be with child. You will give birth to a son, and you will call his name Jesus. He will be known as Emmanuel, [which means] ‘God with us,’” … A census was called for everybody to go and register. Every-

that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords became lowly to minister to man,” Pastor Harris explained.

Pastor Harris added that this season of celebration actually has its origins in the Roman Saturnalia festival.

As the community celebrated

This little one eyes a new playset

body had to go to ‘ G E C O M ’ in Nazareth…

That is [where] the birth of Jesus took place, in a manger. As the story goes, because everybody came in for a census, all the hotels were booked and they had to stay in a manger…

That’s a place where they kept the animals and the hay… and Jesus was born there just to show

the return of the sun after a long winter, the church began commemorating the birth of the Son of God, Jesus. This, Pastor Harris said, is why Christmas celebrations are so universal. He said, the Christmas message, the purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth, is an important aspect often overlooked.

“The message of Christmas is when Jesus… as an infant was taken to the temple. There was a great man

of God in that temple named Simeon and… the Bible says… that God had told him [that he] will not die until [he sees] the Messiah. And when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the temple, Simeon exclaimed… “Father, let your servant now depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen the salvation of the Lord!” … That is the message of Christmas: Salvation of the soul of man. He came as a baby, as the Christ child, but He grew to be a man and he took the sins of the world on his shoulder and he died for the sins of the world.

That is the message. We’re no longer bound/tied to sin.

We don’t have to live a life of sin anymore,” he said.

Pastor Harris fondly recounted the ways his family kept up Guyanese Christmas traditions while he was growing up.

“I grew up in the traditional way, where you break up your house two weeks before [Christmas]… On Christmas Eve night… you fix up your house. That involved polishing the floor, preparing the Christmas tree… In our home, there were two things about Christmas. The house had to look good and the house had to smell good. Pepperpot had to be simmering or boiling on Christmas Eve night, so you can get that pepperpot smell. And then we had to bake on Christmas Eve night so you get the cake smell.

And then you get the garlic pork smell,” he said.

Now, Pastor Harris said, when celebrating with his own family, he keeps the Christmas message of salvation at the centre of all the festivities.

“I came from that legacy. Celebrating Christmas with my dad and mom, the

message was not necessarily emphasised… the season was emphasised… When I became a parent, by then I had full knowledge of the season… the story… and the message. So, I grounded my children in that,” he said.

Pastor Harris offered

Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally, during a Christmas party held for 1500 children on Wednesday said that this is one of her favourite past times.

“I feel really good because this is not the first one we are doing. As a matter of

Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally amidst the pile of Christmas presents which were distributed to the children of Georgetown on Wednesday

Mr. Patrick and his wife standing inside their stall which is located on Regent Street

this prayer for Guyana this Christmas: Enjoy the season, know the story, and understand the message. He encourages all Guyanese to do away with the lines that separate and to come together as greatness is ahead of this nation.

Christmas for all Christmas is a particularly exciting season for the youngest members of this nation. During the season Government Ministers have travelled the length and breadth of Guyana to deliver toys so that every child has a small token to celebrate the festive season. Minister of

fact, I’ve been to Number 53 Village [on] the Corentyne.

I have been to Barabina in Region One. I’ve been to St. Ignatius in Region Nine…

There are other Ministers who have been going to other communities because we believe in putting smiles on our children’s faces, so, we’ve decided on this gesture. In cases where we have not been able to go, what I did was to send toys for the children of the area,” the Social Protection Minister said.

A Guyanese Christmas For the past few weeks, the streets of Guyana have

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’s culture: Christmas been extremely busy as Guyanese flood the stores in preparation for Christmas.

A few shoppers and vendors shared their favourite parts of the festive season with Government in Action.

Here’s what they had to say: Patrick: My favourite part of Christmas… is to be with the family and to have Christmas breakfast.

Roshauna: Spending time with your family, good gifts, eating food… lighting up, decorating, those are my favourite things about Christmas.

Sharla: My favourite part of Christmas is spending time with my family, everybody coming together. The best part… is [that] I always have a Christmas dinner…

The food, the laughter, just fun times with the family.

Shania: People who are away from home… return home [for Christmas] to spend that quality time with each other and make more memories…. The love and the comfort, having people in the house fills the gaps that was missing for the months that they weren’t home… I can talk a lot about my mom’s food. She makes delicious pepperpot.

She makes it just as [we] enter into the 25th. Exactly at 12 o’clock there is pepperpot on the stove prepared and you can go and eat with your bread or we Amerindians would eat it with cassava bread.

Joseph: For me, Christmas has always been the best part of the end of the year where everybody comes together and celebrates the birth of Christ. As a Christian person, that is a total celebration for us…

Christmas means a lot…

From [childhood] growing up, It’s always been

like that. You have friends here and there. You go by your friends. You eat something and then go by another friend. It’s always about sharing.

Malissa: My favourite part [of] Christmas is going back home to Berbice, to my

so many things. It actually brings out the true meaning of [togetherness].

Wayne: Every Christmas, my wife and I make sure we have enough food in the house and enough games… because we invite persons who are normally

home, we put on the best Christmas music…, we sing carols and we also recite scriptures which talk about the birth of Christ. Then, we plunge into the meal and after that we spend the rest of the day playing games…

Christmas is about remem-

First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger presents this senior citizen with her Christmas gift at the annual luncheon held in the Baridi Benab at State House

Children pose with their Christmas presents at a Christmas party hosted by Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally for the children of Georgetown

family where we would… shop together and decorate together. Decorating [for us] really brings out the true meaning of Christmas.

You get to spend so much time with them and just sit around eating, talking about

single, who would not necessarily have family members to celebrate [with] in a big way. Some of them [live] alone. Some of them are persons whose [family] members have passed away.

So, we bring them to our

bering what God has done for us and moving out and serving people in the best possible way. The hugs, the kisses, little acts of kindness and caring, I think that’s essentially what Christmas is about.

The shoppers offered these well wishes for the festive season: Patrick: I would say to Guyana, have a great Christmas this year because I think we’re on the verge of a breakthrough with the coming of oil to Guyana. I think Guyana will be moving to a higher level and… particularly for young people, I think there will be so much that they can look forward to.

Roshauna: Make sure you have pepperpot and lots of food. Decorate nicely. Make sure you have Christmas music… Merry Christmas Guyana! Everybody enjoy yourselves! Be safe on the road, have fun, and share gifts. Christmas is the season of giving so give to someone that [doesn’t] have and enjoy yourself.

Joseph: Guyanese… live as one. No matter what race you [are] or where you’re from, we always celebrate each other… the food and the way we live together, the music, its just different. It’s different vibes… Enjoy yourself.

Make this moment feel special with your family. [Spend time with] your family and enjoy every aspect of it and I hope the new year brings [everyone] success and joy.

Malissa: Continue to be prosperous and enjoy… the new year.

Shania: Guyanese should enter into the new y e a r a n d spend this Christmas in love and unity and not be separated by the things that separate us right now.

Everyone should come together and look forward to a brighter 2020.

Guyana is at a major turning point in her history. Celebrations like Christmas help ground Guyanese in past traditions, passed down from generation to generation.

The message of Christmas reminds us that we are not bound by the bad behaviours of the past but rather we are compelled to grow together toward a bright and prosperous future.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Simon Harris of the Ruimveldt Life Improvement Centre

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

Denture wearer rules

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believe if it were not for the fabrication of false teeth there would have been far less dental “quacks” in Guyana. Despite losing their teeth for one reason or the other, some persons are often skeptical of wearing dentures due mainly to erroneous perceptions or ignorance. However, for those who will be wearing dentures for the first time to ob-

tain maximum benefit from it, certain practices should be observed. One should first remember that dentures are not permanent and that changes continue to occur in the bone and soft tissues of the mouth. Now here is some basic advice for those either wear or intend to wear removable dentures:

During the initial adjustment period you should: 1. Leave the dentures in for the first 48 hour period.

Note any discomfort or pain and revisit your dentist for post-insertion consultation.

2. Feelings of fullness and increased salivation will decrease with time.

3. Sucking sweets may help any gagging sensation.

4. Expect sore spots to develop during this initial adjustment period as this it is not unusual. The dentist must see these sore spots to identify the exact place to relieve the new denture.

Eating with your new dentures: 1. Cut up food into small bite-sized pieces.

2.

Eating with food on both sides of your mouth may be helpful.

3. Biting foods with your front teeth will tend to dislodge dentures and the underlying tissues.

4. Avoid sticky foods.

5. Learning to eat with dentures takes time. Eating with dentures will be as easy or efficient as eating with natural teeth but you need to be patient.

Talking with your new dentures: 1. Adjusting takes time – read out loud to speed up the process.

2. Muscles will need to be re-educated so they will retain the denture.

3. The feeling of crowding of the tongue will decrease with time.

Cleaning your mouth and your dentures 1. Cleanse and massage your gums daily with a soft toothbrush.

2. Brush dentures with a soft toothbrush and ordinary facial soap. Never use toothpaste to brush your dentures – it is too abrasive.

3. Soak dentures overnight in either a commercial denture-soaking solution/tablet or a weak mixture of bleach and water.

Dentures Do’s and Don’ts 1. Do not remove your dentures at night while you sleep if you do not have any natural teeth.

2. Only use denture adhesives on the advice of your dentist.

4. Never attempt to adjust, repair, or re-fit your denture yourself because you can damage it and may require a new one.

5. Do see your dentist for your regular check-ups.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

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S THE only child growing up, my Christmases were filled with presents (I was quite spoilt).

Sometimes, every other

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Would Christmas be the same without presents? day was seen as Christmas for me because I received toys and presents from my parents all year round. At the same time, my parents made me aware of the many

children who spent Christmas without receiving toys.

I would always donate my toys to those in need when I stop using them (in good condition of course). My

mother explained to me that the most exciting present she and her siblings would receive is a whole chicken by their grandparents that would be used

to make a Christmas day feast for them all. Poverty is quite real and there is no denying that fact. Many parents feel as if they are not doing a good job at parenting because of the mere fact that they cannot afford to buy the present that their child has been pleading to have for the past year.

Some children would feel sad because they might believe in ‘Santa Claus’ and they wake up to an empty stocking.

of the calendar; where their saviour was born. They open their arms to those in need, celebrate by hosting dinners, socials and concerts and they decorate their houses with beautiful lights and Christmas décor. Many people also see Christmas as the focal point of celebrating after having a successful life.

In my opinion, material presents and gifts are just a bonus to this joyous holiday. To think of it, what exactly do we call ‘gifts’

Gift/present-giving first originated from the story of the three wise men. The three wise men travelled by following the north-star and took gifts to the new born King; Jesus Christ. Europe eventually adopted the idea and during the holiday season, gifts were exchanged between the different social classes. Eventually, in the 1800s, the United States introduced the idea/story of Santa Claus. Thus, it started an era of marketing presents/ gift-giving and Christmas.

The idea was switched from lower classes to now children receiving presents if they’re on the ‘nice list’ of an old man in a red suit.

My younger self would be very angry at me and my propositions on this topic but I guess that’s the point of life, right? As we grow and gain new experiences, our perspectives on topics change. To answer the question, “Would Christmas be the same without presents?”—I’d personally say that I really do think Christmas would be the same, UNLESS if your idea of Christmas is only about the presents. For me, Christmas is a time for giving and being compassionate to friends, families, those in need and most importantly, ourselves. For many Christians, it marks a special time

and ‘presents’? Similar to my mother in her younger days, a present is not only something you receive wrapped up under your tree. Being surrounded by the ones you love can be considered a gift. Perhaps, it’s the gratitude to your God and the universe for health and strength, or the Christmas dinner that your mother will cook for the family? It depends on your perspective and the way you value life and the things you receive. Unlike my younger self, I do not really ask my parents for much for Christmas. In fact, I get them appreciation gifts as a way of repayment for all of the things they’ve done for me throughout the year. I am not saying gift-giving is a bad thing or we shouldn’t give gifts to persons at Christmas.

All I am trying to say is that the meaning of Christmas extends beyond what’s under a tree and with or without gifts—Christmas would still be the cheerful and meaningful holiday we know. With that said, a Merry Christmas to all of you who’re reading this and don’t forget to enjoy the best gift you can ever receive—making memories and spending time with those you love and most importantly, who love you.

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s t e e m Fashion furniture

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel

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T WAS an honour to be invited by Ashley’s Furniture store to host exclusive decor tips and fashion display for the holidays! I know people may be thinking, “But Sonia Noel from a Fashion Designer to an Interior designer?” When you have a creative mind there’s no limit to what you can do and for the record, I do some interior designs. Moreover, creativity is in my DNA! I think the combination was fantastic because it wasn’t just another furniture brand, it was “Ashley’s furniture!” On the other hand, it was my design brand. Both brands are known for their class, sophistication uniqueness and versatility. We concentrated more on a bedroom and living room setting. We featured the North Shore bedroom set.

What I particularly like from this set is that it’s classically made from wood. It’s a North Shore King poster bed!

One thing about wooden pieces is that they appeal to both genders, especially when considering colours. The intricate detail on the headboard, nightstand, drawer, bedroom bench and crown mirror add exquisite character to this elegant bedroom furniture set. Oh! I can’t not mention the interior design of the drawer which felt like an elegant evening dress I would wear to the awards!

Wall colour of choice is very similar to the Tranquil Dawn, which is very appropriate because it is one of the colours of choice for 2020 home decor. This colour signifies a

... Inspiring lives through fashion new beginning for interior designers and it also encourages human connections. I even joked about it being the perfect colour for the bedroom, lol! Tranquil sits between green, blue and pink. In addition, in the interior design world, it is synonymous with the fleeting beauty of a morning sky.

We took a break from decor and went to Fashion Display.

The first section introduced, featured one of the most prominent holiday colours “Red”, in versatile outfits which you can wear to a Boxing day brunch, a casual lime, the movies or even a boat cruise! A demonstration was done to showcase five ways to wear one outfit. Some other exquisite pieces were shown that can be worn for New Year’s Eve Church or Party.

Some might even be viewed as a masterpiece like the Acieona Set from Ashley’s Furniture featured in pic with Ashley Brand Manager Roberta Ferguson, Interim Managing Director Court and myself. “But of course, how could Sonia Noel be there without fashion? The event had a lovely addition of a fashion show featuring pieces from Sonia that played nicely into the topic of versatility in home decor and of course versatility in fashion, “ said Asley Brand Manager Roberta Ferguson.

This is a beauty with amazing features. In my opinion, if livingroom sets were equivalent to Miss Universe or Miss World, the Acieona would have gotten the crown! I love the reclining features of the sofa and the individual Rocker Recliner. I love to drink wine, so the accommodation for the wine holder is perfect for me.

Moreover, I often lose my remote, thus the thoughtfulness of a remote compartment is quite unique. The electrical feature of the Wedge allows you to charge

your phone, laptops and even extend a combination for wine and food platters. If you are a person who loves to entertain, this is the perfect living room set!

Dr Raquel Thomas who has a set from Ashley was at the event and this is what she shared: “The event was awesome.

I loved the idea of twinning fashion with furniture displays.

I love these types of collaborations that can give support to local designers and artistes.”

One of the things I love about Ashley’s Furniture is that the colours are solid, so the use of accent pieces can magically pop the furniture. It’s amazing how beautiful rugs, pillows, bedside lampshades can really bring transformation to any room in your house.

One of the things that I constantly recommend for a shift in any room, is the Accent Wall. This is having at least one wall in the room with a bold colour. When choosing an Accent wall, select a wall in any chosen area in the house that stands out and draws your attention. Another thing to take into consideration for an Accent wall is the natural lighting and the size of the room. Accent Walls can transform a boring room into a stunning room.

One of the colours I am looking forward to incorporating in my living room Accent Wall is the colour of the year by Benjamin More- “First Light Pink”. It is the perfect backdrop for a brand new decade, it also very soothing that it can be used in any room of the house.

There are many more decor tips for the holidays I can share with you, but I guess you’ll have to contact me by emailing beyondtherunway1@gmail.com as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

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Guyanese former TV personality running for NY Council Seat

Talks life in politics and update on ‘Rhythm Nation Entertainment’

By Telesha Ramnarine

F Dimple Singh-Willabus wins the New York City Council seat for District 46, it will be the first time that a Guyanese, and a woman, would take up this seat. And Dimple, who has been residing in the United States of America since 2003, is sure that she has all of the attributes needed to win.

Born to shopkeeper parents Phagu and Gloria Singh, from Albouystown and Parika respectively, the family lived at Princes Street, Lodge, before moving overseas. The virtues of hard work, com-

I

passion and family values were instilled in Dimple at an early age.

The youngest of five children, she learned the importance of patience and of the commitment it takes to follow the example of her elders, as well as, the necessity to build upon those foundations.

Speaking with the Pepperpot Magazine during an online interview, Dimple said getting into politics was a natural progression after 25 years of community work and having parents who were both community advocates.

“Community work has always been intertwined in my DNA! Also, I want to

be a role model for my three children, especially my two daughters,” she expressed.

There are not many women who have been successful along this path, she noted.

“There are only 12 women in the New York City Council but there are 39 men, so the ratio from women to men is very small. As women, we need to be at the table to make decisions for our children, other women and our community! We need strong leaders who will stand up to advocate for the voiceless and the disenfranchised.”

With Brooklyn being Dimple’s home since leaving Guyana, her campaign is

With her husband and children recently at the Caribbean Life Impact Awards

Volunteering at an event in Brooklyn, New York

promoting unity among all constituents. “Most of our community is striving for a leader among the people who has their best interest at heart and who share similar concerns for a change. There is no community without unity and we are able to bring our community together for the common good.”

She is promising to bring transparency, accountability, equity, and inclusion to her community. “Winning this election would bring a voice and a sense of inclusion knowing that someone understands the community’s concerns.”

Dimple has served as the President of the NYC District 22 Community Education Council and was the Brooklyn Borough President appointee to the council. She has also served on the Mayor’s Task Force for CEC’s and is currently an advisory board member for the Visions Organization, which is committed to empowering individuals that are visually impaired or blind. She is also an advisory board member of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s M/WBE Committee.

While education has been a hallmark of her agenda, she is aware that resources and services must be available to a wider array of the commu-

Dimple Singh-Willabus

nity and the greater diaspora, who call Brooklyn home. Youth and senior services, small business development, transportation alternatives and quality of life improvement programs are all paramount to her agenda of improving the community.

RHYTHM NATION Meanwhile, Dimple still has her long-time business, Rhythm Nation Entertainment which started back in Guyana in 1995. The show was on for almost 10 years before Dimple migrated to the United States.

She was just 18 years old when she began on television what became a successful show that was loved by many, especially the young generation. The show, a pioneer programme for Hip-Hop (Rap) and R&B music, never moved from Channel 9. “It was the first show of its kind.

I was the first female to have a live TV show at the hour and the time at that time, in the 1990s, 1996 to be exact,” Dimple had said.

Additionally, since 2016, she started a nonprofit organization called ‘The Stalwarts Youth’ which was

founded to promote literacy and to empower youths locally, nationally and internationally. Anaya, her younger daughter was the inspiration behind this. The 13-yearold now has four published books.

Rhythm Nation currently works along with small businesses to assist them in whatever business needs they may have; from setting up their business to filming TV commercials. Dimple’s older daughter, 26-year-old Chantelle Grant, takes the lead on the events they host.

Her husband, Winston, is also a Guyanese who is now a New York Police Department Lieutenant. She is also mother to 10-year-old Brandon.

Dimple attended D’Urban Street Primary before pressing on to St. Joseph High School in Guyana.

After moving away, she continued with her studies and today has a ‘Masters of Science’ in Media Studies and a Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism with a Minor in Marketing and Economics.

Dimple at the Brooklyn Borough Hall at the launch of her daughter’s fourth book

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

English Sunday, December 22, 2019

STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, ractise the good habit of using whatever knowledge you have learned or else you will quickly lose your capacity to remember it. Sometimes you find that things get so bad that you do not even remember anything you learned by the end of the day. Stop trying to learn too much at one sitting. Try finding understanding and with that comes learning. Complement each area of study with a live interest in the subject outside your study hours. Persevere. Be wise.

Love you.

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IMPROVING YOUR WRITING Part 1: Maintaining Reader Interest in Your Story It must be that all children are actors. The whole thing started with a boy on our street named Walter, who had inflammatory rheumatism. That’s what they called it. He didn’t have to go to school.

Still he could walk about. He could go fishing in the creek or the water works pond. There was a place up at the pond where in the spring the water came tumbling over the dam and formed a deep pool. It was a good place. Sometimes you could get some big ones there.

I went down that way on my way to school one spring morning. It was out of my way, but I wanted to see if Walter was there.

He was, inflammatory rheumatism and all. There he was, sitting with a big fish pole in his hand. He had been able to walk down there all right.

It was then that my own legs began to hurt. My back too. I went on to school but at the recess time I began to cry.

I did it when the teacher, Sarah Suggett, had come out into the schoolhouse yard.

She came right over to me.

“I ache all over,” I said. I did, too.

I kept on crying and it worked all right.

“You’d better go on home,” she said.

So, I went. I limped painfully away. I kept on limping until I got out of the schoolhouse street. Then I felt better. I still had inflammatory rheumatism pretty bad, but I could get along better….

(Sherwood Anderson’s “Stolen Days”)

About the Passage Reminder: A character is a person or animal that takes part in the action of a literary work.

Today’s piece is chosen to help students’ see how reader interest can be maintained with the help of character traits.

The “I” narrator, the school-aged boy in this story, “Stolen Days,” has personality and attitude. He is depended on to make the reader not put the narrative down. Look at the steps taken by the writer to develop his main character.

Look at the simple, everyday language Anderson uses to capture the sense of the child’s obvious loneliness and maybe lost hope.

Look for character traits that show boys’ qualities, attitudes, and values. Look for other description of people and situations that draw reader interest.

Something to Do Looking closer at the text: 1. (a) What words does the writer use to directly describe his leading character? (b) What does his “I” narrator do and say? (c ) Would you agree that the main character was trying to catch the attention of someone else through his action?

How? What for? (d) (i) Think of something you have done to catch the attention of a person or a group of people. (ii) Practise a few sentences about your action and its result. (e) How would continue and end today’s excerpt?

2. Think about the “I” narrator. (a) Who inspires the schoolboy to think he has inflammatory rheumatism? (b) Why does he think this would be an appealing disease with which to be afflicted? (c ) What does he do that causes his teacher to send him home and away from school? (d) Why does he want to be sent away in the first place? (e ) How do you think the narrator’s family might respond to his claim of inflammatory rheumatism?

3. Think about Anderson’s unique story writing technique. (a) Tell yourself and study partners how much of it you

THOUGHT for TODAY Although the most acute judges of the witches and even the witches themselves, were convinced of the guilt of witchery, the guilt nevertheless was non-existent.

It is thus with all guilt. think you can replicate. (b) Show this off by writing a short story about a school-aged boy, who obviously needs personal attention, in a small rural neighbourhood. (c ) Let your study group make comments guided by the writer’s style.

Part 2: Point of View Reminder: Point of view in a short story or novel points to the angle from which the reader sees people, objects, or events.

It controls what the reader knows.

When you write, make a clear decision about your choice of narrator. Is your narrator going to be a participant in the story events being told, an observer of those events, or someone reconstructing the events from afar? These are some factors you need to consider making your story capture the reader.

Remember your choice is not only finding a point of telling the story but also of telling the story the right way, making the world you create understandable and believable.

Here are the main (common place) points of view used by story writers: 1) First-person singular called “I” narrator, which reveals an individual’s experience, (“I did, I thought, I said”). The narrator and protagonist are the same character. First-person plural is characterised by the use of “we,” (“We did, we thought, we said”).

2) Third person limited, and omniscient perspectives use “he” or “she” and the character’s name. The limited denotes a one-character perspective, (“She did this, he did that; they thought”). The reader only gets to know about what this single character knows, sees, hears, and senses. The omniscient is used more for big casts and complex plots in novels. Here the author is allowed to move into the minds of characters at different times and places; he knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters. [Here we will leave off giving information.]

The not common and rarely seen used is the second person perspective where the narrator speaks in the third person (“You did” and so on). [We leave this for later.]

What to Do: (1) Find stories you have written. Read the paragraphs through. Notice how the sentences and paragraphs are guided by the perspective you chose to use in each story. (2) Pick out a favourite story. Study it well. Now write that story from a different point of view. Let your fellow study partners comment on your attempt.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019

Pepperpot Ingredients ■ 2 lbs stewing steak (pork or beef) or brisket ■ 2 pig trotters or cow’s heels (optional: it will make it gooey) ■ 2 lbs ox tail ■ 1 cup cassareep ■ 2 red hot peppers ■ 1 inch stick cinnamon ■ 3 heads clove ■ 2 oz. sugar ■ Salt to taste ■ 2 stalks basil ■ 1 bunch fine thyme ■ 1 large chopped onion ■ 3 cloves ■ chopped garlic

Preparation ● Clean the meat thoroughly. ● Put the heel or trotters in covered pan with water to boil then skim. ● When half tender add other meat and hot water to cover. ● Add all other ingredients and simmer until meat is tender. ● Adjust flavor with salt and sugar.

Note: This dish develops flavor when left over a period of days.

If left un-refrigerated, it must be reheated to a boil every day.

guyanesefood.com

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― December 22, 2019