Guyana_Chronicle_Pepperpot_11_15_2020

Happy Diwali The festival of lights has passed but we can still reflect on its message of the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.

Sunday, November 15, 2020

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

So Many Issues to deal with

By Francis Quamina Farrier

There is a myriad of issues and topics which keep presenting themselves in competition for immediate consideration to be in this week’s feature article of mine; thus, the decision which required the above headline. Nonetheless, this article can only accommodate three of the many issues and hot topics which are swirling around at this time.

UNNECESSARY FLOODING CONTINUES IN GEORGETOWN

The first issue decided on is the continuing flooding in Guyana’s capital city, Georgetown. Many elderly citizens

of the former “Garden City of the Caribbean” had no such experience during their younger years. Some of the younger citizens of today are sometimes skeptical of accepting such claims by the elders. There was the time when there were the regular May-June and the Pre-Christmas rain-fall seasons which came like clockwork here in British Guiana/Guyana. The May-June was the big annual

Trees growing in a Georgetown Koker out-fall impeding full out-flow of water (Photo by F.Q. Farrier)

Farrier outside the White House in Washington, DC, USA when President Barack Obama was in residence

rainy season. Showers were extremely heavy and incessant. They were referred to as “falling like bucket-a-drop.”

However, there was never the kind of regular flooding as experienced since the turn of the century. Discussing this topic with a number of experts over the past two decades, I was advised that added to the negative effects of Climate Change, the dramatic increase of rainfall, and the decrease of water holdings (canals) in Georgetown, all play a contributory factor in the watery problem.

Former north to south city canals at East, Thomas, Camp, Waterloo, Carmichael and Main Streets have all been filled in and are now avenues for pedestrians. That leaves millions of gallons of rain-fall water nowhere to go when the kokers are closed, but onto the streets, and even over the very avenues and pavements which become like canals again. The relatively poor maintenance of existing canals in Georgetown, such as the Lying Avenue Canal, is also part of the reason for the floods. Those citizens who clutter the drains with litter and garbage must also bear much of the blame. Most of the

culverts are also in need of scheduled desilting.

The above has been addressed by myself and other journalists, reporters and members of civil society over the decades since the problem emerged over four decades ago. What is now obviously needed is sustained action by the relevant authorities. It would be recalled that there was a noticeable absence of flooding in Georgetown after the thorough clean-up campaign of the city in the latter months of 2015. Many citizens took note of that as they observed the positive results and were happy. Unfortunately, that improvement was not sustained and the happiness of citizens was short-lived. With regular rainfall, the floods in Georgetown have returned resulting in streets and yards becoming inundated. That is extremely discomforting to citizens and visitors alike. One of the reasons contributing to the flooding in the city is the clogged-up koker out-falls. Keeping canals clean is important, but that is usually an exercise in futility when the koker out-falls are all clogged-up and water can’t get out when the kokers are opened. In one particular case, there are large trees growing in one of the koker out-falls, blocking over 80 percent of water getting out when the koker is open. I have looked at that koker many times when it was open and observed how the water was struggling to get out.

THE DRAMA OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

With tens of thousands of Guyanese residing and voting in the recent contentious Presidential Election in the United States of America, that is certainly a topic for inclusion in this feature article of mine. On March 2 of this year 2020, Guyana experienced a General Election as never before. The official result of that General Elections was not officially settled until early August when the present PPP/C government was installed. America played a vital role in bringing the long-drawn-out process to a conclusion.

The United States of America is also experiencing a Presidential Election fiasco. Although that 2020 election concluded over a week ago, and the winner officially declared, the incumbent president has so far not conceded and offered congratulations to the victor. There was an extremely high voter turnout at that November 3, 2020 election. Somewhat different this time around, was a high percentage of mailin voting and early voting. The official result is that the Former Vice-President and Democratic Party Presidential candidate Joe Biden has won. Incumbent President Donald Trump has so far not conceded and offered congratulations to the winner. He is claiming that he has been cheated and plans to take the matter to court. Meanwhile, Heads-of-State from several countries including Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, have already extended congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden. At this time no one knows exactly what would play out on January 20, 2021, when President See Page XVII

Dedication and discipline The keys to a successful business

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

The team at ‘Sukhoo Electrical, Elevator and Escalator Services.’

Ghanshayan Sukhoo

By Telesha Ramnarine

M

ORA Point at Mahaicony Creek was a rather remote and deprived community when Ghanshayan Sukhoo was growing up and to think that he’d benefit from a secondary education and more so, “become somebody” in life,

was hardly imaginable.

Perhaps it was because of the stance his and many other parents took; that once the child received a certain amount of primary education, then it’s time to join hands in the rice farming or cattle-rearing businesses.

B u t G h a n s h a y a n ’s teacher saw his abilities and encouraged his mom to

The business provides electrical installation services, along with automatic gates and garage doors, among others

let him continue in school.

The father wouldn’t hear of it though, so his mother brought him out to stay with a relative in Enmore, East Coast Demerara where, unknown to his father, he had the opportunity to attend secondary school.

That would be the start of a successful life for Ghanshayan who would eventually press on to becoming one of the most qualified persons in the electrical, machinery and automation fields. “In school, I loved Maths and Accounts, and I always felt to myself that I had what it takes to become somebody in life.”

In fact, Ghanshayan’s business, ‘Sukhoo Electrical, Elevator and Escalator Services’ might be the only local company in the field of repairing elevators and escalators, apart from the Chinese and other foreigners.

‘Sukhoo’s’ also supplies and installs some of the world’s best elevators like the Otis GeN2 Elevator and China’s No.1 Elevator, Canny Elevator.

At just 34 years old, Ghanshayan is the owner of the thriving business that works with top-notch clients like ExxonMobil, Teleperformance, Emerge, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and several other renowned organizations.

Some of the services his company provides are electrical installation, solar-powered system installation, automatic gate and garage door installation, generator repair and installation and security alarm systems.

The team strives to deliver services that are of excellent quality.

It’s the Dedication One of the major stepping stones in Ghanshayan’s life came as a result of the free apprenticeship programme that the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) offered him in which he trained for four years at Port Mourant.

He endured strict and rigorous training and emerged at the top with the ‘Watson’ award and distinctions in Electrical Installation, Auto Electrical and Instrument Repair Mechanics (Instrumentation).

After serving GUYSUCO for two years, Ghanshayan joined the National Frequency Management Unit in 2007, while he also worked part-time on the weekends. While there, he was afforded the opportunity to pursue a diploma in Telecommunications in Washington and another See page IX

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

‘Now we Hair’ Natural hair enthusiast promoting haircare with homemade products

By Naomi Parris FOR many women hair can mean so many things.

However, sometimes finding the right products to care for curly hair texture can be difficult.

Having natural, thick, curly tresses, Ariana Gray, 27, has had her fair share of the straighteners and chemicals, which stripped her hair of its true beauty. However the young woman recently found a solution with all organic ingredients to give her hair the nourishment and care that it needs.

Gray who is the owner of the ‘Now We Hair’ hair care products, cooks up her own her own hair products in her kitchen.

“Initially I didn’t start out wanting it to be a haircare business. I was just looking

to create a hair page where I could give people with natural hair, hair tips and hair care routines because when I started the natural hair journey it was very difficult finding styles, knowing what to do with your hair,” she told the Pepperpot magazine.

Not wanting to keep the secret ingredients to her luscious locks to herself, the entrepreneur decided to share her natural hair products with the rest of the country through her small business.

“I started making my own products and then some of my friends and families were like why you don’t introduce the products to other people so you can help them as well,” she said adding. “For the deep conditioners, I have them in banana mango and avocado. Whenever the customer’s order I have the fruit

at hand and other ingredients and I just whip them up in my kitchen and then pack them and they are stored in the fridge until the persons pick them up.”

The young woman stated that despite the business being fairly new, the response she has been receiving has been astonishing even with the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“It’s been really good I wasn’t expecting persons to respond to it like the way they have been. I’m very happy. When they give me good response and feedback I feel so happy to know that something I have been doing has been helping other people,” she said.

‘Now We Hair’ products

HAIR CARE IS SELF CARE As the entire world and Guyana continues to grapple with the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, self-care remains fundamental in keeping one’s mental and physical health in check as such.

She noted that hair care is one way to start a self-care routine.

“It’s relaxing, it would get your mind off of so much and with a lot of my customers it seems as though when they try the product they are so shocked that it works for them,” Gray said adding, “I think that takes away from whatever stress they are feeling because a lot of them struggle with finding things that go with their hair.”

TO HIGHER HEIGHTS With regard to her business growing in the future, the young woman noted that she is looking forward to adding new products to her line and eventually owning an establishment where her customers and lay back and have their hair and scalp treated with her products.

“I would like to have a ‘Now We Hair’ salon, first I would like to introduce a bit more products to my line and then down the road I would like to have a salon where people could come and use my products.”

She added that one day she’d love to have her products featured on the shelves of local beauty supply stores, however there is still much more work to be done, since

Ariana Gray, owner and creator of the ‘Now We Hair’ products

her lab is currently her kitchen.

“I’m still in the trial stage, where I am searching for different preservatives that can help to prolong the shelf outside of the fridge, because as for now the products have to be stored in the fridge and in the freezer,” she said.

A HAIR DISCOVERY JOURNEY Sharing the details of her personally hair journey, Gray said, “I had straightened throughout my entire high school, when I straighten my hair it was very long, but eventually my hair started

breaking and then I saw everyone on this natural journey.”

The young woman noted that changing her hair regimen to all-natural/organic products has seen her hair flourishing over a period of time.

“I did my research and I came up with this process called transition, where you let your natural hair grow out while still holding on to your straighten ends,” she said. “I did it for about seven months … in 2017 I decided to cut off my straight ends and let my hair grow out and so far it’s been going good.”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

Eighteen years and Guyana’s lone female going strong Gospel Band

By Dillon Goring

Born with a vision to empower women through music and ministry, Guyana‘s all-Female Gospel Band was formed on November 2, 2002.

The band, titled the Vision All-Female Band, came into existence as a result of a casual conversation between the leader of the band Sharron Bryan and one of its members Juliana Walters, who serves as its bass player.

During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Bryan recalled how the band started and its vision.

“A friend and I, Juliana Walters, we met by chance one day and we started talking. She was also a musician, she played the bass and the keyboard, and I played the keyboard, so we started talking about forming a group and we wanted something original and unique, we did not want to be like everybody else,” she said.

“So we got the idea to form

an all-female Gospel Band and from there we started to look for other women who were either singers or musicians, and we were able to find women from all across Guyana.”

Bryan recalled that the objectivity behind the formation of a band was to do more with their gifts and talents.

It was also a dream for both individuals to play in a band and to make an impact on society.

Bryan is careful to recall that one year after the band was formed, they recorded their first single and album with 10 songs titled the “The Lord Can”.

Just a few years ago, the band recorded another single which addressed the issue of Domestic Violence,

with a more suitable name “Women Rise Up “.

The nine-member bandstarted with approximately 20

women, but due to varying circumstances, most persons made their exit from the band.

This gospel band like many organisations and associations faced many challenges since its formation.

“We had no precedence to look at, we basically chartered our own course, and we learnt along the way and that in itself was a great experience. The challenges of being all-female, to juggle the responsibilities of home, family, work and relationships, it was tough particularly for the women who have children,” she said.

The all– female band is comprised of women from all regions of the country including Regions 10, 4 and 5.

Forward projections of the band Bryan spoke to the fact that the band has as its intention to empower women through Music and Ministry.

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Through the medium of preaching, singing and ministry, the band and its members can be used as a vehicle for change in the way women see themselves and face life’s challenges.

“Not only do we sing and play, we also preach. We have a pastor in the band and prophetess. We do ministry when we go out,” she said.

Faced with the challenges of a global pandemic, the band has now shifted its attention to social media.

In observance of 18 years, the band hosted an online Worship Session to commemorate the auspicious occasion.

The band intends to continue to empower women through its music and ministry, hosting of events such as Girl Empowerment seminars and programmes.

Bryan encourages women and girls not to give up on your dreams because anything is possible when you go hard after it.

Changing the Guyanese Young artist and her unique art industry flair in visual arts

By Marissa V. Foster.

Teija Marie Edwards is a 17-year-old with a passion for the arts and culture. She is a canvas painter but she also dabbles in other art forms. She recently experimented with tye-die and a bit of sculpture making. Her inspiration mainly comes from the Caribbean culture with references to carnival and steel pan. It can also be paired with Western animations and Anime that she frequently watches.

Art styles, animation and colours are all things that excite her, especially when executed perfectly. Edwards tends to get very critical towards work whenever she notices these three elements out of place. She believes that it doesn’t matter how great a story is, if any of these elements are off—it can ruin the experience.

“The way I create my pieces are similar to many other artists. I get comfortable in the place designated for creating, put on a playlist that really gets me in that creating mood and I start doing my thing and hope no one calls for me because I probably, won’t hear them,” said Teija. Her art style incorporates portraits as well. She does not put in any facial features (facial hair if necessary though). She believes that her use of colour also sets her apart from other artists.

Teija explained that “I’m strongly inspired by the works of Makoto Shinkai (the mastermind behind movies like “Your Name”, “Weathering with you” and “Garden of words” and Studio Ghibli, “The animation studio behind “Spirited away” and “Howls Moving Castle” where vibrancy and

stellar colour usage is applied and is absolutely mesmerising to watch.” She continued by saying, “When people look at my work, I want them to feel the same awe, warmth and joy I felt when I watch one of their works, even though it’s two different mediums”.

Filled with gratitude, this 17-year-old artist explained that she is really lucky to have a family that supports her dreams of wanting to pursue art professionally.

They didn’t stress on her to keep it as a hobby and find a “real” major/career. That’s a major relief for her. Teija is currently enrolled in the AS art programme at School of the Nations. She hopes to further her artistic journey by completing the AL course and then move on to UniverSee Page XX

Location: Sunset City (revised) by Teija Edwards.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

DIYA

A REBORN SOUL AND DIVINE INTERVENTION

SONGS of devotion, sweet melodies honouring the Goddess of Light, celebrating Deepavali, as good, like an expert charioteer raced on fiery wheels conquering the darkness of evil.

But far away, across the seas, in a small South American country, a young Hindu girl struggled with the dark forces of something bad.

On a Diwali night, she had been born and named after the earthen lamp.

Diya held the unlit diya in her hand and looked around uncertainly at the lighted lamps glowing in the night. A spectacular scene in a golden hue, flickering flames that drove a strange fear in her heart. She couldn’t understand this deep fear of fires that gave her a feeling of doom. It stayed within her as she grew each day to age sixteen; this Diwali night.

“How long am I going to live life like this?” she wondered, looking at the diya in her hand, “I must overcome this fear, I must.”

She was a true devotee of the Hindu deity, Mother Laxmi and she whispered softly, the Goddess’s name as she bent to light the diya but before she could, someone held her hand firmly.

“Don’t do it, Diya,” her mother said.

“Why mom?” she asked, confused. “Why can’t I light a diya? Why can’t I celebrate this day I was born on?”

“I don’t know, my child,” Her mother said comfortingly.

“The first Diwali you did that, you screamed like your body was on fire.”

The Pandit had told her mother after she had consulted with him hoping he could explain the strange occurrence in her child’s life.

“In a former life, your child had a bad encounter, so bad, the fear has carried on in this life.”

“When or how will it go away?” the worried mother had

asked.

“Only time will tell,” the Pandit had revealed, “For she will have to cross seas to that birthplace in the motherland to find the truth that will release this fear.”

Diya had been born in a society with a West Indian culture, a beautiful free life to live; to enjoy. It was completely different from the harsh cultural traditions of the motherland where the caste and gender bias systems were still dominant in the lives of the people.

Diya was a brilliant and smart child and she excelled in school. She wanted to be a doctor, nurturing in her heart, a passion to work for the poor.

As she stood watching the lighted diyas, she thought it was time to banish that fear of fire from her life. She walked into the Mandir, a glint of determination in her eyes and sitting at the foot of the Hindu Goddess she prayed.

“Please Mother, allow my mind to see what happened in my past life so the fear in me can be dispelled to live this life.”

The night wore on and one by one the earthen lamps burnt out as the dark hours passed except one. As she sat there in deep prayers, Diya’s felt spiritual form transcending time, crossing the seas to her past home. In a poor village where survival and hopes hung heavily on tradition, she saw little girls huddled in corners, seemingly orphaned by their own; hungry and helpless.

“Oh dear God,” she exclaimed quietly, disturbed.

The diyas in the temple continued to burn as she was guided to a modest house, brightly lit. The family was celebrating Diwali, a beautiful, happy family, but all the children were boys. Diya did not feel any joy for in her heart she felt something bad had happened there.

A little boy was asking of his father, “Why isn’t aunty coming out?”

“She doesn’t like the fireworks.” The father answered.

Those words seemed to tell Diya something and she entered the house.

In the house in a dim-lit corner, a woman sat, expressionless as though time had consumed all her emotions, leaving her empty. Diya looking at her felt a strong sensation in her being and reaching out she touched her lightly. The woman raised her hand and gasped and from nowhere a fire seemed to ignite and a baby’s terrified screams filled the air.

“My baby!” the woman screamed, “Don’t hurt my baby!”

“It should have been a boy,” cold voices said from the shadows.

“No!” the screams continued and Diya opened her eyes with a choked gasp, she felt suffocated and it took her long time before she could pull herself together. One diya at the feet of the Goddess was still alight and Diya picked it up, crying.

She had found the answers she wanted, that released the fear within her but a mother was still crying for a lost child, re-born in a home, far away.

“Bless me, oh dear Mother,” Diya said, “So in this new life I can return to save my mother from her deep grief, so she can be happy.”

It didn’t take her long to make that memorable trip back home as a reincarnated soul. The family who had not wanted the baby girl, watch stunned as Diya reunited with the mother of her past life.

“Your baby was reborn with the blessings of Mother Laxmi,” Diya said to her, “No more pain, no more tears, I have returned to you.”

A light sparkled in the woman’s eyes and her hands, the burnt, scarred skin grasped Diya’s firmly.

The death and rebirth of a child on the same Diwali night, a divine intervention to right a wrong.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

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The people of Eastern Hogg Island, Essequibo River (Carl Croker photos)

A visit to the Essequibo Islands

By Michel Outridge

and it is sold to wholesale buyers and other ‘middlemen.’

The people of Hoggg Island are scattered across the vast landmass, most of which is overgrown by bushes and other vegetation.

The island is said to be the largest in the Essequibo River

This week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed over land and water to two of the 365 islands in the Essequibo River, that is, Hoggg Island and Dookalbo Island.

These two locations can be reached via the Hubu Koker, Parika, East Bank Essequibo with a boat and the journey entails several hours on the Essequibo River, navigating the murky waves and being exposed to the elements.

The first place visited was Eastern Hoggg Island, where a group of curious residents came in their boats to engage in dialogue.

The tide was a bit low and the speedboat which is powered by a 40 horsepower engine had to be hauled in manually to shore, a beach, where other boats were moored.

According to residents, the tide is always rough at this section of the river, creating large swellings and when the tide is low they cannot travel via boat, the only mode of transportation.

On this section of the island, there are a handful of houses with a very large landmass which is used for large-scale farming and Motielall Sukhlall, 72-year-old resident of Eastern Hoggg Dookalbo Island the rearing of livestock.

Island Hoggg Island is the home of the largest and most juicy watermelons. They also grow and is divided into Eastern, corn, pumpkins and ground provisions on a large scale We s t e r n a n d Northern sections.

On the bottom half of the island, there is a health centre The people of Dookalbo Island and a primary school, but it is not easily accessible to villagers on the Eastern side of the island because it is time-consuming and not pocket-friendly in terms of the purchase of gasoline.

Hoggg Island is home to mostly Indo Guyanese and a few Afro Guyanese who are farmers and labourers on farms.

The people are simple and welcoming and did not hesitate to engage the team during its visit to the island.

Hoggg Island is located just five kilometres from the river’s mouth in the estuary into the Atlantic Ocean.

With a total area coverage of 60 kilometres (23 square

miles) Hoggg Island is larger than many Caribbean islands.

It has about 200 residents whose livelihoods revolve around farming, but over the years many people relocated to other parts of the country due to flooding and erosion of the land and other challenges.

It is reported that the island used to be controlled by the Dutch, who were the early settlers when it was known as Varken Eiland or Hoggg Island, so named due to it being inhabited by a large number of wild hoggs.

Then in 1814 with the cessation of the Napoleonic Wars, the British gained control of the Dutch colonies: Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo, leaving the Dutch with Suriname until 1975. The British had decided to keep the name of the island as the Dutch did Hoggg Island.

Farm life A village elder, 72-year-old Motielall Sukhlall, who is a farmer told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is a resident of Brickery, Eastern Hoggg Island.

He works on a farm with some villagers as a foreman, who would supervise workers who are employed by a largescale farmer.

See page XV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

Making the most of life on

Hogg Island

By Michel Outridge

For Mahase Budhram, a large scale farmer who employs the young men on Hogg Island, Essequibo River, he has never taken a day off as a farmer in all his years of the profession.

The 41-year-old is a resident of Eastern Hogg Island, Essequibo River and plants watermelons, pumpkins, corn and ground provisions.

He is a victim of flooding and erosion which has destroyed most of his crops during the last spring tide about two weeks ago when the island was inundated due to severe high tide.

Budhram disclosed that there is no sea defence to surround the island, as such, they are prone to flooding and erosion. Over the years he has seen large portions of the island being swallowed up by the ocean.

He reported that if some large boulders can be placed around the island it will reduce the chances of flooding and it will serve as a ‘grind’ to also prevent further erosion of the island.

The farmer told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is originally from Wakenaam, another island in the Essequibo River, but relocated to Hogg Island with his family when he was still a boy.

The father of four stated that life is fair but if they get some help from the authorities to dig some internal canals and trenches to drain the water off the land, it will be good for them.

“I would sell my produce in a large quantity to buyers at Parika wharf after transporting it via boats and at times I would make a profit others I would carry losses but it is the only work I know to do to upkeep my family,” he said.

Budhram disclosed that the spring tide is every fortnight and one comes high and the other low.

He pointed out that they don’t have the convenience of a health post or a school so they have to travel via boat everywhere and it is very costly and they do not have access to many things yet they survive.

Returning to Guyana to start life all over again The Pepperpot Magazine also met Gaitree (only name)

Harrychand Khelwar and his family (Carl Croker photos)

Mahase Budhram

who was with her Spanish daughter-in-law, Naomi Alejandra, with four small children.

Naomi Alejandra stated that she used to live in Venezuela but due to the country’s economic hardship she was forced to return to Guyana, her husband’s place of birth.

She added that her husband is from Hogg Island, Essequibo River and they constructed a small makeshift house and he works as a labourer on a farm.

These women said they are thankful for the government’s COVID-19 cash grant relief of $25,000 per household and they used that money to buy much needed groceries.

Alejandra and her family returned to Guyana two years ago and they had to re-start their life while Gaitree is doing domestic work on the island to bring in an income to her home.

The fisherman Meanwhile, another local, Ramraj Narine told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is on the island, living and working for the past eight years.

He is from Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and relocated to Hogg Island where he is fisherman and is rearing some chickens.

The 30-year-old stated that he is also planting some bananas and plantains to complement his income as a self-employed person.

“Right now I don’t have my own boat and engine and I am working with somebody and it is not easy so if I get my own boat and engine it will be better and I am working towards achieving that,” he said.

Gadraj called “Duchee”

Damodar Budhram, a farmer Meanwhile, 40-year-old, Damodar Budhram told the Pepperpot Magazine that he lives on Eastern Hogg Island and has a farm.

The father of one reported that he has in his employ most young men of the island and some newcomers since workers would come and go.

Presently, he has about a dozen employees, who assist him on the farm and he has nine houses on the island where

Damodar Budhram

he provides living accommodation for his workers, so they live and work there.

Budhram added that he cultivates 20 acres of plantains, 10 acres of watermelons, another 10 acres of coconuts and rear cows and sheep.

“Due to flooding many of the sheep died because of the water and they are often overwhelmed with sand flies which would eat away around the eyes of the sheep,” he said.

Farmhand Gadraj (only name given) called “Duchee” disclosed that he is a farmhand on Damodar Budhram’s farm and has been on the island for the past 13 years.

He reported that he functions as the foreman, to supervise workers and they have a lot of challenges in framing since there are no internal drains or canals or sea defence to prevent flooding and erosion.

The father of three Harrychand Khelwar is also a resident of Eastern Hogg Island, Essequibo River and is the father of three children.

He disclosed that life on the island isn’t exactly easy because they have a lot of challenges and if one has a generator it is $2,000 a night for gasoline to operate it.

To go anywhere is by boat and the purchase of gasoline is heavy on the pockets of regular people on the island, who are small farmers.

The livestock section of the yard at the Persauds

See page X

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

Remembering the earliest days of Hogg Island

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Island’s eldest resident contented with life there

By Michel Outridge Brigonauth nee Maraj is the oldest gentleman of Eastern Hogg Island, Essequibo River and is basking in his retirement age even though he is in a wheelchair.

The 88-year-old was among the first settlers of the island in 1960 where he constructed a ‘bush’ house and settled there with his family from his hometown of Leguan Island.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that he first visited Hogg Island in 1959 to work and he fell in love with the place and after building a little ‘bush’ house he brought his wife and six children there. Later on, they added four more children to the batch.

Brigonauth disclosed that when he came to live on Hogg Island it had only one resident, a man named Butchell Brown who was a farmer and passed away many years ago.

The elder reported that he began farming alongside his wife to earn and from a little garden they cleared the land and began planting more pumpkins, corn, watermelons, and ground provisions.

“When I first came here the place was overtaken by bush and I began clearing the land and build a little shack I called a ‘bush’ house and brought my family where we Home of Brigonauth

started our life as farmers,” he said.

The father of 10 added that his wife worked hard with him in the back dam but she died 19 years ago.

This elder spent more than 43 years farming and living off the land on Eastern

and at one time they had about 35 children attending the class.

A teacher however, visited and later when the Ministry of Education got wind of the news they visited and a primary school was constructed on Eastern Hogg

girl was promised to another young man and this development angered the 21-yearold, who took the 18-year-old to the school and chopped her to death.

He then ingested a poisonous substance and fled but was later found in a canal

One of Brigonauth’s cows grazing (Carl Croker photos)

Hogg Island and can safely say he is ‘a son of the soil’.

The 88-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that after he settled on the island, more people came to live and work and there was a need for a school since there was none.

He started a ‘bottom house’ school at his house where there was a small shed

Island.

The children of the island finally had a proper school building and it housed more than 40 children up until many years after a torrid love story ended tragically in the school which caused it to become abandoned.

Brigonauth disclosed that two young people of the island were in love but the

barely alive and passed away not long after.

Following this tragic ending for the young couple, the elder said that the school was said to be haunted and it was abandoned and left to rot.

Today, sections of the building are still there but are invaded by thick vegetation and bushes.

The eldest resident cur-

Brigonauth, the oldest resident of Eastern Hogg Island.

rently resides on the lower flat of his house while one of his sons occupies the top flat of the building.

The arrangement is quite perfect for him since he would sit outside in his wheelchair to enjoy the ocean breeze and listen to the radio until it is time for bed.

He had the use of both legs until he could no longer walk three years ago after experiencing intense pain in his body and was told by health care professionals he had severe arthritis in the joints of his body.

Brigonauth spent some time, in several hospitals before he was correctly diagnosed since most doctors could not say what his health complication was.

“From being in good health to getting up one day and realising that you cannot

walk and I could not stand the pain of being touched because the pain was unbearable,” he said.

After receiving treatment, he was eventually discharged and taken to his home where he had to get used to being wheelchair-bound and became totally dependent on his son.

Brigonauth recalled that life wasn’t always easy to provide for a wife and 10 children but they tried their utmost and today, the children have their own families, some live on the island while others reside elsewhere.

Brigonauth told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is accustomed to the simple, quiet life Hogg Island has to suffer and he is quite contented with the solitude and can do without the crowd and noise,

From page III crash course in Trinidad.

Still feeling that he and his family were living from paycheck to paycheck, Ghanshayan was still examining his options. At the same time, one of his clients’ elevators shut down and no one could fix it, thus providing another stepping stone for him.

“My friend at Regency Hotel asked me if I wanted to give it a try and I told him I had never done elevators in my life but I would give it a try. It took me seven days and nights to get it back up. I said to myself this is a good business for me because there was no one locally in the elevator business except for foreigners. After then, I didn’t have to advertise as it was recommendation after

recommendation.”

He left his job and opened his own business.

First, it was an electrical business and then he made it to include elevator/escalator.

“It’s the dedication; you have to be disciplined. I spent hours day and night to self-study as I believe people don’t teach you everything.”

Ghanshayan’s team has been trained in both technical and occupational health and safety areas and has worked with several large organizations. “With each completed project, we strive to impart excellent quality, reliability, and certainty of execution, as well as impeccable guarantee and warranty support,” he said.

Dedication and discipline

X

D

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

Dookalbo Island

By Michel Outridge

ookalbo Island is one of the hundreds of islands in the Essequibo River and it is a twin-island, the smaller of which is uninhabited.

The larger Dookalbo Island is home to members of an extended family of eight, who are farmers, fishermen and they also rear livestock to earn.

There is no water supply, electricity, school, health facility or anything buildings except for a few houses on this island.

The people of this island friendly and welcoming and seem to be happy with the little they have and do not wish to be relocated since they prefer the solitude lifestyle.

The Pepperpot Magazine met a group of residents, who had gathered at the home of Buddy Singh.

He is the father of three and had been living on the island for the past 24 years.

Singh is a farmer but the recent spring tide caused flooding on the island and he has lost some livestock.

The island has no internal drains for floodwaters to recede as such, most parts of the island remain underwater.

The cows would go to higher ground to stay while the chickens weren’t so lucky and most perished.

The 55-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is from Hogg Island but relocated to Dookalbo Island at his father’s place after he passed away.

He is among the first settlers on the island and began to clear the land and started farming to bring in an income to his household.

Singh reported that he would plant ground provisions, banana, plantains and watermelons and the produce is transported via boat to Hubu Koker to be sold to buyers.

On his side of the island, there are five houses with families and on the other side of the island, there are three houses, making it eight families.

The nearest school and health centre is at Fort Island, about 20 minutes boat ride away.

Singh, like others, would like to have a dam so it can connect the island and the residents can walk instead of having to go around the island which is costly.

“At this point in the Essequibo River the water is mostly rough and unpredictable so it is difficult to travel but we take a chance when we have to go out,” he said.

Singh stated that the island has eight children, all schoolage and they attend Fort Island Primary School, which has just two young teachers.

However, the parents are asking that these young people be

Home-made decorations adorn the house of Buddy Singh

Buddy Singh (Carl Croker photos)

replaced with mature teachers which can engage the children in higher learning to expand their capabilities.

The farmer noted that if they can get a well for clean drinking water it would be good for them and they have small solar panels just to power a few bulbs.

They do not have the luxury of flushable toilets and would like to have at least one on the island for the children to use.

There is no drinking water except when they buy or use rainwater and in the dry season, it is difficult to source fresh water for drinking purposes.

“I am trying with what we have and we make-do and if we get a small help we will be glad since we don’t get any visitors,” he said.

Singh was, however, pleased that he benefitted from the government’s COVID-19 cash relief grant of $25,000 per household and the money was used wisely to buy foodstuff.

This resident has a makeshift landing where his small wooden boat is moored and when it rains the place is in a bad state and muddy.

Singh and his family seem happy to be at home and they are the friendliest of people, who welcome visitors with a hot meal and a cold beverage even on a rainy day.

Making the most of life on...

From page VIII Often people would go to the channel in the river and source water to drink when it doesn’t rain since they cannot afford to buy drinking water.

Meats for household consumption must be preserved since there is no way to freeze it on a daily basis.

Naomi Alejandra and her mother-inlaw, Gaitree

Khelwar added that most people would go to Parika to do their shopping and sell their produce and based on the tide they would be able to move around via boats.

“If there is an emergency and the tide is low, the boat cannot get out to the water for people to get medical attention and especially at nights it is dangerous to travel on the river,” he said.

For the past nine years he has transported his three children to a school on West Coast Demerara and it is costly since the primary school on the island is abandoned and overrun by bushes.

“Due to the many hardships on this island a lot of people left to find a better life because living here means hard work and with limited resources so people opted to go to greener pastures to make life,” he said.

Harrychand Khelwar

Ramraj Narine

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

The modest way of life on

XI

Dookalbo Island

Manesha Nellie

Some of the people of the island

By Michel Outridge Among the residents of Dookalbo Island, Essequibo River is Anjani Kandhai, a livestock farmer.

The 43-year-old reported that she is also a ground provisions farmer and when they have a harvest they would transport it to Parika, East Bank Essequibo, where it is sold.

“This river life isn’t easy and not for the faint at heart but when you are from here you get accustomed to the challenges and try to make things work in your favour,” she said.

Kandhai like many others are not in favour of life in rural and urban areas in the country and prefer the riverine quiet life even though they lack basic facilities.

She disclosed that they have become somewhat self-sufficient because they eat what they grow and use the meats are from the chickens, ducks, pigs and cows they rear.

This riverine villager is, however, worried about the rising high tides which would cause severe flooding inland and make livestock perish.

This mother stated that if one isn’t from the island will be difficult to reside there since they do not enjoy certain amenities but deal with just the basic.

Meanwhile, a young lady of the island, Manesha Nellie told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is finished with school but due to their limited mobility she is at home assisting

with household chores.

The 18-year-old used to go to school at Fort Island and later spent a year at C.V Nunes Primary School, Essequibo Coast.

She added that the island life is very modest and she is comfortable to be among family members since she isn’t very fond of the ‘road’ life.

Another resident of the island, Nandani Singh disclosed that she is residing with her extended family.

She is the mother of three small children while, her husband is a fisherman, who would use their boat to make a good catch in the freshwaters of the Essequibo River.

The catch is sold at Hubu Koker, East Bank Essequibo

Anjani Kandhai

Nandani Singh holding her child among other relatives

and the money is used to buy household items and groceries.

The 27-year-old stated that if they catch fish overnight it would be stored in an outdoor freezer for which ice is bought.

Then the next day, they would use their boat to go and sell the fish.

“We are okay with what we have which is not much but at least we have each other as a large family and we have the cooperation to make things easy and we prefer this kind of life rather than living in a residential area with a lot of people,” she said.

Singh pointed out that they would go out when necessary other than they have the time to do other things in which they can earn.

She was also pleased to receive the government’s cash grant relief for COVID-19 and the money was well spent.

“We don’t allow people here and we don’t go out much so we are hoping the virus stay put,” she said.

The eight families of this island, however, extend their gratitude to the administration for gifting them with the $25,000 cash relief grant and is of the hope they will see some form of development on their island.

XII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

Being audacious enough to work together THESE past two weeks I saw both the celebrations and the criticisms of the government’s first 100 days in office. My friends and I also listed the achievements of the government in the short time it has been in office, during a casual conversation. But at the same time I started to wonder what would Guyana be like if we were audacious enough to work together.

There are things that governments have to do because of their responsibility to the people they are elected to serve.

Maybe in Guyana we have come to expect less from our elected officials or maybe, we sometimes do not wish to acknowledge whatever good work they are doing simply because they are not the persons we preferred to have in government.

And maybe, fundamentally, we are each part of the problem because we can push for our elected officials to do more or stop our rigid loyalty to “our” perceived parties.

I am of the firm view, however, that the most audacious act this government, or any government in Guyana for that matter, can do would be to work together. I also believe that we have a role to play in calling for that.

During my four years in journalism, green development has not been a “sexy” topic. I find it challenging to engage people on climate change, renewable energy or similar “green” topics, simply because these stories just aren’t as compelling or exciting, generally. I believe people see the value of preserving our natural patrimony, but, it is not something they’re often excited to read or learn about.

Research shows that green development is the general trajectory countries should be taking. There has been a shift

towards more sustainable development in light of the climate crisis which has enveloped the world. Guyana has only just entered the oil-and-gas sector, but the world is increasingly moving towards the use of renewable energy.

And in Guyana, green development is a developmental trajectory which was floated by both of Guyana’s major parties. Both parties have advocated for the sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources to propel developmental efforts. That alone means something to me; it means that there is bipartisan support for this, at least in theory.

Logically, this should be something many more Guyanese are concerned with.

The current government, while in office previously, had proposed a Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). The previous government articulated a Green State Development Strategy (GSDS). Fundamentally, these two strategies strive to achieve the same green, sustainable development. But there are two different strategies, proposed by two different governments. We have not agreed upon one single strategy.

You know what I’m going to say: imagine the politicians being audacious enough to work together.

If we’re talking about sustainable development, our education sector has to be factored in as well. Building our human capacity is paramount. It is well ventilated that Guyana’s education sector is plagued by several inherent disparities.

This COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated those disparities.

While in government before, this current administration had begun a ‘One Laptop Per Family’ initiative, while the previous government went about establishing Information

and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs in many communities. These are just two projects which could help learners adapt to the ramifications of the pandemic (again, at least in theory). I believe that learners would be better positioned to contend with the pandemic, if both of these projects were developed together.

The last thing I’ll use to illustrate my point is the enduring, perceived racial divisions across the country. I think many of us are woefully aware that Guyana is not really a ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny’ country.

I think our politicians know this, and they know that it is due to deep, largely untouched feelings. Whether through efforts geared at “Social Cohesion” or “National Healing,” both of Guyana’s large parties at least articulated an intention to encourage better relations. Yet, here we are today.

It would be truly audacious if our elected officials could work together and help the Guyanese people who place their trust in them to heal.

I’m honestly not concerned with political motives and clout. I’m more concerned with initiatives that work, regardless of which elected official(s) they come from. More recently, there have been people who are advocating shared governance. Shared governance or a government of national unity is not an entirely new concept, but it may still be a quantum leap for us. Working together, at the very least, should be possible.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

The untold truth about life as a multitasker E

VER since I was a little girl I’ve always completed multiple tasks at the same time. Surprisingly, I excelled at all of these tasks because, in my mind, I did them to the best of my abilities. I probably got this bitter-sweet trait from my parents. They both are great at juggling more than one task at a time and they also see great results by doing so. The older I grew, the more tasks I was asked to complete and the more I multitasked to get them done. Little did I know that this would eventually have a dreadful side effect on my body and mind.

As time goes by, tasks will get more and more complex and a part of me underestimated this. I’ve been working as a writer, I’m a full-time student, I am an entrepreneur and I also have many other numerous titles under my name.

As I sit here and write this article, I’ve realised that it will be a personal one as I share the untold truth about life as a multitasker. You may be thinking that everybody multitasks. It’s all a part of life. That may be true, but this trait may be more dominant for some than it is for others (AKA myself).

To be honest, it gets tiring. Your body is tired most of the time from pushing its normal limits to complete these multiple tasks. Your life becomes one big scheduled plan

and you work with appointments for every life event.

Most of your family and friends are aware of this trait by the time you’re 18. Sometimes, they expect certain behaviours and outcomes from you without even realising that you’re human as well.

If you’re not organised, you will either take up too little or too much of your time doing a task and that will result in inconsistencies.

Let’s also not forget the mental strain it puts on your mind. It will cause a tremendous amount of stress on your mind and in return, your body will also note that stressful pattern on your mind.

The most important word to note here is: “NO”. If you already have enough to handle, if you feel mentally and physically drained, if you notice inconsistencies with the work you produce, then learn to say no when the next task is given. Learn to take a break for yourself. Regroup and refocus your attention on yourself and rebuild your energy level when you feel drained. I love all that I do and I want to excel in all of these areas, but I always have to remind myself that I need to relax.

It’s also important to remember that sometimes, just sometimes, quality is better over quantity.

CHRONICLEPEPPERPOT PEPPERPOT――Sunday, Sunday,November October 4,15,2020 CHRONICLE 2020

I

XIII XXV

Epilepsy

Hello Everyone,

ple can get physical if they find out they have been hope this week has betrayed TODAY I was asked to discuss an illness that an avid treated you well.

- End of a marriage/ rereader of mine is suffering from. She is hoping it brings awareness to our community as well as hope for others I recently re- lationship who may be experiencing the same, and now know that a request - Broken relationships they are ceived not alone. to discuss adultery with children and other famEpilepsy is a common neurological disorder that affects effects on known people ofand anyitsage.

It is also as a seizure disorder. ily members While anyone can develop it, epilepsy is more common in mentalthan well-being.

- Financial stress males females. mostly characterised by seizures which are AEpilepsy womanis had written - Medical consequences abnormal movements and behaviours caused by unusual about her husband’s sexually electrical activity in infidelithe brain. such They as areacquiring typicallya recurrent, unprovoked and come in many forms. A mild seizure may be ty and the anguish it brought transmitted disease (STD) difficult to identify and may only last a few seconds. While seizures areitusually unprovoked, there are a few(themselves triggers that her. I think is an important - Pregnancy may increase the chances of one. These include lack of sleep, topic diet, to discuss, as itstress is so or or the outside person) poor fever, high anxiety, caffeine or drug use and bright or flashing lights. prominent throughout our However, it is important to note that not everyone who exsociety. I seizures myself know very HighNow, periences has epilepsy. fevers,what drug withdrawal, does low blood sugar and head trauma can also cause seizures. This fewwhyrelationships thatto are cheating do tocentre the to is it is important go to your nearest health determine the cause. monogamouswhich means victim? to beOther married to or toofbeepilepsy in a include: It causes extreme hurt, symptoms - Short blackouts, memory loss or confusion sexual relationship with just low self-esteem and self- Repeated fainting Loss of bladder control doubt. It ruins the trust for one-partner.

- Repeated blinking We’re goingmovements to talk about not only the current, but also - Repeated Extreme tiredness being unfaithful in general for future relationships. This - Low motor control or stiffness as only married people can –isthis - Inability to communicate tendsprojecting, to especiallywhen hapcalled pen just before seizures commit adultery, butaggressivenessyou the victims more often - Irritability, anger, also are tends to happen just before do not havea seizure to be married than not afraid, insecure in order to bereoccurring devastatedseizures by andcanuntrusting in theirtollnewon Having take a serious someone’s life- affecting them physically, mentally and socialthat betrayal. relationships. This can lead ly. Seizures can cause physical damage to the body, especially if they when the individual standing, driving, cooking Foroccur the religious, adul- toishigh anxiety, depression and so on. Those with epilepsy typically have learning diffitery is aandsin;behavioural the word from andThe eveneffect suicide. culties problems. these can have on relationships, work-life, as well as the stigma can its Latin heritage ‘adulterCheating willattached also affect are’ means to corrupt. It is the children if the family is one of the major causes of split apart. Typically, trust breakups/divorce world- issues are also passed on to wide. However, its effects them, affecting both their fuon both individuals are ture friendships and intimate widespread. relationships.

Unfaithfulness/cheatI know many people who ing causes many problems have never been cheated on with both the cheater and (to their knowledge), but are the victim, ranging from terrified of it because one of

or not; there are people who cheat and people who do not. It’s simply a percause various forms of anxiety, depression and even suicidal sonal choice. There will thoughts and behaviours.

However, Guyana, Itobelieve the lack of knowledge and always be otherinproblems understanding of the disorder causes more challenges to the ‘blame’ thethan cheating on, but itself. My eyes opened to this individual the symptoms my first month returning despite temptation, weand as working in our community. Two frustrated parents brought their five-year-old child into the humans havePublic the capability Georgetown Hospital. They explained to my boss (who I was shadowing) that their son is ‘unruly’ and ‘never listens.’ toThey choose whether we hurt claimed that they would tell him to do something and instead ofdeeply doing it, someone or he not.would suck his teeth and turn his head.

They took this as insubordination and would lose patience and main reason always it would ‘help him listen.’ After hit The the child.

They believed a full examination, my boss said to the parents that the child cited to me is a lack of athad epilepsy and he turning his head and sucking his teeth was a form of tention.

Theseizure. partnerThat has day felt (and still now) I wondered how many other families are suffering and hoped that they would ignored significant all reachby outtheir for help.

There are various causes of epilepsy and seizures. Like other which has lowered anything else, there is a genetic component. One is more their and self-if other family members have allikelyself-esteem to develop Epilepsy ready developed it. Head trauma/injuries, infectious diseases worth. they seek such asTherefore, AIDS, prenatal injuries and developmental disorders such as autism increase the risk of epilepsy. Underlying brain attention elsewhere. injuries and conditions such as strokes or tumours can also There are many ways cause the condition. to give attention to your Epilepsy cannot be cured but rather effectively treated. The best course is prescription spouse.

Some examplesmedication and weekly counselling. The medication is to lower and control the seizures while are constant communicathe counselling helps with the subsequent consequences of the disorder.

If medications are ineffective, surgery is sometimes tion of the problem—not necessary to lower seizures. talking, ignoring and holdCertain diets have been proven to improve the overall health of the affected individual. The Ketogenic is often recing a grudgefor solves nothing. ommended children with epilepsy, especially if they have frequent seizures.

This involved Other examples are being high fats but low carbohydrates. For the older generation with epilepsy, the Atkins diet physically and mentally is recommended.

A beneficial behavioural change would be to keep a present and affectionate, seizure journal. This really helps to identify one’s triggers and lowers the possibility compassionate, patient, em-of seizures. Keep a note of when a seizure happens, what you were doing just before, how much pathetic sexually ac-will return. you slept.and A helpful pattern Every treatment is individualistic and depends on the pertive. Human beings long for these types of connections.

Basically, cheating is an external reaction to an internal problem. Participating in the above examples are internal solutions.

What happens after you have found out?

Well, there is a big deci-

son’s age, family history, medical history and overall health.

In 2013, researches from the UK determined that those with epilepsy live an average of 11 years less than the general population.

Below is some important information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the event that someone may be having a seizure around you.

Do’s * Ease the person to the floor. * Turn the person gently onto one side. This will help the person breathe. * Clear the area around the person of anything hard or sharp. This can prevent injury. * Put something soft and flat, like a folded jacket, under his or her head. * Remove eyeglasses if wearing * Loosen ties or anything around the neck that may make it hard to breathe. * Time the seizure. Go to the hospital if the seizure lasts more than 5 minutes.

Don’t’s * Do not hold the person down or try to stop his or her movements. * Do not put anything in the person’s mouth. This can injure teeth or the jaw. A person having a seizure cannot swallow his or her tongue. * Do not try to give mouth-to-mouth breaths (like CPR).

People usually start breathing again on their own after a seizure. * Do not offer the person water or food until he or she is fully alert.

If you feel like you or a family member might be suffering from epilepsy, please go into your nearest health centre. If you have any other condition for which you would like to spread awareness, please write in and let me know!

Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com.

If you are interested in personal counselling sessions, please WhatsApp me in +592 623 0433 Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers: 223-0001, 2230009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

XIV CLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 4, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 4, 2020

PESTICIDES AND ITS DANGERS SOME USES OF PEPPERMINT OIL

IN the last week of October, Pesticides Awareness Week was commemorated in Guyana. This observance is a regional one and was established by the Coordinating Group of Pesticide Control Boards of the Caribbean (CGPC) under the aegis of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Each Caribbean country has its own way of observing the week and in Guyana, it revolved around the Ministry of Agriculture.

The ministry enlisted the the Pesticide OME months ago,collaboration this columnof carried an and Chemicals Control Board and together they worked article on mint. The article treated mint as out a

S

folk medicine, but did make some reference to peppermint oil.

In this offering, we will be dealing with approximately 20 uses of peppermint oil and although the uses identified are different, the treatment tends to be similar. We would however not try to consolidate, but would deal with every use and its treatment individually.

Peppermint is derived from a species of herb, mint, which has over 20 varieties, but the two varieties most known are peppermint and spearmint. The main component of these mint species is menthol.

Peppermint oil, which has more menthol than spearmint, is extracted from the peppermint plant.

Peppermint oil was used for thousands of years and was known among the Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Indians. Indeed, it is still an important item in modern Chinese pharmacopeia. Two Chinese produced peppermint-based products, Shiling Oil and Tiger Balm, are well known and widely used in Guyana.

Although peppermint oil was known and used in the 19th century by Western countries (even in producing other medicines), it was only in the last few generations that intensive research on it had been done. Such research found that peppermint oil could bring relief to several kinds of ailments including digestive problems, bacterial infection, inflammation, fatigue, muscular soreness, congestion, allergies, headaches and halitosis.

Below we list a number of ailments and their peppermint o i l treatment. (These were taken from a reputable publication on alternative medicine.)

BOOSTING OF ENERGY: To improve mental and physical energy and clarity level, inhale peppermint oil throughout the day. This may be done via the use of an inhaler or merely by sprinkling a few drops on a kerchief.

GETTING RID OF DANDRUFF: Peppermint oil possesses anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, which allows it to combat dandruff effectively.

Relieves muscular pain: The menthol in peppermint oil has significant antispasmodic and anti-painkilling effects and a few drops mixed in coconut oil and massaged or rubbed on the affected muscle would bring relief.

their programme. The specific objective of the occasion was to strengthen pesticide awareness at the national and regional levels and the theme was appropriate: “PPE for COVID. PPE for pesticides: Health and Safety for All.” (PPE stands for ‘Personal Protective Equipment’.)

The enthusiastic Minister of Agriculture, The Hon Zulficar Mustapha assumed a personal involvement during the occasion and stressed the need for public awareness and training among the farming community and pesticide users to use pesticides responsibly. The minister pointed out that though

the risks and harmful effects of pesticides were known from the early 19th century, yet farmers do not protect themselves.

Mr Mustapha felt it was necessary to reiterate the deleterious effects of pesticides since farmers in particular need to be constantly reminded of them. “Pesticides,” reiterated the minister, “can cause short-term, adverse health effects, called acute effects, as well as chronic adverse effects that can occur months or even years after exposure. Examples of acute health effects are stinging eyes, rashes, blisters, blindness, nausea, dizziness, diarrhoea, and death. Examples of chronic effects are cancers, birth defects, reproductive harm, neurological and developmental toxicity, immune toxicity and disruption of the endocrine system. Farmworkers and pesticide applicators are reminded that they are the most vulnerable since they receive the greatest exposure.”

The way of protecting one’s self against pesticide poisoning is by the use of Personal Protective Equipment. If pesticides go on the skin or if their fumes are inhaled, the poisons enter the body. Personal Protective Equipment includes suits which cover the body entirely and respirators and masks for the face. Gloves are also necessary. Oftentimes, farmers tend to say that they had used insecticides without any ill effects

and that PPE is uncomfortable and hinders their work. Such farmers need to know that the deleterious effects of pesticide poisons may be felt years after exposure.

The focus of Pesticide Awareness Week 2020 had been on Agriculture. Consumer people are equally concerned with the use of pesticide in the home and also pesticides which may go on vegetables sold in the markets. Oftentimes farmers spray pesticides on growing vegetables such as eggplant, tomatoes and leafy vegetables to protect their crops from damage by insects. With growth and exposure to rainfall, the insecticides are washed away and the vegetables become fairly safe, but consumers are enjoined to always wash their vegetables thoroughly.

Mosquito coils and various sprays against vermin such as cockroaches are equally dangerous as insecticides used in agriculture and householders must use masks when spraying and avoid any insecticides going on the body. If this happens, it must be washed off immediately. Many household insecticides sold in the markets and small shops are produced in East Asia and smuggled into Guyana. These East Asian products are invariably below standard and are dangerous to health. They are usually attractively packed and are perfumed.

Consumers are enjoined not to buy or use them. The Food and Drugs Department has been seizing such dangerous imports, but they do not have staff enough to control the flow of such smuggled insecticides.

Though rat poisons are not insecticides, they should be treated in like manner. Householders must ensure that their rat poisons and insecticides are completely out of the reach of children, for over the years, there have been examples of several children dying or being seriously poisoned from ingesting these poisonous substances.

A visit to the Essequibo Islands

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 15, 2020

See page VII

Sukhlall reported that he is originally from Wakenaam, another island in the Essequibo River and relocated to Hoggg Island in search of work and a better life.

He added that even though he is a pensioner, he still works and has a cataract in one eye for which he needs surgery.

The father of three stated that his children are grown and leading their separate lives and since his wife passed away more than 35 years ago, he has had no other comfort in life.

He has been a resident of Hoggg Island for the past 25 years and has a small house where he would cook for himself.

Sukhlall explained that his life wasn’t always easy, because he worked all over including as a cane-cutter at Diamond Sugar Estate, back in the days.

He worked many years in the sugar industry and was elevated to a Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) regional representative and fought tirelessly for the rights of sugar workers.

“I had a house at Wakenaam Island, but I had to sell it and relocate where I started all over again from scratch, because things were hard and I’m still working as is, on a farm,” he said.

Sukhlall reported that he supervises a dozen workers daily, which starts early in the morning, whether it is rain or sun and they would end the workday depending on the harvest.

The senior citizen stated that there is no form of recreation on the island, so life has become routine and most people on the island need help in terms of farming with seeds, seedlings, agricultural tools and equipment.

Sukhlall disclosed that farmers work under adverse conditions and due to the constant flooding and erosion of the land, it is even more difficult for them.

The island, he stated, has no internal drains, so the land is often swampy and over the years acres of land have simply been swallowed up by the ocean.

As a farmer, he reported too, that their produce is often destroyed by pests and they have to buy a lot of chemicals to have a good harvest.

“A little help goes a long way and we need the assistance to survive as farmers and simple people and it would be nice if we can,” he said.

Dookalbo Island Dookalbo Island or Duklabu is a riverine community located in the Essequibo River and it is home to about eight families.

They live quite simply and earn by farming and rearing livestock such as ducks, chickens, pigs and cows.

One family earns by fishing in a small boat and selling their daily catches at Hubu Koker, Parika.

The locals of this island said they don’t get many visitors and there are not many modern amenities.

They too are severely affected by spring tides which cause flooding inland to up to four feet. As such, the livestock would often die by the dozens.

There are five houses on one side of the island and on the other side, there are three houses.

The people have small solar panels to power lights at nights and they preserve their meats, or the meats are sold off within the same day if chickens and ducks are plucked.

The people of this island are very friendly and would like to have a few basic things to enhance their lives.

The nearest health facility is at Fort Island, where there is also a multi-grade school.

Dookalbo Island is a twin-island which has a big and a smaller island which is uninhabited.

Hogg Island

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Coconut estates helping to fight greenhouse gas emissions - Simultaneously providing sustainable livelihoods

THE United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international environmental treaty which requires individual participating countries to commit to stabilising greenhouse gas emissions. There are 197 parties to the Convention of which Guyana became a signatory in 1992, followed by ratification in 1994.

And, in 2017 the “Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture” (KJWA) within the UNFCCC framework was formed.

THE KORONIVIA JOINT WORK ON AGRICULTURE ROADMAP The Roadmap recognised the climate change challenges – both adaptation and mitigation – faced by the agricultural sector and the need for bold, urgent and transformative actions to meet these challenges. It also recognised that these actions must be led by countries, farmers, researchers, investors and the private sector; and for effective transformation to occur,

agriculture must be seen in a broad sense as including policies, services and institutions.

The KJWA Roadmap prescribed five thematic areas: Methods and approaches for assessing adaptation, adaptation co-benefits and resilience; Improved soil carbon, soil health and soil fertility under grassland and cropland as well as integrated systems, including water management; Improved nutrient use and manure management towards sustainable and resilient agricultural systems; Improved livestock management systems including agropastoral production system; and Socioeconomic and food security dimensions of climate change in the agricultural sector. The National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) through research and work with farmers has been making significant strides in fulfilling KJWA Roadmap.

This week NAREI in Focus will look at the socio-economic and food security dimensions. NAREI has embarked on community-based development activities characterised as sustainable livelihoods activities, which serve to build adaptive capacity in the face of climate-related shocks. These shocks can manifest themselves as drought, floods, emerging pests and diseases, and loss of biodiversity owing to climate change. Thus, these sustainable livelihood interventions of NAREI acts as de facto climate change adaptation options.

Climate change has affected coconut plantations through precipitation changes, increased weeds, and increased incidence of pests and disease. Unlike in seasonal crops, the impact of climate change will have long-standing ill effects in coconut since it is a perennial crop.

In an effort to have farmers invest in the coconut sector, NAREI has adopted various approaches to mitigate risks associated with seasonal climate variability. These include the adoption of tolerant crop varieties, intercropping with vegetables, and improved practices for pest and disease management.

Increased cultivation and replanting of the coconut estates in Guyana is imminent, as such various nurseries were established along the coast of Guyana, including Victoria, Buxton, Helena #2 Mahaica, De Hoop Mahaica and Bush Park, Mahaicony. Establishment was facilitated through collaborative efforts of NAREI, International Trade Center (ITC) and Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI). Coconut nurseries were established and monitored at nine locations across Guyana.

One major activity undertaken was the selection of mother palms and the establishment of coconut nurseries for lead farmers. A coconut nursery has been established at NAREI

to assist in the dissemination of selected planting materials to farmers.

Another aspect of this intervention is the introduction of improved varieties of coconuts. Planting material for the cultivation of adaptable, prolific-bearing dwarf varieties, and early-bearing varieties, such as the 18-month coconut, are being made available to farmers.

Intercropping with legumes and vegetable production in shaded cultivation Collaboration between NAREI, CARDI and ITC has established shade houses on farmers holdings at Dalgin, Soesdyke-Linden Highway and Mahaica, ECD. Vegetable crops are being cultivated to supplement incomes from the coconut plantations, while avoiding expenditure on weed management. Also, demonstration plots were established

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EXPANDING THE ECONOMY WITH THE EXPERTISE WE HAVE

WE are today stuck in resistance to embrace what has become obvious, with respect to the innovative potential of the latent and active potential of the humanity that rests within the borders of this nation.

When COVID-19 became a lethal invasive presence, from the first masks to face shields appeared on social media and as features in some newspapers. No authority places its focus on small innovations that can expand into meaningful permitted-stamped for usefulness. One young lady had displayed face masks on Facebook and she had not been advised that her product should be standardised, because about two months or more later I stopped by a tailor I at times used in Bourda, and he was making masks, copying the same colour

schemes as the young lady, except that his masks were all over the place, and the

the state of mind of the ripoff differs from that of the original.

reams of fabric scattered on the ground, inevitably it would be stepped on.

That’s the danger of the copyist, the focus is getting the product to the market, not the safety and quality of the product, simply because

I know creative minds in jewellery and in craft production whose frustrations and helplessness at copyists have forced them to retreat and seek other more pedestrian areas to generate survival income when these

So Many Issues to ...

From Page II

Donald Trump should vacate the presidency and President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America.

With a flash-back to July 23, 1986, then-Senator Joe Biden delivered a fiery speech expressing his disgust against the white minority government in apartheid South Africa, saying, that it was a “Repulsive and repugnant regime ... I’m ashamed of the lack of moral backbone to this policy,” he had said about the inactions of the government of the USA of the day. Biden has built up a reputation of fighting for the underdog. With no ‘first dog’ in the White House during the Trump presidency, President-Elect Joe Biden has already adopted two dogs from an animal shelter to become “first dogs” and reside in the White House.

Meanwhile, the American Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, who paid a brief visit to Guyana last September, has stated that his boss, President Donald J. Trump, will serve a second term.

When asked for a comment, President-Elect Joe Biden referred to it as “an embarrassment.” So, is the United States of America about to have two presidents at the same time? And is the United States of America losing its moral authority to lecture to less powerful countries?

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ELECTIONS IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand is one of the few developed countries in the world with a very low COVID-19 death figure per capita and a high standard of living for its citizens. There is also a diverse government with whites and indigenous citizens as well as a high number of women in the government. The country is also very successful in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. With a population of over five million, there are 1,980 cases and just 25 deaths as a result of the coronavirus. I visited New Zealand some years ago and observed a

high level of discipline by the citizens. I was shown many of the things which the country benefited from their previous gold mining heyday. In that twin-island country, results of their recent September 17, 2020 General Elections came in just a matter of hours after the close of the Polls. The incumbent Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was declared the winner. The country’s Indigenous Maori Peoples serve in quite a number of important political offices.

The Foreign Minister, Nanaia Mahuta, is a Maori woman. While in New Zealand, I also noted the way the Indigenous Maori people received in reparation; Radio and TV Stations, Libraries, well-constructed infrastructure and other amenities in their communities. Instead of simply asking for reparation in liquid cash, the Maori people identified what they wanted in order to improve in their communities and standard of living and they received same.

…Because one thing leads to another

people had the potential to create a ‘brand’ that would have generated extended employment and thus, reliable GDP-income. Copyists exist because of laziness or desperation; they don’t research, experiment or even explore the trade data in the areas that they need to earn income in. It’s easier to steal a design, produce an inferior copy and sell it cheap, make a raise and kill an idea. Thus, we remain stagnated. Guyana is a pariah (in respect to the Caribbean music producers).

I worked in the local Entertainment Business, I can recall taking Buju Banton, on a show-around towards a show at the National Park, we entered the top local cassette shop against my advice, his film crew instantly refused to take the footage, on the grounds that all the music in the entity was pirated. I told them if the proprietor didn’t work this way he would be out of business, they understood, but they couldn’t justify doing the footage based on what I said, to the label the artist was contracted to.

We need an existing council to access areas of innovative sparks. I’m not referring to folks from the slates of political parties, I’m referring to persons accomplished in their fields, whether Industry or Arts; to be able to determine shelf life value and relevant application towards industry or entertainment platforms, we have got to begin with what is available in our pop-

ulation, and the potential is surprising. I have said it before, a few years ago, that a significant portion of our business sector will revolve around home-run small businesses. I’ve supported some of them, and they provide prompt delivery service, not all are in Georgetown, but I haven’t been disappointed yet. Technology is providing opportunities as technology has taken jobs away. Advertising, boutique shopping, some areas of electronics- without even opening an outlet here, Amazon and other sites have moved into our market and our online shopping facilitators can be considered new options. But not in the local job-count volume in comparison to the jobs lost, and will continue to be liquidated.

Guyana is not without expertise, self-taught, tertiary-educated, natural talents, but the realisation of the world that is engulfing us, oil or no oil, if it is not paid enough attention to, the result is that we will be engulfed with the hopelessness we have known before. It will take in-house investment and never before collaborations and application based on pure logic against engrained custom practices to relinquish naturally marginalised areas, that cannot evolve with the mere appointment of authority, with absolutely no relationship with what they have to administrate.

We have the understanding enough to perceive the ne-

cessity to change to remain relevant, but it will require hard ‘administrative’ human relationship adjustments to change a fossilised repressive colonial/Cold war ideological economic and political mandate, sustained for too long, because I’ve witnessed the hostile reactions to small changes before, and even recently.

The potential to develop new creative business endeavours that will have no impact on our natural environment is tremendous, however, whether we embrace, be it film, graphic magazines, video games, branding for other merchandise, etc. Two elements are crucial, the legal status of any product and its distribution hub, two elements that are necessary to protect and to enable us, which we don’t have now, with distribution to my knowledge none of the CARICOM group has this going for them in-house, or from the collective group.

These are areas we need to begin discussing across the political borders as its content and potential is not exclusively riveted within political loyalties, but instead project, protect and define the aesthetics and ethos of the Guyanese ‘being’ that has languished, lacking the assertiveness common of nations, not through its incapacity of talents and skills, but through the confusion of how to arrest this aspect of the national nature that is both ‘Independent’ and ‘Mysteriously revolutionary’ in many ways, within a political and bureaucratic context, the Subvention to Cultural Industries paid in 2019, though awarded in 2017 is a great case study for what was achieved and what was necessary to be understood by the bureaucracy mandated to execute what was a landmark positive breakthrough towards an existing fledgling group of industries to another level.

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Changing the Guyanese...

From Page V

Guyanese artist; Teija Edwards

sity at either Edna Manley College in Jamaica, Savannah College of Art and design or Howard University where she will major in painting and minor in photography.

Edwards believes that the art industry has growth

Mother Caribbean: The Creation (revised). Canvas painting done by Teija Edwards.

potential.

“I know after I finish I want to come back home to help develop to arts here and make it a profitable industry,” she said. Apart

from being a student and an artist, she is also a candidate for the 2021 Miss Guyana Teen Scholarship Pageant, a steel pan musician and a squash player.

Teija Marie Edwards.

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Guyanese Entrepreneur paving the way for the elimination of plastic waste

By Dillon Goring

Alana Bunbury Walton is now paving the way for the elimination of plastic waste in Guyana, thus creating an eco –friendly environment for the Guyanese community.

During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Walton explained that one of the motivating factors behind the establishment of her own “Jars Zero Waste Store” which is located in the heart of Georgetown is due to impact of the amount of plastic that is indiscriminately disposed into drains, canals and around the city.

“It is no secret with what happens in the way we dispose of garbage and the amount of plastic waste that lines our streets, drains, sea defences and I don’t think that we are at a point where we realise the impact, the deposing of plastic can have on the environment,” she said.

Bunbury explained that one plastic bottle can take as long as 450 years to decompose, and thus this can be more devastating on the environment since there is no plastic as yet for the decomposition of plastic.

Bunbury noted that based on these concerns, she has developed some habits on her own that would seek to bring adjustments to the way she disposes of her garbage, particularly plastic waste. “ I would take my reusable shopping bags to the supermarket, take it to the store, if I go to buy something I would refuse a plastic bag, just because I don’t want to end up in the landfill, just like any other plastic bag,” Walton told Pepperpot Magazine.

One thing that she believes that can be done to eliminate this problem is the use of reusable bags instead of lots of plastic bags when making a purchase of products at a store.

She advocates that in order to protect the environment, there must be the development of a zero-waste lifestyle.

Plastic Waste adds to the disintegration of waste in the city, thus one has to do his part to preserve the environment and make it a safe place for all.

New Business Initiative

Protection of the environment should be something taught to children and it should begin in the home.

Zero Waste theories and practices should be something that should be on the curriculum of schools and should be policy implemented by government.

Bunbury has made it clear, that in addition to her Zero Waste, she is also dealing with reusable stainless steel straws, dish washes that are not made of plastic and

eco-friendly products.

Bunbury disclosed that she would like to see as much Guyanese as possible adopt the zero waste lifestyle and for her message of protection of the environment to spread across the country.

“Tidy up Detergents is a locally produced brand of products; these include laundry detergents, fabric See page XXII

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Guyanese Entrepreneur paving...

From Page XXI

softeners, dishwashing liquids multipurpose cleaners, antibacterial hand soaps, disinfectants and car wash.

Tidy up Detergents is an overseas-based company which has local distributors across the country.There are twelve distributors across the country which has seen a tremendous response,�she said.

Recommendations for Government The young woman said that there is need for recycling options if Guyana is going to protect the environment.

The setting up of a recycling plant is critical, she believes, while at the same time examining the possibility of educating the nation as it relates, to the proper disposal of waste in the country.

Enforcement of laws regarding littering in Guyana should also be maintained at all times, according to Bunbury.

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THOUGHT FOR TO

DAY

INFIDELITY does in believing, or not consist disbelieving, it consists in pro believe what on fessing to e does not believe.

TOM PAINE (173 Age of Reason 7-1807) The (1794), pt. i

November 15, 2020 Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend.

Reading comprehension skills hinge on your ability to pull explicit or implicit information from a text. Sometimes

you need prior and independent knowledge to understand a deeply implicit fact in the material; but otherwise, you understand an implicit fact through other clues in the text. A fact that is not implicit is explicit and outrightly stated. It has no hidden connotations and no room for misunderstanding. It is easier to gain scores recognising explicit facts rather than implicit ones. Be knowledgeable.

My lattice watching the even shape of her days To catch, just once, a wider open door behind her steady eyes.

But in her garden edged privacy, selfcontained she keeps the half-drawn shutters of her life Open just so, and mocks my greed and restlessness With a calm refusal to be other than she seems.

Love you.

Questions 1. The phrase: “Her garden … travels politely” (lines 5-6) is an example of (A) personification (C) sarcasm (B) simile (D) metaphor 2. Which of the following expressions is meant to be taken literally?

(A) “Her garden stands neatly round her house” (line 5) (B) “Sometimes she fills the spaces out with music.” (line 22-23) (C) “But in her green edged privacy” (line 32) (D) “They are also hiding places for small girls playing” (line 4) 3. Her garden looks criss-crossed by the white lattice because the (A) little girls could have walked across the little beds of roses.

(B) young lady looked at her garden with crisscrossed eyes.

(C) poet was looking at it through a lattice window.

(D) flowers were planted criss-crossed by their colours.

4. “But in her greenedged privacy, self-contained she keeps the halfdrawn shutters of her life open just so” (lines 31-35) tells us that (A) she keeps the shutters half-drawn because she does not like fresh air from the garden.

(B) her private corner is significantly painted with a green edge.

(C) she lives secluded with Mama and cheers herself with the children and music.

(D) she is still young enough and hopes for a

READING Understanding Implicit and Explicit Facts in Reading Read the following poem carefully, and then answer the questions below it.

An Even Shape Her garden looks in through my window Criss-crossed by the white lattice.

Coolers they call them, but they are also Hiding places for small girls playing.

Her garden stands neatly round her house Travels politely unto the verandah To sit in pots or hang leafily down from large, earth-coloured urns.

She lives with Mama, sheepherding her with her full body.

The hesitant ins and outs of Mama’s half-blind days.

Feeding her frail consciousness with edited Gleaner news And homemade chicken soup.

In her home, borrowed children touched her china birds with hands Wiped clean from eating sticky cakes, each with a cherry on top.

Or press moist, breathless kisses round The corners of her smile.

Sometimes she fills the spaces out With music. Spreading out nostalgia through strings and flutes, old fashioned love songs Of blue moons and forever and until.

Shameful Peeping Tom, I sit silent in

bold enough suitor to come for her hand in marriage.

4. The poet uses the words “borrowed children” (line 16) to show that the younger woman (A) adopted the neighbourhood children to enjoy her premises.

(B) knew that the small girls wanted a mother.

(C) wanted or could not have children of her own.

(D) used the small girls to attend to her garden.

IMPROVING WRITING Character Traits Character traits are qualities of a character’s personality as revealed by what he thinks, does, and says. These revelations can be a powerful tool used by the author to help move the story along. As the reader identifies character traits and sees how they are revealed, he is enabled to determine their influence on the development of the story. Read the short passage carefully and note the character traits of Mr. Gravenor.

Mr. Gravenor strapped his three-year-old toddler into the car seat, making sure the child’s belt was fastened securely.

“Daddy, I forgot my robot!” the little girl cried out. Mr. Gravenor knew this robot was plastic and could do some harm if the car came to a sudden stop.

He went into the house and came back with a colourful stuffed toy. “ Ta k e y o u r c l o w n , Jeanann. He’s safer in the car.” Mr. Gravenor looked under his car to be sure there is nothing in his path – like a stray toy or a neighbourhood pet or even a child. Then he got in and put on his seat belt. After looking in both directions, Mr. Gravenor carefully backed his car out of the driveway.

What to Do: Decide the type of person Mr. Gravenor is and explain to your study partners how the author has revealed this.

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Extract or save?

THE first institution to train dentists was opened in Baltimore, USA in 1840. Since then there was an increasing tendency for dentists to restore teeth as opposed to extracting them when carious. In fact, the Government of Guyana has that as its priority.

It is known that diseases involving the teeth and gums have afflicted mankind since the beginning of recorded history. As the development of society with progressing scientific knowledge has taken place, so have the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease increased in most parts of the world. One can easily recognise that the consumption of more foods that contain refined sugars, as is the case in the so-called developed countries, is a major cause of the decline of oral health over the years. Another important reason is that people generally are too passive when it comes to acceding the principles of prevention.

Apart from that, the great majority of persons who have received some form of dental restoration or appliance are not conscious of inherent limitations.

At the turn of the last century, Dr. Black, a pioneer dentist laid down his principle of preparing the cavity before filling material is placed in it. Though empirical and untested in the field, these principles undoubtedly served as a catalyst for the enormous growth in restorative dentistry that has taken place. Today, because of the work of Dr. Black amalgam (silver) fillings are still the number one restorative procedure done.

Part of his contribution involved the tendency for dentists to restore teeth with small carious lesions and even to cut away parts of teeth and restore them as preventative means in the absence of caries.

The pervading belief is that after failing to preserve healthy teeth, one can rarely rely on the modern procedures of dentistry to reverse the results of the neglect.

But indeed it is a fatal mistake to expect that oral rehabilitation, however sophisticated, can soundly solve one’s dental problems and that caries could be treated effectively by fillings and therefore that such treatment automatically results in oral health.

Before and after executing a procedure in a patient, many dentists are guilty of not explaining the disadvantages involved therein. Filling material itself is imperfect.

For example, in a normal, healthy adult, the force directed on certain parts of a tooth during the process of chewing can exceed 40,000 pounds per square inch. No dental cement or resin is capable of withstanding more than 15 percent of that. In addition, when a tooth has been filled, its chances of further decay become 10 times as great as the one whose enamel is intact.

In other words, filled teeth need 10 times more brushing and flossing than one without filling or caries. This is because the material tissue interface (where bacteria may penetrate) immensely increases the tooth’s vulnerability to decay.

Root canal therapy always involves the removal of the tooth’s nerves and blood vessels, effectively killing that tooth. In the same manner whereby infection by Mycobacterium leprae destroys the nerves in the fingers and toes of a Hansen’s disease (leprosy) victim, causing them to disfigure and absorb into nothing, extirpation of the pulp ultimately results in the absorption of the dead root.

The numerous constraints accompanying dental treatment must therefore be totally acknowledged by patients.

Although technology and clinical skills progressively provide a compromise, in the final analysis, the cure for dental ailments lies in changing lifestyles. Initially, there must be enough motivation to lead to the inculcation of a preventative attitude, rather than depend on the dentist to substitute your God-given attributes for man-made implements.

If however, there exists in your individual circumstances the limitations of carious, filled or missing teeth then make a special effort to prevent that happening to the young and innocent with whom you associate or have control of.

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