Guyana_Chronicle_Pepperpot_11_22_2020

Sunday, November 22, 2020

‘I am a proud Guyanese’ Lisa Punch launches new children’s book to teach young ones about Guyana

Guyanese singing sensation Lisa Punch-Benn will soon launch her first children’s book “The adventures of Tayshaun and Liya in Guyana” to teach young children about her home country (Photo courtesy of Lisa Punch-Benn)

II

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

COVID-19 Journeys of the mind

By Francis Quamina Farrier

T

he very first thing which I would advise anyone about living in a world with a pandemic as we’re all experiencing now is to observe all the instructions which are laid out by the medical experts. With fingers crossed and doing all the right things, I continue to hope that I will remain coronavirus-free until this pandemic becomes a thing of the past. My hope, too, is that others in Guyana will be disciplined and keep themselves healthy.

As we are aware, some deviants are causing problems due to their indiscipline. That is resulting in the continuing increase in people testing positive and dying. Fortunately, a high percentage of Guyanese are doing the right things and remaining coronavirus-free.

In the present situation, the main instructions are to wear a mask, wash hands regularly and keep a distance of at least six feet from others. How difficult is that? But the deviants observe none of those simple instructions. If one is residing in a cottage or hut deep in a rain forest of our beautiful Guyana, or on an unoccupied island in the Essequibo river miles away from other people, then they are probably safe in their COVID-19 free bubble. However, if they live in a community, they are obliged to play by the rules. Lives depend on discipline.

On a personal level, this lockdown of weeks and months is a big challenge. As many people know, I am a travelling person. I commenced travelling here, there and everywhere from the age of two; that means that I have been a regular traveller for eighty years. So, obviously, 2020 is proving to be an extremely challenging year for me. That is also true for millions of others around the world. It is obvious that our lockdown living will not end anytime soon. Well, except for those fortunate to be residing Down Under in the twin-island country of New Zealand, since that country is now almost coronavirus-free. The citizens obeyed all the instructions and COVID-19 protocol from day one, and their discipline proved successful. With a population of over five million, that sister Commonwealth country has had only

New Amil from Kimbia to A portion of the tra Francis Q. Farrier) by sterdam (Photo

25 coronavirus deaths; a figure which has remained static for over six months. Having visited New Zealand and seen how disciplined the citizens are, I can well understand their success against the coronavirus.

In Guyana, it is a different ball-game. However, am I going

bonkers in this unusual and difficult situation?

Absolutely not. Am I deeply depressed? Not in the least. Am I trying to make a point of trying to inspire you?

Yes, I am certainly trying and hoping for success with that objective. One recommendation is that you travel back in your mind to one of your great adventures; a journey which was a challenge for you and with which you were successful.

Shut out depression by reliving a brighter period of your life.

Many years ago before the Soesdyke/ Linden highway was constructed, two friends and I planned a 65-mile hike from Georgetown to McKenzie. At the very last moment, both of those friends opted out of what I considered a great adventure. I decided to make it a solo event. Day one was from Georgetown to Timehri. Day Two was from Timehri to Long Creek.

The third and final leg was from Long Creek to McKenzie.

During the second and third days of the jungle legs of the hike, about nine vehicles went by. The two going south to McKenzie stopped and offered me a ride, which I politely refused, informing them that I was on a hike. In both cases, I was given best wishes and congratulations. On the third and final day, my legs were questioning, “Why?” especially the final mile which was going due west through what is now Amelia’s Ward. I was then facing the hot afternoon sun.

Underfoot is what is known as “loose sand” which makes walking much more difficult than walking on firm soil. What I never expected was the ‘greeting’ which awaited me on my arrival at Arvida Road (Now Republic Avenue) at McKenzie.

Five heavily armed members of the army surrounded me. Their questioning was not in any way welcoming or friendly. They half believed me when I told them that I had just completed a hike from Georgetown. The reason for their questioning and personal search of my ‘Georgie bundle’ was for top security reasons.

The Demerara River Georgetown to McKenzie ferry boat, “The MV R.H. Carr” had sustained some damage due to a terrorist bombing onboard in which some passengers were injured and a few killed. The military probably considered me a sus-

Farrier with four Maori children in front of a Maori church in New Zealand

pect. I responded to all their questions politely and finding nothing in my bag to link me to anything suspicious of a terrorist act, I was allowed to go my law-abiding way.

There was certainly no pandemic raging at that time. So why have I related that true story? Because it has returned to me during my lockdown since mid-March. In my mind, I continue to relive another hike. That one being from Kimbia on the upper Berbice River to New Amsterdam. I was involved in that adventure as a journalist attached to the VCT Evening News, covering “THE GREAT MARCH” as it was called. My involvement was in my capacity as a television journalist. The marchers were a contingent of the Guyana National Service; young people with a zest for adventure. The trail from Kimbia to New Amsterdam was somewhat tedious with uneven topography covered with grass and shrubs. It was tough going but everyone made it. On arrival in New Amsterdam, hundreds lined the street cheering us on. It was so patriotic of them and extremely emotional for the marchers and myself. All so memorable.

You may never have been on any such adventure. Then again, you might have gone on a much greater adventure.

Take the one which was undertaken by Guyanese Stanley Ming and Joey King in Australia. As young adventurers, the two Guyanese rode motorcycles from Sydney to Perth across Australia - a distance of 2,445 miles. Calvin Ming, the son of Stanley Ming is now racing after his father’s adventurous records. There are also those Guyanese who have climbed some of the country’s highest mountains in some cases, taking the Golden Arrowhead with them.

One’s mind can take one on journeys real or imagined, and during this seemingly un-ending coronavirus lockdown, it is helpful to let your mind take you on adventures. Such need not necessarily be physical - it could be an adventure of a journey in obtaining a truly earned PhD or a National Award. It could also be a journey from being an enemy of someone to becoming friends. If you live on the coastlands and have never seen one of Guyana’s lofty mountains - the Pakaraimas, and the Kanuku ranges, for example - then get a photograph of them and feast your imagination of being there - right on the summit. We are living in strange times and need to be occupied with strange activities. But make sure that whatever you do is lawful and uplifting.

Yes, COVID-19 will one day be gone. It has already gone from New Zealand because the people are disciplined and did all the right things from day one.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

The Farmers Market…

III

- Just what the small businesses need!

By Telesha Ramnarine THE first Almond Tree Farmers Market saw excellent support and only served to reinforce to small-business owners that it’s just what they need to showcase their items. Many of them praised the initiative and expressed their hope that it will become a regular event.

With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, many have lost their jobs or had reduced incomes due to fewer hours of work and the general loss of business;

tion to put their items on display and they couldn’t be happier at the turnout they received.

One woman said she was absolutely “blown away” by the amount of attention that her plants got. This would be the first time that she’d decide to put them on display anywhere.

“We had a really successful first day. By 1 pm when the market was closing, a lot of them were basically sold out, so they have to go back and make new stuff for the other days,” Diane Sinclair, the organ-

in the evenings to do this little side job.”

Sharing a success story, Sinclair spoke about a vendor who was there with her organic green seasonings and who caught the attention of David Fernandes of Bounty Supermarket.

He invited the woman to a meeting with him, so that he could possibly start buying her products. “This is really great news for someone who was struggling to get their products out there. She was overjoyed and in tears that she was able to make this link-up,”

Louis Jordan says he uses 99 percent of repurposed fabric Rock/folk musician Gavin Mendonca (left) and a friend sing and play the drums for the audience

The Farmers Market opening received great support from the public

many turned to side jobs and starting up small businesses to rake in incomes.

The Farmers Market is evidently just the place that would help them market such products and grow their businesses.

Some 28 persons showed up at the Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown loca-

iser, has reported.

What made it especially satisfying was the fact that a lot of the vendors were only now starting up their businesses and the support from the public only served to motivate them in their endeavours, she explained, adding, “Some of them work full-time jobs and go home

Sinclair recalled.

Unable to say for sure if she will continue with the initiative regularly, Sinclair likes the atmosphere of hope and positive vibes that the market brings out. However, she is not pleased that there was such a lack of organic vegetables on the opening day.

It seems that many of the organic farmers dropped out after losing their crops in the recent heavy rainfall. Should the farmers be able to recover some of the produce, it is a possibility that they will show for the final two days of the market.

“The other thing I would have liked to see is a vendor

Liana Adams displays her plants for the first time ever

Bamboo straws made

by Nature Works

with pure honey,” Sinclair pointed out.

Meanwhile, Christopher Singh and Calissa Bradford have a joint business called ‘Nature Works’ which produces eco-friendly products such as bamboo spoons, coconut bowls, cotton bags, etc. “We’re making Guyana greener one straw at a time,” says Singh, as he continues to promote the use of bamboo straws as opposed to the plastic ones.

He was happy to be a part of the market, calling attention to how it provides an opportunity to access the local stuff compared with all that comes from “foreign.”

Liana Adams, a trained teacher who has been collecting plants for some time now, couldn’t be happier at her decision to sign up for the event. “It’s the first time I am

displaying anywhere and I was blown away by the amount of attention we got,” she expressed.

Louis Jordan, another vendor, is glad to be able to interact with persons with similar businesses like his.

He uses 99 percent of repurposed fabric to put his items together.

Tai-Rhys Payne and Karim Trotman are brothers who plant a farm behind the Beterverwagting Primary School. They try to connect the youths to agriculture and teach them about the economics in farming.

They sell the produce in the community and noted the benefits of doing so.

“BV has no market so our farm limits the movements of people in the areas so that they do not have to travel far for greens.”

Bent on growing the business, Trotman offered that it is not about fast money, but about sure money.

He too is thankful for the Farmer’s Market and is hoping that other such initiatives will be organised.

The market will be on again on November 28 and December 5.

IV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

‘I am a proud Guyanese’

Lisa Punch launches new children’s book to teach young ones about Guyana BENT on teaching her child about his Guyanese roots, singing sensation Lisa Punch-Benn wants to publish a new book, “The adventures of Tayshaun and Liya in Guyana” before year-end that will teach her son and children everywhere about the country.

Ever since migrating permanently to the United States of America, Lisa has been an entrepreneur but has never given up on her singing. The book is a new initiative that emanated from Lisa’s love for her son and his interest in learning to read from an early age.

“My son loves books and now he picks up a book and tries to read in his own baby language. So I said why not write a book for him,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine. The child has also never been to Guyana, “So why not share what it would have been like in Guyana? Something like

that; something that he’ll always have.”

When the book started last January, Tayshaun and his cousin Liya were supposed to visit Guyana, but the pandemic hit and Lisa didn’t want them travelling.

“I decided to still write the book on the basis on [sic] what I believe would have been their experience. Being born in New York, they would have certainly loved the outdoors of the countryside. My son loves the idea of going to the zoo or being in the park. He loves going on adventures, so it was with that knowledge I decided to still write the book,” she explained.

Launching the book would also provide him something to look forward to when reading it and help him be excited about visiting Guyana whenever he could, she explained.

The children’s book is currently in production and Lisa said it is all about getting the best quality. “It’s all about getting the best quality.

We want to make sure that the quality is great.”

Lisa is hoping that the book will become a favourite of children not only in Guyana, but all across the world.

“I am hoping to get the book

into the school I used to teach at and other schools; to get other kids exposed to Guyana and make them aware of who Guyanese are.

I am a proud Guyanese.”

As for the musical aspect of things, Lisa said she is still “most definitely” pursuing this career path. “I’m still recording, still writing. Music is my first love, my passion.

It’s something I will never give up easily. I sing to my son all the time, I write all the time.”

Growing up, Lisa said she had no one to turn to for voice lessons to improve her singing techniques. “Today, I’m happy to be someone who can offer that to you, your child or someone you know...”

She is offering singing lessons, vocal classes and voice lessons for anyone who would simply want to improve on their diction while talking, clarity while singing or keeping their voice in shape.

“The voice is a muscle and needs to be exercised in order to be the best instrument it was intended to be,” she expressed.

Born on September 4, 1992, Punch is a Guyanese singer-songwriter and actress. She is best known for

The book is to be published before year-end

Wanting to teach her son his Guyanese roots inspired Lisa to write the book

being Guyana’s voice in the regional theme song ‘Carifesta’ and a contestant on the new ABC hit television show ‘Rising Star.’

She released her first album ‘The Evolution of Lisa Punch’ March 25, 2013 and in December 2013, Punch and her family moved to the United States to pursue her See page V

Line Angels, save your time

V

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

By Jared Liddell GUYANESE businesses have been becoming highly creative in recent times and one of those more creative business ventures is Line Angels. Owner and creator of Line Angels, Joel Hinds, who spoke to the Pepperpot Magazine said the company offers a service that allows its representatives to keep spaces in lines for their customers.

“Line Angels offers a one-of-a-kind service. Early in the morning people are in lines standing and waiting, so this business would be a relief to that, that you can call and get someone to go and stand there and wait until you get there and then you can come take whatever number they get there and just transact their business,” said Hinds.

Further, the businessman expressed that with the way

the world is moving, he is trying to use his business to help persons maximise their time, adding that on many occasions standing in line to conduct one business transaction could possibly take all day.

“I am trying to let people understand that they can maximise their time. Instead of you coming and standing in line for an hour or half an hour you can get something else done and you know someone is there holding your space; so I just want people to see how easy it is to maximise your time,” Hines explained.

He stated that he had the idea for the business for over five years but had never considered having it officially launched until this year when the pandemic began. Hinds said he had observed lines growing excessively longer and longer since the pandemic began searching for

resources and staff members to be a part of his team.

When asked how he came up with the creative name “Line Angels” Hinds said he chose it “because they are saving people from standing hours in lines, so I said let’s just call it line angels, so that’s how I came up with the names.”

Hinds said that in choosing to launch during this current period he knew that it would be beneficial not just to the customers who would no longer have to stand in lines, but also for those persons whom he would be hiring to be a part of his team.

He stated that he is cognisant several persons were laid off their jobs and he believes that he could assist at least some persons with getting gainful employment.

Hinds told the Pepperpot Magazine that another consideration he had in mind was for elderly citizens. He stated

‘I am a proud..

From Page IV singing career, and shortly after, she was selected as one of the few contestants to compete on the new ABC television show ‘Rising Star,’ hosted by Josh Groban and with judge appearances by Ludacris, Kesha and Brad Paisley.

Lisa delivered a ground-breaking performance to Whitney Houston’s “How will I Know” until week seven “Girl on Fire”

by Alicia Keys her last performance. She represented Guyana in Sanya, China at the Miss World competition, placing eighth in the world, 4th in Beauty With A Pur-

Lisa is married to Tyron and they have a son, Tayshaun

pose, 2nd in Multimedia and winning the Talent segment.

Lisa is married to Tyron Benn and the couple has a son, Tayshaun, who was born in 2019.

She constantly travels to Guyana, but due to the pandemic, has not been able to do for some time now.

Owner and creator of Line Angels, Joel Hinds

that especially during this period, having elderly persons standing in lines poses a serious danger to their health and that he wanted to help those persons also.

“On more than one occasion I have seen our seniors at the bank as early as six o’clock standing waiting for the bank to open at eight, and it dawned on me that now

they can call and get somebody to go there and wait in the lines for them; you know, keep this space for them and they don’t have to come out early and they don’t have to be standing waiting in that line to get into the bank or do their business transaction,” said Hinds.

Hinds further stated that he would tell all

entrepreneurs to follow their dreams, stating, “that tradition and convention are two of the enemies of creativity,” He said. “You don’t have to be traditional or conventional for everything, because it kills our creativity; you have an idea that is out of this world and you think that this idea is really good, follow it.”

VI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

SHE WORE A FLORAL DRESS A LOST SOUL – NOT OF THIS WORLD

FROM morn to night, death rides on a pale horse, an emissary of fate.

But stories are told of restless souls, haunting spectres, wandering, lost and confused because of their unexpected end. Such tales are often spoken of by morticians because of their close working experience with the dead.

And for Anthony, the mortician, it was a night like every other night at the morgue, cold and silent. He worked deftly, preparing the dead and securing them in the vaults until it was time for their final journey.

But questions are always asked about death that seemed premature.

Is it all in God’s plans?

“We may never know,” Anthony mused as he pulled off the white sheet from a body that was brought in two days ago.

The facial features were hardly recognisable for it had laid about five weeks in a shallow grave covered with scrubs. The pathologist who performed the autopsy had determined the female was in her late twenties and that she had died from a stab wound to the heart.

“A young life interrupted,” he said quietly, “May your soul rest in peace, dear.”

The night wore on and close to midnight when his shift would have ended, he felt a strong presence. He had steeled his mind to be strong, for the twelve years he has been working at the funeral home to deal with strange encounters.

Tonight something was different.

The chilling cold and a soft moaning cry forced him to turn from the table he was cleaning and he saw her standing in a corner, a beautiful young woman, a pained look on her face.

If he was not awake and at work, Anthony would have thought he was having a dream. She seemed so alive in a white floral dress, like someone who has casually walked in from the street. He did not move nor said a word, just stood there looking at her. She was not looking at him but at the vault where laid the remains of the young woman found in the shallow grave, a woman not yet identified.

Now he knew what she looked like, her deep pain sending a chill to his bones for she had died a brutal death by cruel hands.

“I wonder who she is.”

The thought just left his mind and she turned as though she heard his unspoken words. He held his breath and she looked at him but she did not move, seeming lost, a soul not understanding what happened to her.

The clock struck midnight, a startling sound that pierced the deathly silence in the morgue. But Anthony did not fall victim to fear, for he was feeling a sense of sympathy for her.

“I should not though,” he warned himself, “for she is not of this world.”

Yet there was something about her that seemed so real as though she was not dead.

The door opened as an assistant came in to relieve him from his shift and looking at Anthony’s face, he joked, “Wah

happen, man, like yuh see a ghost?”

She was still there, not vanished, but the assistant could not see her, something that surprised Anthony and he questioned himself, “Why am I seeing her?

He had trouble sleeping that night, and as he laid in bed, he thought, “Her family needs to claim her body and give her a decent burial so her soul can ascend to Heaven.”

The discovery of her body by a hunter in a forested area off the highway had featured in all the newspapers and news channels but no one had yet contacted the police.

“How has no one missed her as yet?” he wondered.

And as Anthony’s eyes closed in sleep, a lost soul waited for answers and an obsessive killer, miles away drank a toast to her photograph on the wall, pleased he had gotten away with the perfect crime.

“You will now belong to no one,” he said as he poured another drink and lifted his glass, “Only to me.”

Anthony returned to work in the evening, hoping the police had word on the killer or a family member had come forward to claim the body but nothing had happened.

He shook his head resignedly and began his work in the morgue, glancing at the vault holding the young woman’s body. The clock ticked and as the night grew older, the cold slowly deepened and Anthony heard an icy whisper, crying out just a name, “Rachel.”

He turned and saw her by the vault, an edge of desperation in that whisper, wanting him to know who she was.

“I wish I could help you,” he said silently.

And as though she read his thoughts again, sudden tiredness overcame him and he fell into a doze, dreaming he was in a bus travelling out of town to a small, neat community on the East Coast, and walking along a paved road, he came to a modest, flat concrete house. No one was home and as he walked around inside the house, he saw two suitcases by the door and travel documents on a corner table. But his eyes kept being drawn to the fawn sofa.

“Something bad happened here,” he surmised and suddenly he seemed to be in an audience as a scene played out in front of him.

She came out of the bedroom, her hair wet, having just taken a bath and laid down on the sofa closing her eyes. A dark figure who had hidden in the house stepped out quietly, a knife in his hand. He stood over her and feeling the presence she opened her eyes but a little too late as he stabbed her in the heart.

The shocking scene told him the story of her death.

“I can’t believe this,” he said to himself as he left work that night, “I’m actually helping a ghost.”

In the church where she had sung in the choir as a little girl, and where she had exchanged marriage vows, she laid now, in eternal sleep as the pastor prayed for her soul to find everlasting peace.

She was supposed to have been in the Bahamas on a month’s vacation, the pictures and short messages sent from her phone to her close friends and family testified to that fact.

How then could she be vacationing whilst her body was lying in a grave?

Someone clever and evil had planned the crime, leaving not a clue nor a trail. The plan seemed perfect until her family started to receive anonymous messages about the photoshopped pictures, false messages, and the unknown body in the morgue.

Anthony was playing his part in helping her and soon the family identified her body from a tattoo on her shoulder and a birthstone ring on her finger. The police came under pressure for answers and several suspects were detained but the main focus was on the ex-husband. He had an airtight alibi for the night she was killed, but her family was certain he was guilty because of their troubled marriage and recent breakup.

Anthony sat at the back of the church, moved by the eulogy of her life. She was standing by her coffin, her face pensive as she looked at her crying family. Then her expression changed to dark anger as her ex-husband came in the church, a bouquet of fresh flowers in his mind.

He stood by her coffin, with his head bowed as though he was saying a prayer for her, when the organ that had been playing softly, made a loud sound, startling everyone.

She was so angry, it somehow gave her the power to show it. The Pastor’s Bible that had been sitting on the pulpit fell onto the ground and the bouquet he had brought, was thrown off her coffin, bringing gasps from the mourners.

Rachel’s mother got up and said, as calmly as she could, to her ex-son-in-law, “Travis, move away from her coffin, she doesn’t want you close to her.”

He stepped back and glanced around nervously, as though expecting to see her.

“She is angry,” her mother said, “because her killer is here.”

He left immediately and Rachel watching him go, said, that no one heard except Anthony, “You will not get away with this, I will haunt you until you confess to my murder.”

Anthony said, “And then your soul can rest in peace.”

She smiled and nodded, “Only then…”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Come away to ‘Hong Kong’ - Number 72 Village

VII

By Michel Outridge

Locally we wouldn’t have to travel halfway across the world to get to Hong Kong Village since it is right here, in Guyana.

Number 72 Village on the Lower Corentyne is also popularly known as ‘Hong Kong’ Village.

It is located on the Lower Corentyne, Berbice and its name derived as a result of the first settlers who were Chinese. According to locals, the village was to be named Chinese Town but over time, villagers continued to call it ‘Hong Kong’

Raj Sawh

Number 72 Nursery School

the private and public sector.

The village is a closeknit one where the locals are neighbourly and were observed gathered in each

to occupy their free time in recreational activities instead of wasting time.

The village has a nursery school, a pavilion with a rel-

The village mandir

which has carried on to date.

This village is an agricultural-based community where the economic activities revolve around cash crops farming, rice farming, poultry and cattle farming.

N u m b e r 7 2 Vi l l a g e ‘Hong Kong’ is home to many sugar workers, Dr. Giresh Sadeo and other young professionals, who hold good jobs within both

other’s yard for a morning chat.

This is a community where the people live in harmony and it is quite a peaceful, countryside village where the people go about their daily activities in a civil manner.

The village is home to one of the top cricket clubs on that corridor and they do their part to promote sports and encourage young people

atively large sports ground, a mandir and a few roadside businesses ranging from a hardware store to a spare parts store, a barbershop among others.

The people of this village are welcoming and very accommodating and portray a giving attitude.

The residents of this village are mostly Indo-Guyanese with a handful of Afro-Guyanese and they

Number 72 Hong Kong Village

co-exist in a brotherly and sisterly fashion.

N u m b e r 7 2 Vi l l a g e ‘Hong Kong’ comes under the Number 52 Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) which have under their control 24 villages to manage from #52 to #74 Villages.

This village is home to about 2,000 people, who are predominately farmers and small business owners.

The village is a unique place to reside because the people are simple and they have ways and means to be self-sufficient and hardly ever leave their village to go elsewhere.

The re-migrant rice farmer Meanwhile, the Pep-

perpot Magazine met Raj Sawh, a resident, whose front yard has a swinger and some chairs to accommodate fellow villagers, who would gather at his place every day for the usual chit-chat.

The 58-year-old stated that he lived almost all his life in that village and inherited the property from his parents.

Sawh is a rice farmer with seven acres of rice cultivation and is the father of three, all of whom resides overseas.

He returned to Guyana in 2008 after spending some time overseas and says his life is comfortable as such, he would entertain the neighbours.

Sawh reported that the nearest primary school is at

#71 Village and the students would attend Line Path Secondary School or the Lutheran High at Skeldon.

“Life is okay here except the NDC needs to do something about the illegal dumping of refuse around the village and there is a need for employment of the young people here, who are engaged in drug abuse and loitering,” he said.

Apart from these issues, he stated that Number 72 Village ‘Hong Kong’ is quite a safe place to live, since they do not have petty thieves and can leave their possessions unattended.

Sawh is one of the few villagers who would give back to the community and he had a ‘sweetmeat’ exercise in which Diwali packages were given to villagers and candy bags were distributed to the children of the community.

“This is just my way of giving back to the community because I feel compelled to do, having lived here and return to stay I know the needs of the people and I want to contribute,” he said.

Sawh disclosed that for Christmas he will hand out a whole chicken each to a household as his way of saying ‘Merry Christmas.’

The village elder added that recently, he prepared some hampers and gave them to the elderly in the village and whatever he has he would give to the people who need it.

VIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Village matriarchs recall their lives in the olden days

By Michel Outridge

Village elder, Chajie Bhoj is 88 years old and is a resident of Number 72 Village ‘Hong Kong’, Corentyne, Berbice.

When she was younger, she worked side by side with her husband in the rice fields and back dam of the village to bring up seven children.

Having gotten married at the tender age of 14 via an arranged marriage, Bhoj set out with her husband in a modest house made out of mud walls and shingles.

She later began working in the rice fields and back dam catching fish and farming.

Bhoj reported that back

Chajie Bhoj (Carl Croker photos)

Sheilawati Persaud

then she used to dab the bottom house with cow dung and mud and used to get down on her knees to ensure she didn’t miss a spot.

In those days, she recalled

they didn’t have stoves and fireside was the way of cooking and she believes that it is the fireside food that is responsible for her longevity.

The senior citizen stated

that they were living modestly but the place was always kept clean and cleanliness was part of their lives because that’s the way they grew up.

“The fireside food sweeter than stove cooked food because it kept the food warm

wearing it.

“These days some young people don’t have time for all that and don’t even know their culture and has little or no interest in such things as traditions,” she said.

Bhoj stated that the cows used to assist them in plough-

she was there some time ago, all decked out in her Indian wear.

Being wheelchair-bound isn’t helplessness Meanwhile, another village elder, Sheilawati Persaud, resides in the oldest house which has been maintained over the years, where she has a shop.

The 69-year-old is wheelchair-bound having lost her right leg in 2017 due to her diabetic condition but she still does most things for herself.

She has lived all her life in the village, the house in which her parents owned and after their passing, she took over the small business which was established by her late father.

Persaud’s relative would

Home and shop of Sheilawati Persaud

for a long time and it was always fresh,” she said.

Bhoj disclosed that as a wife she had to get up very early to prepare food, do household chores before going off to work in the back dam with her husband.

The elder pointed out that even though they did not have much back then they were happy and had the respect of all because in the village they lived like one big family and people were nicer and cooperated.

She added that young people and children respected their elders and you could not stay around when ‘big people’ were talking and you had to greet the elders no matter where you were.

Up to today, Bhoj has lived her life with humility and respect and still wears her head tie which she would starch and iron before wearing as a form of respect to others especially elders in those days and could not leave the house without

ing the rice fields for the crops and fetch wood for cooking.

She, like many other housewives, made their own coconut oil for cooking and use it as part of their personal hygiene (used oil on the skin) instead of fancy creams and scented lotions.

The 88-year-old said that she had lived a full life and even to date she is still very much active and does her own laundry and almost everything for herself.

She said that she resides with one of her sons in Number 72 Village ‘Hong Kong’ adding that four of her seven sons are still alive.

Bhoj seems to be very happy as she spoke of yesteryear and reminisced on how good things were in the olden days when they had little but enjoyed a quiet village life.

These days she doesn’t get out much, although able-bodied but would attend the mandir and even displayed a photograph when

sell in the shop, while her sister, who also lives in the same village would prepare her meals, daily.

The elder stated that she has tried her best to upkeep the house which was built by her late father and it is one of those cosmopolitan houses with its olden designs.

These days because of her diabetic condition she cannot attend the village health centre for medical care but a doctor would visit her at home and dispense the much-needed insulin which is required.

The neighbours would assist Persaud with shopping at the market and any other task she has but cleaning is done by locals, who are being paid.

Persaud is a shut-in but she is often up for the chat when it is necessary and is thankful for her relatives and neighbours, who are supportive of her well-being.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Teacher doing her part to stimulate children in her village during the pandemic

IX

By Michel Outridge

pandemic and they were behind in school work as such, I decided to assist in my own way by having them here at my Tarmila Bhawan of Number 72 Village ‘Hong Kong’ house,” she said. has taken it upon herself to home-school four pupils from Bhawan reported that due to COVID-19 she cannot acher street, at her home, five days per week, as her way of commodate a crowd and has four pupils, the children in her giving back to the people. street alone.

The heavily pregnant Bhawan called “Padmini” has creThe teacher stated that the children don’t have access to ated a classroom space outfitted with tables and chairs with the internet and were not benefiting from the online sessions a chalkboard to assist school children from her street with so the idea of having them at her home was conceptualised. their work-sheets.

“After realising that the children were not gaining anyThe 22-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is a thing for classwork I thought of doing something because I teacher attached to Skeldon Primary School and for the past want to help and with the Ministry of Education worksheets I two months after recognising the struggles with the children can ensure they complete it correctly under my guidance and doing their work-sheets without help she decided to lend a I feel good about what I am doing,” she said. helping hand.

Bhawan stated that she would take the time and go “I am home, they are home, we all are frustrated with the through each worksheet with the children individually and sit with them.

These sessions are held on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 09:00hrs to 11:00hrs due to her expectancy she is trying to cope with bouts of illness.

The teacher explained that the children have a lot of weak areas such as letters, numbers and she is assisting them in getting back the concepts and they are grasping slowly.

She, however, admitted that she misses the classroom setting where she was able to have direct interaction with her pupils and being home for months now it has been difficult to cope.

“I am accustomed to Teacher, Tarmila Bhawan with school and now that I canher neighbours’ children doing not go to school it took a the worksheets toll on me being home not doing anything to help the

Teacher, Tarmila Bhawan home-schooling the children of her community (Carl Croker photos)

children and I wanted to get out of that phrase,” she said.

Bhawan related that worksheets are delivered to the headteacher of the schools and they would inform the teachers via a text message on the days the parents can go and collect the worksheets.

The worksheets include Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and English.

She stated that she would reach out to her pupils which is 22 in total via WhatsApp and they would have classwork prepared for them to do at home individually but some do not have access to the internet.

Bhawan said some children really need to be tutored because some parents are working and they are left on their own to complete the worksheets and it is a bit challenging for them to do it alone.

She disclosed that more needs to be done to stimulate the children because it is indeed a difficult time for all since we were never prepared for the pandemic and had to adapt quickly to many things.

When the need arises Bhawan would take to the chalkboard and make the necessary illustrations to make learning easier for the children.

She reported that maybe after the virus she will think of having after school extra lesson, who knows.

Fostering the development of sports

By Michel Outridge

Vicky Felix is doing all he can in his community to promote sports through the All Stars Cricket Club at Number 72 Village ‘Hong Kong’.

He has dedicated more than 20 years as the manager fostering youths and other villagers to become involved in cricket and they have had many winnings.

In fact, this cricket club is one of the top clubs in Corentyne despite the challenges they face with a collapsing pavilion but has managed to maintain the ground.

However, with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council’s (NDC) input they were able to have the place fenced.

“I am all for the development of sports in this village and if we get some form of assistance from the government there is so much more we can do besides fund-raising,” he said.

Felix reported that on weekends he would get the youths involved in community self-help projects to garner funds for the cricket club to make a positive impact on their lives and to develop and promote cricket.

The 50-year-old stated that the All Stars Sports Club have a membership of 45 between the ages of 15 to 55 and they do what they can to raise funds to buy gear and upkeep the ground.

“These young people need something in their lives because just you miss them they have a piece of weed in their mouths and doing nonsense so I does get them to participate

Vicky Felix, manager of All Stars Cricket Club of Number 72 Hong Kong Village (Carl Croker photos)

in cricket,” he said.

The good old days Felix revealed that he used to work in the sugar industry and did so for more than 20 years before calling it quits.

He explained that those days money did not come by easy and getting cash entailed working hard and doing many things to earn.

The villager reported that even though things were not easy in those days it was better because people were used to that hard life of working in the back dam and farming.

He added that as a small boy before going to school he had to fetch water to fill a barrel, pick mangoes which would be sold in the market and also pick dry coconuts to make coconut oil and branches of the coconut trees were trimmed to make pointer brooms which were also sold at the village market.

Felix recalled going to school with a piece of slate, bare-footed and one time as he got older his mother sewed a cloth school bag for him.

This sports activist pointed that today he is a farmer and like most residents they inherited their property from their parents and fore-parents so they did not have to work so hard, in fact, they got things good at one point through inheritance.

“The big people died and left us with things so that we can live comfortable today, they sacrificed their lives working hard to make us right a day like today,” he said.

The elders of those days were a different set of people, he stated, who were accustomed to hard work and toiled from dusk to dawn to accomplish a lot to the benefit of this younger generation of today.

Honouring sports personality On another note, Felix and other residents will be holding a peaceful picketing exercise before next Tuesday in honour of Corentyne Sports personality, Sherwin Murray called “Chest” of #47 Bengal Village, Corentyne, Berbice, who was killed in a road accident on November 10, 2020.

See page XI

X

The young milkman and the Councillor

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Doing their bit to serve the community

By Michel Outridge Some youths his age are not gainfully employed while others are doing other things to earn but this 18-year-old is determined to make a better life for himself and family by buying and selling fresh cow’s milk on his bicycle in the community and its environs.

Bharat Chandradatt better known as “Suraj” started the small business after his uncle, who was the village milkman migrated and he

was handed down the job, five years ago.

He disclosed that he would get up early in the morning and go to the neighbouring village Number 73 Village where he would purchase 10 gallons of fresh cow’s milk from a cattle farmer.

He would return to his community where he would begin selling the cow’s milk at $100 per pint from Number 70 to Number 75 villages on his bicycle.

Once the milk is sold out he would return come to take

rest and start the routine all over again the next day.

“I started this small business because I needed a job and when my uncle left for overseas I took the opportunity because it was something to do to earn and I didn’t see it as an odd job,” he said.

Bharat stated that his father is often away from the home since he works in the city while his mother is a housewife and it is his way of supporting the home.

The young milkman said he doesn’t mind being called

The village milkman, Chandradatt Bharat selling fresh cow’s milk in the village

a ‘milkman’ since it is a job and there is no shame in doing honest work to earn.

The young man, told the Pepperpot Magazine that he would begin selling the milk at about 09:00hrs and by the time he reaches every customer which is about 20 households through six villages he would finish that task by midday.

“I have my pint enamel cup and gallon plastic bucket with cover and with my flap hat to help protect

me from the sun’s glare, on my bicycle I am ready to go work as any normal day,” he said.

Bharat is a resident of Number 72 Hong Kong Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

The Councillor The Pepperpot Magazine also met the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Councillor, Shakuntalla Bhoj, who is also a reside t of Second Street, Number 72 Village ‘Hong Kong’.

The 60-year-old is also a Social Worker and a Volunteer within the community who has spearheaded many projects to assist the villagers.

She disclosed that she is also the Chairman for the Village’s Policing Group but due to the pandemic the group of 15 members of the village aren’t active at present. This group was formed in 2010.

Bhoj added that over See page XI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Councillor, Shakuntalla Bhoj (Carl Croker photos)

Fostering the development ...

From Page IX He explained that the funeral service is expected on Tuesday so they will be holding a picketing exercise sometime before that calling on the authorities to have all derelict vehicles removed from the shoulder of the road.

Felix said these vehicles parked on public thoroughfare poses a hazard for all motorists especially at nights and can result in the loss of lives and injuries to many.

The 38-year-old father of four died following an accident between a motorcycle and a Motor Lorry on the No 47 Public Road, Corentyne Berbice.

Murray was an ardent sports personality and a popular figure in the Upper Corentyne area and was the son of popular Community activist and Sports Personality Linden Murray.

The young milkman ...

From page X time the village has had some development in which they benefitted from street lights, cleaning of drains and trenches and well-paved roads.

She reported, too, a new walkway wooden bridge was constructed in the village linking two villages.

The community leader stated that last month residents benefitted from the government’s COVID-19 cash grant relief of $25,000 per household and they were more than grateful for the much-needed monetary intervention.

She admitted that even though they have a garbage problem the NDC is doing what it can because they have 24 villages to service in terms of cleaning drains, parapets, trenches, canals and the tractor/trailer was down for some time.

Bhoj revealed that some villagers are engaged in illegal dumping of garbage within the village clogging drains and trenches and are not in the habit of properly disposing of their waste.

She added that the village has all the basic infrastructure and believes that are poised for more development within time.

The Councillor stated that the NDC is responsible for 24 villages from Number 52 to Number 74 villages while from Number 75 to Moleson Creek comes under the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

Bhoj pointed out that due to the number of villages they have to serve it is often difficult to do everything that is needed to enhance the lives of the people within a certain time but noted that works have been done in every village.

“I can assure you no village is neglected under our watch and we do our part as the NDC and we do it when we can so I think that is fair considering it is 24 villages we serve,” she said.

On another note, Bhoj highlighted that the social ills of the village range from drug abuse to alcohol abuse and in some homes there is a breakdown of morals and parental guidance as such, some children and youths are up to no good.

She explained that with new people in the village, they have had some break-ins including her kitchen and items were stolen on more than one occasion.

Bhoj reported too, that some parents are in the habit of drinking alcohol with their teenage children and they also send them to do odd jobs within the village to earn rather than having them schooled.

She disclosed that some young people would gang-up and loiter within the village and are up to mischief and there is little the police can do.

Bhoj added that there aren’t enough recreational activities to engage the youths and there is a need for some form of a resource centre to stimulate the young people in a trade or skills training.

XI

The sports ground and pavilion at No 72 Hong Kong Village

XII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Dialling 914… Please help!

TOO often it seems as though we are angered or saddened by the horrific violence meted out to women and young girls, often when this violence has become fatal, and then we forget that there are predators living amongst us until the next breaking news surfaces.

In Guyana, over 210,000, or three out of every five women have experienced some form of violence, either sexually

or physically according to the Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud.

As part of efforts to combat this scourge, a 914 emergency number was launched for specifically domestic, sexual violence victims in November. Last year, it was reported that domestic violence victims can approach the courts directly if they are not receiving professional assistance from the

Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Recently, 28-year-old Amrita Rahim, a mother of three, was stabbed by her husband. It was reported that the woman was involved in an argument with her husband and before long, that argument turned deadly when he took a knife and stabbed her. Unfortunately, neither the 914 tool nor the avenue of approaching the courts saved her.

The murder of Rahim is not an isolated one. There are countless reports of women being beaten and killed by their partners and it is dishonest to treat each case as though it were an isolated occurrence rather than a symptom of inequities.

It has been reported that since March, when this pandemic began, there has been a surge of domestic violence cases.

Some contend that the financial dependence of women in the household (because you know, housework is an unpaid full-time job) and lower employment exacerbated the vulnerabilities of women.

Consideration should be given to the great sense of responsibility that women have towards their families, particularly their children In my almost four and a half years as a journalist, I’ve listened to countless women explain that they stayed in abusive relationships “for the children.”

But violence isn’t unique to mothers in the home. Sanesha Lall, a 16-year-old child, was stabbed to death by a grown 34-year-old man. I saw the news of her death via Facebook, where local news agencies posted the breaking news. They reported that it was her “jealous ex-boyfriend” or her “jilted

lover” who stabbed her 20 times.

This man was not ever her boyfriend or her lover. At more than twice her age, he couldn’t have been anything else but a paedophile. No, the “age of consent” argument cannot be used here because, according to reports, he had been involved with her for two years. He preyed on a vulnerable young girl and eventually took her life.

It isn’t difficult for me to condemn this paedophile and murderer. What is difficult is getting people to understand that we have to stop normalising predatory behaviour (that is, “big man who like lil gyuls”) and we have to stop casting blame on vulnerable young girls (evidenced through comments like: “wuh she doing with a big man?” and “is big man she want”).

I personally feel as though these attitudes and behaviours corner women and young girls into keeping silent. This silence is often only broken when something drastic happens, such as when a paedophile goes berserk and stabs the young girl 20 times. If we keep blaming young girls for falling prey to predatory men, instead of blaming men for their predatory behaviours, we discourage them from speaking out.

I write this with much conviction because I know what it feels like to be a young girl who believed that it was better to stay silent and not be blamed for anything, even when I was faultless. There is a pervasive culture of silence in Guyana which helps to empower predatory, murderous men. Exacerbating this is that by victim-blaming instead of culprit-blaming, we embolden these men.

See page XXIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

THE EPA AND GAS STATIONS AS the lead environmental regulator, the EPA has a responsibility to ensure that pollution from development activities is managed and minimised where possible. You may have noticed that there is an increase in the number of motor vehicles as you make your daily trip from home to work and back. With this increase, is the corresponding increase in the number of service stations required to ensure that our vehicles keep moving.

The significant potential risks posed to both the natural environment and human health from the operation of gas stations and service stations (both on and offshore) means that the EPA has a major role in ensuring that these risks are managed, before an operation starts (for New Operations) and even projects that are in operation (Existing Operations).

These, however, can be avoided or minimised if waste management, spill control procedures and other pollution protection mechanisms are put in place. The potential avenues of pollution include refilling of storage tanks, fuelling of vehicles, de-waxing and cleaning of vehicles, disposal of polluting liquids, i.e. oil wastes, paints solvents, other coolant additives, brake fluids and solid wastes, i.e. oil filters, exhaust systems, batteries and tyres.

Oil pollution is recognised as one of the most common types of water pollution. Oil spills and careless disposal of oil wastes into drainage systems can ultimately reach receiving surface water bodies, groundwater and land areas. This can consequently have severe impacts on plant and animal life.

Contamination of watercourses by oils, chemicals or suspended solids and other such wastes can have negative impacts on birds and aquatic organisms such as fishes and ultimately on humans. Groundwater pollution can affect plant life and land pollution can impact wildlife. In addition, used oils may have hazardous properties, which can have effects on human health.

Unmanaged transport, storage, use and disposal of petroleum products may result in several hazards, to human health as well as the natural environment. Because petroleum is a mixture of organic compounds, its properties may vary, but generally, it is a volatile liquid that gives off vapour at low temperatures. The vapour is heavier than air and tends to sink and accumulate in tanks, pits and other hollows under still air conditions. When the vapour is present in the air at certain proportions (between 1-8% petroleum in the air), an explosive atmosphere is created. This is why the no-smoking sign is prevalent in gas stations! Petroleum also floats on water surfaces and can be transported over long distances via drainage canals and other watercourses. In Guyana, the primary petroleum products being used/ distributed at filling stations include unleaded gasoline, dieseline, kerosene and lubricants.

Waste management All protective measures should be taken to ensure that wastes management systems are put in place if pollution is to be avoided: > Minimise waste production; > Practice correct handling and disposal of all waste materials in an environmentally friendly manner; > Reuse and reclaim materials whenever possible; > All hazardous materials (reactive, flammable, radioactive, corrosive), solvents, oils, process residues and wastes water must be disposed of in a manner to prevent contamination of soil and of surface and groundwater; > Care should be taken in the handling and disposal of used engine oil, hydraulic fluids from lorries, buses or mechanical plants, which can be carcinogenic (cancer-causing)

and must never be discharged in surface waters. This and other hazardous wastes can be collected and sent to be recycled at garages, sponsors of stations or other facilities or registered contractors. This can be negotiated between the owners and sponsors since such wastes can be stored in drums and shipped overseas for recycling. Alternatively, if generated in small quantities these waste oils can be utilized for other purposes by the public, this requires special handling and must be agreed upon;

XIII

> Used oils may be burned for energy recovery; however, testing is necessary to ensure that it is free of hazardous contaminants; > Used oil can also be treated before disposal either by solidification and stabiSee page XIV

XIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Celebrating men and boys

I AM always celebrating life because every second is becoming more precious daily. Since Men Across Borders was released I have been thinking about how to contribute to the celebration for International Men’s Day. Since the option of an in-person event was not available, virtual was the option. Men Across Borders is not just an anthology, it is a mission and the objective is to encourage men and boys to contribute in a more meaningful way to society.

We were engaged in several programmes on NCN Radio and Ron Bobb-Semple podcast. Some of the co-authors who have sons joined the conversation, sharing what it is like raising sons. The co-authors shared various perspectives on a number of things including what societies expect of men to men’s health. The highlight of the celebration for me was the forum for men and boys. I must commend those brave young men who joined the co-authors from Men Across Borders for this meaningful discussion.

Richard Young hosted the virtual event and I was the co-host. Creativity, character, courage, compassion, commitment and choice empower the 21st-century man. “We, the men of the older guard, must bond with millennials of the new guard and share experience, expertise and experimentation to forge collaborative inclusive dynamic life chances going forward. Redefining our parenting approaches, our brotherhood bonds and our community engagement would be all the better for the sustainable development of our future generations.

It is instructive for us, men, to foster balanced gender relations, so as to make our world a better place to live freely, love abundantly and laugh unabashedly!”Richard Young.

The first young man who shared his emotional story was Rickey from Berbice. His father had deliberately burnt him during intoxicated sessions. The gruesome details brought tears to my eyes and I was not the only one who was touched. He was inspired to be a doctor while in the hospital in the U.S. and is now pursuing his dreams at the University of Guyana. The cost of his education was sponsored by organisations and individuals.

Suresh Sugrim’s message was on love and he urged young men to keep the three Ps in mind and they are potential, possibilities and promise. Seventeen-year-old Ethan from The

Bahamas shared that his dad is his role model and he supports him 100 percent. He shared his battle with cancer and how he got the courage to achieve his dreams in the most challenging time.

Dr Uon Thomas’s message was on courage and shared part of his journey where courage propelled him to find his purpose. It was awesome having a father and son join us.

THE EPA AND GAS... lisation which makes it less likely to be transported by water or by solvent extraction which reduces the volume of wastes to be transported. Wastewater from car wash bay should not pass through the interceptors; > Promote continuous monitoring, assessment and improvement of the waste management plan and facilities, to recognise faults in the system or leakage in equipment, which should be promptly remedied; > De-waxing, degreasing and cleaning of vehicles should only take place in designated wash bays. Such operations should never be carried out in open ground or areas where they can reach the drainage systems or watercourses; > Wash bays, vehicle maintenance and dismantling activities must be carried out on an impervious surface and should be separated from other areas by a kerb. Effluent should be

disposed of via oil separator; if however this is not installed then wastes should be sent to a sealed sump; and > Precautions should be taken in the use of white spirits and paraffin as degreasers since they may poison aquatic life.

Spill response: > In event of any spill, all practical and reasonable actions must be taken immediately to minimise the effect of the spill on the environment and to safeguard the health of the public, self and employees. The EPA must be notified of a spill within 24 hours; > All spills and leakage must be recorded, prevented from spreading, cleaned and disposed of appropriately. Such events must be reported to the EPA and other responsible agencies; and

Mr Cecil Adam and son Hokel possess an enviable bond.

He shared his father’s techniques that he is proud of. The 14-year-old Hokel believes young men can show more appreciation for the environment and animals. I recognised how focused he is when he attended the Fashioning the future you classes my foundation hosted earlier this year.

Will Pluck who lives in The Bahamas emphasises that men and women don’t need to bash each other because working together can achieve major milestones that can benefit everyone. Pastor Diego spoke about character-building and the importance of positive role models. He encouraged all to seek God for guidance. Pastor Alphonso is one of the persons responsible for the Guyana Chapter of CariMAN. The Caribbean Male Action Network (CariMAN) is a regional network of individuals and organisations in the Caribbean region working to challenge existing social and cultural beliefs and norms around masculinity and advocate for equality and justice for all. CariMAN is organised as a regional not-for-profit organisation, registered under the jurisdiction of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Trinidadian Jerome Teelucksingh revived International Men’s Day to honour his dad’s birthday. He intended to highlight positive male role models and the importance of men’s health among other things. I think organisations such as CARI can make a major contribution because a lot needs to be done. The men expressed the need for more forums similar in nature.

I reflected on desperately praying not to have boys, because I was influenced by the men in my family not achieving. I now have a super bright grandson whom I adore and I believe he will be an example for many young men to emulate. We were cooking together just last week.

In closing, I encourage men and boys to intentionally take their health seriously because our health is the main part of our wealth. Also, to find creative and meaningful ways where they can add value to many lives, especially for those less fortunate.

A few people asked me if I was hosting this event to celebrate International Men’s Day. This is not about gender but my contribution to humanity.

We must never forget we need each other as we celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

From page XIII

> A spill kit should be provided at all sites that are prone to spills. Kits should contain absorbent material, drain seals disposal container and other appropriate tools.

The Gas Stations Programme Area of the EPA continues to work with developers to ensure that the best environmental practices are employed at gas stations, service stations and other facilities/operations of this nature. Remember to get authorised!

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

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT 2020 CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT――Sunday, Sunday,November October 4,22, 2020

XV XXV

Have a Healthy Relationship!

A loyal reader of my column, who claims that her marriage is strained, asked me to speak about how to better get along with your partner. I think this is vital information now as COVID 19 has ensured that we spend more time Everyone,than ever before. withHello our partners ple can get physical if they First, if you are worried about the future of your relationfindPeople out always they have been ship, you have plenty of company. get married thinking it willthis last week foreverhas (obviously) hope betrayedbut sadly, in our generation, the general statistic is that one in two marriages will end treated youtowell. ofand a marriage/ rein divorce.

Let’s try change that -:).End Love relationships are rarely ever easy. People say that if it was meant to be, it I recently re- lationship will be easy. That’s just silly. It is often hard for anyone to put someoneceived else’s needs, wants and desires aboverelationships their own. It is a request - Broken often hard to compromise on things that you really do not want to discuss children andforother famto compromise on. Itadultery is hard towith be accountable someone other than yourself.

It is hard to change some things about and its effects on ily members yourself to suit someone else. Whoever says you should never mental yourself well-being. change to suit someone else, doesn’t understand - Financial stress what it means to be in a relationship. There are mutual expectations woman had - Medical in aAfunctioning and written loving relationship.

Thereconsequences will be many instances self-sacrifice to love and live harmoniously with about her ofhusband’s infidelisuch as acquiring a sexually another human being. No two people get along constantly ty and theeffort. anguish it brought transmitted disease (STD) without Some say that if it’s real love, there wouldn’t be any fights. her. I think it is an important - Pregnancy (themselves Again, this is absurd as fighting is inevitable but luckily can actually benefits brings to light topic to bring discuss, as it isto sothe relationship. or the outsideIt person) what your partner likes and doesn’t like, what their personal prominent are; throughout ourare willing to take and what they boundaries what they are willing to give.

The important is HOW fight and society. I myself know very partNow, whatyoudoes what you say during fights. In my opinion, not fighting is few relationships arerespectfully easy, actually being that able to handledo differences cheating to the is the hard part. monogamousmeans victim?

Something Iwhich learned later than I wanted to is that we get back the love we give.

There are of course exceptions exto be married to or to be in a It causes extremeandhurt, treme cases – but for the average couple and the average love, sexual withthat justwe give. low self-esteem and selfwe get relationship exactly the love If we want kindness, we must give kindness, if we want respect, we must give respect one partner. doubt. It ruins the trust for and if we want heavy displays of love, we must give it.

There are a few essentials make a relationship We’re going to talk about tonot onlylove theand current, but also work. I will say with absolute certainty that a relationship beingjustunfaithful general futuremutual relationships. (not marriage)incannot workfor without respect,This trust and kindness.

It seems obvious to say this but if it was that as only married people can is called projecting, when obvious, so many marriages wouldn’t fail. Maybe people want commit adultery, butpartner you but to show these to their cannot.

Maybe, you the they victims are more often know that these factors are important but you’re not exactly do not have married thanto focus not afraid, sure why.

Thistois be what I would like on today.insecure Respect, trust and Kindness.

How important these are! in order to be devastated by and untrusting in their new Let’s start with respect. People underestimate the power thatthis. betrayal. relationships. This can lead of Steve Hall said, “the truest form of love is how you behave For the religious, adul- to high anxiety, depression toward someone, not how you feel about them.” the word most from important remember is that teryHowever, is a sin; the andthing eventosuicide. you need to respect yourself first. I believe that respect for its Latin heritage ‘adulterwill also affect ourselves is what allows us to haveCheating ethics while respect for others is what allows us to have etiquetteboth of which are are’ means to corrupt. It is the children if the family is needed for a functioning relationship. no secret verbal widespread in our trust comoneItofis the majorthat causes of abuse splitis apart.

Typically, munity, especially in relationships. We have all been guilty of breakups/divorce issuesworse are also passed onelse to this.

We tend to speakworldto our partners than anyone

I

wide. However, its effects on both individuals are widespread.

Unfaithfulness/cheating causes many problems with both the cheater and

– this definitely should not be the case.

People believe that love includes respect. It does not. They believe that love trumps respect. It does not. From the other side, we have to display behaviours worth respecting as respect oris earned not; there are not people over time, expected. To do this, we (again), first respect ourselves and then we set and uphold clear and fair who cheat and boundaries.

Ourpeople partnerswho are not mind readers and they do not know what needs respecting. Boundaries make doautomatically not. It’s simply a perboth partners feel heard, safe and cared for. sonalHow choice. will do we There show respect?

It is not easy to show respect as it’s required at all timesalways be other problems to especially during fights/anger.

It has ‘blame’ thedifferent cheatingforms, on, butit’s not just the absence of physical or verbal abuse. Not speaking at all is a sign of disrespect. Not despite as beliefs, religion, family etc. valuing temptation, your partner’swe opinions, are signs of disrespect.

Being humans have the capability unfaithful is a sign of disrespect.

Arguing in public is a sign of disrespect. Not apologizing when toyouchoose whether we hurtThe world would be a much better are wrong is disrespect. place if people stopped trying to justify their mistakes and just someone deeply or not. gratitude when it needs to be shown apologize.

Not showing is disrespect.

Respectalways your partner both in front of their face The main reason and behind their back. People who speak badly of their partcited to methey is a are lacknotofaround, at- do not show respect. Simply ners when put, treat your partner the way you would want to be treated. tention.

The partner has felt Seriously, it’s called ‘the golden rule’ for a reason.

Kindness ignored by their significant I’d have hoped that this one was obvious by now but it other which kindness has lowered isn’t. Mutual is vital in making a relationship work.

It’s easy to be mean; being kind is the difficult approach, their self-esteem and selfespecially if you feel that one may not deserve it at the time.

It does take effort, especially when angered but there is worth.

Therefore, they seek a simple but very effective way of being kind- think before attention elsewhere. you speak!

The world would also be a better place if people thought about are going to say, as well as its effects, There are what manytheyways before speaking. to give attention to your Kindness comprises of many things as well. I’d say the most important is the willingness to comprise as this is baspouse.

Some examples sically putting your partner’s feelings and wants before your own.constant It requires consideration. are communicaKindness also requires attention. We all have a lot going tion of the thetime. problem—not on- all Kindness is putting aside your own feelings/ situations and focusing on your partners. I also think most of talking, ignoring and holdthe problems in a relationship are caused by how something is said rathersolves than what is actually said. People need to feel ing a grudge nothing. comfortable with venting their concerns; what they like and Other are being do notexamples like. However, keep in mind that there is a difference between complaining and physically and mentallycriticising. It’s fine to complain – for example, saying “the garbage needs to be taken out” or present affectionate, “the dogsand need to be fed” multiple times can be considered complaining, yes. However, when it turns into “you never take compassionate, patient, emthe garbage out” or “why can’t you just be helpful for once and feed and the dogs?” becomes pathetic sexually ac- criticism. It’s when one begins to attack the personal character rather than the behaviour. That tive.

Human long for becomes thebeings problem.

Kindness means to love your partner the way they these types ofalso connections. need to be loved, not the way you do.

I read cheating a book called “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Basically, is an exChapman and it was the best education on love that I’ve ever ternal to anthat internal had. Ireaction recommend everyone in a relationship buys this

them, affecting both their fu- problem. Participating in the ture friendships and intimate above examples are internal relationships. solutions.

I know many people who have never been cheated on What happens after (to their knowledge), but are you have found out?

book and read it together.

It basically explains that everyone loves differently and therefore require different types of love- much like a completely different language. There were 5 which were Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.

For example, you might base your love on words of affirmation- such as I love you, I need you and all sorts of compliments. You might need this and therefore you assume your partner needs this type of love to be happy as well. That’s not the case. More often than not, your partner has a different love language than you do. For example, they might like Physical touch and therefore, will be expressing physical touch to you.

All the while, all you want is words of affirmation. It’s genius and may very well be the reason so many marriages fail. Decide what your and your partner’s love language is and express theirs to them, not yours.

Trust Trust is a must. This is a little rhyme to remember.

Trusting someone with your heart and happiness is very difficult but a proper foundation cannot be built without trust.

Without trust, there is insecurity, doubt and fear- all things that limit the potential intimacy of a healthy relationship. . It is the hardest thing to gain and sadly the easiest thing to lose.

It takes two to trust and building and upholding trust requires one simple thing- honesty. Well, I shouldn’t exactly call it simple because if it was easy, everyone would do it. It does cause discomfort and hurt but through that, one finds trust.

That being said, you need to be someone your partner feels he/she can be honest with. Your level of understanding and compassion must be high; your reactions not too over the top.

There are different types and levels of trust. One needs to trust that the other will be sexually faithful, yes but one also needs to trust that the other will be emotionally faithful. One needs to trust that the other has their best interest at heart- that they will not control or reject the other. One needs to trust that the other will love them- even when they hate them- without any selfish reasons. One needs to be able to trust that the other will not abandon them during hard times but rather make them a priority. Trusting someone completely is a terrifying thought but looking at the potential benefits, it is a risk worth taking.

If these are not currently prominent factors or situations in your relationship, not to worry. Love, respect, trust etc. – do not look at these as feelings but rather activities or skills. Upholding a healthy relationship is a skill and like any other skill, there needs to be constant practice to improve. All you need to do is decide where you are most lacking and start from there.

Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Or WhatsApp me for personal counselling sessions +592 623 0433 Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department: Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 2230009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

XVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Cassava, breadfruit are good crops for food security LAST week NAREI in Focus began a series on initiatives taken by Guyana through the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute to satisfy the requirements of “Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture” (KJWA) within the UNFCCC framework.

An important aspect of the Socio-economic and Food Security Dimensions thematic area of the KJWA is food security. Cassava is a vital crop for food security, as well as poverty reduction through rural incomes. It is used as a famine-reserve crop, cash crop for urban consumption, industrial

raw materials, and earner of foreign exchange.

Smallholder farmers in rural and hinterland areas are also losing important varieties through excessive rainfall, drought and other climate-related challenges. This situation presented a threat to farmers’ livelihoods as it created a socio-economic condition that needed urgent attention.

NAREI’S research interventions identified 81 bitter and six sweet cassava accessions with favourable drought and pest and disease resistance, and growth and production characteristics. In relation to cassava productivity, three high-yielding Improved Cassava Varieties (NAREI 1, NAREI 2 and NAREI 3) with drought-resistant characteristics were released NAREI’s Research Assistant Premdatt Beecham looking at the NAREI to farmers and an active programme of multipli1 cassava variety cation and distribution of cassava- planting materials to farmers instituted to respond to the increased demand for cassava-planting materials in Guyana.

A viable alternative to cassava in ensuring food security for these communities is breadfruit cultivation. Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a versatile plant that is cultivated with minimal maintenance. It produces fruit after about six years and remains productive for over 50 years. It can be eaten steamed, boiled, fried, baked, roasted or fried. The ripe breadfruit can be eaten raw or used to make a refreshing beverage and wine.

As for its nutritional content, breadfruit is gluten-free and low in saturated fat. It is considered a superfood as it is rich in fibre, carbohydrates, vitamin C, and numerous other minerals. However, breadfruit as a crop is difficult to propagate because of its seedless nature. To help alleviate this problem the institute embarked on multiplication / generation of new plants via tissue culture. In 2017, two new varieties were introduced in Guyana. Ma’afala, is a compact tree that bears small fruits weighing approximately 0.8 kg and with creamy to pale yellow flesh. Ulu fiti is a bigger tree that bears in clusters with fruits weighing approximately1.8 kg with yellow flesh.

Plants were distributed to farmers in various regions. Currently, these varieties are being propagated via tissue culture and are available for sale to farmers.

Due to the accelerating growth of global population and climate change, there is a drastic depletion of agricultural and plant-genetic resources, which continues to threaten food security nationally and universally. Research in plant biotechnology is imperative to mitigate some of the challenges faced due to climate change and global warming. The department of Plant Biotechnology and Genetic Resources was created for this purpose; to enhance crop productivity through innovative research in plant biotechnology and on plant-genetic resources. Additionally, devise new strategies for the conservation of plant-genetic resources for food and agriculture security, facilitate the transboundary movement of clean and healthy materials and engage in breeding programmes for the creation of resilient crops.

To date, the department has successfully established depositories for different crops, both in-situ (Ebini and Kairuni) and ex-situ (plant tissue culture laboratory) highlighting cassava (Manihot esculenta) as one of the major crops with more than 80 different accessions. Over the years the department has successfully provided disease-free and resistant planting materials of high-yielding varieties of plantain, sweet potato, pineapple, cassava and breadfruit plants to farmers for cultivation.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

XVII

Creole, the identity, the being and the inevitable self

‘CREOLE’ is an enveloping cultural reality that does not deny the old world sense and memory of self. We are all we identify ourselves to be from the prototypical continental centres of our bloodlines, of rites and rituals and what we believe were their original beliefs. We can as individuals and groups dangerously live in two worlds, the mind on one the body in the other, or we can navigate the all that we are, be in control of the romantic voices of our dreams and comprehend that the ‘Creole’ is the colonising regimen of the universe we live in. Creole means born outside, or away from the place of origin. It’s believed to be a Spanish word in reference to distinguish at first, between Europeans born in the then colonies, as from those born in the Euro-home lands, but with time the meaning was modified and extended first to also mean Africans of mixed heritage , then Africans born or raised (like Kofi) from childhood from captive Africans brought into slavery, then further to embody the culture of fusions that occurred in the colonies of the New World as the

Americas became more confident in its separate identity the cultures and life crafts that grudgingly evolved from the talents of its diverse peoples, despite the fact that they did not all share common liberties. The process of creolisation would then incorporate nations, and national identities that define strict protected expressions of novel cultural nationhood.

Guyana has never really delved into the ethnography of who we are as a people, to our disadvantage. Politics imposed itself on our intellectual, artistic and social perceptions with subtle dictates, and resistance to our aesthetic evolution. Thus the term Creole has become subject to diverse interpretations that fail to capture the ‘Identity’ of its meaning, from the processes it evolved from, that truly can define ‘the all’ that the term embodies. A significant example is the religions that were involved in the era of the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade.

The European-adopted Christianity clashed against the

religions of the high cultures of Mesoamerica and Africa.

Though Christian narratives were used as a justification in the launch of the Slave Trade and the devastation and pillage of the Mesoamerican civilizations, it petered off and the sole intention of commercial gain remained in the

forefront. But this occurred between events of the genocide of native tribes, the savagery of slavery and constant battles between European nations, coupled with slave rebellions, maroon insurrections and See page XXIII a little unknown realisation that

XVIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Stop killing our Guyanese women

I try to keep up to date with everything that’s been happening around us.

From local, to national and even international news—I take it all in. Recently, I’ve been noticing an alarming number of reported cases of violence towards and murder of women. Is this an ongoing issue? Does gender have anything to do with it? Is there a deeper, underlying and more pressing concern about what’s happening? These are all questions that pon-

dered my mind and even as I write this piece, I cannot fully answer them all.

I find it upsetting. Why? Well, for starters, most of these women knew and trusted their killer/abuser. They were close to them. Most of the perpetrators were once trusted by these women and girls. It leaves one to wonder; if we cannot trust our spouses, our fathers, our uncles, our brothers—then who are we then to trust? I’ve also seen many instances where the victims were blamed and

shamed. Somehow, the fact that they were either abused or murdered flew over the heads of many and they went straight to blaming the victims for the horrendous acts that were committed by an abuser/murderer.

I’m not sure if I’ll be the first Guyanese writer to say this but I certainly hope I’m not the last—“we ought to stop romanticising abuse”.

Sometimes, it’s very hard to notice and spot even if it happens right in front of our eyes because it is em-

bedded so much into our culture. Perhaps the most heart wrenching truth about all of this is that fact that many of the victims do not even know that they are actual victims. Many of our girls were groomed and raised to believe that certain abusive traits ought to be accepted. Many of our girls were taught the unpalatable act of submission.

They don’t know better because they weren’t taught what better is or what it means.

As always, I’ll receive the backlash from the patriarchy just by writing such a piece. They will argue on how certain gender roles and traits are not deleterious to us as a society. However, I

urge you to look beyond the headlines, read the stories, listen to the survivors and

understand the effects of the abuser/murderer’s actions.

See the parallels for yourself.

I refuse to believe that this is all just one big coincidence.

I have been using the hashtag #StopKillingOurWomen on my social media. To bring it closer to home, we can use #StopKillingOurGYWomen.

Use it to bring awareness to these issues, use it to stand

with the survivors, mourn the dead and use it to speak against the abusers and murderers.

It’s about time we stop turning a blind eye to these issues. Our systems that are set in place to protect these victims should also be held accountable just like the abusers and murderers.

From the police officers who’d refuse to listen to victims or make it uncomfortable for them to speak to, to the social service agencies and their breaches of confidentiality, to the families and neighbours who refuse to intervene. These systems can also fail our women and girls just as much or even worse than their abusers.

It’s about time it stops.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

XXX

XIX

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 4, 2020

REVISITING THE SCOURGE OF SQUATTING

W

hen one sees the newspaper headlines such as removed. They should emphatically learn the truth that if a “GUYSUCO EMPLOYEES, AMBUSHED, squatter builds a structure on someone else’s land, the strucR O B B E D ” ture belongs to the land and its or “SQUATTERS ROB legal owner and not the squatter.

NEIGHBOURING RES(c) Squatting should be deIDENTS”, it alarms those clared a criminal offence. who yearn for a Guyanese (d) The Police should always society which is peaceful, be prepared to visit squatter areas progressive and not sliding since these areas are incubators into backwardness. And of violence. it becomes more troubling (e) News reporters are often when the news media is fully naively taken in by squatters’ distracted by mostly political news and the COVID19 pandemic and gives little space or attention to the terrible social blemish of Squatting. We are therefore constrained to revisit the scourge of squatting which has been erupting on the East Coast Demerara and East Bank Demerara. On the East Coast, the lands squatted on are mostly lands belonging to the sugar plantations.

The squatters had destroyed years of scientific work and thousands of young sugar plants costing the Industry $2 billion and setting back the revitalisation of the Industry.

Some squatters on the sugar estate lands are brazenly demanding that GUYSUCO reward their theft by giving to them prime land by what is euphemistically called “regularising”.

They are not concerned that the Plantation’s imperatives to replant their land and provide employment for hundreds of people demanding that the State award them house lots in any of the housing estates thus jumping the queue of the thousands who had been patiently awaiting the processing of their applications.

Some politicians have been trying to make political hay by currying favour with the squatters telling them that squatting is morally and even legally correct. The State, on the other hand, responding to political pressures and the fact that some of its officers are sympathetic to the squatters’ demands are showing extraordinary tolerance instead of exerting the full power of the Law. In the absence of continuous strong statements against squatting from those in authority, squatters feel emboldened and have begun to invade private property. On the East Bank Demerara, there have been a number squatting groups s threatening violence on the owners of the land with the Police often turning a blind eye.

Squatters usually give a predictable hard-luck story to explain why they were squatting. They usually say they have nowhere to go and that they are poor and unemployed.

When they are questioned as to from where they came, they do not answer but become hostile and aggressive. In fact, all squatters are actuated by human greed- they desire to steal someone else’s property. This is seen by the fact that some squatters have houses of their own which they tenant or when they embark upon squatting they do so with relatives who each mark out a piece of land. The claim that they are in poverty is belied by their lifestyle where many of them have regular rum-drinking parties. Some may even be encouraged by shortsighted politicians to squat.

Squatting is one of the most environmentally negative activities in any Society. The habitations built by squatters are primitive and unhealthy and these so-called settlements have no roads, water supply or electricity. They do not have any drainage or rubbish disposal and the toilets are primitive pit latrines; some of them do not even bother to build pit latrines.

Squatter settlements are places which are unhygienic and unhealthy. Children growing up in squatter environments attend school very irregularly, adding to the illiterate population.

Squatter settlements usually host a criminal element who prey on the surrounding population.

Mass squatting in colonial times was an unknown phenomenon and first came about in the early 1960s during the racial disturbances in the villages, especially on the East Coast Demerara.

Squatting could be eliminated or controlled if the following measures are effectuated:(a) Educate the population continuingly that squatting is illegal and that it is theft. Many squatters do not realise that squatting is theft. Such education could be done in the media and the teachers’ college and the primary schools. (b) Many squatters are under the false impression that if they built a structure on someone else’s land, they cannot be

SOME USES OF PEPPERMINT OIL

hard-luck stories and by uncritically publishing such stories fuel the illegality of squatting. Sometimes, such reporters could open their newspapers for libel suits. (f) The Law has been amended to make it impossible to prescribe on State lands. Unfortunately, private land was left unprotected and the 12-year rule which was adopted from English legislation was allowed to remain.

The 12-year rule is inappropriate to a rural society which has a large emigration.

Guyana to the OME months ago, this should columnrevert carried an33year rule for private land. article on mint. The article treated mint as 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.

XX

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

XXI

XXII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Creole, the identity, ...

From Page XVII

many of the Pirate ships were also manned by Africans who had rebelled against slavery. Within the 300-odd years that such turbulent events had become normal.

The exchanges of ideas, food, rhythms and belief systems were not left out, as it was in other human timelines, such trade of ideas persisted, Christianity, African and Mesoamerican beliefs merged.

Thus the proverbial ‘Wuk man’ as the spiritualist is called in Guyana is neither Obeah man, Warlock, Voudon Priest, nor Shaman, and with Indentureship, the Hindu factor was added to the melee, thus, he is ‘All’ and his diversity of spirits are accepted by those who subscribe to his or her craft. With the music, we must recognise that the term creole is more an array of descriptions in several dictionaries and books of literature and has been replaced by identities within national borders, but though it has ceased to be the analogy of identity used, the process itself has morphed into cultural normalcy that identifies with other rhythms within a creolised historical process, whether they are the sounds of Sergio Mendes’ Promise of a fisherman or Nina Simone doing ‘I put a spell on you’ or the Rhythmaires interpreting Sohani Rath for the dance halls of Guyana and to add Roberto Delgado’s immortal ‘Whiskey & Soda.

It amounts to the common acceptance of a rainbow landscape of rhythmic expressions that belonged to the mass vibe of the Americas and ‘Guyanese’. The acceptance of the definition is expressed with authority through the casual colloquial term ‘Creole fowl’ against them fancy chicken, that does feed from bag. Creole eggs are natural; ent got chemicals like dem other egg. Translated, it means creole is ‘homegrown’ stronger, of the soil, creole fowl invokes village, the wake-up crow of the fowl cock fore day morning, also common in certain areas of old Georgetown, a nostalgia of identity. But the process of creolisation also invokes the clash of sensibilities of diverse peoples, through its savage genesis of plantation slavery, the colonisation of souls with its social/caste dictates of master and slave, Christian and heathen, but the unmanageable construct of the creole entity forged on. Human passions rudely violated the pretentious nature of the plantation, then with shame, the guilt of contradiction and finally with the realisation that birthed grudging reconciliation with nature’s course, the plantation and its philosophers added new false contentions of hierarchy and disdain against what stared back at it from the mirror, the human variations of the holistic creolised plantation, demanding a final resolution with its cultural reality, a conflict that somewhat still is officially kept alive, eventually towards its final ramification. We in Guyana have never paid attention to racism in Latin America, but Latin American racism has lasted longer in the- Southern North American state- than the whole of the northern Americas itself. One profound reality is however retained, that strange enough, though the cross of Christendom governs most of Latin America, it is the Gods of Africa that captured the imagination of its spirit and defiantly rule.

Creole is a culture, a way of thinking, senses and vibrations that have anticipated responses; It’s beyond a race, if you are born in the Americas, you may indoctrinate your people to their own shame, as is done on one half of an island in the Caribbean, elsewhere yearn for a pristine identity beyond the seas. But as awe creole brethren from Jamaica did sing “Yuh running, and yuh running, and yuh running away, but yuh can’t run away from yuh self” and that is the final engendering.

Dialling 914…

Our access to the 914 hotline is a great tool, but how else are we trying to combat domestic violence? What support mechanisms exist for women and young girls? I know there are quite a few organisations and bodies filled with people who work tirelessly to ensure that they can provide assistance to these vulnerable people. If we can’t support them in tangible ways, at the very least, we could support them by speaking out at the first sight of violence and reaching out to the relevant authorities. We can also help destroy this culture of ours which casts blame on the vulnerable and the victims.

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 From page XII

XXIII

XXIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

XXV

XXVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

THOUGHT FOR TO

DAY

The sublime an ulous are oftend the ridicrelated, that it is so nearly class them sepdifficult to TOM PAINE (173arately.

The Age of Rea 7-1809) son (1795), pt. ii, p.20

November 22, 2020 Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend.

Without hesitation, we say that students’ examination preparation stresses their mental and physical systems limitlessly. But here is good news: stress levels are reducible with

reading and listening to books; activities of which also decrease blood pressure and improve heart rate, which releases muscle tension. Even the silent reading of lighter material with a change of focus, for about six minutes daily, can produce education, enjoyment, and health to the mind. This reading approach works better and faster than other relaxation methods.

Love you.

READING Understanding Sentence Meaning Instruction: Each sentence in this section has either one or two words missing. Choose from the four options the word or pair of words which BEST completes the meaning of the sentence.

1. Despite his grandmother’s short-temper, her willingness to give of her wealth to help others to succeed led people to call her …….

(A) hurry-scurry (C) benevolent (B) laughable (D) ancient 2. When parents display a ……. for one child, the others are likely to feel …….

(A) affection … lonely (C ) preference …. envious (B) dislike …… pleased (D) concern ……... angered 3. Because she had been vigilant all day, the security guard was ……. the task of working for another twelve hours.

(A) deprived of (C) barred from (B) relieved of (D) hindered from 4. The external delegations were impressed by the ……. of the statesman whose speeches had a profound ……. on those who were under the sound of his voice.

(A) appearance reaction (B) presence result (C) emotion sensation (D) eloquence effect 5. Dismayed by his discourtesy to the scout master, Darnell’s father ……. him.

(A) berated (C ) congratulated (B) compensated (D) disputed

IMPROVING WRITING Doing good writing Look at the two passages below. See what the writers have done to attract you to be reading their works.

First Passage Sophie sat at her desk in her room, thinking about her life. Last year her mother had left, leaving Sophie with her father. Their family problems had intensified over the years with her father’s drinking, her mother’s irrational behaviour, and Sophie’s poor performance at school.

Eventually Sophie stopped seeing her friends, replacing busy afternoons with swimming practice and telephone calls with solitude. The only thing that seemed to matter anymore was her orchids.

She poured into them all her love, since she was unable to share it with anyone else.

They served as a barrier, protecting Sophie from her family problems, her teacher’s questions, and her own fear of being vulnerable.

Sophie broke out of her daze and drifted back into the present. A feeling of frustration flooded over her.

Was she another crack-up like her parents? How did other people resolve their problems? All that her family had tried usually failed.

Still, there was nothing she could do. Her parents were the ones with the problems.

They caused all the agony, leaving her only one place to hide – in her room with her orchids. How could she accept responsibility for a life that was already ruined by others? As for self-respect, the only pride she had was in her plants.

Something to Do Also 1. You must have seen or heard the word “responsibility” umpteen times since birth. What does it now mean to you? Do you consider yourself a responsible person?

2. Name the character around which the story revolves.

3. Do you agree with the character’s resolution? What would you have done being in her circumstance?

4. Has your life ever been put on hold because of family troubles? You handled the situation somehow or the other then. How differently would you handle that situation today?

5. Write a story in three to four paragraphs about a situation going haywire, where a person or persons clearly were not facing their responsibility in a home or school situation.

Second Passage The guard entered the prison shoe-shop and took him to the front office. ….

“Now Valentine,” said the warden. “You’ll go out in the morning. Brace up, and make a man of yourself.

You’re not a bad fellow at heart. Stop cracking safes, and live straight.”

“Me?” said Jimmy, in surprise. “Why, I never cracked a safe in my life.”

“Oh, no,” laughed the warden. “Of course not.

Let’s see, now. How was it that you happened to get sent up on that Springfield job?”

Was it because you couldn’t prove an alibi for fear of compromising somebody in extremely high society?

Or was it simply a case of a mean old jury that had it in for you? It’s always one or the other with you innocent victims.”

“Me?” asked Jimmy, still blankly virtuous. “Why, warden, I never was in Springfield in my life!”…….

Disregarding the songs of the birds, the waving green trees, and the smell of the flowers, Jimmy headed straight to a restaurant. From there he proceeded leisurely to the depot and boarded his train. Three hours set him down in a little town under the state line. He went to the café of one Mike Dolan and shook hands with Mike, who was alone behind the bar. ……. “Fine,” said Jimmy.

“Got my key?” ……. He got his key and went upstairs. ……

Pulling out from against a wall a folding-bed, Jimmy slid back a panel in the wall and dragged out a dust-covered suitcase. He opened this and gazed fondly at the finest set of burglar’s tools in the East. It was a complete set, made of specially tempered steel, the latest designs in drills, punches, braces and bits, jimmies, clamps, and augers, with two or three novelties invented by Jimmy himself, in which he took pride. …..

(Taken from “A Retrieved Reformation” by O. Henry) Discuss: How does this writer’s style attract you to reading his work?

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020

Sore throat

UNDOUBTEDLY at some time in our lives we will all suffer from a sore throat. But while this seems normal, the cause and evolution of the disease may vary quite a lot. Included in respiratory system disorders, the acute or chronic condition arises from causes such as infection, allergies, tumors and drug reactions.

Sore throat is usually a prominent symptom of a wide variety of diseases among which are rheumatic, scarlet and relapsing fevers, (the latter is spread by a tick). Others include polio, tetanus, tonsillitis and vitamin B deficiency and lastly, the dreaded COVID 19 virus.

What we commonly call the throat is really the oropharynx, which is visible at the back of the mouth situated below the nasopharynx and above the larynx (voice box).

Tonsils are spongy tissues at the back of the throat, composed mainly of lymphatic cells. There are three types.

The palatine tonsils, usually referred to as the ‘tonsils’, are visible between the arches that extend from the uvula (bell-shaped structure at the center of the opening), to the floor of the mouth.

Then there are the pharyngeal tonsils, often called the adenoids. These lie at the back of the throat. They generally shrink as a child grows, but may have to be surgically removed if they become enlarged and inflamed. The lingual tonsils are on the upper surface of each side of the back of the tongue.

The ‘tonsils’ function to protect the pharynx (common entrance of the gullet, nose and windpipe) and the rest of the body from infectious organisms (bacteria, fungi and viruses).

Infection of the tonsils, called tonsillitis, may serve as a source of infection elsewhere in the body. The tonsils form lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that produce antibodies. To combat harmful organisms trapped in the mucous membrane lining in the throat. In fact, the lymphocytic tissue circumscribing the throat actually represents the first line of defense against invading pathogens.

Let’s look at how the tonsils relate to the dreaded disease, AIDS. In reality, HIV is too frail to kill anyone. Most people who die from AIDS succumbs generally as a result of either pneumocytic carini pneumonia or cancer. These situations develop because there is the depletion of special white blood cells known as Tee Four Lymphocytes, which have the responsibility of providing immunity against aggressive germs.

The AIDS virus may also invade and kill the Tee Four Lymphocytes leaving the body vulnerable. These protective cells are manufactured in the tonsils, bone marrow and spleen.

A sore throat that is not responding to conventional treatment may be gonorrhoea of the oropharynx contracted from oral sex. Also occurring sometimes is diphtheria, which begins gradually with fever, sore throat and swollen lymph nodes (glands) in the neck.

A thick white membrane forms on the tonsils and may obstruct breathing to necessitate the surgical opening of the windpipe. Heart muscle and nerves may be affected causing heart failure, paralysis and sometimes death.

The throat communicates with the middle ear, located

XXVII

behind eardrums, by means of a passage called the Eustachian tube. This is why the pain of the ear infection is occasionally experienced when the victim has a cold. With sore throat, the typical complaint is a raw, dry burning sensation and pain on swallowing all cool substances, such as ice cream. If the infection spreads downwards to the larynx, hoarseness and temporary loss o voice may ensue.

Treatment for sore throat usually consists of adequate doses of penicillin, aspirin, rest and warm saline gargles.

XXVIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 22, 2020