Guyana_Chronicle_Pepperpot_28_11_2021

The furniture-makers of Andyville, Koker Creek Village Calvin Paul is a furniture-maker from Andyville, Koker Creek Village, Linden. He has been in this profession for over 20 years and is one of the few persons in the village who have taken to furniture-making for a living (Carl Croker photo)

Sunday November 28, 2021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

Maypole Plaiting, a

game-changer for self-confidence

By Dillon Goring BLESSED Vaughn is an English Teacher at Ascension Secondary School and is also one of the teachers involved in the traditional maypole dancing exercise, which occurs in May of every year all across the country.

Vaughn hails from the village of Enmore, East Coast Demerara and, during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, noted that she began to become involved in the Maypole event from the tender age of four through the inspiration of her grandmother (the late Claire Wilkinson). Wilkinson was a sexton (church custodian charged with keeping the church and parish buildings prepared for meetings) at a local Anglican church on the East Coast.

Vaughn stated that at the age of 16, when she began the Maypole event, she saw

it as firstly a form of entertainment and by extension developing young people, thus reducing their involvement in activities that are not beneficial for their moral upbringing, such as crime. As she grew, she began to impart the skill into younger persons around her.

She noted that her Maypole activity caused a tremendous impact on the way of life for the young people, significantly, the reduction of teenage pregnancy among teens in villages across the country.

“It helped to reduce social ills like teenage pregnancy, drug abuse and crime, because everybody was so taken up into the Maypole.

Of course, the boys used to come to see the girls and girls used to come to see the boys, but it used to be fun and nobody took anything out of context, so I felt that I was impacting young people’s lives in a positive way and in

an interesting way to them,” Vaughn said in an interview.

She noted that through her activities of teaching Maypole plaiting to the youth, she might have made a great impact in the lives of so many young people, adding that young people who would have failed in school particularly in their CSEC (Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate) were taken to be May Queens.

“I would have [sic] helped them financially to further their studies, help them spiritually, socially and psychologically. So, I think that I would have made a great impact, all the young people who know me, even to those who would have [sic] grown and gotten children, their children know me.

Some of my Godchildren, most of them are still around and they respect me; they have good jobs and are working to achieve their goals in life. They didn’t go down the

Blessed Vaughn has been honoured for her work in mobilising young people through Maypole plaiting

wayside. Thus, my impact on them was great,” Vaughn told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Vaughn was careful to mention that Maypole plaiting in the village of Enmore and along the East Coast transformed a lot of the young people’s lives to the extent that some of them have established their own business enterprises due to its impact.

In the future, Vaughn made the call based on her experience, that a lot of young people do not have anyone to look out for them.

Therefore, it means that she would be one of those who would look out for those who have no one to look for them.

Vaughn noted that the main issue, particularly among East Coast youths, is low self-esteem. This, she highlighted, gives rise to a number of other social ills.

“Some of them are so talented, but because they

aren’t getting the support, they tell themselves that they aren’t worthy enough. They are withdrawn and then these things that would happen to them, so you just see them being pregnant. You know, I question it as to how did this happen and why did it happen, but the heart of the matter is that they are led to being pregnant and doing things that aren’t in keeping with right moral standards,” Vaugh opined.

According to Vaughn, Maypole plaiting should be seen as an activity to boost one’s self-esteem and confidence and not become a money-making affair.

She was eager to talk about the success of maypole plaiting, which impacted the life of one girl who was shy and withdrawn. Eventually, she became a customer service agent as a result of her involvement, which made her more outgoing.

Vaughn is strongly of the view that it works when it comes to transforming the lives of young people, who are grappling and dealing with a lot of complex issues and problems.

Vaughn was recently recognised as one of 25 influential women leaders for her work with youth through maypole plaiting.

The honour was bestowed upon her by a dynamic team of female leaders and entrepreneurs in their own right: Michelle A Nicholas of The NICO Consulting, Inc., and Lyndell Danzie-Black of Cerulean Incorporated. The unique award turns the spotlight on women – with 25 awardees being honoured for their passion and commitment to uplifting the business sector, their communities and society.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

Tourism Guyana on ‘FAM’ trips to highlight destinations earmarked for local tourism TOURISM Guyana (TG) has continuously been abuzz with its novel ideas and outputs as the agency stretches itself towards enhancing Guyana’s budding tourism industry through its ever-growing social media platforms.

Started just about two years ago, TG is already gearing up to launch the second edition of the Tourism Guyana Magazine, having presented the first one last January. To this end, members of the team, who are more than just co-workers but great friends, have been travelling to various locations to gather content and promote tour destinations.

TG boasts a huge following of active enthusiasts and travellers who are always looking for something to do and somewhere to visit.

In fact, it has been quite instrumental in providing the sort of influence needed so far as tourism activities and destinations are concerned throughout the country.

“We have also pioneered an interactive digital online version of the Tourism Guyana Magazine with pop-up videos, slideshow photos, map locations, among other features not seen before in a magazine here in Guyana,” Co-Founder Fiaz Yamin

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The Tourism Guyana team during a video production at the Kingston Seawall

Tourism Guyana Magazine on display at Dubai Expo 2020. Photo by Chevon Lim

pointed out.

“Our printed and digital magazine was chosen to represent Guyana’s tourism product on an international

have to offer to potential visitors to our country, as well as locals,” Yamin further said in

an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

With the launch of the

stage and is proudly on display in Dubai at the Dubai Expo 2020. We also assist the private sector and other agencies in promoting what they

Tourism Guyana member Neilon Dias at Kumu Village Primary School

Dillon of Blackwater Adventures displays a Caiman during a recent FAM trip by the Guyana Tourism Authority

magazine’s second edition billed for January 2022, the team is also working on several videos and other intriguing content for release in the coming months. “We will also continue to promote and assist agencies in highlighting great tourism destinations and all things Guyana,” Yamin commented.

With November being Tourism Awareness Month, the TG team has been engaged in a number of Familiarisation (FAM) trips facilitated by the Guyana Tourism Authority to highlight various destinations earmarked for local tourism.

“Various Indigenous settlements such as St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Santa Aratack, and Warapoka were earmarked as local tourism destinations to showcase their tourism product. An African culture tour and various river tours around Guyana are some of the attractions geared for anyone willing to experience and learn about our rich history and culture,” Yamin shared.

Tourism Guyana, the brainchild of four business partners and friends (Lesa SEE PAGE V

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

An Inside Look at the Guyana Physiotherapy Association

By Dillon Goring THE Guyana Physiotherapy Association (GPA) is a professional body that provides support and representation to physiotherapists practising in Guyana.

This agency began its operation in Guyana some 40 plus years ago.

The Pepperpot Magazine recently sat down with President of the Association, Isha Urlin, to get an inside perspective on how the association functions and how someone can join the association. “ Persons who would have [sic] completed and graduated from an entry level BSc Physiotherapy training programme of a recognised university and are registered with the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) – which is the national regulatory body for the registration of all allied health professions and their professionals to practise in Guyana- [can join the association],” Urlin told the Pepperpot Magazine.

She further noted that the GPA has an executive of seven members and four sub-committees (Continuing Education; Fundraising; Advocacy & Health Promotion; Professional Development & Mentorship).

The Association meets on a quarterly basis and organises training and other activities towards the further development of its members.

Additionally, it was noted that the GPA in its close relationship with the Ministry of Health, has initiated and is still very much involved in several projects over the years.

Urlin mentioned the fact that the association is associated with two international bodies.

“The GPA is affiliated to the World Confederation on Physiotherapy (WCPT) and a member of the North American Regional Caribbean (NACR) arm of the world body.

Actually, on the 8th of September, the GPA joined with the other physiotherapists around the world to celebrate ‘World Physiotherapy Day’,” she explained. “The theme for the year is ‘Long COVID and Rehabilitation.’ Activities will be done

President of the Guyana Physiotherapy Association, Isha Urlin

to highlight the significant role of physiotherapists in the rehabilitation of persons that were infected with COVID-19, not only during the period of infection but after. Since, there are lots of residual physical effects to the functioning of major systems and organs associated. For example, the respiratory system and the lungs, the cardiovascular system and the heart and such like A career in physiotherapy

apist via a period of study of entry-level physiotherapy at a recognised university. For example, right here at the University of Guyana, via the Health Sciences Faculty in the College of Medicine persons, who have attained the university requirements of five subjects with emphasis on science subjects along with Maths and English, can apply to the Medical Rehabilitation Programme, which comprises three disciplines (Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy and Speech/language therapy & Audiology) and then focus on their major in their third year of study.

They can then graduate after the completion of their year and pass the Competency Proficiency Exam.

Persons after this course of study can go on to upgrade by doing post-graduate studies- a Master’s and then the doctorate in a specialised area.

According to Urlin, the Guyana Physiotherapy Association has impacted health care in Guyana, particularly under the heading of rehabilitation services.

She noted the areas that the association has been impactful in, these include: Creating opportunities for continuing education of its members (physiotherapists), both professionally and personally; Advocating and promoted efforts towards the establishment of a legislative body - the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC). This body is responsible for the registration and licensing of not only physiotherapists, but all other allied health professions to be protected under the laws of Guyana, in their practice; promoting efforts to encourage physiotherapists to perform at the highest level with high ethical standards; Supporting the establishment of training physiotherapists at the University of Guyana and participating in the international body - World Confederation of Physical Therapists (WCPT) and is a part of the North American Regional Caribbean grouping of that body.

Urlin explained that a person can become a physiother-

INTERNATIONAL JAGUAR DAY WITH their beauty, power, and speed, jaguars are the iconic big cat of the Americas. Today, their future is in our hands. With this said, International Jaguar Day was created to raise awareness about the increasing threats facing the jaguar and the critical conservation efforts which are in place to ensure its survival. Observed annually on November 29, International Jaguar Day celebrates the Americas’ largest wild cat as an umbrella species for biodiversity conservation and an icon for sustainable development and the centuries-old cultural heritage of Central and South America. International Jaguar Day also represents the collective voice of jaguar-range countries in collaboration with national and international partners, to draw attention to the need to conserve jaguar corridors and their habitats as part of broader efforts to achieve the United Nations Development Goals.

Why protect jaguars?

Jaguars are the top predators in their environment, so they play an important role in controlling the populations of other species. This helps keep a balance in the food chain, and a healthy environment. Despite their ecological and cultural value, jaguars have lost approximately 50 percent of their original range, and all across their current distribution, jaguar populations are declining. Jaguars are mostly threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation; human encroachment; decrease in their preys’ populations; and direct killings derived from in-

creasing conflict with humans, and recently to enter illegal markets.

Unfortunately, there is a chilling new increase in trade in body parts of the jaguar.

We must take a more holistic approach to Jaguar conservation!

How can we do this? A major focus needs to be put on the critical need to safeguard core jaguar landscapes, and to reduce the direct killing of jaguars, as well as to promote transboundary and international cooperation, and enhance the cultural value of jaguars in the Region. Whilst these approaches are common to the jaguar-conservation work of other organisations, like WWF and its associate organisation FVSA, they have a particular niche in jaguar conservation through their focus on governance and community-based approaches; collaborative partnerships for jaguar work in indigenous territories; engagement with the private sector for jaguar-friendly economic activities in productive areas. We need to move away from what we can do and start doing: that SEE PAGE XVIII

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

Parenting by fostering or adopting

By Francis Quamina Farrier IN many countries around the world, November is observed as Adoption Month.

Adoption, which is a step further than fostering, is not a widely-discussed topic in Guyana, and there are quite a number of Guyanese adults, especially married couples who do not have children of their own, but are not sure whether they want to foster or adopt. There is also the likelihood that they may never have even thought of fostering or adopting. One of the reasons could be that in Guyana, fostering and adopting have not been readily done officially. Yes, there are many youngsters who have no parents or permanent guardians and are sometimes tossed “from pillar to post” as the saying goes. Others spend many of their formative years living in institutions such as orphanages.

Nonetheless, many children have been fortunate and taken into foster homes

where they are welcomed with open arms and become one of the loved members of their adoptive family. There are those couples who are unable to become pregnant, which is an embarrassment to some degree. Open-minded people do not judge or are not critical of couples who are childless.

That is just not done. In fact, it could be regarded as being disrespectful and cruel to make negative comments to, or about, couples or individuals who do not have biological children.

Not everyone is destined to be a parent. Relatives and friends may and could drop a hint or a direct suggestion to such a couple to consider adoption as an option. One would have to appreciate just how close to the couple, or one of them, the person who is making the suggestion should be. Indeed, recommending adoption is a sensitive issue. Not every childless couple or individual consider themselves capable of proper parenting and have no intention to adopt.

Since November is observed internationally as “Adoption Month” we will look at this way of caring for a child or children who have no parent to care for them and who need to be adopted by one or two adults who willingly foster or adopt them legally; children who need a stable and loving home environment permanently. There are hundreds, even thousands, of children in Guyana who need stability and love in their daily lives.

More particularly, they need adults who would listen to them when they have problems to solve. In most cases, such children receive the need for tender, loving care from adults who, if not parents or guardians, are professional custodians in institutions such as orphanages or boarding homes.

Let us look at the kinds of persons who do not make good foster or adoptive parents. A single male applicant will not be granted foster or adoptive parenthood of a female unless the court is satisfied that there are special

Farrier at right, in a performance of Poetry and Storytelling for youths at the Joshua House in Georgetown.

circumstances that justify it. A person or couple who are known to have been cruel to previous children in their care will also not qualify. However, those individuals who are known to be kind and lov-

ing and have the financial capability to care for one or more children properly are most welcome, not only in November, Adoption Month, but any other month in the year.

There is a secondary way

Tourism Guyana on ‘FAM’ trips...

From page III

Flediming, Heimant Ram, Fiaz Yamin and Neilon Dias), also released a Turtle Conservation monument video during this month.

Reflecting on how it all got started, Yamin said: “Stemming from our own love for our country and what it has to offer, we pooled all our own resources together and with help from our supporting families and friends, we embarked on building the brand. Our members all have various skillsets and our knowledge in the industry was put to use and we started

generating our own content based on our ideas and what we thought would be interesting to our viewers.”

As the team released content and saw its fan base and social media following grow, they knew that they were on the right track for “bigger and better things to come in the future.”

“We must say we are very appreciative of the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism and other tourism stakeholders for supporting us through this journey. We are genuinely

passionate about our country and we know its potential.

We will try to do our part in supporting our tourism stakeholders and will do all that we can to showcase all our beautiful country has to offer,” Yamin expressed.

“Don’t forget follow us on Facebook, Instagram and our website www.tourismguyana.gy and also send us some of your amazing travel photos for a chance to be featured on our Social Media Platforms,” he urged.

Tourism Guyana on the Mahaica River

of adopting; that is by regular and dependable financial support for the child or children; be they within your community, or some distance away, or even in a foreign country.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

Andyville, Koker Creek Village A green, pristine hilltop community

Andyville, Koker Creek Village (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) to Wismar, Linden, to a village called Andyville, Koker Creek, to highlight the way of life of the people.

Andyville, Koker Creek Village, is set high on a hill and at the back of the village, there is a heavy flowing creek where there is a koker; it goes downhill where a small, steep trail is.

The community was

Focus on the Village

named after the first settler, Andy Seaton, who was living in One Mile and as a youth, he and others used to go to the forested area to play football and cricket and also visited the creek.

Seaton reported that the village was used as a dumpsite and it was a thickly forested area; 20 years ago, he wanted to move out and he cleared a part of the land and settled there.

He lived alone in Andyville for many years until people began moving in by the dozens. It wasn’t until 2000 that the place became populated with the construction of modern houses and the land was cleared and prepared for houses.

The village has about 300 houses and more houses are

being constructed with a population of about 500 and has small, one-vehicle internal streets numbering 20.

The village doesn’t have any all-weather roads, but it is a loam-filled kind of road leading into the village. It is very messy and is filled with many large potholes and it is the same inside the community.

Andyville Village has standpipes along the main streets where the locals would fill up and fetch to their homes.

The village has electricity, but no landline phones and some people have private internet service.

Schools, hospitals and other services are accessed at nearby villages of Blueberry Hill and Wisroc, which are

neighbouring communities.

Just in front of this village is Prosville, an up-andcoming small village, which is also on a hill.

It was two years ago when the village benefitted from electricity and the place became even more populated and it is still developing.

The locals are squatting and would like the village to be regularised so more infrastructural development can take place and they can have land titles.

Andyville, Koker Creek Village, is a large community with many trails and alleys and many internal streets which go uphill and downhill.

This village is at an eleSEE PAGE XI

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

The people of Andyville Village are doing their utmost to have a good life

By Michel Outridge ANITA George relocated to Andyville, Koker Creek Village, Wismar, Linden, because her children secured places at secondary schools and she wanted to give them the opportunity to attend.

She therefore had to leave her home in Rockstone. At first, she was renting and then she decided to get a plot in Andyville because she had no desire to continue renting. Anita George and one of her children (Carl Croker The mother of seven told photos) the Pepperpot Magazine that George stated that life is George would store washe had to find a way to get ter for household chores and fair in Andyville Village and out of it due to the hardship other things whenever it she is adjusting, since the of paying a rent. rains, and the nearest stand- people are cooperating and “Living here is nice and are neighbourly. pipe is some distance away. we are okay, but the only “My main objective is “I have three big sons issue is potable water supply working in the interior and to give my children a founand when it doesn’t rain it’s they would assist me to send dation, that is, education to hard to get water; we have to the little ones to school and make something of themfetch it from the standpipe selves,” she said. we do get by,” she said. and it is not easy,” she said.

The home of Anita George

Sheldon Albert’s home She pointed out that the creek is some distance away, but she lived close to a creek in Rockstone; she enjoyed that kind of ease of living.

George is accustomed to hunting and fishing, but in Andyville that is not possible.

The 46-year-old added that being a single parent is not easy, but she is trying her best to keep the family together.

Selwyn Sampson Selwyn Sampson, who is from Victory Valley, exited that village because he was having some issues with his family and he wanted to move away.

He took up a spot in Andyville Village and he constructed a nice little cottage in his spacious yard, which

is well-kept.

The father of six told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has been there for nine years and he likes living there because he has peace and quiet.

He lives with his wife and four children and he is a construction worker, who is away from home at times.

Sampson has a huge tree in his yard and under it he has a wooden bench and a wooden swinger, where he would sit and relax.

It was there the team found him that day enjoying the cool weather and shade, his ‘chill spot.’

Sampson is rearing some creole fowls and he has some birds in the yard.

He is a very simple, down-to-earth kind of guy who prefers a family-oriented lifestyle.

Sheldon Albert Albert is also a villager and resides on a little hill just under a valley; and his cottage sits precariously there with steep steps made out of wood leading to the house.

The 43-year-old says he likes the area and has been there for a few years; he is familiar with his neighbours and others in the village.

The 24-year-old is a construction worker and whenever he gets a job, he would work and when he is out of that, he would do other things to bring in an income.

Albert stated he has a quiet, simple life of work and being at home, he likes the place because it is peaceful and he is living with his SEE PAGE XI

Focus on the Village

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

The man who put the ‘Andy’ in ‘Andyville’

Village’s first settler living a comfortable life in the hilltop community

By Michel Outridge AS a young man, Andy Seaton wanted to live rentfree and away from family, so when he found an uphill place 20 years ago he decided to settle there and that paved the way for a developing village, Andyville, Koker Creek.

The 42-year-old is originally from One Mile Village

and as a young man he and others in his age group used to go to the hilltop place to play and use the creek.

It was then, 20 years ago,that an idea was conceptualised in his head and he decided to clear a plot and settle there, after constructing a little house that was enough for him.

Seaton then became the first settler to reside in what

is now known as “Andyville, Koker Creek Village.”

Today, he has a small shop “Lion of Judah’ and a cottage at the back of the shop where he lives with his family.

The father of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that back then, the place was thick jungle and at the entrance, there was a large dumpsite, an uninhabitable place.

Andy Seaton’s shop

Andy Seaton was the first settler in the community now referred to as “Andyville” (Carl Croker photos)

“An idea came to me and I decided to clear a piece of land and hold a spot where I am living right now after cleaning up the place and building the land; and when I moved there I started to ask people to stop dumping refuse there. Then a few others trickled in and others followed [and] over time, it became a squatting area,” he said.

Seaton revealed that the village was to become a sandpit, but he opposed that and now it has become populated and a developing village.

“This place was virgin land, untouched except for the garbage; other than that, it was jungle and I didn’t want this place destroyed to become a sandpit,” he said.

The locals stated that as is, they have no documents for the lands they occupy, but they have established a Community Development Council (CDC) and they are

hoping they can get land titles to foster community-based development.

Seaton reported that the people of Andyville are real hustlers and they work honestly to earn by using their inbred skills to do many things, such as making furniture, carpentry, construction, rear chickens, establish small shops and some work outside the village.

He disclosed that many single parents reside in Andyville and are really trying to enhance their lives by doing many things.

Seaton added too,that there are also many unemployed people around in the community, but they too are trying to seek jobs by making pointer brooms, selling food, snacks, and other things.

Upon entry to this village, Seaton’s shop and home are a few metres into the community and he is located at a corner spot and his plot is

well-kept and he grows a lot of greenery, including fruits and vegetables.

The local noted that Andyville is a close-knit community and people from all over Linden have since settled there and they live in harmony without any issues.

Seaton related that the village needs a lot more such as good roads, a health centre and schools.

“I know things take time and from 20 years ago to now, things have happened to enhance the lives of the people here and others, who are coming in,” he said.

Seaton is a very mild-mannered kind of guy, who does a lot of gardening and in his spare time he is always planting while tending to his shop.

He stated that life is comfortable in Andyville and he is of the hope that a lot more will happen to boost the village, in time.

Focus on the Village

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

The women of Andyville, Koker Creek Village, are go-getters

By Michel Outridge AT age 81, it is the twilight era for Doris Abrahams, who is able-bodied and goes about her daily chores as if she is still blessed with youth and exuberance, because there is an aura of youthfulness in her persona.

This elder hails from Columbia, Essequibo Coast, but has been living in Andyville, Koker Creek, Wismar, Linden for the past three years.

She grew up in Supenaam and after attaining the age of maturity, she got married to a Lindener and moved to

more.

Being at home, one can become bored easily, but not Abrahams, who finds things to do to take up her time.

She is versed in multi-tasking and was picking up some dried clothing from the line in the yard and was about to wash some more clothes.

Then she would sit and strip some green coconut branches to make pointer brooms and also assist in the household chores.

“I don’t really have to do anything at my age, but I want to do things to keep my body active because sitting

Molly Albert and one of her children Coomacka Mines, then relocated to Andyville where she resided near the koker creek.

She later relocated to a rental house which sits comfortably on a hill and overlooks the valleys nearby, which is such an awesome view.

These days, Abrahams resides with one of her daughters and she is enjoying her golden age since her children don’t want her to work anyDoris Abrahams’ home

all day is such a waste of time and besides, I like making use of my hands around the house,” she said.

Abrahams is the mother of 10 from two separate relationships and she had worked hard most of her adult life trying to educate her children and bring in an income to the home.

The elder used to clean houses for a living back in the days, but now she doesn’t

have to because her children are all grown up and they assist in taking care of her.

Abrahams is a lively woman who finds joy in doing simple things to pass the time and she seems quite happy.

Molly Albert, the mom and shopkeeper Also in the village is the home of Molly Albert, who resides in another part of the large village which has many hills.

The 29-year-old is a very friendly woman who balances being a full-time mother to a toddler and a nursery school-aged daughter, while

Doris Abrahams (Carl Croker photos)

Doris Abrahams making pointer brooms managing the small shop they have in their yard.

Her house is located on a steep hill and it is background by the forest and the Koker Creek, which is about 15-minute walk away downhill.

She has been living in Andyville, Koker Creek, for the past seven years and she is originally from Blueberry Hill, a neighbouring village.

“Life is very quiet here

and we don’t have to worry about bandits or things like that, because it is a very safe place to live and you just have to work and be able to take care of yourself and children to have a normal lifestyle,” she said.

Albert added that the people are a mixture of Afro Guyanese, Indians, Amerindians and some mixed people and they live in peace.

She disclosed that although they do not have landline phones, some people have internet service from

a private provider, but it is not very reliable and it is for online schooling.

“Things have been better since we have a few standpipes in the village, but water shortage is an issue here when it doesn’t rain and the roads should be all-weather, because as you can see, it gets really messy and sticky with this loam road,” she said.

Albert reported that the nearest nursery school is in Wisroc and the St. Aidan’s Primary is the closest.

She related that they need landline phones and a reliable internet service as well as other facilities, but besides this, life is quite calm there.

“Since COVID-19, things have scaled down several notches, so there isn’t much happening except a few barb-ques and on weekends, the people would go to the koker creek to have some form of recreation,” she said.

Albert’s husband is a security guard and he would assist her with the children while she would tend to the shop and do chores.

They have a nice little cottage, a very clean yard and the shop is separate from the house.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

The furniture makers of Andyville, Koker Creek Village

By Michel Outridge AT age 64 years old, Eon James wants a peaceful life and he has that type of lifestyle where he resides in Andyville, Koker Creek Village, Wismar, Linden.

He is a retired BOSAI worker and a pensioner trying his hands at furniture-making and was at it with some wooden benches for a relative who has an upcoming bar-b-que.

James lives alone in a

nice, well-painted wooden cottage and his yard is very clean and he has a striving kitchen garden with fruits and vegetables and is rearing some creole fowls.

“I am here and wanted to do something with my time, so I am here with some rough-looking benches,” he joked.

He worked at Bosai for 30 years and also spent some years at Linmine, Guymine and Omai before being employed at Bosai.

James has been living in the village for the past 10 years and he says it is home for him, because he has the peace of mind and the space to do his furniture work whenever he wants to.

He is originally from Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara and in 1983 he left his home village to look for work at Ituni.

James also spend a few years in Matthews Ridge working with the manganese company and in 2012 he

The home of Eon James

Part of Eon James’s garden

Calvin Paul in his workshop at his home returned to Linden.

The pensioner told the Pepperpot Magazine that he doesn’t take on any stress at this advanced stage of his life and would use his power tools to make furniture based on orders, or just make something for someone as a favour.

James would go to the sawmill at the head of the village, get wood for his trade, and store it at his home under a shed he constructed.

“I would do my chores first, like feeding the fowls, tend to the plants, clean up and cook before I start to make any furniture,” he said.

Once the pot has food, it is well for James and that day it was no different, because he had made some stewed chicken with rice and some Pepperpot to last all day and way into the next.

The father of three stated that he is very happy to be living as he is, comfortable

in his own home and with no one to bother him and he is pleased he has good neighbours too.

He has a lease of 50 years for the plot he is occupying, but he would like to see more development in the village such as a health centre and a recreational park for the children to play and of course all-weather roads.

“I found out about this village through visiting a friend here back in the early days when so many people weren’t living here and I get to like the place and decided to come and live,” he said.

Today, he doesn’t regret the choice he made in relocating.

From the furniture-making, James would save the sawdust and mix it with sand for his plants and that has helped to accelerate the growth of his crops, such as the lime tree which is quite large.

James is a quiet kind of guy who is easy-going and goes about his daily routine in a very respectable manner.

Calvin Paul, the furniture-maker Meanwhile, right in the village is the home and workshop of Calvin Paul, a father of three, who has made his yard into a recreational park for his children.

He has added a wood-

Eon James (Carl Croker photos)

See page XI

Focus on the Village

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

The furniture makers ...

From page X

en see-saw and a swinger with two seats and he has a cute, chubby puppy running around the place.

Under his large wooden house he has his furniture workshop and he works from his home, making furniture based on orders.

That day when the team visited, he was making a wooden cabinet for a kitchen and he was busy making sure every piece was fitted according to measurements to make it to specifications.

The 40-year-old stated that he has been living in Andyville, Koker Creek Village, for the past eight years and he has a modest, happy life.

He is originally from Upper Demerara River, a small riverine village, Bootoka, and he left his home village for secondary school at Christianburg Secondary and never returned.

After school, he had a job and then he matured and got

married; he started a family and settled in Andyville.

“I like the quietness of the place, the environment is very nice, the landscape is really pleasing to the eye and it is developing,” he said.

Paul told the Pepperpot Magazine that three months ago the sandy trail was developed into a loamfilled road and when it rains as it did that day, it is very messy.

He doesn’t have a standpipe near his house, so he would use rainfall water or buy from a truck that sometimes comes into the village.

Paul is also rearing some meatbirds; he has 50 at this time and we would sell them to bring in an income in the home.

“I have been doing this type of work for the past 20 years, so yeah, I know a thing or two and my work speaks for itself,” he said.

His wife is a homemaker

The people of Andyville Village ...

From page VII

Sheldon Albert

family.

“Life is alright here if you have a job and if you don’t, you have to utilise your skills to do something to earn,” he said.

The father of two had a small shop in the village, but he was forced out of business because of a break-in.

His shop was broken into and emptied and he is unable to replenish his stock, so until then he has to do other work.

“Around here I does go and sit by my neighbour to get a little Wi-Fi because some of us cannot afford Selwyn Sampson internet and we entertain ourselves with social media,” he said.

Albert related that before COVID-19, he used to play football with others in the village, but now all that has eased and there aren’t any recreational activities, so it gets a bit boring at times.

and he has two school-age children.

In Andyville, there is no bus service plying that route, so the only other option is via taxis, which is $600 to $800 per trip one way.

Paul shops at the McKenzie Market or at the Wismar Market or utilise the shops around the village.

“Here it is nice to live, no thieves or so, but we have a potable water crisis and it is hard to have to buy drinking water,” he said.

Home of Calvin Paul

Andyville, Koker Creek...

vated level and is bordered

by Blueberry Hill and Wisroc Housing Scheme.

Andyville, Koker Creek Village, is a place of greenery, many trees, the people have kitchen gardens of vegetables and on the street corners “fat poke,” fine-leaf thyme and limes grow bountifully, all over the community.

The soil is of a sandy composition, certain crops flourish and the trees are very

XI

healthy and grow to be very large, even the lime trees are huge.

The creek is located about a 15-minute walk from the hill to where it is downhill and it is a long way down.

It is not a trip for the faint at heart, a steep decline.

But it is all worth it when you get to the creek itself.

There is a koker and the water is cool, clear and fresh, conditions that are good for taking a dip.

From page VI

It is a weekend spot for both locals and visitors and it is a meeting place for people who want to enjoy swimming in the creek, where the water runs, making it always fresh Andyville, Koker Creek Village is a very beautiful place. The hilltop scenes are breathtaking and it is a good place to reside, because it is tranquil and safe.

The locals are multi-talented and do many honest

jobs to earn and there are a lot of self-employed people who have small shops within the village, joiners, carpenters, construction workers and others.

The people settled there because they wanted to be rent-free and have their own plot of land; so many left other villages where they were living to relocate and enjoy a peaceful, family life.

A HAND TO BY HOLD KISSED DAWN III TWINKLING LITTLE STAR

XII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

For tiredness lies On my lids My body like a Broken goblet The Earth can THE pitter-patter of feel rain- her face. The child felt pity No more my drops on the zincfeet roof and sadness for the mother.

I must come home, dear Lord,” hoarse and the “So steady droplets of “We havewas no the food,” sheplea from the lips of the old woman, in alittle recliner water seeping through the saidlying to the girl.on the patio.

The middle-aged aid sitting close by reading the holes, falling in bowls nurse in “What’s new?” Sanya newspaper inquired of the old woman, the old shack, aroused a said to herself.

“What is it, Sharda?” little girl the looking Today, othersky, Shesleeping did not on answer, up atlike the every clear blue floor.her eyes not so dim, her hearing day, once the She rain could stopped, still fine. see the “Another wrecked day,” shethe would to the shoplovely flowers bloom and hear sweetgo songs of the birds in she mumbled and out andping areas, begging her garden, butcrept her love passion for nature were for slowly of thefading shackaway. that was home money. But it was nevin the city slums. keep hunger How does one continueertoenough embracetolife when the body It’s good forsometimes most of the mon-into has never becomeaaged andday feeble,away, memory floating intrusion tragedy of a diftaken ofher in her HERand name became a brought urged “You have go had whennothingness, it rains thenow windneed when you a young, strongher hand to hold andtoShe ey she home, was ferent nature leaving trails poor home and named her great part of the home and home.” there was none? blows cold, for the dwellers spent by her mother and like scattered leaves of sadCrystal. when they spoke of her, Thealcohol. puppy comforttook theShe soup but “Mytrembling dad’s a nice “How did this happen?” sheheasked herself, tearslying misting tone, and the child felt wondered, a guy, lit- hefirm“Yes?” of a treeThe andboysketch. of the slums have nowhere step-father on She ness, fear and loneliness. saw how their eyes lit up. ably on the rug in front of the The kitten was her first for a moment mother.”

“I’m sorry to disturb you “Why did this happen?” her. tle asnever she hurt creptmy back in her drawn towards had ahesitated sketchpad, a kind then else in to her go eyes, for warmth and had lived in the embrace Neither knewwork yet how children to provide care temperaand she had Sleepless walked away from rich asked, lifestyles made them them, her hard andmuch “She is nice,” said Aashi, TV paid no heed and Shamita “Why don’t you come again, that night so late, but Aashi’s real friend.

The loneliness was a deep ache in her heart, craving for Sanya walked up to her lady at the bookstore had shack. comfort. They were a peo- of poverty since a toddler, they needed each other to companionship for they hardher matrimonial home with sacrifices laying a foundation forget where they came from, “She has pretty brown eyes.” picking her up gently, let her her?” sheshort sat upwhile in bed later, writing inslowly ture has risen and she’s At night Sanya would given and the children she loved and missed so much just to hear their and theagain detective Afour her,see and she realised ple who were simply ill-fateight years now, hunger, exile the fear and loneliness ly found any time in their her children into the and for the aged mother, for the successes they had “And shewere knows to bake out the adults door. She barkedsitin outside, looking at the “I can’t goshe outwas looking her diary whenvoices, there waswoman calling for you.

I don’t know But they now matured pursuing seeing asked a she raised that was ed orvoices. who have had toogone, cold and discomfort still a and that love was waiting dailywhat schedules toher, spend with throesaheard of an unknown world. there wassomething no time. achieved inshe their lives.

But on awesome cookies,” Aiden protest and did not runstars to like this” she answered pullrapping at the door.

The to do, can you come, careers and sharing their lives with new loves and interests. because loved their little concerned, “Little girl, all speaking at once, peogood at and loved to do.

She many stumbles and falls in depressing part of her life. a threshold. mother. hadstartled worked after reaching great heights Aing lone down added pausing littlealone beforein the thehome father, not until Shamita thetear hairtrickled over the one side She sound her long and for their a please?” mother nowalived where they had twinklingThe splendour what arenight you as doing running the distant sketched people, life, for The different reasons.

Sanyastepped trudged in mirror onand the wall That sheinhere?” laid hours every and day to build a her wrinkled face,buildings, a face still ple in the business world, their continuing, “Just likelife. mom.” outalong the of her face. moment she froze, wonderThe quiver hisinvoice shared a beautiful family She had moulded anddoor. guided from No strongThe hands to hold thehis slight drizzle, thestanding ragged patient- within knew. her little heart, bed, she looked at the paintnice little home with comfort beautiful“My never mind her age father froze in He was dad can take you in ing who could be at the door and the tearful look on AidalwaysShamita wished,drew “Twinthe cur- his car,” he suggested. and left for them the sayclothes herand thinraised she work andwere did not any- clinging ly at the to gate his then she heard the children’s en’s face touched her heart kling little star, shine on me, crumbs the frame, her feet kissing the “Thank tains open halfway and light thingstreets for a could long moment, hand a little to say A glimmer of fear flashed father’s voice. deeply and she said without so I can have ainto nicethehome streamed little coun- in her eyes and the child offer. bareofroadyou,” through such was the deep effect buther sheworn turned and “Can I speak to you, hesitation, “Just give me a that doesn’t leakfresh when try house, air it through asked, “Why are you so please?”

“Sanya,” the little girl Then slippers.

She stood under a Somehis son’s words. he walked in the house. moment.” rains, athewarm for me open bed windows seeming afraid of him?” responded with her the hint of ashade turned around to see howoutside she did little thenot rotifeel that She wondered how he got To be continued… to breathe into her. and Crystal, and new nicelife food smile, nice.” fear on she seeing him mother by the “That’s doorway, a shop andintense even though She did not answer, not in, then remembered giving to eat.”In the afternoon, the children sure what to tell the child, but Aiden a key to the gate and He did not sleep was well,wetand her mind she could Pic saved as fables cappoor, broken-spirited womandincold, a little stopped

by Aashi bringing a he was a smart kid and at the opening the window she an- tion: Prasad photography Days followed nights, again, that night, the chilnot deny his casual good an if ever there was one. smile played on her face. picture for her and, she had seasons changing in drawn door he said to her, dren’s joybeen replaying in was his alooks swered ih a concerned tone, Her life had so It wet that day any likewoman this would in class.

As the children mind, knowing how much the streets, somedays when notice.

She sighed deeply as rough, the scars of her when she had found the kitthe tired, specialshe chicken missed having she stood inhungry. front the mirror her feetenjoyed were too downfallthey were etched on a mother. ten, bedraggled and dish she had prepared For the past three years since and pulled off the veil, letting would sit under the shade for them, Shamita noticed the she was gone he had never it fall slowly to the floor. little girl’s paleness. thought of another wom“One day at a time…”

“Are you feeling okay, an until now. Someone the That evening she called children became attracted to, her younger sister, “Can you Aashi?”

The child shook her who in their little hearts was come when you have the head, “Not too good.” special. time? I need a hair cut.”

Shamita checked her “I wonder, though,” he She had her hair cut in a mused, “How can she em- different style so it partially temperature and the reading brace them in her heart when hid the scars on her face, giv- showed above normal.

“I think you’re developshe is battling her own prob- ing her a new look. A change lems?” had begun much to her tear- ing a fever.”

The child stretched her A few streets away, ful mother’s relief and, now, Shamita laid in bed sleepless since that horrific attack, she arms out to Shamita, “Can I stay with you, please?” too, thinking of the children. saw her daughter smile.

“Yes you can,” she said and she lifted a trembling for them and today, instead ing on the wall facing her and She just couldn’t get their sad “Thank you, dear Lord,” hand to wipe it. A hand that of holding her hand, like a smile touched her lips, lessfaces out of her mind when she whispered, “For sending hugging her, “But I think was once strong, that held her she had held theirs, they ening the pain in her heart. they mentioned the loss of two little angels in her life to your dad would need you “I live here in the slums and the beautiful sound of police sirens gethome to take care of you.”vehicles children’s small ones every turned their backs, leaving It was the picture of three their mother. help her heal.” with my her mother and step-fating closer.

She curled up in dolls in the store windows When the father came for children, father working her alone. step of the way.

“Such a great loss,” she The thoughts of the chilther,” she answered, and her bed in a corner on the she couldn’t have.

It was A choked sob escaped in the garden and her mother thought, “Their father must dren’s father were no differ- them, she watched the chil- A wry smile crossed holding up the kitten she floor, hugging Crystal and starting to look a lot like dren go, concerned about the standing not far off with a her lips and once again she her face and a faraway look have been…” ent, for since his children met said, “This is vegetables my friend, her “It’s eyestime to shut out bucket Christmas cityaswith of fresh whispered, for me shone in in herthe eyes her closed She turned her face in the Shamita, something changed little girl, sorry she couldn’t Crystal.” murder scene. the spectacular lights, her arm, smiling warmly to come home, dear Lord, on thoughts took her backbeauto a the pillow to shut out the thought for them. They were more have the child stay with her.

“Cute,” detective The next morning, it tiful décor, toys and goodies.

Aiden stopped by in the as she watchedthe her children. there’s nothing left here.” time when she was a young of him, but the children and cheerful, not because he said, pattingthat thecaptured kitten’s all over in theShe slums, were to A portrait nursethe aid news got upabout and woman. wasthere so full of wasThe the puppy would bring the wasn’t a good father, but morning before he went But andlife looked the child, killing no lights merriness.with the simple and aatbeautiful tookexecution-style her hand, urging her ahead life, likeand a butterfly father close to her. because they missed the love school to give her an update gently, “Comebusinessman on, Sharda, family. amazing and ahapsim- of noting her ragged condition. a popular Then colours something One late morning, whilst and care of a mother. Sitting on Aashi.

“Her fever got a little “You lefther so long it’s time for your meal and ple, little home filled with and She have shook head, business partner.

Popened that changed the little the children were at school, alone on the upper veranmother,” she said in ais medication.” love,life then her father gave lice, Crystal ran away from home dah, an empty chair next to higher, so dad is taking her sighing deeply, “This detectives and report- ago, girl’s forever.

“I can’t sighedthe andscene looking herIt hand in of marriage to a ers She again and Shamita hearing him, he thought of the young to the doctor.” reallyvoice, not good forrememchildren swarmed and weak was one those quiet, But two days passed and muchinfor nowdepressed I have up at the nurse. inquired, rice nights farmer’s son;Sanya a newwas life dwellers the barking opened the door woman, to live such of theShe slums were ber dark when grown too old.” puzzled, “Who are you?” as a bride and later, a young for her. During the lunch “She seems nice and kind the child still had not rejolted out of her sleep by questioned about anything conditions.”

The brother Jeanette,” the wommother. Paths had walked period, she heard a familiar but she lives with such fear, I covered from the fever de“I have beenand heresister since I may have seen.

No gunshots.

Theshe sounds came they“I’m spite the doctor’s treatment. paved with love, compassion, an answered patiently, as she playing with her had also car at the gate and knew the can’t even talk to her.” was little,” Sanya said. one paid attention to the from an alley behind the tears and pain, episodes of assisted her to her feet, “Your left, their names now written children’s father was looking But fate had designed Shamita made a healthy vegThe detective touched shack in which she lived, ragged little girl holding a on tombstones whilst she, the her life written on the leaves nurse aid.” for the puppy. their lives to cross for their etable soup for her and gave the child’s face with a little kitten.

She said nothing to and creeping cautiously in “Oh,” she exclaimed soft- youngest, waited still alone. of time.

“Come on Crystal,” she life stories were similar. The it to Aiden, “This should be caring gesture. anyone for she wasn’t quite the shadows, more curious good for her.”

“Whisper my name, Then one day, fourteen ly, a momentary lapse in her “I willshe make somethey would believe a mother,” than she saw said,sure “And I memory. yearsscared, later, when shesomecould sure thing is done to give you and beggar child.

She wanted, thing that made her freeze in The kind woman had shall come, so we can be have borne no more of her to her tell for someone so the others a better life.” sudden fear. been with the past husband’s arrogance and abu- though SEE PAGE She came backXXIX the next be caught.

Three well-built menher, in the threekillers years,could financed by the sive behaviour towards dark clothes, and guns in She had been watching a day with bags of food and their hands were standing young detective woman, snacks for the children, and over two lifeless bodies on impressed with the way she as Sanya happily ate the the ground. They spoke in was doing her job. She had blessed food, the detective’s low, heavy voices, then ca- a serious look and her tone phone rang. sually got in a black Toyota of voice was firm, but briefSEE PAGE XX ly she relaxed sometimes and drove away.

“Who do I tell?” she with a little smile and lesser

XIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

JONESTOWN MASSACRE A telling part of Guyanese history to be a new film

SO MGM has signed Leonardo Di Caprio to command on screen the character of the infamous Reverend Jim Jones, in the embrace of a script

by Scott Rosenberg. We have no idea where the stage designs, backdrops and definite location would be located. No, they don’t have to come here to film it. There are several places that they can use. However, it’s our history and regardless of the shock registered then, imaginary and the adopted concerns, we should explore it and benefit from its production. I’m stating this as an artist, and we understand that life has to be portrayed in its ugliness, which can enhance our intellect about a world filled with the weird that can exceed our usual nightmares. Guyana has not had a functional, all-inclusive operational Department of Culture that would mirror the Dolphins, Pilgrims, and Mildred Hunt in substance and drive for the past 29 years; culture and its related expressions such as medicine, engineering, or engineering managing a productive farm, cannot be readily adopted towards successful outcomes. Thus, to the reader, especially those in the performing arts, a collective letter should be designed and sent through a significant source to the desk of that authority at MGM, and to, as they say in that world, to Di Caprio’s people, this suggestion is not based on humour. There are similar landscapes in that area that can be utilised. I say this because the last time that I was in that area I was told that the actual site is leased or by some other means legally under the jurisdiction of one individual. How? I’m not sure.

Why should the arts in Guyana be interested in a Jim Jones film, apart from the fact that it is part of our history? The answer is

simple, it’s an economic venture, Guyanese were involved, they played basketball on the Parade Ground with us, what’s that girl’s name - Deborah ‘Tuchet’ (spelt to phonetic memory) based on limited chitchat. These were people who thought that they were escaping the more troubling ills of America to a simpler place to start over, a tropical paradise. Most of the locals of the Parade Ground posse wanted to go to America, it was interesting. The devil was the voice of the preacher, part socialist, part prophet, and part messiah, but a hundred percent inflated ego and psychopath. I’m not sure what Rosenberg wrote, but there will always be perspectives leading to the finale of Jonestown. Sometimes we must define a perspective from ourselves, but currently, before us, we have to as artists not abdicate this responsibility to engage the investors of this new film.

In the absence of caretakers, we must seek substance.

The many documentaries I have seen so far have captured the private horrors of personal experience, told by Americans, and have been very instructive. None have explored the angle of bodies that the Americans could not identify. How many Guyanese died at Jonestown?

Captain Paul is still around, and so are others. So far, our authorities have behaved as if we supplied the KoolAid. By the way, Guyana’s guilt is not being aware of the world beyond what our esteemed schools fashioned for us. That was the cultural end of Kool-Aid with most Guyanese. There are, however, two other incidents we should observe with clinical observation, especially those who are in the performing arts, and those looking for mystic interpretations of life through the medium of a prophet, first the California group in 1997, led by Marshall Herff Applewhite, whose profile indicated in a Time Magazine special report-April 7, 1997 described him as “Penalized for his sexuality, the future guru embarked on a quest for sexless devotion and an antiseptic heaven.” How did he convince 38 intelligent followers to commit suicide, so that they could join a UFO MOTHER SHIP of aliens? Diminishes the boast of ‘Stream learning’ that implies a much wider landscape of knowledge. There is another Prophet of doom closer to home; Awakaipu was an Arekuna Indian with a God complex who wanted to be the Chief of all the Tribes of British Guiana. He had worked with the Schom-

burgks. Awakaipu commanded the tribes to meet in the valley of the Kukenaam at the foot of Mount Roraima.

He gave them charms made from pages of ‘The Times Newspaper’ that were used

by Richard Schomburgk for pressing the wild flowers. He

gave the audience cassiri to drink then urged them to kill each other, which afterwards they would rise from the dead as Europeans, in the end the tribes men executed Awakaipu. See – Michael Swan’s “The Marches of Eldorado” pages 243-245.

A movie such as the ‘Jonestown Massacre’ would be an important step forward in just seeking and to be able to facilitate an engagement or exchange. I would anticipate that this is not where this article will end.

XIV XVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ―CHRONICLE Sunday, February 28, 2021 PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021 CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 03, 2021

How to get through a Miscarriage How to Deal with a

not always know what I’m looking losing your phone would be on a scale of 1-10. 98 percent phone is such a normal part of my said 10theand percent said allif you claimed that it would is completely your choice. anonymous prefer.

There 9. are They TODAY I would like to can also happen later during overlooked during preg- 2 mother/parent.

I think it requires menvarious reasons why a womdiscuss a topic that many the pregnancy termtypinancy.

This is rarely true. y hand that I cannot count the numbe the worst material possession thatis emotional they discould tioningever that menlose. also do feel As there an would miscarry, which find uncomfortable and cally called a stillbirth. My Most miscarriages occur include chronic conditions tress, there may also be phys- this loss. However, I have despite how comresearch showed thatin the risk the foetuscontinued just isn’t d taboo, for it, while it was actually my becauseThey say thatdiabefeelings ofasanxiety, counselled manyand couples ical as well relationship irritation such to as uncontrolled mon it actually is. Many of miscarriage is 12 percent developing normally. tes, hormonal abnormalities, distress. You will feel a wide through a miscarriage where when I getknow uphow in the morning and people don’t to 15 percent for women in Unfortunately, while overwhelminguterine sadness would be felt if they were to lose their or cervical abnor- range of emotions which the expecting mother and to reach out or respond their 20s and rises to about a miscarriage is a relatively infection, or age. are not limited to sadness, father’s relationship seemed oing to sleep is myfor phone.

I common to someone who has beencheck 25 percent women over this —atitem- malities, today. tionship within the workplace ed before blaming someone as simple as putting items A READER reached out cuss ways to deal with to phone yellexperience and curse However, most of the time, hopelessness, anger, guilt, as though it was deteriorating through this trauma – and age 40. doesn’t make the situation and if that is a hostile one, it else. If the problem does not in the wrong place or makto me andsomething explained that challenge, get through the ployees. althy and musta some be done. as the woman felt her partner of other parents and the fertilised egg has right? an ab- jealousy sometimes, okay. miscarriage Itis impossible seems Caring about a herin an mistakes with you, myso first much piece ing spelling can negatively impact every lie while he that’s loves his job, his Having days, and tips on howany easier.

For Itthose of you who harmless, didn’t care or understand intense feelings of loneliness normal number of chromoHowever, knowledge helps does not necessarily mean for anyone to understand the emaildouble-check always. of advice is to try and see aspect of your work life.

It is passion forthat it is declining to respectfully approach deal with a very difficult or somes/ genes, and this is (especially if there are a lot grief. While expectant fathers ndanyfound women were more situation Well, this week really paying that you a fertility probofphone? someone has If attention you are new and do not things from your supervisor’s a common saying –I’ve when youbeen as he has aand veryoften difficult yourhave supervisor and incitepaincruel boss andwho there is no very random. Unfortunately, of parents in your social cir- absolutely do feel this loss, take away discomfort. lem.change.

Most women per- beenluxury through an event thatright learn that someone’s actions perspective; why they may know this yet ask co-workers boss.

Unfortunately, there It is (87 important to quit, let’s get o does their phones simply because men bondgive between a pregnant Please take my advice the this meansthat that there was cle). to the importance around a an Aare miscarriage is the loss cent) who have miscarriagtraumatic.

For couples who for guidance.to You become behave the way they do. Thisme typically have littleItoand do with others many different types of and needed, as I believe we into what can be done. woman and the baby grow– allow yourself to feel and nothing done to have caused of aleaders pregnancy where the es have subsequent normal have recently been through asset and an ally when you means showing empathy you, you learn grace.

This is and management have all had to deal with a First, it is important to it,than alembryo media apps.

Also, older people ing inside her is unique. A express these emotions.on around and nothing can be done rather what’s going them. or foetus doescan not and pregnancies and births. it phone, isaimportant know when necas that may take responsibility a life lesson in every actually situa- as challenging styles, and they difficult boss at one A pointthis,find way to be to able to work to prevent The only thing I would woman can begin bonding Normal activdevelop enough tobelieve survive. miscarriage is because awork somewhat 98 percent of supervisor. the time, In tion- forit.both essary or not.

Are you doing sometimes be. personal and addicted.

I this do affect our ability to be withinis our life. It isthat with a difficult Ourisphones --itieswhether we are speaking toto other from the people, moment she has say you are not allowed such as work, exercise, It typically happens within loaded — possibly sugnot Anticipate expectations. everything that’s required relationships. passionate and productive alsoterm unfortunately tolerat-a miscarriage many cases, the caused employee/ sexprofessional or minor injuries do not feel, is self-blame. It’s hard a positive pregnancy test. first three months, but gesting that even something was inby any actionrelationship taken by the you? Are you making are creatures of habitbeofaddictive While your per- Humans sethesmartphones (My father actually or our desire to even go in ed and acceptable employer is themedia using social oremployer’s playing games can Bonding for the father typinot to feel as if you-did somecause a miscarriage. life is irrelevant to you, and after a while, you will the most of the opportunity to work. I’m going to dis- some work environments single most important rela- sonalNow, since a miscar- thing wrong when you lose a cally does start later – after to become well-ac- given? Sometimes, you can their professional motivations be ableand as they alterriage our moods, trigger start to see the physical pregnancy. However, guilt they enjoyable is a trauma, it typicallybeliefs are not. Your employer can quainted with your supervi- fix friction by asking for edbrings forward the five stag- is a completely unhelpful symptoms or some men until colleagues and friends how bad whether you believe preferences and expec- ucationbe under a great deal of pres- sor’s and unenjoyable feelings.

Apart from obviously being is born.my You can emotion when there is noth- the baby es of griefdenial, anger, sure and stress- whether it is tations. Once you know this, you need it or not. Ask your help your relationship to employer for a meeting to do can meet them. If is youmy they answer to someone youmy main source ofthat communication, phone newspasurvive by being understandelse or they pay the over- can do this and help them an employee evaluation on ing, respectful and sensitive per, watch, alarm, map, recorder, day calendar, to be better. They will out when you planner, accurately how head, there is a difference to each other’s needs and keeping the lines of camera, music player, calculator, a weapon feelings, (sometimes) communication open about the situation- onceevyou are and my friend when I’m bored or lonely- basically both comfortable doing that, and accept each other’s erything. However, it is also my constant interrupter andcoping mechanisms as they may be quite different. distractor. I (I imagine much like most of you out there) If you have suffered a have a deep desire to know everything that miscarriage is going on.trying and are to conceive again or already I believe that is human nature. But when does it become pregnant, unfortunately there bargaining, depression, and ing you could have done to is nothing absolute that you too much? acceptance. Regarding grief, change the outcome of your can do to ensure there is no there is no right or wrong pregnancy. When something miscarriage but like anything Well, I believe it’s too when it stretch has aelse,name. there are ‘Noactions you we all way to experience it. Theremuch is goes wrong, also no appropriate timeline to find someone, something can take to make the possibilmophobia’ is that themustterm coined describe the fear of being ity less likely.

This includes blame.

With miscarriagbe followed - you toto will simply recover when es, there’s rarely anyone or seeking regular prenatal care, without a mobile phone. Seriously, what have we come to? you do. However, there are thing to blame, and it leaves taking the appropriate vitamins, to avoiding known misfeeling object empty. So, accepthat can be done that us the It becomes anthings addiction when begins control would help through this dif- tance of the normalcy of this carriage risk factors — such as smoking, drinking alcohol tragic event is key.activities, ficult process. your life and interferes with your daily work, and Also, do what makes and illicit drug use. RememThe first to realise is that ber than obstacle you CAN have a good -“The despite what are not alone – finding you feel relationships. you Ibetween read somewhere that biggest as a great initiative to be needed, you see this responsibility and perceive and accepting healthy sup- others think. Many people successful pregnancy after accountability. While you can decrease their tension. and less stress for them. miscarriage.

Most women unwarranted opin- acan port is is crucial during this have sobut to productivity If affect you need to a approach you show this may beconnectivity,” responsible for get- More so, ifoveruse time. This can be friends, ions and criticisms when who have miscarriages have ting the job done, your boss initiative, you are less likely your supervisor on their subsequent of normal have never been through or someone whom they lot more than family, our productivity. truth is,which overuse ourpregbehaviour- that’s okay and to be micromanaged is accountable to ensure the The you know has also experi- such trauma. Many believe nancies and births. Having possible.

There is a way to will aid your own employee business gets it done.

That phones can harm psychologically, socially physically. a miscarriage does not necshouldn’t beand enced us a miscarriage.

This that such grief pressure almost ensures the satisfaction as it gives you be constructive and a way can and should also include experienced if the miscar- essarily mean you have a be aggressive. the freedom to venture into to same pressure on othersour – and social With regard to affecting how many of usChoose fertility problem. occurredskills, early during professional help from a riage unfortunately, supervisors different departments or spe- your words, time, and enviMy final piece of advice social worker, the pregnancy (even though ronmenton carefully.

You do may notor always handleconversation that cialities. miss out on a counsellor, joke good as we were either parent isour to respect or for psychologist, religious lead- most do), but that woman This also means know- not have to be disrespectpressure healthily. or anyone who makes you couple may have been plan- your own needs and limitaful to get your thoughts ing their triggers. Yes,our even good Analyze your own role we phones? How er, many times annoyed as you friend work through a pregnancy for years or tions feel comfortable.

Therehave are ning in the problem as well- is it though someone may be dif- across in an effective manalso online support groups just felt a great rush of love your grief and begin to heal. ner. Study and understand ficult, you need to work atsocial something you’re doing?

Are were or family member because we posting rush it,media acceptance will and excitement and that on is Don’t that are free and include peoyou not willing to learn or making things easier. If you their communication style come. difficult to just simplyIt forget from all overhaving the world. with how much funple we truly affects as there are our many. Some knowthem? they get upset at certain takingare constructive criticism Thank you everyone You can literally google and move on from.

Difficult Employer

badly? Self-reflection and things, try your best to avoid PAGE XVI Please include If you’d like to name for reading.SEE “online support groups for assessment are always need- them. It could be something miscarriages” and thousands your baby, plant a tree for sending topics to caitlinvieof options will pop up. This them, have a funeral, talk ira@gmail.com

sharing their journeys XVIII CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

g seven amazing women from the Women Anthologies. st of Watch Radio NY requested an interasked him if it was okay for me to invite join me. I am sharing some excerpts from

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 10, 2021

XV

Evan Phillips -- born in St Lucia, living in

towards being a Midwife of Purpose came f being broken, displaced, and ough this journey, I experienced a divorce, te and got displaced education administrator’s position. Coupled were two major eclipses One week later I completed my life. An eclipse happens when you can my assignment with CTO calling becomes greater than your current and was now ready to move hrough this process, you can transcend to a on to my next career move. thinking where you can connect with your I called Monique to let her ourself as one with nature. know I was available as we blett – born in Guyana and living in NY agreed and she was so hapegan to have the real experience of dreampy to have me start my first my dream world alive. I was immediately temporary assignment with interview with the agency where they tested not only from Guyana and Akisha Henry, who is a myself properly to the major Deutsche Bank. Mylives firstand last for years..

IT is that time of the year developed from our responsn using Microsoft Office and typing speed.

WE recently celebrated the first year of the Virtual when weRetreat share the Christ“Confidence Becomes we have had participants designer from St. Vincent, discovery of realising my to to thecelebrate many experiences Writers and we had aeslot in such a mas cheer, well as many and the varied situations that You is one of the greatest from other Caribbean coun- shared her experience: “This true purpose. I have learned short time.as We have had people from Guyana, French gifts.

I believe passionately have shaped how we view Guiana, Trinidad, Barbados, The Bahamas, Suriname, and most humbling invest- tries: Venezuela Canada and programme has helped me a great deal about the attriin bestowing meaningful ourselves today.Cameroon, ments I’ve ever given to many parts of the United tremendously from the simAntigua, St Lucia, South Africa, Nigeria, See page XX ple function of introducing gifts thatand canvarious last a lifeSelf-confidence Canada, parts of the United States.influThe myself. Five years later, and States. time,person more so in these encesHermonstine how we feel about our the teachings from Ms Noel first to now publish was Wendy and she challenging times. knowing thatpubwe still allow me to commit to is now working on her secondabilities, book. Alicia Amanda “A Gift of Confidence” lished a couple of books, Phil Umoru Iko-Ojo and Bevis a concept that I am in-theirs. erley Been also published troducing forrecent the holiday The most author to publish from the retreat is I knew that I would be in When I was six years assignment lasted two weeks, season and I who am inviting you Sara Khalil, was born in Guyana and left for New York covering someone’s vacation. old I started school in Mesa, big trouble if I told my dad to join me on this mission by in her teenage years. I had the honour to contribute the Due to my work ethic and Arizona, so I began staying what had happened. It was a sponsoring cover, and it the wasprogramme a privilege to read the manuscript first, besecret: the desire to go the extra mile, with my mom as a gift for the her holidays.

It her book ‘InComplete.’ I did cause I assisted to publish kind that could get me and her husband routineI landed another assignment is a gift that can transform not want to put it down because her story is so compiling. into big trouble. I didn’t ly.

It was like going from in the same department for lives forhas a better Sara alwaysfuture. felt thatI her life is a solidarity jourknow how much trouble, but heaven to hell.

It was a horror six months, then another for nhave e y experienced personally I wasn’t willing to story that’s yet to be writthree months, which finally what positive impact contake a chance. “Shhhh... led to my permanent posi- ten. While at grandma’s I fidence can make on one’s tion, allowing me to live a was filled with the love of Don’t tell anyone.” life-journey because I know Maybe it’s the trauma of a grandma and Jesus daily. dream. what it is like to have conDr. Safeeya Mohamed – On the other hand, at my my experience, but for some fidence and what it is like mother’s house, I was filled reason I still cannot rememTrinidad to lack confidence. I have We received the updates with Rock ‘N Roll, drugs ber how found myself on both sides often it happened, when that the accident was horrific and inappropriate, wild sex of the spectrum and I can and that the victim was stuck parties. Ultimately, from it started, or even when it attest to its enriched value. such an environment you can ended in the car.

I am a very confident The vehicle had to be cut imagine the kinds of abuse woman today, but it wasn’t Penny Phakahi –South open to get to the victim. It that mom’s house provided. always like this. I was a shy never occurred to me that When I was 11 years old, Africa and very introverted young I have had my share of grandma Shirley died and my my brother lady who was extremely could be remotely in- stepdad left. My mom had turmoil and I strongly believe unsure of herself. I hardvolved. The next thing I an emotional breakdown, so that it is these stints of turly interacted with people remember, I was looking at I ran away! I couldn’t take moil that brought me because of my low self-esthis far in my life. I was any more. the body of my brother and in thatblood we areinalla ridingAndrea a train through I got and her permission share an excerpt with you and I teem, which caused me to perhaps is to still in my Edwards – born covered ourstrident, hours, days, and years. believe many women can relate to her journey. doubt myself repeatedly. I refinery process. in Guyana, living in Florida hearse. The agonisthoughtful andI sat revealing felt invisible in a room and As a young girl, I grew As in the back Excerpt: of ing scream of In mythis mother in upleave with today; one main my dad’s Nissan Bluebird,“II will the A&E that story of her journey, readers will accomjustambition, help me pack my belongings.” avoided corresponding with wanting far through the windows early morning pany one ofhas thenot most peered courageous women His mother startedtotoget packaway, his clothing in a suitcase. people because I was afraid thepacking. system ofI was so upset and lost that the images on - a escaped my almost 17 toatself-discovery on mind her expedition Mikeaway also from started of embarrassing myself. or the box fence years later as she howled remarkable life story ofthe trials andoftri-the IGuystarted to thinking cry and begged himthat to stay. I was in a place Looking at me now, it’s we often findmyself ourselves ana Botanical Gardensofand “my son died, my umphs. confusion, I hated andin.

I blamed myself. I felt I very difficult for people to Apart from Iunderstanding Zoological Park.inThe wasn’t radio good son died, on nobody’s helpHer ‘Incomplete’ offers enough. threw myself on the floor, in a foetal believe that confession be- can express ourselves dif- working intentionally the book always dared blasted popular ing us!”

But sights into could, Sara Khalil fromthe childhood position,myself cryingI out as loud astoI could, more so screaming. cause of the woman whom ferently with each situation. Best version of who Inobody AM be was different, which wasIaloved him with all my song “1985” by as hiswhat spirit departed to adulthood.

She livedcalypso her childhood My world upside down.

I have become today. I had For instance, I may general- and ultimately will be. at the constant struggle when sur- and hurt he caused a then-popular calypsonian. point of in work Guyana then migrated to the USA heart; even with all the infidelity to intentionally change my ly have healthy self-esteem It is important that we rounded bytomyhold situations.

I for the sake of my would have just to celebrated impact.

Up her to this day,SheIwas with family. determined me, I still wanted on to him mindset and challenge my- but very low confidence, consistently on our developgrewmy up child. under aIstrict my sixth I ponder where the strength fight against all odds, even after two family and never wanted to let him go, no self to work on my self-es- particularly with situations ment of self by being intenChristian my birthday, on quite came fromhas to been navigate that Reflecting failed marriages. heroblivious matter what.

He hadfamily madewith his decision and wouldn’t be teem and self-confidence. involving math. So, in the tional. This course grandfather and step granny, to the concept of time, but night. nomadic This intention allowed me final analysis, I would spe- my constant reminder to be early years, we witness all budged. At 6 pm that evening, Mike left with his Mom. as my mother her mom song would not allow thatthat she faced as shethat doggedly pursued Our six-year-old son,lost Jayden, started to run behind to look through a clearer cifically need to channel my intentional in all things, me to forget Shanon Paar – Arizona PAGE herI calling. his father, butSEE Mike keptXXV walking; Jayden asked me, lens and visualise the image confidence to maintain my even on my down days, am thatwarmth it was 1985.

Sara shared with and “Mom, why daddy leaving again”? I didn’t have any of that person I was created composure, in the face of being intentional by remainhonesty how she dealt with betrayal, answers at that time. I quickly tried to control myself to be. I had first to under- this existing insecurity. ing authentic and confident forgiveness, and feelings of being and started engaging in other conversations with my stand the difference between I’m When one loves oneself, in who I am and what unloved. son, thinking he would get distracted and forget. Guess self-esteem and self-confi- one’s self-esteem improves, capable of.” Candace,EntreThis book is authentic, sassy, in- what? I was wrong. He kept crying and asking the same dence and develop a strategy which makes one more con- preneur . to work on both.

I am passionate spiring, about bold, and pragmatic, qualities question, over and over. Finally, after some time passed, fident. When one is confiquite similar to the author herself. he stopped crying and asking questions and started to Self-esteem refers to dent in many areas of life, this programme because She launched her book at Artfest be himself again. It was close to bedtime, so I bathed the overall sense of personal one begins to increase one’s I saw the transformations Atlanta and will be launching in Jayden, took a shower and we were off to bed. The very assurance which we feel--the overall sense of esteem. All manifest in many in lives self-reliance, the positive in all, one can work on both (males and females) New fromYork later this month and Guyself-regard and the self-love at the same time.The content age 14 to people in theana 60s.in November.

SEE PAGE XX we possess. Self-esteem is can work at any stage in our The participants are

Sara’s journey A GIFTincomplete OF CONFIDENCE

XVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

How to Deal with a ...

FROM PAGE XI

people find it easier, more respectful, or just more effective to communicate in person, on the phone or via email. Respect the one they prefer and will perceive the information in a way that may incite change.

Be specific in what you are saying – with employers- they like to be results and success-oriented. They typically do not want to hear about problems unless you’re offering solutions at the same time. Keep it professional rather than personal. You cannot make this about the person as the majority of

the time, you cannot change who you work with but make no mistake, you can change people’s behaviours if you approach it in the right way.

Approach them in a way that aims towards the company’s goals. There is a smart way to voice your concerns and issues indirectly. This can vary from situation to situation, but as an example, you can ask strategic questions that will enforce self- evaluation.

For example, if your boss is too vague, you can ask “what results are you best anticipating”? If they are too broad and demand too much from you- “did you mean to say…”

Show appreciation.

Whether you would like to admit it or not, an employer took a chance on you, they are trusting you to do a job that they are accountable for, they are training you- a thank you for the opportunity goes a long way.

Stay away from office gossip. While some of us do have genuine friends at work, these are your co-workers and not your friends. Many people want to advance and will use any negative thing you say to do so. If you want to vent about your boss, do not do this in the workplace.

Do not let it affect your

work. No matter how difficult your employer is or even how difficult they make the job, your career is the one at stake. Do what’s expected anyway- it will be noticed.

Treat this as a learning experience. Whether you believe it or not, this situation is teaching you how to constructively deal with difficult people and that’s a life-long skill as it teaches you an unlimited amount of patience.

If it’s the worst-case scenario and your boss has no hope, focus on yourself only.

It may seem obvious, but if you have noticed, others will too and it’s only a matter of time until their failure shines

as the same time your work does.

Absorb as much knowledge as possible. If this is not a permanent job or in your long-term plan, it is still teaching you something that will build your resume to help you get where you want.

In extremely abusive situations, I always advise leaving, as it is not good for your professional or personal life.

However, I know that is not possible in many situations.

If you need to leave, start interviewing at other places, have options lined up.

If you are going to approach your boss because you

can’t leave but cannot take it anymore, rehearse it first.

Make sure you are using all the constructive tools outlined above.

Now some might ask, why is it even important to confront a difficult boss? it can reduce work stress while increasing job satisfaction, relationships within the company, motivation, productivity, and increase your chances at advancing within the workplace.

Thank you for reading and please continue to send all suggested topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 28, 2021

SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER REPRESENTATION OF XX XIV THE PEOPLE ACT! REVISITING THE GUYANA/

XVII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ―― Sunday, CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday,February January 28, 10, 2021 2021

THE SEAWALLS FOREVER!

VENEZUELA CONTROVERSY SOON TO COME BEFORE THE ICJ

SOME of our members were demanding that we should Minister Teixeira pointed out that the amendments procomment on the proposals to amend the Representation posed would favour no political party and strengthen the of the People Act, while others felt that, by its constituelectoral machinery. She also enjoined citizens to make their tion, the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA), cannot proposals and comments: “We want people to look at those have any involvement with politics and indeed, practising amendments and see what they feel and ask themselves, politicians are precluded from holding the asso- and ‘are the recommendations sufficient andinvariably are the areas in the HE Guyana/Venezuela controversy will office againinshortly discussions where factual bases become ciation, though they may be ordinary members.

It was, elections process from registration through to proclamation ome up before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). blurred. however, felt that commenting on proposals to make the adequate?’ “ n Guyana, most oflie thedeep writings onneeds the controversy have In thisisoffering, we will depart this with normseashells and try to THE in the of Guyanese today rather muddy was oncefrom covered and Act Seawalls more in keeping with the consciousness of Guyanese society eenpeople, ofwas a historical and factual nature and this is a good answer two questions that many have been asking since the but especially Georgetowners.

Yet it has rarely there would always be children exploring and picking up a national duty and in any case, this transcended hing, since the Guyanese public are not encouraged seizure of the two Guyanese fishing boats in Guyana’s terribeen noticed by the news media and the last time it was seashells of different colours; sometimes they may find large politics, since all the political parties in the country for the mentioned as have an item of national concern was five or sixtorial conch shells. move attention the realms of arguments waters by a Venezuelan navy ship. The first question lasttheir 20 years hadinto some complaint about the workings years agoAct when Ocean overtopped the wallFurther, and flooded The foreshore or continental shelf gradually rises and falls of the andthe wished parts of it amended. all parties and all citizens invited to was make their thepolitical yards parallel to the Public are Road.

This the first every 20 years and today, the foreshore land between Camp inputs to it. memory that there was such an occurrence Street and the Pegasus Hotel has almost risen to the height of time in living 20 years, thereThe haveauthorities been complaints about the and itFor ledover to great panic. hurriedly con- the wall and coconut trees and other vegetation grow on it.

Act, especially after elections, but no government nor politstructed a barrier of standing concrete ical party did anything to improve it. Now, consumers and slabs on the Walls to counter such overtopother ordinary citizens, as well as political parties and NGOs ping.

Inseize the the lastopportunity few weeks,andthe Seawalls should make their inputs. have The again featured in the news, butweeks in a and the Minconsultation would last for six happier vein. ister of Parliamentary Affairs,the Hon Gail Teixeira, has From Camp to the Demeraraincluding River, the political ensured that allStreet the main stakeholders havebecome receiveddisfigured hard copies law and proposed theparties wall had byofantheaccuamendments and has posted themand on the website. mulation of unsightly garbage no ministry’s one Those making proposals and assumed the responsibility ofcomments cleaning may it. Ado so via email, posts onman, the ministry’s socialwho media page or even by letter. homeless Carl Melville, sometimes Citizens are reminded that this is not an exercise in constituslept there was noticed by Dwayne Hackett tional reform, but merely the reform of an important statute. tryingWe to clean the garbage and immediately give examples of amendments which have been volunteered to help placed theGeorgetown is proposed: Regionhim.

Four, Hackett where the capital incident on social media and immediately situated and whicH has a population almost equal to the popnumbers their services. ulation of of persons the othervolunteered regions put together, is big and unwieldy, First Aryapressures Ali wasonone of theofficials first toand has always has Lady put undue election generatedand more at election times, volunteer theproblems Ministrythan of other Publicregions Works, be divided into Waste four manageable subregions thewill Director of Solid Department of the - East Bank Demerara, City EastCouncil Coast Demerara, North Georgetown and Georgetown and the Fire Service South Georgetown. became involved with her. The Fire Service Another amendment is, precise instructions on how tabucleaned the bandstand and in a few days all the lation is to be done, who would be present, and the part they garbage andofSeawalls would was play. removed Statements Poll mustappeared be used for the tabulaas tion if they had always been maintained!

Many and as soon as they are prepared, they must be placed on have high website in their praises of this example outside the thebeen GECOM and posted conspicuously of polling civic responsibility.

Likewise, the sea has reclaimed the land along the Kitty Seastations and sent to the Chief Elections Officer and The Seawallsofhad alwayswith beenimmediacy. the promenade and ensure park for wall where houses once stood. Indeed, a substantial building the Chairman GECOM This will and the citizenry being aware of the results.from is still standing close to the wall near the Kitty Pump Station, thetransparency people of Georgetown and the surrounding villages Another amendment addresses the locating of the last quarter of the 19th century and continued to bepolling so until but the sea is under it. Old fishermen who set their nets on The polling stations wouldplagued be located to thestations.

1960s when the country became withaccording political tenthe foreshore sea could vividly describe the cyclical rise and a number of criteria, so that they would not be too far away sion and there were robberies on the Seawalls. For most of the fall of the beach. from where electors live, would not be in muddy or impass1960s, therefore, fewer and fewer people visited the Seawalls.

The Seawalls provided a favourite place for health enable surroundings, and would be in localities that are safe for In its heyday, the Seawalls were the most delightful place thusiasts.

Many would go there to practise deep breathing of all electors. The object of this amendment is to ensure that in electors Georgetown.

The vastinopenness of safety. the seascape and the the clean and fresh sea breezes. Others would be cycling or cast their votes comfort and surrounding landscape, andofficers silver clouds, The GECOM staff the and blue otherskies elections would bethe even training for cycle races. Probably the most notable were ever-present seagulls and the steady flow of the health-giving the ones who went for physical culture. Many of this group thoroughly trained and issued manuals in full conformity withwinds the laws. will allow them to and function with accuratrade and This the enveloping peace quietude attracted would go to the Seawalls by either jogging to get there or by cy, ease of andpeople without The beach which cycle and they would arrive there at 5 o’clock, long before hundreds at confused all times tension. of the day.

One of the most important proposed amendments is a review of the penalties to be imposed on election officers who have engaged themselves in infractions of the law. Election officers receive salaries and allowances which are among the highest in the Public Service and this is so because of the fiduciary responsibility and integrity they must bring to their jobs, and the fact that they ultimately hold in their hands the safety and well-being of the state which From they could Pageeasily III impair by engaging in illegal behaviour. As an example, we will give the proposed penalties for an errant Chief Executive timate Officer.for that area and zone in the village. “So we several short documentaries in theIfspace of 18 months, places called the “Secret Life of will false workStatements with the villagers the CEO of GECOM of Poll some 33website, Gianthe/she Anteaters to committed create certain rulesand and Giant Anteaters” and each on the would have an offence could be fined $10 million and imprisoned life. He/she is were identified. episode focuses on different help them for to know what they responsible report the nationwide Accordingfortosubmitting Millar, re-the final should andofshould not do. For aspects of the work being vote to the Commission, so that they could searching theElections animals includexample, no one is declare allowed done. Two more episodes are the winner of the elections and if he/she does so outside ed going out on horseback to kill them, keep them the as a expected to be released this established timeframe, or with falsified data, he/she could be and following them from a pet, destroy their habitat, and month. fined $10 million and be imprisoned for life.

Research work helping curb... distance to be able to stock

light a fire in certain places,

The team also does a lot

the sun had risen. is, why is the Venezuelan public sowere convinced they On moonlit nights the Seawalls always athat crowded have a valid claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory and promenade. Many went to socialise with friends, but all went why their politicians are so bellicose and aggressive about to enjoy the beauty of the moon rising from the sea and the this claim? moonlight And the second is, why did there President blue-green whichquestion was brighter, since were Maduro of Venezuela choose this time to seize thevarious boats no road lights to dilute it. Others would enjoy the when he would the Guyanese phasesheofknew the New Moon alienate with the background of population purple skies and cause embellished the international community to or with thousands of stars condemn which appear disapprove brighter of his action, leaving Venezuela isolated intersince there were no city lights. Others nationally on the issue. would go to the Seawalls in the late afternoons to The answer to the sunsets first question began during theinto Cold admire gradually transforming the light ofof dusk.

War: At theblue beginning the 1960s Britain had decided to joysthe of colony the Seawalls were the withdraw fromAnother Guyana of andthe grant independence, earlylikely evening concerts givenof bythe the newly Militia but it was very thatSunday the Prime Minister Band and the Police Band at the Bandstand which independent state would be Dr Cheddi Jagan, an avowed attracted hundreds of people.

Their repertoire conMarxist. U.S. Cold War interests tried to persuade Britain sisted of light classical music such as Strauss’ and to delay Guyana’s independence, but all that Britain could other waltzes, ballet music such Delibes’ pizzicato promise was that she would hand over power to a non-ComandMinister.

Sylvia, atAmerican least one English patriotic such munist Prime Intelligence feltsong that this as “This royal throne of Kings” and Guyanese and British offer needed further insurance and so they devised Caribbean folk songs.

The concerts were arranged a plan whereby their client Venezuela would threaten to for early evening so that children could attend; many Guyanese in later life have admitted that their first exposure to classical music was from these Bandstand concerts.

On Easter Monday thousands of kite-flyers turned out from five o’clock in the morning. Kites were all hand-made and were in a variety of shapes such as boxes, birds and snakes, but the predominant shape was the Guyanese octagon and in a variety of colours. Singing engines, a kite which made a loud droning sound, was one of the most popular.

Kite-flying was always combined with picnicking. The Easter kite-flying today is a pale reminiscence of the heyday.

As mentioned above, the political tensions and criminality kept people away from the Seawalls in the 1960s. By the invade Guyana if theremore wasstable any possibility of a Marxist 1990s life had become and people again began to government being installed in Guyana. frequent the Seawalls, but the ambience had changed. There Theup1899 Award hadofsettled the boundaries of grew stallsArbitral lining the parapet the Public Road from the Guyana and Venezuela and these boundaries were fully Kitty Pump Station to the Pegasus, selling refreshments and accepted bystalls bothwere parties and the communiall of these well-lit.

TheInternational character of the Seawalls ty.

One of the junior lawyers representing Venezuela had changed from a peaceful promenade to a lively fair. at the arbitration, MalletPrevost, left ais letter was not Now that the tourism industry beingthat revived, the toSeawalls have been opened until after his death.

In that letter, still offer an attractive attraction. he claimed that the Arbitral Award was the result of an arrangement between Britain and the Russian arbitrator to deprive Venezuela of its rights. After more than half a century, Venezuela, based on Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter, now rejected the Arbitral Award and claimed twothirds of Guyana’s territory. Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter was the causus Venezuela used to threaten Guyana and this continued after the Cold War, the raison d’etre for the claim, had ended.

Most lawyers and historians who took any notice of Mallet-Prevost’s letter dismissed it as a historical curiosity or very flimsy evidence on which to attempt to upset a long-accepted Arbitral Award. But the Venezuelan politicians and the Venezuelan public gave credence and importance to Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter, which would have been dismissed in the modern world. But the Venezuelan politicians and public still live in the 19th century Napoleonic world where territorial conquests were

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INTERNATIONAL JAGUAR ...

FROM PAGE IV is the only way we will save this majestic species.

In Guyana, several organisations work together to ensure the protection of these wild cats, including the EPA, the Guyana Wildlife Conservation and Management Commission, and the Protected Areas Commission.

Visit https://tinyurl.com/ awkacv68 for more information on jaguar corridors.

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

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A GIFT OF...

FROM PAGE XV

butes that I need to possess to bring out that confidence in me “The session on purpose was awesome and inspiring and thought-provoking. It made me not only receive the information, but really give it deep consideration.

It was, however, at the point of application that I figured out my true purpose and what a tremendous feeling that was.

It is with all this meaningful information and purpose-driven approach now that I will strive to always be intentional in everything I do and to command my thoughts, because it is my thoughts that will set the tone for my day and in general, my life.”

I believe in proactively charting positive outcomes in individuals, and so, over the years I have contributed significantly to many lives through paid and compli-

mentary ‘Confidence Becomes You’ programmes, virtually and in person.

I am on a mission to assist as many people as possible to navigate the road to a confident person, or in some cases, to regain the confidence which was formerly had. This virtual programme is designed to be flexible to adjust to the schedules of potential participants.

My mentor John Maxwell affirms, “Confidence is a characteristic of a positive attitude. The greatest achievers and leaders remain confident regardless of circumstances.”

The human resource is more valuable than all the resources that a country possesses and this is a unique opportunity to contribute to and create a world in which we desire to live.

I am inviting businesses and individuals to join me on this mission to give a gift

that can last someone a lifetime, a gift of confidence.

We are offering 25 to 40 % discount and it gets better.

I would match every programme that is purchased with a complimentary one for someone else. One has the option to recommend a related individual, or we can recommend someone from our database. Contact us at liviningwithintention11@ gmail.com I can’t stress enough how much it is for us to daily work on ourselves. If your self esteem is five and you desire things at level nine, you will not perform above our self-image or the estimated value we have of ourselves.

I encourage you to give some a Gift of Confidence can last someone a life as we continue the celebrate this beautiful journey called Life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

TWINKLING LITTLE ...

FROM PAGE XII “Yes, sir,” she answered, “I’m here, close to the scene.”

She listened to the caller and then answered again, “No, sir, we have found no witnesses yet though everyone we spoke to heard the gunshots.”

She listened a little more before the call ended and Sanya noting the determination in the detective’s eyes to solve the murder, took her hand and said, “There’s something I need to show you.”

In her shack, she pulled her sketchpad from under her bed and handed it to her saying, “I like to do drawings.”

The detective flipped through the pages and said, “This is great, you have talent.”

She came to the last page and Sanya watched silently as she stared incredulously at the detailed sketch of a murder scene, face of the killers and their vehicle.

She looked at Sanya, surprised beyond words that this child was the witness the entire investigative team was looking for.

Several days later, Sanya watched the news from a store window of the killers’ arrest and the high praise for the detective woman. As she neared her home in the slums, she saw her mother

standing by the doorway, and the detective waiting for her.

“You are the true heroine,” she said, “And I am here to tell you, you are getting a new home away from here, a good life, school and art classes. And a special invite for you to spend Christmas with me and my family.”

Sanya was so thrilled, she laughed with joy, hugging the detective.

A few weeks later, she walked out of the slums with her mother who had started rehab for alcoholism and leaving the cold and darkness behind that night, looking up at the sky, she said, “Thank you, twinkling star.”

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Do better, guys

RIGHT now, there are many ongoing conversations on gender-based violence because of the annual ‘16 Days of Activism’ observance. And while I am not an expert in the field, I would like to share recent experiences that have forced me to think more about this.

Last week, a male friend (let’s call him Friend ‘A’) and I were studying together on a Zoom call. It was late at night and we decided that we would listen to some music to keep us awake while we sifted through our seemingly endless pile of schoolwork. Eventually,

he requested that I play a popular Dexta Daps song.

Because it was late and I was just not in the mood, I refused. I did not expect him to, but Friend ‘A’ got visibly annoyed and demanded that I play the song.

Even then, I refused and let my YouTube auto-generated playlist shuffle to the next song. I couldn’t hear him speak over the song, so he messaged me on WhatsApp. His message read: “You want a hard slap, yes” and followed that up with a “PLAY IT” which I took to mean that he was yelling.

In another instance, a

few weeks ago, another male friend (Friend ‘B’ ) and I were discussing relationships and he told me that headstrong, loudmouthed women like myself “does get lashes at home.”

In both of those scenarios, I was immediately taken aback. I could not believe that these guys - who I considered good friends of mine - could ever think that it was okay to say anything of the sort. I could not wrap my head around it and of course, I had to express my disapproval.

Friend ‘A’ was unapologetic and instead, said that because I am a tomboy, his

abusive words were negligible. He followed up those statements by remarking that I would fight back if he tried to hit me (I’m not sure if that

was spoken as some sort of justification).

Meanwhile, Friend ‘B’ apologised profusely, though he emphasised that

his statement was nothing more than a stupid joke. I disagreed with this assertion that his statement about women being abused was a mere joke because I could not find the humour in it. He said “Okays, Miss Serious” and “ghosted” me for weeks after that.

It is only now that I am writing this column that I am fully internalising both of these experiences with Friends ‘A’ and ‘B’, and their disappointing responses when I told them that their statements were problematic. Now, these two experiences are causing me to think about Gender-Based Violence (GBV) even more.

Let me quickly point out that I am not an expert on gender, nor am I professing to be. The thoughts I intend on sharing are based on my experiences and my very limited learning from my Sociology and Social Development Policy courses.

For me, though, these two experiences illustrated how we interact with unequal power relations.

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Heal from your trauma before you attempt to help others AS an advocate and youth worker, I was inspired and motivated by my own experiences and hardship to help others. I know the struggle and challenges that are similarly faced in certain situations and for that reason, I wanted to help other young people like myself. While I can empathize and understand these issues and events, one does not need to endure trauma to understand it. With that in mind, a good counsellor, advocate or helper does not need to experience social issues to gain a deeper insight and understanding of them. It is harmful to yourself and your clients or target population in need, if you bond over your trauma with your clients.

Your trauma and unresolved issues might affect the quality of help and service you provide to those in need. You can project your unresolved issues onto your clients or target population when it is uncalled for. You cannot solve your problems through your clients and target population. You cannot solve their issues based on how you would’ve liked your trauma to be resolved. You do not bring unresolved issues and problems to a helping relationship as the helper. This is why therapists, counsellors, advocates and helpers need to seek professional help themselves.

As adults, we tend to overlook unresolved issues and trauma. We might think our issues are as important, or that we can cope and handle it ourselves. We do this over a prolonged period of time until a small issue becomes a major life crisis and we have a long list of unresolved issues. When you’re helping someone while having unresolved trauma and issues, you might involuntarily trigger emotional responses to the said situation. You might become overly sensitive about the issue while helping clients or target population and this can cloud our judgment or rationality on how to better help said clients.

Unresolved issues and trauma can affect every aspect of your life—not just how you help others in your helping profession. Sometimes, we think that because we’re the professionals we don’t need to see other professions to seek help. When a dentist has a decaying tooth, will he refuse to visit another dentist, or will he accept help in order to help his tooth? If he’s a dentist who isn’t prideful, then he’ll go to another dentist to seek help for his tooth. Likewise, we should also seek help from other professionals. Counsellors, therapists and social helpers often think that they can “self-counsel” at all times.

You ought to learn when to realise that you do not hold all the answers to life and that your emotions might get in the way of how to rationally help yourselves. With that in mind, you must also be mindful of how your unresolved issues can affect your clients.

If by chance, you’re still working through trauma and issues that are unresolved—learn to say NO to a client with similar issues until you’re mentally and emotionally capable of handling such. We pass onto others what we don’t process. Until you process and solve what’s unresolved with you and yourself,you won’t help others in need. Your efforts in helping will prove futile if you don’t help yourself before helping others.

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Do better, ...

FROM PAGE XXII

We live amidst the patriarchy and I believe that our patriarchal societies uphold men’s heinous actions by celebrating ‘manliness,’ which often equates to ‘dominance,’ ‘aggression,’ and ‘control.’ But, ‘being a man’ must not be inextricably linked to ‘dominating a woman,’ because right

now, it seems to me that it is.

And, with this resulting in unequal power relations between men and women, our socially constructed beliefs, norms, and traditions have legitimised how men interact (degrade and disrespect) with women. But the thing is, this is not okay. It’s not okay at all.

Men should not feel as though they have the authority to command me to do anything, let alone command me to do so with the threat of violence. Men should not raise their voices or get worked up simply because they are not getting what they want.

This is not me attacking men here. In an article published in Guyana’s Stabroek News on February 15, 2021, Renuka Anandjit and Angelique Nixon succinctly reminded us that the causes of GBV are “complex and deeply implicated in colonial histories, structural violence and state failures.” So, this means the problem is not just men, but it is a system into which we are all socialised.

And perhaps this is a call for men to realise that we exist in this harmful system, in the hope of raising consciousness that could help them hold themselves and their brothers more accountable. As I have stated before, we need to move beyond thinking that men who act in such disappointing and apprehensive manner are outliers and instead recognise that we have to interrogate what is learnt and perpetuated.

If I can help my two male friends understand this and we can learn more together, then that would be a step towards making our society a better one. Maybe the same goes for others who can be engaged and may be open to learning.

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

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THOUGHT FOR TODAY Some circumstant ia strong, as when yo l evidence is very u find a trout in th e milk.

HENRY DAVID TH OREAU (18171862) Journal, 11 Nov. 1850 (pub. 19 03)

November 28, 2021 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend. It is good strategy to test your performance skills as you study. Test confidence about your examination prowess.

Improve with practising the

main questions and asking your teachers for help and advice. Gain mastery reading those question types and answering them appropriately. Read over and check your responses. Do not rush.

Relax before and during each sitting as you practise for that examination day. Prepare, prepare, prepare, and keep eyeing the syllabus objectives. Be wise.

Love you.

GRAMMAR Deleting errors as you proofread Practise spotting and paying attention to errors as you proofread your script, for it may make a difference in your examination grades.

Writing correctly improves your work presentation.

[See keys immediately after the following exercises.]

A.. Instruction: Choose the correct words in the following sentences.

1. Someone in your section (has, have) requested a change in (his or her, its, their) working hours.

2. Each teacher in the north wing (answers, answer) (his or her, its, their) own phone calls from now on.

3. Every section head in the entire private school (has, have) (his or her, its, their) salary reviewed every twelve months.

4. Anyone who (wishes, wish) to return school uniforms must bring (his or her, its, their) receipt.

5. The principal of a school must learn to depend on the information (he she, its, they) (receives, receive) from (his or her, its, their) department heads.

B.. Instruction: Correct any agreement errors in the following sentences. Say which ones are OK. 1. Neither of the assistants are eligible to join the retirement plan until June 2022.

2. We believe that every school secretary in this eastern county will want to have her own subscription to this magazine.

3. An executive always finds that they must observe strict time-management principles in order to be effective.

4. Anyone who submit their credentials should address them to our personnel recruiter.

5. No one, in our opinion, should invest more in house

building than they can afford to educate their children.

6. We are now seeking a secretary who knows how to manage his or her time well.

KEYS A.. Instruction: Choose the correct words in the following sentences.

1. has; his or her.

2. answers; his or her. 3. has; his or her. 4. wishes; his or her. 5. he or she; receives; his or her.

B.. Instruction: Correct any agreement errors in the following sentences. Say which ones are OK. [The subject is given in brackets.]

1. is (Neither). 2. his or her (school secretary).

3. he or she (executive). 4. his or her (Anyone). 5. he or she (No one). 6. OK. READING Reading for comprehension Instructions: Read the following research-based document and then answer Items 1-3 based on what is stated or implied.

People differ widely in their reading ability. They differ in their ability to read speedily, to recognise new words, to organise the author’s ideas in their minds, to get the author’s meaning.

But everyone, the poorest reader as well as the best reader, can improve his reading ability.

Results from reading tests since coming to secondary school, may help your teacher discuss your performance with you. Test results will reveal not only your general proficiency but also some of your specific strengths and weaknesses. In any case, you should ask yourself such questions as these: Do I enjoy reading in my leisure time?

Do I have trouble in identifying new words from context?

Do I remember important details in what I read? Your answers will be in a general way, but they will give you a clue as to what special effort is needed to improve your learning through reading.

1. Learning through reading involves all these points except (A) getting the author’s meaning. (B) recognising new words in context.

(C) reading more speedily than ever. (D) reading for author’s ideas.

2. What point does the author make that is not pos-

itive about reading abilities?

(A) All reading abilities can be improved.

(B) The poorest reader cannot improve his reading ability.

(C) The slow reader can improve his reading ability.

(D) The best reader can improve his reading ability.

3. Why do you consider yourself a proficient enough reader to manage CXC level readings?

THE PASSAGE The old woman began to gum a seed. “What you carry in that tin box, Mr. Shiftlet?” she asked.

“Tools,” he said, put back. “I’m a carpenter.”

“Well, if you can come out here to work, I’ll be able to feed you and give you a place to sleep but I can’t pay.

I’ll tell you that before you begin,” she said.

There was no answer at once and no particular expression on his face. He leaned back against the twoby-four that helped support the porch roof. “Lady,” he said slowly, “there’s some men that some things mean more to them than money.”

The old woman rocked without comment and the daughter watched the trigger that moved up and down in his neck. He told the old woman then that all most people were interested in was money, but he asked what a man was made for. He asked her if a man was m ae for money, or what. He asked what she thought she was made for, but she didn’t answer, she only sat rocking and wondered if a one-armed man could put a new roof on her garden house. He asked a lot of questions that she didn’t answer. He told her that he was twenty-eight years old....

(Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own”) Something to Do 1. What do you think the following expressions mean in the passage?

Gum a seed; no particular expression on his face; the two-by-four; the trigger that moved up and down in his neck 2. Tell what you gather about the old woman. Use an apt phrase or two to describe her character.

3. Tell what you gather about Mr. Shiftlet. Use an apt phrase or two to describe his character.

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Essentials in oral health care

THE effective control of plaque (bacteria and food particles sticking to the surface of unclean teeth) represents the basis of oral health. It is not of primary importance the method used to remove plaque, provided that the required objective is achieved. So even if your toothbrush was lost, you could still take good care of your mouth.

However, try to get a toothbrush, as it’s the ideal tool for oral care.

There are defined specifications for toothbrush design and brushing methods to standardised professional recommendations.The toothbrush should be a small one that is about six inches in length, with soft bristles, handle aligned on the same plane as the head, and the brushing profile should be flat with the bristles all of equal length.

Two important factors must be considered when brushing the teeth. First, you must strictly follow a specific sequence. For example, begin with the last left molar of the upper jaw moving to the last upper right molar, then down to the last right lower molar, finally moving across to the left last lowest molar.

The other important factor is thoroughness. The entire surface of each tooth should be sanitised as well as the interdental area, for one minute each day. If, therefore, you have all your permanent teeth, you should spend a total of 32 minutes every day in practising oral care. Remember you do not need toothpaste, plain water will do.

There are eight scientific methods of tooth brushing, the most widely accepted being the modified stillman. This method is designed for massage and stimulation as well as for cleaning the neck area of the tooth. The brush ends are placed partly on the gum and partly on the neck area of the tooth and are directed to the root of the tooth. Moderate pressure is applied and the handle is given a slight rotary motion while the brush ends are maintained in position on the tooth surface, always in the direction in which the tooth grows. Repeat many times before moving to the adjacent tooth and not forgetting to include the palatal (inner) faces.

The biting surfaces are cleaned by vibrating brush with light pressure, while maintaining the bristle tips on the occlusal surface, permitting the tips to work their way into the pits and fissures. Excessive pressure curves the bristles, so that the tips cannot get into the pits and fissures. The most effective time to brush is just before retiring to bed at night.

The use of toothpaste or dentifrice is not essential, although the regular brands which contain nine ingredients, including abrasives, detergents, fluoride, binders and humectants, serve to facilitate our objective.

Because plaque located on the surfaces between two teeth is inaccessible to usual brushing, a means for proximal plaque removal is necessary for complete preventative care. The use of dental floss or tape should always precede brushing. (Three strands of thread together will suffice in this crisis.) Hold a 12-inch length of floss with thumb and index finger of each hand. Grasp firmly with half-inch of floss between the fingertips. The ends of the floss may be tucked into the palm and held by the ring and little finger, or the floss may be wrapped around the middle finger.

For the upper teeth, the floss should be directed up by holding it over two thumbs or a thumb and an index finger.

Rest a side of a finger on teeth of the opposite side of the upper arch to provide a balance and a fulcrum. When flossing the lower or mandibular teeth, direct the floss down by holding the index fingers on the top of the strand. One index finger holds the floss on the lingual and on the outer (facial).

Hold the floss in a diagonal or oblique position and ease it past each contact area with a gentle sawing motion, curving the floss around each tooth, working from below the gum line, making up and down motions and shoe shine strokes.

The diet plays an integral part in oral care. In this regard, food is classified into two categories, protective and cariogenic. Cariogenic food contributes significantly to the formation of caries and especially includes those which are sugary and sticky. Sugar is converted to acid faster than starch, while the sticky property facilitates longer contact with the enamel.

Protective food is generally fibrous and contains vitamins, minerals and fluoride. Greens, vegetables, ground provisions, corn etc. are examples of protective foods. Although avoiding cariogenic foods is ideal, extra oral care is required after use. Vigorous mouth rinse with water when tooth brushing should be practised.

Dental plaque sometimes becomes mineralised (hard-

ened), forming calculus or tartar. These appear as brown or greenish crusts on the enamel around the neck areas or on the inside (lingual) surface of the lower incisors (front teeth). As the calculus develops, it penetrates below the gum line infecting the gum, connecting fibres and bone.

This condition is called periodontitis and is just as common as caries. When periodontitis becomes chronic, the signs include easy haemorrhage (patient spits blood when brushing), receding gums (tooth appears to

be growing longer), and absorption of the alveolar bone with deep pockets between the gum and tooth (tooth becomes loose or shaking).

Scaling, root planning and polishing constitute the treatment for periodontitis since by removing the irritation caused by the subgingival calculus, the destructive process would be interrupted and reversed to a certain degree. Because periodontal disease is usually painless, the onset is insidious and the debilitating

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effects are generally not recognised until it is too late.

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