FROM THE ARCHIVES: An image from 2019 where drummers perform at an Emancipation event in Berbice. This year, Guyanese near and far will celebrate Emancipation at the National Park and other outdoor locations for the first time in more than two years, since the COVID-19 Pandemic (Delano Williams photo)
Emancipation Celebrations Back for 2022!
Sunday, July 31, 2022
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
The best Bar-B-Que you can find in Moruca!
JOYCELYN De Silva has been a businesswoman for the past 20 years at Santa Rosa, Moruca, where she was born and raised. Having developed a reputation for having the best Bar-B-Que in the Region One village, the mother of seven can never forget how she all got started. She began with a small business selling snacks like plantain chips, nuts, buns, salara, tennis rolls, etc., before deciding to get more fully into the food business. She then started to do roti and curry and realised that food was something that could make her money. “That’s when I started to cook local food, a small amount each day,” she told Pepperpot Magazine. Then in 1989, a team from the US went into Moruca to do an extension and other work on the hospital, and at the end of their day’s work, they’d visit Joycelyn’s little shop to buy food.
she wishes she has the opportunity to one day meet him again and say thank you! “Starlight Mission was the group that came to repair the Kumaka District Hospital, and the GDF officer was the cook for the team. I wish I can meet him again. I want to meet the person who taught me to do the Bar-B-Que. I just can’t remember his name.” She started to do the Bar-B-Que only on fun days and special occasions and then did some every weekend. Today, though, she does her Bar-B-Que every day for customers who would patiently wait for her to open the shop. “I’m at the central point here. This is the frontline, and that is how I get to reach people who come from all over, including the riverain areas. The brightest day here is on Saturday when it’s market day,” she shared.
Moruca businesswoman Joycelyn De Silva
“These American people came to look after the hospital, extend it and do other work on it and we had the Army team that came here with them. They used to visit my shop every day, and they teach me how to do Bar-B-Que. I looked on real good, and I started doing it myself. From that day to now, BarB-Que built every single thing I have – my house, my shop, everything,” she shared. The cook for the team was an army officer who taught Joycelyn how to do the Bar-B-Que. While she doesn’t know his name and has never met him again after this time, how
say soon y’all will be young ladies; y’all have to learn how to cook and she will show us how to make curry, stew, roti; how to bake,” Joycelyn recalled. While her mom would do all the baking, it was Joycelyn and her siblings’ task to help do the selling. “I liked that part of it. We would go all over to all the relatives, to every house, and sell. I dealt with the money, so since I was little, I liked doing business. She would send me to purchase the ingredients at the shop so I would know what she’s using and how much she’s making and so on.” Asked to share one of the secrets to a good Bar-B-Que, Joycelyn said putting on the sauce and then placing it back
Dressing up the box! Joycelyn prepares for a sale
Considerate of customers Joycelyn loves to cook; name it and she can cook it. Interestingly, apart from the Bar-B-Que, no one taught her. She practised on her own and developed the skills that were needed. She cannot overlook, though, the impact her mom Anthonia De Silva (now deceased), had on her life. “My mom taught me as a child growing up. She would
into the fire makes it taste bitter and rubbery. Even with the price for everything increasing, Joycelyn said she chooses not to raise her price as she knows that doing so will not work out for the best for her customers. “My customers are very poor people. When they come, and I see that they just saved that money to buy the food, I can’t ask them for more. I keep my standards maintained so when they buy it, they are able to share with their little ones, and that keeps them coming.”
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
Working towards the goals of the ‘Decade’ - IDPADA-G continues mission of achieving recognition, justice and development
THE issues that have continued to confront people of African descent have been laid bare throughout the period so far that the United Nations designated International Decade for People of African Descent, but Olive Cannings-Sampson believes that a decade is not enough to have those challenges addressed. In fact, even many nations of the world have realised that a decade is insufficient to have the problems fixed, she pointed out. As such, the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent has been established. It has the same goals and will see nations continuing the work started in the Decade.
Top five winners (L-R seated: Clinton Samuels of COBBEC Vision, Delon Simpson of Kukki Aquaculture, Earlecia Hieronymo of Khayr Organics, Brian Smith of Dragonfly Geospatial Aerial Productions and Jermaine Hall of Country Boy Farming Supplies) of IDPADA-G’s Invest-a-thon Pitch Competition 2022 with two of the judges, Ms. Ndibi Schwiers and Professor Leyland Lucas (Photos courtesy of IDPADA-G)
Chief Executive Officer of IDPADA-G, Olive Cannings-Sampson (Telesha Ramnarine photo)
Cannings-Sampson is Chief Executive Officer of the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly – Guyana (IDPADA-G) and spoke to Pepperpot Magazine recently in the context of Emancipation Day 2022. Serving in this capacity for the past four years, she
has lived abroad for many years but would often return to Guyana to work with various non-profit organisations through Guyanese Assisting in Development (GUYAID) to provide support for disadvantaged youths and the elderly. Also a founding member of Cuffy 250 – an organisation formed to commemorate the revolution and call for freedom for all people, especially for those Africans A section of the audience at IDPADA-G’s youth conference and Invest-A-Thon Pitch Competition 2022
Youth in discussion at IDPADA-G’s youth conference 2022
who were enslaved - Cannings-Sampson has also worked with The National Council of Negro Women in the USA, a civil rights organisation founded in 1939. “My commitment is to the equality of all people. I am committed to seeing the people of African descent through the Decade achieve the equality, recognition, justice and development that the UN Decade hopes for,” she shared. The Decade was declared in 2013 for a start in 2015 and in Guyana, the first set of work that was done took place between 2016 and 2017; it brought together members of civil society to shape how Guyana would respond. Subsequent to a proposal to the government for the establishment of a secretariat and an institution to focus attention on the Decade, Parliament approved an annual subvention to support IDPADA-G and the secretariat. Six committees were formed that would underpin the work of the IDPADA-G Youth, Education, Employment, Economics, Equity and Expiation. Cannings-Sampson recogSEE PAGE IX nises the support of the State,
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
Community flea market/thrift shop and charity bin for August 6 and 7
BUSINESSWOMAN Diane Chin believes that a community flea market is something that people in Guyana should embrace since so many people are grappling with putting food on the table, more so to buy clothing and other necessary items. Having organised the first farmers’ market in 2020, she is now doing the first flea market on August 6 and 7 at 229 Lance Gibbs Street, Queenstown. Vendors at this market will have a wide variety of items that were previously owned (second-hand), but that are in good condition enough condition to be recycled. “I call it a flea market or a thrift store. It’s myself and a few other people who have come together to put up little booths to sell the things that we have at home that we no longer use,” Chin told Pepperpot Magazine recently. Persons can get their hands on household items, shoes, clothing, books, toys, and “all the things we have that are good and that we don’t want to dump.” It would also allow for a few persons to make an extra income.
“The money we have is to put towards food, and there are some things we have to cut back on just for food. At a flea market, you can get good stuff that were previously owned, yes, like $1,000 for a good pair of jeans that may have been worn once or not at all,” Chin explained. “We also have kids selling their lemonade and cookies. I always believe that children should learn about making their own money and how they can do it. I’ve invited them to bring their old toys and books that they no longer want,” she continued. Even as the prices will start from as low as $100, the venue will also have a charity bin where people can take whatever they want, free of cost. “After hearing about the flea market, people have been offering to donate their items, and this shows that there is the potential for something like this in Guyana that can help the community,” she observed. Chin said she has always loved the ideas of a farmers’ market and flea market. “I think these are important things that every community should Some items that will be at the have. Why don’t we have them? flea market Now I am happy to see that we have so many farmers’ markets after that one that we did in 2020. Hopefully, we’ll have more flea markets that will shoot up.” The opportunity also exists for people in remote locations across Guyana to collect stuff to take into their communities. This would be something that would be especially beneficial to the folks in faraway villages who are very poor. It’s just a matter of getting in contact with a “middle man” that would take the items in, Chin noted. “I realised that this is still a relatively new concept to Guyana, and while people sell a lot of barrel clothing, I don’t know how we are embracing the thrift idea. It will be interesting to see how we Guyanese embrace the idea,” she said. Meanwhile, apart from or-
Businesswoman Diane Chin
ganising farmers’ markets, Chin and her husband Joseph had teamed with a group of professional teachers to create solutions to help kids navigate the harsh realities of the pandemic. The kiddies’ day camp at the Armadillo Earth Farm that they hosted last year received overwhelming support. A 10-acre ecological safe space located at Long Creek, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the Armadillo Earth Farm allowed for activities such as kids’ yoga, sewing craft, nature hikes and other fun games. The mission of Armadillo Earth Farm is to create a space that is aligned with how children learn naturally, and focus is placed on developing children’s creative skills. “The goal is to help each child actualise their unique potential and God-given passion,” Chin had explained. Another camp is expected to be held in the not too distant future.
Guyana’s Head-of-State’s recent visit to the USA
PRESIDENT, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, was abroad last week on government business. Travelling over 8,500 miles to and from the United States of America, the Guyanese Head-of-State attended several meetings along the way, selling the various Guyanese products, so to speak, including the country’s tourism products. Any President Ali observer would realise that the 42-year-old energetic National Chief Executive, is happy with his job and setting a positive example for his other team members; the ministers of government and other high-level government functionaries whose professional support is vital for optimum all-round success in Guyana’s ongoing efforts to gain maximum returns, for its varied income generating projects, including “the new kids on the block”, oil and gas. Last Wednesday, I had the opportunity to observe President Ali up close and transparent while in Washington, DC in the USA. That was, to some degree, unplanned, that we were in the same location simultaneously. It was after the president had already held meetings with a number of high-level American functionaries including United States Vice President, Kamla Harris and United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Don Greaves. President Ali exhibits some amount of willingness to go the extra mile in any thousand-mile journey to market the various Guyanese products which are available for the World
Market. His packed itinerary last week, travelling thousands of miles from Guyana and around the United States, gave him the
-President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali addressing fellow Guyanese and friends in Washington DC on Wednesday July 27, 2022 (Photo by Francis Quamina Farrier)
opportunity yet again to be Guyana’s premier Sales Executive. While in the USA, the principal meeting the president attended was with members of the Organisation of American States (OAS), which was held in Los Angeles, California. Before leaving the United States on his return to Guyana, President Dr. Irfaan Ali took the opportunity last Wednesday to be the guest of honour at a well-attended ‘Meet-and-Greet’ event in Washington, DC, which was organised by Ambassador Samuel Hinds and the Staff of the Embassy. In his feature address to his overseas-based fellow countrymen and women, the youthful Guyanese Head-of-State identified areas of development which his government is working on, such as reliable electricity, and to which those in the diaspora can also make meaningful contributions. Closely observing the 42-year-old president, who is exactly half my age, one can only expect so much from him for the ongoing development of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, both now and in the foreseeable future.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
From ‘orphan boy’ to outstanding businessman
By Elvin Croker
THE old proverb that says, “when life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade” has taken on real meaning for one successful businessman who realised his accomplishments after many struggles while growing up. At the tender age of two years old, Phil Surooj’s father placed him in a boy’s orphanage, and never looked back. Surooj’s mother had passed away, and it seemed that no one wanted to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of a young child, he related. Faced with a life of pain, loneliness, and abuse at the orphanage, Surooj found a way to deal with these “lemons” by reading all the books he could put his hands on. He would create a self-made oasis in the small library at the orphanage, and capsule himself into reading. This is where he spent most of his time and birthed the journey of turning his lemons into lemonade. “I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but the trauma still haunts me,” Surooj said in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine. Due to this experience, he is of the opinion that it is better to create a foster care system for children than an
orphanage. He is convinced that it was through the vehicle of reading that he developed the determination to reverse the negative situation in which he found himself. “It invoked in me the need to create a positive outlook on life, with an optimistic attitude,” he posited. This is the skill he used to navigate his way into becoming the successful businessman he is today. As the years rolled on, Surooj gained a place at the St. Johns College, where he wrote six CXC subjects, and emerged as the student with the second-best results. He said that at the time, the school was offering a maximum of eight subjects, and he wanted to do all eight, but circumstances did not allow him to do so. “I approached the people at the orphanage to pay for the subjects, but they refused. “So, I decided I would do six after I had approached the past Imam of the Kitty Jama Masjid, Shiraz Ali, now deceased, who offered to help pay for it,” he said. He explained that Ali was one of his most influential mentors, as he recalls him always telling him to stick to his studies. “He paid for my subjects, gave me money for my SBAs,
Surooj’s advice to young people is to take their education seriously
and put me into that position to stick to school,” Surooj said. He also credits Sukrishanall Pasha as being another of his mentors, since he would have taken him under his wings from the time he entered the University of Guyana (UG) onwards.
GOING IT ALONE Just after receiving his CXC results, Surooj’s journey of going it alone began when he was asked to leave the orphanage. Thrown into the deep end as a teenager and left on his own for the first time, he did not allow his exposure to the streets to make him indulge in the multitude of bad influences he was exposed to, but managed to keep on the straight path. Armed with his six subjects, the teenager entered the world of professional work in 2005 as a Customs Officer at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in 2009 from the University of Guyana, where he gained a distinction in Management. “That graduation was the saddest day of my life,” he recalled. “I realised how terrible it was; like it dawned
member. In 2014, he resigned from his job as a Customs Officer so he could dedicate more time to achieving his Master’s. He then did freelance brokerage work, using the knowledge and experience he’d gained during his working years. Two years later, he obtained his Master of Business Administration. In 2018, he secured his licence to operate as a customs broker, which propelled him into officially launching his business in 2019, PS Shipping and Customs Brokerage (PSSCB) Inc. “Throughout this journey, I focused on education,” Surooj said. PAYING IT FORWARD He soon after began lecturing university students in Management Science, Business, Mathematics and other summer courses. He said that one of the challenges he now faces as a businessman is class marginalisation, noting that his fellow business competitors and colleagues would have originated from an influential background. “I may be more qualified
Surooj now has a family comprising his wife, Alisha Singh, and their two daughters, Ciara, seven, and Skyler, two
the best positioned local company, given its local content. “We have all the certifications and licences required to compete with the international
gistics, and transportation services within the domestic, regional, and international market. His company’s mission is to provide customers
Surooj with members of his team
on me. Everybody was there with their families, and I was like, ‘Wow!’” He also recalled that while in high school, he had paid a friend to go to the graduation ceremony with him, just to pretend he was a family
and more experienced, and sitting with people who are on the same level, but who are validated more, because they came from an upper-class background. That has always been the case,” he said. He sees his company as
companies, and a 100 per cent Guyanese ownership,” he said. His vision for the company is to become the leading logistical service provider of customs brokerage, lo-
and stakeholders with efficient and effective services and prompt information. Surooj said that the firm is committed to providing its customers and stakeholders SEE PAGE VIII
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
Journey to Victoria Village
By Shari Simon BUILT on dreams of freedom, years of rebellions and resistance to enslave-
first village to be purchased and established by freed African men and women in Guyana. Last week, the Pepperpot
stories about life in the community. Victoria is located approximately 18 miles from Georgetown, and it sits plac-
Victoria Nursery School
The newly renovated William Wilberforce Congregational Church
ple can be seen either going to and fro the main access road while riding bicycles or scooters, walking, or com-
ment and a shared spirit of tenacity to create an economically thriving and culturally rich community during the post-slavery period, Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara, was the
Magazine journeyed along the coast to visit Victoria Village and learn about the ancestral history that was passed down by former enslaved Africans, interact with residents and listen to their
idly between neighbouring villages Cove and John and Belfield. Across the community’s landscape are many houses, including some with shops and visibly hardworking peo-
Church of the Immaculate Conception Victoria
several churches belonging to different Christian denominations such as Roman Catholicism, Lutheranism and
184 years ago. During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Desmond Saul disclosed that Victoria, orig-
Entrance to the Victoria Health Centre
muting in vehicles. Oftentimes, these people pass each other with a friendly greeting, a warm smile, a nod of the head, or a simple ‘hi, good day.’ Victoria has a population of approximately 5000 residents. According to a resident, Desmond Saul, the entire village is ‘130 rods wide and 7 miles deep.’ With many acres of cultivable land, one of the main economic activities is farming. Residents invest a lot of time and essential resources into planting and reaping various produce such as ground provisions, coconuts, fruits and vegetables. They also rear livestock and poultry and operate other small businesses. Currently, there is a health centre, cultural centre, gas station, two nursery schools (Victoria Nursery and North Brook Nursery), a primary school (Victoria Primary),
Seventh Day Adventists, to name a few. There are no secondary schools in the village. Students who complete their grade six assessment can attend secondary schools in the neighbouring communities, such as Hope Secondary, Golden Grove Secondary, Hindu College, and other local secondary schools. Often referred to as the ‘mother of all villages’ and one of the largest villages in Guyana, Victoria is managed by the Region Four – Regional Democratic Council (RDC) that is located at Triumph (East Coast Demerara) and it is under the administration and management of the Haslington/Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) that is located at Nabacalis (East Coast Demerara). Birth of Victoria Village The history of Victoria Village can be traced back
inally a former cotton plantation called North Brook, was purchased by 83 freed African men and women. They were from the neighbouring plantations: Dochfour, Hope, Paradise and Enmore. While some literature include Ann’s Grove as an additional plantation, Saul stated that based on previous knowledge, Ann’s Grove was established after Victoria. Following the emancipation of enslaved Africans in then British Guiana on August 1, 1838, the freed Africans left the plantations to earn an income, acquire lands to farm and sustain themselves. “They pooled their monies, and they bought this land, the first piece of land purchased by free men and women anywhere in the Western hemisphere. That occurred on November 7, SEE PAGE XI
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
A trip down memory lane Elder Victoria residents reminisce on Emancipation traditions in days of old
By Shari Simon 76-year-old Desmond Saul can still recall some of the traditions his family observed on Emancipation Day when he was a young boy while growing up in Victoria. “That day would usually start off with a church service in the morning,” shared Saul, who explained that freed African men and women had embraced the importance of religion and education and earnestly sought to pass these principles onto their families and the wider community. As one of the youngest children in a family of ten, Saul remembers the excitement he felt while going to the events with his siblings during the 1950s and 1960s. His older brothers and sisters took care of him since his parents did not go with them. He pointed out that there would be several outdoor celebratory events that filled the atmosphere with jubilation. These events were held on
Genevieve Russell, aka Hazel Russell or Teacher Russell
Desmond Saul (Shari Simon photos)
in coconut milk; and other dishes. “Emancipation has always been in all the villages something to celebrate on August 1. A time to reflect on where the former enslaved Africans came from and where we are now as their descendants,” Saul ex-
For 76-year-old Genevieve Russell, also known as Hazel Russell or Teacher Russell, Emancipation Day while growing up was a joyful time not only in her home but also in the community. “You would see people preparing,” she shared, reminiscing about the sense of
The Foundation of Real Christian Education (F.O.R.C.E) school
the fields of the Lady Sendell Park, which was named after the wife of a former Governor at the time, Walter Sendell. The people who attended these events were usually adorned in colourful and elaborately designed African clothing. There would also be a wide variety of African dishes on sale such as conkie, which was made from cornmeal, coconut and pumpkin wrapped in banana leaves; metemgee, a mix of ground provisions boiled in coconut milk; cook-up-rice that was prepared from boiling rice, beans or peas, meat and herbs
pressed, adding: “People would sing. The Centipede band would play, just like they did at Christmas, but they would also play there. People came out. They gathered at the park in the afternoon, and it was fun.” Saul believes that there is a need to revitalise past learning activities to teach people, particularly youths, the true meaning of Emancipation. He opined that Emancipation Day has become ‘fun and frolic’ and the intervention of capacity-building initiatives can provide people with the opportunities to learn, grow and invest in development.
eagerness everyone had to ensure they purchased the right ingredients to make delicious African dishes and ‘clean up’ to have fun family gatherings at their homes. “I loved all kinds of cook-up-rice, eddo leaf cookup, peas cook-up and ‘shine rice’!” she remarked. On Emancipation Day, Teacher Russell related that the adults and elders would blend their voices in harmony as they danced and sang African folksongs while celebrating on the Middle Walk Road. Being one of eleven children, she remembers waiting
and watching the yearly celebrations with her brothers and sisters. “We were small children. We used to watch them going down the road from the stairs in the yard while mommy and daddy went out,” she said, later bursting into a song: ‘Africa I want to go back home Bet yuh life, this same passage I am going home back Back to Africa To see ma grandfatha’ “They used to sing nice!” she exclaimed with laughter, while her eyes glistened with childlike glee from remembering a time that is long gone. Like Saul, she too also expressed that Emancipation Day has changed throughout the years, and there is a current lack of emphasis on preserving as well as promoting the rich cultural history behind the day. Growing up in Victoria Even as a young child, Teacher Russell was passionate about teaching and loved gathering her younger brothers and sisters to teach them to read, write and count. “My hobby was teaching. We would sit on my parents’ steps, and I would teach them,” she stated. As time progressed and people around the community started noticing how well she taught her siblings, they approached her mother to seek permission for her to assist children within the
community at a small fee of 60 cents every month. Her father, Fitz Herbert Russell, worked as a cane harvester and a farmer. During the out-of-crop seasons on the sugar estate, he would plant produce such as bananas, plantains, cassava, mangoes and breadnuts that were usually sold to support the family. Sometimes, she and her siblings went to assist him in the back dams during the August holidays while attending Victoria Primary and a county high school in Buxton. Even though her mother, Bernice Russell, was a housewife, she assisted in supplementing the family’s income by selling brooms. They would sit under the house to ‘strip’ coconut branches to make the brooms. One day, her mother came home with a cart of beautiful earrings she had purchased and placed them on she and her sisters’ ears. “My mother bought that from the same broom money,” reminisced Teacher Russell. While growing up, Saul and his siblings supported their father on the family farm that had rice, ground provisions and fruits. During the holiday seasons, while attending St. Andrews Primary, located at Cove and John and later on, the Hindu College and Golden Grove Secondary, he would assist his father. “At rice crop time, we had to go up and help cut rice with grass knives or drive the
bull so that it would mash the rice straws to get the paddy off,” he said. His father travelled once every week to the West Coast of Berbice to sell the produce by taking a bus early in the morning on the day before he started selling. Furthermore, one of Saul’s fondest childhood memories is sitting under moonlit nights listening to ‘Nancy’ stories. “I remember the story about Bill, whose mother was making bakes and he stole bakes and hid it in his hat. But the oil started to drip at the sides of his head,” Saul shared, adding: “You also had Anansi spider, Tiger and Brer Rabbit.” Because there were no distractions such as televisions, Saul strongly believed the stories taught them moral values as children and lessons about life. Imparting knowledge in his community After completing secondary school, Saul became a teacher at St. Ambrose Primary and then Christ Church Secondary. He left the profession three years later, in 1966, to study engineering in England. Eventually, he returned to Guyana in 1970 and began working at the Guyana Telecommunications Corporation. He worked at the company as Senior Executive Engineer before migrating to Canada in 1980. Over the years, Saul has served in several senior capacities for international telecommunications companies, executing projects based on placement strategies for fibre optic installations and introducing high-tech cellular devices to markets. Around the world, he has worked in China, Ireland and the Philippines. He retired in 2001. By becoming motivated to improve the literacy rate of youths within Victoria, he returned to Guyana and opened the ‘Foundation for Real Christian Education’ SEE PAGE VII
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
Investing in youth advocacy in his community
By Shari Simon
centred on different topics be- tre. He indicated that there are different activities facilitated tween young people and adults. at the centre, which include: weddings, birthdays, and EmanFOR over 12 years, Alex To date, Fraser has conducted cipation festivities. Presently, the Victoria CDC is conducting Dane Fraser has been intraining workshops with over a an electrical installations course that was made possible by the volved in nonprofit training thousand persons in Regions 1, Ministry of Labour, Guyana, through the Board of Industrial workshops across commuTraining (BIT). This four-month course started in July 2022 3, 4 and 7. nities in Guyana. By dedand it is held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Respect icating time to impacting Fraser noted that the ‘culture centre. people’s lives, Fraser is conThere are also reading classes conducted through the Vicof respect’ plays an integral role stantly motivated to continin the dynamics between young toria CDC. The class has a volunteer teacher, and it is held on ue educating, engaging and people and adults. He expressed Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Through the Ministry empowering young people that, growing up in Victoria as a of Education – Guyana Literacy Department, the organisation on different social issues. He child, he was always taught to received reading materials for the participants. Additionally, initially started volunteergo and willingly offer assistance there is no age limit to the class, and it is free. However, ing in 2009 after realising to elders whenever he saw them. participants pay a monthly fee of $1000 GY to assist with a growing need to provide Additionally, when elders preparing their meals. Some villagers also donate goods such essential support to youths, in the community scolded him, as eggs and rice and other educational items. particularly children living Fraser further disclosed that there were workshops conthat meant receiving an addiin vulnerable homes or factional scolding from his parents ducted on business development for entrepreneurs through ing difficult circumstances. because the community was the Small Business Bureau Guyana, and training sessions “Every youth needs a grounded on the principle that were facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture. Moreover, voice, and adults need to lis“it takes a village to raise a the organisation has also assisted persons in registering for ten to them,” said 31-year-old the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) child.” Alex Dane Fraser, Chairman of the Victoria Fraser, the current Chairman programme. Community Development Community Development Council (CDC) of the Victoria Community At this moment, Fraser is focused on raising the standard Cognisant of the need to Development Council (CDC). provide support and resources of the Victoria Culture Centre by reaching out to different He began volunteering at organisations including Help and to Victoria Village, Fraser, together with other residents, local organisations for support to carry out renovations on Shelter, Volunteer Youth Corps, and Youth Challenge Guyana launched the Victoria Community Development Council the building. There are repairs to be done, and he has already because he wanted to participate in crucial decision-making (CDC) in April 2021. According to Fraser, the Victoria CDC received items such as zinc sheets and tins of paint. processes that positively impacted youths and created spaces is a nonprofit organisation. It aims to promote socio-economic “I am committed to uplifting my young generation and for them to make valuable contributions. development, improved livelihood, and community develop- the community!” Fraser remarked. “I would sit and think, and it broke my heart wondering ment and tackle issues on why nothing was happening for young people in Victoria,” education, infrastructure, he stated. agriculture, social security, Through the encouragement of family and friends, he and health, to name a few. sought additional training to provide counselling for young The idea to start the orpeople in the community, and he began volunteering with ganisation was a collective Artistes in Direct Support. decision made by residents “It was a learning experience for me because apart from who would often meet to learning about HIV/AIDs and HIV testing, I dealt with theatre discuss how best to develarts and educating the public on a number of other issues,” op Victoria. “The Victoria Fraser highlighted. CDC represents the interests Additionally, he started including both young people and of all Victorians and even adults when given opportunities to plan and conduct train- persons outside the village ing workshops because he aimed to facilitate conversations can join our classes. We provide equal access,” said Fraser. The organisation was officially registered on May 4, 2021. The organisation’s meetings and training sessions Alex at the Victoria Culture Centre’s information desk with brochures are held at the Vicand books toria Culture Cen-
From ‘orphan boy’ to ... FROM PAGE V
with honesty, integrity, efficiency, quality, safety, and updated and accurate information.
A BETTER LIFE Surooj now has a family comprising his wife, Alisha Singh and two daughters, Ciara, seven, and Skyler, two, and he says they mean the world to him. He said he places heavy emphasis on his family, because he feels it is the most important aspect of his life. His advice to young people is to take their education seriously; even if they are in a job or business making financial gains, education can enhance that. PSSCB is the first local company to ac-
quire the ISO 45001:2018 Health and Safety Certification in Logistics, including vessel agency, export packing shipping, customs brokerage, transportation of cargo and personnel, and business services, including immigration support services and recruitment in Guyana. The business also acquired ISO 9001:2015 for quality in those services and secured an international anti-bribery and anti-corruption certificate. As the owner of a successful company Surooj can say he made his fair share of lemonade from the lemons thrown at him in his formative years as he continue to make his mark with an upward trajectory in his business using a slogan “efficiency creates new possibilities”.
Surooj’s company’s mission is to provide customers and stakeholders with efficient and effective services, and prompt information
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
The People of Victoria Village By Shari Simon ALONG the Middle Walk Road adorned with wooden and concrete buildings, houses, shops and vegetation, the people of Victoria Village pass each other to go about their daily business. During a brief stop, the Pepperpot Magazine met good-humoured and humble Victoria resident, Everton Parks, who plies his trade as a taxi driver. A 57-year-old father of seven, Parks said his grandmother, Stella Ageday, raised him. He revealed that, as a young boy, he swam in the trenches dug with shovels with friends and played late at night. His grandmother raised him on the principle of respect that he still values today as a life lesson that guides him, although his view is that society’s moral standard has diminished. “I miss her very much. She brought me up from three months old and instilled those basic things about life in me and my brother, Norford,” said Parks. He recalled that his grandmother would make cassava bread, coconut oil and cassareep to earn an income. Sadly, she passed away in 2001. After the closure of the Enmore Sugar Estate in December 2017, where he worked as a mechanic in the processing house, Parks in-
Jonelle DeCamp (Photos by Shari Simon)
vested the money he received to purchase a vehicle that now serves as a taxi. He is looking forward to Emancipation Day this year, especially since his family and friends will be gathering to make “a good pot of i-tal cook-up-rice.” “Is only one place really I can live,” Parks remarked. “Victoria.” We c a u g h t u p w i t h 32-year-old Corena Josiah-Fraser, who loves sewing. A pleasant and jovial resident, Josiah-Fraser expressed that as a young girl, she had to stay at home and take care of her younger siblings when her mother met with an accident.
At the time, they lived in a single-parent home, and she later sought employment at Demor Garments. Now, she is a seamstress who has been sewing for 15 years. Her husband, David Fraser, is a mason and farmer, while she sews for different occasions. “Whenever I am not working, I would help him plant bolounger, ochro, bora, squash and cucumber,” said the mother of three. July and August are usually the most demanding months for her because she has to complete sewing orders for Emancipation festivities and begin sewing clothes for the new school
term. Being in a seasonal job, Fraser-Josiah stated that the rising cost of living was very difficult to deal with. Nonetheless, when she is not marking linen, taking measurements or sewing at her machine, she is seeking to pursue different training opportunities. She is currently registered for a course on garment training, and she has already completed courses on Child Care and Gender-based Violence through the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) Programme. Fraser-Josiah is quietly awaiting this year’s Emancipation Day, and she will be spending it with her family. Before leaving the village, we spoke with 42-year-
Working towards the ...
which has been consistent in its annual subvention to support the work, and she noted how Guyana is unique in the region in having an entity that is supported by the State to address the goals of the Decade. “While we are very appreciative of the State’s continued support for our work, we recognise that this system that has been put in place centuries ago to ensure that one group of persons is marginalised, is exploited; that system works almost automatically and we have to lay it bare and come together to dismantle it,” she expressed. She believes that once people in Guyana understand their history and how it continues to play out, they will make sure to call for justice. Hence, the goal of IDPADA-G is to try to educate and work together to achieve equity and expiation for the Decade.
Everton Parks
but her mother, Elva Gillis, always taught her and her siblings to have dignity, value the power of educa-
Corena Josiah-Fraser
old Jonelle DeCamp, who owns and operates a grocery shop in the village. Born in Victoria, the friendly and plainspoken woman recounted that, while growing up, her family was poor,
Contributions of IDPADA-G IDPADA-G has established a credit union in June 2020 to meet the financial needs of a large number of people who do not have access to credit and some who do not have bank accounts, such as small business owners, farmers, and families unaffiliated with any of the institutions that have major credit unions. The number of persons who have shown an interest in joining the credit union by initiating their first application is over 900, while the number who have completed the entire process is close to 200. The setting up of the credit union is a major milestone for IDPADA-G, which has also done a lot of work with small
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tion and remain dedicated to attending church every Saturday. “My mother was stern about us having dignity and an education, and even now, I still go to church every Sat-
urday. I don’t even open my shop on that day,” she said. DeCamp stated that, in the early 2000s, she entered the teaching profession as an acting teacher but left it in 2009 to assist her mother and brother in running the family business. Sadly, her mother passed away in 2010. She now serves the community by selling groceries such as rice, sugar, milk, flour, oil, salt, tuna, macaroni, chowmein and a range of other essential household goods and items. As a resident of Victoria, DeCamp expressed that the village needs a lot of job opportunities for people and vocational training opportunities that will enhance skills development. Another challenge she pointed out was difficulty acquiring loans while working as a small business owner ‘without a salary passing through the bank.’ Despite the obstacles, DeCamp is determined to provide unconditional support to her twin children, who are currently pursuing studies at the University of Guyana and Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI).
FROM PAGE III businesses, and on expanding educational opportunities for youths. The organisation works with small businesses in various ways, such as providing mentorship to young entrepreneurs. Apart from assisting them with capacity training, IDPADA-G has trained over 80 small contractors so that they can submit bids for various opportunities to tender. The body would also like to partner with the government to achieve some of its larger goals. Meanwhile, citing some examples, Cannings-Sampson pointed out that crimes against people of African descent continue even amid the Decade when people are supposed to be committed to addressing those crimes. “We are often reminded this is not over.”
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The Essential Facilities that Provide Services to the People of Victoria Village The Victoria Health Centre
By Shari Simon S I T U AT E D beside the Victoria Primary School is the Victoria Health Centre, the community’s only public healthcare facility. The services provided at
abrasions. It opens on weekdays from Monday at 8:00 hrs to 16:30 hrs and on Friday at 8:00 hrs to 15:30 hrs. “We treat all types of illnesses, and if it is necessary, we refer the patients to the Georgetown Public Hospi-
to people. The kind compliments they say about the services they receive always motivate her to continue doing her best. She had always drawn inspiration from her cousin, Ayana Wilson, who was also a nurse. Following the death of her six-month-old niece, she decided to pursue the nursing profession and took a bold step to complete training at the Georgetown School of Nursing. Nurse Melville related that she started working at the Victoria Health Centre in 2021, and the profession continues to give her plenty of opportunities to support healthcare needs in her community, Victoria, and Guyana. The Haslington/Grove Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) Deemed to be one of the largest Neighborhood
Registered Nurse Roylanna Melville at work (Shari Simon photos)
Chapmans Grove (Demerara Mahaica), including Victoria Village. The residents of Victoria Village have amenities
“We have worked on getting the access roads fixed so farmers can get to their farms in the back dams and we worked on getting
such as potable water, electricity, landline telephones and internet connection. However, there is a need for streetlights within the community. Moreover, a drainage pump provides relief from floodwaters during rainy seasons for Victoria and surrounding communities. Chairman of the Haslington/Grove Neighborhood Democratic Council, Carlotta DeJesus indicated that the primary goal of the NDC is to provide ‘proper roads, clean communities and comfortable livelihoods’ for residents.
some streets and bridges fixed,” said DeJesus, who became Chairman at the NDC in 2020 after serving as a Councillor for Victoria from 2016 to 2018. Currently, the NDC has twelve Councillors. Among some of the development projects the NDC has undertaken are construction of the access road and building of lumber bridges, maintenance of drainage systems and renovations to stop roof leaks at the Victoria Community Centre. It has also provided job and training opportunities for people.
Carlotta DeJesus, Chairman of the Haslington/Grove NDC
the health centre include outpatient treatment and checkups for persons with medical complaints on Monday to Friday; antenatal clinic for pregnant women on Mondays; chronic illness clinic for persons living with diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure) on Tuesdays; family planning and contraception welfare done by the Midwife or Nursein-Charge on Wednesdays; and child health care and vaccination on Thursdays. During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Registered Nurse Roylanna Melville stated that the health centre also offers ultrasounds that are done once a month for patients, and wound sutures and medical dressing for ulcers, skin wounds (lacerations) and
tal,” she said, adding: “Let’s say the patient is diabetic and they are experiencing serious foot problems, we would refer them to the Diabetic Foot Centre.” The health centre sees approximately 30 to 40 patients daily from Victoria and the Belfield, Nooten Zuil and Cove and John catchment areas. Additionally, it is equipped with a triage age, doctor’s room, dressing room, vaccination room, pharmacy and nurses’ room. Presently, the health centre has a dynamic team of seven, including a medical doctor, a midwife/community health worker and a registered nurse. According to Nurse Melville, it brings her happiness to provide medical support
Democratic Councils in Guyana, the Haslington/ Grove NDC is responsible for the management of 19 communities from Haslington (East Coast Demerara) to
The NDC does several charitable initiatives. These include providing snacks every month to senior citizens at the Cove and John Post Office, distributing hampers monthly to single-parents with four children or more who attend school, donating graduation trophies to schools for children who complete Common Entrance exams as well as awarding G$10,000 vouchers to top students from the seven primary schools within the communities. DeJesus revealed that in the neighbouring community, Golden Grove, the NDC was responsible for allotting lands to approximately 30 persons who had been waiting to receive their house lots for over fifteen years. On the other hand, she explained that there is an urgent need for a new primary school in Victoria, maintenance work on the roads and bridges, residents to continuously pay their rates and taxes as well as a plan to reopen, renovate and utilise the GRECO building that used to be a place to assemble radios but it is now abandoned. As the Haslington/ Grove NDC prepares for Local Government Elections in November 2022, DeJesus is determined to keep on fostering socio-economic development in Victoria Village and the communities under the management of the NDC.
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
A trip down memory... (F.O.R.C.E.) school. This school aims to provide vocational skills training for youths. The classes include carpentry, electrical engineering, welding, motor mechanics, sewing and music. Unfortunately, the school’s population has decreased due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Saul mentioned that he was still awaiting responses from state agencies he would have approached for support. Now, he is currently engaged in missionary work at the Victoria Brethren Church, teaching at F.O.R.C.E, as well as travelling to Ottawa, Canada, to visit his wife, Brenda Saul, four children and eight grandchildren. Victoria is home Teacher Russell explained that she started teaching at 17 years old in ‘bottom house schools’, which were small educational spaces made to accommodate children under a house in the community. In 1971, she wrote the College of Preceptors exams and attained her certificate. She related that ‘bottom house schools’ went on until 1976, which saw official plans to construct the Victoria Nursery School. While the school was being constructed, she joined other teachers to carry out ‘self-help’ acts such as painting the walls. Teacher Russell is one of the first teachers at Victoria Nursery. Unfortunately, after surviving years of domestic abuse, she travelled to Linden and made it her home for 12 years. “Those were terrible times, but I got through it with prayer,” she said. To earn an income in Linden, she did several jobs, including teaching while working at a snackette. Although she returned to Victoria, it took a few years to successfully rebuild her life with her five children by her side. Nonetheless, she continued her teaching career in Victoria and retired in 2009 at North Brook Nursery. Today, Teacher Russell enjoys attending the ‘Christ Ambassador’s Church’ as well as teaching the Sunday school children. On her own, she runs the ‘Garden of Eden Nursery School’ and remains committed to teaching people around her.
Teacher Russell at her school’s book corner
Journey to Victoria ... A section of Middle Walk Road, Victoria Village (Photos by Shari Simon)
The ‘Cove and John Company Bridge’ that leads to Victoria Village
Victoria Primary School that is currently being renovated
FROM PAGE VI
1839,” highlighted Saul. Consequently, the village was named Victoria in honour of the former Queen of the United Kingdom, Queen Victoria, whom they believed was responsible for their
freedom. “When the landowners heard that the freed Africans were interested in buying, they doubled the price, trying to deter them, but they persisted and bought it,” he said. Saul explained that the freed Africans were cognisant of the challenges they had to face. They partitioned the lands and ensured that there were schools and churches because they valued education and praising God. Their primary goal was to ensure moral and ethical social development. The administrative government later made the new land owners responsible for the maintenance of village infrastructures, and this required using the little monies they saved. Additionally, the plantation owners would flood the village to destroy crops that were planted in an attempt to force the former enslaved Africans to return to the plantations. During this time, people used to walk several miles to Le Resouvenir to attend church. As a result, they built the ‘Wilberforce Congregational Church’ in 1845 in honour of William Wilberforce, a British politician and abolitionist. The church still has a bell that is rung in times of distress. Today, relics of Victoria’s past are still present. Apart from the William Wilberforce Congregational Church, there is the Victoria Primary School, formerly the Victoria Roman Catholic School that was the first school set up in the village; the Victoria Roman Catholic Church; and the hut that served as a bank for the monies that were used to eventually purchase Victoria. As Guyana is set to mark the 184th anniversary of Emancipation, it is an opportune time to reflect on the sacrifices and cultural legacy of the formerly enslaved African men and women in the country while observing this year’s theme: ‘Celebrating the enduring African spirit through cultural expression.’
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THE CRUCIAL AND COLD REALITY OF A SMALL BUSINESS, HERE AND OVER THERE
MANY years ago, I ventured out to earn on my own, and through some experiences, I came to the realisation that we may not be doing it, from a human position, the right way. I was given the lecture with evidence that countries evolve or retrogress because strict attention is not paid to providing the tools and implementing the cold philosophy that is more likely to work. But I had, with youthful arrogance, misjudged the two crucial human areas that were highlighted: the limitations in the cultural self-awareness of a just independent colony and our typical way of attributing entitlement at all costs. The office I had was intended to facilitate an advertising service, through which I could earn to develop a graphic novel, non-fiction and fiction study, and small publishing operation, using the dual talents of writing and illustrating. How could it fail, was the initial consolation, but I had just begun to learn what I didn’t know. This article is personal, but in bringing it to the reader, I do hope that we can recognise that where Guyana is heading now unprepared is where the rest of the world have been for the past three decades. When I arrived in North America, I soon found out that in my stream of business, a few scattered pages of a graphic concept attracted a glance but not raised eyebrows. During a conversation with a colleague, I met and developed at the Juice Bar, owned by Davie Simmons in Harlem. This stranger cautioned me to sing praises that my uncopyrighted work was a brief collection of scattered, even attractive pages, but not an entire concept, lock, stock and barrel. I was dazed and grateful after the explanations of the brief introduction to the real world. But how did I get there? When I rented a section of the once Aladdin’s Cave building, the owner Lance Braithwaite was exceptionally talented and a friend, but though we got along, we were at loggerheads over other serious issues. I
employed people I knew, explained what the concept was and worked out salaries. I had paid a friend’s (now deceased) brother to do the quarterly accounts. He instructed me to climb down from my artistic cloud because I was supplementing the staff. The advertising earnings that were strained to carry the studio office were the ones I had independently cultivated and launched the business with. Next, the salesperson had sold no more than a few 2 x 2 innch column ads, these were negligible to the cost of maintaining the office. The salesperson had meanwhile commissioned a Bible studies class during lunch, and Churches don’t do ads, especially self-sponsored ads. I had a talk with the staff, emphasising what the survival application meant. I had made many mistakes. The artist should have provided their own drawing pens and templates, curves etc. I should have deducted costs for work delegated that I had to redo. It was a tough training experience for me that brought the office to a closure, and then they went to the Ministry of Labour to get their final month’s pay. I had to sell some items to fulfil this difficult farewell, but there was one staff whose art was encouraging and showed development. But it was my error in not compiling a test to be executed to verify talent application and not placing wouldbe staff on a probation test. Of course, these were “too-late afterthoughts”.
So that is how I and a few others ended up in North America to explore the realities of the Arts business there. Most never came back here, some stayed, others drifted to the Caribbean and found suitable niches that were more embracing, but I had a family, and from the experience of others, it takes more than barrels and remittances to raise a family of juvenile children. What was, however, the teaching experience was when I wrote for a ‘New York State Department of Labor Guide Starting Your Own Business’. On receiving this document, I proceeded to explore and found out what my errors were. In the section under hiring, the advice directives are: ADo not hire family members and friends simply because they need jobs. Make sure you need an additional worker and that the person you are considering has the skills and experience you want. B- Compare the applicants in terms of the skills you are looking for, past work records, self-motivation, willingness and ability to learn, and ability to get along with others. C- Call the applicant’s references, especially former employers, teachers, clergy, and others who have worked with the applicant. D- Outline how the employee will be evaluated and when. This is not all. There is much more, including the fact that they were more interested in what you have done and your portfolio rather than where you said you were trained, but does any of this ring a bell to anyone?
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, July 31, 2022
How to take care of a baby as a teenager
CHILDREN taking care of children; something that happens way too often. However, this piece is not to shame, judge or ridicule;it is simply to make the process a little easier. While some lucky adolescents and teenagers have friends and family members who support them, others do not. If you’re one of the latter, I hope this can provide any kind of support. Before becoming pregnant, most teenagers do not know what they will be doing within the next 48 hours, never mind the next nine months and the rest of their lives. Much support is needed, as this is a daunting experience for a prepared adult, much less an individual whose
everything else. If you are an adolescent or teenage parent, I can guarantee you one thing - what children care about is what their parents do, not what age they are; if you raise your child in a nurturing, loving and supportive environment, they will flourish and develop well. There will be challenges and you will need some help to ensure that you are also able to put yourself first, sometimes for the futures of both you and your baby, for example -attend or finish school; have the time to learn a trade; help keep your other relationships healthy- whatever is best suited for you. This is not a one size fits all. I would start with upkeep-
others is vital when you’re a teenage parent. This can be done through honest and positive communication; time well spent together; healthy mediation and conflict management, etc. Next, you can work on your relationship with your baby. Yes, this can begin (and is even recommended!) to happen before they are born. If you begin this healthy relationship while they are still in the womb, it makes it more likely to continue and flourish during their early years, which is the foundation for your child’s health and development, giving them a sense of safety and confidence from birth. Some suggested ways to do this while they are still in the womb is, of course, to
brain is still growing and hormones are now sorting themselves out. And now, they have one foot in childhood and the other in adulthood. It may seem obvious, but still important to note that teenage parents face all the same predicaments as adult -to -be parents and many of you have seen (or experienced) how stressful that can be when you are in a mental, physical and financial place to do so. Now imagine being a teenager with the same challenges but add on punishment, shame, abandonment and judgement, on top of
ing healthy relationships in your life, as support is vital right now. During teenage years, relationships (with anyone- friends, family, partners) are already full of emotional ups and downs, insecurities and drama and now you are adding extra pressure and hormones to these. Strong and healthy relationships are not only good for you, but can also influence your child’s development as well. For example, if a child sees kind and respectful relationships around them, they learn to be kind and respectful to others. Therefore, working on your relationships with
take good care of your own body- eat, sleep and exercise well, as well as no substance use. You are the most important part of your baby’s life, and unfortunately, teenage mothers are more likely to develop mental health issues, so doing these basic things can be a preventative measure for a mentally, physically and emotionally better life. Ways to bond include learning about baby development. It helps to know what stages they are in as research shows after a few months. They can hear even while SEE PAGE XXIII
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Angels walk on Earth (Part III)
ANIL didn’t sleep well that night as he lay in bed thinking of Amber, seeing the pain and regret in her eyes. So young she was to have had to endure the pangs of betrayal, her parents’ unforgiving stance for her disobedience, and left alone to bring forth a child. She was in a weak mental and poor financial situation, and he knew she would need a strong hand to hold as she tried to piece together the broken pieces of her life. Her grandmother was there with her, but, being an old lady, all she could give was love and shelter. As his eyes closed in sleep, he wondered, “How can I help her?” As the days went by, thoughts of how he actually met her came to mind, and he questioned, “Did God send me there that morning, knowing she would need someone’s help?” The fear in her eyes, and the silent plea were what had held him back, and now, whenever he thought of her, it sent a warm
feeling within him. He was not sure what that was, but somehow felt a strong need to help her in whatever way he could. He took her one day to the health centre with the baby, then went to New Amsterdam to get Chinese food for lunch. She loved Chinese food. And, one Sunday after church, he took her, Annalisa and Grandma for a drive up the Corentyne to Skeldon. It was a nice day spent, and he saw a soft glow in her eyes when she smiled appreciatively; when she said “Thanks” for something, and when she smiled just because he was there with her and the baby. His friends at the park, who had lauded him for what he had done for the girl at the time, now teased him, “Yuh paying yuh child support, bai?” “Wha child support? Look, relax y’all self, eh,” he had responded to their joking. Fatman came to the park one morning, and, hearing the jives, laughed and said to Anil, “Ah tell yuh you woulda get in trouble.” Anil smiled and shook his head slightly, taking the jokes in stride, and he said to himself, “I am happy I brought some comfort and security in a young mother’s life when she needed it most.” Her parents had still not reached out to her, but a few of her old school friends started to reconnect, and through their advice, she started an Online course in business management. She still needed, though, to earn her own money, but the baby was too young for her to leave and go out to work. She didn’t want to task her grandmother, so, when a church member suggested to her she could start an Online business, working and earning from home, she thought it was a great idea, but had no capital to invest. Anil had stepped in again to assist her, so she could start becoming self-sufficient. “Your kindness warms my heart,” she had told him, a slight tremor of emotion in her voice. “It’s ah small start,” he had told SEE PAGE XXIV her, “And yuh can make it grow
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Booming business in Guyana?
PROJECTED economic growth and developments in the local economy are among the factors that contribute to a seemingly booming business sector in Guyana, with the promise of much development. With these and future developments, I think much focus must be directed towards guaranteeing that positive business developments benefit more people. The International Building Expo got me thinking about how much business seems to be booming in Guyana. I worked at the building expo all five days, and the sheer number of companies (especially those new and never heard of!) was beyond me. I am aware of the new housing schemes, new offices, and general infrastructure upgrades all across the country. Yet, it wasn’t until I saw all of these companies and businesspeople in one space- the National Stadium- did I grasp the much-touted ‘construction boom’ here in Guyana. I don’t imagine so many companies would be planning significant investments here if there wasn’t a sizable market for those efforts. But that’s not all. Days before, I attended the sod-turning ceremonies for new hotels and the launch of other businesses. Literally, in one week, Guyanese were exposed to the exponentially growing private sector interest in Guyana. And if those weren’t enough, ExxonMobil announced another two commercially-viable discoveries offshore Guyana. All-in-all, you would easily believe that business is booming in Guyana. While that may be so, when I think about a booming business sector, it is natural to think about what opportunities Guyanese can secure and whether or not booming business translates to development for a larger section of society or a smaller group of invested people. These considerations are critical given the widely-acknowledged and well-ventilated rising cost of living, which obviously has a disproportionate effect on people who aren’t involved in the business sector and are more dependent on much-needed social safety nets. The question that lingers in my mind is, what do you do to ensure that people benefit from all that is happening? Perhaps the answers can be found in the cash grants given to some groups of people to provide them with some relief (and more disposable income, which in turn, helps stimulate the business sector). Perhaps, the answers can be found in greater education opportunities offered through extensive scholarship opportunities. Maybe, more systemic issues need greater focus too- such as the ease of accessing financing to start-up businesses, ensuring that opportunities are carved out for Guyanese amid a highly competitive space (local content!) or the removal of red tape that hinders development. Altogether, I think these initiatives would help translate the gains of a booming business sector to more Guyanese. Another consideration, for me, is that booming business should also indicate emerging opportunities for more Guyanese at home and abroad. That is, the demand for labour (whether skilled or unskilled) should increase as the demand for business services and products increases. It is no secret, however, that Guyana’s migration rate has been among the highest in the world- with hoards of Guyanese migrating in search of better opportunities. Based on reports of a study done last year, it is estimated that some 30,000 people leave Guyana annually. Other figures suggest that some 55 per cent of Guyana’s population resides abroad. While I don’t think it is necessarily as ‘black and white’ as telling people to stop migrating, or to return home, because there are abundant opportunities here, I do believe that there is merit in being in Guyana and seeking to capitalise on the unfolding opportunities. What will make the difference, I believe, is the efforts at streamlining opportunities for Guyanese. A ‘local content’ push seems to be an attractive way of doing so (though, there are complications with this), but
more systemic changes, as I mentioned earlier, are key too. I guess in the months and years ahead, we’ll continue to see more of the booming business here, but I also hope that we harness these gains for the benefit of many more as opposed
to a limited few. If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous work, feel free to email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com
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Let Emancipation Day 2022 be the catalyst --for Afro-Guyanese renaissance ON August 1, Emancipation Day is celebrated by all Guyanese, both at home and abroad, as being one of the country’s most important anniversaries, since it commemorates the legal ending of plantation slavery. The story of plantation slavery is well known, but it needs to be retold so that coming generations could have a deeper understanding of the dangers of racism, and of Man’s inhumanity to Man. With the Europeans “discovery” of the Americas in the 15th Century, colonisers began settling in the New World, intent on exploiting its wealth. One form of exploitation was the occupation of the lands of the native Amerindian Peoples and establishing plantations to grow produce that Europe needed, which could be sold at enormous profits.
In Guyana, the first colonisers were Dutch planters who laid out plantations along the river banks, and later along the coast. These plantations were mainly for producing sugar, which was sold at very high prices in Europe. Sugar plantations required a great deal of labour, and since the local Amerindian population would rather die than work as plantation slaves or labourers, the planters were desperate to find labour from any source. Slave traders then entered the picture, and began buying or capturing slaves, mostly from West Africa, to supply the plantation labour market. From the 15th to the 19th Centuries, tens of millions of Africans were forcibly brought to the then British Guiana and other parts of the Caribbean. The voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, better known as “The Middle Passage”, was one of unspeakable horror, and a high proportion of the slaves died at sea. Once on land, they were sold to planters who put them to work on the plantations in a labour regime that was cruel, inhumane and humiliating, and, even to this day, reading of the horrifying cruelties of slavery is disturbing, both mentally and emotionally. Eventually, slavery was abolished in the British Empire, including British Guiana and the Caribbean, on August 1, 1833. But in most territories, full freedom was delayed by the Apprenticeship System, where the former slaves had to work for their masters for a number of years at a very minimal wage. By 1838, all Guyanese slaves were freed with the ending of the Apprenticeship System. EXTRAORDINARY RESILIENCE The freed slaves, or “freedmen”, showed extraordinary resilience, maturity and creativity. In the 1840s, they bought several abandoned sugar estates and transformed them into villages, with thousands of houses and farms, and a village government. These villages had certain characteristics which Guyanese of today could well SEE PAGE XVIII emulate. They saved whatever
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It’s better to let go than to seek revenge
HUMANS can be unpredictable beings when we’re hurt. The obvious reaction would be sadness, but oftentimes, that’s not the final reaction. Aside from sadness, some people may be angry, some may be resentful, and some may be revengeful. Over the years, I had mixed emotions and experiences with believing in karma. I once believed that you should make people feel the hurt and pain that they’ve made you feel. I also once believed that somehow, the universe or a higher being would “take care” of that person that has hurt me. Personally, both of these beliefs have proved futile to me. It may work for some people, but it’s not my cup of tea. Nonetheless, the concept of “revenge” is quite popular, whether many who feel it acknowledge it or not. I mean, who could forget Princess Diana’s revenge black dress appearance after her divorce from Prince Charles? There’s even a Wikihow page on 15 steps that explains how one can get revenge on another person who has done them wrong! Instinctively, if something threatens what we care most about, we will develop a natural urge to protect it. “Revenge” has always been a primal way of protecting ourselves, our emotions, our properties and our loved ones. This “eye for an eye” concept has been around for as long as humans were. It’s the focal spark of retributive behaviour. We can let things go, but the idea of revenge will always sound more appealing to many. Like every other thing in life, there’s a bad side, and there’s a good side to wanting revenge. After leaving abusive relationships, victims may use that feeling of “revenge” to better their own lives and rise above their abuser. Or, after someone made you have a setback from your goals, you may feel the need to push even harder to achieve those goals—these can be positives. On the other hand, when we hold onto having revenge, we ought to be careful so that it does not consume us. You should not obsess over getting even with anyone or anything in life. You could invest the time you waste on obsessing and plotting into your own personal self-development—to become a better person. The feeling of wanting revenge is normal. The feeling itself is not a problem, just like anger; we can never run from such negative emotions. How we channel and cope with these feelings and emotions matters the most. Young people may believe that there is enough time on earth to “get even” with the people who’ve wronged them. As I expressed before, I no longer believe in karma or getting even personally. I won’t sit around all day anymore, hoping that somehow the universe repays negativity onto someone’s life. I also won’t sit around all day to plot in my head how I’ll hurt that person—that’s toxic! When you think about it, choosing to let things go over revenge can save so much time, effort and even lives. Globally speaking, the obsession with revenge has ignited wars and battles among countries. The idea of corporal punishment seeks retribution and revenge for SEE PAGE XVIII those who’ve caused harm to society. The lynching and kill-
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Let Emancipation Day 2022 be ... small income they had from working as Apprentices, and from Sunday markets, and were able to buy the abandoned sugar estates. Saving was an important part of the ethics of these villagers. Other important characteristics were their commitment to education, their strong belief in God, and their desire to farm and be self-sufficient in food. They also had the entrepreneurial spirit of taking risks, and a remarkable work ethic. During slavery, they were the tradesmen, and from the 1840s, they provided the carpenters, plumbers, tin smiths and
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the other trades required in the colony. This spirit of risk and adventure made them and their children go out into the Interior and found the gold industry. It is from these same goldfields, which the pork-knockers of yore had worked, that the foreign mining companies, with their modern equipment, are now extracting hundreds of tons of gold. Then the community fell into social and economic doldrums from the end of the 1920s. This was caused by
the Great Depression, which brought with it widespread unemployment and poverty, and before any recovery could come, World War II brought more hardship, scarcity and unemployment. The optimism caused by the end of the war did not last for very long, and before any recovery could occur, Britain decided to withdraw from the colony, and hand over its government to local politicians. These politicians caused racial discord and poor economic and social management of the country, and life, as Guyanese, in particular Afro-Guyanese knew it, collapsed, and over half the population emigrated. Dr. Accabre Nkofi, in his booklet “Renaissance of the Blackman” captures the scenario. In 2022, with the discovery of oil, the dawn of a new era has come, and all Guyanese are on the threshold of a prosperous and creative life. The ethos of the 1840s needs to be recaptured and internalised. Oil revenues are now being gradually channelled into the various capital-starved industries, so that Guyana’s agricultural and industrial sectors could become an employment-providing and wealth-generating way into the future after the oil reserves would have been exhausted. Oil revenues are also being channelled into social sectors such as health, education, old age pensions and cash grants. Afro-Guyanese and all other groups should take advantage of these offerings. For example, the valuable scholarship offerings in various skills and professions, or the grants and guidance given to young people venturing into startups. All Guyanese social and political leaders, and in particular Afro-Guyanese, should pledge themselves to make Emancipation Day 2022 the beginning of an Afro-Guyanese Renaissance, since the prosperity and well-being of any one segment of society redounds to the benefit of all.
It’s better to let go ...
ing of slaves were birthed from the bitterness of revenge. The destruction of lives through “revenge porn” after breakups are gutted in revenge. These and so many other heartbreaking truths are initiated through this feeling. I’m not a professional “guru” when it comes to handling my emotions and feelings, but I had to understand that sometimes peace and tranquillity through “letting things go” is better than the chaos and even more pain that comes with revenge. On that note, choosing not to violently hurt or cause distress to the person who has hurt you is one thing but holding that person accountable for their actions is another. We can let things go by not wanting to excite ill-will against that person, but that doesn’t mean that they’re off the hook for their actions. You are not doing them a favour when you choose not to obsess over revenge—it’s a favour to yourself. You will appear weak if you don’t “throw hands” or key their cars. Instead, you can become a better person by using that very time to invest in yourself. It is an insult to your self-worth to ever stoop to that level of vengeance. FROM PAGE XVII
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ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
THE Environmental Protection Act requires that among the numerous functions outlined, pollution is prevented or controlled, assessments of the impact of economic development on the environment are done, and environmental regulations are established, monitored, and enforced. As a reminder, the Act, along with the following regulations, fall under the purview of the EPA: * Air Quality Regulations * Water Quality Regulations
* Noise Management Regulations * Hazardous Waste Regulations 2000 * Authorisation Regulations 2000 * Litter Enforcement Regulations 2013 and * Expanded Polystyrene Ban Regulations 2016 These legal instruments serve as the foundation of the work of the EPA. It is important to remember that before any activity likely to impact the environment commences, an authorisation from the EPA has to be issued in the form of an Environmental Permit. To have this, the agency must be provided with a description of the project, including the foreseen impacts and the actions that will be taken to address them. What is environmental monitoring? Environmental monitoring refers to the tools and techniques designed to observe an environment, characterise its quality, and establish environmental parameters (air quality, water quality, noise levels etc) to accurately determine the impact an activity has on the
environment. The main objective of environmental monitoring is to mitigate or lessen the harmful effects on the natural environment, protect human health and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. Additionally, monitoring ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of activities of businesses and development projects and can save money in the long-term. T h e i m p o rtance of compliance monitoring cannot be emphasised enough. The EPA ensures that compliance monitoring is carried out for every activity in Guyana that can pose a threat to our environment. Once a project is issued a permit, compliance monitoring is scheduled by the EPA to ensure that these measures are implemented and, of course, to determine how effective and efficient they are. Some of the parameters that are monitored include air and water quality, noise levels, waste and land-management techniques. Since December 2021, the EPA has acquired the technology, equipment, and personnel required to remotely conduct environmental monitoring, that is, through the use of satellites, programmes, and partnerships with external agencies. In the EPA’s monitoring room, staff are able to see in real-time, and in some cases,
near real-time, activities both on-shore and off-shore Guyana, including vessel movement and air-quality information from sensors across the coast and in Linden. If, at the end of the monitoring exercise, a developer is found to be in breach of his/her permit conditions, the agency can take actions which were identified in our July 17 article. The slogan “the environment is everybody’s business” suggests that the responsibility of environmental monitoring does not fall solely on the shoulders of the EPA; developers and members of the public are also required to be compliant and observant. Note: Some images displayed are a representation of the equipment used by the agency, and not necessarily the exact models of the pieces of equipment. Source: https://www.heavy.ai/technical-glossary/environmental-monitoring You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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How to take care...
inside the womb, so speak, sing and play relaxing music to your baby. It’s always better to have the knowledge and not be afraid to ask questions you do not have answers to. A highly recommended way to prepare yourself as a parent is a technique that many psychologists discuss as “previewing.” These are practical techniques which aid in preparation for your responsibilities ahead. It is technically a form of counselling, but can be practised with the right support at home. The point of “previewing” is for expectant teenage mothers to practise mothering techniques and the impact it will have on their lives before the birth in order to properly prepare physically, mentally and emotionally. It allows them not only practice, but also to analyse realistic and potential future scenarios and have healthy expectations as well as solutions. If someone who is already a mother can help you, it is beneficial for you to write down all of your expectations of pregnancy, the birthing process and childcare and have a few mothers read it and compare it to the realities. The technique also encompasses rehearing the things you are most concerned about. This is specific to the expectant mother, but can include anything from the positioning of breastfeeding, bathing or changing the baby, what to do if there are long bits of crying etc. – all of which can be practised on dolls. These activities will help the expectant mother feel a lot more in control and prepared; therefore, a lot less stressed. As the saying goes, knowledge is power, and empowerment is one of the most important tools you can have as a mom. While experienced mothers are definitely a benefit, it is also valuable for you to spend time with other teenage moms as they share and relate to specific challenges you may face. A tip I hear from mothers very often is, if you can, sleep when the baby sleeps. As an adolescent and teenager, you sleep in often. Those days will be behind you, and it will be difficult to cope with that change in particular. Truthfully, there will also be many other things to do when the baby is sleeping, but try your best to sleep as well, as you will not be useful to your baby if you are exhausted all the time. Also, I’m no lawyer, but I do know it is helpful to consult with one if you can about the laws of child support, and I do know that starts with putting the father’s name on the birth certificate. Regardless of how good your relationship is, I would make that a priority for your and your baby’s future. It is also strongly recommended to stay in school if you can. The most important things you can do for your child are to provide and set a good example. This helps with security later in life, and staying in school now means access to more support, such as friends or teachers. There will be many opinions on what you should do and how to raise your child. Even at your age, you can trust your instincts on what is right when presented with conflicting information. In the end, good parenting is simply providing love, support and making sacrifices, understanding that the child is not to blame for any issues in your life and making what people are probably telling you is a disaster into your own personal growth and triumph. Everything will be okay. Thank you for reading, and please continue to send suggested topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com FROM PAGE XIII
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Angels walk on ... FROM PAGE XIV
from there.” She had inhaled deeply, tears glinting in her eyes, and instinctively she hugged him; a little hug of gratitude. At that moment, Annalisa gave a joyful squeal from her crib, and they both turned to look at her. It had begun with two strangers and an unborn baby. Now it was two young people, casually close, and an adorable baby. Amber was doing well with her Online studies, and her business started off well also, and was growing. “Thank you, dear Lord,” she said after tallying her first earnings from orders, “For sending an angel in my life.” It had become a norm now for Anil to visit Amber and the baby, but there were days when he was very busy with trips to the airport, or special hires to different areas in the country, coming home late and tired. But he always spoke to her on the phone, just to make sure she was okay. Something beautiful was happening, slowly bringing them closer. One night two weeks later, he told her he would be very busy with airport trips for family coming in for a wedding, and assisting with other preparations. “I’ll make time to see yuh though,” he assured her. On Saturday, he stopped by but not for too long a visit, because he had a family get-together to attend. Annalisa was overjoyed to see him, creeping towards him so fast she tumbled over. He lifted her and threw her up in the air a couple of times as she squealed in delight. The baby’s attachment to him was getting stronger, because he was the one in their lives who cared, who gave support, and who made the mother smile. He played with her for a little while. Then, after Amber had fed her and settled her down in her crib, they sat down to have dinner. He had bought a special Chinese food from Lim Kang Restaurant in New Amsterdam, and as they ate, Amber asked him, “So, when is the wedding?” “Next weekend, so the coming week will be extremely busy fuh me,” he replied. “I can just imagine,” she said, “With all the lavish décor of an Indian wedding, and the traditional multi-day affairs.” “Yup, is all of dat and more,” Anil stated. A moment later, he looked at her with a glimmer of interest as if something just crossed his mind. “Yuh ever wear an Indian outfit?” “No,” she shook her head, not surprised at the question, given his culture. “I think yuh would look really pretty in one.” She smiled and said, “Maybe.” He left a short while later for the family get-together at Number 55 Village on the Corentyne, and was greeted with hugs and handshakes. It was so great meeting with relatives he hadn’t seen in a long time, and, of course, there were the usual questions from the older women. “You’re not married yet?” “No, I’m only 23,” he answered quickly. “I can see for a nice girl for you in Toronto.” “No,” another interjected, “Indo-American girl would be better.” Anil smiled patiently, but he needed to get away from them, and, thankfully, was saved by an uncle. “Ladies, leave the boy alone,” and he put his arm over Anil’s shoulder and said, “Come on, son, let’s have a drink.” Anil got home at 02:00hrs, and so it was every day leading up to the wedding. But on the special day, it was all worth it with the splendid décor, elaborate ceremony, and scrumptious seven-curry food. The glamourous and the elegant attendees were simply stunning to the mind, but, for Anil, only one person’s image now filled his mind. She had, over the weeks and months, become a closer part of his life, and he knew she felt secure and comfortable with him in her life, but she had suffered a broken heart and desertion before, so it would take time to heal; for her to love and trust again. So Anil stayed cool, allowing that special casual relationship to continue, for everything, he knew, had its own time when it should happen. To be continued…
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THOUGHT FOR TODAY THOUGHT FO MR. TURNBULL R TODAY had predicted evil consequences, both in the House and ou it, and was now do ing the best in his t of power to bring about the verification of his own prophecie ANTHONY TROL s. LOPE (1 Phineas Finn (186 815-1882) 9)
July 31, 2022 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome dear friend. Do get into the habit of using /practising whatever you learn or else you will quickly lose your capacity
to remember it. You may even find that sometimes things get so bad that you forget, by the end of the day, anything you learned. This happens when you try to fit in too many concepts at one sitting. Be easy on yourself and remember to self-test every now and then. Be fair with yourself now. Love you. IMPROVING WRITING Writing Compositions In composition writing the power of paragraph writing cannot be overrated. The paragraph keeps your effort stable and steadily moving forward. It also helps your reader to make sense of all the information being unfolded. Our last issue taught when to start a new paragraph. You learned about five instances which covered most occasions when new paragraphs are started. These are: a) There is a change in time. b) There is a change in place. c) There is a change in the topic or in its emphasis. d) There is a similarity between people, actions, or topic. e) There is a modification of an idea already expressed. Today we look at how to safely start up a paragraph to influence the paragraph development. Generally, your start-up sentence or topic sentence must convey the central idea of the paragraph coherently. For variety and interest, practise using a different length, and composition at times in your topic sentence. Be reminded. a) Use transition words or phrases between paragraphs. They make your writing more engaging. (This technique is also used within paragraphs to link one sentence to another.) Use pronouns, transitional words and phrases, demonstrative adjectives, and adverbs to do this. However, moreover, further, nevertheless, also, by the same token, in the same way, and, but, on the other hand are examples of transitional words and phrases that bind paragraphs and
phrases together. b ) Yo u r w e l l - c h o sen words or phrases will prompt your reader to establish relationships that already exist between your ideas, especially when changing ideas. c) You must use the expected coherently phrased topic sentence at the beginning of your paragraph. (A topic sentence can instead appear in any position within a paragraph depending upon the writer’s style of expressing his thoughts. Good writers come up with an implied paragraph idea which is not expressed as a physical sentence. But you must use yours at the beginning.) d) Let the topic sentence hold the idea of the paragraph and influence its development. e) You need different transition words to start a conclusion paragraph, one different from what you use in body paragraphs and the introduction. [There is the transitional paragraph written for the specific purpose of bridging the thought expressed in one paragraph and that in the succeeding one, which is not part of today’s information.] Look at the following illustrations: 1. The central thought, or idea, of a paragraph is often expressed in a topic sentence. Look at the topic sentence in the first position in this paragraph. The Englishmen felt that their trip had been successful. They certainly had not been treated as vassals but with the greatest honour and courtesy; they had been immensely interested in all that they saw; the artists had made drawings everywhere they went, and a long book was written by one of the secretaries; letters had been exchanged by the rulers of the two nations. Had they opened the way for friendly trade and intercourse? What answer had the Emperor sent to their requests? 2. See how the topic sentence influences the fashioning of this paragraph. Several ghost stories centre around the mansion. It is said that whenever Au-
gust has two full moons, on the night of the first moon Governor Dummer rides his white horse up the broad staircase as he did on the night of the grand housewarming in 1715. Another story concerns the smiling ghost of a child who peeped through the kitchen doorway. Not until her bones were discovered in a moldering box in the cellar and given a proper burial, did the little apparition vanish. It is also averred that the ghost of an English officer who was killed in a duel on the lawn occasionally reappears in full-dress uniform, with powdered wig, embroidered cloak, and sword. 3. Look at this short selection showing the use of various transitional words. To the visitor to South America, many things are strange. He is not only on another continent but in another hemisphere. However, he soon finds that any fears he may have had are groundless. The people are friendly and full of fun. The American who speaks only English is likely to find that his attempts to communicate bring on outbursts of good-natured laughter in which he will be moved to join. On the other hand, if he even has a few words of Spanish, the South Americans will make valiant attempts to understand him and will do their best to fill in the words they think he is using... GRAMMAR (from last week’s input) Be reminded of some tenets of good dialogue in stories, and dialogue punctuation. Dialogue is conversation. It shows character or develops plot. It helps to make writing come alive. In punctuating dialogue, begin a paragraph for each change of speaker. The suggested punctuation of the three lines of connected dialogue given last week appears below: “You won’t be frightened now, will you?” “I’ll try not to be.” “Even if you are frightened do not show it.”
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Dental phobics AN old schoolmate asked me what the general opinion dentists express of patients when they (the dentists) meet to socialise. Well, to a large extent, dental phobics (people who fear dental treatment) may dominate the conversation. If we are to believe women’s magazines and bar room chats, the world is almost solidly composed of people who are dental phobics and who hate dentists. Except for the United States, where lawyers are in the number one slot, dentists are the professionals that people hate to consult. But patently, it is not true. So where does all this phobia stuff begin? There is no doubt when you are in the presence of a dental phobic. They enter the surgery with much the same technique as a well-trained combat soldier while sussing out a room potentially full of snipers or a presidential bodyguard reconnoitring for assassins. With their backs to the wall, they shuffle in, eyes rebounding off everything that moves. “You’re not going to hurt me, are you?” they say, quivering. You are tempted to answer with something like, “not from this distance, no”, but you refrain. “What’s that then?” they ask, feverishly pointing to something you are holding, partly inadvertently behind you, in your hand. “That,” you reply sympathetically, “is what we dentists call a registration form. “Well, it breaks the ice, at least. Then you smile as broadly as possible without seeming leery and invite them to take a seat. The chances are that your surgery is not particularly spacious, at least mine isn’t. It is taken up almost completely with the infamous dental chair and scary-looking apparatuses perhaps reminiscent of a modern torture chamber (or so most patients think) and computer equipment. So what is the question that the patients ask next? “Where shall I sit?” Very often, they apologise for being silly, and you start to take pity on them a bit as you plunge into their medical and dental history. Then comes the moment when you have to do something to them. The chat is over for now, and it is action time. They sense it immediately “what are you going to do to me now?” they quiz. Explaining that you, first of all, have a look around inside their mouth. They then try the next ploy. What about having a needle in the arm and going to sleep? It does sound like a marvellous solution. The only trouble is that the patient means for them to put out for the duration, not you. Again you patiently explain that all you want to do (for now anyway) is to examine the mouth. “All I’ve got in this hand is a mirror. Ok?” “Okay, but what’s in the other hand?” and then they apologise again. Eventually, you get to have a peek in their mouth. This is accompanied by the mandatory amount of arm grabbing, asking you to stop for a moment while they swallow and the occasional cough thrown for good measure. When the examination is finally completed, you explain the treatment plan and the cost. You get the impression that with the extent that the patient may be prepared to cooperate and allow you to work properly, the sessions could stretch to your retirement party. Dentists value the quality of work they produce, and since the overall behaviour of the patient in the chair has a lot to do with the final product and, therefore, the dentist’s reputation, dental phobics could represent an occupational hazard. How many patients realise that the more they fear the dentist and resist the dental procedures is the worse the general outcome of their treatment? Usually, when we talk about dental phobia, the assumption is that we are referring to patients’ fear of the dentist, but how many times is it really the other way around?
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