Guyana Chronicle pepperpot E-paper 03-31-2019

Sunday, March 31, 2019

Shekesa Daniels (left) and Sueann Daniels are determined to develop Mabaruma in the best way they can (Photo by Delano Williams)

Staying close to home

Scholarly sisters aspire to develop Mabaruma

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Visitors to feast their eyes on fresh, organic products

-At ‘Uncapped Marketplace’ today

By Telesha Ramnarine THE ‘Uncapped Marketplace’ initiative is just what the country’s small agro-processors need to bolster their businesses. At the same time, the purely private sector initiative provides for these businessmen and women to receive guidance on just how to achieve this objective.

The 2019 edition of ‘Uncapped’ is on today at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara, from 10 am to 8 pm. During this time, the approximately 80 exhibitors will have a fine opportunity to display and market products that they would have made right here in Guyana.

Visitors to the event will be allowed in for free and will be able to set their eyes on the rich, quality products made right here in Guyana by their fellow Guyanese.

This year’s ‘Uncapped’, an initiative by the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), is to have a new feature, being that fresh produce will also be on sale, as opposed to previous events when only processed items were being offered.

Uncapped Marketplace was started in October 2017 at the Sophia Exhibition Center with the objective of providing a platform for the small agro-processing businesses, allowing them to showcase and sell their products, and also to network with businesses and interested persons.

Apart from the GMSA, other agencies will be on hand to provide guidance to the exhibitors on how they can better package and sell their products. These agencies include the Small Business Bureau, Republic Bank Limited, Guyana Marketing Corporation and

Exhibitors interacting with patrons at a previous 'Uncapped'

planned with games, music, variety of real Guyanese food” and lots of giveaways.

As part of t h e ex-

“a wide

citement, t h e ‘Savour the Flavour – Guyana Uncapped Competition’ will allow anyone to enter and have a chance to win shelf-loads of locally made products.

“It’s simple. Participate online by uploading a photo of your favourite Chicken Seasoning from Deikah’s Spices agro-processed product, telling us why you like it and hashtag it #uncappedflavours, or come to the Bureau of Standards. the event and assist in rating the products and “It is an opportunity for those already get a chance to enter the grand competition established to build and further promote to win shelf loads of local products from our existing brands,” GMSA has said, adding, uncapped cabinet,” GMSA said.

“What we want to do is to build the capacity The event is being sponsored by Sterling of the small agro-processors to help them Products Limited, GMSA, Demerara Distillto find niche markets in the Caribbean and ers Limited (DDL), Ministry of Business, in Guyana to start with, and ultimately, the Banks DIH, ExxonMobil Guyana, NAMILUnited States of America and Canada.

CO, Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited, John A day of fun for the entire family is also Fernandes Limited; Brand partners include

Sagacity Inc. and Star Party Rentals.

The GMSA hopes the event will help to see improvement from agro-processors who will be participating. “That is why the ‘Savour the Flavour Competition’ is designed to get feedback from the public, while they can still win big.”

Reflecting on the effect that the initiative had on his business, Mohamed Qamar of Mohamed Enterprise said, “I was pleased to have the opportunity to participate in the event, especially since it was a major boost to my business.” Qamar has been operating his business for the past 18 years, and specializes

we recently started the pineapple and guava jams.”

In the past, 13 women groups were represented at the event by the Women’s Agro-processing Network Development (WAND). These groups hailed from Regions One, Two, Four, Five and Nine. The products on display by these women included cocoa sticks and coffee from Region One; peanut butter and Acai wine from Region Two, jams, jellies and relishes from the Hillside Farm in Region Four, coconut products and chutneys from Region Five; and farine and cashew nuts from Region Nine. Group member, Denise Thomas-Spencer is hoping that their participation will help with their expansion efforts.

Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin, who had toured the exhibition in the past, had commended the exhibitors for their efforts to

This year promises to feature not only processed items, but fresh produce also

in photo frames and model dolls, using wood shaving, corn husks, coconut fibres and banana leaves.

Christina Isurdeen from Lisa’s Manufacturing said, “We bring to you the best in authentic Guyanese flavours. What we manufacture and bring to the Guyanese public is the carambola fruit. We’ve also added some confectionery and snacks, such as plantain and cassava chips (and) tamarind balls; and

improve the packaging and presentation of their products and services.

He said: “This definitely falls in line with international standards. They (the entrepreneurs) understand the concept of good packaging; they have a greater brand awareness which comes out in their approach to business. Certainly, I have seen an improvement in the quality of packaging over the last few years.”

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

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Staying close to home

Scholarly sisters aspire to develop Mabaruma “There are limited opportunities in Mabaruma for the progression of youths, and I want to be able to help in that regard. I would like to work first, hopefully I get a job soon, save my money and then go off to the University… After that I want to create groups for young people in my community, especially for those who are unemployed, for them to get a chance to be somebody. Some of them have their skills and talent and so on, but there’s nothing they can do to improve or enhance it. So what I would want to do, is help provide programmes here so that young

people can improve. Also, I’d like to open a large business where I can employ persons,” Sueann said.

Meanwhile, Shekesa said she likes to travel and wants to see more of Guyana and experience different cultures. “I like visiting new places. When I finish school I would like to see my country, explore and discover new things and see what the life and culture of different people and places are like,” she said.

However, her ultimate goal is to become successful in a business career and develop schools in her home place, Mabaruma.

Sixteen-year-old Shekesa Daniels and 17-year old Sueann Daniels posing with their parents and two younger brothers (Delano Williams photos)

By Gabriella Chapman TWO sisters from Mabaruma, Barima Waini have been living their lives to one day be able to develop and enhance the livelihood of the youths in their hometown.

Seventeen-year-old Sueann Daniels and her 16-year old sister Shekesa Daniels, shared their life journey and their future goals, in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine.

The two sisters grew up in the quiet village with their parents and two younger brothers, practising farming activities and helping out their parents in the small shop they have in front of their yard.

STAYING CLOSE TO HOME With having a sound education as a number one priority on their parents’ list for the children, Sueann said she secured a space at President’s College when she wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) but she returned home because she believed that she can excel right at her village school.

“Mabaruma is a very beautiful place, very quiet compared to Georgetown, and people here usually live in peace and harmony, and cooperate with each other to get things done.

You can just travel freely without worrying about anything… So I got homesick when I was at President’s College, and persons would think that I would have better opportunities at the school, but I believed I could do just as good in my village,” the young girl said.

She then enrolled in North West Secondary School, “…and I have absolutely no regrets for that decision I made to return to my home,” she added.

The young lady said that her school life at North West taught her a lot of things that prepared her for the future.

“Mainly what I did was public speaking.

I wasn’t really good at it, but school taught me to master the art. They taught me debating, then I went to the third annual youth parliament, and it just inspired me to strive to become a voice for my people,” she said.

Proving her point of excelling right in Mabaruma, Sueann graduated last year, with five grade ones and six grade twos in the eleven subjects she wrote at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examination.

THE EMPLOYMENT CONUNDRUM However, due to the limited job opportunities in the region, Sueann said it’s almost a year and she has not yet been able to secure

a job.

This, she said, is a recurring issue in the village, and is hindering the development of the potential of their young people.

“A lot of young people in my community have potential, but they are daunted at the fact that there is little to no opportunity for them when they excel in school. Most of us are from poor families and we can’t afford to move to Georgetown to further our studies and get a better life, so we want the opportunities to come to us. It makes no sense getting a lot of subjects at CXC when it will boil down to us having to stay on the farm with our parents or go fishing, as our means of income. We study hard in school because we want a better life for ourselves and families,” the young woman lamented.

Her little sister, Shekesa, echoed similar sentiments. Shekesa is currently in fifth form at North West Secondary, preparing to write her exams in May. The young girl said they are at a grave disadvantage in the region when it comes to excelling in their exams, but they make use of what they have.

“You’re not really exposed to opportunities here, and it’s not even until after school, during school we suffer from lack of availability of a lot of essential things. For example, we find it difficult when doing practicals for Food and Nutrition. A lot of ingredients we need, we don’t get in Mabaruma. A lot of kitchen tools we don’t have either. Internet access is another issue. We have limited access and that poses a challenge in researching. The IT lab has computers but they’re not working. It’s really expensive for typing and printing, so getting our SBA’s done is a financial struggle, and that limits the number of subjects we are able to write because we can’t afford it,” Shekesa voiced.

STAYING POSITIVE Though there are many challenges, the girls said they make uses of what they have, with hopes of reaping the benefits later.

Shekesa said that her sister has set a good example for her, and she is preparing to write nine subjects, hoping to pass all, and do well like Sueann.

Both sisters, aspire to become women in business, to be able to provide jobs and opportunities for the young people in their hometown.

Sueann said she wants to move on to study Business Management at the University of Guyana.

The younger siblings enjoying a ball game with their mother

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

‘I never stopped performing.

I take challenges. I am here!”

Henry Rodney determined to battle Parkinson’s disease

By Elvin Carl Croker POPULAR actor/comedian Henry Rodney says he is as “fit as a fiddle” and ready to hit the stage despite his diagnosis of having Parkinson’s disease.

“Tell the people they will still be seeing me on stage and television, I am here!” said Rodney.

Rodney’s health condition came as a ‘shocker’ to the public some years ago. This spurred a countrywide fundraising drive. A number of benefit concerts and private and organisational support poured in to help the man that has for years put a smile on everyone’s face, smile again.

A process he said that has yielded millions of dollars and which served him well in being able to arrive at a diagnosis and treatment for his illness overseas.

When the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with Rodney at his D’Urban Street home,

he appeared to be in high spirits and indeed looked “fit as a fiddle”.

The well-known actor shared with this publication his journey to his profession and how he is dealing with his sickness.

Speaking in his usual tone, the now 60-year-old who describes himself as an ‘exponent of folk’ assured that once he is seen on the road or on stage it means that he is much better. “After my diagnosis, I never really planned to give up the stage, even while I was overseas receiving treatment I would accept little gigs”. He related.

He boasted of performing at the last Father’s Day Programme at the National Cultural Centre before proceeding on his second trip overseas for treatment. “I also did a few kwe kwe [a Guyanese pre-wedding ceremony from the African-Guyanese tradition, a celebration before the wedding] around the place,” he continued.

Recounting an overseas performance, Rodney said at one time he was doing a oneman-show in Brooklyn but requested a chair to be on standby, “So if I had felt the legs weakening then I would have taken a seat and continued, so it would have been sit-down comedy,” he said jokingly.

HIS JOURNEY Relating his journey in his field he said that he began to follow up folk performances from a young boy when the then-popular Yoruba Singers was formed.

“When I heard the Yoruba Singers playing I realised I like this folk thing so I always used to fit in,” he said.

Born on February 23, Guyana’s Republic Anniversary, Rodney said his career was birthed in church. Rodney was born in Beterverwagting, also known as B.V., a village on the East Coast of the Demerara, located roughly 10 miles from the capital, Georgetown. The comedian said that he was born opposite tree important facets of life, namely the church, the school and the burial ground.

“As soon as I opened my window I could have seen all three at the same time,” he said.

Having been an ardent member of the St. Mary the Virgin Anglican Church, he said his performances were seasonal with concerts at harvest, Christmas, Easter etc.

The bible class he belonged to started a group called the ‘St. Mary Young Eagles’

which was for church members only.

“We then spread our wings after some performances and opened up to the village so once you lived in BV you could have become a member of the group,” he said with a bright smile. It wasn’t long before the group started doing shows in the other East Coast villages then branched out countrywide to Linden, Berbice, Essequibo etc.

YOUNG DAYS As a teenager, travelling around the country and leader for the culture group, he said that the club was doing well until its members began to branch off because of work commitments, migration and other issues, Henry then secured employment in Georgetown as a Prison Officer. Just around the same time, he met a friend by the name of Quacy Ojinga who encouraged him to join the Theatre Guild.

Ojinga turned out to be one of his greatest inspirations since he started taking him out to perform poetry, short story, skits, and plays.

This encounter he said helped him to spread his wings and to grow in Theatre; an experience he said became part of him.

FULL-TIME COMEDY Rodney then decided to call it quits after about 15 years as a Prison Officer and became a full-time actor in the late70s.

He said he made the decision because there were certain shows which took him out of Guyana which required him being away from work for long periods. Guy-Festa in 1975 and the show, “Bicycle Yard” by Quacy Ojinga helped to trigger his career.

A former student of Bladen Hall Multilateral School on the East Coast, Rodney said when he started acting the National Cultural Centre wasn’t completed as yet so shows used to be kept at Queen’s College which was one of the premier performing centres at that time.

Shows also would be staged at Bishops High and St. Rose’s High schools and City Hall.

“I was one of the youngsters who really represented the country in the rural areas; I remember many times attending these performances and I was the only person doing spoken word other persons would do other things,” he related.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

‘For the love of my country’

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National Awardee recalls his most active years

By Wendella Davidson AS a firefighter, Compton Sparman gave 36 years of yeoman service to the Guyana Fire Service, enduring endless hours doing his job of fighting fires, even at times sacrificing his commitment to his family. Then on February 23, 2019, on the occasion of this country’s 49th Anniversary as a Republic, he was conferred with a National Award- The Disciplined Service Medal, which he likened to capping the highest point of his career.

“I was on pre-retirement leave when I learnt that I was to be given the award, and I felt proud. I was ecstatic to know that I am being recognised for my commitment and contribution to the Guyana Fire and as an extension to the people of Guyana. I did it all for the love of the country and I am pleased to be awarded,” said Sparman, now a national awardee, during an exclusive interview with the Guyana Chronicle.

Born on September 4, 1963, to Shan Francis Sparman (mother) and Lennox Lawson (father), Sparman the last of five children, recalled his life growing up in Albouystown.

The family first lived in Cooper Street, then called “Hell’s kitchen” because of its notoriety of the area, then subsequently moved to Campbell and James Streets.

He first started school at Sister Canning’s Nursery School, then moved on to St. Stephen’s Primary, then to South Georgetown Secondary where he took a liking to woodwork and landed his first job working with a contractor named Morrison. His earnings were $80 a week but according to Sparman, at the end of the week, his boss would take him to have a beer and then give him $40.

He later left that job and was offered employment as an office assistant in the Lands and Survey Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, on a temporary basis whenever there was a need, as he was not yet 18. He was next hired by the Guyana National Trading Corporation (GNTC) and worked as a checker in the cement bond.

Sparman said it was his desire to secure full-time employment and considered either the Guyana Police Force (GPF) or the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), but was advised against the former by his mother whom he said felt that he was “too argumentative and disgusting.”

What turned out to be an illustrious career as a firefighter with the Guyana Fire Service began when Sparman was 18 years old. However, he recalled that initial applications were rejected and it was as a result of a friend of his brother, Walter Thorne, who he said who “pulled some strings”.

According to Sparman, on the morning that Thorne arranged to take him to see then-Deputy Fire Chief, Wilfred Douglas, he ensured that he was dressed to impress in his gabardine pants, terylene shirt and a well-polished pair of shoes. Thorne told him to wait at the doorway to Douglas’ office and he went forward.

But Sparman said when Douglas lifted his head; “He watched me from head to toe in a cunning way and as Thorne disclosed that he was from Albouystown, he said the deputy fire chief blurted out, ‘Thief! Thief!

Bandit! Bandit! We don’t want you; sheep in wolf clothing!’”

Sparman said it was Thorne who vowed for his character and pleaded for him to be given a chance and he was subsequently sent

subsequent Commission of Inquiry, where he had to justify the actions taken by the GFS. Others were a fire in Norton Street in the 80s that razed an entire block and another in George Street that also engulfed an entire block including the then Fung’s Bakery.

He recalled, too, nearly losing his life during the inferno at the Sanata Textile Mill, Industrial Site, in the 80s, when he and a colleague, Jerome Sankar, were trapped in a bond while the inferno raged. It was due to a burst hose line that restricted water from reaching to them and they nearly suffocated

Compton Sparman

to the then Training Officer, Mc Elroy Small who took his application and promised that he will hear something from the GFS. Some two weeks later, he said Thorne brought him a letter for him to sit an entrance examination at the Guyana Public Service Building on Regent and New Garden Streets.

He recalled it was in 1982, when there was a great demand for employment, as such there some 300 persons in attendance to write the examination and thereafter he was requested to report at the GFS headquarters for an interview.

It was on June 1, 1982, that as part of the requirement, weighing at just 95 pounds, that he had to undergo a strength test on the tarmac of the National Cultural Centre, which entailed him having to run around the block with weights. With a chuckle, he remembered having to be assisted to lift a weighty sack and even to unload it.

He said that due to his weight he found the four months of training that followed his enlistment rigorous but he was determined to succeed even though he saw many of his squaddies fall by the wayside.

TRAINING AND CAPACITY BUILDING Speaking of his achievement, Sparman, who retired on September 30, 2018, said he benefitted from numerous local and overseas courses in Monsterrat and Trinidad and Tobago, in relation to his job, which assisted in his upward mobility.

In addition to studying Language and Communications at the University of Guyana, Sparman graduated at the top of an Aerodome Rescue and Fire Fighting class at Trinidad’s Firefighting School in 2002; undertook Fire-fighting Behaviour studies in Monsteratt; Sea and Rescue training in Barbados among many others. He also did a drill instructor’s course with the Guyana Defence Force; a prosecutor’s course with the Guyana Police Force, which saw him chalking up 15 years in the Fire Prevention Department.

Sparman who rose through the ranks gaining promotion of Leading Fireman, Section Leader, Sub Officer, Station Officer, and finally Divisional Officer- Administration, and third in charge of the GFS at his time of retirement said if he had his way he would be a fireman all over again.

CLOSE CALLS For Sparman, all fires, in particular when there is a loss of lives, is telling to a fireman and among those which stand out was the 2016 fire at the Georgetown Prison were 17 inmates lost their lives. As the officer-in-charge at the scene, he was grilled at a

from inhaling the smoke.

They were forced to hold hands and jump to safety, resulting in them both having to receive medical attention.

Sparman also recalled fighting fires that flattened the Kissoon’s Furniture building at Robb and Camp Streets in 1997, and also a fire at the Guyoil Gas Station on Regent Street, when he was hit in the left eye by a hose.

So much is his love for firefighting that he is currently employed as a Safety Officer with the conglomerate Banks DIH Limited.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Young entrepreneurs determined to weather the storms of farming

By Michel Outridge

WITH inspiration from an elderly gentleman in the village, two young men were motivated to become entrepreneurs in the area of farming.

They are Delvin Thompson and Ceon Samuels, both residents of Nelson Street, Mocha, East Bank Demerara.

Speaking to the Pepperpot Magazine Thompson said he took the advice of the wise Mr. Reginald Daniels and went into farming seven years ago after formally completing his secondary education.

At that point, Thompson stated that he was unsure what to do for a job and the well-respected Mr. Daniels encouraged him to become self-employed by farming.

“I grew up in front of Mr. Daniels and I

know he would not deceive me, as such, I told myself I can do it and I became a full-time farmer,” he said.

Today, unlike most young men his age, Thompson is cultivating coconut plants on a large scale and is also into ground provisions farming which he sells to most households in his village.

He said, “I really like farming, to see my plants grow and this job is a family business where relatives assist in planting the backlands of Block B, Arcadia.”

The 28-year-old stated that once you are familiar with the know-how of farming it is not difficult to start with the application of common sense, but he added that some specialised knowledge of farming can prove to be beneficial.

“Farming is not a walk in the park and should not be taken lightly because it entails

Reginald Daniels (centre) posing with the young farmers, Ceon Samuels (right) and Delvin Thompson in the backlands on their farm

long hours of hard work and is a profession in which one has to exercise some form of patience,” Thompson said.

Apart from being a farmer, this well-spoken young man is still trying to enhance his life and has completed training in bee-keeping and rearing.

He, however, plans to make it a business in the near future where he will extract honey from the hives to sell.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old Ceon Samuels has been farming for the past three years and cultivates more than 30 acres of land located in the backlands of Arcadia village.

He plants coconuts, bananas, plantains and cash crops, most of which are sold right in the community.

Samuels told the Pepperpot Magazine that at first, he was not into farming and if anybody would have told him before then that he would become one he would have laughed it off.

Today, this young man is proud Ceon Samuels on his farm of his achievements and has dedicated his time into large scale farming with the hope that his crops would not be swallowed up by flood waters are not destroyed by rodents and other pests. when the rainy season comes.

“Being a young farmer has opened av“I was inspired by Mr. Daniels and as a person who I admired growing up, I took his enues for me and things are happening and advice and started to farm and I enjoy seeing I am proud of the person I have become in the fruits of my labour especially when it which I am more responsible and can run my own business,” Samuels said. comes to the reaping stage,” Samuels said.

Reginald Daniels told the Pepperpot MagHaving invested so much time, farming has become a part of his life and he is willing azine that he likes to see young people prosper to continue but would like to have the lease and occupy their time in a meaningful way.

He is familiar with both Thompson and for the land he currently utilises for his crops.

Samuels is of the view that with the rele- Samuels as villagers and more so, good young vant documents in hand his future in farming men, who just wanted direction to propel is secure and would like the authorities to themselves into a business venture to become marketable. assist in this regard.

Daniels said it was not difficult convincBeing single does not bother him a lot because there isn’t much time left for any- ing the youths to get into farming and now thing else since he spends a lot of time in the they have realised their true potential there backlands on his farm making sure his crops is no stopping them.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019 The organising committee of the Bartica Regatta at the Pegasus Hotel on Friday

Bartica is doing it!

-Come for the party, stay for the fun!

The nine contestants of the Bartica pageant billed for Saturday, April 20

By Telesha Ramnarine THE Government of Guyana, through the National Sports Commission, is in full support of the Bartica Regatta and has pledged to provide whatever assistance is needed to pull off a successful event.

“Bartica is doing it!” Director of Sports Christopher Jones expressed when he met the organizing committee at its first press conference at the Pegasus Hotel last Friday.

The nine contestants of the renowned Bartica pageant, Tonesha Deweever, Shania khan, Adeola Sutherland, Joyann Wong, Sabrina Persaud, Tonia Harris, Soma Lindore, Amel Griffith and Jerusha Ferrell, were introduced.

The pageant, touted to be the oldest in Guyana’s history, is slated to be held on Saturday, April 20, and the winners will receive big prizes. The first place winner is to take home $500,000 along with a scholarship to the University of Guyana (UG); second place, $300,000 and a scholarship; third place, $100,000 and a scholarship; and fourth place, a scholarship.

The platforms of the contestants include school dropouts, women empowerment, sexually transmitted diseases in teenagers,

youth empowerment, child abuse, battling human trafficking in the hinterland, and mental health.

The Sports Director observed that Bartica has been excelling in promoting tourism and hospitality and encouraged the organizing team from the Town Council to continue in their efforts. He said it is being hoped that other municipalities will follow suit in promoting their municipalities.

“In whatever way the National Sports Commission can lend support, rest assured we are prepared to do so because we recognize the value of what you’re promoting and the benefits that come from them,” Jones said.

Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall said the Town Council will be promoting the regatta with much emphasis on what Guyana has to offer in terms of tourism. “The landscape, terrain and people are just a sight to behold.

We take much pride and effort in promoting this year’s regatta,” he said at the press conference.

“A number of citizens have not experienced this beauty, especially in the hinterland.

Today we are witnessing high powered boat racing; engines in excess of 300 horsepower.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Nostalgic reflections of growing up in Mocha/Arcadia

By Shirley Thomas IT WAS with a sense of deep pride and nostalgia that residents of Mocha/Arcadia relived some of the bitter-sweet, but nonetheless treasured memories of living in that village with all its challenges and excitement - way back into the 1950s.

Sharing with the Pepperpot Magazine last Sunday, were veterans, including Mrs. Elsa Wilson, a celebrated member of the Mocha Methodist Church, who’s been residing in the community since the early ‘50s. In those days, there were just a few houses and, in addition to a few private cars, the main source of transportation from Georgetown into the village and back was the Motor Transport’s fleet of huge wooden buses.

Painted bright blue, the buses were parked

The famous ‘Coomaka Tree’ landmark at Mocha/Arcadia

Mocha/Arcadia Primary School

with the birth of Independence in Guyana and beyond, Mocha/Arcadia now boasts a plethora of colourful and elegantly designed housing architecture; a well-equipped government Primary School ; Churches including the Arcadia Seventh Day Adventist and Mocha Methodist ; a Police Station; a Community Health Centre; 24-hour water and electricity supply services; street lights; multiple shops offering for sale - a variety of goods and services ; several carefully laid out streets; internet café; and all modern conveniences.

Additionally, Mocha/Arcadia over the last few years has developed into a burgeoning housing development scheme, with more in the pipeline for persons with a desire to pursue agriculture. Government has been pumping more monies into drainage and irrigation and additionally, more land has been open up to persons desirous of owning their own homes.

The contribution residents made to self-initiatives which would boost development in the Mocha- Arcadia Community is phenomenal and demonstrates what can be achieved when villagers work together, pooling what resources they have at their disposal – be it money; tools, technical advice or labour is worthy of mention.

BURNHAM BOULEVARDE Meanwhile, the residents are deeply appreciative of the contribution made to the community of Mocha/Arcadia by Professor Kensford (Ken) Danns at whose initiative and expense an all-weather road was built. That street, “The Burnham Boulevarde”, links Nelson Street with the rear end of Arcadia. The residents who are all very appreciative of the undertaking, consider it a very humanitarian and insightful gesture which entailed the cutting of bushes and building a road, effectively cutting out more than one mile of walking by track to get from Mocha to Arcadia.

And reflecting on some of the good times, growing up in Mocha/Arcadia, Wilson spoke of the camaraderie existing among residents; about neighbours ‘being there’ for each other; having fun times together such as attending ice-cream banquet; ‘bring and buy’ sale; pound sale’ , penny concerts; cricket and other ball games. Such were

Church, standing on the right-hand side. outside the Central Fire Department, Stabroek, from whence they moved off to various destinations, including Mocha/ Arcadia.

EIGHT CENTS A RIDE Incredibly, the fare for a ride from Georgetown to Mocha/Arcadia or either way, was a paltry 8 cents, very often tendered in four copper penny coins and paid over to the conductor on entering the bus.

In the early 50s and 60s, Mrs. Wilson recalled, there was no government school in Mocha. There was one Primary School – the Mocha Methodist School which initially was housed in the Methodist Church on Nelson Street under a strict tutelage of the most feared Headmaster in their time – Mr. Norman Roberts.

It was not until the post- Independence period that a Government Primary School was established in Mocha, and the majority of the students of secondary school age attended the Providence Primary School opposite the Providence Police on the East Bank Demerara.

Even though the bus fare to school might have seemed negligible, in reality, it added up to a lot for parents whose children travelled to and from the primary school during the school term. For this reason, the bulk of the secondary school students travelling to Providence Primary School would walk to school in groups, leaving home very early in the morning and trekking two and a quarter miles to school. They dared not get there late, for fear of facing the wrath of disciplinarian headmaster, Mr. Bertie Russel.

Meanwhile, for persons new to the area and in search of addresses unfamiliar to them, the best landmark by which to be guided is the towering ‘Silk Cotton’ or ‘Coomaka’ tree which stands majestically at the head of Nelson Street. A few metres away and down the right side of the road, there is the oldest church in the neighbourhood –the Mocha Methodist

THE COOMAKA TREE The Coomaka Tree, down through the years in Guyana has had a history which warns people to desist from cutting or trimming it. As the tale goes, any person violating this order, will either die and become very sick. However, residents of Mocha assured that no such thing has ever happened in their history. Further, they said that every year they climb and trim the tree then stream fairy lights at Christmas time and at Emancipation time as well.

“Well for all the years this tree has been here and we cleaning it, nobody has ever died or taken sick,” one bold young man declared. In fact, the tree has always provided shade for persons waiting at the head of Nelson Street to join the buses going out to Georgetown in the mid-50s and early 60s.

I WOULD NOT GIVE UP MOCHA FOR ANYTHING. Mrs. Wilson, who’s seen many moons, since living in Mocha in the early 50s, relishes the very thought of living in that community - now developed beyond measure. Asked how does she feel about living in Mocha Arcadia, she passionately declared: “I have lived there practically all my life and believe you me, I would not give up Mocha for anything. I have been to the United States, travelled to other destinations, but Mocha will always be my first love ….There were more good times than bad and those of us who have endured are now reaping the benefits of our labour, and so to God be the glory.”

From the days of a few quaint wooden houses the village,

the social activities young people were allowed to attend and partake in, even down through the 60s, as parents instilled in their children, strong moral values.

In fact, the elders recalled they were living in an environment where ‘”It took a village to bring up a child” so that it was allowed for an adult neighbour to upbraid or even spank any young person seen or heard behaving ’out of order’ whilst outside of their homes. “I lived in an age where going to Church was a must, and likewise morning devotion was a must, so that was how we also brought up our children.

Turn to page XXIV►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Waffle Boss GT Scrumptious waffles ready to go!

By Michel Outridge

IT IS due to perseverance and innovation that the Beckles brothers managed to stay afloat after their first business venture, the GT BBQ Hut, folded. Now, the entrepreneurs are back again with their newest establishment, the Waffle Boss GT. The brothers explained that because barbecue establishments are quite popular in Guyana, this contributed to the main reason why the BBQ Hut was not successful.

The Beckles brothers, David, who is a chef by profession and Daniel, who has a full-time job running a veterinary consultancy service told the Pepperpot Magazine that after the near collapse of their first business they knew they had to come up with another business plan to remain financially viable.

An employee making a fresh batch of waffles (Photos by Adrian Narine)

IX

THE IDEA And after a visit to the United States (US), the waffle house idea was conceptualised by Daniel, who convinced his sibling to get on board.

He later returned to Guyana and having imported the waffles machines, the Waffle Boss GT business got started with a small scale operation located at Lot 48 Sheriff Street, Georgetown opposite Sankar’s Auto Colours. This was just over a month now.

Daniel said, “The venture is an all-American tradition that was lacking over here and we saw it fit to tap into the market locally by bringing that tradition here to see how practicable it is.”

Turn to page XXVII►►►

X ◄◄◄ From page IV

RISE TO ‘FAME’ He said that in his days there was no television, and radio was the thing so he did a few radio cereals like ‘On bended knees’ and ‘House of pressure,’ where he played the well-known character of ‘Shrumley’. He also acted in the cereal “The Jessamine’s”.

Relating his entry into television sitcoms after the advent of TV in Guyana, he said “Juice Junction” was his first but could not be sustained because of problems was sponsorship.

“One day Richard B Mahase called me and we got together with “Puddock” and we went into our first pilot shoot,” he said.

The sitcom that really spring boarded him was the show ‘Agree to Disagree’ which took Guyana by storm.

“When the pilot shoot was aired it had the whole of Georgetown going wild. People started calling,” he said.

What made it more interesting, he related, was when members of the Guyana Indian Foundation Trust (GIFT) headed by Ravi Dev started calling for the show to be pulled off the air because they felt it was degrading Indians. This, he said, was strongly rejected by the people.

“So you had GIFT versus the people to determine whether it should be taken off the air, but the people wanted the show to continue, so we continued the sitcom and it took the country by storm,” he said.

He said that the show had impacted people so much that people still calls him “Franklyn”, his sitcom name, today.

Relating an experience, he said that one

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

person even wrote him a cheque in the name “Franklyn”. “One person called me trying to get my sir name to put on a cheque they were preparing for me, called me and ask Franklyn-who is my name? I say ‘My name is Henry Rodney, not Franklyn,’” he said with a giggle.

Other plays that give credence to his fame include ‘Thengar’, ‘Rebellion’, ‘Jezebel’ 1, 2 and 2 and a half, ‘Till ah Find a Place’1,2 and3 and ‘Anybody see Brenda?’ among others.

He said things took a change downhill after one of the main characters for the sitcom “Puddock” died; he said the show started to lose its flavour since he couldn’t find someone to fill Puddock’s shoes since the story was centred on Puddock and him.

Looking ahead

Henry Rodney said despite his condition he is now ready to challenge any script “I will give up when God tells me to. You are sick if you want to, it is a state of mind,” he said boldly.

He maintained that he has never quit the stage and expressed thanks to the Lord for the Guyanese people who gave the money they have donated, noting that if he doesn’t have the money he can’t get the treatment.

He also thanks his family who he said is always by his side.

“It is Parkinson’s so I will not lie down and wait for that. I have to live so I will just live the way I know it I ain’t changing for no sickness,” he said boldly.

Henry Rodney said that he is expected to be returning overseas to continue his treatment in June of this year

ocus F Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

XI

on the Village

Life in idyllic Ithaca

THIS week on Focus on the Village, we take you all the way to the West Bank Berbice Village of Ithaca. Stories by Michel Outridge and M. Margaret Burke.

Photos by Samuel Maughn.

Born and bred in the sleepy and quiet West Bank Berbice village of Ithaca, Joylin Cummings has refused to just sit by idly and opted to become an entrepreneur.

Fully aware that life in that far-off village cannot be fast-tracked, Cummings added that she is pleased about being self-employed.

“I feel empowered because I am working on my own, I have my business and that is enough for me and my daughter to get by,” she said.

The 43-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that even though her business is not large, she is satisfied with her achievement in founding her small grocery shop.

The mother of one said that she would take vegetables from the farmers in the village and sell it for them at her shop.

When this newspaper visited the village last Tuesday, it was observed that several freshly picked garden pumpkins were on the counter in the shop for sale.

“I know I am serving my purpose in life, I am doing the job I like and in my own time and one of the things I take great pleasure in is interacting with people and by selling their vegetables it makes me feel good,” Cummings said.

She seemed to be at the right place and at ease since she blended into the landscape naturally enjoying the cool country breeze while manning her shop in the presence of her daughter.

Country life She described life in the village as quite simple, comfortable and with the population

Joylin Cummings in front of her shop in Ithaca, West Bank Berbice

of about 100 residents they all know each other and the atmosphere is peaceful and free of conflict.

“For you to be comfortable here like anywhere else in Guyana you have to work and if you do life is good and life here is no different from other villages even though we are far away from the city,” Cummings said.

She stated that most people are employed at the nearby Blairmont Sugar Estate, while others have jobs in other communities along that West Bank Berbice corridor.

Cummings pointed out too, that many people have small shops in the village which are tended mostly by the elderly folks.

She explained that beverage trucks would come into Ithaca to deliver soft drinks among other things so they really do not have to go anywhere to buy things they need

in their everyday life.

Cummings added that other things are sourced from the Rosignol Market which is almost like a small town, outfitted with gas stations, banks and other businesses.

“I am comfortable with my life here, we live very simple and go about our business in a peaceful way and with about 100 residents everyone knows each other and I think we are not missing anything back here.”

Rusty water As the Pepperpot Magazine was exiting Ithaca, the reporters encountered two youths, Rondell Edwards, and Joshua Smith.

Edwards said to manage one must work to survive and his way of making an honest living is his wash bay business and he is also a part-time taxi driver, which supplements his income.

The 22-year-old voiced his concern about the poor quality of the potable water supply in the village, stating that it is very rusty and is hindering his business.

He explained that he recently started up his wash bay which is in front his house and with the present ‘rusty’ water people do not want to wash their vehicles there because they do not want stains on their cars.

To keep his business open, Edwards said he has to source purified water to wash cars and that is not financially viable given the fact he recently started operations.

Edwards is hoping it rains so he can store rainwater to keep his wash bay business functioning.

“Honestly I get used to this country life but you got to do something for a living, you cannot just sit at home because that is not useful to anyone and you can manage if you have a job,” he said.

Edwards added that in his 22 years the thought of leaving the community has never dawned on him and he has no plans to move away.

Meanwhile, Joshua Smith, a student of Mahaicony Technical Institute told this newspaper that although they have a community centre they need a proper facility to engage in sports activities.

He added that there is a need for recreational initiatives to be implemented in the village for youths.

Smith would also like the village to benefit from an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub with computers and internet service so they can keep abreast with the latest news.

In that community, he pointed out that life is simple because you either become a farmer, work at the estate or seek employment elsewhere.

Ithaca to become its own ‘bread basket’ again

Farmers desire to go back to the days of unlimited supply THE Ithaca Agricultural Land Development Coop Society secretary, Desmond Weeks has expressed confidence in the village of Ithaca on the West Bank of Demerara becoming a supplier of ground provision, vegetables and other produce in large parts of Guyana yet again.

Weeks told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has great hope for his village and countrymen and know that they will “get themselves together while getting the younger men in

the village more involved in agriculture.”

According to him, the village was once a supplier of the greater majority of produce to the Bourda market in years gone by.

“Ithaca, for over 50 years or more supplied a lot of what the people who purchased from Bourda market,” he said, adding that the village eventually encountered drainage and irrigation problems that caused a slowdown in farming activities and eventually almost brought a cessation of activities.

According to Weeks, on January 1, every year during the 1970s and 1980s President L.F.S. Burnham visited villages, starting from Ithaca, where he reached out to the farmers and others and offered necessary assistance, which was a major form of encouragement to them, he stated.

In addition, he explained that by the use of a “quick hand” process they were used to getting the natural flow of water from the tributary.

Mr. Wickliffe Solomon, an Ithaca village farmer Turn to page XII►►►

XII ◄◄◄ From page XI

However, with the start of rice in the backlands, there was a halt in the natural supply of water to take care of their crops. This he said caused a tremendous slowdown in farming activities in the village.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

large amount of coconut plants in place and should be able to begin reaping in greater amounts in the not too distant future. In addition, he pointed out that his vegetable farm is “doing very well” and that he has been reaping thousands of pumpkin and now working on the market to get them off.

Mr. Desmond Weeks (second from L)along with some young farmers Mr. Desmond Weeks(jr.), Keon Peter, Dwayne Peters and Rashin Joseph proudly exhibiting some pumpkins

Mr. Wickliffe Solomon with the cow that eventually died

Weeks said that with the help of new initiatives through the Ministry of Agriculture and other international agencies, Ithaca is now getting back on stream and is positioned to show much more progress this time than even before the 70s and 80s.

He said that at the moment he has a very

Cattle rearing and jaguars Hundreds of heads of cattle are also being reared by Wickliffe Solomon of Ithaca village. He said that he started back at this scale just last year. He said that he has also commenced planting coconuts on a largescale, though he has been encountering some amount of challenges and ‘teething’ problems.

Transforming Ithaca

In addition, Solomon showed the Pepperpot Magazine the state of some of his cattle, who were evidently in a traumatized state.

Many of the cattle seem angry, afraid or ready to attack; a situation Solomon said came about as a result of them being attacked by jaguars right there in the Ithaca back dam.

He explained that he and other members of the coop made efforts to remove many of the cows to what they considered being a ‘safer place’ just a little distance away from where they were being attacked. This, however, he said only created another difficulty since the cows are not reacting well, given that they are traumatised.

When the Pepperpot Magazine visited the site where the cows and a large number of

sheep were placed, it was noticed that some of the cows seemed somewhat malnourished.

Solomon said that they were refusing to eat, as part of their reaction for being removed from the ‘jaguar-infested’ home setting. In fact, one of the cows had gotten very sick and was seen lying in the grass in what seemed to be some amount of agony. This publication later learnt that the animal died.

Meanwhile, when contacted on this particular problem by the Pepperpot Magazine, Khemlall Alvin, Project Coordinator of the Ministry of Agriculture said that he had immediately contacted the relevant department to get help for the farmers concerned and promised that this will be given to the farmers as early as possible.

Agricultural, other developments changing village for the better

showed that the majority people within the communities are willing and ready to “return to farming of these abandon lands provided that there is an improvement in the existing drainage and irrigation system to adequately drain excess water during storm events and avoid significant damages in crops and livestock.”

Mr. George Jervis, Chief Technical Officer, Ministry of Agriculture

THE Rural Agricultural Infrastructure Development (RAID) project is being viewed as one of the major developmental plans being undertaken by the Government of Guyana (GoG). The village of Ithaca on the West Bank of Berbice, Region Five is positively feeling the effects of it. The total investment cost for this area is G$337 Million.

The Project Coordinator of the Agriculture Sector Development Unit (ASDU), Mr. Khemlall Alvin, revealed to the Pepperpot Magazine that according to the project document of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), “The government has identified the communities of Buxton, Mocha, Triumph and Ithaca for urgent intervention because over the last three decade has regularly experienced severe flooding of the farmlands due to extreme storm events and inadequate drainage system.”

He further indicated that through an assessment done, along with consultation with the residents of these areas, evidence clearly

VITAL COMPONENT The advancement of the agricultural sector is imperative towards the general development of the people and especially, “in the plan for reducing poverty.” Pressing forward with this view, it stated that some of the strategies offered include improving management, infrastructure, agricultural technology, access to credit by small farmers, diversification and rehabilitating and maintaining drainage and irrigation systems, as well as farm-to-market roads.

In order to ensure a proper commencement and sustainability of such a project, a loan agreement to the value of US$12,432,236 was signed by the government and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF). This amount, it is hoped, would assist in the mitigation of some of the problems that may be encountered.

The loan arrangement is divided into two components and so far most of the work being done is under the first component. This includes rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation systems within the four project areas, as well as land preparation such as ploughing and chipping. So far, most of these projects have already been completed.

In the case of Ithaca the activities completed from the above-mentioned projects so far included 7.52 Km of new irrigation canals; the excavation and rehabilitation of primary 14 Km of drainage channels; the construction of three irrigation structures; 12 fair weather dams were rehabilitated; the preparation, which included ploughing and

Farm lands before infrastructural works were done; what it looks like after

chipping of 100 acres of land has already been completed.

FARMERS GRANT There is also a subcomponent that comprises of the Institutional Strengthening and Farmers Grant, that involves a budgetary allocation of G$80,000,000 (US$650,000) and this amount is currently being implemented across the four villages.

In this case, technical and extension services will be provided to the farmers by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute and the Guyana Marketing Cooperation.

Additionally, four one-acre demonstration farms will be established in the four project areas by June 2019. Further, each registered farmer will receive a Grant of up to G$50,000 (US$250) in planting materials and farming implements.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

In the phase two component of the RAID project excavators, bulldozers, tractors and framing implements are some of the heavy equipment that will be purchased in order to facilitate the rehabilitation work. It will also help to enhance the capabilities for the rehabilitation of drainage and irrigation system under the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

Very mindful of the operations and maintenance of the RAID machinery, the MoA has stated, “The equipment will be under the responsibility of the NDIA. The NIDA will build on the works completed by the RAID project by seeking to employ members of the existing Cooperatives and Neighbourhood Democratic Council for the maintenance of the canals, drains and access dams within the four project areas. Financing for this maintenance comes primarily from annual government appropriations.

The project, which was implemented by the Agriculture Sector Development Unit, Ministry of Agriculture in December 2016, has an ending date of June 2020.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

XIII

XIV

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

‘I AM US’

THE Ethnic Relations Commission on the March 9 and 10 presented to the public Neaz Subhan’s play ‘I am Us. The play was given to yours truly to read and make suggestions which were done, then the play was presented to the full commission for consideration and further exploration.

As I contended that the subject matter of racism between two families that lived in apparent harmony could explode when the question of political loyalties aroused, that provides a significant insight into the ‘other’ social microcosm that exists- whether it is composed of myths, falsifications, adulterated truths, and genuine cultural differences that give rise to contentions real and imagined. Guyana has, from the post-emancipation, a clash of cultures evolved with definitions and stereotypes of each group with colonial help. With the vacuum of not understanding the different philosophies of survival that emerged over a few thousand years in the continental ‘Old countries’ with the variations of humanity that arrived here, innate philosophies emerge at conflicting levels upon interaction with opposing values. This is the unearthed foundation that the play rests upon.

The play addresses through a real-life scenario at a grassroots level among friends, where disagreement in the absence of a wider pool of clarifications that are demanded for an honest and sober exchange, simply do not exist in the wider public consciousness, because we do not engage in tough discourses about our perceived differences. Thus they react with the inherited language of contempt for ‘the other’ whispered by those old people.

Therefore, I am US is a precedent, at a level for adult and secondary school audiences, which will certainly force the commission to consult and have answers for the many “why’s” that young minds will throw beyond the stage in their need to understand in-depth - for instance, what went on from at least 1838 to 1966, before reaching further into the mythic worlds of older origins.

‘I am US’ did receive some bad publicity that I should clarify. The author signed a licence contract that permitted the Commission to use his play and extracts of it. This fee was less than GYD$500, 000 but it was rumoured that the author received an enormous amount of some $3.5M, in fact. The entire production cost less than $3.4M which included actors, ads, NCC, food, transportation etc. In the real world G$3.5M is not an enormous amount, depending on what entity you’re licensing a play to, and where in the contract they indicate that they intend to take it. At the launch, I invited my media colleagues and public groups to engage the ERC in public dialogue on the subject of racism, because as an artist I have experienced racism thrown against my work. That reminds me of an analysis a foreigner residing here alluded to; she said that the politeness of Guyanese society gives the impression that there is an incredible homogeneity existing among variations of human-

ity despite roots of opposing cultures. But she soon learned from her child, who related certain questions in respect to things told to her by other students that there is an unclean element of defining the other existing.

I was a young writer and illustrator who took his work to a major beverage company in the 80s. The then Marketing Manager took a look and responded favourably. He proposed to use the comic to promote the new line of beverages. The year was 1983 and the name of the book was ‘THE SPEAR’.

When I returned the mood was changed and charged with hostility. He threw the book on the desk where I sat and told me, “I will never support this, your reference to Israel is saying that ‘Jesus’ came from black people” and that was it. The same castigation came with the ‘SHADOW OF THE JAGUAR’.

It was perceived as a Black superhero and thrown out of the Chronicle in early 1993.

Then again in 2008 with ‘LEGEND OF THE SILK COTTON TREE’ Forbes Burnham was struck out of the play and efforts made by the director to insert other stuff that I successfully resisted, based on the contract I designed. Forbes Burnham in 1949 was the Lawyer who had represented Kate Fullington, who was an integral reference to the content of the play. And my experiences with vibrant undercover racism did not stop there.

So when I read Neaz’s play, I recognised its relevance with the mandate of the ERC, which is not only a complaints desk commission, but with a broad mandate to make a real uncompromising difference, that will at times be not en vogue with certain mainstream propaganda, as our President warned: “It will be at times a thankless job”. ‘I am US’ is where the public discourse begins. Across this country there is a need to understand, a request for clarity and an appeal to intercept the ugly secret doctrines preached and forced into the minds of the most innocent of our citizens; our young- by persons who know better, and by those who don’t.

The NCC audience who saw the play was receptive; the actors did their job well. I have invited the media and serious members of the public to engage the ERC to expand the conversation. I know from experience that

XV

THE PRECEDENT

what needs to be understood from a cultural perspective on the subject of bigotry, never had a collective discourse, but I did witness on TV recently ‘Jumbie Jones’ and some actors reflecting on the subject. We have got to start somewhere and the Arts have been a tremendous influence in this area. In North America that was even segregated before Nazi Germany ‘Raison in the Sun,’ ‘To kill a mocking bird’ and the 2016 series ‘This is

us’ among other dramas have pioneered and contributed to inspire the rationale of our common humanity because to ignore the ugly is to our own peril.

Neaz Subhan’s play ‘I am US’ is all Guyanese in content with relevance and lurking apprehensions. It will be feared and ignored by political Pharisees and their media hecklers, but it should not be, by brave and enlightened Guyanese.

XVI

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

FILES E S A C COURT

Court of Appeal negated Magistrate & Full Court rulings

Found agreements between mother & putative father enforceable A MOTHER, seeking maintenance from the putative father of her child was induced by the father not to attend court and to rely on an oral Agreement for the payment of $10 per month, which he dishonoured.

The resulting effect was that neither of them attended court on the day of the hearing, causing the magistrate to dismiss the summons.

The mother, Nora Williams, instituted new proceedings against putative father, Sedial Persaud, claiming $110, representing 11 months payment for the child as per agreement, but the magistrate dismissed the claim as illegal and unenforceable.

The woman appealed to the Full Court, which upheld the magistrate’s decision.

She then resorted to the highest Court in the land - the Guyana Court of Appeal – which court was constituted by Chancellor E. V. Luckhoo & Justices of Appeal Persaud and Victor Crane.

The Appellate Court found that the agreement was enforceable and valid and set aside the decisions of the Magistrate and the Full Court.

The appellant was granted the sum claimed as well as costs for the courts below and the Court of Appeal.

The facts of the case disclosed that on the 9th October 1964 the appellant gave birth to a child, of whom she alleged that the respondent Sedial Persaud was the father.

On her application, a summons was issued and served on the respondent requiring him to attend court on the 1st April 1965.

On that day he denied paternity, and the matter was adjourned to the 29th April.

Neither party appeared on that date, as the respondent had asked her to settle the matter and promised to give her $10.00 per month “for the child”. The magistrate struck out the summons for non-appearance.

On the 6th May 1965, the parties enter into a written agreement purporting to record what they had orally agreed to. In the agreement the respondent to pay to the appellant on or before the twentieth of each month a sum of $10.00 per month, ‘from the month of May 1965 to assist her to maintain one of her children” The appellant, in turn, pledged and agreed that “as long as this amount is paid to her she will not proceed by way of Court for its recovery”. However, nowhere in the agreement was it stated that it was because of the oral agreement that the parties did not appear at court on the 29th April.

Despite frequent demands by the appellant, no money was paid by the respondent under the agreement, and in April 1966, she

By George Barclay

instituted proceedings in the magistrate’s court for $110.00, representing payments for 11 months under the agreement. The defence was a denial of the indebtedness and in the alternative a plea that the agreement was void and/or illegal and/or enforceable. Only the appellant gave evidence. The magistrate dismissed the claim and on appeal, the Full Court upheld his (magistrate’s) decision. On further appeal to the Court of Appeal, that court held:(i) an agreement between a mother and putative father of her child for its support in consideration for a forbearing to continue affiliation proceedings is recognized by the law, as valid and enforceable; (ii) the fact that no consideration was expressly stated in the agreement is no bar to a successful suit if there is evidence of a collateral oral agreement which embodies consideration; (iii) collateral agreement apart, there is nothing to prevent the court from looking at the history of the transaction which led to the making of the document for the purpose of determining whether there is consideration; (iv) from the evidence the appellant refrained from attending court on the 29th April, to proceed with her cause because of the respondent’s promise, and this constituted sufficient consideration; (v) the fact that her forbearance preceded the agreement did not constitute it a part consideration., The appeal was allowed.

Attorney-at-law, M. S.E. Brotherson represented the appellant while Doctor F.W.H. Ramsahoye appeared for the respondent.

In delivering his judgment, Chancellor Luckhoo said, ”The appellant, a single woman (whom I shall refer to as ‘the promisee,’) gave birth to a bastard child “Seenauth” on the 9th October 1964. She alleged that the respondent (whom I shall refer to as ‘the promisor), was the father of that child, and made application on oath on the 4th of March, 1965, for a summons to be served on him to appear before the magistrate to answer her complaint (he having contributed to the support of the said child within 12 months next after birth) as provided for under section 3 of the Bastardy Ordinance, Chapter 40.

“The promisor was duly summoned to appear before the magistrate touching the premises on the 1st April 1965, when paternity was denied and the matter was put down for the 29th April 1965.

“The promisee did not attend court on the 29th April, 1965, as she ought to have done, for the reason that the promisor had asked her “to settle the matter”, and promised to give her $10 per month “for the child”, When the matter was called up before the magistrate on that day, both parties were absent, no doubt in compliance with the oral agreement reached, and the matter was struck out by the magistrate.

Turn to page XVII►►►

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XVII

Benefits of being an only child

AS I should have predicted, last week’s column on the benefit of siblings brought in a heap of responses which ranged from “did I miss out from having siblings?” to “please write on the benefits of being an only child so my daughter could stop begging me for siblings”. The truth is, both sides can be reliably argued so yes, there are also many benefits to being an only child.

Only children are often stereotyped as spoilt, attention seeking and lonely or anti-social but this is far from the truth regarding the majority.

There have been just as many studies on only children (as they are on those with siblings) that have determined a wide range of important advantages.

Research shows that only children are more comfortable around adults and develop social skills at a younger age due to the amount of time spent with adult company.

They learn to form connections and relationships with a wider demographic of people which they highly value because it wasn’t the given opportunity of a sibling.

They tend to learn morals, responsibility, cooperation and respect for authority at a younger age than most due to the over exposure of parental values and standards.

They prematurely develop independence, self-esteem and a strong self of self which ◄◄◄ From page XVI

“On the 6th May, both parties entered into an agreement in writing which purported to record what was orally agreed upon., That agreement showed that the promisor had agreed to pay to the promisee “the sum of $10 per month commencing from the month of May 1965 to assist her to maintain one of her children”. Further, it was stipulated that “this amount must be paid on or before the 20th day of each month “ and the promisee specifically agreed to accept the said sum from the promisor and further agreed and pledged “ that as long as this amount is paid to her she will not proceed by way of court for its recovery”. But it was not there stated that the non-appearance of the parties at court on the 29th April was because of an oral agreement to contribute specified sum for the support of the child.

“The promisor paid no money under this written agreement despite demands made by the promisee, who consequently in April 1966 sued him for $110 under that agreement being the sum due for the months of June 1965 to March 1966, 11 months at $10 per month.

“The defence on this claim before the magistrate was a general denial of indebtedness. In the alternative, it was said that if an agreement was entered into as alleged “such agreement is void and/or unenforceable”. “The promisee gave evidence in the course of which she tendered the agreement

makes them less likely to be susceptible to peer pressure. Only children tend to have higher self- confidence because they are more often than not self- taught in many areas where others had siblings to learn from or model after. As an adult, this opportunity makes us more likely to try new experiences without serious fears of risk or failure.

Only children are more likely to be focused and determined as they have no energy built up towards in-house competition. They have no one to be compared to, to live up to or to set a good example for. They have unrivalled access to their parents and all the resources they can provide. This allows the child to feel protected and valued.

Studies show that only children are more inclined to be more imaginative in both play and work which tends to make them more creative. They learn to be content alone and in their own company - which I think is probably the most important. This means they learn to not rely on others for happiness and comfort, but rather to look internally for safety and comfort.

One researcher wrote “From what I have seen, only children tend to be powerfully parented. Well attached to parents and well nurtured by them, the only child receives a lot of parental attention, affection, acceptance, and approval”.

I don’t think it’s accurate to say that

and, by consent, a certified copy of the case jacket in the bastardy proceedings accompanied by her application on oath.

She testified that the child mentioned in the document is the child mentioned in the affidavit ., Under cross-examination, she denied the suggestion put to her that the agreement was made because the promisor was “sorry” for her as she had nine children to maintain. She also denied another suggestion that she had summoned the promisor” as he had some worth”.

“Her simple and straightforward evidence remained unchallenged, as the promisor led no evidence, and no objection was taken to any of the evidence which she had led.

“The magistrate dismissed the claim for reasons, which I find nebulous and almost incomprehensible.“On appeal to the Full Court, it was contended on behalf of the promisee that the written agreement “ was a binding enforceable contract,” and for the promisor, the document did not disclose any consideration, and if it did, such consideration was past consideration”, Chancellor Luckhoo explained.

In giving judgment for the appellant, the Chancellor also noted that the Full Court had given no reason or advanced any authority in support of its conclusion in upholding the decision of the magistrate.

Other judges of the Court of appeal concurred with the judgment of the Chancellor.

only children are spoilt because they actually have no one around to share responsibility with. I remember often fighting with my sister about who would feed the dog or do the dishes; only children just have to do it.

These children are often stereotyped as selfish but my observations have shown just the opposite. Sometimes, they are more generous simply because they didn’t have the opportunity to share growing up.

If you’re an only child who remembers a lonely childhood, there is an equal (most likely more) number of people who remem-

ber being distressed or even traumatised by a sibling. Think of it this way, you will always be the favourite child; no one there to steal your stuff. Most importantly, while your siblings would have always stood up for you, you have instead learned to stand up for yourself. Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Suicide Prevention Helpline (open 24 hours) – 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444 or 600-7896. Do not be afraid to reach out!

Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

NAREI’s intervention helps young farmer to harvest over 60,000 pounds of watermelon

KUMAR Ramdass, a 21-year-old farmer in Little Biaboo, Mahaica was in all smiles early this week when he harvested over 60,000 pounds of watermelons, thanks to the intervention of the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute

(NAREI).

Not only did the institute provided guidance to the young farmer, but it helped him to find a market for some of the watermelons.

“This is what we like to see, young people getting involve in agriculture and making a

From right is the young farmer, Kumar Ramdass; Somwattie Pooran- DeSouza; the farmer’s father and NAREI’s CEO, Dr. Homenauth

living for themselves,” NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer said.

Ramdass’ parents are farmers and when he finished high school four years ago, he went straight into farming.

His first crop was watermelon since there is a market for the fruits. However, his first couple of crops did not do well due to a disease affecting the fruits. This caused him and other watermelon farmers in the area to solicit help from NAREI. Dr. Homenauth explained that farmers in Little and Big Biaboo were suffering financially because their crops were being affected by a watermelon-borne disease.

“These farmers were investing their time and money and they were not getting a crop or if they did, it was not a lot and the quality was not marketable.”

NAREI’s boss said that after he heard what was happening in that area, he immediately dispatched a team to find solutions and help out the farmers. Spearheading that team was Research Scientist, Somwattie PooranDeSouza.

The team visited the area and conducted research and experiments to improve the productivity and sustainability of the watermelons. DeSouza said that she did an IPM (Integrated Pest Management) with fertilizer and fungicide.

“Basically, we tried to get farmers to use the correct fertilizer requirement for watermelon and the appropriate fungicide to control the bacteria and proper irrigation. Now that

they are following our advice, they are getting a crop,” DeSouza said.

The 21-year-old farmer said that before NAREI’s intervention—he would sometimes harvest 24,000 pounds of watermelons. With his last crop, he got 60,000 pounds of watermelons.

Ramdass is now advising other persons, especially those who are unemployed to follow his footstep. “You can never go wrong with farming, you get to eat and make money,” he says.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

XIX

Informed consent in dentistry dicate high restoration.

Next, you can purchase a mouth mirror from the dental aids section of your local pharmacy. It will look just like the one the dentist used except that it will probably be made of plastic rather than metal. There should be no ‘catch points’ restoration between the teeth when you floss. It should be smooth; thus, you can use your fingernail to test this and to

THE most important service you can do for yourself as a dental patient is to be informed. Be aware of what your dentist is proposing for your treatment. Let us assume that he has told you that you need one ‘simple’ cavity filled. Which tooth is it? How can you prevent any similar cavities from forming? What type of filling is needed?

How much will it cost? Ask plenty of questions if you are uncertain of what is going on, or what is about to happen to you. It is your tooth and your mouth, and you have every right to know what is going to happen!

Informed consent is a very important aspect of dental care today. Patient education about necessary treatment alternatives, or the ramifications of no treatment, should be accomplished at the diagnostic appointment (such as when you go for your routine tooth cleaning and checkup). Economics do sometimes dictate which option you must elect. For example, you might decide on amalgam (silver filling) rather than gold only. The amalgam may not be the best choice, but it will save the tooth until you can save enough money to select the better choice. Ask what your options and risks are in selecting a particular course of treatment.

Having a thorough understanding of your needs allows you to understand treatment plans before treatment is started. For every procedure, you need your dentist to inform you about treatment alternatives (advantages and disadvantages), cost, risk and ramifications of non-treatment.

If you have any doubts about the necessity of restorations, the experience or expertise of the dentist, or if there is anything else that bothers you do not hesitate to speak up. The dentist cannot read your mind. If the problem is one of confidence in the dentist, do not hesitate to change dentists or at least seek another opinion.

Now, let us assume that you have chosen a dentist, and you need restoration on your lower first bicuspid. Do you know which tooth this is? This could be very important information to know later. Why? What if you get a toothache on a vacation? If it is on the left side, you can tell any dentist that you recently had a filling on the lower left first bicuspid, and thus the toothache might be coming from that tooth. You need to be able to communicate with a new dentist who is not familiar with your dental history. It is also helpful to be able to communicate effectively with your regular dentist. In the beginning, a toothache is localised. Later the pain becomes diffused and it may become difficult to determine the source.

If you are informed, you could be a great help in diagnosis.

It’s also important to know how deep the filling was and whether pulp capping (sedative medication placed on exposed pulp) was necessary. You could be helping yourself out of an uncomfortable situation later.

In addition to the technical side, you should take into account the human aspect. A big question is: Can you communicate with your dentist? Find another dentist if the answer is a big ‘No!’ Finally, after you get home, you can examine the treatment done by your dentist. It is quite easy, provided the dentist placed a silver or gold filling. Does it feel as though the filling is hitting first when you bite down? If the answer is ‘yes’, go back and tell your dentist. He can ‘adjust the occlusion’ (fix the bite) by grinding down some of the dental restoration.

What for tooth sensitivity or sharp pain, which also may in-

make sure that you have no obvious open margins (spaces) between the tooth structure and filling material. An open margin can eventually lead to decay under restoration.

If there is a question of the quality of the service provided, first bring it to the attention of the dentist who provided that service. If you get no satisfaction, seek the advice of another dentist or your local dental society.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

XXI

Government goes to the people

IF YOU were trying to move around town-around the upper Brickdam areaon Wednesday, then you probably know that the area was really congested. Why? Well, that was the day there was this novel ‘Government comes to the people’ public outreach event.

What happened here was that all of the government ministries brought representatives into this single space so that persons can have access to information and garner some assistance with their concerns. As expected, a majority of the concerns brought to the public day dealt with housing solutions. You know—owning your our home is one of those material goals that we all have, so why not?

It was refreshing to see Ministers out in the field, among their constituents, handling their concerns personally. Junior Minister of Housing, Valerie Patterson Yearwood- the most sought after person that day- was definitely ‘in the thick of things’. At any one point in the day, you could see hundreds of persons at her tent, with their documents in hand eager to get a house lot. And at the same time, you could hear her voice over the crowd begging for some order.

And it was the same for her ministerial colleagues who interfaced with citizens throughout the day-- albeit not as many.

Now the concept of a public day, or open day, is nothing new. Several ministries and

ministers have opened up their offices before and afforded their constituents with the opportunity to come in and visit these-- in an attempt to provide some redress.

There have also been public events where ministries took their personnel into communities. Again, there was Yearwood in the thick of things just a few weeks ago during several outreaches to the community of Sophia. The aim of these events was to listen to the concern of the residents here and specifically, help with regularising their lots or relocating those living on the government reserves.

What was nifty about this public day was that all of the ministries and the associated agencies, like the National Insurance Scheme (NIS), the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) and alike, were at one location. And what this meant was that several concerns could be addressed in one day because of the close proximity of the bodies. Less time for the ‘whole day’ sit down, you know?

Now, from being on the ground, the consensus was that the initiative was a good one.

That was almost a given. And according to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, events

Jack of all Trades Denoila Bristol

LIMI T ING yourself to a specific field or area of interest is usually the route taken by individuals to eventually master a trade.

However, there are some who believe that humans are limitless, hence, there is no settling in one field, but rather, grabbing opportunities presented in various areas of interest.

This week’s personality is the ‘jack of all trades’. Masseuse, Part-time Model, Teacher, Fitness Instructor- you name it- Denoila Bristol has done it all.

The 21-year-old who hails from the mining town of Linden said that throughout her school life, she was known to everyone as “the girl that does everything”. This was due to her participation in most school activities such as; writing, composing and singing calypso, dancing, playing steel pan, track and field, cricket, and even engaging in school debates.

Even after school, Bristol continued with the same trait. She said that

she moved to Georgetown, she joined dancing classes and effortlessly knew that it wasn’t her passion so she quickly transferred to the Black Hawks Martial Arts Association, doing mixed/freestyle Martial Arts and evidently fell into her comfort zone.

In 2010, the young woman represented Guyana in Wind Ball Cricket against Trinidad & Tobago at a five-day, 20 overs match.

“However, I never found the urge to follow up on that sporting discipline.

In 2013, I was asked to fill a spot in the weight lifting sport where I had to undergo every day training for five weeks in order to make the trip to Lima, Peru, where the first South American Youth Games were hosted. Fortunately, I succeeded and did make the trip. From then to present I have developed an undying love for the sport and I plan to progress,” Bristol said.

She shared that after completing high school, as a reward for her success, her parents sent her on a one month vacation in Trinidad.

“While enjoying my stay in Trini, I was introduced to modelling and Pro-

fessional makeup by a Guyanese-born, Trinidad-based Fashion Designer, Makeup Artist and Photographer; Kerby Young. So now I enjoy the runway and the adventure of makeup. This exposure allows me to be a part-time model and to do my own makeup for events,” Bristol said.

She is currently the owner, founder and trainer of Insane Fitness where she provides group training as well as personal training to the fitness world.

Also, she’s the Physical Education and Health and Family life Education Teacher at the recently established school, Morgan’s Learning Centre.

Bristol is also a certified masseuse in Swedish full body massage.

“I aspire to become a qualified international physiotherapist and fitness instructor with a Degree in Sports Science and/ a Fitness Phenomenon… The quote I live by and encouragement to every individual is ‘The fact that you aren’t where you want to be, should be enough motivation’, and that is what keep me striving to higher heights,” Bristol expressed.

like these spotlight the need for the decentralisation of resources.

“You shouldn’t force people to come to the government, the government must go to the people and you should have decentralising of functions-- you should have a spread out in the rural as well as the hinterland areas of government services,” the Prime Minister said.

The public day was massive and remains to be seen is an event with these features being taken to other parts of the country-- not just Georgetown. And for the PM, that is exactly what is needed. He opined that ministers and ministries ought to make themselves available to all citizens, and I can’t say that I disagree with him.

This reminds me of when Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry took a spontaneous trip to President’s College a few months ago.

Her aim was to see what a normal day for the students was like and from this, she pledged to increase money allocated to their meals. Or the other time when the psychosocial mobile visited students of Mae’s Secondary school-after they tragically lost a colleague. For me, those were good examples of ‘touching base’ with the people.

For now, I’ll wait to see those housing schemes being developed quickly so that the people could get their house lots as soon as possible.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Safeguarding the rights and welfare of Guyana’s children

These children wait patiently for President David Granger to autograph their programmes after an interactive session with them.

“CHILDREN have the right to survival, children have a right not to be abused, they have a right to care, they have a right to be educated – to be sent to school, children have rights, a whole lot of rights just like adults…a right to have a name, a right to an identity…their right to a family, if they don’t have a family, the State should provide a family,” says Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA), Ms. Ann Greene.

The Agency was created pursuant to the Child Care and Protection Agency Act of 2009 with the mandate to ensure that the rights of children are respected and honoured by their parents and caregivers. The CCPA, which falls under the ambit of the Ministry of Social Protection, has offices in eight of the Ten Administrative Regions of Guyana.

According to the Act, a child is “a person under the age of eighteen years and shall also include a person who attains the age of eighteen years while under care or protection in accordance with any law or is, because of some disability, certified by the Director as being in need of care or protection…”

The Agency also gets its powers from several other Acts of Parliament such as the Childcare and Development Services Act of 2009, Sexual Offences Act of 2010 and the Custody, Contact, Guardianship and Maintenance Act of 2011.

In addition to the Child Care and Protection Agency Act, these provisions of the laws of Guyana allows the Agency to adequately address issues of adoption, child neglect and abuse, alternative care/foster care and ensuring that childcare facilities such as day-care centres meet the prescribed standards and re-

quirements for the safety and proper growth and development of children.

INCREASED INTERVENTION THROUGH REPORTS In 2018, there were over of 4,900 reported cases of child abuse; 2,400 of those cases stemming from neglect. As of January this year, the agency received over 400 reports of child abuse, 122 of which were of a sexual nature. According to the statistics, 60% of child neglect occurs when a child is between the ages of 4 – 13 years old, while 83% of child sexual abuse occurs when a child is between the ages of 8-18 years old.

However, Director of the CCPA said that reports are just the tip of the iceberg. “Child abuse is a hidden crime and particularly, sexual abuse is behind closed doors and some of the victims, they literally do not have a voice to report abuse, meaning many children are being abused and they can’t report. So even if we do get a report, that’s the tip of the iceberg” she said.

She explained that an increase in reports of child abuse does not mean an increase in the incidence of the offence, but rather, it is the result of the work that the Agency has been doing to get more persons to recognise what constitutes child abuse and report such cases to the Agency.

Ms. Greene said too, that an objective of the Agency is not to have persons view children as miniature adults, but rather, as children who need protection from adults who are inclined to abuse them.

Recognising that a healthy family-life provides the best environment for a child’s development, the Agency has been conduct-

ing capacity building sessions with parents while seeking out support from volunteers and various religious groups in an effort to expand its partnership programme.

“We are here to help parents, we are here to provide the support that parents need to care for their children. We help to build the capacity of parents…we have programmes going to help parents deal with their personal dysfunction so that they can be a better parent. So, there is help, but the thing is we have to get parents to co-operate,” Ms. Greene said.

She further stated that the last thing the Agency wants to do, is to remove a child from their family. According to the Director, partnering with parents and the community is pivotal to the success of the CCPA. “This work here can’t be done in isolation, child protection work is never done in isolation, so we have a big partnership programme going on where we want to partner with individuals and groups at

and monitor childcare facilities to ensure that they are meeting and maintaining the minimum standards set out in the regulations so that they can be issued with licences.

Executive Officer of Early Childhood Development, Ms. Lavern Thorne explained that “the regulations stipulate some of the things that childcare providers have to do in order to ensure that children are given quality care. There are things in terms of the environment, what the environment has to entail, we are talking about the amount of space that the children need, how caregivers should treat with babies…For instance, if you are caring for a baby, a baby should not just be put there with a feeding bottle and be left alone.

Babies need attention, they need to be held, they need for you to communicate with them while [they are] feeding… Children need the maximum amount of care and love, attention, touching and all of those things” she said.

In 2018, the Agency issued a total of 131 licenses to childcare facilities. Additionally,

This students assists President David Granger in cutting the ribbon to commission a David ‘G’ school boat that will serve her community.

the community level, even faith-based organisations, because together we could help families and could help children,” she said.

EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT Ensuring proper care and development in a child’s earliest years is also an important aspect of the work of the Agency. In 2016, through the Early Childhood Unit, the department launched its Childcare and Development Services Regulations, to monitor the institutional observance of child rights.

As a result, the Agency has a group of Registration and Licensing Officers that go out

it launched its “Back to Basics” reading programme, in an effort to increase parent-infant interaction while encouraging healthy development.

“A baby needs to hear your voice, 80% of that child’s brain from birth to three, is developed. So, if you’re not communicating, you’re not talking with the baby, you’re not doing the things that you’re required to do, the child will be left neglected and the brain will not develop the way it should be developed. So, we encourage parents, talk to your baby, sing to your baby, start reading,” Ms Thorne said.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019 INSTITUTIONALISATION: A LAST OPTION Added to its proactive approach to the protection of children, the CCPA has the responsibility of ensuring that children who are wards of the State, are safe. As such, in keeping with its mandate to provide institutional care, the CCPA will be opening two group homes this year. This initiative stemmed directly from the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Bill which was passed in 2018.

This new Act now minimalises the criminalisation of young people by striking out former offences, like truancy and referring those cases to CCPA. Ms. Greene says that these homes will accommodate no more than six persons, allowing them to sit at a family table every night.

Although the State is responsible for placing persons in institutional care, it is by no means a permanent option for the CCPA and as a result, adoption becomes a more desirable alternative. Manager of the Adoption Department, Ms. Kaycina Jardine says that the Agency’s policy is to have children grow up in families.

“We wouldn’t want children to be in institutions or any alternative care for a lengthy

President David Granger embraces a child during his visit to Shulinab, Upper Takutu – Upper Essequibo (Region Nine)

XXIII period; it’s not necessary for that to happen and adoption is a way where children can be placed in a permanent family to be cared for because we know for children to have healthy development, one of their rights is to a family,” Ms. Jardine said.

With adoption however, certain criteria must be met in order to guarantee the child’s welfare.

“We will have to do police checks, we will have to do background checks, there are medicals that are involved, references of course and we have to check the environment [in which] this child is going to be. So, be it biological relatives or non-biological persons who want to begin a process for adoption, those are things that we have to look at because we need to ensure that where this child is going to be placed is secure for that child and it’s in the best interest of the child,” Ms. Jardine said.

In 2018, the CCPA facilitated a total of 80 adoptions, 51 of which were local while 29 were international.

The Government of Guyana prioritises the care of those who cannot yet care for themselves and is fully invested in and committed to, the stable and nurturing upbringing of all of Guyana’s children.

Director of the Child Care and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Green (seated centre) among representatives of the religious community at the Umana Yana in Georgetown after a meeting on the role of religious bodies in child protection.

Minister of Social Protection, Ms. Amna Ally distributing books at the launching of the ‘Back to Basics Reading Programme’ by the Child Care and Protection Agency at the East La Penitence Health Centre.

Executive Officer of the Early Childhood Development, Ms. Lavern Thorne (left) and Director of the Childcare and Protection Agency, Ms. Ann Green (right), unveil ‘Back to Basics Bookshelf’ in Region 10.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019 ◄◄◄ From page VII

Bartica Mayor Gifford Marshall

So we are very grateful for where regatta is today and we would have seen a transformation in terms of the planning and execution,” Marshall added.

Quite a youthful team has been put together to pull off the event that will run from April 14 to 22. This year’s calendar of events will also see the staging of a Gymkhana, and the Regatta Comedy Show, complemented by the much- anticipated dirt bike racing and the ‘Miss Bartica Regatta Pageant’. A bird whistling competition will be introduced this year.

“If you cannot come because of accommodation, then jump on a boat cruise and come have fun. You need to come and experience our love, our pride and our landscape and all that we have to offer. Come for the party, stay for the fun,” Marshall expressed.

Michael De Santos, another member of the organising committee, said this year’s regatta is slated to be the best that had been had over the years, as the sporting disciplines have been hyped the best so far.

Cianna Persaud, another member on the committee recalled that Bartica has executed over 45 years of exciting aqua sporting tourism in Guyana, a feat unknown to anyone else.

“We own that. It’s Bartica’s own and we are taking it back by storm. The Easter weekend regatta is the place to be; there is nowhere else. Anything that you love, we have something for you. Any entertainment that you need, we have it for you.

So Bartica regatta, don’t miss it.”

Persaud said this year is aimed at being the best in the traditional sporting events which would have included basketball, volleyball, football and cricket and new this time, the bird whistling competition. The police gymkhana is also included in this year’s event. ◄◄◄ From page VIII

Meanwhile, residents recalled the Pre-Independence period of the 50s, before the Guyana Water Inc. even came into being. Ironically this interview was done in the midst of the observance of ’World Water Day 2019’ and so Mrs. Wilson recounted vividly what the times were like when housewives laboured to secure water for use in their homes.

A LABOUR OF LOVE The residents recalled that for years leading up to Independence, Nelson Street (the longest and most populated Street in Mocha) had but one standpipe which serviced the needs of the residents out there. During the rainy season, rainwater was secured for cooking and drinking purposes. But largely, the residents contend, it was a labour of love, so they did it without complaining.

Meanwhile, other innovative means had to be employed for women to acquire water to do laundering and other household chores. Mrs. Elsa Wilsons recalled that women of the village would join a boat in the Mocha Canal and travel all the way to ‘Pepper Hill’ Watch House, a short distance away from Farm on the East Bank Demerara, then on to the aqueduct at Sage Pond. There they would collect clean fresh water and fetch it all the way back home, driving down the Mocha Canal by boat.

Today, Mocha- Arcadia now has potable water supplied by the Guyana Water Inc. and accessible round the clock. There is no more sharing of a public standpipe which was referred to by villagers as ‘the well’. In retrospect, they refer to it as a ‘labour of love’.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

XXV

TRUSTED SMART PRODUCTS FOR A BETTER DIGITAL WORLD ON March 15, World Consumer Rights Day was celebrated worldwide. There are several large and well-endowed consumer bodies in the world. For example, in the United States of America, their consumer bodies were able to field a serious candidate to contest for the Presidency of the United States. India has a large and well-respected consumer association which has a number of publications to its credit. But the most known consumer body in the world is Consumer International to which nearly 100 countries are affiliated and which is based In England. The Guyana Consumers Association is affiliated to Consumer International (CI) and it is under the auspices of CI that World Consumer Rights Day is celebrated.

Consumer International keeps in close contact with national consumer organizations and assists in making programs for World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) which would include the content of public presentations, posters and other such promotional ideas. The theme for the year is fully explained and since it would have been relevant to all countries, it would be applicable everywhere and would be a process of improving the lives of consumers. Consumer organizations, worldwide, communicate with each other and exchange ideas and at WCRD a sense of deeper fraternity envelops them and CI encourages such contacts which strengthen the Consumer Movement. As part of this fraternal contact, every two years a world Consumer Conference is held. This year’s World Conference will be held in Portugal.

Consumer Associations and Consumerism as we know them today first emerged in the early years of the 20th century.

Western countries, in the 18th and 19th centuries, had experienced their Industrial Revolutions and thrown up a powerful and able capitalist or “bourgeois” class who produced goods and services in quantities and availability not known before in Human Civilization. Both the workers and the consumers were in danger of being exploited by this capitalist class; the workers by being paid low wages and being put to work in dangerous and unhealthy conditions and the consumers by being charged higher prices or being supplied with poor quality goods. In the early years of the Industrial Revolution, there were no organizations that could provide an outlet for various grievances and this naturally resulted in conflicts with such groups as the Luddites in England who destroyed industrial machines or the saboteurs in other European countries who threw their sabots (wooden shoes) into the machines and disabled them, Fortunately, trade unionism came about to give an outlet to workers’ grievances and various consumer activities, notably the Cooperative Movement, came to be used as an outlet for consumer grievances.

By the last quarter of the 19th century, it was clearly realized that the emergence of trade unionism and various movements to protect consumers prevented violent responses and even revolution and brought about social stability which was in the interest of the property-owning classes and indeed everyone else. Accordingly, when modern Consumerism and Consumer Associations emerged at the beginning of the 20th century, there was no bitter hostility against them since it was realized that Consumerism was able to extend competition, ensure better quality of goods and bring about satisfied customers, all of which were in the interest of the business classes as well as of the consumers.

In Guyana, there are four main consumer bodies, the Guyana Consumers Association, the Consumer Department of the Ministry of Business led by Ms Cheryl Tinnis, the Competition and Consumer Commission led by Ms Dawn Holder and the Consumer Advisory Bureau. They work very closely together and support each other’s activities in the interest of the consumer community. At last WCRD, the activities were largely educational mainly reminding consumers of their rights. addressing consumer complaints and above all insisting the consumers do not compromise with the principle of ‘Value for Money’.

Each year WCRD focuses on an issue of universal consumer concern and this year’s theme is “A better digital world - Trusted Smart Products”. More than half of the world’s population use smart products including smartphones, though the actual instruments in use number 23 billion or three times the world’s population.

With such a large portion of the Earth’s population being

in the Digital World, it is necessary that their privacy and security be protected and they use systems which are safe and fair. Consumer bodies in every country would, therefore, be approaching Governments and the Industry with a programme or agenda to achieve these goals. Among the main points of that agenda would be:1. Consumers should have access to an affordable high quality, high-speed instant connection to enable them to take up the opportunities brought about by the “Internet of Things Technology”.

2. Consumers’ connected products with basic security as

standard and updates should be provided for a reasonable period after sale so that hackers can’t access consumers’ data or alter the functionality of the product.

3. Consumers’ data and privacy protection rights must be properly protected to address harms such as discriminatory practices, invasive marketing, loss of privacy and security breaches.

4. Connected products should abide by interoperable and compatible device and software standards to avoid lock-in effects and enhance consumers’ ability to easily compare and switch providers.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

Ti Jean and His Brothers to be Staged at the National Cultural Centre

THE National Drama Company of Guyana (NDC) in keeping with its mandate to showcase theatrical productions that will benefit all Guyanese, including the students of our country who will be writing their CSEC Literature exams pretty soon, will be staging productions of Derek Walcott’s “Ti Jean and His Brothers” at the National Cultural Centre on April 3, 4, 6 and 8 (matinee performances) and on April 6 (evening performance).

The play written by the St. Lucian Nobel

Laureate, Derek Walcott, is particularly wellknown in the Caribbean where it is studied at both the high school and university levels.

“Ti Jean and His Brothers” tells the tale of three brothers who set out into the world and encounter the devil, who challenge them to complete various tasks without displaying their emotions. The first brother relies only on strength and the second brother relies only on book-knowledge, while the third brother, Ti Jean, uses his kindness and common sense to best the devil. The story is lurid one, filled with

“Ti Jean and His Brothers” to be staged by the NDC

forests and talking animals( a frog, a cricket, a bird, and a firefly), fable-like, with a central moral in its heart. The play deals with themes that everyone in the Caribbean can appreciate, from the history of colonisation to religion and folklore. Figures like the old man of the forest, Papa Bois, and the spirit of the unborn child, Bolom, also make appearances which reinforce some of these thematic elements.

“Ti Jean and His Brothers” has been on the CSEC syllabus for the past few years and, in fact, in its first year on the syllabus, the NDC staged a production in 2016 which serves as the basis on which this new production of the same play is built. The 2019 show brings back a lot of the elements which were successful the last time around. These include the use of live music (by musicians, Kimberly Samuels, Ricardo Primo, and Lisa Douglas) in the production, through the use of violin, recorder, guitar and, of course, drumming. Live music in Caribbean theatre has its roots in the ritual/ folk traditions upon which our theatrical forms are built.

The use of extravagant costumes has always been a part of both Caribbean theatre and the NDC’s output and in this particular production, the costumes continue to be topnotch, of a quality that is not common on the Guyanese stage. The pieces are designed by

Esther Hamer and include everything from the various guises of the devil (old man, planter, etc.) to the various animals involved in the production, including wings for the bird and long legs for the cricket, to the veiny, dark monstrosity that is the Bolom. The whole thing promises to be an enigmatic and magical affair, swamped in the colour and vibrancy of the Caribbean.

The play is led by an all-star cast of actors who represent the crème-de-la-crème of Guyanese theatre. Mark Luke-Edwards plays the devil who tries to trick Ti Jean into giving up his life. Nicholas Singh plays the role of Papa Bois, the sinister old man of the forest who serves as a form of the devil.

The Bolom is played by a leaping, twirling Esther Hamer, and the demons are relayed

by Kimberly Fernandes, Akbar Singh, and Ayanna Waddell. Nirmala Narine is the Bird, O’Neilka Bacchus is the Cricket, Tikoma Austin is the Frog, and Sonia Yarde is the Firefly. The three brothers are played by Ackeem Joseph (Gros Jean), Keon Heywood (Mi Jean), and Kemo Cort (Ti Jean), respectively. The mother of the three is essayed by Nicola Moonsammy.

The production is directed by Subraj Singh and Al Creighton and is staged managed by Ayanna Waddell.

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The wings combo.

When asked about the response, the young businessman related that it has been overwhelming because they can barely keep up with the demand since it was supposed to be just for brunch but now they get orders all day.

He pointed out that the business wasn’t supposed to be an all-day operation but customers are flocking the place in droves and they do not want to disappoint them and have since made an exception to take all orders within the specified closing time.

Menu Waffle Boss GT has six different types of waffles such as chocolate, vanilla, cookies and cream, blueberry, and strawberry with sides including fries, wings, eggs, sausages, plantain, bacon, and cheese.

In addition, there are toppings of white chocolate, gummy bears, and fruits. To compliment the waffles they also offer milkshakes, iced tea, smoothies and waffle cones.

Preparation starts early with the frying of the wings and making the batter for the waffles from scratch since everything is done in-house and freshly prepared under strict hygienic supervision.

According to Daniel, the waffles takes three to five minutes to make and they usually deep fry the chicken wings early because they don’t want customers to wait long for their orders.

XXVII Most of the ingredients are bought locally while the ones that are not available here are substituted.

Waffle Boss GT employs seven persons in which chef David is in charge of manning the operation while Daniel would assist when required and their father does the delivery of orders via his motorcycle.

Daniel told the Pepperpot Magazine that over time they will expand with a new location which is more spacious for a dine-in restaurant and will offer a 24-hour service.

“We have a vision and it is for our business to flourish in terms of becoming a large scale one where we can provide employment for more people and for customers to dine in a very spacious and comfortable space as well as for it to become a family business,” Daniel said.

He stated that they are regular folks who, grew up in Bel Air, Georgetown but lost their house to a fire, a few years ago.

As such, they are still in the rebuilding process and they may move their business there when the construction is complete in another six months.

So far, the feedback from customers has been nothing but good coupled with a few suggestions which will be realised when the business evolve to a new location, said Daniel.

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Animal Rights in Guyana DID you know that Mac Cosmetics, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate, Vaseline, Stayfree are all brands that test their products on animals? I came across this information on Keisha Beharry’s Instagram page; (@klei.gy). She is a Guyanese artist who also finds time to advocate on her social media about animal rights. In a discussion I had with her, Keisha explained, “Animals in Guyana suffer, and have always suffered. For decades, we have cultivated

negligence and disregard for animals and their welfare.

Guyanese are desensitised to the idea of animals being capable feelings and sufferance. It is continuously and thoughtlessly passed onto children through cycles of seeing parents treat animals that way. Our people rarely realise that feeding your pets spoiled or turning food is equally as dangerous to them as it is to us. Dogs can get parasites from food too; dogs can get belly pain and discomfort too.

They just don’t have the voice to say it- to say anything.

Many persons get animals as pets just to get them crass so that the animals will be more effective in guarding. I think this is counterproductive. When you care for, love and show affection to an animal, it is all the more protectiveness that animals hold for you.”

She continued by saying, “Animals are companions; they are creatures capable of love; they are intelligent and they deserve to be THOUGHT of as they SUFFER just as we do. We get colds, we get arthritis, we get fever, strokes, heart diseases and so do animals. We get ingrown nails, they get ingrown claws. We can vocalise and express our pain and discomfort; we can change and help ourselves. They cannot.”

By now, you all should be aware that I am from Berbice. There are donkeys and horses on carts all over the road, stray dogs and cats roaming the streets. There’s a norm for us in Guyana to see these animals around but if we are to visit developed countries, it is completely different. There are laws and policies to follow when it comes to animals and their rights. In fact, in 2018, there was a reform to the Animal Welfare Bill in Guyana. It addressed the well being of domestic animals, particularly with regards to their shelter, food supply and humane treatment, preparing Guyana to trade internationally and increase production.

The abuse of animals can be linked to the abuse of family members. In fact, studies have shown that persons of a violent nature abuse animals at home first before they think about abusing their children/partners/family members. Hence, 85 percent of families that struggle with domestic violence, also have the issue of animal abuse. Fur coats, the use of elephant tusks, the captivity of wildlife are all for human pleasure but at what cost? Is our aim to be the only species left on this planet?

Many types of wildlife are endangered or even extinct because of the actions of our fellow human beings.

Many of us have come to the realisation that because animals are voiceless, there is no way they can have basic rights comparable to that of humans (food, shelter, no to abuse). Organisations such as Animal Welfare Activists of Guyana and Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals all help to make the Guyanese public aware that this is an actual issue that plagues our country. Guyana is known for its vast eco-systems, wildlife and rainforests. This helps to boost tourism and we gain foreign exchange. However, we hype the dense areas of Guyana with these traits while there is animal abuse occurring across the country. And while many cultures of Guyana are dependent on animals for its survival, it is important that we recognise the effect it has on the animal population and species survival. Not a single creature on Earth has more or less rights to be here.

An article alone cannot desensitise your thoughts on this topic but perhaps, imagine yourself living in a world where your voice cannot be heard and your rights are contemplated upon based off intelligence and relevance. With that said, I’ll end off with a quote that we should always keep in mind, “Be kind to every kind, not just mankind.”

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel

... Inspiring lives through fashion

Living with Intention in Arizona

ARIZONA is now added to my list of favourite places in the United States. My fabulous cousin and two co-authors from Women Across Borders live there. Although it was my first visit, it did not feel that way because of the hospitality I experienced every second of my time there. .I reconnected with my cousin Yoland after 15 years and our time together was priceless. We compared good and bad notes about our dads who are sadly both deceased.

Living with Intention/ Women Across Borders was hosted by Bethany Love Hanna who shared her story in Women Across Borders-With a Mission. She said in her opening remarks that the opportunity to be part of this anthology has added so much purpose and intention to her life. She feels convicted to make a positive difference in other women’s lives. Shanon was one of the dynamic women who presented at the event. She is featured in my latest Amazon bestseller Rising from the Ashes. She is unbreakable and unstoppable in all areas of life. She has overcome the 3 D’s: Death, Divorce and Disease and is passionate about assisting women to overcome. How fitting it was to launch this book Pheonix because The Phoenix is often referred to as a firebird, because it dies and is reborn out of the fire. The lineup featured Nicole Brown, Sidney Leigh, Arie Matisse and Tamra Blenkenship.

One of the things I noticed at this event is my first book Living With Intention always outsells the others. The feedback from my presentation was so encouraging and many women are interested in my online classes. I have received many messages which reminded that my story is impacting people around the world.

Please allow me to share one with you: “ Sonia, on my ride home, I cried. I cried tears of joy for the first time in a long time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to spend the afternoon with you. You are someone that I now look up to.

You have inspired me to be a better woman.

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Guyana hopes to defend title of Miss Black San International

Guyana’s 2019 representative at the Miss Black San International Pageant, Nichola Munroe

AFTER bringing home the crown two consecutive years, 2017 and 2018, Miss Black San Guyana 2019 team is confident that the crown will be awarded to Guyana for the third time.

Mwanza Glenn, who is the newly appointed franchise director for Guyana, told the Pepperpot Magazine that his team is aiming to continue the winning trend with Guyana’s representative.

He unveiled that this year’s selected queen hails from the Essequibo Coast and is the embodiment of what the pageant demands.

Glenn, who is a local designer, and has theatrical experience, said that he believes his level of expertise and the persons he has on the team, will certainly guarantee the third win for Guyana.

He said that it is within the team’s interest to ensure that they sell Guyana well, and the many talents that our country possess.

This he said, will be done by incorporating, the skill set of other great Guyanese who can make relevant contributions, as opposed to it being ‘a one-man show’.

Given that the pageant is a swimsuit pageant which showcases body confident, Glenn said that a message that they want to endorse is being confident in your own skin.

On March 9, 2019, the Essequibo native, Nichola Munroe, was selected as Miss Black San Guyana and is being prepped for the International pageant which will be held in St Kitts and Nevis in April.

“Although the preparation for the pageant was a bit late, the dedicated and hardworking team of professionals will leave no stones unturned, ensuring that our queen is prepared for every leg of the competition,” Glenn emphasized.

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You have motivated me to want to do better not only for my life but for others. I will be following you very closely.

Thank you so much for your words of encouragement and your kindness. You are an incredible woman and I can’t even find the right words to tell you just how great you are.

I would honestly have to make up a new word because none even come close to how magnificent, incredible, awesome and inspirational you truly are.”

It is an accomplishment. Even if there is just one person you caused to have that mind shift, chances are that person will go on to do the same. I also introduced my clothing line to Arizona so women are wearing Sonia Noel Designs there. My signature long braids again was a hit and assisted in people starting conversations with me which is already leading to business opportunities.

I swear if I ask for $1 per compliment I will be so rich lol. I am not physically there but very soon Living with Intention will be on air in Arizona, God’s willing. One of the highlights of my trip is meeting the Bergers family, owners and co-founders of the Tree of Life Movement.

Their mission is to unify mankind through a global spiritual awakening ignited by the realisation of the power held by human intention. We instantly clicked and know we will be collaborating in the future. The pic in this article features speakers wearing the intention necklace with the founder. I trust all the ladies and the guys who supported had a great Women’s History Month and that each took away something that can help you or someone else. Let’s go into a new month with this momentum to share and care and continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY. ◄◄◄ From page XXX

Miss Black San Guyana Team, he said consists of the following: Trainer and Pageant Expert Mr Paul Charles, Professional Photographer/Nude Artist Brian Gomes, Secretary/Entrepreneur Ms Radiante Frank, Rose Blush Artistry C.E.O (Makeup) Ms. Roslyn Forde and Hair Expert/Stylist Ms. Shevon Douglas among others.

“It is without a shadow of a doubt that Miss Guyana Black San International acknowledges the legacy left by the previous beauty ambassadors, and hopes to bring even more to the forefront putting our beautiful country Guyana on the map once again. We are thankful for all of the support we have been getting, with hopes that through pageantry we can stand to unite our people, not only to support our country representative but to support the Cooperative Republic of Guyana,” Glenn further noted.

THE QUEEN Nichola Munroe is 24 years old and grew up on the Essequibo Coast where she currently lives with her ailing 72-year-old father, who despite his illness, still finds the will to farm and stay strong. Munroe says that her father is her inspiration.

The young woman who describes herself as beautiful and charismatic said she lives her life by the mantra “have your smile change the world, but do not allow the world to change your smile”.

“After losing my mother at an early age, I grew to be quite independent. And because I’m passionate about helping the sick and needy, I attended the Georgetown School of Nursing and received honours in nursing research. Later on, I wish to pursue studies in medicine and hopefully, later specialise in Gynaecology,” Munroe said.

She shared that her introduction to the world of pageantry was the Miss Guyana World Pageant in 2018.

“I decided to pursue my budding passion for the performing arts and apply to participate in the pageant. To my surprise, I was accepted. While the pageant was not without its challenges, I rose to the occasion, and travelled the length and breadth of Cuyuni Mazaruni, Region since that was the region I was appointed representative of,” Munroe said.

She also shared that during her involvement in Miss World Guyana, she made it known that suicide and abuse must be prevented and if all our basic human needs are met then the world can be a better place.

“In the end, my hard work paid off. On the final night of the Miss World Guyana pageant I received the title of Miss World Guyana Sports and Fitness 2018,” Munroe said.

Being a sports enthusiast and a fitness fanatic, she believes in taking care of her body. This was the element that caught the eyes of the Director of Miss Black San, to have chosen Munroe as Guyana’s representative.

The team believes, as well as the queen, that she will continue the legacy that Guyana has created in the international leg of the pageant.

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English

STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, At this delicate stage of English Language study, there is reduced classroom control over what you write and how you organise your ideas. Your free expression is now encouraged; and the range of communication tasks is now extended. Keep in sight the ever-important sentence-linking and sequencing that help tighten and effectively express your ideas. Keep prac-

tising steadily as this marks real study progress. Pair work and group work are still extremely valuable for certain activities during this time.

Love you THE PASSAGE Rewrite the passage, correcting the errors in spelling, grammar, and usage. Add any missing punctuation. There are twenty-five errors.

Henri Cartier-Bresson

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

1Born in Chanteloup, France, in 1908 the photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson ranks among the Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note, worlds great photojournalists.

As his corse to the rampart we hurried.

2The son of a wealthy thread manufacturer he began drawing CHARLES WOLFE (1791-1823) The Buriand painting when he was very al of Sir John Moore at Corunna, i young. 3Recuperating from an illness at the age of twenty-three nor do I really like …. As for …., I absohe discovered photography. lutely hate it!

4Cartier-Bresson believed that a pho2) Attempt the two questions below. tographer should record life as it is, not as Dear Jack, the photographer wants it to be. 5Disliking I hear you are changing your job the posed pictures common in studio pho- shortly. I have a suggestion! Why don’t tography he liked to recapture the “decisive you come and live with us? At the moment moment” of a situation the moment in which there are four of us sharing this flat, but one the essence of a scene is revealed. 6During person is leaving at the end of the month. the year of 1933, he bought his first Leica large flat / four bedrooms/ one big living camera a small instrument equipped with a room/ kitchen, etc./ near centre of city; arquiet shutter. 7This camera enabled you to rangements as follows/ share all expenses/ take photographs quickly easily, and incon- for example ….. / buy own food. spicuously. 8Indebted to the great films of It all works out very well. And of the past Cartier-Bresson learned to choose course, there’s one great advantage: you expressive images for is photos. 9Trained can make yourself very comfortable here. as a painter he always carried a sketch pad Let me know about your plan as soon as along with his camera. possible.

10In the decade of the 1930s, CartiYours, er-Bresson documented the lives of people Graham in Mexico worked with the great French Questions film director Jean Renoir, and made his 1) Complete this letter with the second own documentary about Spanish hospitals. and third paragraphs.

11Captured by the Germans during World 2) Write back to say that you are interWar II he escaped from prison on his third ested in Graham’s proposal but ask for more attempt. 12Later, he helped establish Mag- information about the following points and num a photo agency. any other(s) you want clarification on: i) how much is the rent? ii) what other exGRAMMAR penses are there? iii) what arrangements are Subject and Verb Agreement there for having guests? iv) is it easy to find Do not be confused by a predicate nom- parking near the flat? v) who are the other inative that is different in number from the people in the flat? subject. Only the subject affects the number 3) Business Letter of the linking verb.

Copy the following communication as a Vases of flowers were the decora- business letter, using semi-block form and tion at the wedding reception. (The plural open punctuation. Divide the letter into verb, were, agrees with the plural subject, paragraphs if necessary. Supply whatever vases, not with the predicate nominative, abbreviations and symbols are necessary. decoration.)

Fold and insert the letter in an addressed Her favourite part of musicals is the envelope. songs in rounds. (The singular verb, is, 1565 Demerara Avenue, Springlands agrees with the singular subject, part, not Village, East Bank Berbice. March 31st, with the predicate nominative, songs.)

2019. Jennings and Marcus, 1673 George’s Something to Practise Avenue, Kingstown, Georgetown. Attention Read the sentences and then underline of Personnel Shopping Service. Gentlemen: the simple subject in each. Write beside Shortly before last November I placed an oreach the form of verb in brackets that agrees der with you for a Dynamite electric toaster with the subject. and oven, which was described in your cataMy favourite paintings of all (is/are) logue, as indicated by the enclosed clipping. flowers.

You have informed me that this article was That bunch of daisies (is/are) my out of stock, but that you will have a supply favourite gift. some time in December. March is now at The most exotic part of the zoo (is/are) an end. Since I have had no further word the rare, wild owls. from you, I am writing to enquire whether I may expect shortly to receive the electric LETTER WRITING ACTIVITIES toaster and oven. I shall appreciate hearing You are already familiar with writing from you. Sincerely yours, Greta Sobers. informal letters, so go right ahead to engage Enclosure. the various activities to strengthen your letSTUDY REMINDER: It is a good ter writing skills. thing to practise writing letters which 1) You are introducing yourself to a pen have, overall, a specific function such friend. Complete this letter with reference as making an apology (a complaint, an to your own likes and dislikes, etc. excuse), sending congratulations, giving Now I’d like to tell you something about directions, etc., and at the same time show myself . One of the things I like doing most how much such tasks will require very (when I have time!) is…. I’m also very fond different uses of language on different of …., and I quite like …. as well, although occasions and in particular how these I’m not very good at it. On the other and, depend on the relationship between you I’m not very interested in either …. or…. and the person you are addressing.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 31, 2019

Creole (Split) Pea Soup Recipe

INGREDIENTS 1/4 pt split peas eschalot celery thyme 1 onion 1 lb soup meat 4 oz salt beef 2 tbsp oil or margarine 2 pt water or stock 1 lb ground provisions 1/4 tsp black pepper dumplings (optional) METHOD 1 Clean, wash and soak peas overnight.

2 Next day, wash and cut up eschalot, celery, thyme, onion and meat.

Soak salt beef for 30 minutes before cutting up.

3 Heat oil until smoking. Lightly fry the onion and eschalot and set aside. Brown any lean meat but not bone or salt beef.

4 Put water or stock, meat and peas to cook in a covered pot.

Bringto the boil.

5 Skim well and add prepared seasonings.

Reduce heat and simmer until peas are thoroughly softened and broken down-about 1 hour. Swizzle if necessary.

6 Peel and wash provisions, cut into neat pieces or dice, add to the soup with black pepper and salt to taste and cook until soft-about 30 minutes.

7 Add dumplings, if liked. Serve very hot.

Serves 12

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