Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 05-03-2023

‘Gender is everywhere’ everywhere’

Award-winning Guyanese-Caribbean gender advocate committed to building ‘gender-just’ societies in the region

Dr Tivia Collins

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Holi Utsav and Rang Rasiya set tone for Holi 2023

GUYANA Hindu Dharmic Sabha (GHDS) is gearing up to host Holi Utsav 2023, an event that promises to feature “fabulous entertainment” as Trinidad’s NevalChatelal joins VishaleSukhram out of New York and “excellent” Guyanese singers, including the effervescent Ganindra.

Everest Cricket Ground is undoubtedly the place to be this Phagwah Day, March 7, where admission will be free. Tassa drumming, dances, colour throws, Phagwah games and much more will be on board when the gates open at 16:00 hours.

“All are invited to an event that is perfect for the entire family, all ages, and represents the true spirit of Phagwah,” GHDS told Pepperpot Magazine.

The Sabha’s strict no-alcohol policy will be enforced. Meanwhile, in setting the tone for the Hindu celebration,

the Sabha also hosted the much loved Pre-Phagwah Mela “Rang Rasiya” yesterday(Saturday) at the Dharmic Rama Krishna School tarmac, which adjoins the Giftland Mall Parking Lot.

When gates opened at 16:00 hours, persons were able to experience the heavy aromas emanating from the hot and tasty samosas, potato balls, pholourie and pakoras, or settle down for some ‘seven curry’ in a leaf.

“Even if you have a sweet tooth, the variety of sweetmeats, which includes pera, barfi, gulab jamun and jalebi will satisfy your cravings. Dharmic Sabha is encouraging families to come out in their numbers to enjoy a festive

Trinidad’s NevalChatelal will joinVishaleSukhram out of New York and other Guyanese singers

GHDS said the event is perfect for the entire family

Everest Cricket Ground is undoubtedly the place to be this Phagwah Day

Holi Utsav 2023 promises fabulous entertainment

SEE PAGE LXIII

‘Gender is everywhere’

Award-winning Guyanese-Caribbean gender advocate committed to building ‘gender-just’ societies in the region

DR TRIVIA COLLINS

is proud to be one of the persons at the forefront of transforming how gender and gender relations are viewed in Guyana and the Caribbean.

She has set for herself a

for equal opportunities for women and girls as well as inclusive societies across the region.

But her adamance to pull back the curtain and explore the impacts of gender in society and social relation-

career.

mission to push the frontiers of research and discourse on gender studies to address inequalities and injustices and to lead efforts to challenge norms, and advocate

ships, especially in the lives of women and girls from vulnerable communities, was not what she had intentionally envisioned to do or to pursue as a lifelong

Yet despite facing adversities, Dr Collins was conferred with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies

(awarded High Commendation) from the University of the West Indies – St Augustine Campus (Trinidad and Tobago) in October 2022.

She has also accomplished a long and rewarding list of academic publications and achievements highlighting her commitment as a specialist in the field toward building gender-just societies.

Growing up in a family-oriented home in Plaisance, East Coast Demerara (ECD), Dr Collins reflected that as a child she loved reciting poetry. For her, there was amusement in how words could powerfully give meaning to different things.

She shared that her mother, Pauline Collins, often urged her to ‘choose a career that will feed you as you feed your love’. These encouraging words about making the right decision proved to fortify Tivia’s interest in thinking about her role in society as a young

SEE PAGE XIX

Dr Tivia Collins graduated with her PhD in Interdisciplinary Gender Studies from the University of the West Indies – St Augustine Campus in October 2022

Dr Tivia Collins and her mother, Pauline Collins

Dr Tivia Collins along with her PhD thesis supervisor, Dr Levi Gahman

Street food in Guyana

By: Chey Khan

STREET food stands have been in existence for as long as we can remember and are known as a ‘spot’ or place we can go to get a quick snack, from traditional local creole foods and treats with a cold glass of mauby or sugar cane juice to wash it down. These little stands have been a “life-saver” to us many times when we do not know what to make at home or carry to school or work.

In comparison to street food vending from ten to twenty years ago, street food vendors have elevated and made their food options and surroundings into a welcoming place for everyone. The Pepperpot Magazine roamed the streets of Georgetown to observe the operations of well-known street food vendors and their delicious variety of offerings.

The multicultural experience

Lucia is originally from Guyana but moved many years ago to Venezuela. Over a year ago, she returned to her homeland and has her little stall, ‘Elena’s Special’, where she sells along the roadside opposite the Mon Repos market from Mondays to Saturdays.

With her makeshift stove, you can get your pholourie, chicken-ball, fish-cake, egg-ball, and bake with chicken right off of the fire. Due to the situation she was faced with in Venezuela, Shanti sought it better to return to her birth county along with her family to live and open her little street food stand.

Carolina and her family also lived in Venezuela for most of their lives, and for most of her living, she sold street food, selling Venezuelan dishes. When they moved back to Guyana about four years ago, she opened a street food

stand

selling what she knows best -- Venezuelan dishes. Carolina has been selling at the sea-wall for three years at a location named ‘Meeno- Original Latino Fast Food’. She shared that her business offers a different taste and

other locations so Guyanese can experience not only the Venezuelan hot-dogs and burgers, but also their grilled meats which are grilled to perfection.

experience to Guyanese. Carolina hopes to expand her street food business to other locations with some help from the Government. She also hopes to pass the business on to her children so they can carry on the tradition of sharing both their Venezuelan and Guyanese dishes.

Franyelys, along with her uncle and aunt are born Venezuelans and migrated to Guyana two years ago. Their street food stand is located on Sheriff Street, oblique to Amor’s Pizza.

Her uncle and aunt have their own stand where they would sell Venezuelan-style hot dogs and burgers, and not only do they do the regular size, they also do twelve-inches hot-dog which are loaded with chicken, salami, beef, hot dog sausages, eggs, calabrese sausages, and many condiments, apart from the hot-dog; they also do a massive burger which comprises the same.

Franyelys and her husband on the other hand do bar-b-q grilling, where you can get grilled pork, chicken, beef, and calabrese sausages with fries and that mouth-watering garlic sauce.

Even though Franyelys and her family are out late, she shared that whenever there is a homeless person walking by or asking them for money, she would give them food that she has to sell or money from her sales made previously. She noted that her heart goes out especially to the elderly so once she can help them she will.

She hopes that she and her family can open

On the ‘line top’

At Plaisance ‘line-top’, on the East Coast Demerara railway embankment, another vendor, Oneka, shared that she never saw herself selling street food or being a street food vendor since her previous job was selling clothes.

Oneka occupies one of the stalls, ‘Triple J Creole Spot’,

along the roadway in front of Plaisance market. Her venture started out in 2019. She was asked by the original stall owner to ‘hold-on’ and just occupy the stall, which eventually became hers.

She stated that it is not so easy selling her street food since she does all her preparations and cooking on her own. “Being a mother and having a family is not easy,” she explained. “Most people would work an eight to

Family Sized Bar-b-q from Meeno- Original Latino Fast Food (Photos By- Chey Khan) 12” Hot-dog

Franyelys Aunt and Uncle at their hot-dog and burger stand Mixed Grilled

Vegetarian Cook-up with Fried-fish from Triple J Creole Spot

Remainder of White-pudding from Touch of Taste Delight

Creole Stand at Mon-Repos Market

Eddy Grant is the most famous Guyanese in the world

PLEASE join me in extending “Happy Birthday Greetings” to Edmond Montague Grant - our own Eddy Grant - who celebrates his Birthday today, March 5. Eddy is the older brother of Rudy and Alpine Grant. Brother Rudy, though not as musically accomplished as Eddy, has given Guyana that ever-green patriotic song, “Mash in Guyana” which will most likely be around for decades and decades to come. Meanwhile, the youngest brother, Alpine, is doing extremely well as a successful businessman. There is so much to learn about family, love and togetherness from the Grant brothers.

It is most likely that no one will find it surprising to learn that Guyanese-born, Plaisance-native, and international entertainer, Eddy Grant, is regarded as the most well-known Guyanese internationally.

The talented songwriter and singing superstar is wellknown all around the world, from America to Australia; Britain to Brazil; Canada to Cambodia. Eddy Grant is also a household name in Zambia and Zimbabwe. No wonder Eddy saluted the African continent with his up-beat song of brotherly greetings, “Hello Africa. How You do Africa?.” He even respectfully includes some Swahili sentences in the song - “Hey, jambo wana wa Africa.” So beautiful.

Eddy Grant is a singing superstar and an ambassador in the Performing Arts. Another one of his songs, “Gimme Hope Jo’Anna”, throws the spotlight on (then) Apartheid South Africa, which many of his fans as well as political and social analysts, are of the view, that Eddy’s song helped in a great way, in the struggle to dismantle the evil system of apartheid in South Africa. Eddy Grant has since done extremely successful shows in Cape Town, South Africa, and has been close to President Nelson Mandela. “Living on the Frontline”, “Romancing the Stone” and “Walking on Sunshine” are also songs by Eddy Grant that have all remained popular over the years. However, after over 40 years, his most popular composition, “Electric Avenue” does not have a single ‘pothole’ - so to speak - and gives listeners and dancers alike a smooth ‘ride’ every time. In my opinion, his song in tribute to young ladies of our Capital city, “Georgetown Girl” needs to be given much more ‘Air Time’ by our local Disc Jockeys.

When “Electric Avenue” was first released in 1982, I was residing in England, and I made it my duty to go and see the famous street. I have to admit that I was somewhat disappointed. I had expected to see a six-lane thoroughfare

Jonelle De Viera is a Special Woman

WEDNESDAY, March 8, 2023, is observed as International Women’s Day.

This year’s observance is under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

The Pepperpot Magazine focused on a special person who has worked in media for several years and is now attached to the Food for the Poor Organisation as its Public Relations Officer.

We sat down with DeViera, and she told us about her life, how she handles challenges and tragedies, and much more.

“I deal with challenges by trusting God and focusing on making things better,” De Viera told Pepperpot Magazine

She expressed that she is confidentand strong and has developed the ability to handle pressures and circumstances that she faces daily.

As a media practitioner, juggling work and multitasking is never easy, and De Viera shared with that working in the media world is very challenging yet rewarding

According to her, she has met and interviewed people from all walks of life. She related that she has learned a lot from the very interviews and interactions that she has had with these persons.

DeViera told us that she literallydepends on God for strength, and when faced with the complexities of life, she noted that she focuses on achieving her goals one day at a time Everyone in life deals with adversities and tragedies, but

DeViera says, “dealing with tragedies is never easy. I express myself to my friends about how I feel. I embrace it but don’t dwell on it for too long. I give myself time to grieve also,” she told Pepperpot Magazine.

She related that when her father passed away, she was still at University, and dealing with the grief, pain, and anguish can be a tumultuous experience.

“To some extent, I am still dealing with the pain and the loss. Sometimes I would say,‘If Daddy was around, we probably would have done things this way.’ But like we say, time heals the wound, so that for me was the biggest tragedy that I have experienced so far in my sojourn on the earth,” DeViera said during her interview.

with heavy traffic going by in both directions; instead, it is a tiny street at the side of the Brixton market - somewhat like our Bourda Street in Georgetown, which is at the western side of the Bourda market.

However, similar to our Bourda Street, there is an extremely wide range of household and everyday merchandise on sale at reasonably good prices. As such, people “Rock down to Electric Avenue” and make purchases for which their meagre budgets can readily manage. Incidentally, “Electric Avenue” got that name because it was the first street in that area to have received electricity, way back in 1880. It has since been made known internationally by the Eddy Grant song that bares its name. In those early years, after he broke away from his Group “The Equals”, every song that Eddy Grant released, shot to the top of the British Hit Parade.

Indeed, Eddy Grant was “Walking on Sunshine” all the way to the Bank. What a successful Guyanese and International entertainer! More recently, in 2016, Eddy Grant was invited to switch on electricity on a new illuminated street sign in Brixton, England, bearing the name “Electric Avenue.”

DeViera grew up in South Ruimveldt and went to school, first at St. Margaret’s Primary School and then on to St. Roses High School.

Before getting into the media, she worked at a number of places in the country.

The advise that she would give to women, who have found themselves in dire situations and pain is,“ Hold on, don’t give up, it is just a temporary situation, this too shall pass.”

DiViera is a kind, decent and generous person, who has spent her life ensuring the needs of others are taken care of and everyone has an opportunity to shine in their time and season.

She is someone who has had her fair share of tragedy and loss but picks herself up and moves on from strength to strength.

“Managing my time is challenging but I prioritize very well and have a to-do list and stick to it as best as I can,’ she said.

Eddy Grant (Photo from caribbeanlife.com)

Big Biaboo, Mahaica River

A farming community with a lovely landscape

By Michel Outridge

LAST week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the remote villages of Big Biaboo (also called Martin’s Burial Ground) and Little Biaboo and several other smaller villages in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) to highlight the way of life of the residents.

These villages are located on De-Hoop Branch Road and are among the last villages on that long stretch of road in the Mahaica Creek/ River area. The other villages include Grass Hook and Joe Hook.

The team encountered Vijay Nandram and his family. They have the last house just before the savannah which is utilised for the rearing of cows.

It is their weekend house and the land is used for farming. At the time of the visit, persons were there to clean up and do minor repairs to the building, which was damaged from the flooding last year.

Nandram is a furniture maker who has his furniture store at Grove Public Road, East Bank Demerara but resides at Mon Repos, East

Coast Demerara. He explained that, during the floods, he lost his entire crop, and, after two years, he was there to restart his permanent crops.

Nandram had to re-paint,

repair and clean the entire place and had brought in some plants to start his crops again.

His wife, children, relatives, friends and neighbours were there and they had brought a large pot of chicken cook-up rice and some cold beverages to spend the day at Big Biaboo to get things in order.

The furniture maker told the Pepperpot Magazine that he suffered a significant loss during the period of the flood. He lost more than 100 cherry trees, among other crops and after he allowed the land to fully dry it was time to re-plant his farm.

Nandram added that even the bananas and plantain trees did not survive the flood which lasted about three months on the land.

He reported that he inherited the land from his father, who was a farmer and he passed away in 2020 and he is carrying on the family tradition of farming, even though he has a full-time job.

The father of two stated that the house and land in Big Biaboo serve as a getaway for himself and his family because it is peaceful and a nice place for some much-needed relaxation and time away from the ‘hustle and bustle’ of everyday life.

Being the last house in that village and due to its remoteness, many people

Pepperpot Magazine that she is the mother of seven, four daughters, who are married and three sons, two of whom have since died, and the only surviving son is married with children.

She explained that one of her sons took his own life by ingesting a poisonous substance in October last year and he left behind a wife and two children.

They reside in a house next door and she would often watch the grandchildren and provide whatever support was needed.

day trip.

would visit to fish and have a day in the creek right in front of their property and he would often entertain them.

Nandram disclosed that from Big Biaboo, it is easy to reach St. Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri) via the creek and, at times, people would make the

The female farmer Hemwattie Ramdeo is the closest neighbour to Nandram and when the team visited that day, she was there to support the family.

The 54-year-old told the

Ramdeo stated that her husband was also a farmer, bu,t that day, he had gone with a friend to St. Cuthbert’s Mission to catch fish and birds, a pastime he was versed in.

The farmer related that

The loam road section in Big Biaboo Village.

Vijay Nandram.

A day out to graze sheep

This pet dog is contemplating his next move after spending hours in the creek.

Vijay Nandram pointing out where the watermark of flood waters was after he re-painted his farm house.

A closer look at Big and Little Biaboo Villages

By Michel Outridge

BIG Biaboo Village, Mahai-

ca River, is one of those very

leads to Little Biaboo, a village tucked away just in front of the Mahaica River.

It is an attractive little

and is bordered by the Little Biaboo, Joe Hook and Grass Hook communities.

It is the home of most

scenic places that brings tranquility and peace and it is the ideal village to live and earn as a farmer.

It is the second to last village that sits along the 13.5-mile road where there are about 15 small communities; only 10 miles of road are all-weather and the other 3.5 miles are loam-filled.

Big Biaboo is accessible overland and by boat and it

village with about 35 houses scattered over some distance; Little Biaboo is similarly populated.

The locals consist of Indo-Guyanese and it is the home of high-quality bora and rice on a very large scale, which is the main economic activity of the people.

Big Biaboo Village is the second-to-last village

cash crops including bora, corilla, squash, purple ochro, tomatoes, peppers, boulanger and other cash crops, but its main produce is high-quality bora due to the excellent soil composition combined with the consistency of manure and fertilizers.

There is large-scale rice cultivation, livestock, poultry and cattle farming as well in

this village; it is a very breezy place and a haven for all species of birds, making it ideal for bird watching.

The population of Big Biaboo is about 200. It is a farming village where the locals lead very simple and hard-working lives; toiling on their farms, which are accessible via boat, for many daylight hours daily.

The village has no facilities but it is accessible in the neighbouring village of Little Biaboo, where there is a health centre, a nursery school and a few shops.

In Big Biaboo, some sec-

A handful of farmers would sell at some markets along the East Coast Demerara corridor, as far as the Plaisance Market.

In Big Biaboo there is an abundance of fruit trees, plants and flowers.

Little Biaboo

Some distance away is Little Biaboo. This village is the home of Bhagwah Persaud, a cash crop farmer. His family consists of his wife and his son and together, they would venture out to their farm, located

He explained that most times the farmers operate at a loss because the wholesale buyers would sell the vegetables at market price and pay next-to-nothing.

“We cannot go to the markets and sell because it is very difficult to farm and also sell your produce, so we have no choice but to sell to the wholesale buyers. We need a farmers’ market to alleviate this problem of having to sell our produce for little to nothing,” he said.

Persaud added that he would normally buy seedlings for his farm and is

tions do not have electricity but they have potable water supply and internet service from a private provider.

Big Biaboo is a farming village, where both men and women are farmers. The locals eat what they grow and the produce is mostly sold to wholesale buyers who visit.

some distance away from their home to tend to their crops daily.

The 59-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he would sell to wholesaler buyers who would take their produce without paying, go to the various markets, sell them, and return with some money for him.

trying his hand at broccoli for the first time this crop.

The farmer pointed out that the village is safe, but when the men get together to drink, they may catch one of his chickens for ‘cutters’ and then would call him over to eat the same fowl.

Bhagwah Persaud with his broccoli seedlings

The perfect spot for liming among the locals. (Delano Williams photos)

Corilla cultivation and production in Big and Little Biaboo

The hardworking farmers of Big Biaboo

Large-scale food producers

By Michel Outridge

DEVINDRAKUMAR Tulsieram, like most men in Big Biaboo Village, Mahaica River, is a farmer whose main crop is bora which is harvested three to four times per week, giving the farmers a fast turnover.

The father of two told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has reaped from his cultivation for the first time following the floods which destroyed his crops and he will be able to make another harvest next month if good weather persists.

Tulsieram explained that his home is Big Biaboo and it is a place he has to work and live because farming has always been a part of his life.

The 32-year-old disclosed that when he has the time, he would go fishing in the creek or the Mahaica River, but they would mostly have to buy fish for consumption.

Generally, he is taking things one day at a time but stated that due to climate change, the weather is unpredictable; the weather conditions have everything to do with having a good harvest.

Eshwar Rambarran

Eshwar Rambarran is an unmarried farmer who is yet to make a harvest since pests

have overwhelmed his crop of bora following the recent floods in his village.

He related that the cost of farming supplies has sky-rocketed and has a heavy

potable water supply.

Mohini Bhola, the widow Mohini Bhola is a widow who is tasked with taking

water and an all-weather road.

She has been residing in the village for the past six years and she likes the quiet farming life. She was by her

bearing on his pockets as a small-time farmer whose only source of income is farming.

Rambarran disclosed that Big Biaboo is the second to last community on that road with a total of 15 villages, and he is pleased that the road in their village is developing into an all-weather road and they can soon benefit from electricity and

care of two children and she is a part-time domestic worker and a farmer.

Her main crop is bora. Her children are ages five and eight, and she does her best to ensure that they attend school regularly.

Bhola noted that life is fair in Big Biaboo Village and she is hopeful it will get even better when they get electricity, internet, potable

neighbour when the team visited, assisting in preparing a meal of chicken cook-uprice on the outdoor fireside that day.

The 42-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that Big Biaboo is a good place to reside and the people are neighbourly.

Dhanrajie Persaud, the cash crop farmer

Dhanrajie Persaud, better known as ‘Dolly’ has a few neighbours consisting of families; she is quite happy and contented with life as it is.

Persaud, 49, is also a farmer of boulanger, ochro, bora, among other cash crops. On Saturdays, she

would go to Mon Repos Market, also on the East Coast Demerara, to sell her produce.

In addition, she rears ducks and creole chickens.

Devindrakumar Tulsieram (Delano Williams photos)

Eshwar Rambarran

Dhanrajie Persaud preparing a pot of chicken cook-up-rice on the outdoor fireside at her home

Mohini Bhola SEE

The sugarcane farm in Big Biaboo Village

By Michel Outridge

IN the small farming village of Big Biaboo, De Hoop Branch Road, Mahaica, the locals have shown their resilience to overcome challenges, such as the floods, and they have developed ingenuine methods to earn from their homes.

The members of the

It is a small business venture by Nandranie Ramdatt, a stay-at-home mother who takes care of the chores and cooking and even goes to the farm when it is time to reap.

The Ramdatts would drive and sell their homemade sugarcane juice and people would call to make orders for events.

ica River for chores and the garden.

The yard is well-kept and has lots of plants, flowers and trees to beautify the surroundings.

“We like it here, this is our home, and we have to make things work for us so we can earn and have a comfortable life,” Nandranie said.

Ramdatt family are farmers; they have a sugarcane farm in the community and they would harvest the sugar cane and process it from scratch to make pure cane juice.

They have their own mill and after picking and washing the sugarcane, they would pass it through the mill to extract the juice, which is strained and bottled with no additives.

Whenever they process sugarcane, they would do a few gallons at that time for buyers.

The Ramdatt’s house overlooks the Mahaica River and they have done a great job keeping the place clean and tidy.

Under a huge tree, they have a wooden swing for recreation and they would source water from the Maha-

Her husband, Deochand, is a full-time farmer and their son supports him. That day, they had a harvest of ochro.

Deochand inherited the house following the death of his father, who was also a farmer. This month, they

will observe his first death anniversary with a religious ceremony.

The house was built in the 1960s and it is a lovely

He would utilise his bicycle to get to the location from his home.

Ramcharitar would sell his produce to wholesaler

buyers who frequent the village.

“I have been here all my life; I like the quietness, the cool breeze, and the space, so I have to make life here,” he said.

The resident of Big Biaboo told the Pepperpot Magazine that his life is simple and he hopes things will get better in time.

“I wish we can get internet, an all-weather road and electricity soon; that will enhance our lives significantly,” he said.

That day when the team visited, Ramcharitar’s sister was visiting from overseas, and as a Guyanese, she was happy to be back at the place she was raised from birth.

She makes the annual visit to have a dip in the cool, black water of the Mahaica River, a pastime that she will never get tired of.

colonial style with its original windows and wooden design.

The Ramdatts have done a good job of preserving the building and it looks almost new.

Hemchandra Ramcharitar

Next door is the home of Hemchandra Ramcharitar, 56, a farmer and security guard attached to the Little Biaboo Health Centre.

He has a cultivation of plantain, potatoes, cassava and banana in his yard and would work daily based on a shift system.

The Mahaica River which is in the backyard of the home of the Ramdatts

Deochand Ramdatt displaying a bottle of freshly milled sugarcane juice at his home (Delano Williams photos)

The backyard of the Ramdatts with the wooden swing by the tree

Hemchandra Ramcharitar’s farm

Hemchandra Ramcharitar poses at the standpipe in his yard

Scenic Mahaica River - A budding tourist attraction

By Michel Outridge

IT is quite a soothing and therapeutic feeling to sit by any body of water, especially a river, even for a few minutes. However, the locals of Big Biaboo can do that anytime since the village overlooks the Mahaica River.

Many people visit to unwind by the Mahaica River on weekends and it is a favourite tourist spot for foreigners.

It is a nice place to pause for a bit to take in nature at its best; sit under a benab which overlooks the Mahaica River where Lalita Rajpatti’s restaurant and bar is located.

Lalita told the Pepperpot Magazine that both locals and visitors would utilise the benab and bar for recreational activities. Still, business has been rather slow for the past few years due to the pandemic.

However, Lalita rolled with the hard times and reopened her small business. She said it is usually busy on weekends when visitors come with their families and they would request the use of the benab for the day.

Lalita pointed out that they don’t have electricity

but hopes they will benefit soon since the transmission lines were installed last year.

She reported that the mud dam was upgraded to loam and she would like it to become an all-weather road so access can be easy. “I had established this bar 20 years ago, but it had closed down and it was reopened for eight years now so I can earn from home,” she said.

Lalita stated that they had to reconstruct the benab using palm branches and build wooden benches and tables under it for adequate seating accommodation. They also have an outdoor concrete table with three matching chairs around it.

A local from the village was tasked with the construction of the benab which took some time to complete because it is a tedious process which the Amerindians usually master.

It is a prime spot for business and the main attraction is the black, cool water of the Mahaica River, which the shop overlooks; it is quite a sight to be so close to the river.

reation; the bar is also inside the lower flat of the building.

The businesswoman suffered a lot of damage to her property due to the constant flooding last year but opened for business after effecting a lot of repairs.

The shop is the only one on that end after the high bridge in Big Biaboo Village and it is frequented by the natives, who are familiar with the location.

“Mostly foreigners would come here and have a picnic and we would prepare the meals or whatever they request in advance and we are happy people can come here and be treated with our hospitality and enjoy the best of nature such as bird watching and the river tours,” she said.

In this part of the country, it is a bird-watching destination with many species of birds and the river otter is also another attraction in the Mahaica River.

Lalita pointed out that after a long rainy period they had a few days of sunshine. However, when it rains, there isn’t much they can do in terms of upkeep of

came the rain and it hampered us from weeding the yard, but once the sun is out again, that will be done,” she said.

Up to January, they had

standard for visitors.

In addition to the bar, Lalita is a poultry framer who rears meat birds to resell; it is a seven-week cycle but the chickens have to be

“This is home. Even though we don’t have certain basic facilities like other villages, we are still here because it is a lovely place to live and we overcome

Lalita’s house is in front of the yard and attached to it is the shop which is spacious and has a pool table for rec-

a flood, she explained, so they are still trying to have the place in an acceptable

sold since they do not have a freezer for storage due to the lack of electricity.

challenges to remain here as long as possible,” Lalita said.

their farm, which is managed by her husband, Deo Persaud.

“We had a bit of sunshine and the place was dry, then

Lalita Rajpatti at her home beside the Mahaica River

Home of Lalita Rajpatti

The benab in Lalita Rajpatti’s backyard

Lalita Rajpatti’s bar (Delano Williams photos)

Big Biaboo...

she and her spouse would collectively plant bora, ochro, squash and corilla and would sell it to wholesale buyers, who often visited the community.

She is a native of Big Biaboo Village and had lived all her life there, and it was a place she would like to remain as long as possible because she liked the simple way of life as a farmer.

Ramdeo explained that her husband is also a local of the community and, when they got married, she was living in a different part of the village. She shared that life had been a bit bumpy with challenges, but they have always made a comeback somehow.

She added that last year the road was dug out and sand-filled with red loam, which has improved their lives significantly and she was awaiting electricity since the transmission lines had been installed.

The vast rice fields in Big and Little Biaboo, Mahaica River (Delano Williams photos)

Hemwattie Ramdeo.

The Mahaica Creek that runs through the villages.

FROM PAGE VI

PHAGWAH SHUBH! HAPPY PHAGWAH!

GUYANA is one of the few countries in the world where festivals ranging from the very ancient to the contemporary are celebrated. Phagwah is one such festival dating from the Bronze Age and is associated with the Hindu religion. This year it is

celebrated on Tuesday, 7th March.

Like all very ancient festivals, various traditions become attached to them over the centuries and, in this offering, we will touch on three which have become attached to Phagwah. The first is that it is a Spring

Festival. In the Northern Hemisphere, the cold of winter would have receded by March/April and life begins anew. The trees, other vegetation, birds, and animals hibernated during winter-spring to life. Farmers are now able to plough, sow and harvest. Many an-

cient civilizations date their New Year from this time of renewal. Ancient India, and Persia, with its Now Roz did so. In ancient Rome also, their New Year began in March. This is a season of entertaining, festivity and relaxation and Phagwah has continued in that tradition.

Phagwah is known by two names - Phagwah and Holi: The word Phagwah is associated with the month of Phalgun, the month of fruitfulness and spring. The word Holi, on the other hand, is associated with religious teaching and emphasises that Good will always triumph over Evil and Truth over Untruth.

Hiranya Kasipu was a king in ancient India. By very stringent penance, he achieved supernatural powers until God Himself, Lord Vishnu, recognised him and offered him three boons of his choice. The boons granted him were that he could not die or be killed at either day or night, that neither Man nor animal could kill him, and that he could never die or be killed on Earth.

Hiranya

Kasipu now felt that he was immortal, became a cruel megalomaniac and soon claimed that he was God himself. He accordingly ordered all his subjects to worship him as God on pain of death if they did not and his icons were placed in all the temples. The population became completely enshrouded in fear and lost all hope. At this point, Pra-

THE VALUE OF MEANINGFUL STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

PUBLIC participation involves you! This was the theme of last week’s article. Public participation is integral to the operations of the Environmental Protection Agency, and as we would have learnt last week, this can take various approaches. This week, we want to focus on the value of stakeholder engagement - a critical approach to public participation.

What is stakeholder engagement?

This is the process by which companies communicate and get to know their stakeholders. By getting to know them, companies are able to better understand what their stakeholders want, when they want it, how engaged they are and more so, how the companies’ plans and actions will affect both long and short-term goals of stakeholders.

Stakeholder engagement is also an important ingredient for successful project delivery in the environmental arena. However, it is often regarded as a fringe activity or one that can be outsourced to business-as-usual functions. Project managers depend on people to respond to the outputs and benefits that they deliver. People will only respond if they are engaged. Stakeholder engagement includes ways to attract and involve individuals, groups, and organisations who may be affected by a project or may affect the project. Engagements can take many forms, including print media, television and radio programmes, virtual platforms, physical engagement, focused group meetings, public scoping and disclosure meetings, one-on-one consultation, etc.

How does stakeholder engagement differ from public participation?

Stakeholder Engagement is the practice of influencing various outcomes through consultation, communication, negotiation, compromise, and relationship building, thus, arranging for stakeholders to be present and involved. On the other hand, public participation makes individuals’, groups’ and organisations’ involvement optional. In other words, stakeholder engagement is more thorough and intentional.

The importance of stakeholder engagement

Successfully completing a project usually depends on how the stakeholders view it. Their requirements, expectations, perceptions, personal agendas and concerns will influence the project, shape what success looks like, and impact the outcomes that are to be achieved. Meaningful stakeholder engagement is an essential part of professional project management. It not only applies to projects but even when you are starting a business, the feasibility study is important. Connecting with your potential partners, suppliers and customers will help determine the success or failure of your business. Stakeholder engagement provides for several benefits, including:

1. Clear communication and education;

2. Effective decision-making;

3. Building trust and capacity;

4. Economic and cost-efficient management;

5. Risk management; and

6. Accountability.

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

OH, MY KRISHNA, WHERE ARE YOU?

“Sone ki thaali main jona parosa

Are, sone ki thaali main jona parosa

Haan, sone ki thaali main jona parosa

Are, khaye gauri ka yaar balam tarse rang barse

Holi hai!!!

O, Rang barse bheege chunar wali, rang barse...”

SONGS, dances, and colours as the Spring festival of Holi flowed from temples, homes, and onto the streets. It is also a celebration of good over evil, as told in Hindu texts, of Lord Krishna, the dark-skinned God; the flute player from whose enchanted lips flowed the sweetest of music.

The story of Holi had been told and retold by many writers, ageless in time.

This is a story that takes you back to that time, long ago, of Gods and Goddesses, divinity, and the heart and soul of devotion.

On this beautiful spring day, one devotee’s heart was not filled with happiness and joy, for she could not hear the music from her loved one’s flute. Radha sat by the stream in the

forest, alone and sad.

Today she won’t be dancing to the drums and playing with the bright colours for her Krishna was not with her.

“Oh, my Krishna, where are you?” she cried softly.

From a very young age, she had sung the praises of Lord Krishna, day and night, in reverence of her deep love and devotion, and in her pure heart, had lived a dream to be betrothed to someone like her God.

Last spring, on the day of Holi, the music of the flute that only she heard had led her to meet the one whom her heart had spoken for. But close to a year after their marriage, an unexpected disaster hit the family and much of their wealth was lost. Not wanting her to face struggles, he had left for a far-off land to another Kingdom so he could bring back riches for her. He wanted his wife to be like a Queen, and the temples must have marble floors for her bare feet to dance.

How could her Krishna not know, she wondered, that she could be a queen without riches, that his love was worth more

than precious stones, and when her feet danced for the Gods, the dust felt like marble.

She closed her eyes and whispered a prayer,

“Please, Lord, send my Krishna back to me.”

“Radha,” her mother called to her, “Will you come now? It is time for your offering at the temple.”

Radha splashed some water on her face and rose, smoothing back her long black tresses, sadness glinting in her brown eyes.

“He will come back,” her mother gently assured her, “For how long can he stay without his Radha?”

She smiled just a little at those comforting words and went to the temple as the festivities continued with sweet delicacies, laughter, and fun.

She had danced all night last Holi for her Krishna, unspoken words of sublime love in God’s name, but not tonight, at least not yet.

Night came and the tempo of the drums and festivities began to slow as the hour became late.

Radha still hadn’t heard the flute.

She decided to stay in the temple all night to await his return, the candle of hope in her mind staying lit and not flickering. Then as the night became quiet, in her subconscious mind, from somewhere far away, she heard him call her name, “Radha.”

Her eyes flew open and swiftly, she rose to her feet and looked around expectantly but there was no one. She inhaled deeply, the ache in her heart bringing tears to her eyes, then she heard the flute playing softly, as though coming from a far way. It grew more distinct and Radha, joy in her heart, ran down the temple steps, her feet barely touching the dusty ground, all the way through the forest by the stream where she had first met him.

She stopped and gasped in disbelief for he was not there but someone else. The stranger was not dark-skinned with long hair and princely looks.

“This is not my Krishna. Why did I hear the flute?” she whispered, fear creeping into her heart.

The stranger smiled and took two steps towards her, but she stepped back, thinking to run, then he said, “Don’t be afraid,” and stepped aside so she could see what was behind him.

Her Krishna was half lying by the stream, badly hurt, gasping her name.

Radha ran to him, cradling his head in her lap.

“What happened? Why are you this way?”

“The riches he sought for you,” the stranger said, “were stolen on his way home by vicious thieves but the promise he had made to you to return home gave him the strength to stay alive, so he could see you again.”

“I do not want riches,” she said through tears, “Just your love, just to be close to you.”

“I did not know how rich love could be,” he said weakly, “I won’t leave you ever again.”

“Your prayers have been answered Radha,” said the stranger, “For in your heart lives pure love and devotion.”

She looked surprised as her husband sat up suddenly healed of his injuries, and as she watched the stranger walk away, she saw a most wonderful illusion of the Lord himself.

She had asked him in prayers to bring her Krishna back to her and he did.

She broke into tears, overcame by emotion and though it was late in the night, she danced in the temple, in celebration of Holi. A dance of the Gods for her immortal Lord and her mortal companion, Krishna.

The hardworking farmers of Big ...

She also has two puppies that were tied and under the house, playing comfortably.

The local of Big Biaboo added that she would have to leave the village to shop since things are costly at the few shops they have in neighbouring communities. The bulk shopping is done at central Mahaicony and elsewhere.

Persaud is the mother of seven and only two of her children are still residing with her since they are minors.

The team also met a young farmer, Harry Persaud, whose only crop is bora and he would sell it to wholesalers who frequent the community to re-sell at markets and to vendors.

The 24-year-old told the

Pepperpot Magazine that job opportunities are very slim in that part of the country and that one can only earn if they become a farmer.

As the father of two, he didn’t have any other options and he started to cultivate bora even before he was married to earn.

“Around here, our main source of income is farming; we produce a lot of food

here, home-grown, and we sell it to earn,” he said.

Persaud added that he is hoping to acquire more land for farming because he would like to plant bora on a larger scale.

He explained that life would be better when they benefit from electricity, all-weather road, potable water and internet service.

Harry Persaud, the young farmer

After a day of farming, Harry Persaud takes a dip in the creek near his home

Eshwar Rambarran’s farm

Devindrakumar Tulsieram after picking water coconuts

Ducks belonging to Dhanrajie Persaud swimming in the pond in her yard.

FROM PAGE VIII

REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE BELIEVE, LIFE IS A GARDEN, AND WHAT WE PLANT WILL GROW

BEFORE the study of mental illnesses and “brainwired dispositions” became the analysing logic of strange behaviour practices, all behavioral expressions that differed from the common system of accepted social customs were categorised as being possessed by devils, spirits, or gods, depending on where you were born.

Now, we understand that some of us, a few humans, are born without the ability to feel guilt, to be sincere, to observe obligations, and to be loyal to any indicated facial expression. They can present assurances with a smile and mean the opposite, and that particular few were not subject, as we commonly believe, to some traumatic childhood experience. Their brains are just wired differently, and it’s in our interest to understand that they exist, even at high social levels.

However, based on an interesting conversation I had with a friend not so long ago that prompted this column, we complimented ourselves on adjusted customs concerning those close to us; that we

never took for granted the habit of having our offspring in the custom of spending time with relatives without a supervising parental presence. We had both learned from others we have been close to that unprecedented damage to the mind and spirit (value

Our culture was not astute in dealing with damaged minds, though we are going there slowly. The society maintained a pretentious distance, which can only be considered a social-humane disconnect, even with the onslaught of drug addition. That social

protect itself by morphing into something excessive to overcome a brutal personal world of innocence lost. In that vein, we discussed some brethren that have passed our way. These are men whose lost childhood with their shadows and real demons had released

cracks became chasms.

Two passed street-wise characters came up for discussion. Both had known traumatic childhoods. Both were from conditions where a big sister had become a surrogate mother; the other, a grandmother filled the space. Both of these charac-

receptiveness and how it interprets and transcends any order of concepts it is faced with; further localising the reality of how the two referenced street characters (names withheld) dealt with their circumstances, with what we knew, and how they

systems) cannot be casually undone. These injuries to the innocent do constitute the shaping of self-preserving methods that exist in a ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ personality even before adulthood.

disconnect prevails to a greater extent around us. This compels blunt moving on without regard to vulnerable juvenile victims of betrayed trust, whose shredded worldview would

on society their possessed characters, ignored by much-needed interceptions from organisations that should have existed with deeper scrutiny, analysing towards salvaging, before

ters had ‘street creed’ whispers of disrespected flaws, but they transcended the whispers with aggression and violence in their conflict with society at large and the streets. They were, and there are others like them; male and female.

Because our society currently has somewhat retrogressed into a ‘value system of aggressive conspicuous consumption’, for some, there are not too many alternatives toward earning a livelihood. Modernisation has erased the economic soil of necessary low-expertise employment.

In this age of ‘Systems Thinking ’, our local systems are not evolving quickly enough to meet the worlds we are being dragged into with respect to our latent expertise. The perspective cannot be lost to the consideration that we are also competing with the most unpredictable assessment platform in dealing with minds.

‘The Brain’ is still baffling humanity’s best neuroscientists to predict its

evolved a created creed of survival against all else.

I conclude that what is planted will grow, and the options of the social soil will configure and be receptive to either honesty or trickery on its terms. The semi-literate, the authority, and the intellectual are all functioning in the same garden. They both face impending survival options and will conspire towards their own rational or corrupted vision of existence and entitlement. Certain sections of society have used fallen souls, paying them to burn houses and commit murders. To that end, they were terminated.

Regardless of what we believe in, life is a garden and what we plant will grow. Rules of usage govern each plant. Some will nourish, some poison, and others cleanse the body and home. We are also products of this earth. It’s better to manage our grooming, leaving no fungus-covered stone unturned or misunderstood.

‘Gender is ...

FROM PAGE III girl. At first, she nurtured her curiosity for arts and culture by participating in theatrical plays. Several years later, at the age of 16, she enrolled at the University of Guyana – Turkeyen Campus (Georgetown) to complete a Bachelor’s (B.Sc.) in International Relations

“I did one gender studies course at the University of Guyana, and it intrigued me, but I never thought of pursuing gender studies at the Master’s or PhD level at that point,” recounted 33-year-old Dr Collins in an exclusive interview with the Pepperpot Magzine.

With growing optimism in the field of gender and development studies, Dr Collins was eager to examine how social, cultural, and political factors impacted gender. The focus would mean looking closely at the differences in development of women and men and girls and boys.

“My gender lens really started to come in!” Dr Collins remarked, happily.

A Turning Point

During her studies, Dr Collins began to think more about the power of womanhood and how it was seen in relation to the roles that women were socialised into. Roles, she noted, which are impacted by our very traditions. The goal was also to explore how those traditions can create challenges for women’s lives.

“I started to think specifically about gender and the role or place of women and girls in society and the gendered roles in society,” she disclosed before mentioning: “This became my framework for functioning, and of course, I still did theatre arts.”

After graduating four years later from university in 2010 as the Top Graduating International Relations Student, a young Trivia Collins worked as a Senior Executive Assistant at the United Nations Children’s Fund – Guyana and Suriname (UNICEF).

While at UNICEF, she applied that very gender lens while venturing into vulnerable communities to write and share humanitarian stories on how systematic inequality and structured violence affect children.

Later on, she accepted an offer in 2013 to become a part-time lecturer of several undergraduate courses such as ‘The Theory and Practice of Politics’, in the International Relations department at the University of Guyana.

“Gender is everywhere,” declared Dr Collins.

Becoming a Gender Specialist

A pivotal moment in her life was being awarded the Caribbean Island Pacific Mobility Scholarship (CARPIMS) in 2014 to complete a two-year Master’s degree (M.Sc.) in Gender and Development at the University of the West Indies (UWI) – St Augustine Campus.

She fondly recalled that her decision to embrace the academic field of gender studies came from the encouragement and support of her mentors, Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin, PhD, A.A, IX Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, and Mr. Kadasi Ceres, her lecturer at the time.

As a student in Trinidad and Tobago, Dr Collins invested considerable time in examining the interactions between Guyanese and Trinidadians, specifically the gendered social relations between the two groups.

She grew interested in speaking to Guyanese about their experiences while living and working in the country. “I began to speak to people and I realised that Guyanese women have a very unique experience in Trinidad and Tobago whether they are working for the government, an institution, or on their own,” Dr Collins explained.

These observations were critical for her extensive

research in areas such as abortion rights and migration.

Dr Collins went on to complete an academic research paper in 2016 on the ‘Politicisation of Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Guyana.’ During this time, she also lectured a few undergraduate courses at the UWI, such as ‘Feminist Theoretical Frameworks’ and ‘Women and Work in the Global Economy.’

Further, she explained that there was an existing gap in Guyana for published research on Guyanese migrant women and girls.

Taking a deep dive into filling that knowledge gap on the many experiences of Guyanese migrant women, Dr Collins took on this area for her PhD research in 2016.

She would later move to research intraregional migration

by analysing the experiences of Guyanese migrant women and girls, earning herself the Gold Award for Outstanding Work and Research in 2022.

“A lot of their experiences had to do with how they looked and spoke, the jobs they had or were able to access, and how they were surviving and thriving,” she said before indicating that her research will help to guide laws and policies, and other Guyanese researchers.

There is one thing that Dr Collins is certain of – she is determined to create gender-just societies and to continue to open the door and guide more women and girls to the field of Gender and Development Studies. Today, she is the Interim Director of the Institute of Gender Studies at the University of Guyana.

Engaging in reflection

Wednesday morning while having a pack of Country Club biscuits and tea, I reflected on the last few days. I had breakfast in Barbados on Monday and on Tuesday in Guyana. So much has changed because, during the pandemic, that was not possible. It reminded me of when I had breakfast in Mississippi, lunch in Alabama and breakfast in Atlanta. One time I also had break-

fast in New York, lunch in New Jersey and dinner in Pennsylvania.

Wednesday was March 1and I started reminiscing about some of the amazing things my small team and I have done for Women’s month over the years. From visits to the women’s prison, gifts for single moms, brunch for seniors, makeovers, a conference for women and girls and the Women in Business Expo.

I remember the first virtual INPIRE YOU we hosted on NCN, thinking that in a few months, things will get back to normal, which happened years later. I invested a few minutes looking at the group pic with some phenomenal women taken at the first EXPO in 2016.Look at me all excited in my white dress in a much slimmer body! Haha!

FROM PAGE XX

Engaging in ...

When I reflect on the many lives that were transformed because of this platform, I am reminded of the greatness of God because I am just the vessel. Visiting supermarkets or the Guyana Shop and seeing products that were birthed bythe Women in Business Expo is priceless.

We will not be hosting Expo this year but instead a Pop up Shop at Tower Suites featuring 20 Businesses, including the culinary arts,visual arts, fashion, craft, books,local wines, health products etc. We will have discussions with various facilitators at the event on mental health, confidence, purpose and how to rise from challenges and the importance of undergarments.

I am excited to resume visiting the Women’s Prison in Berbice. I have so many letters from those amazing ladies, and we have created many memories together. We will be hosting a forum for young males and females. All of the events mentioned above are free.

On the 18th, we are bringing the curtains down with a fashion show and Tea Party at the Tower Cafe. Tower has partnered with us in a major way this year, and I must commend Keisha and the Tower Suites team for recognising the importance of corporate social responsibility. We thank all the people who have supported us over the years to make this a success.

I decided to have fewer words this week and more photos because photos take the place of thousands of words. You may see yourself in some of these pictures or maybe in future pictures as exhibitors or supporters. We are looking forward to your support as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

Improving maternal care

AT the end of last year, like many others, reports of several maternal deaths concerned me. In October, two deaths were recorded in quick succession; that occurrence repeated itself in November. So, naturally, concerns were rampant. Even Guyana’s Head of State, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, acknowledged that maternal deaths are a problem in Guyana.

I wanted to understand what was being done, if anything at all, to stop pregnant women from dying. In a recent piece published by the News Room, the efforts being made were published.

One noteworthy focus for me is improving access to healthcare services in Guyana’s hinterland regions.

Distant, sometimes sparsely-populated communities mean that pregnant women, like other patients, must travel great distances to access services at a regional hospital. When more specialised services are required, like life-saving operations, the capability may only exist in Georgetown; that means travelling even farther distances to get care.

In a bid to mitigate this challenge, facilities called maternal waiting homes are being constructed in hinterland regions. With these facilities, women who expect to give birth soon could stay in the facility located near a hospital. This allows the woman to readily access medical care once she goes into labour, allowing qualified personnel to manage the birthing process. Because the mother is readily transferred to a hospital, healthcare workers would be better able to treat her if any health complications develop.

The second noteworthy focus, I believe, is assessing the system for gaps and shortcomings in healthcare delivery. I’ve seen the argument made that hundreds of babies are delivered safely, and the mothers remain unharmed, so the few maternal deaths (17 were recorded last year) do not

FROM PAGE XXIV

Improving maternal ...

reflect the actual state of maternal care in Guyana. I don’t believe that is a fair argument, especially if these deaths can be outright prevented. And one way, I believe, of reducing maternal deaths is by finding ways to improve the healthcare sector and, more specifically, maternal care.

According to the Health Minister, teams from the United Kingdom and Canada are expected in Guyana to assess the country’s maternal care. If they find gaps and/or shortcomings in healthcare delivery, their recommendations are expected to be acted upon.

Finally, it would be remiss of me to ignore the forthcoming women’s and children’s hospital that promises specialised services. Like the construction of more waiting homes, I think the establishment of this facility provides more pregnant women with the opportunity to access much-needed services. And once they can access those services, I think maternal care can be improved.

In 2000, based on information from the World Bank, Guyana’s maternal mortality ratio stood at 231 deaths per 100,000 live births. In 2005, that number was 223 deaths per 100,000 live births. In 2010, it dropped to 179 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The last available data from the World Bank is for 2017 and according to the data presented by the bank, there were

169 deaths per 100,000 live births. During a recent News Room interview, the CMO said that number, at the end of 2022, dropped to 112 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The amount of maternal deaths in Guyana has been decreasing. But I don’t think anyone would disagree that lowering those numbers should be a priority.

Investing in better infrastructure across the country improves people’s access to care. Investing in trained healthcare professionals allows people to access better, more responsive care. And finally, investing in engaging people on what they should be doing better- in this case, getting more antenatal care- should enable people to use the services available to them.

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

Street food in...

FROM PAGE IV

five job, but with cooking it is a non-stop twenty-four-hour job. Sometimes I work over 18 to 20 hours a day. I would start at five in the morning to prepare and cook, then to come out and sell.”

Apart from the other street food vendors, Oneka does not want to expand or keep the street food business. Even though she came from a family who cooks and caters food, she wants to get back into selling clothes and making custom-made clothes for her customers.

Marcia and her business partner and stall owner Michelle of ‘Touch of Taste Delight’ have been business partners and selling street food for over ten years at that spot. Marcia shared that, “Street food has been a family business for a long

time, her mom did street food vending and then eventually everyone else got involved and did their own thing.”

She also shared that, in time, they hope to expand and change their street food business into a restaurant and have different locations, but as for now, they have the street food stand and a food truck which goes to different locations selling the different street foods.

“We would start from the night before to prepare, and work the next day also to prep and cook,” Marcia explained. With the wide variety of foods to choose from, no wonder they have staff to be on the clock preparing.

In other parts of Georgetown, there is also a variety of foods you can sample, including dishes from Guyana’s neighbouring Trinidad. Gavin who is the owner for ‘Aliya’s Hot and Tasty Doubles’ has had their doubles stand for about two years in front of Euphoria Kitchen, selling not only the traditional doubles but also chicken or beef doubles. “The mouth-water-

Bar-b-q and Fries Combo from Azeeze Burgers

Mixed Cook-up with Fried Chicken from Touch of Taste Delight

Street food in...

FROM PAGE XXVI

ing taste makes you want more and more” the owner said and he is not wrong. With the different sauces, channa and bara, all the flavors are complemented well to make you crave for more, one doubles just is not good enough.

Doubles from Aliya’s Hot and Tasty Doubles

Chicken and Fries from Touch of Taste Delight

Fresh Snow-cone

PHAGWAH SHUBH! HAPPY ...

FROM PAGE XII

halad, the king’s young son and heir, publicly declared that his father was not God and that he would continue to worship Lord Vishnu.

The citizenry was buoyed up with a new hope and the king decided that Prahalad must be eliminated. Therefore, he built a huge pyre and ordered his sister, Holika, a witch whom fire could not harm, to take hold of Prahalad and sit on the pyre. It was then lit and burnt all night. The next morning, Prahalad was seen standing

among the cinders unharmed, while Holika had been burnt to ashes. The population broke into spontaneous rejoicing and began dancing, singing and sprinkling each other with coloured water and named the day Holi which came to be celebrated as the triumph of Good over Evil and Truth over Untruth.

The king had now become enraged and went to the main temple at worship time at dusk and strutted about shouting that he was God and that he would defeat any other claiming himself to be God. In his rage, he struck one of the temple’s pillars with his sword and unexpectedly Narsingha, Lord Vishnu in the form of a man-lion appeared and the king immediately attacked him. As they struggled, they came to the door of the temple and fell to the steps.

Narsingha managed to get hold of Hiranya Kasipu by the throat, lifted him and strangled him to death. He was killed neither by Man nor animal; at dusk, neither night nor day; and was throttled when he was raised off the ground. The rejoicing at Holika’s death continued on Hiranya Kasipu’s.

A third tradition of Phagwah is that it commemorates the return of Lord Rama from his 14-year exile to reassume the kingship of Ayodhya.

The citizens were so overwhelmed with joy that they lit up the streets and their homes with diyas to express their happiness and to illuminate the streets for Lord Rama and his entourage. The tradition of lighting diyas persists in Phagwah celebrations in Guyana.

In colonial Guyana, the celebration of Phagwah was a holiday in the sugar estates and neighbouring villages. After Independence, it was declared a public holiday and was extended to the whole nation, where it is now celebrated in all its facets by all religious and ethnic groups, manifesting the growing integration of Guyanese society.

Dentistry in the future

THE field of dentistry has been experiencing many innovations, although these instances are not widely known, and it would therefore be of some value to examine future expectations. For example, it has been more than two decades since research scientists confirmed clinically the likelihood of people being immunized against dental caries. Having proven long before that the bacteria known as Streptococcus mutants is the principal actor in tooth decay, a comprehensive effort was made to use its protein to elicit the production of antibodies (defensive substances in the blood specific for a protein).

Evidence shows that the Cercopithecoid primates (monkeys), genetically closest to humans, can be vaccinated against acquiring tooth decay.

Vaccination is the injection of a person (or animal) to bring about immunity to an infectious germ. The term (from Latin, “cow”) originally meant immunization against smallpox because the procedure started in 1796 when English physician Edward Jenner discovered that milkmaids who had contracted the mild disease cowpox were immune to smallpox. The development of the cowpox vaccine has since led to the production of vaccines against a wide range of diseases.

It seems that two predominant factors have resulted in there not being a vaccine against tooth decay as yet. On the one hand, the American authorities have an extremely complex system in place whereby many hurdles have to be passed before a drug can be tested in humans. Secondly, as a part of the first obstacle, the tremendous impact this would have on the dental profession has protracted its consideration. Many see the introduction of a vaccine against tooth decay as the first step in the process of dentists going into virtual self-extinction.

Another procedure that is currently accepted as another future dimension within the realm of dentistry is the dental imager. This communication tool bypasses words and emotions and presents an image of a patient’s face or smile for analysis and allows the dentist to show the possible results of his proposed treatment to the patient.

It does this by capturing a still colour picture of the person’s face or smile on a television screen and then allowing the dentist to change on the picture any features of the patient’s appearance that he does not like. The result is compared side by side on the screen with the original image to give the client a ‘before and after’ picture which can then be printed out for him to take away for further consideration and to show his spouse or friends.

Images consist of a video camera connected to a computer, a monitor screen, and a video printer. The system’s heart, or rather the brain, is the software and some specialised hardware within the computer. The on-screen image is usually changed by using a device rather than a pen on a plastic pad, which directs an arrow on the screen (the cursor) to select various options which are available for altering the image. This keeps the use of the computer keyboard to a minimum, except for entering text to the screen.

The programming is very powerful, which means that while it is very simple to operate, the dentist can do some fairly mind-boggling things to the image to demonstrate to his patient the requested improvements.

For example, individual teeth can be lightened or darkened; blemishes can be erased; teeth can be lengthened or widened; copied and placed into gaps; turned through any angle; flipped over to give a mirror image, and moved to and placed to any position in the image. Because of this simpleto-use ability, imagers must be the most powerful information, education, and marketing tool dentistry has ever had. This equipment is widely used in England and Germany.

Finally, there are many documented cases of teeth successfully transplanted either from one part of the mouth to another or from one person to another. And why not, aren’t hearts, kidneys, etc., being also transplanted?

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

What we call the beginning is often the end.

And to make an end is to make a begin- ning. The end is where we start from.

T.S. ELIOT (1888-1965) Little Gid- ding, 15

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear Student, Welcome dear friend. Let us look at discussion some more. Getting your study partners together and

March 05, 2023

making them “sound off” is not discussing a problem. Let there be outlined helpful discussion techniques for discussants to follow. Are there terms to be defined? Do that. Next, analyse the problem to enlighten the understanding of it. Then, note every given suggestion as a possible solution. Afterward, sift each for its merits and demerits to come to a conclusion.

Be wise.

Love you.

IMPROVING PUNCTUATION

Accurate use of the comma

We have started our series of stipulations (last issue) on the proper use of punctuating the ‘traffic’ of written words. Learn to control and manage the flow of words you use. Study what one authority said that the user of written language must be able to do. He must “halt words, slow their pace by pauses, allow people’s remarks and speeches to be introduced and concluded, engineer interruptions, give emphatic gestures and suggest queries and mysteries”. See?

Last week we dwelt upon and completed some uses of the full stop. This week you will follow some uses of the comma.

In general, commas are used (1) to set off elements within a sentence and (2) to separate elements within a sentence.

[The term “set off by commas” means, depending upon the particular sentence, that a given sentence element is followed by a comma, preceded by a comma, or both preceded and followed by a comma.]

Some important instances in which the comma (,) is used to separate elements within a sentence:

1. Use a comma to separate introductory words, such as mild interjections and the words ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ from the sentence that follows them.

Oh, I hadn’t heard that description.

Yes, the Christian influence is noticeable in some prisons.

2. Commas are used to

separate items (words, phrases, short clauses, or numbers) in a series.

Basketball, cricket, lawn tennis, and swimming are active sports. (words)

When baking, see that you have your right amount of flour, the correct number of eggs, and the required rising agent. (phrases)

The new school orchestra began the overture, the lights dimmed, and the red curtain rose. (clauses)

The game master called the numbers 10, 20, 65, and 207.

3. Use a comma to separate co-ordinate modifiers. Consider modifiers co-ordinate if ‘and’ sounds correct when placed between them.

The warm, milky cocoa made the boy sleepy. (warm and milky)

Thomas was wearing a glitzy blue jacket. (not glitzy and blue)

4. Use a comma between the clauses of a compound sentence joined by the co-ordinate conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, or for. (Very short clauses joined by ‘and’ may omit the comma.)

The steel band competitors are evenly matched, but our team has the advantage of playing at home.

5. When a semi-colon separates the clauses of a compound sentence, use a comma in the second clause to indicate an omitted verb.

This box contains long-stick matches; that one, toothpicks.

6. Use a comma wherever necessary to prevent misreading.

Although a beautiful woman, Diana was not much appreciated.

7. Use a comma after any of these word groups when they are used in an introductory way: (1) adverbial clauses, (2) phrases containing verbals (infinitives, participles, or gerunds), (3) long prepositional phrases, or (4) two or more consecutive prepositional phrases.

(1) As I was saying, the examiners were very pleased with your entry.

(2) To reach New Amsterdam by noon, you should leave Linden at once.

(2) Having lost their way to the grocery store, the strangers stopped to ask directions.

(3) During those long-ago childhood days, any good neighbour could have disciplined a child.

(4) At the entrance of the barn, the sponsors held a council. Look back at the comma used to separate words, phrases or clauses in a series.

Example: Compare:

She bought whole wheat flour, green tea, pasturised milk, macaroni, and cheese.

with

She bought whole wheat flour, green tea, pasturised milk, and macaroni and cheese.

Try to make your punctuation reflect the shade of meaning that you are conveying.

REPORTED SPEECH

Mastering reported speech

Rules: (1) A ‘saying’ verb followed by ‘that’ introduces reported speech. (2) The tense of the ‘saying’ verb governs the tense of all the verbs used in the reported speech. (3) When direct speech is turned into reported speech all pronouns and possessive adjectives must be changed into the third person. (4) The necessity of using only third-person pronouns and possessive adjectives can give rise to weakness of ambiguity in writing. Pay attention to this, please. (5) Adjectives and adverbs indicating nearness in place and in time in direct speech are changed in reported speech into adjectives and adverbs expressive of a distancing effect. For example: ‘this’ becomes ‘that’; and ‘today’ becomes ‘that day’. (6) Colloquialisms, contractions, and slangs are not used in reported speech.

[To be continued in next issue.]

Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s Holi ...

FROM PAGE II

and entertaining evening complete with a special kiddie zone and dunk tank. Patrons can even engage in some Phagwah shopping,” GHDS had said about the event.

Dharmic Nritya Sangh of Naya Zamana fame was on hand

to delight with vibrant dances, joined by an outstanding line up of Guyanese singers including Suraj Singh, KishanSugrim, SookraneBoodhoo, Meera and other musicians.

The beautiful cultural programmewas complemented by riveting dances done by dance groups from around the country as part of the Indian Folk Dance Festival. Teams were able to vie for trophies and cash prizes.