Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 06-08-2023

Chief Executive Officer of Alvin Automotive and Auto Repairs, Alvin Singh

(Japheth Savory photo)

A brief boast about Buxton and a tale about a butterfly

In the article to follow, I will share some sentiments on two topics that are close to me: the community of Buxton and nature.

Writing about the village of Buxton on the East Coast Demerara and about Buxtonians is always exuberating for me. In this article, the spotlight shines brightly on Aubrey Stephenson, AA, one of the Guyanese luminaries from Buxton. Aubrey Stephenson is the Founder, President and CEO of Federal Management Systems, with operations in

Guyana and also in Washington DC, USA. The history of Buxton, which is located 12 miles east of Georgetown, and Buxtonians, are always noteworthy and inspirational. The people of Buxton always seem to shine, even when dark clouds hang menacingly overhead or the village is inundated with cruel flood waters, which have destroyed tens of thousands of dollars worth of crops. But, with super resilience and grit, Buxtonians have always bounced back and regained their economic stronghold. They have never been a people to allow setbacks to go unchallenged and not solved.

The history of the village goes back to 1840, when 128 former enslaved Africans pooled their financial resources of $50,000, which is well over $50 million at present, and purchased the 500-acre Plantation New Orange Nassau. That such a project was conceived and carried out just a few years after Emancipation is testimony to the resilience of the people of Buxton for well over a century. In appreciation to the British parliamentarian Thomas Fowell Buxton, who had fought relentlessly for the abolition of slavery in the British colonies, the emancipated enslaved Africans named their new village after their hero, Thomas Fowell Buxton. There are scores of Buxtonians who have made their village and Guyana extremely proud over the decades. In our own lifetime, Buxtonian Haslyn Parris was appointed Chairman of the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA) when he was just 30 years of age. He, in turn, sponsored and contributed to many proj-

ects - especially those which benefit youths.

Never hurt a butterfly all your life

In an article of mine not so long ago, I threw the spotlight on birds and the freedom they enjoy in flying wherever they desire, as long as they deem it safe and comfortable. That was juxtaposed with the many constraints that humans face when travelling, especially across international borders. In this article, the spotlight is on another flying creature; the butterfly. Most of us love to see butterflies, especially in flight, zipping around from flower to flower and extracting the sweet nectar. We are also well aware that the extraction operation by butterflies has no damaging possibility as other extracting operations do. As we carefully observe the butterfly extraction operation, we are convinced that the beautiful little creatures have two agile wings. But that is not so. In fact, butterflies have four wings which they use to the maximum, and they do so in the action of the figure eight. However, the action is so rapid that tallying them is not easy. When we take the time to look closer at a butterfly which is not in flight, we realize that its wings are in fact transparent. Transparent and oh, so beautiful with designs of many colours. We also note that butterflies seem to do their flying with little ease, and doing so in all directions. Apparently, the designer of the helicop-

ter drew inspiration by carefully observing butterflies in flight. Nonetheless, since helicopters do gain much higher altitudes than butterflies can ever do, there is hardly ever a butterfly crash.

In preparing for this article, I spent quite a lot of time observing the butterflies that frequent both sections of my little gardens - the flower garden and the kitchen garden. It became quite obvious to me that butterflies ‘nah gat kinna’ when it comes to flowers. Butterflies seem to like all types of flowers, and all colours of flowers, as long as there is nectar to be extracted. Scientists have discovered nearly 20,000 species of butterflies around the world. Scientific discoveries have also been made that butterflies use their feet to taste. Another scientific discovery about butterflies is that the life span of that small and tender creature is only a few weeks. Nonetheless, during their short lives, butterflies contribute to the much longer life lifespan of humans by the work they do in pollinating the flowers of fruit and other trees. Therefore, there is hardly any need for this 85-year-old veteran journalist to plead with you, if there is such a need, to be kind to butterflies and never to hurt them.

Buxtonian, Aubrey Stephenson, AA, (at left) with Bishop Seth Abbey, one of the benefactors of Federal Management Systems, outside the FMS office in Washington, DC, USA. (Photo by Francis Quamina Farrier)

A butterfly perched on a flower and extracting nectar. (Photograph by Francis Q. Farrier)

More Than Music

Morgan Heritage and Stonebwoy talk music, Africa and Guyana

IN 1994, the children of one of the world’s biggest reggae stars, Denroy Morgan, formed a musical group whose legacy would live on for years to come.

Morgan Heritage, considered royalty in the reggae industry, has a history and foundation that holds family, culture and love above all else.

Today the musical dynasty has branched out while on a mission to unite people. They have travelled all across the world, Africa included. It was also while on a trip in Ghana, that the Morgan brothers say they met and gained a friend. Livingstone Etse Satekla commonly known by his stage name, Stonebwoy, is a Ghanaian musician. And Stonebwoy says that Morgan Heritage has been more than a friend to him, they have been like fathers. The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with both Stonebwoy, and Peter ‘Peetah’ Morgan from

We all came over here from Africa- our ancestors, and even though we have been displaced in different places across the Caribbean, some of us probably came from

a thing that you just can’t deny it. Because once you feel it, it comes out,” Peetah shared.

This connection is perhaps what led the Morgan

wasn’t always why Stonebwoy thought he’d be doing. “Over the time period when I realised my calling, I actually became very dedicated, and very inspired. And that is where we are today, continuing to bridge the gaps between the African people both in the diaspora,” he shared.

From Ghana to Guyana

coming musicians is not to be afraid to venture far from home. “It’s a rough road and you can’t give up. And, we have something that we say,‘It’s not where you were you were born, means that where you are supposed to be.’ Sometimes where you come from, the people aren’t always happy to see you prosper and grow. So, you have to find another place. Find your rightful place within creation. You have to take a chance and relocate too somewhere else. To see if your talent can explode from a different point.”

Morgan Heritage to discuss their thoughts on music, culture, tradition and Guyana.

An undeniable connection

Recently the music industry has been a flood of collaborations between, Caribbean singers and African musicians. This is a move between two nations, two people. That is how Peetah defines it.“As Jamaican people, we pretty much share the same history with people across the Caribbean.

the same village. He then went on to say that the inspiration behind the partnerships stemmed from the simple fact that they, as people of African descent, share so much; and that is hard to look past or deny. “It’s just an essence that has been awakened in our DNA that has been laying dormant for so many years because it has been beaten down in us through slavery. The more time goes on, we black people in the west are becoming more aware of our selves. And it’s

brothers to Stonebwoy and what led Stonebwoy himself to music. Having been born and raised in Ghana, Stonebwoy says that his life hasn’t been easy, but music has always been a part of him.

“My musical career started years back. And I always say that music chooses you. Nobody ever chose music and survived because music chooses you,” he said.

Although he arguably has the record for the most music put out with Caribbean singers today, music

Both Peetah and Stonebwoy express their connection with people of African origin everywhere and Guyana is no different. As Peetah stated, “Our connection to Guyana is the connection to all black people. When I see people that remind me of myself it’s just a natural connection. We visit places like Europe, Japan, America and Canada, and it’s great to entertain humanity, but when you can be there with your own people. That’s why I say you can say you are a lover of humanity, and you can’t love yourself.”

Peetah then went on to emphasise the importance of self-love.“Before you can love any other race, you have to love your own first. If you can’t dance at home, you can’t dance abroad. The connection with Guyana is real. When we in Guyana we feel like we in Jamaica or anywhere in Africa,” he explained.

“The cradle of life and the beginning of civilization,” is what Stonebwoy calls Africa in his song ‘Africa Jamaica’ which the Mor-

gan Brothers also worked on. This song, he says, was made to show that the two nations are not that different. And while in Guyana, he says he can confidently say ‘Africa Guyana’. “Ghana and Guyana. We are actually linked in so many interesting ways, as a people with our culture, heritage and so on. I am honoured to be here in Guyana as a Ghanaian artiste. I know that we have maybe two of our Ghanaian legends perform here before. It’s only nice to be added to that. Which signifies the continuous connection and unity among the two nations,”Stonebwoy related.

On the topic of how they hope their music makes a difference, Peetah stated that they hope their music becomes a part of people. “We are hoping to impact people in a strong way. Sometimes you have to get to people through the vibration of music. We do more than just reggae. Because sometimes people want to feel themselves become alive through different sounds of music. But the message remains the same. And we’re just hoping that the message reaches the people. And it penetrates the peopleand they absorb the message and it becomes a part of their daily life,”Peetah said.

Finding Your Place

Today Morgan Heritage is highly established in their Reggae music and Jamaican roots. But Peetah’s advice to other up-and-

He then went on to say he understood wanting to represent their country, saying, “Granted, you want to represent and build from where you are from, but sometimes it’s hard to do that. You have to be willing to explore. The world is yours. Find your place in the world.” To the question of possibly collaborating with Guyanese musicians Peetah stated,“We hope so. We always say anything is possible. And we don’t close the door on anything and if it’s Jah will, it will happen.”

Keeping the history alive Peetah’s message to Guyana is a simple one as he stated, “My message to Guyana and to maintain our African roots is to never let it go. Because this is who we are, we can’t hide from ourselves. When you know your past, you are stronger in the future. So, it’s important for us as black people from the diaspora in this modern day to make sure our true history is a part of us.”

He went on to express the importance of the past, saying, “It will help to make us stronger to know what our fore-parents have been through wasn’t easy. For us to be here today, where we can sit here and have an interview, and we aren’t being chased out, that’s what our fore-parents went through. For us today, we have to understand how we got here. And that’s understanding our history and keeping our history alive within us.”

Morgan Heritage and Stonebwoy: The Morgan brother and Stonebwoy as they greet each other at a press conference.

Peter: Peter ‘Peetah’ Morgan (Samuel Maughn Photos)

Speaking to domestic violence through art

OFTENTIMES when people go through circumstances, struggles, and pain, they express such through their giftings: singing, theatrical performances, and art to bring comfort and relief to themselves.

These were the thoughts expressed by one of the E.R. Burrowes School of Art students, Latoya Greene, who spoke to the issue of domestic violence against women.

Greene shared with Pepperpot Magazine that her paintings reflect her own life, having been a victim of domestic violence.

“I would like to advocate that violence against women

must be totally eradicated or somewhat lessened in Guyana because we are finding, in recent times, more and more women are dying because of domestic violence,” Greene told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Her pieces depict the strength of women who have recovered and come out of domestic violence situations.

She also noted that she tried not to show the graphic images that occur in an abusive situation.

“I decided to focus on issues that are important to us, such as childbearing. As a result, people need to have respect for the female,” Greene told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Greene recalled that because of her burning passion for the issue, she hopes to help scores of women to garner the strength to come out of the situation they are in.

Greene also shared that coming out of a domestic violence situation for her is a great determination to first of all want to come out and has been, over the years, expressing the overcoming of this situation through her work.

“You must [express] your significance and value as a woman to your love partner, your children, and to yourself. For me, walking away was very hard, but I must not stay in any such situation because I have daughters, and I would not like them to find themselves in situations like what I found myself in,” Greene said.

Greene believes that education is one of the ways that you can come out of domestic violence. According to her, it is helpful if women in that situation are able to begin to realise what the perpetrator is going through mentally. If there is a realisation that there is no change, staying with the person is a risk.

Latoya Greene, a Guyanese-born visual artist is driven by a stated desire to empower women and call attention to issues of violence affecting them.

She works in the field of abstraction and seeks to inform viewers of the priceless contribution that women have made to society.

Her art serves to remind the public that knowledge and strength can be found in a woman and she is determined to have her artwork support this important issue utilising modern and bold approaches to abstraction and her multidisciplinary nature.

Greene is determined to create more knowledgeable societies for the empowerment of women.

“ Don’t hold yourself back from being an artist, because as I like to say, as long as you can write, you can draw. It is all about your determination to focus on what you would like to achieve and get it done,“ Greene said.

Latoya Greene

ACDA more than Emancipation

WHEN we hear about the African Culture and Development Association (ACDA), the tendency is to think of Emancipation Festivals, which are held countrywide, on August 1 every year, particularly in the capital city of Georgetown.

But there is much more to the organisation, according to Aisha Haynes, who sat down with thePepperpot Magazine to tell us more about ACDA. A member of ACDA herself, Haynes said that the association runs entrepreneurial training for persons who want to or are already in the process of running their own small business.

During her interview, she noted that there are a number of persons who, as a result of ACDA’s training, are doing extremely well in their sphere of business and entrepreneurial enterprise.

“We have done entrepreneurial training, we have actually run programmes, where we have seen lots of young people venturing out to owning their own businesses, you know literally stepping into a different world,” Haynes noted during her interview.

Despite the many challenges faced by individuals who have undergone training at the centre, they have defied the odds, anddeveloped ideas that have bloomed into big and thriving businesses.

“When you see initiatives like that, positive messages come out of it. Sometimes you are tired and fatigued because of the sacrifices you make to facilitate other people’s interests, but what keeps you going is the positivity that is garnered,” Haynes noted.

She noted that those things are encouraging adding that the association has had a programme for aviation training, where students were taught to fly aircraft for the very first time.

Haynes could not help but underscore the great initiatives the association has taken and the programmes it has done to equip the next generation with the necessary skills to meet the demands of tomorrow’s generation.

According to Haynes, through its training programmes, ACDA has provided employment and employment opportunitiesfor hundreds of young peopleand people of all ages through skills training.

It has alsopromoted economic advancement and empowerment, economic agency and self-confidence; expanded access to business and entrepreneurial training, access to investment capital, and capital accumulation and wealth and assets creation; organised African Guyanese entrepreneurs, construction, trades, and service providers in cooperative networks; rebuild and strengthen African Guyanese businesses and pro-

Aisha Haynes and some of the pupils of the Centre of Learning

ducer organisations; reduce poverty; and ensure a sustainable socio-economic future for the African-Guyanese collective. Other benefits include creating sustainable jobs and employment opportunities for AfricanGuyanese; enhancing employability through access to education and training institutions; enhancing appropriate skill levels through skills training and life-long learning; increasing access to tertiary and professional education and training and expanding access to high-paying professional and technology-based occupations; reducing poverty; and inculcating appropriate workplace attitudes and behaviours towards producing a skilled and productive African-Guyanese workforce.

Haynes noted that ACDA hosts Emancipation festivals in different communities at different times of the year, considering the fact that this is the organisation of volunteers who work tirelessly with limited resources at their disposal.

“We also have a school called ‘the Centre of Learning Afrocentric Orientation’. Initially, before we started the programme, we had started a programme that focuses on at-risk youths. These were persons whom society says don’t have a chance. It was as a result that a mentorship programme was launched,” Haynes disclosed to the Pepperpot Magazine.

The Residents of Ruby

THIS week, the Pepperpot Magazine visited the small, yet quiet village of Ruby, East Bank Essequibo. It takes less than a minute to drive through the entire village on the Railway Embankment and is found between Good Hope and Farm villages.

It is surrounded by houses and some businesses on either side of the Railway Embankment, with a turnoff that leads towards Ruby Back. Ruby Back/ Ruby Back Dam is a section of Ruby that is home to several farmers who plant crops such as rice and those who take care of livestock such as pigs and chickens, cows and sheep.

That section of Ruby is densely populated, with

many families depending on farming as a source of income.

One of Ruby’s residents, Ganesh Dat, said thatwhen people hear about the village, they often think about Ruby Back, where the farming of crops and livestock take place. Although a significant number of residents are dependent on their crops and livestock as a way to earn a living, many have found their fortune doing other jobs.

He noted that there are hundreds of people in that area who practice farming daily. Some of these farmerstake their products from that area in RegionThree all the way toBourda Market in Georgetown to make a profit from what they would have reaped.

Dat has lived in Ruby for many years. He said he is from the Cinderella County, Essequibo, but he moved to Ruby for better, after his children wrote their exams. Additionally, he noperates a bus with which he says makes about three rounds on the road every day from Vreed-En-Hoop to Parika.

Business is booming in Ruby

Although Ruby may be small, that section of East Bank Essequibo has many businesses in that area. This includes a welding shop, a service station and other small businesses. Farming and convenient shops also line the corners, selling basic items to their potential

customers.

One of the prominent businessmen in that community, Khemraj Hussain owns Welding Shop called K Hus-

can see them clearly from the roadway.

A service station, placed at a strategic point

the community supports each other, and he even mentioned that the Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) for that neighbourhood is doing

sain and Son, Arc Welding. Hussain related that business has been good to him, adding that he depends on the customers driving through the village daily as well as those residing in Ruby and neighboring communities to get business.

Hussain further pointed out that he does gas welding, bronze welding, window grills, barbeque grills (which are on sale), among other items. Hussain shared that he makes the barbeque grills for sale and has them all lined off in front of his shop where potential customers

When the Pepperpotteam made it to the village, one thing that stuck out the most was the big yellow service station and minimart, Sanjay’s Service Station, near the head of Ruby.

Sanjay Singh, who manages the establishment, stated that while he runs the business’s daily operations, it is owned by one of his aunts.

Sanjay said he has been running the service station for six years. Although he does not live in Ruby, he said the people there are friendly. Singh added that everyone in

an excellent job in maintaining the community.

Singh noted that earlier that day, the NDC had visited that area and weeded the parapets on the road. Singh did say, however, that something he wants to see rectified is the playfield in the area. He said that it is a recreational area for the residents, and many go there to hang out or play an occasional game of cricket. The playfield is next door to the gas station and is said to have been in a terrible state for some months now.

Sanjay Singh, of Sanjay’s Service Station (Japheth Savory photos)

The diversity of Ruby

By Shaniya Harding

THE group of villages along the West Coast all share a similar past, people, values and a sense of community. But there is a sense of togetherness and authenticity in the village of Ruby that stands out. The people of Ruby all have a unique way of life, while still staying connected as a community.

Because Ruby is a place with both ambitious businesses and lucrative farming, the way of making a living differs greatly from place to place. A woman known by most as Anita London lives and runs a business in Ruby. Anita is a cook and has a snackette where she prepares a wide array of dishes daily.

As diverse as it is, Ruby does not have a large population. And this is greatly impacting the businesses that have managed to survive in the community. “Business down here is slow bad. The people here prefer to buy their own food and cook for themselves. So, they don’t really want to buy certain things like food.

A place of both back dams and businesses

But I won’t give up,” Anita stated.

Other business owners in the village mirror Anita’s sentiment. The reason for the lack of business interaction could be partly owed to the village’s small population. Another reason Anita cited as one of the reasons small businesses are struggling is the introduction of larger businesses. Most of them are in neighbouring villages but are very hard to compete with. “Business is also hard because we have a lot of big places opening now. Alot of places have opened and they sell a lot of things cheap. So, the people don’t look at quality. They look at quantity,” Anita shared.

The village of Ruby holds a special place in her heart as she has seen the community change in her years living there. The 67-year-old mother of five says that there are very few things she cares about more than her family and love for food and cooking.

Anita grew up in and around the West Coast but only opened her business

around four years ago in Ruby. “I was born in Tuschen, but I grew up in Vergenoegen. And then, after the birth of my children, I came back to Ruby to live. Today I have four sons and one daughter. I have twenty-something

grandchildren and more than ten great-grandchildren.”

And in the years since her return, she has seen and been through a lot. One of the things that caused her return to open the business at Ruby was the closing of a restaurant she had been running for more than 30 years. The town of Parika is closer and oftenmore visited by the resident of Ruby than the capital city of Georgetown. At Parika is where Anit had her restaurant. And while she had a highly successful business built from the ground, the only issue was that the land was a government reserve and she was

later asked to move.

Although this happened almost five years ago, it was still a hard blow to Anita after 30 years and she is still finding her footing in opening an entirely new establishment. “After that happened four years ago, I came back home to open my shop here,” Anita shared. She, however adamantly expresses that she is no longer mad about it and is now rather thankful she was able to have the business she had.

Anita’s interest in cooking developed at an early age. And it was seen as a necessity and sure way of making a living in the hardest of times. Anita shared,

“I was born into a family that liked cooking. It was 10 of us, five boys and five girls and all of us grew up watching our family cook. And that was our living. And my children followed in my footsteps too, my daughter has a Guinness bar, and my son used to cook breakfast at our restaurant in Parika.”

Today in the village of Ruby, Anita is happy to live simply because of its peacefulness, serenity and friendly people who make for good neighbours. “Some of the people in Ruby plant in the farm and some of them work other places.

And some are self-employed. This area is not populated. But me and my neighbours live good. This time is not like longago, longago people were ignorant. People would fight and quarrel, but not now,” she explained.

The community remains a quiet and pristine place, of which the residents have every little complaint. Apart from the occasional bouts of flooding, the residents of Ruby say they are very happy with the changes the village has seen. The so-called Back Dam has seen the development of roads and the addition of electricity and water. And today, the residents of Ruby are making the case to be considered as more than a place of rice farming and back dams, but to be seen as the quiet, happy little village they are.

Anita London

One of the roadside stalls at Ruby

The canal separating Ruby from Good hope (Japhet Savory photos)

Ruby

A hidden Gem

By Shaniya Harding

RAILWAY and backlands, the village of Ruby is a hidden gem made from two worlds. Located some four and a half kilometres from the port village of Parika. Along the railway embankment, the village of Ruby covers just a small distance along the West Coast in Region Three. But this little village is more than it seems, with a history known by very few.

The common misconception of the village being nothing more than a ‘Back dam’, is a concern highlighted by many of its villagers. Ruby is commonly known as ‘Ruby back dam’, and thus is thought of as being

farming.

Perhaps its rich history of farming still plays a role in shaping the conception of Ruby. Today Ruby has a specific area referred to as Ruby Backlands. Outside of the backlands, Ruby is a small stretch of road littered with various houses and small businesses. Coming from the capital city, Good Hope lies just before Ruby and is separated only by a canal stretching more than two miles inland from the public road. Driving into Ruby’s backlands, you are met with a vast scenic view of rice fields on both sides.

Going even further, beyond the fields of rice and cash crops to Ruby’s Backlands or Ruby Back as it

kind of agriculture.

Not to be misled, Ruby Back is fully functioning and can stand alone. The community is equipped with its own school, church, shops and other small businesses. Apart from those who farm to be self-sustainable, there are people who farm on a large scale and farm, to sell and make a living. And judging by the changes the community has seen, it is safe to say they are doing very well.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke to a family who has deep roots in the village of Ruby. Mohamead Hakim Allie and Shazeeda Karim spoke a bit about their time living in the village, how it has changed and how happy they are to call the gem that

changed a lot. In the early years, people didn’t have things like cars. Everyone had a bicycle. But now that has changed, Ruby looks very different now. And not everyone is in farming. My husband is in construction,” she explained.

Although he now lives a few villages away in Tuschen, Mohamead has lived in Ruby for a number of years and still makes certain to visit his family members that still reside there. Mohamead still has great admiration for the village he once called home and gave this magazine a little history on the village of Ruby, as he stated, “This is the railway embankment we live on here. Like in many places like Ruby my grandfather was a farmer and he used to occupy a big portion of the railway or line top. They did a lot of gardening and now farming.”

The idea of a train line running along West Coast Road seems like a distant memory to many. But to Mohamead the vision is far more fact than fiction.

“This is the railway embankment where we are today. When the train was abandoned because of the fertility of the soil, people began digging up the soil to build their homes. The railway embankment was high and strong and it had to be. But after a while, it became flat. And people began living and farming. And today you have a lot of people in rice farming,” he said.

All throughout history, people have tried and persisted to make a better life for themselves and their families. And families like the one we spoke to are no different. As Mohamead told of what he remembered when the family first decided to

settle down in Ruby. “But in time, people begin occupying various big portions. Because it was land for free, so many people came and began farming. So here, where this house is today, was owned by another family. And after Shazeeda and her husband got married, they wanted a plot of land to settle down and they came here in 1995. They came here and erected a little zinc house with a mud floor. But subsequently, they built the home they have now.”

The village of Ruby has stood the test of time and is undoubtedly an interesting village. It has a history rooted in Guyana’s evolution and has changed with the rest of the country. And today seems still with the families and people, new and old, who are all happy to call it home.

an entire village built solely on farming. This, however, is not the case. As many of Ruby’s residents explained that Ruby has changed a lot. And among the changes is that Ruby is far more than

is called by residents and locals alike. The majority of the population of Ruby Back are farmers of some kind. Whether cash crops, rice or poultry, most of the people here are involved in some

is the village of Ruby their home.

Shazeeda, who is married to Mohamead’s cousin, came to live in Ruby almost 30 years ago. “We have lived in Ruby for 28 years. Ruby has

One of the many rice fields of Ruby.

Mohamead and Shazeeda

Ruby back Primary school

The Welcome to Ruby Sign (Japhet Savory photos)

One of Ruby’s longest residents shares about then and now

By Faith Greene

RUBY Back is a section of Ruby that has been a prime farming area for many years, and although many villagers choose to stray away from that tradition of tending the land, Omar Hamid has chosen not to.

Hamid shared that since coming there, the population has moved from a mere seven residents to around 300 in that area. Notably, the community has a Primary School also in the back dam. This is called Ruby Back Primary.

The 68-year-old revealed that he was born at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) but did not live with his parents. In reflecting, Hamid mentioned that he did not have an easy life in the earlier days, but he persevered.

Despite the many adversities that came his way, Hamid was still able to pursue work to provide for himself and his family. He is the father of three children, two of who live near him. Hamid has lived in Ruby for several years and spoke with the team about life in Ruby.

He explained that he moved to the village in 1968. At that point, the roads and drainage in the community were not what they are today. He said the road to get in and out of the village was terrible, but now, it is a great deal better in terms of the road, drainage and electricity.

Hamid said the only thing he wants to see improved is the pure water supply to the community. He said that the project was started a while ago. However, it stopped and no

work was being done on it. Hamid said that he is not sure what the project is, but the company responsible for that was doing contracts for the project.

Like many of Ruby’s residents, Hamid said that not every day is good, but it is not all bad either. The man said that the crops are sometimes affected due to bleak weather. This, he said, puts a strain on the production of crops. Hamid explained that the price of manure and other fertilizers is not anywhere near cheap these days. He said planting fewer crops would carry losses, and planting huge amounts during these times means more can be damaged in these weather conditions.

He said that farming in itself is no easy task. According to Hamid, there are several pests and diseases which can cause damage to crops.Hamid shared that he has always been a farmer. His farm is located behind his house, where he plants crops such as bora,saime, spinach among others. The man said that further down in the back dam are more farm lands, where he says that everybody does farming, whether it is crops or livestock.

Hamid said he usually goes to his farm in the early hours of the morning and spends at least four hours(two hours in the morning and another two in the afternoon) every day taking care of all of his crops.

Omar Hamid, selling a customer in his shop (Japheth Savory photos)

A View of Hamid’s Farm

A path of his own

Young entrepreneur ventures from farming to explore new skills

By Faith Greene

RUBY, East Bank Essequibo is full of the most talented and hardworking people. At just age 23, Alvin Singh started his own business after returning to Guyana from the twin islands,

Trinidad and Tobago. The young entrepreneur stated that Ruby has been his home all of his life. When he moved to Trinidad, the back dam had only just gotten roads and street lights. Although he excelled during his time there, Singh said that

due to financial hardships at that time, he dropped out of high school.

From there, he started working on the farm but quickly realised that he could not withstand the weather and other trials of the farm life, and pursued other jobs.

Leaving the farming life, Singh said he went to a man named Harry in Zeelugt, where he worked for him for three months. At this point, the man asked Singh if he would like to go to Trinidad.

Being eager to work, Singh agreed, left for Trinidad at around age 14 or

15, and spent seven years there.

“Work was hard. Working at a young age, wake up at six in the morning and by the time 7:30 you start working from 7 in the morning till late,” he said adding hat while the pay was not huge, he still was determined to excel there. He said that it was there that helearnt his trade.

Despite his many challenges, Singh’s fight to achieve his goal was gained when he returned to Guyana seven years later. Singh said he enjoys doing autobody repairs. And said that it is more than a job for him, it was also his hobby.

He said that his father was a farmer and one of his siblings is a farmer too. However, he chose to break that mould and pursue a career in autobody work.

At Alvin Automotive and Auto Repairs, Singh said the main aim is to do autobody work on vehicles. He said that he does most of the work there, since he doesn’t depend on his other staff to get things done for him.

He said living in Ruby is nice and expressed that it is a quiet place. He said there is no stress as opposed to living in a busy area. He

mentioned that his only concern is the grass that has been growing onto the roadway. He said that the Neighborhood Democratic Council (NDC) has come around to the Back Dam, saying that they will take care of that issue, but it is still to be done. He said that due to this, he had to write off his car a few days prior.

According to Singh, “Last Sunday around this same

time, my car toppled three times due to the same grass on the road.”

Singh explained the ordeal in great detail, saying at the end that it is his only concern in Ruby Back. He said that when he had just opened his business, the NDC was frequently there asking him to fix the drainage and the fumes from the paint and other chemicals he utilises for his business, but no one is coming to look after this hazard.

The man shared that almost everyone practices farming or sells produce on the market. He said they leave Ruby and travel to BourdaMarket, where they try to make a profit on their crops. He said that his father is one who travel’s every day to the market to earn. He explained, “They does buy the crops that farmer plant here, and they carry it and sell it.”

He called this the norm of market business, where farmers supply them, and they supply the people with crops at the market. Notably, Singh says he has attended business seminars and participated in the many opportunities for small businesses across Guyana.

Chief Executive Officer of Alvin Automotive and Auto Repairs, Alvin Singh (Japheth Savory photos)

Alvin While Working on a Car

LIKE A WILDFLOWER ON THE WAYSIDE PART IV

SHE heard Mark coming to the kitchen and dropped the phone and card under the table.

“What are you doing?” he asked, still angry.

“I don’t want to go,” she cried, but unmoved by her plea, he grabbed her arm roughly and forced her out of the door.

He drove with gritty determination, moving skilfully through the heavy traffic and stopped at a lonely backroad somewhere on the East Bank. There were two other dark SUVs waiting and after a brief conversation with the occupants, strange men, he led the way up the highway.

It seemed like hours before they reached a secluded area along a long trail with a few house-like huts nestled in the foliage of the forested area.

“We will stay here until it’s safe to travel further[sic],” he told her, touching her cheek, maybe to say ‘sorry’ but she pulled

away from him.

An elderly Indigenous woman tended to her wounds, helped her with a bath and brought her some food, but she couldn’t eat. She cried quietly all night, a prayer in her thoughts for help to find her.

Arvin had been at a high-level meeting with superior officers when she called him, but his phone was off.

The meeting concluded that all the evidence gathered was enough for the investigators to arrest Mark Moore as the mastermind of the high-profile robberies. He listened to her message, hearing the pain and fear in her voice and left immediately with a team to her house.

But too late, she was gone.

The blood on the sofa and torn bits of her clothing were evidence of a brutal assault. It hit Arvin with a deep feeling of regret that he was late to help her and a further setback was when he found her phone and card which meant she wouldn’t be able to contact him.

“He is running and he has taken her with him,” he announced to his team, “Because he knows we are getting close.”

Arvin took a deep breath and said quietly with fierce determination on his face.

“I had offered to help you so I will find you, Tanya.”

Wanted bulletins were issued for all five suspects and roadblocks were set up on the highway.

“They may lie low somewhere or make a run for the border.”

The border patrols on the Brazil and Venezuela borders were alerted as investigators intensified their search for the suspects.

Tanya opened her eyes next morning to a strange place somewhere in an interior location, given the consistent sounds of birds

and animals. It was something pleasant to awake to but the heavy voices of men swearing outside triggered a fear in her. A few spoke with a foreign accent and she got up slowly, wincing in pain as she limped to the window.

Mark was standing among several men in agitated discussions, few of whom she recognized from the police posters and the others seemingly Spanish.

Tanya’s heart sank for she knew she would be forced to live her life with a fugitive.

“I want to go home,” she pleaded.

He got up, giving her an angry look and went back outside, leaving her in tears.

The elderly woman looked on unnoticed from the kitchen, touched by Tanya’s sadness. She knew the feeling of helplessness after her young daughter had been taken

All the men were heavily armed and Tanya retreated to the sofa, trembling.

“I think something terrible is going to happen,” she moaned to herself, “And I may die.”

The elderly woman brought breakfast for her, a gentle sympathetic look in her eyes.

“Try not to be too sad. Eat something. It’s all in God’s hands.”

Tanya smiled just a little with thanks and as she began to eat a little, Mark came in and sat in front of her. She did not look at him nor say anything. He knew she was hurting and scared and he apologized, “I’m sorry I hurt you again, but as soon as we cross the border everything would be fine.”

“What border?” she asked alarmed.

“Brazil, a good place to hide and live our lives for now.”

away a few years ago by a man with power and wealth. Now, all she could do was live with hopes she would see her again, one day.

“In the meanwhile[sic],” she said to herself, “I can help to save a life.”

Late that night, she sent a message to a mission in the city.

Tactical units had been dispatched to different areas and one was not far from the suspects’ location when the message was received at CID Headquarters.

“Thank God,” Arvin expressed with deep relief as he sped to the location with his team, but he had many miles to cover. The unit that reached the location was met immediately by heavy gunfire.

“Stay down!” Mark shouted to Tanya as bullets pierced the walls.

SEE PAGE XXXII

Advancements in mining for environmental protection: Guyana’s Remote-Sensing Breakthroughs

Integrating Technology for Sustainable Mining Practices

GUYANA’S mining sector, focused on gold, bauxite, diamonds, and oil and gas, has been a driving force behind the nation’s economic growth. However, the industry has faced significant environmental challenges, leading to deforestation, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. Mining tailings containing hazardous substances further exacerbate environmental damage. To address these issues, Guyana has recognized the importance of integrating environmental considerations into all development efforts. Advancements in remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS), led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are critical in enhancing monitoring and enforcement, promoting responsible mining practices and safeguarding the environment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) serves as the primary regulatory agency responsible for monitoring and mitigating potential environmental impacts of mining activities. Acknowledging the significance of ongoing monitoring, the EPA has embraced cutting-edge technologies such as GIS and remote sensing to enhance their capabilities. By integrating remote sensing with GIS, the EPA gains valuable geospatial information, particularly in hazardous and remote mining areas where on-site monitoring may be challenging or dangerous. This technology allows the agency to efficiently manage pollution reports, identify non-compliant mining operations and allocate resources effectively to critical areas. One of the most significant advantages of remote sensing is its ability to mitigate the environmental effects of mining activities. It provides crucial data and insights on factors such as land use, land-cover changes, and water quality. This data becomes the foundation for enforcing environmental regulations and promoting sustainable mining practices.

The EPA has made substantial strides in recent years by adopting advanced sensor technologies, such as hyperspectral imaging and LIDAR. These technologies enable even more precise and comprehensive data collection, helping the EPA to better understand the complex interactions between mining activities and the environment.

The integration of remote sensing and GIS empowers the EPA to enforce environmental regulations effectively. By identifying sources of pollution and non-compliant mining operations, the agency can ensure that mining companies adhere to guidelines, promoting sustainable and responsible mining practices.

As technology evolves, the EPA remains committed to staying at the forefront of environmental monitoring. The agency invests in research and development to explore emerging technologies that promise even greater accuracy and efficiency in their monitoring and regulatory efforts.

With Guyana’s mining sector being crucial to its economy, integrating serious environmental considerations becomes imperative. The advancements in remote sensing and GIS technology by the Environmental Protection Agency offer hope for a more sustainable future. By promoting

Georgetown City Council has responsibility for the collection/disposal of garbage in the city

BEFORE the collapse of the administration of the City of Georgetown, which occurred after Independence in 1966, Georgetown used to be famous worldwide as “The Garden City of the West Indies”. It was a well-merited appellation: The city’s streets were clean, with flowering or ornamental trees such as flamboyants and royal palms planted on either side; the drains were kept in good order; the city’s canals were always in full flow to the river; the Le Repentir cemetery resembled a well-kept park; and the city’s administration was efficient and honest. Of particular note is that no garbage could be seen in the city, since all solid waste was removed every day. The story of solid waste disposal from the city is an interesting one.

In the early 19th Century, when the city was very small and had no more than 10,000 inhabitants, residents either buried their garbage or burnt it in their backyards. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the population had grown considerably, and the City Council, or Town Council as it was called, assumed its legal responsibility of disposing of the city’s garbage. Thomas Flood, a man with a fleet of animal-drawn carts that transported goods and building materials for the city and surrounding areas, was given the contract for rubbish collection and disposal. Flood had special carts built with high sides and covers, and his men efficiently removed the city’s garbage for a dump on the East Bank. Thomas Flood, who was an orphan, was one of Guyana’s most creative 19th and early 20th-Century entrepreneurs. It should be remembered that until the 1950s, there were few motorcars and motorised transport, and horse and donkey carts, and horse-drawn cabs provided the service which motorcars, motorbikes and lorries do today.

The city’s population continued to grow, and the City Council, or Town Council as it was then called, established a Waste Management Department with an office in the cemetery, west of the Louisa Row gate. They also constructed an incinerator to

incinerate the city’s rubbish. This incinerator was also placed in the cemetery, in the jib at Princes and St. Stephen’s Streets.

The city bought a fleet of three sturdy rubbish dump trucks that collected and disposed of the garbage at the incinerator. The streets and parapets were kept clean, since there were crews which weeded the parapets and swept animal dung from the streets.

After Independence, the City Council and the city’s administration became politicised, which was the genesis of the city’s collapse. The rubbish dump trucks were never maintained, and eventually became unserviceable, and garbage piled up in the city. To bring a modicum of relief, the areas at the head of streets were boxed around, and citizens deposited their rubbish there. In the 1980s, a few private contractors began to be employed, and though these functioned irregularly, they brought some minor relief to the citizens.

In the early 1990s, the Central Government became democratized, and began to reform the finances of the country, and though the City Hall still remained in its old mould, two organised garbage companies, Puran Brothers and Cevons, were engaged by the Council, and they performed creditably.

The City Council, however, soon drifted back into its old ways, and began to owe these companies large sums of money, until they found it impossible to continue, resulting in garbage piling up all over the city. The citizens began to complain, and the Government was constrained to pay the contractors, and garbage removal resumed.

In the meantime, when higher houses began to be built in Albouystown and Charlestown, the ash from the incinerator began to affect them, and the Council was compelled to remove the incinerator. They tried to place it on the river bank parallel to lower Lombard Street, believing that the ash and smoke would dissipate over the river. This was found to be unworkable, and the incinerator was dismantled, and the city’s waste resumed being dumped at the East Bank dump site.

Unfortunately, the City Hall kept owing Puran Bros and Cevons, and, from time to time, these companies had to discontinue work until the Central Government, which was more financially solvent than in the 1980s, paid them. The companies had made large investments in equipment to be able to service the municipalities, so they could not disengage from their municipal customers. Accordingly, many citizens began to feel that the city’s garbage disposal was the responsibility of the Central Government. The responsibility of the City Council for garbage disposal from the city must be fully grasped, since, if there is any semblance of an assumption in City Hall that the Central Government has some responsibility for garbage disposal, it will be an inhibition on their doing their duty.

This weird assumption that the M&CC has no responsibility for solid waste disposal from the city even exists among members of the City Council: Recently, Mr. Travis Ellis, a City Councilor, accused the Central Government of not performing the M&CC’s waste management duties! (Guyana Chronicle 12/07/23).

As a first-aid to this situation, we would suggest, firstly, that the Mayor and Councillors and the Managers of the various departments of the City’s Administration study the Act establishing Georgetown and its amendments with help from the Attorney General’s Chambers; and secondly, that the City Treasurer’s Department be made to study the Financial Regulations the help of the Ministry of Finance. If these first-aid measures were taken, the efficiency of the City’s Administration would improve and its financial management would become transparent.

Investments that can benefit you a lifetime

I CONSTANTLY make investments in myself, others, stocks, real estate collectibles etc. It depends on our interests, vision, mission, goals etc. Sometimes we win; sometimes we lose. I personally believe when we invest in ourselves, we also win! It is the best investment, because that investment will last a lifetime, and can impact our personal and professional life. Becoming more intentional about my personal growth was one of the best decisions and investments. The benefits over the years are priceless, and I share my experience with many over the years, with the intention of encouraging them to do the same.

I continue to take every opportunity to grow and add to myself, because it is the only way that I can add value to others. I have invested time and money, and will continue to do so, because it has contributed, in a major way, to the woman I am today. This is my special birth month, and I try to do more in this month for others. For my 50th birthday, I gave the Confidence Becomes You programme, complimentary, to 50 people. The next virtual programme starts in a few weeks, and I will be giving away some more scholarships to five

persons who write a paragraph, explaining who should be one of the five (send to soniaenoel@gmail.com). I have witnessed the tremendous transformation of many lives over the years. A few benefits of self-confidence are:

Better performance at work

An openness to try new things

Increased resilience and grit

Better interpersonal relationships and mental health

Increased happiness, sense of well-being

I am excited to partner with my friend/sister Phillipa Morrish, Certified Protocol Consultant. and Parc Rayne for another significant programme that is needed in our society. Etiquette for tomorrow’s leaders starts on Saturday, August 19, and the three following Saturdays at Parc Rayne. I have observed Phil-

lipa over the years, and she finds joy in teaching these classes to help others. She is one of the facilitators for the Women in Business Expo, and the Model Image for children 10 to 16. She also has facilitated dining etiquette for the Confidence Becomes You participants. She is a genuine and fun person, with a good heart. I even got her to model for me a few times.

I am sharing the Etiquette for tomorrow’s leaders programme outline to give you an idea of what the course entails.

• Meeting and Greeting: Create a positive first impression.

• Role play greetings, and differences in social and business introduction protocols.

• Verbal Communication: Speak and read to focus on SEE PAGE XXXI

Advancements in mining for environmental protection:

...

FROM PAGE XVII

responsible mining practices and collaborative efforts among regulatory agencies, mining companies, and local communities, Guyana can strike a balance between economic growth and environmental protection, thereby ensuring a prosperous and environmentally conscious future for generations to come.

Remember:

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

Current creative protests against AI in the US should be paid attention to by creatives here (Part II)

‘THE writers protest’ in North America is about placing value and respect on the souls who contribute to the principle content that has made the movie industry a success. It’s a question about the fairness and respect that should be given to creative people who provide content across time; content that can be reached back into and be relevant long after its popular era has

passed. For example, from among old classic movies that are remade with success, or can even stand on their own. Capturing the nostalgia of the mature generation on the local scene about nostalgia, the movie ‘The Good, The Bad and the Ugly’ stands out. I must again lament, on behalf of many that the cinemas were allowed to decline without the aid of the State. These were

institutions that were part of the cultural aesthetics, and had the potential to expand before the National Cultural Centre was an idea.

This article is centred around the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the livelihoods of human beings. Thus, I must include my first awareness of any

SEE PAGE XXIX

The growing reparations movement

DAYS ago, on August 1, we celebrated Emancipation Day and the enormous and indelible contribution of Afro-Guyanese to the development of Guyana. This year’s celebration came amid intensified conversations on reparations, and this, for me, is a welcomed development.

At the end of July, the University of the West Indies (UWI) joined forces with the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council of the African Union (AU), the Barbados government, the Open Society Foundations, and the Caribbean PanAfrican Network (CPAN) to bolster the call for reparations.

This combined effort was viewed as historic and much-needed. It shows deepening cooperation among crucial stakeholders: Those on the African continent, where millions of Africans were taken to provide unpaid labour under horrible, inhumane conditions, and those in the Caribbean, who are the descendants of the people brought here and enslaved. This meeting follows another one held in Brussels, Belgium; there, leaders from the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean addressed the matter, and there were some hints of the provision of reparations. No definitive commitments were made, nor was any direct responsibility assumed however.

Still, I think these meetings show that progress is being made. Increased international reporting on the matter, such as a reparations story printed on the TIME magazine cover, helps. And it is about time we see more progress.

Ten years ago, in 2013, countries that were a part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) decided they would advocate for reparations from Britain, a nation once a dominant colonial power in the region, and one whose development was fuelled by the exploitation of people and resources in the Caribbean.

Through the CARICOM Reparations Commission, chaired by Sir Hilary Beckles, the bloc has been advocating for these reparations through a 10-point plan that outlines what reparations are being called for and why.

To summarise, the plan articulates the need for reparatory justice for people in the Caribbean. And the ten points are: A full and formal apology; repatriation to Africa; the development of cultural institutions; addressing the public health crisis, illiteracy eradication; the Development of an African knowledge programme; psychological rehabilitation; technology transfer, and debt cancellation.

These reparations are needed to help people, especially those who live with the historical trauma and ramifications of enslavement, heal.

Right here in Guyana, there have been calls for reparations. Local Afro-Guyanese interest groups, for example, have been working with CARICOM and its reparations commission to demand reparations.

President Dr. Irfaan Ali, in his Emancipation Day message this year, said his government remains committed to the struggle for reparations.

He said, “We demand that those who were complicit in and who profited from the trade in captive Africans and African enslavement pay just reparations.”

And he acknowledged the work CARICOM has been doing to push for reparations.

“The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has been at the forefront of demanding reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans. Within the region, there has been a concerted effort to seek both the acknowledgement of and redress for the injustices inflicted as a result of the slave

trade and slavery,” Dr. Ali stated too.

Other Heads of Government across the region also talk about reparations. However, this shouldn’t come as a surprise since the commission falls under the aegis of CARICOM.

I’m no expert or authority on the matter, but I do believe that an increased focus on reparations becomes even more important with each passing day because of the legacy of enslavement and colonisation and the nexus between that legacy and our region’s underdevelopment. Our countries are not developing at a fast enough pace to help people live better lives as envisioned

under the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and certainly not fast enough to withstand the events of worsening climate-related disasters.

Reparations, it is envisioned, will help countries fund developmental needs while addressing some of the psychosocial concerns of those affected by enslavement and colonialism. Therefore, I think it is important for more people to understand and appreciate the call for reparations and support bona fide efforts being made to demand those.

If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous works, feel free to email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

Current creative protests against AI in the US should be paid...

FROM PAGE XXIII

literature related to AI that had an impact on me. This was a 16-page magazine published by the United States Information Agency (USIA) 1985, titled ‘Enhancing the Mind: The Search For Artificial Intelligence’. The optimism then most likely did foresee some level of problems, though the language of its narrative did not fully betray this.

However, I had reservations, so I kept this impressive booklet safely, because, then, its narrative conflicted as indeed grimly disturbing, after locally experiencing the disappearance of the massive stevedore and waterfront workforce in the late 70s due to modernisations of marine shipping, placing thousands out of work. I will add another brief but sombre paragraph from this AI booklet, ‘The creation of machine intelligence, capturing the process of sensing, reasoning, analogy and symbols, creativity, analysis and insight that we call thinking, may well be the greatest challenge of the 20th Century’.

I witnessed, at GNNL in the 1980s, how four computers operated by four operatives eliminated some 15 and more workers in the paste-up and compo-graphic department, and this was at the onset of the Personal Computer age -office assistants, filing clerks, messengers etc., also disappeared in human volume across the employment belt. Today, in America, I have to quote from ‘Marina Fang’s article’ again: “It’s an existential problem. Media and entertainment companies and the rich CEOs at their helm have massively profited from the glut of shows and movies. Meanwhile, the people who make them are fighting to get paid equitably for their work.”

How and what can creative people outside of the USA learn and be motivated to do by this? Many of us in the creative and entertainment sector locally have already experienced that financing institutions have in the past placed funds in the hands of groups supposedly in our interest who know nothing about what we do. Thus, we did not benefit, upon realising after the fact, pondering how it happened in the first place?

Becoming aware of the dos and don’ts is essential. This awareness, however, is not one-sided. It seems that only with the Arts that a clueless public servant or even a qualified person with no active position in creative development can be placed to manage such, that will result in no peaks but an inevitable flatlining. With the American issue, the human source of the creative content is being deemphasised, and the callous injustice of avarice has become the collective policy exclusive to the CEOs and the clique at the top.

What is amazing is that this condition is now public knowledge in America, kind of breaking down the mystery of the amount of Talent suicides and the possibility of a very much darker side to Hollywood. We can seek to interpret through the narratives recorded from protestors, for example- “ I don’t think it’s a coincidence that just as the industry started to get more diverse, finally after decades, they try to pull this on us. They try to take away our living wage” said TV writer Sasha Stewart, a member of the WGAE’s council. Implying that- “as soon as writers of colour, as soon as women, as soon as queer people, as soon as disabled writers like me finally break through, they try to take this away.” We in Guyana have no alternative but to pay attention to this struggle in “Region 12”, as we playfully call America. We must contemplate the grim fact that we have to proceed to evolve with the workable concept of a duel interest ‘MEMORANDOM OF UNDERSTANDING’ that would be digested and reworked long before the moment when you sit before a possible investor with an interest in the potential of something creative, that’s in your authority to decide on.

Amalgam Fillings

EVERY dentist and nearly every adult alive have an ongoing and familiar relationship with dental amalgam, popularly known as “silver filling.” It contains mercury, silver, tin, copper and zinc. The high prevalence of tooth decay during much of the 20th century made it necessary to have a safe, efficient, durable and inexpensive dental restorative material available.

Health professionals and the public alike have widely viewed dental amalgam as satisfying these criteria. This had been the case for about a century. However, in recent times, claims of possible adverse health effects of mercury vapour from dental amalgam have surfaced with international

publicity. In fact, for nearly five years, I have stopped using amalgam fillings in my clinic. In Sweden, the government banned its use altogether.

Research has detected elevated levels of elemental mercury vapour in the mouths of individuals with dental amalgam fillings. Additional animal research suggested that mercury from those dental fillings could be deposited in tissues distant from the site of amalgam placement. In some cases, the media sensationalised these findings, creating a spectre that dental amalgam may be detrimental to

individual speech patterns.

• Vocal exercises that emphasise clarity, pronunciation, enunciation.

• Non-Verbal Communication: Exercises that show how body language affects

• perception and confidence. Head, feet, and other body positions that give onlookers a positive or negative

• Cell phone etiquette

• Customer Service: Transaction vs Connection. Its role in enhancing a repeat customer base.

• Why harmony in all three levels of service must be maintained to qualify for superior service.

• Posture and Deportment in the 5 Star Hotel and Restaurant.

• Exercises in (a) Walking (b) Standing (c) Sitting (as practised in ‘fine dining’ establishments).

• Body posture and the non-verbal messages conveyed to the customer as it relates to:

• Eyes (b) Head (c) Shoulders (d) Hands. The protocols surrounding written and unwritten confidentiality agreements.

Question and Answer Session.

I heard the staff started implementing some of the content the next day at the Sunday Brunch.

I would love to see businesses investing more in their staff to raise the level of customer service. The importance of customer service for your business cannot be overstated. By providing excellent customer service, companies can enjoy all sorts of benefits. If you have a business, and would like to utilise Mrs. Morrish’s expertise, please call 6496710.

I encourage individuals to register for this programme that commences on August 19, and you will be happy that you did, because this is an opportunity for growth. (Call 6848129 or 2257063, or email livingwithintention11@ gmail.com). I have had people sponsor people for these programmes, and we would love you to encourage more people to do so, as you continue to celebrate this journey called BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

visual impression.

• Dining Etiquette 1: Participants are taught the correct order of eating at restaurants, buffet or served meals. Common mistakes in eating and serving food. Differences in social and business dining.

• Dining Etiquette 2: Each participant practices setting a table for one to five

• course meals.

• Image Management (a). Posture: Enter a room with presence. Standing and sitting postures; walk up and down stairs; enter /exit vehicles. (b) Attire: The power of clothing to make or break an image.

Etiquette helps us to know how to treat others respectfully and appropriately in any context. By knowing how to read social cues, and communicating effectively, we put others at ease, foster meaningful relationships, and create a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere wherever we go.

•

Ms Morrish recently conducted a training on Superior Customer Service Hospitality in the 21st Century, with Parc Rayne staff. I believe we all have heard various complaints about customer service in Guyana; hence these sessions are vital across the board. Sometimes the customer service experience determines if you return to a hotel, restaurant, etc. These are some of the areas she covered:

• Skit enacting the protocols of ‘meeting and greeting’ at the three levels of service.

• Discussion involving: Proactive vs Reactive greeting habits in hospitality. Why many national and international restaurants remain at the second level.

LIKE A WILDFLOWER ...

FROM PAGE XVI

It sounded like a warzone with casualties on both sides but the police, though outgunned, skilfully held their own until backup arrived.

During the short lapse, Mark and two of the four suspects escaped on ATVs heading for a secret crossing on the border. Two speed boats were waiting at the river-crossing and at that moment, Tanya knew she had to make a break for it. It was a do-or-die effort for her and tearing her hand from Mark, she ran. The pain in her legs where he had repeatedly kicked her hampered her, but she kept going, hearing his shouting, “Stop Tanya or I’ll shoot you!”

She stopped and turned, gasping for breath, “I can’t, I c—can’t, I need my life back.”

She turned to run again, as far away as she could get from him and felt a sharp burning as he shot her, shouting enraged, “You’re not leaving me!”

She fell to the ground, gasping as blood seeped from the bullet wounds in her body. As darkness closed in, she heard voices, shouting, more gunfire and hands holding her.

People from the community that’s her home, vendors, church members and neighbours kept prayer services, praying and singing songs as she laid in the Intensive Care Unit battling for her life.

A wild flower left to bloom by the wayside, now seeming to wither.

Arvin spent long hours at the hospital waiting on word of her recovery and it became clear to his colleagues and those she was close to, how much he cared for her.

“Sweet but sad” were the sentiments expressed by those who knew her story.

The doctor came to Arvin three days later with word on Tanya’s recovery. He had leaned back in a chair in the waiting room, his eyes closed when the doctor approached.

“Sir.”

He sat up and felt a tightness in his stomach when he saw the unsmiling look on her face, then she smiled a little and said, “She’s awake.”

“Thank God,” Arvin exclaimed with tremendous relief.

The darkness that had descended over her slowly cleared away and the first person she saw when she opened her eyes was Arvin, sitting by her bedside.

“Sorry I got your message late,” he said with regret. She tried to smile but grimaced in pain and said between breaths, “Y—you found me.”

“I had to because you called for my help.”

“Tha—thank you.”

“You’ll be fine,” he assured her, “And I’ll always be here to help you in whatever possible.”

Those words were quite comforting to her, for she needed to get her life back to continue working to build her dream of becoming her own woman.

For that week, as she became stable and slowly regained her strength, Arvin visited her every day. His care and concern gave her a warm feeling, but she knew she had now to be cautious to any new friendship.

She would now be like the fresh flowers by her bedside, not anymore, a wildflower on the wayside.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear Student, Welcome dear friend. Improve your reading comprehension skill by using it alongside other skills. Relate what you have read to something you might have heard or been told.

August 6, 2023

Do a summary, write a letter, or do note-taking to link reading and writing. Compare an article and a news-bulletin, use recorded information to solve a written problem, or match opinions and texts by reading and listening. Also, discuss, debate, and appreciate events by linking reading and speaking skills. Be wise.

Love you.

GRAMMAR

Predicate agreement with special subjects

We now look at TWO special cases, the principles of which you must be sure to remember. They deal with the basic rule of agreement – A predicate must agree in number and person with the simple subject.

Collective Nouns: A collective noun is a word that refers to a group or a collection of persons or things, such as class, faculty, committee, jury, company, audience, and herd.

Guideline Points: ● When a collective noun indicates that the group is acting as a whole, the subject is considered singular and takes a singular verb. ● When a collective noun indicates that the members of the group are acting as individuals, the subject is plural and takes a plural verb.

Examples:

● Singular: The committee has reached its decision. (Here the committee is acting collectively; because the group is acting as a whole, the subject is singular and the and the singular verb ‘has’ is correct.

● The committee are arguing over several issues concerning this complaint. (To argue, more than one person is needed. The plural verb ‘are’ is correct because the committee members are acting as individuals.)

Something to Do

Make the necessary corrections in the following sentences.

1. The committee is now working on their individual reports to the chairman.

2. The city council have been arguing over this ruling since the members met this morning.

3. Our union have filed a grievance against Samuel Gittens, Inc.

4. Each department must submit their financial statements to the city auditors by September 4.

5. The company have their headquarters in Queenstown, Georgetown.

6. The Faculty of Education has different views on these issues.

Foreign Nouns

Look at these five pairs of singular and plural nouns and re-

member them always.

alumnus / alumni; alumna / alumnae; criterion / criteria; parenthesis / parentheses; stimulus / stimuli

Examples:

1. The basis for Jordan’s increasing their discount is to spark customer buying. (‘Is’ is correct because ‘basis’ is singular.)

2. The bases for increasing our discount are to spark customer buying and to push out old inventory. (‘Are’ is correct because ‘bases’ is plural.)

Something to Do

Are the foreign nouns in the following sentences singular, or are they plural? Choose the words that agree with the foreign-noun simple subjects.

1. Jennifer’s thesis (is, are) to be submitted no later than September 25.

2. The contractor’s analyses of the structural defects (shows, show) that the concrete walls used were riddled with construction errors.

3. The latest crisis in the assembly plant (was, were) caused by constant strikes in the zinc sheets manufacturing industry.

4. Her criteria for selecting an air frier (is, are) price and service.

THE PASSAGE

Read the following passage and draw a map where Midwich is. Indicate all the roads and neighbouring villages mentioned in the text. Midwich lies roughly eight miles west-north-west of Trayne. The main road westward out of Trayne runs through the neighbouring villages of Stouch and Oppley, from each of which secondary roads lead to Midwich. The village itself is therefore at the apex of a road triangle which has Oppley and Stouch at its lower corners; its only other highway being a lane which rolls in a Chestertonian fashion some five miles to reach Hickham which is three miles north.

(From John Wyndham: “The Midwich Cuckoos”)

Something to Do: After drawing and labeling, that is, transferring written information into a map, as you were asked to do above, let some study partners do the exercise also. Let a discussion ensue and each justify his kind of representation of information. This should help the group to understand the text by using information contained in it. This should be an eye-opener.

THE POEM Silver

Slowly, silently, now the moon Walks the night in her silver shoon; This way, and that, she peers, and sees Silver fruit upon silver trees; One by one the casement catch Her beams beneath the silvery thatch; Couched in his kennel, like a log, With paws of silver sleeps the dog; From their shadowy cote the white breasts peep Of doves in a silver-feathered sleep; A harvest mouse goes scampering by, With silver claws and silver eye; And moveless fish in the water gleam, By silver reeds in a silver stream.

Something to Do:

1. How are objects and animals transformed by the moonlight?

2. What mood is immediately set in the first line of the poem? What other images were used to add to this mood?

3. Read the poem and listen closely to its sounds. a) Write the sounds that are repeated. b) Show how these sounds help to create a quiet mood.

The unexamined life is not worth living.SOCRATES (469-399) Plato, Apology, 38a

Amalgam...

FROM PAGE XXX

human health.

Considering the recent research reports, the international dental community asked the US Public Health Service to initiate a comprehensive scientific review of the benefits and risks of dental amalgam. After a two-year review, a diverse group of scientists comprising epidemiologists, toxicologists and biomaterial experts produced a report which was published in January 1993. Nearly 500 scientific studies were used as a basis for the report.

It was confirmed that dental amalgam can release very small amounts of elemental mercury. But mercury is absorbed from many sources, including food and even the air we breathe. It has not been demonstrated that most people experience any clinical effects from the small additional burden of mercury from amalgam. The report stated that if there were adverse health effects from mercury in silver amalgam fillings, they may be so subtle and non-specific that they would be difficult to detect.

The studies revealed that using that type of filling offers many advantages over the rest. These include wide potential of applications, ease of manipulation, reasonable clinical serviceability, and relatively low cost. Several alternative materials can replace dental amalgam in many traditional situations, particularly in low-stress-bearing areas. On a one-time-use basis, none of these materials is cheaper than dental amalgam.

Although the issue of potential health risks from dental amalgam initially drove the scientific review forward, the benefits of this material and the dangers of alternative restorative materials also assumed a prominent position. It is not enough to answer whether mercury from dental amalgam causes any bad health effects. The broader question should be asked, “How important is amalgam to the oral health of the nation?”. Indeed, millions of teeth have been retained among the Guyanese population over the years that otherwise would have been sacrificed because restorative alternatives would have been too expensive for many people.

In the final analysis, where there is a large known benefit, then individuals and society must acknowledge and determine an acceptable level of risk as the necessary side effect of a highly technological civilisation.