Sunday, August 14, 2022
PreparationsforHeritageMonth2022
Tessa Daniels is a resident of Swan Village on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, who makes different types of craft from the ite` palm trees and dyed tibisri straw. On September 18 this year, Swan Vil lage will be celebrating their heritage at the Community Centre Ground and she is tasked with making the cos tumes, the matching jewels and the head dresses for the much-anticipated event. In this photo, Daniels displays some of her handmade craft (Delano Williams photo)
Cambridge added that the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. is proud of the work that it has done and continues to do. “Our work over the past 22 years has raised consciousness and awareness about the scope and range of Guyanese folk expressions and con temporary creativity and supported pioneering research and publications on Guyanese social and cultural life. For example, Rohan Sagar’s work mapping Guyanese ethnomusicology, Vibert Cambridge’s 2015 book on Musical Life in Guyana, and Gillian Richards-Greaves’ 2021 book on Kweh-Kweh and “Rediasporisation” showcased and promoted Guyanese talent in New York,” he told the Pepperpot Magazine. Over the past 22 years, the Guyana Folk Festival has host ed several Guyanese creatives from home and the diaspora. Among these creatives have been: Steve Douglas of Bravo Arts, Adrian Dutchin, Classique Dance Company NYC, Flan tis and the Ninja Band, Pablo G, Terry Gajraj, Dave Martins, Gavin Mendonca, Guyana’s National Dance Company, Eze Rockcliffe, Randy Ramdin and Recklëz Tassa Group, Young Bill Rogers, and Keith Waithe. The Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. was proud to have hosted the Karao Cultural Group from Karad anau, South Rupununi to Guyana Folk Festival in 2016, when the theme was “Celebrating Our Indigenous Heritage.” The Karao Group was received warmly by the Native American community in New York City. The group “also participated in Shinnecock Annual Pow Wow and was a big hit” and con tributed to the bridging of the ethnic divide through dialogue and performance. The geography of Guyanese settlement in New York has tended to reproduce some patterns from Guy ana—with a concentration of Guyanese of African ancestry in Brooklyn and a concentration of Guyanese of Indian ancestry in Queens, NY. An early example of this bridging approach was the “Celebration of Guyanese drums” held in Queens in 2006. A more recent example was the performance of the Matticore ceremony by the Nirvana Humanitarian Foundation troupe from Queens, NY at Kweh Kweh Night 2019. This was an example of cultural similarity and cultural ‘shareability’. In 2021, the virtual Caribbean Summer Workshop Series welcomed participants from Joshua House and the St. Ann’s Orphanages in Guyana. According to Cambridge, Guyana’s challenges are real! There is much work to be done.
The Pepperpot Magazine recently spoke with one of the or ganisers of a well-loved, annual event which will be held in the United States of America among the Guyanese Diaspora, the Guyana Folk Festival. Vibert Cambridge, one of its organisers, gave a brief overview of the history of a Guyana Folk Festival and outlined some of the plans for this year’s mammoth event.
“We believe that identifying and celebrating our cul tural similarities is a key step in building INTERETHNIC TRUST in Guyana. So, our work is not done,” he said. “We are happy that a younger generation is taking up the mantle of leadership in the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. We will continue to reach across barriers as we celebrate Guyana’s rich folk heritage and encour age Guyanese creativity. We will continue to work with Guyanese institutions at home and across the diaspora to co-discover the cultural commonalities that connect the Guyanese people. We appreciate the scope of the task and the nature of our responsibilities. We remain optimistic.”
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“The Guyana Folk Festival is an annual event organised by the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc., a compliant not-for-profit 501(c)3 organisation. The festival has been held in Brooklyn, New York for the past 22 years. The Guyana Folk Festival organised by the Guyana Broadcasting Corporation in the early 1980s [1983] was the inspiration behind the Guyana Folk Festival which has been held annually in Brooklyn over the past 22 years,” Cambridge said. He noted that this year’s theme focuses on CarifestaAT50: Reflections and Legacies. Cambridge noted that the Guyana Folk Festival season usually includes and feature a set of signature events. In 2022, the Signature events are the Caribbean Summer Workshop Series (SWS). This workshop series, he explained, targets Guyanese and other Caribbean youth in New York. He noted that in 2021, the virtual Caribbean Summer Workshop Series involved participants from Joshua House and the St. Ann’s Orphanages in Guyana.
Vibert Cambridge
THERE are certain things that define us as a people when it comes to nation-building, and among them, cultural identity stands out as being responsible for uniting people in society.
Guyana Folk Festival still alive and well in Guyana over the past 11,000 to 15,000 years. Cambridge fur ther added that the annual award cere mony is being held to showcase and promote contempo rary Guyanese cre ativity and to rec ognise Guyanesenisemissionvancecurrentachievementsandindividuals,Guyanesegroups,agencieswhoseandworkadtheGCA’storecogandcelebrateheritage and encourage and promote contemporary Guyanese cre ativity. Over the past 20 years, GCA has, with the participation of the public, recognised more than 200 Guyanese and other citizens.Cambridge noted that the Guyana Folk Festival supports inter-ethnic and intergenerational conversations among Guyana in New York, Guyanese at home, and across the Guyanese diaspora. “It is possible to collaborate with Guyanese agencies and individuals at home to produce programs and initia tives that are beneficial for Guyanese at home and abroad. It is also [about] working with the community to co-dis cover commonalities in the cultural practices of improves trust—a needed factor in contemporary Guyanese life,” Cambridge told the Pepperpot Magazine. During his interview, Cambridge explained that the Guyana Folk Festival contributes to building bridges of understanding between and among Guyanese, Caribbean and other communities in New York, supports cultural trans mission, and encourages cultural confidence.
According to Cambridge, over the past 22 years, the Guy ana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. has been actively engaged in Guyana’s cultural sector. In some cases, the group has provided continuity in the practice of politics in Guyana. A case in point is the Institute of Creative Arts (ICA). The Gov ernment of Guyana established this institution immediately after CARIFESTA 72 in response to the obvious education and training needs in Guyana’s cultural sector. By the change of government in 1992, it was also obvious that the Institute of Creative Arts needed review and overhaul. It was not until 2012, approximately 20 years later, that Dr. Frank Anthony, then the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, invited Dr. Vibert Cambridge, then the President of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York to facilitate a process to reactivate the Institute of Creative Arts. Central to the ICA is a world-class curriculum. This requires a trained faculty and opportunities for faculty and students to be internationally engaged. The Guyana Folk Festival has been and remains an important destination for international exposure.
A Guyana Folk Festival’s three-day international sympo sium will commemorate the 50th anniversary of CARIFESTA ’72 held in Guyana. The Annual Awards Ceremony will see recipients of the Kweh – Kweh Night, who will showcase and celebrate Guyana’s rich folk culture, and the creative responses of Guyana’s root cultures to the Guyanese experience. Additionally, the annual ceremony is being held to support and encourage the study of the commonalities in the responses of Guyana’s root cultures to the conditions they experienced
The Hebrew Family of Guyana Drummers – Passing on traditions and sharing rich history
The Hebrew Family of Guyana Drummers had its origin over 40 years ago Senior drummer Obadiah Jones (second, left) with other drummers The group is hired to play at cultural and other events Getting the youths involved from as young as four years old
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WITH a rich history that started over 40 years ago, the Hebrew Family of Guy ana Drummers continues to offer the Guyanese pop ulace a style of drumming that is unique, and that is aided by several tra ditional instruments that all come together to form sweet rhythms. With over one thousand members here, the group originated in the United States, and its ‘teachings’ eventually came to Guyana. At the time, there were not many drummers around, but as the communities started to grow, the senior members would make it a point to teach their youngsters. And this practice of pass ing on their knowledge has continued to this day. The senior drummers would teach their children from as young as possible and give them opportunities to practice to become versed in drumming. “The group was passed on from earlier generations and we try to pass it down to the youths from a very early age. We will have practice for them and allow them to practice. We put them on the drums to encourage them and give them the opportunity to play,” senior drummer Yeverekhyahu Yisrael told Pepperpot Magazine. “Right now, a lot of the ones who are drumming, we would say, are the future gen erations who will take over when the senior drummers say it’s time for us to step down. We teach them the basic beats and everything so that they can be able to carry it on from generation to gen eration,” Yisrael continued. With drumming being a significant part of the African culture, Yisrael believes that it is important for the youths to become acquainted with it to help preserve their tra ditions. At the moment, the youngest drummer is four years old. The work that the se nior members are putting in to train the youngsters is already paying off as just recently, at an event on Main Street, several seniors could not make it to play, and it was the children who helped to save the day. “A lot of the senior drummers couldn’t make it for one reason or another. The chil dren came with their father to see what’s going on, and because they were taught certain basic beats, they were able to fall in and play,” Yisrael recalled. While the group has members from all parts of the country, once it’s time to practice for a performance, they would all meet at the Hebrew Culture Centre in North Ruimveldt. “Outside of our holy days, every year we participate in ACDA’s cel ebrations for Emancipation, and we are always the first act to open the event,” Yisrael related. The group would also be hired to play at cultural and other events. The vibrant and dedicated drummers who are commit ted to keeping their African musical culture alive are undoubtedly part of one of the best drumming groups in the country. “Our style of drumming is very unique. If you listen to any other drum, they all sound the same in terms of their beats, but with us, each drum has its own melody but combined, we create a wonderful sound,” Yisrael offered. Explaining some of the instruments they use, he spoke about the bass drums, the second base drums, which keep the tempo of the beat, the third base, and runnersdrums that would ‘bring the flavour to the music.’ “They may have a regular beat, but at times they may go off and add some stuff to it. Outside of the drums, there is the Timbale - two drums on a stand that we play with sticks. We have the cowbell; the block - a piece of wood we would hit with a stick; the triangle – a piece of metal in the shape of a triangle; the tambourine and the shaker,” Yisrael shared. Meanwhile, Obadi ah Jones, another senior drummer, was taught by his older folks and is already teaching drumming to his two young sons. “My older generation taught me. One of the things I like about this…even though I am young, I am futuristic, so it’s good to have the youths involved. They need to un derstand no matter where you’re located….you need to know your roots,” Jones expressed.
Finding satisfaction in his job
Physiotherapist Elton Newton Assisting a patient
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Having graduated from the University of Guyana, Elton plans to advance his stud ies next year
Young physiotherapist goes above and beyond in his duties
By Telesha Ramnarine ELTON Newton always knew that he wanted to pursue a career in the medical field as he found great satisfaction in helping others. But it was his own experience in hospi tal that convinced him that this was indeed the field that he wanted to be in. During the two days that he had to be admitted in the hospital, the 25-year-old used the opportunity to speak with doctors and nurses, thus gaining a good grasp of what the work was like. “I’ve always known that that was my purpose in life, and then in 2016, I was in hospital, so I got some firsthand knowledge. I wasn’t confined to one room, so I got the op portunity to talk to doctors and nurses and walk around with some of them. That was a good experience for me. After that, I was more convinced that this is what I wanted to do,” Elton shared during an interview with Pepperpot Magazine. Having attended Bladen Hall Multilateral, Elton did CAPE at President’s College and then signed up to do Medical Rehabilitation at the University of Guyana (UG). “When I signed up for UG, I did it a little late, so some of the programmes that I wanted to do had already exceeded the quota for the semester, so physiotherapy was the other option,” he recalled. His aim was to switch to another programme after the first year. However, he was sent out on clinical attachment for six weeks and got to work with many patients in need of physiotherapy. He no longer wanted to pursue anything else. “From there, it stuck with me, and I wanted to complete the programme, so I spent three more years finishing it,” he said. There were specific things about physiotherapy that Elton especially appreciated. “Physiotherapy isn’t just looking at the person. It looks at the family, the caregiver, the com munity that the person came from, and how we are going to reintegrate them into some of the activities that they did before. Being a part of that is so rewarding.” Being able to work with patients for a period of time enables you to see their progress and how happy it makes them, he explained. “It also makes you grateful for what you have because you work with these patients who had so much independence, and all of a sudden, it is taken away from them,” he shared. One patient, in particular, he recalls suffered with Sco liosis and Kyphosis. This in dividual wasn’t able to move because of intense pain and Elton was able to work with him for three months. “For the first two months, we weren’t getting any results. We were trying and chang ing until we stuck with one programme for three months every single day. I saw him two times a week. Sometimes it was stressful and you felt like giving up or handing him over to someone else but I stuck with him,” he recalled. Eventually, the patient went to him one day and said he was not feeling any pain and that he could now do some of the things he did previously. “That experience always stuck with me, and it showed that it takes a long time before you might actual ly see results. He also pushed me to do more research and come up with modifications to helpWithhim.”these and other such experiences, Elton has no regrets about joining the field even though it was not something that he wanted to pursue. In fact, come next year, he plans to advance his studies in Physiotherapy so that he can help people on a widerElton,scale.now attached to the Rehabilitation Department in the compound of the Palms Geriatric Home on Brickdam, made sure to point out that Physiotherapy is a service that is being offered by the Ministry of Health in all ad ministrative regions. “We look at conditions ranging from sports inju ries, back pain, shoulder problems; anything to do with joint and soft tissue inju ries. We look at neurological conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries. We also look at educating patients and family members,” he shared.
Tradition of the BG Militia Band
The Militia Band, now known as The Police Force Band. In this pho tograph, the Band is being conducted by the very first female Band master, (the late) Senior Superintendent Charmaine Stuart (Photo by Francis Quamina Farrier)
THERE are many traditions of colonial British Guiana (BG) which are still kept. Public concerts by the Guy ana Police Force Band are one of them. Growing up in the McDoom Agricola area on the East Bank Demerara gave youngsters like myself of that colonial era the joy of being entertained by the country’s premier musical organisation right within their community. The Band made scheduled annual tours to such places as Agricola, Demerara and New Amsterdam, Berbice. The annual Band concerts by the Militia Band at the Agri cola playground, located at the eastern extremities of the village, attracted villagers not only from Agricola itself but also from Meadow Bank and Rahaman’s Park to the north and Peter’s Hall and Provi dence to the south. Attending those Annual August concerts were many music lovers - and romantic lovers also attended. Those concerts provided the opportunity for “Secret Loves” to become boldly exposed on Saturday evenings in the bright sunlight on the George town seawalls as the Band provided beautiful music to nurture romantic love. In the musical “The King and I” is the line “Be brave young lovers, and follow your star” and that bravery is regu larly displayed out on the Georgetown seawalls and many oth er locations around Guyana. The Atlantic waves beyond the Georgetown seawalls to the north of the city wash the shores, providing background sounds which enhance the music from the Police Band musical instruments in the Bandstand. It is the right environment for young lovers to keep so close to each other that “Breeze kyan even pass between dem” as some elders would say with a chuckle. It is also safe to say that the cool breeze off the Atlantic Ocean also makes it comfortable for audiences, including citizens who are yet babes, to learn good music as they are cuddled in their mother’s or father’s arms. The adults, including elders 80 years of age and some times even older, also attend those Saturday afternoon Band concerts. In the past, citizens enjoyed a quality of life in what could be aptly described as “Guyana’s era of innocence.” No one ever thought or was told to “be careful.” Personal safety was a given in the past, and as the song from the musical “The Fantasticks” states, “Try to remember when Life was slow and oh, so mellow.”
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Those many fans of the British Guiana Police Band and the music they played back in those long-gone annual August months attended regularly and enjoyed the wide range of mu sical selections, from the classics, items from musical shows to jazz, calypso and local Folk music. In the past, Saturday Afternoon Band concerts in the Georgetown Seawall Bandstand were a family fun afternoon social event, when many of those attending would turn up early to secure the best seats in the house. Many of the older members of the audience took boxes to sit on. Some even took chairs in order to be as comfortable as possible during the one-hour duration musical event. Those military-type concerts included many classical selections from European composers such as Beethoven, Haydn, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Verdi. Those clas sical selections were always played during the first portion of the one-hour programme, after which items from American and English musicals and West Indian and Guyanese music rounded off the Inconcert.thecase of the popular annual August concerts at Ag ricola, the large truck which took the members of the Police Band from the band room in Georgetown along the dusty red-brick East Bank Demerara Public Road into the village, was always greeted by a large group of young boys; teens and even pre-teens, who would run alongside and behind the vehicle with shouts of “WELCOME”. There were also some light-hearted jeers at the heavy-set drummer. He was a 300-plus-pound gentleman who always sat at the very back of the vehicle and seemingly absorbed the taunts of the boys with pleasure. They would tell him how they were sorry for the rear wheel over which he sat and bounced up and down as the vehicle slowly made its way to its destination. In hindsight, it seemed as though he really enjoyed those taunts. He would wave and smile as the vehicle slowly made its way along the unpaved, red-brick street to the playground, which was the venue of the open-air August Band Concert. In those years of the 1950s, not many homes in the city, and certainly in the country areas, had a radio, and the principal means of hearing recorded music was from a juke-box which was played by someone who owned such a music-playing instrument; most times at a business enterprise which sold beverages. At that time, the music was recorded on round black discs, which were played at three speeds on a record player. The speeds were 78, 45 and 33-1/3. The latter records were the smallest in circumference. The 78s were the largest and were fragile and easily broken. However, mention must be made of the Long-Playing records, which were referred to as LPs. They had many ‘cuts’ with songs or tunes recorded on each side of the record. That apart, live music by the BG Militia Band was extremely popular in the country during those pre-independence years, and so the annual August concerts at Agricola were most welcome by the people and attracted extremely large audiences at every performance.
However, when women began to join the Police Band, there were strict rules regarding official attire, and that was standard by orders, be it January, December or Au gust, for that matter, as the Band remains a vital element of Guyana’s musical culture.
The Agricola August
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A picturesque community on the verge of development
The signage of the name of the village on the main access road to Swan (Delano Williams) The spanking new Swan Primary School
The Living Water Church A house under construction in the community One of the many shops in Swan Village Some of the trails in Swan Village
Swan Village
THE Pepperpot Magazine recently journeyed over land to visit Swan Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway to highlight the way of life of the locals. The village is located just about 10 minutes from Timehri Junction, and it is accessible via the Marudi Resort access road. Swan Village has electric ity and potable water supply, which is unreliable but the situation is being remedied. A new well is being con structed to boost the water pressure and provide a 24hourEffortsservice.by the Govern ment of Guyana (GoG) and the Guyana Water Incor porated (GWI) are being undertaken to drill a new potable water well to serve the Thecommunity.existing water dis tribution system at Swan is a low-producing one that currently cannot supply the entire village adequately. As such, a site visit was conducted by GWI one year ago, where it was determined that the community needed a new well. As such, work to wards this end was initiated. The community is re garded as an Amerindian village, and it is thickly pop ulated and is home to a lot of school-aged children. Swan Village is managed by the Community Develop ment Council (CDC) and the Chairman is Fenton Rago nauth, who has held the post for the past two years. There are 270 households in the village, and the popu lation is just about 1,000 residents of mixed ethnici ties: East Indians, Africans andSwanAmerindians.isavery green vil lage with lots of plants, trees, flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables. Most of the vil lagers take pride in keeping their surroundings clean and well-kept.Thepeople of the village are ordinary and down-toearth, who work various jobs to earnThehonestly.localsof Swan Vil lage are self-employed, la bourers on poultry farms and at sawmills, shopkeepers, chain saw operators, loggers, labourers, teachers, taxi and bus drivers and people with artistic and craft talents. Swan Village has three churches, a large community centre ground in the centre of the village with a brand new community resource building outfitted with 20 laptops that will be internet-ready in the nearThefuture.CDC has a tractor and a canter truck to assist the villagers with transportation within the community. Many of the locals of Swan Village are from Re gion One (Barima-Waini) and Morakobai, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), who relocated to have a better life. The people began squat ting, and then Minister Caro lyn Rodrigues approached the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission in 2004. A 40-acre plot was al located for housing for the residents, who came by the dozens to have a better stan dard of Foodlife.for the Poor Guyana also pitched in and construct ed 65 houses for the locals after assessing their poor livingToday,conditions.Swanis a develop ing village with many small shops, poultry farms and otherThebusinesses.population is grow ing, and the community is making strides to become self-sufficient by growing their own food. The people of Swan Vil lage are very friendly and accommodating and did not hesitate to take the time out from their daily activities to interact with the team. Swan Village has a lot of nooks and crannies, back trails that lead in and out of the village and it is quite large in Theresize.was a policing group in the community, but it became defunct. They have a vehicle for patrol and efforts are being made to resuscitate the group due to the increase in break-ins and violentSwancrimes.isa very pictur esque place to reside with wide open spaces, clean air and space to plant. The people are neigh bourly, and it was report ed that there is an alcohol abuse issue in the communi ty, which has led to several murders in the Transportationvillage.to and from the village is via taxi and the cost is 2,000 one-way since the public transporta tion system doesn’t ply that route.School children often have to walk to the nearby village of Kuru Kururu for school and a brand new pri mary is set to open its doors for the new school term in September. Swan Village is bor dered by Kuru Kururu and Yarrowkabra villages and it is just off the main Soesdyke/Linden Highway.
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Daniels told the Pepper pot that she would complete her household chores and cooking before undertaking any craft making which re quires her full attention and patience since it is handmade.“I love craft making be cause it makes me feel alive and good from the inside out, and since age nine years old, I started on my own to make things because I used to sit and watch my mom do it for hours at a time,” she said.
Eunice Daniels At 68 years old Eunice Daniels is a mother of six and a grandmother of 15 who resides in Swan Village. She left her home village of Wauna, Region One, three years ago to be closer to her
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The elders Also in the village is the home of Eugene Daniels and Adeline King, an elderly cou ple, who is taking life one day at a time despite challenges. Daniels related that he is originally from Mabaruma, Region One and relocated to Swan to have a better life. He is the father of three, and these days he is a stayat-home grandfather who does simple things around the Hishome.wife does the cook ing and mostly tends to the grandchildren whenever they come over since they reside in a house in the same yard. King is from Berbice Riv er, and she has children, some of whom reside in Swan. Meanwhile, 71-year-old Emalda Bennett is staying with this family due to her ill health. Her son brought her to Swan from Berbice River last year August. She suffered a stroke that left her weak, and she de pends on relatives to assist her.On some days, she would go for a walk in the village.
Daniels reported that she has some customers in the city and she would work on a “demand and supply” basis to meet the needs of orders requested.OnSeptember 18 this year, Swan Village will be celebrating their heritage at the Community Centre Ground, and she is tasked with making the costumes, the matching jewels and the headdress for the event, which is much anticipated. She stated that she is also a seamstress and would take orders for uniforms and out fits on a part-time basis since it is not a steady income gen erator for Danielsher.describes life as fair in Swan Village, but it entails hard work and dedi cation and the love for what you do for a living to enjoy a reasonable standard of life. She has two daughters and two sons, all still at school and they would often assist her in some housework.
Making the most of life in Swan Village
Eunice Daniels with some of her grandchildren at her home Collin Dan iels and familyhis
Craft maker/seamstress Tessa Daniels dis playing some of her hand-made craft pieces (Delano Williams photos)
Eugene Daniels and his wife, Adeline King at their home in Swan Emalda Bennett
By Michel WORKINGOutridgefromthe com fort of her home is ideal for Tessa Daniels, a mother of four, who is a talented craft maker of Swan Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The 32-year-old is gifted at what she does for a liv ing, and, with the upcoming Amerindian Heritage Month celebrations in the village, she is tasked with making headdresses, costumes, jew els and other craft pieces. Daniels is a self-starter and would go about her daily routines without any pressure of not having too much to do. This resident of Swan Vil lage makes different types of crafts from the ite’ palm trees and uses the dyed “tibisri” straw to make fruit bowls, jewel boxes and bags. She would purchase food colouring in the variety of colours offered on the market and manually dye the tibis ri straw to make her craft, which is a delight to the eyes, very colourful and well made.
Teacher, Petal Dos Santos-Adrian (Delano Wil liams photos)
The mother of four told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is a first-year student of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), and it is a bit chal lenging since it is online due to the pandemic. She reported that her trans portation woes will soon end because she was relocated to the new Swan Primary School, which is slated to be opened for the new school term in September.DosSantos-Adrian stated that the new school is just with in walking distance from her home, which is ideal for her. This resident of Swan Vil lage is not wasting any time even when schools are closed, and she is supposed to be on vacation for the August holidays. She is utilising her skills to coach children within the village in the Stem Guyana project which is held at the local church.Dos Santos-Adrian explained that the summer pro gramme, a Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports initiative, is a very engaging class for children in the village. The teacher noted that the programme entails technology, games, robotics, coding and graphics, which is less aca demic, but the learners are quite taken with the interactive sessions.Sheexplained that snacks are provided for the learners, and there is usually a large turnout because they want to learn. There are 24 learners enrolled in the Stem Guyana programme in Swan Village, which takes place on a week dayDosbasis.Santos-Adrian told the Pepperpot Magazine that fol lowing the pandemic after the children had been away from school for two years, it was challenging to engage them in a classroom setting at first. She disclosed that they had to re-start teaching techniques from scratch to most pupils because during the time they were at home, they did not do any worksheets, and it was evident they were not schooled at home. The teacher added that the two-year lapse created a gap in the learning pattern, and they had to play catch up quickly, and that required a lot of patience. “I will admit that it wasn’t an easy task get ting the pupils to settle in a classroom again, and we really had to come together to re-school the children because some had forgotten common shapes, so it was back to basics,” she said. She is a teacher of all subject areas at the primary level and is very versed in the academic needs of the learners, and lends support to slow learners.Dos Santos-Adrian is from a home with two other teachers in the fam ily, and it is a job she is very passionate about.
Alexander explained that following the death of her mother, she left Morakobai and settled at Friendship, East Bank Demerara, because she wanted her children to benefit from education and schools nearby.
The mother of six added that after her children grew, she relocated to Swan Village and settled and is living in an extended family setting with four grandchildren.
Forida Alexander, the homemaker
She stated that about two years ago, the community began developing, and they benefited from electricity and potableAlexanderwater. reported that they have seen an improvement in life and is hoping for future community-based develop ment to enhance their lives. “There is a need for roads in this village because we don’t have a proper path to get in or out this community, and when it rains, it is difficult to get around due to the sandy conditions,” she said. She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is looking forward to the upcoming heritage celebration in the village, which will take place at the community centre ground on AugustAlexander18. stated that it is a time to showcase their talent, foods, arts, craft and beverages. She added the event is being held this year after three years due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Forida Alexander, the homemaker Meanwhile, in the home is Forida Alexander, a home maker and a small business owner who vend cold beverages from her home. The 43-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been residing in Swan for the past nine years, having moved from her home village of Morakobai, Region Five.
Serving the community of Swan is a must for these villagers
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By Michel Outridge Meet Petal Dos Santos-Adri an of Swan Village, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, whose will ingness to serve her commu nity propelled her into the noble teaching profession for the past two years at the Yar rowkabra Primary School.
Alexander used to rear some chickens but isn’t at present and is hoping to re-start that small business.
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reported that they retail dog food at three locations in the city and have dozens of vendors buying the dog food to re-sell. She is originally from Bartica and used to reside in Georgetown for some time before they settled in Swan Village seven years ago and have since managed to con struct their own house. The mother of seven re lated that today she is the grandmother of seven, and
Being self-employed in Swan Village is essential for a good life life is fair in Swan, and she is grateful that she is self-em ployed and manages her own small business, a family one.
Small business owner, Gwen dolyn Atkinson as she displays packaged dog food (Delano Williams
GWENDOLYN Atkinson has a small family business which entails waking up quite early and preparing bulk food in the form of cook-up rice with chicken for her budding dog food customers in the city. She has been a resident of Swan Village, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, for the past seven years, and she would prepare cooked food for dogs at her home daily except for holidays.Atkinson has customers in the city, and she sells the dog food in wholesale quan tities. She has in her employ her daughter, son-in-law, and daughter-in-law, and collec tively they cook and package the bulk dog food. Once finished bagging, Atkinson will commute to the city to distribute the cooked dog food to her many cus tomers at various locations and once completed, she would drive back to Swan to prepare for the next day. Atkinson is on a tight schedule and she would have to reach the city from Swan for midday to get the dog food to vendors to sell daily because it is all about timing. The 43-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she would begin cooking the rice in a large pot at 06:00hrs and the meat would be prepared separately and cut into piec es, and placed in the food beforeEverybagging.daythree bags of pet rice and 100 pounds of chicken parts from the Boun ty Chicken Farm in the vil lage are bought for dog food preparation.Atkinson would prepare dog food in seven packs each of 50 bags per customer, and at times, they would incur a loss when the food doesn’t sell that day. “We used to put in beef, but it is $800 per pound, and we cannot afford to, so it is just the chicken that is used to prepare the food for now,” she Atkinsonsaid.
“Working with yourself is not easy but rewarding despite the challenges you have to make it work unless you want to work for other people, so I involve my fam
Logger/chainsawphotos)operator,
IXCHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, August 14, 2022
Aubrey Adrian
The CDC comprises 10 members, and the cement block-making project is be ing realised at the Commu nity Centre RagonauthGround.reported that about six men from the vil lage will be employed, and they will empower the locals even more through other community-based projects. There are 270 households in Swan, with a population of about 1,000 and the unem ployment rate in the village is high.He disclosed that some people go out of the village for work while others are employed at sawmills, poul try farms, the scrap metal business and other places. The CDC Chairman add ed that the people of Swan would like to have more
X CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday, August 14, 2022
Village CDC
By Michel Outridge Fenton Ragonauth is the Chairman of the Commu nity Development Council (CDC) of Swan mentprojectblock-makingingyears,way,Soesdyke/LindenVillage,Highandforthepasttwotheyhavebeentrytointroduceacementinitiativetoprovideemployforthelocals.
lands to cultivate crops on a large scale and get involved in sand mining to earn and have a logging concession since they have a vast land mass.Ragonauth stated that the housing area is 40 acres, listed as communal land un der the Friendly Society for Amerindians. He told the Pepperpot Magazine that annual ly, the CDC would bene fit from $1 million grant which is used to develop the village. Ragonauth added that they had received $10M as part of the COVID-19 relief, and the money was used to purchase a canter truck and construct a brand new build ing housing the community resource centre. He disclosed that three months ago, the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs gifted a tractor and trailer for the village. Ragonauth stated that an executive body was formed to manage the af fairs of the movement of the vehicles through the Community Support Offi cers (CSOs), which has 10 members.
The brand new Swan Primary School (Delano Williams photos)
The new well being constructed in Swan
The cubicles housing the 20 laptops at the ICT hub at the Community Resource Building
Swan committed to development of community
Residents who wish to use the tractor and canter truck will have to approach the CSO body, which was established recently. The CDC Chairman pointed out that they have a vehicle, a pick-up for the policing group, but presently, the group is not functioning. He reported that there is a need for all-weather roads in the village, an upgraded drainage system and a police outpost.The CDC Chairman not ed that the community centre building would benefit from an Information and Commu nication Technology (ICT) hub and they already have 20 laptops with a flat screen television and printer. He stated that the laptops were gifted via the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs and will open its door to the community once it becomes internet-ready.Ragonauth is originally from Hotomoi, Aruka River, Region One and left his vil lage searching for work. He used to work on a road project on the highway and relocated to Swan 12 years and is the father of four.The labourer added that the village is in need of a vehicle for school children, who have to commute to high school outside the com munity, and he is, however, pleased that Swan Primary School will be opened for the new school term in Sep tember.Meanwhile, he is hoping the new water well will be commissioned soon so they can benefit from a potable water supply around the clock.Even the children have to fetch water for long distanc es, and some use bicycles to carryRagonauthbuckets. disclosed that a lot of young men in the village are unemployed and some has allegedly gravitat ed towards the abuse of al cohol and illicit substances. There is also a noise nui sance issue where loud mu sic is played continuously in the village, shattering the peace and quiet of the com munity. Like most villages, Swan is not without is sues and they have some challenges as well but are working through it to make the community safe and to reclaim its former peaceful glory as it was before it became thickly populated.
XICHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, August 14, 2022
XII CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday, August 14, 2022 Though in Guyana, Au gust 1, the enslavedulartheershipstructuresmanyofdominatedligiousThroughtoever,ingcontinents.golianofuponandeconomictheTrade,Africaninantlycommemoration‘Emancipation’ispredomcenteredaroundtheTrans-AtlanticSlaveandthecreationofso-called“Newworld’s”realityforEuropethecolonisedAmericasthecollectiveshouldersAfricansandtheMonpeoplesofthetwinThecontextofthemeanofemancipation,howreachesacrosshumansthelegaciesofmillennia.culturalandrefictionsthathavevariations(races)humankindtothisday,havefoundnoenablingofstrengthorleadtostandon,torefutebeliefsystems,bothsecandreligious,thathavesuchpeoplesina worse bondage than physical chattelTheslavery.slavery of the imag ination and the perceptions of the daily awareness, is by all means a more devastating condition. An example that is relevant as a stable case study that can easily be relied upon, are the efforts through institutions that benefited from slavery to deny, demean and reconstruct a relative spiritual and historical past on the awareness of peoples of African heritage. From all the varied cases that exist, in this article I will refer to Egypt (its Greek name) or the original Kemet or Khemet and the Sudanic cultures. This area of the African reality became a focus of serious attention to the slave trading nations of Europe in earnest with the invasion of Egypt(Khemet) during Napo leon’s campaign May 1798 -October 1799 ( though Napoleon was not the first of the Eu ropeans to visit the then ruins of Khemet, his entrance did launch a reassessment of that civilisation) and a tremendous fashion and Art influence in France, and among other shouldandsometo5,000-yearinlastrealms.theandKhemeteredTheEuropeans.ArabsconsidthemonumentsofandPyramidsruinsofKushinSudanasGeniiTheyweretheofforeigninvadersmorethanKhemet’sexistencesetfootonitssoil,500yearsagoremainthere.Whyanemancipa tion effort exist at a group,
THE PRINCIPLES AND REALITIES OF EMANCIPATION or at an individual level, on what is exempted, what is ignored, and how to un derstand the statements that define- before “Slave Trade” and before colonial Africa, and the Afro-Americas pre and post-emancipation pe riod?It is simply because con tinuous and ongoing refer ences that reiterate falsifi cations that in many cases have become current second nature assertions by oth ers will not correct itself, and are still common. For example, recently, a local newspaper columnist mock ingly lamented the absence of African businesses, void of any references to the vol umes of logical ‘TheastantinethenorantthemselvesofifThisexistingfound,afromeasierdiversities.evenculturalpost-Independencepost-emancipationexplanations,topreandthatareandhistorical,andtothecurrentobviousBecauseitistowriteafewlinesapoolofstereotypesonsubjectanddeclareitprothantoreachtothevolumesofrecords.isharmful,especiallyitisobviousthatsectionsthegroupreferredtoareimmediatelyigoftheirowntimeline.Inthelate18thcentury,FrenchmanCountConDeVolneywrotebookinFrancenamedRuinsofEmpires’that described his journeys to Khemet between 1783 and 1785. He wrote, “There are a people, now forgotten, who discovered while others were yet barbarians, the elements of the arts and sciences. A race of men, now ejected from society for their sable skin and frizzled hair, found ed on the study of the laws of nature, those civil and religious systems which still govern the universe.”
His book became very famous and an English and Ameri can edition was published, but Volney discovered, much later as he mastered the En glish language that this and other related text were omit ted in the publications.English/American W.E.B Du Bois clarified the sinister context of this action- “There can be but one explanation for this va gary of 19th-century science. It was due to the slave trade and Negro slavery. It was to the fact that the rise and sup port of capitalism called for rationalisation based upon degrading and discrediting the Negroid peoples. It is especially significant that the science of Egyptology arose and flourished at the very time that the cotton kingdom reached its greatest power on the foundation of American Negro slavery.”-See Nile Valley contribution to Ci vilisation by An thony grated.sciouslythe‘Timeline’ofthecipationalitiesprinciplesTherefore,Browder.theandreofEmanrestincleansingthefalsifiedandfactsconreinte hotep,estOneancientthe5,000sationtioningtainedhowstudyrently(Egypt)Khemet-hascurmeritedatoexploretheymainafuncciviliforoveryears,asenvyoftheworld.ofitsgreatsonswasImtheorigi
nal father of medicine, son of the architect Kanofer and Khreduonkh. He was versatile in both the Arts and Sciences. He was an architect, poet and phi losopher, one of his mem orable sayings is; “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we shall die. Imhotep was the Third Dynasty’s (2630-2611BC) architect, who built a tomb for Pharaoh Djoser, with changes and adjustments from a box-like tomb. Im hotep changed it into a sixstepped Pyramid, with un derground chambers. This was Khemet’s (Egypt’s) first pyramid. The pyra mid was covered with pre pared limestone that made it sparkle in the strong sunlight. It was enveloped by ceremonial buildings and courtyards, protected by a sturdy limestone wall, which is still a mystery to archaeologists. As a healer, Imhotep was worshipped not only in Khemet, but also in Greece and later Rome. Ironically, early Christians revered him as the Prince of Peace. Have a productive Emancipation month 2022, in the process of “emancipation from mental slavery” into per sonal self-awareness.
people get offended when I mute or block them on social media because I refuse to allow myself to be exposed to the negative content they share. Given these facts, I was labelled; “weak” or “sensi tive” and was told that I would crumble under means,ments—then,unhealthyawarebeingIfstandcausewithletsituations.high-pressureDonotanyonelabelyouthisstigmabeyouwanttoyourground.beingweakmeansconsciouslyoftriggersandenvironbyallcallmeweak.
I’VE recently noticed that many persons are calling out others on social media for being “too sensitive” about certain situations and ideologies. Some people make fun of others when they speak up or against something that offends them. Some people also believe that certain things should be shrugged off. They believe you should be able to ignore certain actions or situations that rub you the wrong way. I agree but to an extent. I do not believe that everything in life deserves a response. Sometimes, it’s better to simply let things go. How ever, I can say that and also say that everyone should have a right to speak up and against things they do not stand by. The idea of this gener ation being too “sensitive” is far-fetched. Credible in formation is more easily accessible in this day and age. People can ac cess all forms and types of informa tion through a quick Google search. As such, they become more aware and gain their own per spectives on life and what matters most to them. With that said, there are bullies, egoistical maniacs and overly opinionated people who seek to ridi cule and degrade others without thinking twice. The more I’ve read and gained insight on an array of topical issues, the more I’ve realised that certain be havioural traits and mentality should not be tolerated in my environment. As such, while being critically aware of my own flaws, I still speak up and against people who try to disrupt my sanity. I also try my very best to stay from people and things that trigger a negative emotional response.Ifeel liberated after al lowing myself to have a voice on what I can and cannot tolerate. I’ve had people “turn their nose up” on me because I told them I would not tolerate their tone of voice that they use when speaking to me. Some what your triggers are and stay far from them
XIIICHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, August 14, 2022
If you agree with me, then I urge you to contin ue what you’re doing. Con tinue to learn more about what triggers your mental health and stay away from them. If you’re someone who disagrees with the no tion of persons speaking up and against what trig gers them, then I urge you to educate yourself more on why it’s important for persons to have a voice and say whenever some one or something triggers them. It’s important to understand that to have these conversations. It’s important that we encour age and foster safe spaces and mental cyclestriggers,yourerationalundogenerationenvironments.health-friendlyWearethethatistryingtocenturiesoftoxicgencycles.Standingground,awayfromisonebutmanywe’reyettobreak.
Learn
XIV CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday, August 14, 2022 SEE PAGE XXVI
LAST year this time, I was busy with the month-long programme for my mem orable 50th Birthday. The great thing is that it was not only memorable for me, but also for the many lives that were impacted, especially the young entrepreneurs. This August is very quiet, with lots of reflection. We celebrated the second year for the Virtual Writers’ Re treat with another retreat from August 19-21. This virtual retreat has enabled many people to write and read multiple books. Re member, every life has a sto ry. When I read the stories and testimonials on our pri vate FB page, it motivates me to know transformation is happening through these programmes, and I thank God for the guidance. I know these testimonials will inspire someone, and I’ve decided to share a few of them. Victory hails from Nige ria, and is studying medicine here in Guyana. We both attend the Love and Faith Outreach Ministry, and she shared her experience. “This Confidence Be comes You programme was way beyond my expectations. I would say my ‘aha’ moment swept in from the first virtual meeting I attended. I didn’t really know what to expect; I just wanted to see how it goes. I can say the exercise at the end of the meeting left me gobsmacked.“Ms.Sonia asked us to close our eyes for a few min utes and visualise our future. One might say, ‘Eh! Was that it?’ Yes, that was it! Your heart has to be fully willing and open to welcome something different for a breakthrough to take place. And just like that, a blazing fire that started something indescribable was ignited in my mind. From that point, a journey of learning, relearning, unpacking and practising began. “I am a more disciplined and inten tional person; I am becoming more deliberate about the things I do. My fellow participants have been part of this amazing growth. Although I haven’t personally met them yet, my spirit connected to a few of them. I got to know a bit about them through the posts on the Facebook page. I am grateful for everything I learnt from“Thankthem. you so much Ms. Sonia for this beautiful ex perience. I love how you connected with everyone on different levels, and how in vested you are in seeing us grow. There were some mod ules you shared that stood out for me and connected me to exceptional people that I hadn’t heard of. A 10/10 score is certainly an under statement. I am not just saying that because I’ve got lips. You are impacting lives way more than you know. I am grateful. “As I proceed out there with all the invaluable nug gets I’ve garnered, I move with more confidence and certainty that I will build businesses, connect with peo ple in business, grow in my medical career, and impact the lives of many across the world.” --Victory Abakasanga “A few weeks back, I took up the challenge to try this programme with Miss Sonia Noel. I must say it was not a regret at all the first day I got my pen and new book and started to write. At the time, I had so much to write, because everything just kept coming to my mind, but the ones that caught me were: WHO AM I? WHERE AM I FROM? WHY AM I HERE? WHAT CAN I DO? WHERE AM I GOING? “These are the questions I had to ask myself. It was hard at first, because of my confidence. I am always a quiet person, don’t talk too much, and don’t have friends, other than my family. Being in this programme I am a different person now. I know my purpose. I know the vi sion I have! I have goals and interact more with meaningful people who have motivat ed me and helped me along this journey for the last few weeks. Thanks to Miss Sonia Noel, our coach, who did an amazing job. “I had some weaknesses; I am not 100 per cent, but, looking back then to now, I am doing great. Toxic people, I don’t need! There was a point in my life when I was drained and not focusing on my life because of negative things that people said and did to me. I was falling to pieces, honestly, but I kept my cool, forgave and moved on after applying the things I learnt on this programme. I believe
Let’s win together from the inside
XVCHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, August 14, 2022
WHISPERS soft the wind through the tall grass and wild shrubs. For those who lay in eternal sleep, the silent tombs speaking only through the endearing words and verses inscribed on the headstones. Arjun, holding a bunch of carnations in his hands, stood in the cemetery and looked around, a little lost. The hushed silence, the soundless butterflies and the scent of wildflowers touched his senses like cold fingers. He was there alone in the midday“Nothour.agood time to visit a cemetery,” he remembered his grandmother saying, but he was not a believer of such superstitions, and shrugged his shoulders. He walked around looking for the gravesite, not quite re membering where it was after such a long time. Huge flamboyant and wisteria trees beautified the landscape of the old cemetery, but the overgrown, intrusive shrubs and creepers somewhat ru ined the scenic beauty. It was Arjun’s first visit since he had left home six teen years ago, the exact day since the tragic accident. Time should have healed the wound of that loss over the years, but it could not, and today, he had come back to visit the gravesite of his childhood friend. She had only been seven. He stopped, not sure where to look, for he had been so young at the time, and after over a decade, the landscape of the grounds seemed to have“Wherechanged.are you, Devina? I can’t find you,” he said aloud, a little desperation in his Avoice.slight gust of wind ruffled his hair, and a white butterfly with pink flecks on its wings alighted on his hand. Arjun looked at the butterfly, not sure what he should do, when it flew away and a strange urge overcame him to follow the butterfly as it flew to where the shrubs were thicker, and the shad owsHedeeper.cleared a path to pass, and there in the shade of a flamboyant tree, laden with pink blossoms, was her tomb. Arjun inhaled deeply, the grief subdued over the years arousing in his heart once more. He knelt down and laid the bunch of carna tions gently on his friend’s grave. It felt again like when he was that eight-year-old boy. The ache in his heart; the unending tears. “So young,” he whis pered. “So sweet; gone far away to the beyond.” Time rewound as he sat by her grave, and he saw her pretty face lying in a deep sleep, the pink frilly dress, pink ribbons in her hair and carnations flowers to say ‘goodbye’. Through his tears that day, he had thought he saw her smile just a little, something only he seemed to haveFriendsseen.they had been since nursery school, but like broken glass, their young lives were shattered by the speeding car that came through the narrow street that day. The crash, her screams as she was hit from her new bike, and the last words she had said when he held her little body, her hand grabbing hold of his shirt, “Arjun, my friend.”
Then silence, the shock and horror of a thousand nightmares that stole his sleep and played havoc with his young mind. The pain in his young heart, nothing could heal as the days went by, and he would sit and stare at the
The butterfly fluttered its wings, and a sweet childish voice said, “I’ve been wait ing for you, Arjun. Why did you take so long?” Arjun looked up, a little
The rebirth of Devina gate for hours, waiting for her to come and play, but she couldn’t; not anymore. So when no one was watch ing over him, he would run away to the cemetery to be close to her; to talk with her. It was not a good sign for his mental state, and his worried family had taken him away, far away, hoping it would help him to forget his loss. Years had gone by as he grew into a young man, excelling in his studies, fo cused on his ambition, and forging friendships in his social life. His family was happy that he had found a way to overcome his pain, but no one knew the sad memories he kept in a secret vault in his heart, and the happy memories they shared as children was the soothing balm that eased his pain. Sitting by her grave now, he spoke to her softly. “I’m still your friend Devina,” he said. “I haven’t forgotten you. Never mind I live so far away, you’ll al ways live in my heart.”
SEE PAGE XVI
FROM PAGE XV
he asked, surprised at the question. “You should; you’re a handsome dude,” she said, laughing a little, and rode away, disappearing around the Hecorner.awoke, wondering what was the meaning of that dream, if it had any meaning at all. But it was a good advice, anyway, and two years later, he got mar ried. One year later, a baby girl was born. Arjun held the precious little bundle in his arms, happy and proud to be a father. And as she moved her tiny arms, he noticed the heart-shaped birthmark on her inner arm. He stared at it, astound ed. It was the exact design of the heart he had drawn on a piece of paper and placed in Devina’s hand that day, as she lay in eternal sleep. “Oh my God,” he whis pered, delighted beyond words as he looked at the baby in his arms. God had sent his friend back to him, as his own child, to love and cherish. Her name was Devina.
XVI CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday, August 14, 2022 startled, but there was no one“Didaround.I actually hear that?” he wondered and shook his head. “It can’t be; not after all this time.” Yet he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Why have you been waiting?” No answer; not for a long while, and he smiled wryly, knowing it was his mind playing tricks on him when she “Becauseanswered,youasked me to.”A sudden hush descend ed on the grounds, and Ar jun stood up slowly, his heart beating rapidly, not out of fear, but astonish ment. He remembered the day of her funeral when he had been so grieved, he had cried, “Please don’t leave, Devina.”Allthat time she hadn’t left; she was waiting for him.“Oh my God,” he whis pered, “This can’t be true.” He looked around, but there was nothing that showed any indication she was there, except for the beautiful butterfly that had guided him to her grave. He stretched out his hand, and it alighted on his palm, the touch of its tiny form send ing a slight shiver through his body.
The rebirth of... “I’m so sorry,” he said, tears in his eyes. “I never knew you were waiting all these years; you should be in Heaven.”“Iknow; the angels have been waiting for me,” he heard her say. “I wanted to see you just once more; now I can leave with them.” He nodded, tears flow ing down his face. And as the butterfly flew away, he felt something soft touch his cheek. “Goodbye my friend,” the sweet childish voice said. A gust of wind shook the trees, showering her tomb with the fallen pink blossoms, and a light shone through, exiling the shad ows. Through the veil of light, he saw her, like an illusion in her pink dress. Then she was gone. He sank down on his knees by her tomb for a long while, crying, the vault in his heart now open. Then he raised his head to the Heav ens and asked in a broken voice,“Why did this have to happen, Lord? You gave a precious life to one; a price less gem, then you take it back so soon. How can you be soArjununfair?”spent the next few days cleaning and re storing her tomb, placing a sculpted angel over the headstone. And in her vil lage, he opened a charity in her name. He returned home with even more spe cial memories. And, one night, several months later, he had a dream. She was riding her bike down the street, and she stopped and looked back at him, standing there; the young man he was. And she asked him, “Do you have a girlfriend?”“No!Why?”
XVIICHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, August 14, 2022
is a psychological condition that involves the occurrence of physical health symptoms, often without any medical explanation. These symp toms can take place in almost every part of the body and causes individuals to seek frequent medical attention, often resulting in frustration due to no physical diagnosis, despite their consistent pain. During these doctor visits, it’s very rare to mention life trauma or stressful events, but it is important to, especially if nothing is shown to be phys ically wrong after multiple tests.I would like to note an important fact and difference. Some people get psycho somatic pain confused with psychogenic pain as they both have the occurrence of physical pain but their meaning and origin are quite different. Psychogenic pain arises from psychological disorders or stress as well but there was no initial physical issue or injury while somatic pain occurs when stress or psychological issues tend to worsen or exacerbate an existing issue. If you feel you may be suffering from somatic pain, you are certainly not alone. While certain statistics show that 5-7 percent of the popu lation is afflicted by it, hospi tal statistics describe that up to 60% of physical illnesses are worsened by stress. Abso lutely anyone can suffer from somatic pain, but it is more prevalent in women. The reasons some indi viduals may develop somatic pain is a chaotic or stressful lifestyle, past trauma that hasn’t been appropriately or healthily dealt with, ex isting mental health issues, substance use or difficulty expressing emotions (bottling up feelings). These factors can cause a wide range of physical issues, from aches and pains to high and low blood pressure. The symp toms and side effects also tend to differ by age. For example, a child who is hav ing a difficult time at home or school and is unable to communicate how he/she feels (typical for that stage) may suffer from stomach aches or headaches. The same can happen with older indi viduals. However, in highstressed situations, adults can develop depression which can manifest as a wide variety of physicalPeoplesymptoms.tendto believe that when doctors suggest that their pain may be so matic, they are being told their pain isn’t real or it’s “all in their head”. This is the furthest thing from the truth, and I’m going to give a basic example as to why. As I said, for it to be somatic, there is usually an already underlying physical issue- just typically not a severe one. I’m going to use the simple example of cortisol, the stress hormone. When we are faced with stressful situations and cor tisol is released in the body through our adrenal glands, we may very well experience physical symptoms such as stomach and headaches and difficulty breathing. While cortisol sometimes aids in providing adrenaline to better deal with the situation, just as often, there is an overproduc tion of cortisol that can cause these stronger and more dan gerous physical symptoms. So, let’s say this overproduc tion causes a stomach ache and you have a history of diverticulitis. You may think it’s a flair-up when the pain is simply manifesting from a stressful situation. You can only be diag nosed with somatic pain if you see your doctor, run the necessary tests and the results show no physical issues or causes to the pain. You do not diagnose yourself with somatic pain. Some psychosomatic symptoms do overlap with serious health conditions, which is why it’s important for you to rule out those first with your doctor. Like any other psycholog ical disorder, there are ways of preventing and treating somatic pain. Firstly, you have to learn how to healthily deal with stress, and this is very individualistic. The ba sics are the same- seek help, get counselling, possibly be put on medication but there are also things you can do in your basic, daily routine. The basics first always- eat, sleep and exercise well and then, you guessed it- individ ualistic healthy coping skills that look different for every one and may include music, meditation, yoga, prayer, television- whatever decreas es your stress and improves your overall well-being.
The true hope is that if the initial source of stress can be identified, it can be targetted to avoid somatic pain alto
Thank you for reading and please continue to send suggested topics to caitlin vieira@gmail.com
Psychosomatic Disorder
I used to have a ton of cli ents who would go to see a wide variety of doctors be fore being recommended to me. They were experiencing a lot of physical pain, some very specific; migraines, backpain, stomach pain etc. However, after multiple scans and tests, the doctors could not find anything that was physically wrong. Considering that the pain they felt was real, there was only one explanation. They were suffering from Psy chosomatic disorder. Oth er names include somatic symptom disorder, somatic symptoms or simply somat ic pain. We have all occasionally felt physical symptoms due to emotional reactions; butter flies in our stomach and rapid heart rate can be felt when we are overly excited or nervous. However, in some people, these feelings can be more severe and daily, causing a physical health Psychosomaticdisruption.disorder
What it is and how to cope gether, just the same as the source of a physical injury. It’s not as easy for some but I hope it is for many of you out there as I know both the physical and emotional pain are very real. So, let’s try to get to the bottom of it.
GUYANESE NEED TO BE AWARE OF DANGERS OF TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
AT the end of last month, two important anniversaries claimed the attention of this column - Emancipation Day and the International Day Against Trafficking in Persons (TIP). As was inevitable, Emancipation Day was chosen as it more intimately concerned Guyana than TIP. TIP, however, is of great international importance and Guyana, with its growing national wealth and the beginnings of an influx of foreigners into the country, the importance of TIP is growing. The observance of the International Day Against Traffick ing in Persons (TIP) occurs every year on July 30. The theme for this year’s observance is “Use and Abuse of Technology”, and this focuses on the role technology could play both to enable and impede human trafficking. TIP is the largest criminal enterprise in the world, second only to dealing with guns and drugs. In the Laws of Guyana, TIP is defined as: “The recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of a person by means of the threat of the use of force or other means of coercion, or by abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a position of vulnera bility, or by the giving and receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control of another person, for the purposes of exploitation”. When this definition is manifested in actuality, it entails sexual exploitation such as forcing women into prostitution or to be sex slaves; forced labour; slavery, where the person trafficked is at the will and command of a master, reminis cent of plantation slavery. There have been cases where trafficked persons have had their organs removed and sold as replacements. In many cases, trafficked persons are denied medical attention and are almost always psychologically and spirituallyCriminaldamaged.gangsor syndicates are almost always involved in human trafficking and are always difficult to trace or apprehend. Part of the difficulty lies in the fact that if the victims were to assist the police in apprehending them. The syndicate would have the victims or their families hurt or killed.The most publicised form of human trafficking is the ille gal immigration to Europe and North America. Every year, hundreds of Africans die in the Sahara Desert when they are abandoned by the traffickers or drown in the Mediterranean when the unseaworthy craft into which they are overcrowded sink. A similar scenario occurs when Africans and Asians attempt to cross the English Channel to get to Britain in unseaworthy craft. Haitians attempting to reach Florida with unseaworthy craft often drown. Very few, if any, of the traffickers have so far been apprehended. In Guyana, most of the human trafficking has been on Haitians who arrive by air and then enter the neighbouring countries illegally, with a few attempting to settle in the Interior as miners or loggers. The other stream of trafficked persons are women, mostly from The Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil, whom the traffickers use for prostitution. These are found in nightclubs and interior mining districts. The traffickers extort their “fees” from the victims either as a full advance payment of several thousand US dollars per person as in the case of being smuggled to Europe and North America, or the traffickers collect most of the earnings of the victims over a period of years.
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The Judiciary has had the foresight to establish a special court to try TIP matters with special procedures. These include the victim’s advocate being required to re port on the victim’s psychological condition as to whether they are ready or able to give evidence. Also, during the case management hearing, the prosecution will outline what
FROM PAGE VII family, all of whom live in Swan. Daniels has a neat cottage that sits comfortably on a plot of land which has flowers and other plants. The place is very clean, and she had just finished wash ing some clothes and was about to prepare some food. “With the grandchildren here, I always have to have something in the pot for them when they come over and I don’t mind. That’s why I came here to be with my children and grandchildren,” she said.
Making the most ...
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Some of the lovely plants and flowers that adorn the yard of Collin Daniels
Collin Daniels Collin Daniels lives next door to his mother, Eunice Daniels and he is a father of five. He is a labourer and farm er, trying to become financially stable to upkeep his family. He told the Pepperpot Magazine that he works at the scrap metal business in the village and when he gets the time, he would cultivate crops to sell. Daniels is also a lover of plants and flowers; his yard is full of them in all sizes and colours. He would sometimes sell plants when he gets a new one.The 41-year-old reported that he doesn’t have a steady job, so he decided to farm with the little land space he has, but there is a water problem in the village. Water doesn’t flow through the taps often, and he would have to go on his bicycle to fill buckets of water to wet his crops. He has been a resident in Swan for 17 years and he likes the quiet life there surrounded by his siblings and family. “I am a home man, a family kind of person who doesn’t go out at all because I prefer to do some planting and work in and around the house,” he said. Daniels has one of the cleanest yards and enjoys spend ing time with the family. He is hoping to get more land to expand his farming so he can become self-sufficient.
Home of Tessa DanielsCrops planted by Collin Daniels in his yard
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The trees once cut into pieces, would be transported via the Community Development Council (CDC) tractor and trailer to his house from the backlands. “I would drive for three miles then walk another two miles to get to the back dam area where I can safely fell trees,” he said.
Being self-employed in ...
Packaging the cooked dog food
XXII CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday, August 14, 2022 FROM PAGE IX ily, and so far, we are coping,” she Atkinsonsaid. told the Pepperpot Magazine that her daughter and a son would sell the dog food in the city, and both of their cars would be utilised to trans port the cooked dog food to all the locations in Georgetown every“Weday.have our own customers and the people in the vil lage also support our small business and for that we are very thankful,” she said. The chain saw operator/logger
Meanwhile, Aubrey Adrian is also a resident of Swan Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. He is a chainsaw operator and logger who would walk for miles to the back dam area to fell trees to make furniture and other things. That day, when the Pepperpot Magazine visited the village, Adrian was about to head out to fell some trees. The wood would be used to build a fence around his house. The 49-year-old stated that felling trees with a chainsaw is very dangerous, and if you do not know what you are doing, that very tree can fall on you, resulting in death or serious in juries.The father of eight related that he has been doing the job for the past 35 years, and over time he acquired some experience which he uses to escape being hurt while at the job. Adrian added that he began work ing as a chainsaw operator/log ger at age 14 and mastered the skill of repairing the chainsaw whenever it malfunctions or develops a problem. He is multi-talented and can do many things, including making furniture from scratch and made-to-order pieces. Adrian usually uses the hard wood to erect a fence and other species of wood to make furniture and other things.
Hot off the fireside, dog food, ready for the market
* Waste reduction – practices that reduce waste; * Waste reuse – direct reuse of waste materials for the same grade of use; * Waste recycling or reclamation – using valuable compo nents of waste in other processes; * Waste treatment – to reduce hazard or nuisance, prefera GUIDELINES FOR MINING bly at the site of generation; and * Waste disposal.
WASTE DUMPS Ensure that waste dumps are adequately located, de signed, managed and reclaimed.
WHO NEEDS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AUTHORISA TION?Any person wishing to undertake an activity that may have an environmental impact must apply for Environmental Au thorisation from the EPA. This week’s article will examine environmental guidelines for mining when it comes to waste management and disposal.
Standards of practice
* Locate waste dumps away from surface waters, springs, seeps and wetlands (swamps and marshes);
STANDARDS OF PRACTICE Waste management and disposal should be addressed in the preliminary stages of mine planning. The projected types and volumes of waste guide the development of a Waste Man agement Plan. Each category of mine waste should be tracked from source to disposal. The general types of waste in small and medium scale medium-scale operations: * Topsoil and overburden; * Waste rock; * Hazardous wastes; and * Domestic wastes. The hierarchy of waste management practices should be applied to the management of all materials used at a mine. In order of preference, options selected should be:
THE mining industry in Guyana is principally governed by the Mining Act No. 20 of 1989 (the Mining Act), enacted in 1991. The implementation of the Mining Act is supported by Mining Regulations (1979), which outline provisions related to the prospecting for, and mining of metals, minerals, and precious stones, and the regulation of their transport. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the Environmental Protection Act Cap 20:05 has a mandate to take necessary steps for the management, conservation, protection and improvement of the environment. In executing the func tions under the Act, the EPA has: * Applied the Environmental Authorisation process to all projects*Developed regulations, strategies, action plans, and guidelines*Conducted awareness and capacity building for miners
ENVIRONMENTAL
* Take preventive measures to minimise water and wind erosion;*Enhance the long-term SEE PAGE XXV
* Waste avoidance - practices that prevent the generation of waste altogether;
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SCOPE OF THE GUIDELINES Scope refers to a code of practice that is applied to gold and diamond mining operations ranging from small scale to medium scale. It addresses mining waste, hazardous waste and household waste. Hazardous waste includes petroleum products and other chemicals, materials labelled as hazardous, and those with hazardous characteristics (corrosive, toxic, ignitable or PRINCIPLESreactive).AND
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The current absence of these may not necessarily over shadow good ongoing efforts, but it is certainly something
Training, funds, and more wispacesaccessibleforpersonsThdisabiliTies
Accessibility, for example, remains a challenge for many persons with disabilities. Not too long ago, in 2015, I was unable to walk normally for a few months. At the time, I was months away from sit ting my Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. An injured knee, however, meant attending classes and participating in most in-class activities were challenging for me. In fact, my fifth form classroom- where most of my classes were held- was two floors up and very much inaccessible for someone in a wheelchair. In all hones ty, though, I will admit that my English classes were moved to the basement to accommodate me, but I simply opted out of attending classes- milking the ‘I can’t walk normally’ excuse- because it just wasn’t my favourite subject. Aside from the English classes I intentionally skipped, for about three months, I lingered below my school’s staffroomrelying on bits and pieces of schoolwork and engagement from my classmates and teachers. And that period of life really spotlighted just how inaccessible my school was, as were many other public places. It is obvious that not very many public buildings, includ ing government offices and agencies, can easily facilitate easy wheelchair access. Aside from consideration for people with that sort of physical disability, other visual and hearing aids are scarce in public places. The absence of these features, I think, presents us with an opportunity to improve future building plans and efforts. With several big infrastructure projects (new hotels, schools, hospitals, etc) planned, for example, how can we guarantee that those facilities will be accessible to all?
Altogether, these initiatives provided me with some glimmer of hope that existing in Guyana as a person with a disability is not an entirely bleak situation. But even so, I know that there are other much-needed initiatives to consider.
SEE PAGE XXV
PUSHING the inclusion of all people while we pursue efforts at developing, our country shouldn’t overlook those with different abilities and who go through life ev ery day with unique challenges because they have certain disabilities. As such, training, financial support, and more accessible spaces are much-needed provisions.
Last week it was announced that children with disabil ities all across the country are expected to start receiving a $100,000 one-off cash grant from this week. This initiative was first announced by President Dr. Irfaan Ali in June as part of the government’s efforts to provide further relief to some vulnerable groups in Guyana. That announcement got me thinking about how those hundreds, maybe thousands of children are expected to benefit have been navigating childhood and growing up in Guyana. I can’t imagine that it was any way easy, but I can appreciate how much that cash grant, once used properly, would provide some much-needed relief to parents and/or caregivers of those vulnerable children. Beyond that, it was also announced that the number of people with disabilities benefitting from the monthly $14,000 public assistance is also expected to nearly double - add ing about 7,700 people to the list of some 8,000 existing recipients. And efforts are underway to ensure that persons with disabilities access much-needed training to access job opportunities best suited to their skills and abilities. Again, initiatives which are intended to provide much-needed relief.
TrAiNiNG, fUNDS, AND mOrE AccESSiBlE... to be mindful of and plan to improve in the future. If we are serious about inclusion and accessibility for all, making spaces accessible and accommodating for all is a crucial consideration. If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous works, feel free to email me at
XXVCHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, August 14, 2022 forms of special measures are needed for the victim and witnesses. Such could include protective screens for the witness box, audio video link and use of language interpreters. The matter is heard in camera, and only concerned parties are allowed in the courtroom. Trials are adjourned from day to day, and the victim is allowed to sit and have an advocate, family member or friend with them throughout the trial and advise whether the victim needs a break or rest. In cross-examinations, the court will disallow questions which are not allowed and ensure there are no repetitive questions. Undocumented victims will not be prosecuted. Human Trafficking is a global problem affecting various countries at various levels of acuteness, and the exchange of experience and information would assist each other. Guyana is beginning to cultivate such exchanges.
FROM PAGE XXIII
FROM PAGE XVIII
* Operating procedures incorporating handling pre cautions, storage requirements, safety equipment needed, training required; and * Specific instructions for clean up of spills. Domestic waste Waste reduction, reuse, sorting and recycling should be strongly emphasised at the mine site in order to minimise waste generation and reduce management and disposal costs.
ENVIRONMENTAL GUIDELINES... mass stability of a dump by locating and constructing it so that the potential of failure is minimised;*Characterise the waste material before construction of the *dump;Take preventive measures to avoid ARD generation;
FROMvish14ragobeer@gmail.comPAGEXXIV
* Avoid ARD (Acid Rock Drainage) being dispersed into the environment; and * Create appropriate conditions for rapid revegetation after mining has ceased. Hazardous waste All hazardous material must be packaged appropriately and disposed of at approved facilities or on-site locations.
The hazardous substance inventory should have the Ma terial Data and Safety Sheet (MSDS) and names of all the chemicals on-site, including: * The chemical’s name; * Typical quantities maintained at the site;
As much as possible, vegetation from de-bushing should be used for constructing facilities and equipment such as tables and other furniture, posts, sediment collection struc tures (e.g. brush barrier), soil stabilisation structures, etc. The amount of vegetation from debushing that is not used should be kept to a minimum. Cleared vegetation that is not used should be piled up andYouburnt.can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications, 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.
NEEDGUYANESETOBE...
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in myself now; I love myself more. My heart is just filled with so much love, and I glow now with confidence, which is my cup of tea now, too, because I believe in myself!”-- Sophia AugustinKavita Persaud had me laughing with her FB post. She gave a little background, and then wrote: “Let me reintroduce myself. A couple of weeks back, I joined the programme, Confidence Becomes You, and my coach was none other than Miss Sonia Noel (God bless you; you are a 10 out of 10 girl).
Many think the programme is only for women, but we have had guys joining us. Joshua Aaron is one, and this is what he shared: “Completing the Confidence Becomes You programme has been one of my greatest tests in self-development and triumph of my youth. For a long time I have been strug gling with overcoming my fears, doubts, and bad habits. This programme has stripped me naked, and clothed me in new garments of confidence, love and self-worth that will allow me to go forth and be the best version of who I AM. CONFIDENCE BECOMES ME, and the world will see and feel it.” -- Joshua Aaron You may be reading these stories and thinking that can only happen to certain people, but that is possible for anyone who is intentional to elevate their lives. You may even be thinking that time will not permit you. These programmes adjust to your time. You may not need the programme, but know someone who does, and this will be a gift that will last a lifetime. We can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. If you think the writers’ retreat, or the personal development programme is something you want to try but are not sure about, let’s have a chat (WhatsApp 5926848129) as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
FROM PAGE XIV
“As I started to heal, I chose peace and happiness. I focus on myself, my goals and reuniting with my children. I know my strength, and I know what I am capable of. I aim for the moon, and if I fall, I fall among the stars. I learnt how to control my emotions, and learnt to react less. I have become a person who is eager for growth and learning. I was a very antisocial person, and confidence makes you so open and outspoken. To my close friends, I encourage you to invest in yourself. You are important. Know your value, and never settle for less. You are worth it. If I can discover my values and build my vision and prior itise my happiness, you can do it too.” -- Kavita Persaud
“I started to experience authentic freedom and inner peace, and I learned to win from the inside. I know many of us are fighting silent battles, but confidence makes us gain so much and rediscover ourselves. I know my worth; my value. I know how and when to speak, and, most importantly, the meaning of life. My transfor mation is amazing! I love myself every day. We all know a new beginning requires a new mindset, and growth can’t be heard.
Let’s together...win
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THOUGHT FOR TODAY With leaden foot time creepsalongWhile Delia is away.REVD. RICHARD JAGO(1715-1781) Absence STUDY SUCCESS Dear WelcomeStudent,dear friend. Remember that study suc cess comes along with prof itable learning techniques. Do away with multi-tasking. Do away with cramming. They are unsuited for learning something brand new, prepar ing for essay tests or building upon later. You sell your brain short trying to refocus, and filter irrelevant informa tion. Never count upon just re-reading and re-watching to learn new stuff. Be organised from the beginning. Read, listen, note-take and possibly sketch. Help your brain orga nise thoughts. Be wise. Love you.
IMPROVING WRITING Fiction: a reminder Fiction is the kind of writ ing in which students labour to personal perfection. They invent or imagine its prose narrative in earnest. Yes, students are inventors. You invent stories daily in passing conversations. Look carefully at this fact. Many stories you write are set in an actual place and involve recognisable characters or details. Your teachers and examiners understand and expect this. They understand the story itself to be fictitious. Today we are going to look at making the story live lier. Here are two mentioned ways to make this happen: 1. Pay attention to use of synonyms. 2. Pay attention to invert ed syntax (sentence structure). Just what is that? Well, you may for starters, reorganise the predicate and put it first. Inverted means to put upside down or in the opposite po sition, order, or arrangement with a purpose. Examples: i) Not only is she difficult to understand, but she is also funny. ii) Never have I under stood less about the universe. iii) Scarcely have they arrived on time for dinner. iv) Seldom has the chief gardener been so rattled! v) As vicious as the accu sation was the bite. Be careful, anyhow, that you do not create fragments when you try to reorganise your sentences to create in terest in what you have to say. The following children’s story has purposeful commu nication between writer and reader. A Black Cat Named Win nie the WinniePooh the Pooh has a normal cat’s fear of dogs. Last Tuesday afternoon while crossing the front lawn, Win nie spotted a neighbourhood stray moving in quickly from the right. Winnie was away light lightning. Across the street she dashed and up a steep hill into a garden of saguaro cactus. Surely, she would be safe here, hidden among these sturdy desert plants. But Winnie was wrong. The dog overtook her. With a tremendous leap Win nie scrambled up the thick, woody stem of a giant sa guaro. Up, up she climbed scrambling frantically until she gained then top. Some neighbours spied the black-and-white cat sitting fifteen feet up on the very top of the huge cactus. They made different suggestions, but no one could help the littlePixiecat. soon heard about the fate of her cat. “That’s my cat,” said Pixie. “I just know it must be Winnie.” So off they went, Pix ie and her mother, to claim the cat. But they could not get Winnie down. Darkness came. And Pixie and her mother had to go home, leav ing Winnie to her solitude. Pixie began to cry. Her father came home and was greeted with Winnie’s story. “Can’t we do something?” begged Pixie’s mother.” “Sure,” said Pixie’s father. “Just get me a can opener.” You guessed it. Pixie’s father opened a can of tuna and placed it in their backyard with the saguaro downwind. As if by magic, the cat came home...The next morning, Winnie the Pooh lay sleeping in the kitchen with a look of con tentment that can be seen only on the face of a cat that has swallowed a full can of tuna. A closer look at the story 1. How is the story or ganised? 2. Is the writer’s language suited to his audi ence and topic? How does the writer help you picture the giant
TheREADINGsaguaro?Food Groups: Veg etables Three to five servings from the vegetable group are recommended for an adult. As with the fruit group, the important function of this group is to provide vitamin A, vitamin C, complex car bohydrates, and fiber. Foods included in this group are dark green, yellow, and or ange vegetables, canned or cooked vegetables, and tossed salads. At least one serving of a dark green, yellow, or orange vegetable containing fat-soluble vitamin A should be consumed every other day. Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, may be especially helpful in the prevention of certain forms of cancer. Based on current recom mendations, people should include three to five servings per day in their diets. Something to Do 1. What is the important function with both vegetable and fruit groups? 2. What is meant by cru ciferous vegetables? Name some.READING2.ARelaxing Exercise for YouWho Owns the Zebra? There are five houses, each with a front door of a differ ent colour, and inhabited by men of different nationalities, with different pets and drinks. Each man eats a different kind of ice cream. The Englishman lives in the house with the red door. The Spaniard owns the dog. Coffee is drunk in the house with the green door. The Ukrainian drinks tea. The house with the green door is immediately to the right (your right) of the house with the ivory door. The chocolate ice cream eater owns snails. Va nilla ice cream is eaten in the house with the yellow door. Milk is drunk in the middle house. The Norwegian lives in the first house on the left. The man who eats strawberry ice cream lives in the house next to the man with the fox. Vanilla ice cream is eaten in the house next to the house where the horse is kept. The raspberry ice cream eater also drinks orange juice. The Jap anese eats banana ice cream. The Norwegian lives next to the house with the blue door. Now, who drinks water? And who owns the zebra? The Exercise The “Who Owns the Ze bra” is a logic puzzle intended to be solved in groups. Each person in the group must par ticipate as each is sure to give a vital clue needed to solve the logic puzzle. When the puzzle is solved, do a debrief ing discussion to emphasise learning techniques.
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1. Hold face in repose just before smiling 2. Move the mouth to a small one-quarter smile and hold it for ten seconds 3. Move to half a half smile, and hold it for ten seconds 4. Move to a big full smile and hold that for ten seconds 5. Slowly reverse back to a small smile This process should be done back and forth for at least five minutes. During this time, try to maintain a well-formed smile. This exercise must be done in a controlled fashion and em ploys two different principles of physiotherapy, isoton ic and isometric exercises. Through isotonic exercises, the muscles are used repeat edly throughout their entire range of movement. They are brought into use slowly and gradually increasing tension to the maximum, held tautly, and are gradually relaxed again. Done properly, this will be the most important smile exercise a patient can perform. This simple exercise is the best way to develop and control facial muscles to get that beautiful smile. The second exercise is an isometric exercise and in volves the closing of the smile against the resistance of the fingers resulting in increased tone and strength of the muscles around the mouth. Make a big full smile and hold the corners of the mouth firmly with the index fingers of both hands. Slowly close the lip back to no smile against the resistance of the finger. These exercises contain components that are com plementary. Hence, it is important to have both exercises performed for maximum benefit. They should be done for 30 days. The exercises may seem unnatural; this is a normal response. During this period, the mind consciously and un consciously evaluates various facial configurations for the most attractive and appealing smile possible. The patient will also be familiar with how they look when they flash a smile and become aware of the effects that a charming smile has on others.
I believe that a beautiful smile can serve to radiate health and self-confidence and brings good things to our lives. The fact is that when we smile, most of our facial muscles are utilised in an upward fashion, and this is usually an uplifting experience.
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Many of my patients with decayed or chipped front teeth come into the dental office and hold their hand over their mouth or use a closed-lip smile to conceal their unsightly teeth. Even when they talk or smile after their dental problem has been corrected, they leave the office still holding their hand over their mouth or using a tight-lipped smile. In addition to improving the appearance of their teeth, they need to relearn how to properly smile in order to protect their new image. A teaching programme of smile exercises is strongly indicated. The results can be as valuable to the patients as the dental work itself. The exercises not only improve smiles by showing off their new teeth but also refine their facial appearance. Patients have noticed that an improved smile brought about by cosmetically correcting teeth and performing smile exercises has resulted in greater self-con fidence and success in both their personal lives and careers. The exercises are as follows: each morning, stand be fore the mirror and go through these steps.
Your beauty smile
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