Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 19-02-2023

vision loss and blindness with early screenings’

Dr. Ajit Kumar Jain has been working in Ophthalmology for the past 25 years

Letitia Wright stands on broad Guyanese shoulders

THERE is a great measure of euphoria is Guyana following the visit of the Guyana-born superstar Letitia Wright. The shining movie star recently paid a well-appreciated visit to the land of her birth. After her action-packed screen visit to “WAKANDA,” where “The

Black Panther” strides, Letitia Wright is now enjoying all the fame and adoration which she richly deserves. With such a high-profile visit, there were some areas of unease. Many citizens have stated openly that “Ms Wright ought to have been given a day to rest immediately after

she arrived. After all, she is human.”

Similar comments were mentioned time and time again by concerned persons.

Those retired Theatre veterans -- especially from the Ministry of Culture and the Department of Culture of the past -- were proficient in planning such itineraries, and would have reserved the day of the arrival of Ms Wright, a day for her to rest after her long flight to Guyana. Some Guyanese, on the other hand, made some rather outlandish statements regarding the attire Ms Wright donned, as she toured the country, claiming that she was dressed too casually. There were many rebuttals to those unfounded criticisms. “Wait, alyoh expect the lady to wear evening gown everywhere, and anywhere?” was a firm comment by those who were as practical as the honoured visitor.

From where I stand, I have to say that Letitia Wright is loved, adored and respected by the majority of her fellow Guyanese. It is also appropriate to mention that she stands on the broad shoulders of a few of her fellow Guyanese who left these shores during the 1950s and 1960s. They departed the Magnificent Province, went to the British Isles, and made Guyana proud. I now mention three of them, ladies first: Carmen Munroe, who hails from Berbice, has been a shining light as an actress in the United Kingdom since 1961. She has performed on stage and television, including the extremely popular TV series “DESMOND’S, in which fellow Guyanese, and the most popular Black actor in Britain in the 1960s to 1980s, Norman Beaton, played the title role.

Also extremely popular in British theatre in the 1960s was Cy Grant, who hailed from Beterverwagting (BV), East Coast Demerara. Cy Grant had served in the Second World War and was a Prisoner of War for two years before he was released. He immediately returned to the performing Arts -theatre and folk music. Added to those, Cy Grant qualified as a Barrister-at-Law. On his last visit to Guyana in 1971, Cy Grant did two sold-out concerts at the Theatre Guild Playhouse in Georgetown.

Letitia Wright stayed in Guyana for a little while, during which time, she also met and interacted with Guyanese Theatre practitioners at the Theatre Guild Playhouse. I imagined that before the meeting, many local theatre practitioners were holding their breaths, and waiting to exhale, but the meeting came to fruition and much hope was given for their own careers.

Cy Grant and Francis Quamina Farrier in London,England, in 1983.

‘Prevent vision loss and blindness with early screenings’

–Guyanese ophthalmologist urges

AS much as Dr Ajit Kumar Jain enjoys his work as an ophthalmologist, the increasing numbers of diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma patients make his work more challenging. Many patients reach out for help when it’s too late and Dr. Jain said he finds it painful each time he has to let them know that nothing can be done to improve their vision at this late stage.

Having operated more than 30,000 cataract surgeries and having worked on more than 500 corneal graftings, take it

Dr. Jain has been working in ophthalmology for the past 25 years and came to Guyana in 2015 from India to head the Ophthalmology Department at Woodlands Hospital. Having worked at various organizations in India, Dr. Jain has also conducted several medical outreaches there. Currently, he does routine ophthalmic consultation, diagnosing and treating various eye diseases. He also routinely performs cataract, glaucoma and pterygium surgeries.

“Many patients, out of fear, don’t do checkups until it’s too late, thinking that they have to undergo cataract surgery and actually it may not be cataract; it could be glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy, which are more unforgiving eye diseases. The outcomes are generally poor if the disease is at advanced stages,” he shared.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), diabetic retinopathy occurs when high blood sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels in the retina. These blood vessels can swell and leak. Or, they can close, stopping blood from passing through. “Sometimes abnormal, new blood vessels grow on the retina. All of these changes can steal your vision,” the AAO said.

and control of the disease. Noteworthy is the fact that these conditions do not have to lead to blindness if people diligently do their eye checkups, he stressed.

“Many of the patients reach an ophthalmologist at an advanced disease stage where there is already irreversible loss of vision heading towards total blindness. It’s very painful to tell the patient that it’s late now and nothing can be done; or to refer them overseas for advanced possible eye surgery. This all could have been prevented with effective diagnosis

from him that it is necessary to get screenings done, especially if you’re a high-risk case from a family with a history of glaucoma and diabetes.

“People should not wait until the symptoms start to appear; the diseases are effectively treated in the initial stages, which can prevent blindness,” the 53-year-old doctor told Pepperpot Magazine recently.

As for glaucoma, this eye disease is said to be the leading cause of blindness for people over 60 years old. “Glaucoma is a disease that damages your eye’s optic nerve. It usually happens when fluid builds up in the front part of your eye. That extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, damaging the optic nerve,” the AAO explained.

Dr. Jain has observed that Guyana has a lot of diabetic and glaucoma patients who require lifetime monitoring, treatment and lots of follow-ups, depending upon the stage

at an early stage,” Dr. Jain said.

He is hopeful that all eye-care institutions will make it a point to educate people about the eye problems that exist, especially glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. “No one should lose their eyesight. All efforts should be made to educate the patients.”

Planning to extend his services to other parts of Guyana, Dr. Jain enjoys doing complex surgeries. “Eye surgery is a very technical microscopic surgery. The more you do it, the more experience you get. The field is very demanding and challenging and constantly upgrading, making surgery more advanced and benefitting patients in terms of better results and faster recovery.”

Dr. 2: Dr. Jain has been working in Ophthalmology for the past 25 years

Dr. 3: Having done more than 30,000 cataract surgeries, Dr. Jain has also worked on more than 500 corneal grafting

Dr. 4: Dr. Jain enjoys the complex and intriguing nature of his job

Dr. 5: Patients can reverse vision loss with early screenings

Ophthalmologist, Dr. Ajit Kumar Jain

Dr. Jain has been working in Ophthalmology for the past 25 years

Having operated more than 30,000 cataract surgeries, Dr. Jain has also worked on more than 500 corneal grafting

Dr. Jain enjoys the complex and intriguing nature of his job

A look at the Miss Bartica Pageant

AFTER an absence of two years due to the global pandemic, the Miss Bartica Pageant has returned to centre stage, this time, with much enthusiasm and excitement.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke with the new

coordinator of the pageant Angelica Fredericks, who is all bursting at the seams with excitement and exuberance as she builds confidence in the young ladies who are vying for the crown.

“We are looking to 8 -10 girls, but so far, we have

only gotten six. So the pageant will start with the photo shoot, but because of other activities occurring, the pageant will be held on Easter Monday,” Fredericks told the Pepperpot Magazine.

The 2004 Miss Bartica personality shared that the

pageant has been around since the 1980s and every year, it gets better. She also alluded to the

ordinator

In sharing the responsibilities that fall under her role, Fred-

The benefits of pageantry, particularly for Barticans Fredericks disclosed that the pageant, which has now been combined with the Bartica Regatta, has many benefits for the participants (delegates) of pageantry. According to her, girls were very shy when it came to public speaking and representing their community, and since participating in the pageant, those girls have made a name for themselves and have gained the boldness to deliver quite fluently and articulately on a stage in their schools and when they grow older at their respective places of employment. According to her, this is a result of the training that must be undertaken in preparation for the pageant.

Fredericks shared her personal experience as a teacher with this magazine.

She noted that it is because of pageantry that she has gained the confidence to stand in front of a classroom and speak the way she does. When asked by her students, she would often say, “I owe this to pageantry.”

fact that because of the stigma attached to women who are deeply involved in showcasing themselves for various segments, the organizing committee has decided to work on empowering and boosting the confidence of the participants.

“ This year we are doing ‘Girl Power.’ This is basically where our theme for the pageant this year is surrounded, whereby the emphasis is placed on confidence-building. At the end of this exercise we are making these young girls ambassadors and an inspiration to other young ladies in Bartica,” Fredericks told Pepperpot Magazine.

The Function of the Co-

ericks said, “The pageant coordinator is responsible for getting the girls together and training, so that they are competent enough to participate in all aspects of the pageantry, including what is called the intelligence segment, the swimsuit segment and other aspects, basically making sure that they are properly outfitted with their swimsuits, gowns and sponsors for every participant.”

She further explained that the coordinator is also responsible for ensuring the right music is being played whenever the appropriate time approaches, as well as all other organising aspects of the event.

“ One I was able to meet beautiful young ladies, speak with them and share with them. As a result, when I won that pageant day, the prize money was just like a side bonus, but the experience that I gained, how I was taught to speak, to stand- so the experience for me was good,” Fredericks noted during her interview.

In giving advice to young women who are preoccupied with flaws or insecurities, Fredericks said that based on her training, she would tell the girls that everyone has a past, but it is important to tell yourself that you can make it, so lift your head high and walk with confidence.

2004 former Miss Bartica winner and current Coordinator of the pageant, Angelica Fredericks

The Joys of Radio

FEBRUARY 13 2023, was known as International Radio Day.

It is a day celebrated worldwide to honour radio personalities, who have given their lives toward disseminating information on that medium.

Pepperpot Magazine gazed its focuseson the enthusiastic and energetic Leroy Phillips, who shared his amazing story with us.

Leroy Phillips, who is visually impaired, began

working at the National Communications Network (NCN) in 2011. He says that if he had it to do all over again, he would enjoy the experience every step of the way.

The PepperpotMagazine began by asking about some of the challenges he faces daily on the job as a radio personality.

“I think my challenges over the past 13 years would be things like not being able to go to major events and having to move around and

navigate on my own, to be able to interact with officials to come into the office and bring comments from various dignitaries about the subject at hand. My other challenge is to have a piece of complex recording equipment available to do my style of production to work along with to do a sophisticated program,” he explained. “Those things are no longer a challenge. I am more relaxed now and settled on doing more Government programs, ensuring that the

nation gets what is out there for them.”

Phillips described his job as a broadcaster as a hobby. He noted during his interview that only bitter/sweet moments he facesare when he is away from work and not getting to do what he loves best.

“I always like to work when I am on leave, even though it is not the right thing to do. You are supposed to be completely away from work, but I am the type who likes to work. This job is a hobby for me because I have never worked a day in my life this is my hobby. But I would still do interviews even though I am away from work. It is just that I cannot come into the officeand do anything,” the exuberant and dedicated Phillips told Pepperpot Magazine.

The Guyanese radio personality despite being visually impaired, he does not consider it being an advantage or disadvantage

“It has favouredme well andit has also affected me somewhat in workbut I like to think of it as not affecting the work of a broadcaster

Radio Broadcaster, Leroy Phillips

because the work of a broadcaster has nothing much to do with visuals. Though I have been able to do much of my work without any hindrance, I have done fairly well in the job as a blind person,”Phillips told the magazine.

Phillips attributes some of his success to a fewrole models and fellow colleagues such as Deputy Chief Executive Officer and veteran broadcaster Michelle Abraham Ali, veteran broadcaster Ron Robinsonand Judy Lewis.

Leroy vbecame visually impaired at age six, but seemingly did not let his disability affect his ability to share

information with the nation through radio.

Phillips encourages everyone who may be interested in the field to work in radio since it is a great place to disseminate information. He also encourages people to educate themselves and become a master in their craft.

“ I think being in the media and being in a position to share relevant informationare very crucial. People want to find out how Guyana is growing and developing, and when the country is doing all that, how can I be a part of that,” Phillips noted during his interview.

Beterverwagting

- A plantation purchased by 62 former slaves

CONTINUING with our East Coast villages from last week, the Pepperpot Magazine decided to feature the equally important and historic village of Beterverwagting, also called “BV” or “Baron”.

Approximately 10 miles from the capital city of Georgetown is the village of Beterverwagting, a name that derives from the Dutch words “Beter verwachting,” which literally means “better expectation.” BV was a plantation that was bought from Baron Van Groningen, who was said to be the last remaining Dutch planter in the colony at the time.

When 62 former slaves learned that the Dutch planter was tired and packing his belongings to leave the country, they decided to seize the opportunity and pool all of their savings to purchase the village so that they could have ownership over the land. The purchase was made on May 8, 1839.

Democratic Council (NDC), Leyland Harcourt related that Beterverwagting has a very “powerful” and “rich” history

“From 1834 to 1838 was the period of apprenticeship, when the slaves would have been earning some money by having their weekend markets. All of their resources were given to one man, who, it is said, would bury the money at the bottom of a tamarind tree somewhere on the sidelines for safekeeping. On the day of the actual sale of the land, he dug up and brought out the money (Dutch guilders), which was $39,000,” the Chairman explained.

this country. On August 18, 1847, the slaves gathered at the train station to elect the

themselves, value the contributions of the people who came before them and get

but the elders should also allow them to be themselves, guide them and advise them to be better individuals in their communities.

Beterverwagting was also the first village on the East Coast to have been drained by the first “steamed drainage pump” in the entire colony. It was also the first village to have its drainage canal run from north to south. The pump was based along Agriculture Road in the village of Mon Repos.

first village council to run the affairs of the community.”

Among the 40 proprietors that were gathered, the former Chairman noted that one woman was present, Clara Elizabeth Walcott. “She was a strong woman,” said Harcourt. “When the village council was elected at that time, only men were allowed to vote, but she demanded that her name be the first name on the title for the village despite the fact that she wasn’t allowed to vote and her name was the first.”

Know your history

Harcourt is asking the young people to educate

to know and understand the history of the village, and it is only then that they will learn to appreciate where they

The village of Beterverwagting is very diverse in its ethnicity and the village has produced politicians, doctors, lawyers, policemen and policewomen, teach -

came from.

According to him, young people have many problems,

ers, nurses, businessmen and businesswomen, farmers, construction workers and a number of other professions for its people.

folks.

According to Harcourt, the slaves thought they should honour Baron Van Groningen for his noble gesture of selling the plantation to them, so they decided to call the village Baron and the villagers were called Baronians. The former Chairman noted that, “Beterverwagting would have set the trend for many other villages in

Like its people, the community is home to many important structures as well, including educational and health facilities, a post office, places of worship and small and large corporations such as the head office of Ansa Mcal, Gafoors, a police station and the Emancipation Monument, among other notable structures.

Entering BV on the Railway Embarkment

Speaking with the former Chairman of the BV/ Triumph Neighbourhood

that many persons may not be familiar with, especially the younger

Emancipation Monument in BV

Church in BV

Beterverwagting Post Office

Beterverwagting Secondary School

Mosque in BV

Mr. Leyland Harcourt- Former Cairman of B.V-Triump NDC

From the Rebel of ‘the gulf’ to Deputy Commissioner of Police

By Cindy Parkinson

ONE of the most prominent individuals that the village of Beterverwagting on the East Coast of Demerara has produced is the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Paul Williams.

Gracefully sitting under a shaded tree on the lawns of the University of Guyana (UG) campus compound, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Paul Williams, reflected and related to the Pepperpot Magazine on his journey from his boyhood days to where he is at this moment in his life.

His mother, a seamstress named Enid and a native of the village, got married to Ovid Williams, a former employee of the transport and harbour department and a native of the village of Nabaclis, on the East Coast of Demerara. They had eight children from that marriage.

Boyhood days

Paul Williams was born in what he described as one of the most challenging areas of the village, which was known as the “gulf”. According to him, the gulf was a “backdam side” area that got its name from the “warlike activities” that went on there with the people who truly represented themselves. Every day there was a “fight” or a “curse out” among the people that were living there, but even though it was a tough zone to be in, the Deputy Commissioner was determined, from an early age, to make it out of the toxic environment.

As a child, Williams attended St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Primary School, where he was exposed to the principles of Christianity. He credited the school for nurturing him with understanding, love, respect, values, morals and ethics. Williams also noted that within his family circle and within his neighbourhood, he would have experienced a lot of love, which he appreciates

and carries with him to this day.

After finishing primary school, the Deputy Commissioner took his CXC and was accepted into Alleyne’s High School in Georgetown, where he attended up to the third-form level. He was transferred to Annandale Secondary to complete his final two years due to the financial difficulties that his parents were facing.

Knowing of his parents’ financial challenges, Williams decided to go with his

his, his twin sister’s and his younger sister’s clothing were pressed and ready for school. Independence was something that Williams learned, valued and respected from an early age.

sister-in-law to sell black pudding throughout the village and neighbouring communities so that he could pay the bus fares to go to school.

Later, he got a stand of his own where he sold icicles and pastries to contribute to his home and his studies. While selling on the street corner, Williams ensured that it didn’t take away from his studies, so he read his books using “jug lamps” to get the work done.

He also ensured that

Apart from his academics, Williams played a very integral role in athletics during his school life. He performed outstandingly on several occasions and attended the National Championships as well. Over the years, however, Williams noted that he was committed to being good and outstanding in society. Still, it was never with the aim of being “boastful” or “bragging,” but for the simple reason of wanting to contribute meaningfully to the others in his family and his society while continuing to be a simple and humble person.

Career aspirations

The Deputy Commissioner always knew that he wanted to become a police officer, but at the completion of secondary school at the age

of 16 years old, he was too young to apply and join the force, so he went on to work at the Guyana Post Office Corporation until he reached the age of 17 years and six months, which was the age that was required of him to apply to the police force as an apprentice. On December 28, 1986, Williams said he went to the Police Training School and wrote the examination.

He recalled that he was the only person there that day to write the examination, which was very surprising to the staff that was there at the time. “Being the only person there that day, after I wrote the exams, they went through it right there and I did well,” he said. “They immediately gave me the necessities that I needed. I returned home and told my mom that I got through, but she wasn’t in favour of it. She was scared of the types of challenges that I would be faced with and the dangers of the job. She told me that I may die very early because I may have to face criminals and so on, but I told her that it was what I wanted to do and I’m going to do it. I insisted and she, along with my grandmother, the entire community and the church

At the completion of the training, Williams was awarded the second-best student position, and he was also elected as the chairman of his course (8701). He noted that that gave him the understanding of becoming a leader with given responsibilities and learning to be brave and face his superiors with a certain “finesse” and ease

the Deputy Commissioner went over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for three years as a driver, but Sergeant R. Angel, who was in charge of him at the time, recognised that he had the potential to be more than just a driver based on a statement that Williams took. The sergeant considered him an asset to the CID

prayed with me.”

Williams explained that he went into the force in February of 1987 and he was sent to the Guyana National Service, where he spent 7 months doing the Joint Services Recruit Orientation Course. That training, according to Williams, was responsible for him getting to know his country, learning a variety of survival techniques and military strategies, and, most importantly, teaching him to be a patriot.

Deputy Commissioner Professional Accomplishments

in delivering what he had to. He also worked in the traffic department for two years and was promoted to Corporal of Police; eleven years later, he was promoted to Sergeant.

Williams never allowed anything or anyone to deter him from elevating his studies and going after what he was passionate about.

According to him, he stayed the course and continues to be a serving member of the Guyana Police Force and he takes pride in knowing where he came from and where he is now despite life’s challenges.

After his career in traffic,

and he guided him through his work and he became an investigator.

After being a detective, Williams became a police prosecutor after being sent on a one-year prosecutor course that was sponsored by the United Nations and the University of Guyana (UG) in the Caribbean. Williams decided to pursue law after finishing that course at the University of Georgia, where he took a pre-law course and graduated with a diploma in public management. He also completed his law degree

Deputy Commissioner at the Interservice Annual Athletics Campionship

Deputy Commissioner Paul Williams and his wife Nicola Williams at the National Award Ceremony where he was a recipient of the Disciplined Service Medal

Deputy Commissioner graduated with his Masters in Criminal Justice

BV resident hopeful for development of land for agriculture

By Cindy Parkinson

ELTON McRae, the owner of a fabrication workshop, was born and still resides in the village of Beterverwagting, a community that he holds near and dear to his heart.

Born and raised in the village of Beterverwagting,

Elton McRae preferred to talk about the state of his community as he remembered it in his younger days and how it has evolved. BV was considered a farming community, said Elton; more than 70 percent of the villagers farmed and operated in the backlands. According to him, the village is divided in such

a way that the people have their farms with the township in front of it, along with the recreational facilities and land left for pasture usage.

With the 2005 flooding that was experienced in the community, many houses and people were affected since most of the houses at that time were on

stilts, but after that, many of the Baronians resorted to building their houses higher off the ground to prevent future flooding and for better sanitation purposes, said Elton. Beyond the backlands of BV, Elton noted that there is the conservancy canal that supplies the farmlands and kitchen gardens, and in earlier times, the people used the water to get their domestic chores done.

Elton recognised that the

community and its people, especially the youngsters, have changed throughout the years. Elton recalled that in the past, the Beterverwagting community produced children who excelled in school and were placed in some of

Georgetown’s top schools. Even though Elton does not hear or see that now, he believes that parents, teachers and the people of the community need to play a more active role in young people’s lives. He also believes that young men and women need to be more responsible and know that education and hard work are the keys to a brighter future. He also wants young people to understand that they shouldn’t get carried away with social media and the idea of wanting to “get rich quick,” but instead make an honest dollar.

While Elton is grateful for all the development and progress that he is seeing in the country and within his

community, he is also asking the government of Guyana to look into the work that needs to be done in the backlands so that the people can have full access to the area. He believes that it will be a great asset to the people of the community, especially the youths, who, according to him, can be employed through the planting of the backlands, which will allow them to prosper in the agricultural sector. He is also asking the private sector (businessmen) to exhibit more social consciousness and employ young people in the business community so that there will be personal, community and national growth for all.

Elton McRae (Delano Williams photo)

‘Academics and sports give you a good balance in life’

By Cindy Parkinson

THE community of Beterverwagting has without a doubt produced a number of prominent individuals throughout its history.

Growing up in the twin village of BV/Triumph community, Oscar Glasgow, now the Director of Academic Affairs at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), ex -

rolled in the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) in 1981. After graduating from CPCE, Glasgow decided to do his diploma in agriculture at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA).

he began to lecture at GSA in 1996.

-says GSA’s Director of Academic Affairs

plained to the Pepperpot Magazine that he was born into a family of 11 children.

Glasgow explained that he was a pupil of the BV primary school and later went to the Muslim College in the city of Georgetown for his secondary education. After he graduated high school, Glasgow started his teaching profession in 1978 and en-

According to Glasgow, “teaching is the one profession that I loved very much and to this day, I still love it, even though I am at a managerial level at the GSA.” He also stated that he was a part-time lecturer at CPCE and the Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health Assistants (REPAHA).

In 1990, Glasgow joined GSA as an Assistant Farm Manager on the livestock farm, after which he went to the University of Guyana and studied Economics and

Despite trying to advance his academic career, Glasgow found time to start his own family and married his wife, Desire Glasgow, in 1989. Following their marriage, Glasgow and his wife relocated to the village of Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, where they lived for nine years before returning to BV. Their marriage brought forth three boys: Marlon, Paul and Mark.

One of the things that Mr. Glasgow truly enjoys is sports, especially cricket and football. According to him, he has always been involved in sports and community activities in BV. While he lived in Buxton, Glasgow shared that he was actively involved

in sports and the youngsters of that community, and he was voted Vice President of the Buxton Sports Club. Glasgow told the young people of Guyana, particularly the youths of Beterverwagting, “First and foremost, I want the young people to know that they must attend and stay in school. Make sure you complete your schooling; education is extremely important, especially for every young person.

Sports are always very important in your life; it is essential that you stay physically active and get involved in whatever sports make you happy. Academics and sports give a good balance in life.”

Glasgow also wants young people to understand that it is okay to put the gadgets down sometimes and interact within their communities and with their peers and elders. He also noted that whatever they choose to

do in life, let it benefit them and their families. According to him, not everyone is cut out to work in a bank, as a doctor, or in any other profession. But they can also find satisfaction in being a wonderful carpenter or farmer.

Whatever the young people do, as long as they are meaningfully occupied, will enable them to be mentally active, said the professor.

Oscar Glasgow, now the Director of Academic Affairs at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA)

A brief history of the Beterverwagting Emancipation Monument

By Cindy Parkinson

EMANCIPATION typical-

ly refers to releasing someone from a past restraint or legal restriction.

In a broader sense, it is also used in campaigns to secure political rights, equality, or economic and

social rights. It is also frequently used for a particular marginalised group or in a discussion of various topics.

According to the history on a small billboard next to the Emancipation Monument at BV, it states that “the freeing of slaves throughout the British colonies seemed

realistic when the emancipation bill was approved in Great Britain on August 18th, 1833. The final act took effect on August 1st, 1834, and this day was declared a public holiday in British Guyana by then-Governor Sir James Carmichael Smyth.

However, the supposed-

ly freed slaves were forced back onto the plantation to work as there was a binding condition to the emancipation act that stipulated a period of apprenticeship; six years for field slaves and four years for house slaves.

Apprenticeship did not offer any better treatment and many continued to phrase the same harsh treatment as they did in slavery. By 1838, the British government felt that it would cause tension if one set of apprenticeship workers [house slaves] were set free while the others (field sleeves) had to endure two more years of hardship and so on August 1st, 1838, all apprenticeship workers were

free.

With emancipation, many of the enslaved shone away from plantation life and some earned a living by planting cash crops while others were employed for their skills. As time passed, the exslaves accumulated their money and purchased lands, estates and villages. One such village is Beterverwagting.

The emancipation monument, located on Republic drive, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara, was built as a memorial to the 62 former slaves who bought the village circa 1840 for $22,000. The foundation stone was laid in 1995 and was com-

pleted in 1996 at the cost of $225,000. The monument consists of a broken chain attached to a hand or pulling a book. The book represents the physical book that was signed by the exclaves who purchased the village. The monument is believed to represent the victory, freedom and jollification of the community.”

In Guyana and throughout the Caribbean, Emancipation Day is celebrated on August 1st. To pay homage to the former slaves who bought the Beterverwagting Plantation, as it was referred to in the earlier days, the Emancipation Monument was erected.

The Emancipation Monument at Beterverwagting (Delano Williams photo)

THE COLOUR OF AMETHYST

MARIA held the silver chain in her hand, its pendant, the birthstone of Pisces, and as she looked at the amethyst gem, regrets glinted in her light brown eyes.

“It’s been such a long time,” she mused, “I wonder where you must be today and what you have become.”

The chain had been a birthday gift from her best friend, the friend she had stood by when he needed her, the friend with whom she had shared the same literary passions and dreams.

They were like one, as Pisceans sharing the same birthstone, but people change, desires change and she broke his heart when she couldn’t return the love he felt for her.

“He was such a nice person, gentle and lovable,” she said quietly, “But I couldn’t love him, not with the kind of passion of being in love.”

She put the pendant back in its velvet box that had sat at the back of her old desk drawer, forgotten.

They had become friends since the beginning of high school. That patterned changes in their lives, creating a special bond.

She was fair, petite, and shy, a pretty girl with her long hair tied in plaits, portraying the look of pure innocence that attracted the older boys who tried to woo her. He was fairer with trim, curly hair, smooth skin, and a neat outlook, something different from the normal male personality that attracted ridicule and taunts from the boys. He wasn’t athletic. He ran

like a girl, they said. He couldn’t play cricket or football and no one wanted him on their team, so he sat alone in class during break periods, reading. His classmates did not care much for his silent suffering, a brave soul trying to be normal.

nances, who were excellent arts students, loved by their teachers.

One day he walked over to her desk and asked her nervously, “What are you reading?”

She had looked up and smiled, for it was the sixth time she had been asked that question for the morning. Now she felt she could answer, “Stephen King – The Pet Cemetery.”

“I’m reading James Patterson,” He said

“I read his books too and anything else I can get my hands on.”

He had laughed and that day was the beginning of a unique friendship, a pretty girl, boys were eager to befriend, and a boy with a different personality.

Maria looked at the books on the shelves, neatly arranged, her priceless collection of literature, history, and fiction and she smiled as fond memories of her friend found their way into her thoughts, lost they had been through the ravines of time. The one path they had walked had separated in two and their dreams and passions sat on the shelves among the books, waiting.

She had not been home for a long time, having married and moved away, becoming a mother, a social worker, and a sales representative, and the girlhood dreams she had nurtured to become a lawyer, became lost somewhere, fate changing the course of her life.

But it touched her heart and somehow she felt his pain, for she was closer to him, sitting alone in class too, reading, though for a different reason. She was scared of the close attention of the senior boys, a few who had broken up with their girlfriends for her, one of the girls being her cousin.

She was not quite ready for it, having just crossed the threshold into adolescence and not wanting to fall prey to infatuation.

The two of them had sat at their desks, reading, not saying much, a boy and girl with pleasant counte -

She took down a book of poems he had given her as a valentine’s gift and as she flicked through, a worn piece of paper fell from between the pages – it was the shape of a heart with their names printed – ‘Maria & Chris –Friends forever’.

It was a friendship the boys in school couldn’t understand for he did not have the looks and characteristics of a typical male and she was spending her time with him on lunch dates and movies.

Only Maria knew it was

THE COLOUR OF ...

She had thought he would have found a life for himself as he began to work and interact with people of the outside world but what she did not know was that though he became more confident in himself as a guy, she had become his world and he never wanted her to leave. For Maria, the most difficult thing she had to do in her life was to explain to him that she did not share such close feelings. He was, to her, just a special friend.

FROM PAGE XI

not an attraction where the heart speaks of love nor the passion of a kiss. It was holding his hand to stop the taunts and the ridicule as he fought an inner battle to find a foothold in a man’s world.

She had begun to understand the feelings of infatuation and love, from those who paid court to her, as the years went by, but she did not leave her friend, protecting his image for all five years of high school. Maria replaced the book on the shelf and exited her old room for some fresh air in the garden outside. As she sat on the swing, she thought, “I couldn’t believe I did that, no wonder it was so hard for him to move on.”

Maybe it would have been easier if she had, had a boyfriend and left him to fight his own battles.

“But, maybe,” she thought, “It was meant to happen that way.”

Her heart found new desires with charming young men for her as a woman that would become a part of her life as she began dating and the further down that path, she walked, the farther back he was left, standing alone.

The pain in his eyes that day, which he tried to hide, left her with a sense of guilt and she did not see him again for a little while until they ran into each other at a book fair. He said he was with two beautiful girls from the office where he worked and it pleased her heart, easing the guilt from her mind that he was getting somewhere with his life.

Two months later, on her birthday, he brought her the amethyst pendant that he told her he hoped she would keep forever to remember him.

“Oh no,” Maria exclaimed and ran upstairs to her room. She opened the desk drawer and took out the pendant.

“I left it here when I got married and moved away.”

She clasped the chain around her neck and whispered, cross

THE COLOUR OF ...

FROM PAGE XII at herself, “How could I have forgotten?”

She lay in bed that night, sleepless for a long time, thinking of the friend and the husband, and how different they were. Her friend had not a masculine outlook, but his love for her was genuine. He appreciated her as a woman and supported her ambition and desires, a tolerant and selfless character.

Maria sighed deeply and turned her face to the pillow, hoping she could have a peaceful night’s sleep.

She had given up her best friend for the one her heart had spoken to and in whom she had seen a beautiful life, but not long after marriage, she discovered he had worn a false face. He

was not what he had made her believe and too late, she had found herself sharing her life with someone selfish and arrogant, who did not value her worth and who cared not for her desires and ambition, but he called it love.

She had felt betrayed and the beautiful life she believed in, she never had. But it had been her choice, and she had to find her little joys and happiness.

Maria’s eyes closed in sleep, the last thought on her mind, “I wonder if my friend is happy, if he found the right one to share his life with?”

FROM PAGE VII

From the Rebel of the ...

and was sent thereafter to do a course in legislation drafting (drafting laws), for which he received a certificate.

Even though Williams had accomplished so much, he felt in his heart that he still had an appetite for more knowledge. Again he decided to pursue his Master’s in criminal justice and executive management at Walden University in the United States of America (USA) and just when you thought that Williams was done, last year, he completed his PhD in international relations.

Advice to the younger generation

Finally, the Deputy Commissioner of Police would like to let his fellow Baronians, especially the youngsters, understand that “you need to understand the value of Beterverwagting so that you can understand the history. I am appealing to the senior folks that are around to make the history available and let us post it; if there is any way that I can help in getting that done, I would like to,” the Deputy Commissioner explained. “I know what it is to really come up in life with very little. I tried as much as possible to instill this in our youth and get them to understand that they needed to be focused and keep their eyes on the prize. I can give that advice because I have done it. I lived it and it wasn’t easy, but you have to want to have a better life.”

He continued, “ I faced a number of challenges as a child, but I found it rewarding to be born on April 19, 1969, just three years after Guyana gained independence. Even though those were challenging times, BV had a combination of different ethnicities and the people had a close-knit relationship with each other without any racial divide or barriers. In the absence of my parents, whoever was around in the village took responsibility, pitched in and ensured that me and my siblings were taken care of. That was done without anyone thinking about one’s race or colour.”

Paul Williams noted that life has its fair share of challenges and he extended his heartfelt thanks and appreciation to his wife Mrs. Nicola Williams, for her 30 years of support and sacrifices that she has made to ensure that the home and their four kids were okay while he pursued his studies and his career.

Readjusting cultural definitions towards real, clear definitions:

RELIGION remains one of the most complex areas of defining and attributing good or evil, according to which side of the field of benefits or suffering we’re standing on. Locally, any reference that deviates from one’s catalogue of beliefs is perceived as the other, or, from a colloquial position, as ‘outah‘ or ‘obeah’, especially if the atmosphere fits into the movie imagery of a scary kind of different.

The obeah-man or woman (or wuk-man) in Guyana can be of any ethnicity in our cultural world; it’s what the believer wants that determines who is contacted. In the case of ‘obeah’, we’ve got it all wrong: This is a religion with Gods; proposed energy-enabling forces and rituals. While most of what happens in Guyana is related to sorcery, which consists of acts and deeds that inflict harm on others, and sorcery in Africa, as reported by colonial observations, was subject to execution by beheading, today, isolation in special areas is the punishment for those found guilty of practising it.

The word ‘Voodoo’ means spirit; it is called Candomble in Brazil, Voudou in Haiti, and Obeah in the Anglophone Caribbean. Obeah priests or priestesses are interpreted to be, in most cases, established herbalists and healers. This demonstrates how far the Obeah idea has been disfigured to include everything.

The source of the latest Western (naïve, doubtful but curious) narrative that non-affluent researchers have access to is ‘Volumes I and II of AFRICAN CEREMONIES by Carol Beckwith and Angela Fisher’. They described witnessing influences that defy logic: “We were even more mystified when four men drew knives from the calabash fetish and pointed them at a chicken held atop a boy’s

head. Within seconds, the bird collapsed, snatching a few shivering breaths before dying. When the chicken was cooked in a calabash, the flammable gourd did not catch fire. How can we explain what we witnessed? We can’t.”

I had some ideas, but could not collaborate, from pointing knives to kill, then a calabash that didn’t burn (Pictures were provided by the authors).

literally upside down. I was supposed to be cool, but was stunned. Immediately, two older onlookers ran to ‘West Front Road’ and came back with two buckets of ‘black canal water’ and threw it on him. And as the beat of the drum began to change, the lad gradually came to himself. I have since concluded that ‘Hanta-Banta’, the term used to describe drum-beat possession, and some other things I’ve witnessed over

--The obeah story

it refers to poison, though spirits and even the genie cloud it. This is arrived at after the usual methods have been tried and accustomed symptoms are not identified. In some cases, doctors have have been known to encourage their patients to seek “outside help”, because many medical professionals recognise that though they

diversity of our nation, what is considered profane by one cultural group is sanctified by another. Also, in some cases, consultation is not restricted to group loyalty. For instance, though the poisons of botanical and other organic substances are viewed as forbidden in pre-colonial Africa, and punishable by death when used in cases of

tion, renowned Brazilian historian, Emilia Viotti Da Costa, author of “Crowns of Glory, Tears of Blood”, is quoted as saying: “In Demerara, the slaves returned to their day-to-day forms of resistance. Sometime after the rebellion, Joe Simpson’s wife died of poison. Joe, also known as Packwood, was the slave who had betrayed the rebellion to his master on the morning of August 18th. Suspicions of poison were also raised when several soldiers and members of the Militia fell seriously sick after one of the banquets given in their honour. The slaves were defeated, but they had not surrendered.”

‘Obeah’ is the accusing term used across ethnicity and cultures in Guyana, when events that revolve around any incident that involves mysticism and superstition occur. For example, in 2006, three people perished during a river ritual. Similarly, in February 2015, four people perished in another ritual by the sea. The media, in both cases, elaborated on the context of both events, but the man-on-the-street stuck to obeah business; both were Hindu.

This took me back to an incident that occurred in West Ruimveldt. I was standing next to a young neighbour, watching some drummers doing their thing, when, suddenly, he started to dance

time belong to the preferred to be dismissed, leave-italone phenomenon that cannot be analysed.

In Guyana, in most cases when someone uses the term ‘somebody wuk pun he’,

warn against rash alternative ‘bush medicine’, in some cases, it may just help.

Because of the cultural

envy, ‘callous opportunity’, and spite against innocence, poison in collective defence upon related oaths against the concluded enemy seems to be allowed.

Immediately after the 1823 East Coast insurrec -

The fact is that the ancients were active in the arts of horticulture, and the effectiveness of certain botanicals; we have inherited that. But today, we are competing to understand also what modern Pharmakeia (the Greek term used to describe Pharmacy, ‘witchcraft’ and ‘sorcery’) in the hands of wealthy institutions bent on population control, biological/ industrial warfare, and food control, and debasing mind-altering substances that have eclipsed the age of intent of the ancestors.

Understanding Radiation

What is Radiation?

Radiation is energy in the form of moving waves or streams of particles. This energy can be high-frequency, like X-rays or cosmic rays from outer space, or low-frequency, like microwaves and radio waves. This range of energy makes up the electromagnetic spectrum and is divided into two main types of radiation: ionizing and non-ionizing.

Non-ionizing radiation does not possess enough energy to create charged atoms or molecules, called ions. Ionizing radiation, on the other hand, does possess sufficient energy to create ions. Ions can be harmful to your body, but they can also be used for many beneficial purposes.

QUICK FACTS

Ionizing radiation is higher-energy radiation that is capable of removing electrons from atoms as it passes through matter (such as air, water, or living tissue). Examples include alpha particles, gamma rays, X-rays, and neutrons.

Non-ionizing radiation is radiation of lower energy than ionizing radiation; it does not possess enough energy to produce ions. Examples include visible light, infrared, and radio waves.

Sources of radiation

We live on a planet where we are exposed to natural background radiation. Radioactive materials are present in the soil, rocks, the air we breathe, the water we drink, and even in our bodies. These sources of natural radiation make up the bulk of the total radiation we are exposed to every day. We are also exposed to artificial radiation from various sources, such as nuclear medicine – which uses radioactive material to diag-

nose and treat cancer, the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as commercial products like smoke detectors.

Putting radiation doses into perspective

The health effects of radiation are well understood. Since the early 20th century, radiation’s effects have been studied in depth, in both the laboratory and among human populations. Because of the known health risks of radiation, it must be carefully used and strictly controlled. A balance must be struck between radiation’s societal benefits and the risks that radiation poses to people and the environment. Generally speaking, a dose is a quantity we use when we talk about the potential health effects of radiation. An effective dose takes into account the type of radiation you’ve been exposed to and the organs in your body which have been exposed. It is expressed using the unit “sievert” or more commonly “millisievert” (mSv), which is 1,000 times smaller.

EPA partners with IAEA to ensure Guyana has regulations on radiation safety and protection.

SEE PAGE XXXIII

Protecting the archives

TWO Saturdays ago, I sat in the Castellani House, in Georgetown, listening to Professor Clem Seecharran speak about his book: “Joe Solomon and the Spirit of Port Mourant.” While that discussion on cricket gripped me, it also got me thinking about the need to protect our archives.

For some context, there were about 20 of us gathered on the second floor of the Castellani House listening to Professor Clem Seecharran and other winners read excerpts of their submissions to the Guyana Prize for Literature.

The night before, Professor Seecharran was awarded the top prize in the non-fiction category. He was the first ever person to win in this newly--introduced category, but he is no stranger to writing- especially about West Indies cricket. As an avid cricket fan, I sat and happily listened to Professor Seecharran read/ talk about the old, seemingly indomitable West Indies team. But what was, perhaps, the most surprising part of his engagement was his revelation that he spent countless hours in the United Kingdom (UK)’s archives researching Joe Solomon and the formidable West Indies cricket team during that era. It was striking for two reasons: the availability of those records in the UK and the difference between that country’s archives (based on what he described) and ours.

It is not surprising that the writer immersed himself in historical records and other crucial material in the archives. While I can’t personally compare the UK and local archives, I can bemoan the condition of our archives and the slow loss of much-needed historical records and other documents.

In 2020, I was working on a special project commemorating our 50th anniversary as a Cooperative Republic. Because of that, I visited the National Archives and the Guyana Chronicle’s archives. At the time, the folks at the National Archives were focused on preserving the archives they had left. I was allowed to peruse two stacks that were not yet in a poor state; the others (especially those with the records I wanted to read) were too brittle to examine. If I perused the brittle stacks, the papers might have crumbled at my fingertips and would have been lost forever.

Then, at the Guyana Chronicle, there was a strange revelation. I usually visit here because the newspaper records are well-kept (save for the older editions that are becoming very brittle and should be digitised soonest). Somehow, though, the newspaper’s front page and several other pages for February 24, 1970 (the edition which would have featured the Republic Day events) were missing. They appeared as though they were torn out of their binder as jagged paper edges were left behind.

No one has any idea why, when, or how that happened. But what that means, however, is that records of a significant part of Guyana’s history were simply gone. At least, gone from the Guyana Chronicle’s archives.

This might not seem like the most important consideration or such a grave concern that it warrants immediate attention. I believe, however, that these first-hand information sources are of immense value to us- whether for research purposes, people hoping to determine their family tree (and I’ve seen this done already), or our edification.

When I listened to Professor Seecharran talk about practically becoming a resident of the UK archives due to the sheer volume of research he engaged in, it made me think about our archives and just how much valuable information we could be losing. I know there have long been talks about digitising records at both places, but the reality is those efforts were needed years ago. Now, attempts to digitise those documents might see pages destroyed and lost.

Still, if we value our records and documents (which we should), we should focus on preserving them.

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

GUYANA, WITH ITS OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, REMAINS A NET ZERO CARBON CONTRIBUTOR!

SINCE oil and gas were discovered in Guyana, a lobby, both in Guyana and abroad, has emerged critical of the exploitation of this resource, claiming it will poison the environment and, more particularly, would be releasing greenhouse gases which would quicken the onslaught of Climate Change.

Climate Change has very deleterious effects on the planet, causing destructive flooding in many parts of the world, desertification in other parts, and destruction of low island states like the Maldives or low-lying coastal regions like Guyana.

Agriculture and planting cycles become disrupted resulting in food shortages and increased prices for agricultural products. Guyana has already experienced some of the destructive effects of Climate Change and International Lawyer, Melinda Janki, part of the anti-oil lobby, has filed legal actions in the courts against the Government of Guyana and the oil companies to try to prevent further oil exploration and exploitation.

As against this lobby are those who posit that Guyana is a poor country mired in poverty without any hope and possibility of accessing enough developmental capital to develop its nonoil resources and help its population to emerge out of poverty. The exploitation of oil and gas resources is the only way Guyana could acquire enough capital to move out of poverty and to invest in present industries to expand them and make them more competitive and birth new ones. In this way, Guyana’s economic prosperity would be secured well into the future.

These two positions are antithetical, but the majority opinion has come down on the side of the necessity of developing the Oil and Gas industry.

The Government of the country, the opposition, the private sector and public opinion in general support the oil industry. They also point out that the oil-producing countries, especially those in the developed world, have no intention of ending or scaling back their oil industries and, whenever it is in their interest, pay scant regard to climate change. Yet these same countries are the ones that lecture countries like Guyana.

In a recent newspaper interview, Dr. Hyginus Leon, President of the Caribbean Development Bank and the Bank’s Director of Projects Dr. Daniel Best stated the dilemma between preserving and protecting the environment and exploiting the oil resources diminishing poverty and raising the standard of living.

Dr. Leon remarked that “Guyana finds itself with a constraint internationally which says we need to reduce fossil fuels because of what it is doing to the planet. . . With over 11 billion barrels of oil discovered so far offshore, Guyana, over the past few years, has faced questions over its aggressive Oil production against the backdrop of being a champion of Environmental preservation. . .” Dr. Leon’s advice is however very clear: “Where Guyana needs to go is very simple, it is to a point where the people of Guyana will have more prosperity than they had yesterday”. Dr. Best reinforces Dr. Leon’s advice: Oil will create wealth in Guyana. Now, how can we turn that into a sustainable livelihood and form an alliance on renewable energy and Climate Change? That is the crux of the matter.”

The Government of Guyana is very environment-conscious and committed to environmental protection. The lead Minister responsible for dealing with the oil and gas industry is Vice-President Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, a respected and honoured environmentalist, earning many accolades, among them being ‘Champion of the Earth’. They have accepted the challenge of successfully coalescing Environmental concerns with Oil and Gas production to make Guyana the only Oil-producing country where pollution of the environment is negated by several effective actions:

First, the oil companies are required by Law and agreements to take measures to protect the environment in their production process as far as is feasible. For example, polluted water must be treated before release into the ocean or indiscriminate flaring must be avoided.

Then there is the gas-to-shore project, which will come into

Celebrating Success

Local author receives 2022 Global Author Club and Business Award

By Dillon Goring

WHEN one has passion to achieve and accomplish a desired goal, one is relentless and persistent, and no matter the cost, one makes sure it is achievable.

This is the position of Guyanese self-published author Geary Reid, who has been awarded the prestigious Global Author Club and Business Award (TGAC & BA) for the year 2022! After being nominated in November, the award was officially presented on December 16 in the United Kingdom.

The Award was given to him, for his production of 92 books, with varying subject areas.

Pepperpot Magazine sat down with Reid to share in this achievement.

“I have never really wanted to become an author. An author isn’t really what I wanted to do, but what I have found is that I go places and I find myself taking notes very often of what is happening. You know you are recording. I find myself working at organisations that have problems with their system to put structures in place. They want someone to help them, and as a result, people keep asking me to share my ideas. I decided to put them in writing,“ Reid told Pepperpot Magazine.

He also noted that he was inspired by God to write on varying subject areas and as such has no challenge coming up with varying ideas on what to write as he pens his books.

Reid spoke about the fact that what most authors struggle with, he has been able to achieve in a relatively short period and still able to do what has to be done for his family, church, and his place of employment.

How to strike the Balance

“ Well, family is important for me. Work is important for me. What I do is that I wake up very early in the morning, start my day early, make sure that I do what I have to do for my family, preparing breakfast for them and then leave home very early and give my workplace the best of me. So, for me, striking the balance is that you have to manage 24 hours in your day,“ Reid shared during his interview.

He shared with the magazine that he manages to do what he has to do for his family, and still in the middle of that, he finds the time to write books on subject areas.

Writing has been his passion since his days at school. He has written several procedures for organisations that helped to enhance and bolster the internal controls of several business organisations and improvement in business operations. During his working years, Reid has worked with junior and senior staff, owners, directors, and many stakeholders. He is never afraid of challenges, as it provides opportunities for creativity. He trained many employees and he also seeks to be trained, so that his knowledge base will become significantly larger, he explained.

a stream in two years. This project will cut down pollution by replacing the use of heavy fossil fuels with gas. The burning of heavy fossil fuel is a major pollutant; gas will produce cheaper electricity and its use would be more environmentally friendly than oil fuel.

The commitment to replacing fossil fuels with green power is a serious one, and work in this direction has already started with the use of Water Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power. Several small generators in the Interior utilise the rivers to generate electricity, but the centrepiece of the Water Power programme is the Amaila Falls scheme. The completion of the Amaila Falls scheme was delayed for several years by negative political action but it is now back again on stream.

Not only the Government but the Private sector as well have been investing in Solar and Wind power. Several homes have been using solar power as well as businesses. Demerara Bank, for example, uses solar power, which is more economical than fossil power. Manufacturing businesses have also been using solar power, an example being Nand Persaud’s rice milling complex in Berbice,

Successful experiments have been conducted in the use of household and industrial waste to generate power and foreign specialist consultants have been engaged in developing this source of green power.

Last, and most importantly, the Guyana Forests counterbalance the pollution from Oil and Gas. In the words of Dr. Leon, President of the Caribbean Development Bank: “The fact is that Guyana is a huge net carbon sink given that its forests store 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon; even with the development of its Oil and Gas industry, the country remains a net zero contributor”.

The world must become aware of this fact since it will mute criticism that Guyana is a polluter of the planet and preclude it from being bracketed with other oil producing developing countries which unfortunately are indeed polluters.

“I have over 25 years of progressive working experience in Retail, Education, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Manufacturing, Insurance, and Motor Industries, he has gained a wealth of experience, successfully managing employees and business processes with companies that employ staff ranging from 20 to 17,000,” Reid shared.

He has experience in operating within fast-paced environments, and was able to provide a strategic document that increased revenue by 20% within his first year of employment, also reduce the number of days to produce a report from 31 days to now only one day within the first few months of his employment. He has many other significant accomplishments.

Global Author Club and Business Award is an organisation that seeks to boost entrepreneurs’ satisfaction in building an impactful online reputation on a global stage. The Global Authors’ Club recognises the uniqueness of an individual on the global stage and brings one’s relentless efforts to Global attention.

Thankfulness continues

THE first day in February started exceptionally well, experiencing our own Leticia Wright receiving her Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Guyana and listening to her share her profound journey and how she was always connected to Guyana.

“There is Guyana in every fabric in all that I do and I am,so in a way ‘I have not been home, but home has not left me,” the Guyanese actress said. She is the epitome of humility, authenticity, wisdom and love emanating from this wonderful soul.

If there is a first prize for the most humble celebrity, it should be given to this amazing young lady.

Her acceptance speech impacted me, and her faith in God has encouraged me to use my faith muscle more.

I got very emotional when VC Professor Paloma Mohamed repeated the words of the hymn for Guyana’s Children and Oselyn Rose sang How Great Thou Art. I think this wonderful start can be attributed to an absolutely wonderful January.

Some of the highlights were my trip to Linden and Berbice.I met Zoning Ngqondo when she participated in the Annual Women in Business Expo. I recognise a determining spirit in this beautiful young lady. She signed up for my Confidence Becomes You Programme and I saw some who experienced growth in a short time.

“This programme has given me a more positive outlook on my life and my ability to accomplish my goals. It has shown me that a positive mindset is the first step in the direction you need to go. Completing this journey has allowed me to look at life from a different perspective, seeing that you will have obstacles, but it’s only the positivity that you put forward will allow you to overcome them,” she said.

After the programme, she had the confidence to host a programmeshe wanted to do for a long time. I was not available for the first event but intentionally set aside the time to attend the second edition and it was fantastic. This has given many start-up businesses the opportunity to showcase and build their small businesses. I was like a proud mom watching her manoeuvre through the exhibition.

Stacey De Santos Rahaman was there and she extended congratulations to me and I told her it was not an event but came to support Zi. She replied, saying she knows that, but Zi told her this event would not have been possible without her participating in the Women in Business Expo and The confidence Becomes You programme. Through the Women in Business Expo and Confidence Becomes You programme, I have witnessed the transformation in many lives. We will not be hosting the Women in Business Expo this year but will be hosting a twoweeks pop-up shop and a Tea Party at Tower Suites.

I encourage anyone to join our Gift of Confidence mission and sponsor the programme for someone. I will match you with every sponsorship. Imagine giving someone a gift that will last a lifetime?PRICELESS!

The other priceless moment and one of the highlights of my trip to Linden is my interaction with the future leaders from Mc Kenzie High School.

We had an amazing session on confidence, self-worth and vision. I received wonderful feedback and questions from both males and females. We must continue investing in young people and providing

them with mentorship and tools to navigate this challenging world.

Thank you to VanessaNicofaKissoon for your contribution

The last Sunday in January will always be special to me because of this first empowering vision board party at Leisure Inn in Berbice.

The Vision Board Party at Leisure in was exceptional. It was the first time for 95 percent of the people who attended and they were in awe.

Thank you to Keisha Phillips for initiating this meaningful event.

A big thank you to all participants and everyone who encouraged their friends to attend, especially Maxciene Williams and Melba La Gadoue

Appreciation goes out to Chef Paul Bacchus, Sabrina Thom, Tiffany Assregado,

Special thanks to:

Leisure Inn, Tower Suites, Luxury Hotel &Apts, HD Property Management, Cafe Nouveau, Club Privilege, Sip & Play Poolside, Hotel Supplies Ltd and Little Rock TV.

I have mentioned a lot about vision in most of my columns for this year and we all need vision to guide us on this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

Understanding..

FROM PAGE XXVI

As Guyana continues to rapidly develop, the demands on the Environmental Protection Agency are becoming greater. From the oil and gas sector to a massive boom in construction and infrastructure development; the Agency has recognized the critical need to strengthen its human

capital to better achieve its mandate of effective management of the environment.

Guyana is a member of IAEA

Guyana became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2015 and has been benefitting from several regional initiatives. As part of

the project’s 2019 implementation, the EPA coordinated a four-day workshop on the Search and Recovery of Radioactive Orphan Sources. Participants were drawn from; the Environmental Protection Agency, Civil Defense Commission, Guyana Police Force, Guyana Revenue Authority, Guyana Geology and Mines Com -

mission, University of Guyana, the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Puran Brothers Waste Disposal Service, CEVONS Waste Management and Sand Dip Waste Disposal Services. The workshop was facilitated by four (4) international experts from IAEA. This proved a pathway for several other training and capacity building for officers both at the EPA and other

state agencies such as the Ministry of Health and the Civil Defense Commission.

The role of the EPA in radiation management

The EPA under the Environmental Protection Act and Regulations currently regulates the import, transport, storage, and use of sealed radiation sources. To date, the Agency has authorised the use of sealed sources in gold mining, health, oil, and gas exploration as well as bev-

erage production. In 2017, the IAEA assisted Guyana in commencing work on developing a National Source Inventory. The Agency is moving towards adherence to the Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources to improve access and effective management of Radioactive Sources.

https://www.iaea. org/newscenter/news/ what-is-radiation

Are you missing teeth?

ALTHOUGH not as severe as the potential facial changes caused by the loss of all teeth, losing a few teeth also produces a sunken facial look and a smile with a few missing teeth is then considered unacceptable by most people. In fact, in most societies, people who present an appearance with missing teeth are considered uneducated and poor. A high percentage of people lose their natural teeth

during their lifetime because of accidents, tooth decay, gum, and bone disease, or other reasons. Although there are numerous solutions for replacing several teeth, dental implants are an excellent alternative although they are relatively expensive. With missing teeth, even if the person is not aware of it, facial form collapses.

When a few teeth are removed, there is bone shrinkage

in which the supporting bone diminishes, leaving a defect in contour in that area. This results in reduced eating efficiency and is directly related to the number of teeth lost. After the removal of many teeth, chewing efficiency is reduced significantly, but the removal of one or a few teeth does not seem to cause a major loss of chewing effectiveness. The smile’s appearance

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

The

(1564-1616)

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear Student,

Welcome dear friend. Be aware that the body is a communicating tool; do not forget this. Look, your friend’s actions communicate his stand on a matter, and you understand him. Not so? Like-

wise, your body constantly “talks” to others whether you want it to or not. Look around your classroom right now; notice how much each member is telling you about himself without uttering a word. The entire classroom constantly communicates its determination to be winners. Be wise.

February 19, 2023

Love you.

IMPROVING READING

Finding out what a passage is saying

The Passage:

There’s not many things to do, Jessie, but you had better take this map so that you don’t get lost, and you can mark on it where you have to go. When you come out of the house, turn left and go down to the junction. Turn right, go past the swimming-pool and you’ll come to Main Street. There you turn left and go along the street, over the bridge. On the other

side of the bridge there’s a crossroads; if you go straight across it you’ll find the shopping centre on your left. Go in there and buy the things on my list. When you come out again, look for Turton Road, and go along it to the end. You’ll see a football ground ahead of you. Go in there and buy two tickets for the match this afternoon. From the football ground, turn left towards the river, and go on until you come to Riverside Road. There you turn left and then immediately right again and then a little further along there’s a cinema on a corner to your left. Please go in there

and get their programme of forthcoming films. Then you can come home along School Road – go all the way along it until you get to Main Street again, which you cross, and you’ll find a little path behind the swimming pool; it’s a short cut home.

Something to Do

1. What do you think is the language function of the passage? Substantiate your response based upon the passage structure.

2. Are there other situations you know that benefit from such language structure? List it or them.

3. Can you tell the relative age of the sender to the person being sent? Give support for your answer.

4. Stake out a large area where you live whether of city, town, or village and create a map for it or find some other good place map. Then, write out a route-description for your younger cousin and friends to do an interesting tour of it. Add comments on the scenery, or reasons for them visiting the named places as they go.

5. Get hold of your family tree and briefly write to a close friend presenting information showing why Guyana is not your place of family origin.

What are the things you should, of necessity, include here?

IMPROVING WRITING Good style

Style is the way in which you write or carry out any piece of writing. The way you do it must be suited to your purpose in doing it and to the audience for whom it is intended. This is called good style.

Style reflects your ability to achieve given ends by choosing appropriate means thereby. Let your writing be understood by the intended reader. Let how you clarify information, make good choice of words, and order and arrange your own words fit snugly together. This is using a style of your own.

There are pointers to beware that can mar writing such as: long windedness; pompousness; affectation; slang, jargon, and cliché; and passive and impersonal constructions.

Just try to be plain; direct; use no more words than are necessary; search your vocabulary for the right words; and use active verbs whenever you have a choice.

Remember practice makes perfection.

Something to Do

A. Fill the blank in each of the following with a word opposite in meaning to the bracketed word.

1. He is a (profound) not a ….. thinker.

2. Early on it seemed that he might be good at Geography, for he tackled (simple) co-ordinates successfully, but his limitations were revealed when he was faced with ….. map searches.

3. The old manager’s methods were (rigid), and all the employees hoped for a more ….. approach when his younger successor arrived.

4. The examiners were surprised by her bad performance in the (compulsory) question in view of her good showing in the ….. section of the paper.

5. The dealer was delighted to be offered a (genuine) antique after seeing so many ….. in the course of a busy day.

B. Express in one word the meaning of each of the following.

1. causing, sufficient to cause, or designed to cause death

2. respect highly, confer dignity upon

3, preliminary discourse, sometimes in verse, introducing a play

4. put right, correct, amend, reform

C. Use each of the following expressions in a sentence in such a way as to make its meaning clear.

1. to harp upon

2. to mar the painting

3. a square peg in a round hole

4. to look askance at

5. aide-de-camp

D. The words paired up in this list are often confused. Use your dictionary and then write a sentence for each word, bringing out the different meanings.

1. practical/ practicable;

5. device/ devise

2. fitness/ finesse; 6. precede/ proceed

3. leased/ least; 7. cultured/ cultivated

4. mood/ mode;

8. accept/ except

E. Underline the simple or compound subject for each of the following sentences.

1. A car and a pick-up were leased from our district office.

2. Increases in our prices must be approved by our marketing manager.

lunatic, the lover, and the poet, Are of imagination all compact. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

A Midsummer’s Night Dream

Are you missing ...

is a negative characteristic caused by removing a few teeth. However, suppose, for whatever reason, you have had numerous teeth removed or otherwise lost. In that case, you have other alternatives, including Traditional Fixed Partial Denture (Bridge), which essentially attaches to the contiguous teeth remaining in the mouth. You cannot remove this type of prosthesis. Then there is the traditional removable partial denture which rests on, but does not attach to, the remaining teeth in the mouth. You can remove this prosthesis at will for cleaning. It is simply called a removable denture and is the cheapest and, therefore, most common means of replacing lost teeth. A more advanced variation to this type of prosthesis involves mini implants, the ultimate solution for loose dentures. Then there is a more sophisticated and expensive partial denture. These involve implants, a removable partial denture that rests on and is retained by implants and the remaining natural teeth. You can remove this prosthesis at will for cleaning. These dentures stay in the mouth more firmly, appear more natural (there are no wire clasps), and are usually removed less often than regular removable dentures. Finally, fixed partial dentures are attached to implants alone or to the remaining teeth. You cannot remove this prosthesis. They are referred to as bridges.

If you elect to do nothing to correct the problem of losing one or more teeth, your remaining natural teeth will continue to move, and your bite will usually collapse and degenerate further. This is not a good alternative in most cases for more than a short time.

Two situations exist after the removal of one tooth. An unsightly appearance is created when a front tooth is removed. When a back tooth is removed, the cosmetic appearance is not observed, and patients may not be motivated to examine the affected area until certain changes have occurred. First, the movement of surrounding teeth and collapse of the bite occur rapidly. Often within weeks, the surrounding and opposing teeth start to collapse toward the space that was created by the tooth removal, making an acceptable replacement difficult. The contacting areas of teeth near the space may open, and

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food may become impacted between the teeth. Consequently, if you have one or more missing teeth, you have the following alternatives:

1. Traditional Fixed Bridge. A traditional fixed bridge attaches to the teeth adjacent to the space or you can place it on mini-implants. You cannot remove this prosthesis.

2. Removable Partial Denture. A removable partial denture fills the missing teeth space and allows an improved appearance and nearly normal function. There are also total dentures (whereby the person has no natural teeth on the jaw). This can be stabilized with mini-implants, with the dentures being removable or not.