Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 21-05-2023

“A visit to Hubu Village”

(Delano Williams photo)

Guyana Ex-police Association of Canada celebrates 26th anniversary

…Gala dinner and dance highlight activities

THE Guyana Ex-police Association of Canada (GEPAC) marked its 26th anniversary with a gala dinner and dance last Saturday at the Peter and Paul Banquet Hall, Scarborough, the first since 2019, following the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Blessed by the presence of Chief Justice of Ontario, Jamaican-born Michael Tulloch, Guyana’s Consul General (ag) to Toronto, Grace Joseph, Toronto Mayoral hopeful Mitzie Hunter and a contingent of over 40 from the Guyana Ex-Police Association of America, among others, the night turned out to be a grand occasion.

Boasting on the success of the association, an ebullient GEPAC President, Floyd Blyden,disclosed that, “over the years, our involvement in the community saw us promote job fairs

in the east and west end of Toronto, encouraging young people to pursue careers in law enforcement. This is done in partnership with police services in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Toronto Fire Services, Ontario Ministry of Community Safety, Canadian Defence Force, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, among others.

Explaining that the bursary, which was stopped but will be resuscitated, Blyden said that the association offers five annual bursaries which are opened to students who are children of active police officers in the Guyana Police Force. “To be eligible, a student must obtain 80 per cent or more marks at the National Grade Six Secondary School Assessment Examination. These bursaries go towards the cost of textbooks,” he said.

GEPAC also supports other Guyanese organisations in Canada and internationally in their fund-raising efforts, and according to Blyden, “We donate to Beyond 3:30, a programme that helps students with eating healthy, homework support and sports, also Camp Jumoke, a Canadian-based organisation that ensures children living with sickle cell disease enjoy

Blyden, who is serving as the 17th president of GEPAC, thanked his predecessors “who laid the

life as any other child. I am proud to wholeheartedly salute the founding and current members for their dedication to this organisation.”

foundation and were committed to working tirelessly to build this organisation to its present stage.”

According to Blyden, “Our effort goes towards those who require education and medical assistance. We also encourage young people in the ethnic community to pursue a career in law enforcement and other public service organisations.”

Consul General (ag) Joseph reiterated that the Consulate is always pleased to support all diaspora groups. She congratulated and commended the incredible work of the esteemed diaspora organisation over the last 26 years.

“It is indeed incredible to see and hear about the work of this group both here and back at home in our pristine paradise we call Guyana.”

Joseph reminded the audience that Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn visited Toronto in March. In addition to the conference he came for, at the Consulate meet and greet, he had a

very fruitful discussion with Toronto’s Chief of Police regarding capacity building between the Toronto Police Service and the Guyana Police Force.

“This meeting fostered discussions surrounding the exploration of potential opportunities for collaboration with the Toronto Police Service, inclusive of cooperation to enhance Guyana’s Police Academy. During the meeting with Police Chief Myron Demkiw, the importance of diversity, professionalism, and exchange visits were also discussed.

“I know the members of the esteemed diaspora group will be thrilled with the progress of Guyana’s Police Force’s level of service. Notably, recently, there has been a push for officers to get further academic qualifications which will inturn enhance their ability to be impeccable and outstanding Police Officers.

Joseph urged the organisation to keep up the good work, “as it aids in enabling current police officers in being able to improve the quality of service and enhances the lives of former officers and their families.

“The Mission of the Guyana Police Force and its Aux-

Blyden-GEPAC President Floyd Blyden (third from right), MPP Mitzie Hunter (fifth from right) and Consul General (ag) Grace Joseph with Officers from Toronto and York Police Services.

Hunter (left) with First Vice-president of the Guyana Ex-Police Association of America, Gem Sampson

Deputy Superintendent Myrna Richards, (centre), attached to the Commissioner’s Officer of the Guyana Police Force, was also among the audience at the dinner and dance.

The Avyanna Foundation

–Helping to address period poverty in Guyana

ARIEANNA Madray has been no stranger to volunteerism in her effort to lend a helping hand wherever she could, so when she realised what a sore issue period poverty is in Guyana, especially in rural areas, she felt a natural need to do something about it.

fundraisers to come up with the money to buy what the girls need.

When she started, though, Arieanna would use her funds to carry out the foundation’s work, perhaps due to her love and passion for helping those in need.

As a final year student

She couldn’t just sit around and do nothing, she’d reflect in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, and things just fell into place for her so that at just 19 years old, she was able to start The Avyanna Foundation which has a focus on helping girls and educating them on menstrual hygiene.

Already one year in the works, Arieanna is working towards getting the foundation registered and has already managed to rake in about 30 members, all volunteers who’d sometimes hold

at the University of Guyana (UG) who’d go on to secure her degree in Entrepreneurship, Arieanna was doing a project on menstrual hygiene which involved coming up with a business to help a social problem. She chose period poverty.

“After doing the research, I found out that Guyana has a very real period poverty issue and there are a lot of girls in the rural locations who are suffering; they have not been able to get sanitary pads and even education on menstrual hygiene,” Arieanna recalled.

So, in the beginning, the foundation was initially to help girls in rural areas and given her entrepreneurial background, she thought she’d also be able to teach them some business skills. Now, the foundation also reaches out to orphanages and girls in other settings who need help.

“When we go to these places, we would do little workshops with the girls because I value the importance of education and I feel like we need to help empower these young girls. So the foundation is not only to provide sanitary pads, but to help these young girls become independent and to empower them through education and information,” she shared.

As a future plan, she

wants to begin conducting entrepreneurial classes with women who were abused or who may have suffered other ills;and if they have a business idea, help them to get it going.

She also wants the foundation to be able to collaborate with different organisations so that it can be part of more and grander initiatives to help. Because funds are limited at the moment, Arieanna and her team would try to establish a relationship with people in various locations across the country so that they can send the items and have the people there help to distribute them.

Arieannawants to move the organisation forward with

a strong team. “I want a team that is as devoted and passionate about this social issue. I want to be able to say we made an impact and we are helping.”

Even before she started the foundation, she would help people on her own and conducting the menstrual hygiene survey at Rockstone and reviewing the responses motivated her to do more in volunteerism. “The survey allowed persons to tell me their experience. Some girls said they use socks; that they didn’t know why this happened to their bodies.

Hearing things like these broke my heart; I couldn’t sit around and not do anything about it and doing the research, I saw how it affected the young girls,” Arieanna reflected.

Since starting up the foundation one year ago, The Avyanna Foundation has been able to make several donations

“I feel like if I should help somebody, even as little as I can, I should do it. I want to help girls in rural areas. I just want to be able to help as much as I can in the future,” she said.

Arieanna Madray Spending

with the girls at an orphanage

The goal is not just to make donations, but to provide education to the girls.

“I feel like if I should help somebody, even as little as I can, I should do it.” - Arieanna Madray

Discipline, passion and dedication

- Third-degree black belt,Aliya Wong, committed to youth development through mentorship and sports

STARTING to train in karate at the age of five, it is no wonder that 21-year-old Aliya Elizabeth Wong, who now holds a ‘third-degree black belt’ title, cannot see her life anymore without karate in it. In fact, she says it’s become “second nature to me; I can’t see my life without it and like we love to say, it is a way of life.”

Born in Best Village, Vreed-en-Hoop, on the West Coast Demerara, Aliya said it’s quite a story as to how she got into karate in the first place.

Prior to martial arts, she did ballet and modern dance, but due to the migration of her then-instructor, the little studio had to, unfortunately, be closed down.

Her father, Jeffrey Wong, a man of the sport, was at the same time venturing into starting his own dojo to spread the arts in Guyana. “He understood the importance of having his baby girl learn the art of defending herself. I would also like to think it was his way of putting all my energy to good use,” Aliya reflected in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

So it was not hard for her to say “yes” when he asked her if she was interested in getting into karate. Today, she enjoys karate, both competing and being an instructor.

Continuing her training at the International Karate Organisation in Woolford Avenue (Muslim Youth Organisation building), Aliya teaches Shotokan karate to children across Guyana, whether it’s at their different locations in Georgetown or in Linden.

Her first competition was The Caribbean Championships,

held in St. Lucia back in 2008, where she achieved her first gold medal. “Ever since, I have been successful at all tournaments and earned the title of 4-time world champion, Pan American, South American, Caribbean and national champion. My success has earned me an induction into the Shotokan Hall of Fame,” Aliya shared.

SUCCESS IN OTHER AREAS

She is also a bodybuilding athlete who competes in the bikini category. “I had entered this sport during the pandemic and dedicated myself towards competing at my first competition in 2021. I saw it as a combination of the two things I’m passionate about: modelling and fitness.”

Aliya was again successful at this and earned herself the title of Miss Bikini Novice 2021 with a preparation time of six weeks. “I then stayed disciplined to compete at my second competition, which was the intermediate level. There too, I was successful and became Miss Bikini Intermediate.”

In fact, success is quite familiar territory for Aliya, who, outside of the sport arena, also won the 2016 Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant- another testament to her love of modelling.

THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Aliya’s ultimate goal is to work with the Government of Guyana, especially the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, in collaboration with like-minded individuals to develop projects that focus on youth development through mentorship and sports.

“It is my goal to develop The Youth Development Foundation, which was launched as my Beauty with a Purpose project during my participation in the Miss World Guyana Pageant in 2019. As a successful athlete, I believe that I am the testimony of what sports and mentorship can do for an individual,” Aliya said.

Her dream has been to give back to her country by helping youths in this way, creating a safe haven for them and granting them access to the necessary resources needed for their success. Offering advice to them, she said: “When you look in the mirror, I want you to see past your trials and tribulations and see greatness, potential and talent that must be acted upon. Remember that you are more than enough and age is not a limitation; it is you who is your only limitation.”

Aliya Elizabeth Wong now holds a ‘third-degree black belt’ title

Aliya earned herself the title of Miss Bikini Novice 2021 with a preparation time of just six weeks

Nursing is a Gifted Skill

ON May 12, the world celebrated International Nurses Day under the theme,‘Our Nurses. Our Future’.

Today, we focused on Nurse Cleopatra Barkoye, a nurse for 33 years, and her career in the nursing profession.

“I started caring for the elderly in the church, changing their diapers and much more,” Barkoye explained of her introduction to nursing responsibilities. “Seeing the smiles on their faces brought me great joy. If I could not be a nurse, I would be a teacher.”

Barkoye described her passion for nursing as being accentuated by love. “I love to see the smiles on the faces of patients, relatives of those patients. I really love what I do, and if I had it to do over again, I would do it again,” she said proudly.

Barkoye reflected on the first day she was on the job. As she described it, she could not eat after seeing patients all day. Even though she was

tired, she ate after she was finished working.

Nurse Barkoye also shared some of her bitter-sweet moments during her career as a nurse with the Pepperpot Magazine.

“I remember going to Mabaruma in Region One and the vessel that we were travelling in broke down, and we never got to our destination at the time we were expected to reach there. We reached there some days after,” she recalled.“But the joyous moment came when the residents travelled out on the water to meet us and I was happy that we were able to deal with them and we attend to them. I remember that I had to perform emergency eye surgery, but I was happy to do it.”

Nurse Barkoye also shared sentiments about the things she would miss when she is not around and had to work.

“I would miss my church family, particularly if I have

to work on weekends or if there is a concert at the church or so, since at that time, I worked from Monday to Friday at the medical clinic.But whenever I would go on medical outreach to any region of the country, I would receive great support from my family,” Nurse Barkoye told Pepperpot.

Barkoye could not help but reiterate the importance of family. According to her, if you are going to remain in this profession, you need lots of family support if you are a family person.

She recalled an experience with her daughter receiving her nursery education in Mabaruma while her husband took care of her son. She also told us that she helped her children in dealing with their assignments, homework, etc.

Since English was her strong area her husband dealt with the Mathematical side of things.

Nurse Barkoye explained that in the profession of nurs-

Guyana Ex-police Association ...

FROM PAGE II

iliaries is to serve all citizens and communities of Guyana in a professional, proactive and accountable manner, so thank you for your contributions to making the Guyana Police Force fulfil its mandate.”

Jamaican-born Hunter, who is currently a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Scarborough-Guildwood, used the occasion to canvass for the upcoming Toronto Mayor

elections, set for June 26, while thanking the Guyanese community for their continual contributions in Ontario and Canada.

Congratulatory messages were received from, among others, Ontario Premier Doug Ford who said in part that “the work you do for your communities, both in Canada and Guyana, embodies the spirit of service, cooperation and civic duty that is at the heart of law enforcement professionals’ work.”

Other congratulatory messages in the 26-page brochure were received from Hunter, the Consulate General of Guyana, President of the Guyana Ex-Police Association of America, Irwin Daniels, Alliance of Guyanese Canadian Organizations and the Guyana Ex-Soldiers Association of Canada.

GEPAC was founded in 1997 by a group of 16 former members from the Guyana Police Force, domiciled in Canada.

Nurse Cleopatra Barkoye, a nurse for 33 years

ing, communication with family is key.

“In this profession, you learn as you grow. When I realised that I did not have the right medical care, I looked at where I came from.Those were frustrating moments for me as a nurse working on the medical ward,” she shared.

Nursing certainly is Barkoye’s passion and to young nurses, she sharedsimple but sage advice for young nurses.“If you do not have a kind heart, come out,” she said, as the profession is one that calls for patience and care.

Hubu Village

A little oasis for people from all walks of life

LAST week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the small community of Hubu, East Bank Essequibo to highlight the way of life of the locals.

There are 11 houses on the dam where the channel is to the Essequibo River and there is the Hubu Koker, a central point where farmers bring out their produce to be sold to wholesale buyers from the riverine communities such as Bonasika Creek, Itaballi, Lanaballi, Saxacalli,

Aliki, Morashee, Hogg Island, Wakenaam and others.

Hubu Village is located between St. Lawrence and Unity and it is small but thickly populated.

The mud dam is a track basically that needs a bit of skillful manoeuvringbetween the Hubu Koker where there is the Hubu Ramp and there are 11 houses with 45 residents, who live in modest houses, with one being just on top of the water and serves as a boat

house for the riverine folk.

Mostly farmers from the riverine communities journey to the various markets at Parika, in the city, and East Coast to sell their produce, an in-transit stop is usually made at the Hubu koker on the East Bank Essequibo, where the produce is transferred from the many boats into trucks and canters.

For decades, the rotting makeshift ramp built by a farmer made the transfer of goods most difficult.However, on October 15, 2018, the provision of a bigger and sturdier ramp which the Regional Administration constructed at the cost of approximately $9.5M, made the transit hassle-free and without delays.The newly constructed ramp is made of strictly greenheart wood and sits on 65feet wooden piles.

The ramp allows heavy-duty trucks and canters to be closer to the boats

and allow for easier produce transfer.

This little village isn’t regularised yet and they don’t have electricity except for two houses, no potable water, landline phones or internet service.

The residents utilise the

other nearby villages and other facilities but Parika is the central hub where all facilities can be accessed.

The people are very friendly and welcoming and doesn’t hesitate to invite you

St. Lawrence Health Outpost, which is situated just across from the Hubu Koker and next door, there is a gas

in their homes and living spaces.

The people of Hubu Village are normal, everyday

station and a shop.

Schools are located in

folk, trying to earn an honest living doing many things and jobs to provide for their families.

Most of the young men in the village provide taxi service for the riverine people, sometimes during medical emergencies at night or early in the morning.

It is also steady work for the young men, who are still paying for their motorcars. They operate on a ‘work and pay’ basis to the car dealership, the place of purchase.

The Hubu Channel

Hubu Access Road (Delano Williams photos)

Locals making their way in the dam

The reserve dam where 11 houses are located

The Hubu channel to the Essequibo River

Entrance to the dam

The resourceful people of Hubu

By Michel Outridge

Often, we have to do things we don’t usually do just for the betterment of our families and that can be said for Nadira Persaud, of Hubu, East Bank Essequibo, who left her home and had to relocate since her children were attending secondary school on the West Coast Demerara.

She is a domestic workeraround the community and a security guard who has been living on the dam at Hubu for the past nine years.

The 44-year-old related that as a mother of four she had to think about her children’s future, and her way of equipping them is via education as an avenue out of poverty.

Persaud told the Pepperpot Magazine that even though they don’t have the basic amenities as other villages, she is pleased that she

has a roof over her head.

One of her daughters is a registered nurse attached to the Leonora Hospital, and it was hard for her to study without electricity, but she completed her course with a lamp.

The absence of potable water, electricity, landline phones and the internet is bothersome, but they have since learned to makedo with what they have.

Persaud related that her job is nearby, within walking distance and her life is there and financially, she is not capable.

Persaud added that a meeting with the authorities is necessary following the news that the residents would need to relocate from the government reserve. She added that they are very worried because they have nowhere to relocate.

Balram Nellie, the taxi

driver

The prospect of relocating seems dim for Balram Nellie, whose job is based at the Hubu Koker. He provides a reliable taxi service for riverine people daily and even during the wee hours of the morning and night in cases of emergencies.

The 24-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is still paying for his motorcar and he is also in debt at Courts Guyana, so his hands are somewhat tied.

He has been living on the dam at Hubu since he was a young boy and his life is based there because his job is there and if he has to relocate, he will have to hustle just like any other taxi driver on the road.

Nellie added that he is in the process of completing his own house, right on the dam, Hubu and he is in a common law relationship and he was forced to move in despite his

house being unfinished. He reasoned that the dam should be regularised so the families living there couldaccess the basic amenities to raise their standard of life.

Despite the challenges, Nellie stated that he likes where he lives because it is

familiar and he grew up there, so relocating is not in the picture for now.

“I need time to work and pay off my loans and also save up for a house lot and whatever else is required to move, so right now I don’t have those things,” he said.

Shakrukh Domingo

At 23 years old and already the father of two, Shakrukh Domingo had to get his act together fast because he has children to provide for so he gained employment with a logging company.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is originally from Bonasika Creek, Essequibo River and 10 years ago, he left his home village in search of a better life. Domingo added that he had to seek a job, and he built a small house on the dam at Hubu after he got married and had children because he had nowhere else to go.

“In here the people live good, neighbourly and they watch out for you, it is a safe place to raise a family,” he said.

Balram Nellie

Nadira Persaud (Delano Williams photos)

Shakrukh Domingo

Eking out an honest living at Hubu

By Michel Outridge

The prospect of leaving his homevillage was daunting, but RaghobeerRamrattan had to do it anyway since he wanted his children to benefit from secondary education, he left Bonasika Creek, Essequibo River and relocated to Hubu, East Bank Essequibo.

There, he had little to nothing and basically had to start life from fresh. A makeshift boat house was up for sale, and he bought it.

Over time, he converted it into a more comfortable liv-

ing quarters and it remained a boat house for the riverine people, who would leave their boats outfitted with engines moored for as long as needed but with a fee attached.

The 67-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that 14 years ago he left his home village and was the first resident of Hubu, that section by the channel where the koker is.

His house sits over the water and conveniently so to keep watch over the boats moored there.

Ramrattan reported that he has been with his wife for

the past 23 years and she supports his daily activities since he is often not in good health.

The father of three and two adoptive children stated that he is aware he is residing on a dam that is considered a reserve,but a relocation now will severely cripple his livelihood because he cannot do any strenuous work.

He is of the hope that the residents will be able to have some time to save up and to pay off their debts.

Meanwhile, his wife, Nanda Persaud, reported that she is a stay-at-home mother who sells ice and ice cream

Nanda Persaud

for a living from her home.

The mother of three added that her sons also reside on the dam and they are taxi drivers. They work at the Hubu Koker to transport riverine people.

The 42-year-old stated that she did all kinds of work such as Backdam farming, working as a boat captain and toiling alongside her male counterparts for many years to ensure her children had a better life.

Persaud pointed out that with the rising cost of living, prices for food items have sky-rocketed, requiring every dollar to make ends meet.

“We are in debt, we bought a boat engine so we are still paying for that as is, and it will take sometime for that loan to be paid off, so a bit of time, like a few years, will be more realistic for us to move from the dam,” she said.

The housewife told the Pepperpot Magazine they

earn from selling ice, and it is just $500 per boat moored at their boathouse and it isn’t no ‘big money’ garner but they are optimistic things will work out itself.

“We are worried because this is our life, here, now, and we have nowhere else to go, so we are asking the authorities to assist us. Let’s work together for a plausible solution since it is a group of poor people living on the dam,” she said.

Persaud reported that she and her husband live alone and with the little money they get from the boat house used to buy groceries and whatever is needed in the home.

At times the children would assist, but they, too, have expenses, children and their own lives to fend for, so depending on them is out of the question.

She related that in the 11 houses, there are a lot of children, small children too and some of the people there are everyday folk, who find work right around Hubu to feed their families.

Raghobeer Ramrattan (Delano Williams photos)

The women of Hubu

By Michel Outridge

MAJDALINE John

is originally from the Pomeroon River, Region One (Barima-Waini) but relocated to Hubu Village,

- Relentless in their pursuit to keep a happy home

light.

Juliet Domingo

Juliet Domingo is the mother of two and a housewife and she would usually be at home alone because

ever work I get, even visiting the homes of my customers to do their hair and nails and when that is not happening, I would take the care and do some taxi work,” she said. The 31-year-old stated that she would do all the emergencies, even late at night, to take expectant

mothers to the hospital to deliver their babies and people with other medical crises.

Persaud told the Pepperpot Magazine that Hubu Village is a safe place to live and it is basically crime-free, and the neighbours are like-minded people who work honestly to earn.

Persaud added that for her work is within the Hubu Koker and surrounding villages.

She is well-known and is originally from St. Lawrence and following marriage, she wanted to be on her own and not live with family.

East Bank Essequibo to find ‘greener pastures’.

The mother of seven told the Pepperpot Magazine that they used to live at Zeelugt for sometime but were forced to leave because the burden of rent was weighing heavily on them.

They ended up at Hubu, constructed a small makeshift wooden cottage, and settled there three years ago.

The 26-year-old stated that her husband works in the neighbourhood as a labourer, carpenter/mason and fisherman and does whichever job he gets.

John explained that five of their seven children are going to school at St. Lawrence, the nearby village, and she is a stay-at-home mother.

“Living here is not of the best because we lack the basic facilities, but at least my husband doesn’t have to leave the village for work. It is convenient,” she said.

John said they would store rain water to drink and use the river water for chores and have a small solar for

her husband is away in the back dam working, but she isn’t afraid since the people look out for her and there is no crime there.

It has been three months now since she moved from Pomeroon River to Hubu Village, East Bank Esse -

that she says is sufficient for them.

Domingo reported that her husband has lived on the dam for 10 years.

“Life is fair here and we are comfortable and if this place gets regularised, we will enjoy a better life,” she said.

Amanda Persaud, the taxi driver/beautician

Amanda Persaud, better known as Kathy, is a Hubu Village, East Bank Essequibo resident and the dam’s second-longest villager.

She, her husband, and son occupy the first lot on the dam just near the main access road and she has been living there for the past 13 years.

Persaud reported that

quibo, and she has a small makeshift wooden cottage

her husband is a taxi driver/ construction worker.

“My son is attending Blake Primary School and he is being prepped for Common Entrance next year so relocating and moving him from school is simply not good,” she said.

“I would try and do what-

Majdaline John (Delano Williams photos)

Juliet Domingo

Amanda Persaud

St. Lawrence Health Outpost providing primary healthcare for the community at its best

By Michel Outridge

THE St. Lawrence Health Outpost is small in size, but the work done is much larger and it is managed by Community Health Worker Sara Seegulan, who takes pride in serving her community.

St. Lawrence Health Outpost provides primary health care and conducts school programmes to enlighten

children about their general health.

Some of the services offered include family planning, chronic diseases clinic, vaccinations, dentistry, dressings, sutures, ante-natal and children’s clinic.

Seegulan has been at the job for the past five years, and she has been enjoying it because she likes what she does.

From a young age, it was within her being to pursue a career as a medical professional and she believes in giving back to the community.

The 27-year-old told the Pepperpot

Magazine that she came from a single-parent family home of four siblings.

She reported that most of the cases they see include seasonal illnesses, and chronic disease is the largest clinic.

On every fourth Friday of the month a doctor and the Dentist would visit.

Seegulan, a clinic attendant, and two part-time workers manage the health outpost.

Taramattie Tulsiedass, the Clinic Attendant

Meanwhile, Clinic Attendant, Tarmattie Tulsiedass is from Present Hope Village, East Bank Essequibo and she is the mother of four, including two adopted children.

The 32-year-old stated that she has been on the job for the past three years, and it has been fulfilling so far.

“I like serving the community, I assist in whatever way is needed to lighten the work and I am happy to be working,” she said.

St. Lawrence Health Outpost was constructed in 1996, but over the years, renovations were done but the building has a waiting area with a shed, washroom facilities outside the actual edifice, a doctor’s room, a health corner, the triage area and the pharmacy.

It is a clean and well-kept facility; the employees are polite and don’t waste your time with a long waiting period.

Satyadevi Soohram

Navendra Sookram

Community Health Worker, Sara Seegulan (Delano Williams photos)

Have a super day!

Impressive UG Business Expo

I must express my appreciation to the people who called and sent messages expressing their gratitude for the fearfully and wonderfully made article last week. Your feedback certainly increased the flow of my adrenaline and endorphins.

I recently experienced such a heavy creative flow while attending the UG Business Expo.

I attended the second Annual Diaspora Conference and the students invited us to visit the exhibition. Instead of browsing for a few minutes, it turned into an hour and half.

I was blown away by this exhibition and interacting with the brilliant students from the respective teams. The innovative and creative business ideas paired with great enthusiasm were evident at this Business Expo by the firstyear students from the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation.

Please allow me to share them with you.

1. A-Listers QUESTGY. Personal assistant app and website to offer personal assistant services

2. Team Blend and Beyond. Assorted alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails

3. Business Prodigies Naturally Me Curls Love deep conditioner (100% organic hair product)

4. Chic20 Chic Twenty. Designing and customisation of clothing

5. Demiurge Investment Inc. A freshwater fish farm

6. Dream Builders The Taste of Nature. Healthy teas, shakes, and snack bar

7. Dynamic Developers Ultra Clean Express Laundromat business

8. Effortless Glow Natural Skincare Products. High-quality soap and body scrub products

9. Elite Events Décor & Planning. Event planning and management services

10. Innovative Minds Compost Creations Vermicomposting (organic fertiliser)

11. MagnifiScent Quality long-lasting aromatic candles

12. Mission Pawsible Doggy daycare

13. Pacesetters Rainwater Harvesting. Rainwater harvesting system

14. Passion Entrepreneurs Natural blend organic hair growth oil

15. Team Eldorado Guyana Nature Paradise Tours Vacation packages to the hinterland

16. Team Innovation and Creativity QT Arts Co. High-quality resin crafts

17. Team Inspiration Notorious Donut Delight Gluten-free donuts and other products

18. The Achievers GrocerEase Online platform for

SEE PAGE XIII

Have a super ...

FROM PAGE XII

grocery ordering and delivery

19. The Hawkers Winery. Local wines

20. Visionary Guyana Lit. Scented candles

21. Young Professionals Smooth Touch Organic body and lip sugar scrub

Dr. Leyland Lucas. Dean, School of Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation and his team should be congratulated. “Students, when challenged, rise to the occasion and demonstrate an incredible ability to be innovative. These are primarily in the first year of their studies at the School of Entrepreneurship & Business Innovation (SEBI) within the University of Guyana (UG), along with their colleagues from other faculties. They take a course titled ‘Sociology of Enterprise’ whose genesis could be traced back to the days of Professor Ken Danns. Using a team-teaching approach, we’ve gotten students to understand the relationship between theory and practice. Developing ideas and demonstrating the ability to actualise them in the form of business entities are reflected in their work. As part of the national push to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment, it was rewarding to see the kinds of products and services students created. We must now take this to the next stage. In collaboration with other UG units, we will be working to further advance these business entities and provide them with

are driven to make the platform the ultimate solution for all service needs in the country.

Notorious Donut Delight

In mid-February 2023, a group of 20 students was formed from the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation, University of Guyana, and a new business idea was birthed, and plans began to kick start. The initial planning stage was a bit tedious and somewhat frustrating for some: persons shared the negative and positive effects of the business, and of course, the positive outweighed the negative, so we went with the idea. Nonetheless, all members were onboard and ready to make this business plan a success. During planning, a name was created “Notorious Donut Delight”, and all members agreed to it.

Notorious Donut Delight will strives to offer freshly made gluten-free doughnuts and other products such as smoothies, bubble tea, walnut brownies, coffee, peanut butter oatmeal bars, doughnut muffins, and cakes to persons with gluten intolerance or celiac disease, health-conscious individuals, vegans, fitness enthusiasts, and trendsetters in and around Georgetown. Notorious Donut Delight understands that its customers are health-conscious but have busy lives with little time for preparing healthy meals.

Unlike its competitor(s), the snackette will alleviate target customers’ pain points by providing delicious doughnuts and other healthy treats that are also healthy for the entire family. Notorious Donut Delight uses healthy ingredients sourced from

all the guidance to pursue funding and commercialisation. We at SEBI look forward to the growth of these business entities and their successful launch,” Professor Lucus said in his remarks.

The entrepreneurial journey can be challenging, but when your why is compelling and you are solving a problem, those businesses can do exceptionally well. The businesses were created as an assignment, but I believe many have the potential for success.

I am sharing some more info on some of these businesses that are determined to move forward to make their mark in the business world and they shared some info regarding their businesses.

Quest Guyana Inc.

Quest Guyana Inc. is a website that has been designed to help users find the best services available in Guyana. The idea for Quest Guyana Inc. was born out of a need for a more efficient and reliable way to find service providers in Guyana. The founders noticed that many users struggled to find reliable and trustworthy service providers and wanted to create a platform that would solve this problem.

The team members at Quest Guyana Inc. worked closely together to develop and implement the website. They collaborated on various aspects of the website, including website design, development, and maintenance. Each team member brought a unique set of skills and experiences to the table, which helped to make the project a success.

The future of Quest Guyana Inc. is bright as the company continues to expand its reach and increase its revenue. Plans for the future include expanding the database of services available on the platform, increasing marketing and advertising efforts, developing new premium features, and increasing the number of premium subscribers on the platform. Overall, Quest Guyana Inc. is committed to providing the best user experience and the most comprehensive database of service providers in Guyana. The team members

YOU ARE MOTHER II

IT was almost a week after Mother’s Day when Sajani saw the male nurse again. It was late in the night and she was reading a book, not sleeping well again, when she looked up and saw him standing by her bedside. He always seemed to appear suddenly without a sound, unlike the fussing of the female nurses.

“You’re back,” she said with a little happy feeling.

He smiled casually and nodded, no evidence of the pain she had seen on his face on Mother’s Day.

“I was kinda wondering about you,” she said.

“Why?”

“Well…” she paused, “Because you hadn’t a mother to go home to.”

He smiled wryly, “It’s something I have been living with.”

“Why didn’t she…?” she left the question unfinished, not sure how sensitive it was to him.

“It’s a long story, I will tell you about it one day. How was your day with your sons?”

“It was quite wonderful,” she said with a happy smile that faded after a while, “I miss my home and my family so much.”

“We don’t get to write our own life stories,” he said to her, feeling sorry for her grief.

He stayed with her for a little while more then bid her ‘good night’, “I’ll leave you to get some sleep.”

The next afternoon he took her around the garden that, once again baffled the female nurse who saw no one. It gave Sajani a bit of a thrill, a feeling she had never experienced since being in the nursing home.

He did not come that night nor the next, and she laid in bed thinking of her past life, not finding anything that showed she had done a wrong.

“Or maybe I hurt someone,” she mused silently, “But who?”

She sighed deeply and settled to sleep, the book she wanted to continue reading falling to the ground.

In a country far away, a lone figure stood in the deep shadows under an oak tree and whispered in a soundless voice, “She has to remember me or else…”

The sentence was left unfinished as the figure melted deeper in the shadows.

Sajani found some fond memories as her mind went back to the past when she was young and carefree. The little house in the countryside held some precious memories. She had stayed there after marriage with her husband and it was there her first son was born. There was comfort and happiness but cracks started to open in that relationship. She wanted out of that marriage by the time she got pregnant with her second child.

That was when her mind hit a closed door. She couldn’t remember anything more of that break-up nor the baby she had been carrying.

“Why is that part of my life shut away?” she questioned silently.

She needed someone to

YOU ARE...

Have a super ...

FROM PAGE XIV

talk to, who had the patience to listen and understand her problem but the female nurses were too busy and hadn’t the time to listen to extracts from an old woman’s life story.

“I will wait on the male nurse,” she said not too quietly and the female nurse attending to her asked, “What male nurse?”

“The one who takes me around the garden and speaks with me at night.”

The nurse looked at her, not too surprised and gently informed her, “There’s no male nurse working here.”

“Of course,” Sanjani responded with a touch of sarcasm, “It’s just the imagination of an old woman.”

So she waited patiently for the male nurse who had the patience to listen to her.

On the first night he came, she told him, “I remembered much of my past but something seems to be missing between the separation from my first husband and marrying again.”

He didn’t respond for a long moment then he said, “You probably don’t want that period to be a part of your life.”

“I don’t understand,” she said with a puzzled look, “Why?”

“Before you separated from your husband, did anything happen that you didn’t want to happen?”

She closed her eyes, thinking, then opened them and affirmed, “I became pregnant.”

“Good,” the male nurse said with relief, “We are getting somewhere, and…” he prompted her.

“I couldn’t have a baby while on the verge of divorce.”

“So what did you do?”

She took a deep breath, painful regrets in her voice, “I tried everything possible to get rid of it but all failed. But the local herbs must have taken a told on the fetus, so after birth, he lived for twelve minutes.”

“He?”

“Yes, it was a boy,” she said, a little sob escaping from her lips.

“Why did you lock that away in your mind?”

“Because of guilt, I couldn’t bear to think of what I did. I didn’t want my baby so I killed him.”

The sad truth gave her the answer she had sought.

“I am now paying for that wrong.”

“Yes, you are,” he said, “Not wanting one child and giving all your love to the other two who now don’t want you.”

There was a tinge of anger in his voice and looking at him, there seemed to be a shadow over his face. That strange tremor she had felt the first time she saw him now felt stronger and she said to him, “You never told me, why your mother didn’t want you.”

“You just did.”

“What?” a perplexed look crossed her face, “How…?”

A glow appeared over him as he stepped closer to her bed.

“I am the son who you didn’t want.”

That revelation stunned her and the tears that had dried up, flowed again as she listened to him.

“My soul did not leave because I was a baby, bonded still to the mother, so I grew up in your shadows as you moved on with your life.”

She shook her head, shock and regret rendering her speechless.

“You never mentioned me, I didn’t even have a name, the unwanted baby I was, but I never hated you and when you got struck down by illness I felt sorry for you.”

“I am so sorry,” she cried hoarsely, barely finding her voice.

“I had to help you remember me,” he said, “So I can be released from that bond to leave.”

She broke down and cried, “I am so sorry, what I did to you, my son, so sorry.”

He looked at her for a long moment, sorry that he now had to leave her and how alone she would be in that place.

“Thank you, dear mother, I will now leave. Someday we will meet again.”

“My son,” she cried, reaching out her hand but she couldn’t touch him as he left in a glow of light.

Under an oak tree in a cemetry in the countryside, sunlight shone through the tree unto the tomb of a baby.

The mother remembering her child, took away the darkness, for she is mother.

FROM PAGE XIII

supermarkets around the region. The menu focuses on healthy meals using only gluten-free ingredients and locally made coconut flour.

The business is a partnership company owned by 20 shareholders. Notorious Donut Delight is expected to be headquartered in Georgetown, Guyana, and plans to begin operations in August 2023.

During my interaction with the students, the name Diana Robin was mentioned many times, so I decided to find her, and her enthusiasm was contagious.

The business expo was the practical outcome of the ‘Sociology of Enterprise’ course taught to all first-year students in the School of Entrepreneurship and Business Innovation and those from cross-faculty programmes. The aim

was to expose students to both the theory and practice of entrepreneurship. The students were required to develop a business plan for an innovative product or service and then to take initial steps to implement their plan. The intention was for students to understand that they do not necessarily have to seek work in an organisation after they graduate but rather for them to see the feasibility of starting and

growing their own business. The course was taught by several subject experts throughout the semester and included guest presentations by agencies and business owners.

I am excited about these new businesses. Next week you will be reading about others who need your support to succeed as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life Beyond the Runway.

Worsening dry seasons

ACROSS the globe, climate change is resulting in more frequent and more intense disasters, disrupting food production, people’s livelihoods, and the general quality of life. In Guyana, worsening flooding is, perhaps, the most apparent or visible disaster associated with climate change. With a prolonged dry season expected this year, the country could be in for another stark reminder of the effects of the climate crisis on small, developing, vulnerable countries.

Flooding has always been my ‘go-to’ to illustrate the worsening effects of climate change on Guyana because of our inherent vulnerability (that is, our coast, where most people live and work, is below sea level). And it is well-ventilated that flooding locally (especially in the capital city, Georgetown) is worsened by an archaic, often poorly-managed drainage network and garbage buildup.

However, the local hydrometeorological office believes Guyana will encounter a drought after the current May/June rainy season. In fact, at a recent stakeholder consultation meeting, local Climatologist Komal Dhiram explained that an El Niño period linked to prolonged dry conditions is due this year.

For context, an El Niño period, which usually encompasses drier-than-normal conditions, usually follows the La Niña period of wetter-than-usual conditions. And over the past few years- at most intensely in 2021 when nationwide floods were experienced- Guyana has been facing La Niña conditions.

The forthcoming El Niño period should result in a deficit in rainfall quantities, ergo, droughts. Just as flooding disrupts food production and people’s livelihoods for example, so too can droughts. The unavailability of rainfall can strain the water supply needed for crops to grow (for example, rice, a staple food in Guyana and huge export).

Fortunately, according to reports, Dirham believes that farmers on the coast will fare better against prolonged drought. That is because there are existing water channels, such as canals, and dependable drainage and irrigation systems that can help mitigate the harsh blow of the dry season.

However, farming may become even harder in hinterland areas that are more dependent on rain-fed agriculture and are without water channels. Worse yet, prevailing dry conditions in the hinterland can intensify, leading to forest fires that can harm food production, wildlife, and communities. These forest fires, in the past, have destroyed bush islands and several plant and animal species.

Therefore, it should be a matter of priority to prepare for potential droughts this year. It is reasonable to submit that farmers, in particular, should ensure they can store as much water as possible and adequately regulate their water use.

Droughts- and worsening droughts at that- are not only a Guyana concern, though. Just as the climate crisis has inten-

sified sea-level rises and flooding, so too has it exacerbated droughts globally.

Yuan et al. (2023), in their study entitled, “A global transition to flash droughts under climate change,” posited that all kinds of droughts are occurring more rapidly, affecting how people and communities can cope. They also contended that more abrupt dry spells, as is being recorded, could worsen living conditions in countries where people depend on rain-fed agriculture.

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Bristol in their 2023 study on the most at-risk regions in the world for high-impact heatwaves, found that a combination of factors- unprecedented heat, growing populations, and/or limited health and energy resources, mean that several regions are more vulnerable to the harsh effects of droughts.

And co-author of the study, Dann Mitchell, as quoted by the Washington Post, urged governments worldwide to be prepared for this extreme weather condition since it can strike anywhere.

With a prediction already in place for Guyana and uncertainty over how long the drought may last locally, adequate preparation is crucial.

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

That the national conscience is still alive --‘friends who care Guyana’

THERE was a time when a person had stumbled on the road or was seen lying on the ground, people would gather around, and the coins for the phone booth would emerge and calls made towards help, help that came, and I’m not talking even beyond colonial Guyana. If the same had happened in a village, he or she would be accepted into the nearest home until relatives came, and on most occasions, there was always a nurse, male or female, nearby or in the next village that could be summoned.

Today, it’s different. To survive, most Guyanese have been forced to become indifferent. Every home could have once extended some help here or there to relatives or neighbours, but it is not so practical today, when considering one’s expenses against the capacity to earn, especially if you’re self-employed with a contingent of your tools to be imported.

I witnessed some activity on Regent Street some months ago, almost between Orange Walk and Cummings Street. At first I thought some new restaurant had upped their advertising act, with a street demonstration of their goodies. The people behind the counters were ‘spick and span’, and had no expression of strain, but upon taking a closer look, they were more like distributing food to citizens in crisis. I enquired from a small group nearest, that belonged to the greater group; they told me who they were, ‘Friends Who Care- Guyana’, but I couldn’t retain what else they had related to me, because I was taken up by the whole scene.

I came back two Sundays later, but the man I was supposed to talk to was not there. Persistence always pays off. Sunday, May 8 2023, I got in contact with the mind behind the activity, Mr. Nigel Worrell, and we spoke briefly, and followed up the next morning. I learned that they started fully last February, but had some activities before this public launch. All of his ‘Staff’ are, instead, volunteers. For this group, I explored the extent of their activities, Friends Who Care-Guyana has so far given out over 7,000 meals for 65 consecutive weeks, since the beginning. They not only give hampers to single-parent mothers in need, but also render rent assistance, utilities, school supplies, etc.

They also offer mental health evaluation assistance and counselling, which is very important. I have also witnessed, over the past years, across the road directly on Bourda Market, church organisations distributing food to folks who dwell on the streets. This also happens on Alexander Street and on Brickdam by the Cathedral. But this group is not attached to any entrenched functional body. I learned that they started from their own pockets. I looked at the recipients of their service. They were not all ‘Drug Addicts’. Many, or most of them were just people who had fallen through the social stream, with no basket to catch them, and most were males.

On July 8, 2016, I penned an article in this column titled, “A Bachelor’s Hostel For Brother In Exile”, after visiting a group residing on the Parade Ground. They were men who worked in mostly low-paying security guard jobs, or, as one of them had corrected me, ‘watchman wuk’, with their earnings. They couldn’t pay today’s rent and utilities; they could barely eat from what they earned, and there was no discussion of healthcare.

I debated this with a younger citizen who wanted to know why they never got qualified in any field. I had explained that many men and some women, especially the eldest of a clan, were taken out of school early to assist broken families through disruptive indiscretions or the death of either a father or mother. Two vibrant semi-literate muscle-based national institutions: The waterfront and the sugar industry, which employed thousands, existed back then.

They are both not there in capacity anymore. These are complicated vacuums to fill, and most people live on them as best they can, while slow thought is given to alternatives. Heavy narcotics have added to the social decay and a forced

Small contractors/carpenters enjoined to seize new opportunities

THOSE of us who view social and even regular media are often informed that smaller contractors are not given contracts to execute works being undertaken by the State. This is attributed to many irrational causes, such as racism, poverty, or unpatriotically giving contracts to foreigners rather than locals. The reality is very different: If there are contracts to build highways or huge buildings like international hotels, such contracts are worth tens of millions of dollars, and the contractors, who are mostly companies, must have large reserves and own expensive equipment such as large lorries, bulldozers, draglines and so on and must be sueable if they fail in their contractual obligations. The number of local companies that could meet such criteria and successfully undertake such works is very limited. Even if small contractors bid as consor-

tiums, they usually cannot meet all the necessary criteria. In colonial times, very few large works were undertaken, such as the Linden Highway or the General Post Office building, by foreign contractors. Local carpenters and contractors built the houses, drains, small roads, fences, and government offices, repaired the sea defences and other local works. Today, with Guyana beginning to experience its economic revolution, there has arisen local middle-sized companies willing to undertake the building of individual houses, fences, land preparation and so on, displacing the small contractors and carpenters, a high percentage of whom were from the villages. Social workers and even politicians have been bemoaning this displacement, and the only solution they have had to offer is for these erstwhile independent contractors/carpenters to find jobs with the bigger contractors.

It therefore came as a welcome breath of fresh air when in February last, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, in addressing the Black Entrepreneurs Association, called out the small carpenters and contractors and assured them of the numerous opportunities available for them in the various public works undertaken by the State.

In addition to building houses in the various housing schemes, the Minister went on: “Small contractors are not only weeding and cleaning, civil works building of fences, building guard huts, building of sanitary blocks, building of

That the national conscience is ...

FROM PAGE XVII

accommodation towards the handicap of individuals and families.

How this category of our humanity is to be influenced towards redemption is too much a question to impose on ‘Friends Who Care-Guyana’. Charities exist, the Mosque on Church Street, the Seventh Day Adventist Church not far away on the same street, whose pastor had a programme to give lunch to schoolchildren. I knew this man through courtesies, and brief, polite conversations. It probably was assumed that he had money in the church, because he was found murdered in the church. No one, to my knowledge, was ever apprehended.

From the Dharm Shala in 1923 to FRIENDS WHO CARE-GUYANA-2023, and with the dedication that his volunteers have impressed upon Mr. Worrell, their contribution will continue to make a social and profound contribution.

I must say, THANK YOU FOR CARING.

Small contractors/ carpenters enjoined to seize ...

FROM PAGE XVIII roads because some roads fall under the….margin that could be given to small contractors, and then on the maintenance side, you have maintenance of buildings, plumbing, guttering, electrical, air conditioning, sea defence maintenance and a host of other fields. . .” The Minister spoke in a homely and easily grasped manner and so we will continue to quote him verbatim.

The Minister reminded the Black Entrepreneurs Association that in a previous engagement he had with them, he had offered technical help and guidance in bidding. “At that meeting,” said the Minister, “I did make an offer. We will provide an opportunity where we would be able to bring our technical people who are involved in procurement and management of contracts to interface with you to share with you all the necessary know-how so that you would be able to submit winning bids and when you win a bid, ensuring that you fulfill your obligations in keeping with the terms and conditions of your contract.”

He further underscored the importance of the bidding system and its objectivity. “It is not who knows you or who you know, as used to be the case in the past. It’s following the system because when you throw that bid into the tender box and the evaluators are evaluating… Your photo is not on it, nobody knows who you are; they are looking at documentation that is presented and getting your documentation right is what is important.”

The Minister further stated that the Government had changed the criteria for bidding for such works. An example of such change is removing the requirement of three to five years of experience as this would enable young and new contractors to take advantage of the opportunities offered. In Minister Edghill’s words…”That was to facilitate and help people to enter the market and be able to show forth their talent and skill and gain the necessary experience to climb the ladder.”

Contractors/carpenters, especially in the villages, are enjoined to take advantage of these opportunities to bring some prosperity to their communities and perpetuate the skills inherited from the 19th Century.

St. Lawrence Health Outpost ...

FROM PAGE XIX

Satyadevi Soohram is a Hubu Dam resident and the mother of one and a housewife married to Kevin Ramrattan, a taxi driver.

The 20-year-old reported that she has been living at the location for the past five years and it is a quiet place.

She is from Lanaballi, Essequibo River and likes the area due to the convenience of being near Parika, a central hub for shopping.

They have their own house, which was completed a few years ago.

Navendra Sookram

Navendra Sookram is a resident of Hubu Dam and has been occupying a plot for the past five years.

The 30-year-old stated that working within the area is a great relief and saves him time and money and he would like to be able to do that as long as possible since he has eight children.

He is originally from Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo but settled at Hubu after marriage because he could no longer afford rent with that

many children to provide for. Sookram told the Pepperpot Magazine that he does construction in the form of carpentry and masonry, and he is a licensed fisherman

who would make a fishing expedition every now and again.

He lives in the last house on the reserve but doesn’t mind at all because that is his home and it is not much, but

he is comfortable.

“I would try my best every day to ensure I earn to provide adequately for my wife and eight children, doing many jobs at the same time,” he said.

The 30-year-old said he would always keep his surroundings clean and tidy.

“If they break my house to move me, there is no other place for us to go and I don’t have money to relocate,” Sookram explained.

The tidy inside of the St. Lawrence facility

Clinic Attendant, Taramattie Tulsiedass

Satyadevi Soohram and her son

Journalling is more than just an aesthetic trend

THE COVID-19 pandemic increased symptoms of anxiety and depression tremendously, according to multiple pieces of research. With that in mind, many people had to find unique ways of processing and coping with said symptoms and I’ve found that journalling was one of the top ways in which many people coped and processed.

Journalling is not a new concept. Human beings have been documenting, drawing, or writing about their feelings since the earliest civilisations. It has, however, gained more popularity in the past three years due to its helpfulness during the pandemic. I must admit that some of the “trends” behind journalling are focused on

the aesthetic aspect of it. Yes, it can be creative, but that shouldn’t be the main focus. At least, it shouldn’t be acknowledged as “just another TikTok trend” because its importance and the benefits are more than that.

Journalling is a documentation or written account of an individual’s emotions and thoughts as they try to navigate and understand life. Journalling has no specific way of execution. It is a personal account of how you feel. Journalling can be formally structured or can be just random thoughts being written down. You can write for 10 minutes or choose to write for an hour. Quite frankly, I won’t sit here and advise you on exactly what you should journal or write because everyone and their communication styles will vary. Some people may think that words are limiting to their emotions, so they draw illustrations or sketches of what they feel instead of writing. Some people may type in a virtual journal, or some may write a physical one. If you’re now getting into the concept of journalling, I’d advise you to find what works best for you and your emotions. There are many styles of journalling to choose from, such as; daily journalling, gratitude journalling and my favourite—expressive writing journalling.

Sometimes, when all of these emotions and thoughts are in your head— it can pose a challenge because some emotions may be suppressed or even deeply internalised. As such, journalling gives you an outlet to see what you’re feeling in front of you and ultimately leads to you seeing your emotions in a sequence that you can make sense of. You will be able to point out cause and effect and eventually you can come up with possible solutions to whatever challenges you may face as well. Some people, especially visual learners, may not be able to write their emotions but can draw it and make sense of it. Journalling has helped many people make sense of those scary, unforgettable times during the pandemic. It allowed them to pen their deepest, scariest or saddest feelings while they were quarantining themselves with just four walls as company.

It is important to note that journalling will not always be the aesthetically pleasing, fun and creative thing to do, as TikTok concept creators would advertise. Journalling can also be a cause of anxiety by itself because of the realisations of certain emotions or thoughts that can happen after you’ve written it all down.

It is a deeply personal and brutally painful experience for some because it can help you dive into certain emotions you prefer not to experience, such as grief or anger. Sometimes, you may even have to force yourself to sit and write as well. These moments should not be a call for worry as it is your awakening to self-awareness and in the long run, it will help you tremendously to process difficult emotions into thoughts.

There will be days when your journal is a list of aspirations or there will be days when your journal will make the perfect script for the saddest movie script ever— everyday is a new challenge or opportunity that deserves to be explored. Your entries truly depend on you and the topics you’d like to explore and process. You must also share your journalling notes with your therapist or professional counsellor so they can professionally help if needed. Journalling can be a fulfilling experience to those who are willing to work through their difficulties through the use of this recommended outlet. You simply have to be able to take the first steps of trying.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Hence, vain deluding joys, The brood of folly without father bred. John milton (1608-1674) II Pense- roso (1632), 1:1

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear Student, Welcome dear friend. Do owe it to your future accomplishment to go over your learning. Recapitulating studied topics means employing brain power strategically and consistently in good time for that examination. Eat well. Sleep well. Talk with people who matter; move around to widen ideas,

May 21, 2023

specific vocabulary, and knowledge; listen to and view important learning materials. Practise responding to expected types of questions in real time. But most of all, read widely and with a purpose. Be well prepared.

Love you.

IMPROVING POETRY READING

Analysing and interpreting a poem

Note: ‘The Cloud’ shows the poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley’s high imaginative power. It is just wonderful how Shelley describes natural and scientific facts in terms of imagination and fancy. Read this stanza from the famous poem rich in terms of imagery and symbols:

The Cloud

I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,

From the seas and the streams;

I bear light shade for the leaves when laid

In their noonday dreams.

From my wings are shaken the dews that waken

The sweet buds every one,

When rocked to rest on their mother’s breast,

As she dances about the sun,

I wield the flail of the lashing hail.

And whiten the green plains under,

And then again I dissolve it in rain,

And laugh as I pass in thunder.

Something to Do

1. Who is the speaker in the poem?

2. The point of view of this poem is that of the cloud, which relates its different functions. How does the poet attribute (assign) purpose and meaning to these actions in this given stanza?

3. Shelley loved nature. He was able to capture the tumultuous power of the wind and the sea. What characteristics does he attribute to the cloud?

4. Shelley’s Cloud is an example of descriptive writing. Write three or four descriptive paragraphs about something you are deeply

moved about. Let it have a speaker that does not usually talk. You can look about your home or room for something that you can observe directly that could serve as a subject for your writing. Try to make your language appropriate to your speaker.

THE PASSAGE

1. Read the following extract carefully, and then answer ALL the questions that follow.

A red blur covered his eyes as he ran. But halfway down the block a sharp pain under his rib cage stopped him. He doubled up and leaned against a tree. He waited for the pain to pass but it only grew sharper. His breath pushed out of his lungs in painful spurts. He could feel the pulse beat at his temples. Sweat broke out through his pores, wetting his shirt, which clung to him. With difficulty he unbuttoned his shirt so that the breeze found his bare chest. He waited. Minutes went by. A bird chirped in a tree. He heard the flow of cars on the street behind him. The red blur lifted; his breath eased. At last the pain stopped.

Imamu looked over the darkening, tree-lined street. What was he doing here in tis strange land, far away from New York? Far from everything he had ever known? A stranger on foreign turf, Brooklyn. He bit his lips to keep down the tears. What had he been doing in that house with those people? What did they have to do with him? The tears kept pushing up. To stop them he hissed loudly to the tree, “What the hell was that chick talking about, anyway?

Imamu flattened himself against the trunk of the tree and closed his eyes, glad that the leaves on the branches bowing over him were full enough to screen him from passers-by…

(Rosa Guy’s, “The Disappearance”)

(a) What caused Imamu to stop running?

(b) The writer uses short sentences in paragraph one. What effect does she achieve by using them? (This question is worth twice as much as the first question.)

(c) Which sentence in paragraph one indicates a contrast between what Imamu is feeling and the atmosphere of the natural environment? (This question is worth the same as the second question.)

(d) Apart from the short sentence, what literary technique does the writer use in paragraph two to show that Imamu is reflecting on his experiences? (Same value as the second and third questions.)

(e) (i) Identify ONE emotion which Imamu experiences in paragraph two.

(ii) Quote one appropriate expression to support your answer. (Same value as the second, third and fourth questions.)

2. Read the following extract carefully, and then answer items based on what is stated or implied.

The tours we offer are truly unique and very much off the beaten track. We take you into the country to experience the historical, cultural and breathtaking scenic highlights of the island. Our rich heritage in farming over the centuries has produced grand plantation mansions surrounded by picturesque little copses with stately royal palms swaying majestically in the easterly Trade winds. The neat sugar cane fields sweep down the rolling hills toward the wild east coast where miles of untouched beaches are graced with the backdrop of rugged cliffs and the giant breakers of the Atlantic crashing ashore…

1. The article was most likely extracted from

(A) a newspaper (B) a naturalist magazine (C) a geography text

(D) a tourism brochure

2. The advertisement promises all the following EXCEPT

(A) expert advice (B) serene enjoyment (C ) outdoor adventure

(D) great surfing

3. “Crashing” (4th sentence) is an example of

(A) Onomatopoeia (B) personification (C) metaphor (D) pun

Wearing dentures

PROBABLY my scariest experience occurred when I was about seven years old. My paternal grandfather took out his total upper dentures and showed them to me. I remember running away and screaming with fright, believing he had removed his upper jaw. Eventually, when my parents calmed me down, it was explained to me that when people lose all their teeth, they are replaced with fake ones. My young mind remained perplexed for a long

Here is a typical example of what happens in preparation for an immediate denture. The first phase is the removal of all teeth posterior to (behind) the cuspid teeth. These ridges are then allowed to heal and act as a stable base for the future denture. After the healing has occurred, the denture is constructed. Then, the natural teeth are extracted and the dentures are immediately placed in the mouth. This keeps the patient

from having to be without his or her anterior (front) teeth at any time.

There are many advantages to immediate dentures besides the immediate esthetic considerations. They protect sensitive extraction sites, help control bleeding from the tooth sockets, and protect the surgical area by covering it, thus keeping food and debris out of the extraction sockets.

time, and I was afraid to ask the many questions that plagued me. For instance, what kind of accident would make someone lose all their teeth and not cause physical damage to their face and lips?

Most people do not realise the problems that arise after dentures are placed. How would you like to have an artificial leg rather than your natural leg? I feel safe in assuming that you would certainly answer: “Definitely not!” So, replacing your natural teeth with either a full or partial denture is about as desirable as having an artificial leg.

Dentures allow you to chew; an artificial leg allows you to walk. The problem in both instances is the performance quality of the artificial replacement in comparison to what nature originally provided. The artificial replacement will never function as well as your natural teeth, no matter how good it looks.

Dentures are not maintenance-free; they need adjustments. It is not that the denture change. The tissues under the dentures change. A denture adjustment is necessary when the denture material must be removed from the denture to relieve pressure at pressure spots that occur when bone and tissue shrink. Since tissue shrinks as it heals, dentures that are placed immediately after the teeth are extracted sometimes need to be relined as soon as the tissue has healed. All dentures need to be relined periodically to adjust for normal tissue changes. So a denture is not a one-shot cure. It is very important to see your dentist once a year so the tissue under the denture can be monitored.

With this overview, let me offer a word of caution. Your dentist may offer you options on types of tooth replacements possible in your case. Offering you treatment options is part of your dentist’s obligation. You need to become a wise, informed dental consumer so you can discuss the best decision for your situation with him.

As a general rule of thumb, fixed prosthodontics (crowns and bridges) are more expensive than removable prosthodontics (full or partial dentures). However, fixed prosthodontics is usually a more desirable replacement. Dentures also vary in cost depending on the type of teeth, the material used to make the denture base, and the number of steps followed to construct the prosthetic device. If you find a place that claims to be able to make your denture in one day for much less than the fee being charged in the area by most other dentists, you will probably get exactly what you pay for. Let the buyer beware! They are no bargains in healthcare!

The name immediate dentures sound like something produced by a fast-food version of a dental office. However, ‘immediate’ in this context means that the denture is placed immediately after the dentist or oral and maxillofacial surgeon extracts the teeth.