Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 24-12-2023.pdf

Bringing smiles to the faces of 400 children for the holidays

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Carolyn Caesar-Murray (pictured here) along with her friends Monique Hall, Yvonne Vickerie, Nabijala Nelson, Shonis Hall and Elizabeth Gittens, are all businesswomen who have committed to bringing joy to children every year with their toy drive across several nursery schools and communities.

Sunday, December 24, 2023

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

A good ol’ Guyanese Christmas

IN Guyana, we celebrate a traditional Christmas; we do the things taught to us through generations, and we also like to have a few of the essentials on our table, especially for this time of the year.

Any good ol’ Guyanese Christmas must have pepperpot with bread, ginger beer, black cake, garlic pork, ham, and all the other goodies that go with the festivities.

Christmas worldwide is a big deal. People spend their last to ensure their houses are well-decorated with ornaments, curtains, and thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom and everything, including shopping, is complete.

Locally, year-end is the time to get rid of the old and usher in new things, such as household things, furniture, appliances and other things we have saved up all year for.

It is a lot of preparations to pull off the holidays but it is worth all the labour when the place is what it should be on Christmas morning and the tantalising aroma emanating from the kitchen is just right to whet the appetite.

On Christmas Eve, some people wait to complete their last-minute shopping while others go shopping in early December to avoid the rush and price hike.

It is a good time of the year, coming down to the end when we embrace a new year with the same anticipation that it will be fruitful and better than the last.

Christmas in Guyana is often the best time for people to unite to share meals, drinks, and gifts, and some go beyond that to spread cheer to the less fortunate by hosting food

Black cake is also a necessity at Christmas, made form scratch drives and gifting events for children, the elderly, and others.

It is also that time of the year when workplaces host their annual year-end Christmas parties and get-togethers to hon-

our top performers and show appreciation to members of the workforce.

Guyanese take pride in what they do, eat and how they celebrate and it is also the time when we put our differences aside and come together as one people to enjoy the fruits of our labour.

A good ol’ Guyanese Christmas entails the best foods we haven’t had all year or for a long time and most people make meals and beverages from scratch with much pomp and ceremony.

We are a people who are gifted in the kitchen. We make our own ginger, sorrel, pepperpot, black cake, garlic pork and other foods that are traditional to us.

Meats are prepared and cured way before the holidays as beverages and homemade fruits in the form of carambola (five finger) are prepared and stored away for the same purpose.

Christmas in Guyana is a lovely time that brings out the best in some of us, and we are people who do not hesitate to have a good time eating, drinking, dancing, and accepting gifts and invitations to the homes of family and friends.

It is often said that Christmas SEE PAGE III is the most wonderful time of the

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Food, family and Christmas One Guyanese cook and the significance of food during the holidays

DECORATIONS, carols and Christmas trees are all a part of Christmas, but food and family, especially in Guyana, are what Christmas is about, as, across the country, dishes like pepperpot, garlic pork and the unforgettable black cake, are prepared days in advance.

Throughout the nation, people are preparing for Christmas. From Berbice to the West Bank and from Linden to Essequibo, Guyanese are getting onto the Christmas energy. But Andrea Durant has a lot to do this Christmas. As a cook in the Corentyne, Andrea believes that food brings families together and shapes memories for years to come. She hopes to give those memories to so many other families this Christmas.

Andrea Durant has called the village of Lancaster home for over four years. She and her family of three call the community and the rest of the Corentyne a peaceful place.

“Lancaster is a nice and quiet place,” Andrea shared. This quiet village is located just a few villages after Rose Hall.

Home to just around 300 diverse people, Lancaster is a welcoming community in the Corentyne countryside.

Andrea has always called Berbice her home. Having been born in Skeldon, she has been living along the Corentyne for most of her life. Andrea’s upbringing was a rocky one. She lost both her parents as a child.

“My parents died when I was small, only about seven years old. So different families and people took care of us, my

siblings,” Andrea shared. Although it was difficult having to go from relative to relative and from home to home, it has built the emphasis she places on family today.

Family values are something that Andrea greatly values. She expressed, as so many others do, that over time, families drift apart due to all that happens in life. But occasions like Christmas are opportunities to slow down and reunite with loved ones by reigniting those good old Guyanese traditions. “For my family now, everybody is on their own. We just call them and see how they are doing,” said Andrea.

Andrea has been a part of the culinary arts for almost two decades, having begun her career at a restaurant in Rose Hall more than 17 years ago. “Cooking is the only work I have ever done. I love cooking bad. I do not know why, but I just really like the job,” Andrea stated. Andrea is like so many Guyanese in that she is happy to cook for others.

Whether the occasion is a birthday party, Christmas dinner, or a simple lunch, cooking brings Andrea great joy. “I like it when people come in and order for a school party, birthday party or wedding. Cheese straw, patties and finger food, I love doing everything. And my pastry shop is open every day except Sunday,” she shared.

Opened four years ago, around the time she moved into Lancaster, Andrea started her pastry shop in the neighbouring village of Liverpool.

Since its opening, the shop has been well received. Andrea sees people coming from all edges of the Corentyne to enjoy her home-cooked Guyanese dishes and specialty pastries.

There are foods that come to mind when someone thinks about Christmas, but Andrea believes that the holidays are a time to enjoy whatever foods the family calls for.

“At Christmas, I do any food that people order, anything that they want, I cook. If it’s fried rice or Spanish rice or anything.” She stated.

When asked about what makes her dishes stand out among the rest, Andrea says it is perhaps because of the care she takes in cooking.

The variety of fresh seasoning from across the country and the homemade pastries that come hot from her Lancaster kitchen make all Guyanese food standout. “My fried rice is what people like the most. I put more ingredients, like corn and more vegetables, and especially sweet pepper makes the food show up,” she shared.

Across the nation and the rest of the world, every year during the holidays, family members travel across states, countries and continents to be together on Christmas. And as Guyanese, getting together means food. This is what Andrea believes, and also why she says food is important to family and the holidays.

As Andrea told the Pepperpot Magazine, “Most of the families visit Guyana for Christmas. Some of them have not come in a long time, and some who have never

A good ol’ Guyanese ...

FROM PAGE II year and maybe that is so in the way we celebrate and treat each other.

Christmas is the time of giving; it brings out the benevolent side of us and convinces us to give back to society, while some people do it all year end.

Even though year end might not be happy for everyone who lost family members and families in tragic circumstances, it is the time of year to spend an insane amount of money we don’t have figuratively.

Christmas in Guyana might be the favourite time for women, who like to shop, spend days, hours at any given time to stock up on supplies, among other things necessary to brighten up the festivities.

Most people look forward to the decorations, the unique things that come out in the open in terms of our creativity to work with what we have, and our culinary skills take centre stage.

All in all, Guyanese are people built for anything; we do what we have to make

others happy and celebrate like no other. There is never a dull moment in Guyana where cookie tins serve as sewing kits when empty.

Christmas in Guyana is one of the best. Even though some of us may not have a lot materially, in our hearts, we are rich, and we share of the little we have with others, acts of kindness go a long way.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2024 on behalf of the Pepperpot Magazine Team!

Andrea Durant with a batch of freshly made ‘Chinese cakes’ (Japheth Savory Photos)

come home. And Christmas is a special time. People prepare their pepperpot and start baking for Christmas.”

During the holidays, communities like Lancaster and other villages still

capture the authentic atmosphere of Christmas.

Although Christmas trees and American carols can be heard in Rose Hall, traditions like masquerade bands Christmas cleaning

and Guyanese Christmas tunes from Slingshot are still alive and well as they and the rest of Guyana celebrate a Guyanaese Christmas.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Small businesses of the Christmas season How entrepreneurs are contributing to a Guyanese Christmas

By Shaniya Harding CHRISTMAS is more than a holiday or time of year.

Christmas is a celebration and, in Guyana, the people have crafted a unique culture. As we enter into December every year, Guyanese everywhere begin their Christmas cleaning, followed by decorations not complete without some new

or will it be affordable?” She shared.

Natasha has put much time, energy and resources into her business and the products she creates. She goes to great lengths to ensure every piece is of high quality, ensuring customer satisfaction. “Nowhere in Guyana had the blank Christmas balls. What I had to do is search of it online and import

look at your tree and see your photo with your name part of the tree.”

Self-care for Christmas Iconic by K pushes the importance of self-care this holiday season with its line of luxury loungewear and self-care products. “I wanted to bring something different to the market; something with better quality and better pack-

backs, Rosalie Seepaul can crochet just about anything.

She has put her skills into her business, Craftastic by Dakkl.

“I can crochet anything as long as I have a vision of it.

I have been crocheting since I was eight years old,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Now, more than forty years later, Rosalie opened her business just five years ago and has seen it blossom.

A lounge ware item by Iconic by K

A piece from Customised Creations

blinds and chair backs for the older folks.

As the years went on, Christmas in Guyana changed to involve more than the usual traditions. The Pepperpot Magazine reached out to a few small businesses whose products add their own unique touch to Christmas, both traditional and new.

The gift that keeps on giving Owned by artist and broadcaster Natasha Azeez, Customised Creations is a business that brings a creative flare to the mix of branding and crafting. With the creation of customisable Christmas decorations, Natasha is dedicated to making something that is unique.

Natasha has created various designs that are made unique by what each customer adds to their individual piece. Inspiration for the designs comes at any time, says Natasha. “The thing is with artists, we get inspiration at two or three o clock in the morning. When the world is sleeping, our brain is at work and something may spark.

What else can I customise?

What else will people like

it into Guyana. Also, I had to get the appropriate materials,” Natasha stated.

After searching, researching and importing everything needed, Natasha makes a sample for each new design and begins marketing them online. From then on, Natasha worked with customers to create what they wanted as a memento of the holidays. Natasha shared, “For a Christmas, for example, maybe it is there for Christmas as a family. It is a momentous occasion and they may want to take a family photo and want to put the name of everyone on the Christmas ball. We will work with you in terms of the photo, layout and design.”

To have something that is made uniquely for you, with the names and photos of your loved ones to have as a part of your holiday season as a memory, is what Customised Creations aims to give to its customers. As Natasha shared that, “We add that touch to your family in that every year you can use it, our products and add to it. It is the essence of Christmas and sharing moments. It is amazing when you wake up and you can

Rosalie has years of experience in crocheting and has made almost everything with yarn. But Christmas is a unique time for her. As the orders roll in, Rosalie has to get creative to bring

ing,” said the woman behind Iconic by K Akeisha Ayanna.

Begining in March of 2020, Akeisha started out with the vision of creating products that would offer high-quality luxury self-care items at an affordable cost.

And what better time to pamper one’s self than at Christmas. “I started the business out of necessity because of what was going on and it blossomed,” Akeisha shared.

With everything from satin pillowcases to velvet robes, Iconic by K was created to offer their customers a spa experience in the comfort of their own homes.

This Christmas, Akeisha and Iconic by K aim to provide their customers with gifts that are good for someone else but perfect for themselves. Akeisha stated, “When it comes to Christmas, loungewear items are important, especially with the robes. You want to treat yourself for ten holidays. And I think my brand prioritises self-care.”

A personalised crocheted touch From Christmas decorations to the famed chair

A crocheted piece from Craftastic by Dakkl

her customers’ visions to life. She shared that, “For Christmas, I make Christmas tree ornaments. I have made Mrs Claus outfits before, and I mostly do custom orders, so once someone has an idea, I bring it to life.”

As someone who enjoys a Guyanese Christmas herself, Rosalie still receives orders for chair backs. The interesting price of Guyanese decor has long since been a part of Christmas, and Rosalie says she does not know where it originated from, but it is still requested every year.

“Only the older people are still interested in chair backs.

And now I still do chair back for family and friends,” she stated.

As intricate as it is, Rosalie enjoys the individuality of each crochet piece. She said, “Crochet is unique.

Even if two people order the same thing from me, I have never been able to have the exact same colour combinations and the same flower combination. Crochet has a personalised touch.”

So whether you are interested in decorations made and personalised for the family, a hand-crocheted piece or pampering yourself this holiday season, entrepreneurs across Guyana have got you covered.

Being authentically Guyanese is what these businesswomen value and bring to their products.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Bringing smiles to the faces of 400 children for the holidays

CAROLYN Caesar-Murray, a businesswoman and former city councillor, along with five of her friends, now known as the ‘Topaz’ group, have managed to put smiles on the faces of some 400 children this year with their annual toy drive around the holiday season.

Carolyn, along with Monique Hall, Yvonne Vickerie, Nabijala Nelson, Shonis Hall and Elizabeth Gittens, are all businesswomen who take time out of their busy schedules to organise the grand feat of personally purchasing the toys

10 years in Albouystown, where she grew up. She has always been interested in helping others, especially kids, and even wants to do more in future.

“I want to have an orphanage and do a lot of NGO work in the future. I am working towards that. I always see myself doing things like that later in my life,” she expressed. So for now, these initiatives are like stepping stones to what she ultimately wants to achieve.

locally and internationally. She was particularly impressed to see the measures that are in place in other countries to support children and vulnerable groups.

So she started to host a party for the children in Albouystown every year, among several other community initiatives that saw her interacting with children, elderly

Carolyn and her friends Monique Hall, Yvonne Vickerie, Nabijala Nelson, Shonis Hall and Elizabeth Gittens

Members of the Topaz group handing out presents

and organising events to help fund the initiative.

This year, the team visited Friendship Nursery School, Roxanne Burnham Nursery and Sophia ‘C’ Field Nursery; the entire first and second level classes of these schools.

“You don’t know the joy we get from going to these schools. We feel like everything we have done is worth it,” Carolyn told Pepperpot Magazine a few days ago.

Organising 400 gifts is no easy task, especially when it comes to financing it because the team doesn’t like to hand out just any toy; it must be one of quality and value, one that can teach the children something and help them be active, as opposed to one that would immobilise them.

“We want to give a gift of a certain quality and value. We try to give them things that we think would motivate them to maybe become one of those things by learning more as they play with it; a guitar that they can play with to get them involved so they might see themselves in music in the future.

We give gifts like an ambulance, fire service, machines, excavators, tools; things that they are able to utilise and interact with,” Carolyn shared.

But with some sponsors not coming through for them this year, it was rough to organise 400 presents, but the team came off successful nevertheless by arranging for various fundraising events. “We are hoping that a few companies or like-minded individuals would put us on their list next year as a potential group that they can allocate toys to so we can do more.”

The challenges aside, though, Carolyn and team find immense satisfaction with pulling off initiatives like these. “It gives our lives meaning. We feel like we are adding more to life than just make some money, spend some money; we’re doing something bigger.”

The toy drive started after COVID-19, but prior to this, Carolyn would have hosted a Christmas party for more than

Growing up in Garnette Street, Albouystown, she had witnessed firsthand how poverty affects people. As a city councillor, she had the opportunity to interact with people

ones, single parents, and other groups of people who may be in need.

Photos:

COVER: Carolyn Caesar-Murray (pictured here) along with her friends Monique Hall, Yvonne The team’s outreach at Friendship Nursery School

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

The village of Lancaster Home to a peaceful and united people

UNITY is achieved not munity that has made it this He shared that, “Growing when differences are over- far without hate or prejudice, up here was always quiet. looked; but when they are accepted and celebrated to move forward as one.

This is at least how the residents of Lancaster on the Corentyne see it. As a community that reflects Guyana’s multi-cultural make up, Lancaster is home to people from all walks of life. It has long been a melting pot of people who have cultivated a unique sense of togetherness forged by generations of people determined to stand united.

Lancaster is home to people who have generational roots in the village, and those who grew up in the community as their family started anew as well as those who planned to pass through but stayed in the village of Lancaster. But whether they were born, raised, or a newcomer, the Colin Munroe has called Lancaster home for village of Lancaster is unit- more than five decades and says it is one of the most welcoming communities there is (Yaphet ed despite differences.

Savory photos) In 1968 Colin Munroe came to live in the village of Lancaster through his own a legacy Colin Munroe hopes We used to play cricket and softball in those days. These unique set of occurrences that will continue to live on. led him to the community.

Colin, more popularly were the popular activities The village is noticeably a known as Munroe, has lived at that time.”

Also happening all those farming community with in Lancaster for more than tractors lining the side of the 55 years, spending most decades ago, was the beginroad. But the people stand of his life in the village of ning of relationships that out as the village’s greatest Lancaster. Munroe remem- would build the community aspect. Home to just three bers playing sports from to what it is today. Lancaster hundred or so people, Lan- his youth on the roads and has long been a mixed comcaster is a welcoming com- back streets of Lancaster. munity, with people of all

The village of Lancaster on the Corentyne

backgrounds coming to call the community home. “The people live together, whether Indian or black or whatever, they live together. If there is any activity going on, they all participate.” Munroe shared.

The young people have carried on this tradition among many other practices of the older generations. Farming is not particularly popular among the newer generation, but it seems to have taken root in the youth of Lancaster, Munroe explained. The village is an excellent place in terms of necessities, but it would seem as though work around the community is scarce. This has made a lot of young people who do not see themselves in carpentry or teaching become farmers.

In his years in the community, Munroe says that the people have kept him close to the community. Apart from the captivating natural scen-

ery and humble, sustainable lifestyle, Lancaster is home to a loving people. “The community is interesting because of the way the people live.

You can find unity between the races; we do not have racial tension in the community,” Munroe shared.

The impact of the decision of the first people of Lancaster can still be felt in how every holiday sees all ‘peeps’ celebrate as one.

Munroe explained that whatever the occasion, the people of Lancaster come together to support each other in tough times and celebrate the good times together. “Older ones and the young ones now live the same kind of life, together. If there is a wedding or a funeral, all the races would be there,” he said.

As a young man in the village, he saw the way that his parents and grandparents interacted with each other.

This has been carried through today, with the young people

of Lancaster keeping the tradition of togetherness alive.

“I think the young folks see that togetherness, and they grew up with it. The Older people gave us that togetherness. And today, it is more of a tradition.” Munroe said.

That tradition has come a long way and is credited with how the community has managed to survive.

Moving forward as a community was only achieved due to the village’s sense of community. As Munroe shared, “If there is no togetherness, there cannot be progress.” As a father of five girls and one son, Munroe passes on numerous lessons to them as parents do. But the biggest lesson he says is that of love, “I am a big believer in love. I am not a strict church goer, but I read the bible. And I tell people, if you summarise the bible in one word, it would be love.”

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

‘Struggle Shapes Us’ Lancaster pastor talks about why overcoming adversities is significant for growth

By Shaniya Harding SOCIETIES everywhere throughout history have had some sort of religious leaders. Over time, these men and women became integral parts of society, having a moral responsibility to uphold and learn by example. Oftentimes, people turn to pastors and preachers for support and guidance. But who does a pastor going through his own trials and tribulations turn to?

Some years ago, Ramkumar Singh, known more popularly as Brother Sham, was going through the roughest period of his life. In those years, he sought support from his family and friends, and managed to push through it the way he is today. Today, as a pastor, Pastor Singh has seen his own personal share of challenges whilst dealing with each congregation member’s adversities. He shared that, “Every member of a church that has problems brings their problems to the pastor. But nobody considers what the problems of a pastor are like. They have a place to go to, but whom does the pastor go to.”

Pastor Singh was born and raised in the village of Agricola on the East Bank Demerara before he and his wife got married in June 1982. Moving from suburban Agricola to Lancaster, one of the more rural communities at the time, was a big cultural shift for Ramkumar. “It was a gross change, but I enjoyed the country life. Agriculture was the top thing of the day, which I had no experience in, but I finally learned it. It was fresh food and vegetables and ‘greens’. Everything changed; our lifestyle, our marriage, and Bernice gave me everything I have.”

Today, at 67 years old, Pastor Singh has spent most of his life in Lancaster. He

has seen the community go through various shifts and changes in that time. But one of the major shifts that he has been previewing is the lifestyle and behaviour of young people. He shared that, “The elder folks had a unison among them; I do not think that is present today. The first change I noticed is the indiscipline of the younger people.”

Pastor Singh remembers how different the relationship between generations was in his time as a young man. He remembers a time, as so many people do, when there was greater discipline.

“In my childhood days, we had to have respect for the elderly,” he shared. Pastor Singh believes that the rules instilled in him as a young man made him into who he is today: A pastor with the Assemblies of God Church.

Discipline and his long years of pastoral training, Pastor Singh’s stand, has made him a better person.

Pastor Singh explains that pastoral training is a never-ending process; a task which takes one through rigorous emotional, mental and religious undertakings.

Pastor Singh explains that being a religious leader is about leading by example, stating, “There is no limitation to pastoral training. A pastor is a leader and must first live, teach and preach what he believes in. The way he lives matters. It is not only teaching and preaching but, it is moulding people.”

As a societal figure tasked with the responsibility of leading persons, Pastor Singh shared an often-overlooked aspect of a pastor’s life.

Regardless of the religion, priests and preachers are seen as pillars in the community.

Pillars that seemingly are not allowed to break, as Pastor Singh puts it. He explained that oftentimes, pastors and their families are faced with

Pastor Singh at his Lancaster home (Japheth Savory photos)

scrutiny. “People may see it as you are the son of a pastor.

You are not allowed to do certain things. But it takes the really mature ones to see it differently,” he said.

Although this is a scenario he has seen repeatedly, Pastor Singh states that a pastor’s life is meant to be difficult. He said, “The Bible says that all that will live godly in Christ will suffer prosecution.” He explained that life’s struggles helped shape an individual for the future. Pastor Singh likened the challenges he faces to the pressure placed on gold.

He stated that, “If you want to get the best out of gold, it has to be hammered. It had to be voiced and fired and

squeezed. And then you get the refined gold.” He went on further to add that, “Whatever we go through life makes you and I who we are today.

What we would have suffered before is what moulds us today.”

As a religious man, Pastor Singh has a unique view of Christmas. He emphasised that Christmas should be celebrated every day.

That is celebrating the fundamental belief of the occasion. “Every day should

be Christmas in our lives.

That is, us honouring who we believe. If we believe that Christ was born, lived, died, resurrected and is coming for us again, Christmas should be lived every day,” said pastor Singh.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Reaping what you sow

The farmers of Lancaster say that their hard work eventually pays off

By Shaniya Harding THE rural areas of Guyana have a peaceful way of life fostered by the people’s friendly attitude, the slower pace of life and people who still live off the land.

Lancaster is one of these welcoming agricultural-driven communities. Located a few villages after Rose Hall, in East Berbice, Lancaster is home to an estimated 300 people, many of whom farm.

Agriculture in these regions is sometimes done to make ends meet, but it has also become a large part of the village’s identity.

Reynold Emmanuel was born and raised in the village, and has always seen agriculture as a part of daily life. Even in his youth, he shared, farming was present.

“Growing up, it was farming.

We did mostly rice farming,

but I worked with the Local Authorities from 1970 to 1986,” Reynold said.

Farming roots in families run deep, as Reynold’s father was also a farmer. Although he has been a part of many other fields of work, the lush green fields called him back, and Reynold was a farmer for more than three decades before retiring. “I started rice work fully in 1983, and stopped in 2015,” he said.

Farming is a noble profession, and farmers would say it is not without its fair share of difficulties, from preparing the land with tractors to ensuring the health of the crops right up until the moment they are reaped. But all these challenges, Reynold says, are worthwhile when reaping a farmer’s crop. “The best part of farming is reaping,” said Reynold.

Reynold has long re-

Mark George alongside his tractor at his Lancaster home

tired, and makes few visits to the farm these days. He spends most of his time at his Lancaster home, while his son sometimes tends to the acres of rice. In his years in the community, Reynold says the village remains largely unchanged.

He explained that although Lancaster has seen changes, for the most part the village still retains the same look, feel and people with the same way of life, except for a few new additions. “In the years that I have been here, this village has not really changed,” Reynold said.

Living just a few houses away is a fellow farmer named Mark George. The 56-year-old has lived in the community for 17 years.

Like countless Guyanese, Mark was led to the village by his family and a house he gained in the community.

Seventeen years ago, Mark said that the village did look somewhat different, but it was still as beautiful and welcoming as it is today. “It was nice at that time, and the people were very quiet in the community.”

Having been a part of the community for as long as he has, Mark says that although lovely, Lancaster is not without its issues.

For instance, Mark believes that more emphasis should be placed on youth development in the community of Lancaster. “I think we should help with sports and the youths,” Mark shared.

As a father of three, Mark explained that there are few employment opportunities for younger folks in the area. Many young people have taken to jobs like masonry, farming or teaching like two of Mark’s children have.

Mark is a rice and cashcrop farmer, a job he has been doing for over 25 years.

Like most of the people of the Corentyne, Mark was born and raised there, and continues to live the com-

Lancaster rice farmer Reynold Emmanuel (Japheth Savory photos)

munity.

Mark grew up in Black Bush Polder and has known farmlands since birth. “I actually was born in farming,” he said. “My father was a farmer; he planted rice and cash crops, and I learned from him.”

Sharing sentiments similar to Reynold’s, Mark said that the work it takes to prepare the soil long before anything is planted is the most challenging aspect of the

job. “The hard thing about farming is preparing the soil and planting the seeds,” he said. Mark further said that although people may see farming for the money, it is still a challenging occupation that requires time, labour, effort and patience. “Farming calls for hard labour and a lot of investment; you have to spend a lot of money,” he said.

Lancaster is a farming community, but it is so

much more. It is a diverse little village, with people of all types all working together. The people of the village have created a strong bond among themselves. Mark says that he and his neighbours have a great relationship; one that is only seen in communities like Lancaster and the countryside of Guyana. And come this Christmas, there is no doubt the village will celebrate as one.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Understanding African Spirituality

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Son of an African spiritualist talks about common conceptions of African spirituality

By Shaniya Harding EVERYONE’S upbringing is different, with everyone having unique problems, challenges and family dynamics. Whereas many people contend with siblings or moving from place to place, some have more interesting childhood stories that shape them into the people they are today.

Many people have parents who are police officers, nurses or, if you are on the Corentyne, farmers. But Ron Emmanuel’s father’s profession was a little more than the usual run-of-the-mill jobs. Ron grew up alongside his father, who was a spiritualist. Ron and his family come from deep within the Berbice River.

His father had a deep-rooted and profound love and understanding of what he called ancestral spirituality. Ron says the practices his father knew were passed down for generations, and were seen as a way of helping and protecting those around you. As a man with a

family today, Ron says what he saw from his father helped him gain his own state of peace and understanding of spirituality.

Ron Emmanuel has spent the majority of his life in the Corentyne. He grew up among five children, and spent three years in the Armed Forces after school.

He said his childhood was simplistic, where they depended largely on nature.

“We had no light or water; we had to depend on rain,” he stated during an interview at his Lancaster home.

This is not his first time living in the village of Lancaster. Having spent much of his childhood in the community, he moved away in his youth, only to return several years later. Due to the nature of his father’s work, Ron moved to different parts of Berbice before settling down in the village of Lancaster.

Although his father ’s work was often frowned upon, Ron says that his father’s intention was never to hurt anyone. Rather, he sought out spirituality

through traditional practices involving various plants and prayers that were said to have been gained from their African counterparts and ancestors.

The Pepperpot Magazine met up with Ron at his Lancaster home. A jovial, welcoming and brave man, Ron told the story of his upbringing in a place in the Berbice River, and how his father impacted his family for years to come. Ron’s parents separated while he was still an infant, and his father brought him up.

“My old man used to travel a lot,” he said. “My mother and he left each other when I was three months old, and he took me. And everywhere he went, I went. And the last place he left, I stayed and started a family.” That place was Lancaster. Ron’s father was widely known for his seemingly supernatural abilities to help people with numerous afflictions, issues and challenges. Although some saw the work done

by Ron’s father as harmful; dangerous even, growing

Ron Emmanuel at his Lancaster home (Japheth Savory photos)

up, Ron had always seen his father as a helper.

Ron describes his family’s practices as far more spiritual than ritualistic. He explained that his father dealt with all the problems brought to him by natural means. He believed plants found in remote areas of Guyana could fix any problem. Feelings such as envy are things that his father also sought out.

“People have envy for different things. And when my father looked at someone, he could tell what was wrong.”

Ron stated.

The knowledge of the various herbs needed was

sacred and vital to Ron’s father. Ron explained that everything done by his father was done by natural means.

His father would scour the backlands of Berbice to find the different mixes of plants to help the numerous cases he was faced with. “We used natural drugs. There are natural drugs that we would use.

There are certain herbs and medicine that we would give you to drink,” Ron shared.

The only goal and intention of the work done

by Ron’s father was that of helping. He emphasised that perhaps because their work seemed mystical, peo-

ple believed they made sacrifices, among other things.

But according to Ron, his father’s work was far more herbalistic and traditional than people knew. The defining factor of the work he saw his father do was helping. Ron painted a picture of his father and ancestors whose only goal was survival in a time long before this one; a time when men like his father sought to help.

“All we did was help. If you need help, and we came and saw that, we helped as best we can,” he said.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Christmas behind bars at New Amsterdam Prison

By Michel Outridge As is customary, this year, the Pepperpot Magazine visited the New Amsterdam Prison in New Amsterdam, Berbice, to highlight how the inmates spend the festive season.

New Amsterdam Prison is the only prison in Guyana that houses all female prisoners, both on remand and convicted. It has a separate section for male prisoners.

The Officer-in-Charge of the New Amsterdam Prison is Patrick Crawford, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons, who has been at the helm for the past two years and three months; however, he is no stranger to prisons with the years of service he has amassed.

Crawford stated that in the Female Prison, they have three dormitories, a kitchen, a dining hall, a kitchen garden, and a large farm.

In the Men Prison, there are several blocks, a yard dormitory, an infirmary, a chapel, a kitchen, a farm, and separate dining halls for remanded prisoners and convicted prisoners.

At the time of the visit, Crawford related that on December 20, all the female prisoners werescheduled to be relocated to Timehri Prison to facilitate the construction of a brand-new female prison.

He reported that construction is scheduled to be completed in mid-next year.

Crawford added that at Christmas, they try to have all the traditional meals prepared for all prisoners even though they provide three square meals daily and celebrate with a concert held in the Male Prison on December 21.He stated that it would take the form of a cultural event featuring traditional board and indoor games.

Christmas in jail Convicted prisoner from the female section, Awena Rutherford, told the Pepperpot Magazine Ramesh Sewlall that this is her 11th Christmas at the New Amsterdam Prison, and it is a sad time of the year for her since she is away from her family.

Even though emotions run high, she tries to keep it under control. Two weeks ago, they had family bonding and she was able to see her relatives and it was a good feeling leading up to the holidays.

“I feel in-between, kind of sad and also overwhelmed at the same time, but it is jail, so I am trying to keep it together,” she said.

Rutherford disclosed that since they will be relocating, there is no Christmas Tree Light-up this year with the reindeer and no gift exchange either.

Patrick Crawford in front of the New Amsterdam Prison

She has been incarcerated since 2014 and is awaiting her appeal, but in the meantime, she keeps herself busy sewing and knitting.

Rutherford reported that she is a changed woman who is looking forward to getting out where she will utilise her skills to become self-employed.

“A lot of people are of the opinion that prison is bad, but here is home for me now, and I stay motivated because I want to get out and be free and spend time reflecting on Assistant Superintendent life, reading the Bible and of Prisons, Patrick Craw- going to church service,” ford, Officer-in-Charge of she said.

New Amsterdam Prison Even after she was convicted, Rutherford said her family never gave up on her and more so when her mother passed away, her mom’s sister filled the void.

These days, Rutherford would spend her days at the sewing machine making uniforms for her fellow inmates, prison officers and for the prison expo.

She describes prison as a “home away from home” and that this year, Christmas will be spent in jail quietly.

Away from home Odessa St. Hill is a 41-year-old prisoner and a mother of three who has been in jail since 2019. She related that Christmas behind bars is “hard” without being home with her children.

“I miss my children and family a lot, especially this time of the year when I should be home doing the most to make the place decorated and prepare all the fancy meals, but here, I am,” she said.

St. Hill told the Pepperpot Magazine that she would talk to her children via phone and video chat at the allowed time, but it is not the same as being there in person.

She added that this Christmas in jail will be spentjust as last year, quietly with the hope of getting out.

Odessa St Hill The prisoner stated that they would get good meals, and so on this time of the year, with music and the get-together, which is a must. And once they are on their best behaviour, more dining time will be allotted.

St. Hill is the head cook for the female section of the New Amsterdam Prison and she tries to stay normal and abide by the rules of the jailhouse.

“Prison isn’t a bed of roses.

It is hard being here, locked away, from your kids, family and husband,” she said.

She is a graphic designer by profession and when she gets out, she plans to establish her own small business to earn.

Writing poems, reading the Bible and newspapers Rokeisha Colins, a 38-year-

old mother of four, will be spending her 2nd Christmas in the New Amsterdam Female Prison.

She reported that it has been 19 months in jail and as a vegetarian, she will get bread with cheese even though they will have Pepperpot in fish, chicken, beef and pork.

Colins noted that Christmas behind bars is a sad time for her because she would rather be with her children, whom she misses dearly and cannot wait to be reunited with.

However, in jail, she would spend the time to read the Bible, the newspapers and write poems, and she has a lot to do since she is the Farm and Back Dormitory Orderly.

Since being in jail, Colins said she benefitted from seven different courses and when she gets out, she will be returning to her snackette in her home village.

Rokeisha Colins

The jailhouse musician Clive Knights will be spending his 12th Christmas in jail, and it is a feeling of deep sadness that spreads over him, but he will overcome that feeling since he is incharge of putting together all the concerts and cultural events hosted by the prison.

He will not disappoint this year, as well, and he has to regain control of his emotions to organise everything for the Christmas concert.

The father of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that this year, he will attend the church service on Christmas morning, participate in the special meals, and play the music that day.

“Jail is like a school; you meet people from all walks of life, and you become a large family and Clive Knights embrace each other, and there is the hope of getting out, to redeem your freedom because in here you are like a child, you have to do what you’re told,” he said.

Knights added thathe is awaiting his parole since he would like to be reunited with his sons, ages 21, 19 and 16 years old.

Knights reported that in the male section of the prison, he has developed a bond with the other prisoners, and they share and help each other become SEE PAGE XI better people.

The New Amsterdam Prison

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Social Life giving back to youths for Christmas

By Michel Outridge Social Life, a local non-governmental organisation,is doing its part to give back to the community this year in the form of a party for50 youths between the ages eight to 16 from Sophia, Greater Georgetown,in an effort to revamp their Youth Arm. Programme Coordinator and Vice Chair for Social Life, Fay Gilgious-Greaves told the Pepperpot Magazine that the party will be held at its office at 121 Block ‘E’ Sophia on December 21, 2023.

She disclosed that food and non-alcoholic beverages will be served along with other goodies, but the take-home hamper will consist of groceries and a cake for each of the attendees.

Gilgious-Greaves reported that Social Life was established in 2013 and their platform centres on assisting youths who are addicted to drugs.

She added that they provide out-patient guidance/counselling services as well as in and out-of-school counselling as a direct spill-off of druguse.

Gilgious-Greaves stated that they had more than 20 mem-

bers when they were first established, but the group became dormant during the pandemic and iscurrently trying to revitalise the Youth Arm. Today, she said they have 12 active members and several companies support them but their main sponsor this year is Sol Guyana.

She pointed out that Sterling Products and Food for the Poor are also assisting in making the youth party a success.

Gilgious-Greaves noted that Social Life celebrated its 10th anniversary in May this year, and she is hopeful the Youth Arm will once again gain momentum.

She reported that Social Life provides a summer programme in August annually for youths and a oncea-month meeting where motivational talks and outings are held.

Gilgious-Greaves is the main organiser for this year’s Christmas party hosted by Social Life and she is being assisted by memberswho also play a vital role.

Jofa Products, of which she is a part, will also be a part of this annual Christmas party for 50 youths of Sophia. The

Christmas behind bars at New ...

“Being away from your family at Christmas is hard and it brings mixed feelings, but it is what it is and being in prison takes away a lot from you. When you get out, there is nothing and you must re-start from scratch if you want to maintain your freedom,” he said.

Knights teaches the drama group, leads the worship service at the chapel, and acts as a mediator between prisoners and officers regarding complaints.

Apart from that, he is responsible for seeing the yard is tidy and is always ready to host any event the prison may have.

“I am hoping this will be my last Christmas in jail. I want to go home to my children,” he said.

Going home Ramesh Sewlall, 25, is hoping to get 28 days remission for good behaviour since he has been working in prison at the front gate and at the self-support area as the Orderly.

He would like to be home for Christmas this yearand hasn’t had a dayoff in prison since he was incarcerated 21 months ago.

Fay Gilgious-Greaves

company earned their Made in Guyana label from the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) at this year’s GuyExpo at the Sophia Exhibition Site, where she was a participant.

Apart from putting out quality products, Jofa Products is also registered with the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC).

FROM PAGE X Sewlall said being in prison is hard and it gets worse at Christmas since there is no family there and you have to spend it in jail.

“Prison is hope in troubled times and there are others here for many years. Our only hope is freedom and that keeps me motivated. I want to go home and never return,” he said.

Sewlall told the Pepperpot Magazine that self-control brings sense-control and he lives by these two simple things, which have kept him out of trouble behind bars.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS - CONCLUSION Joy to the world, the lord is come Let earth receive her king Let every heart prepare him room And heaven and nature sing IN the morning, Grandma was up before Sarah, a happy little smile on her face. She laid the table with a freshly brewed pot of tea, toast with scrambled eggs and slices of papaya.

“Thank you, dear Lord, for this meal,” Sarah prayed as they sat down to a nice little breakfast.

The next few days, Sarah began the cleaning and packing as she rearranged and decorated the little house. It now had a festive look and from an old radio she had found, beautiful Christmas songs filled the air.

A promise to her grandma was being fulfilled as Christmas drew closer.

An unexpected tragedy had awoken Sarah to the fact that in life comes changes and challenges. If you want a change for something better, you have to work to make that change yourself and not wait for someone to do it for you.

After the tragic loss of her husband and her baby on the way, she had felt lost; the grief and trauma were too deep for her to handle alone at her young age, so with advice, she spent time with her mother-in-law and a few other relatives in New Amsterdam. The comfort of family was what she needed until her baby was born. She almost suffered another nervous breakdown after the baby’s birth because the father was not with them anymore.

Four months later, she had managed to pick up the pieces of her life and with her finances running low, she had decided to return home to her grandma. As her thoughts went back to that day at the park, she remembered Raj and without knowing why it brought a smile to her lips.

One of life’s changes, maybe?

In her journal she had noted reconnecting with her friends and being more interactive with society. ‘I lost my partner in life,’ she rued with deep regrets. ‘Now I have to walk this road alone but along the way a few kind hands to hold would be good. The first step she had to make was to go back to work, that would set the tone and pace of laying a solid foundation for her child. Two weeks later, after sending out applications, she got a call from the manager of the Pegasus Hotel where

she had worked as a server and was reinstated in her old job.

“This is so great,” she exclaimed thankfully, “I have to work hard and stay strong to make life better from here.”

So she strove daily in her quest, keeping positive thoughts in her mind, finding her own little joys with her baby daughter,

church and close friends.

The festive time was a very busy period for the hotel, being fully booked for lunches, dinners and cocktail parties. She was one of the servers for a special staff dinner for a tech company, and as the drinks were served she noticed Raj at the table that seated the CEO and Directors of the company. He was looking sharp in a well-fitted suit that made him look very handsome.

“Impressive,” she expressed to herself.

As the dinner got underway, she tried not to look his way, but as she began serving a table next to his, he called her, “Miss.”

She turned around and answered cordially, “Yes,sir.”

There was a slight smile of recognition on his face as he looked at her but she tried not to smile back, just holding a pleasant look.

“Another bottle of wine, please,” he requested in that same deep, smooth voice.

“Yes, sir,” she nodded.

The wine was served, and he said to her in a low tone so

only she could hear, “You can smile a little. It’s Christmas.”

She did, just slightly so only he saw the smile and moved on to continue serving the other tables. At the end of the dinner, the guests began leaving but Raj stayed a while longer and then left with the group from the head table, nodding his head a little at her, maybe to say ‘Goodnight’ As she was leaving work for the night, the receptionist called her, “Sarah.”

“Yes.” “A gentleman left this note for you.”

Sarah took the note, not sure who it was from, then smiled when she saw what was written, “It’s raining and it’s chilly, a taxi is standing by to take you home - Raj.” “This is so nice of you,” she said, relieved.

It had been a hard day; she was tired and waiting on the bus would have taken a while. That night as her eyes closed in sleep, she murmured, “I still don’t understand this attraction towards him.”

The next day was a full day again for her, taking grandma to the doctor for her usual check-up and doing a little shopping. The Christmas rush was on, and Georgetown’s shopping areas were crazily busy. She had to send home grandma with a church elder son’s taxi so she could get some shopping done. She took a bus home later, and navigating the pot-holed street due to the heavy rainfall, with shopping bags in both hands, was kinda tricky. Her foot slipped at one point and she almost fell.

“Darn!” she exclaimed in annoyance, “When is anyone coming to fix these bad streets?”

She reached home safely, put her bags down and said, frustrated, “Some improvement is really needed in this community.”

“You can take up the initiative,” Grandma said.

“Oh yes, I will,” Sarah accepted, with a determined glint in her eyes.

Isabella reached out her arms to her and as she held her daughter in her arms, she said to her affectionately, “In my life, you are my little joy.”

And lying in bed that night, looking at the stars through her window, she asked. “What else is there for me?”

Raj’s image flashed in SEE PAGE XXIV her eyes but she shook her

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Confidence and Vision

I RECENTLY wrapped up the final Confidence Becomes You programme for 2023, and it was a blast. When, after the first session, messages started coming in with excited participants raving about the impact, I had a feeling it was going to be phenomenal.

“Woahhhhh, what a great first session! Inspiring and insightful!”

Someone else wrote, “God knows I needed this programme in my life, because I have lost my way. I am already feeling better about myself.”

Each programme feels special because new people’s lives are transformed, which is the main objective. I randomly selected people from the programmes to offer complimentary individual coaching sessions, which was so powerful.

“Thank you for choosing me! Your message and call couldn’t have come at a better time. When I received your message, I was feeling so overwhelmed and confused about myself, and it’s so much more challenging to do the things you set out to do when you’re not feeling okay. After our call, I definitely feel reinspired and motivated. I’m definitely dedicated to this journey of development. Thank you so much!”

Seeking the guidance of God for this mission is vital. I always ask Him to guide me to the people who need me the most, and He has done so on many occasions. Yonnique was one of the young ladies who was disciplined, and submitted her assignments. I can coach and give the tools, but the participants need to do the work to get the results. She shared her feedback: “My honest feedback from this programme was: ‘Life-changing and soul-searching’. The Confidence Becomes You [programme] actually speaks for itself just by the name.

I learned that putting myself FIRST was one of the main keys to boosting my self-confidence and overall self-esteem. The lessons from Dr. Myles Monroe (Purpose video) have been really insightful. The programme helped me to understand the importance of self-care and prioritising my own needs. I highly recommend this programme to anyone; it helps you think long and hard, and develop a sense of self-awareness, figure out who you really are as a person, and find your purpose. “I’m excited to live my true self, and live my true, purposeful life. Thank you, Ms. Noel.”

Jessica is a young lady from Berbice who wants to be a fashion designer, and it seems she will be relentless in pursuing her dreams after this programme. “ ‘Confidence Becomes You’; the name speaks for itself.

As an individual who constantly questioned her decisions in the past, I can now proudly say my coach, Sonia Noel from Confidence Becomes You is a wonder-worker. Before even contemplating joining the programme, I was struggling with low self-esteem and a lack of confidence in myself. I constantly questioned my decisions, and felt anxious about trying new things. However, as I progressed through the programme, I developed a greater sense of self-awareness and self-esteem.

The exercises and activities helped me identify the root causes of my low self-confidence, and provided me with practical solutions to overcome them. I learned how to challenge negative self-talk, and replace it with positive affirmations. I also practised visualisation techniques that helped me envision

success in different areas of my life. Furthermore, I gained valuable communication skills that helped me become more assertive and confident in social situations.

Overall, the Confidence Becomes You helped me develop a greater sense of self-confidence and self-assurance. I can now approach life’s challenges with a positive attitude and a belief in my abilities. I can now live my life to the fullest without doubting myself about anything.

Be Confident, Be Bold, Be You.” Jessica Participants become clearer on their vision for their lives, and achieve greater things. And they are not afraid to fail. One of the things participants love is how well it adjusts to your time, and it is virtual. I remember a few years ago when Clemencio Goddette completed this course, and she wrote her vision and the goals she desired to achieve. A red vehicle was one of her goals, and before the next year, she acquired it. She came on one of the calls and shared her experience of getting her dream car, among other things. Her testimony inspired Nebiola Toppin, and she wrote her car as one of her goals. I was at the diaspora conference at the University of Guyana, and Ms. Nebiola came to see me and introduce me to her new car. I was ecstatic!

Intentions with actions equals manifestations. When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. Up next is our annual vision board parties; I assure you you don’t want to miss them.

“Meeting Sonia Noel and attending her Vision Board party for the year 2023 was beyond motivational.

It was, in many ways, inspiring, because it allowed me to put a planned target into the physical world. In doing this, and having my board where I can wake up and see it every day, and going to bed and looking at what I desire to accomplish has surged a renewed fire in me to work towards these things.

“For the year 2023, I have attained roughly 85% of what I had on my vision board. I gained so much because this vision board pushes you into unknown paths. It lets you know that work must be done to get there.

I’m extremely thankful and I cannot wait for the next event to plan my 2024 vision board. It works, it moves and with determination and faith in God, nothing can stop you.” Brad Brad is living in Bartica, and has become so driven about his personal growth he just completed the Confidence Becomes You Course, and said he is ready for 2024.

Vision boards can help us enforce our vision and support a visualisation practice, whether you have created a handmade or electronic vision board. The events have been very successful, and these are some of the benefits the participants have received over the years.

1. Get clear on goals A vision board is a helpful tool that can help you get clear on what goals you want to achieve in your life. It can help you bring awareness to what matters most so you focus on the right things when working towards your goals.

2. Helps you grow Vision boards that can be updated as many times as you like. Our goals often change and we can update them once we have achieved a goal, too. It can also be a great place to look at where you’ve come from, what goals you have already achieved, and remind you of your growth along the journey.

3. Get motivated Your vision board is a great place to get motivated as you work towards achieving your goals and future vision.

4. Shift your mindset A great way to lift your mood and shift into a positive mindset is to reflect on your vision board. Think about how each visual representation makes you feel, how important it is to you to achieve it and how you’ll feel in the future.

5. Be intentional Becoming more intentional about your day can help you focus on a goal and set out clear steps of what you want to achieve. A vision board will help you prioritise the most important goals and be intentional.

6. Feel happy Doing something creative and fun can give us a huge positive mood boost. Creating your vision board is a great opportunity to prioritise yourself and take time out to think about what you want to achieve in the future.

7. Connect to areas of your life Your vision board doesn’t need to be limited to just work or career-related goals. You can create individual vision boards for all aspects of your life; fitness, relationships, health so you can connect to each vision in more depth.

8. A useful visualisation tool Your vision board is a great tool to use as part of your visualisation practice. At EnVision we encourage you to connect with it daily as part of your practice and to help reinforce what you are trying to achieve.

9. Improves chances of success Achieving your goals requires determination and focus. A vision board helps you to become clear on your vision and remain focused and succeed.

10. Increased productivity Many people say creating your vision board in an atmosphere with others motivates you even more, and I agree. Join us in January for these events that can impact you in 2024 and beyond. Tower Suites on the 13th, Mary’s Sunset Resort 14th, 20th at Leisure Inn New Amsterdam, 21st Watooka Linden. We will also be hosting the virtual option on the 28th of January. Interested persons can register by emailing livingwithintention11@gmail.com or whatsapp at +592-684-8129.

Giving someone a gift that will last them a life is priceless, as is the Gift of Confidence. When I embarked on this mission, I knew I would have to ask a few people to assist in the success of a life-changing venture. The names I am mentioning sponsored I must thank Dr. Clinton Urling, Professor Paloma Mohamed, Dr. Armstrong Alexis, Dr. Keith Joseph, Kelly Clarke, Nadira Budham, Nigel Hughes, Sammy Glasgow, Cecil Adams, Stan Harmon, James Ogle, John Chin, Allistair Park, Brother Danny, Mary Bacchus, Christopher Holder, Richard Haniff, Zena Paul, Said Muntslag, Champion X Guyana inc, Keith Hicks, Keisha Phillips, Lynden Archer Graham.

I appreciate their support more than words can express. The next programme begins in February, and if you are interested in making a difference in someone else’s life, WhatsApp me at 592-684-8129 as we celebrate this journey called life in the last month of 2013 BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

The commemoration of the ‘Maa Kheru (The Christ)’ is here

THE festival of Christmas will resonate through the varied waves of its narratives into our human world again, whether we explore the depth of its content.

We will seek to enjoy its season of happy songs and goodwill. We will embrace our creeds and holiday customs, ignoring the drama of betrayals, power struggles and evil.

Without pause, it does not hesitate to mystify. This drama, whether we perceive it as myth, captures the symbolisms of hope against the rigid selfcenteredness of human preservation, willing to trample on every principle of decency, and captures our imagination because it teaches.

We become enthralled by priestly kings, a cosmic constellation that is the herald which directs us to the mystical incarnation of knowledge within a miraculous son of ‘Mankind’, but even so, the circumstances of the world that envelopes us fill our thoughts with the eerie music of the worldly Pied Pipers, each with its haunting, irrational and contentious anthems. The

latter reflects firmly on the eternally tortured crown of leaders who have replaced kings across time.

We Guyanese will remember this Christmas for the many things we were taught, regardless of how long it takes us to learn.

It will be for those of us who awake on January 1, 2024 with a Christmas of dark, threatening possibilities to remember, and the tremendous struggle to make ends meet. With good faith, however, we will embrace the season’s symbolisms, creeds and customs, paying bills to ensure normalcy, and buying the repairing gifts necessary for the physical home, and ensuring there is enough to eat. We will all be somewhat conservative, without being Mr. Scrooge, because for most of us, our times have condemned us this way, but we will present gifts, especially to the folks that celebrate Christmas; this reference is to the young among our loved ones.

We must concede to the content of the Christmas story that it was the infant sons of men, according to the narrative, of up to two years

old, who paid with their lives so the Christ Child may live. It is even more strange that such a remarkable child was not only alive in the dual lore of Africa.

There is a book that we who are interested in the ‘beliefs of our species’ will discover lies beyond just getting rich, a book named ‘THE WORLD SAVIORS’

by Rev. Charles H. Vail, which is a collection of saviours among men across cultures, human variations and distances, extracted from various cultures over centuries. That accounts for significant further reading. We will also learn by evaluation that the terrible things that the custodians of religion have committed in the name of this or that religion were the convenient interpretations of religious instructions to suit the egos and benefits of men, though this is not, of course, restricted to religion. The more we learn, the better we will be able to define the human world around us.

A closing example of the good and bad humans in the Christmas story is how desperate people

can get to protect their comfort seat, as with King Herod, and how the innocent with their good tidings can unleash that desperate viciousness. The Wise Men (wise in their field) unleashed unprecedented evil, because they failed to

see beyond King Herod’s smile what lurked beyond his knitted brow. In all, even Herod could not determine that the child was hidden within a common young woman and her grumbling, more mature husband, where intuition,

through the eyes of angels, would instruct them to escape into Khemet, the land of the mystique of the ‘Maa Kheru’, ‘The Truth Speaker’, whom we will come to know as ‘The Christ’.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

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MAY THE PEACE AND GOODWILL OF ‘XMAS’ BE WITH US! THIS year, 2023, the celebration of the Christmas (or ‘Xmas’) Season has been somewhat restrained owing to the untimely and heroic deaths of five of our finest soldiers and also because of the bellicose and bullying threats of some powerful extremist politicians in Venezuela to violently seize nearly three-quarters of the territory of Guyana and destroy Guyana as a nation.

Thankfully, the national grief is diminishing with the interment of the heroes and the closure being experienced by their families, and the dangerous existential threat to the nation has been lifted by the Argyle Accord and the tensions which had enveloped Guyanese over the last several months has now receded. Therefore, there is still some space and opportunity to celebrate the traditional Guyanese Christmas.

In this offering, we will use ‘Xmas’ as the spelling for Christmas since it is reminiscent of the catacombs of ancient Rome and that era when Christians struggled to survive againstpersecution. Christians at the time used the Greek alphabet, which began the spelling of Christ and Christmas with the letter “X” (chi) and this alternate spelling was retained over the centuries. At that time, Christians did not treat Xmas as a time of celebration, instead, it was a time of reflection and where peace, goodwill, fraternity and loving-kindness, especially to the poor, were the themes rather than joyousness and merriment.

Guyana’s present mood is similar and this year, we value and understand the theme of Peace and Goodwill more than the theme of merriment. Thus, wishing one’s friends and relatives peace and goodwill this Christmas is more satisfying.

Though the mood of Guyanese this Xmas may be reflective and restrained, the traditions of Xmas as marking the birth anniversary of Lord Jesus are very much alive and are deeply etched in the psyche of Guyanese, and this was clearly manifested when some decades ago, the Government of Guyana declared “the deemphasising Xmas” as national policy, only to be met with strong and universal opposition.

We will remind readers of these traditions. Most of them have already been manifesting themselves during this Xmas Season.

These traditions include cleaning one’s home thoroughly and ensuring that all household equipment and furniture are in spick and span condition. Then there is the lighting up of homes and some streets with fairy lights and other lights

with the Xmas colours of blue, red, green and gold, each of these colours having its own mythology. Cakes have always been part of the Xmas fare from the time of Emancipation, and the three most popular types being black cake, fruit cakes and sponges, with black cake being the Xmas cake par excellence. Though for drink, many families have moved into using aerated drinks, however, homemade drinks, in particular, ginger beer, sorrel, mauby, jamoon wine and rice wine, continue to be appreciated.

Xmas music is ubiquitous at this time whether in the form of Handel’s music, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole or the many evergreen Carols. The part children play in the preparations in the Xmas Season is very important as it creates nostalgic memories which they would treasure all their lives; such would be their part in house cleaning or in the preparation

of cakes and confections like conkey and various fudges and in the family reunion Xmas meal; and most importantly the toys and gifts they receive.

Gift giving is among the oldest Guyanese Xmas traditions. In the villages and in poorer areas like Albuoystown, housewives exchanged saucers with a few foreign dried fruit like dates, prunes, figs, and pieces of cake. As the country became more Westernised, it was always felt that gifts should be imported, foreign-made, and indeed, more expensive. In

the present mood of realism and successful resistance to Venezuelan bullyism, it is easier to grasp the virtue of giving locally produced gifts.

The varieties of locally produced items which could make wonderful Xmas gifts are many and in the interest of space we will mention only a few:There are gold and silver handmade jewellery which could be had in 12ct and 18ct and sold by reputable jewellers; there are Amerindian craft such as hand fans, table mats, bows/arrows, hats, matapees, and Amerindian specialities such as sun-dried cassava bread and cassareep; there are several manufacturers of world-class food and drink products such as E.B. Beharry, who produce a large range of Swiss formulated sweets with types like goldfinger which is a household name, a range of 100 spices of worldclass packaging and quality and of course their curry powders and chowmein; Banks DIH produces a fine rice-based wine of various flavours, (we should remind consumers that there is nothing declasse’ in using rice as base - Sake and Maotai do - and whiskey and vodka use wheat) their range of biscuits with its crackers and vanilla cookies could well replace the Danish cookies which have become so popular at Xmas time and their patisserie bakes a variety of cakes including black cake and icing cakes on which customers could have names and greetings written in any colour they choose.

Demerara Distillers produces the best rums in the world and this is universally acknowledged with its 15-year-old in demand at the bars of all the major hotels and airports, its jams and jellies and cake mixes and Topco Fruit Juices are standard delights and its liqueurs compare with the best of Europe’s.

In this Xmas Season, the Guyanese Xmas traditions are being maintained in every corner of Guyana, in Essequibo, Demerara and Berbice and the tradition of Christmas shopping showed a sparkle which was reflective of the several billions of dollars of disposable income pumped into the economy in the last several months.

Guyanese are enjoying a joyous Xmas Season which will culminate tomorrow in Xmas day.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

Thinking of the homeless on Christmas Day

WHILE Christmas symbolises the birth of Jesus Christ for Christians—it marks a milestone or represents something more for many others worldwide. For some people, Christmas means the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas symbolises one of the best seasons worldwide and is arguably one of the most celebrated holidays. As I pondered on a Christmas theme for this week’s column piece, I kept asking myself: how do the homeless celebrate Christmas? For some people, Christmas Day is just another day meant for survival. It isn’t special, nor is it symbolic.

I don’t want to rain on the parade yet again, but as a social worker, I can’t help to always look at the holistic picture in every scenario. The same can be said for Christmas and the festive activities. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to spend large on gifts and decorations. In extreme circumstances where homelessness exists for a multitude of reasons—people simply do not celebrate Christmas. I’ve written an article earlier on charitable work during the holiday season but I wanted to further expand on what it means to be homeless, especially during the holiday season.

For some people, it might serve as a reminder of what they had or a yearning for what they want to have in every aspect of life. It may mean that some homeless persons simply despise Christmas because what is there to celebrate when life is kicking you to the curb—literally? It is saddening to see a spike in charitable work during the holiday season. I wish the same energy could be shown by organisations and charities all year long. Nonetheless, I am still thankful that there are efforts because being homeless during any holiday must be very difficult. I can’t even begin to imagine what that feels like. Can you?

It doesn’t sit right with me and I don’t think I can spend this Christmas Day without thinking about someone yearning for a cosy place to sleep or something to eat. Unfortunately, I can’t find ways to resolve every single case of homelessness, but this is why I am writing articles like these. I’ve checked in on my privileges, and I am aware that I am fortunate to have my family around me and a roof over my head this holiday season. If you’re thinking about simple

ways to help the homeless this season, you can consider sharing lunch on Christmas Day and providing clothes, sanitary products, and even gifts.

You can perhaps become their Santa for the day and get them a gift they’d like to have—given that you can afford it. In your own little way, you can help put a smile on their face this Christmas. If we all help at least one homeless person in our community to find shelter, jobs, food or even a rehabilitation programme—the world will have fewer people living on the streets for the next Christmas.

Pictures: Homelessness and Christmas1

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS ...

FROM PAGE XII

head with a doubtful smile, “Maybe not.”

Life does not always bring you roses but one can dream and, who knows, magic can happen.

Later that week she was working at the Poolside restaurant and bar and did not see when Raj walked in. A live band was playing, the place was almost filled and all the servers were busy. Once again, he called her as she was attending to another table. She heard him on the second call and turning she saw him sitting at a table with a very beautiful girl.

“Oh,” Sarah exclaimed silently, not surprised but slightly disappointed, “Yes, sir.”

“Can you take our order?”

“Yes, but I have two table orders to fill.”

“We can wait.”

She nodded with a cordial smile, noting that the girlfriend wasn’t pleased about the wait. As she served them drinks, Raj spoke to Sarah in a warm, friendly tone, but when the meal was served after a little wait, the girlfriend’s tone towards Sarah became a little condescending. The evening didn’t go too well for Raj, and after paying the bill, he said quietly to Sarah, “Sorry about that.”

“That’s okay,” she said and gasped at the generous tip he left for her.

And so it was, one of the most eligible bachelors in town his masculinity, a statement that charms the mind - coming in with different dates, incredibly beautiful girls, but the server, a simple and beautiful girl, held his interest.

On the last week before Christmas, as Sarah was coming out of work, she saw Raj waiting in the lounge. He was on his phone but ended the call when he saw her and asked, “Can I offer you a lift home?”

“What happened to your girlfriend?”

“She left in her own ride to a friend’s party I didn’t want to be at.”

“Oh,” she hesitated a little and he said, “You’ve finished late, and you’re tired.”

“Yeah,” she sighed, “Thanks.’

On the way he asked her, “How’s Isabella?”

“Oh, she’s doing fine, getting a little more mischievous.”

“I can imagine,” he said with a little laugh.

There was a pause as she relaxed in the posh comfort of his luxury car, feeling the tiredness drain slowly from her body, “‘I feel I can just sleep here.”

“I have a better idea,” he said with a little jest.

“No, you don’t,” she said, sitting up a bit.

He looked at her and stated, “You know I never really get to talk to you, don’t even have your number.”

“Why do you need to, I’m not in the rich class of your girlfriends. I’m just a simple, working-class girl.”

“You’re in a class of your own, that’s unique and I like that.”

She looked at him surprised, not sure what to say and on reaching her home, he asked her, “Any special plans for Christmas?”

“Hmm, not really.”

“Well, then, can you and Isabella spend Christmas with me?”

Once again, she was surprised, not being able to answer, but it had been her wish for something new and special in her life.

He was waiting patiently for her answer, and she said, a unique and new feeling in her heart, “I would love to.”

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THOUGHT FOR

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

TODAY

Thanks be to God for His indescribabl e gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV)

December 24 2023 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome dear friend.

There are comprehension skillsand strategies which help readers followwritten informationalor consumer documents. Onesuchintravel mayinclude a map of visual

representations of places and a scheduleof arrival and departure times. Other documents can be brochures, labels, loan applications, assembly instruction and warranties.

All need effective comprehension skills to help readers make projections and estimates, and alsoto identify and understand the design, structure, purpose, and target audience. Be wise.

Love you.

THE PASSAGE Read the following extract carefully and then answer questionsusing complete sentences.

Notes: When you work on your comprehension skills the following improvements can be the result: Your vocabulary becomes improved.

You ask questions about the text you are reading.

You use context clues.

You look for the main idea and find it.

You can easily write a summary of what you read.

You rightly divide the reading into smaller sections.

You read at the correct pace.

Passage: When the front door had shut them out and the butler Baines had turned back into the dark heavy hall, Philip began to live. He stood in front of the nursery door, listening until he heard the engine of the taxi die out along the street. His parents were gone for a fortnight’s holiday; he was ‘between nurses’, one dismissed and the other not arrived; he was alone in the great Belgravia house with Baines and Mrs. Baines. He could have gone into any room. They were all empty now.

You could only guess who had once occupied them: the rack of pipes in the smoking-room beside the elephant tusks, the carved wood tobacco jar; in the bedroom the pink hangings and pale perfumes and the three-quarter-finished jars of cream which Mrs. Baines had not yet cleared away; the high glaze on the never-opened piano in the drawing room, the huge clock, the silly little tables and the silver: but here Mrs. Baines was already busy, pulling down the curtains, covering the chairs in dust-sheets.

“Be off out of here, Master Philip,” and she looked at him with her hateful peevish eyes, while she moved round, getting everything in order, meticulous and loveless and doing her duty.

1. Give your understanding of each of the following terms used in the passage: Philip began to live; a fortnight’s holiday; the rack of pipes; the smoking-room 2. What do you think butler Baines was employed to do?

3. Guess two reasons why Philip

was standing in front of the nursery door?

4. Who could have once occupied the smoking-room?

5. Guess two reasons why the piano still maintained its ‘high glaze’?

6. Mrs. Baines sent Master Philip away. a) Sent him from where? b) How old could he have been? c) Did she dislike him? Quote reason(s) from the passage.

IMPROVING READING 1) Reading for fact and opinion Notes: 1) Facts: Whenever you are identifying facts ask yourself these questions: i) Can the statement made be observed in practice or operation? ii) Can you see it happen? iii) Can the statement be verified by witnesses, manuscripts, or documents?

2) Opinions: These are statements that a writer expresses – his own feelings, attitudes, or beliefs.

3) To distinguish between facts and opinions you must read the text critically. Opinions are not reliable unless supported by references to other writers, research, or evidence. Facts are things that everyone knows are true – there should be no contention over things that can be proven.

The Lewis and Clarke expedition to explore parts of the Louisiana Territory was the greatest adventure in American history. The 1803 acquisition of the vast territory from France had doubled the area of the United States. Curious about the huge new territory west of the Mississippi, President Thomas Jefferson chose experienced explorers to lead the expedition, which set off from St. Louis in the spring of 1804. The expedition party travelled through the new breathtaking scenery. None of the men had ever seen anything like it before. The explorers kept careful records of collected specimens of plants and animals. Alas, I have not seen the original records.

1. Which of these is not a fact?

(A) The Louisiana Territory is west of the Mississippi.

(B) The Louisiana Territory has breathtaking scenery.

(C) France sold the Louisiana Territory.

(D) The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States.

2. Which is a clue that the writer is not presenting a fact?

(A) curious about the … territory … (C ) none of the …

(B) experienced explorers … (D) I have not …

3. Which of these is an opinion?

(A) Its leaders had exploring experience.

(B) The expedition took samples of new plants and animals.

(C) The expedition was from St. Louis.

(D) It was the greatest adventure in American history.

4. Which is a clue that the writer is giving an opinion?

(A) curious (B) greatest (C) anything (D) none THE SHORT STORY Write short storiesin approximately 400 to 450 words in length. You MUST use the stimulus provided; develop and organise its content; use language appropriate to your audience, purpose, and content; use appropriate grammar, sentence structure, paragraphs, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation. You must write in Standard English. However, dialect may be used in conversation.

1. “Everyone in the village thought Yvonne Smith had everything. She was a successful, young beautician and liked by her peers. Then the unexpected happened.”

2. He looked nervously around the corner and decided to move on.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023

A ‘smoking’ Christmas DURING this festive season, many persons are likely to be either new recruits to smoking or old smokers will exacerbate their habit. Many of my patients who are smokers ask me questions about their customs. Here are a few of those questions, along with the respective answers.

I know that smoking is bad for a person’s health. But just how bad is it?

About as bad as it could get. Smoking is one of the most important causes of disease and is responsible for at least one out of every nine deaths in Guyana. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers have 10 times the risk of getting lung cancer – and twice the risk of dying from lung disease. Smoking also causes chronic lung disease – chronic bronchitis and emphysema – which can be fatal. But that’s not all. As research continues, the list of diseases associated with smoking keeps growing longer. That list now includes stroke, peptic ulcer, osteoporosis, and cataracts, as well as cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterus, cervix – and possibly also leukaemia and cancer of the breast, prostate, and colon. In addition, diabetics who smoke increase their risk of kidney disease. Smoking can interfere with the healing of wounds and fractures. And it increases facial wrinkling, making a person look older than they really are. In addition, the tar builds up on the surface of the teeth, resulting in permanent staining. The bad breath of inveterate smokers is well known.

What is “passive” or “secondhand” smoking and what harm can it cause me?

These terms refer to the smoke you breathe in from other people’s cigarettes, cigars, or pipes – of from your own smoke, such as when you’re holding a lit cigarette and inhaling the smoke directly. When you breathe other people’s smoke, even if you’re not smoking yourself, in a way, you might as well be – because the smoke is going into your lungs, too. Recent studies have shown small but significant increases in the risk of coronary heart disease, lung disease, and cancer among nonsmokers exposed to cigarette and cigar smoke – a risk that increases with higher levels and longer duration of smoke exposure. Passive smoke has also been linked with the development of lung cancer, heart attack, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome ( SIDS ), bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, chronic respiratory problems, eye and nasal irritation, and middle ear infection. Children are particularly at risk for the effects of passive smoking.

I just got pregnant, and I smoke. Is it true that smoking can hurt the baby? Should I stop?

You’re probably aware that smoking can hurt you, mainly by increasing your risk of developing cancer and heart disease. So you should stop smoking to protect your own health as well as your baby’s. When a pregnant woman smokes, she exposes her baby to toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke, including more than 40 cancer-causing agents. In addition, medical research studies have shown that pregnant women who smoke increase their risk of such serious problems as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, lowbirth-weight babies, and lower intelligence in the children they are carrying. There are even studies showing that male children of mothers who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to become criminals when they grow up!

Tell your obstetrician you smoke, and follow their advice on what you can safely do to stop – and improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 24, 2023