Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 28-01-2024

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Laluni’s agricultural potential Nurturing innovation in traditional farming

Sachin Singh picking some of Laluni’s famed cherries from his farm (Samuel Maughn photo)

Sunday, January 28, 2024

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Gone to meet the ancestors

Standing at the centre, Claire Goring is happy being among her fellow Guyanese cultural workers, including poet and Folklorist Wordsworth McAndrew, wearing a white shirt at the centre of the front row.

THE sad news of the recent passing of Guyanese cultural icon Claire Ann Goring, MS, came as a surprise, and even a shock, to the many who knew her.

Born in Victoria Village on the East Coast of Demerara in British Guiana and educated at The Bishops’ High School in Georgetown, Claire Goring was fortunate to have benefitted from both the rural and urban lifestyles of the country of her birth.

The village of Victoria boasts a rich African culture, with music and dance, food and frolic, which Claire Goring enjoyed, assimilated and practised all her life. The songs, dances, and other folklore of the village of Victoria, were all part of her growing-up years in that iconic village on the East Coast of Demerara in Region Four.

Victoria is also regarded and respected as the first village established on the Coastland of British Guiana after the abolition of slavery in the colony in 1838. The history of Victoria records that, in November 1839, 83 freed slaves pooled their financial resources, which they had saved during the latter years of slavery, and purchased Plantation Northbrook, which they renamed VICTORIA. History of that event reveals that the Africans transported the money in wheelbarrows and paid 30,000 Guilders for the property. What was never offiSEE PAGE XXV cially reported or is generally

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

The art of diversifying Couple tapping into Guyana’s rapid growth with three business ventures

MICHELLE and Keon Howard are a re-migrant couple who initially returned to Guyana for an extended visit for a year.

However, during their stay, the couple felt the need to pool their knowledge, experience, and resources and invest in Guyana’s rapidly growing local economy in three separate businesses that offer various services.

The Howards are the owners of Electric Guyana, the brainchild of Keon, who brought his electrical business from Canada to Guyana after he realised he wanted to stay. Fresh Café is coowned by his wife, Michelle and a local engineer which promotes healthy eating and living.

Then there is the couple’s other business, Winedays.gy, a high-end imported wine business which they are hoping to grow.

The intention of the Howards is to contribute to Guyana’s growth and they have invested with all their might in three business ventures with the hope of promoting education, electrical standards and a healthy lifestyle through a ‘green’ diet.

Michelle’s love for cooking Michelle loves cooking and with her expertise and kitchen skills, she and co-owner Jeffrey Walcott opened Fresh Café in 2023 at Carmicheal Street, Georgetown, next to Scotiabank.

Michelle was passionate about introducing a healthy diet food option that is different from most eating houses.

Jeffrey manages the décor and it is quite pleasing to

“fresh’ every day,” Michelle said.

“We have this area where we live called the dam where we had cookouts as a way of relaxing with friends. It was on a dam by the house we utilised and after I became a Rotarian and our friends would come and eat. And they said, ‘Michelle, you should have a restaurant because the food is delicious!’” she explained.

the eyes. The soft touches of greenery with a kitchen garden right in the restaurant bring that added pop, and the light, soothing instrumental music, clean atmosphere and suitable furnishings make it all come together well.

“We have the space, the wall opens up and there is enough space to host meetings, seminars, parties and other get-togethers and so far, people have been utilising the space for many events and the restaurant caters for walk-ins and just about anyone but we have our regular customers who make it viable to keep our door opened for business,”Michelle said.

In the near future, Michelle is hoping to expand, and the café will also provide gluten-free and regular desserts. “We take pride in our globally inspired approach to crafting locally healthy, creative and nutritious sal-

Keon’s electrical venture

On the technical side of things is Keon, the brain behind Electric Guyana Inc., an electrical consultancy and installations, residential, commercial, industrial and Keon Howard, co-owner of Electric Guyana Inc maintenance company.

After Keon and Michelle (Keon Howard’s Photo) moved back home, Keon ads and warm grain bowls and plates that are made launched Electric Guyana Inc. in 2018. It is an electrical contracting firm responsible for the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical systems.

Howard told the Pepperpot Magazine that Electric Guyana Inc. was accepted into the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Notably, the company is the first Guyanese entity to gain membership with the organisation.

“The organisation sets the standard for traditional and integrated electrical systems, leads the industry in the practical application of new technologies, serves as the voice for electrical construction by empowering contractors to be innovative, safe and responsible when executing works Michelle and Keon Howard at an event where their small business, Withroughout the US, as well nedays.gy was featured.

Fresh Café (Shaniece Bamfield photos)

as, the Caribbean,” Howard added.

Further, Howard said that while the membership recognises Electric Guyana Inc.’s contributions to the industry, it also gives the company an advantage when bidding for international projects when compared to other businesses in the industry.

He reported that they hope to create a body locally to raise the electrical standards/promote safety by having tamper-proof outlets at every six feet in-house to eliminate the possibility of overloading and fires.

Electric Guyana Inc. won the Guyana Chamber of Commerce and Industry award in 2023 and in the near future, it hopes to expand to cater to the oil and gas sector.

Howard’s electrical business has 12 employees including two females and they have had many successful projects in Guyana such as the Mabaruma Hospital among others.

He is a member of the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and he assisted that body to have 31 new electrical standards.

The wine connoisseurs Michelle and Keon Howard also have a unique hobby of imported wine tasting and entertaining with a good bottle of top-shelf wine.

However, when they relocated to Guyana, they could SEE PAGE XIV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Empowering Futures

The Achieve Foundation’s mission is from compassion to action.

By Shaniya Harding MOST of us are lucky to have the chances, opportunities, and even the life we do. The fact that we are not subjected to the countless harsher hands life has to deal with is easy to overlook. There are moments, memorials, and people who remind us how lucky we are and how much we can do to help. This is the founding idea behind the Achieve Foundation. When Saleema Haniff was in high school, she and her friends

set off to an orphanage as part of an attempt at extracurricular activities. This experience changed her mindset and thinking and gave rise to a foundation that champions one of the most wholesome causes.

The Achieve Foundation When a young Saleema and her friends visited Joshua’s home while in high school, she could never have imagined that it would leave as big an impact as it did.

Twenty-eight-year-old Sal-

eema started Achieve almost 12 years ago during her time in high school, but it has only taken off and became official just over five years ago. Saleema and Achieve work with donations and good-spirited volunteers to offer academic help to orphaned children living in Guyana. When Saleema was a young girl, she took note of the unique struggles children in homes face compared to herself.

As she shared, “I realised these children needed a lot of academic help. So, every week, my friends would go

would match them with whatever academic level they are comfortable with. We would find a student that needs help in the orphanage, and they would tutor them every Sunday.”

Although Achieve’s primary focus is that of education, the foundation also emphasises other aspects.

Psychological help and skills training are also areas where Achieve works with children.

Counselling, in particular, has become a major part of Achieve. Saleema explained that most children in orphanages deal with immense psychological issues. Saleema shared, “We have the counselling aspect of it. Something that we noticed is that the children often need some type of psychological help; they have all been through trauma.” Seeing a need, Saleema sought to find a solution. She and her small team set out to Saleema Haniff (right) alongside garner psychological help for first lady Arya Ali the children Achieve worked with. She expressed that there back and teach them every have been some issues in this Achieve’s Impact Sunday. As I kept going to field, but Achieve is now The Achieve Foundation equipped with two trained the orphanage, I kept seeing the same problem. That these has worked with several or- child psychiatrists. The founkids did not have any lessons phanages around Guyana dation has made countless or so, like I was lucky to and has helped countless other strides across differhave, to help push them aca- children, the exact number ent fields. Over the years, demically.”

Saleema has taken Saleema saw the it upon herself to issue and sought to forge relationships fix it. She explained and encourage oththat it goes far beer people to join yond help in school, the cause. A few but the lack of eduyears ago, Saleema cational support can partnered with the profoundly affect First Lady. This is someone’s entire just a small step in life. According to what Saleema hopes Saleema, Achieve Achieve can do. is working to give Achieve’s Next children the skills steps necessary to strive Throughout in school and at the years, Saleema least the basic skills cited the success needed to make it stories of children in the world. She as her motivation shared that, “I to keep going. knew some of these From children who children were not surpassed academstrong academiic expectations to cally. And I would those who excelled wonder if they got in one skill or ana job when they left other, Achieve and the home and these the people behind sorts of things. And Saleema tutoring one of the many chil- it have worked dren she works with.

I thought that maytirelessly to give be they just needed orphaned children a little bit of help academi- Saleema could not recall. But a better chance at life. As cally so that when they leave in six years of service across someone who has spent as the orphanage, they have multiple orphanages, it is safe much time as Saleema has something, like CXC’s, to to say that they have helped in orphanages, she noted help them go and find a job.” a couple of hundred children the issues facing the orWith that in mind, Saleema get a better academic head phanages could be fixed set out to equip those less start in life. Saleema shared with the attention of people fortunate than herself with the that, “We have volunteers, and the consideration of knowledge she hoped would people who say they would people at large. like to tutor a child, and we give them a good start.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Archery at NARDA

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Recreational academy promoting the sport to build mental and physical capacity

By Michel Outridge NARDA Mohamed Mangra is a community activist at heart, but she has many interests and simply cannot stay still for long.

As such, she is doing many things to boost the capacity of herself and others through her established organisations.

She is the mother of one, and has been an employee attached to the High Commission of India in the Commercial/Political Section for the past eight years.

Mohamed Mangra is responsible for allocating scholarships to Guyanese to study in India in the exchange programme between the two countries.

The 38-year-old is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the National Academy of Recreational and Developmental Arts (NARDA), which was established in November 2022.

The non-profit organisation offers out-of-classroom courses to build mental and physical capacity such as archery.

Mohamed Mangra is a certified Archery Level Two Instructor/Coach, and is one of 25 influential women leaders in Guyana “Women in Business”.

“Although I did accomplish a lot academically and generally, I felt an emptiness, and I knew I have the ability to learn quickly and I applied myself because I wanted to do more to assist others. So, during COVID-19 when I got married, my husband, Anand Mangra, is a World Archery Coach. We embarked on an archery journey together. We certified ourselves overseas and came back to teach others locally. At that time, I was

studying at the University of Guyana (UG), and when the Eccles Policing Group (CPG) asked us to help with a recreational programme, we introduced archery. It started with two persons, and today we have trained more than 1,500 individuals collectively,” she said.

Mohamed Mangra told the Pepperpot Magazine that she also did a bit of everything arts, such as dancing, drama, modelling, cooking via Carnegie Home of Economics and also sang.

She found her niche when she established Pro Archers Club Guyana and NARDA, an institute geared towards uplifting people via recreational development to teach

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Charles Ramson during a training session.

Narda Mohamed Mangra in an archery demonstration.

Narda Mohamed Mangra.

art.

Mohamed Mangra reported that NARDA offers physical/mental training and is a unique recreational academy. The academy promotes overall health, fitness and well-being through physical

training and mental coaching. She stated that they aim to incorporate healthy recreational practices in order to lead people to become independent. They also offer free coaching but do ask for a contribution which goes

towards the equipment.

She noted that the motto of NARDA is “Healthy body, wealthy minds” and they practice what they preach and it works since archery is a simple sport that doesn’t require any special skills set.

She related that for academic classes, they have time and money management and public speaking.

For physical training, they offer archery, darts, chess, axe throwing and others and for mental health coaching, they have motivational sessions, one-onone coaching and emotional healing.

Mohamed Mangra also formed the first Pro Archery Club Guyana, which is based in Eccles, East Bank Demerara and offers pocket-friendly archery training.

Apart from promoting archery in Guyana, Mohamed is a volunteer with several NGOs and is usually the Grammar teacher in the capacity-building programme for the children in Tiger Bay. Mohamed Mangra is also a member of the Eccles Community Policing Group (CPG). She is a Government of Guyana scholarship recipient who recently graduated from the West Indies University in Barbados with a Masters of Business Administration.

She is the youngest of five siblings and practically grew up in the shadows of her sister, Nadia, who is a social activist. She wanted to become just like her.

Recalling her younger days, Mohamed Mangra told the Pepperpot Magazine that she used to go with her sister to these countryside villages where she taught the girls how to wrap saris, dance and did many forms of drama.

Mohamed Mangra reported that her siblings were instrumental in forgotten traditions and love working with young people and children.

Growing up, she admired the work her sister did behind the scenes and patterned herself like her and today, she is glad she did because it moulded her into a grounded person who knew what she wanted and went after it.

Mohamed Mangra is also a volunteer in the mandirs and mosques and in community-based development. She is the Universal Peace Ambassador for Guyana and has her hands filled as is.

Laluni VI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

The Green Heart of Guyana

By Shaniya Harding NESTLED some nine miles through the better-known village of Kuru Kuru is the charmingly authentic farming community of Laluni. The community boasts a population of more than 500 people from all walks of life, making it one of the largest communities along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.

Laluni is well known for its countless successful agricultural endeavours, so much so that the name Laluni has become synonymous with farming, and the community has seen the cultivation of all crops grown in Guyana.

A drive through Laluni’s five parts will expose you to the true nature of diverse agriculture. With acres of cash

crops, hundreds of coconut groves, and countless orchards, one can only wonder why farming in Laluni is unlike farming anywhere else.

Deokummar has called the village of Laluni home for as long as he can remember.

Born and raised in the village of Laluni, ‘Deo’, as members of his community call him, has seen Laluni change throughout the years. The young farmer shared, “I have been in Laluni for a while; I was born here. I am a farmer, and I have been one up until now, and I am 31 years old.

I have made reasonably successful farming, and that has become my job right now.”

But whether the changes have been subtle, modest, or drastic, the village’s agricultural nature has never been shaken. Quite the opposite

has happened. With more effort, time and resources poured into Laluni’s agriculture, countless people have taken up the mantle, shovel, and wheelbarrow to begin forging their own paths as farmers at the forefront of one of Guyana’s largest agricultural endeavours.

Deo shared that growing up in Laluni was reminiscent of boyhood days in many rural areas of Guyana. His youth in Laluni was spent playing cricket, climbing trees, and running through the vast open farms that Laluni has to offer. Deo said, “Growing up here, we found it nice. We liked to play cricket. And the village was really quiet.”

But now we have got better roads,” Deo said.

Deokumar reaping some eggplants from his Laluni farm

and produce to talk about.

Like so many young men in Laluni, Deo took up farming

the market. I think I am doing pretty well in farming.”

Challenges in farming

Agriculture in Laluni has been used as a model for farming in other communities. Laluni farmers have crafted unique agricultural techniques and special crop cultivation methods that have proven to be successful in both small and large-scale farming. Deo explained how he has planted a special mixture of crops that grow well with each other and the soil at any given time. “I plant cash crops; I have tomatoes, sweet peppers and sweet corn, and I have watermelon. I do not plant just one crop, or depend on one crop; if I have a bad crop in one thing, I have

Deo is starting up his manmade well.

Laluni is home to countless majestic open grasslands Samuel Maughn photos)

Laluni still retains its quiet and serene nature now, only with many more people

right out of high school. He readily admitted that farming was not his initial choice, but after dropping out of school at 15, his parents encouraged him to join agriculture, and since then, he says, he has been reaping the rewards. He stated, “After I dropped out, I started to go into agriculture through my parents. I did well in it, and so I motivated myself more. I took on workers and got my tractor and transportation to go to

are challenges for the community in Laluni. One of the issues that are oftentimes not considered is the time, work, and labour required to take produce from the farms to the market. Although work is being done in Laluni to combat the issue, according to Deo, good roads are far more important to a community of farmers than you would believe. “Our road was a bit of a mess, and that was one of the biggest challenges.

something else to rely on.”

Deo explained that while farming is present throughout Guyana, he feels it has blossomed even more so in Laluni. There are challenges, he persisted, but striving against the challenges of agriculture is what brings successful farming to the forefront. As Deo stated, “I like Laluni a lot for the quietness. Farming is nice in Laluni, but there are challenges behind it.”

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Between tradition and tomorrow Laluni’s story of development and change

By Shaniya Harding THE community of Laluni was founded in March 1995

by Wilfred Henry. The village has managed to retain its way of life, which goes far beyond farming. Laluni is not underdeveloped; rather, it has taken authentic traditional values and practices and crafted them into a unique culture. Longtime villagers of Laluni say the community has not changed much throughout the years. While there are changes the people of Laluni wish to see, there are a

of my sons are farmers, and two of the ten girls I have are farmers. The other one is not; she has a business in Georgetown. Since I was young, I used to farm and sell in the market,” she explained.

Laluni could very well be described as a world far beyond Georgetown. The nine-mile-long road that runs through Kuru Kuru is traversed by countless cars today. But according to Radha, there was a time when the Laluni road was a trail that the people of Laluni walked.

She reminisced about the many years she and her fami-

is fortunate enough to have their own mode of transportation, in earlier years, if there was a single farmer with a vehicle, he would lend a helping hand. She explained, “Every weekend, we would walk the Laluni road to go to the market. And if one farmer had transportation, they would help carry our fruits or vegetables.” She further explained that the family is thankful to have survived those trying times and come out successful today, stating, “Now we have worked and worked and saved. The roads and the community have de-

Radha Persaud with some of the oranges she farms in Laluni (Samuel Maughn photos)

One of Laluni’s many creeks. This one is a short walk from Radha’s home

few things they like just the way they are.

Radha Persaud lives at the far end of Laluni. The proud mother of seven has been a farmer since she ventured into Laluni as a young girl. All of her children have had experiences in agriculture. Whereas some chose agriculture, as she did, a few have taken other career paths in life. During her time, however, Radha stated that farming was not the most popular option, but it was rather the only one. “All four

ly walked the Laluni trail in a dire effort to get their produce to the market in the capital city. “In Laluni, it was hard.

We used to walk this trail.

One of my children was born in a Land Rover, and the rest at home. Because we did not have transportation like we do today, our own cars and taxis,” said Radha.

Since the beginning and in the face of adversities, the people of Laluni have had a sharing and compassionate nature. Radha explained that although today her family

veloped.”

It has been quite a few years since Radha herself has ventured out of Laluni to sell at Georgetown’s market.

She says that she cannot picture herself living anywhere else, particularly not in Georgetown. Laluni has been her home since she was young, and her family came to the community. The way of life is what keeps Radha enthralled in Laluni, with the friendly nature of the people and the enticing trees around every corner. She shared, “I

like living in Laluni; it is quiet, breezy, and fresh. We get everything fresh from the farm; if you want something to cook, we go into the farm and pick it.” This sentiment

seems to be true throughout the community, as Radha showed the Pepperpot Magazine team her farm, which was full of various fruit and vegetable trees and accompa-

nied by a fish pond.

Radha explained that although it may not seem like it from the outside looking in, the people of Laluni live lives that are not much different

A Laluni home surrounded by flowering plants

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Laluni’s agricultural potential Nurturing innovation in traditional farming

By Shaniya Harding THE community of Laluni has emerged as one of the few remaining communities that has developed and

agricultural pioneers Sachin Singh was born and raised in the community of Laluni. Although he moved around the village

oped their wells. The people of Laluni have long been innovative in their approach to dealing with community issues. As Sachin explained, much of his childhood was characterised by issues that faced the community and how families like his made

men like himself express that finding work in Laluni is a challenge, and thus, they turn to the age-old craft of agriculture. “There are no jobs in Laluni, so everyone turns to farming, which is the main source of income for everybody,” said Sachin.

The complexities of agriculture Some may look at farming and consider it easy at face value. Observing farming from the outside, crop cultivation could look as

day. He shared, “To become a farmer, you have to have certain experiences. You have to know what to do, what to plant, which chemicals to use. To become a farmer is very challenging.”

As much as farming is the agricultural backbone

The Laluni road

Sachin Singh picking some of Laluni’s famed cherries from his farm (Samuel Maughn photos)

emphasised agriculture as much as it has. Regardless of age, agriculture seems to run through the veins of the people of Laluni. The younger people of the community have also taken up the mantle of farming. With improvements in technology, a better understanding of modern farming practices, and new ideas, the young farmers of Laluni have plans to bring more than agriculture to the forefront of their community’s development.

The new generation of

quite a bit, this ambitious young man has settled on some twenty-something acres of land at the very beginning of the village. Sachin’s and many other farms in Laluni paint a picture where agriculture meets serene landscape beauty. With various crops, Sachin and the team of young men he works with tend to their crops daily and are constantly searching for ways to revolutionise agriculture.

The fact that Laluni has no water is sometimes easy to overlook, as members of the community, true to their nature, have dug and devel-

the effort to make it work.

He shared, “Growing up in Laluni was not an easy life, but whatever my parents provided for me, I made it work.”

Like several youths everywhere, Sachin was not fortunate enough to complete high school. As much of a challenge as this was for a young Sachin, he decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps, and he is today one of Laluni’s most successful agricultural pioneers. He told the Pepperpot Magazine, “I never really got to complete secondary school, but I have made a life for myself. I have a wife and a four-year-old son. Growing up in Laluni is nice; it is quiet and full of friendly people.”

Perhaps one of the reasons it is so vibrant in the community is due to the availability of work. Sachin and countless other young

Despite the challenges Sachin and the young people of Laluni face in acquiring a job, they have directed their energies toward agriculture.

Sachin has learned all he knows about agriculture from his parents. Sachin firmly believes that by building on the knowledge passed down from his parents and continued dedication, he will see new agricultural developments. He said, “Farming is a tough job, but whatever my parents teach me, I put forward, and hopefully one day, life will be much better.”

elementary as digging up the earth, placing seeds or saplings, and watering it in hopes that it becomes something more. However, there are far deeper issues and factors that need to be taken into consideration before a successful crop is reaped.

During his agricultural journey, Sachin says that he faced a barrage of challenges with the health and productivity of his crops over the years.

These experiences were, at times, detrimental but taught him what he needed to learn to become the farmer he is to-

of Laluni, community members do believe that there is space for development in other sectors. Sachin, for example, sees beyond Laluni’s agricultural gifts.

He believes that Laluni has untouched potential. He shared, “If Laluni could have its processing plant. If we could process cherries, passion fruit, and carambola.” Communities with natural diversity and untapped potential, like Laluni, exist all around Guyana; it is up to the people to preserve them.

A small farm in Laluni that marks entry into another section of the community.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Roots and Resilience

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One mother’s story of strength, survival, and eventual success

By Shaniya Harding THE village of Laluni is a community where most of its inhabitants were born and bred in the community. Very few come from other places to settle down, understandably so. Prior to recent years, Laluni was still emerging as an agricultural community in need of governance at the community level. At that time, Bernadette Surujballi was a single mother struggling to make ends meet.

Her story of survival is an inspiring one. Today, she has emerged as a pillar of her community.

In May of 1962, Bernadette was born into a family that fostered her humble beginnings. She was born many miles away from Laluni in a village named Pouderoyen on the West Bank of the Demerara River. Bernadette considers her upbringing on the West Bank to be one of the happiest times of her life.

She remembers the caring nature and sense of togetherness she found in the diverse community she once called home.

“Growing up in Pouderoyen was nice. The people there used to live as one,” she said. Like so many others of the time, Bernadette and her family were searching for employment. This search led them to Laluni. One of the reasons why Laluni is so agriculturally inclined is perhaps due to its very foundation being rooted in farming.

Laluni was once home to one of the region’s largest and most robust tobacco plantations. Her family’s journey to Laluni began with the separation of her parents.

Bernadette’s mother packed

up her eight children and went to Laluni, hoping to find work on its famed tobacco plantation. A young Bernadette and several other members of her family came to Laluni and took up work on the Plantation. “I came to Laluni when I was just 13 years old and I worked on the tobacco plantation,” Bernadette stated.

In the years that followed, Bernadette’s life seemed plagued by a continuous series of unfortunate events.

With the passing of her second husband, Bernadette had found herself as a single mother of two, living in a village where life had already had its challenges.

In the early years, Bernadette expressed that times were not like they are today, and neither were situations.

She stated that, in the past, hard work and dedication were the only sure ways of achieving anything, compared to current times, where there are more options and ways for self-development.

Despite this, Bernadette set forward with her two sons, determined to give them a life better than hers.

Times were tough for Bernadette and her two sons in the beginning. Work was hard, and Bernadette did not have a “nine-to-five”. On the contrary, Bernadette, with her young sons in tow, would set out in search of any work the trio could do. During this time, all Bernadette had were the values she had kept from her family while all she worked towards was a better quality of life for her children. She shared that, “As a single parent, I did not have a job that brings in a salary.

We had to go out and look.”

Some school children visiting Bernadettes’s shop (Samuel Maughn photos)

In time, all the hard work eventually paid off. The family was able to afford their own home. This was a big milestone for Bernadette and her sons, as it marked her first step in giving her children a better life than she had. The home was built by the family, as Bernadette explained, “I used to live with my sister and then we made our own house. Me and my sons made blocks from the mold and built our house. It was hard.”

As trying as these times were, the most difficult times were yet to come.

A few years ago, Bernadette lost her eldest son to cancer. In dire times, the family banded together and there had never been a time as dire as that for Bernadette’s fam-

Bernadette Surujballi

Remnants of the Laluni plantation.

ily. Bernadette and her sons worked together as best they could despite the diagnosis.

“It was not easy as a mother to watch my son go through that,” she said. But as fate would have it, two years ago, her eldest son passed away.

This left a deep scar on the

family and Bernadette. She does, however, believe that he is in a better place.

Still, all her hard work was not in vain. Today, Bernadette is happy about what she has achieved. Before her son’s passing, he had opened a small business

in Laluni, which he gave to her. Bernadette’s other son has also made her proud by taking up the position of Laluni’s CDC chairman.

It is safe to say that Bernadette has lived a life full of accomplishments in her own right.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

DDL unfurls its banner of excellence --introduces innovative technology for Guyana’s development

EARLY last year when Demerara Distillers Ltd. (DDL) was making arrangements for their fresh-milk project, this column welcomed their innovative and imaginative effort. Today, consumers rejoice at the taking off of their modern and state-of-theart facility to produce fresh milk and other dairy products. This DDL effort satisfies a need that has affected Guyanese consumers for over half a century until the end of 1950: Fresh milk as well as pasteurised milk, was available to consumers in both town and country in adequate supply. From the beginning of the 1960s, however, when the country became engulfed in racio-political conflict, which all but destroyed its social and economic life, the prosperous milk industry was one of the first casualties.

Resuscitating the dairy industry to modern First World standards was a challenge that no other company or entrepreneur felt capable of taking on. When Mr. Komal Samaroo, the CEO of DDL decided to take on the challenge, consumers felt very happy, since Mr. Samaroo’s stature as one of the Caribbean’s most able businessmen gave the assurance that the project would be a success.

Indeed, Mr. Samaroo and his company, DDL, have the reputation that any project they undertake is well researched and planned, and will not only be profitable to the company and its shareholders, but will also be of benefit to society as a whole, and the dairy project is a good example.

Normally, a company embarking on a dairy project will tend to seek partners and technology transfer from Denmark, Holland or Germany, but DDL, after comprehensive research, found Israel to be a preferable partner. The project will not only be profitable, but will satisfy a long-felt consumer need, improve the dietary quality of the nation, save the country foreign exchange, and eventually be a net foreign exchange earner for the country.

The project introduces a unique method of dairy farming to Guyana. The cows will not be grazed, but will live in their pens, fed a diet of nutritional food produced on the project’s farm. The pens will be temperature-controlled to ensure the animals’ comfort, and each animal would be monitored electronically to ensure its health.

Over 900 animals would be imported from the United States, and all the export requirements have already been completed. Over four million litres of fresh milk would be produced annually and transported to DDL’S TOPCO milk plant for packaging and pasteurisation.

The farm is situated at Moblissa, on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, and the main access road is being rehabilitated. A new bridge is being built to facilitate the transport of milk to the TOPCO plant for final processing.

The 500 acres of land allocated to produce the animal fodder is being cleared and levelled, and corn and legumes are being planted. When harvested, these crops are taken to the barn where they are formulated with other ingredients and nutritional fodder is prepared for the requirements of the different categories of animals. Three very large wells are being constructed, and these will supply adequate water for the project. DDL is investing over $4 billion in the project, and the Project Manager is Mr. Wesley Kirton. The project is scheduled to be completed early next year. The consumer community eagerly looks forward to the availability of the highest quality of milk and other dairy products on the local market.

DDL has been able to survive and prosper in a world of stiff competition by its ability to diversify profitably and meet consumer requirements. By international acclaim, it produces the best rums in the world; now it is embarking on producing milk and dairy products of the highest quality!

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

A tour of Demerara Dairies Inc in Moblissa

MY friend Wesley Kirton (who reads my column every week) often invites me to social functions he hosts on special occasions, but this invitation was different: A tour of Demerara Dairies Inc. in Moblissa.

I’d heard about the project, but never paid much attention to it. I had a full schedule on the day in question, so I did not commit immediately, because

my lungs with a better version of air. We arrived at the junction of the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and Moblissa Access Road, and I was elated to see my friend, Loris Natoo, who is the DDL project Executive, and whom I have not seen in years. We even took a selfie.

Loris will be my chess coach soon, and that is one of my vision boards that will be manifested. Mr. Kirton and

it was for the entire day.

I was very interested, and hence, decided to shift a few things around to make the trip possible.

I love going out of town, because it allows me to feed

Mr. Samaroo briefed us on the development of the road leading to Moblissa, and it was nice to witness the new bridge under construction.

The contractor hired by the government gave us an over-

view of work in progress, and a description of a new bridge over a creek. The creek water was enticing. As you know, rivers and creeks always attract the country girl. I felt like relaxing in the black-water creek and forgot the tour. Lol! I am happy I did not choose this option because I was blown away by what I experienced. We made a brief stop at a partially built community centre where DDL hosted a Christmas party, and DDL Chairman Komal Samaroo updated us on DDL’s plans for the centre. They have taken on the task of completing the building, which will be an asset to the community. I must commend Mr. Samaroo and his team on this initiative. One of the most important attributes Mr. Samaroo has in common with his predecessor, Dr. Yesu Persaud, in my opinion, is his humble demeanour. I have always admired how grounded he remained despite all his achievements; this new initiative could be a larger-than-life project.

Listening to the briefing on location provided a lot of ‘info’ on the magnitude of the dairy project occupying approximately 100 acres of land: 60 acres for feed and 40 acres for farm buildings, initially acquired from the Guyana Lands & Surveys Commission. An additional 150 acres were recently acquired, with land clearing in progress. For the Dairy Farm: There are 915 animals as part of Phase I (500 milking cows and 415 heifers).

Each cow will annually produce 10,000 liters of milk, and the cows will be milked three times a day, every eight hours. The Processing Plant at Diamond will be capable of producing approximately 19.2 tons or 18,600 L daily (5 days/week) of premium milk products. The milk will be transported to Diamond in stainless steel refrigerated tanks for pasteurisation and processing into boxes.

The meals and medical facilities will be catered for,

so they will not be like the cows who have to look for the meals. The project’s main objective is to strengthen dairy production in Guyana and CARICOM to supply fresh high-quality milk products

to Guyanese consumers and replace milk importation, transfer of state-of-the-art agricultural knowledge and expertise and create job opportunities for local residents in and around Moblissa and

the surrounding communities.

“This project is conceived within the framework of the policy of regional food security, and is designed on effiSEE PAGE XXIV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

TOO YOUNG TO DIE SHE opened her eyes and gasped as though suddenly awakening from a deep slumber.

It was dark and quiet, a chilling quietness that seemed not of this world. She

sat up slowly and whispered through icy breath, “Where am I?” The sounds of a crash and screams flashed in her mind and stepping down from where she had been lying, not

feeling her feet on the floor, she looked around the cold, quiet chamber.

“What am I doing here?”

Icy fingers of fear gripped her when she realised she was in a place not of the liv-

ing and she screamed.

“No, this can’t be, my mother is waiting for her medication. I’ve got to get to the drugstore!”

She ran out of the cold chamber and stopped, for she was in a strange place, not on the road in her village. It was the hospital grounds and people passing could not hear nor see her. The reality hit her like a blast of colder air, and she cried in her mind, “I died?”

She stood there feeling lost in that new world she was now in, not wanting to be there.

but an unseen being.

Princess, her pet terrier sensing her presence, jumped up, barking and wagging her tail excitedly.

Sandhya kneeled down and hugged her, grief in her heart.

“So sorry, girl, I can’t be here with you like before.

Something bad happened.”

The dog looked at her with her soft brown eyes, wagging her tail as though she understood.

Sandhya walked up the short stairs into the house with Princess at her heels.

Her mother was lying on

her mother in their garden and selling greens and fruits in the market to elevate her family’s lives. She would study hard at school to gain high success, guaranteeing a good-paying job.

But fate took it all away.

She rode her bike that fateful day to the drugstore, staying safely in the corner, when a reckless driver took the turn at breakneck speed, hitting her and dragging her with her bike a good way further.

A young life gone, her future plans torn and scattered on the road.

“I want to see my mother, please…let me go home.”

She closed her eyes, n o t s u re w h o s h e w a s pleading to, but it seemed her plea was heard. She felt lifted by a sudden gust of wind, and when she opened her eyes, she was in her small village on the West Coast.

It was late in the night, so no one was in the streets except a couple of drunks singing melodies of yesteryear as they stumbled home.

She stood deep in the shadows, her head bent, her long black hair partially covering her face.

Her shoulders shuddered as though she was crying, and then slowly, she raised her head and pushed back the hair from her face. Her coal-black eyes held a deep sadness as she looked at the small wooden house further down the street.

A single light shone through the window and slowly, she walked to her home, not a lively young girl,

the worn sofa crying quietly, grief etched on her face.

“Why my little girl?” she cried weakly.

“I am here, Ma,” Sandhya said, sitting beside her and touching her face, “I’m sorry I didn’t get your tablets.”

“If only I hadn’t sent her to the store with her bicycle,” she lamented.

“How can I tell you to stop crying, ma? What comforting words are there to ease your pain?”

The young girl felt helpless, for the burden of grief was so heavy.

She went to her young sister and brother’s room and watched them toss and turn, restless in their sleep.

As their big sister, though young herself, her hands they had held for support since their father died five years ago.

Whose hands would they now hold, for the mother would be facing a sterner battle for survival?

Sandhya had vowed to herself while working with

“What now?” she wondered.

The next morning, as neighbours and families came to give her mother their sympathy, Sandhya listened to what they had to say about the accident that killed her.

The driver, she heard, was put on a small bail and not charged with death by dangerous driving.

“That kind of thing happens when money talks,” one man said.

“And no justice for the poor,” said another.

‘Too young to die’ was most of the sentiments expressed on her tragic death.

And putting it all together, she came to the conclusion that the reckless driver should be made to pay.

Life was priceless, but he would fund the future plans she had for her family because he had taken her away from them.

The thing is, how does she get him to pay and where to find him?

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

THE NOT-SO-GOOD OLD DAYS QUIETLY HAUNT US TODAY… THE man sat on the pavement adjoining the Bourda colonial cemetery, muttering responses that none of his interrogators heard.

Most of the small gathering had known him for many years, so they unveiled his truths angrily and accusingly. One person said, “He got good family, only recently they took him home and clean he up, if yuh see how he was looking, now he gone back in the dutty ‘Drug Yard’. Another in the small group exclaimed, “Look at he foot, like something bite he up!” The man’s foot was swollen, with sores. Another critic gave his view and left, “These banna weak, people try wid he and he let them down.”

In my experience, drug

addiction is a chemical force from the fabled netherworld that is entirely unpredictable, though indeed possesses the human mind and wields its own commands onward to self-destruction. I knew him casually before, mostly “Hi and right”, with an exchange here and there. It was pure curiosity that made me wait to ask him some questions, and not very intelligent questions.

My first question was, “Yuh know yuh gon end up dead, or with a life of permanent suffering if yuh don’t blank drugs and move on?” He looked at me for a moment dropped his gaze, and spoke softly, “How ah gon move on?” I anxiously replied with a typical unrealistic suggestion, “Come off the drugs and get a job.”

He glanced up at me and immediately dropped his glance and looked straight ahead, then he said, “ah tried to get a job, but ah can’t read and write, even with watchman wuk, yuh got fuh know fuh read.” Checkmate. I was unsure how to proceed, so he continued, “Meh big brother didn’t stay around, suh I had to help out. Lil boy wid money does feel nice, force ripe man, but when yuh get older it get different.” He chuckled, mocking his own words. I understood because I had written about that before, and my early life was no bed of roses either. I had witnessed the darker side of that thing.

Now, this old-time thing of the surrogate parent has not passed, I thought. Therefore, it may well be necessary for

Rough extract from SOON TO BE PUBLISHED Illustrated Literature

AMINA’S TRIALS

the return of the authority figure from that period, the ‘School Inspector’ into the 2020s. Back in the day they visited homes of students who did not meet a justified number of school day attendances during the school year and did not meet average standards in schoolwork towards later survival levels.

The School Inspector was always a strong and experienced person, possibly an old teacher. They would filter through gossipy neighbours with all-knowing views and address situations like this man’s early life events to prevent the “Not-So-GoodOld-Days” from reoccurring, with the necessary authority

of salvaging before the inevitable unfolds.

The environment of the young has always been vulnerable to the whims and presumptions of society’s pretensions that have inflicted false responsibilities onto children. At times, these SEE PAGE XV

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The art of...

FROM PAGE III

not find any good wines locally, so they started a small wine business called

One of the current project Electric Guyana Inc. is working on (Keon Howard’s Photo)

Winedays.gy.

Michelle is a wine lover and is quite fascinated by the variety of both white and red wines and spend a lot of time

visiting vineyards, wineries, appreciating the taste of all wines when she was living abroad.

Wine had become a part

Michelle Howard in the kitchen preparing fresh meals (Shaniece Bamfield photo)

of the couple’s lives during their time abroad. Michelle related that they would visit different wineries where they took part in wine tastings.

“We did it often when we were courting and getting to know each other so that was something we had in common,” she said.

The couple, would visit Keon’s relatives, who live in Guyana. Since wine was so second nature to the couple, “When we would visit, we would always bring our wines in since we could never be able to find good wines that we like when we ran out,” she explained.

While the relocation was ongoing, Michelle suggested the idea of importing wines to Keon.

However, it is more multifaceted than that in the Guyanese setting. Michelle explained, “Most Guyanese don’t indulge in wines the way North Americans and the

wine world do”.

Consequently, Keon and Michelle have had to come up with creative ideas to get the Guyanese public interested. One of these ideas is Wineday.gy’s mobile wine bar, “Vinny”, which is for hire and shows up at private functions, including weddings and events such as Curl Fete.

All of the wines that Winedays.gy offers are imported. The wines are boutique wines, all high- end, and top shelf.

Michelle explained that they seek out wines that are not the traditional bottle of wine, in the sense that the winemakers take their time with the wines.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is very passionate about introducing people to wines and often hosts wine-tasting events to meet and connect with the locals, some of whom have grown to appreciate wines.

Winedays.gy was the recipient of the Roraima Wedding Expo 2018 Best Booth Award and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Small Business of the Year Award when they started out with quite a bang.

Michelle and Keon would host a local wine-tasting event on the last Sunday of every month and have been at some cafes, Grand Coastal Hotel, Restaurant Week and other places to promote wines.

Winedays.gy would do popup wine tastings to familiarise the public with the business but due to the pandemic they have scaled down on many activities ‘wine-related’ but are hoping to re-start.

However, Michelle noted that those tastings are something they are hoping to bring back in this new year, 2024.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

THE NOTSO-GOOD OLD... responsibilities begin in the home and oftentimes result in illiterate young and mature adults. That there are young children with addiction problems is not an exaggeration. Truancy of school periods can be an indicator of many issues, among them, more dangerous issues of our time like early subculture inducements, like marijuana as a cure and a positive alternative, rather than realising the uprooting mental activity it incurs.

The labour avenues for survival for people like the man who inspired this article were common 30 or 40 years ago; they no longer exist, and nothing of similar legal earning capacity has replaced them. Thus, for someone like him, the needs of the now are a basket-case reality. It can only be addressed by first acknowledging that it exists.

Some social failures are driven towards correction by committed concerns and not by the designated task of employment positions alone. The social deviation discussed here, of the guardian or parental imbalance, requires meticulous assessment of alternatives to understand the social conditions that led to such grim decisions, as well as the unrealistic projected expectations then and now.

Again, what is worse in our current age is the grim frequency of addictive drugs, not to ignore the prevalence of alcohol back then, whose addiction wiped out undocumented numbers of our population and led to even fatal domestic uproars. Then there are always the luring temptations of adultery, whether based on a new start or the promise of economic and emotional deliverance, that in many cases went wrong, adding “Old house pon Old house”, as the saying goes.

None of us can predict the future, but what exists around us is what we must pay attention to because we can’t build walls high enough to block the fallout from affecting us. We’re facing the shadows eye to eye; the only remedy to address this entangled legacy is an innovative, unravelling, supportive light.

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Hello again and welcome!

As we draw near to February, we take this time to share with you the benefits and values of wetlands and the need for conservation. Guyana will join the rest of the world on February 2, to celebrate World Wetland Day. What are Wetlands?

According to the National Geographic Society, “A Wetland is an area of land that is either covered by water or saturated with water. The water is often groundwater, seeping up from an aquifer or spring. Wetland water can also come from a nearby river or lake.

Seawater can also create wetlands, especially in coastal areas that experience strong tides. A wetland is entirely covered by water for at least part of the year. The depth and duration of this seasonal flooding varies. Wetlands are transition zones. They are neither totally dry land nor totally underwater; they have characteristics of both”.

World Wetlands Day is observed annually on February 2, though it was not celebrated until 1997. This day highlights the influence and positive production that wetlands

have had on the world and brings communities together for the benefit of Mother Nature. This day also raises global awareness of wetlands’ significant role not only for people but for the planet. Community protectors and environmental enthusiasts all come together on this day to celebrate their love for nature through celebration, which recognises what wetlands have done for not only humans but all sorts of organisms in the world.

Threats Over time, the world, more so human influence has led to various ecological problems affecting wetlands.

According to UNESCO, the threat to wetlands will have an adverse impact on 40% of the world’s flora and fauna that live or breed in wetlands. Overpopulation, pollution, erosion, and climate change just to list a few, have led to a decrease in the environmental conservation of wetlands.

Many wetlands are being lost, and we should recognise the dilemma before this natural filter and conserver of the world faces irreversible changes.

Wetlands in Guyana The Demerara, Berbice

SEE PAGE XVII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Hello again and...

FROM PAGE XVI

and Essequibo Rivers make up Guyana’s three main Watersheds, which play a vital role in the environment that forms our wetlands. Let us discuss a few of our wetlands.

Moruca: The Moruka River or Moruca River is a river in the Barima-Waini region of northern Guyana. The mouth of the river opens to the Atlantic Ocean. Mangrove forests make up the shoreline, turning into swampy savannah wetlands as it moves west. The Moruka River’s water level varies dramatically depending on the season. This savannah wetland is home to 11 titled indigenous communities. They all use the wetland areas for their daily livelihoods.

The North Rupununi: The North Rupununi Wetlands are a unique and highly diverse ecosystem that includes seasonally flooded forests, wetlands, and savannahs that are extremely important for the biodiversity and ecosystem services that they provide to local communities and the nation. The North Rupununi Wetlands system is one of the largest wetlands in Guyana, which encompasses an area of 22,000 hectares of periodically flooded savanna and forest. These Wetlands are dominated by the

Rupununi, Rewa, and Essequibo Rivers and include over 750 lakes, ponds and inlets.

Over 400 species of fish have been recorded in the area, leading to estimates of up to 600 species for the larger wetland system. This is the highest fish diversity in the world for areas of similar size. The wetlands are also home to the Guyana’s endangered giants, the Arapaima (Arapaima gigas), Giant River Turtle (Podocnemis expansa), Black Caiman (Melanosuchus niger), and Giant Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis).

The Makushi nations depend heavily on the North Rupununi wetlands as they provide clean water, food, materials to make craft, housing materials and traditional medicine. Their harvesting techniques are sustainable and promote long-term protection and conservation of these resources.

The Coastal Wetland: The origin of the Mahaica wetland is difficult to trace because its upper watersheds overlap with the lower watersheds of the Demerara and Berbice Rivers. The river breaks off into smaller tributaries, making it seem “boundless.”

The river is a well-known bird-watching site which over 150 species makes this area their home, as well as home to other wildlife, including river otters, howler monkeys and the Canje Pheasant, Guyana’s national bird.

How can we Protect our Wetlands?

By reducing pollution, wetlands are sensitive to pollution, so it’s important to • reduce the number of pollutants that enter them. This can be done by properly disposing of hazardous waste, using environmentally friendly products in manufacturing and the industrial sector, in cleaning products, and reducing the use of fertilisers and pesticides within the agriculture sector; • Preserve wetlands by protecting them from activities that can harm them. This can be done SEE PAGE XXIII by creating protected areas, such as

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Healthcare should not be a luxury. It’s a human right ACCESSING health care services should not be a luxury but a human right. The right to health goes beyond infrastructure and the workforce that takes up the health sector. While it is not the state’s responsibility to ensure that we are in good health, it is their responsibility to provide the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The right to health is recognised as a human right by many international bodies and in international law.

Access to health care without discrimination is a human right recognised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The World Health Organization is also an international body that recognises it as a human right. Healthcare should not be treated as an ideological or even economic issue. It should be considered and discussed as a human right in every aspect of decision-making and policy planning.

Within the scope of that right, it includes four elements: availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality. The availability of health care involves the quality of the services provided to people. There needs to be sufficient resources available for everyone. To ensure that health care services are accessible to everyone, a country must ensure that said services are accessible to everyone. This can be measured by being able to physically access the services, afford the services, access non-discriminatory services, and have access to information.

For healthcare services to promote acceptability, services must be catered for a diverse population, not just a specific group. Personally, I think the most important element is the quality of health care available. The quality of the health care services ensures that these services are safe, effective, timely, people-centred, equitable, integrated and efficient—according to the World Health Organization.

I hope as we discuss healthcare at all levels, we consider its importance and value to the wellness of our country. I hope inclusive, affordable, sustainable and efficient healthcare services are provided for all Guyanese in the foreseeable future. Every citizen deserves access to high-quality healthcare, from the busy coastlands to the highland villages and riverine areas. I hope that this is never forgotten. Guyana is also fortunate to have the majority of its medical services available free to all citizens.

Unfortunately, many citizens from other countries cannot relate to this. I hope that we continue down this path. I want to live to see a Guyana where our healthcare services are used as models to inspire other policymakers across the globe. Healthcare for all should not be a business deal, nor should it be up for debate. It should always be a right to us all.

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Hello again and...

FROM PAGE XVII

national parks, wildlife refuges, and conservation research areas.

Wetland ecosystems support water purification, control floods and provide habitat for many aquatic species.

It is also essential to recognise that Indigenous communities in Guyana and worldwide have had a long-standing connection with wetland ecosystems. The Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands invites you to join the World Wetlands Day celebrations on February 2 2024. The theme for the day is, “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing”.

With only six years left to meet the Sustainable Development Goals in 2030, there is an urgent need to act now.

Between tradition and...

FROM PAGE VII

from those in Georgetown. She said that everything available in Georgetown is available in Laluni, although it may come in a different form, or take a bit of extra work. She shared, “The ration and chicken trucks come here and sell. We have trucks that come with different greens. Fish, shrimp, everything, we get here.”

Laluni is an enchanting place; a community that wears its majestic trees, wide-open landscapes, and agricultural gifts as a crown. Home to a proud and caring people, the village has taken a unique trajectory in its development. Leaving behind agriculture and nature and moving towards alternative ways of life would be simple.

But for the people of Laluni, this does not seem to be an option, now or ever. As easy-going as their community is, the emphasis on development is evident, with its own schools, recreational areas, and small businesses. Laluni has developed, and will continue to do so in its unique way.

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A tour of Demerara Dairies Inc ...

FROM PAGE XI

ciency principles using modern technology. We believe this project will be transformative for Guyana since it is onshore and in one area of our food supplies, as well as the Moblissa community through the provision of job opportunities for its residents,” Mr. Samaroo said.

Providing value to the community was one of the things that was very attractive about this project.

When projects prioritise community needs and actively contribute to their well-being, they create positive outcomes far beyond the immediate project scope. Projects that consider and address community needs are more likely to be embraced and supported by residents. This leads to increased ownership, participation, and, ultimately, project sustainability. Communities become invested in the success of projects that benefit them directly and are more likely to maintain and protect them in the longrun.

By addressing community needs, projects like these can also directly improve the lives of residents. This could involve anything from creating green spaces and recreational facilities to providing access to education, healthcare, or economic opportunities. When projects contribute to a higher quality of life, communities thrive and attract new residents and businesses. “ A very transformative project that brings to Guyana enhanced technology and methods for rearing dairy cattle to produce high-quality fresh milk. This state-of-the-art dairy farm is already creating employment for members of the Moblissa community and augurs well for their future,” said Project Adviser/Coordinator Wesley Kirton Minister within the Ministry of Public Works, Hon. Deodat Indar and Director-General Mr. Madanlall Ramraj expressed high praise for this project, and re-iterated the Government of Guyana’s support.

Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) and the LR Group of Israel, signed an agreement with Demerara Dairies Inc. (DDI) in Guyana last year to make this project a reality.

“LR Group of Israel is honored to form a JV with DDL for the development of the largest and most modern dairy farm in the CARICOM, producing more than 5.0 million litres of fresh milk per year. This dairy farm is key to CARICOM region’s food security initiative; to reduce imports by 25% by 2025 and contribute to the development of high-tech commercial agro industry in Guyana . We are happy to be a partner in a project that will foster community development,” Director LR Group, Joseph Haim Harosh said.

I am very familiar with DDL and what they have contributed to society. They were one of the sponsors for Guyana Fashion Week, which impacted many creatives. I had no idea of LR Group so I researched and from the information I found, I see they are doing amazing projects in different parts of the world. “In Everything We Do WE BELIEVE IN CREATING Change” is one of their slogans.

LR Group is at the forefront of international development, turning vision into ideas, ideas into action, and action into long-term impact. I believe this partnership will change the face of dairy farming in this part of the world!

On the return trip I saw a vendor on the roadside had “kuru” on sale and the country girl in me got excited and had to have some. No knives were available in the vehicle, so I did what I had done over a thousand times growing up in Bartica: peeled them with my teeth and devoured them. We all have that young kid residing in our adult bodies and reconnecting with the playful, curious, and joyful parts of ourselves that may have been buried under layers of adult responsibilities and societal expectations can be therapeutic, but that is a discussion for another column.

I started reflecting on the tour after enjoying my “kuru,” the mental screen where I create movies -my imagination - was turned on with the finished products. I saw a movie that will transform lives beyond our imagination as we continue to celebrate lives BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

Gone to meet the ..

FROM PAGE II

known is that the price requested from the purchasers was somewhat inflated. After the purchase, the village was named “VICTORIA” by the Africans in honour of the young English queen. They believed that it was the young Queen Victoria who had singlehandedly abolished slavery. Nonetheless, they harboured a disagreement with the young Queen Victoria of far-away England for choosing the German Prince Albert to be her husband. That position held by the ancestors of Claire Goring and other early residents of Victoria was put to song by those ancestors. It has a mournful tune and lyrics which states: “When me go home, me go tell me mooma say, Victoria married wan German Man. German man! German man!

Victoria married wan German man.”

Victoria and Albert’s wedding took place on February 10, 1840. That, of course, begs the question. “Why did the ancestors of Claire Goring disapprove of Queen Victoria marrying a German?” Could it have been that they foresaw Germany declaring war on England on two occasions? Did the Africans of Victoria see clearly in the future? Germany fought two world wars against England. There was the blitz in which GUIANESE soldiers fought for England. How did the ancestors of Claire Goring and others of that time - the mid-1850s - foresee Germany fighting against England in two world wars - 1914-1919 and 1939-1945 - and in which men from British Guiana, including men from Victoria, fought!

They were citizens of British Guiana, some being the ancestors of Claire Ann Goring.

When she migrated to the United States some years ago, she practically took her love for Guyana by becoming an active member of the Guyana Cultural Association (GCA) of New York. In so doing, Claire Goring worked along with others, such as Dr. Vibert Cambridge, Ave Maria Brewster, Dr. Juliet Emanuel, Edgar Henry, Claire Patterson Mona and the late Maurice Braithwaite and Ron Bobb-Semple.

While never seeking publicity while working for the ongoing development of the GCA of New York, Goring made many sacrifices, especially with her time. She would give many hours almost every day, working on the numerous projects and little things to be done during the run-up to the annual Guyana Folk Festivals over the years.

Most of the artwork for the promotion and decorations for those Annual Folk Festivals were created and done by Claire Goring. They were all of international standards, which I have told her numerous times. During her long years of service to the Guyana Cultural Association of New York and Guyana, by extension, Claire Goring’s selfless service was recognised.

Along with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, she was also presented with a Guyana National Award of the Medal of Service (MS). As she arrived in the home of the Ancestors - especially those from Victoria village - it is safe to say that Claire Ann Goring, MS, has been presented with whatever awards her ancestors have to present to those who have given service as “Good, Faithful and Super Talented Servants” to Guyana.

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THOUGHT FOR

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 28, 2024

TODAY

Infidelity does not consist in believing, or disbelie v in in professing to bel g, it consists ieve does not believe.what one TOM PAINE (173 Age of Reason (177-1809) The 94), pt. i

January 28, 2024 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome dear friend.

We touch on author’s purpose once more. We have seen that it is whyhis piece ever got written at all. Does

he intend to persuade, entertain, provide information, or satirize?

What kinds of details support his purpose? You may even fashion a graphic organiser to evaluate whether he has achieved his purpose. But does he always try to achieve more than one purpose?

Only good solid reading can sort out thesequestions. Be wise.

Love you.

IMPROVING WRITING Understanding how a description is organised Reminder: Some texts – mainly descriptive – are organised so that you, the reader, may visualize the scene with some ease. Details in text can be organised in different ways such as: down-up, up-down, outside-inside, inside-outside, details-general impression, and general impression-detail. Recognising these presentations can lead the learner to approve and use some of them successfully.

And can you think of other ways details can be organised in writing? Discuss them with a study partner.

Here are two pieces of texts for you to read and decide which type(s) of organisation they represent.

1. The largest building, in the very centre of the town, is boarded up completely and leans so far to the right that it seems bound to collapse at any minute. The house is very old. There is about it a curious, cracked look that it is very puzzling until you suddenly realise that at one time, and long ago, the right side of the front porch had been painted, and part of the wall – but the painting was left unfinished and one portion of the house is darker and dingier than the other.

The building looks completely deserted. Nevertheless, on the second floor there is one window which is not boarded; sometimes in the late afternoon when the heat is at its worst a hand will slowly open the shutter and a face will look down on the town.

(From C. McCullers: “The Ballad of the Sad Café” (Penguin, 1963)) 2. The house itself was long and low, as if a London house holidaying in the country had flung itself asprawl; it had two disconnected and roomy staircases, and when it had exhausted itself completely as a house, it turned to the right and began again as rambling, empty stables, coach house, cart sheds, men’s bedrooms up ladders, and outhouses of the most various kinds. On one hand was a neglected orchard, in the front of the house was a bald, worried-looking lawn area capable of simultaneous tennis and croquet, and at the other side a copious and confused vegetable and flower

garden.

(From H.G. Wells: “Marriage” (Macmillan and Co., 1912)) IMPROVING WRITING Order of importance in writing One way to arrange the details of a paragraph or several connected paragraphs is by their importance to the main idea. When you organise details in this way, you are using an order of importance.Order of importance is useful in writing expository paragraphs that inform or explain, as well as in writing persuasive paragraphs.

Here are some important signal words and phrases which you would have come across at some time past: most importantly, more importantly, less importantly, least importantly; first in importance, first and foremost; second (in importance), third (in importance), next (in importance); last in importance, lastly, last but not least; the most important reason (or example); the next most important reason (or example); the next most important (or example); a less important reason (or example); the least important reason (or example).

Look at this scenario. You live in one part of the country and your friend Pansy lives in another. Pansy’s family is planning a ski holiday, and has asked you to recommend a good ski hotel in your area. You decide on Snowtop Lodge. You make your recommendation in a letter to Pansy. You list the reasons for your choice in order of importance, from most important to least important to immediately make sure that Pansy realises the reasons you listed are in order of importance...

Decide which signal word or phrase given somewhere above, best fits each blank space of the upcoming paragraph. (The details are listed in order of importance from the most important to least important.)

I think Snowtop Lodge would be your best for your ski holiday. ----1-----, the hotel is located very close to the ski resort. -----2----, a bus leaves the hotel every half-hour for the ski area. -----3----, there are very reasonable package prices for families. -----4----, the rooms are nicely decorated, and the food is great.

All in all, I can’t think of a better ski hotel in this area than Snowtop.

Remember that by using an order of importance, you can arrange details in one of two ways:● from most important to least important; ● from least important to most important.

POETRY Read the following part of the poem “The Companion” carefully and then answer the questions set based on what is stated or implied.

Kayta was her name. She was nine.

I’d no idea what I could do about her, but doubt quickly dissolved to certainty: I’d have to take this thing under my wing; 5. girls were in some sense of the word human, a human being couldn’t just be left.

The droning in the air and the explosions receded farther into the distance, I touched the little girl on her elbow.

10. “Come on. Do you hear? What are you waiting for?”

The world was big and we were not big, and it was tough for us to walk across it….

(With reference to World War II which lasted from 1939-1045) 1. The episode described in the poem took place after (A) a fire; (B) a train crash; (C) a volcano eruption; (D) an air-raid 2. The speaker’s impression of the girl when he decided to take her with him was that she was (A) weak; (B) unfriendly; (C) unmanageable (D) silly.

3. Paraphrase the poem told so far.

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Children and dentistry

I would be the first to admit that treating children is not my first choice, considering categories of patients based on their age. Although most children are cooperative dental patients, some display behaviour that present obstacles to the safe and effective delivery of care. The dentist can use behaviour management techniques to modify the child’s behaviour in these instances.

When using behaviour management techniques in pediatric dentistry, the child’s parents or guardians must be educated on the usefulness and appropriateness of the desired techniques. This is necessary for two reasons.

First, it has been shown that informed and educated parents about behaviour management techniques are more positive and accepting of their use. Second, the use of some of these methods may require consent from the parent.

Methods to accomplish control over children who do not cooperate with the dentist include “tell-show-do”, voice control, hand-over-mouth, physical restraint and drug-induced management.

The “tell-show-do” technique is the foundation of all child management.

It involves the dentist first describing to the child exactly what is going to be done, then showing the child what will be done and finally, performing the procedures as previously discussed and shown. When using this technique, it is important to use words for dental instruments and procedures that are suitable for the child’s age.

About 80% of all children above the age of three years, with normal intellectual and emotional development, can be guided successfully through new procedures with this technique.

Voice control is usually described as the dentist assuming a more authoritative role when the child starts to display disruptive behaviour. It can also be described as the dentist constantly speaking to the child in a supportive manner when the latter displays appropriate behaviour. When using voice control, the facial expression and demeanour of the dentist must mirror the attitude he/she is attempting to convey. It is also important to note that the technique is most effective when applied if inappropriate behaviour is initially observed and less effective when inappropriate behaviour is full-blown.

The hand-over-mouth technique is not commonly used in this country. The purpose of this technique, which calls for the dentist to place their hand over the mouth of a hysterically crying or screaming child, is to gain the child’s attention and establish communication. Thus, the child can hear and begin to communicate with the dentist and learn the cooperative behaviour required for the safe course of treatment. This technique must be linked with voice control. That is, a cessation of oppositional behaviour is immediately accompanied by removing the dentist’s hand from the child’s mouth and giving positive verbal reinforcement (praise).

Perhaps in Guyana, physical restraint is the most widely used method to ensure that an uncooperative child receives proper dental treatment. This may involve using a bite block, pedi-wrap, papoose board, or simply having the parent or guardian confine the child’s head, hands or legs while the dentist executes acts which usually intimidate, such as extracting a tooth. It is not advisable to restrain a child over five years old unless it is considered necessary.

The drug most noteworthy for pharmacologic management is nitrous oxide. There are many sedatives that can be delivered orally or by injection.

General anaesthesia is also used in particular circumstances.

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