Curt Hunt, also known as ‘Cutty’ has been playing the drums just outside of the Demico building by the Stabroek Market for more than 16 years. As he prepares for Emancipation, Curt said that drumming is more than just a pastime for him. “I do this to keep the faith and African culture alive. Because I love to and have to.”
FRESH from a musical tour in Jamaica, Guyana-born Donna Makeda did five shows back-to-back from Kingston to Ocho Rios, then to Negril and back again to Kingston. She and seven other Canadian reggae artistes and a live band were well-received by patrons throughout the tour.
Donna’s most recent project is a new single called ‘Pack up and Gwaan’. The single was produced by the Selassie I Muzik Label and is scheduled to be released in August. According to Donna, in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, she also recently shot a video for her single ‘Vegan Dinna’. That video was released on April 26 via Reggaeville and is available on YouTube for viewing.
The video, she pointed out, was shot by Time2Rize Video Productions with vid-
eographer Tygon Cowan on location in Toronto and Scarborough, Canada. Directed by Carrie Mullings of Rebel Vibez, the video is set
to make a mark on the reggae dancehall music scene in Canada and the world.
The single “Vegan Dinna” is on the Happy Riddim
and was produced by 3Mirage Label and mixed and mastered by Vonnii. Donna pointed out that it has already reached the number one position on Connecticut, USA’s reggae/dancehall charts. “Vegan Dinna has been getting much attention with airplay on Roots FM and Bes 100 FM in Jamaica, G98.7FM, on Reggae Rhythms with Patrick Roots on CIUT 89.5 FM and Vibe105FM in Toronto; along with a slew of online radio play globally; with special mention of Roots Reggae Radio, Ital Roots Radio, Soul Kitchen Radio, Cut & Clear Radio and Selector Don Blaze in the UK to name a few,” Donna explained.
According to Donna, her foundation in music came from the dchurch, where she sang in the choir and also did duets with her sister. From a very young age, she attended Ballet School and was trained as a dancer. She learned many dance styles, including Afro-Caribbean, Modern, Folk, Kathak and Classical Ballet.
After graduating from Dance Academy, she opened her own dance and aerobics school called “Burning Flame International” Dance Troupe. By the time Donna migrated to Canada, she had already been performing extensively throughout Guyana with her dance troupe.
Whilst taking her dancing career seriously, Donna was just having fun singing and practising on sound systems. She sang at various stage shows and won many competitions. Upon migrating to Canada, she did her first international stage show in Toronto and was consequently ‘scooped’ up by Jones & Jones Productions, who managed her musical career for a period of time.
After that contract ended, Donna continued to shine and is still recording and performing constantly. She worked solo for a period of time but is now under new management with Ajang Music of Jamaica for over 10 years now. Donna has been working tirelessly since her first single “Gun Bust” was released in the early-nineties. Without a doubt, her voice is her wealth; her intellect a cultural strength, and her stage presence is an expression of royal heritage.
Accolades and discog-
Donna disclosed that she recently released the hugely controversial single “We Shall Not Be
the Rebel Vibez Top 10 chart on VIBE105 FM in Toronto, Canada. Other singles
Moved”, a single produced by Indie Rootz Records and featuring Shakky Alleyne. The video was shot on location in Montreal, Quebec and virtually released on January 30, 2021, on the caribbeanworlchannel.com.
In 2020, Donna attended the Jamaica Music Conference, promoting her new single and performed on the Rastafest Showcase at the Jamaica Music Conference and other venues in and around Jamaica. Another single released was “No Sah” featuring Shadrock from Portland, Jamaica, for the Heart of Empress label; this song was released worldwide on iTunes, CD Baby and all online music stores and reached the number one spot in Connecticut, USA on One Love Radio and entered the reggae music charts in London, England.
She also released the hot single “Shake Dem Off” on the Happy Hour Riddim, which went number one on the Real Muzic’s “Empress Tashai’s New Music Top 10 chart in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA on One Love Radio 106.5fm and entered
released are “No Sell Out”, “Natty Congo”, “Jah is my Guide” and “Stick Together” for Indie Rootz Records out of Montreal, Quebec; “No Love” featuring Roger B and “Badmind” feat. King Ujah.
Donna has performed extensively in Canada in places like Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary, and internationally in Barbados, Guyana, the USA and Jamaica and has been on a few music tours internationally, promoting her music over the years.
To date, Donna has racked up 30 reggae music awards. She has performed at most of the major festivals and stage shows in Canada, including Jamaica Day, Rastafest, Durham Caribbean Festival, Toronto Street Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Caribana on Olympic Island, Afrofest, Calgary Reggae Festival. Reggae Muskoka, Hamilton Sunfest, Marcus Garvey Day, The Canadian Reggae Music Awards, The Bashment Community Appreciation Awards, Irie Music Festival, Afrikadey in Cal-
THE passion, the culture and the love for the art of drumming are felt by more than just those playing. But its sound rises above the crowd and resonates with people who hear and feel it.
The history of cultural drumming, similar to many other traditions, is a dwindling practice in Guyana and the rest of the world. Yet, drumming remains a part of many cultures worldwide. The Japanese have the Taiko drums, Indians have the Tassa, and Africans are known for the pulsating sounds of their Congo drums.
In Guyana, we celebrate various cultural holidays, includingEmancipation. These celebrations are among many efforts made to preserve culture. Standing out among the busy crowd and the many minibuses at Stabroek is a man who sees the importance of drumming and is working to see it carried on, little by little.
If one was to take the time to simply stand and watch Curt Hunt play his drums they are bound to be struck by his mere passion for his art. Or perhaps they would experience what Curt thinks is the greatest thing about drumming, the spirituality of it.
Striking the drums, Curt told the Pepperpot Magazine what drumming means to Emancipation and what Emancipation means to him. Curt or Cutty as he is commonly called has plied his trade of drumming at the same place, every week for more than 16 years.
On any given day, Curt could be found drumming alongside the popular Demico building at the heart of the capital city. Many people perform, as a hobby or pastime, or in rare cases, as a job. But Curt Hunt plays for far more than that. He says he plays because he simply has to. “This is more than something I do; this is my occupation. All year around, this is what I do.This is not just how I survive.I do this to keep the faith and African culture alive. Because I love to and have to,” he said.
His passion for drumming was ignited in church. This is where he stated that he not only learned the importance of music in religion but also to culture. Curt explained that when he moved to live in Sophia, he learned the craft that would stay with him for the rest of his life. “I was born in Leopold Street, but after our home was burned down, we moved to Sophia. This is where I learned to drum. And that is where I live today,
still drumming,” he said. “At the age of 5 I started to play the spiritual drums.
After my mother, a highly religious woman, took me to church. And from then on, I still play the drums. I never gave up on drumming.”
One of the things about tradition that marks its significance is the fact that it goes beyond customs and practices and becomes a part of a people; for ages to come. As Curt explained, drumming is associated with drumming just as much as Emancipation is and should not be overlooked.
The ancestors of Afro-Guyanese played drums at every occasion, whether mourning the death of a loved one or the birth of a child. Drums were a part of everyday life. And their descendants today still take part in some of the same customs and rituals as they did. “There are some people who beat drums every Saturday or just once a year. But in August, around Emancipation is when most people have their cultural celebrations and African rituals. And for that the drums are a must,” Curt explained.
To be considered a drummer takes skill far beyond repeatedly hitting the drum. It requires passion, rhythm and the almost elusive knowledge of songs that their ancestors sang. Many people hold the opinion that drumming is African simply because it is something that they did. But this is not what Curt says.
“Every type of drumming comes from a tribe of Judah. For the 12 tribes, there are 12 types of drumming. I had to learn all of them as a drummer,” he explained. This is just one of the facts about the art of drumming that is not found in a book. But just like the customs and traditions it celebrates, it has to be taught by those willing to preserve that flicker of culture.
Inescapable is what they call tradition, but Curt says that tradition is something that should be accepted rather than forced. As a father of two children, one boy, one girl, he says he teaches them as much as they want to learn. “ I don’t force the drumming on them. If they want to do it, then I am there to teach them. And to teach any young person who wants to learn,” he said.
The deep roots of drumming are said to be in African, no matter he may be and it is said to be more than just something he may be interested in, but something that is simply a part of him. “It’s not that I like drumming. I love drumming. I love the spirituality and culture of it. This is a part of me, drumming is me and I am drumming,” he said. From the drums native to Africa to those of freed slaves and to a man fighting to keep culture alive. Emancipation is more than a holiday; it is a part of every African everywhere.
THE Burrowes School of Art was named after Guyanese artist, Edward Rupert Burrowes, who was also an art teacher.
The Burrowes School of Art is an undergraduate institution accredited by the University of Guyana. The school is currently hosting an art exhibition at the Castellani House in the city to showcase the talent of students who would have completed their fourth year of study there.
The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with the school’s Director of Studies, Hamilton Young, who shared the central focus of the event.
“This year, we are featuring eight full-time students who would have completed three to four years of studies at the school. On display, we are featuring jewellery design, textile design, and sculpture, just to name a few. Our Final Year students would have worked assiduously over the years, more so in the past few weeks to mount this exhibition,” Young said.
Young noted during her comments that all students participating in the exhibition are aspiring artists, and had been taught by Guyana’s renowned artists.
“We are proud to present this exhibition this year. We would like to congratulate the Class of 2023 for the work they have on display, and we wish them well,” Young pointed out.
Young, who has been the institution’s Director of Studies for the past seven years, noted that she finds joy in the fact that her students come with a basic knowledge of art, and when they leave, they are professional artists.
She also shared that some of the students eventually become tutors at the institution, while some establish their own businesses.
Through the various forms of art, including fashion design, jewellery design, and much more, Young believes that the public gets a greater appreciation for Art and the Art
culture.
Creativity aside, Young mentioned that students still encounter some difficulties during their studies. These include
the fact that students would have to fund the cost of their own materials for usage in the classroom. She noted, though, that the Ministry of Education bears the responsibility for the students, and the Ministry of Public Service would often assist with funding.
“We have found, over the years, that the Ministry of Public Service has been a little bit helpful in terms of granting students a stipend to offset probably travelling costs or material costs to an extent, but it is not the full cost in terms of a scholarship,” she said.
Young disclosed that there are many successful and delightful moments for her since she got this job.
“We look forward to our Final Year exhibition yearly, our students’ participation in Carifesta, and generally when students participate in events that would shed light on their work. I know our fashion design students who have been exposed to various fashion shows, whenever, wherever we are highlighted, it is a proud moment,” the Director noted.
Hamilton Young’s interest in art began in Third Form, and then heightened, as she once worked with the Ministry of Culture for 14 years, while being attached to the Museum of African Heritage (formerly the Museum of African Art and Ethnology) and dealing with sculptors. She simply loves Art.
FOLK Festival is a 22-year-old event that was started by the then-Guyana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), which has since been merged with Guyana Television Company and is now called the National Communication Network (NCN). “Folk Festival is an event that showcases Guyanese creativity, whether it be in dance, music, food, and our industrial development,” said Dr. Vibert Cambridge, one of the directors of the organising committee for Guyana Folk Festival, which is now being held in New York in the United States of America.
Dr. Cambridge shared the history and significance of the festival and what it means to Guyanese culture.
What is Folk Festival?
Folk festival, according to Cambridge, is a production of traditional games, sketches, folk music, songs, dances,
According to Cambridge, folk festival events were held in Guyana over the past 20 years on a few occasions but have now moved to New York for the past two years.
This year’s theme focuses on CARICOM at 50, recognising and celebrating its New York roots.
“This means that what we intend to do with those signature events in 2023 is to explore and identify the Caribbean
‘s presence in New York and how those experiences of living together, of unity, of inclusion, of sharing, how those kinds of values are lived and inspire CARICOM,” Vibert told Pepperpot Magazine.
According to him, CARICOM speaks about a resilient, unified Caribbean that is sharing in our social and economic benefits.
The focus is looking at how New York’s Caribbean experience speaks to this CARICOM aspiration.
“What we do know is New York’s Caribbean experience is a very old one. It stretches back into our Indigenous history. The Indigenous peoples of the Americas were in conflict, so there is archaeological evidence about the Tianos peoples, who are related to the Warraus of Guyana,” he said.
According to Cambridge, emphasis is now placed on relationships that can be traced back to the 17th century.
“In the 17th century, New York was a Dutch colony called New Netherland, a colony of the Dutch West Indian Continent. Berbice, Essequibo, and Demerara are colonies of the Dutch West Indian continent. So, what we are saying is that the Caribbean presence in New York came out of the 17th century,” Cambridge shared with the Pepperpot.
He noted that what is being celebrated is a Guyanese New York multiethnic, multilingual society at this year’s folk festival.
There will be “gyaaf-styled” conversations that will draw upon biography and autobiography to identify and recognise Caribbean engagement in and contributions to the development of New York’s economic, social, political, and cultural life, especially since the 17th century.
The anticipated performances will include poetry, music, dance, fashion, and theatre presentations.
This will take place on Sunday, August 6, 2023.
According to him, the ‘gyaaf’ is therapeutic and a light conversation that is inclusive. It brings people together.
“That symposium is multisensory. It is good to have things that you hear, things that you are going to see, touch,
and taste, so all our senses are good to be explored on the symposium, as New York Caribbean experience this year,” Cambridge noted during his interview.
The symposium will be an open, free, friendly, and multisensory exploration of the Caribbean presence in New York from pre-Columbian times to the present. It will feature eight interconnected “gyaaf-styled” conversations. It will also include performances, a sweet potato-and-corn cookout, and a soundtrack.
The interrelated years will examine Origins and Early Colonial Relations: The transatlantic routes of New York’s Caribbean roots, the writing of the West Indians, and its impact during the 1900 and the mid-1945.
There is also going to be a focus on Religiosity and the Wisdom of folk culture, soca, chutney, dancehall, and hip hop in Brooklyn.
“Over the past 20 years, GCA has, with the participation of the public, recognised more than 200 Guyanese and other citizens whose works have advanced GCA’s mission to recognise and celebrate Guyanese heritage and creativity”, Cambridge explained.
THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited one of Guyana’s most historic villages, Victoria, on the East Coast of Demerara.
It is the village located just after Cove and John and before Belfield. Victoria is one of the villages that many associate or think of during Emancipation celebrations in Guyana.
It took about 40 minutes to complete our journey from Georgetown to sunny Victoria. Heading into the highly populated section of Victoria, there is thehospital, schools, and a learning Center, called, Foundation for Real Christian Education,where children were awaiting the commencement of their classes.
There is also a pharmacy and a number other shops and small businesses owned by the residents of the community.
On the other half of Victoria is the Victoria Cultural Center, where several village activities take place, one of them being the village’s Emancipation Day celebratory activities.
The Villagewas bought by freed slaves after the abolition of slavery, much like other communities such asBachelor’s Adventure, Buxton and Ann’s Grove.
What’s most impressive about Victoria is that it has a classic ‘old country village’ look to it. It was almost a warm, homey feeling when walking around the village.The structures built there are not all modern, but they also are not very old. You could tell, just by looking at it that you’re entering a village with a strong cultural presence. And while many don’t recall it,the team was lucky to speak with quiet a few persons who would have shared all of what they know about the Village.
According to a 2013 article on Victoria in the Guyana Chronicle, Victoria measured 130 rods in width, and was seven miles long (depth, as measured from the sea).
Additionally, they said that the freed slaves occupied the north of the village for residential purposes while the rest was used for farming.
This was also mentioned by another resident in the community, David Cuffie, who said that farming has been a source of income for many families in the village, including his own when he was growing up.
As times change, it is expected that not everyone would want to continue in that line of work and not everyone does. There are welders, mechanics, and contractors among other things in the small village of thousands.
VICTORIA is a place rich in history, people, culture and tradition. Located on the East Coast of Demerara, it is said to be one of the first communities bought by slaves after the abolition of slavery. The community was then named after Queen Victoria, who was ruling at the time. The importance of Victoria’s history is evident everyday in every resident of the village.
The people of this community still hold older customs that seem ingrained in them now as a people. One of the qualities that have shaped Victoria as a community is its people’s self sustainably. From a village of ex-slaves turned farmers to a thriving community with a plethora of diverse businesses. That concept of ‘By the people, for the people’ remains. The village has celebrated Emancipation through a joyous celebration annually. It is one of Victoria’s most celebrated occasions and has been hosted by one family for more than 15 years.
History
The name Emancipation is a recent term to many of the elderly folks. And although the name given to the day for celebration of African
roots may have changed, the significance was never lost.
Annie Charles has lived her entire life in Victoria. She didn’t state her age but ensured she has been there a long time.“I was born in Victoria. When I was a child, we used to celebrate something called Ghana Day. The people used to dress in African outfits, and we used to go out to the park and have a week of activities,” she
stated. Ghana Day was the name originally given to the celebrations held by freed slaves who bought the village of Victoria.
Annie went on to describe how different Ghana Day or Emancipation used to look. “They used to have a lot of animals. They used to have a lot of people selling fruits and vegetables. Everything that was grown in Guyana. [There was also] a poultry exhibition.” The poultry exhibition, among other customs, was as a result of the village’s farming history.
“Then, at the end of the day, we would have a night of celebrations where they would sing and dance. And they would have storytell -
ing, skits and plays.” This is still practised today in many other places around Guyana at emancipation time. Although it may not be in the same way that their ancestors did, the people of Victoria carry on most of the same practices.
In the tale of Victoria, Annie shared the story that she and every other child
in Victoria has heard, saying, “I only know what I was told. They said it was 83 slaves who pooled their money in a wheelbarrow. They sang while they walked to Georgetown.” This is a story that is as important to Guyana as any other. And perhaps as important to the country as Emancipation is to Victoria.
To give back
To be referred to as a beacon in the community is a title not easily earned. But Stanley Charles is considered by many to play an important role in Victoria and the celebration of Emancipation within the village.
Stanley, who is originally from Ann’s Grove, has lived in Victoria for 41 years. And he says that his love for the people and the community have led him to continuously host the Village’s emancipation celebrations and keep the tradition alive.
“The people of Victoria are appreciative and respectful
MEET David Cuffie, a man who has resided in Victoria all his life and has dedicated some of his time to training young men interested in learning a trade, passing down knowledge from one person to the next.
The Victoria resident said he had a humble beginning and described himself as humble and ambitious. He shared that he grew up in a home where church was important as a young boy. He also said that from his school
days into adulthood, he took part in sportsand played football from a young age.
His mother was a housewife, and his father, a farmer, and together they raised him and his siblings in that community.
“The benefits from the farm are very slow. People still doing it but it’s not like before,” he explained. He pointed out that while his brothers pursued farming, he chose a different path and decided to try something new by learning a skill.
“My intention was to
learn [to be a]mechanic, but the opportunity wasn’t presented. So, I ended up falling in welding,” he said. He shared that if he did not knowthis trade, his chances would not have been the same when he left for Barbados. He stated that he left Guyana in 2000 to go to Barbados and returned in 2013, when he opened his welding and fabrication shop in his home village called, ‘Cuffie Metal Works’.
“Where you go, you take it. Even if you leave these
shores, wherever you’re going, you’re going with your knowledge. That’s what is important,”Cuffie advised.
Cuffie said that the Victoria that is known today is not the same one he grew up in. He explained that growing up, he would go to the farm of someone who had cows and would occupy his time wisely there. “Somebody is mixing cement next door you gone and help them and so forth. But it’s a different time now,” he said.
Cuffie even highlighted a negative trend among
youths today. He opined that young men have not been as ambitious as young women. “You find the young women more ambitious than the young men.
I observed that in Barbados before it even meet to Guyana. You’ll find women trying to accomplish more things in life,” he said.
The man said he has been training the youth in Victoria during their summer vacation and in the afternoons after school when it is opened.
The business, which has been in operation for 10
years, has made several items for customers country-wide. He explained that fabrication is all about making different constructional items for buildings. These include gates and fences, both of which he was working on when our team visited on Monday last.
Since opening his shop, the man said he has trained about 50 young men thus far. Cuffie attested that young men often invest their savings in purchasing a car or bus to provide a service in their community.
UPON entering Victoria, there is the village’s health centre. And as many institutions are a close-knit community, the villagers have formed a relationship with the people they trust to ensure their health.
One such person is Dr ShanellyFortune of the Victoria Health Centre. Dr Fortune is currently the only doctor stationed at the health centre and says that even though it is not the easiest of jobs, she loves what she does and the people who she does it for.
Dr Fortune is a general practioner, which means she is not only trained for any circumstance but must be prepared for anything. She has only been a part of the clinic for three years, but she has made a significant impact in her short time.
A vital part of Victoria
Dr Fortuneis an ambitious young woman who has seen a lot in her short time as a doctor.“I have been a doctor for seven years. Before Victoria, I was at Melanie and, before that, in Bartica. But I do like working in Victoria a lot,” she stated.
The Victoria Health Centre also caters for patients from as far as Coven John. Because of this, the centre has an interesting schedule to facilitate all of its patients.
“Everyday we have a different clinic scheduled. And in the afternoons, we have the outpatient. Which is when anyone could come in from 1 o’clock for whatever ailment they may have. In the mornings, we focus on one particular clinic,” she explained.
Both the clinic and the doctor place great emphasis on their patients. In the time she has been there Dr Fortune says she has cultivated a relationship with the people of Victoria. One built on trust and honesty. As Dr Fortune stated, “I have a pretty good relationship with my patients. They know me, some of them a little too well. They are very comfortable around me.”
One of the problems that the centre is facing, howev-
er, is the recent loss of the midwife. This, as Dr Fortune explained, is a countrywide issue. “The midwife leaving was not for personal reasons but due to the fact that we have a shortage in nurses. So, nurses are filling gaps,” she said.
Because of its location and coverage area, Dr Fortune explained just how the centre acquires medicine for its patients. “We have to make a request once a quarter. It goes through the regional health office, but it typically goes to the Materials Management Unit they would supply what they have. But whatever they don’t have the office has to
procure from other places,” she said.
The village of Victoria faces similar issues as the rest of Guyana. Dr Fortune explained that they too are battling multiple cases of Dengue fever. “At one point in the year, you would find a lot of people coming in for a cough or cold. And then there will be a time like recently where there was a lot of vomiting. Depending on what is going on, and right now, we have a Dengue fever outbreak. So, we have a lot of people with body aches and fevers,” she said.
SEE PAGE XI
TRUE, we in the Arts are, as a constituency, somewhat fragmented, and are also underestimated due to no fault of our own. Still, this stage will not persist with the varied market forces and available technology; the arts and cultural industries of this country will hold their own, inevitably. We must never permit apathy to envelop us, allowing our ignorance to anchor our awareness into the stagnant pond of self-ruin. One of the most significant struggles against creative livelihoods has been occurring for some time now in North America. The threat of the use of the technology of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is such that one scan of actors’ bodies (for actors; especially background actors) and a cheque would give the studio the life service of that image in full life movement for the rest of the actors days on earth and beyond.
The fact is, this is not
something new altogether; I’m referring to having old-school models and actor images in 3D pictures product advertising, and even then, there was a limitation on the duration of an image on a billboard, for the few of us around to the fade out period of the old advertising clip art images. I am one of the first people to develop local fine art for current and historical advertising usages for the simple reason that everyone had access to clipart. It happened where, like the time when the same ‘Three Wise Men’ ended up one Christmas morning on a page in almost every ‘ad’ from different agencies. Luckily, I had created mine, and didn’t have to fight my client to get paid. But, of course, I was inspired by clipart, which some- times used models in angels, etc. But those models were
paid for each ‘ad’ shoot edition.
What is proposed now in the US of A is a callous extermination of a person’s right to earn, as they should, each time they’re committed to the stage, whether the stage is a street, a beach, or in a yard scene. Why is this happening? Because, as I’ve always lamented, the arts can only be managed by artists. Most of the creative souls that established the monolith American Global Entertainment Industry have passed, or are out of the business. Now, you have a super-rich caste of callous producers and CEOs who’re interested in the money and not particularly the talents.
I’ve always maintained that from my experience, most of the promoters I’ve worked with seem to have a deep-seated envy for talent, and express a desire to underpay; not pay, and sometimes humiliate them. This is not only exclusive of
promoters and producers; I learnt only last year that the artist who had contracted the Burrowes School of Art team to create the masks for my play, ‘Shadow of the Jaguar’ in1992, which I didn’t produce, did not pay them. I have promised myself, and hope that other artists do so, to be involved in every area of your stuff, if you license it, put it all in the contract.
Some time ago, I commented on AI, Online. It was based on my reference to the opinion of the entrepreneur, Elon Musk, whose endeavours include the rocketry business SpaceX, which is aimed at seeing a human colony on Mars within his lifetime. Mr. Musk described AI as “summoning the Demon” and “the creation of a rival to human intelligence as possibly the greatest threat facing the world.” And he is not alone. –The Economist May 9-15,2015.
My reference to Musk’s statement led to the contact by John Kontos, Athens
University, who is seasoned in the evolution of AI. With limited space, I can only refer to page 4, paragraphs 1&2 of this Academic letter by Kontos, titled, MACHINE CONSCIOUSNESS AND SOFTWARE SYNTHESIS:- “Programmers understand less and less of their programs, as all the operation of their complexity rises above a certain level. This is really dangerous if those programs control critical infrastructure systems like air traffic control systems, power stations and energy grids, but also systems like airplanes and trains.
It is urgent that a new type of software engineering be developed for the implementation of computer systems that ‘know themselves’ and can give crucial answers to the “what if ” and “Why” questions of their users in cases of emergency or failure. Artificial Intelligence can be of help with methods resulting from the research results in the fields of machine consciousness. Eventually, software systems supporting debugging with explanations of their failures or anomalous behavior will be very useful.”
The manifestation of AI so far in 2023 has cast a dark shadow, as the ‘Marina Fang’ coverage of the plight of Writers, actors and especially background actors face {please visit}.
By the grim reality of efforts to render them displaced by the callous usage of this technology. In the very Academia letter by John Kontos, though not referring in this context, A-I can render larger amounts of humans impoverished if not applied with ‘People in mind’
The village of Victoria is just a tiny aspect of the health battles many Guyanese are currently facing. Dr Fortune highlighted some of the major issues and health concerns in Guyana currently. “Obesity in general is becoming prevalent among children. Because of lifestyle choices. Children don’t play like they used to. They are fixated on their devices. They are seated most of the time. They are not very active so they can’t burn any fat. I don’t see a lot of obese children in this clinic,but they exist. Obesity can lead to chronic illness later in life,” he said.
Recently, it was shown that diabetes and hypertension are among the major health risks facing the Guyanese population. This is s sentiment that Dr Fortune echoes, as she stated, “Diabetes is vey prevalent in Victoria. Hypertension is typically more prevalent that diabetes but there are a lot of patients with diabetes and it seems to be raising,” she said. And as cases rise in Victoria they rise everywhere.
The reason for this Dr Fortune explained, has to do with the choice the patient makes. She stated that, “They want to eat and drink whatever they want, however and whenever they want. And those are the repercussions, unfortunately. They also don’t want to take their medication.” This, however, is something that Dr Fortune understands and works with her patients on resolving.
We can look at Victoria to glimpse the larger changes that can be made in Guyana and the Caribbean. “I would first and foremost tell [people] to exercise. Guyanese have an issue with portion size of food. We know that we are not supposed to be eating more than a pot spoon of rice and we may want to eat three. And there are no vegetables on our plates. We normally mix our vegetables and the meat because that’s how we cook. But by the time we cook that there is lot of nutrients that is lost. We eat for taste and flavour not necessarily health purposes,” Dr Fortune said.
The village of Victoria is home to beautiful and welcoming people. They are a beautiful community bound by history and tradition. And as the community grows, tradition changes, but never leaves. And similar to who traditional shifts can be made, lifestyle improvements are definity a possibility.
and that’s one of the things that kept me here so long, the people,” he said.
The beginning of the celebration that has become
tradition was by no means intentional. “I started the event about 15 years ago because August 1st is my birthday and we just used to sit on the corner and cook. And I was encouraged by my friends
and that’s how we got the greasy pole and the races and so on,” Stanley said.
And thus, over the years, Stanley, his wife Joycelyn and their children carried on the tradition that their neigh-
bours looked forward to. “It always has a massive crowd and people look forward to the celebration,” he explained. “Emancipation and the celebrations never remain the same. Every year is something different, something new.” Similar to what Emancipation was like in the past, it begins long before August 1 and carries on long after. Stanley has already begun the celebratory mood a week in advance, beginning with the children. “This weekend, I shared things with the children. I treat them to sweeties and ice cream and so on. We always start with the young ones,” she said.
Emancipation for villagers like Stanley is more than a holiday. “Emancipation means a great lot to my family and I,” he said. “And what I observed is that at this time, the more I give to the people, the more I get back.” This culture of giving back is one of the principles that Victoria was built on. And it is perhaps one of the reasons Stanley says he will never stop doing what he does.
As he stated, “I had planned to stop, but it is something that everyone is looking forward to,” he said. The whole point of a cultural event of any kind is to preserve; to keep culture, customs and traditions intact for the next generation and it would seem as though the villagers of Victoria are doing just that. “Emancipation is something that we met since we were born. And it’s important that we keep it alive,” he said.
The annual ‘Free Up’ is the name given to the event hosted by the Charles family in recent years. Javon Charles is the son of Stanley Charles and is just one of the young people trying to keep the tradition of Emancipation alive.
The ‘Free-Up’ as it is called, is rightfully named as it is an event that is free to enter. Javon explained that this year’s Emancipation celebration as every year, is slated to have a number of competitions with everything from races and games to music and competitions. The Victoria Emancipation Day is more than an event. It is a celebration of history.
“We give way a lot of prizes. We start in the mornings with children. We give away some consolation prizes. The we have tug-o-war and the prize for that is $10,000,” he said. Every prize is provided by the Charles Family.
One of the most anticipated competitions is the best-dressed competition. This is where the women of Victoria come out on Emancipation dressed in their best African wear. “We also have a competition for the best African-dressed female. For that, we have a lot of prizes,” Javon stated. Whether it is being celebrated with the sound of drums and or with music from stereos and showcasing clothes, Emancipation is vital to the people of Victoria. “Emancipation is our holiday as Africans and as Victorians,” Javon declared.
SHE tried to stay calm so the fear she was feeling could not be seen in her eyes. Detective Arvin was not with them and they put her in a private room with one female rank present as they questioned her about Mark. But she knew nothing of Mark’s businesses nor his associates.
They held her for the entire night and, with the one phone call she was allowed to make, she called Mark.
His phone, though, went to voicemail and she left him a message, “Please come and get me, I’m at the police station.”
By the next day and after repeated questioning, she felt tired and desperately needed to go home.
“Please, Lord, I need someone’s help.”
Late that afternoon, Detective Arvin came from a special assignment he had been on and she said, tears in her eyes, “I was hoping to see you, to help me.”
He spoke with her to get her to feel comfortable and she pleaded, a tremor in her voice, “Please, I don’t know anything, I just want to go home.”
He looked at her, feeling sorry for her, and said gently, “I want to help you but I also have to do my job.”
He gave her a glass of water, tissues to wipe her face and said, “Take a deep breath and relax. I will ask you a few questions so you can be free to go.”
Mark’s name it seemed came up because of his step-brother’s criminal record.
“We need anything you can tell us about him.”
“We live normal lives,” she said, “working towards achieving our dreams.”
“Do you know anything about his business investments?”
“No, he does not disclose anything to me and when I insist to know, he would get angry and hit me.”
Her voice broke and she started to cry.
Arvin, knowing she was a domestic abuse victim halted his questioning and got up, “Come on, I’ll take you home.”
On the way he asked, “Are you hungry? Can I get you something?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.”
“You don’t look fine,” he said, “I’ll get you something.”
He stopped by a roadside burger stall, and at her home he said to her, “You had a tough two days, get some rest.”
Tanya found the strength to smile a little and said, “Thank you.”
She ate the burger, took a long, leisure bath and went to bed, falling asleep immediately. She did not know Mark came home not long after and stood looking at her as she slept, the gun in his hand.
She hummed softly a Tina Turner song as she busied herself with the food preparations, moments of the past two days playing in her mind. The police detaining her, the fear she felt, and the young detective’s empathy.
“He seems like such a nice person,” she mused.
Mark’s voice behind her almost startled her. He returned after reading her message, angry that the Police had detained her.
“I’m sorry something like that had to happen to you,” he said with seemingly true regrets.
She accepted his apology, just so the matter could rest and left with her containers to the food court.
The other vendors anxiously awaited her, worried about what had happened.
“It’s nothing to worry about,” Tanya assured them, “It was something about Mark.”
The older women though, still looked worried and expressed their concerns.
“Hope it’s nothing dat would drag you into trouble wid de law.”
That was the main worry on Tanya’s mind as she set up
for business. Mark came by her stall just before lunch to tell her he was thinking about hiring a lawyer to protect her interests. He didn’t want a repeat of what had happened to her. It wasn’t an idea she liked, just not wanting to be associated with anything illegal and as they were debating that, a few detectives arrived.
Mark showed no fear and approached the investigators in a no-nonsense manner.
“That was wrong man, detaining a young woman selling food.”
“We are following all leads,” was the crisp response. A look of defiance crossed Mark’s face and he scoffed, “You have nothing.”
Arvin walked up to him and stated quietly but firmly, “We are on the right track and it would be an epic takedown.”
The two men with different interests and personalities looked at each other with daring looks and Mark turned to Tanya, saying, “I’ll see you at home tonight.”
He drove off in a show of aggression and Arvin looked at Tanya, and notic-
AUGUST 1 is one of the most, if not the most important anniversaries in Guyanese History. On that day in 1833, the British Parliament passed the Emancipation Act freeing the slaves in then British Guiana and other parts of the British Empire. The Act came into force on August 1, 1834. In Guyana, however, full freedom did not come until 1838 since the slaves had to serve a period of “Apprenticeship” until August 1, 1838, whereby they were compelled to keep on working on their plantations in a condition of semi-slavery, though they were paid a small wage.
On the night before full freedom was declared in 1838, there was an all-night vigil and continuous drumming. On the arrival of morning, from 5 o’clock, the children and young people of the villages went from door to door knocking and calling out to sleepers to rouse themselves and join the celebrations. This custom continued until very recent years.
Emancipation Day was spent visiting friends and relatives and feasting; the
same customs and fare have continued until today. The fare consisted of Metamgee and ground provisions, including cassavas, eddoes, tannias, sweet potatoes, breadfruit, and plantains served with salted fish or sometimes meat. Cookup rice, which is today an obligatory item of the Emancipation Day menu, became an item only after 1860 when rice became available on the local market from the production of Indian Indentured immigrants. The sweet served was konky, made largely with corn flour, cassava, and pumpkin pones.
After August 1838, most freedmen had decided to remain on their plantations but they were paid such low wages that in the 1840s, they were constrained to strike. Their strikes failed and the freedmen, with courageous resolve and fortitude, left the estates without knowing how they would be able to survive.
Just at this time, Britain had begun to adopt a policy of Free Trade with consequent abandonment of protection of Caribbean sugar and this, together with the absence of workers, caused
many estates to go bankrupt with their owners abandoning them and putting them up for sale.
The freedmen saw an opportunity, formed themselves into cooperatives and with the money they had saved from their sales at the Sunday markets and the wages they had received as Apprentices, bought several of these abandoned plantations. The money paid for these properties was in the form of small coins like “bits” and shillings and had to be fetched in wheelbarrows.
The purchase and transformation of these abandoned plantations into villages is considered an element of Emancipation and is known to historians as the “Village Movement.” The Village Movement is one of the greatest moments of Guyanese history not only because it provided a constructive accommodation for the workers who had left the estates, but also because it gave a formula and blueprint to the world of a methodology of how poor and oppressed people could get out of poverty and move into an existence of self-respect and dignity.
The creativity of the freedmen was unique. They built new communities from scratch. They laid out the infrastructure of the new villages -- the streets, the allotments to various owners and the construction of thousands of houses. They established village governments which were able to supply basic municipal
services. Farmlands were laid out in the backlands where they produced plantains, bananas, breadfruit, and various ground provisions such as cassava, eddoes, tannias and sweet potatoes and various fruits such as mangoes and avocados; they raised flocks of sheep and goats and poultry. Many supplied the
services of tradesmen such as carpenters, tin and gutter smiths, tailors, vat makers and so on, not only to their villages but to the two towns; though most freedmen were illiterate, they were conscious of the value of education and
invited the churches such as the Congregationalists to establish schools, teach the great Christian religions and establish churches. In
a few years, this resulted in these villages becoming the oases of learning and culture in the colony. They first relied on folk medicine, but when women and girls began to be employed in the hospitals and some of them
were trained as nurses, they brought Western medicine to the villages. Many of the names chosen for the new villages had some reference to freedom and Emancipation. For example, Buxton was named after the English
Humanitarian who struggled in Parliament for the abolition of slavery, or Victoria and Queenstown were named for Queen Victoria, in whose reign Emancipation was declared.
Emancipation Day is not only a time of fairs, pageants, feasting and other celebrations; it is a time when all Guyanese and in particular Afro-Guyanese, must reflect on and internalize the great lessons which Emancipation has taught: In the first place, there is Saving. The freedmen were prepared to make the sacrifice of deferring the gratification of today for the betterment of tomorrow and thus they painstakingly saved small sums of money which accumulated into capital which they invested in the purchase of abandoned plantations. This culture of Saving needs to be resuscitated for personal and community progress.
Then there is the culture
of taking Calculated Risks. When the freedmen left the plantations, they took a courageous risk, leading them to purchase the abandoned plantations and establish the villages. Without taking risks, entrepreneurship and economic and social development could not happen.
Modern Guyanese people tend to move away from the land and agriculture. Land and agriculture were the bases of the survival and development of the freedmen. Now that the state is very supportive of agriculture, it is easier to be committed to it. Try to purchase and own your own land.
The villages were once oases of learning and intellect and were the seedbeds of the professional classes. If education again becomes a deep aspiration of both adults and children, upward mobility and economic betterment are bound to follow. Be again committed to education.
Part of the success of the Freedmen resided in their commitment to Religion and Moral Law. Young people in the villages must re-affiliate with their churches and follow the teachings. This will result in more stable families and give morale to be able to overcome all difficulties. Such commitment would prevent any drift to crime or negative social behaviour. It is because the freedmen were self-reliant and did not hope or expect help from any source that they were successful. Today, this culture of dependence on the state or other sources to help one with one’s problems must be eschewed and Self reliance should be the beacon. With self-reliance, one becomes master of one’s destiny. If such virtues associated with Emancipation are recaptured, it would be easier to successfully navigate in the new oil-rich Guyana.
gary and To Africa With Love in Barbados to name a few. At her Calgary ReggaeFest performance that year, Donna and her dancers created quite an impact on the 6000-strong audience with her dynamic and impressive stage performance.
Donna received the very prestigious Consul General’s Award at the Guyana Awards held in Toronto in appreciation for her steadfast commitment and service to the Guyanese community. Some of her awards include: “Top Reggae Newcomer” (her very first music award), “Top Reggae Dancehall DJ (female), and “Top Reggae Music Video (for her video “Jah Great Woman”) from the Canadian Reggae Music Awards,
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an “Arts & Entertainment Award” for her contribution to the Arts from her homeland Guyana, and an “Artistic Award of Excellence” from the Inter-City Multicultural School of Excellence Reading Club.
Donna also received the “Top Single” award for “Almighty Bless Me” and an “Unsung Hero” Award and has done collaborations with various artistes, including Shadrock, Prince Everald, Roger B, Negus Morris of the Heptones, Chatta, King Ujah, Keron Williams and Fyah Lion.
She has performed on stage alongside many top artistes including Beenie Man, Luciano, Marcia Griffiths, Lutan Fyah, Capleton, Sizzla,
Cocoa Tea, Sister Carol, Culture, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Michael Rose, Lady Saw, Macka Diamond, Cutty Ranks, Yami Bolo, Anthony B, George Nooks and Louie Culture to name a few.
Donna’s first CD album, entitled “Who Can Endure” was released in 1998. The song off of that album entitled “Sweet Victory” went number one on the reggae charts in Miami for eight weeks while “South Africa” was following closely at number two. “Jah Great Woman” also enjoyed much airplay and was on the number one spot on the Miami Reggae Radio Charts for six weeks.
The multi-talented artiste also released four full-length CDs entitled “Almighty Bless Me”, Who Can Endure”, “Jah Ah De Rulah” and “Then and Now” along with numerous vinyl and CD singles.
Donna has appeared live many times on City TV’s Breakfast Television, Entertainment News, Clip Trip, The Scene, Lunch Television, Rogers Cable 10, Soul in the City and Da Mix (Canada).
Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in saline coastal habitats in the tropics and subtropics. They normally form plant communities along the coastal areas between the landand seawhere they are flooded by tides. This is called the ‘intertidal zone’. Mangroves have the extraordinary ability to filter out salt through their roots and excrete it from their leaves, making them highly adaptive to this habitat.
Distribution…
The mangrove vegetation of the world can be divided into two broad categories:
✯ The “old world” mangroves in the pacific region extend from the east coast of Africa to the South Pacific.
✯ The “new world” mangroves, found along the west coast of Africa; the North America (east coast) and South America (coastline of Guyana, Venezuela Suriname, French Guiana) and Brazil and on the west coast between Mexico and northern Peru.
✯ In Guyana, they mangroves grow extensively along the coastline (where the land meets the sea) and can be seen in estuary of rivers (Demerara, Berbice, Essequibo).
Characteristics…
✯ Mangroves thrive in areas of high rainfall and moist air.
✯ Their soils contain a lot of salt and water and little oxygen. The mangroves grow best in clayey soils, which are formed by the build-up of water-borne soil particles.
✯ Mangroves have shallow roots, which do not penetrate deep into the soil; therefore, they are very vulnerable to strong winds and waves.
✯ Mangroves are influenced greatly by the tides of Guyana’s coastal plain. Mangrove seeds are dispersed by water, carrying them upstream and downstream. Tides regulate the spread of mangrove forest and the salinity concentration of water in mangrove areas.
Types of Mangroves in Guyana
In Guyana there are three species of mangroves in Guyana, namely;
✯ Red Mangrove or(Rhizophora mangle)
✯ Black Mangrove or (Avicenniagerminans)
✯ White Mangrove or (Lagunculariaracemosa)
Importance…
As insignificant as they may seem, mangroves play a very important role in the environment. As we walk along the seawall, mangroves line the sea bank but we carelessly destroy them and don’t even stop to think what their roles are. Below are just some of the important functions of Mangroves in the environment:
✯ Protect our coastline against erosion
✯ Provide fuel-wood for domestic cooking
✯ Many traditional medicines are made from mangroves, including those for treating skin disorders, headaches, rheumatism, snake bite, ulcers, etc.
✯ Support wildlife and shelter grounds for aquatic species
✯ Offer good sites for bee hives
✯ Bark is used for the extraction of tannin
✯ Assist in reducing water pollution by filtering pollutants present in the water.
✯ Link marine and terrestrial ecosystems
✯ Poles are used for mooring boats and supporting nets
✯ Provide aesthetic, scientific and educational benefits due to the uniqueness of the ecosystem
✯ Vines can be used to make handicrafts.
✯ Black mangroves may be the best land stabilizer due to easier seedling transport, quick aerial root production, underground root systems increase sediment holding capabilities, higher tolerance to cold temperatures, better ability to inhabit “artificial” sites (dredge, fill, etc.).
✯ During extreme storms and hurricanes mangrove forests protect landward coastal area by mitigating damage from waves, currents, and winds.
A variety of organisms utilize mangrove habitats. Under the prop root complex and tidal channels lay a multitude of marine species in a delicate balance. In addition, the fine, anoxic sediments under the mangroves are a sink for various heavy (trace) metals.
Help us protect our precious mangroves! We need it more than it needs us!
WHETHER you travel for work, pleasure or for your personal reasons—every day, most of us have some journey we have to physically take to get where we want to go. These types of travelling may vary, and in truth, they have different experiences. Travelling for work or for everyday activities is not the same as travelling for vacation purposes or for overall tourism. Most Guyanese I know often go to visit their relatives abroad and for them—that’s a vacation. I sometimes do the same as well because it’s good to be able to reconnect and relax with friends and family.
With that in mind, we can also explore and travel to new places we’ve never been before—for the experiences and even opportunities. Travel blogging and vlogging has allowed us to view the world through the experiences of others online. It’s allowed me to understand the world outside of my comfort zone through the eyes of travellers. I’ve realised that travelling broadens your horizons of the world. The world is not narrow-ended. There are so many cultures, landscapes, ideologies and traditions to explore. There’s also so much to learn. I’ve seen these travel vloggers and influencers use those very life lessons from the people and places they’ve encountered and translate them into their own lives—without even changing their life’s values.
Aside from exploration and life lessons, travelling to new places can also help improve your mental health. Being stuck in one day-to-day routine is not mental health friendly. It can certainly take a toll on your mind and even your body. Travelling in your leisure time can be helpful, especially if your routine is extremely busy and you feel overwhelmed by it. If you’re creative and need content, travelling can also help you in your work. I was told that travelling to different countries or cities can inspire you. “We didn’t realise we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun”, is a quote by the famous cartoon character; Winnie the Pooh. Your memories from travelling and all your adventures will keep you smiling on hard days in your older years.
Travelling can be expensive and it can also be difficult to schedule time off to make it happen. I want you all to remember that you can start to travel right here in our country. You can visit and learn more about our counties. I’m sure most of you (myself included) never even visited all 10 regions of the country, let alone the varying villages and towns within them. If time is an issue, remember you ought to take time off to spend with yourself—for yourself. Travelling makes you understand that no matter how much you think you know about this world, there’s always something new to learn. I hope next time you take time off from work or even household responsibilities—you explore the many wonders of our world, even in your own country. You owe it to yourself to take that trip.
SEVERAL days ago, the Black Magenta on Camp Street was filled to capacity (and beyond) as this year’s “Pan Jam” event was staged. It was a night celebrating many of the people committed to developing the local arts scene while showcasing a lot of Guyana’s musical talent. In a nutshell, I loved every bit of it.
The man behind the event is Reon Miller, a lawyer. He started these events off, smartly capitalising on his musical talent to help fund his law school tuition. The event has grown from strength to strength ever since and has even enjoyed some grant-funding to expand. And I think the event offers a glimpse at what good things can come out of supporting bonafide efforts at building the local arts community and providing more entertainment options to people.
At the event, Miller said he wanted to demonstrate that steelpan music can be just as entertaining as any other; he also wanted to encourage people to support steelpan players (and prospective players) more. These are noble objectives and I think they are being realised, a position I think is evidenced by the overwhelming support shown for this activity.
There are other things to think about too. Expectedly, the recent event reminded me of Trinidad and Tobago, but not just because the Twin Island is the birthplace of steelpan music.
One of the things that I like about Trinidad is that there always seemed to be a space for musicians, artists and other creatives to share their art and talents in the way Pan Jam does. And that’s not by accident.
A 2018 feature published by Reuters highlighted that advocates of the arts, creative entrepreneurs and even government officials have been keen on stimulating a year-round focus on the arts (instead of primarily at carnival time) to possibly build an “economic alternative for a country otherwise dependent on oil and natural gas.”
From what I experienced, they haven’t done a bad job at it. They could host any panorama or parang event at any time of the year, and I will readily attend. There are frequent plays and shows, which shouldn’t be a surprise, given how the country’s arts sector has developed over the years. Those events provide entertainment and help build a community for the creatives involved, where they can support each other and develop their talents together. Let’s not overlook the fact that well-supported events also mean that the persons themselves are well-supported, in cash and kind. I loved seeing it. And I love seeing Pan Jam and other events celebrated and supported in the ways they are.
Another reason why I appreciate Pan Jam and events like Pan Jam is because it provides us all with one more leisurely thing to do. This is important, at least to me, because I frequently feel as though I am starved of leisurely activities (especially in Georgetown).
Truthfully, it sometimes feels as though my options for entertainment are limited to watching a movie or trying out a new eatery/ bar. It is not very often that work/ school schedules align for my friends and me to go picnicking in the National Park. So on my days off from work and volunteering, when good movies aren’t showing at the theatres, I find myself on a boat, travelling to the Essequibo Coast.
Yes, travelling around Guyana is nice, and I will be the first to recommend it to anyone but sometimes, I wish I could happily spend my leisure time doing other cool things in Georgetown too.
I can’t overstate just how I am happy that we have Pan Jam and other growing local spaces for creative expression. As mentioned in a previous column, I think the time is ripe for us to capitalise on the momentum and meaningfully support those in the creative sector instead of treating them as mere afterthoughts or a simple addition to otherwise
bland events. We have lots of talent here, and once we keep supporting the talent and nurturing it adequately, we will all be better off.
If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com
WHILE I am generally known as a Journalist, among other things, I am certainly not known as a singer. However, in turning the clock back a few decades, history will reveal that I was once a church choir member. More of my personal history would reveal that I sang in musical theatre productions in Guyana at the Theatre Guild and the UK during my studies at the Middlesex University in London, England.
I can recall auditioning for a role in a lavish musical production, which I really wanted to be a part of since I knew that my performance would earn me higher grades, and my efforts to earn my degree, which I subsequently gained with Honours. The character written in the play was a Norwegian named Count Olstoff. I discussed the need for a change with my Professor, who agreed with my suggestion that the char-
acter should be an African called Chief Odungo. There are those instances when it is prudent to stay within the practical comfort zone and not to stretch reality too far.
A great audition test piece
At the audition, the test piece was...wait for it...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. The Music Professor used that wellknown birthday song to classify the singing voices quality and classification of the students by having them sing “Happy Birthday to you.” But on reflection, it is reasonable to agree that “Happy Birthday to you” is just correct to assess the singing standard of someone. Nonetheless, we would all agree that singing, more often than not, brings us joy; maybe that’s why we sing in the shower while we wash away not
only the dirt from our bodies but also our problems.
We can recall that song, “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair” from the Musical South Pacific. I mention this because I am using this article to encourage you to step out of your comfort zone now and then. You can console yourself if you fail in your effort by saying, “Well, I was out of my comfort zone.” However, if you succeed, you can claim great success and enjoy your achievement.
There are, of course, instances when you would fail miserably. Here is one such experience of mine. It was one of the Club Nights at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown. As would be recalled, TG Club Nights were extremely popular back in the 1960s and 1970s. They were usually held on a Thursday night and were usually outrageous presentations for the better part. Performers did experimental things.
My Club Night was to experiment with songs from Broadway Shows, and yes, I was boldly stepping out of my comfort zone, trying to be a singer of Broadway songs. My first chosen song was, “Younger Than Springtime” from the Broadway musical, South Pacific. I had rehearsed for weeks, however, not with my piano accompanist. Nonetheless, it would be the event in which I stepped out of my comfort zone and conquered the musical world. I was already hearing the resounding applause resonating in my ears from a packed Theatre Guild audience. The Theatre Guild Playhouse was indeed packed to capacity when the night came. That audience was a tough lot who apparently came with fangs and were ready for blood.
Yes, I was a bit nervous as I stepped out onto the stage. Somehow, I sensed that I was wading into deep, turbulent waters. By the second line of the song, I distinctly heard giggles. By the chorus, the giggles from the audience had increased into unabashed laughter...then rude comments were hurled at me; “The song, not the singer!” My ego was brutally assaulted - actually, stamped upon. I stopped ‘singing’, glared at the audience, and walked off the stage. It was the worst experience I’ve had in theatre...and the worst thing I ever did on a stage.
Shame on me! Drowning my sorrows at the TG Bar with a nice cold Banks Beer, a gentleman came up to me, and with a glint in his eyes, and a smirk on his ugly face, he said with a guttural tone, “I was there the night when Farrier died.” I wanted to punch him in his mouth and have two or three of his cavity-riddled teeth extracted free of cost. However, I wisely constrained myself since the guy was almost three times my size.
Everything that night proved to be a great learning experience. I have since gained many other theatre successes and accolades, including winning the Best Actor Award at the 1965 British Guiana National Drama Festival and many more over the years. The Theatre Guild Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 was the most recent. It was the great Guyanese and Caribbean Theatre personality Ken Corsbie, AA, who said, “Theatre is life, and life is theatre.” Indeed, we can all live our lives in a safe corner of this “Wonderful World” yet, from time to time, step out of our comfort zone and do interesting and unusual things which give lots of fun to ourselves and others.
ing her disturbed look asked, “Is there any problem?”
“No, we just disagreed on something.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
“I don’t know.”
“I wish there is some way I can help you,” he said, with a measure of concern.
She smiled wryly, “Thanks.”
The older women paying close attention to that little exchange, said, “He seem tuh have some concern fuh yuh.”
Tanya sighed and pointed out, again, “He’s just doing his job.”
“Nice way, though,” they voiced, smiling appreciatively.
Mark came home early that night, a serious look on his face, not saying anything throughout dinner. He poured a drink of 15-year-old El Dorado rum and sat for a long while, the muscles in his face taut.
That told her something was terribly wrong.
He poured himself another drink, then said, “They have been investigating in this area too often. It means they’re onto something so we will have to leave.”
“Why are the police interested in you?” she asked cautiously.
“You don’t have to know anything now,” he snapped at her, “I have to work out some new plans to find somewhere safe for us.”
“No!” she cried out in her mind, “That’s not good,” but she said nothing further for he was in a bad mood.
He left early that morning and came back in the night, not troubled anymore but confident and he hugged her.
“A perfect plan is in place for us to leave tonight.”
“Where are we going?”
“To a place where the arms of the law can’t touch us.”
She braved her mind, knowing if she didn’t take a stance now, he would drag her into a life of crime where there would be no turning back.”
“I am not leaving with you,” she said firmly, “until you tell me the truth.”
He took a step towards her in anger, then stopped and took a deep breath, a gloating look on his face.
“Yeah, I can tell you now. I was the mastermind behind the high-profile robberies.”
She looked at him stunned, for though she suspected something illegal, the confession was a great shock.
“I’ll take you away from here, give you a better life.”
She shook her head, “We were supposed to realise our dreams through honest and hard work, not with blood money.”
“It’s not blood money!” he shouted, grabbing her by the throat, “I earned it the hard way.”
He pushed her roughly and strode across the room, punching the air angrily. She inhaled slowly and told him in a steady voice, “It’s not the life I wanted, Mark. I think we should go our separate ways.”
He said nothing, then turned around slowly, dark anger on his face. She had suffered enough from that anger and she turned to run to lock herself in the bedroom but too late. He grabbed her by the hair, punching and kicking her as she fell down. He picked her up, threw her on the sofa, and wiping the blood from her mouth, he said in a deadly, low tone.
“You are not leaving me, now or ever.”
He left her there lying helplessly and went into the bedroom to pack two bags for them to leave. She was hurting so bad, she could hardly move, but she had to get to the phone to call for help.
Arvin’s card was in one of the cookbooks, and she dragged herself to get there. She called but the phone went to voicemail and she left a message, her voice filled with pain.
“He’s taking me away, please, I need your help.”
To be continued…
Dear Student, Welcome dear friend. When studying a text, whether fiction or non-fiction, proper reading of the whole should enable your discovery of the writer’s intention. This can be stated implicitly or explicitly. His
July 30, 2023
intention can be any of four primary types: to amuse, to persuade, to inform, or to satirize a condition. Locating overt statements, comparing title and content, understanding context, and recognizing point of view can point the way he wants you to understand his work. Be wise.
Love you.
THE POEM
Analysing and interpreting the poem
Girl with ‘Cello
There had been no such music here until
A girl came in from falling dark and snow
To bring into this house her glowing ‘cello
As if some silent, magic animal.
She sat, head bent, her long hair all a-spill
Over the breathing wood, and drew the bow.
There had been no such music here until
A girl came in from falling dark and snow.
And she drew out that sound so like a wail,
A rich dark suffering joy, as if to show
All that a wrist holds and that fingers know
When they caress a magic animal.
There had been no such music here until
A girl came in from dark and snow.
Something to Do
1. Think about the structure of the poem. The poet repeats certain lines. Why do you think?
2. Do you agree that the poem is dark but joyful? Explain how this description is accurate. Quote phrases and/ or lines.
3. If the first quatrain (four-line stanza) rhyme scheme is abba, what is the rhyme scheme of the second quatrain?
4. The last six lines (sestet) rhyme this way: …….
5. What action words were used in relation to the girl? Put these together in one or two sentences.
6. Write a beautifully composed paragraph or two, or a poem inspired by this poem that features an intensity of feeling. The feeling in this poem was stirred by beautiful music. What device will stir the feeling in your writing? Make it beautiful. Read it to a group of study partners. Write a report on their comments.
THE PASSAGE
Making predictions and guessing when reading a text
In the following text, all punc-
tuation has been removed. Can you put it back? Start a new paragraph when you think it is necessary and do not forget part of the text may be a dialogue and will have to be punctuated as such. he emerged wearing black trousers and a brownand-white shirt he put on black shoes and slicked his hair with oil from a bottle on the dresser Flora gave Gabi a clean pair of jeans a red-striped shirt and sneakers as they went downstairs Flora said let’s go to the A and P things are cheaper there all right I don’t care but those people don’t sell on credit so what Flora answered crossly we have to economise they passed a record shop Flora gave me a dollar Simplicio said I want to buy La mano de Dios are you crazy Flora burst out we aren’t going to have any money left over and you want to buy a record besides you broke the arm of the record player and that’s expensive so don’t we can get it fixed right away I hope it’s never fixed because when it works all you do is play records so loud the whole neighbourhood can hear ah Flora give it to me Flora opened her purse and threw a dollar bill at her husband.
(From Oscar Lewis: Days with Simplicio in New York (Random House) 1965))
What to Do:
1) Supply all missing punctuation in the text. As you do that, try to predict where the sentences are likely to stop and look for certain words that function as signals of a new sentence or paragraph.
2) Propose an ending for this passage.
3) See this type of exercise as another way to help you make predictions and guesses (a crucial ability to use) when reading a text. The predictions and guesses are later rejected or confirmed.
Making predictions when reading a text
Note: Making predictions is an important reading skill. It is a strategy in which you, the reader, use information from a text (including titles, headings, pictures, and diagrams) and your own personal experiences to anticipate what you are about to read (or what comes next in the reading). Combining these you can make relevant, logical predictions. However, much success at predicting depends upon your practice of a wide variety of other reading comprehension strategies!
Remember: To be a sentence, a group of words must have a verb (simple predicate) and a subject. Look at each group of words given below. Write the verb and the subject after any that you think is a sentence. Change the fragments to sentences. Let your study partners verify your performance.
1. Henry, having visited the seawall innumerable times and being thoroughly tired of spending hours at the bandstand.
2. The hairdryer on the table beside the couch is made by Harrison.
3. In the winter Jacqueline spends most of her time skiing.
4. Running madly down the main street, Ellen caught the attention of the village constable.
5. We may never again see such a display of hypocrisy by stalwarts in the church.
6. The crowd of people, wearing clothes of every colour in the rainbow, stretching from one end of the street to the other.
7. Those are they, the vagabonds disappearing behind the back fence.
TODAY
Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world. PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY (1792-1822) A Defence of Poetry
PREMEDICATION is giving someone a drug before the dentist attempts to perform any clinical procedure to tranquillize the person so that they may cooperate during treatment. The goals of premedication are to allay apprehension or fearful anxiety and prevent any attempt to hamper or resist treatment. Therefore, the judicious use of premedication agents can be substantially beneficial, especially when the patient is a child.
Every dental professional knows that children as patients present a challenge when drugs are required during the course of dental treatment. Special consideration should be given to the route of administration (mouth or injection), selection of appropriate agents, and correct dosage for optimal effect.
Although not a substitute for psychological management techniques, preoperative sedation, when used with certain medications, can significantly expand the range of patients that can be treated in the office environment. The patient should remain conscious and responsive to commands with intact protective laryngeal reflexes (cough). An ideal agent should be efficacious at a level of dosage that minimally alters vital signs and allows for rapid recovery with a low prevalence of adverse reactions.
While the so-called “laughing gas” nitrous oxide is among the best premedication agents, most dentists using preoperative sedation in children prefer the oral route of administration. This method has been shown to be largely effective, even though variability in absorption is sometimes observed. The major advantage of the oral route is that it is an innocuous delivery system that is less likely to be perceived by the child as threatening or suspicious.
Chloral hydrate sold under the brand name of Notec is the oldest drug of hypnotic groups. It closely resembles a barbiturate. The drug is available as syrup and the child can take two spoonfuls 45 minutes before the dental appointment. A major drawback to the use of chloral hydrate is that no specific antidote is currently available to reverse any adverse effects should they occur. Side effects are minor and the taste is frequently reported to be objectionable.
Hydrazine has historically been one of the most popular sedating agents used in children. Available as Atarax and Vistaril, this drug tranquilises; it prevents vomiting and inflammation and also relaxes the muscles. It comes in tablets of 25mg and 50mg. The suspension and injection are also manufactured.
Recently, diazepam, which is widely prescribed for the control of adult anxiety, has gained popularity for use in the preoperative sedation of children.
It has been suggested that a dose the night before and the day of dental appointment are necessary to achieve optimal sedation.
Proethazine is widely used in medicine and dentistry as a comedication for narcotic agents. Other similar drugs are meperidine and alphaprodine.
Parents and guardians should know that it could be dangerous to give a child any premedication agent without the consent and control of the dentist. This article does not provide information such as dosage in relation to the weight of the child, the specific dental procedure to be performed and its relation to the type and dosage of the drug etc. in addition, the mental state (hysterical etc.) age, medical history and clinical status of the child, all must be taken into account before premedication is prescribed.
