Pageantry Beyond Beauty Pageantry Beyond Beauty
Renowned pageant coach Pamela Dillon talks about the Legacy and Impact of the Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant.
Dillon with two delegates in the 2017 Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant
- Promoting community development, eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture and conservation in Region Six Lothian Green Guardians
By Michel Outridge
LOTHIAN Green Guardians (LGG) was part of the official launch of the 99 Windows House Heritage and Agro-Tour in East Berbice-Corentyne, on Friday last.
Mark Deonarine, Public Relations Officer of LGG, stated that they had a booth to showcase their products, where visitors could purchase
locally made items and souvenirs. A percentage of these sales will directly support the restoration of the 99 Windows House.
Through partnerships, conservation efforts, and community engagement, LGG is working to ensure that the 99 Windows House not only becomes a restored cultural landmark but also serves as a hub for eco-tourism, education, and sustain-
able livelihoods in Berbice.
Deonarine told the Pepperpot Magazine that LGG is a non-governmental organisation (NGO), charitable and non-profit, rooted in the vibrant community of Berbice, Guyana. Founded with deep commitment to people and the planet, LGG is dedicated to advancing sustainable development, environmental conservation, eco-tourism, community empowerment
and sustainable agriculture.
LGG has seven executive members, headed by Managing Director Maria Fraser, granddaughter of the Fraser family. She lived in the 99 Windows House until she was nine years old. The 99 Windows House project also has an executive body of three members.
“We believe in a future where communities thrive alongside healthy ecosystems. Guided by Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we work in partnership with local, national and international stakeholders to create meaningful, lasting impact,” he said.
The booth of locally-made products with some of its members, who were selling at the site of the 99
Deonarine reported that their projects include a senior citizens and youth initiative, a heritage museum, agricultural development for youths, a green initiative, and community development. He stated that their mission is to foster community development in eco-tourism and heritage tourism, as well as to promote biodiversity conservation and cultural and environmental education for long-term sustainable development.
Deonarine related that LGG is actively working to bring this beauty back to life and is on a mission to restore the historic 99 Windows House. He said the beautiful TURN TO PAGE VII
Window house towards ‘Donate a Window Initiative’
The 99 Window House at Plantation Lothian, East Berbice
Pageantry Beyond Beauty
PAGEANTRY is more than what meets the eye. From vigorous training to perfecting walks, poise, and speech, to the pressure of being an ambassador for many, pageantry is as complex as it is beautiful. Among the highlights of Guyana’s pageantry scene is the Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant.
Developed by pageantry visionary Pamela Dillon, Miss Guyana Talented Teen gives young women from across Guyana the opportunity to take their first graceful steps onto the stage. In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Dillon shared her vision for Miss Guyana Talented Teen 2025, the work happening behind the scenes, and why pageantry is more than meets the eye, but also a platform filled with opportunities.
When she returned home to Guyana in the late 1980s, Dillon did not set out to create the Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant or what is now the well-known pageant coaching house, Simpli Royal. She initially opened a nail spa, using skills she had acquired overseas. While running the modest business, called Fantasy Nails, Dillon found herself with a front-row seat to
the harsh criticism faced by young women in pageantry. This inspired her to create a training ground for young contestants, a move that eventually gave rise to the Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant.
As Dillon recalled in her interview with Pepperpot Magazine, “It was always a crowd of women; beauty queens, people applying for pageants, performers, high society ladies, working women, they all converged there.
And I used to notice a lot of criticism for pageant girls. People always thought: she’s a pageant girl, she should have worn this, she should have done that. I thought, if these girls were prepped before they went public, if they were prepared in a way that made them appealing to the eyes, made them sound like committed community leaders, empowered them, they would do better. They wouldn’t have to fend off criticism plus compete. So, I thought it was a good place to start by training.”
Apart from a few years of hiatus, the Miss Guyana Talented Teen Pageant has captivated audiences since its launch in 2000, and this year is no different. Dillon and
Renowned pageant coach Pamela Dillon talks about the Legacy and Impact of the Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant.
her diverse team, including former queens, are working to make the 2025 event memorable, with screenings and planning already underway for the November show. As she explained, her team is seeking young women who possess both beauty and personality. “We did our first screening last Friday, so we have a worthy six, and we’re doing another screening this Friday. We want between 10 to 12 girls; that’s a good number for production. They have to have a personality,” Dillon shared.
But MGTT is about more than appearances. A central pillar of the pageant is self-development, particularly in education. “Wherever contestants are on the education spectrum, we pay attention to that. For instance, if you’ve done CXCs, if you’re at UG, if you’ve entered the world of work, as long as you’re a teenager, you have talent in the performing arts, and you have a bit of personality, we work with you,” she explained.
“Because we know they’re still teenagers and they could use a hand up. The training is important, it’s not just for the production, it’s about empowering the young ladies
who pass through, hopefully giving them guidance in how they present themselves.”
Speaking about the lasting impact of pageantry, Dillon said it is an experience that forever changes participants. “The girls that compete are never the same. They come out much better. Whether it’s a beauty pageant; which some people feel all pageants are, beauty has to do with inner beauty, and I’d say inner beauty with outer glow.
But if a young lady is focusing on herself, what is she giving? That’s the thing,” she said. She emphasised that sacrifice is a necessary part of the journey. “You want a crown? What are you giving to get it? You have to give up your time, you have to focus, you have to present yourself properly. Forget the talent, we’re talking beauty queen.”
In many ways, ventures like Miss Guyana Talented Teen act as catalysts for development. As Dillon noted, pageantry prompts both contestants and audiences to look beyond beauty and consider what else these young women have to offer, ultimately creating confident, empowered leaders with a strong sense of self.
“If you’re blessed with features that are attractive, if you know how to put yourself together, when you get the attention of the general public you have to hold that attention by your inner focus, by what you say, and how it reflects the true being of the beautiful girl they’re looking at. That’s the mandate; that’s what a lot of girls strive for. We could do more work. We have pageants that need more focus on what the producer is TURN TO PAGE VII
Renowned pageantry coach and planner and the person behind Simpli Royal, Pamela Dillon
Dillon with two delegates in the 2017 Miss Guyana Talented Teen pageant
The environmental impacts of mining and deforestation activities
WHILE the world often praises Guyana for its pristine rainforests and low deforestation rates, a less visible reality is unfolding: Mining is now the leading driver of forest loss. This silent threat risks undermining the very reputation that gives Guyana its global environmental standing.
As mining expands deeper into the interior—particularly in Regions One (Barima-Waini), Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), and Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), where gold and diamond mining are prevalent—it has become the leading driver of deforestation and environmental degradation in the country, despite national deforestation rates remaining relatively low.
Mining: Economic backbone with environmental costs
Mining remains one of Guyana’s most lucrative industries, significantly contributing to the national GDP, and providing employment across remote hinterland
communities. However, this economic lifeline comes at an environmental cost.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), has highlighted that activities such as river dredging, land clearing, and the use of hazardous chemicals, including mercury, are having increasingly visible impacts on biodiversity, water quality, and public health.
Although regulations under the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, and the Mining Act of 1989, along with the Mining Regulations of 2005, exist, enforcement remains a challenge, especially in more remote areas.
Environmental Fallout: EPA Monitoring Key Impacts
Soil Degradation
• Excessive excavation leads to erosion and loss of fertile topsoil.
• Sediment run-off clogs rivers and impairs agricultural via-
bility.
Water Pollution
• The discharge of heavy metals and suspended solids poses a threat to aquatic ecosystems.
• The use of mercury and cyanide in processing has led to contamination of drinking water and fish stocks.
• Improper waste disposal contributes to rising health concerns in mining communities.
Biodiversity Loss
• Mining disrupts critical habitats and forces wildlife migration.
• Mercury bioaccumulation threatens both wildlife and human health through the food chain.
Air Pollution
• Dust and open burning of mercury amalgam have been linked to respiratory illnesses.
• Prolonged exposure to airborne pollutants poses long-term health risks.
Visual and Aesthetic Damage
• Deforestation and unregulated mining operations scar the natural landscape.
• Abandoned mining pits and man-made structures affect the eco-tourism potential.
Deforestation: A Growing Threat Beyond Mining
The EPA warns that deforestation, driven largely by mining and logging, carries broader consequences for Guyana’s climate and biodiversity. Forest loss is contributing to:
• Soil erosion and increased sedimentation in rivers.
• Loss of carbon sinks, increasing carbon dioxide emissions.
• Disruption of rainfall patterns and risk of desertification in heavily mined areas.
• Threats to Indigenous lifestyles and forest-related livelihoods. These changes pose significant threats to Indigenous communities and others whose livelihoods depend on healthy, intact forests.
Communities Bear the Social and Cultural Burden
Beyond environmental degradation, mining activities are taking a significant social and cultural toll, particularly on Indigenous and forest-dependent communities. Occupational hazards at mining sites remain high, while Amerindian villages face displacement, cultural disruption, and rising health risks.
Diseases such as malaria and dengue have also increased in mining regions, and land conflicts involving agriculture, forestry, and eco-tourism are becoming more frequent.
While mining has brought economic benefits and improved infrastructure to some areas, the EPA emphasises that sustainable practices are essential to prevent longterm harm to both communities and ecosystems.
Policy and Restoration Efforts Underway
To combat these environmental threats, the government, through the EPA and GGMC, has launched several initiatives:
• Land Reclamation Projects: A 23-hectare site at Dakoura is undergoing restoration, with native species such as Tauroniro and Bloodwood being replanted to revive the ecosystem.
• Reforestation Target:
GGMC is spearheading an ambitious project to reforest 200,000 hectares of land impacted by mining, agriculture, and infrastructure development.
• Mineral Mapping Investment: A GY$400 million initiative, funded in the 2024 national budget, will provide more accurate geological data to reduce unnecessary land clearing.
The EPA continues to advocate for responsible mining practices, urging miners to adopt environmentally sound techniques and comply with existing regulations. While economic development remains a national priority, the environment is not an infinite resource. What we do today will determine the sustainability of our future.
As Guyana moves forward with balancing development and environmental stewardship, the EPA remains a key player in shaping a greener, more resilient future.
Beekeeping Sweetens Livelihoods in Sandvoort
Beekeeping Sweetens Livelihoods in Sandvoort
How one family is turning honey into hope while inspiring a new generation of eco-farmers
By Michel Outridge
AMIDST the lush secondary forest of Sandvoort Village, West Canje Berbice, lies one of Guyana’s emerging eco-friendly industries with vast potential for sustainable livelihoods—beekeeping. Once a Dutch coffee plantation, Sandvoort was later purchased by freed slaves who transformed it into a farming community.
Today, the village continues that legacy of resilience, with residents like Sheon Chisholm and her family at the forefront of the country’s growing apiculture movement.
For Chisholm, 36, a mother of three, beekeeping is more than a business—it is her family’s sole source of income and a lifeline for the community. Her brand, Nature Boy Flow, has become a local favourite, while her teenage son, Orris St Clair, proudly carries forward the family tradition, now recognised as Guyana’s youngest beekeeper.
From Hardship to Honey
Chisholm’s journey began in 2016, when she ventured into beekeeping alongside her spouse. What started with a single hive in their backyard grew into more than 100 hives, until floods in 2016 and 2020 wiped out much of their apiary. As if nature had not tested them
enough, wildfires in 2023 again destroyed hives and scorched land.
“Every time we lost, we started back from scratch,” Chisholm recalled. “Beekeeping has enhanced our lives, and it is our only source of livelihood, so giving up was never an option.”
honey from just over 55 hives—still far less than local demand.
“This tells us there’s a real future in honey production. With expansion, we can supply more households with quality, natural honey,” she explained.
with 15 hives under his care, Orris proudly trains his peers in the basics of apiculture.
“It’s better to learn a skill than to spend all your time on gadgets,” Orris shared, adding that beekeeping allows young people to earn while helping the environment. His
With support from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), in June 2025, the family received 65 hives and has since rebuilt their stock to over 110 hives. During peak flowering season, their apiary yields around 70 gallons of
The Rise of a Young Beekeeper Perhaps most inspiring is the role of Chisholm’s 14-year-old son, Orris St Clair, who manages his own brand, Golden Harvest. Earlier this year, Orris was gifted 10 hives by the Ministry of Agriculture, bringing his total to 15. Today,
passion and discipline have made him a role model in Sandvoort and beyond. He is a proud student of Berbice Educational Institute.
Apiculture: An Eco-Friendly Future
The PPP/C Government has
identified beekeeping as a key eco-friendly industry that complements existing agriculture in Guyana. By promoting apiculture, the government is supporting sustainable livelihoods while encouraging communities to use natural resources responsibly.
Through GLDA, the government has provided training, equipment, and starter hives to numerous families like the Chisholms. Plans are also underway to strengthen the apiculture value chain, improve access to financing through initiatives such as an Agricultural Development Bank, and create more opportunities for women and youth.
“Financing is our biggest hurdle right now,” Chisholm said. “We are grateful for all the support we’ve received, but access to affordable credit would help us expand faster. We welcome the government’s plan for an Agri-bank that will help farmers like us grow.”
A Community Buzzing with Hope
Beyond her household, Chisholm’s home also serves as a training space for youths in Sandvoort. Seven young people have already started their own hives after working alongside her. The family’s honey production centre, located on the lower flat of their home, not TURN TO PAGE VII
Sheon Chisholm, an
A Model of Modern Swine Production in Guyana
Steven Low-A-Chee’s journey from salesmanship to sustainable livestock leadership
ON the Soesdyke–Linden Highway at Badrima Village en route to Laluni lies S&M Farm, one of Guyana’s largest and most ad -
vanced swine operations. Owned and managed by Mr. Steven LowA-Chee, the farm has become a beacon of modern livestock production, blending traditional farming heritage with innovation,
biosecurity, and environmentally friendly practices.
Low-A-Chee did not begin his career directly in farming. Before returning to agriculture, he ventured into salesmanship. Yet the pull of his family’s farming legacy proved too strong. His father, who began swine farming in 1979, laid the foundation for what would later become one of the country’s most successful livestock enterprises.
“I grew up surrounded by pigs, watching my father work hard. Eventually, I knew I wanted to take it further,” Low-A-Chee reflected.
Overcoming Early Challenges
The initial stages of farm development were difficult. High mortality rates and weak pedigree lines posed major setbacks. Determined to raise the standard of his herd, Low-A-Chee turned to the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) for technical advisory services. With their support, he was able to import Topig 40 pedigree breeding stock from neighbouring Suriname, a move that transformed the productivity and quality of his drove.
Since 2013, he has renewed his import permits multiple times, doubling his stock and accelerating production. Today, S&M Farm
manages 1,500 pigs on 87 acres, producing approximately 22 pigs weekly to supply supermarkets such as Bounty and Rossignol Butchery. At peak demand periods, such as Christmas, the farm prepares as many as 200 pigs for slaughter.
Low-A-Chee explained that while his farm has other breeds, including Duroc, the Topig 40 breed was chosen for its rapid growth and superior carcass quality. Within four and a half months, pigs reach market weights of 160–165 pounds.
“This breed changed everything for us,” he said.
Biosecurity and Technological Advancements
Low-A-Chee is a firm advocate of biosecurity, noting that it is central to the farm’s resilience and growth. Strict disease-prevention protocols have helped reduce losses, while continued engagement with GLDA in training, research, and on-farm support has ensured operations align with global best practices.
Recent technological upgrades include the introduction of farrowing crates, gifted by the Ministry of Agriculture through GLDA. These crates have drastically reduced piglet mortality rates by protecting
newborns during the critical early days after birth. The farm also utilises gestation crates for pregnant sows, ensuring optimal care and protection for the unborn piglets.
Looking ahead, S&M Farm is preparing to introduce swine artificial insemination, which will further improve genetic quality and productivity.
An Integrated Livestock Model
S&M Farm is not limited to swine. It operates as a fully integrated livestock system, including 200 Black Belly sheep (with plans to expand to 400 mothers), 20 feeding bulls, and 7,500 broilers reared exclusively for Bounty Supermarket.
The farm has also ventured into cultivating high-value crops. In partnership with the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, LowA-Chee was gifted 50 dragon fruit plants, which are now being prepared for commercial cultivation. Importantly, the farm follows an eco-friendly approach. Native tree species are preserved to provide natural shade and reduce heat stress, while an efficient waste management system supports the development of pasture for ruminants and perennial crops. This TURN TO PAGE XXVII
Different sections of the large farm along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway
Manager of the farm, Matthew Low-A-Chee
By Michel Outridge
Lothian Green Guardians
landmark, built over 130 years ago, is more than just a house—it is a living symbol of heritage and agricultural roots.
“We’re excited to be working closely with the Fraser family to restore and revive this iconic treasure. Very soon, we’ll be launching our ‘Sponsor a Window’ campaign, a chance for you to be part of history by donating or sponsoring one of the windows that give this house its name. Together, we can open the windows of the past to inspire the future!” he said.
Deonarine pointed out that the process is simple. To join the LGG, the registration form is online via their website. To become a member,
after paying, please remember to take a screenshot of your payment and send it to them with your name at 616-7886. The registration fee: $5000 GYD or $35 USD.
He explained that they are on a mission to lead conservation and sustainable projects and together, protect the environment, preserve heritage, and build a greener future.
“Become a member today and be part of the change,” he urged.
The Restoration of the 99 Windows House
The Fraser’s House, also known as the 99 Windows House, stands as a symbol of Guyana’s rich colonial past. Built in the early 1800s by a Dutch craftsman and a French
architect, the architectural masterpiece once served as a centre of plantation life and cultural legacy in Berbice.
Donate a Window Initiative
You can help restore the grandeur of the historic landmark by sponsoring a window through their “Donate a Window” campaign.
Donors will be proudly recognised in the restoration records and celebration event.
The donations bring them closer to restoring all 99 windows of the historic house. The donations matter because they will preserve a rare piece of Guyana’s architec-
tural heritage, boost local tourism and economic activity, provide employment and cultural education, and showcase colonial-era design, stories and resilience.
Lothian Botanical Garden and Family Recreational Park
Where nature, wellness and adventure bloom together for a relaxing and reconnecting experience at the Fraser’s property, which has vast lands and promises adventure with nature.
The experience is a perfect blend of excitement and the great outdoors. Surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air, every moment there is filled with energy, laughter and unforgettable mem-
ories.
It is a partnership to bring Lothian Botanical Gardens to life—a vibrant destination where nature, fun and wellness unite.
Together, we can create lasting memories, open doors for community opportunities, and nurture a greener, healthier future for generations to come.
The mission of the Lothian Botanical Garden and Family Recreational Park is to create a landmark eco-recreational and educational park in Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) that promotes biodiversity awareness, supports eco-tourism, and uplifts community well-being.
Pageantry Beyond Beauty
presenting,” she stated.
Looking at Guyana’s pageantry field as a whole, Dillon believes more could be done to support the art form better. Appealing to both producers and designers, she emphasised that pageantry should always be held to the highest standards.
This emphasis is why her team is already working months in advance for this year’s event. “We’ve come back refreshed and relaxed, ready to explore new possibilities, and we’re holding
our girls to that standard. We are going to make them work for the attention they will be given, and we’re looking to fill the National Cultural Centre,” Dillon said.
To step up their game and deliver a “wow factor,” Dillon and her team have planned a number of activities, from a motorcade to ballroom dancing.
“We’re working on giving a terrific product because we do have competition. When we first started, there was only one teen pageant,
Miss Guyana Talented Teen. Now, several people who were inspired by that are doing great work in pageantry. So, we have to raise the bar to keep everybody on their toes,” Dillon said.
As the legacy of Miss Guyana Talented Teen continues, Dillon says she is excited about the franchise’s future.
A renowned veteran in her field, she admits she is preparing to pass on the mantle and work more in an advisory capacity. “I have
it in brain power and I have it in expertise, and I make suggestions.
But as I’m making suggestions, the younger ones are making better suggestions.
So we’re on the same page,” she shared. Her hopes for the future are simple: “I think the legacy I would like to leave is that Simpli Royal is one of the better pageant houses, whether it’s headed by Pamela Dillon or a team of young, vibrant people.”
only employs two persons but also provides a vision of what sustainable, community-based agribusiness can look like. From honey to beeswax by-products like candles, balms, and hair oils, Chisholm has diversified her offerings.
Her daughter, Sheniah, also runs a small coconut-water business, proving that entrepreneurship runs in the family.
For the people of Sandvoort, apiculture is not just about honey—it is about resilience, independence, and preserving the environment
while building livelihoods.
“We see beekeeping as the future,” Chisholm said. “It allows us to live from the land without destroying it, and it’s something we can pass on to our children.”
As the hum of bees fills the air above the fruit trees and mangroves of Sandvoort, it is clear that the sweet promise of honey is matched only by the determination of its people. With families like the Chisholms leading the way, Guyana’s apiculture industry is poised to thrive—one hive at a time.
Meet the team of Lothian Green Guardians
Femicide in Guyana is a Result of Deeply Embedded Abusive Cultural Norms
By Youth Perspective
THE femicide headlines in Guyana within the last year have been disheartening, but unfortunately, they are not surprising. This is a pattern of insidious behaviour that has been prevalent in Guyana for a very long time. In fact, did you know that Guyana has the highest rate of intimate partner-related femicide in the Caribbean and Latin America? Femicide is the killing of women and girls
in relation to their gender. It is an intentional act and a very severe problem in Guyana.
Many women live in fear for their lives daily, and most of these horrendous acts happen due to domestic or family violence in homes.
According to the World Bank, 8.8 women per 100,000 are killed due to femicide in Guyana. That figure is alarming because Guyana has small, tightly knit communities and is a sparsely populated country.
As we usually say, “everybody knows everybody,” so the headlines are not just random faces of strangers— we are often re-traumatised by the reoccurrences of the killings because we usually know or know of the victims. I wrote many times about the normalisation of violence, aggressiveness and misogyny in our Guyanese culture. Unfortunately, it is seen in some communities or households as a “norm” to “discipline” one’s wife. She must TURN TO PAGE 22
Financial Management for Organisations
Financial Management for Organisations
MANY people are eager to manage other people’s finances. If you are given that privilege, then you must demonstrate good stewardship and deliver to the principal more than what was placed into your care. Accounting for an organisation’s finances is a great responsibility.
Planning
Every organisation must have a financial plan. When people do not plan for their finances, they can pass through their hands without them even recognising. Planning requires a significant amount of work, but the effort invested in planning will determine the level of yield for the planners.
You don't have to wait until the money is in your hands before deciding what to do with it. You must also plan how to maximise the use of the funds that have been entrusted to your care. Organisations may not always have all the funds they need, but they can negotiate to acquire additional funds, which they will be required to repay. When an organisation has accumulated extra funds, they must be put to proper use.
Profits benefit organisations. However, cash plays a greater role and will give organisations many opportunities that profit cannot deliver.
Managing the cash-and-bank position of an organisation is never easy, but because these are liquid resources, some procedures must be established to prevent persons from inappropriately using the organisation’s liquid assets.
Cashiers do not always understand the importance of their role in relation to the organisation’s finances. Their dishonesty can affect the organisation's reputation. If caught, they can be placed before the legal system.
Organisations have several ways to grow. How -
ever, the organisation can experience financial growth through its savings and investments.
When funds are invested, prudent financial decisions must be made. Considering multiple investment options before making a final decision is advisable. A great need for high rewards often entails a higher risk. The time value of money must be considered since a dollar invested today will not have the same value tomorrow.
The discounted cash flow, present values, and future values will also be considered in making financial decisions. While planning is good, do not spend too much time on it. Execute the plan and make adjustments along the way so as to maximise the shareholders’ wealth.
Organisations should consider having most of their funds banked as soon as possible. This may allow the organisation to acquire interest. Once banking is done, the organisation must have its employees prepare a bank reconciliation as part of its internal control.
When the bank reconciliation is prepared, the organisation can determine if the funds were misappropriated. Every penny that an organisation acquires must be accurately recorded and reconciled between the bank statement and the general ledger (cash book). The organisation has several ways of obtaining finances, and all these must put the organisation in a stronger financial position.
Control
Accounting for an organisation’s finances remains an excellent role for the agent. The principal wants to know how their money was spent, and that can be determined through record-keeping. If you do not keep records, then you may not know when things are done correctly. Record keeping allows for
lessons to be learnt over the years and also allows the principal to appoint others to review your performance. Once you have authority, you will have responsibilities. You are required to report on your stewardship over the organisation’s resources.
Those who manage the organisation’s finances require some amount of internal and external financial reporting. Cost accounting remains a key part of planning and reporting. Organisations must know the cost to produce a product or service. When the price is known, a mark-up can be added to allow the organisation to make a profit.
Organisations desire to cover their costs at the very least, and any extras will be considered profits. Appointing a cost to a product or service can be done using several methods. Whichever method is chosen, the organisation should remain consistent with its choice unless a great reason to change it exists.
Many managers want to know how the organisation manages the resources that are made available to them. The management accounts will help managers and other internal users make informed decisions that contribute to the organisation's longevity. Management accounts must be designed to enable multiple users to independently understand how the organisation is performing during a specific period against the budget and the previous year. Control is always necessary whenever a plan is established, and the management accounts provide some amount of internal control.
Organisations do not have to wait until the end of the month or year before assessing their performance. Regular control checks of various reports are essential to help the organisation remain on course. A variance report is another control report that
provides information concerning whether the organisation exceeds its plan or falls behind.
External stakeholders want to know what is happening inside the organisation. Those stakeholders will usually receive standardised financial reports that provide them with information about how those who manage the organisation’s resources have performed over a specific period. Some external financial reports can be produced on a quarterly, semiannual, or
yearly basis. If investors are confident in the organisation's economic management, they may even want to invest more in the organisation.
Delegation
Those who have authority must be willing to provide appropriate answers. If they cannot do so, then the principal puts systems in place to obtain accurate answers. Not all persons employed in the organisation may follow all the procedures. However, their actions can adversely
affect the organisation.
Since the principal is aware of such deviation from the agency theory, measures must be put in place and executed appropriately. Not all shareholders will have the time and knowledge to determine whether the agent has operated according to their fiduciary duty.
Shareholders have the right to appoint independent auditors to review the organisation's performance. Once this is done, the agent will not TURN TO PAGE X
The Unexpected Journey of Growth
Knowing Ourselves
OVER the course of our lives, all human beings unfurl and bloom like the creased pages of a diary that is slowly being filled with fresh stories. We allow life to embrace us, and, in return, we are granted the space to be who we are. As we grow up, the gentle discomfort and pressures of creating your identity fade. Our skin becomes our armour, and our heart fills with the satisfaction of being able to live our lives just as we had imagined in our
OUR journey of growth is often described as beautiful and fulfilling. It is expected to change us in the same way that a breath of fresh air changes our lungs, or in the same way that the rising sun changes the dark world.
A young person is expected to step forward, or rise upwards like a green shoot bursting forth from a seed, but never move backwards or sink into the ground. Growth itself is painted as an elegant dance where the proper steps must instinctively come to us if we are simply brave enough to try.
childhood dreams. Even those who may not yet have attained their goals are comforted by the freedom of choice—the grace of knowing that, even though they have not reached their destination, they still have the power to steer themselves towards it. The reward for those who are true to themselves is the ability to look into a mirror and respect the person they see. They shall experience no loss or failure that can take away this ability from
However, human beings are multi-faceted and multi-layered. Throughout the course of our lives, we may find ourselves facing unexpected doors, coming face-to-face with parts of ourselves that we could never have believed existed. Our growth rarely takes a linear path, and it can most certainly not be described as predictable. In fact, one crucial piece of knowledge about our youth and the growth process that we often do not hear is that it can be messy, unpredictable, and extremely uncomfortable at
Recently, I discovered the story of Narcissus from Greek mythology. Narcissus was a young man who was prophesied by a prophet to live a long and fruitful life as long as he did “not know himself.” He was known to be extremely handsome but prone to rejecting the affections of others, no matter how sincere they were. Then, one day, as he was travelling through a forest, he came across a body of water and caught his reflection glimmering
times. Even the most valuable traits, such as honesty, kindness, and perseverance, can waver and fracture at specific points during our lives—more so when we are young and learning to navigate the stormier parts of our journeys.
We may spend all of our energy crafting a perfect identity for ourselves, only for life to place us in an impossible position where we must decide to give up or break a value that is truly important to us.
These strange decisions punctuate life itself, and the time between them is spent
on its surface. He leaned forward and watched as his own perfect face peered back into his eyes. Then, he remained there, falling in love with his own reflection until he passed away from thirst and starvation, unable to tear his eyes away from it. The spot where he died was marked by a bright yellow flower known as the Narcissus. We now commonly refer to the Narcissus flower as the daffodil.
by us attempting to unravel our true selves and determine whether it is these unexpected decisions that display our real identities or the careful steps we take in between them.
The truth is, we attempt to live as if we are Russian dolls, where each new doll is a new version of ourselves that must properly enclose the past version of us. We believe that at each stage of our growth, we must become a bigger version of ourselves, one who does not leave behind our older selves, but is always greater than them. When we take the next
The myth of Narcissus is a fascinating tale
step in our lives, regardless of who we are, we must always strive to be better than our previous versions. This makes our journey of growth into an intense and impossible struggle against ourselves.
Generation Z has changed the course of the world by making it acceptable for each individual to be unique in their growth and lifestyle. Members of our generation have challenged the idea of comparison and conformity to the extent that it is now more normal for us to stand out than to fit in.
that offers us a valuable lesson. It teaches us the dangers of self-absorption and the losses we may face by refusing to open ourselves up to the love and affection of others. We may speculate that perhaps if Narcissus had already been in love with another person, he might never have been inclined to fall so madly in love with himself. It also shows us that our destiny is rarely within ourselves. We may spend a lifetime preparing ourselves to be better people, but this preparation will not mean anything if we do not use it to change the world for the better. Beauty and good character have no power if their positive influence does not extend beyond our own boundaries.
Now, instead of racing against others and comparing ourselves to others to determine whether we are growing or not, we have begun to compare ourselves with our past versions.
proud of, it is quite easy to forget to look around us at the people who are fuelling the successes and the joys we are experiencing.
The affections of others are a gentle influence. These affections can fade away and disappear long before we glance around and begin to notice that we stand completely alone. Yet, the emptiness they leave behind when they are gone is a mighty force. Those who have developed a strong sense of identity and learned to love themselves deeply will not be limited by the failures they experience or the losses they face. However, they are still quite open to the possibility of grief.
Unfortunately, because the very idea of growth means that we must make mistakes and stumble, it is impossible for the present version of ourselves always to be better than the past. Nevertheless, a person who
has made a mistake or acted in a way that does not represent their character does not suddenly become defined by this moment for the rest of their life. Our growth is not reset every time we make a mistake. In fact, it is the way we act after making a mistake that truly defines us. We are not dolls, and the journey of growth is neither elegant nor perfect. At many times during this process, it can feel as if we are going backwards, or as if we have been moving in circles over and over again. None of these facts make our journey better or worse, nor do they change how worthy we are to keep moving forward. There is never a ‘right’ way to grow, and there is not really a ‘right’ way to feel as we grow.
The process of building an identity—of “knowing ourselves”—is necessary as we progress through our lives. Attempting to live without being comfortable with who we are is much like living in a space where we cannot fully walk, stretch, or look upwards at the sky. However, it is also quite easy to fall into the lonely path of knowing no one but ourselves. As we lean forward to watch our shimmering reflection grow and transform into something that we are
operate in isolation, but they will know that they are held accountable to the authority delegated to them. The organisation may establish an internal audit department to ensure its management follows its policies and procedures.
The auditors will bring any deviations to the attention of management, allowing them to take corrective action. While external auditors possess different functions from those of internal auditors, they must carry out their assignments without fear of being victimised. When auditors fail to execute their duties, an entire organisation may collapse, with no one warned.
The only thing we can control is how willing we are to keep moving forward and embracing each new version of ourselves, regardless of whether it is who we expected to become.
In a similar manner, it is possible for our own influences and connections to the world to fade away, just like the affections of others. When we fail to acknowledge and reciprocate the love that others proffer us, we will eventually lose it. If we stop reaching out to the world with kindness, we will ultimately lose our ability to impact it.
Financial Management for Organisations
FROM PAGE IX
Each of us holds a massive power within us. Let us allow this power to extend beyond us so it can reach parts of the world that truly need it.
The need to adopt corporate governance is becoming increasingly important. Even some small organisations want to ensure that they comply with international requirements. Corporate governance is not restricted to what the organisation may do to benefit shareholders, but organisations nevertheless have a greater responsibility to many stakeholders.
The board of directors helps many organisations and their management by setting strategy and policies. Those who manage the organisation must execute the established methods and report on their performance over a specified period.
them.
I GO with Pandit Karl Singh to Dundee to meet a man about some cassava sticks. He says I must come with him to fetch them back to the mandir. But when we get on the road and I stand to flag down a car, Pandit say no, we walking. Is a good long way to Dundee, and the sun blazing hot; already I sweating like pig and smelling like one, too. No breeze blowing, and the air dry and hard to breathe.
All the trees still, and a thick trembling pane of heat shimmer in the distance up the road. Main Road quiet; almost nobody out. Is nearly twelve noon. I take off my jersey and wipe perspiration from my armpit and tuck it in my pants waist and let it hang down low, like badman in a filmshow.
Pundit Singh wearing his white kurta and his cricket cap, but his feet bare on the burning road, his foot them clapping loud on the asphalt.
He is from Tunapuna in Trinidad, but you can’t tell from hearing he talk. He talk like Guyanese, not in the sing-songy style. Is because he come to Guyana a long-long time ago. Then he go to India and study this pandit business and come back here. He live bachelor style in the house behind the mandir. He tell me and Carl that long time ago he had a wife but, “I had to put she aside for certain reasons I cannot mention.”
Pundit Singh sometimes talk Hindi or Urdu, which he say is the Coolie language of the real India Indians,
CONFESSION TIME EXCERPT CHAPTER FROM ‘KIPLING PLASS’ BY BERKLEY SEMPLE
in places like Bombay and Delhi. He read the books of the man Tagore and Harivansh Rai Bachchan in Hindi. He try to teach me a few of the words, but I don’t take on the thing too hard, so he just give me R.K. Narayan’s The Vendor of Sweets, written in English.
Pandit Singh is the opposite of Pandit P. He always calm and plain and direct. The only thing I don’t care for is that he always telling truth, even if it hurts. He don’t spare you. He get people vex when he start with the truth-telling business, and looking you straight in the face with his bright-bright eyes, pointing out your dutty ways. He make people uncomfortable.
In Goodfaith, we stop and go in a small shop and he buy two cream soda and sit at a small table. No one in the place except a man called Everytime I Let You Have Your Way Marie. The man nickname is a whole sentence and I never understand how he come by it; what I know for sure is that nobody call he anything else. He sitting at a table by heself, moving chess pieces across the board and studying the moves.
Pandit Singh say, “Good afternoon, Every Time I Let You Have Your Way Marie, things alright?”
“Things is so and things is such,” the man say, “but we must make do, must we not?”
“Yes,” say the pundit, “we must.”
I drinking my drink and Pundit
Singh looking at me in a keen way, like he trying to read my mind with he bright-bright eyes and tar-black pupils. Something not right about the way he looking at me.
“Man is violent and cruel,” he say, “but he don’t have to be.”
Is not something I disagree with, but I wonder why he bringing up this idea right now?
“Yeah, man cruel bad,” I say.
“I was on my back veranda the other night,” he say, “looking out into the nighttime. The night was dark, but I have good eyes. I always have good eyes, Kippy, so good I can see through the most tenebrous night. You know the word?”
I nodded, yes.
“And what I see in the dark, Kip, I go tell. I see a dark-skin boy with red hair moving between the trees. Is not jumbie or bacoo or any other evil spirit. I look close and see is a boy with a bottle of kerosene in he hand. I see he jump the fence and go into Dado yard. I watch he good and proper, and shake my head cause I think he going to thief mango or even a fowlcock. But not long after, the boy jump back over the fence and leave a big fire behind he. The boy wicked, Kip. What can be done with this cruel boy who burning up turkey and chicken and guinea fowl? Is a vicious thing that and I want to understand this boy. I must know if he heart black as he face. I want to know, if the act of fowl murder is an TURN TO PAGE XIX
Angels Walk on Earth II Angels Walk on Earth II
THE question hit Anil unexpectedly and, glancing at the girl on the bed, he replied hastily, “Nono, I’m jus’ de hire car driver who helped she.”
The young girl, who was now breathing evenly under professional care, said with a grateful look in her eyes, “Thank you so much for helping me. I was so scared.”
“That’s okay, I did wuh I coulda in that situation.”
“You did the right thing,” the nurse told him. “The fear could have raised her blood pressure and caused complications like foetal distress, seizures, dizziness and stillbirth.”
Anil and the girl looked at the nurse, stunned.
“Damn, that’s serious!” he expressed.
The girl started to cry, overwhelmed by the reality of what could have happened to her, and the nurse comforted her, “Just relax,
you’re here now, and everything will be fine.”
The cousin hadn’t arrived yet and she reached out her hand to Anil, feeling at that moment he was her only support. “Please stay a while longer.”
He looked at the nurse, who nodded her approval, and he asked the girl, “Is there anything I can get yuh in de meanwhile?”
“No, thanks, I’m fine for now.”
Anil sat next to her bed, and after she had composed herself, she said to him, “I’m Amber.”
He smiled and said light-heartedly, “Well, now I know your name, I’m Anil.”
The nurse looked at them and said to herself, “Not sure if the father is in the picture, but this looks like a Lifetime story, two strangers and an unborn baby.”
Amber’s cousin arrived at that moment, short of breath and stumbling over her apology for leaving
Amber alone.
“Take a deep breath,” the nurse advised her, “and calm down. A stranger helped her, and she’s fine.”
“Thank you so much,” she said to Anil, “I truly appreciate your help.”
“Don’t mention,” he smiled, and to Amber he said, “Ah gon leave now, you take care and hope everything goes smooth wid de baby.”
As he left, the nurse stated, “Not the father yet, he shows so much care, the world needs more men like him.”
Anil got into his car, leaned back and took a deep breath.
“Man, what a day! Never thought ah woulda encounter such a situation.”
It took him a little while to gather everything that had happened that morning and put them all together in a file in his mind so he could regain his full focus on his work.
Three weeks later, he was at the
park on a warm, sunny morning, waiting for passengers and sharing light "gyaffs" with his fellow drivers, when Fat Man arrived.
“Travellin’, bro?” he called out to him.
“Nah man, I ain’t travellin’ wid you.”
“Damn, lost a regular traveller there,” Anil said a little regretfully. He didn’t allow that to bother him much, for these things come with the job. As he stood by his car, he heard a soft, familiar voice behind him, “Good morning, son.”
It was Amber’s grandmother, with a happy smile on her face.
“I wish to thank yuh,” she said, “for what yuh did for meh granddaughta. She want you to know that she doing good and the baby is a girl.”
“Great,” he responded, “happy tuh know she doing good.”
“Yes,” Grandma said, “God is great.”
“She must be really pretty,” Anil remarked.
“Yes, a cute bundle of joy and…” Grandma paused a little, then continued, “When yuh have the time, yuh can visit them, they are living with me.”
Anil took her address in Palmyra village and said, as three passengers boarded his car, “Ah gon see when I can.”
Three days later, coming back early from town, he went to see Amber and her baby late in the afternoon. Grandma had a cosy little house, a splendid flower garden with brilliant blooms and a variety of fruit trees.
“You have yuh own lil paradise here,” Anil complimented her as he was welcomed to her humble home. The baby was playing quietly in her crib, and Amber came forward to greet him. She was quite a beautiful girl with a simple look and warm TURN TO PAGE XVIII
Saying farewell to our viewing of Emancipation for 2025 with a rise in our total awareness
WHAT must be understood was that the era of emancipation and the endeavours of the African were not met with admiration and applause, but rather with a vindictive scorn that would not be tempered easily. The Africans who were brought into slavery, and those who were later brought into indentureship, came into this part of the world and found common ground.
But the planters would ensure that the Asiatic were not to find common ground under the view of the Plantation Massah with the Africans.
A conflict of putting the indentured non-African against the African would be subject to the orchestra of propaganda and foul definitions that would be levelled at the African, and in saying this it embodied Africans of all shades.
The fact that it was African labour and knowledge that civilised Demerara would not be recognised. The sea had to be kept out, and this was achieved by building massive concrete sea walls.
These walls must also have sluices at intervals fitted into them,
through which excess accumulation of water is propelled out at low tide. The swampy waters are held back, and, for this purpose, the lands are impoldered with dams constructed at the back and sides of each rectangular tract of land, which is the plantation layout, while water is let in for irrigation by way of long canals running through the middle of each rectangular tract.
To think that the plantocracy of that age pronounced on Africans as lazy, for negotiations of better payment and medical presence on the
plantation work fields. See Scars of Bondage by Eusi and Tchaiko Kwayana, a book that deserves continuous shelf presence. It has been pointed out that the development of a peasantry is always an historical step. In many of the communal villages, the villagers established collective farms. This cooperative peasantry had, as we have seen, founded a great enterprise, developed it with marked business acumen, and were forcing into the colony what seemed to the colonists a very dangerous doctrine.
It was the most revolutionary attempt, though small in scale in global terms, of the African and of any people at rehabilitation after slavery. Together, these communal villages and collective farms represented a break from plantation society. The African was thus immediately able to set up an economic system and a civilisation that rivalled that infant capitalism.
The plantation immediately went into action against the cooperative village system. In the London Times, the cooperatives
TURN TO PAGE XVIII
Angels Walk on Earth II
smile, something he hadn’t noticed when he had helped her. “You look different,” he said with a hint of humour.
“Of course,” she laughed a little.
He handed her a bag with gifts for the baby and said, “I’m not sure if I shopped de right things.”
“Thank you, whatever it is, she will love it.”
She picked up the baby from the crib so he could see her and asked him, “Would you like to hold her?”
“Not sure ah know how.”
“Here,” she placed the baby gently in his arms, and as he looked at her cute face, she laughed, making a sweet baby sound. At that moment, Anil felt a blessed connection to this sweet child, whom he was a stranger to.
“She is really adorable,” he said to Amber.
The baby, whom the mother had named Annalisa, eventually fell asleep, her little fingers wrapped around his.
“I think she knows she’s in safe hands,” Amber said with a pleased smile.
After the baby was settled in her crib, Grandma came out of the kitchen with a
small platter of homemade pastries and a mug of cherry drink.
“Have some refreshments,” she said to Anil.
“Thanks, dis looks good.”
After a short while, he asked Amber, “So what do yuh plan on doing now?”
“I have an option to go back to school, but later. For now, I have to find a job, can’t put too much strain on Grandma.”
“Umm, and de father?” he asked somewhat cautiously. A shadow flashed across her face, and she answered quietly, “Nothing to look forward to; he didn’t want me to have the baby in the first place.”
There was a short silence, then Anil said, “Sorry to hear dat.”
She got up, walked to the window, looking out at the approaching dusk, and sighed deeply, “I made a mistake and I have to figure out now what to do with my life so I can support my child.”
“And yuh parents?”
“They are not talking to me right now and I guess I deserve that for not listening to them.”
“Damn, you in a real sit-
FROM PAGE XV
uation,” Anil stated, “but on de bright side, you have your loving grandmother and your little princess.”
“And God, who did not turn his back on her,” Grandma added, “He sent an angel into her life.”
Anil smiled, not sure about the angel thing but not wanting to doubt Grandma’s belief. He spent a while talking with Amber and learnt she was ambitious and had been studying to graduate in business management, but lost focus when she allowed love to dictate her life. The pain and regret in her eyes, and the fact that she was young and literally alone with a baby, touched him in a way he never thought it would.
He left that night after giving her his phone number and told her she could call if she needed help for anything or if she needed someone to talk to. And before he got into his car, he turned to look back and saw her standing at the door with Annalisa in her arms, watching him leave.
“She really needs something better in life, I wonder…”
To be continued.
Saying farewell to our viewing of Emancipation...
were attacked as “little band of socialists living in communities.” Under the combined attack of the plantation, and the government from outside, and the Church from inside, the cooperative economy collapsed. See Scars of Bondage.
I must reiterate that it did not fail for all time. I can recall when apples first returned to this country, I bought a few. My eldest, then a child, was at my home, and I washed one and gave it to her. I continued to converse with my colleague. Andy whispered to me, “Like yuh daughter ent know how fuh
eat the apple.”
I called her, but before I could speak she responded, “Daddy I ent like this kinda mango, it ent got juice.”
At that time, this book was not yet published. I took it back and, to her pleasure, gave her two mangoes.
As a onetime teen secretary of an agro-industrial cooperative, we – my friends and I – had a long chat on the subject of cooperatives. This movement that followed emancipation was well reborn and alive by the morn of Independence.
CONFESSION TIME
inkling of what this nasty dutty boy will do in the future? Look me in the eye and tell me.”
All this time Pandit Singh talking, I thinking of them fowl in the coop, flapping around with fire in their feather, with flame burning them and nowhere to run, no trench to jump into and no sand to bury their burning heads. I think of the pain they can’t explain with their fowl-talk and their cock-adoodle-doo.
I imagine them fluttering in panic in the coop, and the flames burning them all. Then I imagine being trapped in a burning house. I run to get out, but fire in the way around the door, and the heat hotter than the sun, and the smoke choking me; it snakes in through my nose when I breathe; it cork up my noseholes and go in my lung and I can’t breathe. I only coughing and now fire is inside me, burning a way out, and now I am the fire, and I blaze like a burning sun
I start to cry right there.
“Yes,” he say, “you crying. This mean something. You recognise you do something wrong. Is good to see. Your heart can’t be same way as the colour of your face.”
I look at him, not sure what he mean, trying to read meaning in his eyes.
“You want to understand what I mean?”
“Yes,” I say.
“You want to understand the blackness of the blackness? You want me to explain how darkness different from blackness? You want to know my meaning?”
I nod my head like dasheen leaf in the rain.
“Kip, you so black I can barely see you in the dark, and with your red whiteman hair and cat-eye, everybody can tell you is not regular, and them know you is a incest child and devil boy.
Truth is, you is like a clown boy in a flimshow. I ain’t making insult or tantalizing you. I just saying we must live with what we get. We must make do, you and me, with who we are. Everybody have their own cross to bear and some more heavy than others but is either you bear up or buckle and fall. Every man have to bear he chafe, and is fall apart or stay whole.
So, don’t cry to me plenty eye-water. What we need is a scheme to get we out this place; we need to make a way from no way. We not born with no silver spoon in we mouth; we family is not in no position to help we when we braced hard against a wall. What we have to sell? Nothing! We not worth much, Kippy; we not precious like gold or shiny and bright like diamond. We poor and dark and nothing can erase this. We can’t start over in the womb of a rich woman and come out bawling with pride and vanity, knowing the privilege we have since we born. We come from a poor womb into the world, silent and shame-faced and hungry. We always hungry, not for food, boy, no, we starving for something we can’t name and don’t know. We lack something deep inside.
And how to proceed is the question; where to put we feet when we walk is the consideration; what word to say and act to do is the challenge. We not confident. I think poor people not confident; they always doubt what they know for sure, doubting what is true. In the face of rich and powerful people we lose weself and become silent and useless.
Our feet are moved by them here and there like pawn in a chess game. We live a vexed life, so we prove we power by burning chicken, drowning dogs, beating
children and abusing women. Is no justice in that, is just cruelty. What you did is not justice, Kip. Is a dark thing, darker than your face; it cannot be the colour of your heart. Is nothing wrong with blackness. I just as black as you, and that is why we must be careful. You see me, Kip?”
“I see you, Pandit,” I say.
“Now drink up and come. We get things to do today.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Berkley Wendell Semple was born in Guyana. He has published four collections of poetry, Lamplight Teller, awarded a 2004 Guyana Prize for Poetry, The Solo Flyer, The Central Station, and Flight and Other Poems, awarded the 2023 Guyana Prize for Literature, and has edited a book of student poems.
His poetry and fiction have appeared in Callaloo, The Hampden-Sydney Re -
view, The Caribbean Writer, for which he was awarded a Daily News Prize for poetry, and many other publications. His debut novel, Kipling Plass was named best first novel at the 2024 Guyana Prize. He is a veteran of the US armed forces and a graduate of the Naval School of Health Sciences. He holds an MA and MLS degrees from Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY) and
FROM PAGE XI
an MPhil from Long Island University (LIU) where he is a current Ph.D. candidate. From 2010 to 2022 he wrote audiobook reviews for Sound Commentary Journal. He is on the Editorial Board of The Caribbean Writer, and an editor and book reviewer for Caribbean Voice. Berkley Wendell Semple is a librarian and currently works for the Queens Public Library system in New York City.
Femicide in Guyana is...
be “dealt with” if she steps out of line in many households.
This sickening need to control a woman’s life, along with the choices she makes, coupled with a man’s sense of entitlement, is what I gather as a main underlying factor to this growing issue. This mindset is also “nurtured” or given space to grow within some families. The abusers are often protected and, in extreme cases, their behaviours are encouraged by family members.
Some people blame the weapon of choice, the woman’s insubordination and even the abuser’s mental health. I want to remind you all that while we can gather underlying reasons for why the abusers behaved the way they did, it should not be labelled as an excuse to murder a woman or harm her in any way.
There is an intergenerational cycle of violence that follows every generation of Guyanese. Unfortunately, children witness these patterns of behaviour and some model such behaviour well into their adulthood.
A little boy, perhaps, will grow up seeing his father “handling his mother” and decide as an adult that it is the best course of action to use for his partner to “listen” to him.
A little girl, perhaps, will grow up seeing her mother’s rights being violated and, in her mind, that behaviour is normalised.
In her adulthood, she believes that it is okay to be violated because her education about domestic violence was never expanded upon, and she cannot differentiate between violence and love, because her childhood taught her that those two things are the same. This scenario is not just a hypothetical one to illustrate a point—it is the
FROM PAGE VIII
reality of what is currently happening in Guyana.
Domestic violence is not something that should remain within the walls of a household. In more archaic times, it was once believed that a man abusing his wife was something that only concerned the couple and was a “personal” matter. I will leave you guessing which gender normalised that belief and why it was even normalised in the first place.
Decades later, we now have many local and international laws that are to be enforced when a woman’s rights are violated. It is no longer a personal, “at-home” matter—it is a legal one.
As such, I want to remind all of you that it is necessary to report domestic violence to law enforcement in Guyana, because the laws are there to protect that woman, and we, as citizens, also have a responsibility to “see something and do something.”
Many victims are afraid to report it themselves, or certain barriers prohibit them from doing so. We can all be voices for the voiceless— speak up, advocate and assist when necessary. Most, if not all, the reports about the women who died at the hands of their partners within this year stated that the abuse was known among family members and the community. The abusers felt entitled and “untouchable” to continue despite this.
There needs to be a deterrent to abusive behaviours within Guyanese families, and as you read this article, I hope this motivates you to speak up more for a woman in need—before it is too late.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the 914 hotline or visit the nearest police station.
Source: Femicide infographic
A Model of Modern...
makes S&M Farm not only a commercial enterprise but also a model of environmentally responsible agriculture.
Feed Innovation and Cost Efficiency
To reduce operational costs and guarantee quality, Low-A-Chee formulates his own feed mixtures. This innovation, he explained, gives him greater control over nutritional value while cutting expenses. “The results speak for themselves,” he noted. “We see healthier animals, better growth rates, and lower costs.”
Partnership with GLDA and Government Support
Low-A-Chee acknowledges that his farm’s progress would not have been possible without continuous collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture through GLDA.
He credited the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Walrond; the Quarantine, Inspection, and Certification Unit, led by Dr Tihul; as well as the Region Four Extension Team, including Dr Nauth (veterinarian) and Mr Bhagwandin (Livestock Officer), for their unwavering support.
“I am very grateful for the partnership with GLDA,” he emphasised. “Their technical guidance and field support are key drivers of our development.”
As Guyana positions itself to not only achieve national food security but also contribute to CARICOM’s food safety and security agenda, Low-A-Chee is proud to play his part.
Looking to the Future
S&M Farm currently employs 12 permanent workers and is managed in close partnership with Low-A-Chee’s 19-year-old son, Matthew.
The farm’s future vision is ambitious: doubling the pig stock to 3,000 by 2026, modernising with automatic feeders, and developing an on-site facility for ham and bacon production.
Plans also include establishing a butchery and securing electricity from the emerging Silica City, as the current reliance on generators remains costly.
For Low-A-Chee, S&M Farm is more than just a business. It is a model of resilience, innovation, and sustainable agriculture— one that reflects Guyana’s
vision of a modern livestock industry.
“We are not only producing for Guyana,” he said with pride. “We are building a system that sup-
FROM PAGE VI
ports regional food security, and we are doing it in a way that protects our environment and creates opportunities for future generations.”
STUDY SUCCESS
Welcome, dear reading friend. Start your revision now. Stop ‘dilly-dallying’. Do you know that laxity impedes good study intentions, messes with your mind-potency, and ends up dampening your achievements when you are under test and examination conditions? Friend, create an efficient revision timetable with checks and balances and adequate free time. Include certain revision areas where your past scores emphasised the need for extra practice.
Use the pattern of your in-class tuition – methods,
topics - and practise, practise, practise. Be wise. Love you.
THE PASSAGE
Responding to multiple-choice questions after careful reading
Note: 1. Description of a multiple-choice question: A well-structured MCQ question will contain most of the information needed to answer the question, and will have three main parts:
1) a clear, concise stem, which is the question or incomplete statement that the question asks about;
2) options that are similar in length, style, and content,
one of which is the correct answer (or key), which is the best or right option; along with
3) distractors, which are plausible but incorrect alternatives designed to mislead you.
2. Responding tips: 1) Read the passage carefully and then read the entire multiple-choice question and all its answer choices. Understand the main idea and any crucial direction terms such as “not,” “always,” “never,” “best,” “correct,” “except,” “all,” or “none”.
2) Even if you think you know the right answer, still read every option. Ignore
August 31, 2025
the choices that are obviously incorrect or do not fit grammatically with the question. Indicate your choice.
3) The longer answer is sometimes more likely to be correct, as it often has a helpful elaboration. If two answers seem correct, select the more comprehensive one or the one that best fits the question’s context. Choose an answer that best fits the stem and the answer. If you are unsure, make an educated guess and revisit if there is enough time. Answer every question, and do not change answers willy-nilly.
Instructions: Read the passage, then answer the multiple-choice questions below it.
Pottery is the name of all kinds of pots and utensils made from clay and other minerals when they have been ‘fired’, that is, hardened in heat in the potter’s kiln. Articles made of pottery include plates, cups and saucers, cooking dishes, wall and floor tiles, chemical storage jars, bathroom fittings, drain pipes, electrical insulators, and ornaments for the home.
Pottery is one of the oldest crafts, which began to be practised as soon as man learned to control fire, and long before the melting of metals.
It enabled him from very early times to make vessels for storing and cooking food, for carrying water, and for ritual burial purposes. Early vessels were shaped by hand and probably ‘fired’ in a big bonfire by covering them over with dried grass and dry branches, which were then set alight.
A great advance in pottery followed the invention of the potter’s wheel and the kiln. It is not certainly known where the potter’s wheel was first used, but it is thought that by 3500 B.C.,
No coward soul is mine, No trembler in the world’s storm-troubled sphere.
EMILY BRONTË (1818-1848) Last Lines
potters in Central Asia were using some kind of wheel. From there, its use spread west and east to Egypt, Crete, China – and then to Ancient Greece and Rome.
Select the answer that is most accurate to the information given in the passage.
1. Pottery is the name given to (A) all kinds of utensils.
(B) all kinds of pots and utensils.
(C ) domestic fittings and table dishes.
(D) things made of baked clay and other materials.
2. The early making of pottery (A) pre-dated the discovery of fire.
(B) pre-dated the smelting of metals.
(C) avoided the need for storing and treating food.
(D) was dependent upon the control of fire.
3. Before the invention of the potter’s wheel (A) it was impossible to make pottery vessels.
(B) pottery could only be obtained from Central Asia.
(C) pottery vessels were shaped by hand.
(D) pottery vessels were shaped by heating in a bonfire.
4. The first potter’s wheel was invented (A) in Egypt.
(B) in Ancient Greece.
(C) in Central Asia.
(D) probably before 3500 B.C.
IMPROVING GRAMMAR
How some pronouns are used in structures
A. Use ‘who’ and ‘whoever’ as subjects or predicate nominatives; ‘whom’ and ‘whomsoever’ as objects. The insertion of such expressions as “do you think” does not affect the rule.
Examples:
1. Who is saying the opening prayer? (subject of “is saying”)
2. Who do you think is saying the opening prayer? (subject of “is saying”)
3. Whom did you recommend? (object of “did recommend”: You did recommend whom?)
4. W
Whom did you say you recommended? (object of ”recommended”: You did say you recommended whom?) Who is frequently used in informal expressions, especially if the object begins a sentence. This is an example of “levels of usage”.
5. G
Give this to whoever cooks more flavorsome meals. (subject of “cooks”; the object of the preposition ‘to’ is “whoever cooks more flavorsome meals”)
6. C
Choose whomever you find. (object of “find”)
B. When a form of the infinitive ‘to be’ links two pronouns, use the same case for both pronouns.
Examples:
1. I should like to be he. (nominative)
2. They took me to be him. (objective)
C. Use the possessive case before a gerund if you wish to show ownership.
Examples:
1. His (not Him) not campaigning is news.
2. Do not mind my constant reminders.
Unconventional Dental Care
IT has been established that dental caries (tooth decay) and gum disease significantly impact a person's oral health status.
Unfortunately, such diseases are so common that eventually, every adult in the world will have one or both. Therefore, these two diseases can be considered a significant public health problem, and indeed, they are among the most common ailments that humans suffer from.
Although I cannot sincerely dispel the importance of alternative medicine (including dentistry), I am not a consummate user nor a supporter of its widespread use.
For example, why is it that in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, there is no significant water fluoridation nor a comprehensive preventive programme, yet the population enjoys relatively good oral health?
The answer to that question involves a practice that most of the world probably considers to be primitive – the use of neem chewsticks as the preferred toothbrush.
In general, every country has, and should have, its own system to prevent and cure its nation from diseases according to its resources and culture. I have always suggested, through this medium, that the government should establish a National Agency for Disease Control.
Dentists and physicians trained in Western scientific systems typically hold views on the prevention of oral and general diseases that differ significantly from those of local communities.
Surprisingly, instead of focusing on and knowing the
real causes of the two major dental diseases (which are simply dirt and diet), and instead of directing all efforts to invent and encourage the use of effective tools to prevent and control these two diseases effectively, the profession has fallen into treatment, which consumes too much time, resources, effort and money.
Chewing sticks are commonly used in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for oral hygiene, religious and social purposes. Recently, on a visit to the USA, I observed various brands of neem chewsticks selling in some major supermarkets in New York and Miami. In fact, as I am writing this, I am in Miami, Florida, checking out those unconventional “toothbrushes.”
At home, the chew stick was popular in some rural areas several years ago. Black sage and neem stalks were commonly used to clean one’s teeth. The most studied chew sticks are the Miswak, Fagara, Zanthoxyloides, Serindeia wernikei, Neem, Paku and Acacia arabica. Research was conducted mainly in Nigeria, where 90% of the population uses the chew stick. In India, one can buy a neem chewstick in numerous stores.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended and encouraged the use of these sticks as an effective tool for oral hygiene. Experts have confirmed that the toothbrush is not superior to the chew stick in terms of its ability to remove dental plaque.
The juice extracted from most chew sticks has been found to have strong antibac-
terial activity against some oral Staphylococcus aureus and on anaerobic Streptococcus. The use of the chew stick is entirely consistent with the Primary Health Care Approach (PHCA) princi -
ples, focusing on prevention, community participation and the use of appropriate technology. By utilising it, the notion of self-reliance can be encouraged and implemented in impoverished countries where it is readily available and does not require technology, expertise, or additional resources to manufacture.
Both children and adults can use it; thus, it is appropriate for all societies.
Incidentally, some years ago, the Minister of Health told me he was seriously contemplating introducing the chew sticks informally as part of our oral health programme.
