WITHOUT 30-year-old KishanRamchand, his sister would be left without proper care and food since she is totally dependent on him to provide homecare, among other things.
Ramchand told the Pepperpot Magazine that after his mother passed away four years ago, he was tasked with caring for his older sister, Savita Ramchand, 31, who has brain damage and has been bedridden since birth.
His father died in 2000, and he has two brothers with the same father but different mothers and they do not share very close relations.
Presently,Ramchand resides at Lot 30 Section ‘C’ Groenveldt, West Coast Demerara, at a family-owned house where he has an apartment he shares with his sibling.
Ramchand told the Pepperpot Magazine that life has been challenging for him since he has no one to assist him in caring for his sick sister.
The construction worker explained that he would seek day jobs close by and even in surrounding villages so he wouldn’t be too far away from home to care forhis sick sister.
He added that since birth,
his mother took care of her being the firstborn. She did her utmostto make her comfortable and before she died, he promised to take care of her as hismom’s last wish.
“She told me before she passed never to take my sick sister anywhere and to always care for her because her place is to be at home and not someplace where people will ill-treat her because she is mentally and physically challenged,” he reasoned.
Ramchand stated that due to his sibling’s conditionhe would have to do everything for her, including baths, and change of diapers and meal preparation from solids to
mashed foods.
“Meal preparation takes a while because I would have to take whatever meal I cook and make it into a paste since my sister doesn’t chew but only swallow and spoon-feeding takes hours due to her condition,” he said.
Ramchand has adapted somehow to his role as the primary caregiver for his sibling but is often overwhelmed and he committed to fulfilling his mother’s dying wish.
At his age, he shared thathe would like to have a companion or to get married, but most female suitors do not want to take on the responsibility of caring for his sick sister, so he prefers to
stay single. Of course, he would like to have a family of his own, but his sister is his priority and once she is alive, he will do what he has to make her comfortable, he said.
fore doing household chores and going off to work.
He would return at lunch-
Ramchand, better known as “Andrew”, told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has seen his sister’s condition deteriorate over the years and as is, she is just ‘skin and bones’.Although an adult her inability to walk, talk or do anything on her own has taken a toll on her physically.
The young man related that his day would start early in the morning. He would prepare meals, feed his sister, bathe her and change her be-
time and repeat his home care routine since there is no one else to assist him and he doesn’t complain at all and does what is necessary.
Being a construction worker his job is seasonal and whenever he gets a dayjob, he would try to do it at the earliest to get home to care for his sick sister.
“I know my blessing is overflowing and if I have to do it all over again I would because it is these challenges in life that make us stronger to cope with any hurdles in life and if it was me, I am certain my sister would do the same for me,” he said.
Ramchand revealed that the only support he gets is the monthly public assistance of $16,000 for his sister, but it dries up fast due to increased prices for food items and disposable diapers.
Being selfless, giving up my needs to be the sole caregiver for my sister is not easy, but I do it anyway since I have no choice and it is very challenging and I know I am doing the right thing,” he said.
GOING to school, Lateefah Forde felt compelled to choose a career that was “logical” and found herself in the Business stream. But the heart of this young aspiring doctor was set on medicine. Today, Lateefah is a fourth-year medical student at the Lincoln American University, School of Medicine (LAU) interested in Gynaecology and Cardiology. It was this determination and an evident show of charisma and passion that led to Lateefah being crowned Miss Global International Guyana (MGIG) 2023.
With the announcement made on August 11, Lateefah is the first queen to be crowned under the pageant’s
awareness, so I will be able to reach a wider audience to promote this cause. But the Miss Global International Pageant is also tourism-focused, which also gives me a chance to be an Ambassador for my beautiful country by showcasing its growing potential as a massive tourism destination,” Lateefah said.
Though new to the pageant industry, Lateefah is excited to begin her journey, which she describes as being remarkable so far. “Some of the highlights of my journey to date would be meeting amazing people. I have formed beautiful bonds and shared experiences with
Guyana. These include Elocution training, Model training, history lessons, fitness and nutrition guidance and mentorship. Lateefah explained that she is honoured to receive this training from some of the best in the respective fields.
As one of Guyana’s most recently crowned pageant Queens, Lateefah is well aware of the influence she will have on young women and girls and is excited to take up the role.“Young girls must always believe in them-
selves, work hard, and never give up on their dreams. Always seek out new opportunities that go in favourof their betterment and for opening new and beautiful doors,” she encouraged. She expounded that it is important for young girls to have a good support system, whether it’s family or friends. She says this can ensure that they receive the necessary guidance and encouragement andthat they are in safe
with whatever obstacle and setback that we’d face in life and that after hardship comes ease,” Lateefah recalled. As she got older, Lateefah, who stands a whopping five feet, ten inches, decided to use her height to her advantage and got into modelling. “My modelling career started when I was scouted by Keisha Edwards, the Creative Director and owner of Shasha Designs. She took me in and moulded me to be the best.
Miss Global International Guyana 2023, Lateefah Forde is a fourth-year medical student at the Lincoln American University, School of Medicine (LAU) with interest in Gynaecology and Cardiology (Trevor Smith photos – Smithengy)
new leadership from National Director, Reneé Chester and will represent Guyana at the international pageant in Jamaica on September 16. In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, “Queen Lateefah” shared her aspirations for herself under the new title. “This title comes with the power to provide awareness of important issues that people will pay attention to. Specifically, my interest is in mental health
those who are important to me,” she explained. Lateefah added that much of her time has been engrossed in training, getting her ready to shine above the rest in Jamaica.
Under the pageant franchise’s new ownership, contestants of MGIG will be exposed to an array of capacity-building services that sharpen the skills of the young women who will potentially be representing
hands. As for young girls looking to get into pageantry: “Just be confident, believe in yourself, and always stay true to who you are and stay steadfast on your goals. Look at the opportunity as providing a platform to advocate for and make a difference for a bigger cause that you are passionate about.”
Lateefah’s current title is by far the most public post that she has ever held. Born in Region Four, she describes her upbringing as simple, growing up with her parents and siblings where the children were taught important lessons. “My dad had always instilled morals and values within me and my siblings and to always be patient
My first-time modelling for Keisha was at the Presidential State House for an Emancipation dinner on August 1, 2022,” she said. Lateefah is also the face of Shasha Designs and has modelled for Posh, Moonlight Stories, and Curl Fete.
Now with her crown and title, Lateefah is set to take her skills in that direction with gratitude and a sincere determination to make Guyana proud.
“I anticipate dealing with the pressure of being in the spotlight as the biggest challenge I will face. However, with my strong support system and confidence, I know I can put my best foot forward, yielding great results and not let any fear or challenge get in the way. God is great, and I am forever thankful.”
IN recent times, Guyanese have lit up the international stage in academia, music, athletics, and so much more.
This one former University of Guyana, Professor of Law has recently also brought Guyana recognition after graduating and securing a lofty position as the Dean of Law at the University of the West Indies Law facility.
Alicia Elias sat down with PepperpotMagazine to share a bit about how she got to where she is today.
“I am Christian, I have strong faith in God and I believe with God I can achieve anything. A couple of years back I had some surgeries and health challenges, and with COVID, I was doing my Ph.D., and I had to take a leave of absence from that, medical leave,“ Elias told Pepperpot Magazine.
Elias did not start off in this career as a law professor immediately when she graduated from the University of Guyana. She took a different route to achieve her goal as Dean of the law facility
“I stayed on and lectured at the University of Guyana,then I went to the U.S. and did my masters, then I went to England. I did different things before I came to Trinidad to do the Bar course to be admitted. So, I did not take the path like everyone else because I want to do something different. I wanted to go into academia,” Elias related.
She noted during her interview that she was grateful to get to do what she loved because many people do not get the opportunity to do what they love. They have to branch out and do something different from what they have studied and focused on after they have graduated from their field of study.
Elias reflected on the period when she could not pursue her goal because she had to care for her mother, who was gravely ill.
“I took a while to do my Ph.D.. At that time, my whole focus was on my mother, whom I took off during her illness. I took her to the doctor and physiotherapy, so while I continued to lecture, I did not publish much and I did not have the time to focus on a Ph.D., I just wanted to care for my mom,” Elias shared.
Elias also recalled that when her momlater passed away, she could not just jump to studies
right away, but had to take some time to decompress and adjust to living life without her.
In this move, Elias also made room to be with industry insiders.
“I think if I would have done something right out of law school, and I don’t have that experience and exposure, it might have been anything theoretical to get a Ph.D., just say you have a Ph.D., it certainly would not have been as impactful as when you experienced an area, you worked in that industry when solutions are sought, your research and study becomes more relevant and necessary,” Elias told Pepperpot magazine.
Elias is grateful and resourceful that she had taken the path she had taken. It also became quite obvious that time needs to be given to the healing of the body and the importance of good health.
“Because the more I tried to push through, I could not stand up, I could sit in front of the computer for long hours, and I am like, oh my God, I don’t have the capacity to go finish all this research and so forth, the more I pushed myself, the sicker and weaker I was getting, so I had to take medical leave,” Elias shared.
As for those who motivated her along the way, the Legal practitioner said that there were some notable personalities around her at the time of her journey. “When I started lecturing at the University of Guyana, there was Professor James, who was head of the Department of Law, then there was Professor Aubrey Bishop, who was a former chancellor and he was teaching there. Peter Britton was a criminal lawyer a very brilliant criminal Lawyer, then it was Keith Massiah, so those old folks were there. I was the young one,” Elias recalled.
As a point of motivation to others pursuing big goals, Elias noted that people should do things according to their own capacity and not necessarily according to someone else’s timeline.
IN the year 2000, Randy Brooks was working in a supermarket when he realised that this wasn’t what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. Randy picked
me. And it was all at home. The darkroom was at home where I lived. I have childhood memories of going into the dark room and not seeing anything. And I wasn’t al -
in the family, as Randy’s son has expressed interest in photography as well.
Rallying around the West Indies Gordon Brooks spent a
was one of the memorable moments in the early years.” Randy was also there to capture when Brian Lara broke his historic record in Antigua. Although having travelled to many countries over the years, meeting with different people and sitting among different crowds, Randy says there is something different about Guyana.
While he continues to travel and champion for better conditions for photographers, Randy says that his future endeavours are too simple to go forward. “I want to continue to do this until I retire and to continue to provide for my family. And get back on track after COVID,” he said. “And
see a change on the field. In his closing remarks to the Pepperpot Magazine, Randy urged Caribbean people and Guyanese alike to think as one and not let misconceptions be a divider, as he said. “A lot of us in
up the phone and told his father he wanted to leave his convenient store job to become a photographer. And thus began Randy’s journey as a photographer specialising in capturing the best momentsfrom the cricket pitch.
Hailing from St Micheal, on the outskirts of the capital
lowed to touch certain things because I could damage it,” Randy recalled.
Looking back now, photography seemed to be a given or a birthright that was always there, but it was never his first choice. “I didn’t go into photography right away. But every step of my life I was always somewhere
great deal of his time travelling with the West Indies team. In the early years, photography was not as simple and clean-cut as it is today. In his travels as a boy with his father to different countries, Rany described how his father then had to travel with the team. And he carried far more than a camera and a few lenses. “We had to travel with the processing kit. My father had to travel with an enlarger. He had to process the film, make the prints and get the prints delivered. That was a long process.”
When asked about memorable moments, he cited Courtney Walsh’s five-hundredth wicket.
The Guyanese people, he says, seem to be naturally happy and welcoming,but our cricket crowd, he stated, was the best thing about Guyanese cricket. “I remember being herein Guyana, at Bourda and the amount of spectators here. The crowd,I love the crowd. The action here at Bourda was electrifying. The people are just electrifying.”
of course, I hope West Indies will be more victorious.”
When asked how he thinks is needed for the Windes cricket team, he stated that a change in governance is necessary to
the Caribbean get misconceptions. I tell everybody to travel to the country and experience for yourself, and then you can judge.”
city in Barbados, Randy was surrounded by photography for the entirety of his life. His father, Gordon Brooks, was also a photographer and opened his printing studio in 1971, the same year that Randy was born. Randy shared his childhood memories. Particularly those of his father’s darkroom, where photos are placed to develop, “I grew up with photography all around
around the studio. Then I made the decision. I want to get into this thing full time,” he said.And at the age of 18, Randy took on the family business and became a professional photographer.
Randy’s father later retired in 2010 and then passed away in 2021. Today, the responsibility of the studio is shared between Randy and his brother. And it appearsit will stay
Randy stated, “I remember going to Jamaica for the first time at Sabina Park. My father told me to go upstairs because Walsh was about to take his 500th wicket. My father wanted two angels; he was down on the ground, and I was upstairs to get a wider view.” And he photographed what can be called one of the best pictures in both the fields of photography and cricket.
As Randy shared, “I got the catch, the bowler running through celebrating, and the umpire with his finger up in the air signalling out. So that
Every field of work has its difficulties and times that are less than ideal. In photography and photojournalism, Randy believes the issues lay outside the field. “The issues are off the field. You know a match is going to be played at the stadium, and the journalists are normally there working the day before the match. Most of the time, up to now, there are no chairs in the media centre. And I’m not talking about one particular place. It is all over the Caribbean,” he said. This along with a string of other problems faced by photojournalists like himself, is something Randy feels very passionate about. He urges people like the various ministers of the Caribbean to take action.
PHILADELPHIA , a village like no other. Taking a trip there would be no easy one and the people there are extremely friendly. The term, “it takes a village to raise a child” takes on a whole new meaning once meeting and interacting with the folks of this olden village.
Set on theright hand of the East Bank Essequibo, and left hand of the Demerara River, is a village that produces rice, and plants like sugar cane are grown as well. Many farm animals, including the highly invested black belly sheep, exist there too.
air, the lack of noise? Or, the feeling of peace and tranquillity that takes you over the second you enter these rural areas?
From the main road of Philadelphia, the village looks ordinary. Still, stepping into the hidden parts of the village, there were hundreds of hardworking people dedicated to holding on to their village’s rich history, none of which can be found in textbooks.
What makes Philadelphia Beautiful? That’s easy. It’s the people. The close-knit residents all lookout for one another, specifically, the old-
The village’s population might be small but that togetherness that most people have there, is second to none.
The feeling there is different as well. One can wonder, is it the difference in the
er folks, all of who spoke vividly about the scary storiesthey were told when growing up. The ‘Nancy stories’ of their time, and the joys of being able to visitwith one another, without all the hassle
that happens today. Reminiscing on their youth, the older men and women reflected on years gone and the many things they had learnt about growing up. Like many villages on the East Bank Essequibo, farming of crops and animals is a staple.
Philadelphia has its own concrete blocks maker, Tony Soman, a young man. His parents were at home on the day the team visited and they shared some details about their son and life in Philadelphia.
According to them, the village is a very peaceful place to reside. Tony’s moth-
er said that he has done a business out of creating the concrete blocks, suitable for homes or other homeimprovement projects people may have. Tony’s mother has ashop just in front of their home where she sells food items such as raw eggs, potatoes, snacks, and beverages, which are bound to catch customers’ eyes as they enter hershop.
Another community resident, Abas Ally, has lived in Philadelphia for nearly his entire life andwas once a dedicated worker on the Sea Defense. That was the only job he ever had. At present,Ally moves around in a wheelchair ever since one of his legs was amputated. According tohis wife, the man has been a diabetic for going on two years now.
One of the newest families in Philadelphia isBisnauthDebidin and his family, who movedfrom Essequibo to Philadelphia a little under a year ago.He explained that the reason he moved there was to seek more job opportunities in thatcommunity.
Debidin is a professional welder and has been in that field for seven to eight years. He said he chose to do welding because it’s a trade he learnt after school, and he continued pursuing it.Furthermore, he shared that he would like to see work done on the playfield near his
home and installing more streetlights on the roadways. Because of its size, there are no gas stations, supermarkets, or clinics near the village. Therefore, residents would have to visit neighbouring villages Vergenoegen andGreenwich Park.
IN last week’s edition of Focus on the village, Mohamead Ali had much to say about Ruby, the village where he works. But he has plenty more to say about his home village of Philadelphia. Located in Region Three, the small village
controversy surrounding the when and who of those involved in the construction of the mosque and the subsequent monument, some things are certain. The monument marks the location of a mosque that existed a long time ago and was built by the original people of Philadelphia, ex-slaves.
Ali’s love for history developed at a young age when he surrounded himself by the community’s elders. He is now on a mission to keep an honest record of stories they can no longer tell. For many a year Ali’s family believed the pond behind their home was just a pond. But after some research, it
before prayer. “That was the pond with water dug by the African slaves because, as a Muslim, you are required to wash before prayer, and they didn’t have pipes in those days,” Ali said.
In describing what the mosque looked like, Ali created a picture of a home found in many stories in Guyanese history, “It was built out of branches first then it was built out of mud. The mud was placed over the plaited branches, similar to many houses in the past. The dimension of it used to be approximately 30 feet by 40 feet. And on important days like on Eid and on Fridays, people would walk from as far as Uitvlugt to come to the masjid,” said Ali.
The mosque was eventually moved twice in the years following.“It was moved it Vergenoegen, the next village. They moved it to where the old rice mill was. On that spot, there is
little boy, I would go herd cattle and climb trees.”
Looking outside of farming, many aspects of life have changed from then to
has a captivating religious history that is known by very few.
At age 56, Mohamead Ali, known by his friend and family simply as Ali, has lived in Philadelphia his whole life. And although he loves history everywhere, there is just something special about the history of his home.
Walking through the yard, now overgrown with grass and wildlife, Ali showed us the monument central to many residents and Muslims of the community. Located behind the very house Ali once called home is what is said to be the very first mosque built in Guyana. In the year 1860, the original mosque was said to have been erected. And many years later, Ali’s grandfather came to live on the land.
Although there is much
The villagers have preserved the small green and white monument along with its plaque and story behind it.
“Sadly, this place is abounded, but the monument is being preserved. It was erected after all the main Islamis organizations in Guyana came together and made it.” Ali then said, “Although these people were involved in this monument, the original mosque was made prior by our African brothers and sisters,” he said.
The monument’s plaque states, “This structure marks the first masjid built on the south American continent by our Muslim indentured ancestors in the year 1806.” And although it wasn’t specified by the plaque on the monument, both Ali and several villagers ensure that it was, in fact, built by Africans.
was discovered to be a place used by all Muslims to wash
the foundation of the wooden building. They eventually moved it to the public road. And it looks very nice now,” he said.
In the past, as described by Ali, Philadelphia was your authentic bonified countryside type of village. Although still prominent today, rice farming and farming, in general, was a big aspect of everyone’s everyday life. Ali himself was a farmer, as he stated, “We had cattle in the savannah and we’d ride horses. As a
now. For example, one noticeable shift is the birth rate of children. Long ago, Ali says it wasn’t uncommon to find a family with upwards of 10 children; Ali’s father himself had eleven siblings. And with families of this size, the children normally followed in the footstep of their parents, thus carrying on the family name in the same business for decades to come.
The fact that the mosque being built by Africans has
been and still is being contested. For an explanation on who the Africans could have come to settle in a place like Philadelphia, Ali attributed it to colonialism and people. Firstly, he cited the fact that people of similar cultures were separated and their faith was often lost in the separation. He thenhighlighted that many Africans were and still are from the nation of Islam, and the mosque, the monument and the history are just a result of them trying to preserve what they had left their faith.
“When they, the different people of Guyana came, were separated. If they were from the same place or spoke the same language, they would be separated. And after some time, if you put someone to live with Hindus or Indians, after a long time their culture, their language will rub off on that person. And they will be to practice what the people practice,” he said.
Today Ali says that all he would like to see is the greater appreciation of history and for ore people to return to what it once, saying,“I wish the sacrifices that our ancestors made in holding on to their history and holding on to their true identity that they were being forcibly deprived of by the colonial masters, was known. I wish that they would return to their roots, return to their true identity.”
MANY facts surrounding or relating to Philadelphia are disputed by many. But the people who know the village the best, the natives of Philadelphia, say that the stories of their community are more history than hearsay. And regardless of what the community faces, it keeps moving forward, just like its people.
Seeta Basdeo has lived all her life in the village of
70s, she says the life of children like her grandchildren is far easier for them than it was for her. Like many of the families in the past, Seeta’s family were rice farmers. And it was something that went on with the family name and something she took on at the age of just eight years old.
“We used to hand cut the rice; we had ten acres of riceland. My father never took on labour. But he had me and my brothers and sis-
often looks at the changes that happen from one time to another. To her, the biggest generational shift lies in how people handle life. Because even though the old days were harder, they were still somehow better because of how people looked at it and dealt with their challenges.
Still Learning
Seeta is many things: a wife, a daughter and a lover of her village. But she is, first and foremost, a mother. Some 46 years ago,Seeta gave birth to her son Vijai. Like any of her other pregnancies and births, Seets was filled with happiness and had an optimistic future for her child. But things weren’t what she thought it would be.
The first signs of Vijai’s autism came in early childhood. As Seeta explained, he was a sickly child and he didn’t develop like her other children because he wasn’t.
Philadelphia for what she considers to be half of her life. She had moved out for some time to start a family a few villages away. But she returned after tragedy struck with her mother’s death in 2000. After her return, she stayed in Philadelphia and now has nine children.
And although today she has a quite life, now in her
ters. Then we had to have the bull go around the paddy and then bag it off.” She went on to say that this was the way they did many things in the past, by hand, the authentic and original way.
As difficult as those days were, Seeta says that she misses them. As someone who has seen two generations of her family being born, she
“From baby, he took awhile before he began to talk. And then, when he started to walk, he limped on the right side. And it took long for him to understand me and for me to understand him. Up to now it’s still hard sometimes,” he said.
Today both Seeta and Vijai are still learning to work with and understand each other. There are instances where they have difficulty communicating, but Seeta is always patient with her son.
Vijai is a friendly and helpful individual with a unique love for children and interacting
with people. Seeta is determined to care for her son for as long as she can, because every day is different but good with him as both she and him are learning to work together.
Sharing responsibility
The people of Philadelphia are a generous and sharing bunch. They share time, fruits and some even share historic monuments. Lying in between Seeta and her neighbour is the alleged tomb of one Robert Smith. Seeta and her neighbour Devika Chung have maintained the
on to state that he was the manager of Plantation Cornelia Ida and proprietor of plantation Philadelphia and neighbouringVergenoegen. It was said that he held these titles for some 27 years before his death. The plaque also states the date of his death as June 23 1876. Robert Smith was allegedly 57 years old at the time of his death.
Interestingly enough, both Seeta and Devika have a profound love for both the monument and memory of Robert Smith. They consider it apart of their history.
of the tomb. If I had to get back my piece of land that include the tomb, I would be happy. Because I grew up here, my siblings, everybody and we were never afraid a single day. We used to sweep and clean it, everything.”
Although the idea of an ancient tomb on behind one’s home is simply unimaginable to some, the people of Philadelphia look at it the way they look at many other difficult circumstances. They look for a solution or accept the fact and simply learn to
large tomb structure.
Beside the tomb is a large granite structure with a plaque that states, “In memory of Robert Smith.” It also says that he was a native of Yorkshire, England. It goes
Because of the division of land, the monument now lies entirely in Devika’s yard. But Seet admits that there would be no issue if it was still on her property as she stated, “I would be happy to take care
persevere without fear. When asked why she never feared the tomb as a child, she stated simply, “It was just never something that ever made me afraid.”
THEY say that children are gifts to their parents. It is the parents’ responsibility to teach them right from wrong andwhat is good and evil. They explain the facts of life to their offspring in preparation for their life as adults.
Some adults, however, cannot experience that gift, and some children are left without the guidance they need desperately. It is why in villages like Philadelphia, some older men and women adopt that parental role in the lives of many.
These people can be members of a religious organization, a religious leader, a community leader or just someone with a great deal of wisdom and no one to share it with.
Meet, ‘Uncle Alan’ (name given), one of Philadelphia’s oldest residents. Alan was at home with his family when the team dropped by. Uncle Alan revisited his youth and imparted the wisdom he has gained over the past decades on us.
According to the man, his grandparents arrived in Guyana from India many years ago. The man, now in his 70s, has lived in Philadelphia his entire life and grew up on a farm. Farming was one of the many providers of income at that time. He shared that his father had 10 acres of farmland, while he had seven. Together,they had approximately 17 acres of farmland.
Alan is the father of five children, one of whom was mur-
dered by her husband some time ago.
When asked about changes around the community, Alan said that he sees changes all around. These changes, he said, can be good or bad. Quoting Lord Krishna, he said that whatever happened, happened for a good.
Meanwhile, the man’s daughter, Robeena (only name given) and her husband, who were visiting, shared that they have been married for four years now. Although she is a housewife, the woman says she sometimes goes to the back dam where her husband works on a rice field.
The husband CharakDoohuran, said that his interest in rice farming was
stemmed from generations of rice farmers. He said further that he has two other workmen, who work the fields with him.
Philadelphia has a number of rice farms all around, with several rice pullers around.
In Guyana, there are
over six thousand rice farmers whofarmers produce rice in Guyana, along with 43 licensed rice millers and 22 registered exporters.
A lone tear trickled down her wrinkled face, a face still beautiful never mind her age and she lifted a trembling hand to wipe it. A hand that was once strong, that held her children’s small ones every step of the way.
for they hardly found any time in their daily schedules to spend with their mother.
“So I must come home, dear Lord,” was the hoarse plea from the lips of the old woman, lying in a recliner on the patio.
The middle-aged nurse aid sitting close by reading the newspaper inquired of the old woman,
“What is it, Sharda?”
She did not answer, looking up at the clear blue sky, her eyes not so dim, her hearing still fine. She could see the flowers’ lovely blooms and hear the sweet songs of the birds in her garden, but her love and passion for nature were slowly fading away.
How does one continue to embrace life when the body has become aged and feeble, memory sometimes floating into nothingness, when you need a young, strong hand to hold and there was none?
“How did this happen?” she asked herself, tears misting in her eyes, “Why did this happen?”
The loneliness was a deep ache in her heart, craving for the children she loved and missed so much, just to hear their voices. But they were gone, now mature adults pursuing careers and sharing their lives with new loves and interests.
The mother now lived alone in the home where they had shared a beautiful family life. She had moulded and guided them, her hard work and sacrifices laying a foundation for the successes they had achieved in their lives. But after reaching great heights in the business world, their rich lifestyles made them forget where they came from, and, for the aged mother, there was no time.
A wry smile crossed her face and a faraway look shone in her eyes as her thoughts took her back to a time when she was a young woman. She was so full of life, like a butterfly with amazing colours and a simple, little home filled with love. Then her father gave her hand in marriage to a rice farmer’s son; a new life as a bride and later, a young mother. Paths she had walked paved with love, compassion, tears and pain, episodes of her life written on the leaves of time.
Then one day, fourteen years later, when she could have borne no more of her husband’s arrogance and abusive behaviour towards her, she had walked away from her matrimonial home with her four children into the throes of an unknown world.
She had worked long hours every day to build a nice little home with comfort for them and today, instead of holding her hand, like she had held theirs, they turned their backs, leaving her alone.
A choked sob escaped her lips and once again, she whispered, “It’s time for me to come home, dear Lord, there’s nothing left here.”
The nurse aide got up and took her hand, urging her gently, “Come on Sharda, it’s time for your meal and medication.”
She sighed and looked up at the nurse. She inquired, puzzled, “Who are you?”
“I’m Jeanette,” the woman answered patiently, as she assisted her to her feet, “Your nurse aid.”
“Oh,” she exclaimed softly, a momentary lapse in her memory.
The kind woman had been with her for the past three years, financed by the children to provide care and companionship,
That night as she lay in bed, she looked at the painting on the wall facing her, and a smile touched her lips, lessening the pain in her heart. It was the picture of three children, her father working in the garden and her mother standing not far off with a bucket of fresh vegetables on her arm, smiling warmly as she watched her children.
A portrait that captured a simple life and a beautiful family.
“You have left so long ago, mother,” she said in a weak voice, “I can’t remember much for now I have grown too old.”
The brother and sister playing with her had also left, their names now written on tombstones whilst she, the youngest, waited still alone.
“Whisper my name, mother,” she said, “And I shall come, so we can be together again.”
The days went by and the old lady grew weaker, life’s journey slowly coming to an end.
Then one morning, as she sat on the patio, feeling the cool breeze on her face and watching the slight drizzle, the kiss of the raindrops on the plants in her garden, she heard a voice call softly, “Sharda.”
A soft cry escaped her lips and she whispered, “Mother.”
From within the light shadows in the garden, she saw them walk forward, her beloved family, her mother stretching her arms out to her,
“Come, my child, it’s time.”
She would leave the world now, leaving her legacy, never mind her children had left her. One day maybe, they would remember her unconditional love. She left a body aged by time, worn and broken from years of hard work and struggles. Now she was free, once again, like a butterfly as she reunited with her family.
“We have been waiting for you, Sharda,” they said, embracing her.
No more she was of this earthly life but her soul was there that day as they bid her farewell and she saw the old woman whom she had been, lying in eternal sleep, her four children sitting around her in silent grief.
They came when she was gone, too late for regrets, too late for tears for she could not hear their voices nor feel the touch of their hands.
The young ones there did not know her, and she wondered, “Will anyone carry on my legacy?”
A pretty little girl with curly locks, standing a little way off walked up to where she laid and looking at her for a long moment, she said in a sweet childish voice, “Grandma.”
Sharda smiled, for all was not lost.
OVER the years, this column has noticed ‘mangroves’ from time to time because of their importance, and we do so again. Mangroves are one of nature’s gifts to mankind
and quietly dovetail into their interests. Mangroves are plant communities which grow along the coasts of tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They grow in the “intertidal” zone, that is, in the area between the sea and the land and unlike most plants, they have the aptitude to survive in seawater by filtering the salt with their shallow roots and excreting it from their leaves.
In Guyana, there are three types of mangroves - the Red Mangrove, the White Mangrove and the Black Mangrove. They grow extensively along the coastline and can also be seen in the estuaries of the Demerara, Berbice and Essequibo Rivers. Though these three vari-
eties of mangrove have a few peculiar characteristics, there are some general characteristics which all mangroves share: They thrive in areas of high rainfall, they grow best in clayey soils formed by the buildup of waterborne soil particles, they all have shallow roots which make them vulnerable to high winds and strong waves and their seeds are dispersed by water carrying them both upstream and downstream. Mangroves have many valuable uses, knowledge of which often escapes city dwellers. For one, and most important, they protect the coastline from erosion. In Guyana, the coastal plain where most of the population lives is below sea level and the mangroves along the coastline provide invaluable protection. Additionally, they support wildlife, shelter many aquatic species, and offer good sites for beehives; indeed, mangrove honey is much sought after in Guyana. They provide firewood for domestic cooking and the ingredients of many folk medicines used to treat snake bites, skin disorders and ulcers. Tannin is also extracted from their barks. Fisherfolk get their poles from them, which are used to moor boats
SEE PAGE XXIII
A SON of this soil endured and persisted and died mysteriously, the martyr’s death, after producing a treatise dispelling colonial myths in his book, ‘Stolen Legacy’. His name is George Granville Monah James. With African colonialism, with the slave trade, and then with the worse stage that followed, the creation of the ‘Colonial’ (this was not only exclusive to African and Creole African societies, but a feature of colonisation itself) and the Civilisation
of Khemet (Egypt), all who came within its borders as invaders sought to ingrain themselves ethnically in this land. But the worse efforts of redefining Khemet emerged after the continental colonisation in 1845 onwards, and the fiction of the master race mythology became essential to diminish the African self-worth, denying him the impetus of mental emancipation and reawakening from the long colonising sleep of self-loathing.
“George James was a
mathematician, born in then British Guiana. He was a scholar who held degrees and teaching certificates in Theology, Mathematics, Greek, Latin, Logic, Philosophy, and Social Science. Dr. James was a brilliant scholar whose thinking transcended the boundaries of traditional academic thought. He had reexamined his own views of African History and Greek Civilization after reading the writings of C.H. Vail, Swinburne Clymer, E.A Wallis Budge, Godfrey Higgins and others. According to a former colleague, the noted historian Dr. Yosef ben-Jochannan, these and other writings had a profound impact on James. See-‘ Anthony T. Browder-Nile Valley contributions to Civilisation’.”
Therefore, George G.M James began to study the undoing of the ultra-racist historical narratives within the high education of his era (the colonial era of the Atlantic Slave trade, the founding of the current Americas, and the enrichment of colonising Europe during the establishment of slavery). Narratives created by the fabrications about all things worthy; fabrications that provided a twisted worldview intended to envelop the scholarship that Africans would digest and regurgitate. ‘Learning’ that, if not challenged, would be absorbed and consumed into creating the certified and capable tool of ‘the Colonial school’ of tutored beings, rather than liberating their masses, that would become, in the majority, the guardians of the master’s interests.
James’s book would explore the Ancient Timelines of the vast knowledge accredited to the appointed long-dead Fathers of disciplines,Pythagoras, Plato, Democritus etc. However, the (contradicting) social
response and deadly attitude to Greek philosophers by the Greek city-states tell a different story. “The indictment and persecution of Greek Philosophers is a
in the sky, and who makes the worse appear the better reason. And who teaches others these same things. It is clear that Socrates offended the Athenian government,
circumstance which is familiar to all of us. Several (Greek) philosophers, one after another, were indicted by the Athenian Government on the common charge of introducing strange divinities. Anaxagoras, Socrates, and Aristotle received similar indictments for a similar offence. The most famous of these was that against Socrates, which reads as follows.
“Socrates commits a crime by not believing in the Gods of the city, and introducing other new divinities. He also commits a crime by corrupting the youth.”
Now to find out what these new divinities were, we must go back to the popular opinion that Aristophanes (423 B.C), in the clouds, aroused against him.
It runs as follows: Socrates is an evildoer, who busies himself with investigating things beneath the earth and
simply because he pursued the study of astronomy, and probably that of geology; and that the other philosophers were prosecuted for the same reason. But the study of science (that included alchemy) was a required condition for membership in the Khemetic (Egyptian) Mystery System, and its purpose was the liberation of the soul from the ten bodily fetters. And if the Greek philosophers studied the sciences, then they were fulfilling a required condition of the Khemetic (Egyptian) mystery system and its purpose, either through direct contact with Egypt or its schools or Lodges outside its territory.”-George G.M. James –STOLEN LEGACY-1954.
STOLEN LEGACY…
was thoroughly scrutinised by a large group of African, Asian and European scholars
in the areas of Egyptology, Paleontology, Linguistics, History, Theology, Philosophy, Science, Law, Metaphysics, political science … etc in its original manuscript format, and met the approval of most. Dr. James was a Professor at Arkansas A. & M., and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in 1954. He died under mysterious circumstances shortly after the publication of Stolen Legacy.
Stolen Legacy is an ideal emancipation gift to self or others; some copies should still be at Austin’s Book Services, and Anthony T. Browder’s Book ‘Nile Valley Contributions to Civilisation’ is an excellent addition to a seeker’s library, through the Net. Somehow, George G. James must be added to our repository of history, social anthropology and significant cultural awareness published categories. If such does not exist, then we should not hesitate to develop one; posterity demands it.
I WAS talking to my daughter Shonta on the phone and I heard our princess and my grand-daughter Peyton’s voice in the background. She loves to sing, and it was such sweet music to my ears. I have no idea what she was singing, but hearing her beautiful voice full of life reminded me that I owe it to her to help create the world she, Jaidyn, and other kids need to live in. I have said this before, but I will say it again: of all the resources we possess as a country, the human resource is the most valuable of all our resources; even though that is evident in many cases, I am passionate about personal and professional development because I am a testimony to the advantage it affords an individual.
I believe that is one of the reasons I connect with Philipa Morrish, who will be hosting the upcoming programme
teach,” and if we live by those simple words, the world will be a better place. I believe it is an honour and privilege to impact lives virtually and otherwise. I thank God every day, but I say an additional thank you when I read testimonials as what I am sharing below.
“Are you living or are you just existing? Whichever is your answer, it either leads
all the realities I didn’t want in my life. It’s a bold step and to be the bigger person to admit that you are where you are because of one person and that’s you. Today I’m in a better place mentally and physically because of the will to change my life, rediscover myself, live a purposeful life and share this with the world as many are suffering silently,
want to create a better world. These programmes have presented opportunities that I never imagined. With my increased self-confidence, enhanced communication skills and overall self-empowerment, I am ready for what the future holds for me. Confidence becomes you and healthy thoughts challenge has been one of the
comfort zone and into your purpose. Don’t allow negative thoughts and small minds talk you out of your dreams.”
David O Mc Kay said,”Your thoughts are the architect of your destiny” and I have witnessed that to be true.
“Etiquette for Tomorrow’s Leaders.” We both are passionate about contributing to the human capital. I have witnessed participants from the Confidence Becomes You and Healthy Thought Challenge making a difference in other lives. The great Maya Angelou said, “When you get, give and when you learn,
you to question if you are living the life you [are] suppose [sic] to and if so, are you being intentional about each passing second of life?
Before I began taking these programmes, I felt as if I had lost myself among all the adversities life presented to me. Like many, I found myself blaming and creating
but need the right tools and people to help on this journey. Transformation takes time and effort and I commend those who were strong to overcome on their own; but like so many like myself, I needed a hand and I was fortunate to have a community who were happy to support and see me grow. Investing in yourself is the first step if you
best gifts gifted to myself” Sherica Ambrose.
Sherica was able to share what she learnt when she went back to her village and she said it was very empowering.
Rubeina Khan also did both programmes.
The healthy thoughts
challenge course has enabled me to retrain my mind to focus on more positive thoughts. Before this course there was so much going through my mind about things that happened to me in my past. I would normally overthink a lot. Now I am able to replace every negative thought with positivity. When these negative thoughts started to attack me I would listen to motivational videos, gospel music, meditate, take a walk, call a friend or practise yoga. There is a video by Wayne Dyer: “101 ways to transform your life” that I would highly recommend for you to listen to daily; it will help you transform your life and be a better person. Miss Sonia Noel is a great role model and inspiration to me. During this course I learnt a lot from her excellent presentations.
I want to encourage you to enrol for one of these courses by Miss Sonia Noel. You wouldn’t regret it. This course also helps people that are battling with depression, anxiety and stressful situations. Step out of your
“Being a part of the “Confidence Becomes You” programme made me realise that my capabilities are limitless. It has made me realise that with a positive mindset I can achieve my goals. It has also taught me to align myself with like-minded individuals, which further helped me to become my best self,” Zoning Ngqondo. Zi lives in Linden and always wanted to host an expo for small businesses like hers, but lacked the confidence but after this course,
she was able to plan and execute a successful EXPO and every year it is growing. We all can make a contribution to lives in a big or small way and I must extend my gratitude to people such as Clinton Urling, Dr. Raquel Thomas-Caesar, Jame Ogle, Kenneth Williams, Cecil Adams, Lisa Insanlly, Christine Neblette and Tanni Mc Allister. We have also had past participants such as Dr. Latoya Gooding, Kelly Clarke, Clemency Goddette (Toya) and other participants sponsoring people because they know first hand the value of these programmes.
CURRENTLY, the world has a population of over seven billion persons,which is increasing daily. One of the effects of the steadily increasing population is an increasing demand for food. However, providing enough food for such a large population is difficult, considering the growing competition for land, water, and energy. Moreover, one in seven persons does not have access to sufficient protein and energy from their diet, and even more suffer from some form of micronutrient malnourishment. However, while producing more food would reduce the number of hungry people in the world, producing food also affects our environment. Therefore, when considering boosting our agricultural output, we also need to think about the environmental implications.
In order to maximise food production and minimise impact on the environment, the challenge is to produce more food with fewer resources. Sustainable agriculture
seeks to preserve as much soil, water and biodiversity as possible with as minimal harmful side-effects and is crucial to long-term food security.
The United NationsSustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the blueprint for the nation to adapt to ensure a sustainable future for the world, the United Nations in 2015 made a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. Of those 17 goals, goal number 2 “End Hunger”, seeks sustainable solutions to end hunger in all its forms and to achieve food security at the end of the call. The aim is to ensure that everyone everywhere has enough good-quality food to lead a healthy life.
Some sustainable agricultural practices are:
• The use of renewable energy on farms
Energy from natural sources such as the sun and wind can be used to power equipment on farms, while machinery could use biofuels where available. Feedstock such as rice husks can be used to generate electric-
SEE PAGE XVI
FROM PAGE XV
ity, and anaerobic digesters can be used to convert animal waste to biogas. In addition to generating electricity, these microbes also treat waste and produce fertiliser.
• Managing water use
Water is an invaluable resource that is used for various purposes, including farming, recreation, fishing and cultural activities. Effective management of water resources in agriculture is critical, not only in increasing agricultural production but also ensuring that water is shared with other users, thus maintaining the environmental and social benefits associated with it. Water-saving technologies and practices such as drip irrigation, low-pressure irrigation systems can be adopted, along with improvements in irrigation systems such as scheduling irrigation to plant needs andreplacing earth with concrete linings for irrigation canals.
• Integrated crop and livestock systems
An integrated crop and livestock system manages crops and animals on the same farm in a way that they complement each other. An integrated system would usually include a herd of ruminants (animals like sheep, goats or cattle), which graze a pasture to build up the soil. Eventually, sufficient
soil organic matter builds up to the point where crops can be supported. This system increases the diversity, along with environmental sustainability, of both sectors. At the same time, it provides opportunities for increasing overall production of farming.
• Pesticide management
Using a common-sense approach to managing pests is a good way to ensure environmental sustainability on farms. This involves regular monitoring to properly identify the severity of problems associated with pests. When the problem has been identified, the options for controlling pests can be then be evaluated, which would allow for the least - toxic control option to be selected and implemented. The main focus of a pesticide management system should be:
1. Accurately diagnose problems before considering any treatment;
2. The use least-toxic solutions when addressing problems;
3. Nor applying fertiliser or pesticides just before rain;
4. Not killing every bug – 95% of insects are not pests;
5. Use pesticides as a last resort;
6. Always read and follow pesticide label instructions; and
7. Encourage beneficial insects.
BOOSTING local tourism is part of plans to diversify Guyana’s economy and stimulate much more business activities in communities. It is a good plan and with complementary efforts to train more people in hospitality, I think Guyana’s tourism sector can be a substantially lucrative one.
I have travelled to more places in Guyana than most people, so I know Guyana is a sweet place for locals and tourists alike. There is adventure awaiting anyone, whether you’re on the coast or in the interior. Therefore, I believe the government’s move to push tourism as a highly productive sector for us makes sense.
However, the obvious need to improve our communication and customer relations concerns me.
Don’t get me wrong, Guyanese are rated the most hospitable people. My experiences haven’t proven otherwise because God knows I would have been in serious trouble in many cases if people’s hospitality didn’t shine through. My concern, however, lies in habits or behaviours that we can easily work on to offer better services.
A few recent experiences have prompted me to share my thoughts here. In the first instance, a friend of mine visited Guyana for a few days and wanted to spend some time away from the hustle and bustle of the city. When we attempted to book a flight to travel out of Georgetown, we were told that online payments weren’t possible and we needed to visit the office to pay. This was strange to me because I know many places, even up-and-coming small businesses, emphasise making their payment systems more convenient. This struck me as something simple that could be fixed readily; at the very least, there could be some option to make online deposits into a bank account.
Next, we made it clear at the location that we had a fixed budget and could not deviate from it. So we asked our tour guide, with whom we had discussed our budget before hand, to tell us what we could do in keeping with our budget. However, there were subsequent issues with the tour guide asking for extra payments because he provided an extra tour. And he explained that he wasn’t clear on the budget because he had difficulties understanding my friend’s accent. Certainly, miscommunications does occur, but to avoid an issue like this recurring, I think we can be a bit more structured when offering these services. For example, tour guides could have some sort of document, be it a flyer or poster, indicating the exact costs for different activities. This experience was a learning experience for both myself and the tour guide since, I think, we were accustomed to people ‘flexing’ with us. I don’t believe poor services or anything of the sort are offered without that structure in place, but I do recognise, in retrospect, that it can lead to some issues.
The last experience I’ll discuss here is my attempt to book a trip with my younger sister. For weeks, I have been engaging a Georgetown-based tour company to secure two spots for a local tour. The high demand for tours, especially during this August vacation period, is not lost on me, so I am not frustrated when I cannot travel on the dates I would like to. I understand. What ‘bugs’ me, however, is when I am confirmed for a tour on a particular date but not informed of any cancellations. I was called one Thursday and told that my two spots were secured for Saturday; I was informed that I would get another call shortly to organise the payments required. That subsequent call never came, my calls were not taken, and my enquiries about Saturday’s tour went unanswered on WhatsApp. I found that disappointing. As a paying customer, I might be a little disappointed that my tour was cancelled, but it is certainly much worse being left clueless. I checked online reviews and it turns out, I am not the only one who was ‘ghosted.’ I think basic communication -- telling me what went wrong and possibly, suggesting another date -- is a standard that should be maintained. We cannot market ourselves as the place to be if we can’t engage in simple communication when people come or our services are sought. It isn’t good for business or for our image.
I know efforts are underway
HAVE you ever met someone who believes it’s their duty to “save” people? Or, perhaps that’s a personally trait you’ve noticed in yourself? It’s as if you make it your mission to always keep saving people from difficult circumstances in which they they may find themselves. Saviour’s complex, Messiah complex or white-knight complex are terms that are usually used to describe that type of behaviour. It’s not a medical diagnosis, but many experts described it as a state of mind of a way of thinking. Many persons genuinely do want to help others, including those with the saviour’s complex. However, with such a state of mind, a person may try to “overdo” their role in helping. In some instances, people even crave the power they feel when helping others. They want to feel some form of superiority or even demand obedience of the persons they help. In more extreme cases, some persons deem themselves as an actual “saviour” or “messiah” as reflected in the Bible; hence, the names given to this mental delusion. Identifying a saviour’s complex can be difficult, especially in yourself. However, my best advice to people with it is to evaluate how helping others affects you. If you’ve noticed that you’re losing sleep, you have no leisure time, you don’t practise self-care, crave for power over other people, think you know what’s best for them, or even have issues with your sense of self-worth—you may have saviour’s complex.
It’s important to note that the person you’re trying to help must always be willing to receive your help. You should not force people to be “saved,” nor should you try to put yourself or anyone else in danger by trying to help/save someone. I understand that there can be a thin line between wanting to help others and having a strong urge or need to save them from their demise. The truth is that you simply can’t help every single person that comes your way—the way they need help. You’re not a one-stop shop for everything they need. Those working in helping professions such as nurses, teachers and social workers should be cautious not to have such a thought process. It can do more harm than good.
A saviour’s complex can create a dangerous level of codependency on both parts if you’re not careful. The person you’re trying to help may always depend on you for said help and you may always depend on them to feel “powerful” or some sense of worth by trying to help them. This behaviour can ultimately affect your personal relationships and your mental and physical health because, eventually, you become so consumed with taking care of others that you end up neglecting yourself and those around you. As we try to do better for others and our community at large, let’s ensure that our causes are rooted in facts, humility and compassion—not a delusion.
FROM PAGE XVII
to help us improve our customer relations and communication in the sector. I know business clinics were held to help local operators and service providers improve themselves. And I know there are plans to train thousands of workers for the sector. These are all good, much-needed efforts. So as I said before, I wouldn’t declare that the local tourism sector is rife with poor service. It is not and again, Guyanese hospitality is rated as the best. And Guyana, undoubtedly, is the place to visit whether you live abroad or right here. As we continue to push tourism forward, we have to expect that our service providers will also push themselves forward. I believe that the sector is expanding, we’re all learning a bit more every day and there are ways we can improve the services offered and, thereby, people’s experiences.
If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous works, feel free to email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com
FROM PAGE XI
and support nets. Their vines are used for handicrafts, for example, making furniture. Lastly, mangroves are now recognised as carbon sinks as the forests have long been and are now an integral part of the Low Carbon Development Strategy.
Of the three types of mangroves,the black is regarded on balance as being the most useful. It is the best land stabiliser due to easier seedling transport, quick growth, and fast aerial root production. It has better sediment-holding capabilities in its underground root systems. It also has a better ability to inhabit “artificial sites” such as areas which have been dredged.
Over the last three years, the Mangrove Department of the Ministry of Agriculture has invested $500 million in mangrove protection and rehabilitation. In addition to education, the department has been involved in replanting, especially in the county of Demerara and though goats have on occasion been feeding on the young mangrove plants, overall, the replanting project has been successful. Mangrove protection and preservation are now ensured and the cutting down of mangroves has disappeared from most coastal communities. This has been largely due to the awareness programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency and by the sad experience of coastal communities, which, after cutting down their mangrove shields, have found themselves open to flooding and soil erosion.
Recently, on Sunday, July 29, to commemorate World Mangrove Day, the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute(NAREI), in collaboration with Environmental Management Consultants (EMC) headed by Dr Shyam Nokta who stands out as one of the most able and experienced environmentalists in the Caribbean and the Ministry of Agriculture, represented by Minister Zulfikar Mustapha and a number of other distinguished persons including members of the Diplomatic Corps, hosted a shoreline mangrove walk from Movietown in Turkeyen to Ogle gas station.
In addition to observing World Mangrove Day, the exercise aimed to increase awareness and further promote strategies for the sustainable management, utilisation and conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. Under the aegis of EMC, NAREI and the Ministry of Agriculture’s protection and revitalisation are now irreversible.
I’ve measured it from side to side: ‘Tis three feet long and two feet(1770-1850)WILLIAMwide.WORDSWORTH The Thorn (1798), iii [early reading]
Dear Student, Welcome dear friend. When you read, besides understanding text organisation, it is also essential to understand its contents. Text comprehension can be
August 13, 2023
done in many ways. Use various types of question-types. Open questions, right or wrong, and multiple-choice questions all have their value. Reading, thinking and reasoning, and then answering questions or making a choice is your best and most active way forward. Here you are forced to examine the text and the different possibilities carefully. Be wise.
Love you.
GRAMMAR
Predicate agreement with special subjects
We now look at another TWO special cases, the principles of which you must be sure to remember. We have looked at collective nouns and foreign nouns which both deal with the basic rule of agreement.
Today we look at 1) ‘a number,’ ‘the number’, and 2) ‘part,’ ‘portion,’ or ‘amount’ subject.
ONE: A Number, The Number – A number is a plural subject, and the number is a singular subject. So, be sure to have their predicates agree accordingly. Remember that any modifier immediately before the word ‘number’ (as in ‘a large number’ or the significant/ substantial number) does not affect this rule.
Study these examples:
The number of new homeowners was quite large. (‘Was’ agrees with the singular ‘the number’.)
A number of baked goods operators have submitted their positive intentions. (‘Have’ and ‘their’ agree with ‘a number’.)
A surprising number of electrical oven technicians have submitted their resumés. (The modifier ‘surprising’ does not affect ‘a number,’ which is still plural.)
to Do
Correct any agreement errors in the following sentences.
1. The report showed that the number of potential supporters are significant.
2. All the semicolons that is on this page should be changed to commas.
3. If the number of responses continue to be high, we will reevaluate the need for this product.
Select the correct verbs and pronouns in the following sentences. Underline the key word in the subject with which each choice agrees.
4. A number of people who attended yesterday’s session (is, are) planning to return next week when (he, she, he or she, they) will again hear Dr. Sargeant speak.
5. The group representative said that the bases of the decision
(was, were) explained in document writer’s report.
6. Surprisingly, the number of employees who opted for plan B (is, are) smaller than we had anticipated.
7. The primary basis for the decision to build another barn (is, are) that the cost of renting space elsewhere is uncontrollable.
8. A number of tenants (is, are) planning to file a suit against Splendour Homes Realty; in fact, (he, she, he or she, they) (has, have) already consulted a prominent lawyer.
9. A number of respondents (was, were) exceptionally pleased with (his, her, his or her, their) gifs.
10. A committee (is, are) to be established to study the problem of and suggest possible solutions to the putrid smell coming with the inland breeze.
TWO: Words such as ‘all,’ ‘half,’ ‘some,’ ‘twothirds,’ and ‘none’ are used in subjects to indicate a part or a portion of something. Do consider such subjects plural when they are followed by plurals; consider them singular when they are followed by singulars.
Study these examples:
Half this page has been poorly printed. (The singular ‘has’ is correct because ‘page’ is singular.)
Half these pages have been poorly printed. (The plural ‘have’ is correct because ‘pages’ is plural.)
Are the following “part,” “portion,” or “amount” subjects singular, or are they plural? Choose the correct verb for each sentence; be sure to indicate the key word in the complete subject with which each verb agrees.
1. Two-thirds of the payment (is, are) due in advance.
2. Most of the building (contains, contain) valuable bathroom fixtures.
3. All the machine (has, have) been assembled.
4. Three-quarters of these payments (is, are) due in advance.
5. Half the supplies (has, have) been stolen from this room.
6. None of these dresses (requires, require) altering.
The term to be defined is angling. To begin with, angling is an art so that the arts constitute the first category. We may divide them into arts of production and arts of acquisition, and angling evidently belongs to the latter. Acquisition is now divided into cases where its objects give consent, and where they are simply captured. Again, angling belongs to the second of these. Capture can be divided into open and concealed, angling being of the latter kind. The things taken can be inanimate or living; angling is concerned with living things. The animals in question may live on land or in a fluid, and again the term to be defined belongs to the second class. Inhabitants of fluids may be birds or fish, fish may be caught by net or by striking, and you may strike by night or day. Angling is done in daylight…
(From Bertrand Russell: “Wisdom of the West”)
1. The passage speaks of division. What about division is it telling the reader?
2. What are the various categories mentioned in the passage so far?
3. Can you find an example of what could appear at the end of each category given?
CHANCES are you have never been thrown out of anywhere for having bad breath, but I know a few husbands who have been banished to the couch. Bad breath is bad news for relationships. There are people who start seeing really nice guys or girls, and while things were looking pretty good for them, unfortunately they did not smell too good.
What is bad breath anyway? It is the result of odour-causing bacteria that create waste materials in the mouth. Food particles get trapped in the creases and grooves, especially on the tongue’s fissures, and become nutrients for bacteria. And when these bacteria feed, they release gaseous waste products that cause foul-smelling odours known as volatile sulfur compounds. The odour of these gases is similar to that of rotten eggs. You probably know what that smells like!
We all have bad breath sometimes. There are two types of bad breath, transitionary and chronic. Transitionary bad breath is short lasting and usually comes from eating foods such as garlic or onions. It can also be just a case of morning breath. As we sleep, saliva production is decreased, allowing bacteria to proliferate. The result is morning breath. Chronic bad breath is the long-lasting type that makes people wince. I like to refer to this as the “long-term relationship killer,” also called halitosis.
Let us look at common factors that can lead to both types of bad breath. If you do not remove all the tiny bits of food from your mouth and between your teeth through proper brushing and flossing, bad breath can result. Also, if you have gingivitis or gum disease, you will harbor much more bacteria than usual. If you do not scrape your tongue properly,
the usual bad breath smell, which results from just bacteria. Smoking is also a major culprit because it dries out the mouth and leaves a foul-smelling residue. Alcohol also dries out your mouth and prevents saliva from keeping bacteria in check. A small percentage of bad breath offenders suffer from serious sickness, such as liver problems, cancer, lung abscess, or
tonsillitis. You should consult a physician when all else fails to indicate a cause for bad breath.
Finally, having bad breath is not like having body odor. You cannot just take a shower and change your clothes and it goes away. It requires consultation with your dentist, diligent oral care and a change in lifestyle.
the film of bacteria in all the little crevices of your tongue can produce an unpleasant smell. Up to 90 percent of bad breath comes from the back of your tongue! In addition to the normal accumulation of bacteria found here, millions of people suffer from post-nasal drip, sometimes unaware. The mucus that drips down onto the back of the tongue is broken down by your mouth’s bacteria, causing even more odour.
Also called xerostomia, dry mouth results from a lack of saliva because of age, medication, or loss of salivary glands from surgery or radiation therapy. Aside from causing bad breath, it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease because saliva flow helps clean and shield the mouth and teeth. Overthe-counter artificial saliva replacement, a manmade version of what your mouth normally produces, helps some patients.
Hundreds of medications, especially for diabetes, can cause dry mouth. As mentioned, you can buy artificial saliva to help keep your mouth lubricated or chew sugar-free gum.
When you diet, your body goes into survival mode called ketosis. Stomach fluids called ketones are produced when you fast or diet, giving off an odor that is not quite the same as
