‘Your Journey is inspiring’ The mission of the Clear Path Organisation
Zee Zight Village
An agricultural nirvana for locals
Sunday, November 01, 2020
Founder of Clear Path Organisation Kivew Copeland is passionate about recognising the achievement of young people as part of the organisation’s mission of inspiring and empowering youth to achieve their goals.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
From Buxton to Buxton By Francis Quamina Farrier
THERE is the village of Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, Region Four, Guyana. There is also the city of Buxton which is located in Derbyshire in the East Midlands region of England. I know both places, having been to both - one on many occasions, the other just once. That English Buxton at 960 feet elevation, is the highest above sea level of any town in England. Its population is 23,000. Though not as large, or as populated as its English counterpart, the Guyana Buxton is one of the lowest villages in Guyana, being almost about seven feet below sea level at high tide. At this time (2020) its population is approaching 6,000. To juxtapose a few other things between the two Buxtons: the English Buxton has a railway service, while the Guyana Buxton HAD a railway service. The English Buxton has a market. The Guyana Buxton HAD a market. The English Buxton has many canals. The Guyana Buxton also has many canals. In the English Buxton, there is an Opera House and the Guyana Buxton has the Tipperary Hall. In both Buxtons are many Christian churches. The English Buxton is very popular in the UK. The Guyana Buxton is very popular in the Cooperative Republic. While there is an open-air market on the Buxton line-top, one of the issues already being discussed within the Guyana Buxton community at this time, is consideration to re-establish the historic village market. “I am in full support of reopening the Buxton market,” said prize-winning dramatist and journalist Mosa Telford, who is a Buxtonian. She also informed me that, “Many Buxtonians have returned to agriculture. The market attracts people from other communities because the produce is organic.”
There was a period about 15 years ago when the farming backlands of the Guyana Buxton became the sanctuary of some shady characters whose presence was a deterrent to farming. That is now a thing of the past. Farming is blooming once again. However, better drainage and irrigation is necessary for this low-lying community, especially for successful agriculture. History reveals that the village of Buxton in Guyana was bought by emancipated African slaves shortly after Emancipation. The British overlords who ruled the colony at that time never considered that such villages as Buxton, Victoria,
Eusi Kwayana, the Sage of Buxton
Queenstown and others, should have been awarded to the former enslaved as reparation for the free service they had given for 400 years. Instead, the Africans had to purchase the communities -- and at inflated prices. The citizens of the Buxton in England never had such an experience as being enslaved. Yes, that town was once occupied by the Romans many centuries before, but the people were never held in such bondage as the Africans in the Guyana Buxton. From a past of slavery, the Guyana Buxton has produced some of Guyana’s greatest sons and daughters -- especially in the field of education. They include two former Ministers of Education, Winifred Gaskin and Malcolm Parris. Other well-known high achievers from Buxton include former government minister Sydney King/Eusi Kwayana. Now in his 90s, Kwayana, the author of many books, plays, and
Celebrated Buxtonian Twins Malcolm and Michael Parris with President Forbes Burnham (Photo compliments of Leyland Lucas)
See page XV
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‘Your Journey is inspiring’ The mission of the Clear Path Organisation
By Jared Liddell A local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) ‘Clear Path’ has been using its social media platform to empower youth through sharing their journeys as a way of encouraging and reminding them that they can achieve anything they set their minds to. The Pepperpot Magazine reached out to the founder of the NGO Kivew Copeland. He stated that the group was founded in 2016 with the main aim of empowering youths. Determined to find ways to empower youths and encourage them to achieve their goals, Copeland started to use the stories of other persons to show them what is achievable. “Well when the group started and even now we also used journeys as an encouragement, so many persons have very inspiring stories whether they never had the resources to start up a business they wanted or to take up a class that they wanted and now they’re able to achieve the goals they set,” the young advocate said. “So we like to celebrate those achievements, that kind of celebration a lot of the times makes people want to work harder.” He added that self-realisation is one of the most important aspects of success, stating that this is the aim of the group, to get its members
to understand and acknowledge their worth. He stated that the group does not just utilise its social media platform to recognise the achievement of its members but also hosts several youth empowerment events. He said one of the major events Clear Path hosted was the ‘My Story’ initiative as part of the youth recognition week where youths from all across the country were encouraged to share their journey and their achievements. The group used those stories to recognise the work of the young people as well as to inspire others. Copeland stated that one of the main things that pushes him to continue the work of Clear Path is being able to see his members achieving their goals. “There was this girl that is a part of the group, she always wanted to work in cosmetology and in the first youth recognition week, we acknowledged her for having a job in a salon. By the third youth recognition week we celebrated with her as the owner of her own salon. That’s what makes it all worth it, watching these people achieve their goals and being a part of their journey, that’s why I continue the work of Clear Path,” said Copeland. He further spoke to another of the Clear Path’s initiatives, ‘Girls stand up’ which was done in Linden
One of the Clear Path Organisation Capacity Building Events.
and saw over 100 teenage girls engaging in discussions on self-esteem and women empowerment. He said the Youth Recognition Week saw over 400 young people being recognised for their achievements. He added that the group has also partnered with several other organisations as a way to further assist its members to achieve their goals. “While we empower, we don’t just stop there, we also help, so we partner with different organisations and we help to provide opportunities
Founder of Clear Path Organisation Kivew Copeland at one of the youth empowerment weeks
for our members. Someone might have a vision but may have difficulty in getting the resources so we work as that mediator, we introduce them to the necessary persons and we help them to achieve that goal,” he added. Copeland further
stated that although the COVID-19 pandemic has stopped the group from hosting some of the events it would usually facilitate through the normal channels, it has not stopped the work of the organisation. He called the work ‘Nec-
essary and invaluable’ explaining that Clear Path has changed the lives of many youths and emboldened them to follow their goals. He stated that the group has continued with its planned events and has utilised technology to facilitate this.
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Chairperson of the Poultry Committee Vermalene James
The small indigenous community has about 400 residents
Rupertee Village gets new ‘Black Giant’ project By Telesha Ramnarine WITH hardly any alternatives to subsistence farming in the satellite community of Rupertee, it can only be imagined how thrilled
the residents there were to start up the ‘Black Giants’ Project, led primarily by eight women from the community. But those women are not the only ones to benefit; oth-
ers, including men in the Region Nine rural settlement, are also able to get work when construction and maintenance of the facilities are needed. The initiative started
- But children still need a school, more security Rupertee is a satellite community of Annai in Region Nine
about two years ago when the women decided to come together and sell meat birds, but things did not really work out because of all the challenges associated with the business, including getting feed from as far as Georgetown. Relentless as they are, though, they kept the idea in mind, especially since they had already acquired all of the assets needed, and a few weeks ago, they launched the new project after they would have shifted their attention to the black giant chickens. With assistance from both the government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the group was finally able to kick off the project. Again, though, challenges came in the way with the onset of the Coronavirus Pandemic. “While all of the plans
were in progress, the virus came. The plan was to supply the school feeding programme, and also because of the high eco-tourism we had here in the North Rupununi, we targeted the eco lodges and all the small shops around. We had a very big ambitious target and all of that came to zero after the virus started,” Senior Village Councillor Suresh Andries said. But the women still did not give up, but they decided to carry through with their plan, only on a smaller scale. “The women said ‘let’s start with a smaller number and see how it will work out.’ They tried with it and the chicken was thriving really good; excellent. Out of all, only two died,” Andries said. With the black giant chickens, the challenge of acquiring feed was eliminat-
ed because these chickens can feel on almost anything. The Guyana Livestock Development Authority provided a pen, feed bins, water and 250 of the chickens to help the group start up its operations. “The building the region gave us is an 80x20. It has the capacity to hold 400 black giants and we only have 250 so we are not operating to capacity,” Andries pointed out. As such, they will be looking to acquire their own incubators so that they can get their own chickens and grow the business. “Especially during this pandemic, people wanted to know how we were still getting along but sometimes in certain situations we have to use our initiative and be innovative.” The group is hardly See page XV
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
COVID-19 is not stopping the ‘Stroke Survivors Group’
By Telesha Ramnarine STROKE survivors who have done well at recover-
When this no longer became possible due to the pandemic, about 25 of the members decided that they will
- Recovered patients now helping others voluntarily
Gracella Bacchus, Rehab Assistant Melanie English, NIS Rehab Assistant
ing through various forms of exercise and therapy are happily providing help to others who are especially in need of comfort and motivation to continue their exercises despite all of the pain involved. It takes a lot out of a stroke patient to exercise because, all too often, staying home and not doing anything seems like the easiest thing to do. But quite a few have been making an effort recently to turn up at Durban Park to do their exercises. The Stroke Survivors Group has about 70 members and before the Coronavirus Pandemic, they would meet on every last Thursday of the month for games, food and other activities.
go on their own at Durban Park to exercise together. When the Rehabilitation Department of the Ministry of Health heard about this initiative, it sent rehab assistants to support the group. Director Barbara Lawrence said the initiative has kept patients moving, has resulted in a better quality of life for them and has boosted their self-image. “Lockdown did have some negative impact on people but this initiative really helped with the mental and psychological health of this group. Most of all, I think they really help each other, particularly those who do not have very strong family support. It’s really a joy to see the bonding which extends outside of the two
Christoper Lord recovered and now volunteers his time to help others
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days that they meet.” So each time they go there, on Mondays and Wednesdays, someone from the department will go over to lend support, along with those who have recovered nicely and are now able to help the weaker ones. Melanie English, a Rehab Assistant with National Insurance Scheme (NIS) oversees the exercises to ensure that they are going as planned and that things are going smoothly for the stroke patients. She said the group is continuing to meet like this does well for them mentally and emotionally as well. “It’s like a support system for them. They’re like a family and many of them are at home otherwise and have no relatives to care for them. It’s commendable that they’re going on their own and making such progress,” she stated. One of the stroke survivors who now leads the group exercises is 51-yearold Deon Barnwell, a former national football player. He motivates and encourages the much older group of patients on the value and importance of exercises to their health and wellbeing and has really served to mentor some reluctant patients to be more consistent. Barnwell, in an interview with this publication, said recovering calls for determination. “I told myself that one day I will do what love again – I will play football with my friends. I don’t overdo it though. Once I start to feel tired, I stop and rest before going again.”
Barnwell, who got a stroke as a result of high blood pressure, strives to be motivating and encouraging
Former national football player Deon Barnwell also recovered and is leading the exercises now
because he understands to a great degree what the others are going through. Forty-six-year-old Chris-
topher Lord also recovered well after developing a stroke amid the pandemic. He was See page XVII
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
MESSAGE ON A PINK RIBBON
PINK ribbons fluttering in the wind, coming closer and closer then drifting away, lost in the horizon. Brandon sat up in bed, awoken from his sleep again by the strange dream. He sighed, got up and, sliding open the glass doors on the upper balcony of his home, he stepped out and sighed again. At the beginning when the dreams began, he did not put any thought to it; that it may have some kind of meaning, for, in his view, dreams were just unending series of thoughts and images occurring in a person’s mind. But now he began to wonder. “Why am I having this recurring dream of pink ribbons in the sky?” He tried to think of something that may have connected him at some time, somewhere to the ribbons but found nothing. The one odd thing about the dream, he now recognised, was that it only happened when he was home, not on travels. Brandon was a successful cricketer, a recognised Number Three batsman for the West Indies team, so he was more overseas than at home in Guyana. “It means,” he surmised, “The dream has to do with something or someone here.” He was on a break from cricket, but his daily schedule was so hectic, the dream was pushed to the back of his mind until he saw the little girl.
He had visited Leonora Primary School on the West Coast of Demerara to donate some cricket gear when he noticed a pretty little girl sitting quietly in a corner of the classroom. She had long hair, tied with ribbons and was shy and soft-spoken. It was at that moment that the meaning of the dream hit him. The pink ribbon was an image from childhood that had been repressed in his mind.
“I had a friend!” he exclaimed to himself, “A little girl like her.” At home alone, with time to think, memories of her flashed in his mind, touching something in his heart. He had seen her for the first time, almost 12 years ago, when he had gone to spend some time with his aunt in the countryside. The house next door was hidden by thick hedges and tall trees with huge sprawling limbs
that gave the place a dark, mysterious look. His aunt forbade him not to go close but Brandon, the curious young boy he was, wanted to know what was hidden behind the thick hedges. He managed to cut a little opening but could see just a little part of the yard and as he watched a pit bull came into view. “Darn!” Brandon exclaimed quietly, pulling back. A few days passed and Brandon did not peep through the small opening again, though he was still curious. Then early one morning, he was awoken by a soft, sweet voice singing. It was coming from the house next door and scrambling out of bed, he ran downstairs to the hedge and cautiously uncovered the opening he had made, but he saw no one. The voice was coming closer, then she came into view, walking barefoot in the dewy grass, her long hair tied loosely with a pink ribbon, a small basket filled with flowers on her arm. Her simple beauty sent a warm filing in his young heart but what actually touched him was the sad tinge in her voice. The story in the neighbourhood was that the young girl was being held captive with her mother in that house by her tyrant step-father. Brandon knew that if there was anyone who needed a friend, it was her and he had wondered how to get her attention. See page XXIII
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
Zee Zight Village An agricultural nirvana for locals
By Michel Outridge
This week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the agriculture-based village of Zee Zight/Ketting, West Coast Berbice. This community is located between Cotton Tree and Number 3 Village and is home to mostly cane har-
professions. The men in the village tend to the crops and spend long hours in the back dam and other plots that are utilised for farming. With schools closed since March, this year due to the worldwide pandemic the school-aged children are being home-
Zee Zight also has a Health Centre, a Mandir, potable water, electricity, good drainage and irrigation, landline phone and internet services. Within this community, there is a smaller village called Ketting, a housing scheme of 40 families who
The Village (Carl Croker photos)
Balgobin Suknarine.
Villagers.
vesters, cash crops and rice farmers and other suitably qualified professionals, who hold office jobs and other skilled professionals. Zee Zight has a population of about 1,500 residents which include homemakers nurses, teachers and other
schooled while the youths are idle and sometimes work. This village has a nursery school, a few shops, but is generally a very quiet country-side place where people mind their own business and engaged in meaningful activities to earn.
used to reside at Rosignol, also on the West Coast Berbice. These persons were relocated by the government in December 2005 to allow the construction of the Berbice River Bridge. See page XX
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Empathising with those in pain and in need MANY days, my thoughts and feelings overwhelm me and being back in Guyana has only exacerbated that. Today, I’m thinking about justice for the Henry boys and Haresh, and I’m thinking about the Success squatting issue. So far, the Henry boys and Haresh have not received justice. It was reported this past week that the team from the CARICOM Regional Security System (RSS) which recently visited Guyana expressed satisfaction with the work being done by the Guyana Police Force. They, however, recommended that some additional work be done.
The mutilated bodies of the teen cousins Joel and Isaiah Henry were found on September 6, 2020, in the Cotton Tree backlands in West Berbice. Days later, on September 9, the bloodied body of Haresh was found in the backlands too. Singh’s murder has been viewed as a reprisal killing, but I have not read any reports on evidence to support that. What I do know beyond the shadow of a doubt is that Joel, Isaiah, and Haresh deserved better from their Guyana. Guyana was responsible for doing better. Then there’s the Success squatting issue on the East Coast
of Demerara (ECD). This particular issue juxtaposes the fact that squatting is illegal with the very real needs of some vulnerable people. And honestly, I ask, can’t we empathise with the persons who have genuine needs? Vice-President Bharrat Jagdeo himself acknowledged that some of these persons have genuine needs. That squatting issue makes me think about the Henry boys and Haresh. The very first day I visited the Success squatting area I walked farther into the canefields, about two miles south, in with a man and a woman. My aim was to garner an understanding of how the squatters were dispersed throughout the area and to see the various structures they had erected. Before long the man and I walked ahead, because we were walking at a faster pace than the woman. We passed other persons on the way, but eventually, it was just him and I walking beside the cane shrubs. I can’t explain what was happening in my head, but I just began thinking about how it was said that the Henry boys went onto the backdam and that’s where they met their demise. Haresh too was found at the backdam. I don’t know if it was the fact that I was walking by the backdam at Success that caused me to think about the Henry boys and Haresh. My legs felt heavy and I was finding it very hard to concentrate on where I was going. I’ve shared this experience with a group of young persons for whom I have much admiration and respect during a group conversation. We discussed how trauma affects us differently and importantly, how trauma is experienced here in Guyana. I’m curious to know what effect the various traumatic experiences we’ve experienced as a nation have had on us collectively. Then, upon understanding that, what do we channel our energies into really healing from that? Interestingly, another connection for me between the Henry Boys and Haresh, and Success, was made over the past few weeks while assisting a British journalist with some research into the 1823 Demerara Slave Rebellion and Success (where the rebellion began). It was told to me that Success, a primarily Indo-Guyanese community, was initially a squatting area; many of the Indo-Guyanese who came to Success to squat, many decades ago, came because they were fleeing racial violence in the 1960s. For context, both Indo and Afro Guyanese were involved in racial violence during that tumultuous period. The linkage between some of the terrible violence in the 1960s which may have led to squatting in Success then makes me wonder how far do we believe we’ve come as a Guyanese people if we cannot recognise inhumanity. The murders of the Henry boys and Haresh have no linkage to the Success squatting issue today (or at least, none that I know of). They are both issues that call on each of us to find some amount of humanity to empathise with those who are affected, regardless of our racial, ethnic, economic, or political differences. In less than 100 days, I give the government of the day credit for its swift action on quite a few key areas. The government has to do what a government has been elected to do, no doubt. I look forward to justice for the Henry boys and I look forward to the assistance which will be provided to those squatters in genuine need, according to reports. Beyond that, I remain hopeful that President Ali will work on his plan of national healing. I, for one, would appreciate that. If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com
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The industrious residents of Zee Zight/Ketting - Using small businesses to survive the pandemic By Michel Outridge VASMEEN Bacchus is a teacher attached to Lady Kadiga Play School at Zee Zight Village, West Coast Berbice and after schools were closed becase of the pandemic, she had to find another means to earn. She began preparing home-made snacks and food which she placed in front of her house in a glass case she purchased and became a food vendor. Bacchus related that business has been slow because a lot of people are not working on a full-time basis, but she is “holding on.” The mother of two told the Pepperpot Magazine that since March this year she has been at home and thought about what to do and since she is versed in cooking and making delicious snacks, the idea was developed. Bacchus, a devoted Muslim, is a well-respected member of the village and her home is always open to children who frequent daily to engage in home-schooling with her daughter. When the team visited, she was busy preparing some food at an outdoor fireside in observance of her daughter’s 14th birth anniversary. She stated that daily, from 07:30hrs, she would take out her glass case with food and snacks such as fried
Home-schooling at Vasmeen Bacchus’ residence
rice with chicken, pizza, egg ball and other things to sell and when the glass case is empty, she would end the day’s selling. “I was home doing nothing and I thought why not ‘do something’ right from home to bring in an income to the household and the idea was birthed,” she said. Bacchus is a pleasant, easy-going woman who teaches three and four-yearolds in preparation for the nursery level and admitted that she misses the little ones and was asked to have classes at her house, but she is sceptical with the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) being so prevalent The Lady Kadiga Play School where she works is privately owned and has 15 children, but it closed its
doors when Guyana was hit by the global pandemic. As a side-business, her husband Rustom Bacchus makes concrete firesides at home and would sell them, depending on the side. He is a sugar worker attached to the Blairmont Sugar Estate. “You can’t sit and do nothing and as humble people, we are trying to make an honest living by doing small things from home,” she said.
has invested his time to plant some flowers to enhance the environment along his fence and inside his yard; he has a kitchen garden of seasonings including basil, thyme, broad-leaf thyme, married man pork, peppers, eschallot and other plants. He has been a resident of Ketting/Zee Zight for the past 14 years and is among the 40 families who were relocated to the community to accommodate the building of the Berbice River Bridge. Nizam related that he has utilised every space in his yard to plant, a hobby he developed over the years, to pass time, and does just about everything in the yard
Vasmeen Bacchus (Carl Croker photos)
to keep it tidy. He reported that these days he is just trying to occupy his time; because of his age he doesn’t work anymore and depend on his monthly pension. Nizam is, however, worried about his ailing wife who he would have to take to the hospital often because
of her diabetes and hypertension. He retired after 46 years at the Blairmont Sugar Estate where he started out as a cane-cutter and moved up to a timekeeper. The father of three said things are a bit boring See page XVI
The retired sugar worker Meanwhile, the Pepperpot Magazine also met Mohamed Nizam, a pensioner, who was grazing his cow and her calf in front of his house. The 70-year-old is passionate about gardening and
Firesides made by Rustom Bacchus
See page XXII
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
REFLECTING ON THE FIRST PANDEMIC-DRUG ADDICTION
DRUG addiction is most likely the paramount localised experience that was never summoned to the apex of active attention through meaningful public discourse by the authorities across governments. Drug addiction is now proliferated by substances through diverse mediums and has edged into a normalcy
avoiding records of impact on spontaneous crime and of its captured souls or victims that parade before us in our streets. Human beings that some families are still struggling with, others with less social resources to sustain an addict, and the family still survive have had to let loose kinfolk who had become too dangerous
and imposing to sensibly manage, to join Guyana’s numerous walking dead, across ethnic and social strata. I have had experience enough to declare that I do know some things about this. I do understand why some went into the embrace of the narcotics business. Most of our history, the working class
has never been salary-wise rewarded in keeping with the demands of the day. To see your father or mother work all their lives and suffer in the end because there was no money for medical attention with dignity, or end up at the “poor house” because the yard where the observing tortured youth and siblings were born, in a rented house that was abruptly after years sold, and the new owner wanted everyone out, and the disturbance of that resonated a desperation of ‘I’ against the world. I can remember a specific unscrupulous homeowner of a dwelling in Northern Street who wanted a legitimate tenant out by any foul means, had a grenade thrown into his house where the young couple lived, she died and he lost an arm. In the real world when some are unable to change things, humans prefer to black-out or reject acknowledging that things happen to people who don’t deserve it. Thus, some easily decided that if drugs proved a way out, they would take that chance, then recognised too late that, as my Rasta friend said, “Brethren, cocaine is a
jumbie. ” Its impact on our society proves it is. The addict’s worst enemy is the time that he or she has lost, and the burden of accepting it as his or hers. I have known addicts who have been hooked for over a decade, and it is obvious that a personality flair they once had was gone, the less ‘will’ to defy, the longer the mental imprisonment lasts, the world changes, and with it the rules. I know a once progressive trader, who was invited to sample cocaine. This was the story she told me: She lost everything, the homelessness of addiction took her into the most unusual and bizarre places to sleep, help came late. By then, some 10 to 12 years later ‘Suitcase Traders’ were history. Her very means for survival had become obsolete. From my experience with an addict closer to home, the substance and others they are drawn to, like the variety of pills and Frankenstein marijuana that is fitted onto the demon’s menu diminishes the creative cognizance to analyse the options of the social no man’s land that recovery awakes them to. Thus, there
is the habit to seek normalcy by picking up exactly where they left off, riveted in the good memories, real or invented leading up to addiction, with this person retracing the same habits has inevitably led to relapse more than once, twice and thrice. The worst response by the normal but easily susceptive egotist is the design of guilt-transference memories. Well no one wants to admit that based on the evidence of drug abuse, “I WAS AN IDIOT TO USE DRUGS” so, they come up with a story about bad parents, evil siblings, horrible relations, to win the sympathy of hopeful suckers eager to become intoxicated on a whiner’s drama on the street or social media, to hide the responsibility of self-redemption, for there is no other redemption, for faith first, must be followed by works, this awareness is not easily embraced by the unrestrained ego. The only addict’s pledge towards rehabilitation regardless is “I have screwed up, and this is my fight, first.” No way must it be From page XXI
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
The kind-hearted village nurse
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Providing excellent people-friendly service to the community
A nurse attached to the Cotton Tree Health Centre in the triage area tending to a patient (Carl Croker photos)
lth Centre Inside the Cotton Tree Hea
By Michel Outridge For Chandanie Koarlall, better known as “Varsha”, becoming a nurse was a ‘big’ thing for her because growing up, she always had her eyes set on nursing and loved to do dressings on any wounds. To d a y, n o t h i n g h a s changed about this qualified nurse, who is highly regarded in her community and is the ‘go-to person’ when residents are ill. The 26-year-old takes her job seriously and from her disposition, it is safe to say she is a professional, who is
Edward Village to Number Seven Village but they serve whoever comes for treatment. Being a former emergency room healthcare provider, she is alert and always ready to assist those in need of medical attention and still has time for a quick chat. She was once stationed at the New Amsterdam Hospital before she was transferred to Cotton Tree Health Centre and as a village nurse, she feels quite proud that her childhood dreams of becoming a nurse were realised. Koarlall described her journey as “not easy”
interact with patients and we share information it feels so nice to be of service to our people and there is no greater calling,” she said. To this day, no matter how bad is the wound she likes to do all dressings on patients and she would take her time to ensure everything is in order. The Cotton Tree Health Centre offers a wide range of services including ante-natal, child health, family planning, midwifery, chronic diseases clinic, out-patient care among others. Nurse Koarlall disclosed
sional staff of The friendly and profes tre Cen lth Cotton Tree Hea
out to make a difference in the lives of people. As the nurse-in-charge, she reported that the Cotton Tree Health Centre is located in Number Two Village after it was rebuilt at that location, in 2018. Nurse Koarlall stated that their catchment is from D’
but was able to become successful and vowed to help people in need of medical attention and has set out to do just that. She joined the noble profession in 2012 and is a local of Zee Zight Village, West Coast Berbice. “I really like my job and the best part is when I get to
that they have efficient and professional staff of one midwife, four nurses, two community health workers, one cleaner, two pharmacists and two visiting doctors. The facility is furnished with the needed medical equipment and medicines See page XVI
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Adjusting to a pandemic
By Michel Outridge
Even though she is not originally from Zee Zight, West Coast Berbice, Angela Bal has made the village her home for the past 29
years. The 59-year-old is from Williamsburg, Corentyne, Berbice but got married to a native of Zee Zight and relocated. She has a small roadside
snackette just in front of the Zee Zight Nursery School where she would prepare home-made snacks for villagers. Bal also sells cold beverages such as lemonade, carbonated drinks among other things. The elder is well-known and most residents would stop by for a cold beverage on their way home for a quick chat. Bal has had the small business since she relocated to the village 29 years ago as a means of earning. However, it was closed for some time as a direct impact of the pandemic which also saw the closure of schools countrywide. The mother of three stated that when schools closed she had to shut the business
Angela Bal at her roadside snackette
Joshua Rampersaud
Home of Joshua Rampersaud (Carl Croker photos)
down but reopened a few days ago. Bal would get up early and prepare cassava balls, egg balls, pholurie with mango sour and other eatables such as tamarind balls, pastries and biscuits. Her little shop is wellkept and the surroundings are also neat and clean and outfitted with a garbage bin since, in this village, the residents are against refuse dumping and has opted to take care of the environment. With her children all grown up and leading their own lives, Bal has the time to be at her small snackette while her husband is a taxi driver in the village. “This village is very quiet and we feel safe here because if the villagers
catch you while stealing you will not be spared and will be beaten so we don’t get any thieves around here and if you shout out, everybody run out to help,” she said. Bal would open up her snackette from 07:30hrs to up until 15:00hrs and when there is school it is the busiest time for her and reflecting on that, she admitted that she misses the little ones, who would often crowd her shop to make purchases. A Ketting resident Another relocated resident, Joshua Rampersaud told the Pepperpot Magazine that he and his family which include his sister and parents have been residing at Ketting Village for the past 10 years. Their house is the last
one in the village and it is nearest to the seawall and the farmlands. Rampersaud, 16, reported that he is a student of Berbice high School and is being home-schooled along with his sister, who is a student of Rosignol Secondary School. He related that his father is a construction worker and his mother works in a store and they were away at work at that time. The Ketting resident said his sibling is 14 years old and they are trying to cope with schoolwork at home with schools being closed they are bored. According to him, Ketting means reserve and thus, the village was named.
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CHRONICLEPEPPERPOT PEPPERPOT――Sunday, Sunday,November October 4,01,2020 CHRONICLE 2020
Stress and Mental Health TODAY I would like to talk about stress, something that we all experience daily. If you feel that you don’t, please see my email below and teach me how to live life. Hello Everyone, ple can get physical they I recently did a virtual outreach to reduce stress. Iifasked all 60+ participants if they experience stress daily and 100 find out they have been percent said yes. However, when I asked them what exactly hope thiscouldn’t week has betrayed stress was, they answer. It’s basically one of those words that we use so often but is difficult to actually define. treated you well. - Enddefine of a marriage/ Try it. Before reading any further down, stress. re-
I
I recently re- lationship
Could you do it? requestphysical- orBroken relationships Well,ceived stress isamental, emotional strain that results from any demanding, unwanted or threatening cirto discuss adultery with children and other famcumstances. It’s our body reacting to things we don’t like or that make uncomfortable. about what physically andus its effects on Think ily members happens – your nervous system releases stress hormones such mental well-being. Financial stress as adrenaline and cortisol which of-course makes your heart race,Ablood pressure rise, our muscles tighten and our breathwoman had written Medical consequences ing becomes difficult. When it comes to our mind, stress is aboutperception her husband’s infidelisuch as acquiring a sexually our of what’s happening. Many things cause stress, which are known as ‘stressors.’ ty and are the anguish it brought transmittedjobs, disease (STD) These things such as high demanding school, relationship problems, major life changes and financial problems. her. I think it is an important - Pregnancy (themselves However, are the things that cause stress always negative? topicWeddings, to discuss,relocation as it is and so having or the aoutside person) No. baby are all positive things but can cause major stress. Therefore, the key to good prominent throughout our mental health is not to avoid stress (as that’s impossible) but to figureIout how know to healthily it. what does society. myself very deal with Now, How do we begin doing this? The key is finding out what few relationships thatyou.areFor example, cheating to the exactly is stressful for I finddo traffic highly stressful, even ifwhich I am not in a rush to go anywhere. However, monogamousmeans victim? I have friends that find that time alone, to just sit and listen to to be married to or to Obviously, be in a those It causes hurt,in music very relaxing. friendsextreme hate being the car with me during rush hour. My point is, not everyone is sexual relationship just So,low stressed by the samewith factors. whatself-esteem stresses youand out?selfAnd why is it important to know this? It’s important as stress one partner. doubt. It ruins the trust can for lead to a series of physical and mental issues. Daily stress can We’re going to talkinabout not only the current, but also disturb every system your body. Of course, there is an increased risk relationships. of heart attack or being unfaithful in general for future This stroke, general pain such as stomach or headaches, digestive problems, loss of people sex drive, memory issues. as only married cansleepis issues calledand projecting, when When I feel stressed, I literally need to write everything down commit butYour youimmune the victims more often as I forgetadultery, everything. system isare also automatically is more susceptible do notlowered, have tosobea stressed marriedindividual than not afraid, insecureto infection and cases of flu. in order be devastated by and untrustingsymptoms in their such new Stresstoalso results in serious behavioural as loss of productivity (which makes it hard to keep a job and that betrayal. relationships.heavy Thissubstance can lead easy to drop out of school), procrastination, use,For andthe isolation. Howadulmany of everyone out and religious, toyou highshut anxiety, depression just need to be alone after a stressful day?
tery is a sin; the word from its Latin heritage ‘adulterare’ means to corrupt. It is one of the major causes of breakups/divorce worldwide. However, its effects on both individuals are widespread. Unfaithfulness/cheating causes many problems with both the cheater and the victim, ranging from
and even suicide. Cheating will also affect the children if the family is split apart. Typically, trust issues are also passed on to them, affecting both their future friendships and intimate relationships. I know many people who have never been cheated on (to their knowledge), but are terrified of it because one of
Emotionally, stress can cause high anxiety, irritability, overall outlook on life. These are very important in lowering stress. When one is confident, positive and hopeful, chalimpatience, overreactions, depression and suicidal thoughts. We’ve all heard of the flight-or-fight response and how lenges, setbacks and disappointments are easier to handle. ornecessary not; there this isare for people survival. These responses are fuelled by Know your stuff! People get highly stressed before work stress. Flight occurs when who cheat and people whowe run away from stressors rather presentations/ speeches and exams. I deal with a lot of cases than tackle them. Fight happens when stress causes aggression like this- sometimes, myself included. Preparation goes a long doandnot. It’s simplywitha our per-problems. way in how we feel. confrontation Try relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, There are a few types of stress that we must deal with. sonal will we worry about things that we meditation or yoga. These are also very effective. Get plenty There choice. is internalThere stress where have zero control over – it to almost feels as though we are wor- of sleep- replenish yourself well. always be other problems Finally, and the best advice I can give is to accept the rying for no reason. For example, if you have a function to go ‘blame’ theworry cheating on,potentially but to and you about fighting with your partner things you cannot change. This advice is cliché for a reason. at this party. There iswe environmental stress, which is caused There are so many things in life that are beyond our control. despite temptation, as by what’s going on around you. For example, I get stressed What is, however, is how we view the situation and more easily when crowds and around a lot of noise. Finally, there importantly, how we react to them. humans haveinthe capability is fatigue and overwork stress which is long-term and builds toupchoose whether we hurtconstantly working without taking Below is a breathing technique called ‘Belly Breathing’ over time. For example, that I use myself and find very helpful when I’m stressed. any breaks or holidays. someone deeply or not. Find a comfortable place and sit or lie down. Which kind of stress are you experiencing? Or is it all? The mainbyreason always * Place one hand over your belly button; place the other I hope now you all know the first step to resolving anything. It is to identify the exact root of the problem. Figure hand on top. cited to mecauses is a your lack stressof at- is it avoidable? A stress journal * Take a deep breath in (2-3 seconds) through your nose out what helps with Write tention. Thethis. partner hasdown felt whenever you feel stressed, the and feel the air travel down into your ‘belly’ making your cause, your response to it, etc. This and this alone will help abdomen and hands rise. ignored by theirsolutions significant * Hold your breath for several seconds, keeping the air you in finding and alternatives. inside your ‘belly’. (This is expanding your diaphragm and If you are stressed because you have a lot to do, make an other which has lowered actual list of these things and tick them off one by one as you lungs.) * Think to yourself that your body is calm and at peace. are doing them. Visual automatically lowers stress their self-esteem and progression self* Slowly exhale through your mouth and feel your hands and increases productivity. worth. Therefore, theybadseek What are some ways to deal with stress? We go and abdomen go down. * Repeat 4-5 times. drinking,elsewhere. smoking, overeating, lashing out at other people or attention * As you become more comfortable, you can increase the maybe isolate ourselves on a whole. We are all very aware and There ways have tried are thesemany options? Have they truly worked? My guess length of time you breathe in and hold your breath. Repeating be no. So what are some healthy ways to relieve stress? this exercise several times a day and during stressful situations towould give attention Physical activitytois your always a great one -- go to the gym -- can help you relax. See page XVIII or better yet, pick up a team sport as being around a positive spouse. Some examples social group naturally decreases are constant stress. Adopt communicaa creative hobby Are you not sure if you’re stressed? Take the universal stressed test! such as painting or dancing. tion of the problem—not Almost SomeFairly Very I actually use adult colouring In the last month, how often have Never you: Never times Often Often books (yes! Thoseand exist) talking, ignoring hold-when (1) (2) (3) (4) (0) I’m stressed. They are very ing a grudge solves nothing. 1. Been upset because of something helpful. Eatexamples well- foodare hasbeing a major that happened unexpectedly? Other effect on our moods. For ex- 2. Felt that you were unable to physically andknow mentally ample, we all the way control the important things in your we feel after we eat greasy fast life? present 3. Felt nervous and "stressed"? food. and affectionate, Work on your sense of con4. Felt unsure about your ability to compassionate, patient, emtrol, self-esteem, attitude and handle your personal problems?
pathetic and sexually active. Human beings long for these types of connections. Basically, cheating is an external reaction to an internal problem. Participating in the above examples are internal solutions. What happens after you have found out? Well, there is a big deci-
5. Felt that things weren’t going your way? 6. Found that you could not cope with all the things that you had to do? 7. Been unable to control irritations in your life? 8. Felt that you weren’t on top of things? 9. Been angered because of things that were outside of your control? 10. Felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not overcome them? Score:
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
Farming A way of life in Zee Zight
By Michel Outridge Hoomesh Bhojraj grew up farming. His grandparents, his parents, siblings are all a family of farmers and it is the only thing he knows to do to make a living. He is a resident of Zee Zight, West Coast Berbice, and has been utilising a four-acre plot at the rear of the village for cash crops such as tomatoes, bora, sweet peppers, cabbage and boulanger. The 54-year-old related that he has a plot over in the backlands of Cotton Tree Village, the neighbouring community where he cultivates only watermelons. He reported too, that he has a 30-acre rice farm also in Cotton Tree backlands and he is hardly ever at home except to sleep because farming takes up most of his time in daylight hours. Bhojraj stated that he would sell his produce of watermelons to wholesalers and the cash crops would be sold by his wife at the Rosignol Market. The farmer related that the paddy is also sold to nearby rice mills but often the returns are not exorbitant noting that a lot goes into farming such as tools,
equipment, chemicals and heavy-duty tractor etc. “Being a farmer is a choice and it entails hard work daily and at times it gets to you because we have a lot of challenges, sometimes we hardly make a profit and the wholesalers would often rip me off with
the land for the wet spell and when it is dry he would incur some losses due to a lack of freshwater for his crops. He explained that the water used for cash crops is sourced from the canal which leads to the conservancy and it would turn to saltwater when it doesn’t rain for an
Bora cultivation in the village
pricing,” he said. The farmer pointed out that being a farmer there is no day-off and depending on the weather, they would yield a good harvest. Bhojraj stated that in the dry season he would prepare
extended period of timed which dries up the plants. The Zee Zight resident told the Pepperpot Magazine that the freshwater is good for the crops but currently, the dry spell is taking a toll of them. Bhojraj said they depend
heavily on the water for their produce to bloom and during January and February when the rainy season starts they would get good produce. Bhojraj reported that he, like many farmers, is not getting the market for their produce.
On his way to the farm
Some farmers of Zee Zight Village (Carl Croker photos)
Rice Farmer, Hoomesh Bhojraj
He recalled that long ago, they had a radio programme called “Farmer’s Market” in which the prices for vegetables and fruits were aired and they knew the selling pricel, but now they don’t know as such so the wholesalers have an advantage. “It would be wise to bring back that programme on the airwaves because it will help us with pricing and it would be very beneficial if we get our own market in this village being one of the communities that farm on a large scale,” he said. The wholesalers, buy in bulk and they call their prices and with perishables they cannot control the pricing as such, they would often make a loss in profit. Bhojraj, like many other farmers, would like the administration to consider having a Farmer’s Market in that village, a place where they can comfortably sell their produce and make a profit as farmers. He added that they once had a farmer’s group but that was dismantled a while back and they have been considering reactivating that group in which they can advocate for
better benefits for farmers. “Being a farmer is hard labour and the work doesn’t end at the end of the day, it is continuous and they face a lot of hardships such as getting rid of pests, diseases among the plants and lack of freshwater and equipment for their crops,” he said. Bhojraj disclosed that he would start his day 04:00hrs daily and the work doesn’t end sometimes but he is cut out for such a task. It was evident he is in for the long haul because when the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with him he was on his tractor going to his farm. Bhojraj reported that most farmers in that community and neighbouring communities have cordial relations and they would often assist each other with their crops in terms of heavy equipment such as tractor, combine, plough among others. “We are the backbone of this country and at least we should get some form of assistance such as a reduced price for seeds and other agricultural tools and equipment,” he said.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
From Buxton... From Page II poems, is regarded as the sage of Buxton. There is also former Chief Education Officer Gaston Fox, and retired Headmistress of The Bishops’ High School, Joy O’Jon. University Professors Dr. David Hinds, Barbara Thomas-Holder and Gordon Payne. Buxtonian Haslyn Parris was the youngest CEO of the Guyana Bauxite Company at Linden. He was also an accomplished musician. Guyana’s dedicated and best-known archivist Tommy Payne is also a Buxtonian. The well-known Federal Management Systems establishment which is based both in Georgetown, Guyana and in Washington, DC, USA, was founded by Buxtonian Aubrey Stephenson, AA. This company employs ap-
proximately 400 in Guyana and 125 in Washington, DC, USA. Federal Management Systems, Inc. also gives education grants and scholarships to many young people both in Guyana and in the USA. The company has sponsored many projects of the Guyana Embassy in Washington, DC. over the years. Another Buxtonian Businessman who is based in Washington DC is George Abrams. In 2017, he established The Primo Garment Establishment in the village which employs eight villagers. Another Washington, DC-based organisation, CIMBUX, sponsors many projects in Buxton. The most recent is the establishment of a museum in the village. The reality is that it would take volumes and many authors to write a true and detailed history of
the village of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, Region Four, Guyana. The history of the English Buxton is already well documented, going many centuries back to the Roman occupation. Though not as large, developed or populated as the Buxton in England, Buxton here in Guyana has an extremely rich and proud history. Incidentally, some African people are residing in the English Buxton. I end by disclosing that while visiting the Buxton in England in 1982, I took the opportunity to send a few picture postcards from that English town to friends in the Guyana Buxton. On those picture postcards, I wrote the salutation, “Greetings from Buxton to Buxton.” Of interest now, is whether there will soon be repatriation from Buxton to Buxton.
Rupertee Village gets ... From Page IV
able to meet the demand of Rupertee, much less those from the other villages. Because of their inability to pay a security guard, one of the women has decided to move in at the facility so that she can keep watch. Schooling and Security Meanwhile, Andries spoke about some of the challenges that are affecting Rupertee at the moment and foremost among them is the lack of a primary school, which forces the children to walk for miles to the school at Annai, along with the lack of proper police security. “We have been lobbying for a school over the past 18
The Black Giant chickens
years from each government but no one listens. The kids have to walk two and a half miles, and it’s worse during the rainy season. Imagine your child having to walk in the rain and the road situation; mosquitoes,” Andries expressed. Because the village has about 400 persons, the authorities have been asking them to justify why they should place a school in the area. But according to Andries, the school in Annai where the children have to walk to is currently overcrowded. As for the security concerns in the village, Andries said the police station in Annai has no transportation. “I don’t know why we have police officers when there
Senior Village Councillor Suresh Andries
is no transportation provided for them. They have a huge territory to cover. Do they expect these officers to walk?” Andries hopes that these concerns would be addressed by the relevant authorities.
Young students at the Guyana Buxton Museum
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
The kind-hearted ... From page XI
and the place is very clean and tidy. As healthcare professionals, Nurse Koarlall said that they are trying their best to serve people and at the same time, take care of their own health by wearing their protective gear and constantly sanitising. She added that they have all the required COVID-19 measures in place and they test patients’ temperature
upon entry at the facility and all hands must be washed before entering. The mother of a young baby girl pointed out that as healthcare professionals they remain vigilant and will continue to work effortlessly to provide healthcare to the people. The NDC input The Pepperpot Magazine also met Councillor, Iqual Alli called “Flappy”, a resi-
dent of Zee Zight, West Coast Berbice. He reported that the village comes under the Rosignol Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) which covers the catchment of Number Five Village to Rosignol. Alli stated that they have had a clean-up exercise in the community where drains and canals were de-silted and street repairs were done. The Councillor disclosed
that they have acquired some money to the tune of $1 million through the NDC for the installation of street lights along the street of Ketting area and once the budget is approved they will start that project. Alli added that they are also working on a community development plan in which the cross streets in Zee Zight/Ketting will be upgraded since the main street was already re-paved. He revealed that the villagers are simple people who depend heavily on farming for their livelihood. But following the murders of the Henry brothers Nurse Chandanie Koarlall called “Varsha”
and Haresh Singh, in the backlands of Cotton Tree Village, they are skeptical of going there to their produce. The retired Blairmont Sugar Estate Foreman, who started as a labourer and worked in the sugar industry for 37 years, told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is also a farmer. “I have 200 coconut plants in the backlands of Ketting Village and I also have a crop of only corilla of which do not need a lot of attention, making it easy to grow and sell for a profit,” he said. Community concerns However, on a different note, Alli pointed out that they have illegal dumping of garbage in the village where at nights people would visit and throw refuse on a dam and it is an unsightly prob-
lem they have had to deal with. Alli stated that they have cleaned up the area and erected a sign there and a penalty is attached to deter such a practice. The Councillor also reported that there is a need for a resource centre of which youths can attend to learn a skill to become gainfully employed. He added that with schools closed, some youths find the time to engage in unsavoury behaviour and it would be in their best interest to have access to the internet where they can do classroom via online learning. “Despite these challenges and issues we are a people, who are trying to live an honest life and we are a village of farmers, who work hard to put food on our tables,” he said.
The industrious residents ... From page IX
these days because of the pandemic. It is dismal but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, since their grandchildren are being home-schooled via WhatsApp. “At least the children have some classwork to do and my daughter-in-law would assist them daily because the work is graded.
My son isn’t working now, he is a school bus driver and when schools [are] closed he is on the breadline and would do some manual work with farmers at times,” he said. Nizam added that life is fair but it would be further enhanced if they get some street lights, since that section of the village is very dark at nights.
Mohamed Nizam in front of his house
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
50 years and beyond Revolutionising the local aviation industry
By Dillon Goring October 23, 2020 marks 50 years since Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Egbert Field joined the field of Aviation. He began his career at a tender age of 19, and still has a passion for this field until now. During an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Egbert recalled his passion for this distinguished career began when he was just seven years old. Born in the village of Meadow Bank, East Bank Demerara, Field is the second to last of six children. Field also recalled that he did not think he would have a career in aviation initially, but rather in Economics since his parents could not afford to send him to Flight School to be trained as a Pilot. “It started for me way back in 1970, I was a youngster of 17 or 18. I was on the road to becoming an Economist, because I love Economics, even though the underlying field that I have was one of aviation, that was luring underneath,” Field recalled. The Retired Lieutant Colonel recalled that as he grew older, he redirected his thoughts and began to look at a career as a Bank Manager.
“As a youth, you always wanted to look to somebody who you could pattern yourself after, and I wanted pattern myself after this big cousin of mine,” Field said. It was after he had completed secondary school, he was offered a scholarship by the then Ministry of Public Service to attend Flight School in the United States of America since there was a need for local pilots in the country. On the road to becoming a Pilot It was through the coaxing of his father that his mother allowed young Field to attend University in the United States to pursue his career. Field made mention after he came back as a qualified pilot that his mother was so proud of him that she boasted to her friends in the new village of Agricola, where they still reside, that her son was now a successful pilot. “And to have their son come back as a Pilot in 1971 was a huge thing for the family,” Field recalled. Meanwhile, his other siblings took traditional careers such as journalist, nurse and teacher. Hence being a pilot was a different and unchartered waters for this family that came
COVID-19 is not stopping ...
In 2000, when Guyana Airways closed, Field began his career in the Civil Aviation Department. “I was selected to be the first Civil Aviation Inspector for the Civil Aviation Authority in 2000. So I started training in that and became fully active in the Authority,”Field noted. Career in Operations Inspector
Director General of GCCA Egbert Field
from humble beginnings. Egbert joined the Guyana Defence Force on his return from his studies in the U.S, as an Officer Cadet along with the other persons who had returned as well, and began flying different types of Aircraft. He recalled flying the Beach State Aircraft, which was the Aircraft that was used by the late President Burnham. Field held the position of a Presidential Pilot for 13 years. “ After President Burnham died in 1985, President Hoyte took over the reins of Government,”he said recalling that he took the President with the Beach Craft all the way to Cuba.
The road to international flights Lt. Colonel Egbert Field became the first Guyanese Captain to fly a Guyana Airways plane to an international destination in 1993. “ I was the first Guyanese Captain to elevate to fly the Boeing 757 aircraft. We flew that Airplane to international destinations such as New York, Miami, Toronto and I must say that was some of the high points of my career, you know commanding your own jet with 200 passengers on board,” Field said. After spending 23 years in the Military, Field took a full-time position with the then Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC).
From page V
admitted to the Rehab clinic at the Palms, led by Barbara Lawrence, in a wheelchair but is now fully ambulant and very motivated. His stroke came on suddenly. He was having a conversation with his wife when all he knew what he was feeling pain at the back of his neck and couldn’t move. Doctors told him that it was due to a blood clot in the brain that he got the stroke. “I couldn’t even stand up as I lost communication with the entire left side of my body. My sons had to lift me out of the room to the hospital,” he recalls. After receiving help at the Rehab Department, he now volunteers his time to help the others put in the
extra effort that is needed to recover. “Many times, that’s all that’s needed – the extra effort. You have to push yourself because you may want to stop because of the pain but the minute you leave it and it heals right there, there is no chance getting that ligament to stretch again.” Gracella Bacchus, who has been a rehab assistant for the past 13 years, says the aim is to make the patients more and more independent of their caregivers. Apart from going over to check on them at Cuffy Square, she said the department would also plan a trip for them once every quarter.
The group exercising at Durban Park
After his departure from the Civil Aviation Authority in 2004, Lt Colonel Field expressed the desire to continue flying, hence he took up an offer in Jamaica to overlook operations at Air Jamaica. He spent 12 years overseeing Airbuses, and other types of planes, before returning home to Guyana. His career took leaps and bounds in the Aviation Industry becoming Manager of Flight Safety, to Director of Flight Safety at Air Jamaica. Moving Aviation from where it was to where it is now Lt. Colonel Field returned to Guyana in 2016 and propelled the Aviation Industry forward. The state of Aviation in Guyana at the time was not in compliance with the International Standards, he said. Field told Pepperpot that
Guyana was at second to last in the Caribbean according to International Standards, but as a result of his leadership, Guyana has climbed the ladder to Number Three in the Caribbean. “ We have moved from a position of 44 percent in terms of IKO Compliance to 77 percent compliance, which is, in Aviation language, a massive jump,” he said. Recently, the Guyana Civil Aviation Training School (CATS) held a virtual graduation ceremony for 13 trainees who successfully completed the Aeronautical Information Management and Air Traffic Control Assistant (AIMO-0120) training course. Field is of the view that to keep qualified people in the Aviation Industry, there is a need for proper remuneration packages. Plans for the Upward Movement of the Aviation Industry With great and strong leadership, Field plans to build the Aviation Authority into a robust institution. He believes safety and integrity are the catalysts to propel the Aviation Industry forward. He wants to see the Industry grow to leaps and bounds to be the number one in the Caribbean.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
NAREI launches programme to tackle Acoushi ants THE first phase of a country-wide programme to tackle Acoushi ants is ongoing by the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). A more expansive programme will be rolled out to aggressively tackle the Acoushi ants’ challenge in 2021, says Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI. Acoushi drugger or leaf-cutting ants are major pests wherever they occur. They can, therefore, be considered as general insect pests and are usually rated as the most destructive insect in the Americas, the only Region where they occur. Following numerous complaints of the devastating impact of the pest on crops, particularly cassava, NAREI dispatched a team in Hururu. Extension staffers cleared and fogged over 85 nests within the community. The execution of this activity was achieved through collaboration between the village
council, farmers and NAREI. Farmers were instrumental in the identification and clearing of the nests before fogging and blocking of holes while fogging. Some other areas that have benefitted from chemicals, ants bait, and fogging include Parima, Region Seven, Wakapoa, Region Two and Canal Polder, Region Three. They are familiarly known in Guyana as leaf-cutting, fungus-growing and mound-building ants. They are highly polyphagous i.e. destroying most crop species. The plant material that they cut is not utilised directly as food; rather, it is used as a substrate for a fungus which the ants cultivate and consume. The fact that the vegetation is used only as a base material for the insect’s only food, the fungus allows them to exploit a wide range of plant species.
Ants Bait Baiting is the recommended method of control for acoushi ants. It exploits the insect’s feeding behaviour. Like the vegetation which is cut and carried back to the nests, bait picked up by the ants is taken back to the nest to be used as a substrate for the fungus which is the ants’ only food. Bait consists of a toxicant or poison and a carrier which is usually a material that the insects find attractive. The material must be attractive since this determines the degree of acceptance of the bait by the insects. The Acoushi ant bait is recommended to control the pineapple ants. This bait must be crushed in the bag to break the pellets into smaller pieces. Before the crushed bait is placed in the field, the area should be weeded so the nests present are exposed. During the rainy weather, the bait should be placed in a glass jar or aluminum foil packets to prevent wetting. Nests which are away from the plant should be disturbed and the bait placed close to, but not in the nests. Ant nests which are on the plant should be disturbed to agitate the ants and the crushed bait placed at the base of the plant. The ants will then take the bait back to their nests where control will occur. According to Dr. Homenauth, this pest cannot be eradicated but with proper management, their presence could be reduced.
Stress and Mental ... From page XIII
Interpreting the score: Add up all the numbers associated with your response. For example, if your answer to question 1 is never, you won’t add any points. If you answers to questions 2 and three are ‘almost never’ and ‘sometimes’, you will add 1 plus 2 and so on for the rest of the questions. Score 0 to 10
Your stress level Below average. Congratulations, you seem to be handling life’s stressors well at the moment.
11 to 14
Average. Your life is far from stress-free so now is the time to learn how to reduce your stress to healthier levels.
15 to 18
Medium-High. You may not realize how much stress is already affecting your mood, productivity, and relationships.
19 + High. You’re experiencing high levels of stress. The higher your score, the more damage stress is doing to your mind, body, and behavior. This questionnaire is not intended to replace professional diagnosis. Adapted from: Perceived Stress Scale - Sheldon Cohen How stressed are you? If your score was high, I’d hope you all take the necessary steps that I’ve outlined that will help lower your stress. Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com. If you would like personal counselling sessions, please WhatsApp +592 623-0433 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
Our girls need us
“I DID receive the workbook for my daughter, but she is in the UCI because she attempted suicide.” I was devastated when I heard these words and I can only imagine how the mom felt. Her daughter was one of the young ladies who registered for the Confidence Becomes You programme. This incident made me more intentional about the upcoming session which was hours away and I thank God she is better now. Our girls are facing many challenges and sometimes can feel as if they are alone and that is a terrible feeling. I have visited many schools in the last five years and found it so fulfilling. Many of the students keep in touch with me and most times share what they are going through. That Sunday turned out to be one of the most empowering Sundays for the year because of the interaction with young ladies ages 12 to 16 who participated in the Confidence Becomes You. Every time I see a young lady who is lacking confidence it reminds me of myself years ago. I know the advantages of having a high self-esteem and confidence. My foundation in collaboration with the Women Across Borders hosted this meaningful virtual programme. Women Across Borders is more than an anthology, it is a mission! Having phenomenal women from different parts of the world who are willing to empower others is a blessing. One of the facilitators shared what it was like for her. “First of all, l would like to thank Sonia Noel for inviting me to share with these amazing young women whose energy totally blessed me on Sunday. It was very humbling to sit before their eager and open spirits as they hooked up to the energy that was being exchanged. Every presenter was powerful and inspiring beyond words. I see the great need for us to help direct our future women and how important it is to offer guidance and most importantly, love. Each of us was in their shoes at some point of our lives and at times we find ourselves
there. What is important is that we stick to the process of transformation and not focus on the destination. Growth is as never-ending as love is. Love to all you beautiful souls from Tavia Hunte, Antigua.” Beautiful souls indeed. I look at their beautiful faces and eager eyes and thought about myself at that age and wished I had facilitators like these to share their journeys with me. The participants came from various parts of the United States and Guyana, including Fairview Village and my hometown Bartica. One of the other facilitators we Dr Raquel Thomas-Caesar and she shared her experience “It was a pleasure to join Sonia and the other amazing facilitators for this session with these wonderful teens. To have the Fair View group join was an added bonus. Our teens need more of these sessions and mentors. I would like to encourage more persons to get on board mentorship programmes for our teens, both our boys and girls. They need us more than ever in these challenging times. The pressures our youth face are enormous and we need to be there for them. Many parents are also struggling and in need of support. I love engaging with our youth and can’t wait for post-COVID when we can return to schools with our Love Revolution project.” The Love Revolution was introduced in schools earlier this year through my foundation and we had big plans to go throughout Guyana, but COVID-19 had other plans. We are working on a virtual Love Revolution campaign because it is needed as much as confidence. “Confidence is a muscle we need to nurture and build. It is developed with transformative life experiences. This platform created by Sonia Noel achieved exactly that. We recognised that the young participants at the beginning were rather timid and needed coaxing to share visual screens or voice their thoughts. But as each speaker shared her story and
her advice, these brilliant young minds felt more comfortable to open up, connect and share their challenges. They learnt there is bravery and courage in being authentic and vulnerable. It was an amazing experience for me as a mother and a mentor. We need to create more opportunities like this for young girls to develop their confidence, as they are our future decision makers, our future world leaders.” Dr Safeeya Mohammed,CEO, SISU Global Wellness,Trinidad. The young ladies asked many profound questions and the presenters were excited to interact and answer the questions. Bethany Hanna, who is an Intuitive Coach said: “Each person has a different way of presenting, giving each young woman a different perspective and also maybe reaching one that didn’t hear the first time. It was powerful energy. I also see the need to set up a mentorship group for young women if they want and we have the ability to do once a month. We have received many messages from parents and participants requesting more sessions and we will certainly do so because these girls are our future All the presenters are willing and think we need follow up sessions including Nancy Saiboh from Cameroon who is the founder of Empower Her Africa.” “ I would like to first of all thank Sonia Noel for allowing me to interact with these young girls, and meeting empowered women who are passionate about the girl child. The session with the girls was amazing. I loved how these girls interacted with the speakers via questions. Given that we had limited time, I will propose we hold this kind of meeting monthly to follow up with the girls.” Women Across Borders is on a transformational mission. The Men Across Borders Mission will be hosting a similar forum for young boys as we continue to celebrate the beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
Zee Zight Village From page VIII The people were given land titles on the reserve land owned by the government and they seem quite comfortable there.
The cane harvester The Pepperpot Magazine met Balgobin Suknarine, a resident and cane harvester, who was not at work that day. He stated that he is attached to the Blairmont Sugar Estate and has been in that line of work since 2003. The father of one related that life in the country is good because they can catch fish for the pot or pick some greens to cook and with that at hand-reach they cannot go hungry since they have the
means of planting. Suknarine added that he likes the place and he is one of the 40 families who were relocated from Rosignol. The 35-year-old, in highlighting the job of a cane harvester, pointed out that whether it rains or there is sunshine, a cane cutter has to work under extreme conditions. “We does cut the cane from the cane beds and work in groups after which we fetch the cane and load the punt until it is full and at times when it gets too hot I would take a plunge in the canal to cool off,” he said. He reported that one truckload of cane cutters reside in the village and they would leave home at 04:30hrs and the truck would
pick them up on the Public Road at 05:00hrs. Suknarine disclosed that they have a notice board on the Public Road and the Supervisor would write it up so they would know which section they have to work to cut and load cane. “The truck would take us in the back dam and we would start cutting cane early and for that to happen one must have their own cutlass and file to sharpen it if the need arises because is stiff work and once we load the punts early we get to go home, a day job is done,” he said. The resident said that when it rains and they have to work and it is not easy and they have nowhere to hide
The sweetest watermelon comes from this village.
from the rain and they have to make do with the wet conditions but he has gotten used to the work. Suknarine added that five men would form a group and take on five beds of cane and would cut and load it into punts which would later transport it via the canal to the estate.
As a cane cutter, he disclosed that he has his old-fashioned water bag which is insulated and it keeps the water cool. Suknarine revealed that years ago, when cane cutters from Enmore Sugar Estate had to go to Blairmont Sugar Estate to work, a woman was among the group. It was the
first time he encountered a woman cane cutter and it was amazing. “The lady used to rally out just like a man and she did even and straight work as a man and that was really something, we used to watch her work and it goes to show you can never judge people,” he said.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
Stop being a
‘pick me’
person to fit in I’M sure many Gen Z folks have heard of the term “pick me” women before. That by itself is a topic for another column piece on another day. Today, I’m here to talk about who “pick me” people are and why they irritate
every last nerve of my body. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way, at least, I hope I’m not. While this term is mostly used when we’re talking about the opposite sex and grasping their attention, I’d like to
redirect it to people in general and their “pick me” actions in social settings. A “pick me” is essentially someone who begs for attention and they have a strong desire to be accepted. They will do whatever is necessary to enter certain social groups and they will also do what is necessary to remain there. A “social chameleon” is the best way I can describe someone with this personality trait. They will blend into any crowd, they will tell things you’d like to hear and they wear many masks of deception. The most disgusting act I’ve seen from a “pick me” is when they’d bring others down or betray the ones who cared for them all in the name of “being accepted.” Of course, a “pick me” will never admit that she/ he is one, but I’m sure just by reading these few paragraphs you can already identify persons whom you may know with similar traits. If it’s not the girl in your class who reports you for a simple mistake to the teachers, then it’s probably the friend that is ashamed to hang out with you at certain social gatherings when a certain group of persons are around. People like this are everywhere. Truth is, we all may have some sort of “pick me” traits to our personalities too whether we’re conscious about it or not. This simply goes back to how society has developed tiers, status and stratification. Some of us were even raised to believe that anything outside of the “ideal categories” equates to failure in life. Hence, some people feel the need to be “picked.” They feel the need to be accepted -- at any cost. There will always be an innate desire to be accepted. Even with years of evolution, we still have tribal instincts and that’s okay, but that’s no excuse. We can become the people we aspire to be and we can break barriers by climbing the social ladder without self-destruction or harm to others. Be genuine to yourself and who you are and in return the people who are right for you will accept you for you. If a loved one refuses to change their behavioural patterns even if you shed light on their “pick me traits,” they perhaps need more professional help than you can offer. If you encounter these people randomly in classrooms, parties, or any other social setting then try to stay far from them. They will only mentally suffocate you. As an old saying goes, “Be yourself because everyone else is taken.” Keep that in mind the next time you or someone you know showcases this trait. Pick me
XXI ADDRESSING COVID-19 IN THE HINTERLAND DEMANDS DIFFERENT SKILLS AND MINDSETS
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020 CLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 4, 2020 CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 4, 2020
SOME USES OF PEPPERMINT OIL
WE had intended to have Toshao Paul Pierre felt that had this column to speak no his only option was to have further on the COVID-19 a lockdown. The situation pandemic since so much was a challenge which is had already been written facing every other interior about it. When, however, community. we saw the report of how Toshao Paul Pierre took an KwebannaOME villagemonths and oth-ago,upthis the column gauntlet: carried His commuarticle on mint. The article treated mint as a er interior communities nity was close-knit like all medicine, but did make some reference to were the folk victims of oninterior communities and it peppermint oil. slaughts of the virusoffering, and was establish the In this we difficult will be todealing with how the inhabitants felt new culture of “distancing” approximately 20 uses of peppermint oil and that theythe could containare different, and in anythecase, they seldom although usesnot identified treatment tends it,be it similar. rang anWealarm would established to wouldbell. however not tryfollow to consolidate, but Kwebanna is an Amerinsafety guidelines. But somewould deal with every use and its treatment individually. dian community of fewer hadoftoherb, be done. In the Peppermint is derived from athing species mint, which has over 20 varieties, butand the two varieties most known than 1,000 persons, toshao’s words “Well, dueare to peppermint spearmint. The main component of these cases mint with similarand communities at the rise of COVID-19 species is menthol. Potaro- in the village and based on Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Peppermint oil, which has more than Siparuni and Upper-Takuthe menthol advice of thespearmint, regional is extractedEssequibo, from the peppermint plant. tu-Upper they administration, the health Peppermint oilpercent was used thousands years and was have roughly 40 offor sector andofthe police, we known among the Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Indians. Inthe positive COVID-19 cashave decided to lock down deed, it is still an important item in modern Chinese pharmaes in Guyana thoughproduced their the village so that products, we could copeia. Two Chinese peppermint-based population is a fraction of get control over the situation Shiling Oil and Tiger Balm, are well known and widely used theGuyana. towns and coastal areas. . . . this is the only way we in The COVID-19 probcanknown get some control. . . Although peppermint oil was and used in the lem at Kwebanna couldcountries be Now overinthe next 14 other days, 19th century by Western (even producing regarded as ita was microcosm medicines), only in of the last fewwill generations thatininno one be allowed or tensive research on it had been out done. Such research found what obtains in other interiof the village, unless authat peppermint oil could bring to several kindsauthoriof ailor areas. The onslaught on relief thorised by relevant ments in- seemed out cluding problems, bacterial the village of digestive ties. These measures will be infection, inflammation, fatigue, muscular control and the Toshao Paul supervised and implemented soreness, allergies, Pierre realised this. He had by congestion, the regional authorities htried e a dto - have the villagers and the aches and halitosis. police.” Below we list a number of conform to the safety preThe pointed out ailments andtoshao their peppermint lockdown will cause ocautions i l of wearing masks, that the treatment. (These were hand-washing and distancing economic hardship to his taken from a reputable but they were never dis- Kwebanna community: “We publication on alternative ciplined enough to follow do have a lot of lumber m e d iso such precautions at all times. the lockdotwn will affect cine.) us.
S
We have a sawmill there and especially this time leading up to Christmas, we would get a lot of orders from persons in Moruca and Kaituma, but in the circumstances the sawmill would not be working . . . Farmers will, however, continue to operate their farms but will only be allowed to move between farms and their homes”. The toshao went on to say that they would not starve since food aid for the village is being mobilised by the regional administration, the Amerindian People’s Association and other agencies. The Ministry of Health is dealing with the pandemic differently than in the towns and coastal regions. They use antigen tests where results are obtained in 45 minutes. Each hinterland community is equipped with fixed sites for testing, but if there is a high infection rate in any community, a mobile team is deployed to conduct testing and contact-tracing. It is sometimes difficult to track people in these areas since they do not have telephones or addresses or any other contact information. Help from the police and toshaos is sought to locate such infected persons and have
BOOSTING OF ENERGY: To improve mental and physical energy and clarity level, inhale peppermint oil throughout the day. This may be done via the use of an inhaler or merely by sprinkling a few drops on a kerchief.
REFLECTING ON ...
GETTING RID OF DANDRUFF: Peppermint oil possesses anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, which allows it to combat dandruff effectively. From page X on addictive behaviour, Relieves muscular pain: considered thatin persons and is progressive, The menthol peppermint oil hasthat significant antispasinvolved the narcotics modic and in anti-painkilling effectsbut andthe a few drops handling mixed in holistic or any oil area crime is coconut andof massaged or rubbed on more, the affected muscle needs though drug exclusively victim of imwould bring arelief. abuse leads to poor mental mediate unfortunate social health, it should be treated circumstances. Contrary SORE JOINTS: separately, and not chanSore joints and effective sore musclesnelled are treated same way. to that, the most on thethe same Berbice Simply mix aadvocates few dropscome of peppermint oil in coconut oil and and callous route. But the developrub thethose affected joints. from who have atment of such expertise has Reducing tained socialallergies: comfort but long notor been given the the vaimSmelling the peppermint oil directly inhaling are rooted in the almighty portance needed, and such pour from a few drops mixed in very hot water could reduce means of self-comfort, void skills time to bring allergy symptoms such as drainage andrequire coughing. of cultural roots in the into functional capacity. In consciousness of RASHES any col- AND RELIEVING the ITCHING: meantime, those of us lective humanity. They are oilwho A few drops of peppermint in olive oil or coconut pay attention can only well-positioned and need oil rubbed on the affected area would bringon quick relief. reflect the following to remain there at any cost. captions over the years; “ TheINSECT police force today has REPELLANT: New father killed Turnby todrug A few drops of peppermint in olive acquired the response cul- oiladdict “; page “Man XXXI 81, wife or coconut oil rubbed on the exposed ture in respect to reports 49, parts butchered by drugwould repel mosquitos and other bugs.
crazed youths”; “Suspect admits beheading woman on seawall”; “Berbice man killed by Junkie over $2,000. Pension”; “Woman stabbed by drug addict husband succumbs”; “Drug addict kills 75-yrold mom”; “Man killed while seeking wife in drug yard”; “Drug addict begs for rehab help, admits...”; “A mother’s pain: son lost to drugs, then to injustice”; “Junkie paid with snow cone to kill woman” and hundreds of other newspaper headings over the years that allude to our first modern pandemic.
them isolated. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in the interior could therefore be different from in the city and coastal areas. The World Health Organization (WHO) had been issuing valuable advisories from time to time. In one of their early advisories, it was pointed out that most people who become sick
with COVID-19 experience mild to moderate symptoms and recover without special treatment. Eighty-one percent of those who contract COVID-19 will have mild symptoms while 14 percent will have severe symptoms and 5% will need intensive care. The Ministry of Health has issued is own pub-
lic notification:” Anyone who displays any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19, or needs any additional information, can contact the COVID-19 Emergency at telephone numbers - 231 1166; 226 7480; or 624 6674 immediately, or visit the ministry’s website at www.health. gov.gy
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES
IN last week’s article, we covered the role of the EPA in the agricultural sector – to ensure that human health and that of the natural environment is not compromised. The end of October also signals the end of Agriculture Month in Guyana; this does not mean however that we must forget to employ good practices in our agricultural operations, whether we operate a simple kitchen gar-
den, rice mills, or industrial fish farms. This week, we’ll take a look at sustainable agricultural practices that you can and should adopt. Our well-being is closely linked to the health of the environment where we live. Since sustainable farming methods positively affect the environment, they also contribute to our quality of life. A sustainable food system is one that does not require chemicals, conserves energy
and water, emphasises local production, decreases inputs and utilizes resources more efficiently on-site, values biodiversity and ecology, and works within our global natural resource limitations. Firstly, and most importantly, sustainable agriculture produces safe food with high nutritional value. The quality of food is now more important than ever before. Numerous studies have shown that the nutritional content
of grains, fruits and vegetables keep decreasing over the years. Scientists believe that popular high yielding varieties of crops often have a poorer capacity of absorbing nutrients from the soil due to their weaker root systems, which is linked to lower nutritional content of the final produce. Negative effects of increased pesticide levels in foods produced from intensively farmed lands are numerous and impact both human health and the natural environment. Everyone can agree that fewer pesticides and other chemicals used to grow food is only better for us. Food diversity is also much greater from sustainable farms, as they are not solely focused on producing major crops such as corn or wheat. Instead, they often cultivate local varieties in highly diversified farming systems. But that’s not all. There are more advantages to sustainable farming in terms of providing economic opportunities to rural communities, such as giving jobs to young people and supporting the socio-economic development of rural areas. At the same time, sustainable food production is more compatible in reducing the impacts of climate change and helps to strengthen ecosystem resilience. Benefits of sustainable agriculture Unlike intensive agriculture, sustainable farming has great potential for benefiting the environment and preserving natural resources. It does so by following natural cycles, recycling nutrients and water while omitting excessive use of agricultural chemicals. Sustainable agriculture strives to help the environment by: * Reducing agricultural runoff; * Preventing pollution of lakes and rivers; * Saving water; * Naturally maintaining soil fertility by recycling nutrients on the farm; * Enhancing carbon sequestration by soils and perennial vegetation; * Promoting energy efficiency of farming operations; * Decreasing emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases;
* Creating habitats for pollinators and beneficial insects; and * Ensuring the welfare of farm animals but also providing space for the respectful coexistence with native wildlife. Sustainable practices in agriculture * Hydroponics and Aquaponics These innovative farming techniques involve the growing of plants without soil, nourishing the plants through specialised nutrients that are added to water. In hydroponic systems, crops are grown with the roots directly in a mineral solution or with the roots in an inert medium like gravel or perlite. While aquaponics is the combination of rearing aquatic animals and using that mineral solution to grow crops. * Agroforestry and food forests Agroforestry involves the growth of trees and shrubs amongst crops or grazing land. Agroforestry systems can combine both agriculture and forestry practices for long-lasting, productive, and diverse land use when approached sustainably. In agroforestry systems, trees create a favourable microclimate that maintains the favourable temperature and soil humidity, while protecting crops from wind or heavy rain. Trees have another important role. They stabilize soils, minimize nutrient runoff and improve soil structure. This is the reason why agroforestry has become one of the powerful tools of farmers in dry regions with soils susceptible to desertification. Besides promoting the healthy growth of food crops and maintaining soil fertility, trees in this farming system provide wood and fruits as an additional source of income for farmers. In these systems, possibilities for product diversification are many. Farmers can go even as far as growing a whole edible forest. Patterned after natural forest ecosystems, food forests (also known as “forest gardens”) are designed permaculture systems that consist of a multilayered edible “forest.” Such a “forest” is composed almost entirely of perennial food plants, including a canopy
of tall and dwarf fruit and nut trees, a fruit shrub layer, layers of perennial herbs, mushrooms and vegetables at the ground level, climbing plants, and root vegetables underground. Food forest systems are very productive due to both the diversity of plants that are growing there, and all of the plants within the system that are taking advantage of each existing niche within the system. * Natural Pest Management One of the main aims of sustainable agricultural practices is the prevention of the use of synthetic pesticides and other chemicals that should suppress pest infestations and pathogens. Applying increasing amounts of chemicals to grow food is not part of the long-term solution and doesn’t help our health either. Greater diversity of crops, intercropping and crop rotations are among the pest-management methods that have proven successful. The key to their success lies in dispersing preferred food sources of pests by blending in crops they do not favour. Additionally, diverse crops attract diverse insects and some of them are natural predators of pests, helping to keep their populations within limits, thus mimicking how the real ecosystem balances itself out. * Mulching, groundcovers, and manual weed control Farmers and other growers can dramatically reduce the growth of weeds and conserve soil moisture by covering the soil around their plants through the use of mulching and ground covers. By naturally suppressing weed growth, these practices greatly reduce, or in some cases even eliminate, the need to apply herbicides to kill weeds. Organic mulch material like, for example, wood chips, straw or grass clippings also improves nutrient retention in soils and encourages the activity of soil micro-organisms that help create healthy aerated soil structure. This reduces the need for tillage as soils are less compacted. In addition to these practices, you can find guidelines for poultry and swine rearing on our website at www.epaguyana.org.
You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
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MESSAGE ON A... Then one day, whilst watching cricket, he realised he could hit a ball like a six over the hedge when she was in the garden. So he had bought a pack of flannel balls and taped a note on the ball that said, “Hi, my name is Brandon.” He had waited early the next morning when he heard her singing and he took an average of the shot and hit the ball over the hedge. He heard the dog barking, then there was silence. The next morning as he was thinking whether he should hit another ball over with a note when he saw a pink ribbon, stuck in a corner of the hedge. He took it down and written in neat, small letters were the words, “Hi, I’m Deepika.” “Yes!” Brandon expressed in delight, and that was how they began communicating. Day after day through the opening in the hedge he had become her friend, a warm friendship that had brought a smile to her lips and a light in her soft brown eyes. But regrettably, the time had come for him to leave and on that day he did not see her but stuck on the hedge was another pink ribbon and she had written: “Thank you for being my friend.” He had kept the ribbon, hoping one say to see her again but as the years passed and his cricketing career took off, he became famous and rich. The ribbon got lost somewhere and the little girl he had befriended faded from his mind. Brandon sighed deeply and shook his head, “I left and never returned,” he said with deep regrets, “How could I have forgotten her?” He knew he had to find her. He travelled to her village in the countryside of West Coast Berbice but when he reached there, his hopes were shattered, for she was not there anymore. His aunt told him they had left, mother and daughter, eight years ago to get away from her brutish stepfather and no one had ever seen them again. Brandon stared at the hedge, not sure now what to do when his aunt handed him a folded pink ribbon. “She left this and asked me to give it to you if you ever came back to look for her.” He unfolded the ribbon slowly and written on it were two words, “Find me.” Eight years ago, she had left that note and he wondered if life had been harsher for her. He folded the ribbon neatly and put it in his pocket, a promise in his mind. “I will find you, my friend.” He was not sure though, where to start in a country of 10 regions, no forwarding address nor any family connection to mother or daughter, and most importantly, how would he recognize her from twelve years ago when he had first seen her? For days he tried visualising what she would look like now, as a young woman drawing sketches after sketches, for sketching had been one of his hobbies since at school. Finally, he got something that he felt could give him an idea about who to look for. He travelled all the regions on the coast but could not find her. Days matured into weeks and a measure of desperation crept into his mind then one night, he saw in another dream, native children sitting under a huge tree listening with rapt attention to their teacher, whose face he could not see. Then one child raised her hands and said, “Miss Deepika.” Brandon snapped out of his dream and sat up so suddenly he almost fell off the bed. “Yes, of course,” he said excited, “She had said she wanted to be a teacher. Thank you, Lord!” Now, the task was finding which region in the interior and that was where his Amerindian friend Antonio came in. Brandon sketched the picture he saw in his dream and Antonio immediately recognized the place. It was in Region Eight. The next morning, he travelled by land to the Hinterland region and arrived at nightfall. The anticipation of seeing her after all these years tied knots in his stomach and the night seemed so long. In the morning he travelled from the guest house to the village and he saw the same scene. She was sitting in a chair under a huge tree, her hair wrapped at the nape of her neck, reading to the children. He did not see her face but he knew in his heart, it was her. “Deepika,” he called her name quietly. She stopped reading, turned around and rose from her chair. He felt the rush of overwhelming, relief and joy as he looked at her. Her living image wasn’t far from the one he had sketched. She was so beautiful!
From page VI
She looked at him, uncertainly, for the years and changed him from boyhood to manhood. “Do I know you?” She asked in a soft, pleasant voice. He took the ribbon from his pocket and held it up saying, “I got your message.” She gasped and dropped the book. “Brandon.” “I’m sorry I took so long to find you,” he said, voice almost breaking. “After all this time,” she said through tears, a little
tremor in her voice. “I thought I would never see you again.” “It’s God’s work,” he said, wiping her tears, “And now I have found you, I want to have you and our friendship in my life forever.” She smiled and he hugged her in a soft embrace. A bond tied by a pink ribbon. Taken from: https://www.prettydesigns.com/12-pretty-hairstyles-ribbons/
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THOUGHT FOR TO
DAY
To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfu me on the violet … Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. WILLIAM SH (1564-1616) KAinKESPEARE g Joh iv, Scene ii n, Act
November 01, 2020 Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend. Let us hope there has been a turnaround in your reading and other abilities. Do remember that a great part of your examination success depends upon robust
reading. Stick to the bright plan of examination success. Work hard, smart, and consistently at its requirements. Also, maintain profitable study-group participation; it sharpens your focus and builds closely knitted friendships. Be greatly committed to learning something pertinent each day. Let wisdom be your watchword! Love you. GRAMMAR Some uses of the colon (:) and semi-colon (;) in sentences Proper punctuation improves written presentations. Some uses of the colon (:) A colon is used for the following purposes: 1. After a complete sentence followed by a list of items. a. Doctors carry many things these days: manuals, notebooks, pens, and cellphones. b. In the dead man’s briefcase were found these curious things: a pair of small kitchen scissors, two sizes of nail clips, a bottle of red nail polish, and a half-finished bottle of expensive perfume. 2. To separate two complete sentences when the second sentence explains, amplifies, or illustrates the first. a. Today’s single-parent mothers often find themselves with a double jeopardy: they have low-paying jobs and disciplinary problems with their youngsters. b. The young heirs of today often find themselves with many unsolved problems: they have property and no financial support mechanisms. 3. To introduce a long or formal quotation. a. I am reminded of the words of Shakespeare: “This was the noblest Roman of them all; All the conspirators save only he Did that they did in envy of great Caesar.” b. Article 1 of the Constitution of the United States reads as follows: “All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.” 4. After the greeting of a
formal letter. a. Dear Sir or Madam: b. Dear Ms. Davidson: Some uses of the semi-colon (;) The semi-colon is used in the following number of ways: 1. Use it between the two clauses of a compound sentence when they are not joined by a co-ordinate conjunction. There was a moment’s silence; every classmate was shocked by the news. 2. Use it between two clauses of a compound sentence joined by a co-ordinate conjunction if there are other commas in the sentence. (If there is no possible chance of confusion in meaning, a comma may be used in place of the semi-colon.) Although circumstantial evidence weighs very strong against her (as when you find a trout in the milk), I believe Janet’s story; and I believe you do, too. 3. Use it before a conjunctive adverb that intro-
duces a clause in a compound sentence. Common conjunctive adverbs are therefore, never-the-less, moreover, consequently, furthermore, besides, then, thus, instead, accordingly, otherwise, so, yet, still, hence, however. a. Her principles have never been clear to me; therefore, I cannot vouchsafe for her. b. You trust her implicitly; nevertheless, I should like to hear her story. 4. In general, use the semi-colon to separate phrases or clauses of equal rank which contain internal punctuation (commas). The use of the semi-colon in such sentences achieves clarity of meaning. a. Our family members have lived in Tiger Bay, in the city; Hopetown, West Berbice; Rosehall, Canje; and Dartmouth, Essequibo Coast. b. New office members are Jessy Simon, president; Simon Peter, vice-president; and Kenrick Halley, secretary-treasurer.
Something to Do Copy the following sentences, supplying colons, and semi-colons and commas where they are needed. Exchange finished work in your study groups. 1. The four types of poetic meter may be classified as follows iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic. 2. Although he possesses all the other requisites for the job, he is not dependable I am afraid that we must discard his application. 3.The chest has three dimensions length, width, and breadth. 4. Charlotte did not want to go in fact she flatly refused. 5. The letter to his firm began as follows “Gentlemen We received your last shipment of goods on October 12.” 6. Henry sings tenor Joseph baritone. 7. Barrey outlined his plans he would save his money; he would buy a car; and then he would tour the country. 8. Although I prefer Mathematics and Science to English, I realise that all three subjects are required consequently I shall do my best to master them. 9. I have not heard the radio programmes you mentioned therefore I cannot criticise them. Reading for Understanding Read the passage carefully for understanding. The Nile valley may be divided into five natural regions – lakeland, savannah, steppe, desert, and delta. The main stream, the White (or “Clear”) Nile, rises at a height of over 6,000 feet amongst the Great Lakes of the eastern plateau, to which the river owes the constant, or minimum, part of its volume; and the comparative gradualness of its slope (6,000 feet in 6,000 miles) makes its course slow and its water clear. The two great mud-bearing tributaries, the Blue (or “Muddy”) Nile and the Atbara (or “Black”) Nile, are fed by torrential monsoons (rains); and their descent from the Tsana Plateau is so abrupt that enormous quantities of the loose volcanic soil are carried down by them. Something to Do 1. How high is the source of the Nile? 2. How many branches of the Nile can you name? Name them. 3. Is the Lakeland region near the source of the mouth of the river?
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020
Trench mouth
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F all the diseases affecting the human race, gum disease happens to be the second most prevalent. However, this condition is not a single entity. Various kinds exist. There is a special type of gum disease, which is often seen mainly in persons between 15 and 35 years and unlike any other, it is painful and generally attacks its victims in groups. This infection is called acute ulcerative necrotising gingivitis or trench mouth. The pattern of spreading of trench mouth on many occasions indicates that it is contagious, although some authorities do not accept this. In any case, its occurrence in groups of persons may be due to prevailing factors in the similar conditions under which they live. The disease is characterised by the appearance of pain,
redness and erosions of the papilas (the projections of gum between teeth). In fact, the gum line (where the gum meets the teeth) becomes necrotic and bleeds when touched. Often, a greyish film covers the ulcer, which may eventually spread along the entire gum line. Finally, typically fetid bad breath appears that is usually obnoxious. The patient almost always complains of inability to eat due to sensibly or intense pain to the gums. The type of pain experienced is a superficial ‘pressure’. Usually, the patient suffers from headache malaise and low fever (37.2 to 39 degrees centigrade) Excessive secretion of saliva accompanied by a metallic taste is often noted. The lymph glands of the neck can also be detected. In advanced or severe cases there may be generalised or systemic manifestations, including an elevated white blood cell count, gastrointestinal disturbances and an accelerated heartbeat. After healing, the papilas, which have been destroyed, may leave a cavernous zone constituting an area that retains germs. This region can serve as an incubation site where the disease could erupt anytime in the future. The majority of researchers believe that trench mouth is a primary disease caused by a fusiform bacillus (rod-shaped) together with a spiroquet (cork-screw) shaped called borrelia vincentii. Because these two microorganisms frequently exist in many healthy mouths, it obviously suggests that some other predisposing factor is involved in the actual case of infection. To confirm this, scientists have never been able to induce trench mouth artificially in persons. The most important factor, which predisposes someone to contract trench mouth, according to recent evidence, is a lower resistance to infection, especially as a consequence of vitamin C and B complex deficiency. One author who studied the epidemic, which attacked thousands of combatant soldiers during the Second World War, established that trench mouth appeared in the presence of chronic fatigue, deficient food and precarious oral hygiene.
Undoubtedly, psychologically stressful circumstances also play an important role. The treatment of trench mouth is extremely variable depending on the individual experience of the dentist with the disease. Some prefer to treat this condition conservatively instituting only superficial cleaning of the mouth in the initial stage, followed by scaling and polishing when the
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situation permits. Others opt for oxidizing agents or antibiotics in collaboration with local therapy. In many cases, there is a marked regression within two days of the treatment even without medication. It is reported that occasionally complications of this disease such as oral gangrene, septicemia, toxaemia (blood poisoning) and even death itself.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 01, 2020