Guyana_Chronicle_PepperPot_Epaper_03_05_2020

Sunday, MAY 3, 2020

Anusha Doodnauth of the Dharmic Nritya Sangh at a previous Naya Zamana performance (Fidal Bassier photo)

Reflections of Arrival Day

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Racism goes way back ― ‘But it never stopped us from loving each other’

By Telesha Ramnarine

LOYD and Feriza Barker can still remember those days – only with a laugh now – when they felt uncomfortable holding hands and being seen together in public.

He was a young Afro-Guyanese boy whose family had high hopes of him marrying a Trinidadian girl, while she was a teenager of East Indian origin whose family could not even fathom the idea of her marrying an Afro-Guyanese.

But all Lloyd and Feriza

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Lloyd and Feriza Barker

were concerned about was being able to be together. So he left Trinidad, where he was living for some years, and came back to Guyana permanently so that he can be closer to Feriza.

But Feriza’s family was concerned that she was too young to be with Lloyd. Although this is the reasoning they’d put forward, Lloyd thought to himself that they didn’t like him for a very different reason.

Feriza was sent away to stay with her grandmother, but

even so, she would get away and go to meet Lloyd at the Plaza Cinema on Camp Street, where he worked at the time.

Tired, the family thought to themselves, “It’s better they marry since we can’t stop them from meeting.”

Lloyd Aubrey Barker, 49, and Feriza Baijnauth, 44, eventually married. They have been together over the past 30 years, and their union has produced three sons, Andy, Randy and Joshua.

“One day I tell her I ain’t

able run around the place anymore,” Lloyd recalled during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine. The two often wrote letters to each other, as back then, there was hardly any access to a telephone.

The challenges they faced as a couple were numerous, but they stuck together and pulled through mainly because they genuinely loved each other, and made sure that nothing or no one got in their way of being together.

“If we were walking on the road holding hands and saw a black couple approaching, we would stop holding hands and walk aside. But I eventually realised that I was hurting myself. I no longer wanted to please people, so we stopped living to please anyone,” Lloyd expressed.

NO PLACE FOR RACISM Even after more than three decades, Lloyd says that “marrying Feriza was the best choice in the world” for him. Feriza, too, does not regret the decisions she made earlier in her life and says it was the understanding in their relationship that kept them going.

In their household, there is no place for racism and dirty politics. “We all come together and decide who to vote for, and we let that remain between us. We never let race decide who we will vote for,” Feriza said.

As for the children, who are now ages 24, 22, and 19 respectively; they were never taught race or politics, Feriza said, and they would be corrected if they ever got out of

line in these areas. “Racism is a problem that goes way back, and it is really the older ones who need to stop it.

Everybody is one. We should all live as one and stop the racism,” she said.

Feriza would often make it a point to listen to her husband and check in with him before she makes a decision. “ W e must love someone for

who they are; and it must be love, not lust. We should love them regardless of what colour they are,” she offered.

Lloyd struggled to remember a time that he had a serious falling out with his wife, and noted that they have never separated from each other. “The only time I get vex with my wife is when she promise me roti but I come home and find she didn’t make any. Only she can cook roti for me,” he joked.

The couple never considered race as to whether or not they should be together

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Fighting C OVID-19 in India, Pak istan, Banglades h and Sri Lanka

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Farrier at right, extends respects to Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka, during her mid-1970s state visit to Guyana

By Francis Quamina Farrier

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O country in the world has escaped the COVID-19 pandemic. In this May 3, 2020 edition of the Chronicle Pepperpot Magazine, and in Observance of Indian Arrival Day on Tuesday, we take a look at the efforts of the governments of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, in dealing with the COVID-19 in those four eastern countries, which like Guyana, are members of the British Commonwealth group of nations.

There was once the Sub-continent of India which was ruled by Great Britain for centuries.

Immediately following its independence, the country was partitioned in 1947, creating two other countries - Pakistan to the west and Bangladesh to the east. It was one of the saddest periods in the history of that beautiful chunk of the Creator’s “Wonderful World”.

We commence this report on the COVID-19 with India, the largest of those four countries; a country with a population of one billion, three hundred and eighty million. The cases reported of infected Indians were recently given as just 29, 500 and 940 deaths. Speaking to the media, the Indian Health Ministry Official Lav Agarwal stated that, “India was over-prepared and extra cautious”, for the COVID-19 and that “There were 106,000 hospital beds in 601 hospitals.” He added that “The country is ready to fight this epidemic.” India has done tremendously well considering its extremely high population, yet having such a relatively low number of COVID-19 cases and so few deaths. Nonetheless, there are some issues. One of the country’s basic and lowest-paid workers - the sanitation workers - whose job is to collect garbage and clean sewers, continue to

do so without the protection of face masks or gloves or boots. That has become a burning issue as the COVID-12 pandemic continues to pose a greater threat to India. However, that problem is now being addressed by the Authorities. In many of India’s rural communities, residents face the problem of accessing cash since there are no banks or ATMs in those rural communities. Since the lockdown, there has been no public transportation available to get people to nearby towns.

A government report states that although there aren’t enough test kits to adequately deal with the health situation, India is relying on a gigantic surveillance network to trace and quarantine infected people. Thousands of health care workers are fanning out across the densely populated country to trace and quarantine people who might have had contact with others with the COVID-19. Meanwhile, the Indian government has rolled out a $22.6 billion stimulus package for the poor. The 40-day lockdown in India is scheduled to be lifted today, May 3.

To the east of India is Bangladesh, where the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, announced an $8 billion stimulus package. However, it was criticised because critics claim that it was not getting to the poor. With a population of 164 million, Bangladesh suffered 6,500 cases of the coronavirus and 130 deaths. Among the afflicted are 324 doctors who are now fighting for their lives. On the economic side, over a quarter of the country’s garment workers numbering a million, are now out of a job because of the disruption by the COVID-19 pandemic. “That strikes very hard at the country’s economy since Bangladesh is second only to China in the world of garment manufacturing,” according to a government report. Many of the poor are defying the government’s lockdown orders and are turning up to

work, encouraged by their employers. Thousands of the textile workers, now desperate for money have over the past few days, resumed work at about 1,000 factories nationwide. Meanwhile, Bangladeshis abroad are sending funds to assist the less fortunate at this trying time.

To the west of India is Pakistan. The first cases of the COVID-19 in that Islamic nation were two students who had just returned to the country from Iran on February 26. By late April, the number of afflicted citizens in Pakistan had skyrocketed to 11,500 in that country of 220 million population. There were 322 deaths at that time.

The government announced that Health Workers will receive an increased salary for as long as the pandemic lasts. With the season of Ramadan now in progress, a controversy has arisen regards crowded mosques. A group of senior doctors in Pakistan and the diaspora wrote a joint letter to Religious Leaders and Prime Minister Imran Khan, a former Test cricketer, pleading not to open mosques during Ramadan since that could result in an explosion of Caronavirus cases and deaths. They pointed out that many who attend mosques are in the older age range and are more vulnerable to the COVID-19. Prime Minister Imran Khan, a conservative, has up to the time of writing this article, not ordered that mosques be closed.

The island nation of Sri Lanka which is located in the Indian Ocean just south of India is struggling to stay above the COVID-19 fray. But it is a steep climb. With a strong economic Chinese presence in the country, China has granted a loan of $500 million to Sri Lanka to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Added to which, two dominant Chinese companies in Sri Lanka, have donated large amounts of face masks and test kits, to subdue the ravages of the coronavirus in

the population. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic in that country is being blamed by some leaders, on the Muslim minority. They are spreading the idea that Muslims are deliberately spreading COVID-19. The hate speeches being uttered are certainly adding to the sectarian problem which has plagued Sri Lanka since the island was known as Ceylon. During the sectarian violence of the early 1980s, Guyana gave refuge to many professional Sri Lankans. Many worked in government ministries in Georgetown.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Sri Lanka’s tea-producing plantation workers face deadly hazards working without face masks and living in overcrowded accommodations. Also overcrowded are Sri Lankan prisons. With a capacity for 10,00, the prisons were packed in with 26,000 at the beginning of the year. With the on-going pandemic, 3,00 prisoners were released last week. Nonetheless, Sri Lanka remains one of the countries with a relatively small number of afflicted and dead. It has also been ranked the ninth best country in the world for its successful immediate response on tackling COVID-19.

It must be noted that all of the figures stated in the reports above, are most likely to have increased as you are reading this article which is published on May 3, 2020. Nonetheless, those four featured countries are all doing much better than many countries which are classified as ‘developed’; Italy, Spain and of course, the United States- the latter with well over a million infected and 58,000 dead. It must be noted, too, that the Heads-of-State of all four of those countries featured in this report - India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - are supportive of the Medical operatives, and giving them available support.

In closing, from me to you, happy and safe Arrival Day wishes.

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‘Lindener’s’

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

organic products promote healthy hair and skin

Leticia Allicock, proprietor of Pink Signature Beauty

By Naomi Marshall

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HILE some persons may use YouTube f o r e n t e rtainment and keeping updated with current issues, among other reasons, Leticia Allicock, proprietor of Pink Signature Beauty, took full advantage of the social media platform and started her skin and hair care business.

The Lindener who grew up with her father and mother never enjoyed wash days because they were filled with pain and tears. Due to lack of knowledge, the right products and tools, her mother would wash and comb her long, thick hair the best way she knew how to which often ended with Allicock in tears, a tale most girls with curly hair could relate to.

“Wash day was not one of my favourite days, I use to literally cry because when my hair wash and dry you get one big heap of hair on top of my head and my mom just use to rough up this hair and I use to cry. In the 90s we didn’t have much products to use, I remember my mom using castor oil, pink oil and blue magic grease,” she explained.

Allicock noted that in her teens she became very interested about hair care but back at that time information was scare on how to take care of natural, curly hair and as such persons would encourage getting a perm, hair extension or weave.

However, a few years back Allicock went on a quest to obtain glowing skin and healthy hair. She began

doing research and playing around with ingredients, with the influence of beauty bloggers on YouTube, that would allow her to meet her goal of having radiant hair and skin.

When persons began questioning Allicock about how they, too, could obtain glowing skin and hair, she knew that she had to share her beauty secrets with the rest of the world.

As of March 2019 to present day, Allicock was

soufflé.’

The ‘Charcoal blush whipped scrub’ brightens up skin tone, treats minor skin infections, minimizes the appearance of large pores, controls and balances skin oil production, and clears out clogged pores.

The ‘Coffee whipped skin scrub’ which encourages youthful, radiant skin reduces inflammation in the skin, improves blood circulation, removes dead skin cells,

of flaky skin, blackhead and whiteheads, and acne. It can also be used as a lip-exfoliator.

Meanwhile, the ‘Shea soufflé’ is a beautiful mix of carrier and essential oils that is great for both hair and skin. This product has soothing and anti-ageing properties that make the skin appear smoother. It also prevents hair loss, treats split ends, soothes dry and itching scalp, repairs damaged hair, and is

ingredients which make it stand out from other products. She noted that getting healthy skin and repairing damaged hair does not happen overnight but with her products, persons can see the results that they want, which is why they should invest in Pink Signature Beauty products.

Allicock shared some challenges she experiences, noted that having a full-time job and a small business at

Pink Signature Beauty Scrubs

Allicock’s Shea soufflé

able to create four miracle-working products that are 100 percent organic: the ‘Charcoal blush whipped scrub,’ ‘Coffee whipped skin scrub,’ ‘Cinnamon whipped skin scrub,’ and the ‘Shea

reduces puffiness, improves the texture of your skin, and reduces the appearance of cellulite.

The ‘Cinnamon whipped skin scrub’ promotes smooth, glowing skin since it gets rid

also a great moisturiser.

“At a time when skincare and hair care is so central to beauty, I came up with products that could moisturise and revitalise both hair and skin and in doing that, I believe that women can feel more confident about themselves,” Allicock told the Pepperpot Magazine.

The entrepreneur noted that her products are made from 100 percent organic

the same can be challenging and it calls for good time management which she pushes herself to obtain in order to move her business to higher heights.

She added that getting ingredients in bulk within Guyana can also be challenging and as such, she would have to order her Ingredients from other countries.

Nevertheless, she noted

that being an entrepreneur makes her feel confident and some sort of satisfaction, especially when she receives feedback from customers that her product is working for them.

“It gives me much satisfaction at the end of the day when customers could message me and say, look your product is working and they are pleased. That makes me know that I am going in the right direction.

Customer feedback keeps me going because business generally is not something easy at times so having loyal customers keeps me afloat and keeps me wanting to venture out and thinking ahead,” the 33-year-old expressed.

The woman, who is also a Registration Clerk, stated that in the future she would like to be at a place where ‘Pink Signature Beauty’ can sustain her entire family, while, being a platform that will help persons to see the importance of skin and hair care. In the coming months, Allicock will also be launching new hair and skincare products.

She is also encouraging persons that are thinking about venturing out into entrepreneurship to “go for it,” but at the same time they must be determined and willing to work towards their goals.

“They have to be able to take criticisms and turn it into something positive,” Allicock added.

Persons interested in contacting Allicock to make orders can message her on Facebook at Leticia Allicock.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Youth Ambassadors and U.S Embassy Guyana launch virtual online project; #CatchMeInside

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Aretha Majeed, U.S. Embassy Georgetown, alongside group of Youth Ambassadors Alumni (YAP 2015-2016) - (Source: Marissa Foster)

but also their social, mental and financial health, during these exasperating times. Dabie, a former Youth Ambassador pointed out that: “This pandemic will not go on forever. When it is over, we need to ensure our youth are ready to take our country forward, rather than being left behind, battling to recover”. He also further noted that: “This is also a way of reducing the fear and anxiety brought on by the pandemic and allowing Guyanese to connect and engage with likeminded individuals, which is crucial now more than ever”.

Every day, a new featured topic is being discussed on Facebook through live sessions or posts, hosted by the alumni as well as other young professionals in Guyana. Among the lineup are local entrepreneur and owner of Java Café, Evie Kanhai, women in business

(Source: Youth Ambassadors 2015)

By Marissa V. Foster

HE Youth Ambassadors Program brings together outstanding young people from across the Americas for an enrichment programme to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities to participate in a cultural and leadership exchange program in the United States. It is focused on civic education, community service and youth leadership development. Follow-on activities are an integral part of the programme, as the participants apply the knowledge and skills they have learned to implement projects that serve needs in their communities and country. The #CatchMeInside Virtual Engagement Program is the fifth follow-on project initiated and

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executed by the 2015 cohort.

More than ever, Guyana needs creative projects to help persons mentally survive social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak. As such, the U.S. Embassy’s Youth Ambassadors alumni recently launched a virtual engagement programme to combat the social effects of the pandemic. This group of young leaders believe that any assistant during this difficult time needed inclusive of alumni of the U.S. Embassy’s youth and cultural exchange programs. They have all reunited with one mission in mind; to lessen the social effects the virus may have on Guyanese youth and their communities. As such, the team has been working on a virtual engagement program, titled #CatchMeInside.

This is an initiative that was started by Natisha Mokutnauth and Ashraf Dabie, participants of the 2015 Youth Ambassadors Program The #CatchMeInside

programme will take the form of 14 days of social media conversations. Today marks the second week of the said project. #CatchMeInside addresses topics such as wellness, being productive, smart spending and staying engaged.

According to Mokutnauth, a student of the University of Guyana: “While COVID-19 is a global health threat, there are other side effects that will accompany this pandemic, which we cannot ignore,” She continued by saying, “Many of us have never experienced something like this and it can affect us in so many ways, beyond physical health.” With those thoughts in mind, the pair crafted this very initiative in hopes of providing the necessary information to the youth of Guyana. The very information released from this project can also be used as sustainable measures to safeguard not only one’s physical health

advocate Abbigale Loncke, digital marketing expert Dr. Rosh Khan and former beauty queen and fitness enthusiast, Ashley John. While the messages are being targeted to youth, all Guyanese at home and abroad are invited to tune into the Youth Ambassadors Guyana 2015 or the U.S. Embassy Georgetown Facebook pages to participate in this virtual program. The sessions commence at 13:00hrs each day and last for approximately 30 minutes. Persons can also follow the conversation at any time, using the hashtag #CatchMeInside. As the rest of world and Guyana battles against the spread of COVID-19 and return countries to normalcy, all are asked to stay inside, stay safe and tune into the #CatchMeInside virtual program to stay engaged.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Human agency is vital in contending with COVID-19

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ORE and more, as I read about the developments surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, I become more convinced that recognising the role of human agency is an essential component in contending with the ramifications of the pandemic and life after.

Chris Barker, in his publication: “Making sense of cultural studies,” outlined that “agency” is the capacity of persons to act independently and make their own choices. This ‘free will’ or agency of individuals is positioned within the wider constructs or structures of the societies that the individuals like in that may influence their decisions. These constructs include the class system, religion, ethnicity, customs, and norms, inter alia.

For me, in this pandemic, there is much emphasis being placed on ensuring that the “systems” function effectively to mitigate the impact of the novel coronavirus and that these systems are adjusted to help stop the spread of the virus. But perhaps, there is greater value to be garnered when this systems approach is integrated with the role of human agency.

Some researchers have found that human agency is an essential component in conceptualising social resilience, which has largely remained unsatisfactorily addressed (Bohle et al, 2009). Instead, these researchers bemoaned that the narratives and discourses on resilience have been centred around the efficiency and effectiveness of the systems and structures within society.

Now, it pleases my heart to see so many people (especially many of the youth groups and my friends and old schoolmates!) join hands to provide some sort of relief to

the more vulnerable families and communities during this period of uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I am happy to know that persons have recognised that while this pandemic and its ramifications affect everyone, there are those persons who are disproportionately affected and require that extra assistance.

And in the interim, I am well aware that hampers may very well be what persons need to help cope with the effects of COVID-19. An interesting conversation I had this past week, however, made me realise that recognising the value of human agency augurs well for more middle to long term development.

Through this conversation, I found out two organisations, working in seemingly different spheres (technology and culture), decided to pool their resources in an attempt to provide greater assistance to vulnerable communities during COVID-19. It was great to see how the strengths and capabilities of each organisation led to the conceptualisation of innovative solutions, but more importantly, these bodies illustrated that in providing help for vulnerable persons, it is not just about meeting their immediate needs, but it is also about helping them find ways of helping themselves.

Anecdotally, while they recognise that a family may need fish to survive for the day or a week- and that is given- teaching the family how to fish would help that family provide for themselves in a more long term sense.

It is not just about providing hampers to people (which, let me emphasise, is also important), but it is also about providing ways so that persons would subsequently be able to provide for themselves too. And the two organisation team-

ing up decided that they could provide seeds and seedlings to help vulnerable communities start-up farming activities; they could provide small loans to help persons commercialise the masks they were making at home; and even, they could help provide opportunities for education, so that the persons would craft their solutions to their vulnerabilities.

This recognition of human agency, for me, is what makes the difference in contending with the hardships around us (COVID-19 or otherwise), and is what helps to build the inherent resilience of people.

On the more direct effects of COVID-19, human agency has also proven to be a major boost to the fight against the pandemic. The physical distancing measures, while mandated by governments, are essentially still actions taken by people because they are conscious that it would help flatten the curve. Washing hands and adopting more hygienic practices are also examples of how human agency has been brought to the fore.

I recall too, that local paediatrician Dr. Hardat Persaud emphasised that adults should recognise the agency of children in combating COVID-19. He explained that when children are empowered they can engage in some measures that they can do on their own, without constant intervention from parents; this includes washing their hands and being more amenable (in some instances) during the pandemic.

So, this just all goes to show that while we are dependent on systems and structures to work for us, recognising the value of human agency is important. Cliché or not, humans are resilient people, and we are resilient because we find ways of overcoming.

allows

at least they know it because I’ve said it. And that’s way better than leaving a passive-aggressive note about it.” erything is timing, and timing is everything. Gladly, I release my concern over timing and let things happen when- and as – they will. I trust that the divine schedule –makers know what they’re doing.”

1. “Don’t take it personally – If someone starts to speak unkindly to me, I’ll remember that they’ve got something going on that has nothing to do with me. Like maybe they just pooped their pants. Yes, that’s probably it.”

1. “Engagement- Today, I make the conscious choice to engage with the world in an active way. I’ll take a new route and talk to strangers. I will smell flowers and pet dogs, and maybe walk around barefoot for a while if I’m not inside a 7-11. At the very least, I’ll have a day that’s slightly more interesting than average. And at the most, I’ll have a startling epiphany or make a friend who will change my life forever. No pressure.”

1. “Everyone’s a teacher – Everyone I cross paths with is a teacher in that moment. The ones who give me the fun lessons are the ones I call friends. The ones who give me the hard lessons, I sometimes call a-holes. They’ve chosen a tough job but someone’s gotta do it. So today I’m thanking all the a-holes- thank you for playing your part in making me a better person.”

I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s 10 affirmations. Please look out next week for more.

Please also continue to send your topics to caitlinvieira@ gmail.com.

If you would like to book a private, online session with me, please text or WhatsApp 623 0433.

s n o i mat

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r i f Af

N my last two columns, I used the word affirmations regarding self-esteem. Since then, I’ve received two emails from avid readers asking me about its direct meaning and examples.

Affirmations are kind and wise words one says to themselves to raise their self-esteem. I’ve been wracking my brain on how to write this column but I decided to grab the 35 most beautiful affirmations I’ve ever read and share it with you all.

They are a bit long so I think they will take a few weeks to post. I hope you all follow along and you all repeat these to yourselves as much as possible.

1. “Beauty – I’m beautiful even when I don’t think it I’m beautiful even when I don’t see it. I’m beautiful no matter how many people don’t say it. I’m beautiful and I don’t even care if you know it. I’m beautiful, which is why I don’t have to try so hard all the time to show it.”

1. “Courage – No one is fearless. No one. But even though I’m not fearless, I am courageous. When fear shows up, I don’t run away from it. I use my courage to conquer it. My courage

me to walk right up to that fear and kick it in the nuts- then quickly hides behind something bigger until it goes away.

1. “Clarity – Stopping to listen to my inner self, I can easily separate my intuition from my mental chatter. The clarity of my intuition is a sweet, similar fruit that tastes familiar.

And the mental chatter is a confusing, bitter rind that I shall peel off and chuck into the garbage (or compost heap, if your mental chatter happens to be organic)” 1. “Confidence- In this moment, I take a step back and look at myself with the pride of a good mother. I see an abundance of abilities and talents that show up all the time in big and little ways. If I could stick myself on a refrigerator, I would.

I would invite all the neighbours over and say, “look at that.

Can you believe what an A+ that is?”

1. “Connection- I’m connected to the multitudes, and I can access their support at any time. Even a stranger offers a sense of comfort when they smile at me or make a dumb comment about the weather. Everyone is waiting to connect….all I need to do is open myself up and pay attention.”

1. “Authenticity- Authenticity is the name of the game.

Whatever comes up, I will feel it. Whatever needs to be said, I will say it. Whoever doesn’t get it doesn’t have to get it. But

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

A sitting area with plants to enhance the environment

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Hill Foot

Focus on the Village

A ‘green’, scenic place Roy Raj Singh

Hill Foot Village (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge

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H I S week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to Hill Foot, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway, which is also called One

Mile.

This village can be found at the bottom of the hill, which is the reason behind the development of its name ‘Hill Foot’ .

The village is between Soesdyke and Ideal villages and it is a scenic place with well-kept yards, budding with plants and trees.

It is home to about 600 residents, who are of different ethnicities yet they live as one huge family.

Hill Foot is about five minutes’ drive from the Junction and has potable water and electricity.

Internet can be accessed via cell phones since there is no other internet service in the village.

Hill Foot has many shops, a few churches, and a cricket ground where all sports activities takes place.

The village has no all-weather roads but has several

cross streets which consist of sand and two entrances.

Residents are employed at chicken farms, sand pits, sawmills and the village is also home to many farmers and home makers.

The nearest school is in Soesdyke and all the children would leave the village to go to school.

There, the team met and had a chat with residents, who highlighted their way of life.

The Pepperpot Magazine encountered a group of residents upon entry to Hill Foot, a family of seven. They reside in this square and they had combined their efforts to assist Roy Raj Singh to construct his house.

Singh related that he has been residing at Hill Foot for three years and he finds life there to be fair.

He is originally from Grove, East Bank Demerara and is the father of one, who will be a homeowner shortly.

His house is being constructed and the neighbours were helping him to put the pieces together.

“Whatever job is available I would do because I am an all-rounder and whatever hustle is trending I do. You can’t sit down and complain so I does do some eddo farm-

ing but now that’s not profitable then I does try with the wildlife trade and carpentry, “he said.

Singh explained that since he moved to Hill Foot he is at peace, having moved away from his family and started his own has proved to be the best thing for him.

“You does see your way when you are by yourself no matter how hard it gets because it doesn’t have anybody to bog you down,” he said.

Singh added that all are welcomed in the village and mentioned that apart from the locals and newcomers, they also have some Spanish people, who moved into the community.

For the locals, Hill Foot is also referred to as ‘Mount Zion’, a place where people can find a place in society.

“This place got all kind of people living here and we don’t have no problems because people cooperative and assist each other in whatever they have to do to make a life,” he said.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Adjusting to a pandemic

Focus on the Village

Huge mango tree in Hill Foot Village (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge

UNNY Mohamed is a resident of Hill Foot, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway and he is doing anything for work.

The farmer related that with the worldwide pandemic there are not many commercial activities, as such, being an eddo farmer isn’t viable presently, so he had to branch out and do other things to earn.

The 46-year-old divorcee stated that he came to the village in 1971 from his hometown of Berbice and made the place his home.

Mohamed added that Hill Foot Village is a good place to live and work but finding work isn’t always easy.

The 46-year-old recalled when he first came to the village it was a huge sandpit and used solely for sand mining and has time progressed the area was developed by people, who came from all over Guyana and made a village.

“There are a lot of people living here, single mothers especially, that need a bit of Sonia Walker intervention, in the form of a hamper or something because the people depend on farming for a dollar and some go out the village for work but with COVID-19 a lot of people are at home with little or nothing to put on the table,” he said.

Mohamed stated that although they don’t have the best of everything, they are comfortable and they have a small stream of cool black water, a short distance away, they enjoy whenever the need arises.

The Hill Foot resident pointed out that even though he has no permanent job he is always looking for things to do to earn because farming isn’t always profitable.

Other than that, Mohamed added that he is contented with life

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Halle Sancho at her aunt’s shop in Hill Foot

but is asking for help for the less fortunate in the village so they can benefit from some form of relief in this pandemic.

Sonia Walker is also a resident of Hill Foot Village and related that most of the women in the village do not work as such, they depend on the men to bring home his earnings to maintain the family.

She explained that some were getting a few days per week work at a Soesdyke Processing Plant where eddoes and other ground provisions and fruits were processed and packaged for export but that business is closed due to the curfew in the country.

Walker added that it has been six weeks now since the closure o f schools and they have taken on the role of teachers to home-school their children because they have no choice if they want them to excel.

“The children are home doing nothing so we have to take the place of the teachers and assist to make them do school work to occupy their time since they can’t play all the time, “ she said.

Walker also pointed out that some residents need help during this time because their financial situation is making it hard to provide for their families.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Halle Sancho, who was manning her aunt’s shop.

Sancho, who hails from Matthews Ridge, North West District (NWD) is visiting her relative because of the Coronavirus and was hoping to get a domestic flight back home this Sunday.

Sancho is there with her two-yearold son and had been in Hill Foot for a month and said she likes the place because it is beautiful and just quiet.

“The flight back home is very expensive even though it is one-way and I want to go back but I am waiting to see what happens,” she said.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

IX

Making it day by day Family circle where seven families reside (Carl Croker photos)

Focus on the Village

Gangadai Persaud

Hardat Mohamed

fH me o

Ho

ridge

G

Fresh picked farm eddoes for the pot

d

hame

t Mo arda

By Michel Out-

ANGADAI Persaud is a housewife, who had completed her household chores including, cooking and was taking a time-out to relax.

The mother of six stated that all her children are grown and leading their own lives except for two minors, who live with her.

She has been residing at Hill Foot Village for the past 32 years and deemed the place quiet and breezy.

“Although this place is breezy it is also very sandy and it gets really hot at times but the breeze is cool and it helps,” she said.

Persaud reported that life is somewhat fair but they need some developments such as an ICT hub for the

school children, internet services because they can only access the internet via their cell phones which is costly to activate a data plan with the two networks we have locally.

They don’t usually leave the village for shopping since vehicles with vegetables, meats, fish, and groceries would pass through Hill Foot several times per week.

“We only go to the city when we have to get essentials and other things that we need sometimes,” she explained.

Persaud told the Pepperpot Magazine that in the square she lives there are seven families so she is not lonely and has people to talk to.

The Pepperpot Magazine also encountered Hardat Mohamed who claimed that after his land, which is the government reserve was taken over by another resident, he is out of work, but as a

farmer, he is hoping to restart planting.

“I reaped my crops three weeks ago and after that, this man from the village took over the plot which is across the road and started to plant so I am asking myself what to do now because my land where my house is there is no space for crops,” he said.

The 50-year- old stated that he used to plant only eddoes which grows well in the soil composition at Hill Foot and used to go to Parika Market and sell his produce to wholesalers.

The plot on government reserve is about a half-acre and he has resorted to planting some peppers, thyme and other vegetables in his yard for home use only.

“I went to the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) at Soesdyke to report the land matter but got to favourable outcome because it is illegal to occupy government reserve,” he said.

Mohamed is originally from Corentyne, Berbice and many years ago when he was just a boy his family moved to Hill Foot and there he has been all this time. He hopes that the matter can be solved so that he can go back to his farming practice.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

A determined mother of eight has made

Hill Foot Village her home

me

Home of Pearly Welco

Focus on the Village

By Michel Outridge

W

H E N she left her home village with her family in the North West District (NWD) she didn’t know what lies ahead but with the determination and hope of betterment, a mother is very proud of her children’s accomplishments, today.

Pearly Welcome is the mother of eight and she left her home village when her children were young because she wanted them to have a good education and to attend schools in the city.

Today, all her children have made some-

Pearly Welcome

thing of themselves. She has children who all have respectable jobs including an Immigration Officer, nurse, certified chef and others that hold good jobs because of her persistence to ensure they had proper tertiary education.

She has been residing at Hill Foot, Soesdyke/ Linden Highway for the past two years.

Welcome bought a plot of land and constructed a house so her children can travel to and from their schools and the University of Guyana (UG) and workplaces daily.

“I always want my children to be with me and in this house, my children are respectful and know their place in the home. They all play their respective roles and I don’t have to remind them what they have to do because of their upbringing and we live in harmony,” she said.

The 46-year-old related that it wasn’t easy to raise eight children because when they left Region One (Barima-Waini) they were renting a house in Georgetown.

It was

Lisa Ashby and her daughter (Carl Croker photos)

expensive to offset rent and other expenses but today, she is comfortable because they cooperated as a family to get their own house.

Welcome’s husband is a truck driver and he is very supportive of the children’s desire to seek higher tertiary education.

“Nobody wants to leave their comfort zone but my children were studying and I had to come for us to have a better life and here I am today,” she said.

She admitted that the transition wasn’t easy but it was economical to relocate and now with a fixed place of abode things can’t be better.

Welcome is of the view that Hill Foot can be further developed because there is potential for such with four cross streets and two main entrances the village is ripe for enhancement.

“People around here don’t idle, everyone doing something and the youths either work or go to school so there isn’t much disturbance here,” she said.

Meanwhile, Lisa Ashby is a single mother of two and is also from the Pomeroon and is the rear neighbour of the Welcomes, who is often tasked with babysitting her children while she is at work.

The 27-year-old is one who is in need of a job and a daycare services to look after her children while, she is at work, that is, when the curfew is lifted.

“I used to work as a security [officer] but had to leave when the curfew started so I am home now and I have to depend on family to provide for me and my children,” she said.

Ashby explained that when her mother passed away three years ago she had to leave her village and started afresh at Hill Foot, Soesdyke/Linden Highway.

Her children are seven and two years old respectively.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

XI

Hill Foot residents are making full use of their simple and quiet life

Focus on the Village

By Michel Outridge

A

F T E R leaving her home town of Port Kaituma, North West District (NWD) with much uncertainty 12 years ago, Lorena Adams has managed to establish a small business in Hill Foot, Soesdyke/Linden Highway and has a comfortable home.

The mother of six related that all her children are grown except for two, who still live with her to date.

Adams has made her home and surrounding to her liking, plants, trees, flowers and a vegetable garden in her back yard for the kitchen.

Her house, a one-flat concrete structure sits on a hill and to prevent erosion she has planted flowers and other plants in used tyres to beautify the place and secure her

Linden Kellman

foundation.

Her yard is big and she sued it to plant many trees including citrus and the place is clean and well-kept.

Adams has in her yard wooden chairs with adjoining tables and has a small shop from which she sells beverages and snacks.

“I used to bake and sell pastries but I don’t have the time now to do it because my mother fell and injured her hip and she is in the hospital so I have some running around to do,” she said.

Adams said life is fair in Hill Foot and she tries to stay afloat by doing things to earn.

She is a very friendly woman, who is always up for a quick conversation and is

bett e r known as Aunty Lorena in the community.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Linden Kellman, a local welder, who has his workshop at home and only leaves the village to do outside work or to run errands.

The father of two said he has lived all his wife in Hill Foot and he likes the place because it is peaceful and very quiet.

The 42-year-old added that Hill Foot is a farming community and the people are hard workers.

He had paused from his

Suresh Ram in his hammock (Carl Croker photos)

work for lunch and was in t h e company of his pets, a dog and a cat.

Meanwhile, in the back street, another villager, Suresh Ram, was relaxing in his hammock.

He is not well, his leg has

developed two abscesses and he was expected to return to the hospital for treatment.

He is a local Lorena Adams

Old tyres used to make plant pots and to prevent erosion in Lorena Adams’s yard

Old vintage cars in Hill Foot

carpenter and sometimes works as a maintenance man with his brother-in-law.

“I have been here for more than 40 years and this place is home for me because I am accustomed to the quietness and the tranquillity of a simple life,” he said.

Ram does some gardening in his own yard and it was evident he likes to plant because his place has a lot of fruits and other trees.

He stated that his parents came from Berbice to settle in Hill Foot when he was just nine years old.

The father of two said his mother was instrumental in acquiring a plot of land for him before she passed away, years ago and for that he is very happy.

“Life here is good because I work to support my family and it is all good we can live in cooperation and peace,” he said.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

d n i M e t i The Wrby Jasmaine Payne Self Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing Part II

n i g h s i w l b o u r p t h l a t h n e o i t h i y d p a e r t ? sI

W

H E N I finally finish my novel, I want to take my finished manuscript through the seemingly impossible task of trying to get it traditionally published. That means I hope to attract an agent who will then help me to get it picked up by a publishing company and mass-produced so that I can earn off its sales via royalties.

The fact is that the biggest publishing houses are in the United States, but thankfully, getting published by one of these companies or even landing an agent has nothing to do with where you live. That means that as a Caribbean writer, I will be attempting a small-fish-big-pond task, and the likelihood of me getting through is practically impossible, but I believe that going through this process is a right of passage that I owe to my work. Once I have done this, and if I get no luck along this line, I will THEN look to self-publishing. My aim in all that is to say I have walked the walk as a writer.

Guyanese writer, Subraj Singh also seems to prefer the traditional route. “Business is really not my cup of tea. I’m a writer, not a marketing person or a printer or a designer, so I’d like to have those elements covered by people who are skilled in those areas, and I think traditional publishing gets your work to those people easily,” he told me. However, he, too, is aware of just how gargantuan a task it is.

“Many famous books were rejected so many times. It is known that there is always a slim chance of being published the traditional way for most authors, and I guess

I’m not at a point where I’m confident enough to feel that my work WILL be accepted by an agent or publisher. Hopefully, I do get there one day,” he said.

Last week, I briefly walked you through the steps of self-publishing and some of its advantages and disadvantages. As mentioned, self-publishing has become increasingly popular internationally given the hardships of the traditional route. But, because I know many local writers may not know all that this process entails, I will outline the steps to getting published traditionally.

THE PROCESS Because of the rigorous and timely process, traditional publishing allows an author status, validation and long-term wealth depending on the success of sales. The first step to getting published traditionally is to find a book agent by sending out query letters. The agent is your representative who will present your pitch and proposal (summary of your book) to publishers. I have checked, and based on my research, the number of book agents in the Caribbean is severely low to non-existent.

If the proposal is accepted by a publishing company, the company will present the author with a publishing deal and purchase the print license to print the book in exchange for an advance on expected royalties (percentage of sales). Once the book is completed, the publisher manages the publishing and distribution of the book.

In this process, the author retains copyright of the material. This means they have a patent as the creator of the work. The publishing company owns the print license which means they can print and distribute the

book as they see fit and they also have final say in all other aspects (layout, design, pricing etc).

Largely, the author is responsible for marketing the book to promote sales and ensure it does well (which is why you see authors on book tours, readings and signings).

It is generally believed that margin of acceptance to be published in this manner is extremely narrow and is often reserved for celebrities, well-known authors and other popular personali-

ties who have existing large audiences and are guaranteed to sell. In fact, even these persons get a hard time publishing through this medium at times. But some first-time authors have had tremendous luck based on the content of their book and acquiring the

right agent.

THE DISADVANTAGES But the fact remains: the window is still significantly small. Unfortunately, agents get thousands of query letters a week, so the chances of yours being given undivided attention are slim to none, especially if you do not have a big enough existing audience to sell your book. Some experts believe, however, that a crisp query letter can grab the attention of the right agent who can lead you to success, but that too takes a lot of

time and patience.

Additionally, traditional publishing takes away the author’s ownership rights and profits. Once publishers own the book, there is nothing the author can do to it, except attach his name to the title as its creator. Authors also lose

their c r e ative and content control as publishers get the final say over all the content in the book, down to the author’s bio.

There is also a huge time investment in comparison to self-publishing. A self-published author can get their book published almost as soon as they finish writing and editing it. Finding an agent then pitching the book, going through negotiations then finally getting it printed

can take as as 36 months.

long

SO WHY BOTHER AT ALL? I recently attended a Webinar by Business Writer, Kathy Ver Eecke on the Se-

crets to getting a Book Deal and she explained that despite the intimidation felt by authors, agents actually love work from new writers because launching a new writing career is easier than reviving an existing one. In fact, she shared that in 2018, 12,000 book deals were signed in the US via traditional publishing, including a substantial number by debut authors. This number has been consistently increasing since 2007. So, it seems that, though the window is small, it still exists, so persons with a brave heart can feel free to try to climb through it!

To d a y ’s w o r l d o f self-sufficiency and digital access makes it almost unnecessary for writers to subject themselves to the seemingly bureaucratic process of traditional publishing.

But perhaps you’re like Subraj and I and you like to challenge yourself.

Perhaps you want a few rejection letters so you can frame them to show you have gone through that process. Or perhaps you really believe that despite the odds, your book is something special and can still stand up against the intense scrutiny and unlikely chances of turning heads.

Either way, if you have the time and patience, there is no harm in exploring this option just in the name of seeing what it is about. The upside is that at any point before you make any concrete agreements, you can decide to cut it short and go the easier, more practical route of self-publishing.

Either way, good luck!

Interested in contributing to this column on writing? Email me at thewritemind592@gmail. com

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

XIII

‘Sisterhood needed in the makeup industry’

Essequibo MUA encourages teamwork

By Indrawattie Natram

T

W E N T Y- O N E YEAR-OLD Tremacie Nauth of La Belle Alliance Essequibo Coast believes that every makeup artist is uniquely gifted in the dynamic art of makeup. As such, she believes that those who are in the industry need to foster sisterhood and focus on doing the art with love noting that every other aspect such as finance will eventually fall into place.

Nauth said that as a child she had a passion for makeup and as she matured her passion developed into a career.

Relating her story, Nauth said she is a teacher by profession

who started practising makeup two years ago.

During her time home on quarantine, Nauth has managed to keep her social media pages active by attracting a large audience who are also indoors due to the pandemic.

Daily she manages to dish out new inspired make-up looks on her business page Glam

by Tremacie. Ever since she launched her page her client base has increased as more and more persons are appreciating her work.

Speaking on her makeup journey, this ambitious young lady said she had enrolled at Robecca Ramnauth’s (Makeup by Robecca) classes in March 2018 where she did an advanced course. In 2020 she

then completed her Master Class and ever since she has been loving it. Asked how she ended up pursuing make-up as a career she said her husband always spoke of her potential as a beautician when they were dating and as such he was the one who booked her for the classes.

Today her clients are mostly Indian brides and according to her, she is already booked for the August period.

When she is not visiting the clients she would accommodate them at her studio at La Belle Alliance. Nauth’s desire to better her skills, build a permanent studio and also employ young girls to work while she continues her teaching. She also plans to

stock her studio with mainly Guyanese brand makeup.

When asked what is her most challenging time in the makeup industry she said having two brides to dress.

“I forget about the challenges when I see the smiles on my clients when they finished dressed, that gives me that inner satisfaction,” Nauth said.

She explained that she also follows other makeup artists such as Susan Saks and Malinda Lewis and often would end up with beautiful ideas just by following them.

“I believe that the industry should not be isolated, no one is better than anyone, we need to share our ideas and foster sisterhood,” the young

artist said.

Empowering other women Fostering sisterhood in the industry, Nauth has started the initiative by launching the “Essequibo Makeup Artists” Organisation MUAs from that region can use the platform to inspire other young women.

“We lead by example by being professional and hate-free on our business pages as makeup artists, we plan challenges and projects fostering collaboration,” Nauth explained.

Nauth said that she takes pride in practising good hygiene by constantly cleaning her brushes and also constantly upgrades her make up line to keep up with trends.

She said practising makeup has made her gain a lot of confidence, empathy, and skills and therefore encouraged young women who are thinking to do the same to start.

She is also available to anyone who wants advice in the industry.

Nauth with another client

21-year-old Tremacie Nauth

Nauth displaying her two-faced fantasy look

Fantasy look

One of her bridal makeup looks

Nauth with one of her clients

XIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Appreciation of the Indo-Guyanese culture

A

S m y re a d e r s may know by now, I am of the e v e r- g ro w i n g mixed-race population in Guyana. My mother is of the Indo-Guyanese race and my father is mixed. Growing up, I was fully active in all parts of my families’ cultures. I might not be as culturally active today but I am still very appreciative for they have all moulded me into the person I am currently. All cultures are unique, rich and meaningful in their own ways. The same can be said for the Indo-Guyanese culture of Guyana. In many ways, the overall cultural stage of Guyana was significantly shaped by Indians. Their culture has many branches and roots; it is more than what the eye meets. Without disregarding the importance of other cultures, I’d like to show my profound appreciation towards all Indo-Guyanese and their beliefs, their significance and their chapter towards the giant book we know as ‘Guyana’s History’.

In my writing, to show significance, I normally ask my readers to imagine life without certain things; would it be the same? Would it really be the same without roti and chicken curry? Or the sounds of melodious Tassa drums and Indian music?

Are you truly experiencing the ideal Guyanese culture without ever attending the full services of a Hindu wedding? How about a life without the festival of lights and the motorcades that light up the night? I know for a fact

that the meaning, memories and experiences of my life would not have been the same. Indian culture is wide.

Religiously speaking, there are the Muslims and Hindus.

Under those two dominations, they have their own practices, beliefs, dishes, traditional wear and even sub-groups.

Perhaps, the most beautiful aspect of the Indo-Guyanese culture in Guyana is the strength of resilience and adaptation. The Indian culture we have in Guyana

differs from that of our ancestors’ in India. From the language we speak all the way to how we cook our curried dishes, are different but still yet significant. That is evidence that culture can adapt and still be preserved at the same time. Our ancestors had to adapt to this tropical region, they had not the tools and ingredients to cook their traditional foods, they had not the garments to make their traditional wear and they also lost their mother tongue along

the way and adapted to western languages. Nonetheless, what we know today as the ‘Indo-Guyanese Culture’ is undoubtedly significant and relevant to who and what we are as Guyanese.

Deodat Persaud is an influential leader in the East-Berbice region. He has done tremendous work on preserving, practising and educating persons on the Indo-Guyanese culture. He stated that: “There have been challenges because of a

change in priorities from when our ancestors arrived to now. There was a struggle to maintain the Indian culture because of the personal struggles those before us faced on the plantation. However, they have preserved our culture creditably and successful because across Guyana, religion and culture has been spread and practised.” Persaud also added that: “The language

opportunity to acknowledge villages/settlements such as Albion, Highbury, Blackbush Polder, East-Canje, Cotton Tree, Mahaica, Charity, LBI, Parika, Enmore, Anna Regina and many more that have contributed to the preservation of the Indo-Guyanese culture. With that said, I’d like to remind you all that Tuesday, May 5 is Indian Arrival Day. May we use this day to reflect

is something that has suffered tremendously. Unlike our neighbours; Suriname and Trinidad/Tobago, we do not speak Hindi as a main language.” Deodat Persaud noted that the only way to better preserve and uplift who are is to acknowledge that all of Guyana’s culture are equal and we should continue the recognition of one’s culture through education and empowerment.

I would like to use this

and show appreciation to the contributions our Indian ancestors have made and find ways and means to preserve the existing and metamorphosised version of the Indian culture. “A nation’s culture resides in the hearts and in the souls of its people”, words beautifully said by the legendary Mahatma Gandhi. Let then Guyana, the Indian culture be reflective through the goodness and light of our hearts and souls.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

XV

Reflections of Arrival Day Amanda Richards photo

Amanda Richards photo

A

S the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, the celebrations we have come to look forward to have taken a different form. This year, Arrival Day celebrations come May 5 will not be the same, but that does not stop us from reflecting on the rich East Indian culture that inspires this celebration.

In this collage we feature past performances of the Tandavas Dance Troupe at various occasions.

Hymwant Deepan photo

Amanda Richards photo

XVI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Pineapple T HE pineapple (Arwas comoxs) is one of the most popular fruits in Guyana. It is available year-round in the domestic market and significant volumes are also exported to Barbados. The principal production areas are in Regions Three and Four. The leading cultivar grown is ‘Montserrat. Lesser quantities of the ‘Sugar Loaf, ‘Smooth Cayenne’, and ‘Tiger Head’ cultivars are also produced.

Fruit of the ‘Montserrat’ cultivar can be subdivided into two distinct biotypes based on fruit size and shape and length of the crown. One biotype has a conical shaped fruit with a shorter crown. The other biotype has a cylindrical fruit shape with a longer crown. Both biotypes have a relatively tough skin small pointed fruitlets (eyes), and a relatively long postharvest life.

The internal flesh colour of both biotypes is pale yellow and fruit weight ranges between 1.5 to 3.0 kg.

‘Sugar Loaf pineapples are the sweetest in flavour among tie cultivars produced in Guyana. However, the skin is very delicate and the fruit has a short shelf life. The fruit is oblong and averages about 2 kg in weight. Skin colour is dark green when mature and changes to bright yellow as the fruit ripens. It is highly aromatic when fully ripe.

‘Smooth Cayenne’ fruit is cylindrical with green skin colour and flat broad eyes. The flesh is pale yellow with high acidity, acceptable flavour, and is susceptible to translucency. It is the leading export cultivar produced worldwide and is suitable for both fresh market and processing (canning or juice) - Fruit weight averages around 2 kg. ‘Tiger Head’ is a minimally grown cultivar, mostly produced in the Amerindian settlements in the Hinterland areas. Fruit shape is long and rounded with an average size of 2.5 kg.

Harvesting Pineapple fruit should be harvested when firm and mature. Pineapples do not improve in eating quality after harvest. Sugar content does not increase after harvest. Therefore, the fruit must be picked at the optimum maturity and ripeness stage to suit the intended market.

Domestically marketed fruits should be harvested close to full ripeness, which in the case of the Montserrat cultivar is at the one-half yellow external surface colour. Fruit is near its maximum mass at this colour stage if still on the plant. Fruit intended for the export market should be picked slightly sooner, at the quarter-yellow colour stage. It will also be necessary to expeditiously move the product from the field to the parking area to the airport as soon as possible and temperature storage. Fruits picked mature but before full ripeness (i.e. Less than one-quarter yellow) will be firmer and better able to tolerate long-distance transport. However, they will have a less desirable flavour.

Nevertheless, without refrigeration or rapid transport to market, it will be necessary to sacrifice some flavour for adequate firmness to have the potential to export the fruit. Pineapples harvested when immature will not ripen and will have a low sugar content and poor flavour. On the other hand, fruit harvested over mature will get soft and bruise easily during transport and will have a very short market life.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

XVII

THE BIOLOGY CLASS WILL BE DIFFERENT AFTER COVID-19

O

UR memories at times are tempered by the circumstances of the day, with the anxiety to forget bad experiences.

Malaria, Leptospirosis and even HIV are pushed aside as if they were fashion trends that have fulfilled their time and are now gone. syphilis (leak) is no longer discussed (though this is a dangerous bacteria that invades the body, deceiving its victim that its healed, while spreading through the body, causing other diseases including yaws, and it can also be transferred secondarily). Another disease, ‘Pinta’, a South American infection that disfigures the skin

because it can affect the foetus of a pregnant woman, which is physically visible when the child is born. This is transferred by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that feeds mostly on human blood. Then there was the 2014 heated debate between Dr George Norton and then Minister of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran over the issue of Chikungunya, a virus discovered in Tanzania that causes severe joint pain and takes months for victims to recover. Its transporter is the aggressive adoptable Mosquito species ‘Aedes albopictus’ that Virologists claim usually colonises other mosquito populations. Dr Bheri Ramsaran argued that

that people want to survive through and forget. The human mind is quick to hide severe ailments by making up’reasons not to be too cautious with this or that. I recall shopping at Bourda Market over 25 years ago and enquiring about a youngster who used to be around, with my late friend ‘Bone Dry’. I was surprisingly informed that he had passed away. Apparently, he developed jaundice and was told to use ‘bitters’. The bitters killed him. I anxiously asked his friends and the stallholders in the vicinity he was active in about this folly, inquiring who told him to use bitters? Some remained silent, looking at me

from over the last f e w weeks – July 2007-pg 64, carried a reference of how in Tanzania actors perform educational dramas about defence and protection against Malaria.

Tanzania is Africa’s largest treated bed-net producers (as of 2007) and is also a nation tortured by Malaria during its rainy season from the data before us on the ‘How’s’ concerning mass infections. Sometimes we don’t need to rediscover the wheel, every child was warned especially in rural areas, not to pick up fruit fallen during the night, that might have just a little bite mark, vis-

with de-pigmentation lesions that grows into ulcers is related to the yaws and Syphilis bacteria and is spread by non-sexual transmission has been wrongly attributed to leprosy. Syphilis is treatable but it’s best to protect one’s self, but the origins of this infection have long been a subject of dispute as to whether it began in the old world and was brought into the new world.

It is also in verse described as a curse from the Greek God Apollo in a conflict with a defiant shepherd named Syphilus. It has always been an infection of shame and terror, even with modern workable remedies, it must not be taken casually. We now have children born with the effects of the Zika virus, to which enough attention was not been given by the then medical administration, as to the swiftness that insect-borne infections travel with. Zika was packaged as being in Brazil and was ‘not a worry’ to the Guyanese public. Zika is a frightening mosquito transferred virus

the virus was a Berbice ‘ting’ and that to focus on Georgetown would frighten off tourists and investor. This was not a sensible or rational argument from a Minister of Health, who should have known that to mosquitoes, rats, bats, and viruses, Georgetown is a step away from Berbice.

There is a proven global temerity with insect and rodent-carrying infections in our modern world of easy travel, especially with a virus first identified in Africa, that had hitched a ride from Africa to South America. Dr Norton’s tactical advice was ignored on a flimsy political posture, and many in Georgetown and across Guyana paid the price. Diseases are not the toys of political or commercial fencing bouts.

People die and suffer as a result, as in the case of Zika for a lifetime.

How do you sensitise people to infections and diseases? These are not trends of fashion that are accompanied by popular music, these are items in the human world

questioningly, while those vocal, insisted that bitters were the right thing, even invoking imaginary references. It’s difficult to inform through a school system all the necessary information, which, if commonly understood could have saved that young man’s life. When the AIDS crisis hit Guyana people took refuge in the blame game, that it was a ‘Gay Thing’ ARTISTS IN DIRECT SUPPORT created by an active group of theatre professionals arrested the myths and conveyed a better perspective of HIV-AIDS. I had also with the support of UNICEF and GAHEF produced an illustrated magazine (comic book) on the subject, with some frightening interviews with ‘Iceman’ and a lady who picked up young men from around the cinemas. But though the UNICEF operative was also eager to support such a book on street drugs, the government in 1999, was not interested in that area. In one of the National Geographic magazines I have used references

iting relatives from the city were intensely guarded against this. Night visiting birds, monkeys and bats like fruits too and you can possibly catch something no one knows how to deal with, biting big over their little bite mark, on a juicy looking mango. The essential priority is that this conversation needs to expand in respect to all as is necessary to be understood, and Guyana has a real opportunity with the right management to create a green economy to apply what the Wildlife Conservation Society indicates “it’s not about wildlife health or about human health or about livestock health, there’s really just one health-the health and balance of ecosystems throughout the planet.” In the face of COVID-19 a new approach to Biology and its disciplines have to be with tact transferred through functional means, simplified, into the public awareness in relation to the world we must now realise that we live in and must knowledgeably exist in.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

LABOUR DAY AND TRADE UNIONISM

T

WO days ago on May 1, Labour Day was celebrated as a national holiday. It is customary for this column to notice commemorative holidays before they occur but we would have had to carry this article almost a week before Labour Day so we, therefore, decided to publish after the event when the holiday was still fresh in the public’s memory.

May 1 was long celebrated in Guyana as a holiday under the name of May Day, a tradition we had inherited from England. It was a day when there were fairs everywhere, catering especially for children and there were accordingly many children’s games like climbing the greasy pole or various types of races such as bag races. The centrepiece of such events was the plaiting of the

maypole and the choice and crowning of the May Queen.

Labour Day replacing May Day on the Guyanese holiday calendar, is associated with Trade Unions and Unionism. Though the first Trade Union in Guyana was founded

by Hubert Nathaniel Critchlow just after World War I and though the Movement made some impact in the 1920s and 1930s especially among the stevedores and in the sugar estates, it blossomed forth after World War II when many more Unions were founded to represent various trades.

In these years, also, modern political parties began to be established and since Britain had decided to withdraw from its West Indian colonies, these political parties thought of themselves as succeeding the colonial power.

These political parties thought they could strengthen themselves by co-opting the

Unions and they successfully did so to the extent where labour concerns in the unions very often became subordinated to political concerns. In all strikes and labour protests against the employers, the State generally took the side of the employers and this was clearly seen in the sugar strikes in the 1940s and 1950s and these worker struggles in the Sugar Industry form an epic chapter in the Trade Union history of Guyana.

Though the worker struggles for better wages and working conditions have essentially the same characteristics in all countries, each country has its own peculiar manifestation of such struggles: Western Europe and the United States experienced their Industrial Revolutions in the 19th Century. Industrial production was done by the factory system which employed large conglomerates

of workers who mostly left their homes in the countryside to find employment in the fast-growing industrial towns. These hundreds of thousands of workers were cruelly exploited by the employers and their conditions were recorded in many writings such as Charles Dickens’ novels. Many thinkers or philosophers, especially in France and England, began to work out ways in which they thought this exploitation of the workers could be ended and among the most prominent was Karl Marx. Most of these philosophers thought that change could come about only by violent revolution while a small minority felt that the same goals could be achieved by more peaceful means.

Britain adopted the more gradualist and peaceful means of change, later known as Fabian Socialism.

This implied gradual political change by widening the franchise and by permitting the establishment of trade unions and the strengthening of the Trade Union laws giving greater protection to the workers.

Guyana, being a British colony, adopted British Labour Laws from the beginning of the 20th Century and such Laws gave the Unions much protection. Labour was given national recognition and May Day became Labour Day. May Day celebrations however still continued for some years together with Labour Day parades and the Thomas Lands YMCA May Day fairs which elected the May Queen was the centre of May Day celebrations in Georgetown, Of recent years, many of the former traditions of Labour Day have been neglected and need to be re-

suscitated so as to again give the occasion the richness and public appeal it once had: The speeches of Union leaders should once again adumbrate policy outlines for the Government; workers’ songs such as the Internationale and Solidarity for Ever should again be heard; the marches should be accompanied by bands and be disciplined; the spirit of solidarity which transcended political affiliations and was almost Masonic should be revived; and at every year’s celebrations, the stories of the great Guyanese Union leaders should be remembered. Though the parades could not have taken place this year owing to the Covid19 pandemic requirements, union leaders have now been presented with an opportunity to prepare for a memorable May Day 2021.

Single-Use Plastics (SUP) and Human Health

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O matter where we go, we will always come into contact with single-use plastics, they are a part of our daily lives. This is scary because we are often too blind to even notice their inherent dangers to the health of humans and the earth as a whole.

What are plastics?

Plastics are made from crude oil.

Although

there are new innovations where plastics are produced from non-oil sources, 99 percent of plastics are produced from fossil fuels. Further, according to researchers, about 91 percent of all plastics produced are non-recycled and single-used plastics.

Plastics are used throughout today’s economies and in numerous industrial sectors, including packaging, health care, construction, automotive, aviation, agricul-

ture, logistics and storage, consumer goods, textiles and many others. They

are inexpensive, lightweight, are easily shaped and durable.

Plastics are valuable materials and could be recycled to create fresh economic value if properly managed. However, a failure in the market-place and waste management policies to fully account for the external costs that plastic pollution brings in addition to the indiscriminate disposal of plastic wastes by humans, have led to plastics becoming a major pollutant of the environment.

What are Single-Use Plastics?

Single-use plastics are plastic items ideally used only once before they are thrown away. Some items classified as single-use plastics are bags, straws, plates, forks, food containers, cups, spoons, knives, etc.

What are the Effects of Plastics on Human Health?

Right from the stage of production plastic plays the villain by providing an easier and low-cost commodity to humans and in turn, affects us negatively, since the major chemicals that go into the making of plastics are highly toxic and pose serious threats

to human beings, animals and the natural environment.

Plastics can enter our food chain - In the marine environment, organisms at every level of the food web have been reported to ingest or interact with plastic and these include higher-order consumers such as fish and humans. Consequently, ingestion of small plastic particles called microplastics may be physically harmful if the

Some of the constituents of plastics such as benzene are known to cause cancer, neurological, reproductive, and development toxicity, impairment of the immune system and more. These toxins have major impacts on skins, eyes, and other sensory organs, the respiratory, nervous, and gastrointestinal systems, liver and brain. Many of the plastics become micro-plastics and goes

particles translocate across the cell membrane of humans into the circulatory, lymphatic, respiratory, and/or other biological systems. Additionally, plastics can be chemically harmful due to the complex suite of chemicals which are added during production; many studies have highlighted the possibility of plastics acting as vectors for toxic chemicals and pathogenic agents.

Plastics can adversely impact our biological systems -

right back into the waterways and then consumed by fishes, and those fishes are consumed by us humans.

Moreover, did you know that recycling of plastics can be harmful?

Recycling of plastics is also associated with skin and respiratory problems, resulting from exposure to and inhalation of toxic fumes especially hydrocarbons and residues releases

during the process.

What Can We Do? Single-Use Plastics have become such a global way of life, that it seems as if we simply cannot do without them.

However, if we start reducing the use of SUP now in small ways, together it will make a big difference.

We start reducing plastics by making the deliberate switches: * Choose Reusable Bags; * Choose Reusable Water Bottles; * Choose Reusable Coffee Mugs; * Choose Reusable: Knives, Spoons, Forks, Plates, Straws; and * Choose Reusable Food containers such as Glasses, and Ceramics.

“The Environment is Everybody’s Business” #592saysnotoSUP. You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: The Environmental Protection Agency, C/O Communications Department, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail. com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

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Simple things

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HIS season has helped me to gain an appreciation for the simple things in life.

A few days ago, I came across an art piece that struck a chord in my soul. I had never before imagined that I would be physically locked away from the outside world; never imagined that a simple hug could be missed as it is today, or that not touching my face would be the hardest thing someone could ask of me. When I looked at the artwork, I could put myself in the place of the man seated on the ground. Like me, he is visibly locked in. He seems to have no desire to even stand, so he mounts a painting on the wall, well below eye level, that you’d have to sit on the floor to see it. Yet this painting is all he wants to see. He leaves the mirror at eye level,

suggesting perhaps that he can’t stand his full appearance. He has ‘let himself go’ because there is simply no place to go.

Light emanates from the painting creating his silhouette and casting shadows in the room. The atmosphere indoors is dull and gloomy. In the painting, he only sees a sunset, nothing beyond. There is no hope at the end of the road; there is no road. The colours in the painting are faded and the composition is calm, forcing him to slow down, breathe and live in the moment. As he sits on the tile, I ponder on his seeming discomfort with life indoors. It must be as cold as the floor. He is alone. More than being alone, he is torn - torn between freedom and “ lock-down”. He is unable to pursue recreation, relaxation and pleasure. Then his

thoughts turn to life outdoors as he gazes at the sunset and tries to relive his past experiences.

As the artist juxtapose the two scenarios (indoors and outdoors) we see a striking difference. The live sunset is vibrant in colour. There is hope at the end of the road; there is a road.

There is grass, much greener than memory; greener than on the outside. The clouds seem busier, as if to reflect his once busy life. “Oh, the sea wall!

How I miss thee. Sitting on this cold tile could not compare to thee.” I imagine him echoing these sentiments. It’s the little things you miss the most.

In the distance, we see two building structures. They appear to represent the Pegasus and Marriott hotels. Perhaps he worked for the hotel industry where he once provided a service that fulfilled a desire

Digital art by Michael Griffith for rest, recreation, pleasure and of course money. Maybe watching the sunset was his pastime either before or after a shift. There was something to look forward to the next day.

Now everything is uncertain.

If you are currently feeling as the man in the painting, I

want to encourage you to get up, get dressed and seize the day. There are some businesses, some gifts, some ideas inside of you. Opportunities are waiting for you. Seize the moment. The keys are in your hands. Pursue purpose. Yes! It will be hard, but with God, all

things are possible.

In this art piece, although simple, I appreciate the artist’s level of understanding of composition, light and shadow. It is a thought-provoking and well-executed piece of art. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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May - 03 - 2020

English STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student,

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here is a simple answer to do current revision. Re-examine topics and sub-top-

ics taught in class. Ask your teachers for further guidelines to complete the picture of what you ought to study. Read through responses to important areas of questioning, check all relevant flashcards and

other learning tools, and quiz yourself and partners on points that matter.

Whatever you do, do not forget to ask your teacher about the examination scope and guidelines. Positive actions create posi-

tive results.

Love you.

THE EXCERPT When I was growing up in Pittsburgh in 1950, I would not go to bed willingly because something came into my room. This was a private matter between me and it. If I spoke of it, it would kill me.

Who could breathe as this thing searched for me over the very corners of the room? Who could ever breathe freely again? I lay in the dark.

My sister Amy, two years old, was asleep in the other bed. What does she know? She was innocent of evil …an innocence I needed but couldn’t muster.

Since Amy was asleep, furthermore, and since when I needed someone most, I was afraid to stir enough courage to wake her, she was useless.

I lay alone and was almost asleep when the thing entered the room by flattening itself against the open door and sliding in. It was a transparent, luminous oblong. I could see the door whiten at its touch; I could see the blue wall turn pale where it raced over it, and see the maple headboard of Amy’s bed glow. It was a swift spirit; it was an awareness. It made noise.

It had two joined parts, a head and a tail, like a Chinese dragon. It found the door, wall, and headboard; and it swiped them, charging them with its luminous glance. After its fleet, searching passage, things looked the same, but weren’t.

I dare not blink nor breathe; I tried to hush my whooping blood. If it found another awareness, it would destroy it.

Every night before it got to me it gave up. It hit my wall’s corner and couldn’t get past… I heard the rising roar when it died or left.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Now, is it to lower the price of corn, or isn’t it? It is not much matter which we say, but mind, we must all say the same.

LORD MELBOURNE (1779-1848) (At a Cabinet meeting) Attr. See Bagehot, The English Constitution, ch. 1

Sometimes it came back, sometimes it didn’t.

Most often, restless, it came back. So, I wouldn’t sleep.

(Taken from “An American Childhood” by Annie Dillard) About the Excerpt This extract dwells upon a child’s handling of information. A child does not always think connectedly like adults. The careful but stunning description of the frightening thing the author experienced as a child certainly shows she could not interpret the information coming at her at night at that age. But Then looking back at how little Any slept, see how she presents it with an adult kind of description.

This is yet another example of how real life happenings can be written into good stories. You, too, can produce good writing only if you try hard enough at this art form.

What to Do 1. Read the excerpt once more and put an interpretation to each of the following phrases and sentences: a) “It was a private matter between me and it.” b) “She was innocent of evil.” c) “flattening itself against the open door and sliding in” d) “After its fleet, searching passage, things looked the same, but weren’t.” e) “I heard the rising roar as it made when it died or left.” f) “She was useless.”

2. What meaning would you put to the following words?

Something, messiness, Chinese dragon, whooping.

3. Underline some details the author included clearly to entertain readers in her description of her fear. Discuss them with your study partners.

4. Think about a fear in your childhood days which you now consider very silly.

Write the fear down clearly.

List six reasons how you were able to overcome that fear.

5. Upon examining the author’s description of her childhood fear, what do you think was her bedroom monster?

GRAMMAR Using some prepositions and conjunctions correctly Here are some errors that you should avoid as you express yourself orally or in writing. Pay attention to each rule as it is explained and demonstrated.

1. Avoid the use of as, as how, where used for that, who, or whether.

I do not know whether [not as how] she should be afraid.

He read that [not where] the Parliament has passed laws about COVID-19.

2. Say different from, not different than. Than is a conjunction, not a preposition.

Your opinions are different from [not than] hers.

3. Do not use the preposition like for the conjunction as or as if. [In informal usage, some authorities accept the use of like for as, though not for as if.]

4. Avoid “The reason is because …” Say, “The reason is that…”

Her reason for leaving is that [not because] she did not get a favourable hearing.

5. Use the conjunction if to state a condition, not to take the place of whether.

Do you know whether you can go?

If you can go, meet us here at twelve noon.

6. Do not use at about for at or about.

The company of singers arrived about [or at] ten o’clock.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― May 03, 2020

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Ingredients » 1 box Vanills cake mix ( 461g ) » 4 eggs » 1 cup 2% milk » 1/3 cup margarine ( for batter ) » 1/4 cup margarine ( for glaze ) » 1 cup brown sugar » 1 tbsp. vanilla essence canned pineapple slices » maraschino cherries

Method 1. Coat pan by greasing with margarine and coating with flour 2. in a pan melt the 1/4 cup sugar and 1/4 cup margarine together, once it starts to bubble remove.

3. add the melted mixture to your coated pan evenly, set aside 4. beat eggs and melt the 1/3 cup margarine 5. in a mixing bowl add cake mix, add milk and mix in, add beaten eggs, melted margarine and mixed essence .

6. mix well

Layering the Cake 1. Preheat oven to 350 F 2. add the pineapple slices first 3. add a cherry in each pineapple slice hole 4. add cake mix 5 bake for 30-35 mins

realniceguyana.com

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