Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot Epaper 09 08 2019

Sunday, September 8, 2019 Moraikobai resident, Hermina Adrian who is seen displaying her legendary cassava bread, is one of many residents from the Region 5 Village who travelled to Georgetown to showcase their traditional craft and food at the Indigenous Village, Sophia Exhibition Centre, in honour of Indigenous Heritage Month (Samuel Maughn photo)

Moraikobai comes to town

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Dave Martins Heads GCA awardees for 2019

By Francis Quamina Farrier MUSICIAN, composer and columnist Dave Martins, AA, was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc on August 28. The ceremony which was held at the Borough Hall in Brooklyn, New York City, was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Guyana’s Consul-General in New York, the Hon Barbara Atherly and other Guyanese associated with the performing and visual arts and lovers of things cultural.

Although not present in person to receive the physical award, Dave Martins was present in a larger- than-life image on a jumbo screen.

His brief acceptance message to the GCA Awards Committee and the audience, which included many of his adoring fans, was about the founding of the Tradewinds Band and his 50 years in the entertainment industry. The applause at the end may have been heard way across the Caribbean Sea, to the honeymooning couple with glee.

Explaining the work of the association, Chairman of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Dr. Vibert Cambridge stated, “Our Annual Awards represent our association’s sustained engagement with global Guyana. What we do is dependent

on the community in which we live.” The GCA president also spoke of the Centenary Valerie Rodway Concert which was held in New York on August 25, at the St Gabriel’s Episcopal Anglican church. Valerie Rodway is one of Guyana’s celebrated composers of patriotic songs which include, “Oh, Beautiful Guyana.” Many church choirs in New York performed at the concert. Not from New York, the St George’s Cathedral Choir travelled all the way from Guyana for that special and historic concert to honour Guyanese composer, the late Valerie Rodway, on the occasion of her 100th birth anniversary. The

International dancer and educator Mohamed A. Amin, AKA Zaman, is a pioneer in multi-ethnic craft. (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)

An active member of the Theatre Guild and an award-winning radio actress, Simone Dowding (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)

Music and Culture Educator and retired Chairman of the Department of Culture, Mildred Lowe (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)

concert was directed by Monty Blackmore, formally of the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, Guyana.

Also addressing the audience was Chairman of the Awards Committee, Ronald Lammy, who explained the workings of the committee and how the awardees are decided.

“Visionary and characteristics are prominent across multiple generations,” he said and pointed out the inclusion of Youth Awards.

Among those also receiving Awards this year, were former Chairman of the Department of Culture in Guyana, Mildred Lowe; Pianist, Composer and Music Educator, Hugh Sam; Dance Educator Mohamed Amin; TV and Theatre Award Winner, Simone Dowding; Musician, Composer and actor Courtney

Noel and Learning Drumologist Kenton Wyatt. Receiving the Godfrey Chin Prize for Heritage Journalism were Mosa Telford, First Prize and Alex Arjoon Second Prize.

An Exemplary Award was presented to Stefan Bristol , who has used his creativity in film production to showcase Guyanese talent. Following that presentation, much emotion overflowed between Bristol and his mother before an equally emotional audience.

Jonathan Locke, who together with Ronald Lammy, donated statuettes to theawards for five years. Locke became emotional as he recalled his own mother working in Guyana in the visual arts for many years. Very unique this year, was the father Ovril Solomon and his daughter Tunisia Solomon, who were both recipients of awards for their contributions to steelpan music. Tee Tee Solo, as the daughter is also known, is a singer and composer.

There was also a moment of silence at the ceremony to the memory of two former GCA awardees who died last week: folklorist, cultural educator and author, Peter Kempadoo and entertainer Johnny Braff, who only this year was bestowed with a national award.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Film, animation trio looks toward crafting Guyana Film Festival

By Vishani Ragobeer

PHILLIP Williams, Mosa Telford and Sadé Barrow Browne are the three Guyanese who will now be venturing about to craft Guyana’s own film festival, following their experiences at CARIFESTA XIV. At the recently concluded Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) XIV held in Trinidad and Tobago, you might say that this trio was on a not-so-undercover mission to scope out the ins and outs of the industry to unleash the Region’s best film festival which features Guyanese creative talent. Phillip, who is the President of CineGuyana, noted that he was excited to come back to Guyana and begin streamlining some of the ideas and plans he developed in Trinidad.

“I would like to, with the permission of the Director of Culture, pull together a little film and animation action committee to start planning for Guyana’s first national film festival,” he disclosed. What he envisions is that this film festival would bring together creatives in Guyana and give them a chance to show their skills in content creation, while benefiting from workshops that would function to refine these skills.

Phillip and Sadé at the T&T Film Festival

Not only that, but Mosa also posited that such a venture would encourage Guyanese to create films. “For me as a writer, it’s because you don’t get the support, the [creative industry] is not going anywhere,” she said.

Mosa highlighted that there is no shortage of talent in Guyana, but there is a dearth of tangible support for the creative sector in Guyana. This, according to her, stymies the development of the local industry.

“So hopefully with us starting this, we’d be able to change the culture one day,” she said, while calling for private and public sector support. At CARIFESTA, the trio was also there to represent the Guyanese works that were selected and submitted. These were Mikayla’s Adventures, a short animation done by Jumal Sampson and Precious Barrow and Helpline, a film by Merundoi.

Unfortunately, only Mikayla’s Adventures made its rounds during CARIFESTA. For this, Sade related that there was just about one showing for the sole Guyanese film and the team would have worked extra hard to get that shown in other places. She mentioned that she eventually got it to screen at the Envision Youth village, the youth segment of Carifesfa.

On the other hand, Phillip explained that the Guyanese team in this field had to do some additional work on the films for the TT film festival after they were selected from the pool of films submitted after the open call. This “extra work” meant that the Guyanese films were submitted after the film festival’s deadline. Phillip, however, noted that through communication with stakeholders, the Guyanese delegation was under the impression that they would be given a slight extension to get the work done. That was not the case, however, and Guyana’s Helpline was not part of the film festival. “[The exclusion of Helpline] really, really disappointed me. It kind of downed my spirit throughout the rest of the time here,” Mosa said.

But even with that disappointment, Mosa who is a wellknown local creative made the most of the opportunity of being at CARIFESTA. She related that she visited some of the nearly 100 films that were being screened to explore the creative styles and techniques employed to come back to Guyana and develop some of her own ideas.

The film and animation crew at CARIFESTA XIV: Phillip Williams, Mosa Telford and Sadé Barrow Browne

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Phillip also noted that the group grasped the opportunity of forging a partnership with persons from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT), which they believe will be instrumental in pulling off the film festival, perhaps by leading the training and developmental workshops.

In fact, at CARIFESTA and the Film Festival, UTT students had some of their own films screened.

And Sadé affirmed that these were very well done, and showed the quality of work those Trinidadian students produced with solid institutional backing.

Since being exposed to this quality of work, Sadé said, “There’s no longer the need for me to accept mediocre work [in Guyana]. I think now we will push for higher standards.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Massage Therapy is good for the soul

By Wendella Davidson

WHEN someone complains about feeling stressed or being constantly tired they would often be given a popular piece of advice: “you need a massage”.

A massage is defined as the rubbing and kneading of muscles and joints of the body with the hands, especially to relieve tension or pain. It is an art that was first practised some 5,000 years ago by settlers in the East and West - the Chinese, Indians, Japanese, Romans and Greeks.

In that era, people viewed massage therapy as sacred, hence the use as a natural healing balm for injuries and to relieve pain and cure illnesses. Over the years, though, as massages became very popular, some persons started to harbour different mindsets, with some even against the nudity of it.

Natasha said her focus is on the Swedish massage which is the most common form and the Lymphatic Drainage Massage, adding that they are both full-body massages. To execute her aromatherapy, she uses a special blend of essential oils, a combination of various ingredients, such as rose oil, lavender oil and her main product, or base oil, the popular local coconut oil. The local coconut oil is a pleasure to work with, she said. It is healthy, good for the skin and also smooth.

She noted, however, that there are persons who are allergic to highly-scented oils and certain products. Also, it is through consultationwhich is done before she begins to work on a client- that she learns whether the individual is hypertensive, diabetic, had any accidents or broken bones.

Explaining about a full-body massage, she said it usually includes the arms, legs,

Natasha at work on a client

In a recent interview with Natasha Goodman, a massage therapist who hails from Mabaruma in Region One (Barima-Waini) and has been in the business for eight years, she said that massage is about more than providing relaxation to someone. It also increases blood circulation and allows the tired or distressed recipient to feel refreshed and re-energised.

She has been exposed to training both here and in Trinidad and has also had international exposure working along with seasoned massage therapist, Lisle Headley, founder of Nature’s Own Body Clinic. Headley has also hosted several massage workshops at various venues in neighbouring Suriname, over time.

Natasha also a trained cosmetologist with 11 years’ experience, operates her business, NG’s Sensation Salon and Cosmetologist School, within which is a massage parlour, in a three-story building on Bent Street, Wortmanville, between Louisa Row and Hardina Street.

She said it was always her desire to incorporate the massage aspect into her business, so she thought the name she chose was befitting.

Beauty is not only on the outside, for someone to achieve the real and true beauty, it also has to come from within, she noted.

“Being into the beauty business, I realised that most of the services would always involve some little bit of the massage. In the salon, whether it is giving a client a manicure or a pedicure, it is a requirement that the hands or the feet be massaged upon completion, to aid the circulation. Thus [I got] the motivation that the inclusion of a massage spa would be helping the clients to feel good overall, “the masseuse said.

hands and feet, neck and back, stomach and buttocks, and with the female, the breasts, and should last an hour. During the period, most of the individual’s body remains covered with a white sheet and the therapist will uncover the part of the body that is being attended to at the time.

She said that most persons who request a massage, know nothing about the lymphatic system in the body. They just want a massage to feel relaxed, but according to her, even though she wants her clients to feel good and

be relaxed, she also looks after the health her subsequently undergoing suraspect. A massage is also a manual manipgery,” Natasha pointed out. ulation of the auxiliary areas of the body Natasha said she has that helps to detoxify the body. To carry come to realise that being out the activity, the atmosphere must be in the massage business serene with soft lights, as most persons allows her to help persons before doing so are very tense. to be aware of what’s Massage is all about bringing going on with them interrelief to the client, but it begins with nally. She added that she making the recipient feel comfortis very passionate when able and relaxed. To make the client it comes to cancer, recomfortable, the massage therapist also calling that her father needs to explain what the process is recently died from the about and the areas of the body disease. that will be touched. “Not On this many therapists would take note, care of the breast of the she exfemale or the buttocks plained on any human, they that would usually leave simout those two parts, ply but those two parts doare very important,” she said. “The breast has many lymph nodes that help to cleanse the body. You need to let your clients know that it is nothing sexual, as people have that kind of mindset about having massages, some people are against the nudity of it.” ing A lymphatic drainage a massage helps to eliminate breast the lumps in the breasts examMassage Therapist Natasha Goodman and drain the lymph ination (Samuel Maughn photos) nodes. She noted that can save with a client who is diaa life of betic, the condition is easily observed as the someone who may have breast cancer, while client would fall asleep as soon as the body is adding that much is being done within the touched. So for a diabetic, a Swedish massage local health sector and even internationally to is very helpful, as it aids in the circulation and educate about all forms of cancer. in eliminating the nipping of the toes, pains Natasha, who has home service to clients in the feet and cramps. Natasha recalled that on her agenda, said whenever she does masit was during a bout of illness of her mother, sage on a client and comes across anything Felicia Goodman, now deceased, that her suspect, she refers the client to a doctor. interest as a massage therapist piqued, as had As a massage therapist, who thrives on she not done a massage on her mom, that the the belief that prevention is better than cure, family would not have been able to ensure Natasha disclosed that for the observance of that the woman visited a doctor without delay. Cancer Awareness, she will be conducting “My mother was diabetic and while doing a four-hour workshop at the Theatre Guild a massage on her feet on day, to aid the circu- on October 12, 2019, in collaboration with lation, I realised that she was very sensitive to entrepreneur Lisa Headley. the touch on the bottom of her feet. This led The workshop will focus on Cancer to a visit to a doctor and the diagnosis led to Prevention and Breast Care

The building on Bent Street in which Natasha’s business is located

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

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Eco-artist continues to make headlines with his unique pieces of art and craft

By Michel Outridge

Antiguan born Stephen Murphy is an eco-artist that uses items he finds around him to make art and craft jewellery.

Murphy in a recent sit-down chat with the Pepperpot Magazine said each piece is made from what we call recycled material, which is basically anything that we find lying around in the environment.

He added that things like sea glass and water bottles are used to make jewels which are sold right in his shop, Zemi.

“I left Antigua for Canada when I was very young and I got into hotel/restaurant management after finishing high school with the aim of coming back to Antigua to work in the tourism industry but I have always had a kind of liking for art and craft because I like to make things with my hands,” he said.

Murphy stated that he, however, went to college and graduated in hotel/restaurant management and was working in that field in Toronto and it was doing quite well but he didn’t feel complete and wasn’t enjoying himself. At that point, he decided to make a career change and returned to his homeland, where he worked in the tourism industry after which he branched off in art and craft which he felt was his calling.

“Right now working with my hands is very fulfilling and I am making wall photos

Stephen Murphy at his shop, Zemi displaying raw materials used to make art and craft.

from simple things but the finished product is very telling and this for me helps to bring down my stress level,” Murphy said.

This move caused his business, which has been in existence for the past 12 years, to blossom and today he has several shops in St. John’s busy shopping area.

Murphy employs mostly artists because he prefers people with a touch of creativity to develop ideas which turn into art and craft pieces. He pointed out that to sell art one has to be bold and pull at the heartstrings of

customers and his pieces are all exclusive and unique. Murphy told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has in his employ three day-to-day staff and about two dozen locals, who bring things form the environment for him to make art and craft for his shop.

“I have had people take my pieces to Dubai. My art and craft are in almost every country because one day I was watching television and saw my pieces in the homes of people abroad. I have been selling craft for 33 years and been in this business for much

longer. I took the risk and put myself out there and succeeded so stop saying art doesn’t pay, it does,” Murphy said.

Zemi Arts and Craft is nestled in trendy Redcliffe Quay, in St. John’s Zemi captures the essence of the Caribbean culture via an unprecedented approach to art. There, you can find a unique collection of indigenous and local, hand-made artwork which steps away from mass-produced souvenirs.

Zemi aspires to implement authenticity in the broadest sense of the word. This means doing business genuinely and sustainably: culturally, economically and environmentally.

Hence, next to paying tribute to our pre-Colombian ancestors and the Caribbean culture, Zemi honours Antigua’s local landscape, beaches and marine-life by embracing non-intrusive ways of doing business (e.g. recycling) and advocates strongly Caribbean-made merchandise, to support our local economy and its artists.

It is the gallery’s objective to introduce to tourists and the general public the great wealth of handmade and exclusive artwork and craft and produce souvenir items that have flooded many Caribbean islands.

Zemi has handmade assortments that are native wooden masks, painted calabash gourds, bright colourful metalwork, handmade natural soaps, distinctive clay sculptures.

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Breaking stereotypes of male models in Guyana Jay Ramcharran

By Marissa V. Foster

PARMANAND “Jay” Ramcharran is one of the top models from the ancient county of Berbice. He has walked on many runways both nationally and internationally.

He has built his name into a local brand of breaking stereotypes of male models in Guyana but his story was not an easy walk through the park. Growing up, he had very low self-esteem. He was even bullied in High School because of his small-framed structure. He attended the J.C Chandisingh Secondary School and had few friends while he was there. His family is the world to him but his parents separated when he was in Grade Nine.

Jay even attempted suicide and continued to struggle with a negative self-image throughout high school—until of course he was introduced to modelling.

In October 2014, he auditioned for Fashion Forward Fridays— an event which saw fashion shows being held every Friday.

Although he booked his first gig, he was very

all his hard work paid off and he eventually earned a paying career as a model. His career was launched to even a higher level when he auditioned for Guyana Fashion Week.

Fashion Week has moulded him into the confident and accomplished individual that he is today by the help of his trainer Meleesa Payne—who’s no stranger to the modelling and pageant scenes in the Caribbean and Richard Young, an international creative director. n 2017, Jay’s career went to the international arena when he started to book for small private shows in New York. He also did photoshoots alongside photographers like Mar-

Jay Ramcharran (Charles Chessler photo)

much intimidated by the other male models he had to work alongside. However, that did not stop him—it served as motivation for him to get his hand on any available audition. Jay stressed that was quite a difficult path but

school, he thrived at his new school and expressed that education is just as important to him, the way modelling is as well.

In March of this year, his sister was brutally attacked and murdered shortly after his birthday. That incident sent him into a very dark place, it was like wanting to wake up from a very bad dream. He said that his sister was his best friend and that it is an indescribable feeling for him to explain having to lose your best friend in the blink of an eye.

He started to care less about his modelling career and did not even think he wanted to set foot on any runway again. Until, one day, someone told him how proud his sister was of him. A few weeks later, a good friend of his; Denica Henry (Miss Exquisitely Conscious 2019) offered him a part in the Leisure Inn Anniversary Fashion-show.

He described the feeling as being the “best thing ever” as it was the first time he mHis advice to all boys out there who might want to dive into modelling is, “Take that step, it’s going to be hard but trust me, it pays off.

Whatever your dreams are, make it a reality. It feels really good to wake up every day having no regrets—so just do what makes you happy.”

Jay is currently training at the Port Mourant Hospital’s office and is an advisor for Prevention of Teenaged Suicide (POTS) spearheaded by Lisa Punch. He is currently working on launching his very own line of bowties. He is very big on volunteering and charity work but wants to keep that part of his life away from the spotlight. Jay never saw any of the hardships he faced as a challenge, instead, they were tests of life, he said. He believes that even if you fail, you can somehow rewrite that test until you get it right. It worked for Guyanese Male Model, Jay Ramcharran him and hopes it can for others too.

(Lucid Designs photo)

vin Jackson (photographer from New York Fashion Week) and Omar Zamrudeen, an international photographer. Just last year, he was crowned Prince of the Coney Island Mermaid Pageant, something he holds as his biggest achievement to date. Jay has also worked with other well-established photographers such as Nei Valente, Dennis Madigan and Charles Chessler.

He explains that his biggest challenge to overcome was the way he felt about his body. Fortunately, he realised that his body is unique, just like other person’s body and he wouldn’t change a thing about it. While he is an accomplished model, Jay is still quite very shy.

He overcame most of his anxieties and is more focused on who he is and less on what others think of him. In the process of self-actualisation, he started at the Upper Corentyne Training Centre as of last year. His grades are in the 90s and he was awarded first place at the end of every term in his class.

He stressed that he is more focused on education and took a break from the modelling scene. Unlike in high

Jay on the set of Leisure Inn’s fashion show (Lucid Designsphoto)

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Federation of North Westerners of the ‘60s reconnects

Eloise Gillette and other female members of the North West Federation at the Reunion at the YWCA. Business Partner Paul Campbell, flanked by Eloise Gillette on the left and Rev. Raymond Coxall at the right

By Shirley Thomas

IT was an evening of celebration and spirited rejuvenation recently, when scores of folks who had previously lived, worked and made an impact in the North West Region down through the Manganese years, came together in the city for the launch of the “North West Federation’s Annual Reunion”.

The forum’s theme was ‘Maintaining Links with the People of the North West Region’ and was held at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Hall, Brickdam, in Georgetown.

The Committee of Management included Eloise Gillette, Joan and Desiree Speede, Beryl Speede, Yvette Hendy, Dawne Hendy Forde, Walter Sandiford and Paul Campbell-Griffith.

The partners represented a nice cultural and socio-economicc mix The occasion attracted mainly those in the 55 to 70-plus age groups who lived and worked with their families, and whose children enjoyed the best

education.

The opening prayer was delivered by the Reverend Raymond Coxall of the Anglican Diocese, who hails from Morawhanna, the gateway to the North West Administrative Region, previously referred to as the ‘North West District’.

With an admirable track record in the athletic arena in his childhood days, growing up as a lad at Morawhanna, the humble Raymond Coxall would represent his school, the SS. Saints Peter and Paul Primary School and every year, during the Inter-schools’ athletic meet, would defeat all other schools and teams convincingly, emerging top runner.

But what was difficult for others to come to terms with, was how he managed to maintain that lead performance throughout his teenage years growing up in a village where there was very little land on which to train, compared to the schools in the valleys and hill-tops with a vast expanse of land.

Morawhanna is a little agricultural village, surrounded by water from the majestic Bari-

ma River and Mora Passage. Hence it was always conceded that young Coxall had to be blessed with a special gift for athletics, which allowed him to run away with the championship in practically every inter-school, inter-zone athletic meet.

Having started with such a winning streak, it was little wonder that he was named the First Indigenous FIFA Coach Guyana has ever had. He was also probably the first indigenous priest the Anglican Diocese has ever had in Guyana. Rev. Coxall congratulated the Federation and all others lending support to the noble initiative, adding, “Let’s all enjoy ourselves in harmony.”

Other reflections came from Bertie Peters who, for several years, taught at Matthew’s Ridge who shared fond memories of living and working in that Sub-Region. “Even though I now reside on the coastland, Matthew’s Ridge now remains in my heart,” Peters said, with a sense of pride, adding, “I want to breathe life into this Federation and it is my wish that this reunion effort would be held annually and grow from strength to

strength.”

And Director, Eloise Duke Gillette making a point which highlights the importance of the North West Region to Guyana, recalled that when Guyana achieved Republican status, the then President Forbes Burnham opted to spend the greater part of the day at Port Kaituma in the Matthew’s Ridge Sub-Region within the North West Region.

“Most people don’t know this: Republic Day, Mr. Burnham spent three-quarters of the day in the North West. That tells us how important the North West is to Guyana.

For those of you who can remember, you will recall that we stood at the Port Kaituma Airstrip in rain. The school children were there, but having stood at the airstrip in rain, we all got sick.

So they had to shut down the school for a whole week because we were all sick. Leaving Port Kaituma, he tried to go to Matthew’s Ridge, but the truck got stuck in the mud and that was a problem.

And so President Burnham came to Kaituma about 10 o’clock that day and left at night time with Robert Corbin and others,” she explained. And on the point of the North West Region’s contribution to the wealth of Guyana, it was recalled that apart from the cast gold-mining reserves, the once-popular orange juice ‘Guycan’ was made in the North West District, edible oil was manufactured using the ‘palm oil’ produced at Wauna in the North West Region District, and there was also aa thriving overseas market for the delectable ‘Heart of the Palm’ which was extracted from the Ite palm - a palm which is also for the manufacture of handicraft and other tibiseri based items.

Meanwhile, to resounding sounds of applause, Gillette said it is hoped that as the Federation kicks off, they will engage in acts of benevolence and offer help to the less fortunate. On this note, she urged the Federation to give from the heart.

It was an evening of fun, mingling and co-mingling, ushered in by the best in exclusively golden oldies.

Speeches gave way to a sumptuous six-course dinner, followed by ballroom dancing that created a sensation, taking the reunion into the wee hours of the morning.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

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Making Antigua and Barbuda their home Many Guyanese have settled on the twin island Guyanese Carliston Haynesworth

By Michel Outridge

THE Pepperpot Magazine, during n a recent visit to the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, encountered some Guyanese in the diaspora and some of them opted to have a chat.

Guyanese living and working in Antigua and Barbuda, Joy Ann Wright said that life there is very good and she leads a very quiet and peaceful life. She has been residing in Antigua for the past 26 years and decided to stay after she fell in love with the scenic island and its people.

Wright works in the tourism industry and is one of the sales staff at the Ship Wreck Craft Shop at Heritage Quay in St. John’s. “I am Guyanese so Guyana is home; my country of birth and I always have to go back to see what’s happening and so there is no place like home but sometimes you have to make a move elsewhere,” she said.

She believes that the tourism indus-

try between the two countries should be strengthened since it will be beneficial for both nations.

“Guyana is beautiful and Antigua has its unique features as well, and tourism promotion is a welcoming thought because I was watching a documentary about Guyana via YouTube and I have seen the places Guyana has to offer as a tourism product and it’s good,” Wright said.

Another Guyanese, Carliston Haynesworth, who has also been on the island for many years said that he went back to Guyana and returned only last year to Antigua. He came for work and Antigua has become his second home - a home away from home, he said. Haynesworth also works in the tourism industry where he is the maintenance man and gardener at Jumby Resort.

“Antigua, for me, is similar to Guyana in terms of our culture, custom and…our heritage is almost identical and we have a lot of entertainment and things here to make a living,” he said.

Haynesworth added that he is attracted to Antigua because of the opportunities and it is the main reason he is there, to earn because life there is comfortable for him but he stated that he will return to his homeland eventually.

He encouraged his fellow Guyanese to visit Antigua since the interaction with the locals is something to look forward to because the people are very friendly and welcoming to all. “I like meeting people and in my job, the locals are very receptive so much so at one time we had about 10,000 Guyanese living here and that is how these people are here.

They open their doors to you to welcome you and we co-exist in quiet harmony,” he said.

Antigua is home to scores of Guyanese, some of whom have their own small businesses and others work in the tourism and other industries.

Ship Wreck Gift Shop at Heritage Quay in St. John’s

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

PRRC says record amputees received this year, calls for greater diabetes awareness

Dexter George delivering his address at the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation launch

By Elvin Carl Croker THE Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre (PRRC) has recorded its highest number of orders for prosthetic limbs to date this year.

Physiotherapist of the centre, Dexter George, said 150 orders have been received for the year so far which stands for recorded information only at the centre and that there are others in other regions of Guyana. He said comparatively in 2017, the centre recorded a total of only 37 persons with amputations, while by the end of 2018, the number was 64.

George who was at the time guest speaker at the launch of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation last week, held at Cara Lodge, said the start of the foundation signalled a significant step because starting at a juvenile level is the right age group to educate persons of the disease.

“It is better to have a preventative method, which is why the centre is in support of the foundation,” he said.

He related that on average recently, two to three new amputees would visit the centre weekly; this he said is cause for greater awareness in relation to prevention, self-care and management, from government level, community level and a personal level. Addressing its social effect, the physiotherapist, who has been at the PRRC for the past 10 years, said persons with amputations are affected economically, physiologically and socially and their outlook on society and how society sees them changes.

“Combating diabetes is not just only looking at what you eat, but also your lifestyle and education. There are longterm ramifications if you do not do the right thing, it affects everybody,” he said.

He explained that when persons come with their amputations, the centre re-educates them on self-care and management and after supplying them with the prosthetic limb and training them on how to use it, they are then led back into society. “But the real fact is that sometimes society does not accept them,” he said.

He said the centre sells the limbs at a cost that is not with profit. He, however, said that the cost to make the limbs is very high and ranges about from $200,000 to $500,000, depending on the type of material being used. This cost, he noted, is purely for the materials only which have to be imported and do not entail labour and other costs.

The PRRC, which forms part of the national rehabilitation complex in Guyana, is the only place in Guyana that makes prosthetic limbs and attends to persons with amputations. George said that the role of the centre is to show that life with amputation continues. As such, the institution plans to launch an amputee society soon.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

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on the Village

Moraikobai comes to town Home-made cassareep, cassava bread, piwari and unique craft come from this beautiful village

Hermina Adrian

By Michel Outridge THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the Sophia Exhibition Centre and stopped at the Indigenous Food and Craft Village to speak with villagers of Moraikobai, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The Pepperpot Magazine met Hermina Adrian, a spritely woman, who had some home-made cassareep, piwari and wild meat Pepperpot with cassava bread on sale.

Adrian stated that Moraikobai is an Indigenous settlement, the only one in Region Five and is located about 99 miles up the Mahaicony River.

One can get there by boat from the Mahaicony Stelling, East Coast Demerara, by taking a speed- boat for $5,000 one-way and get there in one and a half hours or wait on the launch (a ferry) which takes 11 hours.

Adrian reported that the population is made up of about 3,000 Indigenous members of the Arawak tribe, who eat what they plant and hunt and fish.

She related that apart from farming, the people of Moraikobai depend heavily on log-

ging as their main source of income, while some persons are self-employed.

In keeping with the theme of Indigenous Heritage Month “Maintaining traditional practices while promoting a green economy”, Adrian said they are an environmentally conscious people and they take care of their surroundings to promote a green economy and a healthy village.

“We are a developing community because from when I was a child to now, many things have changed for the better. I must say I grew up very poor and used to sleep on a rice bag and after I grew up [I] started to work and bought things [and] build a house and furnish it with modern amenities such as beds etc.,” Adrian said.

To date, the mother of five stated that she is still a farmer which is hard labour and still makes the traditional foods such as cassava bread and cassareep. She added that the women make piwari, cassava bread, cassareep and the other foods all year and they would bring out the craft to showcase their talent this time every year at the Indigenous Village at Sophia.

Adrian noted that they have a nursery and primary school within the village and the secondary school is in central Mahaicony which has a dormitory and most students from the village would stay there.

When asked what attracts people to Moraikobai, Adrian said the people and the beauty of the place have a lasting effect on visitors, so much so that they re-visit.

She added too, their craft is unlike any other and the place is lovely and there is a lot to offer in terms of tourism such as bird-watching, etc.

“We have everything there and we don’t study Georgetown; the only thing we don’t have is a supermarket, but we have shops,

On the way to the riverine community of Moraikobai (File photo)

Hermina Adrian displayed her home-made cassareep (Samuel Maughn photo)

and life is very peaceful there,” Adrian said.

Most groceries, she said, are sourced from Mahaicony and they would take in monthly supplies of goods.

Moraikobai According to Wikipedia, the community was initially called “Moracoba”; a name that was birthed from a combination of two Arawak words: ‘Mora’ meaning tree and ‘Coba’ meaning stump.

However, several decades ago the name was officially changed to ‘Moraikobai.’ The village is situated approximately 96 miles (154 km) from the confluence of the Mahaicony River, and is accessible only through the Mahaicony Creek, helicopter, and trail; the latter can be treacherous, given that it is of sand; it connects the village to Linden in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

The residents are predominantly indig-

enous peoples from the Arawak tribe. Dorothy Patoir is said to be the first individual born in the village when it was established many decades ago. Presently, the village is led by a Toshao (Indigenous leader).

Moraikobai has a rich religious heritage, and its people espouse the Christian religion to a large extent. In this respect, the village consists of three churches, including an Anglican church which was established when the community was first inaugurated as a mission. It follows that in the early days the village was known as St Francis Mission and later, St. Francis District. Moraikobai is also known for its huge benab and exquisite handicraft produced by its skilled residents.

Moraikobai is supported by a health centre, nursery and primary schools and a guesthouse, which is funded by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

Residents and visitors of Moraikobai (File photo)

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Preserving the Lokono language

By Michel Outridge

RESIDENT of Moraikobai, Juliet Adrian, told the Pepperpot Magazine that their aim as elders in the village is to preserve their culture, particularly when it comes to ensuring that the younger generation is familiar with speaking the Lokono language.

She explained that in their community, which is very remote, they want to maintain their traditions and there is a 10-month programme in the nursery and primary schools in Moraikobai to teach the children Lokono, which is an Arawak language.

Adrian was tasked with teaching the children the language which ended after the 10 months, but they are hoping to

At 65-years-old, Adrian is a farmer and it entails back-breaking labour hours upon hours daily and since her farmland is miles away from her house, she has to walk for hours to get there.

Adrian has a pineapple farm which sits on a two-acre plot; besides that, she has bitter cassava on an acre of land plus two acres of provisions and greens.

She stated that she is trying to secure a better market for her produce before going on a larger scale of farming, even though the villagers buy.

Adrian added that prices for plantain and cassava are just like the “road” price, which is $100 per pound

The Moraikobai guesthouse operator, Bridgette France (Samuel Maughn photo)

re-start the programme since it last happened two years ago.

She related that the children were quite receptive to the teaching and some even speak it, but mostly it is only the elders of the village who still speak the language frequently.

“As times goes by, the young people are wasting a lot of time because they are diverting from their culture and language, which is very important in our indigenous lives and we want to correct that as elders, but there is [only] so much we can do as is,” Adrian said.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she grew up in the riverine village and she is from the second generation of Adrians who were also from the village; as a result, there she will remain.

“I am so happy to be living in Moraikobai, because here we don’t short of anything and life here is stress-free,” she said.

Juliet Adrian with her wild cow pepperpot at the Indigenous Village at Sophia (Samuel Maughn photo)

hard-working people, who don’t sit idly, but we like our life here,” she said.

THE VILLAGE GUESTHOUSE The Moraikobai Village guesthouse has modern amenities,but yet a rustic feel to it and it is a place where the sunset is breathtaking, among other things.

The place is managed by Bridgette France, a native of the village and a

The Moraikobai guesthouse (Things Guyana image)

which is very cheap and she doesn’t really make a profit.

“Our way of life is very simple but hard because we fish, we hunt and we plant and from that, we eat so we are a

mother of three boys.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she struggled a lot to send her children to school but hard work paid off, because today she is very proud that one of her sons is a secondary school teacher.

France said Moraikobai is a very beautiful village where peace prevails and it is a perfect place for a vacation and to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

“We are a people noted for our hospitality and we welcome all to our village and we ensure your stay is memorable, because being kind to people was ingrained in us at a very young age by our parents,” she said.

France reported that the guesthouse is a modern building with nine bedrooms outfitted with mosquito nets and electric fans among other things.

She stated that guests can cook in the spacious kitchen, but she is also a caterer and would provide meals upon request of the visitors and guests.

France noted that a standard room at the guesthouse is very affordable and your stay in the village will be one to remember, since they seek to please rather than receive.

She added that life in Moraikobai is good, because it is like one big family resides there and everyone was born and grew up there, so there are no strangers among them.

“Life is generally what you make of it no matter where you live, so you have to work and you also have to have some fun at the same time, which makes it exciting and worth the while, but [Moraikobai] is paradise for me and it is my home,” she said.

In Moraikobai they promote eco-tourism and also showcase their talent by way of their food, art and craft.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Moraikobai

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– the ideal place to live

Loraine Henry and her grand-daughter Kelly Moses

The piwari and potato wine from Moraikobai (Samuel Maughn photos)

By Michel Outridge

STEPHEN Fredericks told the Pepperpot Magazine that although he was not born in the community of Moraikobai, it has been his home for the past 16 years.

He explained that he went there in search of work in the logging industry and he chose to remain there even after, because the place felt right.

Fredericks stated that the village is surviving and remains self-reliant, adding that Moraikobai is a peaceful and beautiful place to live. He stated that he prefers residing there rather than living in the city because Stephen Fredericks

the place is crime-free; you can sleep with the doors wide open and don’t have to worry about thieves making off with anything.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that Moraikobai is run by a Village Council and visitors are welcome, but they do need permission to enter the settlement from the Village Toshao, Colin Adrian.

He was part of a large group of fellow villagers who were at the Sophia Exhibition Centre in the Indigenous Village to showcase their indigenous food and craft.

“The experience here has been good so far, I met some folks from different villages across Guyana and the interaction has been nothing but good and I will surely return next year,” he said.

He was manning a food table with some wild meat Pepperpot, cassava bread to go with it, some alcoholic beverages such as piwari and ‘fly’, that is, potato wine and of course the home-made cassareep.

He pointed out that life in Moraikobai entails hunting at any given time with an arrow and bow and they usually get labba, wild cow, tapir and wild hog.

Fredericks describes hunting in the community as an activity which requires some patience and expertise.

He said annually on September 27, they have their own heritage celebration and it is a grand event in which the entire village participates.

The Pepperpot Magazine encountered another villager, a quiet but friendly young man, Don Adrian, who was at the time assisting the women to peel some garlic for a pot which was on the stove.

He reported that they are a

simple people and they live in unity like in any village; however, some of them have their traditional way of life which is no problem, while others have modernised their homes.

Adrian stated that life in Moraikobai is hard work, but it is rewarding because they don’t have to worry about what they will eat every day, since they make use of what they have within the community.

He noted that some villagers hold good jobs such as teachers and nurses and they would often return to serve the village and

makes a good tuma pot and Pepperpot to go with cassava bread.

“Life there can be hard work because you have to work and I plant some crops. I walk two miles from my house and I have crops of corn, provisions, pears, and coconuts; then after that I started to plant pineapples too. The pineapples, however, take one year to grow, so I had to plant other crops such as cassava, which I would sell at the Mahaicony stelling,” Henry said.

Meanwhile, Kelly Moses, who recently

Don Adrian

that is very commendable.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to 78-year-old Loraine Henry and her pretty granddaughter Kelly Moses, who were vending the food and drinks they made.

Henry said that she has lived all her life in Moraikobai and has been a humble farmer since she was a young girl and at her age, she is still very much active on her farmlands.

Apart from farming, this grandmother also

completed the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations, said she was there to lend a helping hand to her granny. “I am waiting to see what career path to take and in the meantime, I have to find things to do, so I am here to help,” Moses said.

She explained that she was happy to be of assistance and was very pleased to meet new people at the Indigenous Village.

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

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BEWARE OF EXPIRED AND UNDER QUALITY GOODS AND FORGERIES FROM time to time this column has carried articles alerting consumers as to the dangers of using expired food and drugs and food and drugs smuggled into the country manufactured by producers of questionable reputation.

Sometimes food and drugs are imported from reputable countries but not produced there and never sold in their home markets.

This is one of the perils of the Free Market where Guyana’s market is inundated with goods from everywhere.

Recently, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, the Chief Medical Officer, found it necessary to again issue a public warning against expired food and drugs. Since he has been Chief Medical Officer, Dr Persaud has ever so often been issuing such timely advisories as consumers have to be constantly reminded of the dangers of expired food and drugs.

Dr Persaud’s recent warnings have been comprehensive and as such we will quote extensively from his statement::- “The Ministry has been alerting its agencies including the Private Sector that we do not use expired drugs. There is no ‘it expired yesterday so that you could go ahead and take those medications”.

A lot of our products are imported in bulk form. We are encouraging that the expiry date is written in the information that is given to the patients so that the patients would know when their supply of drugs would expire”.

Dr Persaud took care to reiterate

stipulates the time of expiry date . . . Any food and drug of expired date must be removed from the shelf and destroyed, not resold to our poorer population or less educated persons and put them at an additional health risk”.

Food and drugs are given expi-

some of the requirements of the Law “the Law specifically stipulates that food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices must be labelled in the English language first of all and the labels must cover certain areas. The Food and Drugs Act also

ry dates because after those dates, from scientific evidence, such food and drugs, particularly drugs- because ineffectual for the purposes for which they were produced.

More importantly - could become toxic, that is poisonous. Ingesting

expired drugs could not only cause one’s health to further deteriorate but in extreme cases, cause death.

Because of the shortage of staff and other resources, Dr Persaud and his team are unable to provide the full protection of consumers as they would wish and thus consumers must make their own efforts. In the first place, the consumer must ascertain that he is supplied with the item he intended to purchase and not a substitute or a different product with label resembling it. Then he must check on the expiry date.

If the date is altered or removed, then he should not buy the product though it may be offered at a much cheaper price. He must ascertain that the directions are in English and also the country of production. If the buyer cannot read the label, the seller must do so. Finally, the buyer must require a proper bill or receipt for his purchase.

There are other pitfalls of which purchasers must be aware: Consumers must be on the lookout for forgeries which are fairly common on the Guyanese market. These forgeries are mostly imported from East Asia and packed exactly like their Western originals but are usually of lower quality and sell for a

cheaper price. Consumers must be wary in particular of buying foods and drugs. Indian pharmaceuticals tend to be of good quality since their Standards organisations are modelled on Western lines and active and also because all the major Western Pharmaceutical companies are established in that country.

Pharmaceuticals produced by GPC are done under licence from reputable Western companies and could be safely used.

In buying foods and drugs, consumers are urged to ascertain not only country of production, but the name of the producer. For example, there is a firm in Canada which adopts the well-known product names of companies which have gone out of existence and uses the identical trademarks and labels of the known product; one could see such products as sardines or corned meats sold in the supermarkets. One such company has a well-known Guyanese name!

Consumers should also be on the lookout for attractively packaged cosmetics, soaps, soft drinks, confections and potted foods with strange brand names, mostly smuggled from Suriname which are of low quality.

Creativity: a major aspect of new beginnings AS some students settle into their new environments and others reacquaint themselves with familiar ones, the new academic term brings much excitement and anticipation. For students transitioning from one level of study to another - whether it be playschool to a nursery, nursery to primary, primary to secondary or secondary to tertiary - there is some level of uncertainty as to what one should expect.

Given my experience in teaching students at the secondary level, this column will further discuss how art and creativity play an integral role in the lives of tweens as the transition into secondary education.

During the first term of the new academic year, the secondary school system uses what is referred to as continuous assessment to measure children’s understanding of what they are being taught. This is quite different from the customary 40 percent course work

- 60 percent end of term assessment test that when combined makes the child’s overall grade. Continuous assessment is where students are given a variety of projects and short quizzes in the varying subject areas that make up their overall end of the term grade. This involves the use of three skills that are integral to a child’s development: knowledge, reasoning and application. The combination of these skills is expressed in the student’s ability to use a creative approach to complete the given tasks. They are asked to take things a step further and create a visual representation of what they have learnt.

This proves that visual art is a multi-disciplinary subject. Yes. Art: human creativity that appeals to our sense of sight. Creativity; that quality that is in everyone. Creativity; that quality that may be displayed through different forms. Creativity; a necessity for

everything in life. Knowledge in art helps students to be well-rounded individuals. Understanding the various expressive forms and other aspects of art aids students in creating aesthetically pleasing projects. For instance, the science teacher may ask the students to create a model of a bodily organ. Knowledge in sculpture will help them to have good execution of the task. Shapes and forms are integral in mathematics and students may be asked to create models of a cube, cylinder, sphere, and triangular prism. Agricultural science AND social studies require a lot of drawing. Foreign language tends to require the use of collage technique and other decorative crafts for their project assessments. I could go on. However, there is no doubt that art is in everything.

While these tasks may seem easy as the child progresses, each grade will present a different level of difficulty with its projects.

Don’t take your art class for granted because it helps you to attain your dreams, whatever that may be. My advice to parents would be to set aside a budget for school projects, Especially for this term. Check your children’s books for homework and assignments. Last-minute work will not suffice.

Most of these projects will take time thus, room is needed for trial and error. Encourage your children to complete their assignment on time and to take pride in their work. In your helping, give guidance and allow the children to do the work, it’s the only way for them to develop their reasoning and application skills.

Arts and crafts supplies for work of this nature are available at Muneshwers Limited, The Family Store, Payless, Austins Book Store, Everything makes Craft, Pinch Creative Expression and other stores nationwide.

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

It is not the ethnic dilemma that divides us at elections, but the severely denied cultural dilemma...

THE complexities of our diversity cannot be hoped for to merge into a common ‘vibe’ without the efforts to even understand the basic structures that compose the values of our local humanity-- to stand before the innate cultural and incestuous modes of practices that inhabit us based on fears from related experiences and shattered over expectations turned into fears and biases. Sometimes ancient inferiority complexes are transferred onto the collective other, disguised as a sense of baseless entitlement and delusional superiority. The reins of the chariots are held in some quarters by callous and insincere rabble-rousing leadership. Others are basic self-serving thieves; indifferent to whosoever and whatsoever cause they betray, they will gallop on either way.

A culture and the customs of its laws is what ensure its enduring evolution or stagnant state. In some cases, with thorough knowledge of the defects and strengths of the ‘culture’ can evolve the creation of enlightened ‘Laws’ that must be enforced against brother or sister, be it necessary. None of this is Guyanese as yet. Our history is too steeped in want, with quick betrayal to climb above the ‘All ah dem’ from the endemic memories of social and conspicuous restrictions, and we don’t know our history enough to evolve the comparisons honestly and sensibly, to recognise where it all began. Our group of cultures comes from different experiences.

Each saw in Guyana a different interpretation, positively, most against geographical origins merged into a similar perception, but not all. Some are rooted in the privations of a past beyond these shores, a craving to fulfil a physical vacuum beyond millennia, caring none for the cultural language of Guyana that must be understood.

Seeking this thinking, from the chasm of its selfishness, possessed by alien norms and a world view now known and easily

understood and despised, still it shouts and promises, enticing some, conning them with its lure of bribes. It knows that those who are awake understand the fraud it is. The age of ‘propaganda storytime,’ where the old-time bottom house fears are invoked, every fictional character and horrible skit fitted into place, by a seasoned political liar, who has told his story so many times even he believes it, but not enough to change places with the audience, even when he changes it with intent to deceive his victim, into believing he’s guilty, is fading away.

We understand well that the lesser light strives amid the multitude, but even the multitude has a memory. The culture has got to mature, to evolve and revalue the hold our ancient colonising spirits still have over us, in some cases before we came to these emerald shores. Our stereotypes and characters along ethnic lines were further developed by a colonial scriptwriter, which sections of Guyanese from their own history and ancestral nightmares were more ready to accept, digest and shift imaginary guilt and accusations upon others.

In Brian Moore’s book, he addresses differences that evolved over a longer period of conflict between the coloniser structure and the resisting colonised in ‘Cultural Power, Resistance and Pluralism in Colonial Guyana 1838-1900,’ the author concludes in respect to ‘Creole Culture’: “Unfortunately, it was to some degree devalued by even the most lowly in the social hierarchy and all too eagerly discarded by upwardly mobile black and coloured individuals who were ashamed of the long shadow of ‘disgrace’ which they were induced to believe it cast-because of the social stigma with which it was associated, Afro Creole Folk did not perform the same unifying role that the immigrant cultures, as we shall see, did. It was in very many respects prevented from promoting black ethnic group consciousness and cohesion.

Creoles became a disparate ethnic category lacking a strong ideological and cultural identity by which to resist effectively the twin evils of imperialism and racialism.”

This is a fact to a point, but from beyond the1930s, job opportunities were regulated in some areas by the church you attended. You couldn’t enter some schools if you were not of a specific Christian denomination, with the emerging middle class, who your father was and family is, were criteria of acceptance. The system was based on establishing divisions, not on merit, and this seemed to have established itself long before Emancipation. ‘Crowns of Glory, Tears of Blood’ Pg 27: “So many were the conflicts in the country that no one would have had difficulty endorsing a remark made in a letter sent to the Royal Gazette in August 1822: ‘There is not a country on the face of the earth, where classes are more numerous and party spirit more firmly rooted than in this. In a society with so many divisions and protocols, it would be impossible for the missionaries not to blunder.”

The revelation of this lies in the humble, low-class person who arrived from England to Demerara and becomes an authority on a plantation immediately; he adopts the airs of the lords and dukes who had tormented his genetic timeline for the past 1000 years, and roughly constructs a formula of pretentions and protocols to imitate, with himself at the helm, to become the torturer. This also happened with indentured Indians who could not culturally escape the narrative of the Hindu racial pageantry and transferred the conditions and caste from whence they came onto Africans. Many, however, as victims among their own, did seek sanctuary in Afro-Guyanese villages. The earliest awareness of racism my wife experienced as a child was from her father’s mom at the West Bank Demerara village of Pouderoyen. Her grandmother was a Madrasis who sternly warned

them to fear Indians, especially the men.

The essential Creole population, pertaining especially to the African, Amerindian, Chinese and Portuguese came from backgrounds that had class, religious and tribal hierarchies and prejudices, but did not have in their ancient history a religious doctrine of racial complexion demarcations directed with force supported by mythologies. Only the larger indentured groups from India had this in their perceptive thinking. The larger means that not all Indo-Guyanese that came during those periods were Hindus or came to execute estate work; some were independent of that system. What we lack today is the intellectually enlightened leadership to place history and culture as at times, imperfect foundations.

What we have are people who crave deceptive acknowledgement, would shamelessly forge a personal academic history, and not recognise that an honorary degree is a feature in the context of resumé and not a celebrated public title, but erroneously pronounce that they have done more than the legitimate leaders of the very people against whom they practised ideological racism.

Then there is a cultural vacuum which I will quickly analyse. If in office among one people when you execute that office in their interest, culturally translate to instant political homage, then the execution of officialdom becomes the conduit of bribery. You punish the ‘other’ because you don’t get the same homage if you build a bridge, because, in that culture, the cultural perception is, that you are placed in that office to work in the interest of the people. You build the bridge because it is your duty to do so, and it is appreciated. You are viewed as an honoured elder. There are different logical processes ascribed to Tribal against Caste and class imagination and logical thinking. It’s in our better interest to understand this.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

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FILES E S A C COURT

Inadequate penalties meted out to ‘fraud convicts’ since ‘71

By George Barclay

Appellate Court stressed need for stiffer penalties

SINCE 1971 the Guyana Court of Appeal led by Chancellor Edward Luckhoo noted that judges in Guyana were imposing inadequate sentences upon offenders of serious fraud cases and called for stiffer penalties to be imposed on such offenders.

Current cases show that the situation has not changed considerably from what it had been in 1971.

In 1971, Chancellor Edward Luckhoo and Justices of Appeal Guya Persaud and Victor Crane made the above comments at the hearing of an application by a postmaster who was convicted and sentenced for fraud.

In his application, the postmaster was seeking an extension of time within which to appeal against his conviction and sentence.

The Appellate Court held that there was no merit in the appeal as the evidence had clearly proved the applicant guilty of the offence and the summing up by the judge was fair.

The facts of the case disclosed that the case for the state was that the applicant, a postmaster, had falsified certain accounts being a record of stamps which he, as postmaster, had received from time to time from the General Post Office.

The evidence was clear that the stamps had been received by the applicant and taken into stock by him. He did not sign the two orders for the stamps and did not return them to the General Post Office as he was requested to do. When his books were checked it was found that the entries relating to the two quantities of stamps had not been made by him as he was required to do.

On conviction for falsification of accounts, he made an application to the court for an extension of time within which to appeal.

At the hearing of the application for extension of time within which to appeal, Senior Counsel Mr Fred Wills appeared for the applicant, while Mr George Pompey, the then Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (DDPP), represented the state.

Refusing the application, Chancellor Luckhoo, noting the prevalence of fraud cases, said that he would like to support what had been said by his brothers Persaud and Crane about the matter.

He added, “It has become all too evident, from the cases of reported fraud, especially within relatively recent times that its prevalence calls for serious attention. Too many people seem to be on the lookout to dip their hands in the public coffers and line their pockets with ill-gotten gains.

“This disposition to get rich quickly is a plague on our young nation, which should be provided with a better example on the part of those who like the appellant occupy positions of trust.

“As my brother Crane has pointed out, the sum involved is not an insignificant one. In two transactions alone it was sought to create a loss to this country of over $10, 000.

This is shocking and disgraceful.

In my view, on the facts, the plan was not only daring, but revealed a certain measure of disquieting neglect in the operation of the system employed.

“What my brother Crane has said on the question of punishment should be noted by judges who have to deal with situations of this kind. Clemency could be sometimes misplaced by the imposition of inadequate sentences in cases of serious fraud. If the appellant had appealed against his sentence and this appeal was properly before the Court, I might, on the facts before me (and subject to what was said), have found it difficult to restrain myself from increasing the sentence; for not only is the offence of a heinous nature, but the prevalence of such like offences involving public offices and servants in a position of trust is not a matter to be lightly glossed over.

And, moreover, the device used indicated a great deal of premeditation.

“I would like at this stage to repeat what I said in a similar case of falsification of accounts – the case of the Queen v. Peter Richard Osborne (Criminal Appeal No. 55 of 1968) – in the hope that those responsible for looking after the systems which operate in the various departments of revenue, might exercise a greater vigilance to ensure as my brother Persaud pointed out, that they are faithfully operated and not be allowed to break down through carelessness of improper motivations. In the case of Osborne, I said these words: “It does not concern this court that others, in one way or another may not have been implicated in the daring fraud. But the observation cannot be resisted that something must have been rotten in the state of safeguarding public funds, in that particular sector, which permitted an ‘unknown’ person who was not a workman and never earned any money, to receive payments week after week for over 40 weeks in one year, sometimes twice above that of the other legitimate workmen, by a process of concoction.

“The net result of this was that over $3, 000 was paid out for a period of less than one year to a non-existent workman. One shudders to think, if there are other instances, to what extent the public coffers may not have been otherwise impoverished!

“Eleven months after this fraud had been in progress, a clerk in charge of the Yard Office of the Ministry, at the commencement of his duties as such, checked to see that the names of persons who actually worked were names of persons which were put on the pay list for payment. He checked the time slips of workers against what was recorded on the pay lists. He was not detailed to do this job, but he felt it should be done and did so. This was what led to the discovery of the particular fraud, and demonstrates that vigilance and honesty of purpose will reveal what indolence and connivance will suppress.

“It is for the authority concerned, and other similar authorities, not only to be satisfied

with the system in use, but to use that it is honoured in thought, word and deed, if public funds are not to be scandalously squandered,” Chancellor Luckhoo declared as he agreed with his brothers to refuse the applicant leave to appeal.

THE CONVICTION AND SENTENCE WERE AFFIRMED. In his presentation, Justice of Appeal Persaud said,“ This court has, for some time now, viewed with a great deal of alarm the number of convictions and accusations made against public officers, of fraud committed in the course of their employment.

“This court -- and we are sure others will agree with us -- is of opinion that the state is entitled to expect honest and conscientious service from its employees, and we feel that any employee of the state who is guilty of fraud commits not only a breach of trust against his office or department, as the case may be, but against the entire country, for he is employed in a position of trust and he is expected to so conduct himself that the state would have implicit faith in him,” Persaud declared.

Justice of Appeal Guya Persaud added, “The way things seem to be moving would indicate that there are less [sic] and less [sic] people in the public service on whom the state can rely. We hope this state of affairs can be remedied and public officers, in whatever station they are employed -- whether as postmasters, or civil servants, or policemen – will come to appreciate that it is of no avail to them to perpetrate fraud on the country, because they must know that in proper cases courts will see to it that they receive punishment appropriate to their crime.

“In this case the appellant was a postmaster employed in a certain post office in the country and, very simply, the case for the state was that he had falsified certain accounts, the accounts being a record of stamps which he, as postmaster, received from time to time from the General Post Office. These two counts relate to two instances: one where he is said to have received stamps to the value of $2,200, and the other where he is said to have received stamps to the value of $8,040 – quite substantial sums of money, in our opinion”, Justice Persaud declared.

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‘Social Media Detox’ MY friends and I casually talk about everything under the sun. Sometime last week, I was ‘gaffing’ with one of my friends when she told me she needed a ‘social media detox.’ In hindsight, I knew what she meant, but this creative mind of mine that never ceases to rest kept thinking about that very phrase. “Detox? Isn’t that the thing they do to people who’re addicted to substances?” I thought to myself. I then looked down at my hands only to notice that my phone was there, then my mind started to unravel this very topic that you’re about to read. Now, phones/tablets/

computers and social media go hand-in-hand. You simply can’t use one without having to use the other and somehow

people, including myself, feel the need to ‘detox’ from it all. Perhaps, there’s a new wave of ‘drugs’ and I’m not talking about cocaine and pills.

Now, I’m not saying phones and social media outlets are outrageously terrifying and we should plot a revolution against them-- NO. What I really am trying to say is what I’ve been always saying: it’s based on perspective and oneself. Put a phone in the hands of a mentally stable, balanced and self-aware individual, you might just get a whole other outcome. When you’re speaking about someone like me-- ridden with anxiety-- you’ll probably get to that point of wanting to either ‘detox’ or to dive deeper into it. If you were to ask me what’s the world’s worst prison? I’d say it’s our minds. Some of us have so many unwanted thoughts, feelings and desires that we rather not talk or think about, we find ways and means of escaping. We go above and beyond creativity, to even build a perfect Instagram profile when in contrast, our life is far from it.

Let’s take a minute to compare addictive drugs-in this case cocaine -- and social media, shall we? At first, it might probably sound funny, but then it isn’t when you realise they have much more in common than you thought.

For instance, the release of the ‘feel-good’ chemical--dopamine--is similar in the brain for both activities. This release of dopamine is above the average release compared with other activities. With a cocaine user, it leads to possible addiction and usage of the drug regularly to regain that feeling. In the unfortunate comparative terms, a person using a smartphone receives similar effects of dopamine-- maybe when they receive many Instagram likes on a post or a text-back from the people they want to talk to. Like the cocaine user, it leads to possible addiction and regular use of the ‘drug’ to regain that feeling.

My parents and many family members have been quite skeptical and vocal about phones, social media and everything in between. If you guys or anyone who feels the same way are currently reading this, my point to you is that it all depends on the person behind the screen. It’s their ability to cope with life’s troubles. I know many parents who see a phone as the worst thing that can happen to their child, or is it your child the worst thing that happens to a phone? Hear me out and think about it-social media and phones have many perks. You can view Paris on Google Maps right in your palms. You can build a business and even an empire through websites. You can even answer most of life’s troubling questions by the click of a few buttons. It can be a ‘drug’ or it can open doors of unimaginable possibilities; it all depends on whose hands the phone is in. All we need to ask ourselves is: from what reality are we trying to escape? And is a phone really the way of doing so? Or should we seek the professional help we really deserve?

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Diet and oral health all decay ceased.

Based on Dr. Price’s research, following a genetically appropriate diet would lead to optimal health. This does not make for highly practical advice, however, as native

MANY people now realise that they must be responsible for figuring out for themselves just what is proper nutrition. But, these days there are so many conflicting viewpoints that it is hard to decide what constitutes healthy eating. Every ten years it seems the so-called experts flipflop their position and tell us to eat exactly what they told us not to eat before. First butter is bad and margarine is good; then butter is good and margarine is bad. What do you do?

Of the 141 Medical Schools in the U.S., most teach a nutrition course lasting a total of 19 hours. In 21 of those institutions, such a course is not a requirement for graduating physicians. This dismal situation is even worse in dental education programs. There is a very strong perception that diet and nutrition are unrelated to the teeth – but this could not be farther from the truth.

I have followed the field of nutrition closely for more than 20 years, and what I have discovered is that there are a few very good, very consistent individuals in the field whose work and advice has consistently held up under scrutiny over time.

Dr. Weston Price was a giant in this field. In the book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, long considered the seminal text on nutrition; he documents the effect of dietary changes on bone structure, teeth and health in general.

In his extensive travels to Alaska, the Amazon, Australia, Europe, the South Pacific and many other areas, Dr. Price consistently found that those people who remained on their native diets experienced almost no tooth decay or periodontal disease, and that degenerative disease, in general, was virtually non-existent. However, when the “white man’s civilised diet”, including refined sugar and flour, was introduced, tooth decay and other degenerative diseases began appearing with sudden and alarming frequency. Perhaps the most dramatic proof of the link between diet and health was demonstrated by Dr. Price through these studies.

Dr. Price also noted that the new diet brought about remarkable changes in physiognomy. Bodies became narrower and taller. The dental arches became narrower, causing tooth crowding. Women’s pelves also became narrower, making childbirth more difficult.

One photo essay of two brothers indisputably illustrated these changes. The first brother stayed on the family farm and continued to consume the traditional native diet. The second brother had moved to the city and switched to a typical modern diet. The brother on the farm had no tooth decay whatsoever, while the city brother had now developed rampant decay.

What is truly remarkable, though, is that when the city brother moved back to the farm and resumed his native eating habits,

genetic lines are for the most part completely blurred.

Most of us do not live in isolated tribal communities, marrying into our own genetic pool. How then do we apply Dr. Price’s insights to our modern dietary needs?

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

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An uncomfortable conversation on unity ONE People, One Nation, One Destiny. That’s Guyana’s national motto; the chief slogan which binds (or, at least, should bind) us together as a people striving to continuously forge a better society. But do we really practise “Unity”?

This past week, there was something called Guild Fest that was held at my university’s campus.

Basically, it was a week filled with a plethora of activities aiming to give ‘freshers’ (new students, like myself) insight into UWI life. And with UWI being a regional university, it also sought to emphasise the regional and cultural integration as an indelible part of UWI life.

As part of Guild Fest, various country associations came out to represent. These associations are clubs where students from the countries could join and find a home away from home. Naturally, I found myself with GuySATT, or the Guyana Student Association in Trinidad and Tobago, as it’s officially called.

At Guild Fest, there was a night of Cultural Presentations, and as part of Guyana’s Cultural Night presentation, the association opted to craft a dramatic performance that integrated a bit of spoken word poetry. The overarching theme was “Ubuntu”, which pleads

the case of “I am because we all are.” Basically, the performance sought to underscore the importance of erasing those divisions within Guyana’s plural society that exist primarily through racial lines.

To present the case for Ubuntu, it was believed that an “uncomfortable” conversation needed to be had. That uncomfortable conversation is, perhaps, one which many Guyanese shy away from or may seemingly approach it too aggressively. It is one that requires us to re-examine our history, however, and move away from parochial thinking.

I couldn’t help but feel, personally, that this uncomfortable conversation is one which we really need in Guyana. We are a blissfully diverse space, replete with a melting pot of distinct and unique cultures that shapes the total ‘Guyanese-ness’ of our society.

Our six peoples came at six different periods, under different circumstances. And naturally, it is understandable that these circumstances would have shaped our experiences and these experiences would have shaped our varying realities. Cognizant of this, it is also understandable why there would have been tensions among the ethnic groups in our society; we each

had our struggles and we could not possibly fathom those of each other unless we experienced those for ourselves.

One might have thought that these tensions could have been put behind us in the 50s and 60s, as we strived for greater workers’ rights and, well, the freedom to make our own decisions. Moving away for the colonial system and starting to push for our independence required us to come together, to struggle for a common cause.

That common struggle did not erase those divisions, however. In fact, some might say that the two well-known proponents of this struggle, Former Presidents Forbes

Burnham and Dr. Cheddi Jagan functioned to widen those divisions.

Subliminally, these tensions still exist within our society and from then to now, I believe that the country, to a very large extent, has been split into the African and East Indian sections. This divide is one which causes many within the section to be micro-aggressive (or in some cases, just aggressive) towards each other.

Now, back to the Ubuntu presentation. The performance began by introducing the six ethnic groups and speaking a little on their contributions to Guyana. This was, however, rudely interrupted by the bickering of an East Indian woman and African man. These two, who

were representations of the two largest ethnic groups in Guyana, were arguing with each other about which race made a greater contribution to Guyana’s development. This was done to set the scene to make the case for Ubuntu.

“Don’t y’all think it’s high time we stop this you versus me? It’s high time we stop this backward mentality,” GuySATT’s orator, Omari Joseph said. “We continue to forget the contribution each person made, no matter how small, that made this country great... We can’t hope for better without working for it as well.”

As a nation, we have a lot of healing to do, and GuySATT posited that this healing must include an acceptance or acknowledge of the individual contributions made by all ethnic groups, not just the East Indians and the Africans. I felt that these were truly salient points that call for us to re-examine our history, not to forget about our struggles or contributions, but to understand that each experience was another building block in the story of Guyana.

Whether it is the Indigenous People, the Europeans, the Africans, the Portuguese, the East Indians or the Chinese- like Ubuntu says, I am Guyanese because we all are.

A passion for youth advocacy and philanthropy GREAT people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Wangar?

Muta Maathai left their mark in the world through advocacy and powerful words that helped to shape today’s society and guide humanity.

Today, people like Malala Yousafzai and Yara Shahidi continue to champion the rights of people, particularly youth. Though her aim is not to be exactly like them, 20-year-old Sadiya Ariah Yahya is a young and upcoming youth advocate, who also has a deep interest in feminism, social activism, volunteerism, debating, writing and dancing.

The University of Guyana student has been championing the rights of young people for a few years and her aim is to ensure that youth continue to push the boundaries and have their voices heard.

“I would like to be able to set up outreach programmes in various areas in Guyana to focus on the arts and empowerment of the youth. I would like to create safe spaces where youth can come and express them-

selves fully with no judgement,” said Yahya.

As she moves along in life, the young advocate hopes to be financially stable enough to develop her own community outreach project for less fortunate young people.

“I have always known that I wanted to do more but what truly motivates me are the young people who I work with…I learn from them, create genuine bonds with each other and they have the drive to do more and be more. Whether we are working on a mural for an art project or just having a conversation about their day, it reminds me why I do what I do and intend to continue it,” said Yahya.

The young advocate has been living her dream so far, participating in several social activities such as an Anti-Human Trafficking Campaign through Queens College and the Ministry of Social Protection; Youth Parliament; a USAID Community Outreach Programme and much more.

While her long term goal is still in the making, in the fairly short term, she sees herself graduating from the University of Guyana

with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations. Following that she aims to take a year to travel around Guyana to explore the wonders. On the lighter side, Yahya enjoys dancing. From the age of six years old, she found her love for dancing. Being able to dance for close to 14 years at Lets Dance Studios allowed her to not only express herself but be versed in ballet, hip-hop, jazz, modern and even Indian dancing techniques.

Developing her skills and enhancing her knowledge has been not been a walk in the park, but for persons who share similar aspirations, Yahya advised them to start now no matter how small they think their idea or project is.

“It will make an impact. I used to be under the notion that I had to wait until I was older and had everything together before anything I did would matter but I was wrong. As youths, we have the capacity to make an impression and influence others to do the same so never second guess what you do,” she said.

Sadiya Ariah Yahya

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The road to first oil: Guyanese on the frontlines

Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Egbert Field, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority

A THOROUGH Local Content Policy helps guide Guyanese involvement in our emerging oil and gas sector. The Department of Energy and the Government of Guyana recognises this crucial step in ensuring Guyana’s natural resources are managed sustainably for the benefit of all Guyanese.

In this edition of Government in Action, we hear from representatives of the Civil Aviation Authority and the Maritime Administration Department (MARAD), some of the Guyanese leading the race to first oil 2020.

BUILDING EXPERTISE Since the Department of Energy’s establishment on August 1st of last year, it

has focused on two main things: dealing with historical contracts and establishing the framework that will inform the contracts to come. The Department has looked closely at the legal environment so that Guyanese can get the best from Guyana’s natural resources.

To help fill some of the gaps, Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe said the Department will continue to make the necessary revisions and adjustments to build the comprehensive and robust framework that will govern the sector.

“This requires a revision, for example, of the 1986 Petroleum and Production Exploration Act. It also requires us to be more conversant on issues of a mid- and downstream nature, meaning how do we treat with elements of refineries, how do we treat with elements of gas coming to shore, how do we treat even with the commissioning… So, we have looked at where the gaps exist not only within that legislation but also within our sister agencies and now we are building-out to revise the requisite legislation and to allow us to ultimately have a robust framework to govern this sector,” the Energy Director said.

Dr. Bynoe stressed that at this crucial time in the oil sector, it is vital to have Guyanese work alongside foreign experts. This will lay the foundation for the future of the industry, run by Guyanese. “[It has] been important for us to recruit the requisite expertise and the approach we have adopted is to hiring those expertise wherever they are found; having Guyanese work alongside so that you can have the transfer of knowledge and mentoring take place, so that ultimately, you can have

Guyanese take on a larger proportion of management of the sector as we go forward,” he said.

These efforts, Dr Bynoe said, are all aimed at increasing the revenue for Guyana.

“We have been keen to ensure also that we have greater value retention in this sector... You would have heard a lot of discussion around local content and it is in our interest to ensure that we are having a greater volume of services and goods coming from Guyanese sources. Thus, it reduces recoverable cost from that perspective and enhances the revenue take for Guyana and Guyanese,” he said.

THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLABORATION The Department of Energy has always valued the importance of a collaborative effort. Dr. Bynoe insists that when decisions are made, they are made through a consensus position. Without the participation of other key agencies the arrival of the FPSO, the Liza Destiny, would not be possible.

We spoke to a few Guyanese about their contributions to this major milestone in Guyana’s oil and gas journey. Here’s what they had to say about their experience on the frontlines of this emerging sector.

Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Egbert Field, Director General, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority: At the moment, [the Authority is] building ourselves into a robust entity because the industry is expanding, the domestic industry is expanding. Air travel is expanding… and with the advent of oil and gas industry, first oil coming on in… the first

The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority has officially licensed the helideck aboard the Liza Destiny.

Here Director General, Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d), Egbert Field hands over the official license to Transportation and Logistic Consulting (TLC) Country Manager, Mr. Mathieu Guiraud.

Mr. Adrian Bassier, Chief Inspector at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority

quarter of [2020], we have suddenly seen an explosion in the operation of helicopters.

Three years ago, we had approximately three helicopters operating in Guyana. Now we have close to 14 large size helicopters. These helicopters support the oil and gas industry [by] flying out to the rigs.

Now the FPSO is here, the Liza Destiny that has a helideck. So, helicopters will be servicing the FPSO utilizing the helideck.

So, our role is expanding more and more.

Mr. Adrian Bassier, Chief Inspector, Guyana Civil Aviation Authority: I’ve been there as a student of the Academy several times before, so it wasn’t my first trip to Singapore, but my first trip to inspect a vessel of this type. As we all know, the Liza Destiny is a first for Guyana and it was… quite an experience. It was an experience shared with my Ghanaian colleague because the inspection was done in collaboration with the Ghanaian Civil Aviation Authority THE representatives from the Civil Aviation Authority expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to be an integral part of this turning point in Guyana’s history.

Lieutenant Colonel (ret’d) Field: I feel like if it’s a birthday party… The excitement is overwhelming. Even though I had sent my inspector out to Singapore to conduct the inspection on the helideck, and I knew the ship was coming… when I heard that it was here, I was in the middle of a meeting and I just burst out in a ‘wow’. This is Guyanese.

It is a momentous occasion. I feel great to be part of this historic occasion.

I’m excited about these times. My staff and I, with the support of the Government, will try as much as possible to ensure that Guyana does not only lift itself up from the yesteryears, but propel itself into the future and to be a shining example for the world to see and to have our people feel proud that

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The FPSO Liza Destiny. The helideck is pictured at the stern of the vessel. The helideck is a landing for helicopters on ships and oil platforms.

Director, Department of Energy, Dr. Mark Bynoe (centre) observes operations onboard Tullow Oil’s Stena Forth drillship, which is operating in the Orinduik Block.

Guyana is a place where everyone would like to come. It’s exciting! I really can’t say anything more.

Mr. Bassier: Personally, it was a very proud moment for me. It was a huge moment considering that I was the first Guyanese…

Civil Aviation Safety Inspector to do that, considering the fact that I was given the opportunity to do it, [to be] there, [to be] in the moment. It was awesome. I can’t think of any other word. It was a lot of work. The vessel itself is very huge. To get to the top of the vessel, it was a challenge. The magnitude, the scale of the operations, it’s nothing like, I believe, the average Guyanese has ever seen.

It is something that I believe would benefit Guyana tremendously and it’s something that every Guyanese should be proud of. I believe my experience there, it was not just a proud moment for me, but I’d like all Guyanese to be proud of the fact that we have this coming on stream and coming here and Guyanese we able to be part of this process.

THE Maritime Administration Department (MARAD) safeguards Guyana’s waters. The Department has played a critical role in ensuring that the various oil exploration companies have the right equipment and layout of the ocean floor for exploration and

drilling. The Director of Ports and Superintendent of Surveys share their experiences.

Ms. Louise Williams, Director of Ports, MARAD: Our Department is tasked with… the permitting process and support to the offshore, meaning, in the first instance… the permitting process for the foreign vessels operating within the offshore [block].

Secondly, providing support services would also entail that we ensure that we have maintained these dredges in the channel… another area is the oversight of marine construction. With the oil and gas comes standards, so the standardisation of marine facilities along the port. It’s also one of the areas directly related to the support services.

Mr. Troy Clarke, Acting Superintendent of Surveys, MARAD: When you talk about surveying in Guyana, most people relate it to land survey. However, hydrography is a specialised branch that deals with the physical description of the ocean floor… for the primary purpose of safe navigation. Also, it lends to the protection of the marine environment and security, and other maritime-related activities.

Prior to the… drilling for oil, hydrographic surveyors were conducting [sur-

veys] in [collaboration] with the seismic surveyors. Fortunately, the areas where the Liza field is [has] very deep waters so they weren’t much navigation concerns as it relates to depth in the area. One of the [ways] that hydrography played a part in the arrival of the FPSO, is the downstream effect. Prior to the FPSO coming to Guyana, there’s components that had to be set up like the anchors and things like that and that had to be shipped into the port.

ECHOING Dr. Bynoe’s sentiments, the MARAD representatives said that when it comes to first oil, teamwork truly makes the dream work.

Ms. Williams: There’s always… the general perception of the ordinary man that nothing is being done and probably… in some way related to information filtering… [It’s on] the individual to do research. Information is there for us. We have a presence on social media and we have our Facebook and we have our website where we share information from time to time. Secondly, our team, like I said before, we [have] undergone training… whether it’s internal or external training.

So, our team understands the importance of country before self As a team, of course, we feel proud to

have played such a part in this historical event because this is the first and I would say we [have] done well in light of the challenges.

Mr. Clarke: Hydrography is a critical component of the maritime sector, whether it’s port development, offshore exploration, and other maritime-related activities. However… it’s not only the one body that works to bring full compliance to every aspect of the maritime sector. We work as a family.

I don’t want to have the… general public believe that hydrography or the technical officers are the only persons working to have what’s taking place offshore to be done in the best possible way. With our committed workforce… we work as a family and I do believe we have… a lot of the competence… to do what is required at the moment.

GUYANESE, this sector is yours for the taking. The Government of Guyana and the Department of Energy need the participation, education, and expertise of all of Guyana’s citizens. These are the perspectives of only a few of the Guyanese who made way for the arrival of the Liza Destiny. With your participation, we can truly make this a national endeavour for Guyanese by Guyanese.

Director General of MARAD, Ms. Claudette Rogers flanked by, from left to right, Superintendent of Surveys, Mr. Troy Clarke; Director of Ports, Ms. Louise Williams, and Marine Officer, Mr. Alex Hinds.

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St. Ignatius Plant Nursery

THE hinterland community of St. Ignatius, Region Nine is home to one of NAREI’s Stations. The facility, situated on a large expanse of land, is divided into two: Extension Services and the Plant Nursery. This week NAREI in Focus will look at the Plant Nursery, which services approximately 2,000 farmers and provides employment for seven persons.

The Plant Nursery provides quality planting materials to farmers of St. Ignatius and neighbouring communities including Moco Moco, Kuru and Nappi. The different crops available are citrus, breadfruit, cashew nuts and coconuts.

According to Aaron Ramroop, NAREI’s Hinterland Coordinator, “We are currently expanding our product line to increase the number of nutritional crops available in the Region. Whilst the aim is to ensure food security through diversification we want to bring down the cost of production to the farmers- starting from the cost of seedlings.”

The Nursery is currently engaged in two major projects: Cashew nut (10 varieties) and Breadfruit (imported variety) germplasm. Staffers travel about five minutes during dry weather from St. Ignatius to Kuru, where this germplasm is located.

Another crop NAREI is looking to introduce on a large scale (in due time) in the district is coconut. Earlier this year, the Institute took a small quantity of 18-month coconuts to the Region. The response from farmers has signalled the need for the establishment of a coconut plot.

“To transport planting materials to St. Ignatius is costly.

So we are trying to have varying crops available at the Nursery. So while the cost for the imported variety of Breadfruit is $2,000 now we are hoping to reduce this cost with the availability of planting material in the Region,” Ramroop said.

He related that the citrus orchard has been satisfying the needs of farmers. One of the main crops is the rough lemon.

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Behaviour modification for children for good behaviour to reinforce or continue that behaviour.

An example of this is giving them a snack after they have cleaned up a mess.

I received an email from a mother which said only five words: “My child is spoilt, help!” I thought it was quite funny, especially asking for my help as I am not yet a mother. However, what I do know is behaviour and therefore, I know good ways to modify it. I’m going to talk about some qualities that may indicate a child is “spoilt” but do not take it as an attack on your style of parenting on any level. Most of the time, parents do not even realise that they are reinforcing certain behaviours as they not only just want what’s best for their children but they want it immediately.

Characteristics that indicate a “spoilt” child are vast. It can start with occasional whining, going into the often category.

It can escalate to throwing fits when they do not get their own way or outright disobedience when angry. They might demand without gratitude, hear without listening or may not be kind to others. In more serious cases, you may feel as though you no longer have control over your child, and therefore give into every need, reinforcing certain negative behaviours- just because it’s easier than the tantrums.

If you can relate to any of these, take comfort in knowing that you are not the only parent out there who feels this way or does these things.

I did some research on quick ways to spot unruly behaviour and a four-word test came up.

1. NO- how does your child respond to this word? Unruly children usually can’t handle it and it typically worsens their behaviour.

2. ME- is your child self-centred and doesn’t care about any other needs than his/her own? They think of themselves more than others.

3. GIMME- this is when a child may act greedily and never satisfied. They want more no matter how much they already have.

4. NOW- does your child have little patience and demands instant gratification? Unruly children typically can’t wait for the things they want.

If you relate, don’t worry, some things can be done and it’s never too late to modify behaviour! What most helps these types of behaviours is something that psychology calls behaviour modification and it is quite effective. It is simply the belief that good behaviour should lead to positive consequences and bad behaviour should lead to negative consequences.

Behaviour Modification encompasses quite a few things such as positive and negative reinforcement as well as positive and negative punishment.

Positive reinforcement occurs when you reward a child

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#SupportCreativity

‘Ready or Not’ is Ready to Become a Cult Classic

‘READY or Not’ is a new black comedy horror film that has basically ensured its longevity by appealing to various facets of the personas of the young people that make up the main audience who will be going to see this film. Decades from now, there might probably be a remake that seeks to dismantle the very things that have made the film so appealing, but that is how art works. Wave after wave of change follows each other, corrupting and disabling certain styles, genres or ideals, only to cycle back to the beginning and rebuild that which was once lost.

However, being present at the beginning of the long life that should be granted to ‘Ready or Not,’ should make it easy to observe the elements within the film that make it so appealing to the modern audience. What is it about this story – where a new bride is thrust into a deadly game of hide and seek with her husband’s family – that speaks to us? Sure, it has tense moments and a heroine we want to root for, but there are certain specific elements and central ideas (such as the dismantling of traditions, an attack on the upper class, and feminism) that enable this film to be able to sink its claws into the modern audience member who is most likely a part of the generation that has a disdain for pointless traditions, is probably not in the upper class, and has engaged with the concerns of the new wave of feminism in a number of ways.

The plot of the film features our heroine, the final girl (a term used to describe the lead female character in a slasher or

horror film who survives the onslaught and outwits the killer) is Grace, a beautiful and resourceful young woman who gets married to a handsome and lavishly wealthy man named Alex. On the wedding night, Alex’s odd family engages Grace in an old tradition, where newcomers to the family have to play a game.

Grace’s game turns out to be a brutal version of hide and seek, where she is forced to hide until sunrise while every member of her husband’s family tries to kill her, using a wide array of weapons, including everything from a pistol and a crossbow to a rifle and a battle axe. The interesting aspect of the game, besides murder, is the fact that the exact consequences of the family losing to the bride seem to be lost on most of the people involved, the very people perpetuating this traditional violence.

The game is a tradition that is important to the family, and one that they all engage in, but not until the very end is any member of the family entirely cognizant of the truth of why they do what they do. It is a reminder of how several families in the world engage in various traditions (albeit, most often ones not involving murder) without ever questioning the source or reasoning behind the tradition, often passing these values and ceremonies down to the new generations. Sometimes, such traditions can be harmful, purposeless, and even fatal. Grace, as a shining example of a modern young woman, rebuffs the family’s attempt at including her in their tradition by attempting to survive the murderous game that they implicate her in.

In a way, she might also be regarded as fighting back against

By Subraj Singh

‘Ready or Not’ Poster, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2019 – Image via: IMDB

the tradition of marriage itself as she has to evade every one of her in-laws who tries to kill her. The bucking of the tradition of marriage itself is bold considering that although that particular institution no longer holds the same weight within the minds of young as it once did, it still remains an important one in modern culture. Therefore, Grace’s journey of survival against her in-laws can definitely be read as an attempt to survive what can be a cruel and foreboding institution, one of marriage, one where, for many people, having to deal with in-laws can often feel like an attempt to defend oneself from people who are out for blood. Grace fights back not only against the idea of in-laws and marriage but also against dangerous traditions that are upheld for no particular reason and against traditions that are upheld for selfish, capitalist reasons.

Regarding capitalism, it is important to understand that Alex’s family is ridiculously rich, while Grace comes from very humble beginnings having been brought up in foster homes. As an article by Andrea Renney, titled ‘Ready or Not Appeals to Millenials’ Disdain for the 1% by Beating Them at Their Own Games’ and published in ‘The Peak,’ highlights, Alex’s family “is exceptionally wealthy” and they are “caricatures of…bourgeoisie society: they self-medicate, are in loveless marriages, and prove to be incompetent when forced to do independent tasks.” Grace, coming from her particular background and going up against such wealth and power, is definitely an emblem of class struggles, particularly in the modern era, particularly when our heroine’s wholesome, warm, funny nature and her humble beginnings are contrasted with the ugly, angry, evil ideals that are adhered to by the wealthy family.

Lastly, I do think that Grace can be regarded as a feminist heroine (but aren’t all heroines, by definition, representative of feminism?) because she is the depiction of a woman who faces insurmountable odds and does her best to come out unscathed. Grace can stand for the ability of women to withstand and overcome outdated traditions and mores that stifle whole societies of women, of which the institution of marriage can definitely be counted as one. Furthermore, her physical prowess – particularly in the scenes where she fights the men in the family who try to kill her – and her perseverance in the new world of upper-class wealth and misery that threaten her life are definitely elements that can be counted towards regarding Grace as a feminist character.

I do believe that because of these elements and more (including Samara Weaving’s excellent performance as Grace and the sharp, funny screenplay by Guy Busick and R. Christopher Murphy), ‘Ready or Not’ will remain emblematic of the black comedy or the horror-comedy for many years in the future, where, I am sure, it will be regarded as a cult classic.

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Fashioning the future you Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel ... Inspiring lives through fashion WELCOME to a spectacular September --- the ninth month of the year. September is considered the birthing month and we all should be looking forward to great things in our personal and professional lives.

One of the new programmes birthed in this season as part of the Living with Intention Mission was MODEL IMAGE –Fashion the Future you.

We have various stages for this programme, but we commenced with the nine-16 category and some are from two orphanages. The main topics in the course will be confidence, elocution, deportment, etiquette and how to achieve your full potential. I must thank Richard, Caribbean Fashion Guru and Phillipa Morrish, President of Etiquette Training International for collaborating with me on this project.

To say I am immensely enjoying this group of young men and women is an understatement. Listening to them sharing their experiences, dreams and amazing goals for the future was so inspiring; we discussed failure and shared times when we failed and how we dealt with it. They expressed their surprise that I was a very shy young lady and failing in high school was just one of my many failures.

A few days ago I was feeling a bit exhausted and within a few minutes of me arriving in the class, I was rejuvenated and the energy started to flow. That was an example that passion produces energy.

I smile every time one of the moms shares her story or the kids share some of the content from the class. The kids even tried testing their parents’ and peers’ dining etiquette skills.

These are a few of the things we covered in the etiquette session : Should I always eat my french fries with my fingers?

1.

What are condiments? Where should I place them on my plate?

2. How should I eat pizza?

3.

How should I hold my teacup when I am drinking tea or coffee?

4. How should I eat a banana when served formally?

5.

How should I pick grapes from a bunch when at dinner?

6. Where should you place your napkin when you are leaving the table temporarily?

7.

On which side of your plate should you leave the napkin when your meal is finished?

8. When you are passing food around the dinner table, should you pass from the left or the right?

9.

What position should the handle be when you are passing cups, gravy boats, etc?

10. When is it permissible for elbows to be on the table?

11. Is it proper etiquette to re-apply lipstick at the dinner table?

12. Should soup be spooned away or toward you?

13. Bread and rolls should be : (a) broken or (b) cut before eating.

14. Should toast be broken or cut before eating?

15. What is the “three-finger” rule? How does it apply to eating roti?

16. When I am served first, should I begin to eat?

17. Should butter be (a) placed directly on the bread from the butter dish or (b) first placed on a plate and then used to butter bread?

18. If the food in your mouth is too hot to swallow, what should you do?

19. My starting point for using silverware is from the (a) outside -coming toward the plate or (b) inside-going away from the plate.

20. My starting point for using glassware is from the glass (a) closest to my reach or (b) farthest from my reach.

According to feedback from the parents, the kids are so excited to come to the next class that some selected their outfits days before! Every session was super empowering and exciting and I can’t wait to see the results at the end of this programme.

If you need information on any of the programmes we are conducting, please message us on livingwithintention11@gmail.com Contributing in a positive way to lives means so much to many of us and it is an awesome feeling.

Let us intentionally look around us on things we can do to improve lives as we celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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Men and Breastfeeding SRHR Adventures promotes breastfeeding campaign A breastfeeding mom once said, “Breastfeeding is more than just feeding your baby. It is determination, love and patience. Some days can be really exhausting. Caring for a baby who seems to only want you for your breasts but when the baby stops nursing for that few seconds to look up at you and smile that is when you realise that you aren’t just feeding your baby but providing comfort, love and a loving bond only you can give.”

This loving bond is just the tip of the hectic work schedule of a mother who tries to sleep while the baby is sleeping, or uses that time to complete chores or any other important thing that needs to get done. During which time, it seems as if only five minutes have elapsed before the baby is awake again.

Eventually, you will become a “mombie” (a sleep-deprived breastfeeding mother that one must approach with caution) who will appreciate a few luxuries such as sleep, time to shower, a hot meal and relaxation.

The laws of Guyana, like many other countries, often limit the male’s role in the breastfeeding process and early childcare by not providing paternity leave thereby restricting men from assisting as they should. But by learning about the benefits of breastfeeding, your knowledge, enthusiasm and support will help to boost the confidence of your partner in difficult times.

Additionally, they can offer support by: 1. Burping the baby after breastfeeding.

2. Nurturing a bond with their child through skin to skin contact.

3. Bottle feeding the baby with expressed breast milk or in the case where babies cannot be fed with breast milk, bottle feed baby with breast milk substitute.

4. Help to change diapers, bathe baby and put baby to sleep.

5. Prepare a healthy meal for your partner and encourage her to drink lots of water.

Colin Christopher Maxwell who resides at Laing Avenue and is a father of one believes that men should support breastfeeding since it will provide a great opportunity for a man to develop greater love while bonding with his family. “From day one, a father will know how hard and tiring it can be to look after a newborn especially when it is your first child and will never think about neglecting his family,” stated Maxwell.

In an interview about the importance of paternity leave, Dr Travis Freeman, who works at the Ministry of Public Health and is also a father of one said, “Paternity leave would make fathers feel more involved in the caring and raising of the baby since society often time excludes men deliberately or not from the caring process like changing napkins, feeding baby or even visiting the health facilities with or without the mother. If a father shows up with the baby for the doctor’s visit, he is automatically asked where the baby’s mother is and why isn’t she here.’ He believes that “a stronger and earlier psychological bond would have been created parallel to that of my wife through breastfeeding and there would have been lesser pressure on my wife since I would have been able to offset most of the tasks.”

This year, the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) observed World Breastfeeding Week from August 1 -7 under the theme: Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding.

The World Health Organization (WHO) along with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners are working to promote family-friendly policies to enable breastfeeding and help parents nurture and bond with their children through enacting paid maternity leave for a minimum of 18 weeks and paid paternity leave so as to encourage shared responsibilities on an equal basis.

However, while we wait for such policies, the Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Adventures organisation encourages men to support their partners during breastfeeding because the greatest formula for breastfeeding is: breast milk plus mommy’s and daddy’s support.

Dr. Faqueeda Watson-Jones Coordinator for SRHR Adventures 2018 Women Deliver Young Leader

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Negative reinforcement occurs when a child is motivated to change his/her behaviour because something unpleasant will be avoided. An example is a child does what you say to avoid a time out. Positive punishment occurs when a consequence is added to deter the child from repeating the behaviour. An example of this is telling a child to write an apology letter to someone they have harmed. Negative punishment occurs when something is taken away. For example, television or outside playtime gets taken away for bad behaviour.

One of the most important factors for behaviour modification is consistency. Unless the consequence is the same for your child repeating the specific behaviour, it will not be effective. For example, if you always take away playtime because of a bite, they would be less inclined to bite because they know what punishment is coming.

There are also some behaviours that parents may want to change.

Giving in to your child’s every request may seem like the easiest solution, especially if you know there’s going to be a tantrum otherwise. But there needs to be an understanding that that is only going to encourage the behaviour to continue.

Also, learning that you will get anything you want by behaving badly teaches a bad life lesson and imprints unrealistic expectations on the child. This can affect all relationships later in life.

Doing this also diminishes the opportunity to learn other people’s opinions and points of view as well as logic and reasoning behind decision making.

Empty threats! There is nothing more dangerous than an empty threat as children catch on quite quickly that there will be no consequence. If you want your word to count for something, deliver whatever punishment you promise. Empty threats hold no value. For example, you may say they aren’t going to a party or the park if their behaviour is out of line.

This is a quick reaction because parents also feel threatened when they are not listened to so they go to the extreme.

However, if the behaviour is consistent, the extreme may be necessary (But no, I don’t mean physical abuse).

Be consistent with consequences. Behaviour will only change if kids are certain of the boundaries and their consequences. I know a lot of parents who get really upset at certain things and then let it slide the next day. This is confusing for children. As adult human beings, we definitely have flexible boundaries, especially during stressful times but it is not okay to share that with our children. Clear set boundaries are crucial for behaviour change.

Let them experience difficult emotions. As parents, I get that you want to protect your child from any ‘negative’ emotion but these are essential for them to learn their personal needs, boundaries and desires in later life. We struggle seeing them upset but know that children effectively learning to deal with difficult emotions is essential for their development and giving in to their every demand is a disservice.

Sometimes we overindulge and provide them with too many unnecessary material items but this can prevent your child from appreciating what they already have. It also raises unrealistic expectations for the future Bribing children- many are guilty of this as it makes it easier for the task to get done. However, there are a few problems with this. After the first few times, the stakes must be raised to get more behaviour done which means you’ll have to offer more. But more importantly, this teaches a child that external rewards may be more beneficial and rewarding than the internal rewards, such as pride, that come from doing something good or productive. Negative reinforcement must come into play if your child disrespects you or has too much say in the family life. A child having options is fine once its parent-approved and appropriate for the whole family.

Finally, focus on the problem, not the child them self. If you call children bad, stupid, rude or anything along those lines, you are labelling them and people tend to live up to their labels. Instead, their behaviour was bad, their tone was rude and their actions were careless and so on. This teaches them that they can do better rather than feel they already fall into a certain category of people. However, keep in mind that your children learn to communicate from you. If you lose your temper, you’re teaching them that that is the most effective way to communicate and they only model your own behaviour. Just the same, if you say please and thank you, they will see that as the correct behaviour and may even follow suit. Remember being spoiled is not a gene that is inherited; it is a learned and reinforced behaviour Thank you for reading and please continue to write in to caitlinvieira@gmail.com and let me know what you would like to talk about. Suicide Helpline numbers – 2230001, 223-0009, 623-4444 or 600-7896. Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

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English

Dear Student, In study, your long-term goals are not much good for keeping you going. You need also short-term goals to keep you going week by week, day by day. For each study session you should set yourself definite realistic goals. Definite in the sense that you will be able to tell at the end of the session whether the goal has been reached;

realistic in that you are aiming neither too high nor too low. Be wise.

Love you.

THE PASSAGE Dublin November 1967 Dear Reader!

Human beings will become so used

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

to being crushed together that when they are on their own, they will suffer War is much too serious a thing withdrawal symptoms. “Doctor – I’ve got to get into a crowded train to be left to the military. soon or I’ll go mad.” So, special GEORGES CLEMENCEAU (1841-1929) N.H.S. assimilated rush hour trains Attr. Also attr. Talleyrand and Briand. will be run every other Sunday for patients. At 9’clock on that morning, thousands of victims will crowd ? to amuse the reader platforms throughout England, where great ? to predict what the future will be like electricity powered Crowd Compressors ? to shock the reader will crush hundreds of writhing humans into ? to reassure the reader about the future trains, until their eyes stand out under the ? to criticise society strain, then, even more wretches are forced ? to teach us something about life in the in by smearing them with Vaseline and slidfuture ing them sideways between legs of standing 3. The author’s attitude passengers. The doors close – any bits of In this passage you can feel that the auclothing, ears or fingers are snipped off. To thor’s attitude towards the human beings he add to the sufferers’ relief great clouds of stale describes is one of cigarette smoke are pumped into the carriag? indifference ? sympathy ? pity ? es. The patients start to cough, laugh and detachment hiding concern ? anxiety ? talk. They’re feeling better already. But more admiration ? criticism happiness is on the way. The train reaches 4. Tone 180 m.p.h.; at the next station the driver slams Write a, b or c in front of the following the brakes on, shooting all the victims up to sentences according to what you think the one end of the carriages. Immediately the tone of the sentence is. doors open, and great compressed air tubes a) a matter of fact b) humorous c) loaded with up to 100 passengers are fired ironic into the empty spaces, this goes on until the “Human beings will become used to being rubber roofs of the carriages give upwards, crushed together that when they are on their and the lumps one sees are yet a second layer own, they will suffer withdrawal symptoms.” of grateful patients. Off goes the train, and “The patients start to cough, laugh and one sees the relief on the travellers’ faces. talk.”

Who wants LSD when you can get this? Ah! “They’re feeling better already.”

You say, the train can’t possibly take any “Ah! You say, the train can’t possibly take more. Wrong! At the next stop the train is any more.” sprayed with a powerful adhesive glue, and “We are prepared.” fresh passengers stuck to the outside, and Keys to Last Week’s VOCABULARY so, crushed to pulp, pop-eyed and coughing and SPELLING blood, the train carries out its work of mercy.

A]. Pursue, to follow. “The police plan to Those who are worried about their children’s pursue the convicts through the night.” Pefuture in the 20th century need not fear. We ruse, to examine and consider with attention are prepared. paid to detail. “The lawyer carefully perused (From Spike Milligan: “The Bedside Milthe document.” ligan” (Star, 1979)) Populous, densely populated. “There is a populous area around every major city.”

ABOUT THE PASSAGE Populace, the population. “The populace Some students need help to understand cheered as the major general was introduced.” the writer’s intention and attitude because Lessen (v), to diminish. “Inflation they still have not learned to estimate the lessens the buying power of the dollar.” Lescommunicative value of most texts they son (n), something that is taught or learned. read, and of the sentences. This inability “My mistake taught me a lesson that I will sometimes leads to a misunderstanding of never forget.” whole passages, even though all the sentencIncite (v), to arouse or to stir up. “The poes are understood. Students under this kind lice arrested the person who incited the mob of shortcoming should train themselves to violence.” Insight (n), understanding. “Her ask questions to verify the writer’s intention latest book proves that she has great insight before dealing with a more detailed compreabout human nature.” hension of the passage.

B]. [Word nearest in meaning]: 1. They partitioned their organisation to give each WHAT TO DO worker time to mull over the incident. (b) Arrive at an understanding of the writer’s divided 2. We developed a calculating (Milligan’s) intention and attitude by choosplan for expanding our share of the coing a response to each set of questions below. conut canning factory. (d) deliberate 3.

Use a study partner.

I remained impassive as the neighbour 1. Recognising types of text enumerated how ugly the incident was.

After reading the passage, can you tell (c) composed 4. If we consolidate our whether it is efforts, our labour will become less intense. ? a letter to the editor (a) integrate 5. Miss Browne is the most ? a passage from a novel methodical teacher here in Level Eight ? a passage from a science fiction Mathematics. (d) orderly 6. They rattled ? a passage from a textbook on sociology on with their bilge for about a full half? a satire on modern society hour lacking care for their audience. (a) ? a passage from a horror story talked 7. The manager insisted that the 2. The author’s intention young entrepreneurs be given one day’s What is the author’s intention in this paspay for their astonishing performance. (d) sage? (There may be more than one answer.) surprising

Chronicle Pepperpot September 8, 2019

Cassava Bread

INGREDIENTS 4 lb bitter cassava salt to taste INSTRUCTIONS Peel, wash, and grate cassava.

Squeeze out as much of the juice as possible, using either a matapee or wringing in a towel (juice can be used for making cassareep).

Leave in lumps to dry (slightly) in open air.

Pound, sift, and add salt.

Heat a girdle pan and a metal hoop to the size of the cake required.

Cook until set, using moderate heat. Remove the hoop, level the surface, and press firmly.

Turn and cook on the other side.

When cooked through, remove cake and sun-dry until crisp.

Makes 10-12 guyanesepride.com

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