Guyana_Chronicle_Pepperpot_Epaper_12_13_2020

Sunday, December 13, 2020

‘It is time to celebrate Guyana’ Local designer Carol Fraser wows with ROAR collection at virtual Holiday Show

Guyanese designer Carol Frsser wowed a virtual audience on December 10 at the Caribbean Style and Culture virtual Holiday Show, which was livestreamed on Facebook and Vimeo on December 10. Fraser said that the line encompassed many aspects apart from fashion, including home furnishings, wine and body-care items and that it truly celebrates Guyana (photo courtesy of Carol Fraser)

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

Guyanese Christmas ‘Down Under’

By Francis Quamina Farrier WHILE it is winter in countries in the North -America, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France and other European countries, it is now summer “Down Under” in countries such as Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

This is also true in other countries such as Botswana in Africa and Uruguay in South America -- countries which are way down south of the Equator. As such, they spend the Christmas season in a warm climate without any snow. Their winter months are during mid-year. While on visits to Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay, I recognised the weather realities of those countries which are “Down Under” at the southern or bottom portion of the globe.

Recently, I have been in contact with Guyanese who are residing in Australia, a country I’ve visited. I need to find out how they plan to spend Christmas 2020 and share that information with you. First, Compton Nunes stated that his Christmas activities in Australia are similar to what he remembers of Christmas in his homeland Guyana. “You have touched on a very deep subject that is so close to my heart, and that is Christmas in Guyana – ‘Christmas Down Yonder’ as I like to call it,” he

said. Looking back, Compton spoke of his experiences as a youngster enjoying the festive season in a colony of the British Empire. “Like

a century since Compton Nunes left his homeland.

“I moved to Australia in early 1995, so this year will be my 25th of celebrating

Farrier in Sydney, Australia two months before the arrival of winter “Down Under”

Three pans of Guyanese Black Cake for Christmas 2020, baked in Melbourne, Australia, by Guyanese Compton Nunes (Photo compliments of Compton Nunes)

you and many others who were born in British Guiana and other realms of the British Empire, Christmas is very magical and spiritual and mysterious all wrapped into one,” was his summary about the Christmas seasons of his boyhood in one of the British colonies of an empire on which the sun never set.

It has been a quarter of

Christmas in Australia,” he said. In our exchange, Compton told me of the things which he dearly misses of the country of his birth, especially at Christmastime. “I miss Fogarty’s, Bookers and Main Street.

Also, I miss my aunt and uncle who owned the Blue See Page XIV

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

‘It is time to celebrate Guyana’ Guyana’s Carol Fraser wows with ROAR collection at virtual Holiday Show

Guyanese designer Carol Fraser wowed viewers in Guyana and the diaspora as she joined several other Caribbean fashion designers in displaying their colourful collections at the first ever virtual Holiday Show as part of the annual Caribbean Style and Culture Awards.

Hosted by Chardelle Moore, CSC Creative Director, Chantney Renese and Fashion Stylist, Tee Wright, The Holiday Show showcased designs from Fraser as well as collections out of Trinidad and Tobago (Azizah the Brand, Thalassa Beachwear), Jamaica (House of Fennel) and Barbados (Kimya Glasgow).

Fraser’s line ‘Roar’ was a display of all white with imprints of the jaguar. Set against the backdrop of Linden’s famous Blue Lake and Guyana’s beachfront, her collection certainly wowed viewers with its crisp accents and Fraser’s attention to detail.

In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine about her line, Fraser said that the line encompassed many aspects apart from fashion, including home furnishings, wine and body care items. “I think my brand is totally different because you can see yourself in my clothes sitting in one of the pieces of furniture and sipping the roar wine,”she said.

Fraser added that her brand was in the making for over five years and she feels it fully represents Guyana and showcasing the collection will add to the attention that the country is already getting. “ We are well known for our El Dorado gold, diamonds, silver, bauxite and rice and more recently our oil. This is the right time to bring out Roar because the whole world is talking about Guyana and now Guyana is roaring in her oil. I want ppl to see a different part of Guyana,”she stated.

Fraser’s presentation also included a performance by local

Carol Fraser’s Roar collection

songstress Vanilla. The other designers also chose collections that were close to home with T& T sisters Ariel and Alyssa Persad of Thalassa Beachwear presenting a colourful and dynamic resort wear collection while Azizah Mohamed’s collection ‘Reclaimed’ was inspired by the occurrences of 2020 and how society has handled it.Jamaica’s Fennel Moses’ resort and holiday collection was a mixture of vibrant prints and colourful accents. Kimya Glasgow presented a cool, allwhite resort wear collection as well.

The show was one of four virtual presentations livestreamed throughout this year in place of the annual Caribbean Style and Culture wards and Fashion Showcase which usually held in Washington DC in honour of Caribbean-American Heritage Month in June. The first three shows were livestreamed on August 14, 21 and 28 while the Holiday Show was livestreamed on December 10 on Facebook and Vimeo.

Thalassa Beachwear

Azizah the Brand

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

Guyanese Author set to launch line of educational books

By Jared Liddell

The Learning is fun each one teach one; Three letter words.

A Guyanese writer is set to launch several books on the Amazon site on December 15, 2020. The author of the books titled “Learning is Fun, Each one Teach one”, Alesia Caesar is using her talent for writing to help

children learn during this period.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she came up with the idea to launch the educational books following the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said she is a mother of two children and has since the pandemic hit, having access to materials became more important.

“When the pandemic began, and I noticed that children all around the world were out of school and without materials and so on I started thinking of what can be done. I know there are books for children, but I wanted to use my own talent and draft something that smaller children can use to not just learn but also to have fun,” Caesar said.

She further told the Pepperpot Magazine that while she is a cosmetologist professionally she has always had a love for writing, adding that she has already written and published over four other books that are aimed at an adult audience.

“I first started with these because I wanted to share my experience with women across the world who have suffered from depression abused neglect rejection etc...

Sometimes we tell ourselves that we are alone but we need to find that strength from with us to overcome and share our stories for there are many women out there being abused and are not speak out that’s my first book HIDDEN SCARS this will be out early next year,” said Caesar.

She added that having the idea for the books were simple, and getting her concepts together, she stated that she did have some sleepless nights trying to craft the perfect concepts and how she could make them easily understandable by the children.

Further, she stated that the books will be launched in both an electronic copy and a hardcopy, to allow persons the access to have access to the books.

“We have done both an electronic copy of the book and a physical copy so that

we ensure that children from all over can have access to the book. The electronic copy can be purchased from Amazon from the books launch date and the physical copy can be purchased from my business that I will be launching in December in Tuschen, West Coast of Demerara. I am a born Guyanese I love my country and I think as a single mother it will be a great place, to begin with my place of birth,” Caesar said The books will feature simple Mathematics equations that children ages 5-7 would be able to be sold.

Additionally, simple phonics and reading exercises will be featured heavily in one of the books.

When asked one piece of advice she could give to other persons she stated that she would advise them to “Tell your story, if you have a gift or a talent that you’re blessed with and you can use it to bless or educate someone else to share it. It could be more impactful than you think.”

The Learning is fun each one teach one; shapes and numbers book.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

The impact of small businesses in a changing economy

By Dillon Goring As Guyana’s economy continues to grow, small businesses have been the lifeblood because entrepreneurs have been allowed to create meaningful jobs and foster local economies, allowing money to stay closer to communities.

Small businesses enjoy many advantages that benefit the entrepreneur as well as the customers.

These include creativity and the development of entrepreneurial skills through training and mentorship classes when it comes to the creative industry.

This is according to one business entrepreneur and proprietor, Deon Jewel Smith, who spoke with Pepperpot Magazine recently.

Jewel, who is the owner of a small business which designs floral arrangements for wedding occasions, and other functions of festivity, made the point that there are advantages and disadvantages in the creative sector that would enhance the garnering of revenue to build a stronger economy.

“The disadvantage is materials, because if there is no material you cannot get to do what you want to do, hence material will

always be a challenge. Another challenge is a lack of finances. My advantage is that I am creative and I keep my creativity alive and new ideas coming,” she explained.

“The new government has already announced a suite of measures that will benefit not just households, but also small businesses.

These include reversal of VAT on electricity, water, machinery and equipment, exports, and materials for the construction sector, among others. These measures will surely improve the viability of small business start-ups and the sustainability of existing businesses,” Jewel said.

Efforts have already being made to create a national entrepreneurship and innovation body to stimulate business development. Guyana’s business culture is changing with every passing day, especially with the advent of the oil-and-gas sector, so, to ensure that entrepreneurs can ‘keep up,’ the government will be establishing a National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Council to focus on reforming entrepreneurship.

The government has already committed to building a modern Guyana with

world-class infrastructure that improves connectivity and unlocks the vast potential of the economy. Entrepreneurs are seen as key contributors to this vision, so their ability to “think outside of the box” will be critical, going forward.

It is for this reason that the government has taken a step to establish a council which, they believe, will serve as a conduit for transformation and innovation.

These were the sentiments expressed by President Dr Irfaan Ali most recently during a recent virtual meet-

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 4, 2020

ing of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) There is a need for structure for most small businesses countrywide. “ You will find that a lot of them aren’t registered, people just jump up and run into business, there is also need for business training, NGOs and different avenues where people can access training. Other [than] training, there needs to be the practice of standardised procedure for business operation. This includes business registration, compliance with the National Insurance

Scheme,” Paul Moore, a business journalist told the Pepperpot Magazine.

In this light, Moore noted that many of these small business entrepreneurs can be given loans, grants and programmes to help them to become the structured small business and build on training.

“We must give kudos to some of the entities that are already helping small businesses and giving training like Cerulean Inc., the Small Business Bureau, etc, ” Moore added.

Recently, 10 clients of the Small Business Bureau were trained on how to develop their businesses towards meeting international standards while creating more employment.

Lyndell Danzie Black, Director of the Cerulean Incorporated (Guyana) believes that small businesses in Guyana contribute to the economy by bringing growth and innovation, thus the stimulation of economic growth. “ We provide employment opportunities to people who may not be employable by even larger corporations.

We are able to work on some of the processes and procedures and even products that larger corporations would not be able to deal with these

things and in that regard contribute to any economic opportunities,” Black said in an interview told Pepperpot Magazine.

According to Black, small businesses are normally run by marginalised groups within the economy.

A large percentage of women now are involved in small business development.

Black believes that it is the interest of the Government and larger corporations to work with small businesses since they have a significant role to play in the economy.

She further noted that small businesses provide stability within the workforce.

“In the last couple of years, we have also seen an increase in the number of small businesses, who too are unemployed and what we need to able to do at this time is to commence research and development within the small business sector, so that we can be able to quote things like the percentage of the workforce that is employed by small businesses,“ Black revealed.

The spirit of entrepreneurship among the Guyanese Community is a no doubt a great plus as it relates to the development of the small business industry, Black concluded.

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Heart Through Art 2020

AS most of you know by now, I like to shed light on events -- both past and upcoming -- that I think may benefit our general mental health. This week I’m going to discuss an art event that happened a few days ago, with an emphasis on art and mental health, with the Hello Everyone, plethecannext get physical if theyor hope of you all participating time around picking up the hobby for yourself. find out they have been Art Activities is an amazing coping skill- so much so that Art hope Therapy itself thisinweek hasis a successful betrayed part of the mental health treatment process for many mental health illnesses End of a marriage/ such as treated anxietyyou andwell. depression.- Techniques used inreart therapy canIinclude drawing, painting, colouring, sculpting, recently re- lationship or collaging. Art activities have so many benefits that may ceivedrecognised. a requestIt offers- an Broken not be easily outletrelationships for emotional

release where you can express and let go of all your feelings and fears. This also helps with processing emotions such as anger and sadness which you might be unable to healthily express in other ways.

Art expression also helps us to discover feelings that orwenot; are even people maythere not have known we had. It provides stress release and specifically who cheat and people whoreleases dopamine in the brain which is known as the happy hormone. Art encourages thinking both kids and adults. docreative not. It’s simplyanda imagination in perAlso, please keep in mind that you do not have to be an sonal choice.

There will artist to see these benefits.

The following event, always be other problems tohosted by School of the Nations, had proved to be successful. Below are some words by Dr. ‘blame’ cheating on, but Otoole the himself.

The “Heart Through Art” event hosted at School of the Nations on the 11th and 12th of December, is an upcoming youth-initiated art exhibition geared towards providing a platform for local artists to better connect with society. Key coordinators, Chris Bissessar, Kezyah Bhola, and Ashley StAublyn, art students at School of Nations, are working alongside a growing family of artists to bring a voice and stage to the true talent in Guyana. Art is a powerful medium we can use to change society - it is one of the driving statements that inspired the event especially in this time when the pandemic has destroyed so many lives. With many long hours of See Page XIII

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

Onderneeming A breezy, safe place to reside

Carlissa Semple (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge This week the Pepperpot Magazine visited Onderneeming Village, which is located between Hopetown and Experiment communities, West Coast Berbice.

Onderneeming Village is divided into two sections, that is, the New Housing Scheme which was established about three years ago along with the road front section and at the rear of that is the New Hope Housing Scheme, a village of 43 houses, which was sponsored by Lil’ Red Foundation via Food for the Poor Guyana.

On November 25, 2016, for his 43rd Wedding An-

niversary, American businessman and philanthropist Joseph Roetheli cut the ceremonial ribbon signalling the official opening of the New Hope Community Development Project at Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice The project, which is intended to benefit 43 families, is a partnership between Food for the Poor Guyana Inc. (FFP), the Lil’ Red Foundation and Major Giving, a donor agency based in Florida.

The New Hope project, which comprises 43 houses replete with sanitation facilities, water components and a community centre, was financed by Roetheli, an American.

Fort Wellington Secondary School

The village has the GUYOIL Gas Station on the Public Road, St. Michael’s Church Hill, the Fort Wellington Secondary School, A & T Wholesale Store, Hopetown Land Coop Society office, wash bays, shops, and other micro and mid-size businesses.

The regional hospital is at Fort Wellington and the road

New Hope Housing Scheme.

front is lined with small businesses including a pharmacy, a photocopying centre and a butcher shop.

Onderneeming is a breezy place to raise a family and the local are very friendly and neighbourly and quite safe since people look out for each other.

The village has the basic infrastructure such as good roads, potable water, electricity but no landline phone service.

Life in New Hope Resident of New Hope Housing Scheme, Carlissa Semple is a teacher attached to Hopetown Nursery School.

She is a mother of three, who told the Pepperpot Magazine that without FFP she was unable to own her own home and it was simply a

dream come through.

She was residing with her sister, in an extended family setting in Hopetown before she moved into her own house.

“I didn’t want to apply because I thought of the odds of having my own land and a house and I knew I could not afford that on my own but I was encouraged to apply for the land and when I got the phone call to pick my house lot I was in disbelief,” she said.

It has been five years and she is thinking about extending her house to make it a bit more comfortable.

Semple stated that most of the 43 families that reside at New Hope Housing Scheme are single-parents and others, who needed proper living accommodations.

She added that residents were also given a loan and

trained to start a small business such as pig rearing and most people took that opportunity while, others are also doing things at home to earn.

She grabbed the opportunity to learn to sew and make candles, which she developed into a small business.

She would sell the scented candles at Rosignol Market and in the community but due to the virus, she has ceased that operation until it is safe to do so again.

The local reported that there are about 500 residents in the New Hope New Housing Scheme because some houses have more than five children.

She disclosed that Onderneeming starts from the GUYOIL Gas Station which borders Hopetown from that village and ends See Page X

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

The enterprising and resourceful women of New Hope Housing Scheme

By Michel Outridge

When it all seemed like there was no hope for Violet Cadogan, who always dreamed of becoming a homeowner, she saw the light at the end of the tunnel five years ago and was elated.

She grew up in a large family of 13 siblings, living in one house which was inadequate at Number 22 Village/Bel Air Village, also on the West Coast Berbice, and she was struggling.

The 43-year-old never thought that her dream would come through but it did when she received a phone call saying she was selected and was going to have her own house.

“I was moved to tears because I could not believe it and I am very grateful for the opportunity because I am happy and I have had a hard life and today I have my own house and I live in peace and quiet,” she said.

Cadogan is a sweeper/cleaner attached to Bushlot Nursery School and she would go there daily via her motorcycle.

The mother of two told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been a resident of New Hope Housing Scheme for the past five years and it feels good because she is comfortable and she is doing things at home to earn.

“I only paid $100,000 for the land and the rest was taken care of by FFP through the donors, Lil’ Red Foundation and Uncle Joe so I only have to upkeep the place and ensure it doesn’t fall apart,” she said.

Cadogan has since extended her house to accommodate a lower flat and more rooms to her house.

In her yard space, she has a kitchen garden which she uses in the kitchen and some flower plants to beautify the place is the perfect addition.

She is making chair backs from crochet thread in her spare time to sell but due to the pandemic is not selling it but making it for herself.

Cadogan reported that it would normally cost $20,000 for a set of six chair backs.

“I don’t sit idly, I am always doing some to bring in money in the house, as a single parent, I am exploring the possibilities and I am not limiting myself,” she said.

She would make ice and icicles to sell from her home, she is a certified cosmologist and trained and qualified in the Care for the Elderly.

In addition, she would do some sewing and can cater for functions and social events and is said to be well-versed in the kitchen.

The Special Constable Another resident of New Hope Housing Scheme, Corlis McPherson, is a Special Constable attached to Onverwagt Guyana Power and Light Inc. and she is on the 15:00hrs to Violet Cadogan’s house

11:00hrs shift.

The mother of one makes ice, custard and icicle to sell at her home.

“This place has a lot of children so they does come and support my small business and it is something to supplement my income,” she said.

She moved into her own house four years ago and has since done some modifications to her house including a verandah was constructed and plants in her yard.

McPherson was living in her home village of nearby, Hopetown and was caring for sick and elderly uncle.

She reported that when the village got electricity a few months ago she began making custard, icicle and ice to sell.

“Well I grow up with my grandmother and I come from ‘old school’ upbringing so I can take care of my son See Page XIII

Violet Cadogan

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020 Tarik Nicholson by his Christmas tree

Brightening up the place for the holidays

By Michel Outridge

Since the pandemic most people have been at home, secluded from loved ones, relatives, friends and others but this young man is doing everything he can to brighten their Christmas.

Tarik Nicholson has decorated his natural Christmas tree plant in his yard which stands tall and proud with red and green decorations of bows and ornaments and it is also outfitted with fairy lights.

The Christmas tree is natural of which he bought and planted just for Christmas holidays and now that it is fully grown he trimmed it and the decorations were

store-bought.

He stated that some of the decorations are from last year, he recycled and he got some new ones.

Nicholson has been decorating the tree for the past two years to bring joy and spread the holiday cheer in his village.

It is quite a sight at nights when it is lit up and the children in the village would come out and look at it for a bit because retiring to their beds.

Nicholson is a resident of New Hope Housing Scheme, Onderneeming, West Coast Berbice and he lives with his extended family.

The 19-year-old has a lot going for him because he is multi-talented and is always doing something around the house or yard.

He would buy plants from the nursery at Rosignol and got some old tyres which he painted bright red and used it to pot the plants, which sits in the front yard.

Nicholson is also tasked with re-painting and decorating the house and is hoping to finish just in time for the holidays.

This young man also rear pigs has some meat birds which he will sell for the holidays and there some creole fowls, as well.

“Since growing up I always had a knack for decorating, cooking and making a house look good

Tarik Nicholson (Carl Croker photos)

so I decided to do Home Economics at Fort Wellington Secondary School and I was delighted to be able to learn so much of which I have put into practice in the home,” he said.

Nicholson is a very cheery individual and he has an air of confidence and from the way he does things, you can tell he knows what he is about.

He relocated to New Hope Housing Scheme four years ago with his grandmother and siblings from the neighbouring village of Hopetown when his family benefitted from a house and land.

Nicholson told the Pepperpot Magazine that the holidays always excites him and that gives him the drive to do things to decorate and brighten up the place especially for his sister and four brothers.

He would also spend hours in the kitchen to en-

sure cake, Pepperpot, bread and other dishes are prepared and placed on the table for Christmas for the family to indulge.

“I like to things but the only thing I didn’t get to learn is knitting and I would enrol in a class when the pandemic passes over because I want to knit chair backs for the house,” he said.

Nicholson stated that they are in the process of extending the house so they can relocate the kitchen on the lower flat but it is unfinished.

He would also spend a lot of daylight hours in the yard doing his gardening to ensure the plants are watered and they get ample manure to promote growth.

Nicholson would wake up at about 04:00hrs to look after the 20 meat birds he is rearing and the pigs before doing household chores.

His company is a small See Page XIII

The natural decorated Christmas tree in Tarik’s yard

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020 Villagers of Onderneeming (Carl Croker photos)

There is no other place like Onderneeming Housing Scheme

By Michel Outridge MOST of its residents like, Rawle Semple, he is pleased to be residing in a village where he enjoys peace and quiet and is among neighbourly people.

He lives at Onderneeming Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice with his wife and seven children.

Semple is originally from Hopetown, the village next door but relocated three years ago when he acquired a plot of land.

His wife has a grocery shop she operates and he is a Linesman attached to the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) for the past 19 years.

He was at the time fixing his car which was at the side of the road before going to take rest.

Semple told the Pepperpot Magazine that three of his children are employed while the rest are job-hunting.

Rawle Semple

home.

She noted that the place is safe because you can leave things around and no one would interfere with it.

Next door to her is a large scale poultry farm and its owners do not reside there but would visit every day and she and others would keep an eye on things.

See Page XIV

He has a lovely kitchen garden in his yard which is bearing boulanger among other vegetables.

“Well you can’t live in the country and have yard space and buy greens, no way, you must plant and that is used in the kitchen,” he said.

Semple is rearing some ducks and sheep in his backyard and describes life at Onderneeming as good because there is so much to do with little time.

The homemaker Chelsea Semple lives next door to Rawle Semple and she was fixing up the house for the holidays.

The homemaker reported that she has been residing in at the location for the past 12 years and it is a peaceful community where everybody is their brother’s keeper.

The 22-year-old added that she is originally from Hopetown Village but Onderneeming has become her

‘Sitting ducks’ which belong to the neighbours

Chelsea Semple

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

Developments ongoing in Onderneeming Village

By Michel Outridge

Regional Chairman, Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice) Vickchand Rampaul in giving developmental highlights of the region and more so, Onderneeming Village reported that the village has seen its fair share of infrastructural developments.

He disclosed that in his five years in office, the community benefitted from road and streets repairs and re-paving as well as, drainage and irrigation works, bridges and walkways constructed.

Rampaul stated that the internal streets within Onderneeming Village was repaired and resurfaced and others upgraded to an acceptable standard.

He pointed out that in New Hope Housing Scheme, they constructed roads and installed culverts for drainage and in June this year, the area benefited from electricity, for the very first time.

This village has been in existence for the past five years.

As for Onderneeming New Scheme, Rampaul said they have good roads and irrigation, electricity, potable water supply and all the basic amenities except land line phone service.

The Regional Chairman disclosed that they have made more farm to market roads accessible for farmers to transport their produce easily with the upgrade of trenches, canals, dams and roads.

Rampaul pointed out that $100M was allocated for drainage and irrigation works within the region and they have had assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture.

He stated that the rehabilitation of schools, health centres and other government buildings are on the cards, as well.

Rampaul revealed that they have done a lot of work in the farming communities to bring the much-needed relief to farmers in the region.

He said Onderneeming Village is a place where the people are business-oriented and make an honest living doing many things since they are multi-talented.

Onderneeming in focus Meanwhile, Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Assistant Overseer/ Chair of the Hopetown Land Coop Society, Renai McAlmont told the Pepperpot Magazine that Onderneeming is booming with development in which two new housing schemes are progressing rapidly in the housing drive.

She disclosed that Onderneeming Village is owned by the Hopetown Land Coop Society since the lands are ancestral and was bought by ex-slaves and those lands are managed by the Coop.

McAlmont reported that the plots for housing are sold only to people residing within the boundaries of #22/Bel Air Village to Fort Wellington Village.

She added that the Coop

Democratic Council (RDC) Office

however, made a mistake by selling plots to some overseas based-Guyanese, who after receiving land titles, did nothing to construct houses on the lands as such, they are not fostering housing development.

McAlmont stated that both North and South Onderneeming Village has about 600 house lots, most of which are occupied and more houses are being built in the new housing scheme.

She reported that the area is developing but it has been a real struggle in terms of telecommunication in which they have no land line service and they are forced to seek the services of private cable company and the service is not good.

“We need land line phones and good internet services because the children have to access the internet for their school work and the use of telephones are vital in communication,” she said.

McAlmont added that the Coop released some lands at the rear of the village for residents of New Hope Housing Scheme to farm cash crops and to rear livestock.

“The Coop has 800acres of rice lands of which they rent and monies collected are used to develop the Coop and within recent times they have had to spend $8M to make the rice lands accessible for farmers,” she said.

She noted that the Coop is working closely with the NDC, the regional office and other agencies to develop the community.

Onderneeming Village (Carl Croker photos)

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

A BARBIE DOLL FOR ME

A CHILD’S DREAM AND WISH FOR CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS season, that wonderful, magical time of year; the children’s fascination with the spectacular Christmas trees and dear old Santa bringing toys and joys to hopeful, innocent hearts.

A little girl who had already made her wish held her grandmother’s hand firmly as they exited the crowded market. The old lady’s two baskets of sorrel and carambola had all been sold putting a few extra dollars in her pocket for the season.

She would be able to give her three grandchildren a nice little Christmas in their cozy little home. Sarah was a great helper, a wonderful child and she had wished for a special gift, a Barbie doll, the real Barbie. She had many dolls from Christmases before and birthdays but the beautiful, glamorous Barbies in the shopping plaza showcases, her little heart yearned for. She knew her grandmother could not buy any with her small earnings but she still wished, holding onto hopes that the Christmas spirit would bring good tidings in their poor lives.

A heavy drizzle came down as they walked to the bus park and they hurriedly sought shelter under a hardware store’s awning. Across the street, a little way, was the shopping plaza that she often passed on the way home from the market. Always she would stop and stare at the superb toys that were every child’s dreams. The rain eased and they continued walking to the park, as they came close to the store, a sales clerk brought a new doll for the display window. The little girl drew in her breath sharply for it was the doll of her dreams, beautifully dressed in a soft pink party dress, long, curly, black tresses and a dazzling smile. But what captured the child’s heart was the doll’s ebony skin, just like hers. Her grandmother looked at her questioningly and she pointed to the doll in the store’s window.

The old lady shook her head regretfully and the child sadly turned her eyes away. She turned to have one last look at her dream doll before turning the corner and gasped loudly, not believing her eyes.

The ebony Barbie doll, seeming to come to life, waved to the child.

“What is the matter child?” her grandmother asked impatiently.

“Look Grandma!” the little girl gushed

Onderneeming...

From Page VI at Fort Wellington Bridge.

Semple noted that there is a community centre in the village but the area needs to be identified for it to be fenced and they have a Resource Centre where they provide skills training and have empowerment programmes for both adults and youths.

excitedly, “The Barbie doll waved at me!”

“Oh dear Lord.” The old woman shook her head in exasperation.

“Your imagination is really running wild.”

“It’s true!” the little girl insisted but her grandmother was not in the mood to listen. Sarah couldn’t understand, wondering now, if her eyes had played tricks on her.

As she walked away, the doll blinked her eyes and smiled, just a little smile – the magic of Christmas.

That night it continued to rain and Sarah huddling between the comfort of her grandmother’s jasmine scented sheets whispered sleepily.

“Dear God, I know my grandma can’t buy me a real Barbie but, in my dreams, i f

only I could play with her…”

Her voice trailed off as she fell asleep and out the window flew that wish into the starry night.

Dreams, from heaven they came, playing, laughing, filling the innocent hearts with beautiful things.

Sarah’s soft laughter as she played in her dreams with the ebony Barbie doll, passed through the creases in the wall awakening her grandmother. The old lady looked at the child for a long moment knowing she was dreaming of something she truly loved. She sighed as though she had made her mind up about something. Returning to her room she opened her wardrobe and took out an old tin box, hidden at the back. It has been years since she had had cause to open the box. She stared at her precious few pieces of fine jewellery and selected a small heart-shaped brooch that had enough value to pay for a special gift.

The last few days before Christmas were busy at the market and with grandma’s own late shopping on Christmas Eve from the money she earned. Sarah felt happy in her heart for the loving family she had, and in their own small way, they always had a happy enjoyable Christmas; such a beautiful time. On Christmas morning, Sarah opened her gift and smiled happily at her doll carrying case.

“Thank you, Grandma,” she said, hugging her and turned to go when her grandmother said, “You need a doll for that case, a special doll.”

She handed the surprised child another gift that she had hidden behind the Christmas tree. Sarah opened it slowly and cried out in amazement.

It was the ebony Barbie doll from the shopping plaza.

“Grandma,” she laughed as her heart filled with joy, “Thank you, thank you, I love you so much.”

Her Christmas wish for this most beautiful gift her little heart had desired, had come true.

She is a member of the Hopetown Land Coop Society and monies garnered are used to develop the community.

Distance learning Since schools closed its doors earlier this year, Semple, who misses the classroom sessions said that she would reach out to all children which are 13 in total and via WhatsApp, she would send calls work.

However, not every child has access to the internet so some haven’t been reached but with the Ministry of Education’s intervention of hand-outs that is, worksheets she would deliver those to every child in her class to ensure they have something to do and be stimulated.

“While, I am doing my utmost to get the worksheets to the children I am not sure if they are being guided to complete

such but I do try to check on them and have those worksheets marked,” she said.

Semple stated that it has been hard on both teachers and children being home, shut away but people are coping better these days and it would be good to return to school because she is tired of being at home.

“Although there are things I do to occupy my time, I still miss school because of the children and I know how difficult it has been being cooped up and we all welcome normalcy again,” she said.

The pandemic, Semple stated, has brought a lot of challenges and people had to adjust quickly and wearing a face mask and constant hand washing and sanitising is the new norm and people are still rattled.

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Invaluable Life Experience

W

E all have memorable moments that occurred from a kid--some positive and some negative--but they impact our lives. This compilation book project is certainly one of the most empowering projects I have created. Imagine people from what adds to making it extra special is the cover was shot in my home, Bartica. I am sharing the photo below that created the cover.

PICTURE PERFECT

I look at that photo of the Sixth Avenue beach in Bartica and I reminisce of a time of simple pleasures and quaint surroundings. I cherish those motivating memories and I am thankful for those impactful impressions and Asha Narine for capturing this awesome image.

I am defined by those experiences, coming from such modest beginnings. I am now a grounded individual without prejudices, loving life and wanting to serve others. I must say that the rustic setting, free of inhibitions, opens your appetite for a burgeoning life, filled with all imaginable possibilities and ready to make a meaningful footprint.

For in that small town, big dreams were birthed and a humanitarian spirit w a s

fostered. Indeed, as the photo depicts, we lived, unassumingly, in a riverine community, revelling in the mystical ‘pot of gold’ that resides at the end of the rainbow. With such a background, one is allowed to let the imagination soar.

I am a proud Bartican, humbly making footprints in the sands of time. It is only through sharing authentic stories of each other that invaluable lessons are learned and we all are the better for it!

All we can do is aspire for a picture-perfect life and in so doing, conscientiously, we make a difference in the lives of others and contribute, consciously, to making the world a better place for us and future generations.

I decided to create a journal that will be released before the book. This will be a guided journal with tips to elevate your 2021. You will be guided while journalling and capturing those invaluable life experiences. The 365 invaluable life Experience will be available on Amazon on the 29th and the journal on the 17th.

Sharing four of the 365 short stories in this inspiring new book.

I lived on a small island off the east coast of Australia. I was 19 and fearless; I raced down to the water’s edge, board under my arm. Staring into the stormy sea, I felt its ominous presence wanting to eat me alive. The low clouds mystified the sun’s first rays. I knew the danger; I could see schools of fish jumping out of the water, it was shark-feeding time. As I paddled out, I knew I wasn’t alone.

I saw a shadowy body pass beneath me; a dor-

sal fin appeared, and then another. Swimming with dolphins is an enlightening sense of presence; a feeling of deep love that fills every crevice of your body. That’s how I learnt to live –- I cannot feel that deep love without facing the sharks and enduring the storms - Nikki Daniels, Australia Turns out, putting yourself down takes up a lot of brain space and that limits the room to actually act on your hopes and dreams. It took away the power to go after what I want.

When I thought I couldn’t do certain things, I figured there was no reason to try.

But when I put myself in the positive mindset of believing that I can, it’s so much easier to throw caution to the wind and just go for it. I never believed in myself, till I was hungry for God and the Holy Spirit made me discover Myles Munroe’s books and teachings on YouTube, and this changed my life. Through his teaching, I discovered I was God’s most precious creation, created in his image and likeness.

Knowing that gave me confidence and boldness. Confidence comes from knowing who you are and staying attached to your source- Nancy Saibo, Cameroon.

Growing up in Guyana, I was always regularly being associated with a person that bore the same name as myself.

From time to time and from the minute people heard my name they immediately asked if I was a child or relative of this person. The individual in question was a man by the name of Barry Massay who resided in another town. I didn’t know him. I never met him. But I also was told he was well known.

Time passed (over ten years) and again I didn’t get the opportunity to meet the individual. One day, I got the pleasure of meeting him. It was like a peasant meeting a king.

I felt a jolt of electricity running through my body, a bomb exploding in my stomach. I can’t believe I was meeting a man of his stature. He was known to everyone in his community. He was the leading figure in the construction industry and a mentor to many. From that day on, I would say it was a life-changing moment for then I know what it felt like to meet a king - Byron Massey, born in Guyana Living in NY At the age of 18, I left my birth country Finland for a travel adventure to Palermo, Italy. It was a courageous and fearless thing to do since I did not know the family where I was going to nor the details of my trip. I could only have done that because of the foundation from my mom Airi Annikki Hildén.

She was beautiful smart and courageous most of all a strong wise woman always thinking of others with a heart of gold. She encouraged me to enjoy life every day and not to be afraid of failure. I made some lifelong friends in Italy. My mom is no longer with us but her words and wisdom will forever be with me, even now they are impacting my life. What a brave woman she was. I miss her and the positive energy she would give me.

I know she’s with me although I can’t see her-Tarja Veijonen, Finland My Christmas gift to you is free downloads for both publication as we continue to enjoy this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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Heart Through Art...

From Page V

introspection gained from self-imposed lockdown many can have varying takeaways from the ordeal.

As Kezyah Bhola said, “being brought onboard to the Nations art team really turned my year around. The covid19 lockdown seemed to stifle more than the world around me; it affected my art.” The pandemic has been utilized in many ways but has left some feeling anxious and craving for normality. This is why the team behind this event believes it would be such a beneficial activity to be a part of a new art movement in Guyana.

Chris Bissessar, one of the organisers of the Art Exhibition, commented, “I strongly believe, just looking at something someone has poured their heart and time into, is so inspirational. That’s what events like this have done for me and that what I hope it will do for others who support us”. What started as a suggestion of an exhibition in a new Cambridge AS Art course in-

From Page VIII

troduced at Nations, quickly snowballed into a series of exciting events. A team from the 6th Form Nations art class spent three days at Mazaruni prison introducing the inmates to new modes of expression. The same team then organised five nights of art displays at Giftland Mall through the generosity and support of Roy and Monica Beepat.

They then organised what will be a monthly art brunch at “Nations” where Guyanese artists simply gather together to inspire others.

They have also created an Art Gallery at “Nations” to showcase the ability of Guyanese artists. They have therefore accomplished a great deal in just three months.

Backed by the support of many, including the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, who will speak at the opening of the Art Exhibition, Heart Through Art plans to continue pushing for development of the arts in Guyana, we hope to have our artists and society have a better understanding of

each other as well as create a new medium to evoke change and awareness in the Guyanese society.

If you’d like to contact Dr. Otoole about upcoming events, please call Cell: (592) 661 8773 Office: (592) 22 74623 Also if you’d like to share any upcoming or past events with me that might benefit mental health, please do so!

Thank you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com. If you’d like to have private counselling sessions, please call or WhatsApp +592 623 0433 Suicide helpline numbers – 223-0001, 223-0009. 6234444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

Brightening up the ...

Bluetooth music box he carries with him which has a memory card of music that he would listen to.

Nicholson told the Pepperpot Magazine that Christmas is the time of year he looks for-

ward to even though it is a lot of work around the house but it is also about sharing, caring and families.

He will ensure his house is full of joy for the holidays and being self-employed gives him the time to do more of which he is all too happy.

Tarik’s pigs

The enterprising and ...

From Page VII

Corlis McPherson home (Carl Croker photos)

and keep the place clean and tidy because at granny’s you had to know to do these things and cooking was a must too,” she said.

She has been a Special Constable for the past six years and likes her job because she is earning and can do things at home in her free time.

McPherson’s yard is very tidy and has lots of plants, flowers and vegetables and fruit trees.

She describes life in her own home as ‘lovely’ and she is trying to make life good for herself and son.

Violet Cadogan on her motorcycle, off to work

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There is no other place...

From Page IX Alfred Amus

Semple lives on the lower flat of a two-storey house while her sister occupies the upper flat and they co-exist on good terms.

She disclosed that in Onderneeming they are contented and life is good because they have so much to be thankful for.

The Village elder Amus Alfred is one of the oldest villagers and these days he would take things easy because he had worked hard for

many long years.

The 79-year-old was a contractor, but nowadays his sons have stepped up to the task and when the team met him he was at the Post Office, waiting to uplift his pension.

“I worked hard for 28 years as a contractor, look at my hands, so I am taking it one day at a time now because I am of age and I do little things around the house though,” he said.

Alfred disclosed that he began working as a carpenter

and later retired as a Foreman in the construction department of the Regional Office at Fort Wellington.

He reported that he and three sons but one died and they followed in his footsteps in terms of career and are doing construction work.

Alfred celebrated his 79th birth anniversary on November 28 and he was happy to do so.

He is a committee member of the Hopetown Land Coop Society and a ranger.

Guyanese Christmas...

From Page II

Light and Church Light stores in Georgetown. As children, we all dressed up to go and see Father Christmas and the fairy lights. Missed seeing and smelling the apples and fresh fruits and nuts from overseas,” he said. Then there were the Guianese personalities of the colonial era. “[I] remember Aunty Olga Lopes on Radio Demerara. [I also] remember seeing Uncle Forbes on his horseback when my father took us unto his property to catch fish,” he recalled.

The tastes and smells of Christmas in Guyana still remain with him. “I miss my mother and aunty baking of black cakes and tennis rolls and butterflaps,” he said. Compton took to Australia all the things he had learned to do about Christmas in Guyana. He just sent me a photograph of three black cakes which he baked himself, and more to be done.

When I asked Compton about Pepperpot, his response was triggered by his most recent visit to Guyana.

“Don’t get me going on that subject,” he said. “I have my last bottle of cassareep I bought [sic] with me from Guyana in 2015, which was a gift from the Van Sluytman family of the Pomeroon.”

Compton also mentioned the celebrated Guyanese educator and cultural icon, Cecile Nobriga, who was his favourite teacher, and her poem “Christmas in Guyana” which she used to beam with joy when he recited it to her.

Based in Melbourne, Alison Buchanan plans to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with her daughter and grandchildren. She will also visit her 96-year-old father who was registered into an aged-care facility a few months ago. “We will prob-

ably have a few lunch catchups through December instead of one big gathering on Christmas Day” is the plan of family members. The family also plans to have a barbeque in the garden at which garlic pork and baked ham will be the principal dishes served. Alison said that she will be decorating her home. “A Christmas wreath on the door, fairy lights on the Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, Christmas ornaments from Guyana which have survived multiple moves, come out every year,” she related.

Tony Phillips is based in Melbourne. He is the artist who painted the Guyanese celebrities in the dome of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry on Water street when it was Barclays Bank.

We have been in touch for a while, and previously he had gracefully given me firsthand information on the way Australia was battling the COVID-19 pandemic. He was also willing to share his plans for Christmas 2020.

Another Guyanese living in Australia is Sarah Mair Morgan. She has informed me that a Trinidadian couple who are friends of hers, has already invited her over for Christmas lunch in their new home.

In closing, let me include the following information about the COVID-19 deaths in Australia. In my article of early October 11, the number of deaths in that country with a population of 25.3 million, was 900. Two months later at December 13, that number has increased by only eight to 908. Please join me in extending “HAPPY CHRISTMAS and PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR” to all our fellow Guyanese residing “Down Under” in Australia.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

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Dialogue must inform the way forward for Guyana

THE Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) will host its national conversation on improving ethnic relations in Guyana on December 14 and 15. Though I have major qualms with the work (or lack thereof) of the ERC, I’m happy that the commission is finally engaging in some action to potentially help Guyanese heal and hopefully strive for greater unity and harmony.

For decades, there has been a pervasive mistrust or even fear of the ‘other’ race or ethnicity in Guyana. I submit that there are persons in positions of influence who capitalise on the mistrust and fear and harness these feelings to secure their interests. I also submit that solidarity exists among these various groups in Guyana, but that solidarity, perhaps, is veiled by the perceptions, prejudices, and biases learnt, and yes, the very real and

valid hurt and trauma Guyanese have experienced.

This year has been a particularly difficult one for me, not only because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For most of this year I was daunted by the political occurrences and my perceived inability to do anything to help remedy the situation. I watched as the political occurrences and quagmires penetrated relationships and race relations because that’s just how our political culture is set up (I guess). While the coronavirus devastated the socio-economic sphere of life, widening the inequalities and disparities, the political epidemic raged on. Even more personally, it has been difficult for me because relations between myself and persons I considered dear to me became strained and damaged -- possibly attributed to, or at least exacerbated by, a disgusting political culture.

I’ve had several conversations with my family members and elders in my community who told me that it is pointless to believe that this landscape in Guyana will ever change. They told me to capitalise on the opportunities presented to me in Trinidad, because I’d only be wasting my time trying to do something meaningful in Guyana. But, I disagree.

I recognised many months ago that I do not wish to accept that this is how life and living in Guyana will always be. I know I have experienced trauma and I have been hurt. Importantly, I acknowledge that I have hurt others and held my own destructive prejudices, perceptions, and biases. I don’t yet know how to reconcile both aspects but I do know that I am willing to listen, speak, and understand how people think and feel. And dialogue, which I’ve floated time and time again in this space, allows that to happen.

From my experiences with dialogue, I’ve seen and experienced how the opportunity to speak and share, without being judged or chastised has allowed people to talk about their trauma and hurt and recognise their shortcomings. It isn’t characterised by the instant ‘call-out’ or ‘cancel’ culture. Instead, it attempts to ‘call-in’ and allows individuals to empathise with each other. It allows for growth and healing -- slowly but surely.

This month, I started speaking with persons in my predominantly Indo-Guyanese community. Learned biases towards Afro-Guyanese were shared in our dialogue but, importantly, my community members themselves recognised that their feelings were biases and prejudices created stereotypes of an entire group of people, who are just less than half of the population in Guyana. They said that these prejudices and biases stem from real interactions and events, but also acknowledge that it is dishonest to characterise an entire group of people because of these limited interactions.

They also recognised that there are many instances of solidarity between Indo and Afro Guyanese, particularly when they thought about economic inequalities and our shared history. Eventually, they concluded that our political culture and system have a tremendous role to play in perpetuating disharmony.

On their own, they were able to navigate these feelings and honestly question their learnt behaviours and perceptions.

But do I think that this means that we are now #woke? No, of course not. Just one session of this dialogue could never suffice. It is a start in the direction of healing, interrogating our feelings and hopefully, fostering a culture of harmony, however.

As long as all goes as planned, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on how group dialogue within communities must be an integral part of our efforts to improve race and ethnic relations in our country, at the ERC’s youth forum within the national conversation. My appeals for national dialogue through this column have not fallen on deaf ears and I do hope that this conviction of mine would help to inform national policies geared at fostering national healing and maybe, harmony. And if that is too lofty a goal, I hope that I could encourage other persons to have these conversations with their family, friends, workmates, and/or community members.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

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THE COCONUT INDUSTRY REVOLUTIONISES

Historically, the countries of the Caribbean have always been concerned with “food security” and its corollary “food production”. During the period of Plantation Slavery, for instance,the planters introduced Akee from West Africa and Breadfruit from the Pacific islands to help relieve food shortages among the slaves and ensure greater food security. Though coconut was well-known in the Caribbean, it was never focused upon as being a major food source.

Coconuts only came into prominence as an important food item after the 1860s and this was largely due to its use by the Indian indentured immigrants who had replaced the slaves on the plantations and who had used coconuts in a variety of ways in their native land. One of their first uses of the coconut was to produce cooking oil. The oil was used for many other purposes such as a body rub to keep off the deadly malaria mosquito, to dry up bruises and burns, to anoint bodies for pains and even drunk medicinally. It was widely used in cooking such as making coconut choka and in confectionaries.

Other groups now began to use coconuts in various recipes, for example, making coconut milk for use in metemgee, an African dish. One universal use of it was, when unripe, to provide a healthy and nutritious drink - coconut water.

To meet the demand which could not be satisfied by the small home cultivations, a few enterprising former indentured workers began to venture into investing in coconut estates where hundreds of trees were grown. This increase in coconut production provided the opportunity for the industrial production of coconut oil and Wieting and Richter, one of the most prominent firms in 19th and 20th century Guyana, became the main producer of coconut oil.

Just as the Indian indentured immigrants had created rice into surplus and export crop, they created coconuts into a surplus crop with a promising export market. In the 21st century, the demand for coconut products has grown exponentially, especially in the Developed Countries and coconut oil is now regarded as one of the healthiest and most nutritious oils rivalling olive oil. The world demand for coconut oil keeps growing and presents Guyana with great economic opportunity.

The recently appointed creative and proactive Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, has grasped the importance of the coconut industry and is treating it as an important element in his plans for the diversification of Guyanese Agriculture and for the first time within living memory budgetary allocations have been focused on coconuts: $1.25 billion would be injected into NAREI (National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute) and part of this would be in relation to coconuts. In Parliament, the Minister reminded colleagues that Hope Coconut Estate, a government investment, would stand to benefit.

The Minister went on to further elucidate his policy in respect to coconuts: “Coconuts is the third most important crop and as such the coconut industry will be given importance by government, promoting expansion in acreages, inter-cropping, utilisation of coconut byproducts and increasing production and productivity,” he said.

He then went on to indicate that access would be increased and the cost of coconut planting material would be reduced.

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The Ministry would be establishing two coconut nurseries at Charity and Kairuni which would produce 25,000 additional seedlings annually in addition to the planting material provided

by Hope Estate. As important, farmers would be trained under the professional guidance of NAREI to establish their own nurseries.

In addition to the above, Minister Hon Zulfikar Mustapha told Parliament: “Technical support would also be provided to farmers in the management of pests and diseases, especially the Red Palm Mite. NAREI will wean the first batch of 50 invi-

SOME USES OF PEPPERMINT OIL

tro coconut plantlets. This new initiative will allow farmers to have access to clean planting materials”. With such Ministerial activism and guidance, the coconut industry will certainly be taking off.

The coconut industry could grow to be a great foreign exchange earner since the market for coconut and its byproducts is unlimited. In due course, the nucleus of a Coconut Marketing Board would be established as the industry progresses.

OME months ago, this column carried an

S

article on mint. The article treated mint as a folk medicine, but did make some reference to peppermint oil.

In this offering, we will be dealing with approximately 20 uses of peppermint oil and although the uses identified are different, the treatment tends to be similar. We would however not try to consolidate, but would deal with every use and its treatment individually.

Peppermint is derived from a species of herb, mint, which has over 20 varieties, but the two varieties most known are peppermint and spearmint. The main component of these mint species is menthol.

Peppermint oil, which has more menthol than spearmint, is extracted from the peppermint plant.

Peppermint oil was used for thousands of years and was known among the Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Indians. Indeed, it is still an important item in modern Chinese pharmacopeia. Two Chinese produced peppermint-based products, Shiling Oil and Tiger Balm, are well known and widely used in Guyana.

Although peppermint oil was known and used in the 19th century by Western countries (even in producing other medicines), it was only in the last few generations that intensive research on it had been done. Such research found that peppermint oil could bring relief to several kinds of ailments including digestive problems, bacterial infection, inflammation, fatigue, muscular soreness, congestion, allergies, headaches and halitosis.

Below we list a number of ailments and their peppermint o i l treatment. (These were taken from a reputable publication on alternative medicine.)

BOOSTING OF ENERGY: To improve mental and physical energy and clarity level, inhale peppermint oil throughout the day. This may be done via the use of an inhaler or merely by sprinkling a few drops on a kerchief.

GETTING RID OF DANDRUFF: Peppermint oil possesses anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties, which allows it to combat dandruff effectively.

Relieves muscular pain: The menthol in peppermint oil has significant antispasmodic and anti-painkilling effects and a few drops mixed in coconut oil and massaged or rubbed on the affected muscle would bring relief.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN DAY “It’s not the mountains we conquer, but ourselves.” – Sir Edmond Hillary Where are half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots?

Where can one find thousands of varieties of fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, seeds, nuts, animal breeds, fish, honey, insects and fungi?

Where are one-third of plant species found?

The answer: mountains!

A MOUNTAIN is a large landform that rises above the surrounding land in a limited area, usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill. A group of mountains is called a mountain range, for instance, Himalayan and the Rockies are mountain ranges. One-tenth of the world’s people live in these mountains.

Now you might be asking yourself, especially if you live on the coastland, what does this have to do with me and why are mountains important? Well, December 11 was International Mountain Day, a day to celebrate the rich biodiversity in mountains as well as to address the threats they face. Given that 2020 has been the year that has made us pause and re-examine our relationship with the natural world, the theme for this year is ‘Mountain Biodiversity’. As you might recall, biodiversity speaks to the variety of life on Earth, and mountains due to their

location and temperature, boasts not only spectacular landscapes; the biodiversity is often rich and endemic (species that are found exclusively in a particular geographic area). In fact, the UN-FAO reports that mountains host half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.

Why are mountains important?

Mountain environments cover some 27 percent of the world’s land surface and directly support the 22 percent of the world’s people who live within mountain regions. Lowland people also depend on mountain environments for a wide range of goods and services, including water, energy, timber, biodiversity maintenance, and opportunities for recreation and spiritual renewal. Mountains provide for the freshwater needs of more than half of humanity, and are, in effect, the water towers of the world.

Climate change, unsustainable farming practices, commercial mining, logging and poaching all exact a heavy toll on mountain biodiversity. In addition, land use and land cover change, and natural disasters, accelerate biodiversity loss and contribute to creating a fragile environment for mountain communities. Ecosystem degradation, loss of livelihoods and migration in mountains can lead to the abandonment of cultural practices and ancient traditions that have sustained biodiversity for generations.

The sustainable management of mountain biodiversity has been increasingly recognised as a global priority. Sustainable Development Goal 15 target four is dedicated to the conservation of mountains’ biodiversity in consideration of its global relevance. Biodiversity in all ecosystems is in focus, as the United Nations has declared 2021 to 2030 the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and governments prepare to negotiate the post-2020 global biodiversity framework for adoption this year at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Uses and importance of mountains * About 60 to 80 percent of the world’s fresh water originates from mountains. * Mountains attract about 20 percent of tourists to their beautiful sceneries. * Mountains keep the 28 percent of Earth’s forests. * Mountains are producers of certain important food crops. * Mountains are the habitat of plants, animals, and people. * Japan is the only country that has a public holiday on Mountain Day. Mountains in Guyana Mountains are a beautiful sight to look at; Guyana is a land that possesses many eye-catching mountains. The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest reaching 8,848 metres in height.

There are 156 mountains in Guyana; the highest peak is Mount Roraima at 2,809 metres. These mountains can be found in the highland regions like Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Potaro-Siparuni and Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo.

Did You Know?

The main mountain range in Guyana is the “Kanuku” Mountains which separate the North and South Rupununi savannahs. It can be see all the way from Brazil and is a protected area by law!

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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YOUNG NATIONS AT TIME MAKE THE MISTAKE OF NOT KNOWING The Painful History of Industry

SOME things are learnt not by intent, but by the imposition of elders that to sit in their conversation you must ‘know’ at least this much. There’s a category of study in the area on the History of Industry that should be developed.

This inspiration came to me through a conversation I had with a citizen whose academic boasts are less irritating than the arguments

The thing with the rubber trees was that they grew in the dense Rain forests of the Amazon, the domain of numerous Amerindian tribes.

But with every member of the elite caste of the human potpourri of Italians, Germans, Japanese and Portuguese Brazilians wanting to own a rubber plantation and become a ‘Seringalista’ the problem lay with neutralising the Indian tribes, so they adopted

with fiscal admiration by all the then western world of colonizing nations. Thus, Henry A. Wickham a respectable English businessman with links to Her Majesty’s Secret Services as part of a group was dispatched to Brazil, though he and their movements were watched, no one anticipated that he would identify against dangerous natural obstacles a location which was deemed impos-

to defend what he does not know. However, the last conversation we had was based on our economy and the ‘six sisters’ reference by then-President David Granger to our colonial inherited economy and why I think he was right, and why his critics had missed the bus. I used an argument only to realise that none of the three other persons had ever encountered what I was referring to. It’s a Brazilian story and it revolves around the colonising and industrialisation, in a way, of vast Amazonia over the past centuries. Brazil had emerged at the top of the food chain when it came to the product of ‘Borracha’ as the gum of the Rubber tree is called, before synthetic Rubber. Back in the 19th century with the Industrial Revolution from the 1830s onward. Rubber became a major ingredient of that era, more profitable than the Sugar plantations of Bahia with its numerous enslaved Africans.

Genocide; through enslaving, using poisonous gifts of clothing like the Americans, and shock troops of killers, machined gunned from Aircrafts the most lenient were the missionaries; the Indians were not passive and they fought back, but they were isolated, hundreds of years behind the methods of warfare used against them so they were at a disadvantage, entire tribes were exterminated. A narrative at the time of the first publication of this text in 1969 referred to the Indians as follows “They would rather die than work – so they died, or were put to death. There used to be two, three, four million of them in Brazil.

How many are left? Barely 200, 000, or 300, 000 in the entire country” In Guyana we grew up hearing of the dangerous tribes of the Amazon, head hunters, saw pictures of shrunken heads, cannibals etc. but never of the onslaught of the colonising elite. Media can be elusive.

The monopoly of Brazilian rubber was viewed not

sible to traverse because in the rainy season with 50-foot high floods that submerged vast areas, it was concluded who would dare?

So the Brazilians relaxed their vigilance and Wickham dared, he navigated through the natural barriers to a location populated by Rubber trees and he and his commando group selected and collected as many seeds as necessary.

Wickham eventually departed Brazil for British Malay. It would take 36 years later for the verdict of Sir Roger Casement [1913] and his commission on the Putomayo to condemn the atrocities against the Indians. A call if you would like to see it that way, to civilized nations on the fate of the Brazilian latex [a direct result of Wickham’s commando act] “1913: The 2,800 seeds filched by Wickham had become tame forests, forests subject to the will of man; not the adventurer any longer, but the engineer, the botanist and the financer.

Rubber at one’s disposal,

which could be improved like a breed of poodles, and which was led by teams of coolies supervised by a few white men. Colonization had killed Barbarism. It was Singapore’s turn to be the city of Billionaires-much better-policed ones, white and yellow alike, than those of Manaus!

It was a time of trusts and dividends. This was something of quite different dimensions, and the “boom”

that people had longed for would last at least until the appearance of synthetic rubber. But now, in 1913 as far as Amazonia was concerned, the adventure was over” GREEN HELL Massacre of the Brazilian Indians by Lucian Bodard [English edition 1971].

I often wonder if those local scribes who now and then refer to Singapore know of that aspect of

their ‘economic history’?

The waterfront of Guyana thrived, supplying jobs to thousands and perks from breeched crates heading for other ports. How could it not have crossed minds that drastic measures should have been taken to revolutionise the thinking in the expectation that shipping would be modernised and the workforce shrunk to protect shipping worldwide.

Likewise, Sugar competing with beet and the Anti-Sugar ‘Health Cry” should have heralded the wakeup alarm, long before the EU mandate, With Bauxite’s by-products new joint areas of employment could have emerged. In all of this, the impact of the global Oil crisis of the 70s was an even more severe warning; all in all, we should have learnt something and hence should pay more attention to sustaining what is, because, come hell or high water, change will come.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

Improved Practices for Pest and Disease Management

Bio-Pesticides

THE rise in global temperatures has resulted in the proliferation of weeds and pests (insects and diseases) affecting crops, and the consequent exacerbated use of agrochemicals including pesticides.

Pesticide use in part contributes to the 30 percent of global emissions leading to climate change are attributable to agricultural activities. To reduce the contribution of pesticides to GHG emissions, NAREI has pursued a safer, more natural remedy to pest and disease interventions – bio-pesticides. To this end, naturally occurring substances (biochemical pesticides), microorganisms (microbial pesticides), and pesticidal substances produced by plants containing added genetic material (plant-incorporated protectants), that control pests are researched to produce formulations for use in cropping systems. It is worthwhile to mentioned some successes achieved by NAREI to substitute biopesticides and biological solutions for agrochemicals in cropping systems.

Cabbage: The use of neem, Beauveria sp. and Bacillus sp. in the management of diamondback moth in cabbage – within the Parika Backdam area there were two trials carried out to test the efficacy of biopesticides in the management of diamondback moth in cabbage. Neem oil 2 percent, Pest out 2 percent, Beauveria bassiana 30ml, Bacillus thuringienesis (bt) and Match where compared and it was seen that the biopesticides worked as well as the agrochemical in the management of the moth. Additionally, the shelf life of the produce was longer in those treated with the biopesticides when compared to those treated with the agrochemical.

Coconut Palm Mite: The use of commercial organic pesticides in the management of red palm mites on coconut palms – these trials were carried out under laboratory conditions and showed that the commercial biopesticides were quite effective against the aforementioned insect. Overall, after the 48 hours’ interval, Neem oil showed an 84 percent mortality, Bug Stomper showed 81 percent mortality and Asphix showed a 73 percent mortality of red palm mites. These trials are still to be taken into the field but these results are very promising for the further of red palm mite control in Guyana.

Tomato: The use of botanicals to manage whiteflies on tomatoes – this was carried out over a two-year period where hand-made botanicals were used to manage the aforementioned pest. It was noted that those plants treated with ginger extract worked best at controlling the whiteflies. It works very well in kitchen garden settings however, trials on a larger scale are yet to be done.

Soursop: The use of exclusion bags to reduced pest damage on soursop – this research was conducted at NAREI’s research station at Kairuni. The aim was to test the effectiveness of exclusion bags in reducing pest damage to soursop fruits; results showed that those fruits covered using these bags had no damage with the uncovered fruits had suffered damage during growth. These bags can also be used on other fruits as well.

This programme intends to establish integrated pest management systems where biopesticides are introduced at the earliest stages of infestation or infection and agrochemicals only used where infestation or infection becomes unmanageable.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

Buy from small and local businesses this Christmas season It’s finally here! That season of festivity and celebration is finally here—Christmas. During this time of year, everyone is busy. We’ll be busy cleaning our homes, we’ll be busy working and we’ll also be busy with shopping for gifts, food and decor. Where do we go shopping for these products? Who are we shopping from? How do we shop, especially when there’s an ongoing pandemic amidst us?

My answer to you is to shop local and small.

You’re probably asking, “But, why Marissa?” Well, for starters—when we shop local and from smaller businesses we are not only supporting that said business but we are also supporting our very own with their dreams and passion.

When we support local businesses, we are also supporting the sustainable economic development of our communities and country as a whole. I’ve been stressing for years on how we unnecessarily import mass-produced products similar to those that our very own Guyanese products right here at home.

Many will argue that locally produced products and small businesses might be more expensive than larger entities. That may be true but the experiences may vary. Smaller businesses tend to add personal touches to their products. I’ve been seeing the determination of smaller businesses on social media

with the way they include personalized gift wrapping, festive handwritten notes and even customisable Christmas gift sets when you purchase from them. They tend to get a bit more personal. Smaller businesses even take the time to get to know you and understand exactly what you personally want in gifts for your loved ones.

Now, I am not saying to stop supporting larger entities as a whole. No! What I’m simply saying is that you should at least consider shopping small and local once and far, especially during this holiday season because we often disregard their services and products. We often equate small and local with “lower-end” services and products. The word “local” in itself is misinterpreted by many for the “Guyanese knock off version” of an imported product. We should feel a sense of patriotism and Guyanese pride when we buy from our own—not embarrassment and disgust.

When you support smaller and local businesses you are—encouraging the Guyanese entrepreneurs to flourish, to live beyond stereotypes and to live out their dreams. If you’re shopping for Christmas decor; there are local craft businesses that will cover your needs. If you’re shopping for beauty and skincare products; visit the small beauty stores around the corner or even shop locally made beauty/ skincare lines. If you need Christmas goodies to eat, there are tons of local cake and food shops around. With that said, I challenge you all this holiday to buy at least one Christmas gift for yourself or someone from a local gift shop/store and share your experience with that product/ service online. Help our smaller business prosper in any way you can—it is the festive season after all.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

THOUGHT FOR TO

DAY

The man that hat h no in himself, music Nor is not mov’ with concord of sweetdso Is fit for treason unds, s, stratagems, and spoils .

WILLIAM SHAK ESPEARE (1564-1616) T he Merchant of Venic

December 13, 2020 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend.

It is time that you become highly specific about examination issues, concerns or tasks. Get stronger. Study

on your own for the most part; but make manageable routines. Set yourself tasks like making a revision card on topic ‘X’ and test yourself on it during the next 30 minutes thereabouts. Then, lightly relax with a cold beverage before you use a good CD or DVD on topic ‘Y.’ Study adjustments help dissipate stress. Be smart.

Love you.

WRITING IMPROVEMENT Patterning after other writings He felt a great content at being here, where he had come as a young gentle man and where he had done his work. The room was little changed; the same rugs and skins on the earth floor, the same desk with his candlesticks, the same thick, wavy white walls that muted sound, that shut the world and gave response to the spirit….

In New Mexico he always awoke a young man.

His first consciousness that he was growing older was the sense of the light, dry wind blowing through the windows; a wind that made one’s body feel light and one’s heart cry, “To-day, to-day,” like a child’s.

Beautiful surroundings could not make up to him for the loss of those light-hearted mornings of the desert, for the wind that made one a boy again. He had noticed that this peculiar quality in the air of new countries vanished after they were tamed by man and made to bear harvest….

The air would disappear from the whole earth in time, perhaps, but long after his day. He did not know just when it had become so necessary to him, but he had come back to die in exile for the sake of it. Something soft and wild and free, something that whispered to the ear on the pillow, lightened the heart, softly, softly, softly picked the lock, slid the bolts, and released the prisoned spirit of man into the wind, into the blue and gold, into the morning, into the morning!

(Willa Cather’s “Death Comes for the Archbishop”) About the Passage

The novel from which the passage is put together tells a beautifully written story of Archbishop Jean Latour, who leaves his parish in France and returns to New Mexico. He had done service as a young man there to re-establish a diocese in New Mexico….

The novel is set in the mid-nineteenth century in the paramountcy of the agricultural revolution worldwide. The author brings time and place to life. In the passage the archbishop awakes in his same old room. There is some evidence that he muses about the past in that part of the world. He also makes a profound comment about the destruction of air agriculture brings to the whole earth.

Something to Do Write a story with much description of its place, time and main character. See how Willa Cather treats her writing. See how she sets out the various paragraphs.

Also, read the information given about the writing of the novel especially the statement that her beautiful writing brings time and place to life.

You may need to do some research into a time or era, or use what you know from other subject areas to authenticate and embellish your writing. You and your study partners should examine your product and add “finishing touches” to help substantiate its beauty.

THE POEM Working with words Acquainted with the Night I have been acquainted with the night.

I have walked out in rain – and back I rain.

I have outwalked the furthest city light.

I have looked down the saddest city lane.

I have passed by the watchman on his beat And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain.

I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet When far away an interrupted cry Came over houses from another street, But not to call me back or say goodbye; And further still at an

unearthly height, One luminary clock against the sky Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right.

I have been acquainted with the night.

(Robert Frost’ “Acquainted with the night”) Questions 1. Tell in a summary what this simple-looking poem is saying to you as you study its words and story on the surface.

2. Whose point of view is it?

3. Are any of the locations familiar to you in your personal experience? List them. How have you been affected in each circumstance?

4. Delve deeper into the poem and tell how much more it is revealing.

5. Use some of these given terms to give an analysis of the story poem: a) Is it light-hearted, emotional, dark? b) Are any of these dispositions alluded to? socialization, laughter, depression, frightened, isolation, shy. c) Who is it talking about?

3. Give the meaning of each following: (a) “acquainted with the night” (b) “saddest city lane” (c) “an interrupted cry” (d) “an unearthly height” (e) “time was neither wrong nor right” Enhance Your Writing Working on Sentence Errors - Missing Commas Today we continue to study the rules of comma usage. Remember that “Separating” elements means placing a comma between two equal elements; and “setting off” an element means putting commas before and after it.

1. Commas in a series and with coordinated adjectives Newtown, Bridgetown and Twenty-Fifty are well kept villages.

The poem was long, pedantic, and stressful.

2. When the items are separated by conjunctions, commas are unnecessary.

The poem was long and pedantic and stressful.

[To be continued next week]

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020

Holiday smoking DURING the upcoming festive season, many persons are likely to be either new recruits to smoking or the old smokers will exacerbate their habit. Many of my patients who are smokers ask me questions about their custom.

Here are a few of those questions along with the respective answers.

I know that smoking is bad for a person’s health. But just how bad is it?

About as bad as it could get. Smoking is one of the most important causes of disease and is responsible for at least one out of every nine deaths in Guyana. Compared to nonsmokers, smokers have 10 times the risk of getting lung cancer – and twice the risk of dying from lung disease.

Smoking also causes chronic lung disease – chronic bronchitis and emphysema – which can be fatal. But that’s not all.

As research continues, the list of diseases associated with smoking keeps growing longer. That list now includes stroke, peptic ulcer, osteoporosis, and cataracts, as well as cancer of the mouth, throat, oesophagus, pancreas, kidney, bladder, uterus, cervix – and possibly also leukaemia and cancer of the breast, prostate, and colon. In addition, diabetics who smoke increase their risk of kidney disease. Smoking can interfere with the healing of wounds and fractures. And it increases facial wrinkling, making a person look older when he or she really is. In addition, the tar builds up on the surface of the teeth resulting in permanent staining. The bad breath of inveterate smokers is well known.

What is “passive” or “secondhand” smoking and what harm can it cause me?

These terms refer to the smoke you breathe in from other people’s cigarettes, cigars, or pipes – of from your own smoke, such as when you’re holding a lit cigarette and inhaling the smoke directly. When you breathe other people’s smoke, even if you’re not smoking yourself, in a way you might as well be – because the smoke is going into your lungs, too. Recent studies have shown small but significant increases in the risk of coronary heart disease, lung disease, and cancer among nonsmokers exposed to cigarette and cigar smoke – a risk that increases with higher levels and longer duration of smoke exposure.

Passive smoke has also been linked with the development of lung cancer, heart attack, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome ( SIDS ), bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, chronic respiratory problems, eye and nasal irritation, and middle ear infection. Children are particularly at risk for the effects of passive smoke.

I just got pregnant, and I smoke. Is it true that smoking can hurt the baby? Should I stop?

You’re probably aware that smoking can hurt you, mainly by increasing your risk of developing cancer and heart disease. So you should stop smoking to protect your own health as well as your baby’s. When a pregnant woman smokes, she exposes her baby to toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke, including more than 40 cancer-causing agents. In addition, medical research studies have shown that pregnant women who smoke increase their risk of such serious problems as miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low-birth-weight babies, and lower intelligence in the children they are carrying.

There are even studies showing that male children of mothers

who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to become criminals when they grow up!

Tell your obstetrician you smoke, and follow his or her advice on what you can safely do to stop – and improve your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

What’s so wrong with a teenager experimenting with smoking?

What’s wrong is that cigarette smoking isn’t just bad for your health, it’s also addictive. Most teenagers under-

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estimate their risk of becoming “hooked” on cigarettes – until it’s too late. The truth is, among high school seniors who smoke for 1 to 5 cigarettes a day, a full 70% will still be smoking – and risking their health – 5 years later.

Even people who have smoked as few as 100 cigarettes report that they can’t quit smoking. So why take the risk of starting? Remember, the happy, carefree young people you see in cigarette advertisements more closely resemble people who don’t smoke.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 13, 2020