Guyana_Chronicle_PepperPot_Epaper_21_06_2020

Sunday, JUNE 21, 2020

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

By Francis Quamina Farrier

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ATHER’S DAY is such a special day each year. It is the day when societies around the world focus on the good and dedicated fathers. It is, and must be, void of any negative utterances about fathers since there are over 360 other days in the year for that. No male bashing on Father’s Day. Next Sunday is Father’s Day 2020, we feature the following Guyanese fathers.

Stanley Ming is a well-known and respected Guyanese businessman, not only here in his native Guyana, but in many countries around the world. Ming has travelled to many countries competing in motorcycle racing. He is well known as one of the daredevil motorcycle riders at the South Dakota Circuit, Timehri. One of his greatest motorcycle adventures was riding from Sydney to Perth in Australia -- a distance of 2,445 miles.

Accompanying him on that high adventure was another Guyanese motorcycle champion, Joey King. Over the years, Stanley Ming has worked hard at various companies, finally establishing his own company, Mings Products and Services Ltd. (MPS).

While being a successful businessman and part-time politician, Stanley Ming has built one of the most beautiful Guyanese families. Married to Dr. Michele Ming, together they are the proud parents of a boy and three girls. Calvin, the son, has followed in his father’s footsteps as one of Guyana’s all-time motorcycle champions. Well-trained by his father Stanley, he has won many competitions in Guyana and abroad. The most prestigious being in Mexico where he took Guyana’s Golden Arrowhead ahead of all others to the finish line. A chip off the old block you would say. Stanley Ming is a father to emulate.

“The Silver Lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that we get to spend our days together.”

So stated Domain Saul, the father of three very young children; two of them are twins.

“Being the father of twins does have its unique challenges,” he said. “A friend of mine described it as having to switch from man-to-man coverage to zone defence,” said the young Guyanese father of three. “My very first reaction was disbelief,” was his answer when asked how he felt when told that his wife Samantha’s second pregnancy consisted of TWINS. He thought that his wife was joking. “Being the father of young children, in general, is to be constantly amazed. To watch them grow and develop is truly special,” the young father revealed, adding, “To watch that in twins is fascinating. Every once in a while, Samantha and I look at each other and simply say, ‘we have twins’.” To have their older daughter and the twins growing up swiftly brings many challenges, as well as joy, into their lives. “It’s still a source of wonder and delight that we both share,” Domain Saul concluded.

International Public Servant, Lawrence Lachmansingh, is the father of three daughters.

A former student at the Saint Stanislaus College, he has had over 20 years of local and international experience as a governance-conflict practitioner with particular expertise in domestic electoral observation, civil society strengthening, and conflict prevention. A devout Catholic, Lawrence Lachmansingh sets the example for his three very studious daughters. Because of his attachment to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Lachmansingh has lived in several foreign countries such as Indonesia and Ghana, with his family. His growing daughters have had the opportunity of experiencing a variety of cultures and studying at schools in the Far East and Africa, among others.

Professionally, Lachmansingh’s expertise is helping to solve and prevent conflicts which he has done in many countries. His role as a good father is being supported by his wife Shianne, the mother of his three daughters. (Photographs by Francis Q. Farrier)

Shameer Ali and his wife Broadcaster Michella Abrams-Ali, are the kind of hands-on, religious parents who build strong families, which help to build strong nations. His two daughters are very studious and this young father, with the cooperation of his wife Michella, is grooming their two children to become law-abiding, productive citizens. “I believe parenting begins from conception, and that’s the way I approach it with Tatyana and Sara,” Shameer said, pointing out the contributions which his wife makes. “Michella and I have always been attentive and engaging with the girls, and this has created a relationship where they feel secure in discussing anything with us.” But it is not always smooth sailing, as this dedicated father pointed out. “Our main challenge at present is seeing our family safely through this COVID-19 pandemic.” Tatyana and Sara are both aware and grateful for the role their father plays in their lives. “My father has facets of his influence and involvement in every area of our lives,” one of the girls pointed out. Already there are plans in place for the on-going higher education of Tatyana and Sara, according to Shameer Ali.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

III

First time father describes immense joy L

By Naomi Parris

IKE many young fat h e r s , 21-yearold Jumul Rampersaud was expecting his first child to be a baby boy, however on the day of his girlfriend’s delivery he had the greatest surprise of his life, a replica of himself in the form of a bouncing baby girl.

Rampersaud told the Pepperpot Magazine that when he first found out that they were expecting he had accompanied his girlfriend to the hospital since she was feeling ill. He stated that during a psychical checkup with the doctor she was asked to take a pregnancy test which came back positive.

“I really didn’t have a clue what was going on but the Doctor sent her to do a pregnancy test....well I was there with her so I collected the test and just literally, I was in a state of shock and I was smiling all the time. I didn’t even know what to say but smile, smile, smile,” said Rampersaud.

‘I REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A BOY’ Rampersaud disclosed that himself and girlfriend had decided to not have an ultrasound since they wanted to have the element of surprise when their baby entered the world, however, he was hoping his firstborn would be a boy. “ We b o u g h t u n i s e x clothes and so on, I thought it was a boy- imagine I used to be like sonny, sonny all the time whenever I kissed my girlfriend’s belly and the baby used to move up all the time so not a soul couldn’t tell me it wasn’t a boy,” he said.

Nevertheless, on the day of delivery, Rampersaud recalled that the nurse who had tended to his girlfriend during her delivery came outside just as eager as he was with his newborn baby. “ The nurse

came running out with the baby so I was like ‘it’s a boy or girl?’, she asked ‘what do you think?’ so I was like ‘I know it’s a boy’.....when

she told me it’s was a girl, I paused for a second and felt my heart warmed, water sat in my eyes. I felt so happy, nervous and anxious at

once,” he said.

‘A FEELING I CAN’T EXPLAIN’ In recalling the very first

moment he held his baby girl in his arms Rampersaud said, “I felt so, so overwhelmed I can’t even explain it. All my pores were raising when I held my daughter very close to me and kissed her. I was already imagining going to the salon with her and doing girl stuff with my princess. I didn’t even want to leave the hospital that night,” he said.

Rampersaud noted that adjusting to the new addition in his life was a breeze since he has two little sisters, and had the assistance of his mother, aunts and grandmother, however, it still took some time getting used to in the first few days of having his baby girl at home with him.

“The only thing that was a bit tough was waking up late nights but my daughter grew out of that fast. She sleeps through the night now .....maybe it’s because I have two little sisters so I know what it is like having baby girls around so I managed well,” he said.

‘A TRAGEDY STRUCK’ A few weeks after welcoming his baby girl into the world, however, Rampersaud 21-year-old Jumul Rampersaud with his daughter

was involved in a vehicular accident.

In early December 2019, a taxi driver had struck down Rampersaud while he was returning home on his motorcycle. Fortunately for him, the accident had occurred in front of the Linden Hospital Complex and he was immediately rushed to the facility where he quickly received treatment for his wounds.

Rampersaud noted that he was making a U-turn when the car came out of nowhere and struck him.

Fortunately, he only suffered minor injuries and was able to walk away from the ordeal with only a few scrapes and scratches.

Nevertheless, Rampersaud noted that his entire outlook on life has changed since the birth of his baby girl and the accident.

He added that his main priority is his daughter’s well-being. “I look at life totally different now, well my baby girl does be on my mind all the time so everything I do now is like to improve me so I could fulfill her wants and needs, I want her to have everything I couldn’t,” he said.

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By Jared Liddell

athers are a pivotal part of a familyfrom being a provider and protector to being a comforter, the role of a father is vast and ever-changing.

The Pepperpot Magazine reached out to several fathers to get their personal experiences. Many of these men have been working to provide for their families even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fitzroy Sandiford a ven-

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

dor at the Bourda Market stated that he has been working at this stall which sells CDs, DVDs and occasionally fruits and has continued to operate throughout this entire pandemic to provide for his family. The father of four stated that for him, like many others, being a father is no walk in the park.

Sandiford explained that he knows there is room for error when it comes to being a father, explaining that there is no manual on how to deal with each child and their needs. He added that as

a father you have to get up and make sacrifices for your children to ensure they are provided for and taken care of, and given the best opportunities they could be given.

“Being a father is a challenging something but remember now you can’t lay down and sleep you have to do something, you have to give them what they want, and hope for them to do the best and not go astray,” he said.

Sandiford explained that his children are ages 40, 35,32, and 17, and says

although his children are already adults, that does not negate the fact that he is still their father and still works to ensure that if they ever need him he is there to provide them with not only time but as much guidance and protection as he possibly could.

“My advice to [young fathers] is that they must mine deh chirren them. Don’t let their chirren mine them, I know they get some wutless fathers that don’t care if Sunday fall on a Monday,” he said. “They don’t try to provide for their chirren, they

away from. He stated that he was not always a taxi driver but due to the COVID-19 pandemic he had to make the necessary adjustments to be able to provide for his family.

“It is difficult having to deal with providing for the family while thinking about protecting them and not exposing them to the COVID virus, but it’s what is necessary,”he said. “My family has needs and I cannot just forget my responsibility or sit back and relax, so although I’m thinking about their safety and my own, I also have to

thers should not only try to find out their children’s academic performances but that they must also build relationships with their children and ensure that their children can be open with them about varying situations that they may be faced with. Trotman said he would advise other fathers to take care of their responsibility as not just a male, but as a father to ensure that their children and their family are taken care of.

“Being a male in the home is always very difficult, you always have to provide and

Fitzroy Sandiford is a father of four who said that he still works to ensure he can always provide for his children

Mr. Trotman, a father of two, wears his mask as he operates on the streets of Georgetown during the Coronavirus pandemic

expect that when the children get a little big they children must take care of them, but I want them to remember they are in their children’s lives to take care of and provide for them no matter how old they are.”

Another father of four Mr. Trotman (only name given) who works as a taxi driver told the Pepperpot Magazine of his experiences with fatherhood, saying it is not something you can ever walk

think about providing for them.”

Trotman said he tries to balance the work and his home life explaining that just being a provider does not constitute the characteristics of a good father. He said fathers have to invest time in their children, not just pay for them to get an education, but sit down and talk to them and get an understanding of how they are doing in school.

He further stated that fa-

so on. Even now I’m still providing for mine my oldest is 26 and my youngest is 17,”he said. “I remember a piece of advice I had gotten from my stepfather when I first became a father. He said to me this is not something you can just chuck in, you have to put in the work. It’s a 24\7 job and you have to be committed to taking care of your children and your family and this is the piece of advice I’d give to any father.”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

V

Col. Hartley Liverpool in uniform during his days in the army

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By Wendella Davidson

L THOUGH being the only child to his parents, Lieutenant Colonel Hartley Liverpool (Ret’d) of

al Service (GNS).

Several of those individuals, now grown adults leading lives of their own with their own families, have described him to the Pepperpot Magazine as a role model because of his caring, fatherly and approachable disposition.

Col. Liverpool, who unfortunately suffers from

Lieutenant Colonel Hartley Liverpool

Company, Battalion, Base and Garrison Commander and upon his retirement held the position of Lt. Colonel.

He is also the first and only soldier of the GDF to be awarded a Medal of Valour.

Despite Col Liverpool’s loss of sight, he was known to be an exemplary soldier and is still revered by those of his peers and even ranks below him.

He is usually a prominent figure at all of the Army’s significant functions be it in Guyana o r the

ored

l Liverpool auth

The book Colone

the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), bettered that and fathered 10 children, one of whom is deceased.

He is presently the grandfather to 27 and great grandfather to 15 children.

But Col. Liverpool, who was born on January 1, 1936 at the Public Hospital, Georgetown, is also a father figure to several non-biological children, many of whom were young men and women who were under his charge while enlisted in either the GDF or the now dis-banded Guyana Nation-

a complete loss of sight, in an exclusive online interview from his Brooklyn, New York home, said while he is the only child to his parents, he inherited five other siblings, two sisters and three brothers, by way of his father. He recalled that he grew up at Lot 57 Robb Street, Lacytown. His mother died in August 2016 at the golden of 101 yearsold, while his father passed away in 1991.

According to Colonel Liverpool, his military career began in 1955 as a pri-

vate in the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), training at weekends and being pay one shilling.

Three years later he landed a job at the Chronicle Newspapers, working as a manager in the engraving department until 1965 when he was transitioned into the GDF as a corporal.

Col Liverpool on account of his soldierly abilities served as a Platoon,

Col. Hartley Liverpool with trophies he received for exemplary feats

United States, where he is domiciled.

Col. Liverpool, who is classified as one of the ar-

my’s most decorated officer/soldiers, retired from the Army after serving 25 years of active service.

Along with an eidetic or photographic memory for which he was gifted, he was awarded the Military Service Medal (MSM) for Valour for his heroic actions on the early morning of Tuesday, August 19, 1969, in the New River during “Operation Climax” launched by the GDF against a Surinamese insurrection.

It was Col Liverpool’s feat of firing a machine gun while seated in the nose of a flying aircraft that was credited for the successful ousting of the Suriname soldiers.

Resulting from him being visually impaired, he used exemplary memory while he sought the aid of Megan Campbell, a former GNS pioneer and staffer who also views him as a mentor, to co-author the 23-chapter publication that captures many details leading up to the formation a n d early

times of the GDF, as well as his own experiences while he served.

It is Col Liverpool’s hope such a very informative memoir will serve as a motivation for young soldiers.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

L

OCAL events that took place this past week are yet another stark reminder of why we need to continue interrogating our learned anti-blackness and how we interact with race in our system of oppression.

Let me say that there isn’t any logic that can be used to justify stupid, disgusting and racist remarks against an entire race of people, no matter how humorous it was intended to be. There just isn’t. And as much as I want to understand the genesis of any logic that seeks to perpetuate or justify remarks like these, there is just some level of ignorance I cannot comprehend.

Over the past week, the Guyana Students’ Association in Trinidad and Tobago (GuySATT) partnered with our sister associations in Barbados and Jamaica to host a two-day discussion on ‘Interrogating Anti-Blackness and Race.’ Amidst this sickening situation, I thought it would be apt to share some of what I have learned over the past week.

A key component in navigating anti-blackness in our contemporary context is to understand the interplay between power and oppression. Oppression is a tool of those who have the power to set and control the narrative, and power is what leads to the perpetuation of oppression.

That having been established, the issue here is not just ‘black and white’ (pun intended). I believe that our oppression has been so entrenched, that we can no longer see it. Its effects, however, are still very real and felt every day. My friend Derwayne Wills explained, in GuySATT’s forum, that oppression has four manifestations: the first manifestation is ideological, and that is where you can attribute the genesis and perpetuation of racism and patriarchy.

Beyond that ideological manifestation, there is also the institutional manifestation, where oppression is blatantly and not so blatantly enshrined in the laws, policies, and governmental

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ODAY, whenever we hear the word “pandemic,” we immediately think of COVID-19, commonly called the coronavirus. But less than two decades ago the World Health Organisation (WHO) described dental caries as a pandemic and the bane of civilisation. The prevalence, up until the early 1970s, was high in developed countries and low in developing countries. The child and adolescent populations -- literally tens of millions-- suffered painful consequences.

Since nearly all susceptible tooth surfaces had been attacked by early adulthood, caries ( tooth decay)was considered to be essentially a disease of children. However, during the past 50 years, such traditional concepts of the disease have been revised in response to changes that have occurred n the prevalence, severity, distribution and pattern of tooth decay in many developed countries of the world.

During this period the dramatic reduction in caries levels in the developed countries has occurred even though the consumption of sugar has remained relatively static. Undoubtedly

programmes. And our interactions with oppression are rooted in the systems created by the white expansionists and colonisers who used the political and economic power to perpetuate their anti-black sentiments into laws and policies of oppression. Anti-blackness is an ideology of their own, enforced through the institutions they created.

This eventually leads to interpersonal and individual manifestations of oppression. To exist in this anti-black system created, it seems logical to distance yourself from the ‘blackness.’

In Guyana’s case, I think about how other persons of colour have learned the interpersonal manifestation of oppression; how these persons are similarly anti-black, simply because that is what the power structure dictates. The biases, the prejudices, the stereotypes, have all been perpetuated due to this. And on the individual front, this means accepting and normalising the oppression.

For me, discussions such as these are important so that students, just like myself, could garner an understanding of the occurrences that surround us, the historical contexts that underpin these occurrences, and even our interface with those occurrences. Only then could we discern that the issues around us are not ‘black and white’ (pun intended).

In my last two columns, I have written about my own learned biases and prejudices, and how I need to be aware of those (and where they stem from) to move beyond them.

I have realised that while I can be open to unlearning these manifestations and symptoms of oppression, there are many, within and tangential to my circles, who cannot do so as easily as I can. Or who, for some reason or the other, will not try.

On the second day of our discussion, coincidentally, it was the death anniversary of renowned Guyanese intellectual Dr. Walter Rodney. On that day, we delved into talking about

whether racial unity in Guyana is an illusion, representation, and confronting the narrative hegemony and how gender and intersectionality factors into the discourse on race. Later that night, the UWI’s Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles organised a forum which was replete with so many renowned Caribbean scholars who spoke highly of Dr. Rodney and his work.

Rodney questioned whether the ‘clashes’ between Afro and Indo-Guyanese were always racial in nature, or whether they were more of “...an inter-class conflict rooted in the inequalities of the socio-economic structure.” He thought about how anti-blackness is rooted in white supremacy. He thought about how Indo and Afro-Guyanese could work together to subvert these entrenched systems of inequality, since they do not serve in the best interests of either.

There are so many other things to learn from the life and work of Dr. Rodney. And it is truly confusing to see how so many persons across the Caribbean and in parts of North America and Africa hold him in such high regard, while in Guyana knowledge of his work and life is sparsely known.

Guyana continues to be characterised by these racial divisions. There is no better example than the recent vile sentiments of a well-known civilian with an internet platform that he uses to parade as a reporter. But maybe understanding the oppressive system we’ve been part of for too long will help others to be less ignorant. Maybe we need to continue talking, and listening and learning-- as individuals and as groups. Maybe then, something will change.

If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous work, feel free to email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

the most important reason for this improvement in dental health has been the introduction of fluoride into the oral environment.

In developing countries like Guyana, the situation is unequivocal. Data from the (WHO) indicate that in Central and South America the prevalence and severity of the disease is high whereas, throughout Asia, Africa and China caries levels remain generally low. However, if history were to repeat itself and these populations were to adopt the cariogenic diets and lifestyles of the developed world without the protection of fluoride, caries levels would increase.

Numerous dentists and research scientists the world over are unanimous in their conclusion that the challenge to everyone involved in the promotion of oral health is to sustain the benefits of fluoride to those already receiving them and encourage the use of appropriate and effective strategies and products by those who are not.

Because dental caries is a ubiquitous disease affecting all age groups, prevention is important throughout life. The prevalence and severity of this condition vary considerably between

and within different countries and the choice of appropriate and effective preventive strategies should be based on data obtained from surveys that use standardised measurements of disease with carefully defined criteria. The last such survey done in all 10 Regions, and which I was privileged to participate in, was conducted by Dr. David W. Johnson under the auspices of The University of Western Ontario and CESO International Services in December 1995.

Population strategies such as water and salt fluoridation are the most cost-effective measures available and should be implemented where deemed befitting and feasible. Fluoride toothpaste are a highly effective means of caries control and their use should underpin any preventive programme.

Finally, the dramatic and welcome improvements in the dental health of populations in many countries across the globe represent one of the most significant public health achievements of this century. Governments of the poorer countries need to adopt national programmes to combat and control dental diseases to maintain the momentum.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

VII

Focus on the Village

Corriverton

A place of self-reliant farmers and entrepreneurs

By Michel Outridge THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to the bustling township of Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

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FTER the closure of the Skeldon Sugar Estate, many residents who depended heavily on the sugar industry for their livelihoods had to seek other jobs.

As such, many went into their own small businesses to stay afloat and meet household and personal expenses.

There are many cash-crop farmers and large and smallscale rice farmers, shop owners and stay-at-home moms and wives.

At the beginning of the township, an impressive arch welcomes you to Corriverton which celebrates its 47th anniversary annually on October 28.

Large stores, schools and other public buildings are centrally located about a 10-minute drive away by the Corriverton Market, where there is a business hub of various

establishments.

The Mayor and Town Council has an office near the Municipal Market Street and it was observed they have quite a few high-rise buildings and very interesting edifices.

Just opposite the market, there is a very large and beautifully constructed mosque which sits just before the foreshore at Corriverton near the Orealla Launch Landing.

Your visit would not be complete without seeing or getting a ride in one of the Tapirs (an old model of van) which is still used for daily commute by locals.

This community has a Children’s Park outfitted with wooden benches and four benabs, but it is abandoned and overrun by bushes.

This facility is not utilised by locals and it is situated on the public road and it is a very good place to enjoy the country breeze and unwind after a day’s work The Pepperpot Magazine first met a young woman, Sarika Persaud, a resident who sells their farm-fresh produce.

She has a roadside stand vending fruits and vegetables along with home-made pepper sauce infused with lime juice and blimey.

The 23-year-old revealed that she started the roadside ‘hustle’ just a month ago as a means of income for herself

and son, since she is separated from her spouse.

She is a local of Corriverton who has lived all her life in the community and would only leave the village to go to Skeldon or nearby.

“My father is a farmer and we plant our own peppers, that is, bell peppers, sweet peppers and other variety of peppers, so since he has it I decided to make some pepper sauce and sell it,” she said.

As a single mother of a five-year-old boy, she is willing to earn and is selling vegetables she would buy from villagers or that garnered from their farm.

Persaud also sells boulanger and seasonings such as celery, pepper, shallot, bora, squash, ground provisions, calaloo, peppers, cucumber, limes and pepper sauce in various bottles and containers.

“Life here is very simple; we are hardworking village people who farm and sell what we produce for our daily living and we do get by,” she said.

The Persauds own a grey Tapir van that is driven by her father. The vehicle is still in very good working condition and is used by the family to get from one point to another.

Persaud is well-known for her signature blimey with lime juice pepper sauce which is very flavourful.

Corriverton Park (Carl Croker photos)

The Corriverton Township Arch

Garden-fresh produce sold by Sarika Persaud

Sarika Persaud at her roadside stall

VIII

I

By Michel Outridge

T was after a motorcycle accident that damaged his pelvis and limbs and left him bedridden for a year that Ryan Singh discovered he could no longer do strenuous work as he used to.

He used to be his father’s ‘right-hand’ man on their farm but then he had to look for less taxing work and it was then the idea of a roadside coconut and local fruit juice stand was conceptualised.

It was his best friend, Anil Singh called ‘Sunny’, who donated the wood for him to construct the wooden stand.

With the assistance of ‘Sunny’, Singh was able to complete the construction and a week ago they bought some water coconuts from

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

Singh, a father of one sourced some local fruits and prepared some homemade fruit juices to sell as well.

“I am accustomed to farming because since I small I does be with my father and I help also with the cows and pigs but now I can’t manage that and the livestock was sold,” he said.

Singh stated that they have 10 acres of farmland on which his father cultivates vegetables and fruits.

Even though the motor-

cycle accident happened five years ago on Christmas night, he is often affected by it since he broke both legs and damaged his pelvis.

“I was in bed for one year straight and it was not easy to depend on others to take care of me,” he said.

But today, Singh is happy to be in good health and is making strides to earn since he has a family that is depending on him.

He makes juices from the fruits harvested from his father’s farm which

includes watermelon, cane and pine.

Singh and his friend ‘Sunny’ will soon embark on their own farming of watermelons and melons, a sizable plot of land has already been identified for the venture.

The duo will clear the land and prepare if for farming within the new week and it will be a joint effort since ‘Sunny’ is a landscaper and has knowledge about farming.

The land is owned by ‘Sunny’ and the friends

Taxi driver Naresh Persaud and his car

would also like to have their own coconuts to sell, rather than buying from others.

Singh’s roadside coconut stand has become a ‘stopping’ point for locals since its opening.

Most taxi drivers and other residents would meet up at the location daily to have cool coconut water or fresh fruit juice and engage in some chit-chat.

While there, the Pepperpot Magazine also met taxi driver Naresh Persaud, a jovial fellow who plies

the New Amsterdam to Skeldon route.

Persaud added that with COVID-19, people have stopped moving from one point to the next unnecessarily, but they do only when it is essential, as such, it has put a dent in his pocket.

“People are not travelling as before so the work is not normal but I am trying still,” he said.

He would begin working from 6:30hrs to up until 16:00hrs because of the curfew and when the Pepperpot Magazine met him he had stopped briefly for a break before resuming work.

Even though Corriverton isn’t as busy as before the COVID-19 epidemic, Persaud and others still have to provide for their families and are going out to work, even for a few hours daily.

Keeping watch; Ryan Singh’s husky at his stand

villagers and began their small business.

Anil Singh called ‘Sunil’ at the coconut stand (Carl Croker photos)

Focus on the Village

Ryan Singh at his roadside stand

“Things not regular, but I am hoping we can get back to how it used to be, so people can have some form of normalcy to their lives; but we don’t have the coronavirus here in Region Six,” he said.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

IX

Focus on the Village

Vending plucked chickens at the Samaroos

Jailall Samaroo

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By Michel Outridge

AILALL Samaroo is a resident of Corriverton, Upper Corentyne, Berbice and although he is not originally from that community, he has made a home and business for himself and family.

He left his hometown of Fyrish, Corentyne, in the 1980s when his application for employment was never acknowledged at the Labour Office in New Amsterdam.

Samaroo recalled he was job seeking and after he got no response at the age of 16 years old he heard through the grapevine that Skeldon Sugar Estate wanted workers.

Feeling dejected, he left Fyrish Village and came to Corriverton, where he found work as a cane-cutter.

He stated that back then he had exited the formal school system at a young age and entered the world of work because he was the eldest of his eight siblings and they depended on him to support the home.

Thus, he was forced into the workforce and was living in a small house and after some years he got married and managed to buy a property where he currently resides.

“From cutting cane I established myself; I saved some money from what I had and I build my life over the years,” he said.

Samaroo added that his wife is from Corriverton and having married, he remained in that village where he has four children, who assist wih the business.

The Corriverton resident stated that some years ago he decided to invest in buying and selling plucked and live chickens and it was successful.

Today, he has his own poultry farm and a small mini-mart, all of which operates from his house.

Samaroo told the Pepperpot Magazine that he struggled as a man and a father to acquire his own business and used to even sell chickens in the market.

The Samaroos have their own poultry farm at Albion, Corentyne, and they sell chickens and eggs, both retail and wholesale.

His business employs two persons from the community and his wife and children also lend a helping hand to manage the family business.

Samaroo added that at times when life seems difficult it is easy to give up, but one has to pursue positive thoughts to have things happen for themselves.

“Over the years I often thought things wouldn’t get better for me and with that in mind I never stopped working; and today I don’t have to work with anybody,” he said.

Samaroo pointed out that the people of Corriverton are hardworking, honest people, who depended on the sugar estate and after its closure, they had to seek alternative jobs elsewhere.

Today, many have farms and sell their produce to provide incomes to their homes.

Jailall Samaroo’s house and business place at Corriverton (Carl Croker photos)

The Samaroos own and operate J. Samaroo and Sons Live and Plucked Chicken business at Public Road, Upper Corentyne.

Self-sufficient

Ganga Mohan Nauth, is 73 years old and has a store at Corriverton Public Road.

Nauth disclosed that owning a business takes a lot of work and it is the ‘staying power’ that keeps the door of the business open.

He is from Springlands and has another store there, but he manages the store at Corriverton, while his wife operates the former.

Nauth has been in the business for a couple of years and reported that things are slow due to COVID-19 and with many people out of jobs, there is no spending power by the people along that corridor.

He opens daily for a few hours and would make the commute to Springlands and his business is supported by the locals and passers-by.

Sharing his knowledge about the community, Nauth told the Pepperpot Magazine that the Corriverton Arch was constructed 47 years ago and he was a small boy when that took place.

It is an event he vividly remembers to date and recalled that times from then to now are very different but noted that ‘business has to go on’.

X

T

By Michel Outridge

HE Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of Corriverton, Upper Corentyne, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) is of the hope that the town would be further developed and the lives of its people continuously enhanced with re-opening of the sugar estates.

Winston Roberts told the Pepperpot Magazine that the township starts from #75 to Crabwood Creek and they have two new housing schemes with infrastructure at #76 and #77.

He disclosed that the population of the town is about 15,000 and the livelihoods of

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

residents come from the sugar industry and farming, which is no big income garner.

Roberts explained that when the Skeldon Estate closed its operations a few years ago, it was difficult for many, however, some established their own small businesses while others had to ‘make-do’ with whatever work came their way.

He revealed that with COVID-19 the fishing industry remains closed, putting an extra strain on the pockets of regular folk in that township and a drive-by at #66 Inshore Fishing Port Complex saw dozens of fishing boats moored.

Fishermen were agitated and ready to get back to the Atlantic Ocean, but the Corentyne River is being

patrolled by the Suriname authorities and access is denied because of the pandemic.

Farmers at Jackson Creek and surrounding areas cannot access their farms and it is a cause for worry, since a lot of produce can perish, putting a dent in the pockets of farmers.

Roberts told the Pepperpot Magazine that access to the Corentyne River from Mopena to Jackson Creek isn’t accessible due to the Coronavirus measures in place to safeguard the borders.

He added that Moleson Creek farmers are also affected by the closure of the Corentyne River via boats.

“This is impacting our people greatly to provide an income for their families and it puts a strain on the community itself when people cannot

Moored fishing boats at #66 Fishermen’s Coop Society

work to earn,” he said.

Mayor Roberts stressed the need for more in-house skills training for youths and school drop-outs in Corriverton.

“We have a Training Centre located in the compound of the M&CC and we host some training from time to time but with the Coronavirus all that has been put on hold,” he said.

Roberts admitted that more emphasis needs to be placed on youths, some of whom are unemployed and others undertake menial jobs to earn.

Meanwhile, as it relates to the Corriverton Park Mayor Roberts said that the project was completed more than a year ago, but the facility remains unused by locals due to their perception that it is in an

inconvenient location.

Residents told the Pepperpot Magazine that they do not visit the Park because it is at a very dangerous location on the main road and at any given time things can go wrong endangering the lives of people.

“If a vehicle run off the road and ended up in that Park what you think will happen and if an accident happens it is certain death for the people there,” one resident said.

It is noted that the park, which is outfitted with four benabs and benches, is located on the pubic road.

The park sits precariously between two turns on the main road and is bordered by the sideline dam, but it is yet to be seen whether residents will later consider using the facility.

The un-used Park at Corriverton Public Road

Office of the Mayor of Corriverton Township

Mayor Winston Roberts (Carl Croker photos)

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

Focus

XI

on the Village

Dipchand Sookdeo called ‘Alligator Man’ (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge

D

I P C H A N D Sookdeo is a resident of Corriverton, who may be taken for granted by people around him but, make no mistake, he is good at what he does.

He is referred to as the ‘Alligator Man’ and the name was given to him because he is versed in catching alligators in the swampy areas behind the village.

Sookdeo makes a living by trapping alligators, snakes, iguanas and salipenters in the backlands of Corriverton and would sell the skins and the meat separately.

Sookdeo told the Pepperpot Magazine that after his ‘catch’, depending on what he got, he would sell the skins of the alligators and snakes to the craft shops in the city. Meanwhile, the meat of the alligators, iguanas, snakes and salipenters are sold to other customers.

The craft shops outside the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) would buy the alligators’ skins to make bags and other products, most of which are bought by tourists.

And while there are sections of society that may see such a job as unsavoury, this is a way of life for many persons in rural areas.

“I been doing this type of work for eight years and it has put food on my table and there is no shame in earning an honest dollar,”

he said.

Apart from catching and trapping the animals, he would also ‘catch a day job’ in the community as a labourer.

“I am a ‘Jack of all Trades.’ I do whatever is available for work in this village, because that’s the only way I can earn,” he said.

Sookdeo stated that in the village people work hard to provide for their families, but with COVID-19 they have been experiencing job losses across the board, making it difficult for many.

So they had to improvise and seek other jobs and the father of three did just that, even if it means going out at nights into the vast backlands.

“I would go with two

other residents because it is not an easy task for one person and we would go by boat, some nine miles in the swampy area and await our catch,” he said.

Sookdeo explained that they would take ropes, twine, wire and other makeshift traps to make a good catch.

He added that they would pitch the torchlight directly at the alligators, causing them to become temporarily disoriented and that’s when he makes his move to trap them.

After trapping the alligators, he would tie them up and bring them to the village where he would begin the process of taking off their skins for preservation before they are sold.

Sookdeo stated that the meat is stored in his freezer before it is taken for sale and depending on the earnings, it would be split with the two other persons.

“This job is not for everyone since it requires a

bit of patience and innovation and it would take hours to make a ‘good catch’,” he said.

He reported that depending on the size of the alligators, they can carry a price tag of up to $20,000 each.

Sookdeo told the Pepperpot Magazine that his biggest catch of alligator was nine feet long and it

carried a handsome price which he was more than happy to collect.

This Corentyne, Berbice villager noted that country life is very calm, but it entails hard work but their village is virtually crimefree and they don’t have to worry about certain things.

“I am not working today, I am just out for a walk because things kind of slow

with the virus and I am here to ‘lime’ with some friends until I get some work and maybe later I can return to the backlands to catch alligators,” he said.

Sookdeo reported that the people of Corriverton make do on a day-to-day basis and they have the will to succeed, no matter how difficult it may become.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

W

e take words lightly but they are powerful. I have learnt so much about the power of our thoughts and words along my journey.

I am still learning but I am intentional about speaking only good things in my lives and lives of others.

Proverbs 18:4: “A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”

was going to Atlanta to Lisa’s conference and I would be in VIP and I would be wearing one of my tiger print flowing tops. Although in reality, my finances at that moment did not reflect what I was telling her. I believed it was possible and every day I saw myself in the conference sitting in the front row. I made it to Atlanta at the Speak and Write event hosted by Lisa Nichols and was in the VIP sitting in the front row wearing the same outfit I described. I can share so many

We have thoughts going through our heads daily and some are toxic. We must become aware of what we are allowing into our minds through our five senses. No thought entering your mind should ever go unchecked. I have created a checkpoint to monitor my thoughts and sometimes that checkpoint works overtime. If we allow the toxic thought to slip through those checkpoints and into the brain it will multiply and grow branches and our thoughts become our words.

Out of the heart, the mouth speaks. We possess premium mental real estate and we need to preserve it and not rent the smallest space to negativity.

We become what we think and we can never get ahead of what we think. Let’s consume our minds with words that multiply and add not to divide and subtract.

I ask God every morning during my time with him to place the right thought in my mind. Ephesians 4:23, NLT: “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.”

Those thoughts manifest into words during my day and the words into actions. “I declare this day blessed and I am ready for everything coming my way today. It will be a glorious day no matter.” I say that every day sometimes in different words but meaning the same thing. The words that live within us are determined by the world we live in so the environment we create is vital.

Lisa Nichols is one of my mentors and in 2016 she was hosting a conference I needed to attend but my funds were limited. I called my cousin Clemencio and told her I

of these testimonies and I will share one from a young lady.

During one of my ‘Developing the best you’ classes, one of the participants shared her testimony. She said she read an article about part of my journey where I exhibited crazy faith and got results. She was hoping to travel to a conference in the Dominican Republic but had no money. She said she cut out the article and had it everywhere she went and every day said to God “If you can do it for Sonia Noel, you can do it for me” God made a way for her to attend that conference.

Daily we have to renew our mindset. I love the teachings from Joyce Myers and I got some value nuggets from her and would love the share one with you. Carve time out to just think and host your own think sessions. Sometimes I do it in my garden or in my home. Then reflect and assess your thought and you will be happy you did. Some of the revelations will help us to fix your direction.

Everyone deals with things differently but my belief in God provides that inner strength for me and I meditate on these words: “I can do whatever comes my way through Christ” Colossians 3:2.

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

We have some powerful testimonies to share and I invite you to join us for Women Across Borders virtual event on from July 7-10.

All the co-authors from the different part of the globe who contributed to the three

anthologies will be sharing their journeys and how the power of words affected their lives. I can assure you that the content of this event will motivate you to go to the next level where ever you are in your journey. The event is free and you can register using the link below https:// www.123formbuilder.com/ form-5498865/?fbclid=IwAR3RhlDN4Zim2puEn_9ukHmDGQN_RFmkgd9R5Igjp_Qt-

nPHMqjVECfSWjYk We have to learn to think right to live right Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” It is important to have the right conversations with ourselves every day.

What are you doing for your healthy thoughts to overpower your toxic thoughts as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY?

XIII

Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel ... Inspiring lives through

fashion

XIV

“

Black woman and child, yeh yeh yeah For you I really have so much love Dollar bills and coins will fade away They could never make I so proud Black woman and child, yeh yeh yeah For you I really have so much love Dollar bills and coins will fade away They could never make I so proud….”

THESE words are some of the lyrics of the song ‘Black woman and child’

by Sizzla. Artist and teacher Kathleen Thompson - Henriquo explained that this song inspired her to create a pen and ink drawing entitled Family #1. It was a song she often heard while travelling on buses and soon realized that it carried a positive message. She explained that the song is a positive statement in a world where black Caribbean men are called tomcats (sexually active

ESERTIFICATION and Drought Day is a United Nations observance which is held on June 17 each year.

The focus is on changing public attitudes to the leading driver of desertification and land degradation: humanity’s relentless production and consumption.

Drought and desertification are closely related phenomena. Persisting over months or years, drought can affect large areas and may have serious environmental, social, and economic impacts. This can be seen in Regions One (1) and Nine (9) in Guyana where hundreds of villagers are either displaced or suffer due to either flooding or extreme drought. One can argue that drought is a natural phenomenon, but its impacts can be exacerbated by human activities that are not adapted to the local climate. Inappropriate land

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

Family #1 by Kathleen Thompson - Henriquo with more than one partner).

As we celebrate Father’s Day, I wanted to share an art piece that depicts one of the roles of men in families. In the drawing, we see a family sitting on a bench in front of a house. The presence of trees and the family’s attire or lack thereof gives the impression of simple country life. The pregnant woman is in a relaxed position bracing on the man. As he supports her with ease, a child is standing between his legs with his/her hand stretched out playfully. He comforts the child. It appears as if the man was holding the child who wanted to go back into his arms. The bag and stick on the floor suggest that they had just returned from a long journey. The man is shirtless, his pants torn, his long locks stuffed in the hat on his head, and yet he seems content. Although they do not have footwear, they are happy.

Kathy wanted to show a black Caribbean man loving

use, such as monocultures, and unsustainable land management practices, such as deforestation, unsuitable agricultural practices, and overexploitation of water resources, can cause land degradation that can be further aggravated by drought.

“If we keep producing and consuming, as usual, we will eat into the planet’s capacity to sustain life until there is nothing left but scraps. We all need to make better choices about what we eat and what we wear to help protect and restore the land.” — Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary to the UNCCD. Desertification and Drought Day, running under the slogan “Food, Feed, Fibre” seeks to educate individuals on how to reduce their personal impact. As populations become larger and more urban, there is far greater demand for land to provide food, animal feed, and fibre for clothing.

his family. His love is seen through his presence rather than his ability or lack thereof to provide financial security. He is placed in a position of support. He is seen taking care of the child while the woman rests. His lack of attire portrays that he puts his family first; a demonstration of selflessness. In his family, it’s the simple things that matter.

He is there to lend a helping hand, whether it be to relieve his wife of some of the domestic load or to participate actively in the raising of the children. Time with family is more valuable than money. As Sizzla said, “Dollar bills and coins will fade away” but memories will last. A child will always remember the presence of a father and his involvement in the family’s life as they grew up. He/she will recall who taught them to ride a bike or play cricket; who held their hand to cross the road; who placed them on their shoulder for a better

view - the simple things. I wish to encourage all the fathers in Guyana and abroad not to limit yourselves to providing financial support, but to be active in your child’s life.

Today we celebrate fathers and the various hats they wear. They are hus-

WHAT CAN BE DONE? With changes in consumer and corporate behaviour, and the adoption of more efficient planning and sustainable practices, there could be enough land to meet the demand.

I f

Meanwhile, the health and productivity of existing arable land are decli-

ning, worsened by climate change. To have enough productive land to meet the demands of ten billion people by 2050, lifestyles need to change. We, humans, can think and use our skills to engineer solutions. Try as we might, we

bands, role models, friends, disciplinarians and breadwinners –- to name a few.

So, take your place men and have a happy Father’s Day. The drawing shows Kathy’s love for themes surrounding everyday life as it relates to children and families. She uses

cannot control the weather.

Thus we cannot prevent droughts that are caused strictly by a lack of rainfall or abundance of heat. We can however, manage our water resources to better handle these conditions so that drought does not occur during short dry spells.

every consumer were to buy products that do not degrade the land, suppliers would cut back the flow of these products and send a powerful signal to producers and policymakers.

Changes in diet and behaviours – such as cutting food waste, buying from local markets and swapping clothes instead of always buying new – can free up land for other uses and lower carbon emissions. Dietary

hatching and cross-hatching techniques in her drawings. Kathy has been teaching since 1982. She is a founding member of the Guyana Women Artists’ Association (GWAA).

She also has a passion for poetry, drama, dance and reading.

change alone can free up between 80 and 240 million hectares of land.

In Guyana, the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission works with partner agencies like the EPA to implement the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and successfully hosted the seventeenth session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 17) of the UNCCD. Find out more at https:// www.unccd.int/actions17-june-desertification-and-drought-day/2020-desertification-and-drought-day You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O Communications Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

XV

#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

C

INDY Allman is a Trinidad-based Jamaican blogger who is advocating for the reading of Caribbean books, particularly in June, which, according to her website, ‘Book of Cinz,’ is the month that is recognised as Caribbean Heritage Month. Allman is the originator of #ReadCaribbean Month, and it is her initiative got me thinking about all of the amazing Caribbean books that have been written through the ages.

While Allman herself, the Bocas Lit Fest, and a range of Caribbean authors are doing a lot to bring attention to Caribbean books this month, I thought that it would be nice to compile a list of some great Caribbean reads for readers in Guyana. Therefore, below, in random order, are some of my favourite books of prose fiction, that have been written by authors with Caribbean heritage. I hope that every avid reader in Guyana takes a chance on one of the options below as part of this year’s Read Caribbean Month. The list will be particularly helpful to people new to Caribbean literature as most of the works below are considered classics.

1) The Hummingbird Tree – Ian McDonald This book was one of those that many people read in high school, and, for a lot of us, it was a defining text that helped to prove and solidify the idea, particularly in those formative years, that Caribbean literature could be as timeless and as topical as works from other parts of the world. It is a simple, bittersweet story about love, loss, race, and growing up, set in Trinidad, and focusing on the complex friendship between a white boy named Alan and two poor East Indian siblings, Kaiser and Jaillin.

2) The Farming of Bones – Edwidge Danticat Readers in Guyana are already familiar with prejudice as one of our nation’s main historical themes. This novel, by the Haitian author, highlights aspects of the ‘Parsley Massacre’ where many Haitians were murdered because of prejudicial elements within The Dominican Republic. The author uses a love story as the major literary element to emphasize the terrors and inevitable outcomes of discrimination and trauma, and there are numerous lessons in this novel that can be beneficial to the people in Guyana.

3) My Bones and My Flute – Edgar Mittelholzer Mittelholzer’s novel is a Guyanese favourite and it tells

of a family who is trapped and terrorised by malevolent spirits within the sinister, and yet hauntingly beautiful, interior regions of the country. The novel is an absolutely spooky read, and it is the ideal text for you if you love works set in the jungles in Guyana, and if you like the kind of horror where there are cursed manuscripts, battles between good and evil, and characters using their wits and their environment to figure out how to survive.

4) A House for Mr. Biswas – V.S. Naipaul It is extremely easy to appreciate the uproarious nature of this Nobel Prize laureate’s most famous novel. Everyone who reads this book is sure to find joy and comedy in the experiences of our hero, Mohun Biswas, particularly in the sequences that come after he has moved in with his wife’s relatives in the famous ‘Hanuman House.’ But the novel is also about perseverance and modernity, and as much as we laugh at Biswas’ experiences, we also support him wholeheartedly when he decides to build his own house and, thus, find his own way in life.

5) I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem – Maryse Condé Did you know that the principal figure in the launch of the Salem Witch Trials was a Caribbean woman? This novel by the Guadeloupean writer takes this premise and runs with it, giving us a beautiful historical and feminist reimagining of Tituba’s story, presenting her as heroine instead of mere victim, and focusing on her life and her role as the first woman accused of being a witch in the beginning of the Salem Trials. There is also an excellent piece of intertextuality when the author juxtaposes Tituba’s story with Hester Prynne’s, the heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic, The Scarlet Letter, as the character appears as a cellmate to Tituba.

6) Palace of the Peacock – Wilson Harris Readers who take on Harris’ work need a lot of patience, but it pays off in the end because of the experiences and newfound sense of viewing the world that one gains after finishing one of his books.

In this novel, the author uses his trademark dense, poetic, dreamlike style to tell the story of a group of men, representing almost the entire spectrum of Guyana’s ethnic make-up, as they search for a mysterious woman named Mariella in the Guyanese jungle. Honestly, it is quite a bizarre book – but it is bizarre in the very best ways. It cannot be explained,

only experienced.

7) The Book of Night Women – Marlon James I actually like this book by the Jamaican author more than his A Brief History of Seven Killings, which won the Booker Prize. It is set on a slave plantation and tells the life story of an enslaved woman named Lilith. The best thing about this novel, apart from the wide array of astounding, excellently-developed, female characters, is the way the author writes in the unique vernacular of Jamaican Creole, which makes the language of the novel one that is rich and ripe with the intonations of the Caribbean.

8) Golden Child – Claire Adam This novel is about twin boys who are very different from each other. It taps into issues, such as family, education, class, crime, and relationships, all of which come to the fore when one of the boys, Paul, is kidnapped. This sends the family down a path where tough decisions are made, and tougher epiphanies about the two boys, and their positions within the family, are realised.

It is a sad novel, but there are mozzzments of purity and lightness within it as well.

9) Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys Rhys was born in Dominica, and she led quite an interesting life. Her most important contribution to the canon of Caribbean literature lies in her writing of this particular novel, which gives meaning and complexity to Bertha, the famous minor character who first appears in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Rhys develops the character by giving her a life and a personality beyond just being ‘the madwoman in the attic,’ while also using the character to advance important feminist themes in the novel.

10) The Ventriloquist’s Tale – Pauline Melville Honestly, I think Pauline Melville might be my most favourite Guyanese writer of all time. This particular novel of hers highlights all of the things that I find wondrous about her writing. Her vivid descriptions, her appreciation of the unconventional elements in Guyanese life, and her keen awareness of both colonialism and folklore in the Guyanese experience can all be found in this novel which focuses on indigenous characters, including the brother/sister pair of Danny and Beatrice with their forbidden love for each other, and their confrontations with the past and present, as well as change and stagnation.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

I

MUST exalt the position and courage taken by the sisters Karen Abrams co-founder of STEM Guyana, Dawn Adriane Holder-Cush Director of Consumer Affairs and my colleague Dr. Melissa Ifill in defence of ‘Sister’ Justice Claudette Singh against the patriarchal oppressive complex of the anti-female practice or misogynistic peculiar to that cultural creed.

The manifestation of this conduct must

creed, rather than purely a racial condition.

There is a female member of the Judiciary, who is said to be in the pocket of an opposition politician because she is perceived to always give the government side negative outcomes in cases. This perception has never manifested into public displays of verbal and or physical abuse, through the print media, social media or against her being or possessions or with disparaging remarks. Though I have seen her photograph aligned with

prosecution, he committed suicide, which is prohibited in Christian dogma. I have known and witnessed acquaintances in similar predicaments, and suicide is out of the question, they blame it on the Old Devil. Should we reflect on old mythologies for reference, we find African Goddesses not in ceremonial but in profound positions, unhindered by male consorts. They are unique among the pantheons of human belief systems. References like she would earn a box, as a sign of disrespect

commodation in the national consciousness of this duality, we must dissect and allot cultural creeds towards the forefront of our awareness, where they belong, to identify infuriating tendencies, because tendencies also emit levels of bitterness and spite, where sobriety can express the very concerns, we must come to grips that a tormented species share space with us, that they mask their hidden nature by exacerbations at the very ‘being’ that they secretly long to ‘be’.

not be allowed to drift off and forgotten into the dusty realm of posterity without firmly understanding this opposing and invasive dogma into the sanctity of our matriarchal consciousness. It will not go away unless we define, understand and regulate it within an aggressive defence system that controls its outbursts and subtle innuendoes.

There are differing cultures amongst us, predominately matriarchal and patriarchal.

On February 23, 2020, I wrote an article in my column in the Chronicle ‘Talking Culture’ with the appeal – “Time to measure our Laws against our cultural differences” this article also reflected the views of a letter writer ‘Sushil Persaud’ who lamented the “Failure to address the ethnic impetus in domestic abuse will see the scourge continues” Stabroek News December 2019. The article defined the letter in the context of a cultural

other persons in a poster display identifying the group as opposition stooges. There is in Guyana the inherited opposing cultures and creeds of Matriarchal and Patriarchal dogmas. To create a comfort zone of pretence, that we all see the world and interpret it the same way, is counterproductive and dangerous.

Because we are dealing with human beings, we must conclude that they do not conform to inherited cultural straits indefinitely. They at times adopt and concur to the popular cultural norms that they are more exposed to, however, there are at times surprising relapses like the instance with a school friend who did not grow up with any reference to patriarchal culture. His mother taught me in nursery school, he became a priest (I think Catholic). He became involved in some church funds matter, that’s how the story I was told went. With the prospects of

in matriarchal culture.

To seek to persecute a woman because she takes a position opposing to yours reflects on a personal predicament of ‘internal gender conflict’ which is very evident in a patriarchal culture. Whereas in Asia, especially in certain impoverished states, young boys are dressed up as girls and taught to become musicians and entertainers ‘Launda Dancers’ and to be prostitutes for grown men. This is an accepted norm in that world that requires a far-out fusion of psychology and the logic of mysticism to determine if this is nature’s rebound for cultural contempt of the ‘Mother’. Eusi Kwayanna is justified to be enraged as all matriarchal men are, at the onslaught directed at the Honourable Claudette Singh, by an assortment of male characters whose manhood has been questioned in public, in the media and at every corner across this country. There cannot be an ambivalent ac-

Toussaint L’Overture is a Caribbean-CARICOM hero, and a world personality, who waged the only successful slave revolution in history, resulting in the freedom of the much-tortured island nation of Haiti, not by their hands, but by the combined slave-owning countries.

When he marched into Port-Au-Prince, he commanded his soldiers not to indulge in the common practices of war of his age, and still practised today, where the women of the enemy are the trophies of their defeat. Toussaint forbade his troops from raping and plundering, urging them to remember their mothers and sisters, and the very former British subjects poured tributes on him. This is the legacy of the matriarchal consciousness. Dr. Mellissa Ifill, you are in a placed position to initiate such an enlightening and necessary public study towards an exposed understanding.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

A

S you all can imagine, this piece is very near and dear to my heart. I have had so many people reach out to me to ask where they can study Psychology in Guyana and how to go about doing so. This piece will not only discuss an option, but also describe the benefits of studying psychology –of which there are so many.

Psychology is the study of the mind and behaviour and it can take you so many places. A degree in Psychology gives one valuable research, communication, problem and conflict-resolution skills -- to name a few.

You use this knowledge to better not only your mental health, but also those around you. Psychology allows you to learn more about your emotions and actions as well as those of others. Why do we do certain things? Why do we feel this way? What can we do to continue or change these patterns? Studying Psychology is the answer to all these questions.

Can you imagine understanding underlying feelings, emotions and behaviours?

It gives you an edge on personal growth and success.

You can learn to gather, analyse and distribute important data, something that is seriously lacking in Guyana right now.

Speaking of that, there is a positive job outlook, as Psychologists are a rare find in Guyana.

Good communication skills is also critical to everyday life. You learn both verbal and non-verbal cues that help you to better understand and build healthy

relationships and be free of conflict. It gives you a different perspective on many situations, it simply opens the mind to possibilities.

Keep in mind that a degree in Psychology does not only lead to becoming a psychologist but teaching, researching, sales, employment counsellor, opportunities in human resources and so much more.

The training also helps you to develop serious empathy and compassion for others. It teaches you balance, the ability to handle stress, happiness, gratitude, motivation and how to live a better quality life.

Think about it as a self-help career where you can faster reach personal goals. It’s fascinating and intriguing.

However, as a Psychologist, I think the best part is the ability to help others help themselves. There is no greater feeling than watching people progress into their best selves and saving the lives of those who have little to no hope. You can make a massive difference.

And now there is a new and exciting option of studying Psychology in Guyana.

We now have the opportunity in Guyana to study for both a first degree and a Masters of Psychology through the University of Bedfordshire in the United Kingdom. These courses are offered at Nations School of Business and Management. Both of these are internationally recognised programmes that students can pursue here in Guyana. These programmes will start in September. If the pandemic continues, the courses will be offered online and once the pandemic

passes the teaching will resume face to face.

The programmes include courses in: occupational health, psychological assessment, managing people and stress, perception and action as well as individual differences and research.

Nations is drawing on the best expertise available in Guyana and overseas. The cost for the whole Masters is US$7,700 and it can be completed in about 15 to 18 months.

To pursue the same type of programme in the UK or North America will cost about four or five times more. For more information call Dr Brian O’Toole on 661 8773 or email: otoole.nations@gmail.com Thank you for reading and please continue to email any topics to caitlinvieira@ gmail.com or WhatsApp +592 623 0433 for a private counselling session.

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MORE ECONOMICAL BUYING FROM LARGE STORES WITH BETTER WARRANTIES THAN SMALL STORES WITH BETTER PRICES

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S consumer advocates, the Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) receives two or three complaints per month from persons who had purchased consumer durables such as refrigerators, washing machines, toasters, electric irons. blenders and so on. Most of these purchases had become non-functional in less than six months and almost all purchases were made at the small downtown shops in Georgetown. The majority of these shops are owned by Chinese nationals.

Most of these consumer durables tend to suffer from manufacturer faults or some difficulty with the electricals. A majority of these faulty goods tend to be refrigerators, freezers and washing machines. The smaller shops in downtown Georgetown tend to offer their consumer durables at cheaper prices than the established stores with warranties of one to three months or even no warranties at all, though the Consumer Protection Act stipulates that if no warranty is

given by the seller, a six-month warranty immediately kicks in.

To circumvent the Act, sellers give a month’s warranty. Many of the goods sold are suspected of being older models or even second-hand. Sometimes they do not add VAT and if the purchaser questions this, they offer another small discount but no bills or receipts are given.

Most of these consumers who make complaints to the GCA tend to be from the countryside or the poorer sections of Georgetown and have little knowledge of their rights.

Accordingly, when they see a washing machine or refrigerator offered at several thousand dollars cheaper than prices at the established stores, they are attracted to purchase, oblivious to the absence of after-purchase service facilities. spare parts availability or fair warranties or guarantees. On the other hand, a few willingly take this gamble.

We will illustrate the dilemma facing consumers purchasing consumer durables by giving two actual examples from the files of the Guyana

Consumers Association:About six months ago, a person who lives in Linden purchased a small washing machine from a store in America Street, Georgetown. The price was just over three thousand dollars cheaper than prices in the established stores. In the first week after purchase, the purchaser found that the machine was malfunctioning and he complained to the seller. He was told to return the machine to the store but that he would not have it again for another week. The purchaser did manage to return the machine but received it only near to the end of the month’s warranty. The machine continued to malfunction and on complaining again to the seller, he was told that his warranty had expired and that he would now have to pay for repairs or hire his own technician.

When the GCA intervened the seller politely told them that the warranty had expired and the consumer had now to pay for his repairs. The GCA pointed out to him that he was attempting to circumvent the

Competition and Consumer Protection Act and that he was responsible for providing transportation for the machine and to ensure that it was working properly. It was only when the seller had realised that the GCA could take legal action under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act and would have had the support of the Consumer Protection Commission and the Consumer Section of the Ministry of Business that he gave the consumer his rights.

Buying consumer durables from the small shops despite their cheaper prices than those of the established stores such as Singers, Courts, Kissoons and others, is somewhat of a risk.

We will now give you the other contrasting example. We use a purchase from Singers since the purchaser’s documentation is available but we are confident that Courts, Kissoons and other established stores equally offer the same accommodation as Singers: The purchaser went shopping for a refrigerator. He first visited several of the smaller stores who were offering the type of refrigerator he wished to buy at five to six thousands dollars cheaper than at Singers or the other established stores.

The store clerks were not very accommodating and they would not offer a warranty for more than six months. None of these

had a repair shop or even a permanent repair technician. They would not readily offer transportation facilities and could not indicate how long a machine would be kept if sent for repair.

At Singers, Water Street, Georgetown, the purchaser reported that the store clerks were helpful and courteous and that after he had chosen his refrigerator, he was guided to the Accounts who offered him the hire-purchase or cash option, explaining the conditions attached to both and patiently answering all questions. He made a cash purchase and was issued with a proper receipt containing the terms of the warranty and was told when it would be delivered to his home.

Unfortunately, the manual was in Spanish and the store did not have an English one at hand but promised to send the purchaser the English version as soon as one had arrived.

Since the purchaser had decided to install the machine strictly according to the manual instructions, Singers extended his warranty for an extra month. The Singer warranty for fridges is one year on the body and three years for the motor.

After a week of usage, the gasket rubber along the door of the freezer compartment fell out. The repair section courteously and patiently received the complaint and had

a technician visit the home the next morning and fix the fault.

This was of course done within the warranty without charge.

Two years went by and the refrigerator had stopped working but the consumer could not get in contact with Singers immediately because of the COVID19 lockdown and the fact that the The company only opened its doors twice per week at shortened hours.

The consumer was eventually able to contact the company and lodge his complaint. He admitted that he was very irritable because his fridge had been out of commission for nearly a month and he had lost some perishables but the staff had remained unfailingly tolerant and polite. The fridge was duly picked up, taken to the workshop and returned in working order.

Since the warranty was in force, no charges were made.

The consumer was high in his praise of the businesslike approach and courtesy of the Singer management and staff. He strongly felt it was more economical and secure to buy consumer durables from the established stores where one could be certain of the quality, after-purchase service and fair warranties which are faithfully honoured.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

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ODAY is the day we celebrate and uplift our fathers.

Today, we show gratitude to men who have sacrificed so much, just so that we can become individuals we want to be.

Today is Father’s Day. For some, however, today is just another regular Sunday. Today is also a day that many people wish did not exist.

“Father’s Day” in my home has always been celebrated.

I devote my time and energy towards gestures that I know will put a smile on my father’s face. I make meals with his favourite dishes. I make handmade cards and I show him how much I appreciate him, but I know the same can’t be said for many.

For many persons, this day is a reminder of painful thoughts and memories. For some, it brings forth feelings of abandonment. For others, it reminds them of a father who is no longer with us or a

father who had to move away for a job or for betterment.

Many will also be reminded of the fact that their father is physically there, but is many times emotionally absent.

Some persons are also reminded of a “father” who hurt them tremendously and some fathers might also remember their regretful mistakes of letting their children down.

It can be quite an emotional day. An average of 24 million children will spend Father’s Day fatherless. It is a joyous

day for many and most will flood social media with heartfelt wishes to their fathers, but will you check up on your fatherless friends and families today? Will you ask them how they’re coping?

Will you ask them to vent and reflect upon their feelings?

We must understand that the word “father” should not be restricted to a specific person. Your biological father might be the one who made you, but I am sure there are men who have stepped up to

the challenge and took up that role. It was probably an uncle, your grandfather, your stepfather, a community leader and even your mother (yes, some mothers will play the role of both parents if they can).

Whoever it may be that was that father figure and guiding light for you to become the person you are today, then you can use this day to celebrate them as well. You can use this day to reflect on your life and a better future that you may want for yourself and your future children.

If viewing online posts and attending church services is overwhelming for you, then step away from those mediums for a while. Be at peace with yourself and allow

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your heart and mind to heal themselves. Always remember that it is okay to speak about your feelings, it is okay for you mothers to have open conversations with your children about their fathers and it is okay for you the children to ask questions. Fathers can be an important figure in our lives. Many fathers have intentionally missed important moments, if not being absent from a child’s life for a very long time. If you are reading this and you are a father who has a guilty conscience after reading this article, then that is exactly how you should feel.

But, what are you going to do about it now? Will you try to be better?

If you are spending Fa-

ther’s Day, at home alone with feelings of sadness, anger or even disappointment, then just know that I salute your strength and your wit.

Many of us have looked up to a man we call “Dad” as our superheroes, to save us from the world. You have had to face this angry world by yourself. You are still alive and breathing—that is enough evidence of success.

You’ve had to sew your own cape and fight your battles by yourself. You became your own superhero and for that, you should be proud of yourself. I am hopeful that you will grow with strength after each Father’s Day after reading this piece. Wear your cape proudly!

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

Pest attack on vegetable production and appropriate control

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EGETABLE production occurs within a relatively short time-frame and as such yield losses due to pests may be substantial if the problem is not identified early, and remedial action implemented on time. Correct identification of pests and an understanding of their behaviour, including their most vulnerable stages would provide a farmer with appropriate insight into management strategies. The early maturity of vegetables and short intervals between harvests during the cropping season impose constraints on the pest control strategy. Care should, therefore, be taken if pesticide application is contemplated since there is the likelihood of high residual levels remaining in the product after harvest if an inappropriate formulation is used. Also one should use protective gears at all times when administrating pesticides.

Some of the most common vegetable crops widely cultivated across Guyana and are subjected to attack from many insect pests and diseases are Boulanger (commonly called eggplant), hot peppers, bora (also known as string beans) and cabbage. In this week’s edition of NAREI in Focus, we will provide a detailed description of nature on the damage caused by major pests and the appropriate management strategies that may be employed.

BOULANGER: Some of the most common pests and disease which attack the boulanger plants are: 1. Crickets: crickets attack seedlings of almost all vegetables. Various species of these insects usually live both in the soil, bushes and under decaying crop residues and vegetation.

All crickets are nocturnal, feeding at night and secluding by day, under the soil. Cultural and chemical methods could be employed for managing crickets, keeping the area free from weeds and removal of crop residue, that there is enough sunlight where the vegetables are grown. Concerning chemical control, any approved soil insecticide at the recommended rate may be applied, such as Basudin 60 % E.C (Diazinon) or Vydate L 40 % at the rate of 10 mls to 4500 mls water to seedbeds and cultivated areas.

2. White Flies: These insects are in fact bugs. The adults are white, moth-like insects that fly upwards from the plant when disturbed. They are about 2mm in length and their wings are covered with a white waxy powder. White Flies can also be controlled using cultural and chemical methods.

An integrated control strategy is necessary for the effective management of this pest which includes good farm sanitation.

Several new generations of insecticides are now available for the control of whiteflies. Soap-based products which target both nymphs and adults should be applied very early in the morning or late in the evening. Other chemicals which can be used include Admire, Pegasus and or Basudin/Vydate L at 10 mls to 4500 mls water.

PEPPERS: Peppers can grow in a wide range of altitudes and are tolerant to a wide range of soil conditions. However, fertile medium loams and well-drained soils with a pH of 5.5-6.8 are most suitable.

Some of the most common pests and diseases which attack the pepper plants are: TOXI N 1. Bacterial Wilt: This is soil-borne R EX bacteria which infect through the roots TUAG and invade vascular tissues affecting P

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020 M O FR XX RN GE TU PA

Pest attack on ...

the plant water supply. Symptoms begin with wilting of the leaves. To safeguard plants from this, you should follow a crop rotation regime and plant only bacteria-free seeds and transplants.

2. Powdery Mildew: This disease is favoured by warm temperatures. Chlorotic blotches or spots appear on the upper leaf surface which may become necrotic. Fungicides have been effective in controlling this disease including Sulphur dust and neem-based products.

BORA: Bora can be grown in a variety of soils but does best on fertile, well-drained, loose soils with high organic matter content. Like any other crop, the plant is susceptible to attacks.

The most common ones are as follow:

1. Cut Worms: These are the caterpillars of various species of moth. They have a greasy appearance and are grey and brown. Most of its lifecycle is spent below the soil which goes through a period of approximately 21-28 days. Cultural control includes good field sanitation and removal of weeds and plant residues. Any approved soil insecticide at the recommended rate may be applied, such as Basudin 60 % E.C (Diazinon) or Vydate L 40 % at the rate of 10 mls to 4500 mls water to seedbeds and cultivated areas.

2. Bacterial Blight: Common blight-infected leaves turn yellow then brown and drop quickly. The organism is seedborne. Entry into the plant is through the leaf stomata. Rain and damp weather encourage the development of this disease, however, the disease is more of a problem in warm weather conditions. The bacteria can be controlled utilising cultural and chemical methods and can live in the soil for two years on plant residue. Cultural control includes crop rotation and integrated crop-management approaches. It is also advised to not enter the fields when the foliage is wet to avoid spreading the disease. Bactericides such as Banrot and Mankocide can be used as a form of chemical control.

CABBAGE: Various types of cabbages are grown in Guyana, with the most popular ones being the compact single-leaf type. Cabbage can be grown on any soil type, but is preferably suited to light textured soils (sandy, loam, clay, etc) with high organic matter content. This type of crop does not tolerate acidic conditions. Like any other crop, the plant is susceptible to attacks. The most common ones are as follows: 1 Black Rot: This infection usually occurs near the margin of leaves. Yellow areas develop along the margin, progressing into the leaf. Cabbage is very susceptible to black rot and the interior of the stem may be destroyed by secondary soft rot organisms that attack the black rot infection. Cultural Control includes plant rotation and planting of disease-free seeds that have been treated to eliminate seed-borne bacteria. Mankocide, Rizolex and Banrot can be used as chemical controls.

2. DIAMONDBACK MOTH: Diamondback moth is a serious pest of cabbage and other cruciferous crops. The market quality of the crop can be severely reduced by this pest. It damages leaves by feeding the cabbage leaves and heads. Infested leaves are usually riddled with holes. However, like many other crops, there are methods of control. Crop rotation and field sanitation are ways of cultural control. Neem-based products, Decis 2.5% EC-1.5g/litre water, Ambush 5% EC-1 ml/litre water, Karate 2.5% EC-1.5 ml/litre water are some chemical ways for the control of the diamondback moth.

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JUNE - 21 - 2020

English THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

To keep my hands from picking and stealing, and my tongue from evil-speaking, lying, and slandering.

PRAYER BOOK Catechism STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student,

(Camara Laye’s “The African Child”)

O U do think about yourself during revision: How you feel. How worried you are. What doubts you have about your health and career prospects. The list is long. Do not worry yourself to distraction.

Worry is one of the commonest forms of self-produced stress when studying.

The need, when revising for and taking examinations, is for you to be able to focus effectively on TASKS, particularly manageable ones that can be readily tackled.

Be good to yourself.

Love you.

About the Passage This simple straightforward approach is chosen for you to admire. Its use of dialogue helps build characteristics of persons, feeling, conflict, and environment. Even though its coined dialogue is much it depletes nothing; instead, it adds quality reading and makes the story more interesting to the reader.

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THE PASSAGE What exactly is good writing? Good writing is what happens by way of a number of good practices.

One way to see good practices is to examine examples of good writing.

The following excerpt is a perfect example of good writing.

“Well, still day-dreaming?” my uncle asked.

“Yes… No… I…” “If you go on like this, we’ll lose the lead.”

“I was thinking about Uncle Bo. Where is he now?”

God only knows! On his last visit, he was … You see, I don’t know where he is any more! He’s never in the same place: he’s like a bird: he can’t stay quietly on one tree, he needs the whole sky.”

“Will I, too, be like a bird some day?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, you just told me that Uncle Bo is like a bird.”

“Do you want to become like him?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“Well, you have plenty of time to make your mind up, anyhow. Meanwhile, take this sheaf.”

And he would go on reaping. Even though his body was soaking wet, he always returned to his work with great vigour, as if he was only just beginning. But all the same, the heat was a burden; the air would seem to weigh down upon us; and weariness would gradually begin to creep over us: draughts of cold water were no longer any good, and so we would begin to fight our weariness with singing.

“Sing with us,” my uncle would say.

What to Do 1. Read the passage again along with your study partners and note how easily captivating it is. Yes, look how engaging it is for the reader.

Look at the building up of character, feeling, conflict, and environment.

2. Should you admire its dialogue, plan the following actions to challenge yourself: i) Show active interest in writing good dialogue by further reading good stories to do away with empty dialogue. ii) Practise use of good punctuation for dialogue. iii) Coin dialogue especially and importantly for helping to build character, setting, feeling, and conflict in your story.

3. Check a few of your recent productions to find good features. Determine to improve on them anyway.

4. Write an engaging short story that contains dialogue. Combine factual and fictional sources to make things work for you and your reader.

THE SHORT STORY Revision Notes: Analysing plot features Plot: This is the sequence of related events in a story. a) Exposition /Conflict: This consists of basic information about the struggle between opposing characters/ forces, and the situation/ setting told at the beginning of the story. The main character is the one in crisis. b) Rising Action: Events that increase the tension. They form a series of relevant incidents that create suspense, interest, and tension. Decisions, characters’ flaws and background circumstances together create twists and turns to a climax. c) Climax: The high point near the end of the story which is usually the point at which the eventual outcome will be revealed. It is the time at which the value of the story is tested to a

great extent. It contains the greatest amount of drama, action, and movement. d) Falling Action: Here the main problem is resolved. Falling action wraps up the narrative, resolves its loose ends, and leads to the closure. e) Resolution: The final outcome or closure which mentally fills gaps for the readers to feel satisfied.

GRAMMAR The Overloaded Sentence Some students are in the habit of writing without checking on sentence length and meaning. A sentence is not like a train. It must not be dragging very many words along. It must not leave its reader breathless and mixed up. A sentence must have one primary thought to which all its parts are related.

How to deal with an overloaded sentence: i) Structure it into a compound, complex, or compound-complex sentence. ii) Let there be unity or “wholeness” in whatever the sentence structure may be. iii) Sometimes lengthy sentences cannot be avoided in certain genres in writing.

With practice, a sentence of not more than 25 words can be made acceptable and effective.

Read the following overloaded sentences through and rewrite each as a number of well-structured sentences.

1. The young woman knew that she was in love with the foreigner, so much in love that she could think of no other person or anything else and she resolved to visit the museum where he worked even though it would cost her a great deal and her roommate had frequently warned her against such ventures which had been one of her chief weaknesses during her teacher training years.

2. Social Studies is a very difficult subject for some young students who change country of residence, at least it is for my little sister, Joy, and she had hoped she would not have to take it, but the handsome young lecturer to whom she went for counselling told her that she would need it if she wanted to take a degree, and of course she does want a degree because her guardians have their hearts set on her getting one.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― June 21, 2020

Ingredients ֎ 1 tbsp dry yeast ֎ ¼ cup warm water ֎ ¼ cup sugar ֎ 1 cup milk ֎ ¼ cup shortening ֎ 1 tsp salt ֎ 3 cups flour ֎ 1 egg, beaten ֎ 1 tbsp butter ֎ 1 egg white FILLING ֎ 1 cup shredded coconut ֎ ½ cup sugar ֎ ½ tsp cinnamon ֎ ½ tsp vanilla essence ֎ Red food coloring

Instructions

» Dissolve the yeast in warm water. » Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of sugar. » Mix and let stand.Warm the milk, set aside.

» Combine the shortening, salt and sugar and flour.

» Add milk, egg and yeast to dry ingredients.

» Knead to make a moderately stiff dough. » Shape into a ball. » Place the dough in a greased bowl,

cover; let rise to double in size for about 1 hour. » Combine all the filling ingredients and set aside. » Punch down the dough and divide in half. » Roll each half into an 12 inch x 8 inch rectangle, and brush with melted butter. » Sprinkle half of the filling mixture on each rectangle of dough. » Roll up lengthwise and seal the edges. » Cover and let rise until double in bulk. » Mix 1 egg white with water and brush the dough. » Bake at 325 for 25 mins until golden brown. » Allow to cool before cutting.

jehancancook.com

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