See inside: Seeing not by vision but by determination ► Page
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A TRIP TO MORUCA ► Page
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Quinton Pearson receives the Award of Excellence Fashion Innovation from the First Lady of Guyana, H.E. Sandra Granger at the 2018 Caribbean Style and Culture Awards and Fashion Showcase in Maryland, USA (Photo by Brandon Norwood)
Style Evolution Guyanese designers awarded for contribution to Caribbean fashion industry ► Page III
‘The time to get out is now’ II
Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
Domestic violence survivor tells her fellow women By Vanessa Braithwaite
that gave her the tolerance to bear the pain.
WEEKS after her ordeal, Onika Kingston can still feel the heat of the boiling pot of rice being thrown over her body by someone who was supposed to love her, protect her and cherish her. Every time she stares at the healing burn wounds about her body, anger, fear and distress trickle down her spine; all mixed together to trigger her tears to flow. But even with all this pain, Onika is still filled with hope which reminds her that she is still alive. “I thank God to be alive,” she said. Those words, many Guyanese women, more than 10 for 2018 alone, were not fortunate enough to say such, because death snatched them away through the hands of an abusive partner. Onika is scarred mentally, emotionally and physically, but she is alive and is using the opportunity of the gift of life to tell her fellow women to get out now! For Onika, it’s no longer about empathising but about strengthening and creating the needed change to break the cycle of domestic violence.
STILL SENDING THREATS Woolford was charged with attempted murder and damage to property and was remanded to prison. Even as Onika was on her hospital bed, he kept calling her daughter’s phone which she had at the time, since her phone was destroyed. Onika was forced to take out a restraining order against Woolford since he kept tormenting her, even calling her landlord. “When I hear his voice I just getting flashes about what happen,” she said. Her worse fear, however, was when he was released on bail at his second court appearance. “I was very scared, like a frighten to sleep in the night. Every minute I peeping to see if the door lock, jumping out my sleep, it is not easy,” she said. Despite all the turmoil she continues to face, Onika is remaining positive that she can now use the opportunity to let other women know that they should not take threats for granted and should not encourage a controlling partner, because that is the first step to violence. “I thank God that I am alive and to come home to my children and to let others know what I went through,” she said. She is also calling on magistrates to desist from granting bail to men who attempts to murder their partners since it places the victims at higher risk of losing their lives altogether.
AS HER STORY GOES Trying to hold back the tears, the visibly distraught Onika sat only mere feet away from the very spot she was mercilessly scalded by her partner Leslie Woolford. “I know this person in 2016. I was in the interior for the August holiday. I went on a six-week work and we exchanged phone numbers. The friendship started to develop and when I came out back, I started doing his business. He would send out money and I would have to give his children and so. He said he wanted to come and spend Christmas, so he came and two weeks he spend,” Onika reminisced on how the relationship started. On his first visit to the home, she said that the first sign of violence that became evident was control. “He started to have an issue with my kids and saying that the kids making a lot of noise but the two weeks fly out and I ignore it,” she said. OTHER SIGNS In 2018, Woolford told Onika that he wanted to come again and stay at her rented apartment in Silvertown, Wismar, Linden, where she and her five children reside. He told her that he was not feeling well since he suffers from acute diabetes and needed to come out of the interior to seek medical attention. “The same day he came out I had to take him to the emergency because he was not feeling well. His sugar was very high plus his pressure, whole night we were there plus the next day. When he came home we were going back steady at the hospital and he kept saying he in feeling good, he in feeling good.” The Linden Town Week was approaching in April and Onika’s cousins from Berbice were coming to visit. Onika revealed that Woolford then again became controlling by keeping her away from her family. “Then again he said he has a problem with the children, they keeping noise and I told him he can’t come and make me and my children uncomfortable because is we living all the time. Then he told me that my cousins can’t come and stay here and I told him no I cannot ‘don’t’ them. He told me he gon mek me run and go at the station, and that is how I know you don’t take certain
Onika Kingston, domestic violence survivor
things for granted because he wanted to control me,” Onika shared. Despite not knowing that Woolford would have committed the act, she still had a fear in her and took her three daughters and slept at a friend the night. The next day she came home and the arguing continued and Woolford broke up her phone, then asked her eldest son who was home at the time to run an errand. “By the time I walk and come by the blind I see he coming with the boiling rice and I push the door and mek sure I push in me face because I know is my face he coming foh burn and he throw it all over,” Onika reflected, showing the visible burns still about her body. She spent weeks in hospital and even though many times she felt like she was pulling her last breath, she grappled on at the thought of her five children and
Onika Kingston while in hospital
Style Evolution Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
By Jasmaine Payne
FOR local designer, Quinton Pearson, apart from making his line House of Pearson a household name, one of his biggest dreams was meeting the First Lady of Guyana, H.E. Sandra Granger. On June 30, after showing his newest line ‘House of Pearson Season Four’ before a large audience in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, at the 2018 Caribbean Style and Culture Awards and Fashion Showcase, Quinton’s dream came true when he was presented with the Award of Excellence- Fashion Innovation by the First Lady herself. Quinton was one of two local designers to be given that honour that night and, together, they joined a long list of Guyanese designers and models, who have been recognised for their contribution to the Caribbean fashion industry via the Caribbean Style and Culture Awards. The First Lady, who made a special trip from Guyana just to attend the event, during her short remarks stated that it is very important to recognise the work that Guyanese and other Caribbean designers are doing to place the Caribbean on the map. She added that it was an honour to be at the event and that she, too, pledges her support to local designers- a fact that was proven in her own attire, having been adorned in a Pat Coates creation that evening. In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Quinton said that he was excited when he got the call that he was nominated to receive an award. “Immediately it inspired me to not only push harder and improve on my brand but also to step out of my comfort zone and aim higher for the future of House of Pearson and my team of hard working mates,” he said. He added that he sees such a platform as a brilliant initiative that encourages designers to keep going despite the challenges they may face in the seemingly slow industry. “Personally this experience has thought me a lot about myself and where my brand is at on a scale of one to 10 and that's a statistic that every designer should be aware of, in order to make effective changes and improvements if the main objective is to expand. To all Caribbean Designers, I would definitely say that this is a wonderful platform to express yourself in the best way possible, learn from talented peers and professionals about how you can create a niche business in our fast evolving world of business and art,” he said. Quinton’s Season Four collection combined signature designs from previous collections which were developed and modified along with new designs and trends to create a fresh new look for the Summer, but more than that, the designer
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Guyanese designers awarded for contribution to Caribbean fashion industry stated that the collection signifies his determination and hard work. “As a young entrepreneur in Guyana, I have developed an attitude to respect my time and creative mind. Being a better me than I was the day before is my aim and focus in life. What truly matters is how we love and appreciate ourselves,” he said. “This platform was perfect for my 2018 collection. Because of the diverse audience, I had the opportunity to share my creativeness and passions with. This platform helped me to connect with so many different people from many corners of the earth. I was able to really capture the atten-
“The collection is a resort wear collection. We were able to fuse tropical leaves as well as national landmarks in Guyana and a pop of bright colours into this collection. We wanted to promote our country’s heritage and I think this platform was the best to showcase where it would be seen internationally,” Nadia told the Pepperpot Magazine. Nadia, who is based in the British Virgin Islands, said that she felt honoured to receive the award and that the initiative to award Caribbean designers, models and other fashion artists is “truly amazing”. “The Caribbean has many many talents
Nadia Thomas Winter of Duo Collection on the runway with local model Natasha Harper in one of Duo Collection’s designs (Photos by Brandon Norwood)
tion of everyone present because of the message my collection carried and it was well received.” In the coming months, Quinton will extend his collection which will be made available for sale to the public, but more than that, the young designer announced that he aims on launching House of Pearson’s first menswear collection in September of this year. DUO COLLECTION Nadia Thomas Winter and Natalya Thomas of Duo Collection were also awarded the Award of Excellence-Fashion Innovation. Nadia was present at the event to receive their award and to also showcase their new collection called ‘Fusion’.
class and a high standard which will be able to compete internationally. And seek ways to get products to clients throughout the region,” she said. This is the ninth year that the Caribbean Style and Culture and Fashion Showcase Nadia receiving her award from the First Lady, H.E. is being held. The event is Sandra Granger held in honour of Caribbean American Heritage Month and seeks to honour the work of and this will definitely boost this designers and models from across industry. I would definitely encourthe Caribbean. Past recipients age designers to apply … this show of awards from Guyana include is of class and it has been proven Patricia Coates, Michelle Cole, throughout the years. Designers are Carol Frasier, Keisha Edwards, also able to showcase internationally bringing attention to the region,” Sidney Francois, Andrew Harris, Olympia Small-Sonaram, Frank she said. Going forward, Duo Collec- James, Roger Gary, Natasha tion is hoping to grow their line Harper, Niketa Barker and many through increased sales and mar- others. This year’s event saw a showketing throughout the region and case of designers from Haiti, internationally, but she stated that Guadeloupe, Jamaica, St Vincent some challenges still remain, such as & the Grenadines, Trinidad & a lack of support for local designers Tobago and St Lucia. Awardees as well as lack of shipping options included models and Makeup Artto other countries. “My intention of ists from the Caribbean as well. overcoming these challenges is to As the Caribbean Style & bring back pride to our heritage by Culture Awards & Fashion showcasing my designs with pride, Showcase heads into its tenth
One of House of Pearson’s designs from his Season Four Collection
year, the event will seek to expand its reach to include work from Caribbean photographers as well. Submissions for the 2019 show will begin in August of this year. Persons interested in becoming part of the journey can follow www.facebook.com/caribbeanstyleandcultureawards/ for more information.
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Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
Transforming Guyana through the Eyes of the Lens By Lisa Hamilton IN November 2018, Guyana will host its first ever Photo and Film Expo, a grand event birthed in the mind of 27-year-old Jason October, 27-year-old Jason October (left) and a young man who wasn’t international always sure of what life had partners for Guyana Photo in store for him. However, in an interview and Film Expo Matt Raven with the Pepperpot Magazine, (right top) and Jason mapped out the events Gregory Pai which led up to his desire to transform the photography and film industry, not only locally but throughout the Caribbean. As a child, Jason was picked on in both Primary and Secondary School for not being as academically inclined as his fellow classmates. But, deep down inside, despite what others said about him, Jason knew that he was destined for something special and never gave up on his education. His determination paid off in Grade 10 when, for the first time, he was able to figure out a mathematical sum on his own and his academic life took a turn for the better. From that moment, his grades increased and continued to increase when he later began studying as a Certified Accounting Technician (CAT) in later years. I wasn’t planning properly. I got really The youngster soon began working at discouraged and I felt really bad. I didn’t Qualfon and then became the Manager of want to take any risks anymore.” Red Cherry where, through his interactions with customers, he came to realise his love NEW OPPORTUNITY for marketing. With the little motivation he had left in him, Jason returned from Port Kaituma to FAILED VENTURES Georgetown where he eventually became At the age of 18 he opened his own the Manager at BuddyMax Gym and helped clothing boutique which lasted only six to significantly raise profits at the estabmonths and later at the age of 21, he opened lishment. his own mini-supermarket in Port Kaituma But in his alone time, Jason realised that which was short-lived as well. his short-lived ventures and the businesses Although he had a knack for business, he poured his efforts into were done for the when faced with these disappointments, wrong reasons and he was still, at the end Jason could not understand why his plans of it all, left unhappy. were not successful in the long run. “I sat down and I said, ‘you know what? Looking back and assessing the situa- I’m fed up. Since the age of 12 I’ve always tion, he said: “When [the boutique] closed been searching for my purpose. What is I felt like a failure. I started that boutique my purpose?’ So I said let me sit down with no money. I believed I just needed to and think and ask God what was I created start first and any other thing will come… to do. And within that period I knew that I It eventually closed because there was no had some skills in terms of photography…I business plan. I only did it because I wanted love videoing and I said, ‘I think this it is money or I just wanted to get into business.” it’. And it wasn’t for the money. The other Later, speaking about the mini-super- businesses were all about the money but this market, he said: “When that closed all my was where I wanted to do something that I finances were depleted. All my money, all loved doing, my passion,” he said. my hard work just went down the drain. I With no money but a new vision, Jason felt like I didn’t want to get back into busi- shared his business idea with his friend, ness. I felt like something was wrong where
filmmakers can come together and learn from one another… where you can go and network and gain clients.”
Phillip Persaud, and the two took a loan and bought their first set of studio equipment and gear which eventually gave way to their current business, PhotoEffx. STEADY GROWTH Throughout this period, Jason took the time to build his skills and, today, the company produces high-quality short films, documentaries, commercials, photography and graphic designs for well-known brands such as Luxe Beauty Bar, BranderZ Guyana and GTT. The group landed its first major job of creating a documentary for the international non-profit humanitarian organisation Health and Education Relief Organisation (HERO) of some 40 volunteer medical practitioners. Then, in 2017 Jason and his team began planning something even bigger and far-reaching after they realised that in Guyana there aren’t many avenues for photographers and filmmakers, both amateurs and enthusiasts, to showcase and develop their skills. “We don’t have a platform where photographers and filmmakers can [express themselves]. There are mini exhibitions around the place and film festivals but there is no huge expo where photographers and
A PLACE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILM As such, for two years now plans have been in the making and the Government has since indicated its excitement for the expo just months away from becoming a reality. The proposed date is November 23-25 and it is being organised by Cineffx which is a 12-team organisation governed by Photoeffx. The three-day event will feature 50 display booths and breakout workshops on topics such as directing, storytelling, lighting, photo composition and commercial, fashion, landscape and portrait photography to name a few. Many of these presentations will be conducted by international partners such as Gregory Pai, professional photographer, author, humanitarian from New York and Matt Raven, South African organiser of the international Photo and Film Expo. The event will also cater for model makeup artists, cosplay artist and a host of others in the creative industry. In addition, the expo is aimed at stimulating discussion on policies which support the interest of local artists such as intellectual property rights, patents and the implementation of photography and filmmaking within the school curriculum. October hopes that the influence of these notable figures, such as Pai and Raven, will help to attract big brands and companies to the country for possible branches which will, in turn, see local photographers and filmmakers becoming brand ambassadors. As such, the expo’s organisers are encouraging more from the private sector to get on board even as several local photographers and companies have already expressed their interest in being a part of the expo. “It is unique, it is different from any other expo that has been hosted in Guyana and it’s never been held in any other Caribbean country and Guyana will be the very first to do that. And we’ll be using that opportunity to brand Guyana as a destination for photography and film.” Interested photographers, filmmakers and members of the private sector are asked to contact the event’s organisers for additional information at cineffxfilms.inc@gmail.com or 690-0951.
Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
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Seeing not by vision but by determination – Visually impaired students beat odds at NGSA By Vanessa Braithwaite
lessons. Onika related that her print had to be larger than the regular children’s but she had a lot of support from her teachers and her mother is grateful for this. Her mother is also very jittery at the fact that Akela will be experiencing a whole new domain and will be far away from home, since she lives within walking distance of her primary school but nevertheless is looking forward for her continued success at high school.
AMIDST frequent hospital visits, rejection, bullying and depression, visually impaired Linden students were able to beat those odds just to see a secondary school awarded on their National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) results slip. Despite being differently-abled, failure could
PROUD TEACHER The teacher attached to the Wismar Hill Research Institute for the Blind, Shellon Swaving, who dealt with both children on a weekly basis, is also proud of what they would have achieved. She said, “I feel re-
Montel Antigua
Akela Nelson
never have been an option, for the determination to just say, ‘I have passed’ was stronger than any negative or unfortunate situation they would have faced. This is the case for 11-year-old Montel Antigua of One Mile Primary School who gained a place at the Wisburg Secondary School in Linden. His mother Althea Antigua is extremely proud of what her son, who lost an eye during a tragic accident two years ago, achieved. Her unexpected happiness had brought tears of joy, even as she reminisced on the day when Montel, lost his eye. It’s an unfortunate ending to a boy simply being a boy. “He was nine years old and he was playing in the yard. He had a nail pulling to a wood and just like that the nail pitch straight into his one eye and that is how he lost it,” she related. For his performance, Antigua said, “It was a great surprise to me, I didn’t expect to see so much marks, it was really shocking to me,” she said. Apart from the fact that the eye keeps being infected, Montel endures severe bullying in school and despite this, he goes every day just to put forth that effort in making his mother proud at the NGSA examination. He had to work extra hard to be successful, all on the strain of one eye. “He would leave to go to school at eight in the morning and would normally come back until night,” his mother remembered. In the examination, though, Montel had
a reader and a scribe for him which made things a bit easier. Montel said he too is shocked at his results and while he worked hard to just pass, he didn’t expect to score as many marks as he did. He recalled the tedious preparation process and would like to thank his teachers, especially Rawl Ford and Shellon Swaving for assisting him through this tough journey of his life. MORE AFRAID THAN EXCITED While Montel would have passed his examination, he and his mother are more afraid and nervous about this new chapter of his life because of the overwhelming bullying the little fellow had to endure at school. More worrying is that most of the bullies have passed to go to the same school as Montel, a reality she was hoping not to occur. “They would tell him about his one eye self and so and that would get him into a state of depression, so right now I am contemplating sending him to a private school over here on the Wismar shore but I can’t really afford it,” Antigua said, she is currently unemployed and it would have been her desire to see Montel attend a school where he would be able to get the individual attention, to experience a new environment with new children. Little Akela Nelson of the Watooka Day Primary is also visually impaired and copped herself a place at the Linden Foundation Secondary School. When it is dark, Akeela does not see at all and she too would have had to push in an extra effort to achieve her success. Like Montel, she was given physical assistance at the sitting of her examination. Her mother Onika Nelson is also very proud of her daughter’s performance because, despite her disability, she weathered the storm and achieved greatness. Akela went through the same rigorous preparation process as her peers; long days, a lot of homework and studying and extra
ally good about it. It’s challenging to have a disability and be able to overpower it and focus on your education. You know everyday persons would remind them about their disability and say they are not able to do it, but they were able to put that aside and still have good grades,” Swaving said. Special needs teachers attached to the Research Institute are mandated to visit the various primary schools weekly to lend support to the visually impaired children. Swaving said that it was a collaborative effort among all the teachers including their class teachers that made this possible. Swaving commits to continue supporting the children during their high school journey as well.
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Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
National Library in the fight to ensure literacy
– says that teaching literacy is more than teaching simple reading skills By M Margaret Burke LITERACY is more often defined as the ability to read and write. However, while
one’s ability to read may be a major demonstration of a literate child or adult, it can never be considered as the only factor. Reading without the aptitude to
A winning secondary school, with Ms. Merle James in front row at extreme left
School children posing on the stairs of the Georgetown National Library, showing off their trophies and other prizes received for work well done
comprehend and interpret what is read can be meaningless. Literacy, therefore, encompasses much more than reading; it is a bigger concept which involves listening, writing, viewing and reading, creating visual and digital images, speaking and interpreting; taking language to different levels and for different purposes. NATIONAL LIBRARY The Guyana National Library has for a number of years been holding workshops as part of the Easter, July/August and Christmas extension activities. Additionally, throughout the year the library holds two other sets of classes: a Special Reading class, as well as the Reading Circle class. In the Special Reading classes emphasis is placed on phonics and remedial work with children between the ages of six and 10 years old. Classes are held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 15:45hrs to 17:00hrs. Head of the Juvenile Branch of the library, Merle James told the Pepperpot Mag-
azine that the intention of the programme is to help children to be able to read, comprehend and interpret well. She said that the objective of the programme is to provide varying pathways for the children to acquire and integrate learning, gaining the level of competencies needed for forwarding academic and social development. Generally, she said, the programme focuses on the very basic literacy skills such as reading, writing, speaking and listening, along with providing teachings in grammar and vocabulary; all with the intention of helping to prepare children to better manage their classroom work within the school environment. The Reading Circle classes are also held twice every week at the library on Tuesdays and Thursdays. These classes are also held between the hours of 15:45hrs to 17:00hrs. The volunteer teachers for these classes are drawn from the University of Guyana and some of the secondary schools in the country. Turn to page VII ►►►
Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page VI
James explained that within these sessions children are groomed to enjoy reading while promoting literacy. “The love of reading; being able to decode and encode words, at the same time making reading fun is what we aim to achieve,” she pointed out. EXTENSION ACTIVITIES The library’s extension activities, as they are called, are done mainly during
Primary school children being awarded at the National Library, Georgetown
Ms. Merle James, Head Librarian, Juvenile Section
school holidays that children enjoy, which is Easter, July/August and Christmas vacation time. These are done in the form of workshops, lasting for a duration of two weeks for each activity. Children between the ages of six and 12 years old are encouraged to register, but many others who turn up – younger than six and older than 12 years old are usually not turned away, except for when the classes are becoming overcrowded. The subjects being offered for these workshops are Mathematics, Spanish, Science, Languages and craft. There are also creative writing workshops, with poetry and drama being added. Teachers and assistant teachers volunteer to assist in making these workshops successful. In order to stir and maintain interest in what is being taught teachers are sometimes forced to divide up the classes into smaller, more effective groups, while being prepared to set and execute work for all of them, with the help of the assistant teachers. The Georgetown National Library has, therefore, become an invaluable resource for children’s learning activities, as well as fun. Many of the children spend the entire day within the environmentally friendly atmosphere of the library surroundings even after their specific class activities are over for the day. SUCCESS STORIES Every year, the Chief Librarian, Emily King, Head of the Juvenile Section, James and many of the staff within the library sit together to plan effective programmes that they know will benefit many school children within the society. These children come from all walks of life and also from various parts of the country – in some cases travelling some distances.
Chief Librarian, Ms. Emily King
Over the years some of the children have outgrown the programme, graduated from secondary schools and in a few cases, even university. Others are pursuing higher learning, yet some of them still keep in touch with the library, in some cases as assistant teachers. Children interviewed from time to time have always expressed eagerness to be part of what the library has to offer. Many of them see their opportunity to get on the various workshops as an extension of their holidays, being in a place where they feel safe, comfortable and where they are rewarded once their performance is of a high standard. EVALUATION AND PRIZE-GIVING At the end of the various sessions, the children are tested, marked and judged accordingly. These include sessions in craft and creative writing as well. The evaluation aspect of the programme is not designed to be trepidation, but though it involves serious analysis, it is mostly funfilled. The usually skilled teachers strive for well-planned out content and activities that take in every child, regardless of age. The evaluation for every subject – Science, Language, Mathematics, Craft, Creative Writing and Spanish are carefully done, taking every aspect of learning into consideration. At the end of all the activitie s, children still leave the workshops with their own with confidence and creative flair. Many of them are given prizes based on their performance and within the workshop setting for which they were involved. In addition, for the craft workshops,
VII children are given the opportunity to display their ‘pieces’ prominently for parents, officials who are invited to the closing and parents to have a good view. Furthermore, for the creative writing workshop children, the best pieces of work are selected, which children are able to read to the audience and then awarded with a prize. Without a shadow of a doubt, the Georgetown National library and by extension libraries across the nation have been doing a tremendous job to help many children, not only with the academic and creative aspects but also as a reservoir of peace and fulfilment in psychological development as well. These are the things that will make a difference in their lives, possibly forever. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)
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Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
Guyanese shines at Miss Senior DC Pageant
By Francis Quamina Farrier
ELDERLY and elegant, and with every intention to win, 77-year-old Joycelyn Thompson of Guyana, made all the Guyanese in the audience immensely proud of their roots at the recently held Miss Senior D.C. Pageant. She was contestant number three in a line-up of eight, in the pageant which was recently held at the University of the District of Columbia Theatre of the Arts, in Washington, D.C. The theatre building is almost the size of Guyana’s own National Cultural Centre and is manned by a highly professional body of staff. The
show was reminiscent of Guyana’s own popular Miss Renaissance Pageant staged by Ms Negla Brandis over the years. It is events such as this Miss Senior D.C. Pageant in which Guyanese take centre stage in a foreign land and, in this case, literally take the Golden Arrowhead high, that proves that every Guyanese living abroad, is in some way, an ambassador for the ‘Motherland’. Joycelyn Thompson was born in Guyana in 1941 and migrated to the United States in 1962 where she enrolled at the Cortez Peters Business College, and later attended Howard University; an institution of Higher Learning principally for African-Americans and other
people of colour from many countries around the world. Guyana’s own Dr Cheddi Jagan was one of the many Guyanese who studied there. During her earlier years in the USA, Joycelyn Thompson did studies at the Howard University, the George Washington University and the George Meany Centre for Labour Rights and Women in Leadership. Her post-studies working life commenced with the position as a Research Associate and later as the Assistant Civil Rights Director. That and many other senior positions over the years, gave her the opportunity to make sterling contributions to the ongoing development of her Joycelyn Thompson after the adopted country. Over the show ended (Photo by years she travelled widely to Francis Q. Farrier) countries such as France, Israel, Kenya and Sweden where which serve the elderly. With that wide and she also did advanced studies. very active background, Joycelyn Thompson Being a people’s person, Joycelyn formed was a fit and proper competitor for the Miss a dance group in 1986 called “The Golden Senior D.C. Pageant 2018. She was the only Agers” and later an intergenerational pro- one of the eight competitors who was not gramme where seniors and youngsters shared born in the United States. experiences. Her community work also Introducing herself to the packed auincluded involvement with the YMCA as ditorium at the UDC Theatre of the Arts, well as the Caribbean American Intercultural Organisation and a few other organisations Turn to page X ►►►
Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
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‘Extending the Myth’ Stanley Greaves hosts exhibition at Castellani House By M Margaret Burke
in Guyana with Edward Burrowes in the Working Peoples’ Art Class from 1946 to 1961; he also studied at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the United Kingdom from 1963 to 1968; was a Fulbright Scholar at the Howard University from 1979 to 1980. His studies included painting and majoring in sculpture. He also earned a Diploma in Art teaching. During the times of his various commitments to studies, Greaves was always conscious of his home (Guyana) and made every effort to return to share his knowledge by teaching at several schools in the country. These included the Sacred Heart Primary, St. Stanislaus College, Berbice High School and Queen’s College. He was also Head of the Creative Arts Division of the University of Guyana from 1975 – 1986. Greaves, now 84, left Guyana in 1987 to reside in Barbados, where he served as one of the first art and craft panelists for the Caribbean Examinations Council, designing the CXC syllabus. He also worked at the Barbados
ARTIST, writer, poet, musician and classical guitarist, who prefers to be known as, “A maker of things” is one of the Caribbean’s best, Stanley Greaves, A.A., and has once again brought a well-regarded set of exhibits: El Dorado Series – Sculpture ‘Extending the myth’ to Castellani House in Georgetown. The exhibition, which was sponsored by Demerara Distilleries Limited (DDL), opened in style on June 23. Greaves told the Pepperpot Magazine that coming home to Guyana is always a pleasure. His exhibition featured14 pieces of his work and he told the gathering that domestic [work] relationships could be seen in certain pieces, some of which, according to him, depicted the home or the house while others, were, in a way, biographical. The exhibition was shown by way of video, with each piece slowly revolving so that those in attendance were able to have a full view of them. Greaves explained that because of the very high cost that would have been incurred to bring the exhibits to Guyana, he had to decide on making it a photographic exhibition instead. In so doing, he told the Pepperpot Magazine that he approached the Chairman of the Demerara
Pet Bird
Roraima Steps 2015
Guyanese Artist, Stanley Greaves, A.A.
objects, perhaps the closest I have come to bringing El Dorado into play is the Roraima Steps… you have a whole foot or legs climbing up the steps of Roraima and of course El Dorado.” ABOUT THE ARTIST Greaves was born in Georgetown, Guyana, in 1934 to working-class parents and he is not abashed about this. His father, John was a waterfront worker and his mother Priscilla stayed at home and kept house. A man of unassuming personality, he first studied art Bread 2012
Distillers Limited (DDL), Komal Samaroo, to have him sponsor the photographs for the exhibition and he willingly agreed. According to Greaves, all the exhibits come under one single theme – the El Dorado series. He explained that usually a piece of sculpture would have one idea about it and that idea does not necessarily relate to the other; in this case, all the pieces come together because they have some sort of relationship with the El Dorado. “We have the Soup Bowl; we have the Pet Bird; we have the River Boat and so many things come together because they are all under one theme – El Dorado... seeing that I am using gold and copper and brass, I thought that perhaps I should keep the idea of El Dorado behind me and not take any kind of material from the actual kiln,” Greaves said. “With El Dorado present in the gold and the brass and some of the other
Community College as a tutor. In 2003 he was elected as a Distinguished Honourable Fellow at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus. Eventually leaving Barbados to reside in Carolina, USA, Greaves continues to come to Guyana to display his works and also to meet with his friends and family. He has special friends here and makes the effort to maintain a close relationship to the people he holds dear to him, as well as in his country, while always wanting to show what he is up to in the ‘making of things’ to them. Just a few years ago he celebrated his 80th birthday here in Guyana, among his close friends and associates in a grand way. ONE-MAN SHOWS For a man who has had one-man shows, Greaves has won numerous prizes in painting, sculpture, drawings, the printed work and even pottery. He was awarded the Guyana national honour of the Golden Arrow of Achievement in 1975. He has had several exhibitions at Castellani House in Guyana. Additionally, he has exhibited his work nationally and internationally, winning several prizes along the way. Some of these exhibitions were held within the Caribbean, including Jamaica and Barbados, Colombia, Santo Domingo, the Fayetteville Museum of Art, Moruca Gallery Washington, the University of Fayetteville and Claflin University in South Carolina and the OAS in Washington. Over the years his paintings have appeared on the cover of several books, mainly of poetry. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)
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◄◄◄ From page VIII
Joycelyn did herself and Guyana proud. She was an immediate crowd favourite and even though she was not crowned Miss Senior D.C. Elegant 2018, she did win some of the prizes. She was adjudged Third Runner-Up, the prize for selling most tickets and Ads, and of course, the Best Evening Gown prize. Speaking with some of the Guyanese who were in the audience, a group from Wakenaam Island in the Essequibo River said, how they were proud of Joycelyn for the way in which she presented herself on stage. “We girl really big-up we Guyana,” one said with a broad smile on her face. Joycelyn herself told me how pleased she was to have had the opportunity to represent Guyana indirectly, at such an event. In an invited comment, Guyanese-born, Maryland-based Gwenette Davis told me how much she enjoyed the show. “I am glad that older folks are brave and with tenacity. It
The line-up of contestants. Joycelyn Thompson is second from left. (Photo by Francis Q. Farrier)
gives motivation to others with their actions and statements,” she said. The former Bishops’ High School student who says that she is proud to be a senior herself, was extremely pleased with the way Joycelyn performed her dance routine with the Guyana flag in hand, displaying our rich Guyanese culture. She concluded that “Their philosophy of life as expressed by those senior contestants will be helpful for younger people who need role models.” Reflecting on the many varied talents which I encountered during the 15 years of producing my Radio Programme Series, The Eighty- Plus Club, and since becoming a senior myself, it is heartening to know that in our world community, there are events and opportunities for seniors to showcase the talents and abilities which they have possessed
for decades, since their youthful years. It is known that there are those in Guyana who discriminate against the elderly, and would prefer to have them locked away from the mainstream of society. We know of that calypso of gone-by years with lyrics which state, “Ole fowl, ole fowl, go ‘way from me.” We are also aware of a very powerful and influential individual who, some years ago, openly expressed his view that elders should “Go one side. They had their time.” Unfortunately, some elders do allow themselves to be bullied and subdued, but others like Joycelyn Thompson, with the help of those who respect seniors, continue to live their lives to the fullest, including wearing the most attractive attire, and having the most attractive personalities. There’s no holding them back.
Moruca
Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
A trip to
XI A glimpse of the travels along the Pomeroon River
An overhead shot of the Charity Stelling and marketplace
By Vishani Ragoobeer THERE are many places in Guyana that can easily vie for the title of the most magnificent places in the world, but tucked away in Region One (Barima-Waini), is a quiet but fun-filled subregion known as Moruca. The subregion, Moruca, is divided into 11 titled communities, including Hurradiah, Kumaka, Mora and Santa Rosa, just to name a few. Some of these communities are only accessible by water, which is exactly the mode of transportation I took to get to the region. The journey to Moruca began in Georgetown at the populous ‘bus park’. Here, there are two options: the first is to take a bus ride to Parika, on the East Bank of Essequibo, which involves crossing over the Demerara Harbour Bridge; the second is to take a short boat ride from the stelling behind the Stabroek Market to Vreeden-Hoop and then, take a bus from there to Parika. It’s really up to you, but personally, the boat ride offers more adventure. At Parika, the next leg of the journey is to get a boat to the Supenaam Stelling. This should be easy enough as the speedboat operators are always eager to fill up their boats and once you’ve secured a spot in the boat, it's a scenic trip to Supenaam. You’ll be surrounded by water and blotches of vegetation indicate the very many islands around. But even here, the trip has not really begun. In Supenaam, there are several more eager persons waiting to scoop you up, this time in their taxis, where they will transport you to Charity, the next and final port before Moruca. The car ride there goes along one, long, straight road cutting through the Essequibo Coast. Rice fields and coconut trees are not strange appearances here. As per norm by now, at Charity, boatmen will surround the taxi hoping to convince you to travel on their boat. They’re all travelling to Moruca, so it doesn’t matter which you take I guess, but ‘Peanut and Sons’ are quite popular and have a well-established service. And you might have to wait a bit at the Charity Stelling
for the speedboat to be filled, so spend the time walking around the market and enjoying your ability to stretch your legs. You’ll thank me later. SCENIC BOAT RIDE Soon enough, the boat should be ready and as long as you’ve stocked up on egg balls and pine tarts, you’re good to go. The boat travels up the Pomeroon River and you know how they say the Pomeroon is famous for its coconuts? That was a gross understatement. Looking to your right, there are thousands of trees in sight but during my journey up, it was raining so my windows were covered for some time. After moving up the Pomeroon, the boat makes a brief sojourn into the Atlantic Ocean where the ride gets very intense- with bumps and splashes just as soon as you’ve caught your breath from the former. And guess what? If you look way, way out- towards the direction of Trinidad- you still won’t be able to see anything but miles and miles (and miles) of water touching the horizon. Additionally, if your window is opened like mine was, you might not realise it but your shirt will for
sure be soaked before you turn into the much calmer Moruca River. Luckily, in this river, there isn’t much to worry about. Only trees casually falling across the river; floating vegetation and intruding mangroves all eager to impede the boat’s path. But no worries, it’s a short ride through here (as long as all goes well) and before long, you’ll see the famous ‘Moruca Bridge’ which signals your arrival in Kumaka, Moruca. Before leaving for Moruca, I decided that since it was at the top of Guyana (and being closer to the equator and all), it would be much warmer; you know because of science and stuff. So let’s imagine my surprise when I arrived there and I began freezing. Furthermore, I only packed clothes for warm weather. But I wouldn’t let that deter me. I had to enjoy my time there. Fortunately, the guesthouse- the Vincentia Guesthouse- that I was staying at for the few days was a five-minute walk from the landing. It was just a cosy place that felt like just like home and Uncle John, the proprietor, was the nicest man you’d ever meet. And, along the path to the guesthouse was a cook shop that sold any food you wanted for a really
affordable cost. MEETING THE PEOPLE There’s one straight road cutting through Kumaka and connecting few other communities like Mora and along the way, Morucans are the most polite people I’ve ever met, and it’s quite easy to strike up a conversation. For me, I was there during the Football World Cup group matches and it seems as though every Morucan has an unwavering support for the Brazilian team. Just off the landing where the boat would have dropped me off was a shop with a television that persons stopped by to catch a glimpse of the football before heading to work or school. Even if football isn’t your cup of tea, the excitement is infectious and, there is food and drinks all around here to ensure you have a great time just hanging out. Aside from that, there are hundreds of schoolchildren flocking this area to cross over the bridge to get to the Santa Rosa nursery or primary schools. Being a quiet area, one of the best things Turn to page XII ►►►
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Kumaka from up above
◄◄◄ From page XI
you can do for yourself is sit down by the river edge and place your feet in the water or relax in a hammock where it is guaranteed that you will fall asleep. Back at my guesthouse, Uncle John had enough fruit trees to keep me filled and I might have climbed his fence to get mangoes from his neighbour. It was all part of the fun. Before long, work aside, it was time to leave the quiet little place and head back into the busier city life- but not before a bit of an adventure.
The tree blocking the boat’s path along the Moruca River
THE JOURNEY BACK HOME Remember I spoke about the tree falling across the Moruca River? How fortunate was I to have that experience at six o’clock in the morning, soon after I departed Kumaka and as I was half awake and probably freezing. At least, I had Minister Valerie Patterson in my boat, so no worries, right? At some point, men from the village came with a chainsaw to cut the tree out but in the meantime using your life jacket as a neck pillow is one of the best things you can do for yourself while munching on bake and saltfish from Moruca. If you happen to fall asleep, I hope you sleep soundly, because at that Morucans gathered to watch the FIFA World Cup
time in the morning, there are hundreds of birds waiting to serenade you. And if you have a camera with enough focal length, why not stand on top of the boat to get the shot of the tree in the river? The boat ride out was just as eventful as the boat ride in, you know, looking for Trinidad and all. But this time the sun was in its full glory (and in my face) but this is why we travel in covered speedboats. But, how can you not want to open the windows and take photos of the Pomeroon in all its morning glory? Just ensure that you tell whoever is sitting behind you first, so that you don’t get scolded for waking them up or anything.
And every now and then, another speedboat would pass by and the captain tries to ease the impact by slowing down and cruising, but if you feel nauseated it might be good to keep some gravol tablets on hand and if you’re just a ball of excitement (like me) the rocking will be the best thing ever. Speaking of the best thing ever, there’s something majestic about the sun bouncing off the Pomeroon or peeking through the thousands of coconut trees lining the river. The green and yellow edges of the coconut branches were illuminated like no other and it was a seemingly unending trail of the slender trees until the scenery slowly but surely become punctuated by houses. But soon enough, the trip winds down to Charity. And while you might be content, like I was, you will most definitely be tired. All in all, however, the trip will be an unforgettable one as Moruca is simply an adventure waiting to be experienced.
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Howell Wilson Primary shines at NGSA 2018 By Vanessa Braithwaite THE Howell Wilson Primary located in the little community of Ituni, Region 10, has raked in an overwhelming performance at this year’s National Grade Six Assessment Examination (NGSA). For a school located in a far-flung district with limited resources, Grade Six teacher Yvonne Nazier, is very proud that out of the 16 children in this year’s batch, five secured places at Region’s 10 top high school, Mackenzie High. The school’s top child Tyler Dest scored 494 marks, a calculated percentage of 93.3. The other students are Glen Naipaul scoring 488, Asha Jameer scoring 481, Brenela Culpeper scoring 479 and Desmond Duke scoring 468. Reflecting on the many challenges the children faced while preparing for the examination as well as their unfortunate circumstances of practically being locked away from society, given the distance from Region 10’s capital town Linden, in addition to the lack of telecommunications as well as digital technology and internet access, Nazier said, “We did well, I feel very proud, they would have worked very hard.” Unlike the children residing in Linden or even Kwakwani, Nazier related that the Ituni students are not exposed
to current affairs due to the nonexistence of television stations or even newspapers in the community and so, effectively delivering the Social Studies syllabus can be extra difficult since the children are basically locked away in their own little domain. There is no Wi-Fi access and so with limited mobile data, research is very difficult. Teaching is therefore done using the old traditional methods in a technological era, where even the curriculum is revised to suit this era. “They are not really au fait or familiar with what is going on around them, we try to take them on educational tours but as you know tours are pretty expensive so it’s not very often,” she lamented. While many schools are equipped with computer laboratories and many communities in Region 10 have ICT hubs, Ituni students are tremendously disadvantaged in this regard and so Nazier, who is the lone Grade Six teacher at the school and who has been teaching for 30-odd years, had to work extra hard, for the results achieved at this year’s NGSA. “I would have
The 2018 graduation class of the Howell Wilson Primary and teacher Yvonne Nazier
Top student Tyler Dest of the Howell Wilson Primary School. He scored 494 marks
done a lot of reading and we did a lot of extra lessons and the parents were grateful for that to push in the work,” she said UNFORTUNATE SITUATION Four out of five students would be beneficiaries of the Hinterland Scholarship Programme, which funds children through their five-year stint at secondary school if they gain a score no less than 470, and these students are granted the opportunity to utilise the dormitory at Linden. The others however have to either utilise the dormitory at Kwakwani or their parents have to seek guardians and upkeep them to attend school in Linden since Ituni does not have a secondary school. Most of these parents find it very hard to upkeep their children in this way and while most of them do not have the ability to excel academically, Nazier believes that the best solution is to have a secondary school placed at Ituni. “Even if is up to Form Three because the parents spend a lot of money for them to stay at guardians and to upkeep them and to find transportation and so. Not all children have the ability to do well and it’s like a parent giving up a child at 12 years, so I believe the secondary school they had up here, should return,” she reasoned. Nazier however, remains proud of what her class would have accomplished despite the odds and congratulates all the children for putting their best foot forward, as well as the teachers who would have collaborated with her in achieving the school’s success.
Parents as an influence in a child’s education By Wendella Davidson THE role of parents in a child or children’s education is undoubtedly and overwhelmingly crucial and could never be overemphasised. Too often, but most unfortunately, many parents see the education of their children as a total responsibility of teachers and the education system. As such, they have, little to no role, in perhaps the most important aspect of a child’s life, although it is education that will prepare him/her to meet the challenges of life and to pursue a successful career. Just recently, the results of the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) 2018 were released and one can just imagine the anxiety and nervousness of, both the children who wrote the examination and the respective parents, as they awaited the announcement while wondering if their child’s name was among the coveted top 100. Let’s not forget the toll it took on those children from the months of preparation, consisting
of long school hours and possibly after school lessons as well, coupled with the excitement and nervousness in late March when some 14,000 students wrote the examination over two days. In the days of some grandparents and in some cases parents in olden days, many did not have any level of schooling, thus a great majority of them were illiterate, as not much emphasis or keen interest was paid in the schooling or education of the children then. Many stories are told of young boys dropping out of school at an early age because they had to work to help out financially at home, while the girls were married off very early. But, there were some households where even though the level of education of the parent/s was at a minimal and thus they could not have assisted their children with their school work, those parents nevertheless ensured that the children did their homework and studied at home. There are those of us who grew up in that era where we can recall parents urging their children on with the popular phrase “go and pick up yuh school books.”
Parents in that era also would regularly find out from teachers how their children were doing at school, hence there was minimal truancy or as the old saying goes, ’no time to skulk from school.’. There are teachers who can testify that there many parents now who have never visited the school(s) their children attend, except perhaps on the day of registration. And, even if there is an active Parent Teacher’s Association (PTA) at the school, some parents couldn’t care less, regardless of how many notices the children carry home. PTA meetings are important as it allows for an interaction between parents and teachers and it is at such a forum that the parents of a child can learn a lot about the child. But some parents are of the view that it is all about collecting money for some fund-raising activity. Parents undoubtedly have an equal or even greater role to play in the education of their child or children and should not leave the burden on the teachers. One can understand how difficult it can be for single-parent mothers, who in a
bid to provide for the home and feed and clothe the children, do not get to spend quality time with the children. Some mothers are security guards and are forced to leave the children at home alone at nights while they work. And, if it is a day job, the hours may not allow them to properly monitor the children. Many students, particularly in the city, can be seen idling at the roadsides and elsewhere before and long after school hours, and it was a welcome sight when the police had some time last year kept a steady presence at the popular liming corners and bus parks. The best gift a parent can give a child is a sound education, and an involved parent can do wonders in helping a child to succeed. Do not allow them to influence you into spending hardearned monies buying brand-name clothes and boots for them to attend school. Invest in their education, buy books, encourage them to join the library and view educational programmes on TV. Cartoons and other distractions on the television all have a time and place.
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Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
What you need to know about lemons Pt 4 This week NAREI in Focus continues to look at principal postharvest diseases that affect lemon crops BLACK MOULD BLACK mould, caused by the soil-borne fungus Aspergillus niger, infects lemons
only at fairly high temperatures and only after they have been weakened in some way. External symptoms begin as a soft
sunken water-soaked spot on the peel. The spot enlarges and black spores resembling soot appear in the centre. The decay is accompanied by a fermented odour. Internal symptoms of black mould include the development of masses of black powdery spores which become obvious mould when the fruit is cut open. Harvesting and handling wounds predispose lemon fruit to infection. The fungus may also invade the peel through cuts in the skin or a stem-end irju.y. Black mould develops rapidly at ambient temperature and spreads to adjacent fruits. In mixed infections, it tends to outgrow other fungi. Control of black mould is obtained by avoiding damage to the peel tissue and storing the fruit at l0”C to 12”C. Decay is insignificant at temperatures below 15oC. GRAY MOULD Gray mould, caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea, is a common postharvest disease of lemons during cool temperature storage under high humidity. Symptoms appear as a brown leathery decay of the peel, with grey-brown to olive spore masses forming around the affected areas of the fruit surface. The disease spreads readily by contact with adjacent fruit, giving rise to large nests of diseased fruit in packed containers. Optimal temperatures for growth of the fungus are between 18oC to 23”C (64”F to 73’F). However, some growth will also occur at the recommended cool storage temperature. Proper field sanitation, pre-harvest fungicide sprays, and prevention of wounds on the fruit help reduce the incidence of grey mould. BLACK ROT Black rot, caused by the fungus Alternaria citri, is a serious disease in lemons that have been stored for more than one month. The fungus typically enters the fruit through the button and stem-end decay occurs. Lesions developing from infections of the button become light brown to black in colour, and gradually progress over the fruit surface from the blackened button towards the stylar-end. As the button deteriorates during storage, the fungus grows from the surface into the fruit. The pathogen will seldom invade a green button, so it is important to prevent button desiccation. Entrance of the fungus into the fruit is also aided by mechanical injury or cracks in the peel. Fruit harvested over-mature are more susceptible to black rot. Advanced symptoms of black rot include a blackish-green fungal growth on the fruit surface. Internally, the tissue tums black in the centre of the fruit. The decay does not spread from infected to healthy fruit in packed containers. Control of black rot is obtained by pre-harvest fungicide sprays to lower the inoculum level,
careful harvesting to avoid wounding of the tissue, applying 2,4’D as a 500 ppm dip to delay button senescence, and storage of the fruit at 12”C. Black rot development in lemons can be reduced by a pre-harvest foliar spray of gibberellic acid. Black rot is also retarded by postharvest applications of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid at a dose of 500 ppm, which delays senescence of the button. Control of black rot is obtained by pre-harvest fungicide sprays to lower the inoculum level, careful harvesting to avoid wounding of the tissue, applying 2,4’D as a 500 ppm dip to delay button senescence, and storage of the fruit at 12”C. Black rot development in lemons can be reduced by a pre-harvest foliar spray of gibberellic acid. Black rot is also retarded by postharvest applications of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid at a dose of 500 ppm, which delays senescence of the button. Brown Rot Brown rot, caused by the fungus Phytophthora, is a common postharvest decay of lemons during high amounts of rainfall. Lemons hanging low on the tree are often infected by rainsplashed soil. Winds can then spread the actively growing fungus to fruit in the upper tree. The disease generally occurs during the later stages of fruit development. Symptoms of brown rot appear as a light brown discolouration of the peel (Figure 9). The affected area is firm and leathery. A white fungal growth develops on the peel during humid conditions. Infected fruit have a pungent, rancid odour, which distinguishes this disease from other rots. Control of brown rot is obtained by a combination of field sanitation, pre-harvest sprays of copper or fosetyl-Al (Aliette) fungicides, disinfection of the harvest containers, and wash water sanitation. Holding green lemons at 12”C and yellow lemons at 10oC will significantly retard the development of brown rot. Immersion of the fruit in a hot-water bath at 46oc to 48’c (115”F to120”F) for 2 to 4 minutes kills the fungus provided it is confined to external layers of the rind. Fungus that has penetrated well below the rind will survive the heat treatment. Turgid lemons may be injured by the heat treatment and should be allowed to wilt for 1 or 2 days before treatment.
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Reporting Complaints about Pollution and Other Environmental Violations THERE are many ways in which citizens of Guyana can play an active part in environmental protection. One such way is by helping the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fulfill its responsibilities by identifying and reporting environmental violations. As part of the agency’s function to take necessary steps to ensure conservation, protection and sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources, investigations are required to be carried out to address environmental complaints filed by public citizens. But how do you go about doing this, and what information are you required to give in this process? Read on to find the answers to these questions and more about the EPA’s complaint process. WHERE AND TO WHOM CAN A COMPLAINT BE REPORTED? If you are a witness to an act that you believe would have negative impacts on the environment, you may contact the EPA directly by simply making a phone call, sending us a letter or an e-mail or by messaging us on Facebook or Instagram. You may even visit us if you wish! Any of the agency’s Environmental Officers will be happy to assist
you since they are all trained to record any complaint reported that violates the Environmental Protection Act, Cap 20:05, Laws of Guyana. Additionally, you may also report a complaint to these officers while they are in the field. The EPA takes environmental pollution seriously and works assiduously to ensure complaints are addressed in a timely manner. WHAT INFORMATION WILL BE NEEDED? When you contact the EPA to report a complaint, the Environmental Officer receiving that complaint will need to complete a special form based on the information you give. This information includes your name and contact information, which is needed in order for us to update you on any action taken regarding the complaint; the name (if known) and address of the polluter; and the location and nature of the pollution. It must be noted that all information given by the complainant is confidential hence, it would not be disclosed to anyone, especially the defaulter! DOES THE EPA INVESTIGATE ALL ENVIRONMENTAL VIOLATIONS? While the agency is mandated to ensure the effective management of the natural environment and to take necessary steps to prevent and control pollution, there are other organi-
THE TOMB RAIDERS By Abdool A. Aziz
KNOWING that he would soon die of cancer, a man - who was a saw miller and sportsman- made two requests to his only heir: bury him in the churchyard and include all his trophies and medals. He believed like the ancient Egyptians in ‘Life after Death’. His son disagreed but he would honour his father’s sombre wishes. But he decided that the treasures will be fake. He knew of the tomb raiders. He would make sure that they would steal nothing. Even the casket had a secret mark. It would not sell. The funeral was huge. People from all ‘walks of life’ from the business community, the sports arena and officials from the government were in attendance. And among them were the ‘tomb raiders’. They looked so sanctimonious, dressed in black, reflecting their evil hearts. And they even cried the ‘crocodile tears’. Deep down, it was euphoria. For some mourners the placing of material values in the coffin was disheartening. But the criminals saw it as a bonanza. In a few hours they would strike ‘gold’ or so they thought. Past midnight, they entered the holy ground. No respect for the dead or God. They chiselled out the concrete door slab, pulled out the casket and grabbed the booty. They dumped the corpse in a nearby gutter. What a shame! A cemetery man saw the nefarious acts. He was scared of these hoodlums. The next day he informed the police. The son came, rescued his dad’s body from the drain and reburied him in their backyard. This time with the real trophies. No one can touch him but he left a curse on the robbers
and a deadly one at that. His skin began to peel. Sores appeared all over and no medicine could help. He began to smell, his wife deserted him, leaving the fake medals on the fridge top. Night and day, he rolled in pain, his body looked like Lazarus. He pined away and died. Neighbours were disturbed by a pungent odour from the shack and called the police. They broke into the stinking house, only to find a decaying body. He got a pauper’s burial. Where? No one knows. The second bandit had a mysterious nervous breakdown. He could not sit or lie. He had to keep walking all the time. He relied on drugs and he patrolled the streets like a madman. One day he walked straight into a speeding lorry. They had to spade him up. He too lies in an unmarked grave. His share of booty was never found. Nothing sold, not even the coffin. The son had the last laugh. Later on, two boys catching birds came face to face with a dead man hanging from a jamoon tree. They ran straight to the police outpost. Though his death, looked like a suicide, the post-mortem revealed fractured feet and bruises. It looked like murder. He was quickly dumped in a shallow grave. Guyanese on a whole love to give their loved ones a grand send-off and will spare no change on spending on the cost. But there are those who benefit, sadly, on the decorated dead. Most folks opt for cremation. I, for one, wish for my body to go to ashes. Will the tomb raider come for my ashes? Perhaps. People stop at nothing to make a buck even robbing the dead in God’s eyes. This time they got nothing but the deadly curse. Stop the desecration, and let the dead RIP.
sations that are responsible for investigating certain types of pollution and environmental issues. For instance, if you have witnessed the improper disposal of an animal carcass, or have an increased presence of mosquitos around your home, you should contact the local authority (NDC, RDC, Town Council or the Public Health Department) of the community in which the violation occurred. However, if you are unsure who to contact, the complaint can be reported to the EPA and we would direct you to the relevant authority. The officer would also record it and follow-up with the organisation responsible for addressing the issue.
Now that you are aware of how to go about reporting a complaint concerning the environment, the EPA invites you to be more vigilant towards the environment. By doing this, you will allow the EPA to better ensure compliance with its regulation. Join us again next week as we explain the steps in investigating a complaint reported to the agency. You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
folklore DAVID’S CATCH XVI
Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
By Neil Primus
DAVID was a notorious womaniser. He just used women then left them. Wherever he went, he left a trail of broken hearts, vengeful souls and a few children. When he learned of the kids, he promptly disowned them. His relatives tried to persuade him to change but this did not work. He vowed to have fun all his life. He just kept on with his merry ways. The ladies felt he was irresistible. He felt the ladies were delicious and to be savoured. Some of his escapades saw him staying out late at nights and consuming too much alcohol. He was not a drunk and did not drink unless it was a special occasion. It was after one of these special occasions that he was returning home at about 02:30hrs. The sky was a mixture of moonlight and darkness caused by constant cloud cover. While walking along the road shrouded in semi-darkness he spied someone walking just ahead of him. His practised eyes discerned that it was a woman. He hastened to meet her. She was beautiful beyond his wildest imagination. Her eyes seemed to glow with
impish seduction and her hair long and black, glistened in the inconsistent moonlight. When she smiled at him he completely lost his bearings. He just floated along in her presence. Their romance was a kind of ready-made affair; a modern day fairy tale. He fell in love with her and she with him. From the very first night, she calmly but firmly denied him permission to walk her home. They began to see each other regularly as their relationship intensified. Very soon he took her home to meet his parents. Both his mother and father were charmed by the beautiful maiden. They gave their full approval to the two young people. His grandmother, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. She took one look at the beauty and instantly disapproved. Nothing David told her made any difference. His grandmother made herself very clear. “Dat girl is trouble. Get rid a she!” The young man didn’t care what anyone said. He loved Petal and wanted to live the rest of his life with her. She too shared the same sentiments. There was only one problem. Each time he asked her to take him to meet her family she would refuse. Whenever
she faced this question her eyes would flood and she would tell him in her melodious voice about her love for him. “No David. I love you too much for that.” This behaviour puzzled him. Why would she keep refusing to allow him to meet her parents? He did not press the issue because he sensed that if he did he might lose her. She made him promise never to ask again. He agreed reluctantly but the subject just reposed in his heart. He became intrigued by the mystery of the lady and frustrated by the progress he was making at knowing his future in-laws. She was in love with him he could tell but every time he asked her about her family or offered to walk her home she would become sulky and withdrawn. This made him more determined to find out about her. His friends and villagers, even his own family knew nothing about her. She was a genuine mystery. He decided to follow her home and meet the in-laws with or without her permission. But this did not prove to be an easy task. She came to him at night and left at night. Whenever he tried to follow her she
would just melt into the darkness. Night after night he tried. Then he got a brainwave. He would wait until the full moon and follow her. And that was exactly what he did. He knew from the failed attempts that she always headed in one direction, north. There were only a few homes near the beach and he felt that she lived in one of them. They were small, old houses and the people there were very poor. He was beginning to figure out why she wanted to keep him away from her home. She was obviously ashamed of her family’s poverty. He was going to give her a pleasant surprise. Instead, he received a nasty shock. That night he walked her to his front door and kissed her goodbye. When he closed the door after her he headed for the back door. Slipping outside he followed her from a distance using every available object and shadow to mask his movement. The lovely lady headed north. Every now and again she paused and looked behind her as if she suspected that she was being trailed. Turn to page XVIII ►►►
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CONSUMERS MUST PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM time to time we have reiterated some of the important consumer rights and have enjoined consumers on how to protect themselves. Despite such educative efforts, consumers still allow themselves to be made victims or to be exploited. In today's offering, we will remind consumers of their basic rights and how they may seek redress in the event they may be victimised. When one purchases a good or service, one must always demand a receipt. That receipt must always have (a) The name and address of the shop or enterprise from which the purchase was made. (b) The description of the good or service should be stated on the receipt. (c) The price should be stated (d) The date of the purchase should be clearly written. Why does one need to have a bill or receipt? (i) The receipt evidences that the purchaser is the owner of the good purchased. For example, if the Police are doing a search for stolen property of the type of good one has purchased and the Police visits and one has no receipt for the good, it could result in some questionings (ii) Without a receipt the purchaser may not be able to exchange the good or seek a refund. Consumers must be particularly alert when purchasing goods from East Asian shops since they do not usually give receipts, except one asks for them. In some shops, one may see notices of the following type displayed:GOODS ARE NOT RETURNABLE OR NO REFUNDS GIVEN ON ITEMS SOLD Such notices are illegal under the Consumer Affairs Act and the shops would be committing an offence if they display such notices. Despite such notices, the purchaser has the right of returning a good purchased, provided the good is defective or the purpose for which the good was bought was changed soon after purchase. The purchaser should return the item within seven working days of the purchase. Above, we mentioned a purchaser could return a defective good to the purchaser. A defective good is defined as follows:(1) A good which is unfit for its intended use. For example, a cellphone which works erratically or a washing machine where the timing is incorrect (2) Where the good is dangerous or harmful for normal use. For example, buying furniture with nails or sharp ends exposed or equipment which works with electricity where one may be subject to electrical shocks or an electrical hand-saw where the blade cannot be accommodated with full precision (3) The written instructions for the use of every piece of equipment bought must be supplied. This is necessary for the user's safety and also when invoking a warranty When a defective good is returned to the seller, the seller must do one of the following four things: (i) At no cost to the purchaser or consumer, the supplier must replace the goods purchased within fourteen (14) days of the goods being purchased (ii) The supplier must repair the goods at no cost to the purchaser (iii) The supplier must return the receipted payment for the goods (iv)The supplier must provide the purchaser with a temporary substitute of comparable value until the good is either replaced, repaired or restored. The next item we will deal with is warranties. When a consumer purchases a consumer durable such as a washing machine, cooker, fan or electric toaster or various tools, there is always a warranty. Many consumers are not
aware of warranties and some suppliers do no bring the warranty to their attention. When consumers purchase goods without receiving their warranties, they are left unprotected if the goods or equipment cease to work or work badly or need immediate exchange. What is a warranty? A warranty is a written guarantee given by the manufacturer or supplier to the purchaser undertaking to repair or replace the good or goods if not working properly. Defective parts are replaced free of charge as well as workmanship. A local supplier must honour his foreign supplier's warranty. Warranties are of two types - a written warranty which
the purchaser collects on his purchase and an implicit warranty. An implicit warranty is not written but by law, the supplier must provide an automatic warranty for six months with a supply of parts and labour without charge. The smaller shops try to avoid the six-month warranty by giving a written warranty for one month. Though their prices may be slightly lower than Courts or Singers, it turns out to be more economical to buy from the big reputable shops. This is so because they provide transport of the consumer durable to the home of the purchaser, their warranties are much longer, they have the repair facilities and they honour their warranties, while the less reputable shops do not even honour their month's warranty.
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Georgia on my mind THE song ‘Georgia on my mind’, made famous by the late legend Ray Charles is one of my all-time favourites. The city of Atlanta, in the state of Georgia, is one of my favourite cities and was the next stop for my tour after Philadelphia. The Living with Intention Motivational Mission and Book Signing in Atlanta was another powerful testimony. God has truly surrounded me with earthly angels to assist me on this journey. The event was held at the Hampton Inn and sponsored by Mr. James Ogle. Wine was sponsored by Elizabeth Hally. The evening began with prayers because without God this tour would not have been possible. Monica Trotz, who I have not seen in 14 years chaired the programme. She was a major part of the fashion scene in Guyana when I was just launching out. Honorary Consul to Georgia Marva Jacobs did the welcome remarks and made reference to my resilience and determination. She also assisted in organising the event. It was an honour to have Dr. Diane Adoma give the feature address. She is the Honorary Councilwoman for the City of Stone Crest, Georgia. Dr. Adoma shared how many times she failed before she achieved her current position. She expressed interest in future collaborations because we
have the same belief that together we are stronger. Excerpt reading was done by Marilyn Brown who read Dr. Latoya Gooding’s story from WOMEN ACROSS BORDERS. Bestselling author Ronette Williams Clarke and Bianca Otiva read from COMPILATION – Beyond the Runway and LIVING WITH INTENTION. Bridgette Epps who had modelled for me many times, added some flair to the evening by displaying my designs that can be worn from the beach to the ballroom. After the display, persons took the opportunity to purchase my original outfits and their autographed copies of my books. The networking was great while patrons indulged in wine and delicious finger foods. Again the common feedback from all of the events on this tour was, “the energy at this event is electrifying, uplifting and motivating you to do more. “ Those comments made me think “mission accomplished.” The next day, my friend Angela Moore invited me to one of the community events which was so relaxing and I got the opportunity to meet some of the elected officials. I had an opportunity to share my vision with Congressman Henry Hank Johnson, Mayor Deborah Jackson, and County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson.
Chronicle Pepperpot July 8, 2018
Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel
... Inspiring lives through fashion A few nights ago Angela took me to a fantastic laser show at Stone Mountain. When the show was over I sat on a rock to admire this majestic piece of rock that I conquered a year ago. How did I do that? I wrote about it in my book LIVING WITH INTENTION. I remembered a poem that really depicts me and my mission. Veteran journalist and Guyanese icon, Francis Quamina Farrier, recited this poem especially for me at my event at the Embassy in Washington DC. “Your tasks may be often and many, more than you think you can do. The road may often be rugged, and hills unsurmountable too. But faith is a mover of mountains, and there’s nothing that God cannot do. So start out today, with faith in your heart and climb till your dreams come true.” IT IS POSSIBLE Last year I had a blast at the Essence Festival. Meeting Dr. Iyanla Vanzant and some other phenomenal women was the highlight of my trip. I decided then that I will be returning and will be hosting an event during the festival. Another dream is now becoming a reality because here I am in New Orleans with an evening of inspiration, fashion and book signing. Share some of your dreams with us on our FB page or email beyondtherunway1@gmail.com Let’s continue to dream, believing one day it can be a reality, as we continue this journey we call life BEYOND THE RUNWAY ◄◄◄ From page XVI
She soon gave that up and walked quickly towards the small houses. She didn’t stop at any of the homes, however, but passed them and headed towards the sea. When she reached the water she waded in and kept going. David was spellbound by her behaviour. Instead of going straight home she was taking a bath in the sea. He understood the reason for this. It was because she lived near the sea all her life that this was not unusual for her. He watched as she moved from ankle deep water to waist deep rolling surf. She plunged beneath the coffee brown water and surfaced a minute later. It was then two things hit him. For the first time he saw how truly beautiful she was. His eyes were locked onto a magnificent comb she was using to comb her long silvery hair. The second thing that struck him was the long luminous tail that extended below her waist. It flapped gently on the water keeping her afloat. David was petrified. He just froze in revulsion and fascination. Her eyes were fixed on his place of concealment. She smiled sadly and waved to him. David held his cover. Then she waved goodbye and her words floated to him over the water. “You will never see me again my love!” Then she was gone. David ran like the wind towards home and sanity. His grandmother was sitting on the front steps knitting one of her many centers. She took one look at him and shook her grey head as if to say “I told you so.” “Yo jus see who she really is right?” He nodded his head stupidly gulping air to catch his breath. “Yo mus learn to listen to old people!” she admonished. He made a mental note to make daylight his only time for meeting ladies. Then he retired for the night. And boy what a dream he had.
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A model for venturing into Adventure Tourism TOURISM is a sustainable industry that is able to generate massive amounts of revenues without needing a heavy and overly continuous reinvestment. Guyana, unlike most of its fellow Caribbean states, has not been majorly consumed by the tourism industry but many people have set out to change that. When one thinks of tourism, one often thinks of travelling somewhere-often for a change of atmosphere or scenery- to indulge in the simpler pleasures of life. But what has been gaining much traction, is the various branches that lead into the overarching body of tourism. Adventure tourism happens to be one of those branches. According to a consumer report compiled by the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and the George Washington University, the adventure travel market grew at the incredible rate of 65 per cent yearly from 2009-2013. Adventure tourism is a rapidly growing niche sector that springs up in the rugged countries with loads of natural outdoor activities to offer. This nation is approximately 215,000 square kilometres of pure adventure, covered in four different natural regions and is exceptionally suitable for adventure tourism.
And what’s better, is that adventurers locally and from abroad do not need to travel to the forested regions (though that would be great) to indulge in a Guyanese adventure. There are persons cognisant of the contribution Guyana can make to the industry and have jumped at the idea of developing the niche sector. A local tourism group, Savannah Drive Guyana, with the ‘Epic Savannah Drive’ is seeking to foster adventure tourism in Guyana The event organised was arguably a great model for developing adventure tourism in Guyana. The drive was part of a host of activities organised throughout the year by the group that seeks to expose the raw, rugged beauty of Guyana and passed through four of the communities: Yarrowkabra, Swan and Laluni and Pakuri Mission, all on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway. Though the entire event was compact and stuffed into one day (there are options to stay longer though), patrons were treated to a wide variety of activities and different cultures. Instead of travelling along the smooth highway, you travelled on the off-road trails found aside the highway. The journey moves from travelling through thick vegetation, with an occasional branch coming to hit you in the
head, to narrow lanes that seemed as though they were streams of water or perhaps slush. Dirt bikes, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), fourwheel drive and other off-road vehicles are all suitable for the drive, but a good balance is a must. And in the communities, there’s archery, obstacle courses and mud-drags (off-road drag racing but way messier), if the drive of itself wasn’t ‘adventure’ enough. While advancing this form of tourism, the group has also shown that adventure tourism in Guyana is one not that has to be isolated. In fact, the Savannah drive was able to promote community-based tourism as well, by giving patrons a chance to enjoy a bit of each community and having the communities extend their hospitality and market themselves. A shopkeeper from Swan, Ryan, shared that although the drive only passed through his community for just a bit on one day, more than 100 patrons had been exploring the community and quite naturally, stumbled upon his shop. He explained that his community has much to offer, but does not receive the opportunity to extend its services and showcase its products often enough. In Yarrowkabra, Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC), Cor-
rine Wilson shared similar sentiments. “We’re looking forward to this activity because we need some funds to enhance the village,” she said, while adding that the village’s community centre and playfield need revamping. Wilson also related, “We also want to assist some children in the area with school uniforms because we have a lot of underprivileged children in the area and a lot of single parents.” So through a combined community effort and collaboration with the organisers of the drive, Yarrowkabra is able to tap into the adventure travel event and harness it to promote community tourism. Furthermore, coordinator of the event, Shane D’Andrade also shared that 40 per cent of the proceeds of the drive went to the four communities. And through a partnership with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), the event was able to get Guyanese and foreigners to visit and explore what the country has to offer. So the drive was one that serves as a blueprint for fostering adventure tourism in Guyana. And while all the talk is about oil now in Guyana, it would be nice to develop the other sectors using the earning garnered here. Each community has something distinctive to offer.
A love for digital art
Raffel Horne
IT is no secret that technology is at its peak and continues to grow but while there are persons who use it for leisure, fun and other purposes, there are some people who use it to earn an income. While Guyana is not fully exposed to the technology that is available and utilised around the world, Guyanese still make do with what they have at their disposal. Twenty-three-year-old self-taught visual artist/ illustrator, Raffel Horne, better known as Atio Chryst is one of the young Guyanese who has used technology to start a career. Horne said his interest in art varies from traditional, digital, music, storytelling, photography, cinematic movies, poetry, architecture and the way it is used to express an idea. Although he is self-taught, his skills are inspired by his personal experiences, interactions with people and nature among other things. “Everyone who I’ve interacted with is like a character from a movie I’m watching. Many are
interesting and I’m inspired by their essences to create and communicate my artistic ideas,” said the young artist. It didn’t take him long to realise his talent since it runs in his family from both sides. From the age of six years old, he learned how to colour within the lines. He said: “Ever since that seed was planted I began to practice as much as I had time. At the age of 15, I decided to continue on this path, changing the medium of expression from traditional to digital”. As he grows older, Horne intends to work towards becoming a “man of leisure”. His main focus would be to create and share his artistic magic with the people who love art and even the entire world. Horne advised fellow artists to find their own, unique flavour of art which they are more comfortable with. Once they find their comfort zone, he said it would be easy for them to keep growing, creating, expanding and learning.
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Making strides in advancing the Green Development Agenda through climate financing opportunities Guyana transitioning to a ‘green state’ is a major part of President David Granger’s vision for the country’s advancement. This vision not only takes into account the realities of global warming but is also aimed at ensuring that environmental sustainability is aligned with economic development. With its coastline at over a meter below sea level, Guyana fits the description of a Small Island and Coastal Low Lying Developing State (SIDS), which are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. These impacts are already being felt and Guyana has begun to initiate action to build resilience, enhance its capacities to adapt and contribute to a sustainable world. President Granger believes that the Green Development President David Granger addressing the Sixth Assembly Agenda will promote in- of the Global Environmental Facility in Vietnam creased investment in in 170 countries. Today, the GEF is an international partbiodiversity, coastal zone and solid waste management, nership of 183 countries, international institutions, civil ecological and environmental services, eco-education society organizations and the private sector that addresses and ecotourism, Information and Communication global environmental issues. Technology, the extension of protected areas and in The Guyanese Head of State said that Guyana and the the generation of renewable energy. These are the main GEF recognise the necessity and urgency of “delivering objectives of the ‘green’ state. transformational change” to confront the challenges to the On this week’s Government in Action, we take a look at earth’s environment. President Granger’s recent visit and address to the Global He noted that incremental change, while necessary, Environmental Facility (GEF) in Vietnam, the financing will not be sufficient to avert environmental catastrophe. opportunities available to aid Guyana’s ‘green’ agenda and President Granger said that change must be comprehensive what it means to a country like ours. and the GEF –the world’s foremost institution for financing THE GREEN DEVELOPMENT AGENDA President Granger has been utilising every platform available to promote Guyana in an effort to ensure that the pursuit of green development receives support locally, regionally and internationally. His latest advocacy for support and collective action to be taken to combat the threats of global warming and climate change came at the Sixth Assembly of the GEF in Vietnam. According to its website, the Facility was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, the GEF has provided over $17.9 billion in grants and mobilized an additional $93.2 billion in co-financing for more than 4500 projects
environmental change – must aim at “delivering transformational change” by forging not only “global” but also, regional and “local” partnerships. “It must leverage the potential of contiguous states at the “local” level to contribute to solutions at the global level. Global environmental threats cannot be resolved only by the existing level and rate of everyday responses. International environmental cooperation must continuously seek comprehensive and cohesive solutions to stubborn, unchanging or deteriorating situations. This Sixth Assembly, by identifying the prevalence and persistence of climate change, deforestation, land degradation and water pollution, and by proposing responses to these challenges, emphasizes the need for deeper and different approaches to
international environmental cooperation. The Facility’s thirty-two constituencies embrace small-, medium- and large-sized states. These constituencies might be administratively, financially or culturally convenient but their architecture could have unanticipated consequences,” he said. The President said that Guyana is at the centre of a geomorphic zone known as the ‘Guiana Shield’ which, with international cooperation and the combination of efforts, could contribute even more to “delivering transformational environmental change” more comprehensively. The GEF was established to promote global environmental cooperation and President Granger acknowledged that the GEF has been a financial lifeline for projects for small states, enabling them to enhance their contribution to global environmental security for the past 27 years. “The GEF is ideally suited to promote international environmental cooperation by assisting small states, to build greater capacity by ensuring financial mechanisms that are more flexible and accessible, to undertake environmental action that will yield benefits at the local, regional and global levels and to collaborate more effectively by establishing multi-state, sub-regional organizations. The sun is about to set on the GEF’s Sixth Assembly but a new day is soon to dawn. This Assembly’s momentum must not be slowed. The challenge of “delivering transformational change” at all levels and in all zones must be embraced in the days, months and years ahead. There is no alternative earth. Eternity is at stake,” the Head of State noted. GEF FINANCING As articulated by the Head of State, international, regional and even local climate financing and support are necessary to achieve the vision of a ‘green’ agenda. Through the GEF, Guyana has been able to benefit in significant ways to bring projects on stream, which will help to realise the vision of a ‘green’ state. The Office of Climate Change, which falls under the purview of the Ministry of the Presidency (MoTP), over
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the past two years, has been making great strides in advancing President Granger’s ‘green’ agenda through tangible, transformative initiatives at both the community and national levels. This progress was possible through support from the GEF and other international and regional mechanisms. Head of the Office, Ms. Janelle Christian, in a recent interview said the OCC, as well as other agencies such as the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission (GLSC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have been able to benefit from financing opportunities. The OCC in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is in the process of a US $1.6M programme, known as Mainstreaming Low Emissions Technology in Guyana. The funding is being secured through the Global Environmental Facility. “I am happy to report that we were able to successfully make a submission with support from the UNDP, working with key stakeholders like Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Guyana Energy Agency (GEA), Ministry of Public Infrastructure (MOPI) and the Hinterland Electrification Company Limited and we submitted the proposal to GEF for approximately US$1.7M. We received notice about a few weeks ago that the project has been approved. We are
96million was allocated to biodiversity, one million to land degradation and one million to Climate Change. Ms Christian said that this gives the OCC and the country at large another opportunity to work with partners to bring other projects on stream. “We have started some preliminary discussions and this will support some other initiatives that we would have already articulated either through strategies or action plans that we would have already prepared or are in the process of finalising. I believe that it is more than just preparing reports or doing studies but I believe that it helps when we can implement tangible projects, demonstrate pilot initiatives with the possibility of scaling up, having successfully executed those and learning from the experience. So, we will be engaging with our partners aggressively to ensure that we can programme and we are happy to know that there is an additional million dollars under the GEF 7 allocation for Climate Change so we will be working to advance that particular opportunity with our partners,” she said. In 2015, the Facility approved US$200,000 for the Minamata Initial Assessment for Guyana, which sought to undertake an Initial Mercury Assessment to identify the
very happy about that principally because it will support addressing institutional and policy gaps and will also provide financing for some piloting at the community level and the municipal level in keeping with Government priorities particularly as it relates to renewable energy and energy efficiency,” Ms Christian said. This project, she noted, in addition to addressing policy gaps and pilot initiatives, will also be providing support for the training of National Technical Officers, work with technical vocational institutions such as the Georgetown Technical Institute (GTI) and the University of Guyana (UG), support the hiring of an expert in renewable energy and an advisor to help agencies such as GPL and GEA to address gaps or areas of weaknesses that would be identified. It will also aid the exploration of business models for private-public engagement with respect to renewable energy supply, examine Guyana’s energy grid and the possibility of a grid code, the issue of green procurement, and establish standards for energy efficiency appliances and for energy efficiency in public buildings through partnership with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards. Following President Granger’s return from Vietnam, GEF announced that Guyana has been allocated a further US$4.96M this year for projects. Of that amount, US$2.
in Guyana in order to protect globally significant biodiversity, reduce mercury contamination, enhance local livelihoods and human health. The GEF grant for this project is in excess of US$4.5M. Ms. Christian said these increased opportunities for Guyana are as a direct result of the political will and emphasis on the part of the David Granger led administration in taking concrete efforts to ensure a more sustainable future. “I can tell you for certain that it is a matter The Office of Climate Change, through funding from the Global Environmental Facility and in collaboration of Political will because as technical officers you with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is implementing a US$1.7M ‘Mainstreaming have to be given the Low Emissions Technology in Guyana’ Project scope to advance your plans and ambitions or what you see as priority for your country. I can say that, national mercury challenges and the extent to which legal, policy and regulatory framework will enable Guyana to im- with the leadership from the President himself, he has placed plement future obligations under the Minamata Convention. premium on the fact that we need to protect our natural patAdditionally, in 2017, Guyana received US$2.6M to rimony. He has articulated his vision for Guyana to become spearhead the ‘GEF GOLD/ Supply Chain Approach to a Green State and so, the mandate is clear that we cannot do Eliminating Mercury in Guyana’s ASGM Sector: El Do- things the way it would’ve been done in the past. It cannot rado Gold Jewellery Made in Guyana’ Project, which is be business as usual. We have to be more aggressive to aimed at assisting the country in converting to mercury-free address some of those existing challenges that we have to mining by 2025 by directly involving business enterprises really position ourselves to address the challenges that we with a profit motive for leading the shift in the development have. Climate change is an existential issue. It threatens of a mercury-free ASGM supply chain and downstream El our very existence. We have to take advantage of all of the Dorado brand jewellery. This project is being executed by opportunities that are available to our country under existing Conservation International-Guyana (CI-G), Guyana Gold international framework,” the Head of the OCC noted. As the world continues to grapple with the effects and Diamond Miners Association (GGDMA), and Guyana of climate change and the effects continue to be felt by Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC). In 2018, the United Nations Development Programme countries in the Caribbean, President Granger is lobbythrough the EPA, the Ministry of Natural Resources, ing for a broader platform to effectively provide protecGGMC will undertake the ‘Strengthening the Enabling tion and relief to Caribbean States that are vulnerable to Framework for Biodiversity Mainstreaming and Mercury natural disasters. At the same time, as a country, Guyana Reduction in Small and Medium-scale Gold Mining Op- must prepare itself to take advantage of financing operations’ project, which seeks to strengthen the regulatory portunities, which are available. In the meantime, the framework and institutional capacity for the management of OCC, as well as the other key agencies, will continue to small and medium-scale gold mining and promote greater play its role in the achievement of a ‘green’ Guyana and adoption of environmentally-friendly mining techniques a ‘good’ life for all Guyanese.
Head of the Office of Climate Change, Ms. Janelle Christian
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Binge Eating Disorder THIS week, I am wrapping up the discussion on eating disorders and talking specifically about Binge Eating Disorder, one of the newest and yet most common disorders. According to a National Survey done in the United States, Binge Eating is the most common of the eating disorders. Last week I spoke about Bulimia which is quite similar to this one. The individual eats large amounts of food over a period of time. They will directly link food consumption with their emotions; eating as a coping mechanism for being sad, angry, guilty and so on. This eating feels compulsive and uncontrollable to them. The only difference is that those with Binge Eating do not make any efforts to remove the food out of the body as a Bulimic might. This means that this group of people are typically overweight and easy to spot. The binging does not have to occur every day for a diagnosis as people usually binge two to three times per week and may have normal or even healthy eating on other days. A diagnosis is typically made if someone has had an average of three binges per week over the last six months. Like all eating disorders, it can be developed in both genders but is more popular among women. It can also be developed at any age but typically begins during adolescence. It is highly correlated with a wide variety of physical and mental illnesses. People who compulsively overeat subject themselves to fast and unhealthy weight gain which put a major stress on the body. This overeating makes cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension. Muscle/joint pain and gastrointestinal difficulties much more likely. Someone with Binge Eating Disorder is also more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders than someone who does not have it. They often seclude themselves by withdrawing from friends and family as well as any activity that they previously enjoyed. There are numerous causes of Binge Eating Disorder which are also very similar to the others. There is a biological component which means that one is more likely to develop the disorder if other members of the family suffer from it. There are also a few hormonal irregularities or genetic mutations that may cause it. People who are dissatisfied with the way they look or feel as well as have low self-esteem or self-confidence are much more likely to develop any eating disorders. There are also social and environmental causes such as trauma or abuse of any kind, as well as the previously spoken about social pressure to be thin. People who are constantly told about their weight or the importance of it are also at risk. If you think you may be suffering from Binge Eating Order but want to be sure, please honestly answer the following questions. If you answer yes to three or more, then you are most likely suffering from the disorder. 1. Do you often think about food/planning meals even if you are not hungry? 2. Do you eat large amounts and continue eating even when full, as if you have no control? 3. Do you always feel uncomfortably full after eating? 4. Do you feel embarrassed or guilty after eating? 5. Do you tend to hide your eating from family/friends? (this can range from eating alone in a room or sneaking food) 6. Do you feel heavy amounts of stress that you feel can only be relieved through eating? While Binge Eating is severe and can even be life-threatening, let’s not forget that it is treatable. This treatment is not unlike other eating disorders. The first step would not only be to identify that there is a problem but also what is causing the problem. What are the emotional triggers that cause you to turn to food? Are there certain foods that may trigger you to want to eat more? I suggest that you make a list of new and healthy coping skills that may be able to replace the eating. What else makes you feel good? Do you have any hobbies? Are there any new
activities that you wanted to try? Now would be the time. General counselling and talk therapy would also be very beneficial during the recovery process. This is basically how you will work to figure out all of the above.
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Please feel free to write in and let me know if you would like to seek treatment for your eating disorder. Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Or come in to see me at: Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department: Monday- Friday – 8am- 12pm Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers: 223-0001, 2230009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!
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#SupportCreativity
By Subraj Singh
Lerner and Loewe’s “Camelot” “Don’t let it be forgot, That there once was a spot, For one brief shining moment That was known as Camelot.”
CONSIDERING that my own close relationship with theatre in Guyana places me in a position where it would be awkward to review plays put on at the National Cultural Centre, the Theatre Guild, and other stages in the country
(most often because the plays are almost always connected to someone in my own theatre family), I try to always seize the opportunities to write about productions that are far removed from me. Whenever I travel out of the country, I always make it a point to do some research on the theatre scene of the particular city I am visiting and, quite often, I am led to some astounding productions of the kind that are not usually seen back home. The musical, for example, is a rarity on the Guyanese stage, and, therefore, I thoroughly
Alexandra Silber as ‘Guenevere’ along with the ensemble in a scene from Lerner and Loewe’s “Camelot” – Image by Scott Suchman, Shakespeare Theatre Company, 2018
enjoyed heading out to see Washington D.C.’s very own Shakespeare Theatre Company – noted for its productions of Shakespeare’s plays as well as other works written by classic playwrights, including Tennessee Williams, George Bernard Shaw, Henrik Ibsen, etc. – and its production of “Camelot,” a musical with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Lowe, the duo behind that other famous stage musical: “My Fair Lady.” “Camelot” focuses primarily on the legendary King Arthur, with particular emphasis on his founding of the Knights of the Round Table and the illicit relationship between Arthur’s wife, Guenevere, and his friend and favourite knight, Lancelot du Lac. The original production premiered on Broadway in 1960 and starred Richard Burton and Julie Andrews. This staging of the musical, directed by Alan Paul, brings with it, in a swirl of emotions and a crescendo of colourful voices, all the pomp, humour, and charm that one would expect from a story that is based on the legend of King Arthur. The king himself is played by actor, Ken Clark, in a lead role that requires him to sing, dance, spar, emote, climb, and cry – and yet, never once, does Clark’s performance ever give any indication that the actor has bitten off more than he can chew. He handles the performance with the kind of grace and beauty that befits royalty. His growth from a cheery young Arthur, climbing a giant silver tree to steal a look at Guenevere, his wife-to-be, into the mature king who seeks a land of peace by creating the Round Table, and then into the older king about to lose his wife, his friend, his kingdom, and even his ill-begotten son in one stroke, are all phases of Arthur’s life that Clark conveys in a way that never lets the audience forget that while he is a king and a myth, he is also a man. It is mostly Arthur that the audience is left grieving for at the end of the play, and Clark’s soulful performance and skillful singing has a lot to do with that. Playing against Arthur is Alexandra Silber as Guenevere. Silber is beautiful, but this does not detract from her winsome performance of a role that is not easy to navigate since a crux of its resonance with the audience has to do with the actress’ ability to convince us that she loves her husband as much as she loves Lancelot. Somehow, Silber manages to do just this – not an easy task, but one which she accomplishes by the end of the play, giving us a show of a performance that left me wondering whether she was better at acting, singing, or dancing, before I just gave up altogether and decided that the woman was as adept at each of the three major skills she called upon while playing Guenevere. Nick Fitzer is perfectly cast as the winsome, slightly vain, but mostly honourable, Lancelot du Lac. His flirty smirk and chiseled body made him physically perfect for the role, but ultimately it is the actor’s comic timing, his strong chemistry with Clark and Silber, and his understanding of the motivations and conflictions within the mind and heart of the character that makes him a success. Furthermore, of the three lead actors, I Turn to page XXV ►►►
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FILES E S A C COURT
Essequibo killers sentenced to death for businessman’s murder
‘Withdrawal of manslaughter from jury justified’ – Appellate Court IN 1975, the Guyana Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction and death sentence by the jury, of Carl Van Rossom and Carroll Halley for the robbery/murder of Affiance businessman Donald Yhap on the night of March 11, 1974. The house-breakers and murderers, who had killed the Essequibo businessman, to effect a robbery at his Affiance premises, had appealed against the ruling on the grounds that the trial judge at the jury trial, had withdrawn the count of manslaughter from the jury, and had failed to direct the jury that the deceased had died from Cardiogenic shock which could be caused by fright and not necessarily violence. But, that Court of Appeal, comprising, Chancellor H.B.S. Bollers (ag), with Justices of Appeal, Guya Persaud and Victor Crane, held that there was no miscarriage of justice in the case because the jury would have returned the same verdict whether they were properly directed of not. The facts revealed that on March 11, 1974, at about 5.00 p.m. the appellants visited the spirit shop of Donald and Catherine Yhap at Affiance, Essequibo. After consuming rum and pepsi-cola for about an hour or so, they left the premises, but returned after closing time when all customers had gone. They then proceeded to pull Mr. Yhap out of the door of the shop. They punched and maltreated him, while they beat, bound and gagged Mrs. Yhap. Having rifled the cash drawer and two iron safes of over $11, 000, the appellants left the premises. About half-an-hour afterwards, Mrs. Yhap managed to get up from where they had left her. She freed her hands from the bonds that tied them and went to the northern door where her husband was lying on the sellers’ side of the shop. He had a black-and-blue mark on his forehead, a wound on the left temple, another wound under the left side
of the chin and he appeared to her to be dead. On March 18 Catherine Yhap attended two separate identification parades. On the first, she saw the appellant Halley and identified him as the man who had beaten, gagged and tied her up. On the second parade, she identified the appellant Van Rossum as the man who had pulled her husband Donald Yhap through the door with Halley’s assistance. Both appellants were also identified by three customers who were in the shop on the evening in question and saw them there. The autopsy report on the deceased Yhap was supported by medical evidence. It showed he had sustained serious injuries to his neck and body, and that in the doctor’s opinion the cause of death was cardiogenic shock. The State based its case on the proposition that the accused persons had used violence on the person of Donald Yhap, and had killed him in furtherance of the commission of a felony of violence. The defence of the appellant Van Rossum as gathered from both his caution statement and that from the dock was that he had gone to Yhap’s premises along with a ‘friend’ to steal, but not to kill anyone, and that when Yhap saw them,Yhap collapsed without any struggle before they had even touched him; though there was some struggling with Yhap to get him outside for fresh air. However if he Van Rossum, had known Yhap was dying from cardiogenic shock he would have tried to get him help. The defence of the appellant Halley was an alibi: that he was not on the Essequibo Coast on the day of the alleged incident; he was never on Yhap’s premises and knew nothing of Yhap’s murder. At the Assizes both accused were convicted of Yhap‘s murder, and on appeal, it was contended, firstly, that the trial judge erred when he did not leave the issue
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think Fitzer had my personal favourite singing voice – rich and filled with an emotion-inflected bravado, the kind of voice that puts in your mind images of silver armour and dragons and swords and haunted forests. His rendition of ‘C’est Mois’ is the song I came out of the theatre humming. Special commendation needs to be awarded to Floyd King whose performance of the old and senile, yet surprisingly wise, King Pellinore, was a delight and a masterclass in comic acting. All the other actors were perfectly cast and those in the ensemble, essaying multiple
of manslaughter to the jury which arose within the felony-murder rule, i.e., he ought to have told them that if they found the death of the deceased was not brought about by the violence of the appellants, but that Yhap had died from cardiogenic failure during the course of the furtherance of the commission of the crime of violence, then the appellant Van Rossum would not be guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter instead. Secondly, on behalf of the appellant Halley, it was urged there was failure to direct the jury that the unsworn statements of Van Rossum, which he had given in writing to the police and from the dock were not evidence, and could not be given in evidence against Halley: On the first point, Chancellor Bollers held that it was clear from the evidence that violence was in fact used on the person of the deceased. The judge was therefore right in withdrawing the issue of manslaughter from them. Secondly, he said that the medical evidence was merely opinion formed as the result of a post mortem examination. The use of a dagger and a knife by the appellants was clear evidence on their part that they, at the time they entered the shop, had an intention to use violence. Justice of Appeal Persaud, had said that where an accused person during the course of the commission of a felony involving violence, uses such force against his victim which may cause death or grievous bodily harm in order to effect the felony which he had set out to commit, and the victim dies, he would be guilty of murder; Justice of Appeal Crane noted that it must have been clear to the trial judge that the legal cause of death of the deceased was the violence he received at the hands of his assailants. It must also have been clear to him the violence received was the real or substantial cause
roles with finesse, were a joy to watch. The costumes, including everything from armour to capes and a myriad of medieval dresses, by Ana Kuzmanic were to a wonder to behold, detailed, and lending to the fusion of colours that brought the magic of Camelot to the stage. The set pieces were also quite creative and served to impart the idea that many set pieces are not necessarily a necessity to a play as most scenes had a single dominant set piece that created the overall atmosphere that was needed for the entire scene. Good examples of this include the giant silver tree that Arthur lounges in while talking to Merlin, the hanging gardens of pink blooms that served to
of death… Accordingly, the judge would not have been justified in leaving the alternative verdict of manslaughter with the jury since the proven facts could not reasonably admit of such a view; On the second point, that Acting Chancellor said that the verdict of the jury would have been the same whether or not the judge directed them that Van Rossum’s statements were not evidence against Halley; On this point Justice of Appeal Persaud pointed out that the judge admittedly failed to give the jury the customary warning, nevertheless, he reminded them that he had ordered bits of paper to be pasted over certain positions in Van Rossum’s statement and exhorted them not to speculate about what had been done. There was therefore no necessity for a warning since there was nothing in the statement after the warning had been given; But Justice of Appeal Crane declared that the trial judge wrongly exercised his discretion to edit Van Rossum’s caution statement in the way he did, viz., by pasting pieces of paper to delete the name of Halley and to substitute the word “friend” wherever it occurred in Van Rossum’s statement. Crane went on to say that the exercise of editing of a statement must be done in accordance with the law. According to him, “In this case, it was exercised against a practice which had hardened into a clear rule of law, which simply requires a trial judge to warn the jury that one man’s confession is no evidence against his co-accused, but is evidence solely against himself. “Blotting out Halley’s name in the statement was therefore unnecessary. However, there was no miscarriage of justice in this case, because the jury would have returned the same verdict whether they were properly directed or not. The Appellate Court had referred to 24 cases in support of
herald the beginning of Spring, and the scarlet foliage that was scattered on the stage, signaling the passing of time, foreshadowing the fall that is to come, and representing blood, but also symbolising the pervasive, ever-present love of Guenevere and Lancelot in each of the thousands of red leaves that swirl around on the stage. Other critics (such as Peter Marks in his review of the play for “The Washington Post”) have already written about the production’s relationship with past and modern American politics. It is hard to watch the play and observe the girls in the ensemble in dresses that highlight the different colours
By George Barclay
its ruling in the affirmation of the jury’s verdict. The Appellate Court had also referred to defence counsel’s argument on the first point, to the effect, is that the doctor who performed the post-mortem examination on the body of the deceased had said in evidence that cardiogenic shock meant shock as a result of the heart failing either by sudden stopping, or by suddenly starting to beat irregularly, or by beating at such a low rate that enough blood cannot be pumped out from the heart, and the deceased was suffering from a heart disease. As a result, as in Yhap’s case, fright or fear brought on by the sudden appearance of strange men could have caused cardiogenic shock and led to his death. A combination of physical exertion and fear or fright brought on by the sudden appearance of strange men could also have caused cardiogenic sock and led to Yhap’s death. Under cross-examination, the doctor admitted that in a shocked state a person could fall down just like that, and that the deceased had died as soon as he was shocked. He agreed that injury number one =- the superficial abrasions – and injury number three – multiple swellings – could have been caused by a fall ; but he did not agree that the injury number two – the laceration on the left side of the neck –could have been caused by a fall on a cardboard box. He stated that that injury could have been caused by a fall on a wooden box with sharp edges, but this was improbable because the laceration was clean-cut with no surrounding abrasions. He stated that all the external injuries by themselves could not have caused death and they could have been inflicted after death; a person with a heart condition like that of the deceased might die immediately on being frightened or sometime after.
of the #Pride rainbow, or the moment two men touch each other’s faces lovingly, or even listen to Arthur talk about wanting to become a noble leader and have peace across the land, and hearing him reminisce about Merlin turning him into a hawk that flew high into the sky and watched as the borders that separated the countries disappear from the view high above, and not think about the current administration in America and their policies. It is interesting that the musical, written in the fifties, can be touched in such a subtle manner so as to reflect and address, in small but meaningful ways, the things that truly matter in today’s world.
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Diabetes and oral health THERE are thousands of Guyanese who are diabetic. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you may know that the disease can cause problems with your eyes, nerves, kidneys and heart, as well as other parts of your body. Diabetes can lower your resistance to infection and can slow the healing process. The most common oral health problems associated with diabetes are tooth decay; periodontal (gum) disease; salivary gland dysfunction; fungal infections; lichen planus and lichenoid reactions (inflam-
matory skin disease); infection and delayed healing, as well as taste impairment. It’s important to keep your medical records up to date. Let your dentist know if you have been diagnosed with diabetes; if the disease is under control; if there has been any other change in your medical history and the names of all prescription and over-the-counter drugs you are taking. When diabetes is not controlled properly, high glucose levels in saliva may help bacteria thrive. Brushing twice a
day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning once a day between your teeth with floss or an interdental cleaner helps remove decay-causing plaque. Plaque that is not removed can eventually harden (calcify) into calculus, or tartar. When tartar collects above the gum line, it becomes more difficult to thoroughly brush and clean between teeth. This can create conditions that lead to chronic inflammation and infection in the mouth. Because diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection, the gums are among the tissues likely to be affected. Periodontal diseases are infections of the gum and bone that hold your teeth in place. Periodontal disease often is linked to the control of diabetes. For example, patients with inadequate blood sugar control appear to develop periodontal disease more often and more severely, and they lose more teeth than do people who have good control of their diabetes. See your dentist immediately if you notice any of the following: gums that bleed easily; red, swollen or tender gums; gums that have pulled away from the teeth; pus between the teeth and gums when the gums are pressed; persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth; permanent teeth that are loose or separating; any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite; any change in the fit of partial dentures. Bacteria, viruses and fungi occur naturally in the mouth. The body’s natural defences and regular oral hygiene generally keep them in check. However, in some situations, they may proliferate and impede or defeat the body’s defences. Oral candidiasis, a fungal infection in the mouth, appears to occur more frequently among people with diabetes, including those who wear dentures. If you smoke, have high blood glucose levels or often are required to take antibiotics, you are more likely to have a problem with fungal infections in your mouth. Diminished salivary flow and an increase in salivary glucose levels create an attractive environment for fungal infections such as thrush. Thrush produces white (or sometimes red) patches in the mouth that may be sore or may become ulcers. It may attack the tongue, causing a painful, burning sensation. It also can cause difficulty in swallowing and compromise your ability to taste. Your dentist may prescribe antifungal medications to treat this condition. Good oral hygiene is critical. Preventive oral health care, including professional cleanings at the dental office, is important if you are to control the progression of periodontal disease and other oral health problems. Regular dental checkups and periodontal screenings are important for evaluating overall dental health and for treating dental problems in their initial stages. Your dentist may recommend more frequent evaluations and preventive procedures, such as prophylaxis, to maintain good oral health. In addition to brushing twice a day and flossing or using an interdental cleaner once a day, your dentist may suggest using an antimicrobial mouth rinse or toothpaste to control gingivitis. Watch for signs and symptoms of oral disease and contact the dental office immediately when a problem arises. Practice good oral hygiene at home; follow your physician’s instructions regarding diet and medications, and schedule regular dental checkups to maintain a healthy smile.
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English THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
STUDY SUCCESS Dear Students, To have something to say and say it successfully is considered the first and most difficult requirement in language learning; and to be successful at it, you often need to draw from a range of raw material. Extend your language activities: visit new places, meet new people, increase the number of good and enjoyable books you read, increase your perusal of newspapers and magazines, visit interesting websites, and pursue new hobbies and games to enable expression of self in forums. Be wise. Love you THE PASSAGE Read the passage and then answer questions (a) and (b). It would be salutary, if difficult, to calculate the total expenditure on school and travel since the close of the last century. The sum would be worth doing because it would raise the interesting question of how much value we were getting for our money. Nothing is easier, of course, than to pour scorn. For many children the Kaieteur Falls seems to be the most impressive memory of their tours across Guyana’s hinterland. This might be held to set the cultural value of such trips in a singular light. School heads will be found to say that the linguistic results of tours are usually negligible. Their usefulness, however, is almost certainly of a different order. Travel is a pleasure, and the imagination is quickened by novel scenes and circumstances. If the Kaieteur tour is carefully prepared during the school term, it may even be educational in a direct sense. (Adapted from: “Comment in Brief”) Questions to Show Comprehension
1) Choose FIVE of the following words taken from the passage, and give for each, another word or phrase of similar meaning, which can be used to replace the word in the passage. salutary scorn calculate negligible singular hinterland cultural impressive linguistic educational 2) Explain concisely the meaning of the following phrases which were taken from the above passage. a. value for our money b. in a singular light c. linguistic results of tours d. of a different order e. quickened by novel scenes and circumstances GRAMMAR Use of the question mark The question mark is to be used on the following occasions only: 1. Use a question mark after every direct question: (Do you remember how to distinguish a direct question from an indirect question?) Is it true that you are leaving the teaching institution soon? (direct question) They asked her whether it is true that she is studying to be a medical doctor. (indirect question – no need for a question mark) 2. Use question marks after elliptical (incomplete) questions in a series. Where are your saddlebags? your rustic garments? your stringed instruments? 3. Use a question mark in parentheses to express a
When lovely woman stoops to folly And finds too late that men betray, What charm can sooth her melancholy, What art can wash her guilt away? OLIVER GOLDSMITH (1730-1774), Song from The Vicar of Wakefield, ch.29
doubt. Indaba became a guest of the state on February 16 (?), 2017. 4. Place the question mark inside the quotation marks or parentheses only if it is part of the quoted or parenthetical material. The midwife asked, “Who is the husband of this pregnant young woman?” What is meant by “in the eleventh hour”? Something to Do Replace full stops and commas with question marks where they are needed. 1. The lawyer asked her client, “When first did you notice that your car’s right back door was dented.” 2. What is meant by the term “rough-and-tumble.” 3. Joseph became the king’s guest on July 21 (.), 1862. 4. “You are joking. Do you really have to go home to cook now,” Sandra asked Johnny. 5. Salman inquired, “When is your old man returning to Guyana, if it is not too personal to question.” 6. Sandy Babb said, “Frank, you never say the right things to Penny. Will you ever learn.” 7. Where are the sandwiches. the table cloth. the CDs. Remember: However you arrange the quotation, the rules of certain punctuation apply and should be followed carefully. They startled the group by asking, “Are we doing the roundelay at our youth concert on Sunday?” “Are we doing the roundelay at our youth concert on Sunday?” they startled the group by asking. THE PASSAGE Read the well-known narrative below and see for yourself what a command of good language does for your performance. My uncle Fred lives in Canada. When the cool weather begins to creep down from the mountains, he starts to think about hunting. He cleans his rifles, polishes his shotgun, and repairs his camping equipment. He digests whole books about hunting for deer, tracking mountain lions, and things concerning wild hogs. He bombards manufacturers of hunting equipment with letters requesting information about new devices that guarantee a successful hunt. He haunts all the local sporting goods stores. Last year Uncle Fred prepared with more than usual care for his annual hunt. He tracked down special ammunition for his various rifles and outfitted himself and station wagon with enough equipment to keep an African safari on the move for month. Uncle Fred left the night before the hunting season opened and stayed up in the hills for four days. In the evening of the fourth day, our eager searching eyes were rewarded by the sight of the hunter’s caravan returning. What would he have in the back of his wagon? What tales of great adventure would he tell? What great dangers had he overcome? We rushed into the driveway and surrounded Uncle Fred. Solemnly, he let down the tailgate and undid the folds of a tarpaulin. Instead of a noble deer with branching horns or a wild pig with sharp tusks, there lay - silent in death – a jackrabbit. Uncle Fred had finished his hunt. Study the character-construction: What does the writer tell about Uncle Fred? Is there any wisdom in selecting all the characteristics of the original character? Would Uncle Fred have lost all his individuality in the deluge of characteristics? Does the writer tell about a single trait that has fired his imagination? What is it?
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Entertainment Oprah Winfrey reiterates she will not run for president
American television mogul Oprah Winfrey has reiterated she will not run for president, saying it would “kill” her, drawing a line over speculation about a potential 2020 bid. In an interview with British Vogue, the actress and producer again addressed the subject after much talk on whether she would eye the White House following a rousing speech at this year’s Golden Globe awards. “In that political structure - all the non-truths, the bullshit, the crap, the nastiness, the backhanded backroom stuff that goes on - I feel like I could not exist,” Winfrey told the magazine, where she features on its August cover. “I would not be able to do it. It’s not a clean business. It would kill me.” Winfrey got a standing ovation when she spoke in support of victims of sexual misconduct in her acceptance speech for a Golden Globe for lifetime achievement, in which she praised women who exposed harassment and abuse in Hollywood and elsewhere. “People talk about ‘these are such dark times’, but what if we shift the paradigm? Because I see it differently,” Winfrey, referring to the #metoo and Time’s Up movements, told British Vogue, which published excerpts of her interview on its website. “I see, ‘Isn’t this remarkable that we’re waking up?’ For years, women have endured craziness. This is what’s happening to people. They’re allowing themselves to not just become corroded, but to become hysterical. You’ve got to lean to the happiness.” Known simply as Oprah to her fans, Winfrey also spoke about attending the wedding of Britain’s Prince Harry to actress Meghan Markle in May. The ceremony, which featured an impassioned sermon by African-American bishop Michael Curry on the power of love, was watched by millions around the world. “It left me feeling that anything is possible through the power of love,” she said. “Reverend Curry was right!”
Metemgee Ingredients 6 ounces Beef, cubed (optional) 6 ounces pork or Salted Beef cubed (Optional) 8 oz salt-fish 2 cups chicken stock (or water) 2 cups coconut milk 1 pound sweet potato, peeled, cubed 1 pound yam, peeled, cubed 1 pound plantain, peeled, cubed 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely chopped 2 habanero, seeded, finely chopped 1 red onion, cut into rings 1 pound okra, sliced 1 cup flour 2 tablespoons butter, small cubes 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons Water Instructions Dust beef and pork with flour and sautĂŠ. Soak salt fish in warm water for about 15 minutes. Drain. Remove skin and bones. Discard. Squeeze fish dry. Grate the coconut, pour one pint of water over, squeeze well and strain to extract the coconut milk. Arrange peeled plantains and seasonings in layers over the meat, with salt fish on top. Add coconut milk and cook, covered, until almost tender, about 30 minutes. Place onions and okras on top of salt fish. Steam, covered, for 10 minutes. Add dumplings and steam for another 8 minutes. For the Dumplings Rub flour and butter together. Add baking powder, salt, and sugar. Add enough of the water to make a stiff dough. Notes Fried Saltfish Can be served with this dish and all meats can be omitted if you are Vegetarian.