Pepperpot 01 07 2018

See inside: Making a difference in the delivery room II Sir ‘January De Broke’ stalks the Land X ► Page

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Jubilanté Cutting in an official photo from the Innovation Award ceremony media interviews (Photo Credit: Koroi Tadulala)

More than a personal triumph ► Page

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‘The Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Award is not just for me’ - Jubilanté Cutting

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Editor’s note In a candid chat with my 11-year-old nephew, he told me that his New Year’s resolution for 2018 was to come up with a better New Year’s Resolution for 2019. He then told me that he will continue to make that resolution until Donald Trump is no longer President of the United States because if he makes a specifc resolution, he wants to be able to keep it, and in the current political climate, he was not sure if he could stick to any promise he made.

Had I not seen the words come out of his mouth

myself, I would have thought that someone was speaking for him. But in his own child-like wisdom, he knew the importance of promises and being able to keep them, and for his own innocent reasons- or reasons that may have been influenced by his parents’ discussions that he may have overheard, he decided that he only wanted to make a promise in an environment that would allow him to stick to it.

It led me to consider just how many of us make resolutions at the dawn of the New Year in the

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018 name of being part of the ‘New Year, New Me’ trend, only to fall terribly short just days, weeks or months into the year in question. Yet, here was an 11 year old, who had considered the importance of sticking to his word at such an early age and who refused to make a promise unless he was certain he could keep it. We are just days into 2018, how have your resolutions been going so far? I urge that as we go forward, let us not set ourselves up for disappointment, and instead make promises or resolutions that we are sure to follow through on.

As always, do enjoy the stories that we have put together for you, in the first edition of the Pepperpot for the year 2018.

Happy New Year!

Making a difference in the delivery room The impressive standard of midwives at the Linden Hospital Complex

By Vanessa Braithwaite IT WAS 06:00 hrs on December 6 when I was told my cervix was about five centimetres dilated. It then hit me that I was actually in labour with my second child.

Everything seemed to be moving twice as fast; there was hardly any time to think, as I was trying to bear the intense pain of the contractions. Knowing that I have very little pain tolerance I became a little uncooperative with the midwife even as she was trying to do her job.

As any mother would attest to, while in labour, the last thing you would want is for someone to touch you, much less in a way that would add to the pain you are already feeling. I had often heard rumours of nurses being hostile to you at this time, especially when you are not cooperating, but I am now convinced that no woman in labour wants to be intentionally uncooperative, but the pain, something very hard to describe, is one that allows you to do things out of the ordinary.

I had my first son at a private hospital where one of the country’s most experienced gynaecologists delivered me, and so I was naturally scared of what my experience might have been at a public hospital given the many stories of hostility and inexperience that were related to me. I, however, prayed earnestly for a safe delivery and a patient and loving midwife who would see me through. The answer to my prayers was midwife Simone David-Bowen, a senior midwife attached to the Linden Hospital Complex. Her shift started about half hour after I arrived at the hospital and the midwife who initially handled me was older and seemed more mature than Simone and naturally, I became a bit fearful.

In about 10 minutes all my fears went away. Midwife David- Bowen did her job with the highest of professionalism.

She was caring and, most of all, patient. Though I gave her a hard time once in a while, her deportment never changed.

She gave me little tips as to how to handle the pain and when I told her I cannot endure any longer and felt like I was too weak to go on, she strengthened me with encouraging words.

She was like a mother to a lost little girl. “If you could have done it for your first son, you can do it again,” she kept telling me over and over. This young midwife was indeed a midwife with a difference and my son was born less than two hours later in her care; free of any complications.

talked about her job when we were at the dinner table or when we were hanging out. It always seemed interesting and how the body works was something I was always curious about. I remembered back in high school a friend of mine had a seizure and we all stood there, not knowing what to do. At that point, there was the burning desire to know more,” Simone related.

When she completed her professional nursing programme, she rotated on the maternity ward but was only confined to general duties and was never allowed in the labour room. “I could remember asking a senior midwife: ‘Can I just see this delivery I’m the only one on duty,” and she took me in the labour room, that was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen, since then, I said to myself I have to do midwifery.”

That decision made by Simone proved to be more than a blessing to young mothers like myself. Even after five years, for Simone, it is as if she has never worked in her life since she genuinely enjoys what she does. This, I can attest to since she not only delivered me but did everything in her power to make me comfortable while helping me to finish the process as fast as possible with no hiccups, even though I was not the best patient to deal with. “Just seeing those patients’ faces when you would have helped them usher their baby into the world, that is priceless, seeing them look at their babies with that love, it makes you just want to do more,” Simone explained as the reason she looks forward to going to work every day.

“I love the fact that I can help others and go home feeling satisfied. I just love seeing people happy,” she added. What is most difficult about her job is comforting a mother who would have had a miscarriage or whose full-term baby has died.

MIDWIVES NEED MORE Simone believes, however, as other midwives also related, that more should be done to encourage midwives since their jobs require bringing life into the world and doing so with the aim of reducing child mortality and maternal deaths; something that the Linden Hospital Complex has been successful at doing over a number of years. “We really work hard, we look out for our patients, we care for our babies, during the night shift we hardly get any rest, so I really think we need more.”

While Simone may have delivered my baby, my entire experience at the LHC throughout my nine months of Midwife Simone David-Bowen pregnancy can be described as impressive. The nurses and HOW IT ALL STARTED midwives at the antenatal clinic must also be commended Simone related to me that she has only been a midwife for for a job well done. I remembered when I missed clinic five years after pursuing the midwifery programme in 2011. At the time, she was already days; midwife Melanie Norwick would call to find out why I was absent and tell me the a registered nurse. It was in high school that she decided she wanted to join the medical importance of attending clinic. It is not every day that public servants are commended field. “I grew up with my grandmother who was a staff nurse midwife and she always for performing their duties admirably and for this I say thank you!

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

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More than a personal triumph ‘The Mandela-Graça Machel Innovation Award is not just for me’ - Jubilanté Cutting

By Gibron Rahim

able to access opportunities. Some of this inspiration came from the opening quote that was uttered by former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. “He stressed on the fact that if they’re empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace,” she said.

“YOUNG people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation.”

The above words, uttered by Kofi Annan, highlight the key role that young people can play in building a better world. Much can be said about providing young minds with the NOT FOR ME opportunities to make a difference. At the same time, much can also be said about young The award is not just for the benefit or glory of one person as Jubilanté pointed out. persons who create these opportunities for themselves and for those around them. Jubilanté “Winning this award was not for me,” Jubilanté said. She called attention back to the Cutting is one of these young people.

Guyana Animation Network and its aim of providing opportunities. The award she said Jubilanté is president of the Guyana Animation Network (GAN), a network she estab- is for those who have benefitted from the opportunities that GAN provides and GAN’s lished in 2016 to actively support Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals who pursue supporters. “In my heart, the award really goes towards continuing the cause and making careers or are interested in the areas of animation, information and communications tech- more things available,” she made clear. The monetary prize from the award will go toward nologies (ICTs) and new media and creative industries. making more resources available, offsetting the expenses of others and allow GAN to be For this activism, Jubilanté was the recent recipient of the 2017 Nelson Mandela – Graça more independently financed in general. She has already begun to invest in social media Machel Innovation Award in the Youth Activist category. marketing.

Speaking to the Pepperpot Magazine, Jubilanté noted that the launch of GAN marked the There are more than a few persons that Jubilanté is thankful to for helping her along beginning of the journey she has been on ever since. She explained that GAN was formed the way. Principal among them is God who she said has been the strength and the joy of based on the belief that there are many international creative opportunities that local Guy- her life throughout her entire journey. Her family has also been of major support to her, anese can tap into. “My heart’s desire is and especially her mother. She is truly thankful was to bridge that gap,” she said. Starting for her mother’s prayers. She recalled being Jubilanté Cutting in an official photo from in August of last year, the goal grew to inin constant contact with her and receiving the Innovation Award ceremony media clude taking GAN to an international scale encouragement even as she has travelled far interviews (Photo Credit: Koroi Tadulala) as a non-profit organisation geared toward from home. Her church has also been suphelping primarily young people to develop portive. She has received well wishes, encreative digital and artistic skills that they couragement and prayers from senior Pastor can use to portray Guyana and cultural eleMassiah and members of the congregation. ments unique to Guyana, while at the same The CARICOM Secretariat, Jubilanté time being able to network globally. said, has always been extremely supportLast August was also personally signifive. She noted that Deputy Programme icant to Jubilanté since, she explained, she Manager of ICT for Development (ICT4D), became aware of her calling. Through her Ms. Jennifer Britton; CARICOM Deputy work with GAN and other entities, she said Programme Manager of Culture, Riane de that she will be able to fulfil her purpose Haas-Bledoeg and the communications deas an ambassador of the kingdom of God, partment have all been particularly helpful. allowing these endeavours to prosper. She Not to be forgotten either are the members recalled that she had to leave her “8 to 4” of GAN and Jubilanté’s team. “I thank God job to devote her time to pursuing the globfor them and I thank God that receiving al opportunities that were available in relathe award has in some way inspired them tion to GAN. Though it was a challenge, it so that they know that our work is not in was one that she does not regret. vain,” she said.

The Nelson Mandela – Graça Machel The award is certainly just the beginInnovation Awards are annually presented ning for Jubilanté and GAN. Her next perin four categories to individuals and organsonal goal is to raise funds for law school. isations who have had a profound role in While she was initially hesitant to affirm creating positive social change. Jubilanté the goal of attending law school and is still was anonymously nominated in the Youth consulting with God about taking that path, Activist category while GAN was nominatshe said that she has it firmly in mind as her ed in two other categories. next immediate goal. She noted that she is Among the persons shortlisted for the looking into investing so that she can raise category this year, Jubilanté was the only the funding she needs. person from the Caribbean and, indeed, the In terms of GAN, the first goal for this Western Hemisphere to be nominated. She was also the first Guyanese to ever be nominat- year is to hold their summer camp. GAN is aiming to raise enough funding to bring in ed for the award. She recalled receiving the notification email about a few days after the their guest trainer from the United States, as well as to cover his accommodation and other nominations were publicly revealed. Then, just a few days after that, she was notified via needs. This trainer is experienced in teaching both children and adults the basics of comic email that she would be the recipient of the award. She told the Pepperpot Magazine that book character design. The summer camp is just one of multiple events that GAN will she felt an array of emotions on receiving the news. be undertaking this year. Jubilanté noted that GAN is also looking to be compliant with the legal framework as a whole. “Now that we are growing we just want to ensure that OPPORTUNE TIME we have that knowledge of how to move the organisation forward, how we can build and The award came at an opportune time when she needed the extra motivation. “The award really grow as an entity” she explained. These are only a few of the plans that GAN has has been an inspiration, not only to myself but to all of our team members; our members in store for the future. in general; our community” Jubilanté noted. She and the other awardees had to wait a few Jubilanté described the experience of travelling to Fiji and receiving the award as phedays until the public announcement of the winners was made. nomenal. She explained that Fiji is a beautiful country with friendly people and reminded She explained that she was grateful for the time between the notification and the an- her quite a bit of Guyana. The award ceremony was held during International Civil Society nouncement since she did not know how she would have responded to the shock of the Week with attendees numbering around 1, 300. She was able to connect with Trinidadians news. and Jamaicans while there. To cap it all off, the award was presented to her by Kofi Annan Winning the award is significant to Jubilanté on numerous levels. In the first instance, himself, who first inspired her all those years ago. it is an honour to be the recipient of an award that aims to further the legacy of the late Her experience shows us how Guyana’s young people can independently and Nelson Mandela and his wife Graça Machel. She also explained that she has always been collaboratively create a better future with the right tools and motivation. “My aim is someone who has been passionate about youth development and seeing young people being always to put Guyana’s name out there for good.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

FILES E S A C COURT

Judge’s misdirection caused confusion in jury’s mind

Guilty murder accused freed – To face new trial IN 1960 the Federal Supreme Court in its Criminal Appellate jurisdiction allowed the appeal of murder accused, Baldeo Dihal, on the ground that the trial judge’s misdirection on the law as it related to the facts was likely to cause confusion in the jury’s mind.

The accused who was found guilty by the jury, was sentenced to death. He appealed.

The Federal Appellate Court constituted

by Justices Rennie, Archer and Wylie allowed the appeal, set aside the conviction and death sentence, but ordered a new trial, in the interest of justice.

The appellate court held that on the trial of a person charged with murder the judge should relate the law to the facts in the case.

It was pointed out that when dealing with the question of provocation, mention should not be made of cooling time if the evidence clearly shows that no time elapsed between the provocation and the retaliation and more so, where any such mention of cooling time may cause confusion in the mind of the jury.

It is the duty of the judge, in his summing up, to deal adequately with the evidence relating to self-defence, the appellate court ruled, as it allowed the appeal and ordered a new trial.

Attorney-at-law, Mr. Stanley Hardyal appeared for the appellant while Mr. W. Persaud represented the Crown.

Delivering the judgment of the court, Justice of Appeal Rennie declared at the close of the arguments, that they allowed the

appeal, quashed the conviction and set aside the sentence.

According to him “The grounds of appeal are numerous and somewhat wide in scope, but, with the exception of the ground of misdirection, we saw no merit in any of them, and for that reason, refrain from making reference to any ground other than misdirection.

“Exception was taken to the form of the directions when dealing with the questions of self-defence and provocation. It was submitted to us that the law was laid down in one compartment, so to speak, and the facts were referred to in another, and no attempt was made to relate the one to the other. The directions do seem to deserve this criticism.

“The law of self-defence was meticulously explained as a lecturer might well explain it to a class of students”, Justice Rennie said.

But, he emphasized that nowhere in the directions are the jury told what facts they should take into account when considering this aspect of the case. The nearest they got to having the facts related to self-defence is the statement that, when considering self-defence, it would be relevant for them to compare the wounds on the body of the deceased with the injuries on the appellant.

This statement, however, deals with only one factor of self-defence – whether there was the necessity to use such force.

About this factor of self-defence and the direction concerning it , we shall have more to say at a later stage of these reasons, but now return to the matter under consideration.

The jury were told: “If in all the circumstances as a reasonable man , he feels that he is in danger –serious danger- he is entitled to take steps to defend himself , if necessary to the extent of killing , but though he can do that, it is his duty to retreat if he can reasonably do so in all the circumstances.

“You may think that it is not a very manly thing to do to run away if a person is attacking you or threatening to attack you. But it is the law.”

Nowhere in the directions were they told what facts they should take into account in determining whether or not to retreat was reasonable. The evidence I accepted would seem to suggest that retreat was not possible and it must be confusing to a jury in such circumstances to be told that, although it may be considered not manly to retreat , the law nonetheless requires it if the person attacked can reasonably do so.

As in the case of self-defence, so in the case of provocation; no assistance was given to the jury by relating the evidence to the law.

We can see a possibility of some confusion being caused in the minds of the jury by this failure to relate the one to the other. Such a confusion could have been caused by reason of their being told: “If there was time for cooling between the time that the provocation was given and the time that the killing was done , then, of course, you cannot get the benefit of provocation to reduce the offence from murder to manslaughter.”

AND, IN ANOTHER OCCASION: “But, as I told you, the question for time for cooling is important to considering provocation. If there was time after the provocation was given within which a reasonable person would regain control of himself, then you cannot say that the accused was acting under the impulse of provocation.”

By George Barclay

These directions,said ustice of Appeal Rennie were given in spite of the fact that the evidence, if believed, showed that no time elapsed between the provocation and the retaliation. In another case, such an excess of direction in law might not have confused the jury, but, in the present case, where evidence was given of the relationship that existed between the deceased and the appellant’s mother as a motive for the alleged offence, the jury might very well have found themselves in the position where they would ask themselves the question,- what did the judge mean when he referred to cooling time? Had he in mind the relationship between the deceased and the appellant’s mother? There was nothing else in the case apart from the encounter, that might have affected the appellant’s mind, and if there could have been no question of cooling tine with regard to the encounter, the jury must necessarily have wondered why they were told about cooling time and, moreso, when they remembered that they were told that it is important,and still more so, having regard to the fact that the directionson provocation ruled out the relationship between the deceased and the applicant’s mother.

Apart from these criticisms of the directions, there is also a serious misdirection on the question of self-defence. It concerns the evidence of the attack which the appellant said he repelled.That evidence shortly put, is to the effect, that the appellant was held by the neck, choked, and when he fell in the swamp,was being stifled.

Justice of Appeal Rennie noted that the choking and stifling seem to the court to be of far greater consequence and amounts to a serious misdirection.

The appeal was allowed, conviction and death sentence set aside but a new trial was ordered.

The embattled mother of six

By Abdool A. Aziz

AT age 16, she was married off. At 17, she became a teenage mom. She was slender, frail and weak. She struggled to cope with motherhood and a delinquent husband.

It was a nuclear family and they lived far away. Her main constraint was finance.

The income was insufficient to nourish the baby. The child grew up malnourished with weak muscles and bones rendering him bent at the shoulders and suspected tuberculosis. Five other children followed.

The health of the mother was failing. The father began to bring in less income and took to the ‘bottle’. It was a struggle to survive. The home became dysfunctional and abusive.

TOO MUCH TO BEAR The children were at a point of starvation.

She couldn’t bear it. She abandoned the miserable marital home and took refuge at her parents. They were poor. She decided that she had to find a way to provide for her emaciated kids. Afraid of her husband who began to stalk her, she decided to do some trading in Nickerie, Suriname.

TRADING AND ITS ILLS Travelling by land and boat to Suriname was tough. She spent nights sleeping on the stellings. Robbers prowled around. Even those hustling sex. Worst off are the Dutch customs who demanded money and sex to allow the merchandise to pass. She never gave in. Sometimes she endured fines even the lock-ups. Most times her goods were confiscated. And if she was lucky to pass, the Guyanese customs extracted their own tolls.

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

V

#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

The National Drama Company is ready for 2018 Theatre THE National Drama Company’s contributions to theatre arts over the past few years have been significant. From an insider’s perspective, it has been quite easy to recognise the strength and skills that the company has been exemplifying in every production or event that they are a part of, despite being a group that is still quite young. Hundreds of nights of rehearsals, months of script-writing, and several standout performances over the past few years, all with only a small core group of talented individuals, have ensured that people are aware of the fact that the National Drama Company of Guyana is intent on continuing to carve out a name for itself in the hallowed halls of exemplary Guyanese theatre.

Tashandra Inniss, the current President of the National Drama Company has, in an interview, said that the company has plans to branch off into new and exciting realms of theatre, but she also highlighted the importance of existing traditions and culture when she pointed out that the company will be tapping into street theatre, which has the potential to involve the Guyanese public in a dialogue about a range of social issues. She also spoke about the company’s experience representing Guyana at CARIFESTA XIII which was held in Barbados last year, saying that members of the company thoroughly enjoyed being able to represent their country and showing what Guyana has to offer at such a significant level of theatre arts. They were also enthusiastic about being given the opportunity to meet and interact with their Caribbean counterparts.

Inniss also relayed that in 2018 the company remains committed to its core values and goals which are often represented in the company’s productions. A good example of this has to do with the way the company sees itself as crucial to the study of theatre in Guyana, and one of its early benchmarks has been to establish an annual performance of one of the plays that are being studied on the CSEC Literature syllabus. In the past, the company has staged successful performances ◄◄◄ From page IV

The profit margin was slim. On one occasion, she brought home a loaf of bread and a tin of sardine. That was all she had to feed hungry mouths.

One of her schoolmates, wealthy and living in Georgetown offered her a domestic job.

She had little schooling. But one day while his wife was out he tried to take advantage of her. She had vowed never to submit to prostitution. She refused so he fired her. Then she began to trade food items in the city. There too, there was not much profit but enough to soothe her childrens’ burning stomachs.

Many made attempts to seduce her but she never gave in. She always said ‘salt and rice, but no sin’.

THE GOOD SAMARITAN One day her cousin’s uncle-in-law saw her ordeal. She had to do some dirty cleaning chores to get a meal. He took pity on her. He saw how poor she was. His heart fell at her feet. He felt that he must do something to lift her life of poverty. But what? He was almost

al Drama Company, also hinted at what to expect this year, stating that the company is hoping to dabble in some new genres of theatre that will help to push company members to grow, as theatre itself is always something that is growing and evolving. Clearly, without a group who are able to represent the shape-shifting and ever-changing nature of theatre, then theatre itself remains stagnant and static and, therefore, loses whatever effect or power it has on an audience, on the society it is meant to affect. It is obvious that the National Drama Company understands not only theatre but also the way it works and the purpose it is meant to serve. Waddell has clued us into the fact that this year the company will also be tapping into the various realms of talents that the thespians within the company possess in order to show the true scope of the talent in the company.

The National Drama Company, being an extension of the National School of Theatre

“From the National Drama Company’s production of The Lion and the Jewel ” – Photo credit: Amanda Richards

of Ti Jean and His Brothers by Nobel Prize winner, Derek Walcott; and The Lion and the Jewel by Nobel Prize winner, Wole Soyinka. The success of these endeavours are, of course, reflected in the presence of students and teachers who attend the plays, but also in the way the enthusiasm for the work of the National Drama Company is reflected in how students have been vocal about how much the productions of their literary texts have helped them, as a quick survey of students’ comments on the company’s YouTube page would show. Often, students reach out to directors and actors long after the performances are over for further help with their CSEC plays or their SBA assignments. Clearly, the act of transmitting information from page to stage to student is an act that both the company and the public are becoming aware of and utilising to their mutual advantage. Currently, the company is gearing up for this year’s production of a CSEC play.

Ayanna Waddell, Secretary of the Nationa cripple. He couldn’t take care of himself much less a mother and her children. But the power of pity overwhelmed him.

A NEW LIFE He took her and rented a dilapidated house in Albouystown. She turned that smelly and putrid shack into a home. And one by one the children settled in. In that very abode, he began to give private lessons and earn money. Though cramped in this small dwelling, they all lived happily under one roof.

AN ASSET AT LAST He was able to buy her a new home in her maiden name. Finally, she had an asset in security. He fathered her children who were humble, simple and obedient. They were deprived of a full education but were resourceful. These children were not stepchildren or his blood but gifts from God. The youngest is now 45, a great mother and social worker.

The eldest son is a Philatelist and numismatist.

The rest live overseas. They have no vices and good life. That angel of good is now in heaven.

She was a woman of character.

Arts and Drama which falls under the Department of Culture, is also responsible for hosting or producing several other events that take place during the year that the people may not know require the skills and expertise of company members. These include events like the annual World Storytelling and World Poetry Day events which are usually held at the Umana Yana, as well as the Theatre Training workshops for teachers, which provides training in various areas of Theatre Arts (Acting, Stage Management, Directing, Playwriting, etc.) to teachers from all across Guyana who, once trained, would be able to use their skills to be better prepared to teach Theatre Arts in high schools as well as extend their love of theatre to students – as they are the ones who will carry theatre into the future. For these noble reasons alone, it is difficult to not be excited about the work that the National Drama Company of Guyana will be doing in 2018.

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

Effectuation of the Tobacco Control Act a great boon IN August 2017 the Tobacco Control Bill became Law and the Ministry of Public Health was given the responsibility of deciding on the commencement date on which the Law will become effective. The Law became effective on December 11, 2017, and the Regulations under the Act are being publicised among the business community.

Such Regulations include the erection of “No Smoking� signs and the packaging and labelling of tobacco products.

The consumer community and the public as a whole applaud the enactment of the new Law and regard it with a feeling of relief. For it is now 20 years since the Tobacco Control Bill was drafted under the tutelage of the former Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.

Dr Ramsammy personally had a missionary zeal and enthusiasm for controlling and severely limiting tobacco use in Guyana, and there were several members of the Ministry of Health who were fired with the same enthusiasm and commitment. But their efforts to have the Tobacco Control Bill become law

were frustrated in one way or another to the great chagrin of consumers. Minister Lawrence’s efforts in successfully piloting the Bill through Parliament is therefore highly appreciated.

Tobacco was first used by the Amerindian people and strictly limited to religious ceremonial. Europeans adopted its use and Sir Walter Raleigh, the Elizabethan explorer and courtier who wrote the famous Discovery of Guiana was attributed to popularising it. It quickly became so popular that King James I felt constrained to write a counter-blast attacking tobacco and its use.

But despite the valiant efforts of King James and others, its use quickly became worldwide. Then just over a century ago, Science began to identify how harmful and dangerous to health tobacco usage was. It was found to be the cause of mouth cancer, kidney, heart and lung diseases and several other life-shortening ailments. Today, over seven million people die every year from tobacco use.

Tobacco use was also found to be economically harmful: Some of the workforce became ill or died prematurely thus affecting economic production and productivity. Large numbers had to be hospitalised causing an added burden to the public purse. Many others, the poorest, would spend their scarce funds on tobacco rather than on the welfare of their families, including education of their children. Premature tobacco deaths in a family often leave the survivors in penury.

The Tobacco Control Act is an event of positive social significance and the Ministry of Public Health are determined to make it effective. In this effort, they enjoy the full support of the World Health Organization (WHO) through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

The Ministry intends to effectuate the Act in a gradual manner stretching over the entire year. Its first effort, beginning this month, is to meet the Tobacco Industry and reiterate to them that tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is prohibited. The public is also looking forward to the publishing of the regulations affecting labelling and packaging of tobacco products. The Ministry would have to do this now since the Industry would have nine months to comply.

CROSQUE, the Caribbean Standards body, had put forth model tobacco control legislation with a large number of graphic illustrations in colour depicting diseases caused by tobacco use. These graphics were effective and occupied one of the two main faces of a cigarette box. Some of the Carib-

bean territories have already effectuated the use of these graphics by the tobacco industry.

The Ministry of Health needs to give priority to have DEMTOCO, the main importer of cigarettes, conform. In the past, that company kept asking for more time to have the graphics done; the Ministry should, therefore, be alert to this possibility.

In passing, we may mention that DEMTOCO had complained of cigarettes being smuggled into the country and unfairly competing against them. With the cigarette boxes having the graphic warnings, smuggling would be more difficult and easier to stamp out.

The way in which the law will affect tobacco users is practiced and known worldwide: Smoking is prohibited in indoor public places, indoor workplaces, public transportation, and specified indoor places such as schools, health facilities and places for the commercial service of food and drink. This would help to protect others from second-hand smoke which is as dangerous as direct smoking.

There would be training for the implementation of the legislation including a comprehensive and continuing programme of sensitsation and education in respect of the dangers of tobacco use and the effectuation of the legislation.

Since the implementation of the Act will extend over a lengthy period, there is the ever-present danger that sloth, lethargy or non-performance could affect its effectuation. In the month of January, the Ministry should, therefore, publish its time-table and the first of its monthly reports.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

VII

Replacing teeth ALMOST anyone who is missing a front tooth wants it replaced especially if the loss is recent. But what if it is a back tooth? Would it be necessary to replace it? The answer depends on how many teeth are missing and whether or not the empty space presents a problem. In general dental “quacks” fill missing spaces while dentists replace missing teeth bearing in mind function. If only one molar tooth is missing, for example, there is little if any benefit in its replacement if it does not participate actively in mastication. Often, it also depends on the patient’s finances.

Replacement of missing teeth can be relatively expensive and provides a major source of income to dentists. Because people are conditioned to pay for appliances and mechanical devices, it is customary to charge fees for prostheses that generate higher hourly income than for fillings. To be sure, crowns, bridges, and dentures are expensive because of the time involved and the added cost of laboratory construction, including the labour of the technician and the costs of materials. Nonetheless, when these costs are deducted from the total fee for the appliance, dentists earn more per hour for this kind of work than for most other services.

Because fees vary, reflecting the competitive dental marketplace, it is not a bad idea to obtain a few estimates whether a lot of expensive bridgework is required. But price should never be the only determinant. As John Ruskin is quoted on the nineteenth-century marketplace: There is hardly anything in this world that one man cannot make worse and sell for less. The person who considers price only is this man’s lawful prey.

One way to “make worse and sell for less” is to rush through treatment. Good dental technique requires careful attention to details, which takes more time and not infrequently, repetition of

a procedure or an impression until the correct result is achieved.

The less time a dentist spends on a procedure for which a fee has been established, the higher the hourly income; therefore, the lowest priced dentist may be less able to resist the temptation to cut corners. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that a highpriced dentist will be more conscientious. The goal, then, is to locate a dentist who is competent in technique and reasonable in his or her charges. This requires that the consumer have at least a basic understanding of the basis for treatment.

Fixed bridges are virtually indistinguishable from the natural teeth, in contrast to a partial denture that is bulkier and must be removed to clean around the metal-plastic base and clasps. Yet if the larger expenditure of multiple fixed bridges is beyond one’s means, a properly designed partial denture can be as comfortable as fixed bridges.

If nothing is known of a dentist’s skills, a removable bridge is the safest way to replace missing teeth. After all, if the fit is poor, it can always be thrown away. Not so with a fixed bridge that is cemented onto adjacent teeth that have been cut down for artificial crowns to which the missing teeth are attached. If the crowns are poorly done, the bridge will be lost in a few years along with the teeth.

A good fixed bridge will last a decade or longer, many for over 20 years. When a bridge fails within a few years of placement, the reason is almost always poor care, not bad dental work.

Much less expensive removable bridges or partial dentures, as they are more commonly known, last long as good fixed bridges if they are properly constructed and cared for. Patients who have resisted persuasive arguments to replace well-functioning partial dentures with fixed bridges have been known to wear the same

appliance for 15 to 20 more years. An experienced dentist knows not to tinker with success and does not recommend replacements in the absence of obvious need.

Some fixed bridges, however, rival the Demerara Harbour Bridge in span, stretching from a back molar on one side to the last molar on the other side with too few supporting teeth in between. An “ear to ear” or “roundhouse” bridge costs thousands of dollars more than a removable bridge and seldom lasts longer.

Too often these great bridges are monuments to the ambitions of the dentists but end up as disasters to their patients when they come loose and have to be removed along with the teeth that have decayed extensively underneath. Nevertheless, if enough strong teeth remain, if good oral hygiene is maintained, and if the dentist is experienced and conscientious, and there is a legitimate need, fixed bridges, large and small, are well worth the effort and money.

Restorations seem to last longer when there is no dental insurance to pay for replacement. Willing patients and those with insurance may be receptive to suggestions that they replace crowns and bridges even when all that is required is a small gum line filling to repair a decayed margin. Most insurance plans limit coverage for crowns, bridges, and dentures to once in five years. This seems like an arbitrary limitation, but it does help prevent the worst abuses.

Fancy Feline VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

The cat who loves long walks on a leash

By Michel Outridge A MAN walking his dog twice a day isn’t considered unusual, but a man walking his cat on a leash will certainly draw a lot of attention and this is exactly what is happening in Bel Air Village, Georgetown.

Mark Sukhlall, called “Marcus”, was not always a cat person, but today, he spends a lot of time being bossed around by his two feline pets.

It all started when Marcus’ daughter brought home a female cat to keep rats in the household at bay. After taking care of the pest problem, the cat became a member of the household. After their beloved pet died, Marcus and the family had her two kittens to take care of.

At first, Marcus was not as involved, but as the animals grew he realised they were no ordinary pets, and he soon bonded and became quite attached to them.

Of the two animals, however, it is the humongous tomcat, named ‘Climb Up’ who is the boss of 63-year-old Marcus. ‘Climb Up’ is wise beyond his years and even thinks he is a dog, in that he joins his owner Marcus for daily walks at 05:00hrs each morning and

Marcus and his cat during one of their daily walks around the village

then again at around 16:00hrs around the village.

During these walks, ‘Climb Up’ is tethered to a leash just like a dog, and the reason for this, according to Marcus, is that ‘Climb Up’ is not very fond of dogs and is always up for a fight, so he has to be restrained. “One time he encountered three dogs who he literally slapped to the ground and it was the first time I saw a cat swim during that fight with the dogs,” Marcus said. Nevertheless, Marcus said that the feline is a lover of women and children.

On any given day, the school children can pat him ‘Climb Up’ just being a regular cat during his walk

The ever friendly neighbourhood cat ‘Climb Up’ (Photos by Delano Williams)

up to mischief.

She, too, is a very big cat like her brother but prefers to stay indoors and indulge in her meals.

For Marcus, the cats are more than just his pets; they are his companions and he doesn’t

on the head and he responds gently to their affection by his approving purrs and ‘meows’.

This friendly neighbourhood cat has many friends and Marcus said that sometimes, even tourists would visit him. It is such an unusual sight, at least in Guyana, that, if you did not see it for yourself, it is hard to believe.

It was while he was still a kitten that Marcus realised that ‘Climb Up’ was no ordinary cat because he started to respond to him in an almost human way, and would do as he was told.

Climb Up’s sister is Frisky and she is more of a house cat and isn’t interested in walks like her sibling but spends her time sleeping and otherwise

mind spending his money on them.

“I see the walks with my pet as a form of exercise for me. But there was a time I used to walk the cat now he walking me. He leads me to wherever he wants to go and I just follow,” Marcus said.

It has been six years since he began taking care of the cats and he doesn’t mind at all since they take up his spare time when he is not teaching at the Burrowes School of Arts where he is the Leather Craft Instructor/Lecturer.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

IX

Positive Thinking!

I WOULD like to talk about positive thinking today- something that I hope everyone will practice in this new year. Positive thinking is vital to both our mental and physical health- with a wide range of benefits for both.

Positive thinking doesn’t mean that we ignore or overlook important adversities but rather we take a more positive and open-minded approach to resolving it. It makes us more grateful, productive, and motivated and further allows us to develop and use healthy coping skills in times of adversity. Positive thinking is a stress and anger management technique on its own which means those who practice it are more likely to lead healthier lives i.e. exercise more, consume less alcohol and illegal drugs etc. Studies show that being positive lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, increases one’s tolerance for pain and even slows aging. It improves relationships as positive people tend to see the good in not only themselves but others as well. It also increases both our self-esteem and self-confidence.

There are a few ways that we can increase our positive thinking. The first thing

is to pay attention to our thoughts and self-talk. This is what we think or tell ourselves about ourselves. It is best to keep this as positive as possible. For example, if you do a bad job on something, make sure you think/say “I’ve done a bad job on this particular thing” rather than “I never do anything right.” The rule of thumb is to not say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to someone else. The famous Buddha once said, “We are what we think.”

Avoid catastrophising which means anticipating the worst. Many of us tend to play out a scenario in our heads before it even happens. This also leads to mind reading which is assigning an explanation or meaning to something without any evidence. For example, if your spouse does something, you assume they must be feeling a certain way or thinking a certain thing. Since we can never really be sure about this, it is better to avoid it in general.

Rate your thoughts from now on. Are they helpful? Are they true? Are they even important?

Avoid polarising which means that something is black or white- there is always a middle ground. You may be good at one thing and bad at others but it doesn’t mean you are bad overall.

Surround yourself with good and positive influences. If there aren’t any around you, then you start the trend- positivity is contagious.

Attempt thought stopping techniques. This literally means to tell your thoughts to ‘stop’ when you find them to be negative. Take that same thought and find a positive spin on it.

Make up and repeat a positive affirmation daily. This can be anything such as “I am smart, I am capable, and only good things will happen to me.” Anytime you have a negative thought, repeat your own positive affirmation. It will reshape your whole mood.

My favourite thing to do is writing and destroying. When I have a negative thought, I like to write it down on a piece of paper, then tear up the paper and throw it away. A lot of symbolism in that action.

Switching negative thoughts to positive ones will not happen overnight but if you practice the above suggestions, it will happen. Remember that positive people are more

likely to be happy and successful as they turn issues into opportunities. They are more likely to have luck in love as it means giving the benefit of the doubt.

I recommend that everyone visualise what you want to happen, not what you don’t want to happen. Expecting good things can bring good things.

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 – 08:00hrs-12:00hrs Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department Drug and Alcohol group meetings - Mondays 16:00hrs Good mental health group meetings- Wednesdays 16:00hrs Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

Sir ‘January De Broke’ stalks the Land

By Francis Quamina Farrier SOMEWHAT of a post-Christmas menace, there is someone who comes along at the

start of every year, to try and make life miserable for the working class people of Guyana. He is a wealthy businessman known as Sir January De Broke. And who is this

wealthy menace? Just continue to read this, my first Pepperpot Feature for 2018, and you’ll find outif you don’t already know this individual who for decades, tries to take away “The Good Life” from us during the first month of every year.

As every working class Guyanese citizen knows, there are many financial challenges on the table as the Christmas Season comes around every year. This post-Christmas feature is intended to throw the spotlight on Sir January De Broke, who is not a fit and proper person to function at such an important way in our society, and to relate some of the ways used against him for Guyanese to enjoy some HOPE and a bit of “The Good Life”, as every New A Guyana Marketing Corporation Year unfolds.

When I was a young on- staffer with the locally produced “Sunbelle Ham” in 1975 the-rise clerk at the William longer exists and its location is now an empty Fogarty’s Store on Water Street in Georgetown, staffers enjoyed a open lot.

That January post-Christmas fete was held wonderful tradition at that Water Street Store, which promoted itself as “Fogarty’s, Your at the Legionnaires Hall on Pakoo Dam, which Friendly Store”. Top Management was pri- has since been renamed, Carifesta Avenue. marily Irish-born, and they wisely decided to That event was always a grand affair, with live music and the best in food and drinks for staff-

Workers at the (Old) Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) busy on the ham and bacon production line in 1975

hold the company’s annual ‘Christmas’ fete, on the second Saturday in January. And that was a post-Christmas treat which was welcomed by all the staffers.

Deserving Fogarty’s workers and its subsidiary company BRIANA, which was located next to the Toolsie Persaud Sawmill at the southern end of Lombard Street in Georgetown, had already received their annual cash bonus, and this January fete was another bonus of sorts, very early in the new year. Incidentally, the BRIANA Manufacturing Company produced a wide variety of male and female garments, all of which were very popular with the Guyanese consumers. The company no

ers. The majority who attended wore varying costumes of their choice. That was encouraged by management, and prizes were presented to those whose costumes were adjudged `The Best Creative’ ones. It is my pleasure to say that on one occasion my costume won me a prize; I was dressed as a Circus Clown. (You have my permission to laugh).

What I would like to recall about the early independence years of the 1970s, and what was one of the welcome activities, was the mass production of local bacon and ham, especially for the Christmas market. The brand carried the appealing name of “Sunbelle”, Turn to page XI ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page X

and was produced by the (old) Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) for the Christmas season.

In order to make sure they had their supply, customers needed to make a booking very early, such as in November.

Records reveal that in 1975, the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) purchased over 11,000 pigs from our local pig rearers. The records further show that in that year, production amounted to almost 310,000 pounds of bacon, 176,000 pounds of ham, and 98,500 pounds of pickled pork.

There were also thousands of pounds of fresh pork available for pepperpot and other pork-related cuisines. What many Guyanese of the 60-plus age group would recall, was the price for such products at that time; a shoulder ham went for a pricey $17.50, while a fairly large leg ham was sold for a whopping $25.

The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) of that era, which was located at Sussex and Lombard Streets in Charlestown, Georgetown, also sold strips of pork quite suitable for the garlic pork at Christmastime. In my boyhood and young adult home, there was always the residue of bacon, ham and garlic pork well into the first and second weeks of January, which were bought from the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) outlet.

I can recall the working class folks of colonial British Guiana, referring to the first month of the year as “Sir January De Broke’; meaning that after all the lavish spending for Christmas, the working class folks were broke, and with relatively empty pockets during January. Sir January De Broke stalked the land from ` Pakaraima Peaks of Power to Corentyne’s lush sands’; a disgusting new year menace, if you will.

However, what I clearly recall, was the way in which those working class Guyanese of the past, would willingly go into the Christmas season, knowing that they were to some degree, overspending, but never the thought of doing anything criminal to gain the much-needed money. Some, like the biblical `Wise Virgins’, would have thrown ‘Box Hand’ and had enough to spend during the Christmas season, without any January financial backlash.

However, the fact of the matter is, the majority of the working class were like the `Foolish Virgins’ whose favourite song was more like “A little more oil in my Lamp, keep it burning.”

They were out of ‘oil’ in January, and like so many of us today, were looking for the oil and gas yet to be extracted from thousands of feet below the Atlantic Ocean, north of our shores.

There was one well-known ex-

ception with one particular group of workers; the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) ferry boats which operated on the Essequibo river between Parika and Adventure.

From late November and for the next few weeks, that ferry boat would

be running aground exceptionally frequently. It got stuck on sandbanks conveniently, sometimes for two hours awaiting the rise of the tide, so that the captain and crew could earn some much-needed overtime pay for their Christmas shopping.

XI Meanwhile, even in Guyana’s 50-plus years of Independence, Sir January De Broke continues to stalk the land. And as the Guyanese historian, the late Godfrey Chin would say, “Yoh t’ink it easy?”

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

Converting agricultural waste to energy Part three…

Sewage-to-energy could cut costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions MOST people flush the toilet without thinking twice about where the contents

end up, but the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI),

having recently conducted a study on “bioenergy (biogas) from sewage system” has indicated that it should be seen as a resource rather than waste.

The study was part of an investigation of Bioenergy utilisation in Guyana including environmental and economic impacts done

by NAREI’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Oudho Homenauth and Dr. Clairmont Clementson.

The research, which was aided by Research Assistants, Lalita Gopaul and Vickram Persaud, has found that the conversion of sewage into energy could not only cut costs but reduce greenhouse gas emission.

According to the report, an average household of four persons can produce about 40 gallons of waste water which contains one pound sludge. Approximately 14.8 tonnes of sludge can be produced daily from a population of 118,363 (Georgetown’s population in 2012).

The report stated that one tonne of sludge can produce approximately 270 cubic meters of biogas so, with Georgetown’s population, 1,458,084 cubic meters of biogas can be produced annually replacing 1622 barrels of liquefied petroleum gas.

While this will be a success for the country, there are some challenges involved. For one, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI)’s sanitation manager hasstated that sewage sludge is generated after the treatment of sewage, therefore, the major impediment to its utilisation is the lack of a treatment facility.

There is also a lack of sewage networks in Georgetown. Currently, only five per cent of the city’s population has access to the system, and the installation and use of such a system

may require a fee which residents may not agree to pay.

Additionally, the manager opined that GWI may have a challenge in getting residents to understand how the system works and why it is beneficial to use instead of septic tanks. Another challenge to the utilisation of sewage sludge would be the setting up of sewerage networks in places other than the city.

In rural parts of Guyana, there is no connection to the main sewage system. Residents, schools and other institutions commonly utilise a septic-tank system to manage their sewage. Settled solids are digested anaerobically while excess liquid usually in a clear state is drained via an outlet into a drain field.

According to the report, there is usually a vent attached to the tank where biogas escapes. On a small scale, biogas from septic systems can be used for cooking and lighting.

To overcome these potential challenges faced by the GWI require political will, funding and skilled persons to carry out such projects.

GWI is partnering with the Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to develop sewerage networks in the city, the town of Bartica and in the new housing schemes, through collaboration with the Central Housing and Planning Authority.

Furthermore, there are plans within GWI’s five-year development strategy to build a treatment facility at Tucville and another where local septic tank sludge collectors can treat their waste before releasing it into the Atlantic.

After these facilities are up and running, sludge would then be available to be used to produce biogas.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

XIII

folklore

XIV

‘BLACK WATER’ CALLING DANESH was the only son of Vishnu and Seeta Ramoutar. There were three girls older than him and three younger. Everyone called him ‘Snakie’ because he liked to catch snakes and scare the girls with them.

He was in Form Three but hardly attended school.

Most days found him swimming in the dark mauby-coloured water of the conservancy. Everyone called this body of water `Black Tide’ Many elderly villagers tried to advise Snakie about his truant ways but he ignored them all. He loved swimming in the cold, dark water. It was as if it called to him. It seemed that he and the water had a spiritual connection.

If he dreamt the water was rough then he was in for a bad day. The only time he felt happy and at peace was when he was in the water. When his parents found out they too tried to change his behaviour without success.

He continued on his merry ways.

One afternoon Snakie did not come home. After it got dark his parents began to fear the worse. Next day the entire community organised themselves into search

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

By Neil Primus

parties and scoured the land looking for the missing lad.

He could not be located. After two days of searching, they gave up. The boy was declared dead after a month.

Everyone returned to their normal routine. Soon the wayward kid was forgotten.

Six months after his disappearance the boy walked into the village. He looked dazed and puzzled. Many questions were hurled at him but he did not respond: not because he did not want to but because he could not remember anything for the last six months.

His family was delighted to see him. He ate heartily and then slept for 24 hours. Snakie soon developed a new habit. He would leave home early each morning and return late in the afternoon. When his parents enquired about his whereabouts he explained that he could not tell them.

“I made a promise. It’s something I cannot tell,” he said.

Reluctantly they accepted his refusal to divulge but they were very curious as to where he went and what he did all day. Mr. Ramoutar decided to pay one of the youths to follow him the next day.

The following morning, Snakie set out early. Walking briskly he headed straight for the bush. Gavin followed.

The lad walked into a clump of bushes and Gavin followed. Entering the same place that the boy had done he looked around to see where he was. His target had disappeared. Embarrassed, he returned to an anxious father to tell him that he had failed.

Next day he was ready. He hid close to Black Tide sure that the lad was heading there. Snakie arrived and walked swiftly past his hiding place. Gavin followed him

SILENT PURSUIT

making sure he was not detected. Sure enough, his quarry headed straight for the black water. Taking off his clothes he dived into the water.

Gavin watched smiling to himself. It looked as though Snakie was having a nice splash. He was just about to step out of hiding and join his friend for a swim when he received a nasty shock. From somewhere beneath the murky water another figure joined him. She was beautiful with long black hair. They swam and played for a while then with a flip they both dove from view. Gavin was in a state of total confusion. He waited for them to surface but they did not. With a racing heart, he sprinted back to gIve this strange news to Mr. Ramoutar.

Mr. Ramoutar and a few other villagers ran to Black Tide. They searched and searched but could not locate his son. Tired and distressed he returned to the village with his friends. He gave a heavy sigh. His family would have to mourn a second time for the same person. Later that afternoon in the midst of plans and preparation for the wake, Snakie walked in smiling.

ANSWERS This time everyone descended on him with questions and threats. He had better start talking or else. He stubbornly continued to maintain his secrecy and this enraged his family. They became hostile and eventually gave him strict marching orders.

“Get out and don’t come back!”

Snakie promptly moved into an old abandoned buildTurn to page XXIII ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

XV

Vishani Ragobeer is an 18-year-old freelance journalist at the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper. She is also a student of Queen’s College, pursuing an Associate Degree in Humanities (Sociology).

In 2017, Vishani was selected as a Youth Ambassador to represent Guyana for a three-week Caribbean Youth Ambassadors programme in the US. She is also the recipient of three awards from PAHO/WHO for her work in health journalism.

Vishani was named one of the Youths of the Year (2017) for her volunteerism and advocacy by Aspire Youth Guyana.

My Sociology Internal Assesment and youth crime THREE weeks ago, I was given a break from school for the Christmas vacation. During that time, I was supposed to work on my Internal Assessments (IAs) for my upcoming Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (aka CAPE and more importantly, my death sentence).

I’m not here to complain about how short the vacation was. Instead, I’m here to tell you about my sociology IA, which I can proudly say I actually managed to work on (even if it was the only one I worked on).

So I chose to research measures of alternative sentencing in Guyana. As part of this research, I focused on the work of Specialists in Sustained Youth Development and Research (SSYDR) Inc, a not-for-profit organisation that offers alternative sentencing to young people.

Just to provide some context, youth have become increasingly involved in crime. Studies (especially those done by the United Nations sub-bodies) have linked the perpetuation of youth crime to poverty and the lack of economic opportunities. As sociologist, Robert Merton, ascertains in his social strain theory, one way of achieving socially/culturally approved goals is through “innovation”, which is using socially unapproved or unconventional means.

In my research, I opted to conduct a structured interview as opposed to the more populous practice of disseminating questionnaires, since data collection was a prerequisite of the IA. While interviewing the Executive Director of SSYDR, Ms. Magda Wills (a sociologist), she related that the programme offers youths life and skills coaching from members of the organisation and links youth to employment opportunities.

This is due to being cognisant that more often than not, youths resort to deviant actions because of economic circumstances and equipping them in this manner deters recidivism (the tendency of a convicted criminal to re-offend).

It has an almost flawless track record in providing alternative sentencing and in deterring recidivism, but what stands out for me is that the organisation adopts a very individualised approach in dealing with the young people.

Ms. Wills explained that each youth is designated a coach, who remains their mentor for the duration of their time in the programme (and even after, because a truly meaningful relationship is created). Moreover, there isn’t one clear-cut recipe used to assist the youths. Instead, the coaches almost adopt the youths and learn who they are while training them.

SSYDR operates in what I can describe easily as a safe haven as well. It shares a cohesive relationship with the judiciary, where the magistrates are the ones who request the coaches and connect them with the youths. This is nothing short of lucid and necessitates a productive reintegration of juveniles into society.

Coming back to my IA though, I thought to myself that these research projects are prerequisite for certain subjects perhaps because they challenge you to think outside of academia or provide the nexus between academia and life. Or maybe, it’s

just a social sciences thing- in which case, I wouldn’t know otherwise.

Who knows what people usually achieve through engaging in these projects, but I was left more curious than before. And some optimistic part of me hopes that others would share similar sentiments so that my eccentricity isn’t concretised.

My curiosity begs to understand why measures of alternative sentencing haven’t been pounced upon as a means of deterring youth crime and violence, given how remarkably it has worked with SSYDR. At the same time, I’m envisaging an instance of multi-sectoral, cross-cutting collaborations (similar to SSYDR’s model), geared toward tackling local issues like juvenile detention. And I don’t mean mere brouhaha and clamour about surface-level collaboration, I mean real “Let’s get down to business, to defeat the huns” sense.

What do you make of that?

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

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Deenauth Mohabeer Young Tech Genius on the rise “I’M passionate about all things tech,” says 20-year-old Deenauth Mohabeer.

But maybe, passionate is an understatement for this young man’s interest in the field of Information Technology (IT), given his recent strides and accomplishments in the local field.

Relating why he’s so interested in the field, Mohabeer said, “I’m fascinated by how a piece of technology can change and improve one’s life. That idea is what drives me to work hard every single day to make and deliver software solutions that impact people’s lives.”

Currently, he is an analyst programmer attached to a local tech company, Innovative Systems Inc (Innosys), which means that he develops new software, modifies existing software and manages data. Simultaneously, he is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from the University of London via distance learning.

Studying computer science while working at Innosys was a “pure coincidence” for Deenauth. He explained that after he topped the 2016 Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) after his second year at Queen’s College, he began looking for a university and a job to pay for furthering his studies. Landing a job at Innosys was practically the best of both worlds, for him.

The stars continued to align from there as Deenauth set out to recreate the public image of the company and sensitise the

public on what the local tech industry can do.

Along with other members of Innosys, Deenauth participated in the ‘DevX’ technology exhibition organised by Version75 (another local tech company). Here, various groups engaged with the public, aiming to raise awareness on the work done in the industry.

Then, it was no holds barred where Deenauth functioned as the team captain for Team Innosys at the inaugural Ministry of Public Telecommunications (MoPT)’s CODESPRINT competition in September 2017. His team managed to score the top prize after developing an online e-agriculture platform that connects buyers and sellers for fresh produce and agro-processed items.

In the second annual Hackathon Competition held in November 2017, Deenauth and his team copped first place again after designing rates and tax management and reporting tool for local Neighbourhood Cemocratic councils (NCDs) and residents.

And finally, in December of 2017 he was part of the contingent from Innosys that received the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI)’s Award for Innovation.

Though being involved tremendously in local tech affairs, he posited nevertheless, “I’m new to the tech space, over eight to 10 months [and] I haven’t had the impact I would like, because a lot of the moving parts are way out of my control [for

now].”

Though unsure of where his professional aspirations lie, he knows that someday he wants to step into the field of data science or perhaps work with artificial intelligence. But for now, he’s committed to working at Innosys and finishing his Degree.

Aside from being a tech. whizz, Mohabeer likes reading and playing tennis- both of which help him to relieve stress and focus. Reading, according to him, takes you to an ‘untouched’ world of your own while tennis provides an impetus for strategising.

He noted too, “I’m a Star Wars, Anime, Youtube [and] cricket nerd, so when I’m not playing tennis or reading, I’m doing one of those.” A major pet peeve for him is being creatively suppressed or seeing someone who is.

According to him, he owes everything he has accomplished so far to his mother and father and to his older brother and sister.

Quoting the “world’s craziest genius”, Steve Jobs, he encouraged young people everywhere: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And, most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

The ‘Saga boy’ passport

By Clinton Duncan

tall puppets that danced together on the Savannah stage while the audience in the stands roared with delight.” (Masman: Peter Minshall - Caribbean Beat Magazine – Issue 79.)

Minshall’s vision of the saga boy casts a somewhat conflicting view of what I knew a saga boy to be as early as seven years old in 1998. I remember Mr. Thom (before the divorce) going out on a Friday night not to return until Sunday morning to prepare for church. I remember his swagger, I remember his wine-red fedora with the single iridescent green feather that he plucked from Charlie (the resident yard foul and neighbourhood morning alarm clock).

So, seeing the imagery of Minshall’s bouncy festive saga boy creates, for me, a very watered down saga boy. One who doesn’t walk with a chip and curl like Thom did; one who didn’t have a lime green pinstriped suit sewed by Georgie (the village

GROWING up in the Caribbean I have heard the term “saga boy” mentioned time and time again. The term came up in a recent conversation and I wasn’t absolutely sure of the true essence of the expression, so I did what anyone in the

21st century would do… I googled it!

Saga boy - Noun – West Indian – Informal - A playboy: a man primarily interested in following fashion and seeking the atten-

tion of pleasure, namely women.

Upon searching the term online, it would be almost impossible to not see Peter Minshall’s ‘Tantan and Saga boy’ somewhere among the first five search results. “Tantana (1990) was a dream of harmony where the masqueraders dressed in outfits recalling “old time days”. The queen and king of the band, Tan Tan and Saga Boy, were 16-foot-

Stuempfle described the old-school saga boy modus operandi as thus: “...he look for the most expensive shirt, the most expensive pants and shoe. And every time you see him, he clean, well-shaved. Every two days he going for a fresh mark. And he does nothing more than pose. Just go, let’s say Green Corner. That was the headquarters for posing.”

Now as a 24-year-old man living in the West Indies, I thought to myself “is this what a Saga boy really is?” I have grown to realise that there are only so many ac-

cepted ways of self-expression for Caribbean men when it comes to clothing. The society seems to thrive on a dichotomy of hyper-masculinity and American influence, however, contrary to popular belief, there exists a homogenous style endemic to the Caribbean. When I think of home, I think of “mix up things” (yes… that’s exactly what

tailor – our very own Giorgio Armani! If you didn’t have a Georgie suit in your life you were definitely not of saga boy levels!).

I say all of that to say that, there were back then, some rebellious, troubled and even dark tones to the Saga boy. Let’s face it, he was a player. A real player. The kind of player to get a tattoo of his wife’s name on his arm to show her that he was willing to let every woman know he was hers, only to cheat on her with a woman with the same name as her name. He drank alcohol, lots of it; lots of the best of it that he could buy with the US$5 he won gambling. He was even, on rare occasions, known to be aggressive.

The saga boy was a patriarch; an alpha.

So after a good internet combing and conversation with grandma, it’s a bit clearer of what the saga boy reality was in the 1990s, and it was perfectly summarised in “The Emergence of the Steelband. The Steelband Movement: The Forging of a National Art in Trinidad and Tobago”, by Stephen Stuempfle (a member of an old steel band).

you read) - “mix up things!” I think of my multiethnic family with an Igbo grandfather on one side, and a Portuguese grandmother and a Dougla grandfather on the other, I think of having curry at home and then Turn to page XIX ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018 Caribbean nationals on the turn of the 60s.

Cargo pants, Panama hats, Kangols, Fedoras. Scissortail suits, petticoats, Indian silk shirts, Italian pocket squares. If I remember correctly, grandad once had alligator shoes from Australia. Chinese jade bracelets! I still have the one I stole from him in Third Form. English neckties, now that I think of it, grandad had over 60 ties but never really wore them. He said the climate was too hot, and it made more sense to wear a shirt in his suit and have the first four buttons opened exposing his chest hair (for breeze).

At least that’s what he said, we all knew it was to show off his masculinity for, you guessed it, women. Grandma said he didn’t lie, and that the women were indeed breeze, because they just passed through for a moment to cool him down, rob him of his Friday pay and head South # Queen Of Shade. The saga ‘man’ really was a global man. Even if not in his travels, he surely made a point of his global wardrobe. Luckily the Caribbean

◄◄◄ From page XVIII

walking up the street to have pepperpot ,only after picking up some metemgee from my aunt across the red bridge by the “big trench”.

I think of my house and my room, with

African paintings and Indian tapestry, I think of my Chinese crystals and French La Belle music playing while I do my homework. Then I think of my closet, oh my god… my closet! I smile as I think of it and if you know anything about my eccentric, rebellious, androgynous, ostentatious personality (you can even tell from the number of adjectives I use) you would be smiling too when I mentioned my closet. Every time I watch a movie or hear a story and hear about someone “coming out of the closet” my first instinct is to ask what they were wearing and that’s what resonates the most with me when I think of the saga boy’s style. His closet should be as “mix up” as the world around him, just like stamps in a passport it should transport and transform by its contents.

I remember being laughed at as a teenager for pairing wide-legged acid washed jeans and a fire red matador bolero jacket. Just imagine it: five foot, eight inches in high school, somewhere close to 120 pounds, glasses and the hippest outfit ever in a place that just couldn’t appreciate personal style.

I am afraid I must admit I was ashamed of my decision. Now, I am hit with a wave of nostalgia when reflecting on the animal prints in Dolce and Gabbana SS 2017, or the Caribbean schoolboy chic shown at Balenciaga SS 2017, or the mix of colonial

style shirts and pants resembling Indian Caribbean immigrant wear at Haider Ackerman SS2017… or even the bold banana picker realness that came through Missoni SS 2017 or the tie-dyed prints at Issey Miyake.

The thing is that most of these fashion houses may not intentionally reference the Caribbean but the fact that these pieces can be pulled out from a show and identified by a “Caribbean” aesthetic is the very evidence of a homogenous Caribbean menswear style. One that is, well- at the risk of sounding repetitive- MIXED UP! The Caribbean male has many style influences, given to him or rather presented for his inspiration by slavery, indentureship, colonialisation and the mass migration of

XIX was/is a melting pot of cultures so it was/is easy for him to steal and borrow from all the different cultures he encountered.

We pull from all around us; our food, our music, our religion, our history of slavery, indentureship and a struggle for independence, you might say it’s just clothes, or I am trying to make this deeper than it actually is, but we have come a long way, not only by a matter of time but some of our ancestors literally came across oceans and seas. Our style is our outward expression of the artist in us. Some of us are static artists, some of us are rebellious, some (or most]) of us are well, once again- mixed up. But if we are true to our imagination with diversity and a little deviance, without fear, cowardice or intimidation, regardless of where we are in the world; so long as we use the multifaceted and multiethnic approach of being a global citizen, a global artist, a global rebel, then, just then, can we truly consider ourselves ‘saga men’!

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New Year’s Eve at ‘Love & Faith’ I WAS anxiously awaiting the last service of the year at Love & Faith Outreach Ministries and as usual, it was powerful. I

was determined to go from the beginning and not miss out on anything. The singers looked impeccable with their beautiful

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

outfits and the contagious energy filled every part of that church. The service began at 22:00hrs on the dot with some of my favourite worship songs.

When WAY MAKER by Travis Greene started I was in another world oblivious of anyone around me. The words of that song penetrate deep inside: “WAY MAKER, MIRACLE WORKER, PROMISE KEEPERS, LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.” We had guest ... Inspiring lives through fashion performances from an excellent steel pan player and saxophonist. The choreographer certainministries. ly went the extra mile because the dancers The sermon deposited so much into our were dynamic and the costumes were exotic. souls to start the new year. We had a rockI reflected on New Year’s Eve 2015 when ing after party and the band was led by the I was in this same church with a different talented Earl Bishop. The music was so good mindset and I shared it in LIVING WITH I started waltzing with one of my favourite INTENTION and will share it with you today. seniors.

I arrived home about 01:30hrs so enerSHARING AN EXCERPT FROM FOCUS: “The stunning reflection in the mirror that was looking back at me as I prepared for New Year’s Eve church service, at Love & Faith Outreach Ministries in 2015, comes to mind.

An up-close look at the eyes showed some sadness but one had to look deep to see the determination.

My elaborate purple skirt with lattice around the bottom was cascading like the rapids in my country, Guyana. My signature latticing formed a V see-through panel up the left side. The top was fitted with one sleeve and transparent around the upper chest area.

My makeup was done professionally and I was sporting a cute short black hairstyle instead of my long blond signature braids. As I viewed myself in the mirror, I realised how tall I was because of the beautiful suede sixinch heels. The reflection was flawless but the inner me was in turmoil.

The year 2015, I started being more real with Sonia. I realised that although I was purposeful and focused, I needed to accelerate my growth plan because growth just doesn’t happen without a plan.

The law of intentionality says growth is the only guarantee that tomorrow will get better and do better. We all experience growth gaps to prevent us from achieving our greatness. It can be an assumption that growth is automatic. Sometimes we know we need to grow but knowing how can be a problem.

Maybe you don’t think you have a growth environment but get started as there is never a perfect time to start. Just get started!”

I smile with satisfaction because I am in a better place now because of my desire to get closer to God. IT HAS BEEN THE BEST DECISION EVER. When I look at the picture I took that night and the one I took now I can gised which made it hard to sleep. I finally see and feel the change. drifted off about 04:00hrs listening to the It was a pleasure to see Hon. Minister of audio bible.

State, Joseph Harmon joining us again for this I don’t intend to waste a day in 2018 and special service. Hon. Raphael Trotman is a neither should you. Share some of the changes member and he was also in attendance. Also, you have already made the first week of this Yldiz Pollack Beighle who is now Foreign brand new year.

Minister for Suriname and a member of Love Email us at beyondtherunway1@gmail. & Faith. Apostle Brooks and the elders prayed com and visit our FB page at beyond the for these ministers to have a progressive runway as we continue this beautiful jourand people-focused year for their respective ney called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

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Greening your New Year’s Resolutions your community give us a call at the EPA or visit our Facebook or Instagram page and leave us a message for more information.

AS WE begin a New Year, the Management and Staff of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) wish all of our readers a prosperous 2018. Traditionally, the beginning of a new year is dubbed the ideal time to start a new chapter in our lives, hence we set our resolutions for the year ahead. We hope you have set goals to enhance your personal and professional development and wish you well in achieving your desired goals.

The EPA hopes the last 12 months of learning and reinforcing how fascinating nature is, were rewarding; moreover we hope you better understand your role in protecting and managing our environment. It is our desire that some of your new year’s resolutions involve becoming good stewards of the environment. Let’s call them our “Green resolutions” for 2018 onwards!

Greening your resolutions will not only go a far way for the environment but will also help to make your surroundings a safe space for yourself and family. It will also save you some needed cash. Here are some small changes you can make to see big results: RESOLUTION 1.

CHOOSE REUSABLE OVER DISPOSABLE During the past year we talked a lot about the importance of choosing reusable items over disposal ones, here is another chance to put it into practice. Choosing reusable products like bottles, cups, batteries, shopping bags, hand towels, cloth napkins etc., can significantly reduce the amount of waste you generate on a daily basis and save you needed cash.

RESOLUTION 2. USE LESS SAVE MORE (ENERGY AND WATER) A great way to start conserving on your electricity and cashing back big on your electricity is by simply designing your space to be energy efficient. Use more natural light during the day, plan well and ensure you turn off and unplug all appliances.

Be smarter when you shop: looking for those appliances with the energy saving star is another great idea on how you and your household can become more energy efficient for 2018.

It’s a new year, so it’s

FINALLY: STOP LITTERING AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME By now you all should know that litter is bad for our health, the economy and the environment. It costs the government unnecessary spending to clean up when that same money can be used to build road, schools and time to fix those old leaking faucets and broken pipes around the home. Ever heard the saying, “a small leak can sink a big ship?” Not only is having leaks around the house a wasteful and careless practice, it can cause a significant spike in your water bill.

It’s also time for you to stop doing the dishes, laundry and brushing your teeth while leaving the tap running. Did you know that brushing your teeth and leaving the tap running causes you to waste at least five gallons of water?

Water is life so save it!

RESOLUTION 3.

EMBARK ON A COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROJECT Are you wondering about a meaningful activity for your community? Embarking on a community enhancement project such as planting trees, clean-ups, parks and green space restoration are great ideas for making your resolution a bit greener and helping to restore the neighbourhood to its former glory.

This will also give you a chance to connect and even reconnect with members of your community. A cleaner community means cleaner air and water for biodiversity to flourish, and people to be productive.

RESOLUTION 4. JOIN OR START AN ENVIRONMENT CLUB This is the perfect “do good, feel good” opportunity to make a fresh start for 2018. Joining or starting an environmental club will help you learn and teach others about the amazing services our environment provides to us free of cost, and what we can do to help take care of it. What better way to learn about your environment through a fun and interactive way by using the environment as your classroom.

You will also help to build your communication and other social skills. If you’re wondering how to locate or start an environment club in

health centers, etc. in communities across Guyana.

Apply these simple but practical resolutions and you’re sure to have a refreshing year ahead!

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.

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‘Mister 500’

By Vanessa Braithwaite

THIRTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD Linden born Leon Labastide is head over heels after he has sold 500 copies of his latest book. While to many, this may not seem as much reason to celebrate, for Leon, who had to overcome multiple hurdles and setbacks, this is a very important accomplishment. The book ‘Pink Cover, Things That Are Important’ was released in October 2016 and within a matter of months over 500 copies were sold out.

Describing how this measure of accomplishment felt for the young author, he said, “I am speechless and at a loss for words.

I am full of joy but at the same time, at a loss for words on the accomplishment of achieving 500 copies sold of something that

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

Guyanese author celebrates sale of first 500 copies of latest book

I have written.

For Leon, this is the pinnacle of his career and a motivation to keep pushing. Looking back on his life, the many anecdotes of his journey to success can be described as a winding road with many bumps, dangerous turns and potholes.

Leon came from humble beginnings, where he grew up in the community of Wisroc, Linden, before migrating to the United States when he was nine years old. It was in High School that his teacher realised he possessed the skill to write. “I started writing from the age of 15- just writing my thoughts down then I started to take classes to get my skills going, writing workshops, college courses and slowly I started writing poetry and my books came right after,” he shared.

Though only in his twenties, Leon authored three books

Guyanese author, Leon Labastide stands in a bookstore where his book ‘Pink Cover’ is being advertised

prior to ‘Pink Cover’ ; ‘Breath of Life Poetry’, ‘Here Comes the Dreamers: the Journey’, and ‘Transparency’. These publications were completed within the span of five years but Pink Cover hit the nail on the head with the overwhelming patronage it received.

It served as a testimony for not giving up though success seemed so far away. “I say all of that to say this, you can take your negatives and turn them into positives. Take your downs and turn them ‘upside up’; I know it sounds weird, but it’s true and it’s doable. ‘Upside up’.”

“What I have noticed is that people love to associate fruits or food groups with life situations. For example, if life gives you lemons, you simply make lemonade. I guess in retrospect, when life gives you a situation, deal with it the best way you know how to because running away is not an option,” he said.

The book focused on the many struggles faced by mankind and how they are often overlooked by those who may not be experiencing the same struggles. Leon’s aim was to highlight the fact that all of humanity’s struggles are important and we should all play a role and lend a hand in the elimination of global issues.

“We have billions of people in this world and each day they are struggling with something, so the book says that everything is important, from cancer, to God, to love, to relationships, to poverty, to racism, to bigotry, to hatred, to your nationality, to domestic violence, suicide- everything is important, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, everyone is struggling with something,” he said.

The book also urges persons to stop protecting the monsters of the world and that it is time to be transparent. “People are drowning, why can’t we help them?” Is the question he poses.

Leon added that this is a thought that sums up what the book aims to advocate.

Labastide has mesmerised hundreds of audiences during his career with his inspirational prose, insightful short stories, and authentic life experiences. Many have experienced his natural talent for storytelling at poetry events, church services, college campuses, motivational conferences, and book tours in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Curaçao and in his homeland Guyana.

Despite migrating to the United States 24 years ago, Labastide continues to pay homage to his homeland in his writing. The book has an entire chapter on Guyana with written expressions of his love and patriotism to his country.

Last year, Labastide launched his three books at the National Library in Georgetown and the Linden Library, while on tour in Guyana. The event was also used as a means of giving back to his homeland. He is anticipating the commencement of creative writing workshops with young Lindeners. The aim is to sift out young talent in Linden and to encourage them to pursue that talent since he believes there is a plethora of hidden talent waiting for the window of opportunity to flourish. Labastide expressed appreciation to all those who would have played a role in the completion of ‘Pink Cover’ and the overwhelming support it received.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XIV

ing owned by his family. The villagers gave him no peace. They were determined to discover his secret one way or another. His life became very, very difficult.

Himara is a fishing village. The villagers depend on catching and selling fish for their livelihood. All along the beach and waterways were boats, nets, floats and engines. Every day they worked hard at their trade but catches were becoming smaller and smaller. They were all hoping for a change of fortunes; a day of a big catch.

From the moment they began to abuse Danesh their luck took a turn for the worse. The fishermen found nets destroyed, floats and lines missing and boats capsized.

Pretty soon they began to fear going out on the water.

Each trip ended in disappointment.

It was old Chetram who stumbled upon the answer.

One day he decided to make the youth talk. Each time he hit Snakie he asked a question.

Ply! “Tell me where you go every day?”

Silence.

Wax! “Who you does meet?”

No answer.

Crack!

“How you could stay underwater so long?”

Tears but no response.

The licks did not seem to budge the boy, all he did was cry and shake his head.

“You all will never catch more fish till everyone stop beating me,” he said.

TESTING THE WATERS Chetram was about to hit him again but this stopped him in his tracks. Could this be true? He hastened to inform the other fishermen and they agreed to test this out. For one whole week, they stopped hitting and cursing Snakie. The next time they went on a fishing trip they made a huge catch. Everyone was so excited at their change of fortune that they forgot all about the experiment.

For the next two weeks, everyone was in high spirits or had consumed a large quantity of same. Whenever they encountered Danesh they treated him as usual. Kelwan was drunk on 10 bottles of High Wine when he ran into Snakie. He immediately began to abuse the boy calling him a weirdo. The lad just smiled and ignored him.

This infuriated the drunk man and he picked up a piece of wood and dealt him some vicious lashes. Unfortunately, he hit him a severe blow to the head and the boy fell unconscious to the ground. He ended up in the hospital and stayed there for three weeks.

During that period the water became a very dangerous place to be. Two boats capsized and a man went missing.

A large fish almost killed another. He was fishing from his boat using a strong line, hook and bait. The fish took the bait and suddenly the craft was being pulled away.

He tugged strongly on the line trying to arrest the movement of the fish. It was the worst thing he could do. With a tremendous jerk, the monster fish pulled him out of the boat and underwater. It was only his experience that saved his life. Quick as a flash, he released the death line and kicked for the surface. He sped to shore in record time. Boats were dragged up onto the shore, a sure sign that fishing had come to a halt in Himara.

The entire Ramoutar family went to visit Danesh.

Soon they reconciled with each other. As soon as he was better they took him home. His parents told him about the bad fortunes of the village fishermen.

“I can make it better but they have to leave me alone or my friend will get angry with them,” the boy said.

“Who is your friend?”

Silence.

“Gavin’s father is dead. His boat turn over.”

Danesh looked at them and smiled.

“I’ll go see my friend maybe she can help,” he said.

He headed for Black Tide once again. This time no one followed him or bothered him. They were now a little afraid of him. That afternoon Danesh returned to the village with Gavin’s dad in tow. He would not say how or where he had found the man. As usual, the poor fellow could remember nothing since the day his boat capsized.

All the dazed fisherman said was: “We have to start treating Snakie better.”

And everyone did, even drunken Kelwan. The fishing industry in the village became very lucrative.

There was never a trip that did not result in a big catch. As for Snake he still goes swimming in Black Tide.

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Bollywood news

Notorious gangster issues death threat to Salman Khan Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi of Rajasthan on Thursday issued a death threat to Salman Khan, saying the

Bollywood actor will be killed in Jodhpur.

"Salman Khan will be killed here, in Jodhpur... Then

he will come to know about our real identity," Bishnoi told media persons while being taken to a Jodhpur court in police security.

Bishnoi was being produced in the court following his arrest on charges of terrorising traders and extorting them.

The gangster claimed that he had been framed in false cases and that to date, not even a single witness had deposed in the court to prove the charges.

"Now, if police want me to do some major crime, I shall kill Salman Khan and that too in Jodhpur," he added.

Bishnoi's death threat to Salman is being linked with the black buck killing case of 1998, in which Salman and his co-actors are accused. It was the Bishnoi community which had brought up the black buck hunting case, and ever since the community considers the Bollywood actor a "villain".

However, some onlookers felt that the gangster talked of killing Salman just to create a sensation.

On Thursday, the actor appeared in the Jodhpur’s Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Rural Court in connection with the hearing in the black buck poaching case.

Bishnoi is a notious gangster and has been charged in over 20 cases of attempt to murder, carjacking, extortion, snatching and under the Arms Act in Punjab-Haryana belt.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

Meltdown and Spectre: All Macs, iPhones and iPads affected Apple has said that all iPhones, iPads and Mac computers are affected by two major flaws in computer chips.

It emerged this week that tech companies have been racing to fix the Meltdown and Spectre bugs, that could allow hackers to steal data.

Billions of PCs, smartphones and tablets around the world are affected - Apple has now confirmed its products are too.

The firm has released some patches to mitigate the Meltdown flaw.

It said there was no evidence that either vulnerability had been exploited yet, but advised downloading software only from trusted sources to avoid "malicious" apps.

Mac users have often believed that their devices and operating systems are less vulnerable to security issues than, for ex-

ample Android phones or computers running Microsoft systems.

The Meltdown and Spectre flaws are found in many modern computer processing units - or microchips - made by Intel and ARM, and together the firms supply almost the entire global computer market.

MELTDOWN AND SPECTRE: HOW CHIP HACKS WORK Computer chip scare: What home users need to know “All Mac systems and iOS devices are affected, but there are no known exploits impacting customers at this time,” Apple

Mark Zuckerberg vows to 'fix' Facebook Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has vowed to "fix" Facebook, in what he described as his personal challenge for 2018.

In a post on his page on the social network, he said it was making too many errors enforcing policies and preventing misuse of its tools.

Mr Zuckerberg has famously set himself challenges every year since 2009. Facebook launched in 2004.

Social media firms have come under fire for allowing socalled fake news ahead of US and other elections to spread.

Facebook in particular has been criticised for allowing Russia-linked political ads in the run-up to the 2016 US presidential vote.

Mr Zuckerberg said he intended to focus on "important issues", which he listed as "protecting our community from abuse and hate, defending against interference by nation states, or making sure that time spent on Facebook is time well spent".

"We won't prevent all mistakes or abuse, but we currently make too many errors enforcing our policies and preventing misuse of our tools," he wrote.

"If we're successful this year then we'll end 2018 on a much better trajectory."

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said in blog post on the issue.

“These issues apply to all modern processors and affect nearly all computing devices and operating systems.”

Apple said it had already released “mitigations” against Meltdown in its latest iPhones and iPad operating system update - iOS 11.2 and the macOS 10.13.2 for its MacBooks and iMacs.

Meltdown does not affect the Apple Watch, it said.

Patches against Spectre, in the form of an update to web browser Safari, will be released “in the coming days”.

Google and Microsoft have already issued statements telling users which products are affected by the bugs.

Google said its Android phones - which make up more than 80% of the global market were protected if users had the latest security updates.

And Microsoft has already released fixes for many of its services.

Windows users should be aware that third-party anti-virus software may need to be updated before applying operating system patches.

Security researcher Kevin Beaumont is maintaining an online list of anti-virus products that have been updated.

Guidance from US cyber-security project CERT, which is funded by the federal government, originally advised computer users that in order to fully remove the vulnerability they would have to “replace” processor hardware.

It has now changed that advice to say users should “apply updates” to mitigate any attacks instead.

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XXX

English STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, You will find that the examinations you take will demand more specialist knowledge, understanding and expertise, as you move through the different levels of education. You will also find that they may become more technical, more involved in abstract ideas and concepts, and more demanding in specialisation and jargon. However they appear, it does not mean that examinations become more difficult to master as you go along.

Think again.

Love you.

GRAMMAR 1.. Inconsistencies in Writing Inconsistencies in information presentation sometimes contribute to low scoring at

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY This mad, wicked folly of “Women’s Rights”.

QUEEN VICTORIA (1819-1901), Letter to Sir Theodore Martin, 29 May, 1870

examinations. Listed below are three examples of inconsistencies in writing that candidates make under examination conditions. They may be of some interest to you.

1. INCORRECT: To maintain a peaceful era, we must recognise the rights of other peoples, and it is necessary to follow a policy to give and take. (Shift in person) CORRECT: To maintain a peaceful era, we must recognise the rights of other peoples, and we must follow a policy to give and take.

2. INCORRECT: To accept substandard infrastructure, explained the consumers’ counsellor, is cheating oneself. (Shift from infinitive to gerund.)

CORRECT: To accept substandard infrastructure, explained the consumers’ counsellor, is to cheat oneself.

3. INCORRECT: In this episode, the prime minister’s son operates an old dilapidated hire car.

He was unable to make a substantial living by this method. (Shift in tense) CORRECT: In this episode, the prime minister’s son operates an old dilapidated hire car. He is unable to make a substantial living by this method.

What to Do Revise the following sentences to eliminate inconsistencies.

1. Leaving the market at this hour is to show discourtesy to your ardent customers, Salisbury.

2. He was annoyed at hearing the BBB newscast and decides to leave the hotel at once.

3. The Ministry of Education sent the package by registered mail instead of a house service delivery.

4. Halley and Haley had been here for fifty-two hours before they notice the signal.

5. In this case, to send him back to his people jobless, without a dollar, no clothes, and when he cannot even speak English is inhuman.

2… Balanced Sentences When you want to emphasise a comparison or contrast or when you want to emphasise a particular idea in a forceful way, you may want to use a “balanced” sentence. This type of sentence is one in which ideas of equal value are expressed in parallel, or similar, constructions.

Balancing Comparisons: To be balanced, comparisons must contain all necessary words; omitting necessary words causes lopsided comparisons. Look at the following sentence: Mr Spencer appreciates your efforts just as much, and maybe more, than I do.

You know that words set off by commas are considered excess baggage and sometimes can be omitted without affecting the basic meaning of the sentence. In the above illustration, however, omission of the words enclosed in commas would produce this meaning: Mr Spencer appreciates your efforts just as much than I do. The use of than in this sentence is inappropriate; therefore the meaning of the sentence is shrouded.

If, however, you correctly insert the second as, and if you place the commas correctly, you will have the following balanced comparison: Mr Spencer appreciates your efforts just as much as, and maybe more than, I do.

To fix this principle in your mind, study one more illustration and explanation.

Do you believe that the office staff is less interested in profits than salespeople?

As written, this question is a request for your opinion as to whether the office staff is less interested in profits than they are in salespeople. For balance and clarity the comparison should be phrased this way: Do you believe that the office staff is less interested in profits than salespeople are (interested)?

THE PASSAGE Understanding meaning After the scooter competition that had taken place in the abandoned airfield, the judges didn’t know what to do. The rain had been so thick that they couldn’t possibly tell who was first. So they decided to ask three competitors what they had seen. Each of them, Johnson, Sammy and London, made two statements but unfortunately one of the three boys did not tell the truth. The other two told the truth. Here is what each of them said.

Can you help the judges to find who the first three competitors were?

Johnson said, “I was first. The last was London!

Sammy said, “Johnson wasn’t first. The second was London.”

Sheldon said, “I was just before Johnson. Sammy was second.”

Respond to the following questions to solve the problem. a) Can both Johnson and Sammy tell the truth about London? b) Therefore, can you tell whether London lies or tells the truth? c) Now that you know whether London tells the truth or not, consider his statement and compare it to what Johnson and Sammy said. Who told the truth: Johnson or Sammy? d) Now consider the information in the statements of the competitors who told the truth.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 7, 2018

Entertainment

What it takes to be Britain’s best music producer The Brits have named Steve Mac as the best British Producer of 2017.

He'll pick up the award on 21 February after he co-write and produced the most streamed track of all time, Ed Sheeran's Shape of You. Last year he also worked with Pink, Rita Ora and Zara Larsson and is off to a busy start this year.

We had a chat with him before he went to work on "another tune with Liam" (yes, Liam Payne) for some tips on how to become a Brit-winning producer.

Newsbeat spoke to Steve last year about his career and the making of Shape of You Know your role in the studio.

Steve explains: “A good producer can bring the best out of artists.”

“The artists I work with are great and know what they want to do but I can hopefully bring the best out them, whether we’re song-writing together or I’m just recording their vocals and producing the track.”

He also says a producer should never feature on the final track.

“Nobody wants to hear that, he says.

“If you ask with any of the artists I’ve worked with and they’ll tell you

the same.

“I’m not necessarily the best singer in the world and that’s why I stay behind the board!”

He’s already worked with Tom Walker, who is on the long list for the BBC Sound of 2018.

Talking about producing his recent single Leave A Light On, Steve said: “I think he’s got a massive future, he’s great and I see big things for him.”

Souse Ingredients: 400g Trotters or cow heel 400g Face and Ears (beef or pork) 400g Shoulder steak (beef or pork) Juice of 4 large lemons or 5 large limes 125 ml vinegar Salt to taste 1-2 cucumbers 100g onions Eschallot Celery 1 l water Instructions: Carefully clean meat with lime juice, removing all hairs.

Boil in lightly salted water until tender, but not broken up. Place meat in a colander and run cold water over it to remove excess fat. Discard water in which meat has been boiled.

Allow to cool. Peel and slice cucumber, onions and pepper, chop eschallot and celery.

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Prepare marinade with lime and/or lemon juice and vinegar, and about 1 1/2 pints water and salt to taste.

Arrange meat, onion, pepper, celery, eschallot and cucumber in layers in a deep dish, ending with a layer of cucumber, sprinkle with rings of pepper, chopped eschallot and celery.

Pour over enough of marinade to come up to topmost layer of cucumber. Set aside at room temperature for at least 3 or 4 hours.

N.B. Trotters and ears can be cooked in a pressure cooker until half done before adding remainder of meat to simmer.