Dr. Shawn Legall of the GPHC
Regular medical checks
– Can help find, prevent or delay health problems ► Page
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Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
Regular medical checks – Can help find, prevent or delay health problems
By M. Margaret Burke ‘PREVENTION is better than cure’ – one of those old sayings that can make a lot of sense when spoken in relation to health or sickness. It may be hard to find a person who wouldn’t mind being sick; even in the least bit of not enjoying good health; the fear of having to be laid up in bed, needing people to constantly meet, even your very basic needs, is something most people would dread. At public health institutions, where healthcare is most times free or subsidised, and where most of their healthcare facilities are being upgraded and becoming more available, there are still many people who would prefer to face-up to the rising cost of healthcare in the private institutions for whatever their needs are. Many highlight their busy work schedules and not having the time to “waste” to just sit and wait for very long periods to see the doctor at public institutions. However, regardless of where a person may go to have his or her regular medical checks, the fact is that such doctors’ visits can mean the difference between life and death. HEALTH EDUCATOR AND ADVOCATE In a recent interview with Guyanese Dr. Shawn Legall, a senior and very active doctor of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, he advanced the view that, “Regular checks-up gives you the sense of how your body functions because a lot of people are unaware of what are abnormal signs of sickness in their bodies… So it gives you a chance to get familiar with your body. The other thing is that it’s a good opportunity for you and the doctor to have that one-to-one, because the doctor has functions too; because as a doctor he educates and advocates, so he, during that time has more of a one-to-one and it usually provides for some amount of counselling. So the doctor has the opportunity to give the patient information about health issues and follow-up; he also counsels the patient on dietary mea-
sures, weight-related issues and that kind of stuff,” Dr. Legall said. MORE PREVALENT NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES Dr. Legall, in further discourse on the matter of regular medical checks, urged that with a change in attitude by many more people, as it relates to their health, there will be less frequency of some of the more prevalent diseases. “The other thing too is that for our population, diabetes and hypertension are two of the more prevalent non-communicable diseases and both of them – if you check on them, unless you are highly suspicious, it is very difficult to diagnose them because hypertension itself is asymptomatic (a condition or a person that shows no symptom). Unless you go and get tested, you hardly ever know. The other thing with diabetes is that most times when a person becomes diagnosed with diabetes it is already five, ten years in the making. PRE-DIABETIC STATES “So there are pre-diabetic states and during those states if the person is able to (what we say in medicine – nature/ nurture), i.e. you are able to take corrective action, then the ill-effects can be delayed or avoided,” he said. Dr. Legall explained that the pre-diabetic states are characterised by the presence of higher than normal blood glucose levels, even though it is not yet high enough to be classed as diabetes. Additionally, while diabetes develops very gradually, some of the symptoms such as the bathroom visits that are more frequent; feelings of being hungrier than normal; losing weight, despite eating more; being thirstier than normal; feeling more tired than usual, are some of the important signs that the disease might be present. He further stated that people need not lose hope, since there are treatments that may stall diabetes from taking over the body. “This, as doctors would say,
require ‘serious lifestyle changes’, which would include better eating, exercise, and possibly losing some weight. However, with regular medical checks, the doctor will walk you through the necessary steps, while monitoring you along the way,” he reminded. THE FLIP SIDE Dr. Legall went on to explain that while regular medical examinations are very important for the individual; there can sometimes be adverse effects for some people, who may receive (medical) information, which can be unnecessarily alarming. “What some people get as a result of medical examinations is that it induces some anxiety in the patient; they become overly worried when they get knowledge of their physical/ medical condition. The other thing too is that unnecessary exploration usually leads to unnecessary intervention and that is more pronounced when talking about prostate disease, where people may do a screening test. Otherwise, I think that is a very useful test for educating the patient and developing that rapport and allowing for confidence-building in patients, especially in the Guyanese situation,” Dr. Legall offered. WE LIMIT OUR POTENTIAL “We limit our potential, in that most people may say that if you are 60 or 70, you have lived your ‘max’, but we know that that is not true in the world today; people’s ‘max’ would be a 100, a 100 – plus. “You could only reach those ‘max’ if you have taken certain corrective steps in life; if you don’t then you will ‘max out’ early,” the doctor emphasised. CANCER Medicine taught us that cancer is damage to the cells, the DNA. So, in order for cancer to be formed there is what is called pre-cancer changes in the cells, so there are pre-malignant changes, which can be shown by pap smears and other examinations, Dr. Legall said. Clearly, regular health exams and tests can help find problems before they start. They can also help find these problems (if any) early, when the chances for treatment and cure are better. By getting the right health services, screenings, and treatments, people are taking steps that can certainly help their chances for living longer, healthier lives. The age of a person; their health and family history; lifestyle choices, for example, what is consumed, their physical and maybe in some cases mental activities – (whether he/she smokes), along with other important factors serve to make a difference in how often healthcare becomes a requirement for a person. Studies have revealed and Dr. Legall has confirmed that there is a growing demand to continue educating physicians to be socially responsible. A physician’s place in society is closely tied to a moral sense of responsibility related to the agreed-on professional characteristics of physician -hood in society, the capacity to carry out that role, and the circumstances under which such professionals are called to account for failing to act appropriately according to that role. It is felt that the requirement for such social responsibility is a moral commitment and duty. mercilinburke2017@gmail.com
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
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International, regional and Guyanese poems recited at World Poetry Day ORAL TRADITION lovers were treated to an exciting evening of poetry at the Umana Yana where the Education Ministry’s National School of Theater Arts and Drama hosted an event in observance of World Poetry Day. International, regional and Guyanese poems were presented under the theme “Transformation.” In his remarks, Director of the NSTAD – Al Creighton highlighted that World Poetry Day is entirely different from World Storytelling Day since the former was officially declared by the United Nations. Like World Story Day, Creighton explained that more documentation is needed on the origin and development of World
World Poetry Day is the occasion to honour poets, revive oral traditions of poetry recitals, promote the reading, writing and teaching of poetry, foster the convergence between poetry and other arts such as theatre, dance,
Poetry Day. UNESCO first adopted March 21 as World Poetry Day during its 30th General Conference in Paris in 1999, with the aim of supporting linguistic diversity through poetic expression and increasing the opportunity for endangered languages to be heard.
music and painting, and raise the visibility of poetry in the media as poetry continues to bring people together across the continents. Turn to page IX ►►►
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Racial disturbances in 1964 led to…
2 families exchanging homes and ending in litigation IN VIEW OF racial disturbances in Guyana in 1964, the appellant and the respondent orally agreed to exchange their houses. But when things appeared to return to normalcy, the respondent London called upon the appellant Chung to return to his original house which he refused to and contended that the agreement was intended to be permanent. However, following a prosecution by the respondent for the offence of trespass it was objected in defence that the magistrate had no jurisdiction because there was a bona fide dispute to title to immovable property within the meaning of s.10 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Ordinance, Cap. 14. The magistrate overruled the objection and convicted the appellant. The appellant appealed to the Full Court, constituted by Justices H. B. S. Bollers and P.A. Cummings. The Full Court set aside the conviction and sentence by the magistrate, with costs to the appellant. The Full Court held: (i) There was no evidence that the appellant’s claim was not bona fide, the circumstance that the agreement was not in writing being far from conclusive having regard to the fact that the agreement was reached at a time of emergency and national distress. (ii) when an objection is raised under s.10 of Cap, 14 the magistrate must first inquire into so much of the case as is necessary to enable him to rule on the objection, before inquiring into the merits of the case. (iii) s.33 (e) of Cap. 14 requires clear proof of criminal intent on the part of the defendant in remaining on the premises after having been requested by the owner to depart therefrom. Consequently, if the appellant honestly and genuinely felt, even if erroneously so, that he was under the agreement, entitled to remain in the house, no offence could have been committed by him.
Appeal allowed. Zaman Ali for the appellant. A.O. H. Holder for the respondent. Judgment of the Court: This appeal arises out of a private prosecution by the respondent brought against the appellant in the magistrate’s court whereby the appellant was convicted of the offence of trespass to property, contrary to s. 33(e) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Ordinance ,Cap. 14. The particulars of the conviction order are as follows: “That John Chung on the 5th July, 1965, at Ocean View Uitvlugt, West Coast, Demerara, within the West Demerara Judicial District, having lawfully entered upon the complainant’s house and land remained thereon after having been required by the complainant to depart therefrom.” The case for the prosecution in the court below as disclosed by the evidence of the respondent (complainant) and his witness, a police constable, was, that during the month of May, 1964, there were racial disturbances, between the two major race groups on the West Coast Demerara, and it was agreed between the respondent, who lived at Uitvlugt, a predominantly Indian area and the appellant (defendant) who lived at Stewartville, a predominantly African area, that there should be a temporary exchange of houses between them until the disturbances had ceased and the situation had returned to normal. The house at Uitvlugt was on the land held by him under a lease from Bookers Sugar Estates, Ltd., whereas the appellant’s house at Stewartville was on land owned by him by virtue of a transport. As a result of the agreement , the respondent and his family on, the 14th day of May, 1964, proceeded to occupy the appellant’s house at Stewartville, and the appellant and his family occupied the respondent’s house at UItvlugt, the respondent placing a notice outside the appellant’s residence which read, ”Property occupied by London” and a notice
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
Court Case Files
By George Barclay outside of his own residence, “Property occupied by Chung.” Furniture was moved by both parties to the agreement to the respective houses, but the respondent left under his house in the yard a blackboard, an old table, a drum containing two gallons of paint oil and a box, all of which he claimed not to have abandoned. In conclusion the Full Court judgment added: “It must also be pointed out that under the agreement which the magistrate found to exist, the respondent could only have required the appellant to leave the premises if the situation had returned to normal after the racial disturbances. There was no firm evidence at all on this aspect of the matter but the mere ipse dixit of the respondent under cross-examination that to his mind had ceased in January, 1965. It could not then be properly said that in the circumstances the appellant was “lawfully required” to depart from the “land to other place.” For these reasons the appeal must be allowed and the conviction and sentence of the magistrate set aside with costs to the appellant fixed at $25 plus the cost of the record. Appeal allowed.
Worse than toothache
TOOTH infections are common as the mouth is full of bacteria. The usual manifestations of oral infection are tooth decay, gum disease and impacted wisdom teeth. Some people are more prone to infections if they have poor oral hygiene or have less saliva in the mouth because of taking too many medicines. Good health and nutrition also play important roles for our defense ability against infections. However heavy smokers are also at great risk of developing oral infections. A dental abscess, however, is worse than a toothache because it implicates more organs. Pus discharging from the gums may not be painful when there is no pressure build-up. However when the pus is trapped it forms a “balloon”, (an abscess), and it can be very painful and debilitating for the entire body. If you should realize that you have an abscess or begin to feel a slight swelling, you must have it checked by your dentist as soon as possible and have it managed early. Hot salt mouth washes are particularly useful in the meantime, but smoking will make things worse. If an abscess exists, the pus could spread further and make things worse. For example, an abscess below the tongue can kill a person. Medicines alone will not work and the pus must be drained at the clinic as soon as possible. This drainage will give you relief immediately. It is essential to identify the tooth which is causing your infection and you must have it either treated or extracted. Even if an abscess is painless but you do not know it is there, you must never hesitate to seek treatment as early as possible. Keeping abscesses in the mouth is not healthy for you and the bacteria can leak into your bloodstream and be carried to other body organs. This is called septicemia and is
potentially deadly. The gum line is in fact an open gateway for bacteria to enter your bloodstream, known as bacteremia. This is why it is so important to keep your teeth as clean as possible, particularly at gum line. Unknowingly minute traces of bacteria do enter our bloodstream everyday from our gums at the gum lines. Under normal circumstances, as these traces are indeed minute, our body defenses protect us enough from their harm and we would never fall ill because of it. But when the condition evolves into an abscess, the bacteremia becomes septicemia. There is direct correlation between gingival abscesses due to gum disease and heart disease and researchers have found that people who have gum disease are twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease. One theory for this is that the bacteria which enter the bloodstream via the abscess can
travel and infect the already accumulated fat within the coronary artery to damage it further. The heart, and in particular the heart valves, are at risk of infection. Those who have already had their heart valves damaged by Rheumatic Fever at childhood are at great risk of becoming infected again during life by oral bacteria (S.viridans) and a next attack can cause the fatal condition known as Infective Endocarditis (I.E.). This re-infection is most unaffordable. It is now thought that maintaining the highest standard of daily oral hygiene all-year round is a real life saver. People who have had their heart valves damaged before and visit their dentists for a scale and polish or tooth examination, should have an antibiotic medicine taken orally one hour before hand. Gum disease and abscesses in the mouth should never be tolerated as they can be a good source of bacteria for infecting the heart. Did you know that your maxillary sinuses exist just above your upper back teeth? The roots of these teeth are pointing upwards towards these sinuses and sometimes their tips even penetrate right into them. If any upper back teeth should develop an abscess, the bacteria and pus can spread from its roots to eventually enter the brain.
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Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017 #SupportCreativity
By Subraj Singh
Beauty and the Beast Bill Condon’s
The new live-action Beauty and the Beast movie is one of a long string of adaptations that are coming from Disney. Several of their animated films (Mulan, The Lion King, etc.) are due for live-action film adaptations in the upcoming years. While for Disney, this is a concept that will definitely be a sure recipe for financial success, as remaking classic animated films, which already have an existing body of devoted audiences, will definitely draw people in because there is a part of all us that wants to see our favourite characters come to life, and the live-action adaptations is the closest we can get to that. Bill Condon is the director of a couple of the Twilight movies, but thankfully such information becomes shocking when you see the work he does in Beauty and the Beast, which, really is quite a very good adaptation of the Disney film. To talk about Beauty and the Beast, means we have to talk about Belle – the film’s heroine and one of the most endearing female characters to come from Disney. Emma Watson as Belle is one of the best aspects of the movie. She performs the role in such a way that she ensures her version of Belle is wholly her own while not, in any way, losing nuance and development of character. Watson gives the role the perfect amount of charm, wit and strength and by the end of the film, you are convinced after seeing her performance, you can no longer envision any other actress in the part. Also, rather surprisingly, she can sing, which makes you think back to what La La Land would have been like if she had been cast in the part that went to Emma Stone. But, that’s a story for another day. Emma Watson in Beauty and the Beast reminds us that she is a strong actress and a young woman who is more than capable of carrying an entire film on her own while surrounded, as the only human character, for a lot of the time, by talking CGI-rendered housewares. While on the subject of the animated characters in the film: Lumiere (Ewan McGregor), Cogsworth (Ian McKellen), Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson), Madame de Garderobe (Audra McDonald), Plumette (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) and others, are all im-
peccable voiced and impeccably rendered. The voice work is extremely strong and characters become such a vital element of the story, and even though they are not in every scene in the film, each one of them finds a presence that the audience misses when the scene moves from the castle shifts to the village and the characters there. Ironically, out of all the CGI characters, it is the Beast who appears least interesting, which is odd considering that he has the largest role and one of the most vital presences in the original film. The new Beast (voiced by Dans Stephens) is perfectly okay, but is not extraordinary. Perhaps, it is because, as a character, a lot of his own development comes from his interaction with other people. We learn of his temper only when he rages at Belle and his servants. We learn that he can be funny, when Belle points it out. We learn that he is falling in love with the girl when other characters say it. How does the Beast show his own development as a character though? The Beast seems to be written in such a way that he depends too much on others to unveil his own character. Nevertheless, the visual effects used to bring him and the host of other characters to life is breathtaking and it is very possible that Beauty and the Beast will nab a Visual Effects Oscar nomination next year. In a wonderful departure from the original film, the character of LeFou (Josh Gad) is presented as gay, with a crush on Gaston (Luke Evans). Both actors deliver extremely strong performances and along with Kevin Kline, as Belle’s father, the trio of actors are compelling to watch and more than make up for the underwhelming character of the Beast, who is supposed to be the actual male lead. Luke Evans, in particular, is terrific as the vain Gaston. Overall, Beauty and the Beast is a thoroughly enjoyable family film, and while one does wish, sometimes, that the exact scenes from the original film were not so faithfully re-represented in this live-action version, there are enough differences (such as the inclusion of new songs, including the beautiful, “Days in the Sun”) to make the film stand on its own as an extremely successful Disney venture.
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Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
John Fernandes & sponsor footwear drive
By Michel Outridge
THE CHILDREN of John Fernandes Housing Scheme, Georgetown benefitted from 78 pairs of shoes last Monday when representatives of Enhance. Potential. Inspire. Change (EPIC) Guyana visited the area. According to EPIC Guyana Executive Director Brian Backer they responded to requests from overseas-based Guyanese, who after reading the story carried by this newspaper titled “Christmas in the ghetto� which appeared in its December 25, 2016 edition, wanted to do something for the children there. He related that a hamper which contained groceries was presented to a resident by EPIC, compliments of one of their local partners, John Fernandes Group of Companies. At the footwear distribution exercise on Monday the recipients (all children) were very pleased to be receiving footwear and expressed thanks in the presence of their parents. Backer added that EPIC was established last year and they have had several back-toschool footwear drives in partnership with their overseas sponsors. He explained that when they first visited the area they recognised the need for children to be outfitted with school footwear. EPIC Guyana then launched a drive and
the response was successful, as such the distribution was possible on Monday. EPIC Guyana is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working to help children who have had law enforcement contact and are detained in the Juvenile Holding Centre at Sophia, Georgetown. Meanwhile, EPIC Administrator Winston Martindale said their primary focus was to assist youths who were housed at the Juvenile Holding Centre in Sophia but they have had several other programmes. He told the Guyana Chronicle that EPIC Programme Coordinator Surujdai Mukhram and a representative of John Fernandes Group of Companies pose with the hamper before it was presented to a resident of John Fernandes Housing Scheme EPIC found that teens who were on with coping skills to make their stay better. Martindale pointed out that with the remand were placed in the centre which is not Martindale added that they have several youths being away from their homes and suitable for them. As such, they provide them motivational speakers in place to talk to the families some of them find it difficult to youths periodically and they have collaborat- cope, and they recognised that there was the ed with Carnegie School of Home Economics need for them to be treated as children and where they have classes in craft. not hardened criminals. He stated that at any given time there are He added that some of the teens also about 35 teens housed at the location and came from dysfunctional backgrounds and for their birthdays they would partner with homes and EPIC reaches out to them in a companies to provide them with ice-cream, meaningful way hoping they would make cake and pizza. better choices thereafter.
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
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Consumers must protect themselves from ubiquitous substandard imports BY THE 1990's Guyana had adopted the Free Market and Globalization which were promoted throughout the Western World as being the most successful way in which a country's economic life could be structured. Both theories advocated free imports from any part of the world as well as the abolition of all currency controls and Guyana has been conducting its economic life in accordance with these doctrines. This has led to goods from all parts of the world being imported into the Guyana market resulting in a great number of substandard goods being sold everywhere. This situation contrasts with a few decades previously when the overwhelming majority of imported consumer goods derived from Western countries which had strong national and manufacturing standards. Most goods had well-known brand names and were properly labelled and consumers used them with confidence. Now, the consumer must be careful to read labels and carefully examine goods being purchased, especially foodstuffs, drugs and toiletries. This situation puts an added inspection burden on the Food and Drugs Department, the National Bureau of Standards and Consumer Protection bodies. Many of these substandard foods, drugs and toiletries are injurious to health. Of recent weeks, the Food and Drugs Department under its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Marlon Cole, has been able to prevent the entry into the Guyana market of a shipment of tuna from China where the producer tried to deceive consumers by using a name which could easily be confused with "Brunswick" a well-known North American producer. This tuna could easily have deceived the unsuspecting Guyanese consumer. Then there was the banning of condensed milk from Malaysia - a vegetable product trying to pass itself as a diary product. Brazilian meat imports were temporarily banned in several countries owing to health fears and this resulted in the accumulation of massive quantities of unsold meat which became spoilt. Some manufacturers, including some well-known brand names like Friboi and Swift were using the spoilt meat to make sausages for the export market, some of which was imported into Guyana. The Brazilian government was able to track down the offending manufacturers and informed Guyana. The Food and Drugs Department was able to take immediate action. Had that sausage entered Guyana, it would very likely have been used by fast-food restaurants. Other examples of substandard foods brought into the country are mints from Holland with far too much menthol that could
damage one's stomach, pastas of the lowest grade from Korea and "olive oil", 80% of which was soya oil, from Brazil. A major danger of these substandard food imports lies in the poor hygienic conditions in which they are produced and in the case of canned foods, they often contain ingredients other than what they purport to be, as for example, bits of shark or pork in fish. They often have no expiry date. These substandard foods could be very harmful to health. The same position occurs in toiletries. Some years ago, in Panama, at least 200 people were known to have died from using a tooth paste exported from China. Also from China to Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean was "Colgate tooth paste" packed exactly like the genuine Colgate. The fraud was uncovered by the box stating that place of manufacture was South Africa when Colgate did not have any factory in that country. Or cheap lip-stick which damage the skin of the user's lips. Drug imports are beset with even more problems. The drugs produced by the six or eight multi-nationals such as Glaxo, Novartis and Pfifer are probably the only drugs one could use with full confidence. Drugs sourced from the developed countries are not necessarily safe or of good quality. Some years ago, for example, a supplier from Hamburg, Germany had secured a great part of the Guyana market for certain drugs, until the Bureau of Standards, having received many complaints of the quality of their drugs, did some research into the Company. They found that the Company did not manufacture any drug but instead had unauthorized low-grade Third World producers making the drugs for them which they labelled as if they were German-made. The Bureau had imports from that company immediately banned. Recognized Indian companies have been producing top-of-the line generics which are sold all over the world including Europe and North America. All the big multi-national drug companies are established in India and an Indian-produced Vicks or Dettol is the same as the Western-produced, except it may be less expensive. Indian drugs imported into Guyana are from the reputable companies. Though the Bureau of Standards, the Food and Drugs and the Consumer bodies do their best to protect the public from substandard imports, they are all under-funded and could only do a limited amount of regulating and policing. The onus rests on the consumer to protect himself or herself. In protecting one's self, one has to read labels thoroughly looking for country of production, ingredients, measures, expiry dates and be sure that instructions are clear and labels are written in English. Also, one must physically
examine the product and ascertain it is the same as one had used before. If any of these requirements is absent, then do not purchase the product. One may also
alert the consumer protection bodies who would take immediate action so as to help other unsuspecting consumers from being victims of substandard goods.
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Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
"Insightful Poetry and Powerful Women" By Francis Quamina Farrier
breath-taking Mount Roraima, which Guyana shares with neighbouring Brazil and Venezuela. LAST WEEK I focused on World Poetry Day. So while I detest that "self scorn" statement by Three weeks ago I focused on Guyana breaking some Guyanese that "Guyana is below sea level", I the Glass Ceiling 50 years ago, and the fact that have to point out that there is a positive side to my disGuyana has had many women in very influential gust. High profile businessman Capt. Gerry Gouveia, positions, in both the Private and Public Sectors, who is "Guyanese to de bone", has named one of his including the presidency. During the past three companies "Roraima Airways". weeks, I have received some very interesting feedObviously, the veteran airplane pilot and graduate back to those two feature articles, and that has of the Guyana National Service is extremely proud of made me decide to juxtapose some aspects of the the mountainous areas of his native land. He has flown two; Women of great influence, and the sub-culover those mountains countless times, sometimes at ture of so many Guyanese, who seem to embrace night bringing gravely ill or seriously injured fellow "self-scorn", as expressed by Martin Carter in Guyanese from the hinterland, who need urgent medone of his more popular poems, "I come from the ical attention in the city. Niggeryard." Many lives have been saved because of his bravery Let me first reveal one of my principal national pet and dedication. So how could people who were born peeves; Guyanese who just love to say that "Guyana in Guyana not think of all those mountains and state is below sea level." That statement really bothers and that "Guyana is below sea level"? Is it the sort of "self angers me. While still a pre-teen, my all-time favourite scorn" which poet Martin Carter wrote about? teacher, Ms. Edwards, taught us at the St. Ann's AngliIn his epic poem, "The Legend of Kaieteur", A.J. can School at Agricola that, "The coast land of Guyana Seymour wrote, regards the water of the Mighty Kaiis below sea level at high tide." So when people omit Haitian-born Canadian Governor-General (2005-2010) The Rt. Hon. Michaelle eteur, "...pause on the lip, commit themselves to space, saying, "The Coast Land" and "At High Tide", I usu- Jean, inspecting the Guard of Honour in Ottawa, Canada and dive the half mile to the rocks below." Now let ally want to scream. Instead, however, I remember my us reason, how would that water plunge 741 feet, if wonder whether there is some measure of self-scorn by those dear teacher Ms. Edwards and feel blessed to have had the Kaieteur Falls was below sea level? Also, where her instill such important knowledge to me, when I was still Guyanese who state that "Guyana is below sea level." Here would the water in our many canals go, when the kokers are is a country with two magnificent mountain ranges - the opened, if they were all below sea level, all the time? In fact, a young native of our Dear Land of Guyana. So why have I related this fact of my early education? It Pakaraimas in the north Rupununi, Region Number Eight, would there be kokers in the first place. connects with poetry; the poetry of Guyana's National poet, and the Kanaku in Region Number Nine, which separates the Beyond Guyana's border is the country of Haiti, a sister Martin Carter. In his poem "I Come from the Niggeryard," north and south Rupununi savannahs. Two lofty mountain Caricom country generally classified as being the poorest Martin Carter included "...and the scorn of myself." So I ranges. There is also Mount Ayanganna and of course, the country in the western hemisphere, and very despised by many. Even Mother Nature, it seems, has been giving Haiti more than its fair share of catastrophes. That country has over the decades, suffered from so many Natural Disasters, such as deadly earthquakes at times and deadly hurricanes at other times, which result in the deaths of hundreds of people and millions of dollars worth of damages. Haiti is also referred to as "the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere". It is a country which so many Guyanese seem to disrespect. We who are fortunate to live in a country which does not experience such catastrophes as earthquakes and hurricanes, hardly ever pause to count our blessings and thank Mother Nature for being so kind to us. So many of us seem to wallow in "self-scorn," continually berating our Mother Guyana. They could find nothing good to say about "Our Native Land." One of the most influential women in Haiti is award-winning poet, playwright and University Professor, Evelyne Trouillot. Most Guyanese never pause to think how Haitians exist and in many cases prosper, in a country so poor and so bedeviled with so many catastrophes. Many Haitians are high achievers, especially in education. Out of Haiti have come so many great international personalities, including a Governor-General in the person of the Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean who served as the Governor-General of Canada from 2005 to 2010. Here is a woman of African descent who hails from the poorest country in the hemisphere, becoming Governor-General of one of the richest and largest countries in the hemisphere. On International Women's Day, March 8, 2017, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, made the announcement that African-Canadian Viola Desmond of Nova Scotia, would be the first woman in the history of Canada, whose image would be placed on a Canadian banknote - a $10 bill. Over 26,000 submissions were received, but that African-Canadian was finally selected by the panel of judges. Viola Desmond is regarded as the Rosa Parks of Canada; the only difference is that she fought racial segregation not from an incident on a bus but in a cinema. She was a successful business woman and someone of means. Her rise to prominence in Canada came about when she had dared to buy a ticket for the whites-only section of a cinema and when arrested and thrown into jail, she fought that injustice in a court of law, and won the case, becoming a Canadian heroine, much like Rosa Parks in neighbouring America. The $10 bill bearing her image will be out next year, 2018. During the run-up to the 2015 General Elections in Guyana, there was the cry, "It is time". Well, it is certainly time for Guyanese to stop being so full of self-scorn, and hail our heroes and heroines, in Guyana and beyond, especially our Mother Guyana, a country which is not below sea level - but a country with many lofty mountains where sharp-eyed Harpy eagles soar to the blue heavens and the Mighty Kaieteur Falls plunge 741 feet to the gorge below.
folklore THE PASSIVE PASSENGER Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
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By Neil Primus
BALRAM had the only donkey cart in Springfield. This ensured that he held a monopoly on odd jobs. He moved furniture, lumber, steel, junk, garbage and people. Yes. He even dressed up his cart to attend funerals. Balram was married and had one daughter. His wife was a stay-at-home mom and he earned the money to support the family. Every day he could be seen traversing the village and sometimes going farther afield. Most of the villagers just jumped on when he went by. Even when he ordered them off most of them chose to ignore him. He stopped trying. One particular Friday Balram had a full schedule. Move six loads of sand to the Freeman’s residence. Carry five bags of cow-dung to Mr. Ali’s farm. Pick up two loads of garbage and dump it in the nearby landfill, and haul three carts of scrap iron to Lambert’s Scrap Iron Depot. By the time he had completed his work it was dark and ◄◄◄ From page III
In her message, the Director-General of UNESCO, Ms. Irina Bokova, stated that “poetry has a power that has no match. This is the power to shake us from everyday life and to remind us of the beauty that surrounds us and the resilience of the shared human spirit.” She emphasized that poetry remains more vital than ever, in a time of turbulence, as a source
he was exhausted. On this particular night a full moon was out. It was Friday the 13th and most folk had gone home before dark. Not Balram. One thing he wasn’t and that was superstitious. On his way home that night he passed the local burial ground. Turning into the village, he urged Paddy to generate more speed. Paddy was his loyal donkey. It was a hard working animal and Balram took good care of him. Whenever he drank himself silly and passed out on the cart, the animal would take him straight home. On those numerous occasions he would be awakened by the scorching sunlight the next day. He swung into Springfield and gave Paddy a light tap with his whip. He never beat his donkey. There was no need to. The two had a strong bond of friendship. The touch of the whip did not bring the results he had hoped for. “Pheeeeee wheeeeeet!”
A piercing whistle penetrated the night and caused Balram to grimace in pain from the volume. He glanced back to see a man sitting on the cart. He did not hear the man get on. “Where you going old boy?” No answer “You going into the village?” Silence The man’s only activity was a piercing whistle every now and then. These loud, shrill outbursts were causing Balram ears some amount of pain and he had developed goose bumps after the first one. When he passed by the church and glanced back, the passenger was gone. He did not hear him leave either. Balram headed home. He couldn’t get the strange whistle out of his head. He started to whistle. Even though it was not as loud it still gave him goose bumps. When Balram reached home he ran into an unexpected problem. His wife refused to
open the door. “Who are yu?” demanded the frightened woman. “Yo husband? Open de dam door!” She complied. “Wat de hell wrong wid you woman?” Balram was irritated by her strange behaviour. “I…I… thought it was me great uncle Sunil. He dead long time but he does whistle same way.” Balram’s anger dissolved and worry replaced it “How he stay?” “He get bald head, pot belly and a ugly mustache.” Balram almost passed out. His passenger was Uncle Sunil. Balram now carries a stout piece of stick for unwanted passengers. So if you are visiting Springfield and a donkey cart goes by, don’t jump on or you know what? Crack!
of hope, as a way to share what it means to live in this world. “By celebrating poetry today, we celebrate our ability to join together, in a spirit of solidarity, to scale and climb “the cloudy summits of our time.” We need this to take forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to implement the Paris Climate Agreement, to ensure no woman or man is left behind,” Bokova underscored. It is against that backdrop
that the poets featured in last evening’s activity presented pieces that dealt with the transformation of the self, of space, love, rebirth, society, women, poverty, race and gender. Some of the featured poets included Olga Addo, Clinton Duncan, Gabrielle Mohamed, Miriam Leitao, Sara Bharrat, Lloyda Nicholas, Mark Luke-Edwards, Charlene Wilkinson, Keiba Ife Murray, Jemima Stephenson, Dr. Seeta Roath, Salimah Husain, Joashaha Drakes, Ric Couchman, Petamber Persaud and Lloyd N De Arts.
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Finding Your Purpose WHILE travelling to Suriname, I was thinking: what do I share today from Beyond the Runway…? After having such a hectic week as March came to a close, people were asking how tired I was. Of course a bit of tiredness is stepping in but when you love what you do, your reserve energy kicks in automatically. The INSPIRE YOU event was truly inspirational. The speakers were all dynamic and very diverse. Although Anna McKoy did a virtual presentation her energy was so high, it was as if she was in the room, with us. She shared a very profound meaning of inspire defining the meaning of every letter. Her message was about finding who you are and giving the best version of you. Pamela Robinson who came to Guyana for the first time spoke about finding your purpose and she shared her story about her early pregnancy and hitting rock bottom and how she recovered and why it is important to share your story. My friend Linda Wallace shared the message of hope from Aruba. All the way from London, Sherry Dixon’s message was about the importance of branding yourself. She had so much humor in her presentation and the audience received her well. Kerrensa Gravesande spoke about her career in a male-dominated industry and how she copes daily with staying relevant; from sometimes the only woman in the boardroom to being mistaken for the person making the coffee. Hilda Bournes shared her very emotional story of abuse from her grandfather from an early age which continued into her adult life. She wrote a book called Nell’s Nightmare which has details that it’s truly heart rendering and will jerk a few tears. That book was released that same day and went to number one in two categories. The Hon. Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes, Hon. Minister Valarie Lowe, Mrs. Sita Nagamottoo, wife of the Hon. Prime Minister Moses Nagamottoo, were all in high praises of the event and so were the other patrons. Some of the comments include: “I am so charged up after this event that I feel I can take on the world. I am ready to make the changes to live my full
potential” “I had challenges coming here today and would have been so mad if I had missed this because this was food for my soul.” “I will be a pursuing a career in the oil sector and it was great to hear Ms Kerri” “It was great to see so many young women at the event because listening to these great women can assist them to shape their future” Last Tuesday was very emotional but one of the best days for the month of March. I visited Shondel from Berbice who is the young lady that was burnt with acid recently. She is so strong and very forgiving and we plan to assist her to raise some funds for her surgery. Then on to the women’s prison with Hilda and Niketa. The women were happy to see us. We shared stories, laughed and cried. Every life has a story and it is always great to share them because your story does not belong to you. Your stories are meant to be shared to inspire others. We distributed Expo T-shirts sponsored by Impression’s and expo booklets which has the listing with all exhibitors. I told them in the future their names may be in that booklet if they pursue their dreams and stick to it. One of the ladies was very excited and shared with us her future plans of starting a boutique when she is released and making it to participate in the Women in Business Expo 2018. I had promised them a copy of Women’s Code and I also presented them with one of my favourites: Abundance Now by Lisa Nichols. I told them to be there for each other and think about how they can collaborate to make each other’s lives better in and out of prison. I fell in love with one of the inmate’s baby girl; I met her mom last year while visiting them and told her if she has a daughter she will have many dresses from me; she will be wearing Sonia Noel Designs before the end of the month. Our next stop was Vrymans Ervin Secondary School, New Amsterdam Berbice. Although I may not be here when we celebration 100 years of independence it is important to me for us to be much better
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off than the first 50 years. The youth population will play a very integral part in that, so it is important that we mould them well. Going to schools across Guyana is top on the list to my foundation and we will continue to do with the limited resources we have. We all as citizens of Guyana pledge to do more to make this land of ours what it could be. They say pictures tell a thousand words so an am leaving you on this super Sunday with a few pics. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. Charles R. Swindoll Send your emails to beyondtherunwayone1@gmail. com and visit our FB page as we continue this because journey called life beyond the runway
EVERY HOUR IS in Guyana EARTH HOUR
Over 1500 Guyanese have been involved by WWF Guianas and partners for Earth Hour 2017. As climate change continues to pose as a threat to places, species and people’s livelihoods, almost 500 Guyanese joined WWF Guianas, Guyana Office and its partners on Saturday March 25, 2017 at the Thomas Lands Parking Lot of the National Park to celebrate the largest environmental event in the world: Earth Hour, and to shine a light on climate action. The event at the National Park was the main and final act of a month of activities, celebrations, events and school awareness sessions all throughout Guyana. The Environment Days alone - lead by the High Commission of Canada, the Embassy of Mexico and the Embassy of Brazil – gathered around the topics of Earth Hour a total of almost 200 persons, who attended the three cultural activities proposed: two movie screenings and a concert. Schools across the country played a big role in the #ChangeClimateChange challenge launched by WWF Guyana. Through the Awareness Sessions in 17 schools across Regions 4, 5, 6 and 10, targeted 350 primary and secondary school students to discuss climate change and its impacts. This activity was a collaborative effort between CYEN in Guyana
and the Office of Climate Change. Similarly, the “Youth Shining A Light On Climate Action” Earth Hour Debate Competition, saw students from three Secondary School debating topics that addressed the three Earth Hour thematic areas. In attendance were approximately 160 students and guests, over a total of 3 days of competition. Moreover, added to the celebrations at the National Park on Earth Hour night, were a series of special events: candlelit dinners held at the Iwokrama River Lodge and Pegasus Hotel Guyana, story-telling under the stars in Annai, North Rupununi and the switching-off of both Marriott Guyana and Pegasus Hotel Guyana’s hotel signs as of show of their support to Earth Hour and its message. Over 100 persons attended the events in the interior (at Iwokrama and in the Rupununi), and indigenous communities embraced Earth Hour, making it become an opportunity to bring back to life traditional ways of gathering around fires all together. Partners were key in making all these activities happen and in pushing Guyana’s climate awareness forward. Focusing on three thematic areas relevant to Guyana, Agriculture, Conservation and Biodiversity and Renewable Energy, the main celebration at the National Park in fact saw presentations and pledges from a
number of international and local agencies. These include Ms. Mikiko Tanaka, United National Resident Coordinator, Mr. Greg Quinn, UK High Commissioner in Guyana, Mr. Ivan Sierra Medel, Ambassador of Mexico, Ms. Janelle Christian, Head of the Office of Climate Change, Ms. Onika Stellingburg, representative of the Department of Environment, Mr. Derek Lambe, Charge d’Affaires, European Union, Ms. Jan Sheltinga Deputy of the High Commission of Canada, Ms. Elizabeth Smith, representative of the US Embassy, Mr. Paolo Marchi, Deputy of UNICEF in Guyana, Mr. Godfrey Scott, President of CYEN in Guyana and of course Ms Aiesha Williams, Country Manager of WWF Guianas, Guyana Office. In addition to these pledges and presentations, the audience was treated to scintillating entertainment pieces from Music Unlimited, Jazz and Poetry On A Stool (JAPOS), GBTI’s Buxton Steel Pride Orchestra, National Dance Company, Happy Feet Dance School, Mr. Rovindra Persaud and representatives from the Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences of the University of Guyana. At 8:30pm there was the symbolic switching-off of non-essential lights, followed by the lighting of the 60+ emblem. Guyana, Guyanese and the international community members deployed in Guyana all joined and demonstrated their commitment to change climate change and to take climate action into their daily lives. Every little ac-
tion can make a difference and everyone is invited to read and follow the tips featured in the handbook WWF produced for Earth Hour 2017, written by Michael Harding and available for free download on www.guianas.org. The support received from local and international agencies, businesses and citizens for this year’s event is testimony to the fact that together, we can all help to change climate change by both individual and collective actions. Every hour is Earth Hour, so let us continue to change climate change and make Guyana even greener. As WWF likes to say: #TogetherPossible is the only way to make things happen. Earth Hour in Guyana is a project of WWF Guianas, Guyana Office, implemented with the support of a series of partners: Caribbean Youth Environment Network in Guyana, Protected Areas Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Education, Office of Climate Change, Faculty of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Guyana, Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development, Conservation International Guyana, Cuso International, Embassy of Brazil, Canada High Commission, Embassy of Mexico, UK High Commission, US Embassy, European Union, UNICEF, UNDP, Rotaract Club Georgetown, Annai Central, Rupertee Village. Thanks to Pegasus Hotel Guyana, Marriott Hotel Georgetown for their participation.
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Linden joins mining syndicate movement that seeks to improve opportunities for small miners. “The government is giving out lands and meeting the needs of miners,” Broomes told Linderners. Syndicates were introduced to address the concerns raised by small miners that they do not get access to lands and concessions afforded to large scale miners in the industry. Residents and miners at the meeting
By Tiffny Rhodius The mining syndicate initiative continues to gain momentum with Region 10 being the latest to establish a syndicate. Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, was in Linden on Thursday to provide guidance and answer questions on the initiative. She was at a public meeting held at the Egbert Benjamin Exhibition and Conference Centre, Linden. The Region 10 Miners Syndicate Incorporated is now the fourteenth syndicate to be established since the initiative was launched by the Ministry of Natural Resources last year. Head of the syndicate, Dexter Coperlene, said that the group, although two weeks old, has amassed a membership of over 100 persons. Minister Broomes pointed out that other syndicates have indicated their intention to engage in other activities such as logging so that the land is optimally utilised and wastage is reduced. Cautioning the syndicate to explore total mining opportunities, the minister said, “It provides a host of opportunities,” adding that a lot will depend on how the syndicate creates these opportunities. The introduction of a syndicate in Region 10 is expected to address concerns of raiding in the Omai mining area. One resident reported that he was abused and chased out of the area. Brooms noted that the syndicate project is a unique model
Head of the Region 10 Miners Syndicate Inc. Dexter Coperlene
Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources Simona Broomes
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Post-Partum Depression Hello Everyone, I hope this week has treated you well. I received a message from an old friend of mine, requesting that I help her through her Post- Partum Depression. This opened my eyes a bit as I realised, I didn’t know enough to help her. That was a shame as I know how common yet undiagnosed and neglected it isespecially in Guyana. Therefore, I decided to do some research on it. I hope the information below serves you all well. Firstly, what is Post-Partum Depression (PPD)? It can be compared to “baby blues”, which is very common among new and especially first time mothers. Unusual emotions such as sadness, fatigue, irritability or anger are experienced right after childbirth. She may cry a lot or may even isolate herself from her baby. She may feel as though she is a bad mother and cannot efficiently care for her baby. However, when the “baby blues” gets severe or continues for a long time, then it may have developed into Post-Partum Depression. It is completely normal for a new mother to feel worried or stressed- right after delivery or even a few months after. This must be differentiated. PPD usually begins a few days after delivery and can last up to a few weeks. If these feelings are intense and lasts for a few months, you may require professional help. PPD is definitely more common among women but some men experience it as well. When one has a new born, they are expected (by themselves and everyone around them) to be full of joy and excitement. Sadly, this isn’t the case for many new parents. It becomes especially upsetting and confusing for the parent when they do not feel what they think they are supposed to feel. How do we know if it is PPD? What are specific symptoms? As mentioned, symptoms can happen a few days after birth or even a few weeks before delivery. Common ones are: ► Feeling very sad or empty ► Feeling angry, irritated or anxious ► Severe mood swings ► Severe loss of energy ► Irrational fears about accidentally hurting your baby ► Thoughts of wanting to harm your baby ► Feeling usually and excessively worried ► Crying often ► Isolation from loved ones ► Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
► Disruptions in eating and sleeping patterns ► A severe lack in concentration ► Feelings of low self-esteem, high selfdoubt and worthlessness ► Physical symptoms such as head, neck or stomach aches ► Self –harm or feelings of self- harm ► Suicidal thoughts or behaviours In rare cases, delusions and hallucinations are possible. These normally consist of a parent thinking the baby is ‘evil’ or possessed’ If you experience 5 or more of these symptoms every day for a period of months, it is most likely PPD and I strongly recommend you go into your nearest health centre. Women describe PPD as feeling overwhelmed, unprepared and incapable of taking care of the baby. Some often feel resentment/ anger/hatred toward their baby or partner. Some parents do not even want to be alone with the baby. Of course, this often leads to low self-esteem, extreme guilt and often, suicidal thoughts. People feel motherhood should be easy and natural. From what I’ve heard, it’s any and everything but. People also take time to bond with their babies. Not every parent/child has an instant connection like they show in the movies or even people we know on social media. Not every new parent is over come with happiness. There are other factors that may cause you to also feel worry and stress- and that’s okay. Who is likely to develop PPD? What are the common risk factors? All women are vulnerable to PPD but like anything else, there are factors that increase
the possibility of development. There are hormonal, mental, physical and environmental factors at play during the development of any mental illness. You are more likely to develop PPD specifically if you: ► Have any personal or family history of mental illness such as depression or anxiety ► Experience stressful life events/ trauma during pregnancy or birth ► Experience early delivery ► Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy ► Are a single parent ► Give birth to a baby with birth defects/ illnesses ► Give birth to multiple babies (twins, triplets etc.) ► Lack of social or financial support ► Experience violence, especially domestic violence. ► Experience severe sleep deprivation HOW IS POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION TREATED? Yes, some good news. PPD is treatable if needed! Most cases do go away on its own with time, but occasionally, professional help is needed. Just like any other mental illness, the best course of recovery is prescription medication to best regulate your mood paired with counselling therapy to talk through the emotions felt and determine the best ways to cope. This can be done alone or with your partner. My research shows that taking these medications is considered safe while breast feeding.
There are also things that one can personally do. The number one thing you can do? If you guessed self-care, you are absolutely correct. Take care of yourself. Just because you are responsible for someone else now does not necessarily mean you need to neglect yourself along your personal wants and needs. Cover the basics such as do your best to get good sleep as well as maintain a healthy diet. Avoid all alcohol/ drugs. This worsens the situation. Do as many activities that you once loved as possible. At least find the time to go outside and get some vitamin D. I know many sacrifices are made once having a baby but all do not need to be made at once. Ask for help/support! Everyone fumbles on something new and everyone needs help at one point or another (and that’s okay!) Ask for it. If you’re a single parent, you have family and friends for a reason. If you believe you can (or have been doing) everything on your own, good for you. However, take it slowly- take baby steps (pun intended). This benefits both you and the baby. Connect with other new moms. See that you are not the only one that may be experiencing this. Have realistic expectations. This is connected to having good support as well. You cannot do everything on your own. You cannot do everything right- especially the first time around. Even if you read every baby book on the planet, you will still never be fully prepared for what’s happening. Accept that and understand that it doesn’t make you a bad parent- just human. Remain open and intimate with your partner. I hear this tends to fizzle out when children arrive but it really shouldn’t. Try to still make each other a priority- you’re a team now more than ever. Still go on dates and spend time alone. Listen to each other. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO SEEK TREATMENT? Post-Partum left untreated can be very dangerous to the whole family. It can definitely interfere with the natural and normal mother child bonding. A child is supposed to form a secure attachment to parents. This means they feel safe and comfortable when they are around and will eventually still feel that way when they leave, feeling confident that they will come back. This is severely affected when parents develop PPD with the child being much more likely to develop emoTurn to page XVIII ►►►
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#SupportCreativity
Engaging with traumatic events as source material for art
I hadn’t planned on writing about this topic this week. In fact, I didn’t think that there needed to be yet another think piece about it but there was such an uproar that I couldn’t help but think that maybe there might be value to bringing the conversation a little closer to this side of the world. About two weeks ago the international art scene erupted after the opening of this year’s Whitney Biennial in New York. While the overarching theme seemed to invite artists to respond to their place in a “turbulent society” it was the work of one particular artist that drew a rigid divide among artists, Dana Schutz, Open Casket critics, curators and everyone in between. Dana Schutz, a Michigan-born artist, was one of sixty-three participants whose work was on display at the gallery and it was her painting titled “Open Casket” based on the photograph of fourteen year old Emmett Till’s mutilated face that was the source of contention. Why? Simply put, because Schutz is a White American woman who chose to paint a young Black man whose life ended violently after a White woman accused him of speaking inappropriately to her, a story she admitted was fabricated decades later on her deathbed. In fact it was in January of this year that Timothy Tyson, author of The Blood of Emmett Till revealed that Till’s accuser Carolyn Bryant Donham admitted to lying about him making advances saying, “That part’s not true.” This recent revelation would have no doubt reignited intense feelings about Till’s case, race relations and the incredible miscarriage of justice in the U.S. But it wasn’t the fact that Schutz chose to paint Till that I believe was the issue, it was the photograph she chose to paint and the manner in which she painted it. There are photographs of Till, few though they may be, where he is seen smiling with the same kind of hopefulness most youths have. Schutz instead chose to paint the photograph of Till’s mutilated face visible from his open casket on the day of his funeral. The interesting part of the Emmett Till story for those familiar with it, was his mother’s insistence that the casket remain open so that everyone could see the graphic evidence of what was done to her son. She wanted the photographs subsequently taken to be made public and was quoted as saying, “I know that his life can’t be returned but I hope that his death will certainly start a movement in these United States.” And
months later it did help to trigger a new development in the American Civil Rights Movement in the form of the yearlong Montgomery Bus Boycott. Although his mother wanted the photograph to be seen by everyone everywhere, what right does it give contemporary
creative practitioners to reinterpret said photograph and does that answer change if someone of a different race chooses to produce their own reinterpretation? Of course no one can dictate what an artist should produce. That is not how it works. Turn to page XIV ►►►
XIV ◄◄◄ From page XIII
But while it would seem as though nothing is off limits to us, it is our responsibility (in my opinion) to be respectful in the handling of such sensitive history. I can understand the outrage because the issue isn’t as simple as a White woman choosing to paint a Black young man whose violent death was a result of a racially divided South. It’s also about the kind of privilege that shielded (and still shields) a very specific group of people from any form of accountability. It’s about representation and controlling images of a race continuously under attack. It also calls to mind how blatantly biased U.S. media houses are when choosing photographs of suspected criminals of different races to accompany their news articles. And all of these things are culminating at a time when we’re constantly bombarded with photographs and video footage of innocent Black men being killed in the U.S. It’s easy to become desensitized to graphic images if you’re forced see them often enough. Those dead bodies eventually aren’t dead bodies anymore. They become reduced
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to statistics and hash tags trending on social media. Personally, I can’t help but feel as though the decision of Till’s mother to encourage the circulation of that photograph made it easier for people like Schutz to casually use it as source material forgetting that Till was a human being, and not some grotesque life-sized doll to be fetishized. And there’s such an extensive, centuries-long history of Black bodies being fetishized as the “other.” In a letter written to the gallery by a group of artists and curators protesting the painting Schutz was accused of, among other things, “…[transmuting] black suffering into profit and fun […]” Schutz later stated that it was never her intention to sell the painting and that she assumed the position of a mother Mamie Till Mobley weeps over her son’s casket on September 6, 1955
who lost their only child, effectively empathizing with Mamie Till-Mobley. No one can say for sure if this was indeed her intention or if it was simply a last ditch effort to save face amidst mounting protests. However, I would’ve imagined her connecting more deeply with the many photographs of his mother weeping beside his open casket. That, for me, would’ve been a much more effective way of showing empathy. But again, we don’t dictate what an artist should paint. Still, her decision (which one could argue that she need not defend or explain) to use the photograph she did makes me think of her in the position of the undertaker rather than mother. There is a certain disconnect between Schutz the painter and Till the painted, where it feels more clinical than it does emotional. The manner in which she “tended” to the wounds on his face with her brush, sanitizing and practically erasing the power of the details of the photograph that Mamie Till-Mobley relied on so heavily makes it extremely difficult for me to see the mother-child relationship Schutz wants us to see. Regardless, my opinion is that Schutz is allowed to paint whatever she wants to, like any creative individual. I don’t believe in censorship but I do believe that if you choose to take on such a heavy topic you must be aware of the implications and you must add something of value to the public’s understanding of said topic. In the same way I’m allowed to say that her painting adds nothing of value to the conversation about racially driven violence against Black male bodies, specifically the Black male body of Emmett Till. Her attempt to reinterpret the photograph is weak and it romanticizes the gruesome wounds his mother wanted the world to see by blurring the details only a photograph could effectively capture. I also don’t particularly care if her intention for the painting was sincere nor do I wish to see her painting destroyed as many have since called for. But I do believe that calling for the destruction of any work of art because it is considered offensive by any group sets a dangerous precedent that we simply cannot afford at any point in time, particularly now when opinions about everything are so polarized. What is the role of the artist if not to critique these issues by offering his or her own visual response? We cannot have healthy conversations across the board by blocking the other party’s opinion whenever it doesn’t align with our own. I believe there’s a danger in holding on to certain traumas and claiming them as belonging only to any one particular group of people, effectively shutting out other groups from responding to that pain (if they so desire). And while I understand both sides of this particular situation, I feel strongly about the fact that we need to be more inclusive of others when engaging with traumatic subjects that trigger intense emotions. That inclusion could hopefully be one of the steps necessary for the beginning of a more thorough healing process for all parties involved. My philosophy has always been that there’s a learning moment in everything for everyone regardless of his or her position on the subject in question.
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Black Beauty (Continued from last week) – 26/03/2017
REJECTION Bride! She closed the door and hollered for the old man. “Come you geezer, you’ve got visitors.” The old man opened the door, “Hey son, what you doing here?” “It’s a long story. However meet your daughter-in-law.” His father’s smile turned to a frown. “Aam…aam, come in…come in.” CONDEMNATION “Ask your son why he left Guiana” snapped the old lady. “Why he got married to this lady. She will only bring us trouble. Blacks not wanted here.” “Mother, she is not black, she is East Indian,” muttered Warwick. “What’s the difference? You either black or white,” said the mother. She reluctantly went to the kitchen to bring them some coffee. There was a tense moment. Then the old man said: “Well, I guess I’ll have to prepare the basement for you both.” “Oh no!” shouted his wife. “They can’t stay here. He can, but not her. We can’t handle the problems.” “There will be no problems Mother,” opined her son. LIVERPOOL His father interjected: “You were in Guiana so you don’t know what the situation here is with race problems. I’ll deal with that when it arises.” The mother chimed in: “Warwick you can’t stay here. You must go somewhere else. This lady will cause us trouble. A black daughter-in-law here in this home?” Some silence “Dad?” Warwick appealed to his father. “Son, she’s right. They can burn our house down or become abusive. These are die-hard racists. Sorry, but for our safety you cannot live here.” FATHER-IN-LAW Warwick looked at his mom with dismay. He shook his head in disappointment. An uneasy calm followed, then the father said: “I’ll help you find an apartment but not in this neighborhood.” The old man goes into the bedroom and gives his son some cash. He said: “Here, take this for now. I’ll keep in touch.” Betty, Warwick’s wife, got up and thanked the father. She walked over to her mother-in-law and tried to kiss her. The response was cold and the old man watched the couple with tears in his eyes. But his wife was stone-cold. As soon as they left, she took off on her husband. “Is your son crazy to bring a black person here from a backward country and calling her wife?” The old man kept quiet. Then the wife really exploded: “You can support them with your money, not mine!” She stormed away into the washroom. HOUSING BIAS EVEN BY BLACKS Vacancies exited for tenants in some housing complexes but the couple was refused occupation. Racial discrimination reared its ugly head and they had to settle for a place in a ghetto area that was primarily a black housing scheme. Many felt that a black woman with a white man was taboo. They chastised Betty for her choice of a redneck but Warwick weathered the insults and snobbery. There was nowhere else to go. He drove a cab for a living. And his wife earned a living
doing domestic chores and care-giving. Her father-in-law would call now and then and infrequently visit. But her mother-in-law remained a stand-off. FATHER DIED FROM GRIEF Burdened with heavy grief for his son’s dilemma, the old man passed away. Betty felt she had lost a father. Now the old lady was left alone. Warwick would drop in now and then to see her. This was always on the insistence of Betty. THE GOOD HEART Unknown to him she would visit and take care of Mrs. Warwick. The recipient never gave thanks for this service, always wary of what her neighbours would think. To ease her fear of being spotted, Betty disguised herself. She wore a big hat with protruding brim, a scarf, long sleeved blouses and coats. DISGUISE Each day she found time to visit and take care of her bitchy mother-in-law. She once cooked Warwick’s favourite dish of ‘metem-gee’ and Mrs. Warwick loved it. SOCIAL WORKER Betty loved cooking and domestic work. She also enjoyed social work. And in her impoverished community she managed a home improvement center with cooking and sewing priorities. She received the mayor’s trophy for citizenship and community service and hit the news stands. The rustic girl from the “backward” country had been recognized. CHANGE OF ATTITUDE The shock was too much for them. They gave her a new name “Black Beauty” and they would sometimes wave and smile at her. No more disguises. The coast was clear. And now she began to wheel her mother-inlaw down Liverpool streets. She was sharp in acknowledging her daughter-in-law while also pointing out that she was from Guyana. HUSBAND’S PAIN Mrs. Warwick’s health deteriorated and on her dying bed she demanded to see her son. He was reluctant to go but Betty implored him to be at her bedside. There she reached under her pillow and took out a piece of paper. It was the deed to her home in the name of the couple. She had asked her lawyer to have it done and with trembling hands she handed it over. BACK TO LIVERPOOL Warwick didn’t know what was inside the official envelope so he took it with apprehension. “Go outside and read it,” implored his mother. He couldn’t believe his eyes. He was flabbergasted. After 15 minutes he went back into the room and bent to kiss her but she was cold as ice. He screamed: “Mother, mother, don’t leave us,” but she was beyond hearing. At the funeral Betty gave the eulogy with the theme being: “Love conquers all.” Black Lady, White kids Once she brought her children to Guyana and many did not know her. They saw the children as being all white. And everyone thought she was their nanny. But when they heard them say “Mom” they were astonished. How could this jet black ‘Coolie’ lady mother these “Bacra Picnis”? They were blue-eyed beauties.
OCTOGENARIAN Today “Black Beauty” is still alive (June2016) over 80 years old. Her kids are all grown and have done well in society. She still cares for her community and God, and she heads a mothers’ union comprised of a multi -racial membership. Liverpool is now a cosmopolitan community. Pride and Inspiration
XV I honour this country bumpkin from Guyana. I respect her social work values. Above all I am so proud of her. She is my blood cousin. And I follow her foot-steps. I am a professional social worker. She was born to be an angel of peace and love. A model Guyanese…dark outside, white inside. Let your heart bubble up with love. It’s the remedy for all ills.
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Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
Nursery School pupils learn about climate change
By Neola Damon
The Office of Climate Change is working with children at the nursery school level to teach them about the environment and climate change. Today, the agency used puppets to help first level students of Liana Nursery School, East Ruimveldt, understand the importance
of the climate and why we all need to care for the environment. Communication Specialist, Yasmin Bowman, told the Government Information Agency (GINA), that the nursery students are open and attentive to the lessons. “We had a little discussion or a little display with a particular puppet and after they would have gotten all of the information that
we thought that they needed, then we are doing reinforcement session right now and I can tell you that they are learning a lot. They are learning about CO2 and we were surprised that they were able to retain some of the information that they heard at such a young age,” Bowman explained . The communication specialist said that she is optimistic that the children will remember
what they were taught during the awareness session. Bowman said that the agency will also visit Symth Street Nursery school followed by Roxanne Burnham Gardens Nursery School, for the second half of 2017. Headmistress at Liana Nursery School, PeTurn to page XVII ►►►
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017 “I hope that they (students) will understand the concept of recycling from this sesnelope Church, said that she is pleased that the sion so we ( teachers) can start teaching them lesson were child- friendly especially the way how to treat certain things that they would the puppets were utilised during the session. bring in school like, when their juice boxes are empty instead of throwing it out we can just clean it and put it in the shop corner,” the Headmistress added. The awareness programme is a collaborative effort between the Office of Climate Change and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) to teach school children how they can help to A few of the Liana Nursery school students protect the environhelping the puppeteer to demonstrate ment. ◄◄◄ From page XVI
Some of the students of Liana Nursery School
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tional and behavioural problems. Mothers with PPD are much less likely to interact with their babies, breastfeed or even read or play music to their babies. This directly affects the baby’s development. It causes strain within a marriage, forcing one parent take one the majority of responsibility. Untreated, PPD can last for months or even years. Treatment and recovery time depends on the severity of the PPD and the individual. Below are the words of my friend who was doing her best to explain to me how she felt. “It's so common, many women don't even know what it is, or realize that they're going through it. A lot are in denial as well. I was at first too, until I researched it. Then I decided to let my family and close friends know about it, so that they would understand those days I might lose my marbles a bit. Mine isn't as
bad, there are some women who could go into self- harm or harming their babies but mine is more the feeling of emptiness. Feeling not good enough of a mother, feeling like I'm failing both of them. It's hard to find balance between both kids, I manage somehow. My son is 3 months, my daughter is 2 years old, and they both need my attention all day. It gets really overwhelming. I think I started to realize what was going on was the first week after my son was born. My husband passed on a nasty flu to both kids. Of course, both kids only wanted my attention. I felt like I was suffocated and claustrophobic. We couldn't go anywhere either because it was winter. Every night I started feeling less and less of myself. I wanted to crawl through the floor. Didn't want to see anyone. I actually stayed in bed for weeks. Right after the kids recovered from the flu (cold and nasty coughing, lasted 2.5 weeks) my son had colic. For about four weeks. I
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
thought that was the end of me. Not a suicidal thought but that was when I started to think that I couldn't handle this amount of stress anymore. I constantly cried and cried. But one morning I got up and I decided to get my act together, because these children don't deserve this from me. They need me, they needed their mother. So I tried hard for them. And I'm okay now. Not completely out of the depression, but it's a lot better and much more manageable these days. I definitely took your advice. Dolled up myself a little, went to see a movie, socialized a bit. Cleaning the house. Also started to watch a new series. It definitely keeps my mind busy. I also believe that support from family is what women need to get through this. I hope a little bit of my experience could help inspire your article a little more.” Thank you so much for sharing your story. If you have a partner that is experiencing PPD, just be the best supporter you can be.
Listen to them, help around the house, make sure they get time to themselves and offer whatever support they need. Make sure they know that it is okay to seek professional help if needed and you will be by their side if they do. Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Or come in to see me at: Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department: Monday- Friday – 8am- 12pm Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department Drug and Alcohol group meetings Mondays 4:15 Good mental health group meetingsWednesdays 4:15 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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Young musicians exposed to the musical prowess of (Georgetown, March 31, 2017) – Last evening the National School of Music hosted a workshop titled “Elements of Performance” facilitated by Dr. Keith Waithe, who is a Director, Flautist & Educator. His presentation was based on preparations for the ABRSM Practical Exams and general performance. Even though Dr. Waithe is a flautist, he noted that the workshop focuses on a range of different music – classical, jazz, and indigenous blends. He was able to use the flute to teach those concepts. It is his hope that the participants would be cognizant of the impact music has on their lives. Dr. Waithe indicated that “Guyana still has a long way to go in the development of music…the music school is a step in the right direction.” Dr. Waithe was recently appointed as the Visiting Distinguished Artist-in-Residence by the University of Guyana’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith for the period February 20 to April 8, 2017. During his tenure, Dr. Waithe – an expert in traditional Guyanese folk music and jazz, has so far conducted two master classes at the Turkeyen and Tain campuses; and is a part of the planning committee for the up-coming Diaspora Engagement Conference.
Dr. Keith Waithe
– at workshop held at the National School of Music
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Urban planning and parking management systems
What is best for Georgetown? Paid parking is an important parking walkways meant for pedestrians. management strategy that contributes That there is a need for a solution, to ease of access and movement for which involves paid parking, is hardly pedestrians and vehicles in high trafdebatable. However, the introduction of fic areas. There are several parking paid parking in Georgetown has received management strategies that can be imopposition from sections of the public for plemented by municipalities, such as a variety of reasons. remote parking and shuttle services, The M&CC awarded a contract paid parking garages, improved walkto Smart City Solutions Incorporated ing and cycling facilities and many (SCSI) in June 2016 for the installation others that could allow affordable and of parking meters in Georgetown. The alternative means of parking for perproject had been pursued by City Counsons in the city. Paid parking allows cil as early as 2006, but had not come a municipality to manage on and offto fruition. Mayor of Georgetown, Ms. street parking while also incentivising Patricia Chase-Green later that month at alternative modes of transportation. a Press Conference, announced that the On February 8, President Granger called a high level meeting with Mayor of Georgetown, Mrs. But such a system must be mutually Patricia Chase-Green and Town Clerk, Mr. Royston King. Also present at the meeting were Minister Council had met with Minister of Combeneficial for all stakeholders involved munities Ronald Bulkan and provided of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil if it is to work. him with a copy of the contract and supWilliams and Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon In January 2017, when the Georgeporting documents, while outlining the town Mayor and City Council (M&CC), on March 30, President Granger in his address part of urban planning and cannot or ought not Council’s right to proceed with developmental implemented paid parking, the move was met said that Inclusiveness is a key concept in to always be free. According to a report by the works for the Local Government Authority with some opposition by members of the pub- local governance one which is stated in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning they oversee. lic who questioned its affordability as well as Constitution. “Article 71 (1) of the ‘Constitu- (CMAP), Parking management strategies, Both the M&CC and the contracted comthe perceived lack of transparency with regard tion’ states: Local Government is a vital aspect particularly pricing, leads users to "economise" pany pushed the benefits of the project as to the single sourced contract. The controversy of democracy and shall be organised so as to when it comes to parking. Many drivers will easing congestion while M&CC said that the over the parking meter system finally war- involve as many people as possible in the task shift to different modes of transportation, will project would bring in much needed revenue ranted Government’s involvement in order to of managing and developing the communities drive at different times of day, or may combine for the cash strapped body. Government paid ensure that the outcome of the project is one, in which they live… I urge them to ensure that trips. These actions help to reduce traffic con- close attention to the unfolding of the project citizens have an input into decisions which are gestion, roadway costs, pollution, and more. which benefits all stakeholders. while noting the concerns of the public. From A studied look at traffic management in the the inception, President David Granger acGovernment believes that considering the likely to affect their well-being,” he said. city of Georgetown, easily illuminates a num- knowledged the autonomy of the M&CC, a needs and views of the people is a tenet that THE PARKING METERS ber of problems illustrated by haphazard park- democratically elected body voted for through Municipal bodies should place as an utmost While the idea of paying to park in city ing of vehicles, particularly during peak hours, the Local Government Elections. However, the priority. At the swearing in ceremony for centres might be new to most Guyanese, access which impedes ease of access, contributes to President encouraged the Council to pay close Mayors and Deputy Mayors at State House to adequate, safe parking areas is an important the threat of road accidents and encroaches on attention to national interest and involve the people in the decision making process every step of the way. On the July 21 episode of The Public Interest the President said that the public needed to be assured that consultations were conducted with all stakeholders. “For every major measure that will have an effect on the residents of Georgetown, corporate residents, private property owners, there must be information and communication. They should be directing and not dictating. I am simply asking for the process to be open and transparent so that people know what decisions are made by the Council,” the President said. Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan said that while there is some agreement on the need for the parking meters, Government had also advised the Council that the rates for parking were too high. “It helps to restore order to City streets. It helps to reduce pollution. It increases the security. It makes traffic management and traffic flow easier but the main concern is the question of rates.
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
The introduction of paid parking sparked large protests in front of City Hall by members of the public
It is considered to be too high and too burdensome. It is one I expressed to the Council,” the Minister said. In December last year, SCSI began its installation of 157 parking meters, which accounted for 3237 parking spaces around Georgetown. In January 2017, paid parking took effect with the cost for parking set at $50
This did not sit well with some members of the public, and resulted in protest action being launched outside City Hall soon after its implementation, and a subsequent push for the boycott of the parking meters. The protestors called for the project to be revoked citing the lack of transparency and due concerns that there was no public tender or feasibility study. The publication of the parking meter Bylaws, which prescribed draconian charges for parking misdemeanours and gave Smart City Solutions certain powers relating to their operations, was cause for further concern and protest. The Mayor and City Council, however, continued to press ahead with the project.
GOVERNMENT’S WARRANTED INTERVENTION Government, maintaining its policy to avoid dictating to the Mayor and City Council, was forced to call Mayor of Georgetown, Mrs. Patricia Chase-Green taking her oath on a high level meeting March 30 at the swearing-in ceremony for Mayors and Deputy Mayors with Mayor ChaseGreen and Town Clerk Royston King to enfor every 15 minutes. And while this cost was sure that the voices of the people were being significantly lower than the initial $125, the heard. Following that meeting, President $50 fee, which amounted to $200 per hour Granger said on The Public Interest said that was still considered too expensive as persons Government was not satisfied with the genparking for eight hours a day while at work eral provisions of the parking meter project would be required to pay $32,000 in monthly and added that controversies could have been parking fees. avoided had there been more consultations
Smart City Solutions installed 157 parking meters which accounted for 3237 parking spaces around Georgetown
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An overhead view of one of the picketing exercises staged against parking meters by members of the public
with stakeholders by the City Council before venturing into the agreement. “We feel that there was simply not enough communications with the other partners and civil society. We feel that was injurious to the character of the final contract. I believe if a procedure had been followed in which there was wider advertising, there could have been a different outcome but as I said, we have not double guessed the work of the Council and it’s a matter for the Council to decide,” the President said. At the meeting held on February 8, President Granger made it clear that Government would not overrule the democratically elected Council since his administration had pushed for Local Government Elections and the proper functioning of local Government arms while in Opposition and placed it front and centre on its agenda when they took office. Instead, the President encouraged the M&CC to reengage with civil society and the business community to come to a consensual solution.
Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, who also attended the meeting, acknowledged the usefulness of the project but stated that the rates were too burdensome and hinted that Government suggested to the Mayor a possible reduction of the rates. “The position of the Central Government was a very respectful one from the part of the President. He assured the Municipality that it is not the desire of the Central Government to intrude or to usurp or marginalise the authority or the independence of the Council. In fact, he was at pains to assure the Council of his commitment of recognising the authority of this democratic institution as created by our Constitution. Nonetheless that there is significant public concern and I think without seeking to dictate to or seeking to dominate what should obtained in the Municipality, I believe that the municipality was encouraged to engage in further dialogue with some of the Turn to page XXIII ►►►
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20th J.S. Woodsworth Awards for Human Rights & Equity …Women of Distinction Award for Dr Dionne Duncan By Frederick Halley FRESH from her recent International Women’s Achievers Award (IWAA) for 2017, distinguished scholar Dr Dionne Duncan added another prestigious accolade to her already bulging collection when she was presented with the Women of Distinction award at the 20th annual J.S. Woodsworth Awards for Human Rights & Equity, held at the Jamaica Canadian Association, Toronto, Ontario last Sunday. At a lavish and entertaining ceremony, attended by her Guyanese parents Hector and Util Duncan and other close family members, Dr Duncan was among 13 women who received their awards from National Democratic Party (NDP) leader Andrea Horwath. Apart from the Women of Distinction category, other recipients included Individual Leadership, Youth Leadership and Group Excellence. Dr Duncan graduated from the University of Toronto last year with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Health Policy Management and Informatics. She has since been serving as general manager of the Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association (MACCA). Dr Duncan also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and Mass Communications, a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science,
Dr Dionne Duncan (left) receives the Women of Distinction award from NDP leader Andrea Horwath
an Executive Degree in Business Relations from York University and Kellog-Schulich
School of Business. Apart from being general manager for MACCA, Dr Duncan also serves on several boards within the Greater Ontario Region, including Wychwood Open Door, a charitable organisation and is part of the advisory board that supports cancer research and services throughout the region. Dr. Duncan’s work is centered on developing and integrating innovative statistical approaches to advance public health and health care research and support across Ontario. Her methodological research focuses on nonparametric, machine learning for casual inference and prediction within health policy and informatics. She also works on risk adjustment, comparative effectiveness, research and health programme impact evaluations. In her remarks, Horwath pointed out that the awards are about gratitude, because every nominee is deserving of thanks. “The reality is that for many of you, the work you do will never earn you accolades, fame, or fortune. And I know that’s not what motivates you. You are doing what you do, because you believe in improving your community, helping your neighbours, and creating a future we can all be proud of. “This kind of work often demands personal sacrifice, long hours, and a serious sense of determination. But you do it selflessly, to offer a better life to those who may come after you, and to make a better life for you, your family, and all Ontarians.” Horwath also slammed reports about anti-Black, anti-Semitic, or Islamophobic attack in Ontario, observing that kind of racism and prejudice have no place in Ontario, or Canada.
“Just last month, it was my privilege to stand and speak in favour of the recent motion – supported by all parties – condemning Islamophobia in Ontario. And my caucus colleagues and I were proud to join leaders and activists in communities across this province to call for the establishment an Anti-Racism Directorate in Ontario.” Horwath disclosed that last October, her colleague Teresa Armstrong had put forward legislation to declare October Islamic Heritage Month across Ontario. “And with open letters media pressure, I’ve been calling on the Premier to declare Ontario a ‘Sanctuary Province. But the reality is that the motions and bills we pass in the legislature don’t always have a huge impact on the day-to-day lives of Ontarians.” Horwath described those present at the ceremony as champions, working every day to improve Ontario one way or another. “That’s what the J.S Woodsworth awards are all about. In the face of so much negativity, today is about the positive. Today is about gratitude, and inspiration.” James Shaver Woodsworth, the "conscience of Canada," helped create Canada's social-security system. His combination of leadership, determination, and an unrelenting desire for social reform changed the lives of all working Canadians. Born in Etobicoke, Ontario in 1874, J.S. Woodsworth was educated at Victoria College and Oxford University. He later worked with urban immigrant populations, was a staunch democratic socialist, and an ardent supporter of trade-union collective bargaining. Woodsworth maintained his controversial views at great personal expense. In 1917, he resigned from his government position because of his opposition to conscription. Two years later, he was arrested for his participation in the Winnipeg General Strike. His fortunes changed in 1921 when Manitoba's voters elected him to the House of Commons with the Independent Labour Party slogan "Human Needs before Property Rights." He mastered parliamentary procedure and effectively used the House of Commons to focus awareness of the unemployed, the elderly, immigrants and farmers. His parliamentary genius helped establish a multiparty political system and forced the government to recognize the labour movement. In 1926, Woodsworth realized his lifelong ambition when he and fellow Labour Party MP A.A. Heaps guaranteed Prime Minister Mackenzie King a coalition government in return for Mackenzie King's creation of Canada's OldAge Pension plan. The following year, the plan was introduced and became the cornerstone of Canada's social-security system. In 1933, Woodsworth became the leader of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, forerunner to today's New Democratic Party. Ever the adamant pacifist, Woodsworth won his last election in 1940 by a scant majority. He subsequently suffered a stroke and died in 1942.
Hector and Util Duncan with daughter Dionne at the awards ceremony (Pictures courtesy Bobby Ramlagan)
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXI
affected stakeholders,” he said. Meanwhile, Mayor Chase-Green following the meeting said that the Council was willing to go back to the negotiation table and to have further consultations with stakeholders with a view to moving forward. The Mayor defended that the project was aimed at garnering much needed revenue to pilot the transformation of the Capital City. Other governmental oversight included a review of the parking meter by-laws by Attorney General Mr. Basil Williams S.C., who following that review referred to the fees as too burdensome though they were not unlawful. But even after the meeting, and after City Council began some consultations with members of the business community and other stakeholders, tensions continued to rise and protestors continued to call for the parking meter contract to be scrapped. In early February, private citizen Mr.
Mohendra Arjune secured an order from then, Acting Chief Justice Yonette Cummings-Edwards for the Mayor and City Council to show cause why the agreement with SCSI should not be scrapped on several grounds. The Bylaws were also challenged in court by the New Building Society via an affidavit, which claimed that the parking meters badly affected that financial institution’s customers and employees. As these concerns continued to mount, Cabinet was forced to take definitive action and an order of suspension of the parking meter system By-laws for a period of 90 days was passed down. Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon during Post Cabinet Briefing said that Cabinet considered financial aspects of the contract and the concerns of citizens, which necessitated the decision. Cabinet’s first Order was at first objected to by the M&CC through written correspondence by the Town Clerk to Minister Bulkan after seeking legal advice. However, a new Order
was signed by the Minister of Communities and the Minister of Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan was tasked with ordering the Commissioner of Police to provide protection to citizens and their vehicles from being unduly hindered or restrained in any way, either by the Council or the parking meter company. RECOMMENDED MEASURES Meanwhile, experts within the Ministry of Public Infrastructure have said that while charging users for parking could generate revenue that can finance other services, it is vital that the various political, institutional and technical obstacles are resolved with the measured involvement of stakeholders. Head of the Traffic and Transport Division in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Mr. Patrick Thompson explained that paid parking is best implemented as part of an integrated parking management programme as part of an overall strategy to reduce congestion and improve the urban transportation experience., Paid parking is usually
XXIII implemented together with an upgraded public transport system so that the option of parking outside of the paid parking zone and riding a bus to one's destination is both practical and affordable. Other options also include parking garages and improved facilities for walking and cycling to make this a viable alternative Mr. Thompson said that the Ministry has contracted the services of LOGIT Transportation Engineers to conduct a parking census in the central business district. The data collected show that longterm parkers are a majority and, therefore, their needs must be adequately addressed. He added that a combination of the data collected and focused stakeholders consultations will help to inform the development of an integrated parking management plan. The overall results of the Sustainable Urban Transport Study for Georgetown including the parking management plan will be presented in a report to the Ministry by July 2017.
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Local farmer able to compete with imported peppers By Delicia Haynes Bell peppers, the large green red and yellow ones that are imported, are now being grown locally and are being sold at a competitive price. The peppers may soon be exported.
The peppers are being cultivated by Dhaniram Ramchand, a local farmer and proprietor of Green to Life farm located at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice. One of the plots at ‘Green to Life’ can hold as many as 600 bell pepper plants which yield more than 3000 pounds of pepper, per crop.
Dhaniram Ramchand, Local agriculture producer (farmer) with a sample of the crops which he cultivates (bell peppers included)
Celery in its seedling stage at the ‘Green to Life’ farms, Region Five
The farm was recently certified by the National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO), a department within the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). This means that produce coming from this farm are fit for export and can be accepted into another country as a quality, consumable good. Certification guarantees that the farmer has produced crops under conditions that satisfy international market standards. Turn to page XXV ►►►
Green bell peppers before they are harvested at ‘Green to Life’ farms, Region Five
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXIV
Ramchand started farming 10 years ago and has progressed with continuous support from the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). “I learnt some farm practices and the way forward with green house production,” he told the Government Information agency (GINA) when they visited his farm recently. Ramchand’s produce is cultivated under Ultra Violet (UV) plastic which protects vegetables and cash crops from sun and other weather damage. He said when bad weather affects the crops, the cultivation process is interrupted. This results in supply being unavailable and him being unable to meet market demand. “Whenever we have excessive rainfall like about two day rainfall everything close down in this country nobody produces because they have a lot of damages once we go into greenhouse production and shade house production then we can be able to care the crop more. It could even culture them more and you can get better yield,” the farmer pointed out. Ramchand plans to build a few more shade houses to ensure he has a ready supply of produce. The farmer said he spends a lot of time taking care of his crops and it is worth the effort. He is proud that his farm is certified as this will help him get his produce into the larger supermarkets locally and possibly the export market. “I am talking to Massy (Massy Supermarket), that is a market in Georgetown to start supply them with the bell peppers and other things that customers will go after, apart from that we (selling) celery and we will talk with them (to see) if they can buy the shallot and the celery seeing that I am the producer for the bell peppers too,” Ramchand told GINA. Ramchand also manages an extensive plant nursery in which he cultivates various types of seedlings for sale to farmers and a chemical shop. “I actually buy my seeds from (Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute) CARDI that’s in NAREI and I only plant ‘seminis’ seeds that is highly bred seeds that will increase yield and give better production and pest resistance,” Ramchand revealed. In addition to bell peppers, Ramchand cultivates shallot, celery, lettuce and tomatoes on a large scale wholesaling these commodities to vendors in Region Five and in Georgetown. Peppers, also called sweet peppers are eaten as vegetables either raw or cooked and are among the most expensive peppers on the local market. Based on the demand in the local market the bell pepper is one of those commodities that contribute to Guyana and Caricom’s growing food import bill. CARICOM countries import more than US$4B annually in food. This has led to calls for diversified agricultural practices and increased outputs and for each CARICOM member state to reduce its food import bill. Requirements include the inspection and audit of agricultural practices to ensure the production of safe consumable produce while ensuring traceability of the product. Certification means that green and other fresh produce exported have been subjected to all recommended farming inspections and monitoring exercises by a Quarantine Officer of the NPPO. The institute has been promoting appropriate and relevant technologies to crop farmers to increase production and productivity of non-traditional crops. This is specifically to enhance food security, increase exports and value addition.
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“Carve your own path and hold on to your dreams”
– First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger at R.E.A.C.H. school’s initiative First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger, this morning, joined members of the Buxton Theatre Arts Company on a school programme aimed at inspiring students at the Beterverwagting Secondary School to make better choices during their formative years as they approach adulthood.. The programme, which is a collaborative effort between the
Ministry of Education and the Buxton Theatre Arts Company, was first launched on March 3, 2017 at the Bladen Hall Secondary School, under the acronym R.E.A.C.H., which is meant to encourage young people to Respect themselves and others, to be Empowered, Aspire for greatness, Conquer their fears and challenges and Hold on their
First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger with members of the Buxton Theatre Arts Company
The Students were encouraged to write down their dreams and aspirations as a reminder that they are worthy and important
dreams, values and dignity. Delivering the feature address, Mrs. Granger urged the students to remain focused on accomplishing their goals. “I urge you [to] discover the beauty in yourself. Carve your own path, hold on to your dreams and keep moving forward. Whatever your faith, each one of us is unique. No one else can take your place in this place at this time. We all have dreams and some idea of who we would like to become and were we would like to go in this life. So hold on to your dreams,” Mrs. Granger said. The First Lady also spoke on the impact of social media and Information Communication Technology and its potential to both positively and negatively impact their lives. “Social media can be very cruel because it encourages bullies to believe that they can hide behind a code name and be as abusive as they wish to other people. They are neither kind nor considerate. I love all the fantastic things that we can access through Information and Communication Technology. But I fear that these new innovations may be depriving us of the ability to empathise with each other. That is, to put ourselves in another person’s shoes and try to understand what that person is experiencing in his or her daily life,” Mrs. Granger said. President of the theatre Company, Mr. Tremayne Henry said that drama is used as a tool to inspire and motivate members of society. “[We] want to enforce that there is hope, despite any situation… Because of what is [happening] in our schools and [students] being exposed to the public in a negative way, we have opted as a group to reach out positively to you our fellow students. [We want] to encourage you that Turn to page XXVII ►►►
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education is the key and most of all you are the children of the future,” Mr. Henry said. Ms. Cassandra Fernandes, who is also a member of the theatre company, said that the group saw the need to implement the programme to ensure that young people are given the tools to protect themselves at a time when there are so many negative reports. “We felt the lives of you our students were being put at risk. So we embarked upon this project because we needed to. We saw your lives slipping away,” Ms. Fernandes said. Meanwhile, several students of Beterverwagting Secondary School said that the initiative was a good one that has inspired them. “I feel good and I will not be a follower but I will be a leader. I will take in my education and become independent,” Ms. Christine Chowkai said. Ms. Neelima Persaud said that she has been inspired to always put her education first. Over two thousand students have so far benefitted from this initiative since it was first introduced including, Bladen Hall Secondary School, Buxton Secondary School, Annandale Secondary School and Lusignan Secondary School. The Buxton Theatre Arts Company has been in existence for 10 years and has been providing edutainment in several villages including schools along the East Coast of Demerara in an effort to educate their peers.
The Students were encouraged to write down their dreams and aspirations as a reminder that they are worthy and important
Members of the Buxton Theatre Arts Company performing a skit for the students
The students of Beterverwagting Secondary School pay rapt attention as First Lady, Mrs. Sandra Granger delivers remarks
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Education and Human Resource Development Strategy for the region, the focus of the 37th COHSOD meeting Education ministers from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are currently in Guyana for the 37th meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD). The one-day conference will see the education officials finalising a strategy to transform education and human resource development in the region, before presenting the document to the Heads of Government of CARICOM in July, for deliberation and approval. The meeting of the 37th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development The final deliberation on the document (COHSOD) in the Conference room of the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters in Guyana began this morning in the Conference Room of the CARICOM Secretariat Headquarters, in the process. was inextricably linked to the appropriate Turkeyen, Georgetown. The professor said that one of the unfor- development of human capital. Speaking at the opening of the confer- tunate features of the region is that, as govComing out of that meeting, LaRocque ence, Chairman of COSHOD, Education ernments change so does the region’s agenda. said that the Heads of Government recMinister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Professor Harris emphasised as well, ognised that while significant progress was Clair Prince said that for CARICOM nations the need to reach the many underserved made in education in the region since the peto attain its global position in the ranks, there communities, which account for many of riod of independence, it also recognised the are many conditions that must be met and the the adverse outcomes that the strategic plan shortcomings and wastage in the system. The region’s investment in human development seeks to address. CARICOM Heads therefore began a process is a most critical issue. The professor noted that while there is The CARICOM states featured well in need to transform the region’s education the 2016 United Nations Human Develop- systems, there are many who have, and are ment 2016 report, which is a global report on emerging from the system as it exists today, the development of the options, opportunities who go on and do and access to public remarkably well services and goods, within the region including education and other parts of and training. the world. When educa“On the othtion outcomes were er hand, children measured, 11 of the in circumstance member states were without stable within the high hufamily support, man development without financial rankings and of resources, withthem, 10 were without appropriate in the top 100. role models in Minister Prince their communisaid that if the reties, will floungion recognise its der no matter global positioning how well the and recognise its CARICOM Secretary- General, Ambassador education syspotential, then it Irwin LaRocque addressing the 37th Meeting of tem available,” needs to go forward the Council for Human and Social Development Professor Harris (COHSOD) in Guyana and to deal with the noted. issues that must be The profesdealt with in order to transform its education sor said that in rolling out the plan, govsystem and at the same time transform its ernments need to mobilise the interest and societies. enthusiasm of the deprived communities, “We know what we can do. We have our which lack the family support, the economic Usain Bolts. We have our Lara. We have and other factors necessary for the full intelDerrick Walcott and company. So we know lectual and emotional growth of their young we have confidence, we have self-esteem. people. We need now to get down to work and to Meanwhile, CARICOM Secretary Generput forward the issues that we need to put al, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, explained forward and to ensure that there is buy-in by that at the Twenty-fifth Inter-sessional the powers that be within these systems,” the Meeting of the Conference of Heads of minister said. Government in March 2014, a special session In his address Chancellor of the Univer- was devoted to addressing issues relating to sity of Guyana (UG), Professor Nigel Harris, human resource development. also emphasised the need to get the buy-in, The meeting recognised that the soenthusiasm, financial resources and the sus- cio-economic development of the region tained interest of the many countries involved
Education Ministers and officials from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States at the 37th Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in Guyana
to transform education and human resource development in the region, LaRocque said. The Leaders mandated COHSOD to establish a commission to prepare a human resource strategy to address the requirements of the twenty-first century economy and society. LaRocque explained that the concept of “the ideal Caribbean Citizen” as articulated by the Heads of Government, served as a reference point and guide, for the work of the Commission. The strategy 2030 along with its action plan aims to serve as a roadmap for the CARICOM regional education agenda. It addresses a range of hot button issues with proposals for action such as male participation in education, the skills required for twenty first century demands, the use of technology within the learning environment and capitalising on the region’s inherent creative skills to ensure that it becomes a medium for personal and regional development.
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Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
Snapchat adds more accessible search feature
Snap Inc said on Friday its Snapchat messaging app would add an option for users to search through photos and videos that users have posted to the public. The move comes just days after larger rival Facebook Inc stepped up efforts to encourage users to take more photos and edit them with digital stickers that show the influence of Snapchat. Snapchat will enable users to search for photos and videos known as "Snaps" posted to the "Our Story" option on the app, by creating new "Stories" using machine learning technology, the company said in a blog post. (bit.ly/2oiuqBC) The "Our Story" option is derived from Snap's widely-copied "Stories" feature that is a slideshow of user content that disappears after 24 hours. "Our Story" allows users to post their Snaps as part of a larger public collection, which users will be able to search through with the latest update. For instance, users can use the search feature to find "Snaps" related to events such as local basketball games and topics such as puppies. The search feature, which will be rolled out in some cities starting Friday, is an addition to curated "Stories", where public "Snaps" about major events like Wimbledon or the Coachella music festival already appear. Snapchat popularized the sharing of digitally decorated photographs on social media, especially among teenagers, but faces intense competition from larger Facebook and Facebook-owned Instagram. Users will now be able to search for over one million "Stories" on Snapchat, Snap said, making the app more accessible. Snap's shares were up 1.5 percent in afternoon trading, while Facebook's stock was down marginally.
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English 2017-04-02
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Lovely it is, when the winds are churning up the waves on the great sea, to gaze out from the land on the great efforts of someone else. LUCRETIUS (94? -55 B.C.) De Rerum Natura STUDY SUCCESS Dear Students, Today we draw your attention to significant benefits in relationships such as found in face-to-face talk. Try always to study in an environment in which the mode of operation is discussion, reading and writing. Such environment enhances language learning. Please see The Journal. Be wise. Love you THE PASSAGE She was a large woman with a large purse that had everything in it except a hammer and nails. It had a long strap, and she carried it
slung across her shoulder. It was about eleven o’clock at night, dark, and she was walking alone, when a boy ran up behind her and tried to snatch her purse. The strap broke with the sudden single tug the boy gave it from behind. But the boy’s weight and the weight of the purse combined caused him to lose his balance. Instead of taking off full blast as he had hoped, the boy fell on his back on the sidewalk and his legs flew up. The large woman simply turned and kicked him right square in his blue-jeaned sitter. Then she reached down, picked the boy by his shirt front, and shook him until his teeth rattled. After that the woman said, “Pick up my
pocketbook, boy, and give it here.” … He looked as if he were thirteen or fourteen, frail and willow-wild, in tennis shoes and blue jeans. The woman said, “You ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong. Least I can do right now is to wash your face. Are you hungry?” “No’m,” said the being-dragged boy. “I just want you to turn me loose.” “Was I bothering you when I turned the corner?” asked the woman. “No’m,” “But you put yourself in contact with me,” said the woman. “If you think that that contact is not going to last a while, you got another thought coming. When I get through with you, sir, you are going to remember Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones.” (Langston Hughes’s “Thank You, M’am”) About the Passage In “Thank You, M’am,” a boy learns a surprising lesson about what can happen to a wayward boy when he encounters a strong, strange woman. The encounter also makes him learn about kindness and trust. What to Do 1. In about three paragraphs describe two aspects of the boy’s character and whatever interest you have in him. 2. Find a person like Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones in any community that you know. Tell about that person’s outstanding dealings with a teenager. 3. Search around for interesting short stories about treatment of unfortunate persons. Use the story ideas to substantiate your efforts later when you write. GRAMMAR Common mistakes: Singulars mistaken for Plurals (and vice versa) A) Multiple subjects with and and with (Pay attention) a) The chief detective and his assistants are starting the inquiry. b) The chief detective with his assistants is starting the inquiry. a) The chief detectives and their able assistant are starting the inquiry. b) The chief detectives with their able assistant are starting the inquiry. B) Using together with (Pay attention) a) The real diamond, together with a fake, was put up as evidence. b) The real diamond, together with fakes, was put up as evidence. a) The real diamonds, together with a fake, were put up as evidence. a) The real diamonds, together with fakes, were put up as evidence. C) Wrong: One of the loaf is missing. Correct: One of the loaves is missing. Wrong: One of the cousin was jailed. Correct: One of the cousins was jailed.
FORMS of WRITING An Explanatory Passage …we believe that students learn to write by writing – perhaps in much the same way that they learn to talk by talking. …They are generally expected to complete one piece of extended writing each week. In addition most teachers provide opportunities for students to write regularly – perhaps in a less formal way. One such opportunity involves writing in a journal. In this students are encouraged to write informally about things that are important to them. It is their personal view of the world. We would hope that students would write in their journal daily, or at least three times a week for from ten to fifteen minutes. … Although the benefits of reading, writing and talking are always obvious, we believe that these do contribute to students’ language development. Something to Do Look at how each of the following word groups appears in the sentences. It should help you with your writing of an explanation. … we believe, perhaps in much the same way, They are generally expected, In addition, perhaps in a less formal way. We would hope, although the benefits, we believe. Reminder: When we think about the form of writing we think about the actual shape it takes. Further: For example, explanatory paragraphs of the kind that instructs (the form of how-to) are plentiful in school texts. Then again the form, like the passage used above, gives information. Other forms either explain the cause and effect of something or do comparison-contrast on a topic. All explanatory paragraphs should be objective and focused on factual information for the benefit of the reader. Most explanatory paragraphs are written in third person (he, she, it), even though writing them in first person is also acceptable, depending on the subject matter. THE JOURNAL We are again imploring you that the keeping of a journal is profitable generally for students and especially for those preparing for examinations. What you write in your journals for school mostly evolves as a result of free reading and/or background reading combined with your personal experience. Background work may even include viewing of television films or listening to radio. Try interviews also. Write in any form you like, or a variety of forms, including poetry, prose, drama or art work. Do you know that a journal can be written for a private, restricted audience? Yes, it can. With an audience of choice in mind (maybe your language teacher), you pay more attention to word choices and grammatical expressions. A journal can be written over a chosen number of weeks, or longer if you wish, and it should reflect your view of your life (including study) and of the world in which you live. Begin a journal this week and experience its benefits to your study performance.
Chronicle Pepperpot April 2, 2017
Usher, Lauryn Hill to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival Director Mathieu Jaton talks during a news conference in Montreux, Switzerland April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
Usher, Lauryn Hill, Macy Gray and Erykah Badu are booked to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival during its 51st edition, organizers said on Thursday. The eclectic lineup for the June 30-July 15 event includes Ibrahim Maalouf, Beth Ditto of indie rock band Gossip, Phoenix, as well the "Two Brians" double billing of Brian Ferry of Roxy Music and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. Tickets for one of Europe's most prestigious music festivals go on sale on Friday. Trombone Shorty & the Orleans Avenue open for headliner Usher & The Roots on July 5, with top-end tickets at 295 Swiss francs ($296.01). "The big night with Usher, you know him, he's coming with The Roots, very funky. We really wanted to see Trombone Shorty again who dazzled us in 2012. It shows the spectrum of R & B and soul. The night might end with big jam, you never know," Mathieu Jaton, festival director, told a news conference held in the Theatre de Jorat in the village of Mezieres above Lausanne. Nicolas Jaar, a 27-year-old American composer with Chilean-Palestinian-French heritage, opens the festival on the main stage of the Stravinski Auditorium. "An alchemist of the electronic, a real composer who takes us into curious universes... We paired him with Max Richter, rather classical but a real digital artist who has worked with Woodkid," Jaton said. Lauryn Hill, who rose to fame with the Fugees in the 1990s, is returning to Montreux for the first time since 2005 and her performance on July 6 is expected to include hits by Nina Simone. "She is coming for a one-off, a unique concert. Apparently she has not announced any other concerts in Europe this summer," Jaton said. Herbie Hancock returns to Montreux for a record 38th time, while the "unclassifiable" Grace Jones promises an "atypical show," he said. Badu, celebrating 20 years since her debut album Baduizm, will follow Solange. Simone, Miles Davis, Aretha Franklin, Prince and Deep Purple have given legendary concerts at Montreux, which former co-director Quincy Jones called the "Rolls-Royce" of festivals. This year's budget is 28 million Swiss francs ($28.10 million). Free events along Lake Geneva will be announced on June 1. "The program is dense and intense, full of beautiful things," Jaton said.
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3 tbsp spicy brown mustard 1 mini red bell pepper (or 1/2 large bell pepper), finely chopped 2 heads of green scallions, finely chopped 1 wiri wiri pepper finely chopped 1 tsp granulated garlic
Cheese Pie
Ingredients: Crust 1 lb short crust pastry dough: 4 cups flours 1 cup vegetable shortening (1 stick) 1/4 cup butter
Directions: Crust Rub/cut/mix shortening and butter into flour until mixture forms a bread crumb like texture. Add ice water, 1 tbsp at a time, and pinch mixture together to form a soft dough. Do not knead. Separate mixture into two and chill in the refrigerator for as least 1 hour. When chilled, use dough to make any Guyanese pastry combination.
Filling: Combine milk, eggs, mustard, pepper and granulated garlic in a measuring cup. Whisk until completely mixed together. Assembling: Roll pastry dough out until it is 1/8 inch thick. Cut into circles large enough to cover a cups in a muffin pan. Grease a muffin pan with butter or cooking spray, then line with pastry dough. Fill muffin pan with cheese until about 1/2 way up each cup. Then add a bit of scallions and bell peppers. Pour milk and egg mixture into cup, until is covers the cheese. Then top off with a bit more shredded cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove from oven and let cool before serving.
about 8 Tbsp ice cold water Filling 1 cup whole milk 7 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese 4 eggs
At last: Dylan to receive Nobel prize in Stockholm
U.S. musician Bob Dylan performs during day 2 of The Hop Festival in Paddock Wood, Kent on June 30th 2012. REUTERS/Ki Price/File photo
Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan will receive his Nobel Literature Prize diploma and medal in the next few days in Stockholm, where is he due to perform this weekend, the secretary of the Swedish Academy said on Wednesday. The Academy's decision to give the bard of "Blowin' in the Wind" the literature prize caused controversy, only deepened by Dylan's silence about the award for weeks afterwards and his no-show at the annual banquet in December. "The good news is that the Swedish Academy and Bob Dylan have decided to meet this weekend," Sara Danius said in a blog post. "The Academy will then hand over Dylan's Nobel diploma and the Nobel medal, and congratulate him on the Nobel Prize in Literature." The 75-year-old Dylan is due to give concerts in Stockholm on April 1 and the following day and then another in the southern Swedish city of Lund on April 9. Danius said that the notoriously media-shy Dylan would not hold the traditional Nobel lecture at this point. "The Swedish Academy is very much looking forward to the weekend and will show up at one of the performances. Please note that no Nobel Lecture will be held," Danius wrote. "The Academy has reason to believe that a taped version will be sent at a later point," she added. In order to receive 8 million Swedish crown ($903,000) prize, Dylan needs to give a lecture within six months from Dec. 10. It does not necessarily need not be delivered in Stockholm. The decision to award the prize to Dylan, whom the Academy said had "created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition," was seen by some as slap in the face to mainstream writers of poetry and prose. But the Academy has a tradition of stepping outside the traditional boundaries of literary form, awarding the 1953 prize to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in part for his "brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values".