Pepperpot 03 12 2017

See inside: Christmas and Pyrotechnics► Centre The passionate lawyer XVII ► Page

Abioce Heywood powering to score a try against Jamaica in Mexico

Down but not out!

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... Caribbean Rugby’s rising star aiming to bounce back from injury

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

Editor’s note December is upon us and before we know it, Christmas will be here. The Pepperpot Magazine will, therefore, begin by ushering in the Christmas season bit by bit with some of our stories. We start off by looking at one man’s decision to move away from the Western world where Christmas just didn’t have the warmth that it would back home in Guyana. We also delve into the views of some sections of society who look at the Christmas tradition of lighting squibs and celebrating through

fireworks and how this practice affects various persons and animals. Christmas is also the season of giving back, so we also bring stories of groups who have dedicated themselves to doing just that in light of the upcoming holidays and beyond. Over the next few weeks, our stories will take a look at the Christmas holidays and the meaning of Christmas all in an aim of keeping the spirit and traditions of Christmas alive. And so we will be the first to wish you: Happy Holidays!

A Christmas to forget

By Godfrey Wray ON Christmas Day 2016, Brutus Johnson awoke at quarter to nine. The first thing he did, after saying prayers and thanking the Lord for allowing him to see another day, was to check his wallet. In it was one dollar and next to that, three quarters. On a nearby table was a stack of bills, growing at an alarming rate.

There was absolutely nothing in the house to re-

mind him of Christmas, except two cards – one from his brother-in-law and the other from his long-time friend now living in California.

He scrambled a breakfast of one egg and two strips of bacon (mildew removed) and ate them with some broken biscuits. In his mind’s eye, he quietly likened the sparse fare to the traditional delectable Guyanese preparation of pepperpot and garlic pork.

Both house phone and cell had long been disconnected,

so he had to venture out to call a few loved ones. Fortunately, he had keys to the office where he did freelance (emphasis on free) work for a Caribbean newspaper and fortuitously he had a phone card with some minutes left on it.

The B8 bus was empty, and the driver seemed pleased to see another human being on the ultra-quiet family day.

Banking on the spirit of the season, Brutus stuck his expired metro card into the slot and feigned surprise when

the expected rejection was recorded.

The driver must have been a good Christian. “Come on in. It’s the Christmas season. Good to see you, brother.

How are your holidays shaping up?”

Brutus groaned inwardly.

The driver really didn’t want to know. His tour of duty would be finished and he would still be listening.

The bus stopped at a traffic light and as he glanced to his right, he saw a short line outside a soup kitchen. He made a mental note to check it out on his way back, but even as he thought of it, he wondered if his West Indian pride would let him.

A worm of indecision wriggled in his stomach. Why was he thinking of eating at a soup kitchen when he had a slew of relatives?

Before he could find an answer, another question interposed.

How much more could he abuse familial loyalties?

Every holiday, and many weekends, he paid unscheduled visits to his nonagenarian aunt and cousins o n

King’s Highway. They were all aware of his ignorance of things culinary. They thought of him as a disaster waiting to happen in the kitchen and implored him to stop over whenever he wanted.

He felt it was his duty not

to disappoint them.

Dennis pottered around the office then checked his email and voicemail; neither revealed any emergencies.

Now back home, he surveyed the refrigerator. His belly grumbled at the thought of home-cooked food. But all he had was some leftovers from a serving of curried chicken and rice he had bought from Linda’s on Church Avenue two days before.

He had just one alternative – the lonely tin of corned beef on the top shelf of a cupboard that was built to accommodate far more items than i t

was now accustomed to hoarding. But although curried corned beef was his favourite quick cook, he was not inspired.

The heat in his usually chilly basement was noticeable. He silently thanked the

landlord’s son for visiting.

He wished the boy would extend his stay long into January. But that was wishful thinking. The kid would soon be gone and it would be back to the Arctic climes.

Brutus looked around his drab surroundings as KISS FM dished out a pleasing diet of holiday music. However, not even the eye-popping Caribbean Swimsuit calendar on the wall could enliven his sombre mood.

He never liked to drink alone, but that day would be an exception. He found an opened bottle of XM 10-year rum, sprinkled a few drams on the floor for absent friends then poured a liberal dose for himself.

It was a long, varied and exceptional journey, he mused, growing philosophical after the third shot.

“Anybody home?”

Brutus wasn’t going to answer. He didn’t need a reminder from the landlord that he was behind on rent.

It was common knowledge among the barbershop regulars.

As the footsteps retreated Dennis poured another shot. He made himself comfortable in the second-hand recliner, ignoring the pervading smell of dirty laundry.

I t was time to closely examine the precarious present that, ironically, was beginning to look so much like the indigent childhood past.

This was definitely the last Christmas he would spend in the ‘Big Apple.’ It wasn’t so sweet anymore.

Down but not out! ... Caribbean Rugby’s rising

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

star aiming to bounce back from injury

By Rawle Toney

WHEN Guyana’s Sevens Female Rugby team travelled to Mexico for the Rugby Americas North (RAN) Sevens Championship, their hopes of landing their fourth title rested on the shoulders of a diminutive 21-year-old scrum-half, Abioce Heywood.

Apart from being crowned champions of RAN, the team’s aim included attending the Rugby Sevens World Cup and the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Games in 2018, making this year’s tournament in Mexico one of the most anticipated for the participating countries.

Guyana, behind Heywood’s brilliance, got off to a perfect start, as they managed to upset last year’s champions, Jamaica, 19-12 in their opening game of the tournament.

Heywood scored 10 points (two tries) of her own, while she wowed the crowd with her defensive skillset.

“Her performance was pure class, and she surprised everyone with her defensive ability,” said the team’s Head Coach, Theodore Henry, who is also a distinguished player on the men’s team.

In their second game, Heywood scored Guyana’s lone try in their 5 – 12 ‘humdinger’ loss to Trinidad and Tobago, with Henry relating to the Pepperpot Magazine, “Abioce really stood-out in that game because it was defence that kept us. There was a play where she tackled an over six-foot player and everyone was shocked at her power, but unfortunately, she got hurt.”

Guyana would go on to defeat the Dominican Republic 17–12, but narrowly fell to eventual winners Mexico

12–17 and drew 7–7 with Bermuda.

CRANIAL TRAUMA (CONCUSSION) Fans at the Campo Marte athletic grounds in Mexico City, stood still when Heywood lay motionless on the ground after being tackled.

She was admitted to the ICU at a nearby hospital, and subsequently sedated as a neurological protective measure, according to a medical report.

A Computed Tomography (CT) Scan was also done on Heywood following her admission and it was only on Tuesday last, that Heywood was eventually taken off sedation and remains in Mexico as doctors continue to monitor her progression.

Speaking exclusively with the Pepperpot Magazine from Mexico City, Heywood said, “It feels great knowing that I’ve been in the championship for the second time...I’m honoured knowing that I’m the playmaker.”

“This team was well-prepared compared to last year because we started preparing from way up front and my teammates were well supportive of me, but, unfortunately, I got injured,” she said.

Henry said losing Heywood on the tournament’s second day was the hardest thing to overcome, given the fact she was the centre-piece of the team’s game-plan.

“The only way is up for Abioce at this point; her future is very bright. From the time she started playing Rugby, she has shown a steady increase in speed and skill set. She knows the game extremely well and knows how to pick apart the opposition,” said Henry.

The coach highlighted that throughout the regular female competition held this year,

Heywood, who plays with the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) where she’s employed, has emerged as the best player across the various formats.

“Well, most of the regular players are getting old and we have some really good ones coming up and Abioce happens to be the future of women’s rugby in Guyana and she has already left her mark on the rest of the Caribbean, despite her few games before the injury,” said Henry.

Meanwhile, an obviously shaken Heywood believes that she will bounce back and will take the prescribed time to fully recover, as stipulated by doctors.

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Guyana’s scrum-half Abioce Heywood is brought down by the Jamaican

Abioce Heywood showing off her power, despite her size as she makes this tackle against Jamaica.

IV

FILES E S A C COURT

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

Linden sentenced to death in 1984, freed in April 1985

MURDER-accused Linden Mc Intosh was convicted of murder and sentenced to

death in 1984 but in 1985 was freed by the Appellate Court through a fatal irreg-

ularity.

That Appellate Court was constituted by Chancellor

Keith Massiah and Justices of Appeal, Charles Fung-A-Fat and Cecil Kennard.

That accused who had allegedly made a confession statement that was withdrawn by the prosecution and the trial judge, had omitted to rule on the issues raised at the trial on the admissibility of an alleged confession, causing the Appellate Court to find the presence of ‘fatal irregularity’ resulting in the quashing of the indictment and freedom of the accused.

Unhelped from proper directions at the jury trial, the jury had found the accused guilty as charged. Linden was freed on appeal.

According to the facts, the appellant, Linden Mc Intosh was convicted for a murder and sentenced to death. The prosecution’s case against the appellant depended on evidence given by the brother of the deceased.

On appeal, the Court focused on two grounds which in its view merited consideration. These were whether the trial judge misdirected the jury when he told them that the issues of self defence and manslaughter did not arise and whether he erred when he failed to rule on the admissibility of the Appellant’s statement to the police.

Held: (i) There was nothing in the evidence to suggest that the deceased attempted to strike the appellant or that the deceased had had any weapon on him, which would have induced fear in the mind of the Appellant that he was in danger of being struck by the deceased and, which would have required the use of a knife by the accused in order to defend himself. There was also no evidence that the Appellant was provoked to lose his self-control and therefore no issue of provocation to be left to the jury for their determination; (ii) Counsel for the accused withdrew his objection to the admissibility of the

Appellant’s statement to the police and, the issue was whether the trial judge was still under the obligation to rule on it, and if his failure to do so amounted to a fatal irregularity. Notwithstanding that a statement was both voluntary and obtained in accordance with the Judges’ rules, the judge may exclude it in the exercise of his residual discretion to exclude any evidence, if the strict rules of admissibility would operate unfairly against an accused.

The situation required a ruling on the part of the learned Judge on the issues raised at the trial and an omission to rule, especially so far as the admissibility of the statement was concerned, was a fatal irregularity.

Appeal allowed and the conviction and sentence set aside. New trial ordered.

Forty-two (42) cases were referred to.

B. C. De Santos for the Appellant .

L. Haynes, S.C, for the State.

Chancellor Massiah : I have had the advantage of reading in draft the opinion just delivered by my learned brother Kennard, J. A., with whose final conclusion I am in complete agreement, but since, in relation to the question of confessional statements I have arrived at that conclusion by a route somewhat different from his, I feel constrained to explain shortly the juristic passage that I pursued.

Ibrahim v. R.[1914-15] All E.R. Rep. 874 makes us familiar with the principle that a confessional statement is only admissible in evidence against the accused if it is proved by the prosecution beyond a reasonable doubt that its contents were voluntarily disclosed.

Although it has become the wont of lawyers to refer to Lord Sumner’s classic formulation of the principles in that case, as if the principle de-

By George Barclay

rived its seminal value therefrom, the principle is, as Lord Sumner himself observed at p. 877 “as old as Lord Hale “ and has strong historical roots in the common law heritage.

[A paradign of earlier intellectual leadership is to be found in Baron Parke’s ruling in R. v. Warringham [1851] 169 E.R. 575. ] This principle developed as a result of the unfair and barbarous methods employed in early times to wring “confessions” out of innocent persons accused of crime. See the historical survey made by Haynes C. in The State v. Gobin & Griffith, [1976] 23 WIR 256 , at pp.

261-5. And, so it is that in the Commonwealth jurisdictions safeguards have been established to ensure as far as possible that only voluntary confessions are admitted in evidence. I believe that in Scotland some form of confirmatory proof is required even where confessions are duly admitted, and in Canada the issue of admissibility must be decided before any mention at all of a confession statement is made in the hearing of the jury.

It is a well-settled principle that it is the function of the trial judge to determine whether or not the statement is voluntary before he admits it in evidence. If the trial judge is satisfied that the confession was not obtained by any of the means of inducement which the common law prohibits, and as a consequence admits it in evidence, it then becomes the function of the jury to attribute to the statement what weight and probative value they conceive it deserves.

I sincerely hope that the prosecuting Counsel at criminal trials would, in future, bear in mind the words of wisdom of Persaud J. A. and Crane , J. A (as he then was) and ensure that medical terms are properly explained to the jury so that justice would not miscarry.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

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#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

The Centenary of the Abolition of Indentureship and the State of Contemporary Indo-Guyanese Writing DO Indo-Guyanese still write? This is the question I ask myself as I reflect on the fact that this year marks 100 years since the abolition of Indentureship.

Many decades of our ancestors leaving hardships at home, for hardships on the seas and in a new land. Plantation life. A second slavery.

Last names are slowly turning white. Indian languages drying up in the Caribbean sunlight. The Ramlila circle shrinks smaller and smaller until it is no longer visible.

The descendants ascend to presidencies. The descendants descend to prisons. So much has come and gone. So much has happened. Caribbean literature has happened.

Guyanese literature has happened. Indo-Guyanese have helped, but now, have they stopped helping?

DO INDO-GUYANESE STILL WRITE? Of course, people of Indian descent once wrote – seminal, important works – and the history of Caribbean literature has ensured that their names are preserved for us: Mahadai Das, Cheddi Jagan, Laxmi Kallicharran, Peter Kempadoo, etc. Then there are those who still write – David Dabydeen, Raywat Deonandan, Rajiv Mohabir, Gaiutra Bahadur and others – but they all belong to the diaspora.

In a strange way, it almost seems as if Guyana remains isolated, itself barren in the way the Indo-Guyanese population within it, for the most part, seems unable or unwilling to engage in the literature-making process, while all around Guyana, whether from the perspective of time and history (the literature of our first

Indo-Guyanese writers are still read and studied), from the perspective of geography (writers who live in the diaspora still write about things “Guyanese” and are still very much read and studied), writing continues to flourish. It is almost as if the roots of a tree has died and is no longer functional, but, in a strange way, the leaves and stems of the tree remain green and alive. Why are there so few Indo-Guyanese people who are writing in contemporary Guyana?

This is well and good, but it does not hide the fact that the East Indian presence in contemporary writing is still not being felt as being particularly strong.

Some might use a few examples of East Indian people who have written to argue that there is a strong branch of young, contemporary East Indian writers in Guyana, but would that really be true?

Do a few dedicated writers indicate a solid indication of the strength of the East Indian writing-pres-

Mahadai Das, one of the foremost Indian woman poets of the Caribbean. (Image via: Peepal Tree Press)

At this juncture, it is important to make it clear that I am very much aware of the existence of those few writers of East Indian descent who live in Guyana and still continue to write here. Ryhaan Shah, Imam Baksh, and myself, for example.

Vidyaratha Kissoon has an interesting blog series. Nirmala Narine and Cindya Khellawan both won prizes at last year’s Guyana Jubilee Literary Competition. Every so often, I look in on the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama’s Playwriting class or one of the Creative Writing classes and I see Indo-Guyanese people. There are others.

ence within a community such as Guyana, one which thrives on its diversity and the existence of multiple types and genres (Social Commentary, Religious, etc.)? How many writers can proponents of such an argument regard as those who seek to develop a career in writing?

How many contemporary writers of Indian descent have even tried to make their writing more than a passing phase or a hobby that becomes active only during leisure? Do most of them even want to?

How many Indo-Guyanese writers will overlook a career society deemed as appropriate in order to chase down a dream

of doing what they love: writing – if they do love it? There’s no denial of the fact that today most young people, regardless of ethnic background, do not want to be writers.

However, within the tiny component of people who do, East Indians might actually factor in as the smallest contingent. Why is this a problem? What exactly is being lost when this happens? Those are the questions that need to be addressed when the importance of contemporary East Indian writing comes up.

There are many

pockets of information that the contemporary East Indian writing can tap into, in much the same way that all writers throughout all of time have used their environments and cultural and historical knowledge of their environments in order to create works of literature. The contemporary East Indian writer is best suited to relate the place of Indo-Guyanese in modern Guyana, from a poetic, fictional or dramatic perspective. The closure of the sugar estates, the complicity Indians in

race-based politics, the loss of Indian culture, second migration to the North and contributing to the existence of the huge Guyanese diaspora, the relationship between religion and suicide, the hopes and dreams of contemporary Indo-Guyanese youth.

The list of subjects goes on and on. If Indian people do not begin to see writing as a vital form of expression that should be pursued then there is much to be lost, not only for the East Indian community but for Guyana as a whole.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

An honest living - Sharon Smith, the coconut vendor

By Michel Outridge

IT may not be the preferred job for women but for a single parent of two, this woman sought an honest living that was available to her in order to support herself and family.

In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, Sharon Smith said that she

never wanted to be a coconut vendor but she grasped the opportunity when it presented itself, nevertheless.

“For me, I really don’t care what people say about my profession because at the end of the day I am self-employed and it is a paying job,” Smith said.

This Herstelling,East Bank Demerara resident said she learned from

Sharon Smith vending her coconuts in downtown Georgetown.

watching and working with her children’s father who was a coconut vendor as well. She worked beside him for some time and one day when he left her to oversee the business as went to `run’ some errands but took some time to return, she attended to customers who came by..

Smith related that the customers wanted coconut water and she had no choice but to out her `non-skill’ to work at cutting the nuts.

She admitted that initially it is was not an easy task, she received many cuts but after much practice she has perfected the art and today considers herself as just as good as any other coconut vendor.

Smith stated that cutting coconuts isn’t an art that is learnt overnight since it is all about being precise and knowing what you are about.

“Cutting coconuts is harder than it actually looks, the cutlass is very sharp and any slip of the blade [if] it comes in contact with your bare hands, you can get cut easily and that happened when I first started but now I can do it in relative ease,” she said.

Now, 10 years later, the 37-year-old is a “pro” at what she does. She admit-

ted that some people look at her ‘funny’, while others are in awe of her skills with a coconut and a cutlass.

In plying her trade she has gained the respect from both women and men, some of whom would stare in sheer amazement whenever she places a coconut in her bare hands and chops it for a customer to have a cool drink of coconut water.

Smith likened the chopping coconuts in her hands as just like learning to ride a bicycle because you have to fall down and get up to be able to have the balance to continue.

She added that some men have since admitted to her that they would not even attempt to chop up a coconut like she does because they are afraid. Other persons also ask her a lot of questions about her job.

The water coconut business is lucrative whenever there is sunshine, it isn’t a high paying job but. Smith said that she would rather work for herself than to be employed somewhere else.

Her sweet water coconuts are sourced from the Pomeroon.

“I make a small profit but it is better than nothing because I have to buy ice to place the coconuts in a large cooler for it to be cold for customers, plus I have to pay [someone] $600 per day to push my stand to and from Leopold Street,”

she said.

She vends every day except Sundays, a day set aside for her family and it is a job which is right up

her alley.Smith said that she does not see herself doing any other job unless it is a very high paying one.

Sharon Smith demonstrating how she chops the coconut at her stall in front of Brusters, on Hinck Street, in Georgetown.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

No wisdom in those teeth MANY general dentists, most orthodontists, and virtually all oral surgeons in private practice recommend the removal of all four wisdom teeth whether or not there is evidence of abnormality, impaction, or the likelihood of impaction. Wisdom teeth that cause problems justify removal. Some grow at an angle against a second molar (impacted), causing root resorption or decay.

Occasionally a cyst forms from the developmental sac resulting in an ameloblastoma which can become cancerous.

Quite often, an adolescent experiences the pain of teething as the crown of a wisdom tooth penetrates the gum. Teething should not dictate extraction, but extraction may be the best solution if the overlying gum tissue becomes infected repeatedly. Even then, I prefer to do a eulectomy, which simply means the surgical removal of the gum tissue that is either causing the retention or traumatic biting problem.

There are some good reasons for removing some wisdom teeth. To prevent crowding of front teeth or post-treatment relapse is a good reason because wisdom teeth can cause such problems. The rationality of extracting third molars to prevent orthodontic malocclusion is justified but not for the reason some dentists suggest. Third molars occupy space on the dental arch it cannot afford. However, some dentists argue that third molars exert tremendous pressure against second molars and that this pressure is transmitted forward from one tooth to another until the front teeth shift, twist, and overlap.

You do not have to be an engineer to understand the fallacy of this argument.

Each dental arch has 14

permanent teeth, not counting third molars, encased vertically in bone, each in contact with the adjacent tooth forming a horseshoe arrangement. It is like having a picket fence with each

teeth is absurd on its face.

If there are no wisdom teeth to blame, orthodontists attribute post-treatment relapse to the continued growth of the lower jaw so that the interior teeth

picket a post buried in the hard-packed earth, each one connected to the next picket, and so on.

In addition, the lower teeth are contained within the outer ring of the upper teeth, which are in turn kept in place by intercuspation, or interlocking with the lower teeth when the jaws are closed, and by the strong musculature of the lips and cheek. In order to exert sufficient force to move these teeth, the wisdom teeth would require, in the least, a firm foothold, but there is none.

The developing wisdom teeth are contained within soft, spongy bone filled with bone marrow. The roots lack a strong buttress against which to push all the other teeth forward and out of position. The proposition that third molars cause either initial crowding or relapse of the front

crunch together and overlap to relieve the strain.

But there is also a natural tendency for a tooth to move forward, to remain in contact with the tooth in front of it, each side meeting at the midline where the forces on one side are countered and neutralised by the opposing forces.

This phenomenon is called the anterior component of force. The teeth are not set in the bone absolutely vertically but are tilted slightly toward the front or midline of the jaw.

As the teeth come together in chewing and swallowing, forces are applied in a forward moving direction. This action is usually sufficient to keep the teeth in tight contact with each other, preventing separation and food impaction.

Without it, everyone’s teeth would likely separate. Of course, no system is per-

fect, and if there is disharmony or imbalance in these structures and forces, if the anterior segment of the arch, especially the lower arch, is too narrow or small, the incisors slip past each

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other, resulting in the minor overlapping that so many people complain about.

The movement is self-limiting and harmless. Minor crowding and overlapping of teeth do not warrant intervention or correction.

As already noted, in addition to the four, third molars, orthodontists frequently prescribe removal of the four first bicuspids, one in each quadrant of the mouth, when the problem is the protruding front teeth. Few people realise that these eight extractions represent 25 percent of their 32 natural adult teeth. It is even more disturbing that dentists who place such emphasis on preserving the natural dentition are so willing to sacrifice onefourth of it for the sake of appearance.

In fact, enough but not too much additional space push back the anterior teeth (dentists call this process retrusion) can be obtained by removal of only four

teeth, the second permanent molars. For this alternative, the child must be 13 or 14 years of age, with normally developing third molars. This approach has the advantage not only of providing enough space for repositioning all the teeth but of permitting adequate room for the eruption of the third molars, thereby reducing the risk of impactions.

It also eliminates the open spaces behind the cuspids that often remain after bicuspid extractions and help with the retention of all the flattening of the profile that often happens when bicuspids are removed.

Before subjecting your child or yourself to the sacrifice of one-fourth of the natural teeth, the orthodontist should be requested to consider the alternative of second molar extractions, or better yet, as I almost always do, expand the palate to straighten all the teeth at once.

VIII

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

CITY SOLID WASTE CRISIS ENDS

OVER the last several weeks we have had a steady stream of complaints concerning the sporadic way in which citizens’ garbage had been removed. In the last week, the Mayor and City Council’s (M&CC) rubbish disposal system collapsed and garbage accumulated in the streets and rubbish bins everywhere were overflowing. Parts of the City

literally stank, especially in those areas where garbage had overflowed into the stagnant drains.

There was an upsurge of swarms of flies and mosquitoes and citizens’ health was put at risk.

Her Worship the Mayor herself empathised with the discomfort of the citizens. She expressed her disgust at seeing garbage accumulations in various parts of the City and the very inadequate

contractors whom officers at City Hall had employed to replace Puran Bros. and Cevons Waste Management. These contractors were not performing to the expected standards of efficiency and had open back trucks with highly offensive exposed garbage. Her Worship had been misinformed and misled by the Town Clerk and Solid Waste Director as to the enormity of the problem.

The Guyana Consumers Association tried to contact the Solid Waste Department of the Council and on Friday every one of their listed telephone numbers was tried several times of the day but no one answered. Eventually, we were able to contact the Town Clerk’s office but, as usual, the Town Clerk was not available. We, however, spoke with the Deputy Town Clerk who told us that the Town Clerk was addressing the problem.

It was the belief of consumers with whom we spoke that the problems of rubbish disposal in the City was self-created in several ways by certain officers of the Council. Puran Bros and Cevons had made great investments in acquiring modern garbage trucks, training and equipping staff and maintaining an efficient and reliable service. They had also invested in movable toilets and septic tank cleaning equipment. At great sacrifice to themselves, they accorded M&CC generous credit. Indeed, they became household names in Georgetown.

The City Hall administration made little or no effort to pay off the approximately $475 million debt they owed these contractors who were not large companies and could not indefinitely bear this burden. To save themselves from going in the direction of bankruptcy, they were compelled to temporarily withdraw

their services.

The Mayor and many citizens realised that the only immediate relief to the problem was to urgently solicit the help of the Central Government in paying the Contractors so that they could resume work. The Mayor personally approached Ministers of Government.

The Town Clerk opposed the Mayor’s position and tried to negate the Central Government’s bailout, claiming it would detract from the autonomy of the Council, despite no effort was being made to pay Puran Bros and Cevons and the fact that over the years, the Central Government had financially bailed out the City.

Another source of opposition to the bailout and having the City immediately cleaned was the Solid Waste Director. The Mayor bitterly complained that she was misled by this official and that she would pay no further cognisance to him on this issue. The Solid Waste Director seemed more concerned with reducing the work Puran Bros and Cevons did and handing it over to two or three small contractors who were not properly equipped, whose trucks were fairly aged and mostly open backed spewing their stench in the city streets and who could not accord credit to the Council. The Solid Waste Director seemed more concerned with engaging the “smaller contractors” than having the City regularly and effi-

ciently cleaned.

News has just come that the Central Government has provided the funds to pay Cevons and Puran Bros and that they will immediately resume work. Georgetown now feels a sense of relief.

Both M&CC and the citizens should take measures to ensure that such a garbage crisis does not again occur in Georgetown: The City Administration must honour their obligations to the two contractors. The Town Clerk felt confident that the City could pay its way and wished to reject the Central Government’s bailout and funds were found to pay the “small contractors” millions of dollars. Cevons and Puran Bros could therefore now look forward to being paid on a regular basis.

Secondly, the Council itself should again begin to do some cleaning of the City as used to be done in the past. The ethic must again be cultivated that the City’s employees’ primary concern should be to serve the City and not merely to collect their pay cheques.

Thirdly, smaller contractors should be encouraged to invest in acquiring better equipment and to cultivate efficiency and reliability. They could be given special jobs by the Council once they reach the required standards.

Such “small contractors” could also be employed by the Regional Administrations.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

IX

Qualfon to create 100 jobs for Lindeners

By Naomi Marshall

“Things are getting better in Linden, Upper Demerara-Berbice” says Region Ten’s Chairman, Rennis Morian.

The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Region 10 has partnered with Qualfon to create jobs for 100 residents of Linden.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Morian noted that the partnership is focusing on jobs for young people of the mining town.

“Basically this is the focus of the government that the Regional Democratic Council should engage with the employers in relation to the employment in the region,” Morian said.

Senior Site Manager of Qualfon, Plaisance, Shem Erskine stated that the idea was brought about by at least five Lindeners who moved to the city seeking jobs and are presently apart of their team. He further noted that their team met with a few community leaders and the

feedback that they received has been exceptional which lead them to host a Job Fair.

The Job Fair will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 in Lens building at 9:00hrs in the mining town. The fair will focus on hiring persons from Linden to work for

Qualfon.

At the fair, on-the-spot interviews will be conducted by Qualfon’s Marketing team. Once that is done they will be conducting an assessment in Georgetown at Qualfon on Sunday, December 3, 2017 and Monday, Decem-

ber 4, 2017. Transportation will be provided. At the final stage of the process, those that passed the assessment will be officially employed at Qualfon.

Those employed will be based in Georgetown, however, their transportation

cost to and from work will be funded by Qualfon.

Those interested must be 17-years-old and over; must have completed secondary school and are asked to walk with any form of valid identification proof and qualifications if any.

Members of the Head table (from right: Alana Mitchel Recruitment Manager, Senior Site Manager Shem Erskine, Regional Chairman Rennis Morian, Councilor Denise Belgrave and Councilor Charles Sampson)

“This is going to be an ongoing relationship between us and the community. Whenever there are jobs available we’re going to reach out to those leaders within the Linden community who we formed a partnership with,” highlighted Erskine.

Councillor Charles Sampson pointed out that there is a high level of unemployment in Linden, especially among the young people.

“I am hoping that after this programme and the subsequent interviews a lot of our young people would be employed,” stated Sampson.

He also appeals to the young people to take up the opportunity so they can get jobs and earn some money and have a good life.

According to Morian, this is the first partnership but certainly is not the last since the RDC plans to meet with another team in the near future to address the infrastructural development in Linden.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

The first decade of the Wisburg Secondary School

The 10-year-old Wisburg Secondary School, Linden

The Wisburg Secondary School playfield which was all white sand 10 years ago

By Francis Quamina Farrier AS a regular reader of my weekly feature articles here in the Chronicle Pepperpot Magazine, I am sure that you realise that I have an avid interest in Guyana’s contemporary history. In this article, you have yet another example of my undying love for some of the less earth-shaking events here in Guyana, but events which in effect, tally up the progress and development of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. As the beautiful little song says, “Little things mean a lot.”

And, as the well-known Guyanese creolese proverb states, “One-one dutty build dam.” So here now, is my feature which exemplifies that centuries-old Guyanese saying about little events which help build a country into a cohesive nation.

At the side of my computer, as I write this feature, is the printed programme of an event which took place a decade ago, on Wednesday, November 28, 2007. On the front page of that printed programme, is the statement, “WISBURG SECONDARY SCHOOL Commissioning Ceremony”.

I was present at that ceremony which was held a decade ago, at that school, which is perched high on a hill at the western boundary of Linden Town, in Region Number 10. The location of the school is also about 50 or more feet above sea level.

These water tanks were promised 10 years ago at the commissioning ceremony and were installed shortly after. Observe how clean the compound is kept.

The fact that there are still so many Guyanese who continue to say that, “Guyana is below sea level” needs to be corrected, since they say, it is only one-third of the correct and full statement, which students in British Guiana were taught in the colonial times; the correct and full statement which is a fact, is as follows; “The coastland of Guyana, is below sea level, at high tide.”

A decade ago, quite a number of VIPs from Region 10, as well as from Georgetown, were in attendance at that commissioning ceremony. They included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Minister of Education Shaik Baksh, Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo, British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler and Head of the Department of International Development (DFID), Nicola Jenns. Each one made brief

remarks, but Prime Minister Samuel Hinds delivered the feature address. Cultural presentations were also performed by students of the school. Performing the duty of Chairperson of the event, was the headmistress, Carlyn Canterbury.

The construction and commissioning of that impressive school building were partly financed by the Government and people of the United Kingdom, with the plan to afford more students of Linden and beyond, the benefit of easily accessible higher education. As such, I remained interested to see how well the human factor responded over the first 10 years. Even while at that commissioning ceremony, I planned to return in 10 years’ time, and do an updated report. Now I have done just that.

Last Tuesday, November 28, 2017, I am happy to say that I visited with the staff and pupils of the Wisburg Secondary School. There was no anniversary programme. It was just another day; except that one person who had travelled all the way from Georgetown, and who was there at the commissioning ceremony 10 years ago, was back to report on the progress made over the past decade.

However, the next day, there was a grand graduation ceremony at the school.

Since its commissioning, there has been quite a number of achievements at the Wisburg Secondary School, which at present, has a population of 554 students and a staff of 49. Of special note, is the ongoing discipline at that school. Yes, there have been some incidents, such as damage to property by a few

of the students, but in every case, parents were made to provide the funds for the necessary repairs. While there on Tuesday last, I observed a very professionally-handled incident of student discipline.

Two students who were in a slight physical conflict were each given the opportunity to state their case, and discipline was later dispensed.

During Jubilee Year, 2016, then acting headmaster, Samuel Razak had organised what was a most impressive celebration, including a special Flag Raising Ceremony. There was also a Tree Planting Project during the Jubilee Year. Over the years, the school also has an Annual Inter-House Sporting programme during Education Month. Disciplines such as football, cricket, basket Ball, and athletics, which include swimming, are engaged in.

Beyond Linden, students have performed creditably at the Carifesta Games. Compton Caesar and Dessana Skeete have both won Gold Medals at that prestigious regional sporting event.

Of particular note, is the school’s playfield, which 10 years ago was all sand. Grass has been cultivated on it, and it is now a beauty to behold, and also comfortable for the students to play their various games. Quite a number of the students of the Wisburg Secondary School have also done well academically, with a few going on to even higher institutions of learning.

I have to announce that based on what I observed and have been told of the progress over the past decade, especially in discipline , academic achievement and sporting successes, I am obliged to award them an unofficial “A Plus” Grade and wish that school which is on high ground above sea level, even higher achievements.

Before leaving for my return journey to Georgetown, and though I am age 79, I boldly announced that I plan to return in another 10 years’ time, on the occasion of the school’s 20th anniversary. That drew some laughter from those who heard me. But, who knows!

At present, Guyana’s oldest male citizen, Gladstone Mack, is 106 years of age, and still going strong. In his National Budget for 2018, Minister of Finance Hon. Winston Jordan had some encouraging news for Guyana’s elders.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

#SupportCreativity

Kwesi Bovell set to represent Guyana at TFAPOPUP

AS the international art world prepares for Art Basel Miami later this year, The Fearless Artist Pop Up (TFAPOPUP) is preparing for their much-anticipated exhibition `Noise’, which is scheduled to coincide with next month’s festivities. `Noise’, a group show intended to focus on the intersection of noise and silence and the creative interpretation of that experience, will feature a number of creative practitioners from around the world including Guyana’s very own Kwesi Bovell.

Bovell will make his Art Basel debut at this year’s TFAPOPUP, an experiential art event that allows emerging and mid-career artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work while engaging with their viewing audience. The collective,

which has expanded to include artists from over 18 states and seven countries, transforms available spaces in high traffic locations during major art events, to allow artists to connect with their peers so that they could share information and resources, all while celebrating community within the creative arts. On the table for this year’s TFAFORUM is mental wellness issues in the creative community.

For those unfamiliar with Bovell’s works, they are typically composed of varying combinations of harsh and soft treatments of his painted surfaces. While some areas blend smoothly into each other, there are other areas that are almost cut through with a graphic treatment of colours, lines and shapes. It is this tension between the two approaches that elevates his work to a

new level of expressionism.

His introduction of found materials (whether organic or otherwise) is something that has always been characteristic of his work, even

from being graffiti-inspired into the realm of assemblage art.

“My works are created with an intense level of dynamism fused with the

"Boarded Up"

during his early days at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art. Bovell has maintained this practice throughout the years and has embraced the additional layer of complexity and dynamism it provides by shifting his work

deliberate post-modernist bent of the street artists. I use colours in a tantalising manner to evoke attention to my heavily symbolic work.”

Bovell admits that during the making of his work he often draws on his

unique cross-cultural perspective from time spent in Guyana, Africa, the British Virgin Islands and the USA to create visually impactful two and three-dimensional pieces. Speaking further on the way his works often transcend techniques and media to address universal themes, he describes his creative process as one that makes it possible for his works to remain relevant in spite of shifting art world trends.

“The freeness of my style combined with my worldly approach to the human experience has afforded me the chance to breathe a breath of new life into the ever-changing art scene.”

Noise will be open to the public from December 5th and continue until December 10th during Art Basel Miami.

Kwesi Bovell (b. 1976 in

Georgetown, Guyana) graduated with honours from the E.R. Burrowes School of Art in 1997 where he specialised in the areas of sculpture and painting. In 2003 he completed a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus.

Bovell has had several exhibitions in Guyana including at the National Gallery of Art (Castellani House) and at the National Museum as a member of the Guyana United Artists. He has also exhibited in Zambia at the National Henry Tayali Art Gallery and in Botswana where he was a resident teacher. His most recent showing was a solo exhibition at the BVI Inside Art Gallery in the British Virgin Islands and the Agora Gallery in Manhattan, USA.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

XIII

Converting agricultural waste to energy part two…

Guyana’s wood waste can produce 109,393.87 barrels of diesel

IN a growing world, where the conventional forms of energy are moving fast toward extinction as well as contributing to global concerns like the greenhouse effect and global warming, the need to innovate and employ alternative or unconventional energy sources has become crucial for the existence of a future.

As such, National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI)’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Oudho Homenauth and Clairmont Clementson, both Research Scientists conducted a research aimed at compressing and disposing of waste,

while attempting the generation of energy from them.

The study, which was aided by Research Assistants, Lalita Gopaul and Vickram Persaud, was done early this year and titled, “Investigation of Bioenergy utilisation in Guyana, including environmental and economic impacts.”

The bioenergy sources identified in Guyana are rice husk from rice production, residues from the forestry industry, biodiesel from palm oil, cogeneration of bagasse, bioethanol from the molasses and biogas from cattle manure, sewage sludge, and urban and suburban waste.

The conversion of rice husk to energy was featured in this column last week, now we will look at the transfer of forest residue to energy.

Wood waste includes sawmill rejects, edging, trimmings, veneer rejects, barks and sawdust from the logging industry. The study found that wood residue forms a significant input for energy used in gasification, combustion and other systems that harness energy from woody biomass.

While combustion releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, gasification is a cleaner method of conversion. It uses high tempera-

tures in an oxygen-deprived environment to convert woody biomass into a gas (a mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane).

The gas produced by this method is called synthesis gas and it is considered an environmentally safe alternative.

Guyana’s 81,974.4 tons of wood waste has the potential to produce 631,202,880,000 British thermal unit (BTU) of energy which is equivalent to 109,393.87 barrels of diesel.

The report noted that many sawmills regarded wood waste as a troublesome by-product of their operation resulting in it being incinerated or disposed of in the

landfill. There is currently a 40 percent recovery rate of timber in Guyana coupled with a build-up of sawmill waste which leads to a solid waste issue.

Operators of wood processing facilities are encouraged by the Guyana Forestry Commission through their code of practice to recycle sawdust and wood shavings for animal bedding, waste as fuel for the generation of heat/power, production of fuel briquettes and manufacture of charcoal.

However, a significant amount of sawmill waste ends up in landfills and dumpsites across the country

despite being advised that this practice is unacceptable.

One major challenge faced by operators in utilisation of their waste to produce energy is the high investment needed to implement a gasification system.

A large sawmill operator in Parika reported their attempt to source a gasification system. However, the cost of a twelve year payback period caused the project to be abandoned.

Smaller sawmill operators noted that they are not willing to invest in such a system since it doesn’t make their small operation profitable.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

XV

World Aids Day 2017 THIS past Friday, December 1 was World Aids Day. Just like various types of mental illnesses, HIV and Aids bring a lot of stigma and judgement to a conversation. I would like to now do what the day intended- to spread awareness of the disease as well as describe how it can affect your physical and mental health.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are approximately 36.7 million people living with HIV around the world in 2016. It was further estimated that only 70% of people actually know they are infected.

We live in a different time now, where HIV is no longer a death sentence. One who is properly treated can still live a long and healthy life with an HIV diagnosis. Sadly, however, what has not really changed is the negative, discriminated and uneducated attitudes towards people with HIV and AIDS. I’m not even sure if many in our community know the difference between HIV and Aids.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a type of virus – lentivirus specifically – that causes HIV infection which over time will develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).Specifically, the virus destroys our T-helper cells (a white blood cell) and instead makes copies of its own virus cells. This makes it almost impossible for the body to fight off infections and diseases.

This also means that AIDS is not the virus in itself but the syndrome caused by the HIV virus.

In other words, it is the last stage of HIV. This also means that if HIV is properly treated, there is a possibility of never developing AIDS. However, without treatment, AIDS can be developed anywhere from 2-10 years after being infected with the HIV virus.

An AIDS diagnosis encourages the immune system (our body’s natural defence against illness) to begin failing which means the individual becomes more susceptible to many infections or cancers than the average person.

Without treatment, the lifespan with someone diagnosed with AIDS is roughly 10 years.

HIV can be spread through blood, semen, vaginal fluids and breast milk. It cannot be transmitted through sweat, saliva or urine which means that hugging, kissing or sharing food or water cannot result in transmission of HIV. The best prevention for HIV is safe sex practices –male and female condoms, using clean needles for tattoos or injecting drug use as well as taking proper care during pregnancy as HIV can be passed down to a baby.

With proper medication such as Antiretroviral drugs can ensure that your partner does not become infected, even if sexually active.

THE SYMPTOMS OF HIV AND AIDS ARE UNIVERSAL. The first few weeks of infection feel like the cold with a lot of fevers, headaches, sore throat or rash. Over time, the virus will continue to weaken the immune system causing severe diarrhoea, weight loss, yeast infections, easy bruising, persistent cough, shortness of breath and swollen lymph nodes. There may be discoloured growths on the skin, bleeding from mouth or nose, numbness of the body and dizziness. If not properly treated, the individual can develop more severe illnesses and infections such as tuberculosis, cancers and meningitis. The speed of progression is determined by factors such as age or personal and familial health history and of course the severity of symptoms will depend on the stage of infection.

Sadly, people living with HIV and AIDS are also at higher risk for developing mental health issues than those who aren’t. An HIV diagnosis typically includes a loss of support, feeling stigmatised or discriminated against, difficulty finding or staying employed, as well as a new, wide range of physical health issues.

This means it comes with shock, sadness, guilt, anger and fear. The stigma and discrimination are particularly difficult to deal with, especially coming from those you love. Having to come to terms with a life-threatening illness, a shortened lifespan, as well as consistent treatment, can be difficult.

All of the above highly increases the possibility of anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? While there is no cure for HIV, there is proper and sufficient treatment.

The first and hardest thing that needs to occur is acceptance.

Accept that you have been diagnosed with HIV and use your energy to best decide how to proceed.

This can be done with the help of your physician.

Living a healthy life reduces some symptoms. This means eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep. It also means refraining from any alcohol or illegal drugs.

As previously mentioned, there is antiretroviral treatment that decreases the progression and symptoms of HIV. I know it can be difficult to share your diagnosis with others but having a trusting and non-judgemental person to talk

to really helps. You can also think about forming community groups with others living with HIV and AIDS. Become as educated about your diagnosis as you possibly can be. Most people judge and stigmatise because of a lack of education.

The more you know, the more awareness you can spread.

MODERN HIV TESTING BEING EXTREMELY ACCURATE. A single screening test is correct more than 99% of the time, with testing post exposure recommended initially and at six weeks, three months, and six months.

Please go and get tested today!

Thank you for reading and please send in any questions, comments or topics to caitlinvieira@ gmail.com. Also please remember when you can come see me.

Georgetown Public Hospital: Monday- Friday – 08:00hrs 12:00hrs Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department

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

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

Way of the submarine AS they rounded the last bend before reaching the river, former army officer Henson held back. Moored to the derelict wharf were two contrasting vessels – one a weather-beaten trawler, appropriately named `The Wreck’ , and the other a sleek beauty with the lines of a small yacht. Classy Lady was her name.

“Wow! That fancy boat must have put you back a substantial piece?” Henson asked.

“Got ya! That’s no ordinary boat. It’s a submarine,” Felipe said.

“What? Come on, man.

Don’t joke. All subs have an oval shape.”

“Not this one. This has a completely new design. Let’s go aboard, you’ll see for yourself.”

“What about the trawler?”

“Don’t let appearances fool you. That’s a super-fast naval vessel rigged to look like its purpose is to trawl. It’s our means of traversing the rivers and getting the trainees to the next point. But we’ll make it appear as if it needs repairs so it can remain close by, here and at Bartica, until we abandon this

camp,” Felipe said. “There are 10 Central and South Americans recruits aboard. When it gets dark they can help your boys unload the equipment and food items you requested.”

The last rays of sunshine were etched across the horizon.

Benson could not resist a naughty thought. Is this the last light I’ll see?

They were getting ready for a dry run, one that, if successful, could change the course of smuggling from South America, Latin America and the Caribbean into North America and

Europe.

He was uneasy. He was never fond of travelling on water for long periods. Now his dislike was compounded for he was about to embark on an underwater odyssey expected to last at least an hour, according to Felipe. The irony of an underwater dry run was not lost on him.

A mini-submarine for heavens’ sake...

No matter, they called it a deep water submersible and touted its many safety features, his stomach was already begin-

ning to feel queasy. But Felipe, sitting to his left, in front of an elaborate digital dashboard, was all cheer.

“Don’t panic, bro. This is a cakewalk. I promise that by the time we return you will be a convert, looking forward to the next run.”

Henson looked askance at his young partner, his gaze expressing extreme doubt.

Felipe’s enthusiasm knew no bounds. His voice sounded loud in the confined space.

“Here we go for the ride of your life. You’ll remember this forever.”

MURKY WATERS The distinctive gurgling of water flooding the ballast tanks could be heard above all else.

Soon the river inched higher on the transparent acrylic pressure hulls and to Henson’s perplexed mind it appeared that the murky waters were beckoning them like an open tomb.

Henson felt light-headed. He stared rigidly ahead as thoughts of the vast emptiness of an endless abyss conspired to paralyse his brain cells. Conversation was a no-no.

Felipe in the meantime flicked switches, turned knobs and pulled levers – the consummate undersea captain on a fact-finding mission.

Henson couldn’t bear the strain. He stammered, “Where did you learn to do this?”

This was the signal that Henson had overcome his first fears, and Felipe eagerly began to explain the mechanics of the sub’s buoyancy and other attendant details.

“This is a SeaMarine 1500.

It can carry up to a dozen passengers. With the seats removed, a half-ton of any kind of contraband is a manageable cargo. It can operate at a maximum depth of four hundred meters with a cruising speed of eight knots an hour. Surface speed is double that. It can operate submerged for more than 24 hours and its range is almost 100 nautical miles.

“As you can see, the craft is a state-of-the-art submersible offering panoramic viewing, contemporary styling, hydrodynamic efficiency, extraordinary range and superb maneuverability. By the way, it was originally fitted with a 15KW electric motor but we added a 50KW diesel engine to drastically increase surface range and speed.”

Henson knew to whom Felipe was referring when he spoke of ‘we’ but he was puzzled as to where this engine-attachment exercise had actually taken place.

“You didn’t answer my first question,” he said, somewhat peevishly WILL TO SUCCEED Felipe smiled like a mischievous schoolboy relishing ill-gotten gains.

“Guess I didn’t. But since we are brothers, here goes. I did dives in these small sub-

marines for three months in remote Guyana waters until I became the best navigator among a group of more than 50 trainees. The cocaine bosses out of Colombia and Venezuela are going hi-tech to beat the surveillance of the U.S. Coast Guard. They have the money and the will to succeed. As for me, I’ve grown to love the peace and quiet these subs can provide.

You’re a loner like me, that’s why I damn well know you’ll feel the same way I do when I’m down there.”

Henson noted the expletive with mild surprise. Felipe never swore. He had obviously slipped that in for reassurance and effect.

Felipe was now cranking up. “This sub will be officially introduced to the authorities, ostensibly to help boost Guyana’s tourism drive. Last year passenger submarines carried over two million customers and enjoyed US$150 million in revenue. Which poor country won’t want a piece of that global pie?”

Henson knew an answer was unnecessary to the rhetorical question so he waited for his partner to continue.

“The profit potential of a tourist submarine operating business is unlimited and will be eagerly embraced. But the real objective is for the sub to make regular clandestine runs to deliver consigned cargo to mother ships in mid-Atlantic.

The Americans usually work along with the local customs and narcotic boys, so once a ship gets port clearance, it is usually smooth sailing thereafter.”

“Who’s going to handle this sub?” Henson asked.

“I have two radical cousins right here in Guyana, ready to join the cause. They are cane-cutters during the day and river smugglers at nights.

Tomorrow we make contact in an unusual way.”

“What? You’re from the Middle East, how could you have relatives in this country?”

“Long story but I’ll make it short another day.”

All of Henson’s underwater fears had evaporated.

Felipe pointed this out to him. “See what I told you. You are as comfortable as I am.

But it’s time to head back to port.”

Henson had been paying keen attention to what Hassan had been doing. He felt confident enough to suggest a few moments at the control panel and the Arab moved aside with exaggerated panache.

They clasped hands and braced chests.

A button flashed red on the panel while an interior fog horn squawked.

It was time to resurface.

They were less than a hundred yards from the once famous berth in the North West area.

And there was a huge pot of intrigue to stir.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

folklore BUSH DAI DAI

AT the first hint of dawn, we tumbled out of our hammocks and ran down to the river. After a brief swim and bath in the cold black water, we returned to the hut and dressed quickly. There was the thumping of boots being knocked out and the swishing of clothes shook vigorously to relieve them of scorpions, tarantulas, and centipedes.

This done, we emerged from the hut and looked around us, our hungry eyes eagerly devouring the magnificence of our surroundings.

We were an advance party for a new mining company. We were to scout likely locations for the mining of gold. There were seven of us. We had two weeks’ worth of supplies and some heavy equipment. Today we were going to cut a line marking one of the chosen areas.

One week passed and we selected and marked two spots.

Work was progressing well but our ration was running pretty low. It was two days travel to go for ration and five days to bring back the heavy load.

Two days later, we were almost out of everything. None of the others showed any inclination of going for ration. I decided to walk to Base Camp to get more food. Early next morning, I was on my way. It was cold and dim as it tends to be in the deep interior. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds.

As the day wore on it became very hot even though the thick jungle canopy kept a great deal of the sunlight out. It was the kind of heat that made you wet and clammy and drained you of energy. By midday, I was wet with sweat and weak from energy-sapping heat. I trudged on determined to make good time to camp.

Suddenly, a new and strange sound caught my keen ears. My father had taught me the ways of the jungle when I was a teenager. One of the most important lessons was identifying sounds in the jungle. I heard the distinct rustle of dry leaves being trodden upon. Someone or something was following me through the jungle.

I paused and looked around.

There was nothing there. I continued on at a quicker pace. The sound also began to move swifter. I stopped and checked again.

Nothing. I continued my journey feeling a little tense. The sound mimicked my progress.

I decided to play a little trick.

The perpetrator had to be one of my friends from camp trying to spook me. I would start walking and then turn suddenly. I would catch him red-handed. This was bound to take him by surprise.

The next time I turned and started walking I suddenly swung round. I still count my

lucky star that I did. To this day I still believe that the quick turnaround saved my life. As I swung to face the person following me I got a terrible awakening. Standing about one hundred yards away and crouched to strike was a jaguar.

My hot blood froze in my veins.

All I had on me to protect myself was a small cutlass. It had been reduced in size by plenty of sharpening. That would be little help against a jaguar. I started to pray silently.

My keen observation of this deadly threat helped me to realise that the animal was young.

Even though it was not fully grown, I knew I did not stand a chance against this 300-pound predator. I had to come up with a plan: a plan to live.

I turned and began walking swiftly. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw with some concern that the animal was still on my tail. I knew that running would cause it to attack immediately. Whenever I stopped it did the same. I increased my speed. The jaguar followed suit. I threw caution to the wind and did something completely insane. I turned suddenly on the animal and advanced purposefully smashing my cutlass against every available tree.

The big cat stopped and looked at me uncertainly. I gained courage from this and decided to add another dimension. I began to scream and shout. As I drew nearer carrying on like a madman, the jaguar looked intently at me. Then it turned and disappeared into the thick bushes.

I turned and tried to do the same. To my horror, I heard the familiar rustle of dried leaves. I looked back but the coast was clear. Then I realised what was happening and I felt cold fear for the first time. The smart cat was tracking me using the jungle for cover.

In desperation and panic, I took off running. Luckily for me, I heard the rumble of a bush truck. Sprinting for my life and not daring to look back, I emerged onto the trail.

A large truck was heading in my direction. I raced towards it and quickly got on board. The clever jaguar was going to be disappointed and very, very hungry.

On my return to camp with the ration, I told the others of my near death experience.

There was loud laughter and plenty of tantalising (taunting).

Rupert who was the eldest in our team gestured for me to sit close to him. He began to share a strange experience he had not too long ago.

Rupert and a friend were wandering porknockers. They worked as a team and shared all finds equally. One evening after a hard day’s work they pitched camp and decided to hunt for supper. They both crept silently

into the jungle eyes and ears on the alert. They decided to stake out a small area near to a creek.

Animals would have to pass there to go to the water. They huddled down to wait.

This is Rupert’s account of that story.

“I was hidden behind a tree. My back was braced to the trunk and I was relaxing but listening keenly for any sound.

I must have dozed off because a small sound caused me to jump and open my eyes. Something big was moving nearby.

I peeped carefully around the trunk of the tree and got the shock of my life. I found myself looking at a human-like creature standing a short distance away.

It had a yellowish golden complexion and its hair was the colour of copper. The head was twice the size of a big-head human, and boy, it was ugly. But that is not what scared me. As I examined it, my stare settled on its feet. My heart nearly stopped with fright. The creature had no knees and one of its feet was pointing backwards. The fingers resembled claws and the sound it was making was a heavy, rasping breathing. I tried to blink back tears from my eyes.

This was a Bush Dai Dai, one of the most feared spirits of the forest. It seemed to be hunting too; but what?

To my utter disbelief and horror, I saw it advance stealthily towards my partner. My limbs were frozen in fear. I became a helpless spectator. He spotted it and he began shooting at the beast. That was his biggest mistake. With an animal like snarl, it descended on him in a flash. Talon-like nails went to work rendering my friend unconscious. The shotgun was smashed by a blow from the creature. It took less than two minutes for it to disarm and badly injure my friend.

I stayed low and prayed.

It sniffed around a bit and the glided from sight. I crept towards my friend keeping an eye out for the Dai Dai. My friend was bleeding and had what looked like a broken hand and concussions. I sighed in relief.

He was not dead or fatally wounded. What I noticed was the utter disbelief on his unconscious face. I picked him up and headed for help.

Next day, I went to see him at the clinic. He was resting and recovering.

“Boy, you never see a Bush Dai Dai yet. That is why you looked so shocked,” I began.

“No!” Was his indignant reply. “I can’t believe I emptied a whole magazine into dat ting and it still get me.”

I shook my head in resignation.

“Boy, you were really lucky to escape.”

“No. You were really lucky.

I nearly died, remember.”

XVII

By Neil Primus

We both smiled then burst into loud laughter.

“That thing could have killed you.”

“I know. Maybe it was just warning me.”

“About what?” I enquired.

“Keep out of my territory.

Leave my friends (animals/ Amerindians) alone.”

He said this in a mocking

semi-scary voice. We both laughed.

“Next time we’ll hunt somewhere else for small game.”

“No way! I already ordered a new gun; semi-automatic. It spits out thirty rounds per minute. I know just where I want to go hunting next time.”

He said this in a deter-

mined, sinister tone. I kept silent. He knew a lot of things but what he didn’t know was that he would have to find another hunting partner. I had no intention of hunting any bad spirit.”

By the time Rupert had finished his story I had already made a silent vow to head for GT. No Bush Dai Dai there.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

The passionate lawyer ... Erica Cappell and the value of family support

By Wendella Davidson GROWING up in a household where education was paramount and two older siblings achieved academic brilliance by qualifying as medical doctors, newly-admitted lawyer, Erica Cappell needed no other motivation.

But, unlike her sisters, Drs. Donette and Donyale Cappell, Erica chose a different path and embarked on a course to become a

lawyer, thus it was with great euphoria that she stood before the Honorable Chief Justice, Roxane George-Wiltshire on October 19, 2017, to be admitted to the bar having successfully graduated from the Hugh Wooding Law School in neighbouring Trinidad.

Her petition was presented by attorney-at-law, Paul Braam.

The occasion was made even more memo-

rable for Erica, as Justice George-Wiltshire just like her, was also a past student of the prestigious Bishops’ High School and too, a former Head Prefect of their alma mater. Erica confessed that the judge was a ”role model” for her all along.

On hand to witness the ceremony were her proud parents, Errol and Donna Cappell; her sisters; Norma, her paternal grandmother; her maternal grandfather and other relatives

and friends, a few of whom reside overseas but came home to help Erica celebrate such a special occasion.

Chief Justice, George-Wiltshire in her charge to the new member of such a noble pantheon of legal luminaries, encouraged the young attorney to at all times, seek to maintain the high standard that she has set herself and, to always strive for excellence. She was further forewarned to, consistently be prepared to be frank when advising clients and to let them know when they do not have a case.

Erica in her response swore “to uphold the rule of law… [pledged] to conduct myself in a manner that is always befitting of an attorney-at-law, to act with integrity and do nothing to bring the profession into disrepute.”

“I will continue to subscribe and live by the motto of the Bishops’ High School taken from Ecclesiastes Ch 9:10… Labour Omnia Vincit (Work Conquers Everything),” she pledged.

Erica also expressed sincere gratitude to all who assisted her along her journey which she described as “long and arduous and filled with many twists and turns, roadblocks and potholes.”

But as Erica puts it, she was fortunate to have a group of `cheerleaders’ who helped her every step

Newly-admitted Attorney-at-law, Erica Cappell with Chief Justice (ag) Roxane George-Wiltshire before whom her petition for admittance to the Bar was presented.

of the way.

To this end, among those who she afforded special mention in her words of appreciation were, Attorney Braam for willingly accepting the task of presenting her petition and for being an excellent example of how an attorney should conduct themself both in

New attorney Erica Cappell with Attorney Paul Braam who presented her petition

and out of court; Justice Kurtzious who she referred to as `Aunty Sandra’and thanked her for the continued love, support and encouragement; along with educators Ms. Maison of Bishops’ High, Ms. Alexis Downes-Amsterdam, the late Sheldon Mc Donald, and retired Chancellor of the Judiciary,Professor Keith Massiah, and a number of other friends.

Of Professor Massiah, the young lawyer credited him for tutoring her on the importance of critical thinking and preparedness, which she said served her well throughout her time at both the University of Guyana and the Hugh Wooding Law School.

GRATITUDE As expected, Erica bestowed an abundance of appreciation on her parents, siblings, and grandparents for their unwavering support.

To her dad, whom Erica referred to as “my King”, she passionately recalled him telling her long before she had decided on her career path that she would be his Senior Counsel and spoke of how he sacrificed “ time and again to ensure that we had the best education, regardless of the cost.” When it was time for her to leave for law school in Trinidad, she continued “you went over and beyond to see to that I began law school. Sometimes I still Turn to page XIX ►►►

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►►► Cont'd from page XVIII

wonder how you so confidently invested in me when you did not have to… without hesitation, you spent millions to ensure that I finished what I started. For that daddy, I owe you a debt of gratitude and I hope I have made you proud,” she added.

Alluding to her mom as “my Queen “, the young lawyer thanked her for being a constant source of strength for her, noting that she made the ultimate sacrifice by staying home to ensure the family was well taken care of, along with her constant prayers and support.

Erica likened her siblings as “the best friends I could have ever asked for. You both were always ready to move mountains to see me through my journey.” She also fondly remembered an occasion during an exam time when as she felt the pressure of the investment which rested on her shoulders and her fear of failure, that her sisters confidently reassured her: “Erica, you have these exams in the bag `hun’,” and in the same breath teased her that if law failed her, then she “would have to go sand (buff) those cars in daddy’s workshop.”

BACKGROUND This Aquarius-born young woman had her formative educational grounding at St Margaret’s Primary School which she attended from 1999 to 2005, when she successfully wrote the then-called Common Entrance Examination. Erica was awarded a place at the Bishop’s High School and recalled attending to her school work with much diligence, to the extent that she maintained excellence during the seven years she spent there placing at the top of her class for six years. The lone year when she wasn’t, she had placed third.

Erica always had a desire to study Law, hence,when she entered the Sixth Form at Bishops High she began laying the foundation to pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. While at Bishop’s her extra-curricular activities included functioning as the treasurer of Dewar House for the two years she spent in Sixth Form.

In 2012, Erica entered the Law Programme at the University of Guyana and it was during the tenure at University’s Department of Law that her interest in the discipline, especially in the areas of Criminal, Constitutional, Administrative, Family, Employment and International Environmental Law intensified consid-

XIX

The passionate ...

erably.

She continued to be diligent and dedicated towards her studies and was amply rewarded when received several accolades, including the `Cavendish Book’ for being the Best First Year Student in the law Programme; the ‘Mrs. Latchmin Kissoon Award’ as a Guyanese Law Student with the Best End of First Year Results; ` The Anne Blue Memorial Award’ for a law student with the Best GPA (Grade Point Average) at the end of the Second Year of the LLB Programme and the `Pro-Chancellor’s Medal’ for the Best Graduating Law Student at the University of Guyana.

Despite her heavy study-load, Erica was actively involved in coordinating the Moot Court Guyana (MMG) and holding symposiums or mooting competitions. She was also a member of the University’s Law Society’s Constitutional Reform Committee (UGLSCRC).

Having successfully completed the Law programme at UG, Erica went on to read for her Legal Education Certificate at the Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad. At the end of the first year of study in 2016, she completed a compulsory 10 weeks of internship at the law firm of Roysdale Forde, Amsterdam and Lewis, here in Guyana. That year too, she also did a legal internship at the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission where she assisted in the compilation of a legislative review of the laws which govern the statutory powers of the Constitution.

Erica’s second year of study at Hugh Wooding Law School saw her doing an internship at the law office of Vanessa Thomas Williams, an attorney who specialises in industrial relations, an experience she described as “invaluable” and which enabled her to lend assistance to workers who often did not know their rights and, thus become vulnerable to be taken advantage of.

A devout Christian-minded young lady, Erica is an active and a confirmed member of the Roman Catholic Church of the Lady of Fatima, North Road, where she serves as a lector and has been also been a member of the youth group for the past seven years.

To young people like herself, in particular women, Erica has these simple words of advice: “With God, hard work and determination you can achieve anything.”

New attorney Erica Cappell ( centre) , stands with her family foundation from left Dr. Donette Cappell (eldest sister); Errol Cappell (dad); Donna Cappell (mom) and Dr. Donyale Cappell ( second sister)

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

XXI

Helping the homeless

Potluck, an organisation on a mission

By Lisa Hamilton HOMELESSNESS is a problem that tends not to get as much attention as the other societal issues would. Yet, it can happen to anyone, anywhere and through multiple, unexpected changes in persons’ lives.

This concept is something that co-founders of Potluck, Dr. Stefan Hutson and Dr. Navina Paul, understand.

Potluck is a non-profit organisation that seeks to address the problem of homelessness in Guyana through varying means.

during Navina’s final year at UG, being philanthropists, they both wanted to expand the work of Hutson’s family. So, earlier this year, they founded Potluck.

Initially, Stefan and Navina were able to round up supporters but faced issues of not having enough to give to the long lines which would form.

“It feels really bad to tell people you don’t have food and to turn them away…that’s how Potluck started. We started by giving away food, trying to get volunteers to come to donate and help, but then, we wanted to do more than that,” Navina said.

you were nearly homeless for some reason, then you’d realise they’re not there because they want to be. Nobody wants to be homeless.”

RESEARCH This is the reason Potluck has begun to invest in a research on the matter. The organisation hopes to study the prevalence and issues affecting the homeless population in Guyana, and investigating the private sectors to further assess the barriers to employment.

he talks about, ‘Every Sunday these people come in the green car and save him because he can’t get food and he does be very hungry’ and that Sunday we didn’t do feeding. That was the same week that he passed away,” Stefan then solemnly added, “So since then, we go out every Sunday. We rarely miss a Sunday.”

The organisation presently has about 25 volunteers who rotate their services weekly. It receives support and donations from the Save Abee Foundation,

A Potluck volunteer delivers soup to the homeless

Dr. Navina Paul and Dr. Stefan Hutson in front of the well-known ‘green car’

The word ‘Potluck’ suggests a gathering whereby each person contributes a dish which sees them participating in a grand meal through which no one goes unfed.

Stefan is 26 years old and currently lectures on Physiology at the University of Guyana’s School of Medicine.

Navina is a recent graduate of the School of Medicine and has been a part of a number of volunteer organisations in the past such as the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD).

FAMILY VALUES Potluck has its roots in Hutson’s single-parent family. Every Sunday, Stefan, his mother and two brothers would pack bags of whatever food they could gather at the time and deliver it by foot to the homeless on the streets of Georgetown.

The family could only afford this on a small scale, at times only being able to provide burgers, sandwiches or coffee.

“We knew what it was like to be without so we wanted to give back…and help those people who really needed something,” Hutson explained.

Although he was too humble to say, Navina revealed that Stefan was raised in a charitable home, one which even served as a shelter for the homeless in the past.

When the two grew closer

TAKING CARE OF THE HOMELESS Navina describes Potluck, today, as an umbrella, seeking to cover a broad range of strategies targeted at attempting to solve the great problem of homelessness.

Just last month, Potluck treated over 90 persons through blood pressure and sugar testing, eye screening and dental tests, and donated needed medication and clothing to the Night Shelter in East La Penitence.

Apart from the feeding, the group takes part in male and female empowerment, has plans for monthly outreaches and is in

the process of acquiring funds to apply for Friendly Society Status.

“It’s not just feeding, it’s helping. You can’t just sit down and criticise and say, ‘That is an issue’ but then you don’t do anything about it. Everybody has something that they can bring to the table to help fix a problem,” Navina said.

She also comes from a single parent home and told the Pepperpot Magazine of the driving force behind her passion.

“Obviously, people from single-parent homes, they know the struggle,” she said, referring to another volunteer in the room, Navina continued, “We’ve all starved. I could have been homeless as well.”

THE CONDITION OF HOMELESSNESS She recounted one of her experiences in 2015 which led her to assert that the views which many have of the homeless can be flawed at times.

“Not everybody who is homeless is living on the streets as a junkie on drugs. These guys [some persons she met] had bad hands dealt to them and they were still trying because they were out there working, for below minimum wage- for nothing substantial, but they were still trying,” Navina added, “They were not on drugs, they were not addicted to anything, they were just dealt bad hands, so I want to help people like this.”

Surprisingly, the group’s acts of kindness are not always met by appreciation. Stefan told of some of the negative remarks the team would receive from onlookers.

“Sometimes [persons are] like, ‘They giving out this food to these people and just enabling them, they gon’ wan stay there all the time and just collect food, ” Stefan said. “That is so not true. If you’ve really been hungry before and you’ve been dealt a bad hand, where

The homeless near Bounty Supermarket

Stefan Hutson and a volunteer during last Sunday’s soup sharing

“There are different things that we want to do and as much as it looks like we’re just feeding people now, there’s a lot that we’re trying to do. Hopefully we can get more donors in the future so that we can keep going and helping people,” Navina said.

When the Pepperpot Magazine tagged along with Potluck last Sunday on a soup feeding venture, it was amazing to see just how well the destitute at different locations in Georgetown, recognised the ‘green car’ which would religiously bring them food.

Stefan disclosed the story of how the commitment to delivering food each Sunday became cemented in their practice, following the death of a crippled man.

“Every week we would go there, feed him and then move on to go around by Muneshwers. So about three or four months into Potluck starting up and feeding every Sunday, one day I was passing through running an errand and I heard, ‘Hey! Hey! Hey! Stop green car!’”

When Stefan stopped to find out what was wrong, the men who came up to him told him that the crippled man had passed away a few days ago. It so happened that on the previous Sunday, Potluck was unable to conduct its regular feeding.

“They were saying that

Evolve You Fitness, Arielle Ming, Dr. Roberta Martin and a few others.

“You’d be really surprised at how far a small amount of stuff can go. Things that you would take for granted other persons would really, really love to have,” Stefan said, “Just helping one or two persons is more than enough. If everybody would try to do that it would be a much less hungry country.”

Meanwhile, Navina summed it all up by saying, “We all have it better than a lot of people who didn’t get to go to school, they didn’t get the things we got, we fought for it and we have it and now it’s our duty to try to help other people,” she continued, “It’s easy to criticise; it’s harder to go out there and do the work, but if everybody tried, we could do so much.”

The next big plan for Potluck is its Christmas Care Packages distribution which will see persons at the East La Penitence Night Shelter receiving basic hygiene items.

The organisation welcomes support from the government and the public for this and future ventures, and mulls plans for branches in other parts of the country in the future.

Anyone who wishes to support Potluck can do so by contacting them through their email address: potluckguyana@gmail.com

XXII

Christina Richardson set to debut album 'Out of Zion'

By Gibron Rahim GOSPEL music is unique among the music genres. It combines powerful vocals with meaningful lyrics to create a sound that, besides being pleasant to listen to, praises the Creator and calls believers to worship.

Among Guyana’s talented gospel musicians is singer/ songwriter Christina Richardson. The artist is set to

release her debut album Out of Zion on December 8.

Music has been a part of Christina’s life from an early age. This, as she explained when she sat down with the Pepperpot Magazine, came about because of her family’s ties to music. Her grandfather sang and played the guitar.

Her father is a musician, as are her uncles. Her family would take her with them when they travelled as a band.

She recalled that there are photographs of her onstage with her family as a baby, holding a microphone and singing. Of course, in the beginning, the words were more baby talk than lyrics.

It was around the age of five that she truly began singing.

Among her childhood recollections are making up and singing goodbye songs when she would leave the homes of her grandparents.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

Christina carried her love of singing with her throughout her life. Her parents, both pastors, recognised her passion and she would sing in church and at concerts.

It was last year though that Christina’s passion for singing turned toward becoming a career path. The catalyst was a collaborative album by Samuel Medas, one of Guyana’s current premier gospel artists. Medas invited Chris-

Singer/songwriter, Christina Richardson (Photo courtesy of Christina Richardson)

tina and other ‘rookie’ artists to be part of the effort. Each of them was given the opportunity to have a track on that album which was titled “The Reveal.” Christina’s track on the album – “Zion!” – was her first official recording.

After that, she began working at the recording studio fulltime. She currently engineers, sings, writes and does backup vocals. Then around May this year, Christina spoke to the sound engineer who owns the studio about recording an album to which he gladly agreed.

The result of that effort is “Out of Zion” Christina’s debut album. “This album is called `Out of Zion’ because I believe it’s a love letter to the Church,” she explained.

“I believe that it is the word of God to His people right now in this day, and age, and time.” The tracks contain instructions, corrections, assurances and promises from God. “Out of Zion is just the heart of God for His people right now,” said Christina.

The album, she told the Pepperpot Magazine, is a call in many different aspects of a believer’s relationship with God. The album is not only a reflection on the influence music has had on Christina, she noted that it is also majorly prophetic in nature. And while she will not market it as such, she is confident that listeners will be able to tune into the message as coming from God. The tracks from the album that have been released so far, give an excellent taste of what to expect from Out

of Zion. “Awake, awake, oh Zion!” Christina urges on the joyful “Zion!” The song is an upbeat call to worship.

Earlier this year, she also released the gospel reggae track “Hill of The Lord” which she described as being groovy and cool. She noted that the song speaks about being in a particular place with God and ties in really well with the other tracks. “Keeper”, a third single was released a few weeks ago. Christina described it as being a toned down and quiet track.

Regarding the message of “Keeper” she said, “You can be in the darkest of places and be going through some really deep stuff but, just to know that God is there with you, you don’t have to be afraid.”

Christina holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Guyana. Her degree allows her to be more expressive she noted. In an amused tone, she also explained the potential drawbacks of that in songwriting – her sound engineer and producer have told her that her music is often wordy.

That though is just one downside. “The upside to it is that I get to say things in ways that people might not think about,” she explained. She strongly believes that the more artists, regardless of their medium, extend their horizons and borders in terms of material and content, the better their chances are for expression and production.

“You don’t limit yourself to what you’re accustomed to,” Turn to page XXIII ►►►

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Christina Richardson Hidden snake sleeping on his chest set ... ►►► Cont'd from page XXII

she declared.

Her degree prevents Christina from being onetracked in her musical expression and style. This helps her to write lyrics for different genres of music. “Out of Zion” has reggae and EDM influenced tracks. She can work with classical or contemporary music. And being a writer, she noted, is itself a great asset in the music industry. Christina writes her own lyrics. She wrote all of the tracks on “Out of Zion.”

Moreover, being a songwriter enables her to pen songs for other artists. This creates another avenue of revenue and as Christina noted, “You never want to think that your dream is separate from making money.” The two can tie into each other. And Christina strongly advocates for education. “If you really want to focus on writing anything, not just music, get an English degree and step it up,” she said. She herself would

have gone after her master’s degree if it was being offered.

While Christina does not play any instruments, that fact is not as disadvantageous as it may first appear. Her producer Samuel Medas has really helped her to shape her tracks. And she has been able to work with many people including Yonnick Adolf, Jeremy Van Tull and Jeremy Sobers. Not playing an instrument allows her music to be richer. She explained, “When you pull other people in you get a variety of sound and it becomes great.”

Working on “Out of Zion” has taught Christina some valuable wisdom. When she first saw the finished music video for “Keeper” the first thing that came to her mind was, “Never let anybody tell you that achieving the things you’ve always dreamed of is impossible.” Digression is not always a bad thing she said. Christina is a firm

believer in holding fast to dreams. “As long as you know who you are people can’t shake you out of your place,” she affirmed. She has also learned to let God be in control of directing her path. Christina used to have a life plan – do exceptionally well at UG, get her degree, become a teacher and then later move on to the Ministry of Education and make some real changes. Finding herself in front of a mixer engineering never factored in and yet there she was. She noted that the scriptures say that many are the plans of a man’s heart but it is the Lord who directs our paths. She is glad to have let God take control. To listeners, Christina’s words are, “Know yourself and know who you are in God because He is a promise keeper.”

Christina Richardson’s album “Out of Zion” launches on December 8 in Williamsburg, Berbice.

By Abdool Aziz

SINCE leaving school he drifted from place to place sustaining himself doing odd jobs. But the coastland was getting harder and harder, so he decided to try his luck in the bush.

He would visit miners’ and loggers’ camps and tell stories of his exploits in the Rupununi. He told his favourite: how he swam on the Irene River to save a Harpy Eagle from drowning. The eagle had sunken its talons into a big fish. But he struggled to be airborne and fell back into the water still alive and the eagle was going under. He went to the bird’s rescue.

After telling his story, he would then beg for a meal. The host would oblige and he would seek their permission to sleep the night. That night he was given a jute bag to snuggle into. The men slept in hammocks and he bedded down on the rocky floor.

THE DRIFTER AND HIS DEADLY COMPANY The next morning the men saw their guest still in his bag. They hollered for

him to get up. No sound, no movement. The camp attendant walked over to him. He saw the man wideeyed and agonised. Then he saw the huge bulge in his belly. He peeped into the bag. “Serpent! Serpent!” He shouted and stepped back.

“A snake?!” asked the camp manager.

The Brazilian nodded his head.

“Well don’t just stand there, kill it!” ordered the boss. The Brazilian shook his head. No way.

“Well we have to go to the Amazon, you deal with it. Try to save this man. He looks like a corpse.”

They went off giggling. “ A snake on his chest, what a slumber!

The native from the Amazon raised the mouth of the bag again. He tried to locate the head of the anaconda. It was huge. But he feared any disturbance would agitate the serpent and the victim could be constricted to death.

THE AGONISING WAIT He must wait for the sun to rise. As soon as he saw its first rays, he dismantled the tent. The ray spotlighted the bag. The Brazilian waited

in anxiety. Then there was a movement. The reptile crawled out slowly and slithered away. But the Amazon warrior ran after it and caught its head. He drove a nail into it. The sleepy joe took its last breath and slept forever.

RESUSCITATING THE SLEEPER The drifter was stone cold. He was almost paralysed from poor circulation of blood due to the heavy coils. The native of Brazil massaged him back to normalcy. The anaconda made a good Bar – B – Que dinner and the boss got the skin as a trophy. The drifter lumbered off afraid of the bush. He returned to the coastland. Now he had a really true story to tell ‘Babysitting the Anaconda.’ No one believed him. They believed he got the bush bulges. At nights he gets nightmares. His advice: Never sleep in an open bag especially if it’s warm. Snakes love the warmth!

XXIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

Christmas and Pyrotechnics

(From left) Syeada Manbodh and Rae Bobb (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

By Lisa Hamilton GUYANESE have an ageold tradition of celebrating major holidays such as Diwali, Christmas and New Year with the illegal use of squibs, firecrackers and other pyrotechnics.

Over the years, it has become so commonplace to hear the sound of loud explosions during these seasons that one begins to question whether the holidays have actually begun without hearing them.

Yet, what serves as entertainment to human beings continues to pose a threat to domestic animals such as

dogs and cats, which, possessing a higher frequency of hearing, suffer greatly during these times.

No stranger to the issue is prominent veterinarian, Dr. Steve Surujballi, who told the Pepperpot Magazine that it was high time that law officials take the matter much more seriously.

“Some years ago, a wise government introduced legislation which prohibited the importation and use of squibs and explosives,” Surujballi pointed out, “Yet, we find these articles being openly sold at our markets and variety stores. It is time — holiday or no holiday, season or no season, celebration or no celebration — for the police to make an example

of the importers, sellers and buyers.”

The veterinarian went on further to explain what it is like for domestic animals during festive seasons, realities that many ‘squib throwers’ overlook.

“Dogs and cats have sensitive ears. The noise from the explosions disorients and traumatises them,” Surujballi said, “They run indoors and try to hide in secluded places where they think there is security. You can see them wandering around our roads lost, in a daze, and with anxious looks. They are struck down by uncaring motorists.

“Simply put, exposing pets to squibs, firecrackers, and to any type of explosive device is possibly the greatest

Akeem Burgzorg

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

“You’re sleeping at nights and then they set it off it can disturb you. In cases where you have people with heart problems and babies, I think that’s not good for them. For me, I’ve lost my hearing in my right ear, not because of that, but I’m scared if anything goes wrong with the other ear I’ll be totally deaf.” -- Lynette Jacobs Another Animal Rights Activist, Rae Bobb, says that she had a message of awareness for the Guyanese public.

“I want to send out a message to the churches and schools to have them educate the kids about the dangers of fireworks to animals and

Fiona Charles (Photos by Delano Williams)

cruelty one can administer to an animal.”

This is a truth that Animal Rights Activist, Ms. Syeada Manbodh, takes personally.

Throughout her lifetime she has witnessed countless effects of these explosives on domestic animals, wildlife, the old and young.

Manbodh made reference to a case in 2014 whereby a dog succumbed after being impaled by spike on a fence when the animal attempted to escape sounds of firecrackers on New Year’s night.

She said she hopes that these appalling examples serve as a wake up to law enforcement officers, encouraging them to do the right thing.

Another case was also raised by the activist of an elderly woman in McDoom, menaced each time this year, by younger folks who would throw the explosives on her verandah.

“Because she’s elderly, she’s frightened, she cannot come out, she cannot defend herself, so it’s not a season of joy for her, it’s a season of terror,” Manbodh lamented.

In areas such as the Guyana Zoological Park, mainly primates and cats are affected by the explosives throughout these seasons.

This is according to Animal Husbandry Supervisor, Prince Dryden, who said that the May 50th Anniversary celebration, resulted in major changes in the natural behaviour of the animals such as a loss of appetite or the animal became fearful and aggressive.

Collectively, the government, the Police Force and the Guyana Revenue Authority are being summoned

to take action, but what are the views of the public on the issue?

This media house took to the streets and here are some of the responses we received as regards whether this annoyance should be banned: “Sometimes you cannot say whether it’s a squib or a gunshot. So it can be scary at times. [The police] can [assist] but I don’t know what they can actually do since I think it comes in as contraband, so people are still going to be able to get it and use it.

I don’t know how much they can do about the squibs when they’re more likely to look at persons who are stealing. So it’s going to be a little bit difficult for them to control the use of squibs this Christmas season.” --- Fiona Charles “ So far it’s a nice thing because it brings a lot of excitement. If we don’t have such things like firecrackers and squibs we won’t be able to enjoy our Christmas. The noise does affect me after late hours but it’s the Christmas season...after Christmas, you could ban it.” -- Akeem Burgzorg “People are not catering for people who have trouble with their heart, about babies, it’s very much disturbing. A friend of mine, it’s an old woman, nearly got a heart attack with it. Somebody just loosed that squib next to her and we had to just hold that woman to revive her. You have many more.” -- Roselyn Pompey “Not really, it doesn’t affect me, but everybody needs some excitement. You know, it’s fun but you got to take precautions.” –Dharmalall Surajpaul

children.”

Bobb agrees with Manbodh and stated that enforcement of the country’s laws is the only way to move forward on the issue and further chided the police for their lackadaisical response to the problem “At the end of the day you look and you see the vendors there right in front of the police, selling it all over Stabroek Market,” Bobb commented.

Recommendations coming from the Animal Activists are for the revision of Independence fireworks being held in close proximity to the zoo and the utilisation of silent fireworks as coun-

XXV tries such as Italy currently practice.

And although Bobb believes that pet owners should not have to go out of their way to protect their animals when laws prohibiting the explosives exist, Manbodh gives pet owners some advice.

“To me a responsible owner is an owner who knows that something is going to happen and they take precautions,” She said.

“Make sure your dogs are inside, the music is turned up, talk to your vet maybe they can give them a relaxant to calm them down so that they don’t react in sheer panic... do the best for them because

they do the best for you all year long.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Surujballi is encouraging Guyanese to let this coming Christmas be one of consideration for the welfare of animals.

“Let us make an extra effort this Christmas season to ensure that the use of squibs and any other type noise-making devices be kept at an absolute minimum,” the Doctor appealed, “Perhaps we will evolve into such a caring nation that such ‘toys’ will not anymore be used, and definitely not to scare animals — our fellow travellers on this spaceship Earth.”

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

No trophy, but winners nonetheless

By Stephan Sookram

LAST weekend saw the first in a flight of steps taken to improve the outlook and skill of regional drivers with an exchange karting program between Guyana and Jamaica.

While the Guyanese were not able to stand on the top step of the podium in any of the groups that they participated in, there were no losers when the team returned home

However, to understand this, persons must first be aware of several factors.

Humidity and heat are the first two factors that varied from the what the touring drivers are accustomed to because the GT Motorsports Championship is held at night and Jamaica’s is in the day.

While there was a light wind gracing the Palisadoes racetrack, the place was still more humid than experienced locally and presented a new

Mikhail Persaud (left) is focused on Kart set up as Stefan Jeffrey (Right) and Brian Ten Pow (behind kart) aligns the kart

Sunday evening.

The team included Jeremy Ten Pow, Justin Ten Pow, Mikhail Persaud, Elan Rahaman, Rayden Persaud, Matthew Phang and at the last moment, Steven Nobrega arrived early Thursday morning for a weekend of Karting.

With Nobrega, Brian Ten Pow and Stefan Jeffrey acting dual roles as coaches and mechanics for the youngsters along with Andy Phang, the unit’s first order of business

dimension.

This brought about another factor, dehydration due to the heat and humidity. This meant that the Guyanese drivers would become tired at a faster pace at Palisadoes than they would at GT Motorsports. All three of the above factors according to Dr. Julie Schwartzbard, MD (https:// www.bettermind.com) can affect focus, especially when taking into consideration the next factor.

cross the finish line in Jamaica as against just over six in Guyana.

Fifth, the karts were different. Sure, from the photos that litter this article, they may look the same but they are way different. Different chassis are used by different people in the varying groups, some use Tony-kart, others Birel and some the CRG brand but what remained standard was the engine.

They all used Rotax.

However, this is where the probably the biggest fallout occurred. Because the Guyanese had to borrow Karts and were competing in the same series, they had to use the Rotax engines.

Locally, the engines we use are the IAME engines.

According to one driving coach, the difference is that while the IAME will provide power at any region, there is a power band from which the Rotax derives its power. Once you fall out of that band, it means that you inevitably fall out of the power producing region. In some instances, it’s Similar to V-TEC. This brings me back to the point of all of them being winners. They took these factors into consideration and were still able to come within one second of those Jamaicans who do this almost every weekend.

They were able to adapt to an entirely new environment, engine type and possibly develop some new driving styles because of that weekend.

What Palisadoes provided

Team Guyana prior to departing the Cheddi Jagan International Airport

was a track walk.

The 1200m Palisadoes facility which featured 14 different corner stands was probably the most fun track that I’ve had the chance to walk (and drive at low speeds).

And while it should be key for any driver to adapt to his surroundings, the unit got a whole new experience.

Fourth, there was the length of the Palisadoes raceway. The fastest time recorded in the Junior class as a 56.5 second time while the average is 57. At home, the average 125cc junior time varies around the low 33-second margin.

While they both go for 10 laps, it takes just under 10 minutes for the race leader to

was an opportunity to see corners and chicanes in a new light, attack them from new angles and try new strategies and that is why they can never lose from that trip.

They have learned what it means to drive against karters who use a different style and they have also built their Turn to page XXVII ►►►

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017 ►►► Cont'd from page XXVI

No trophy, but ...

Jeremy Ten Pow being interviewed by the Jamaican media.

confidence levels considering that they were able to produce

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creditable performances.

This will inevitably help

Matthew Phang on the attack in the Rotax Seniors.

them grow, if It already has not started happening and

I’m ultimately sure that come December 15 and 16th

Senior Rotax class was one of the largest classes on the day.

when GT Motorsports host is Championship Finale,

those drivers will be among the front-runners.

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A weekend of Fashion I am feeling very thankful. ‘Living with Intention’ was ranked on Amazon Best Sellers on the launch date on Black Friday. The same day I enjoyed seeing the beautiful ladies of all sizes at the CARICOM Secretariat showing Sonia Noel Designs. It was the annual End of Year Staff Talent event and some amazing talent was on show.

It is so much fun conducting the fitting the day before, led by Jascene. I really admire when women who are not models rock the runway. I must mention my new assistant, Alana DeSouza is learning fast because she has a teachable spirit. She had to take the lead because I could not get to the event early because of a prior commitment.

The next day I repre-

sented Guyana at Fashion, Art, Music, Entrepreneurship and Export(FAME).

FAME Caribbean is the brainchild of Andrew Ramroop, Order of the British Empire, Trinidad-born master artist tailor of Savile Row. He founded the prestigious Savile Row Academy of tailoring in London, and after 50 years of expert craftsmanship, elite training and identifying the

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

excellence in Caribbean style, he’s returned to use his influence to fortify this brand, to use his equity to advance this brand, to use his expertise to train and elevate this brand and to use his enlightenment to strategically position this brand.

FAME - in its initial year is aimed at touting Caribbean style, through select regional designers, to the world. This platform would set in motion an acknowledgement that there is a Caribbean aesthetic and put in place the mobilising of export-worthy apparel, innovative fashion wares, niche-market style options for the global fashion stage/market.

It was an honour to have participated in such a prestigious event.

Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Hon.

uation of my work or it can be seen as a fulfilment of the philosophy of the Caribbean branding. The success was bringing together regional designers with the Trinidad designers to make a statement to the world. And the inclu-

the feel of the sands in my toes and eating a delicious shark and bake.

People have been asking me if I am still designing because recently my life seems to be consumed by other things. I have a boutique in the courtyard

Keith Christopher Rowley and the First Lady walked the runway in style and was greeted with great enthusiasm by the audience.

The production was first class and I must credit the creative Richard Young for his amazing abilities to seamlessly fuse fashion and music.

Some of the premier designers from the Caribbean showed their collection and the internationally acclaimed opera singer Neil Latchman was amongst the talent showcased.

“I think it is a contin-

sion of Guyana endorses the philosophy of the Caribbean esthetic because we have similar history,” Richard Young said.

Saints International models who are signed to Polo, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent etc. made a grand appearance at the highly-anticipated Caribbean event.

I felt great to be among some of the creative geniuses in the region and some fashion colleges.

I was so elated I got the opportunity to chill on Maracas Beach and unwind while enjoying

mall that also offers rentals, sewing and makeup services. We also provide clothing rentals and fashion consultancy. We will be hosting Conversations and Clothing at Makin’ Style, Courtyard Mall where people can look at options for the holiday season.

Send us some ideas of some of your fashion preference for the holidays to beyondtherunway1@ gmail.com and visit our FB page Beyond the runway.

Let’s continue to live a life with intention.

Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel

... Inspiring lives through fashion

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

Samsung’s new luxurious smart flip phone has the widest aperture camera lens yet Samsung unveiled a new expensive flip phone, the Samsung W2018, during a launch event in China today, as first reported

by GizmoChina. Many of the W2018’s specs are on par with the S8 and Note 8, with one exception: the camera lens.

The W2018 is the latest addition to Samsung’s W line, which gets updated with a new flip phone every year. It’s also the

10th anniversary of the W series, which is still popular in Asia. They are priced higher than typical Samsung global flagships, like the S8 and Note 8. A cheesy Chinese ad for the phone reads, “Hi Bixby, what’s true luxury?”

With an aperture of f/1.5, Samsung claims that the W2018’s 12-megapixel rear camera can capture sharp images in less light than the cameras on rival

Google’s cute voice experiment lets you track the world with paper

Google’s latest voice experiment is the cutest one yet. Paper Signals is an open-source project that lets you build a paper object that can be controlled with your voice.

The paper objects let you see how Bitcoin is doing, get a visual representation of the weather, or even track NASA rocket launches. Google has built a number of different signals, and the code has been open sourced to let developers create their own custom versions.

and ruler. Setting a paper signal up looks simple enough, and the signals can be activated through Google Assistant. If you’re interested in building your own, Google’s Paper Signals bundle is $24.95, and all of the experiments are available over at the company’s voice experiments site.

Alongside Google’s voice experiments site, the internet giant is also making a computer vision kit for the Raspberry Pi. It lets Raspberry

To build a paper signal you’ll need a Paper Signals starter kit that includes an Adafruit board, all the necessary cables, and a micro servo motor to get your paper print outs moving.

You’ll also need a device that supports the Google Assistant, a printer, and some household items like a craft knife, glue, pencil,

Pi owners connect up a new circuit board with computer vision software that pairs with a Pi and camera. It’s a cheap and simple computer vision system that doesn’t require access to cloud processing, and a quick way to experiment with Google’s machine learning software.

phones can. It also has a 5-megapixel front camera. Through software, the camera can sense when there’s enough light to switch to f/2.4 and capture more of the background in photos. The phone will launch with Android Nougat, instead of Oreo.

The W2018 has a 4.2inch full HD AMOLED front display, and a 4.2-

inch full HD inner display.

As retro touches that make me nostalgic as I type them, it has a directional pad and a number keypad.

There’s a fingerprint scanner beside the rear camera, like other Samsung models, and a Bixby button for voice assistance. It comes in gold and platinum in a metal-and-glass body protected by Gorilla Glass.

XXIX It’s equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor with 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 256GB storage options. A 2,300mAh battery powers it all.

As an attempt to sweeten the deal for luxury lovers, Samsung says that W2018 buyers also get perks like concierge help at airports and sub-

ways, free software tech support, and a hotline just for VIPs. The phone will get released in China first and the price is yet to be announced, but we can guess it might be even higher than the W2017’s price tag of $3,000. That’s a lot to pay for tech support and taking clear photos at night.

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Bollywood news

Tera Intezaar movie review: Sunny Leone-Arbaaz Khan’s film is an uneasy wait

Narrated in a non-linear and in the most convoluted manner, Tera Intezaar is a weird love story between artist Veer Singh Rajput (Arbaaz Khan) and his muse Rounak (Sunny Leone), who also happens to be the owner of an art studio.

What makes the narrative confusing is that the film directly begins with the second act. And to top it all, the paranormal activities along with the various points-of-view, hallucination and dream sequences, throw the audience off gear.

The narrative begins with Rounak finding herself lying unconscious on the floor of Veer’s villa, whose walls are mounted with his paintings.

As she leaves the bungalow, her four art agents, Janashir (Hanif Noyda), Bobby (Salil Ankola), Arina (Gowhar Khan) and Vikram (Arya Babbar) enter and try to steal the paintings.

As they unmount the paintings, water seeps through the walls of the villa and the quartet are teleported in the middle of the ocean and thereafter to the mysterious land that’s seen in Veer’s painting.

Meanwhile, Rounak goes searching for Veer who is missing. When she visits Veer’s place again after a few days, she finds the painting reflecting incidents that kill the four art agents.

She realises that there is something wrong and bizarre happening so with the help of a clairvoyant (Sudha Chandran), how she traces Veer, forms the crux of the tale.

On the histrionics front, all the actors are perfunctory and they deliver a lacklustre performance.

While this could have been a gripping tale, “Tera Intezaar” has all the traits of an amateurishly written script,

Dharmendra: Actors today are dancing and singing for money, get involved in oil massages The 82-year-old actor says the film world today is way different from what it was in his era as today actors are ready to do anything for money. “This industry has become a ‘sabzi mandi’ today where you sell, buy and bargain for vegetables. The actors today are dancing and singing for money, go anywhere where money is, get involved in oil massages (pun intended). All for money. Money has everything now, something which was not there in our time,” said Dharmendra.

Also read: Dharmendra upset with Fukrey Returns’ unique promotional strategy?

Dharmendra has worked in more than 300 films in his

career with hits like Phool Aur Patthar, Sholay, Yaadon Ki Baaraat, Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Chupke Chupke to his credit.

He has worked with the creme-dela-creme of the film industry including Nutan, Meena Kumari, Dev Anand, Hema Malini, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan, Jeetendra, Jaya Bachchan , Sharmila Tagore, Om Prakash, Rakhi among others.

In his entire career Dharmendra was given one award

by Filmfare in the beginning of his career for the best talent and then a lifetime achievement award in the end. Does he have any grudges? “I went to receive the lifetime award solely because of Dilip Ku-

mar. When I got to know that he will be presenting it to me, that was my award and went to get it just so that the person, the actor I have looked upto since the time I thought of becoming an actor, is going to give me an award,” he said.

“There are certain things that you have to do and I don’t want to talk about as such when it comes to awards. But, I can say that I never had that way on how you should take the awards.

I never had that shrewd, cunning brain to get it. I don’t want it and I am not interested in that! Your film is a hit, people, fans love you, that should be your award at least it is like that for me,” Dharmendra added.

which include poor characterisation, “tell and show” scenes and poorly penned dialogues that become unintentionally humorous.

The plot is paper thin, stretched with songs that don’t mesh seamlessly into the narrative. Case in point is, in a scene during a business deal

between her agents and Veer, Rounak tells Veer, “I have a surprise for you”, and she breaks into the number, “I’m a sexy Barbie girl”.

Wish the director had focussed his energies on the story telling and not on the technicalities of brilliant framing and locales of Mauritius which

are aesthetically captured. The songs seem straight out from a music album with Sunny posing seductively sans oomph.

The background score with its deafening beats is harsh and sure to induce a headache.

Overall, this film leaves you flummoxed and amused.

Ginger Beer Ingredients 1 oz piece fresh ginger root, peeled and crushed Peel of a medium lime 1/3 cup fresh strained lime juice ½ cup sugar 3¾ cups boiling water 1 teaspoon active dry yeast ¼ cup lukewarm water (110°F to 115°F) Instructions Starting one week ahead, combine the ginger, lime peel, lime juice and sugar in a large bowl, and pour a boiling water over. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely, and let the mixture cool to room temperature.

In a small bowl or cup, sprinkle the yeast over the lukewarm water. Let stand for 2 – 3 minutes, then stir to dissolve the yeast completely. Set this small bowl in a warm, draft-free place for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture begins to bubble and almost double in volume. (If no bubbles develop, discard the mixture and repeat the process with fresh yeast.

Add the yeast to the ginger mixture and stir thoroughly.

Cover the bowl tightly with foil or plastic wrap, and place it in a warm, draft-free place. Let the mixture ferment for a week, stirring every other day. After a week it will be mildly carbonated.

Strain the ginger beer through a fine sieve and, using a funnel, pour the liquid into a 1-quart glass or ceramic bottle and cork it tightly.

Let the beer ferment at room temperature for an additional 3 or 4 days, then refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Serve the ginger beer in chilled tumblers, with or without ice cubes.

Pound the ginger root.

Combine with the boiling water, lemon juice, lemon zest, cream of tartar, 3 cups sugar, and sugar, stirring constantly.

When lukewarm, add dissolved yeast, stir and pour into a jar. Cover tightly and leave for 2 days.

Strain ginger liquid and bottle.

Keep at room temperature for a further 3 to 4 days.

Store in a dark place to ripen. Chill before serving.

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English THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Storm and stress. CHRISTOPHKAUFMANN (1753-1795), Phrase suggested to F.M. Klinger (1753-1831) as better title for the play originally called Der Wirrwarr STUDY SUCCESS

GRAMMAR: Capitalisation Today we will just look in detail at titles, personal and Dear Student, official, but at the end of the input you are still required to deal with other forms of capitalisation.

It is fairly simple to answer some problems, while reNote: The rule cited below applies to the use of capitalsponding to others is rather complex. Some can be isation of words professional, business, executive, civic, answered by a telephone call, an interview, a glance at military, religious, and family titles. the encyclopedia, or a look at the many internet sites.

How to deal with personal and official titles Others call for careful and prolonged investigation Whenever a person has a title that is written before his and study in very many sources. Improve how you lo- or her name, capitalise that title. cate facts to answer problems for home assignments Captain M. R. Halley and projects. Be wise; much of your study success Professor Eva K. Fritz depends on a wise choice of information source(s).

Reverend Gregory Smyth Love you.

Titles that are written after names are not capitalised unless: READING: Author’s Purpose 1. The title is that of a high government official.

Read the selection. Then respond to the questions.

Among the scheduled speakers is Simon Peterson, I believe that the only solution to the traffic jam in John- a Senator who is a leader in environmental protection. son Avenue is to create a bypass. City traffic records (Senator is considered a high official.) show that more than 85 percent of the traffic on Johnson 2. The title appears not in the context of a sentence but Avenue is simply passing through. These are drivers who on a displayed line, such as in an envelope address or a are going somewhere else but have no choice except to signature line in a letter. drive on Johnson Avenue. They would almost always Joan P. Stedman, Treasurer (in the signature line of a use the bypass, thus reducing the traffic on Johnson letter from Ms. Stedman.)

Avenue.The city engineer says that Sandy Street can be Ms. Joan P. Stedman, Treasurer (Part of an envelope widened to serve as a bypass. This construction would address or an inside address of a letter to Ms. Stedman.) cost relatively little and could be finished in less than a In all other cases, do not capitalise a title that follows month. From my point of view, this is an obvious solution a person’s name. In addition, do not capitalise ex- and to the problem.

–elect and former and late when they are joined to titles.

1. What is the author’s overall purpose?

A news report stated that ex- Prime Minister Johnson A to inform B to entertain will be in the country later this evening.

C to reflect D to teach Mayor-elect Grannum will appoint a task force, she 2. Which sentence establishes the author’s purpose? said, within the next week.

A. I believe that the only solution to the traffic on JohnYes, former Premier Smallchamber is scheduled to son Avenue is to create a bypass. meet the press later this week.

B They would almost always use the bypass.

C The construction would cost relatively little and could SOMETHING TO DO be finished in less than a month.

In the following sentences, indicate the correct capitalD Sandy Street can be widened to serve as a bypass. isation of words.

3. What background does the author provide?

1. After we meet with the operator of the pony rides, we A Information on traffic will take a two-week tour of the beautiful kaieteur resort.

B Information on the city 2. One of the articles that marlon suggested is “How To C Information on the condition of the road Own And Operate Your Own Small Business.”

D Information on the people’s opinions about the traffic 3. By November 28 we expect to have all our dancers 4. If the author’s purpose were to entertain, what details in our new quarters in first guyana place on main street. might you expect to find?

4. About 32 per cent of the money will be given to the A many facts B funny stories salvation army fund and the juvenile welfare fund.

C long descriptions D personal opinions 5. If the senator arrives at 07:00, we will begin the cer5. How is the author’s purpose supported? emony at 07:30.

A with examples 6. Marsha Kregg, Treasurer of Atlantic Metals Ltd., preB with facts sented the plan to the Advertising Department on October C with personal opinion 14.

D with stories 7. The television spots were pre-empted by prime minister Murray’s nationwide news conference.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, December 3, 2017

Entertainment

Selena Gomez Is Keeping Her Blond Hair: “She’s Not Going Anywhere” Selena Gomez has faced a handful of change this year, but has come out on top of it all.

Having secretly undergone a kidney transplant, called it quits with her musical beau The Weeknd, rekindled her romance with former love Justin Bieber, debuted new music and cruised into the final month of 2017 with blond hair, the last year has been full of adjustments for Gomez. However, the songstress—and this year’s Billboard Woman of the Year—is embracing everything that has been thrown

at her with a smile.

With the esteemed Billboard honor now under her belt, the 25-year-old can’t help but feel overwhelmed, but “in a beautiful way.”

“I feel like [when] I think ‘Woman of the Year,’ when I read that, I actually think about all the women in the industry right now,” she told E!’s Sibley Scoles. “It’s pretty remarkable and crucial to see the voices that are being heard and some for the first time and I feel like it has made me more proud to be a part of this

industry than ever and I feel like that’s the bigger picture of it.”

“Obviously [I’m] extremely honored to be here,” she added.

After undergoing a life-saving kidney transplant this summer, being able to stand on the red carpet takes on a new meaning for the singer.

“I am very, very lucky and I feel really good,” the “Bad Liar” assured. “I feel great. It’s a whole other part of me, but I’m just, I’m happy and I’m healthy and that’s—I think that’s what matters.”

The conversation could not cut off without addressing Gomez’s newest feature—her bleached blond locks! She just recently debuted her new icy blond tresses on the American Music Awards red carpet and, according to the triple threat, they’re here to stay.

“She’s not going anywhere,” Gomez said of her hair. But, does the pronoun mean she has a moniker for her new ‘do?

“Not yet,” Gomez added. “I gotta find it.

I’m still getting to know it.”

XLVII

Entertainment

Ed Sheeran Opens Up About His 2018 Grammy Snubs Ed Sheeran is taking what many are calling his Grammy Award snubs in stride and is focusing on what matters to him more: His fans.

The British pop star was nominated for two 2018 Grammys for Best Pop Vocal Album for his 2017 album ÷ and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Shape of You.” Many of his fans expected him to garner far more

“But that’s the point, that’s where you win,” Sheeran said. “That’s where the validation comes from, where you actually see people— genuine people—enjoying the songs. I’d rather have, like, a lifetime of people coming up to me and saying, like, ‘This song affects me in this way, in a positive way,’ and like, ‘This song is my wedding song,’ ‘This

nods, as his album and its new singles have been very successful. In an interview on Ellen DeGeneres’ YouTube series Ellen’s Show Me More Show, posted online Friday, the host told Sheeran she is “outraged” that he was not nominated for Album of the Year or Song of the Year.

“My outlook on it is like, some years you have your year and some years you don’t have your year, and maybe this year wasn’t my year,” the singer said.

Sheeran has won two Grammys before, including Song of the Year for “Thinking Out Loud” at the 2016 ceremony.

DeGeneres said the song “Shape of You,” which hit No. 1 on 10 charts worldwide, including in the U.S., did not leave her head.

song was my first kiss,’ than anything else. I think that’s where the validation comes.

On DeGeneres’ show, the singer also talked about his new remix of his single “Perfect” with Beyoncé, which was released the night before the broadcast. The song is about his girlfriend of almost three years and former high school pal Cherry Seaborn.

“I did it and the song came out so long ago,” Sheeran said. “And I was like, ‘I want to do it as a single,’ and then I thought of a way of relaunching it and I was like, ‘Oh, I love Beyoncé. Shall I ask Beyoncé?

And in my head, I was like, ‘She’s gonna say no.’ And then I was like, ‘Well, you might as well ask.’ And she said, ‘Yeah,’ so here we are.”