Pepperpot 05 01 2016

And now, some

Golden Jubilee Wine

► Page XXXI

Chase Nester’s Darrell La Fargue, Lisa Punch, founder of POTs, and Anthony Nester, the CEO of Nestor Enterprises pose for a photo with the Golden Jubilee Wine

Akeem

Peter - Youngest city councilor wants to help make GT ► Page XXI a modern city

Massive organic farm being developed at St. Lawrence

► Page XVIII

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

Ras Michael will be with the ancestors at Yukuriba Heights!

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efore I say another word about anything The Trail to Rupununi, those times Before the Road to Brazil when the whole idea of Yukuriba as an Artistic Community, with a Philip Moore Artists’ Retreat, a Maroon Sculpture Trail dedicated to the maroons of the Americas, and an Organic Farm, was just a distant dream – before I go on with all that, I need ► Continued on page III

View From ‘Yukuriba Heights - Far From The Noise Of Language

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

III

Ras Michael will be with ... ► From page II to describe how diminished I feel about Ras Michael Jeune’s transitioning (too soon) to the ancestors.

Ras Michael, Guyanese poet, playwright, cultural activist, roots-man and teacher, died on Wednesday April 20, 2016. My sadness springs from the fact that just two weeks prior to his transition, we had a long, long talk on the telephone. He indicated that he was ill, but convinced me that he was rising above his condition.

Our conversation was all about Yukuriba Heights and my special project.

I promised Ras Michael I was preparing a place for aging artists like us, determined to redefine the meaning of “dis old age ting” – to scrub the stigma.

I told him I am in the process of designing this space, the home in which I intend to spend the rest of my years (same place where I was crudely interrupted by an agent of the charlatan PPPC government and forced to spend nearly a decade in court while trying to keep focus on the elusive dream of my transitioning years experienced in the embrace of the palpable energy of the future) towards the vitality of the Yukuriba Creative Farming Community and Organic Farm –the very conscience of the Guyana Rainforest.

We agreed that that Essential Conscience of the Guyana Rainforest is the energy of The Arts And The Humanities, powered by the creative community on Yukuriba Heights, all expressing themselves in an essential putsch to rescue our pristine forest environment from the ravages of marauding multinational corpora-

tions .

We got to talking about the unconscionable way The Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development has consistently managed to expunge any mention of President Hugh Desmond Hoyte’s role in its establishment; I grabbed an Iwokrama booklet sitting on my desk and read Ras Michael an example of this “Commonwealth Initiative” described thus: “Conceived in 1989 as at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Iwokrama is the Commonwealth’s principal model experiment in Sustainable Development. No place else in the world can you find this unique blend of innovative best practice techniques in management of tropical forests blended with culture and biodiversity”.

independent, naturally arose and consequently, whether or not we should be conscious of attempts at neo colonialism.

Our conversation inevitably lead to global politics and the fact that it’s up to Guyanese artists to impress upon the scientific community based in their Iwokrama enclave, that their mission to find answers to sustainable life on earth, must place more emphasis on human ecology, and that includes the maroon descendants of enslaved Africans. I believe his will be among those spirits that surround us in the Guyana Rainforest.

My “home” at Yukuriba Heights will be more than just a sanctuary for artists in need of a peaceful space to focus…continue creating; it will also be a refuge for those whose pride refuses to submit to the necessity of hoofing it with a begging bowl held out to sponsors who show scant respect.

This is the Iwokrama booklet’s claims, without even a passing mention of Guyana’s past President, Hugh Desmond Hoyte who, at that meeting in 1989, had started the Iwokrama ball rolling by donating nearly one million acres (371,000) hectares) of the Guyana rainforest to the international scientific community for the study of sustainable life on Planet Earth.

We talked about all these things. I promised that there’ll be a place built around my home at Yukuriba where the best care will be provided for aging artists, people like him, like myself. I got the impression that this was just the kind of environment Ras Michael had hoped for, a sanctuary in which to spend his transitioning creative years; I promised...meant every word of that promise.

Ras Michael had, as the poet says “large countries” in his eyes; he was always ready to engage in a conversation about the state of the Guyanese nation, especially as it affects the quality of life of African Guyanese. Because my final conversation with him was taking place in a time when Guyana is celebrating 50 years of Independence, the question of whether the nation is truly

Why did you not watch with me a little while longer, friend?

Next Week, more on Yukuriba Heights &The Trail to Rupununi, Before The Road To Brazil.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

Writer/Director Mason Richards (centre), with assistant cameraman Jack Elliot and Kelly Gardner (Cinematographer)

Award-winning Guyanese filmmaker scouts locations in his homeland …Visit to coincide with Jubilee celebrations

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By Frederick Halley UYANESE-born, Los Angeles and New York-based filmmaker, Mason Richards is planning to travel across Guyana with his production team scouting locations to shoot the feature film version of his award-winning short film The Seawall.

According to Mason, his visit to Guyana will coincide with the country’s 50th Independence anniversary celebrations. ► Continued on page V

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

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Award-winning Guyanese filmmaker ... ► From page IV Production on the film is slated to begin later this year on location in Guyana. The Los Angeles and New York-based team is also in the casting process, seeking local and overseas Guyanese talent to cast in the epic feature film set in Brooklyn and Guyana.

Mason pointed out that “it’s a modern-day immigration story where the main character journeys back ‘home’ to Guyana after living abroad for most of his life.

“It’s sort-of my story and I think the story of many immigrants who leave their birth country in search of a better life somewhere else, but then at some point you return home and things become cleareror not. It’s a film about

identity - both cultural and personal.”

The Seawall was screened to a packed house at the Havana Film Festival in Cuba last year, and has captivated audiences internationally in London, Toronto and around the world including Festival de Cannes-Court Mertage in France, and the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival in Port of Spain.

Founding Director of Guyana’s first annual film festival, The Timehri Film Festival, Romola Lucas feels that shooting the feature-length version of The Seawall in Guyana will be awesome, considering the reception the short film has received, both in Guyana and around the world.

The Timehri Film Fes-

tival is also scheduled to be staged in May. According to Lucas, who is also founder of the Caribbean Film Academy (CaFA) a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion and support of Caribbean filmmaking and filmmakers, choosing to shoot will also work as an inspiration to upand-coming filmmakers in Guyana and will validate the experiences so many Guyanese people and artistes alike.

Guyana’s Kaieteur Falls, the largest single-drop waterfall in the world is just one of the locations that Richards will be scouting for his film.

Madhia, the visually stunning gold-mining town near the interior of Guyana, the vistas of the Amazon, and Guyana’s monumental seawall - built by

the Dutch settlers in the 1880s, are just a few other locations that Richards and his production team are visiting over the next few weeks. “I couldn’t think of a better time than now to be in beautiful Guyana – it’s such an important time in our country’s history, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it, and also to be able to make a film that celebrates our Caribbean and our South American heritage.”

Emile Upczak, former director of the Trinidad & Tobago Film Festival adds “Caribbean cinema is definitely on the rise, and could likely become a hot spot for the global film industry.”

Upczak states that “provocative, high

quality work is already being generated by writers and directors from the region.

“However, serious government support, including training for producers, co-production agreements and incentives must not only be put in place, but properly implemented for the industry to thrive.”

Guyanese-born Richards is the recipient of the Guyanese Consulate’s “Golden Arrowhead Award of Distinction for Service and Humanitarian” as well as the 2012 Sony Pictures Diversity Fellowship through Film Independent's Project “Involve”, a diversity initiative that identifies emerging filmmakers from communities gen-

erally under-represented in the film industry.

D e Vo n F r a n k l i n , SVP of Production at Sony Pictures states “Mason was really one of those guys whose work has integrity and creativity in it, he also has his own interesting personal story - it was the combination of all those things that made him the right candidate.”

The Sony Pictures Diversity Fellowship includes year-round support and professional development, and a production grant. Mason has since used his award funds and professional support to build and produce his first feature film in a country he loves - Guyana.

M

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Plaque is your worse enemy

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

ost people will tell you that have heard of plaque but few would be able to explain its composition and the role it plays in dental disease. Now, plaque is a soft, adherent film that collects on the surfaces of teeth. Seventy percent of it is made up of germs, namely bacteria, fungi and viruses. The remaining 30 percent is called the matrix which is actually the framework that holds it together.

Plaque is found in all mouths and makes up part of the natural flora (parasites) of the body. The most common sites where plaque is found are occlusal pits and fissures (the biting surface of back teeth), cervical (neck) margins of teeth and in periodontal pockets (the sack of gum that surrounds each tooth). Patients

Dr. BERTRAND R. STUART, DDS.

can be made aware of plaque in their mouths by using a special disclosing solution or tablets.

Plaque is a major causative factor in gingival (gum) and periodontal disease and a contributory agent of tooth decay.

In fact, most dental problems that we human beings face are due to plaque. Even in people with good tooth-brushing skills, one would need to brush and floss approximately every 3 minutes in order to prevent plaque from forming.

In a healthy mouth, there is a natural balance of bacteria, but when illness or antibiotics (for example) upset the balance of the mouth’s flora, or when teeth are not cleaned often and/or appropriately, plaque matures. Waste products from the bacteria, enzymes and toxins then cause the inflammatory response in the gingival tissues leading to gingivitis. Depending on a person’s response, gingivitis can progress to periodontitis (chronic gingivitis).

In recent years, dental plaque has been recognised as a biofilm. The concept of a biofilm is of huge importance not only to dentistry, but also to the wider medical world and many sectors of industry. Since the 1990s, there has been a huge amount of research into biofilms, which reflects our growing understanding of their importance.

A biofilm, in simple terms, is a thin layer of bacteria that adheres to a surface. Over ninety-five percent of bacteria in nature exist in a biofilm state as opposed to living independently. Contact lenses, rocks in rivers an aspirator tubing in the dental surgery are all examples of surfaces colonised by biofilms. Within a biofilm, bacteria are not just sitting alongside one another passively; they are communicating, interacting and gaining benefits from one another. In other words, they act as a team. This is what makes a biofilm so virulent, resilient and difficult to manage.

Bacteria, being the most common germ found in plaque biofilm, can be classified into groups in a number of ways, including whether they need oxygen ( aerobic) or not (anaerobic) to survive. The majority of bacteria in a healthy mouth come from the oxygen-dependent specie which live in areas of the mouth where oxygen is readily available. When resistance is lowered, they can give rise to sore throats and other illnesses, but are less harmful than their non-oxygen-dependent relatives.

Bacteria that needs oxygen (aerobic) feed on sugar from the human diet, and in doing so, produce sticky substances that enable other more harmful germs to attach themselves, causing plaque to become more dense and harmful to tissues. On the other hand, anaerobic bacteria can cause far more disease when producing their poisons because they do not need oxygen to survive so they can penetrate deep in the gums. So, in event of an oral infection, the dentist needs to prescribe drugs to kill both the bacteria on the surface and those that penetrate deeply.

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

VII

Anger Management I Hello Everyone,

hope this week has treated you well. I’ve been seeing a client who claims to have problems with his anger and therefore is seeking help for it. I thought that since anger is a general emotion we cannot escape, many others might be having the same issue. Therefore, today I will talk about anger, what it means and some strategies in anger management therapy.

The truth is, anger is an extremely healthy emotion to have. It allows us to know what we like or don’t as human beings. However, it’s those that don’t healthily express their anger that causes problems within our society. Everyone gets angry but how do we stop ourselves from going overboard and committing crimes of passion- which are very common in Guyana- especially among domestic partners.

So, what is anger?

Anger is a primary, natural emotion experienced by every human being, no matter what age. It has evolved as a survival and protection mechanism from what we consider to be wrong-doings.

Sometimes, however, it is unwanted or irrational and causes individuals to do things they would not normally do.

There are different levels of anger. Mild anger is the stress and irritability usually caused when our basic human needs (food, shelter, sleep, sex etc.) are not met. More intense anger happens when we are reacting to other people’s frustration, criticism or threats. Anger can be expressed verbally and non-verbally. It’s clear that someone is angry from what they say or how they say it.

Anger leads to aggression which leads to aggressive behaviour. What is considered aggressive behaviour?

- Shouting/ cursing - Verbal threats - Visible/ threatening gestures - Insults and name calling - Unwanted Racial or sexual comments There is also a long list of factors that can cause anger.

Some common triggers of anger include: - Rudeness from another person - Grief/ loss of a friend or family member - Tiredness and hunger - Injustice - Money issues - Sexual frustration - Failures or disappointments - The use of substances such as alcohol, cigarettes and illegal substances Anger reduces our inhibitions, makes us act inappropriately and say or do things we later regret.

How do you know if you are angry? It may sound like a silly question as we all know that we just become hot-headed, and boom, we are angry! But some people have a hard time figuring out both if and why are they angry. Here are typical bodily responses that occur when we are angry.

- Shallow breathing or breathlessness - Increased heart rate/ high blood pressure - Anxiety and irritation - Cardiac arrest - Sweaty palms - Tightly clasps or clenched fists - Grinding teeth or clenched jaw - Trembling or shaking - Inability to sit still/ pacing/ sleep problems - You lose your cool and sense of humour and begin to talk louder - You develop cravings for substances like alcohol, cigarettes, other drugs, food etc.

- Self- injury - Depression/ suicide

If you recognise these symptoms as they happen to you, you are more able to control them and therefore your anger.

Do you need professional help with anger? Are you unsure? If so, answer the following questions.

1. Are you violent towards your partner, children or other people?

2. Has your behaviour caused any criminal or lawful issues?

3. Do you threaten people often?

4. Do you have violent outbursts which involves destruction of property?

5. Do you have frequent arguments with those close to you?

6. Do you feel angry often?

7. Do you believe you may need help with your anger and emotions?

If you’ve answered yes to more than 2 of these questions, I would advise you seek professional help to manage your anger.

What can help our anger?

There is a breathing technique that is very good for helping with anger.

These help because they reverse the physical symptoms that come with anger such as increase heart rate and blood pressure.

Try the following breathing exercise to help you to relax while angry. Isolate yourself for about 15 minutes.

• Inhale and exhale deeply 3 or 4 times in a row.

• Count slowly to four as you inhale.

• Count slowly to eight as you exhale.

• Focus on feeling the air move in and out of your lungs.

• Concentrate and feel your ribs slowly rise and fall as you repeat the exercise.

Stop and revert to normal breathing if you start to feel dizzy at any time.

Let’s briefly talk about anger management. This can be done one on one, group therapy or even at home! It does not mean internalising or suppressing anger. It means finding a healthy way to express/ communicate it.

Here are some things you can do to control your anger: 1. Identify what made you angry in the first place- your triggers.

2. Get regular exercise and keep fit. We release cortisol and adrenaline when we are upset. When we work out, our body learns to regulate these hormones while producing optimum levels of endorphins which makes us feel good and less likely to be stressed and angry.

3. Plan difficult conversations. If you know you get upset easily and you have to have a hard conversation, plan it before-hand. Make notes on the right things to say. This will make you more in control of the situation. It also makes way for better communication.

4. Try not to hold grudges. We all need to accept that everybody is different and that we cannot control the feelings, beliefs or behaviours of others. I, myself have difficulty with this one. Try to be realistic and accept that people are the way they are, not how we would like them to be. Being resentful or holding a grudge against somebody will increase your anger and make it more difficult to control.

5. Get better sleep. When we sleep, the body and mind rest and rebuild damaged cells.

Good quality sleep- which is more than 7 hours a night- will aid in physical, mental and emotional problems, including anger.

6. Ask yourself the following questions. Is this situation as bad as it feels right now?

‘What concrete evidence do I have? Can I refocus my attention on what I like about this situation or individual? Is it possible that I misunderstood or was misunderstood? Am I taking the other person’s situation/ point of view into consideration?’

Overall, anger destroys our peace of mind. It makes our bodies tense and uncomfortable.

It’s almost impossible to sleep. It is impossible to enjoy ourselves when we are angry. We don’t like the food we once loved, the people we once loved and no matter how hard we try, it is really difficult to control. With less anger in life, we will be less stressed, more relaxed and of course happier. We humans are lucky enough to be able to choose how to feel sometimes.

Always choose happiness!

Thank you for reading. Please continue to write in to caitlinvieira@gmail.com OR come in to see me at Woodlands Hospital. For issues with drug and alcohol – Monday’s at 4:30. For general mental health issues- Wednesday’s at 4:30 in the outpatient department.

Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

By Subraj Singh

William Shakespeare’s

Macbeth

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ne of the main reasons for the unfortunate continued resistance to Shakespeare’s works by some Guyanese readers might be the difficulty of the language he uses.

The important thing to remember when dealing with the language in Elizabethan plays, such as those written by Shakespeare, is that the plays themselves are written in

English, albeit an archaic form of it. Therefore, the language of Shakespeare’s time might be s o m e w h a t i n c o m p re hensible when read on its own, but can become entirely comprehensible when read alongside the explanatory notes that often accompany the newer editions of Shakespeare’s plays. It is important not to be daunted by the language. If the reader is scared away by that then

the reader is only denying him/herself the chance to experience some of the finest tales in the history of literature.

Take Macbeth, for example. Inspired by real historical sources, it is one of Shakespeare’s most widely staged plays. This is no doubt due to its ability to entertain audiences with its devious characters and tragic plot containing betrayal, murder, witches, war, prophecies, sexual

(Penguin Classics, 2015) puns, etc. It is also perfect for the reader who is new to Shakespeare, as it is one of his shortest plays and there are not too many subplots within the play so as to make it too complicated.

In the play, Macbeth – the hero or the anti-hero, depending on how you look at it – is a thane (a Scottish nobleman) and warrior who is greatly trusted and admired by the King of Scotland, Duncan. After a battle, Macbeth is returning home with his friend Banquo when they come upon three witches who prophesy

that one day Macbeth will be King of Scotland and that Banquo’s descendants will be kings, although Banquo himself will not.

What follows is Macbeth’s ambition, rising up like a coiled serpent, and slithering through the entire play, as Macbeth bends to his own lust for power and murders Duncan in a bid to bring to life the witches’ prophesy that he would become king.

Also aiding Macbeth in his schemes, and also as ambitious as Macbeth himself, is his wife, Lady

Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is a storm of a woman and is one of the most famous characters Shakespeare created. She has been played by many generations of actresses, from Judi Dench on stage, to Tabu in a Bollywood adaptation of Macbeth, to Marion Cotillard in a fabulous 2015 film adaptation. Lady Macbeth is the kind of role actresses fight each other to play. She has a remarkably strong presence in the play, spurring on the murderous thoughts of her husband, forcing him to act by questioning his masculinity, guiding him in the murder of King Duncan and then, ultimately, dooming herself to madness and suicide brought on by the guilt of everything she has done.

Aside from the fascinating plot, characters and the way the play lends itself to literary analysis, I am also in love with Shakespeare’s beauteous use of poetic language. When he writes about life: “Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player, / That Struts and frets his hour upon the stage / And then is heard no more. It is a tale / Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, / Signifying nothing”, you can’t help but immediately stopping everything and just marveling at the brilliance of his words.

This year commemorates four hundred years since the death of William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright who ever lived.

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

IX

#Lemonade

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rt is often based on the concept of the immortal adage "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" and good art has the power to evoke emotion.

Artists creatively express themselves by using objects and materials in a transformative way. Their intuition flows into a sundry of items that create a delusion of grandeur...

Confused? Art isn't science; its theories can't be definitively explained. Some say you can learn art. I believe you can't, you can only study artists, their theories and their styles, their history, their lives.

My last column featured tips on how to become a professional makeup artist. It highlighted that art plays an important role in the process. The theory is ever prevalent. If you want to become a makeup artist you have to be able to take lemons and make lemonade...there really is no other way.

Like every other human being on planet earth, I too was watching Beyonce's album "Lemonade" after seeing my friends on Facebook share posts about the meaning behind the album. I wondered: "What does JayZ cheating, have to do with lemonade, though?" Since I too am an artist, I realized the only way to find out was to watch the film "Lemonade" in its entirety. Instead of extracting fragments of the artistic piece, and jumping to the wrong conclusions, it was better to take the hour, five minutes and thirty two seconds of time to watch it. It wasn't until after the complete story then I understood. It's that “Ah Ha!” moment that confirms Leo Tolstoy's theory that good art evokes the strongest emotions.

The time we take studying the artist seeking to relate to their struggles, we should really sit back and appreciate good art when we see it. Instead of asking how they did it, why they did it, and assuming that they're possessed, bothered, angry, and lack intellect, just sit back relax and enjoy, or not enjoy, whatever floats your boat.

Makeup is a medium of art, and can also be used to evoke and express strong emotion. As I've mentioned before, it can make someone look as ugly as it can make them look beautiful.

Be careful how you use your makeup; there is no one way to wear makeup, but there are correct ways. Do not let it overpower you; it shouldn't define its wearer.

Find new ways to use it. Just as there are different ways of making lemonade, the same applies with the path you choose with makeup. Don't be afraid to stir things up.

Wear it with glasses, skip lipstick, add extra eyeliner, make your own rules, make your own lemonade, invent and reinvent your personal style, be sophisticated with it, and remember to blend.

Here's the recipe to being your own makeup artist.

• Practice basic hygiene first. It's best to clean your brushes and sponges after every use • Dust your powders on. Gently pat powders on with a fluffy brush, and dust away any excess

• Wear any colour - blue, yellow, purple, red, green; use every option possible • Blend your colours. Fusing one colour to the next helps to create synchrony, prohibits confusion and chaos, and helps your entire face to look united.

• Learn from your mistakes. No one's perfect, you will smudge your eyeliner, and realize it looks better that way. Especially if you fade it upward and along the crease of your eyes.

• Learn to stipple. Stippling is an artist technique like French painter Seurat's technique using dots to create fades.

• Tap. Instead of applying mascara to the tips of the lashes making it look clumpy, tap at the base of the eyelash, wiggle it a bit, then swirl the wan up ward towards the tip of the lashes. The technique creates depth in all the right areas.

• Use your finger to apply lipstick, take your middle finger, and gently dab it unto the lipstick, then apply it from the center of the lips outwards to the corners.

• Use lipstick as a colour corrector. Cheat. Your lipstick mixed with concealer can double as a colour corrector, for under eye dark circle. Used reddish, peachy, and orangey hues to help disguise the unwanted tired look of tired eyes.

• Use red lipstick as blush. Your lipstick can also double as blush. Take your index and middle finger, and gently stipple the lipstick on along your cheek bone.

• Highlight your brow bone, the area directly under the arch of the brow can use concealer to sharpen the appearance of the brow, giving it an overdone look.

• Use dark brown brow pencils, or shadows to fill in brows never use black. It should be a shade lighter than the colour of the hairs of the brow. Unless your brow hairs are blonde then it should be a shade darker.

• Be creative. It's ok to paint the face sometimes, and show off your artistic skills.

Draw a jaguar or the Guyana flag on your face if you can.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

CONSUMER

CONCERNS:

Rediscovering ways individuals could protect themselves from criminals

F

or the last 50 years at least, crime and the personal safety and security of individual citizens and their families have been a very major concern to Guyanese people.

There were times during those years when real fear for life and limb overwhelmed the society. When that fear had receded, people seemed to immediately turn their minds away from the problem, becoming complacent until the problem again resurged and they are again overtaken by fear.

Crime has had a serious negative effect on the economy of the country. Investors are put off when they know that a country or even district is insecure and this fact has prevented many foreign and local PAT DIAL investors from attempting to invest or do business here. Tourism, as an industry requires a secure environment since tourists would never come if they have the slightest feeling that a destination is unsafe. Indeed, at the moment, Canada has an advisory to their citizens regarding Guyana's security.

The safety and security of the country from crime lie in the hands of Guyana Police Force (GPF), the several thousands of security guards belonging to the several security companies, and thirdly the private citizens when they take measures of their own to protect themselves.

The GPF is, of course, by far the most important of these groupings. Government, Opâ–ş Continued on page XI

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

XI

Rediscovering ways individuals .. â–ş From page X

position and the Force itself are aware that its inadequacies have prevented the Force from being the effective organization it aspires to be and that these inadequacies are correctable.

It is urgent that these groupings meet together and work out a plan and strategy for the GPF as with the 50th Anniversary celebrations in the offing, the country needs the highest levels of security.

The rest of this article will, however, be devoted to how the ordinary citizens and their families could protect themselves.

Two generations ago, the ordinary Guyanese family knew that they had to protect themselves and they could not rely on others to protect them.

This mental and emotional attitude of self-protection was in itself a deterrent to criminals.

Today, we put our personal safety and security wholly in the hands of the Police and if we are attacked by criminals, we are psychologically unprepared to defend ourselves. There are occasional examples where the victims resist the criminals with determination and manage to protect themselves.

A few days ago, it was reported in the media that in a village on the East Bank Demerara, an armed bandit attacked a family birthday party.

He corralled the guests and family and proceeded to rob them.

A small child attempted to run away and when her father tried to hold her back, the bandit thought he was trying to escape and shot him on the arms. The man's brother, with resolution, attacked the bandit and in the ensuing struggle the bandit's gun fell out of his hand, which the victim quickly picked up and shot the bandit dead.

Full psychological commitment to defend one's self is winning 50% of any struggle with bandits. For either the bandits will be deterred from attacking or they will be half-demoralized if they do try to attack. Bandits are normally cowards and are at a disadvantage if the victim resolutely attacks them; they may even flee.

A next way of defending one's self is by having dogs. The large aggressive foreign breeds are effective defense against bandits but it is very expensive to keep such dogs and only the well-to-do could afford to keep them.

Ordinary households could all afford to keep mongrels but at least two should be kept since mongrels do not seriously attack except in a pack of more than one.

In any case, mongrels are very useful in informing householders of any intruders. Also, having fences around a house does provide a line of defense.

In Biblical and other ancient writings there are suggestions of defensive weapons which are well within the law to have. Such weapons are like the one David used on Goliath or a small hatchet which could be thrown at a good distance which Parshuram used so effectively.

Hatchets, incidentally, were usual household equipment when wood fires were used to cook.

Often, a bandit or bandits could be seen approaching, but householders have nothing, not

even a stone or brick to throw at them to indicate that they have been seen and they would have no walkover. Indeed, a bandit may just desist on realizing he had been under surveillance.

Sometimes, some of these primitive weapons could seriously disable a bandit.

A fourth way in which individuals, families and communities could protect themselves is by

Community policing and vigilante groups. These groups should be given basic regular police training and should have at least one motor vehicle for every group. At least one firearm should be given to a member of the group.

The State may not be able to provide vehicles for every group; accordingly, suitable vehicles could be hired from local people.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

Subverting stereotypes about women’s work “The challenge these days, is to be somewhere, to belong to some particular place, invest oneself in it, draw strength and courage from it, to dwell in a community.” These words were written by African American feminist author bell hooks in her book titled “Belonging: A culture of place,” and rings true particularly in the case of artists seeking sustainability in Guyana.

One such group, the Guyana Women Artists’ Association (M.S.) has managed to shape for itself a modest framework for sustainability that has worked to varying degrees since its establishment in 1987. As a collective whose mandate has been to develop a sense of community among women artists, they have survived by finding ways to circumnavigate patriarchal hierarchies.

On Friday, April 22nd the association brought the curtains down on its first weeklong art exhibition for 2016.

“Redefining Women’s Work,” as it was titled, presented to the public an opportunity to reopen discussions regarding the measurement of success of its members as well as the success of their individual creative output. Whether the thematic concern was ‘self,’ ‘society’ or anything in between, each member has, through the years, found ways of addressing the multi-layered challenges encountered by them as women first and artists second.

A beautiful woman, 2013 by Lori Ann Jacobs somewhat recognizable to completely abstract works of art that often take on entirely new meanings post-production.

Beverly Reynolds’ point of entry into the production of her artwork is shaped by very specific memories, emotions and experiences in her life. Her work is characterized by bold and expressive colours, reminiscent of the Jamaican landscape where she was born. Reynolds admits that her latest body of work has, albeit unintentionally, underscored the social realities of the Caribbean space and its people, bringing to the fore moments of humour as well as pain.

Also drawing on her own response to social realities is the painter Lori Ann Jacobs. Speaking on the production of her large-scale abstract works Jacobs had this to say: “As an artist I work hard to develop paintings that speak to me and Detail of textile construction belts by Aiesha to others on the challenges of women. My current works in comparison to previous works try to depict women breaking Scotland free. As a woman I always felt that we are bound by too many dos and don’ts when compared to men.”

Some members have held on to media traditionally asO’Donna Allsopp (GWAA’s most senior exhibiting memsociated with women (for example textiles and ceramics), ber) has dedicated her life’s work as a creative practitioner to but have found innovative ways of using the media as the capturing the beauty of the hidden gems scattered across Guymessage for underscoring those challenges. Other members ana. Allsopp has produced over 400 landscape paintings with have chosen instead to embrace technology and new media the hope that upon viewing, locals would be encouraged to as legitimate vehicles for expressing the same concerns in explore the richness of Guyana’s hinterland regions. Persons their work. who cannot access those regions are given the opportunity to Myrna Bernard uses her passion for photography view them through the artist’s eyes, in the form of her textured and her expansive collection of digital photographs, or and relief-like paintings. ‘raw material’ as she calls them, to create her artwork.

At the core of Aiesha Scotland’s textile construction work Through the use of computer software she manipulates is her dependence on her faith to provide a solid foundation digital photographs to mimic traditional techniques of for the development of her thematic concerns. She says: “This watercolour, oil and acrylic paintings. Macro shots of body of work is based on a song that has blessed me over the landscapes, objects and people are transformed from years; Music of my heart by Nicole C. Mullen. The words of

this song have pierced an inner part of me that really shows how much I can depend on God. […] Like an instrument that needs mending I’m at a point in my life where I need restoration from God.” Nyota Killikelly uses the symbol of the corn as a metaphor for abundance and prosperity in her latest works.

Although she has been known for producing a sizeable body of paintings in the past, she has chosen to return to textile construction to breathe life into new ideas and concepts.

Of her work she says: “I’m fascinated with nature and I love textile construction. That is why I decided to return to this particular medium. I like to explore different options, especially with things related to fabric design and textile construction.”

Tara Bentinck and Merleen Martin-Forde are both textile artists with very distinct methodologies that are unique to each artist. Both women pride themselves on experimenting with materials and techniques to achieve specific qualities in their work. While Martin-Forde sometimes goes a step further by producing complimentary hats and bags for a complete outfit, Bentinck chooses instead to focus on learning Flower II, 2016 new things and perfecting her

by Nyota Killikelly process.

Danuta Radzik is a multi-disciplinary artist who has, for this exhibition, produced a visually stimulating body of textile work. The range of her design techniques included tie-dye, batik and applique. Those pieces were then transformed into beautifully made dresses, jackets, purses, and even place mats. Speaking on what drives the production of her work Radzik had the following to say: “I am particularly inspired by Guyana’s amazing natural and interior environment, its diversity of peoples and history.”

Jennifer Gibson is a Barbadian-born mixed media textile artist who specializes in the Tulus batik technique. Her work is often characterized by the use of almost every imaginable textile design technique. Gibson draws heavily on the beauty of nature as well as her own life experiences (good and bad) to create specific narratives. Of her work she says: “I see art as a personal appreciation for God’s creation, and elevation for my life in general. I hope to showcase the diversity, and variations of the batik art form through my work.”

Elizabeth Deane-Hughes is another mixed media artist who draws inspiration from the “dynamic, free-flowing, fluctuating and unpredictable elements of nature,” as she describes it. The focus of her production of work rests squarely on the interaction of different materials. Deane► Continued on page XIII

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016 ► From page XII

Hughes experiments with layering options and various etching techniques to create multi-dimensional works of art. She says: “Each mixed media piece is its own story that explores my internal landscape. It is about my journey through years of emotions and energies layered on each other and the deconstruction thereof and therefrom.”

Anna Correia-Bevaun has, for this exhibition, produced a number of drawings that are just as strong in the use of colour as they are in the intricate line work that covers the entire picture plane of each piece. Since her departure from ceramics, Correia-Bevaun has proven herself equally proficient in the execution of 2D works, both paintings and drawings. Her artworks also point to a preoccupation with pattern designing as well as isolating and juxtaposing “ordinary” objects to create new and exciting compositions.

Carol Fraser is a multi-disciplinary mixed media artist and

XIII designer who specializes in using natural fibers and recycled materials to create her works of art. She has dedicated her entire creative practice to constructively using those materials in an attempt to promote and encourage persons to join the organic art movement. Fraser says: “Although I have developed a love for utilizing the natural resources our natural habitat possesses, leather art still manages to be my greatest joy.”

Through its continued efforts, the association attempts to highlight the gendered group treatment that has worked both to its advantage and disadvantage in the past, and to also find routes to a more inclusive environment within the local arts community for its members. By encouraging the redefinition of art practices typically associated with women artists, they have effectively opened conversations beyond the traditional Western canon to carve out a space for Guyanese women artists.

Mother Nature, 2016 by Jennifer Gibson

My backyard, 2015 by Beverly Reynolds Rock formation on the summit of Mt. Roraima, 2002

by O’Donna Allsopp

Open by Elizabeth Deane-Hughes

Fabric detail by Merleen Martin-Forde

Dominique Hunter is an independent visual artist who recently graduated from the Barbados Community College with a Bachelor of Fine Art (First Class Honours).

Emerging II, 2009 by Carol Fraser

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

Sunday

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Nostalgia

May Day Rally 1966

Officials of the Trades Union Congress lead the May Day Parade, 1966, in Georgetown

Miss Rupununi Fancy Dress Parade at the ‘Y’

Radha Singh, dressed in Kashmiri garb, won first prize in the 2-6 age group, seems to be saying “Thank You, Winnie” to Minister of Education Winifred Gaskin who presented her with her prize in the Fancy Dress Parade of the YMCA’s Annual May Day Fair on May 2, 1966. Next to her was the Hawaian dancer Caroline Pastides

As the rest of Guyana was busily preparing for the country’s independence, the interior regions were also holding a number of events. Residents turned out at Lethem to watch the Rupununi District's most beautiful girls compete for the Miss Rupununi title. Carmen D’Aguiar emerged winner; the first runner up, Adelina D’Aguiar, is seen standing next to her.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

Guyana's Monuments & Sites

By Francis Quamina Farrier

I

nternational Day of Monuments and Sites has slipped by unheralded, in this Guyana's 50th Independence Anniversary year.

That special day was April 18. However, as the saying goes, "Better late than never", and so here I am with this feature which throws the spotlight on some of our Monuments and Sites in our beautiful Guyana.

The International Council on Monuments and Sites has given the theme this year as "The Heritage of Sports".

As such, it would be appropriate no doubt, for the Sports Department to throw the spotlight for just a bit,

over the next few months, on the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, and think of our Great Sportsmen and women of the past.

The late sprinter, Claudette Masdammer, who was the very first Guyanese to represent this country at the Olympics, should be remembered in some special way.

Distance runners such as Harry Prowell and Moses Dwarka and ace cyclists such as Laddie Lewis and George "Boy Blue" Cumberbatch should also be remembered, as well as a host of other sporting greats over the decades.

One of our most heralded monuments in Guyana is, of course, the 1763 Monument, which is located at the eastern end of Brickdam in

Georgetown.

One of the most historic structures in Guyana is the centuries-old Court of Policy Building and the Fort Zeelandia ruins on the historic Fort Island, in the Essequibo River. The Indian Arrival Day Monument in the Monument Garden in Georgetown is also, like the 1763 monument and the Non-Aligned Monument, of more recent post-Independence vintage. There is also great significance of the Enmore Martyrs Monument on the East Coast Demerara.

So what is so special about Monuments and Sites? The International Council on Monuments and Sites made a proposal â–ş Continued

on page XVII

A centuries old Dutch Windmill at Hogg Island on the Essequibo river

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

The mysterious monument at Plastic City, Vreed-en-hoop â–ş From page XVI on April 18, 1982. It was approved by the UN General Assembly of UNESCO in 1983.

The aim is to promote awareness about diversity of Cultural heritage of humanity, their vulnerability and efforts required for their protection and conservation.

Sites such as the Indigenous Rock Carvings in the South Rupununi and the giant ant hills in the Central Rupununi have been with us in some cases, for centuries. Humans need a bit of connection to the historic past, as we move forward into the unknown future. So we build monuments and we fence around important sites. We visit such places and we tell our children and grand-children what they mean. Most of us realize how important it is to build monuments and protect certain historic sites in our country.

Now, when last have you visited the Indian Monument at the Indian Monument Garden with entrance on Camp Street between Church Street and North Road in Georgetown? As a matter of fact, have you ever?

I have been into that beautiful floral garden on a number of occasions. But only when it is open to the Public on celebrations. It is so serene with the actual monument of a sailing ship - a replica of the original ships which brought Indentured East Indian Immigrants from India to British Guyana. I am not so sure that that Monument Gardens is open to the Public at all times. Maybe, it should be opened for a few weeks during this month of May, 2016, so that Guyanese and non-Guyanese and non-Guyanese alike, who will be visiting for the Jubilee Celebrations, could go and view the beautiful scenery.

If needs be, there could be a small fee which will go to take care of security and the cleaning of the site. I know that Dr. Yesu Persaud has great influence with this Indian Monument gardens, and so I appeal to him to consider this proposal of mine.

The 1763 Monument is in an open space at the eastern end of Brickdam in Georgetown, and many visiting folks go and view it. There are also many Just Married couples who go there and take photographs and video recordings immediately after exchanging their Marriage vows and just before heading to the Wedding Reception venue. The 1763 Monument has from time to time, gone through good and not-so-good conditions. But the actual monument is always very impressive and imposing. There have been some recommendations that the area in front of it - the Square of the Revolution - should be fenced off. That the area should be regarded as special and no longer be used for Learner Drivers and other similar mundane exercises.

At the bottom or western end of Brickdam, is the Public Buildings. That concrete edifice was designed by Joseph Hadfield, and the street at the back or southern side of the Public Buildings, bears his name. The foundation stone of that building was laid in 1829. Its construction was by the talented African enslaved construction workers. Construction was completed in April 1834 - before Emancipation. here are now concrete structures here in Guyana which have been built during the last 25 years, which have had to be demolished due to sloppy construction work.

Other concrete monuments which have stood the test of time, are the Dutch Court of â–ş Continued on page XX

Kyk-Over-Al on the Mazaruni river

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Massive organic farm being developed at

St. Lawrence S

Dr Homenauth examines the root of the red bean plant a b i n a Farms, situated in St. Lawrence, East Bank Essequibo, is being developed as a large-scale modern self-sustainable organic farm. Thus far, 20 acres of land are being prepared to accommodate a plant nursery, barn house, three shade houses, beds for crops and a pig farm.

The owner, David Apariso, a re-migrant Guyanese, intends to export and supply local commercial enterprises with packaged products. He is determined to ensure that the best farming practices are observed on Sabina Farms; hence, the need for a close working relationship with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

Sabina Farms is a recipient of technical support from NAREI. On Tuesday, the Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth and a team comprising Extension Officers visited the development site to have a firsthand look at the operations.

Sabina Farms is in the initial stage of development and is bustling with activities such as setting of seedlings, land clearing, creation of drainage and irrigation canals and crop trials. The farm has provided employment opportunities for seven persons. This number will certainly increase in the future.

For the past eight to 12 weeks a number of crops, such as red beans, cabbage, lettuce, pepper, and callaloo were planted to determine whether they

could grow on the soil type. The crop trials revealed that the soil type is conducive to a variety of crops.

Apariso related that during the trial period, limestone and manures from poultry and cows were used to replenish the soil. In the future, waste from pigs and poultry reared on the farm will be utilized to ensure the farm remains green and self-sufficient.

The use of organic materials to fertilize the land and prevent pests will be the hallmark of Sabina Farms.

The dream is to produce crops that could be taken from the farm straight to the table, he said.

Dr. Homenauth advised that the leaves of the red bean plant â–ş Continued

on page XIX

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

David Apariso (front left) watches as Dr. Homenauth examines the pepper plant

Massive organic farm ...

â–ş From page XVIII could be chopped and added to the soil. This would increase the nitrogen content of the soil and is a good source of green manure.

He said that red bean is the ideal plant to intercrop with sour soup. Two acres of land has been earmarked to cultivate sour soup. NAREI will be supplying 1,000 sour soup and 100 sijan seedlings to Sabina Farms. Dr. Homenauth emphasized that the large scale production of health foods such as sijan and sour soup is highly commendable.

Apariso envisions Sabina Farms to be a showpiece of modern farming techniques. He will be constructing three tunnel shade houses with raised beds to grow exotic crops such as broccoli and cauliflower. Dr. Homenauth invited Apariso to visit NAREI, Mon Repos location to view its tunnel shade house, where culinary herbs are being grown on trial.

Dr. Homenauth is enthused with the project since it is going to be commercial in nature and the commodities that will be produced will satisfy the local and export markets. NAREI will closely with Sabina Farms to ensure its success. Sabina Farms will be added to the list of farms that are visited by Extension Officers in Region Three. (Contributed by Keeran Singh, NAREI)

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Guyana's Monuments & Sites â–ş From page XVII Policy Hall on Fort Island in the Essequibo river, the Arch on the Mazaruni Island of Kyk-over-Al, the St. Peter's Anglican Church on the Essequibo river island of Leguan and the High Bridge at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast.

There is also the Water Wheel at Christianburg, Linden, on the Upper Demerara river. Some of the oldest monuments are the Indigenous Rock Carvings scattered across many areas of our hinterland; the Rock Carvings at Aishalton in the deep South Rupununi, for example, and those on the Upper Mazaruni river, as well.

On the Upper Berbice river, there are some graves of the Dutch at Fort Nassau. That is where Governor Cuffy had set

up his headquarters at his short-lived Revolution back in 1763.

More recent in construction, is the Non-Aligned Monument located in the Company Path Garden just west of the magnificent wooden St. George's Cathedral in Georgetown.

In it are the four busts of the fathers of the Non-Aligned Movement - President Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, President Jawaharlal Nehru of India and President Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia.

While the Non-Aligned is one of the better known monuments in Guyana, there are quite a number which are hardly known. There is one which has been tucked away among the mangroves on the north Vreed-en-Hoop mudflat in Region Number Three. Very little is known of its origin, and so far, I have been unable to find out anything substantial about

it. So, if you are looking for a monument which is almost unknown, but easily accessible, then go to Vreed-en-Hoop by the traffic lights and ask directions to 'Plastic City' which is just 30 seconds by car. You will then take a three minute walk along the old river defense wall, going north past some shacks at your left, then there, in front of you, is that unique monument. By theway, you must also visit that monument for Children which is located at the western side of the National Park in Georgetown.

As we belatedly focus on some of Guyana's Monuments and Sites, let us always remember to care for them, no matter how small or unknown, or how large and important, like the Kaieteur National Park, on the Potaro river in Region Number Eight.

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Akeem

Peter - Youngest city councilor wants to help make GT a modern city

“

I feel both privileged and disadvantaged at the same time. I mean, you bring your youth, innovation, experience to the front, but you are also disadvantaged by the older persons. The experience that they bring outweighs your innovation at times and that’s something we have to work with and work towards changing so that young persons can have the opportunity to come into the system and create the change that we really want to see with a modern city.”

Akeem Peter, with Kerron, whom he calls the love of his life

T

By Telesha Persaud

he youngest City Councillor, Akeem Winslow Cennick Peter, has big dreams of turning Georgetown into a modern city, one that will become the awe of the Caribbean. Akeem has so many plans for the city that he feels a day will come when the current trend of Guyanese ‘running’ to other people’s shores will be reversed and others will hasten to come here instead.

Akeem, 23, was born in Antigua and Barbuda to Guyanese parents John and Eartha. At three months old, however, he was brought to Guyana to live with his aunt Janice Phillips, whom he credits today for helping him become a disciplined and well-rounded individual.

After attending Starter’s Nursery, Redeemer Primary, and St. Roses High, he went to the University of Guyana to study civil engineering and International Relations. “I always had an interest in engineering, roads, buildings, the ascetics of my immediate surroundings.”

Akeem feels that the conditions he was exposed to as a youth growing up in Sophia sparked his interest in engineering. He explains it this way: “As a child in North Sophia, you weren’t exposed to the whole developmental process. But over the years, I have seen the progress of a community moving from mud dams, drains, ‘London’ bridges, to a community that has begun to develop. We have roads now and the houses have changed somewhat.

“We also had to fetch water from the street pipe and before this, had to go way up in front to full. I fetched smaller buckets to fill the bigger ones. Plus, there were security issues. My aunt was always calling for me to come off the road early; there was always a stigma attached to Sophia.”

Today, Akeem said his experiences have taught him to be friendly and humble, especially to those individuals who are less fortunate.

What to Build Akeem has always had an interest in the technical field, and has also found that he is interested in politics as well. “Politics is linked to everything.

You have the scope to influence development within your country from a political level. It starts with the politics. Politics determine which roads are built, which public spaces are fixed. It’s all political. Either we accept it or not.

So, I have decided that instead of only wanting to build, I will fight to become a decision maker in what to build.”

The thought of becoming a City Councillor never occurred to Akeem. “Before my campaign started, I always watched the GECOM (elections body) ads on television, and I always said to myself that if I had the chance to run for local government elections, I would, because I was involved in community work before.”

Akeem had helped to form one of the biggest community groups in North Sophia and was able to accomplish much by means of it. “North Sophia now has a play field out of that community group.

It has always been a desire within me to help out in these ways, but I didn’t take the first step. It was my fiancé, Kerron, who encouraged me to run for the elections. I had to work hard and campaign but it gave me an opportunity to be a part of building my community,” Akeem expressed.

Privileged and Disadvantaged Akeem feels privileged to be a member of the City Council, but he observed that when it comes

to management of the city, many things have to be changed because a lot of it is archaic. He is also looking forward to working closely with the rest of city councillors.

“I feel both privileged and disadvantaged at the same time. I mean, you bring your youth, innovation, experience to the front, but you are also disadvantaged by the older persons. The experience that they bring outweighs your innovation at times and that’s something we have to work with and work towards changing so that young persons can have the opportunity to come into the system and create the change that we really want to see with a modern city.”

This is not to say, however, that Akeem allows himself to become intimidated by the strong personalities. “One of the major challenges I will face will be helping persons to see the vision I see. I am going to see it through a young person’s eyes. We young people normally interpret things differently. But the thing is, we have all pledged to work together so it’s our responsibility to do that. So I may be able to teach you certain things while your experience and wisdom may do the same to me.”

Akeem wants to see further changes in his home village, and by extension, in the entire city. “One of my aims is to change the negative view that people have of Sophia. And I really desire to see Georgetown, not only clean, but modernized. It must be a modern city of the Caribbean. Persons must run to our shores, and we have to stop this thing of running to their shores.”

Along with his aunt, Akeem, the owner of AWCP Group of Companies, is also grateful to his grandmother Eugienie Skeete and his aunt’s daughter, Rhonda Phillips, who have all contributed to his life significantly. “They have really played that part of a family to me; the persons who have really contributed to my life.”

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Mother and Daughter pageant turns 25

T

he Mother and Daughter Pageant is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year as Guyana celebrates its Golden Jubilee.

This year's pageant is being held under the theme "25 Flights of Love" and will take place this Saturday at the National Cultural Centre.

The Pageant will feature contestants in the junior, middle and senior categories. It is the only local pageant that brings together mothers and their daughters on the one stage in competition.

Pageant Director and Executive Producer, Dr. Sulan Fung believes that this year's event will be extraordinary.

She recalled that when her mother started the pageant, she was just a baby and now she is happy to be the one leading the beauty event.

Dr. Fung also announced that this year's pageant will feature a special 25-year journal which will chronicle the pageant over the past 25 years. Many of the past winners are expected to be at the NCC to support the event as they reflect on their days on the big stage.

Dr. Fung's mother, Educator Ingrid Fung, is one of the producers of the show and she is promising a spectacular event.

She said she is pleased with where the pageant is today and how much it has grown over the years. She said when the pageant started 25 years ago, no one expected that it would have lasted that long. It began as an idea in the staff room of St. Joseph's High and has now grown in to Guyana's longest running pageant.

This year's event will see contestants competing for a number of big prizes including trips to several overseas destinations. It is also the first time that the event will have a 76-year-old mother gracing the stage in addition to a mother who is visually impaired.

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Former national cycling champ on a mission to change lives

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

F

By Frederick Halley ORMER Guyana national cycling sprint champion Aubrey Bryce is on a mission to change lives and according to him, it’s incredibly satisfying being able to see and inspire individuals and witness their excellence in sport.

Bryce retired from an executive position at General Electric, Canada, terminating a successful corporate career in pursuit of his passion to inspire and motivate clients to new levels beyond their current expectations.

“I travel the world with my clients, I arrange and conduct cycling, triathlon, marathon and fitness lifestyle training holidays everywhere.”

Bryce has been coaching in the Sports and Fitness Industry for 24 years. He is the proud owner of Enduro Training Systems, a comprehensive coaching services enterprise, that serves the needs of Toronto's sports and lifestyle fitness communities.

He is also owner/operator of Le Cycletique, ► Contiuned on page XXVI

Aubrey with kids Samantha and

Morty

Aubrey competing in the Atlantic Challenge Ironman event

Aubrey Bryce (centre) with one of Guyana’s top riders, Geron Williams and daughter Samantha during. Part of a crew that rode the trail to Lethem in 2011

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Former national cycling ... ◄ From

page XXIV an Indoor cycling training facility in Toronto.

"Aubrey was my conduit for providing opportunity for overall growth. I marvel at his compassion and unending ability to give of himself in a number of ways," said Donna Pounder, World Ironman Championship finisher in Hawaii, "His leadership and ability to see the bigger picture

are his strengths that I continue to learn from."

Another of Bryce’s athletes, when questioned about Aubrey's contribution to her development, attested that "anything was possible.... but its only because he made me believe it to be so. He believed in me. That has been his greatest gift to me, to my life and to my future. Aubrey changes lives. He has certainly changed mine.”

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Chronicle,

Bryce disclosed that from his perspective, these are the things that are especially important to him.

“It is so much more delightful in seeing how individuals make their entire lives that much better because of the values which they derive and which they can see more clearly as a direct result of training for and participating in sport.”

Bryce pointed out that cycling was indeed the basis for his development as a lifestyle

fitness coach.

He said the qualities he now possesses are "takeaways" from being a cyclist but “what I do now in my life's work is somewhat removed from the actual world of cycling.

Cycling is only a very small microcosm of what I do. As a matter of fact, I have a really big problem when folks would refer to me as ‘Bryce, the bike rider’.

“I refuse to let my life be defined by cycling because I have done and continue to do so many more important things in my life.”

Bryce, however, admitted that he loved cycling during his youthful days. “I loved every moment of it, the

training, the challenge, the victories and the recognition were all very nice. Growing up in the small village of Meadow Bank, I did not have the privilege of individual or organizational coaching, great equipment or a known pedigree of 'genetic' sports success. What I had was a dream, a great love of cycling and people who loved me dearly.”

Purpose, support and opportunity were the three pillars of resolve, which together formed the foundation of his ultimate endeavor, he disclosed.

“I figured that ultimately, success was entirely up to me. With the amount of time and effort of training required

and a relative lack of resources, I knew it was going to be hard but I had this inherent feeling that the "hard" could only be good.

“Training came easily because I loved riding my bike.

Most of the time, I trained twice per day. My support came from understanding parents and a loving family.

From them I found understanding, encouragement, motivation and generosity, cheers when I won and empathy when I did not do as well.

“When I wanted to dedicate my efforts to training so that I could do well enough to qualify for and earn a ► Contiuned

on page XXVII

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016

Aubrey on Mount Ventoux in France ◄ From

page XXVI

spot on our nation’s team to the Olympic Games, they allowed me to take a year off school at an understandably critical time in my academic development. It indicated that they had the confidence in me to not only make good on my promise to not squander the opportunity to ride a bike

but more importantly that I would uphold my side of the bargain to return to school after the cycling music stopped playing for me.”

Bryce said he took some serious lessons from cycling.

“The most beneficial ones were from the hard parts, the real struggles of an ordinary guy, from an ordinary place with ordinary upbringing and uphill challenges. These attributes are oftentimes overlooked because

more often than not, they diminish the allure and romance of the game.”

Bryce disclosed that from cycling he learned leadership and compassion. “I learned dedication and perseverance, I learned courage and application, I learned understanding and resilience, I learned motivation and inspiration. I also learnt that talent, like genetics, is overrated. I believe that every success we achieve is primarily circumstantial.

But circumstance needs to be packaged just right.

“Purpose, opportunity and support are a lot more meaningful when carefully buttressed with solid personal values. What makes it even better is that these tenants, when used effectively, seem to transcend sport itself and seem to naturally morph into all aspects of an individual's entire life. When one becomes successful at sport, they can access a similar blueprint for anything else that ails them in life. It was only a matter of time before I finally figured it out and the wealth started to roll in - my kind of wealth.

"Just consider the following: “My children are not nec-

essarily blessed with some magical power to solve rubric's cube in 10 seconds but have developed into solid, contributing human beings that's my kind of currency” “A client's mother privately requested that I promise to bring her medically challenged daughter back from a gruelling event in the desert, unharmed. She painfully pleaded: 'I don't want to loose another daughter.' At a jubilant finish line ceremony, her mother sought me out and whispered quietly into my ear, 'you da man.' That's my

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currency.

“While cycling up the 27Km climb to the top of Monte Grappa in the Italian Dolomites, one of my clients told me of his lifelong struggles with his body weight and thanked me for my contribution to his weight loss and improved fitness that allowed him to enjoy a longstanding ambition to ride the Dolomites with his wife and friends. That's my currency “On a recent ride, a client talked about the last time he struggled to complete a ride such as the one we were

doing. He was 25 at the time.

He had no intention of ever riding a bike again. That is, until he met me. Two weeks ago he turned 60. On this day he felt better that he did 35 years ago. That's my currency.”

Bryce, who now resides in Bowmanville, Ontario has been married for 44 years and has two grown children who both enjoy successful careers.

Morty, 42, lives in Toronto and daughter Samantha, now 40, lives in Washington, DC. He also has a grandson, Ethan.

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Fourteen Prince albums climb UK charts, but Beyonce goes top (Reuters) Fourteen albums by U.S. pop superstar Prince have flooded back in to the British charts since his sudden death last week but Beyonce's "Lemonade" went straight to the top after notching up some of the fastest sales of the year.

"The Very Best Of" Prince was at two, "Ultimate" was third and "Purple Rain – OST" from "Prince & The Revolution" climbed 51 places to fourth, the Official Charts Company said on Friday.

Three more Prince albums entered

the higher reaches of this week's chart: "The Hits/The B-Sides" at 13, "Sign O’ The Times" at 15 and "1999" at 28. In all, 14 of the singer's albums were in the top 100.

The influential singer, musician and songwriter was found dead at age 57 on Thursday last week in an elevator at his Paisley Park Studios compound in a Minneapolis suburb.

The cause of death is not yet known.

Lemonade, Beyonce's sixth studio collection, racked up 73,000 chart sales, making it Britain's second-fast-

est selling artist record of 2016 behind David Bowie's "Blackstar," the charts company said.

It is her third chart-topping album in the UK, following her 2003 debut "Dangerously In Love" and 2011’s "4."

On the singles chart, rapper Drake's "One Dance" notched up a third week at No. 1 while Sia’s "Cheap Thrills" remained at two for the fourth week running, followed by Mike Posner’s "I Took A Pill In Ibiza" unchanged at three.

U.S. musician Prince performs on stage at Yas Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates November 14, 2010

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And now, some Golden Jubilee Wine MEMBERS of the public can now enjoy a new burst of flavour for the Golden Jubilee celebrations with the introduction of the “Golden Jubilee wine�.

Developed and launched recently by Trinidad based company, Nestor Enterprises Limited (NEL), the Wine presents a new opportunity for Guyanese to taste a new, distinct alcoholic beverage while they engage in the much anticipated celebrations.

The wine is specially packaged. 50 bottles are available and is being sold at a price of $200,000 each.

The company has also collaborated with the Chase Nestor Foundation (CNF) a charitable a non-governmental organization and proceeds of the sale will go towards housing and care for orphans. In addition, donations will be made to the Prevention of Teenage Suicide (POTS) Programme which was launched by Miss World Guyana Lisa Punch.

According to Anthony Nester, the CEO of Nestor Enterprises Limited, CNF is a collaborative effort of two individuals, Miguel Nestor and Alicia Chase, who are passionate about humanity and who have charged themselves with the responsibility of “giving back" to the society, particularly, the less fortunate.

It is their belief that modern civilization is growing increasingly dispassionate and thereby losing its humanity, so it is incumbent on the social activists, humanitarians, goodwill ambassadors, governmental socio-cultural affiliates and private sector interests, with an active corporate social responsibility agenda, to ensure human progress by serving the interests of the deprived, the depressed and the dispossessed.

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Environmental Protection Agency at Work

Spotlight on Compliance and Enforcement

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he Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will celebrate 20 years of its existence on 5th June, 2016, having been established with the passing of the Environmental Protection Act (EP Act) on World Environment Day, 1996.

This week, as we continue our focus on the EPA, we will take a look at its work in compliance and enforcement. As the number of projects being permitted by the EPA continue to increase, the need for a Division dedicated to compliance and enforcement became apparent. As such, in 2013, the EPA established a new Environmental Management Compliance Division.

A key focus of the new Compliance Division is to ensure that permitted projects comply with the conditions of their Environmental Permits or Authorisations. In cases of non-compliance, the EPA enforces the EP Act and its attendant Regulations. The Compliance Division is also responsible for enforcing the new Litter Enforcement Regulations (2013); in fact a new Litter Enforcement Unit was set-up in 2104, specifically to implement the Regulations.

The Compliance Division uses a holistic approach to compliance and enforcement by integrating water quality, hazardous waste management, and coastal zone management perspectives, as well as, geographical information systems into making its analysis of recommendations for solutions to issues that emerge in relation to compliance with the EP Act and its Regulations.

Monitoring Monitoring is a core activity of the Compliance Division; facilities and operations authorised by the EPA are assessed for compliance with the conditions set out in the Permit issued to them. If there is non-compliance, then the Division recommends the required corrective actions and provides guidance to Permit holders in cases where they encounter difficulties. The EPA’s approach is to encourage projects to demonstrate environmental responsibility through self-compliance and self-monitoring; the latter is also a requirement.

Enforcement Many operations or projects existed before the EPA was established, and as such, are required to register with the EPA so they can be brought into its environmental authorization process. However, there are still operations that are yet to register and are operating unauthorized. In cases where an environmental complaint is made to the EPA against a non-permitted operation, it is investigated with the goal of resolving the complaint and having the operation authorized. As such, the EPA welcomes reports by persons that are affected by any operation, since it provides an opportunity to bring the operation into compliance with the environmental regulations.

When a report is made against an operation, the site of the operation is visited by the EPA, to determine if the complaint is valid, and if so, to provide measures to â–ş Contiuned on page XXXII

Chronicle Pepperpot May 1, 2016 ► From page XXXI reduce the nuisance caused. The EPA usually communicates its recommendations in an Enforcement Notice. In instances where the risk posed by the operation is so severe, that it affects the health of surrounding residents, a Prohibition Notice is issued against the offending activity, stating explicitly that the activity must cease. It should be noted that a permitted operation may also be issued with an Enforcement Notice or Prohibition Notice if any non-compliance is not rectified.

Enforcement against Littering To enforce the Litter Regulations of 2013, complaints of littering are investigated to determine whether they are the valid. For valid complaints the “litterbug” is issued a ticket which must be paid to the Court. Litter offences can carry penalties of up to $200,000.00. The EPA advises persons to put litter away until they can dispose of it properly, for defaulters will have to pay. The EPA has been sensitizing the public and communities on the Litter Regulations, to influence a positive mindset of the public against littering.

Monitoring of Coastal Activities To ensure that activities do not degrade or deplete coastal resources and the environment generally, the Compliance Division investigates complaints. As such, any activities e.g. rice mills, livestock rearing, spray painting etc. that operate in an unsound way and are based along the coast are investigated and brought into compliance with the EPA’s Regulations. A coastal resources map is being developed using GIS to highlight hot spots and vulnerable areas that need to be monitored.

Additionally, the ICZM Action Plan (2009) is being revised to reflect the currently reality and to set relevant objectives for the next five years.

EMCD’s work in 2015 (See chart)

To give an idea of just how many complaints are received and investigations done let’s take a look at last year’s figures (see graph below). The EMCD received one hundred and sixty-eight (168) complaints last year, which were related to odor noise and or dust nuisance.

It also conducted two hundred and thirty-one (231) inspections related to new complaints (105), follow-up inspections (78), and Prohibition Notices and matters in Court (37). Of note, is that the EPA closed twelve (12) complaint cases last year, as a result of satisfactory compliance with its recommendations.

Reports of littering Last year was very active in terms of enforcement against littering. Some two hundred and fifty-four (254) complaints were received the majority of which originated from Region 4. The EPA issued two hundred (200) citations for clean-up and removal of litter most of them for offences originating from Regions 4 and obtained a compliance rate of about 90%. Further, one Citation Order was pursued in Court and subsequently resulted in an Arrest Warrant being issued for the offender. During last year, the EPA also issued seventy- five (75) Fixed Penalties for litter offences committed in Regions 4 and 3 and obtained a compliance rate of 61%; non-compliance cases were pursued in Court. Of note is that the EPA successfully issued thirty seven (37) Notices to attend Court for litter offenses with fines varying from $30,000-$50,000.

As the EPA strives to attain maximum compliance with the EP Act and its attendant Regulations, it values public participation in ensuring that this goal is met. A well-managed environment will benefit us as individuals, families, communities and as a country and in turn requires that it becomes the responsibility of all.

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Anushka Sharma shows her prowess in akhara, her look from Sultan

Anushka Sharma, who like Salman Khan is playing the role of a wrestler in Sultan, shared the first look of hers from the much-awaited movie.

Anushka Sharma plays Haryana Ki Sherni Aarfa in the movie, which has been directed by Ali Abbas Zafar. In the picture we can see an angry Anushka can be seen pinning her male opponent down in the akhara.

Sharing the picture of hers on Twitter, Anushka simply wrote: “Here’s presenting #AARFA @SultanTheMovie” Anushka Sharma, who plays the role of a tough wrestler in Sultan, has undergone training to learn dhobi pachad for her role. Anushka has been also been simultaneously shooting for “Ae Dil Hain Mushkil” with Aishwarya Rai-Ranbir Kapoor, besides her own production Phillauri. Some part of Sultan’s shoot is left and Salman Khan is currently filming for the schedule in Uttar Pradesh. The film will release this Eid.

Dwayne Bravo 'Dreams' of 'Breaking Into Bollywood' (Indian Express) West Indies cricketer and singer Dwayne Bravo says that one of his dreams is to "break into Bollywood".

"Breaking into Bollywood would actually be one of my other dreams so I would definitely like to give that a shot at some point," Bravo told IANS in an e-mail interview.

Bravo, whose song "Champion" got viral on the Internet, also mentioned that he wants to "inspire his fans to never stop believing in their dreams".

The cricketer added that his "management has already got some offers (from Bollywood)".

But for Bravo, "cricket comes first and always will".

"Music was one of my childhood dreams that I have fulfilled," Bravo added.

Asked who is he a fan of from the Hindi film industry, Bravo said: "It’s Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone."

He also mentioned that he has watched Hindi films and can speak a few words in the language.

How does it feel to see "Champion" song becoming so popular?

"It feels great when I hear people say 'Champion' is the next 'Gangnam' and now everywhere I go I see fans breaking into dance," Bravo responded.

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