Pepperpot 2015 3 29

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The jubilant Venus English, who has had many years of suffering

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NEGLA BRANDIS

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The girl she was

By Maureen Rampertab

WHEN there was innocence and happy times in the comforting embrace of her family, a poor country girl walking to school with friends picking wild flowers by the way side and playing games on the streets in the afternoons, the sweet memories of girlhood days.

The fun of life and the wonderful moments when she was as free as a butterfly, not knowing what the future held, if as a poor girl she would have roses or stones.

She did not nurture any dreams because if she had it would have been shattered when as a young woman changes happened and instead of holding a bouquet of roses, she found herself walking on paths strewn with pebbles. Her innocence lost, life’s journey unkind and harsh, where there were more tears than laughter, heartaches and struggles.

Now she laid in a cold, dark room, the world no more her home, not the blue skies, nor the flowing rivers, just on a slab, her wings broken.

was wrong but they were not looking at her, standing there.

They were looking at the woman lying on the slab, their mother, pronounced dead by the doctor at the hospital after she had collapsed on the road on her way home.

She turned to look and shook her head slowly, unable to believe the lifeless body lying there was hers, gone from the world.

“How did that happen?” she cried, “How do I leave those I love? Where do I go?”

Soft music, she heard, entrancing music from the divine

‘I see no colours For over my eyes Lies a dark veil Hands I can hold No more Where am I?’ Yesterday was just another day, listening to memorable songs on the radio, chatting with her close friend and walking down the street later for a cab to go into town.

Now, today…

The sound of crying and the deep sentiments of shock hit her like a cold blast and she opened her eyes gasping, “Why is there crying?”

Voices were speaking in low tones beyond the door, voices she recognised and she sat up to call her sons to tell them she wanted to go home but no one answered. The door stayed closed and she bent her head, not wanting to see what was around her, not wanting to believe something was wrong.

“I want to go home!” she cried, “My children are waiting for me.”

The door opened and she saw her two sons standing there, young men with deep sadness on their faces, tears in their eyes. She reached out her hand to touch them, to ask what

one who would guide her to the beyond, was on his way.

Her sons were crying even more, “How do we go back home without you? Why have you left us?”

“I didn’t want to,” she said, a soundless voice, truly distressed, “I did not know I wouldn’t be returning home.”

She held their strong hands but they couldn’t hear her voice or feel her touch and they left in their deep grief.

The music was getting closer, once the lord’s chariot arrived, she would have to leave but she wanted to go back home to walk down those streets again, to see the family and close friends she was leaving forever, one last time.

She left the cold dark room for home and the burden of death suddenly seemed to dissipate as she stood unseen among them all, listening to their sentiments, the shock, the regrets. Not everything said was good, for her life was torn; shreds of a luckless girl where sufferings and pain were hallmarks of her existence that

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com

II

gave her the cause to deviate into the wrong path.

She had been a good person, devoted to church and she could have stayed that way but after separation from her first husband and the death of the second some years later, she had lost all hopes, her carefree, wild life, with drinks and friends, and the ‘I don’t care’ attitude to society was of a woman who had reached her breaking point like flood waters crashing over a dam.

The mother she was though, did not leave her children behind, the love they shared and the bond, strong as ever, never mind things had changed in their lives.

Society had criticised her lifestyle and judged her, she knew, but to her it didn’t matter for no one knew her pains or held her hand in time of need, the poor girl she had been and still was.

Never a rainbow in her life, just dark clouds.

That day, tears flowed unchecked and she wanted so much to comfort her sons and daughter but all she could do as a departed soul was to wish for them to be strong to see this tragedy through for she had left with them something priceless, a mother’s love.

There were a few around who didn’t belong to the living world, whom she knew and she wondered why their souls were still wandering.

“I wonder if my mother and father are still here.”

She walked further down the street to her birth home and as she neared the corner, she stopped by the culvert where many years ago a little girl used to sit and watch the sun set.

T h a t l i t t l e g i r l w a s h e r.

She sat down but she saw no sunset for it was night, yet it gave her a form of comfort just sitting there. Time rolled back the years so she could see the girl she was, playing and laughing, going to the movies wearing her pretty dress, holding her mother’s hand.

Such happiness, pure as rain, washed away with the tides when she got married at sixteen, a change that pushed her further and further away from a beautiful life.

She sat there for a long time then, her mother and father already gone, the home standing there forlorn. She walked back to her home, the illusion of a sad woman, wondering what life would now be for her children. They sat quietly by themselves, in helpless grief, not sure what to do, tragedy having walked into their lives unannounced.

“I can do nothing now for you,” she said, touching them and she whispered a blessing so their lives would be smooth, defining new paths where there are rainbows.

They came by numbers for her funeral, one last ‘good bye’, those who had loved her and hated her and she smiled wryly as they expressed their sympathies. Her footprints would be erased but memories would linger, the good and bad of a woman whose life had always been a struggle.

The procession left for the crematorium and for her children, and those closest to her, saying ‘good bye’ was the worst moment of their lives for everything about her life was now yesterday; no more tomorrow. At the corner of the street, she saw the little girl standing with a bunch of wild flowers in her hand, the girl in whose life there were never roses, leaving now, never to return.

The music drew closer as the pyre burned and at dusk when there was just ashes left, the chariot arrived with the immortal being who would take her to his heavenly abode, remembering her as a devotee of Lord Krishna many years ago, the girl she was.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

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Nexus between poetry and storytelling ALTHOUGH World Storytelling Day (March 20) and World Poetry Day (March 21) are placed next to each other on the calendar, officially, there is no connection between the two events. World Storytelling Day falls into a worldwide domain where its annual theme is selected by an online group of storytellers while World Poetry Day falls directly under the auspices of one organisation, UNESCO. However, there is a literary connection between poetry and storytelling.

Storytelling is as old as the history of man, enmeshed in oral literature. But World Storytelling Day is a manifestation of the new millennium which has its roots in several initiatives started at the end of the previous millennium. For instance, in the early 1990s, Sweden organised an event labelled, ‘All Storytellers Day’, falling on March 20. In the late 1990s, storytellers in Perth, Australia, coordinated a five-week long celebration of story, commemorating March 20 as the International Day of Oral Narrators. Nearer to home (Guyana), places like Mexico and other South American countries were already celebrating March 20 as the National Day of Storytellers.

World Poetry Day has its genesis in one person, a woman, who not only knew of the power of poetry and has tasted its pleasures but also wanted others to be a part of this sacred art. In 1936, Tessa Sweezy Webb started honouring poets of Ohio, USA. This vision soon caught the imagination of poetry lovers worldwide. By 1951, forty-one countries were celebrating the works of their poets. Webb used the third Saturday in October for her magnanimous work but by 1951, October 15 was accepted as the ideal day to mark the occasion.

Eventually, in 1999 UNECSO declared March 21 as

World Poetry Day. The connection of storytelling and poetry resides in epics, narrative poems and verse novels wherein boundaries are blurred and categorising is left to academics.

An epic is a long poem with its origin in the earliest forms of oral literature. An epic narrates the deeds and adventures of a heroic or a legendary figure, sometimes narrating the history of a nation. Some epics include the ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’, parts of the Bible, the ‘Iliad’ and the ‘Odyssey’, the ‘Divine Comedy’, ‘Paradise Lost’, ‘Os Lusiads’, ‘Aeneid’, ‘The Faerie Queene’, ‘The Prelude’, ‘Song of Myself’, and ‘The Song of Hiawatha’.

A narrative poem tells a story not unlike an epic but the subject is not necessary the substance that makes a hero or creates a legendary figure. Narrative poetry originated in the oral tradition and bears characteristics giving over to oral delivery not unlike storytelling consisting literary elements including narrator/s, characters, plot, conflict and resolution.

Examples of narrative poems include many

Continued on page V

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

SLEEP TIGHT R

By Neil Primus

OSIE liked being around the small house and smiled in satisfaction. It had two bedrooms, a living room, bath, toilet and kitchen. Small, neat and comfortable just like Grandfather Jack.

Her grandfather had passed away two months ago.

He was 73-years-old when he expired. He lived with himself because no one wanted to live with him. He was grumpy, angry and ever critical. He would fret about everything. Sun, rain and dew. His favourite source of fretting was his two grandchildren. Very soon none of them wanted to visit him. When he died he leave the house to them both. Rawle had his own home so he gave his half of the property to Rosie. She moved in two months later.

As she wandered around the house she remembered being scolded for picking up anything or running in the house. She had been forbidden to touch any of his personal property and especially not to sit in his favourite chair or to ever sit or lay on his bed. Now everything belong to her. The chair was too old so she got rid of it.

The bed was in good condition so she decided to use it.

Arranging and cleaning her new home was tiring but she was happy because it was her own. After a long days’ work she took a bath, eat and watched a movie. At age thirty, she was divorced and a victim of two disastrous relationships. One was abusive, the other saw her boyfriend trying to live off of her like a parasite. They both ended badly. One of her greatest joy was her seven-yearold daughter, Ashley, who now resides in the UK with her father. Rosie had agreed to this because she knew

it was the best thing for Ashley at the time. When she made that decision she was unemployed and stressed after a rocky marriage.

Rosie got into bed and drifted off to sleep. She came awake, slowly. Something was not right. She looked around at her strange surroundings and wondered where she was. Then she remembered grandfather Jack’s house. No, it was now her house. She looked around her; something had caused her to wake up. Her sweeping glance encountered nothing strange and she relax and tried to go back to sleep.

The woman rolled onto her left side and immediately a sweet perfume assailed her nose. She opened her eyes.

The perfume was not the fragrance she used. Strange, turning to her right side she tried to relax. Another smell assaulted her nose. Only this time it was the opposite of the sweet perfume. It was unpleasant, almost nauseating.

Rosie sat up in bed. The smell seemed to fade away.

Jumping out of bed she turned the light switch on.

The room exploded in bright light. It seemed peaceful.

Rosie had an uneasy feeling.

There was something odd going on there. She peered under the bed. Only a pair of old shoes her grandfather had worn until it had worn so thin that you could feel the cold floor through it. Grandfather loved and refuse to wear anything else. He had a number of new slippers and sandals given to him but he stuck with this old pair.

Rosie remembered once playing in the house wearing her grandfather’s ‘jack shoes’. He caught her doing this and gave her a fine trashing. She never troubled it again. Now here it was, neatly placed on the floor under the bed. She reached under and pulled it out. Smiling, she decided to get the last laugh on grandpa. She would wear it that night and toss it out in the morning. She slipped it on and headed for the ‘john’.

Back in bed Rosie curled up and tried to sleep.

After a few minutes she turned on her left. Sweet, sweet perfume. She then rolled over on her right side, when she was bombarded with a stink, stink odor. It smelled like some animal had died. She sat boldly upright and began to sweat. Looking around her in the darkness she tried to detect any strange figure but there was none.

Then something or someone moved. It was a kind of slow, shuffling, scraping walk.

Rosie began to Tremble. That sound was familiar. It sounded like her grandfather moving in his old slippers. In a flash she sprang from the bed and switched the light on.

Nothing…no wait! There was something very odd.

Her grandfathers’ shoes that she had left at the side of the bed when she got in was moved closer to the door.

More than that, one was in front of the other as if the wearer had been walking to the door when he/she or it had been interrupted.

“I not afraid of no dam jumbie!” Rosie was defiant She snatched up the old shoe and threw it across the room. It hit the wall hard. Bram!

Smiling in a mixture of fear and excitement she headed for the large bed and jumped into it. Smack!

Something hit her on the head. She looked around startled. Nothing. On the bed was one of the old shoes.

She stared at it in horror. In anger she hurled it back to the corner where the other one lay.

Smack!

Wack!

Two solid blows; one to the head, the other to the body.

Ouch!

Two shoes were now in her bed.

Rosie forgot what she had said earlier and sat trembling on the white sheet.

A cold breeze moved around the room, then the odor assaulted her nose. She now realise where she had smell the perfume. Granddad uses it all the time. This caused her more fear.

‘A sorry a wear you shoes. A gon put it back.’

Rosie hastened to do as she said. When she got up from returning the shoes under the bed her bed sheet and pillows were gone.

Alright I gon get new sheets and pillows.

After putting the sheet and pillows on the bed she turned on the light and went back to bed.

Bradam!

Rosie landed hard on her butt on the ground. A voice, she was very familiar with, bellowed.

‘Yo could tek de house but get yo own bed!’

Rosie bolted through the bedroom door.

Next day she made arrangements to get another bed.

He gave her grandfather’s bed to the local hospital.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

THE DECLINE OF THE ARTS TODAY

V

Terence Roberts

(Part 11)

P

By Terence Roberts

ERHAPS never before in the history of the world has there been so many ‘artists’, of all races and in all categories and disciplines.

The reasons for this are obvious: (1) An increase in the world’s population.

(2) The temporal accumulation and influence of created works, whether books, paintings, sculpture, architecture, songs, tunes, plays, films, etc. (3) The reproduction and dissemination of printed material in books (since the 16th century) and magazines and newspapers, on the Internet, etc, about works of art. (4) The publication of educational studies on the arts, and promotion of artists and their works; as well as University, College, High School, and Art School courses, including workshops.

(5) Above all, the existence of all the arts, especially the publishing of creative literature, and film-making, as an enormous money-making industry and source of employment.

PRODUCTION VERSUS CREATIVE VALUE Yet, none of this simultaneously refers to ‘quality’ in the arts, but rather to the quantity of its existence. But who is to judge what is quality in art, and what

is not? Indeed, even though this question over time has concerned perhaps thousands of studies in various cultures and languages, it cannot prevent the continuous production of activities which call themselves ‘Art’; and which, as said above, provides employment, salaries, and wealth to both the general art industry, and professionals practicing it. The question then of ‘quality’ largely becomes an impotent question, swept aside in a deluge of quantity, which is often driven by commercial, or practical ‘employment’ concerns.

THE CO-EXISTENCE OF INTERESTS Nevertheless, because neither one can really suppress the existence of the other, the two continue to exist side by side. And though ‘quality’ may be more difficult to see or recognise, and certainly may be less popular or familiar than the quantity of art that is easily visible and accessible, ‘quality’ will not go away. It will not go away, or cease existing because it is rooted in the discernible structure, or combinative evidence in certain works of art, whose origin in turn resides in the specific difference of the creative human temperament, the experiential knowledge, imaginative scope, intuitive freedom, and practical discipline of the specific artist behind the work. A decline in the arts results when such a creative tem-

Nexus between poetry ...

From page III

familiar pieces like ‘The Highwayman’ by Alfred Noyes, ‘The rime of the ancient mariner’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, ‘Tam O’Shanter’ by Robert Burns, ‘The owl and the pussy cat’ by Edward Lear, ‘The prisoner of Chillon’

by Byron, ‘Lochinvar’ by Sir Walter Scott, and ‘The listeners’ by Walter de la Mare.

Examples of narrative poems by Guyanese include ‘The African Prince’

by Norman Cameron, ‘Ruth’ by Egbert Martin, ‘The Essequibo and its tributaries’

by Henry Dalton, ‘Amalivaca’, and ‘The legend of Kaieteur’ by A.J. Seymour.

A Verse Novel is a novel that is told in verse rather than prose consisting of the elements found in the epic and the narrative

poem as in the following examples: ‘Eugene Onegin’ by Alexander Pushkin, ‘The Golden Gate’ by Vikram Seth, ‘Omeros’ by Derek Walcott, ‘Ancestors’ by Edward Kamau Brathwaite, ‘Prophet’ by Kwame Dawes.

Verse novels by Guyanese include ‘Turner’ by David Dabydeen, ‘Bill of Rights’ and ‘Bloodlines’ by Fred D’Aguiar.

It is not without significance that World Storytelling Day (March 20) and World Poetry Day (March 21) are so juxtaposed. Man’s first stories were narrative poems. Poetry is the mother of all literature. And therein rests the nexus between storytelling and poetry.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com

perament’s existence is stifled by the closure of its communication with the public, or world at large, via the denial of the quality in such works of art, whose voice may be lost in the quantity of other ‘voices’ dominating a competitive marketplace primarily concerned with its OWN existence.

THE SCIENCE OF PRODUCTION That a substantial increase in the quantity of artists and art around the world does not imply that an increase in quality simultaneously occurs, is also related to another development which is not art as such, but involves ‘making’, ‘invention’, and ‘experimentation’; which are all qualities found in art, and essential to it as well. Such a development is called ‘science’, or ‘technology’; which, since the birth of Industrialisation in late 19th century England, introduced processes of mass production, which though initially quite helpful in providing countless manufactured products (utensils, gadgets, clothing, etc) cheaply for the masses, also became more and more extended and applied to areas of culture involving architecture, painting, drawing, sculpture, comic book design, film-making, and most startlingly noticeable of all, the writing and publication of creative literature. In these areas a ‘scientific’ process of production began to domi-

nate and absorb the individual artistic process; so that a similar external, and even internal appearance (content), began to affect all these categories of art, and the term ‘Art’ itself became less and less distinct from a PROCESS that rendered these artistic forms like mere utilitarian objects, for perishable time-spans only to be entertained by, or consumed, rather than thought of much beyond their first encounter with humans.

THE SURVIVAL OF QUALITY Under such social circumstances, often supported by censuses of popularity (like weekly Box-Office reports on certain ‘entertaining’ films), the definition of art loses any specific demands on ‘quality’, and even becomes redundant, if not gradually obsolete. Or, if still asserting its perennial individual identity, belittled or dismissed as ‘sour grapes’ hanging on to ‘the past’. Nevertheless, the idea of ‘quality’, as opposed to a robotic-like saturation of sameness in the ‘quantity’ of art and artists at our disposal today, is never abandoned by a vital section of society’s artists, their fans, co-workers, and audience patrons, whose attention keep both the history and tradition of quality alive by an educational awareness of the comparative value and necessity of art spanning the past and present.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

10 Most Haunted Places in the World Below you’ll find a list of 10 of the most haunted locations from across the globe, some of which you most likely have heard of, and some of which you may have not. What is for sure though is that you’ll likely want to read some of these stories with the lights on! (Source: hauntedrooms.co.uk) 1) Eastern State Penitentiary, Pennsylvania, United States

Built in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It’s known for being the very first prison of its kind to introduce solitary confinement, or what they used to call, the Pennsylvania System. Prisoners were sent to solitary during this time as a form of rehabilitation. They would be completely isolated, living alone, eating alone, and even exercising alone in their own individual yards. Whenever an inmate left his cell, a black hood would be placed over his head to assure he remained in confinement.

Due to Eastern States’ harsh approach, many prisoners were drove to insanity, and as a result

construction up to 1948, the Crawley family owned and resided in the property. During this time the family laid witness to many deaths, including the tragic death of a young child who was dropped down the stairs. A maid to the family is believed to have fallen from the

balcony, and a stable boy apparently burned to death on the property.

There was also a mentally ill man named Harold (the son of a caretaker) who was chained up in the caretaker’s cottage for 40 years. He was found curled up next to the body of his dead mother, and sent to a mental institute where he died shortly after.

The tragedy doesn’t end with the Crawley’s. After the house was left in 1948, it was taken over by a group of caretakers, one of whom was murdered in the caretaker’s cottage. the Pennsylvania System was scrapped in 1913. From then until 1970 it was used as a regular prison, and held the likes of Al Capone and the bank robber, Willie Sutton.

Reports of the paranormal have been going on since the 1940’s, but ever since the stone prison was abandoned in 1971, paranormal experiences have seemingly increased.

Reports include: Shadowy figures that seem to quickly turn away when approached a dark figure that is occasionally seen in the guard tower an evil cackling is heard coming from cellblock 12 shadowy figures have been seen sliding down walls in cellblock 6 ghostly faces have been witnessed in cellblock 4 and strange sounds such as disembodied footsteps, distant talking, and banging of cell doors have also been heard.

4) Castle of Good Hope – Cape Town, South Africa

The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, South Africa was built in the 17th century by the Dutch East India Company. It’s the country’s oldest colonial building, originally serving as a replenishment station for ships passing the treacherous waters of the Cape.

The first reported paranormal occurrence was when the apparition of a tall gentleman was

2) Waverly Hills Sanitorium – Kentucky, United States

Waverly Hills was originally a two-story wooden building that was opened in 1910, however the building you see today was constructed in 1926. It served as a tuberculosis hospital throughout the early to mid 20th Century, a time when the disease was at its

worst. It is believed that as many as 63,000 patients died there. The death toll as well as the supposed mistreatment and questionable experimental procedures on patients, are all recipes that may be behind one of the most haunted buildings in the whole of the US. The Waverly Hills Sanatorium has built quite the reputation over the years as more and more people are allowed to investigate the premises. This has thrown up some incredible evidence over the years. It has featured on shows such as Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters (TAPS), and our very own Most Haunted. TAPS captured a figure on their thermal imaging camera that seemed to be walking across the hall. The figure was about 3ft tall, they later found out that the ghost of a young boy named Tim has been spotted there before.

There are vast amounts of varying reports, including full bodied apparitions, fleeting shadows, screams from empty rooms, footsteps, sudden cold spots, and disembodied voices among many others.

3) Monte Cristo Homestead – New South Wales, Australia

The historic Monte Cristo Homestead in Junee, New South Wales is regarded as the most haunted location in Australia. It’s reputation is believed to stem from the amount of tragic events that have occurred there since it was built in 1885. From the time of its

seen in 1915 on one of the castles’ ramparts. The man wasn’t seen again until 1947, when he was seen on a regular basis over a two week period. He would be seen jumping off the side of one of the castle walls, and walking between the bastions Leerdam and Oranje.

One of the most popular stories associated with the Castle is of the former governor Pieter Gysbert van Noodt. He died on 23 April 1728, the same day he had sentenced to death seven soldiers who were caught attempting to desert the military. It’s believed one of the soldiers placed a curse on him and demanded he came to watch the execution, which he didn’t. Later that day, Van Noodt was found dead slouched over his desk with a look of terror on his face.

Another famous haunting is of the Lady in Grey. She has been witnessed running through the castle holding her face and crying hysterically. However, since a woman’s body was found during recent excavations her ghost hasn’t been reported.

Sometime in the 1700’s, a soldier was found hanging from the bell rope in the bell tower, which overlooks the entrance to the castle. After his death, the bell tower was sealed off however, to this day the bell has been known to strike off its own accord. There’s also the ghost of a black dog who has been known to pounce on unsuspecting visitors, then simply vanish into thin air.

5) The Tower of London – London, England

With a history of torture and execution going back over 900 years, the Tower of London is regarded by many as one of the most haunted places in the UK. It was originally built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, and has served a major role in the history of England ever since.

There have been many reports of the paranormal at the Tower of London over the years. The ► Continued on page VII

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

10 Most Haunted...

VII

FROM PAGE VI

most famous of all the spirits that live within its walls, is Anne Boleyn, the wife of King Henry VIII. She was beheaded in 1536, and her headless body has been seen walking the Tower’s corridors and often near the spot of her demise.

Other full bodied apparitions have also been seen including Lady Jane Grey, who was spot-

A little girl is said to follow the groups taking part in the ghost tours, with group members often experiencing her holding their hands. Other reports include disembodied voices, unexplained bangs and knocks, mists captured on film and with the naked eye.

The feeling of being watched is a common complaint, as is the sudden feeling of nausea, sudden gusts of wind in closed off rooms, furniture moving, doors banging, and on occasion people have been pushed by an unseen force.

8) Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada

ted by a guardsman in 1957. In the White Tower the White Lady has been seen, often standing at window, where she once stood waving to her children on the other side of the building.

Perhaps the most spine chilling of all reports includes the mysterious appearance of two children. They have been witnessed throughout the rooms of the castle. They’re often seen in their nightgowns, holding hands and with a look of terror on their faces.

It is believed these are two former Prince’s, who were sent tot he Tower after they were deemed illegitimate by Parliament. They vanished one day and it was assumed that they were murdered by order of their uncle, the Duke of Gloucester. Apparently, two small skeletons were exhumed beneath a staircase in the White Tower.

6) Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire, England

Built in 1145, the Ancient Ram Inn is believed to be the most haunted house in the entire British Isles, and perhaps the most haunted house in the world. The tales of child sacrifices, devil worship, and evil spirits are believed to be behind the terrifying happenings in this building. The Inn was built on the intersection of 2 ley lines, what many people believe is a conductor for spiritual activity. In addition, an ancient Pagan burial ground is said to have resided in the property over 5,000 years ago.

During its time as a bed and breakfast, people would often flee in the middle of the night, often seeing full bodied apparitions in their rooms, the feeling of being touched/pulled, disembodied voices, and the just the general feeling of evil.

John, the current owner and resident of the Ram Inn, has reported that on his first night in the house in 1968, he felt a presence grab his arm, before being dragged out of bed and across the room! John has since found evidence of devil worship and ritual sacrifice. He found two child skeletons underneath the staircase, as well as broken daggers.

He continues to experience the hauntings and the attacks to this day.

7) Fort George, The Citadel, Nova Scotia, Canada

Labelled as Canada’s most haunted historic site, the Halifax Citadel has received

hundreds of reports of ghost sightings over the years. Situated at the summit of Citadel Hill in the town of Halifax, Nova Scotia, this star shaped fort is almost 300 years old, with the original foundations being built in 1749, and reconstructed in 1856.

Staff and visitors have reported several apparitions walking the grounds here, with one particular visitor witnessing a soldier in uniform walk into one of the rooms in the old prison area and simply vanish. This is a common theme with many reports centered around apparitions.

Other ghostly figures that have been witnessed include an old man, a woman, a man in a red cloak, and an older lady who has been known to show herself in mirrors.

The Banff Springs hotel in Alberta Canada, was built over 125 years ago by the Canadian Pacific Railway, as a luxury stop off point for train travelers. Don’t let its picturesque surroundings fool you though, it’s rumoured to be one of the most haunted in the country.

Terrifying reports include the sighting of a bride who fell down the staircase breaking her neck after panicking when her dress caught fire. Her apparition has been seen on the staircase and in the ballroom dancing, with many reporting the flames from the back of her dress.

The main story that is told by locals is that of the family that was murdered in room 873. The door to this room has since been bricked up, but the family that lost their life in this room are still seen to this day, often in the hallway outside the room.

Perhaps the most popular of all the reports is the former bellman, Sam Macauley. He served at the hotel during the 60’s and 70’s, and is still seen to this day. He likes to help guests up to their rooms, dressed in his 60’s uniform, often turning on lights and opening locked doors. If you try and make conversation or tip Sam, he vanishes.

9) Château de Brissac, Maine-et-Loire, France

Originally built in the 11th century as a castle by the Counts of Anjou, Château de Brissac was rebuilt in 1502, by Charles II, Duke of Brissac, who gave it its name. This noble castle is the tallest in France, and it exudes old world charm, but one of its past residents has shocked more than one visitor.

A double murder that occurred sometime in the 15th century within the walls of the castle, has resulted in one of the more popular ghosts of the Château de Brissac, that of the la Dame Verte, or “Green Lady”. The current residents (the current Duke of Brissac and his family) have become accustomed to her roaming the rooms, but she has scared many a guest. She is often seen in the tower room of the chapel, wearing her green dress. What’s most terrifying however, is her face. If she looks at you, you’ll see that her face has gaping holes were her eyes and nose should be, resembling what a corpse would look like. As well as her sighting, her moans are also often heard throughout the castle in the early hours.

10) Borgvattnet (The Haunted Vicarage) – Sweden

Borgvattnet is a small village in Jämtland County, Northern Sweden. It’s renowned for having one of the most haunted houses in Sweden, The Old Vicarage, which was built in 1876.

The first ghost ever documented at the vicarage came in 1927, when the chaplain Nils Hedlund resided. He reported many strange happenings including one particular encounter with something paranormal. He was on his way up to the attic to gather his laundry when he witnessed his laundry being torn down from the line by an unseen force.

Rudolf Tangden, a priest who lived at the vicarage during the 1930’s, saw an old woman dressed in grey appear in a room. He followed her as she walked away, but she vanished in front of his eyes. In the 1940’s Tangden’s successor, Otto Lindgren, and his wife said they had several paranormal experiences including unexplained sounds and moving objects.

On one occasion a woman who was staying in the guestroom was awoken in the middle of the night to see 3 old women sitting staring at her. She quickly turned on the light and they were still looking at her, however they now appeared blurry.

In 1945 the chaplain, Erick Lindgren moved into the vicarage, and he began a journal recounting many of his own experiences in the house. He reported being thrown out of his chair regularly by an unseen force.

The current building is serving as a restaurant/cafe, as well a guest house. If you dare to stay the entire night you’ll receive an overnight-stay-certificate to prove it!

VIII

High Court judge rightly rejects non-evidence in Will case

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

- Appellate Court affirms judge’s decision with costs to respondent

By George Barclay SEVEN appellants (defendants), Eileen Sumintra Bankay and others, were defeated in a Will dispute case against Sukdai Sukhdeo, widow of the deceased, suing herein as one of the executives and residuary beneficiaries named under the last Will & Testament of John Harry Sukhdeo, deceased.

The trial judge who heard the action in the first place rejected the appellants’ testimony of evidence of suspicious circumstances as held by the judge, and declared that the action was dismissed.

The facts are as follows: James Harry Sukhdeo, the deceased testator, was twice married. His first wife, Hiria, bore 8 children, and when she predeceased him, he married Sukdai, who gave birth to six children.

When John Sukhdeo died in 1972, he left three testamentary instruments; and Sukdai brought an action in the High Court, seeking to propound in solemn form the latest of them, in which she shared Sukhdeo’s estate along with her six children.

In the two earlier wills, the seven named appellants -- children of the testator’s first wife, Hiria -- were all named as beneficiaries; but their names not having appeared in the latest will, they contested the grant of probate on the following grounds: (1) That Sukhdeo did not sign it (2) That the will was ineffective as a testamentary document because, in the body of it, the testator’s name “Harry” had been originally written as “Henry”, and the word “West” was written for “East” (3) That the will was not duly executed (4) That the deceased had lacked testamentary capacity at the time of its execution.

Having satisfied himself that the

onus of proof of the genuineness of the will rested in Sukdai, being the party propounding it, and that none of six alleged circumstances of suspicion attending the due execution was proved, the trial judge pronounced in favour of the will after deciding all four issues against the

former seemed to have a better recollection. He thus accepted that both barrister and clerk had endeavoured to tell the truth about the preparation and execution of the will. He, however, rejected as mere conjecture and as unreliable opinion, evidence

appellants, who were now seeking to upset those findings.

In finding that the testator did, as a fact, sign the will, the judge resolve an apparent conflict between the evidence of a barrister friend and adviser of the deceased testator, whose veracity and integrity he found to be unquestioned, and his clerk, who impressed him as a witness of truth and reliability, as to how it came about that the name “Henry” was substituted for “Harry” in the body of the will.

The judge accepted the clerk’s version in preference to the barrister’s, because he thought the

of a handwriting expert called on behalf of the appellants, who testified that the admitted and disputed signatures on a previous will and on the questioned will were not both made by the deceased testator.

JUSTICE OF APPEAL, HAYNES, HELD: (1) - That the credibility of the barrister and his clerk was the crux of the matter.

(2)- That the case was not difficult for the trial judge to adjudicate on the evidence before him. The only alternative to the genuineness of the handwriting was the

George Barclay

supposition that it was a carefully planned forgery as an integral part of a criminal conspiracy involving a barrister of 26 years’ standing; his clerk of humbler status, but whose honesty and truthfulness impressed the trial judge tremendously; and presumably the respondent.

(2) - That it was purely a question of fact; and in all the circumstances of this case, this court would not be justified in interfering with the trial judgment.

(3) - That the expert opinion evidence on which the appellants heavily relied to prove the will was not made by the deceased was devoid of reasons for the opinion that the deceased’s signature was a forgery.

The evidence only indicated in a general way the matters and things the expert considered in reaching his conclusion. No comparison being made in court, the evidence was unsatisfactory and unhelpful. The trial judge would have been entitled to treat it as valueless, and was not wrong to reject it.

(4) - That the trial judge was justified on high authority in comparing the signature of the disputed will with the admitted signatures of the deceased; and on the evidence of his own eyes, to reach a firm conviction that the signature on the will was indeed that of the testator and no one else.

(5) - That from the finding of the judge -- that he believed and accepted the evidence of the respondent and her witness -- he must be held to mean that either the proven facts as found by him did not amount to suspicious circumstances, or that they explained away any facts which did amount to suspicious circumstance.

(7) - That the appeal be dismissed, and the order of the court below affirmed; and that the third, fourth and fifth-named defendants do pay costs to the respondent.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

A HARD TRUTH Dear Wayne & Tamara

I FIND myself mid-40s and single. I’ve never been married or engaged. I tend to stop relationships pretty quickly when my gut tells me the person is not right for me.

Twice in the last few years I’ve found your column of great help. On both occasions I felt great

Why all the cheating, why all the divorce, why all the unhappy couples living like roommates? They got what they wanted – married without love. They are married without the essence of marriage. pressure from family, friends and myself to settle down and stop looking for that elusive person, Mr. Right. Fortunately for me, I can’t lie. It’s impossible to hide my feelings, so settling is never going to be an option for me.

Saying that, I currently feel frightened and sad that I’ve not met my significant other. I do as you advise, “engage in life.” I do have a great job, family, friends and life.

My reason for writing is a sentence in your article ‘When you marry for reasons other than Love’. You say, “only a very few let this happen to them,” “most destroy their chances,” and “they are not letting this happen.”

The question I ask myself is, am I doing something wrong? Am I destroying my chances and not letting it happen?

Is there a reason I’m in the situation I am?

LINDSAY Dear Linsay, WHEN we wrote “they are not letting this happen,” we were referring to those who settle and to those who are forced into marriage by their family, the passage of time, the desire for kids, or in general, want the end product of something they didn’t have the beginning of.

Look at the divorce rate. It’s one measure of ► Continued on page XII

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

A HARD ... ► From page XI those who didn’t wait for the right one. What are the chances they will get it right next time when they married and got it wrong the first time? So many people marry for the wrong reason, then won’t admit to themselves what happened. Often they blame the other person, instead of themselves.

Those are the people we were talking about - the ones who won’t give themselves a chance to get it right. It is the opposite of what Shakespeare meant when he wrote “love is not love which alters when it alteration finds.”

What is another factor? Not even tomorrow is guaranteed. There is no guarantee we won’t get hit by a bus or contract a serious illness. That any of us will have tomorrow is not assured, but what do we know and what do you know? Faking it with the wrong one is more miserable than living your life and being honest.

It is what it is. You may not have the one for you.

But you also don’t have one you lied to or pretended with or settled for.

That’s wrong because it isn’t fair to them. It’s dishonest. It’s like having a child by a man who loves you, but a man you don’t love. It isn’t real. This is not like making a mistake in the choice of a car. It involves deception of another human being.

It says a lot about you that you are unwilling to deceive another and unwilling to deceive yourself.

Marrying the wrong one to get home and hearth pollutes home and hearth. Why all the cheating, why all the divorce, why all the unhappy couples living like roommates? They got what they wanted – married without love. They are married without the essence of marriage.

We wish we could tell you where the right one for you is. We wish we could pick him up and drop him off at your house. But you are better off than those who are glumly married.

All we can say is keep filling your life with happiness. Keep growing, keep doing, keep out there.

Have the best life you can. And we hope for you that the one for you appears.

The worst we can say about you is that you’re honest. That’s not a bad thing, that’s a good thing.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

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FASHION EXPLOSION!

Meet Marcie De Santos, one of Guyana’s accomplished designers

By Shivanie Sugrim GUYANA is seemingly on the verge of an explosive expansion in its fashion arena with newly established local designers like Marcie De Santos.

Marcie aims to dominate Guyana’s fashion arena to the highest level with her designs that feature fabric

ating new and exquisite looks that captivate her clients.

Marcie describes her target as women of all shapes and sizes who desire to exude femininity in unique, exuberant, eye-catching, timeless and versatile styles.

As a Seventh-Day Adventist Christian, she acknowledges that her gift of creativity is a blessing from God, who is the greatest Creator of all, and who has further blessed her with a family (husband, parents and motherin-law) who provide unwavering support.

The Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) 2008 was her debut runway show, where she was adjudged the ‘Most Promising Designer’. Marcie recognises that the exposure and experience that she has gleaned from participation in several ‘international fashion weeks’ across the region – in Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, Dominican Republic, and further afield to the New York Fashion Week, have played a significant part in her evolution as a designer.

It is her opinion that such exposure is necessary, since the interaction with other designers at that level creates awareness of international standards as well as motivation to succeed. Her conviction is that a fashion designer should never stop learning and growing, and should

Marcie De Santos always be open to trying fresh and innovative ideas, in order to remain relevant.

Marcie has also showcased her designs at the Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown’s annual Tea Party, held recently, when she received splendid reviews on her remarkable pieces.

She has recently launched her boutique, called ‘The Fashion Atelier,’ located at 159 Waterloo Street, Cummingsburg, Georgetown (obliquely opposite Public Service Ministry), where off-the-rack and custom-made clothing are available.

Women can now pamper themselves and make a statement with designs by Marcie. The Fashion Atelier is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 09hrs to 17hrs; and on Fridays from 9hrs to 16hrs.

Marcie invites all women who want to be pampered and make a statement to visit The Fashion Atelier, or to call 685-4545 for appointments, or visit her Facebook page Facebook.Com/marcieadesantos, to view and order her designs. Emails can be sent to Marcie. fashion@gmail.com or thefashionatelier159@gmail. com.

Marcie De Santos pieces displayed at the Inner Wheel Club of Georgetown’s annual Tea Party last Sunday. (photos by Delano Williams) painting on cotton and linen. This accomplished designer credits her entry into the world of fashion to her passion for a unique look, which drove her to design clothing for herself. She soon realised that fashion designing was her second nature, something that she was born to do.

The uniqueness of the colour blends that she uses is a defining characteristic of her work. She thrives on cre-

Marcie’s pieces showcased at the New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2014

VENUS ENGLISH

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

- The story of phenomenal resilience after a lifetime of disappointment

By Alex Wayne

TODAY she wears a dazzling smile, and her cheery laughter can be heard from many rods away. She has been gushing with excitement on just recently receiving her visa to the USA, and is now basking in the glory of glitzy high fashion, surrounded by many of her now grown children and the numerous grandchildren they have given her.

It is hard to believe that life was not always bright and beautiful for the 45-yearold Venus English. Actually, she is a woman now made happy and jubilant after having experienced many mishaps and gruelling

The jubilant Venus English, who has had many years of suffering

When she was just sixteen years old, she decided she would no longer subject herself to this insufferable abuse, and so moved to Calcutta Village to reside with an uncle, where she was made to do domestic duties in his home in return for food and boarding.

A strikingly attractive female, she naturally blossomed into adulthood and became the apple of every young man’s eye and the envy of other young women in the village.

Completely ignorant about true love, she first experienced the tug at her heartstrings at age nineteen, and moved to Haslington Village, ECD, to begin living with her first boyfriend and other members of his extended family. Throbbing with excitement, she thought romance was certainly in the air, and would cry during the day when her prince ‘Henry’ had to leave for work at the Enmore Sugar Estate.

She would greet his return in the evenings by running to meet him on the dam and jumping into his arms with glee as he whirled her around like a queen, showering her with feverish kisses. Romance was in the air all right, and she was surely under its magical influence.

Her first baby, Leroy, came along, and she was proud to be a mother. She felt this had made her all woman; but as the months rolled on, prince Henry began to consume alcohol in large quantities, and would not come home until the wee hours of the morning.

Although she had not much experience, she could feel something was amiss, and suspicions began to fester. “I loved my Henry dearly, and I knew he loved me too, but I was not stupid. I knew his feelings for me were changing, and he was always so drunk, staying out late and coming home with strange perfume on his clothing. He kept denying he was seeing anyone, but our

romance was certainly not like before….”

Soon after, a pretty baby girl, ‘Thumbell’, arrived; and soon after, her Henry seemed to be getting more and more irritated and impatient with her and the children.

He preferred to hang out with the guys than to help her around the home. She kept hoping desperately for a change, but things were just getting worse.

Then reality kicked in when she caught him all entangled in the arms of another woman at a rum shop, where he was raining feverish kisses all over the woman’s body.

Crushed, she ran from the scene weeping in dismay.

“When I saw him in the arms of that woman, my whole world just caved in. I could not believe that the very man who whispered his undying love to me at night could bear to touch another woman intimately. I believed in him and trusted him so much that I almost died on the spot when I walked in on them at that rum shop…”

It was a difficult thing to do, but she had to leave him. Weeping inconsolably, she packed her bags and left with her two children to stay with her grandmother, Eugenia Williams, in Calcutta Village.

Naturally, with two children to maintain, she had to find work, since their father just ignored them after she left him. She began selling pastries in a snackette owned by her uncle Sherlock English, trying her best to make a dollar.

Wanting deeply to be loved and cherished, like any woman would, she fell for the ‘sweet words’ of another man who came her way. She soon found out that he, too, was only interested in sexual favours; and soon she was on her way to producing her third child. That father also soon disappeared after the baby was born.

Struggling to fend for three children

now, with no assistance from their fathers, she fell into the arms of one man after the other, who all left their legacy behind (a child or two). Some of the fathers would send a little cash every now and then, but most of them just seemed to disappear from the face of the earth once the baby arrived.

“I know some people would say that I was stupid after what the second man did to me. But what was I supposed to do?

The fathers gave me nothing, and even if I wanted to take legal action against them, they were nowhere to be found. I did not sleep with the other men because I wanted to. I had children to maintain, and men just don’t give their money freely. I was used and abused and just left to welter by the wayside.

“I gave birth to ten children, and while most of the fathers did not support them, I thank the Creator that He gave me the strength to do all the odd jobs I did to bring them up and give them proper education.

Today, most of them are grown and are taking care of me.

“One thing I know for sure is that my experiences have made me a much stronger woman, and today I am enjoying the life I always wanted to,” she declared.

Venus now operates a thriving pastry business in Victoria Village, and she is even happier now that her older son, whom she fondly calls ‘Briggie’, is working in the interior and sending her large sums of cash regularly.

That aside, her other son Leroy is in Barbados, and doing quite well. He also never fails to send that ‘small piece’ for his ► Continued on page XV mother.

disappointments, principally from the men who had fathered her children. They had all promised her ‘love on a two-way street’, which actually never happened.

I could not helped being overwhelmed by the story of her dark experiences, and I wept along with her as she reminisced on the days she describes as “dark and painful”.

Today, her ten children are mostly grown and working. Some are still in Guyana, but some have migrated. Nevertheless, wherever they are, they always remember the struggle their mother endured to see them through, and they do everything within their power to ensure she is well fed and clothed, and is enjoying the luxuries of life.

THE VENUS ENGLISH STORY As a young girl, Venus grew up under the wrath of a spiteful and abusive step-father, who was obviously in love with her mom, but certainly not with the young boy and girl she had brought into the world through the agency of another man. As a consequence, Venus and her brother were subjected to severe beatings for no apparent reason. Many times they were made to go hungry and ‘put out of the house’ by the step-father, who just felt they were too much of a burden.

Members of her lovely family

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

VENUS ENGLISH

XV

From page XIV Shawn, another son, works out of town, while his brother Shirwin is staying with relatives. A daughter, Sedekia, is staying with her dad in a Caribbean island, while Tanisa and Anisa are all grown girls who are living with their intended husbands.

The other children work around Guyana, and always remember the struggles of their mother. They make it their duty to visit and bring her gifts that set her smiling.

Venus loves the finer things of life, so

her daughters always take care to dress her in the latest fashion. And she is quite an eye candy at forty-five. Presently she is dating, and this time it’s an intelligent, sophisticated and well-bred gentleman who loves her dearly and applauds her eventual successes.

Venus hopes her story serves as a motivation to other woman to resist falling prey to worthless men, and to always believe that the strength of a woman can eventually get her to that pinnacle where she desires to reside.

Venus is surrounded by some of her children and happy grandchildren

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

How USB charging works -can it blow up your smartphone THE tech world has finally coalesced around a charging standard, after years of proprietary adapters and ugly wall power supplies. Well, sort of: We’re already seeing some fragmentation in terms of the new USB-C connector, which could eventually replace USB, as well as what is thankfully turning out to be a short-lived obsession Samsung had with larger USB Micro-B connectors for its Galaxy line. But aside from that, and with the obvious exception of Apple’s Lightning connector, micro USB has destroyed the industry’s penchant for custom ports.

Ten years ago, you always had to make sure you had the correct power supply for each of your gadgets. Usually, that power supply wasn’t even labeled. Today, you can charge your phone at your friend’s house, plug your Kindle into any computer, and download photos from a digital camera directly to your TV, all thanks to a standardized connector.

In its place, though, there’s a new problem: USB power.

Not all USB chargers, connectors, and cables are born equal. You’ve probably noticed that some wall chargers are stronger than others. Sometimes, one USB socket on a laptop is seemingly more powerful than the other. On some desktop PCs, even when they’re turned off, you can charge your smartphone via a USB socket. It turns out there’s a method to all this-but first we have to explain how USB power actually works.

There are now four USB specifications — USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 3.1 — in addition to the new USB-C connector. We’ll focus on USB 3.0, as it’s the most common. The other

why standard downstream ports would be used, when high-amperage charging ports are available. Numerous vendors now put a small lightning icon above the proper charging port on laptops, and in some cases, those ports can even stay on when the lid is closed.

In a similar vein, some external devices hard drives and optical drives, most notably-require more power than a USB port can provide, which is why they include a two-USB-port Y-cable, or an external AC power adapter. Otherwise, USB has certainly made charging our gadgets and peripherals much easier than it ever has been. And if the new USB-C connector catches on -and it looks like it will things will get even simpler, because you’ll never again have to curse after plugging it in the wrong way.

SEND TEXT 25 YEARS INTO THE FUTURE Imagine getting a voicemail from your grandmother years after her death or, on your 18th birthday, a video of your dad rocking you to sleep as a baby.

It’s possible now, thanks to a new app that lets users send texts, photos, videos and

voicemails up to 25 years into the future. The app, called Incubate: The Time-Delay Messenger, launched this month. While there are some similar apps, this one is special because of its focus on social networking.

People have to download the free app in order to send or receive messages, and there’s also a way for parents to build up messages for their kids before they have a phone. There are already two hashtags people are using in relation to the app. Just google “incubate” and pave your way into the future!

important fact is that in any USB network, there is one host and one device. In almost every case, your PC is the host, and your smartphone, tablet, or camera is the device. Power always flows from the host to the device, but data can flow in both directions.

Okay, now the numbers. A USB socket has four pins, and a USB cable has four wires. The inside pins carry data (D+ and D-), and the outside pins provide a 5-volt power supply.

CAN I BLOW UP MY USB DEVICE? In short, no: You can plug any USB device into any USB cable and into any USB port, and nothing will blow up — and in fact, using a more powerful charger should speed up battery charging.

There are a few other things to be aware of. While PCs can have two kinds of USB port — standard downstream or charging downstream — OEMs haven’t always labeled them as such. As a result, you might have a device that charges from one port on your laptop, but not from the other. This is a trait of older computers, as there doesn’t seem to be a reason

FORD CARS SLOW WHEN THEY SEE SPEED-LIMIT SIGNS Ford is to sell a car that can read road signs and adjust its speed accordingly to ensure the vehicle is not driving too fast.

The speed-limiting tech can be activated via the steering wheel and briefly overridden by pressing firmly on the accelerator. The car company suggests the facility will help drivers avoid fines and could reduce the number of accidents.

This would be part an extension of the networks that will connect vehicles, allowing cars to warn those behind them if they are slowing down, which is all part of a move toward autonomous vehicles that drive themselves. Ford’s technology will become available to the public this August, when it launches the second generation of its S-Max cars in Europe.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

XVII

(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)

Inside the courts…

CONFLICTING LOVES AND HATES (Guiana Graphic, July 14, 1959) WOMEN are by nature inquisitive, it is said. But really, Clarissa went a bit too far.

That, of course, is taking the word of her son-in-law Vernon. For it was he who told Magistrate Dan Debidin that his mother-in-law’s officiousness was really intolerable and downright indecent.

Vernon claimed that immediately after his marriage to Clarissa’s daughter, his mother-in-law became so inquisitive that each morning she had a barrage of questions to put to her daughter. She wanted to know exactly what had transpired the night before, Vernon complained to Mr Debidin.

And that, he said, was behaviour of which no self-respecting mother-inlaw should be guilty. At least, he could not stand it, and more than once he had complained about the interference.

Indeed, according to Vernon, it was this unusual inquisitiveness on the part of his mother-in-law that had caused him to be sentenced to three years in prison. For in his efforts to satisfy her curiosity, he had committed himself.

Not only that, his wife had now divorced him, and he was finding it difficult to see his four-year-old son, whom he professed to love dearly.

His presence in court was the result of an incident between himself and his mother-in-law, when he had paid one of his periodical visits to the boy.

His mother-in-law had resented his presence there, and had ordered him out of the yard. Hot words must have passed between Vernon and Clarissa, but it was Clarissa who had summoned him.

However, when Vernon appeared before Magistrate Debidin, he claimed that he was not guilty of any offence, and that he was the one who had been offended.

Debidin cut in.

“We were married, sir,” Vernon disclosed for the first time, “but we are now divorced.”

“Have you an order for access to the child?” was the next question.

“I didn’t go to court,” Vernon replied.

“Well, you should have gone,” the magistrate told him, “and the court would have permitted you to see your child.”

Turning to Clarissa, Mr Debidin scolded her: “Lady, as a mother, you should know that he would have as much love for the child as the mother.”

“Yes, sir,” answered Clarissa, “but he is not speaking the truth,” she countered.

“He came to see the child but not in a proper way,” she claimed.

“At the time,” Clarissa went on to explain, “the child was in hospital. He is not speaking the truth, the child was not there at that day. The child was in hospital to be operated on.”

“But we went to see the child,” pointed out Mr Debidin.

“Yes, sir,” Clarissa pointed out.

“And did you tell him that the child was in hospital?”

“No, sir,” Clarissa admitted. “He told me that I mustn’t say anything to him, and I didn’t tell him.”

My mother-in-law is really a

monster-in-law

WENT TO SEE SON “I have a child with her daughter,” Vernon explained, “and on the day in question, I went to see my son.

“Sir, she came and pulled him away and say….Am I permitted to say indecent words in Court, Sir?” asked Vernon respectfully and rather naively.

“Yes, you can go ahead; we won’t be offended,” Mr Debidin assured him.

“Sir, she pulled the child away and said ‘give me the blasted child!’ Is me grand pickni. Is me daughter child!”

“That’s when you are not married to the mother!” Mr

THE WISE THING “He said that he was going to burst down the door and come in on me,” she complained.

“But you could have told him that the child was in hospital,” reasoned Mr Debidin.

“That would have been the wise thing to do.”

However, Clarissa could not see reason. She insisted that Vernon had told her not to say anything to him, and she did not intend to do so.

“Do you support the child?” Vernon was asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“No, sir,” put in the mother-in-law.

“Yes, sir! I give the boy money to give his mother.”

“How old is the boy?” Mr Debidin wanted to know.

“Four years.”

“And you give a four-year-old money to give to his mother?”

“Sir, we don’t speak,” explained Vernon.

“She is the one that don’t want me to see the child,” Vernon accused his mother-in-law, “not her daughter.”

“Well you can’t expect to have the same rights when your marriage has broken up, you know.”

“I agree, sir.”

“Yes, this is a case full of human entanglements….

Conflicting loves and hates,” observed Mr Debidin.

“She is the one who caused the separation,” Vernon again accused Clarissa, “not her daughter,” he insisted.

“Since we get married, she always want to know what happen in the nights,” he complained. “She always questioning her daughter about what happened in the nights……and the nights before….”

“Sir, he got three years for me,” Clarissa said rather boldly. “He does not give the child anything, and he steals the child away.”

“I love my son, sir,” announced Vernon.

“Well, the most I can tell both of you is not to be too hateful. And you, let him see his son,” Mr Debidin advised Clarissa.

“You’re reprimanded and discharged,” the magistrate told Vernon. “But you must sign a bond in the sum of $25 to be of good behaviour, particularly towards your mother-in-law,” he announced.

NEW CIGARETTE FROM MONDAY (Guiana Graphic, July 11, 1959) A new brand of cigarette, “Liberty”, will be on the market from Monday, and 12 more Guianese will be employed.

Liberty is made from specially imported tobacco fresh from American farms. It will be sold in packets of 12 for 20 cents.

But the owner is complaining about the heavy 20% tax which he has to pay on nylon filters.

Owner and managing-director of the factory is Mr Nicholas Daher. He argued that Government normally imposes a tax of 5% on unfinished products for local manufacturing purposes, and the filters fall into this category, since they cannot be used as they are. They have to be cut in standard pieces and worked on to the cigarette by machinery, then covered over with bobbing paper.

“The Liberty filter is not like a cigarette tube, and should be classed as a semi-manufactured article and the tax reduced,” he said.

BAND ON SEA WALL TODAY

THE B.G. Police Band will perform on the sea wall this afternoon from 5 to 6.

Highlight of the programme will be an operatic selection from Madame Butterfly.

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@ gmail.com or cell phone # 694-0913)

Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 694 0913

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

MEDICINE FROM TREES ––North Rupununi group bottling traditional medicine

By Tajeram Mohabir

AMERINDIANS traditionally have been relying on plants and herbs to provide cure for their ailments, but a North Rupununi, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) group known as ‘Medicine From Trees’, is taking things to a new level.

The group, made up of indigenous women, is converting leaves, tree barks, seeds and roots traditionally used by their ancestors into bottled medicine to treat cold, arthritis and cervical cancer, among other ailments, with help of local and overseas experts.

Veronica Farias, 28, told the Chronicle that the group was formed in 2006, and is made up of three members who work closely with the elders of North Rupununi and visiting experts.

Apart from the medicine, the group also makes Crabwood oil soap, coconut oil soap, Neem Cream and Kiambe Cream, all of which are sold in Region Nine and are

available at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) office on Brickdam, Georgetown.

IICA, an international organisation of the Americas, specialises in agriculture and rural well-being. It focuses on providing technical cooperation, innovation and specialised knowledge to promote competitive and sustainable development of agriculture and improvement of life of rural inhabitants of its member countries.

In a bid to better market its products, the members of Medicine From Trees recently joined the Women’s Agro-processors Development Network (WADN).

WADN, formed in 2011, consists of 11 women groups drawn from Regions One, Two, Six and Nine, which are involved in agro-processing.

It seeks to, among other things, develop market linkages locally and overseas; build capacity of member groups; and provide support to the communities in which member groups are located.

According to Farias, in 1994, the Macushi Research Unit examined traditional sources of medicine used in the North Rupununi and found some to be medically sound to treat common illnesses.

The unit subsequently compiled a list of herbs available and the illnesses they can treat in a booklet, with the help of a UK expert.

And with the help of community members, local experts and the overseas professional, the group began to extract the healing properties from the traditional medicinal plants, converting them to bottled products and tablets.

FUNDING Since its founding in 2006, Medicine From Trees has been receiving funding from Pro Natura, an international organisation tackling social, economic and environmental problems that face rural communities in the developing world.

According to Farias, the group manufactures dozens of medicine, soaps and creams on a monthly basis, and receives a ready market in nearby villages, but this has not been good enough.

She told the Chronicle that the group is looking to expand production and secure a market on the coastland and possibly one overseas.

But she said it would need help from the Government to move beyond North Rupununi.

The scenic and vast North Rupununi area comprises 27 villages, with a population of over 9000; the vast majority of whom are from the Makushi tribe.

Aptly described by the website Rupununi.org, the 8000km2 area is an extraordinary natural zone in southern Guyana that, for the last 30 years, has been isolated from the public eye.

The North Rupununi extends from the Siparuni River to the Kanuku Mountains and from the Essequibo River to the Brazilian border.

The area was well known in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when it received visits from David Attenborough, Gerald Durrell, Evelyn Waugh and Charles Waterton; all of

VERONICA FARIAS whom wrote eloquently of their experiences.

The North Rupununi is today recognised again as an astonishing haven for wildlife.

However, neighbouring Roraima State – with one of the fastest growing human populations in Brazil – now economically dwarfs the Rupununi.

The recent upgrading of the Georgetown-Lethem Road and completion of the Takutu Bridge opens new economic opportunities that may bring rapid change to the highly sensitive savannah, forest, and wetland ecosystems of the Rupununi.

According to Rupununi.org, over the coming years, it will be important to effectively marry development and conservation interests in the Rupununi to ensure culturally, socially and ecologically sustainable development that builds on the unique natural and social capital of the area.

Farias said that in an effort to promote the products made by Medicine From Trees, samples are given out as tourism packages to visitors of the vast north land.

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Missing Teeth

T

HE ability of conventional measures of dental disease, which is standard for the global dental practi-

tioners, is problematic. The most commonly used is the Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth index (DMFT) to measure all aspects of oral health. DMFT is really a measure of dental history rather than of current dental health.

A patient’s teeth may be missing because of planned extractions due to overcrowding, may never have erupted or may have been lost because the patient had an accident.

Conventional dental measures such as the DMFT are based around professional judgments of the presence of disease, but there is a question about their reliability. The reliability of a measure is ascertained by asking at least two clinicians to

examine patients independently. If both report the same results (i.e., they agree that a sign is either absent or present), then their measures are considered to be reliable. It is often assumed that all dentists would agree and come to the same conclusions when examining patients, but when this assumption has been put to the test some disconcerting results have arisen. For example, Professor Smith (2011) of London University asked two dentists to examine patients for signs of temporomandibular joint disorder. Smith found that there was total disagreement for 10% of the sample. For all the remaining patients, each dentist recorded many signs and symptoms not noted by the other.

We should also recognise that some oral conditions, such as malocclusion, are not diseases. As well as problems with interpretation and reliability, it has been argued that clinical assessments are too narrowly based, giving insufficient attention to the social consequences of oral conditions.

The lay person, using psychological and social factors, should be able to supplement the professional perspective.

Furthermore, comparisons between clinical and functional criteria can be made. Often, the effects of a condition cannot be predicted by knowledge of the severity of the impairment. This is shown most clearly by research on denture patients.

Attempts have been made in several studies to relate clinical assessments of denture quality on such criteria as retention, fit, stability and bite force of patients. All proved unsuccessful.

In reality there is a weak associations between dentists’ and patients’ appraisals of dentures. For the dentists, clinical indicators were most important, but for the patients, denture quality depended on how well they could function in practical everyday terms.

Similarly, research was done which compared the bite forces of

patients who were satisfied or dissatisfied with their dentures. No difference could be found. Although such studies indicate that extremely poor quality appliances are associated with the most dissatisfaction, the relationship is not a close one.

The World Health Organization (1980) has proposed that a distinction can be made between the objective pathology a person may have with the disease’s social and psychological effects. The term impairment could be used to refer to any psychological or anatomical loss or abnormality of structure or function. A broken leg, for example is first of all impairment. A fracture results in disability because it imposes some sort of limitation on activity, for example, an inability to drive a car. Many individuals learn to live with their symptoms and come to an accommodation with the limitations imposed by disease.

A third term is handicap. The broken leg can be a handicap when it makes it difficult for an individual to fulfill his or her roles in a family or society.

In this way, two people could have similar impairments but not share a handicap: a broken leg would be very handicapping for a travelling salesman who relies on driving to make a living, but less so for a writer for whom mobility is less important.

Clinical measures concentrate on impairment while neglecting disability and handicap. Socio-dental indicators measure the extent to which dental and oral disorders result in changes in behavior and disrupt the ability to carry out everyday social roles.

One of the first studies using this perspective was that of 254 elderly people. Although these people described themselves as generally being in good health, three-quarters had no natural teeth. Yet, having to wear dentures often cause pain and difficulties with chewing food, talking and singing.

Miss World-Guyana, Rafieya Husain XX

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

- to host Swimsuit Pageant in St. Kitts

THE current Miss World-Guyana, Rafieya Husain is currently in St. Kitts and Nevis to host the ‘2015 LIME Miss BLACK SAN’ Swim Suit Pageant.

Miss World-Guyana was invited to participate in the 5th ‘Black San’ Banga-Lang’ festival by a community based organization known as Sandy Pointers Inspiring Real Improvement Throughout (S.P.I.R.I.T) which opened its doors in 2009 in Sandy Point. Rafieya is honored to have been invited and noted her praise for the level of commitment to community service and the work accomplished by the SPIRIT group since its establishment, especially since she is very passionate

about giving back to her country-Guyana.

The Miss World-Guyana noted that “In Guyana, I have been able to launch my ‘ I COMMIT TO’ bracelet to spread the message of hope. I was also successful in establishing an empowerment center and founded the RIVAH (Rafieya’s International Vision and Hope) website which provides resources for empowerment, prevention, education and advocacy”. She added that she is very enthusiastic about begin part of the well renowned Black San’ festival specifically for the LIME Miss black San’ swimsuit pageant as the host. The LIME Miss. Black San’ Swimsuit Pageant is one of the largest events of

the ‘Black San’ Bang-a-Lang’ festival in Sandy Point, St. Kitts and Nevis.

Pageant Coordinator, Treasa Wyatt noted that Rafieya would be an inspiration to aspiring young women, “we know that she would definitely be an inspiration to these young and aspiring women and especially since the publication of her being dubbed “Bombshell’s Women of Substance” in the Guyana Chronicle. In addition to this, her platform “violence against children’ is extremely impressive.”

The Guyanese beauty says she is looking forward to the opportunity to work alongside the Federation’s Min-

istry of Gender Affairs to help push the ‘Blue Bear’ campaign, especially since she is integrally involved in educating young people in Guyana about domestic violence and recognizing early signs.

“I hope that my trip will help to inspire women across the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis,” she noted.

While in St. Kitts and Nevis Rafieya is expected to conduct school visits to speak to students about her platform, television and radio interviews and also host the swimsuit pageant which is slated for March 29th, 2015.

Rafieya arrived in St. Kitts on March 25.

Reigning Miss Guyana World Rafeiya Husain (center) flanked by pageant beauties in St. Kitts

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

XXI

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Family more important - says Hollywood actor than films Richard Gere HOLLYWOOD actor Richard Gere is set to complete 40 years in cinema this year (his first film was in 1975 ‘Report To The Commissioner’).

Films such as American Gigolo (1980), Pretty Woman (1990) and Runaway Bride (1999), among others, comprise his body of work.

But for the Hollywood actor, family always comes first. In an interview with Bollywood.com, Gere spoke via telephone about his 14-year-old son, his connection with India, and more.

Noting that he has been visiting India since 1978, Gere said he remember the Delhi airport being so small in the initial years.

RICHARD GERE

“There were no proper roads, and it used to take me long to reach Himachal Pradesh.

Though there are certain villages that are away from commercialisation even today, a major part of India is very western now,” Gere was quoted as saying by Bollywood. com.

Asked if he has any Bollywood friends, Gere responded: “I met a lot of people from Bollywood while I was in India a few years ago for my AIDS awareness programme. I find them talented and warm. People like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Shilpa Shetty are helpful and generous.”

Asked if he seeks the approval of his

family when he signs a film, Gere said his film decisions are mostly his, but he’s careful about not being away from his son, Homer James Jigme Gere, for very long. “If I have to be away for long, I talk to him about it, and if he has a problem, I don’t take up the project.

Family is more important than films,” he said.

The ever popular 1990 hit movie, Pretty Woman, will be completing 25 years this year and Gere said that, just “a few days ago, the film’s team met up and we were reminiscing about the film. We had a great time shooting for it. People think these are simple films to make, but they are not. You have to create a sense of delight in such movies.”

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XXIII

With eyes now firmly set on achieving his goals…

RAUL EMMANUEL LEDRA

- recalls how blind emotion, infatuation for a girl made him repeat a class in school

By Telesha Ramnarine

SCHOOL years are among some of the most difficult for certain youths, especially for those who may lack self-esteem and have an introverted personality. No one knows this better than Raul Emmanuel Ledra!

What helped him cope with the blues? Improving his grades and achieving his goals.

Raul, now 25, was born to Mr and Mrs David and Devika Ledra at La Penitence in Georgetown. Both are hard-working individuals who have helped to instill certain values in Raul

was never interested in… life…. really. I was always one of those students in class who would like to be at the back, unnoticed, and not being known by the class and the teachers. I was very reserved,” he related.

In fourth form, he decided that it was time for a change. “In fourth form, I decided I wanted that to change. I used to hear about students who got tons of awards; going on and off the stage. I guess I wanted to be like that. I wanted to be known and I guess that’s what motivated me to study.”

He recalled how his low self-es-

Raul’s self-esteem eventually took a leap and his four brothers Mark, Ryan, Paul and Joel.

He attended Selman Fraser Nursery School before pressing on to West Ruimveldt Primary, and St. Joseph High. After writing the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) exams, he did private courses in Business Management at Cacique Inc. Raul would have spent three months at the University of Guyana but decided to quit after he found it a struggle to balance both work and studying.

Raul came off with excellent CXC grades, obtaining six distinctions, a Grade One, and a Grade Two. For this, he was the recipient of six awards for the distinctions; one that represented the highest grade in Electrical and Electronic Technology in the school; and the eighth one for being the best graduating student in business.

To be such a high achiever, though, Raul had to set specific goals. In fact, there was hardly anything, including his books that excited him or captured his attention. “Up until fourth form, I

so I kept trying. I eventually got an interview and was successful. Again I had one of my dreams realised.”

Raul would eventually decide that he didn’t want to stick with Scotia Bank either. “Currently, I am doing something that I thought about since I was in school and before I had the dream of working in a bank. I used to help out my classmates with school work and because of that, a desire to become a teacher started to develop in me. I had once envisioned it but I just never pursed it.”

Today, it is the very thing that Raul is doing for work! “I didn’t realise this is probably what I wanted to do all along. I enjoy this more. I am a home tutor, so I actually go to persons home, sit with them one on one and help them when it comes to CXC Maths. I have always been interested in helping people and this is what I am doing.”

A VALUABLE LESSON It would be hard to digest that someone like Raul would have to repeat a form. But he did. Form Two. And for what reason? A girl.

“She was in Form One when I was in Form Two. I saw her and had fallen head over heels and I wanted to ‘repeat’ so that we could have been together,” he laughed.

As innocent and cute as it may sound, Raul deeply regrets his actions.

“I did that out of blind emotion, infatuation. It didn’t even turn out that I got to be in same class with her. So I learnt not to act on mere emotions when it comes to certain things, but

Raul Emmanuel Ledra to really think what the consequences would be. I didn’t really think of how it would affect my parents. They would have had to find another year of finance to support me. I would have just wasted a year of my life I would say,” he said.

Raul purposely failed his exams just so that he would not move forward. “I learned a valuable lesson there to really think about my actions and what the consequences would be.”

Furthermore, Raul felt hurt as he thought about what he had put his parents through. “I felt as though I failed them and let them down. My motivating force for getting serious with my books was mainly because of that. I wanted to do something that would make them feel good. So it started out as that and that was enough to motivate me to give up certain thing and develop a certain schedule. In time I found that I started to improve.”

Consequently, Raul’s advice to youths in school is nothing but the following: “During that period in school, most times we are not going to think about the consequences of the decisions we make. But we must really stop and think about the decisions we are going to make because it really is going to affect our lives down the road.”

teem and the teasing he received from fellow classmates contributed to his introverted personality.

However, he had a different outlook on life due to his accomplishments at CXC. “I began to feel confident in my abilities and I started to feel more comfortable about myself and to move away from that kind of personality.”

DREAM JOBS Raul always wanted to work at a bank and with grades as good as his, he soon secured a place at the New Building Society. “This was my first job and the fact that I got through further boosted my confidence. It was a job that I really liked.” He spent two years there as a Customer Services Representative.

After the two years, he started working at Scotia Bank. “Before reaching to NBS, the bank that I wanted to work at was Scotia Bank. I had applied there but I didn’t get it. I got NBS but I still wanted to go to Scotia,

Raul (first from left) during Scotia Bank days

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Mid-Morning Classics is no more …gone after regaling serious music

Raschid Osman

lovers for more than six decades

By Raschid Osman I HAD been presenting the programme since back in 1979. Each mid-week morning, from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m., I played classical recordings ranging from Beethoven and Mozart to Gershwin and Villa Lobos.

Of course the programme had been on Radio Demerara since the 50’s, and presenters included Mona Williams and

Christopher Dean.

I chose my own theme when I took it over, after auditioning for Matthew Allen.

The theme was the delightful Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Felix Mendelssohn.

It was a magical thirty minutes, and I would receive phone calls from strangers who enjoyed a particular composition, and a vendor in Bourda Market once said to me, “I know your voice. I hear you on

Placido Domingo

Luciano Pavarotti

radio just after the ‘Christ Is The Answer’ programme. I listen to the music you play, and you know something? I getting to like it.”

My programme, Mid-Morning Classics, came on just after an Assemblies of God programme, and so I had a captive audience who listened to the religious programme that preceded mine.

These comments from listeners added to my joy in presenting the music of the masters and though I pre-recorded some of the programmes, I did some live, especially when I served as an editor in the newsroom at Radio Demerara, and I would receive phone calls from listeners asking about the name of the composer or artiste of the composition being played.

I recall one day in June when I played Mendelssohn’s Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the late Celeste Dolphin called me on the phone in the studio and said, “Raschid, I loved that. You made me feel like getting married”.

Celeste was an avid listener to Mid-Morning Classics and I greatly appreciated her correcting me when I made a blooper. She taught me that the London

theatre is Cov-ent Garden not Co-vent Garden, and in the word orchestra the stress is on the first syllable and not on the second one.

It was in 1991 that I moved to Dominica for a while, giving up hosting the programme to the late Edith Pieters, and when I returned home in 1999, I found that the programme was no longer on air.

It had lost its sponsorship.

I negotiated with the Radio Demerara management and soon the programme was back on air.

Boosted with more hi-tec CD recordings, and not having to rely on vinyl LPs, Mid-Morning Classics was sounding more vibrant and heavenly.

Tenors Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti, sopranos Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle were in their prime at the time and their operatic and crossover offerings were often heard on the programme. So much so that at one stage a woman called and said, “Mister Osman, I am tired of being Pavarotti-ed and Domingo-ed all the time. Let’s have some Richard Tauber and Mario del Monaco.”

I listened and I complied.

Now the Mid-Morning Classic programme are no longer there.

A part of my life that meant a great deal to me is no longer there.

Mornings without the poignant music of Chopin, or flowing Strauss waltzes, or Tchaikovsky melodies, or inventive Mozart opera, with arias which progressed logically, every ‘i’ dotted and every ‘t’ crossed, or a rousing Rossini overture, chockfull of crescendos that he loved

Kathleen Battle

Jessye Norman so much. He was even nicknamed ‘Mr Crescendo’. Remember the Overture to The Barber of Seville recording by the Atlantic Symphony Steel Orchestra. It featured one crescendo after another, transforming the piece into a festive, robust celebration. The steel band took this piece to Festac in Nigeria in 1977 and it created quite a sensation.

Nowadays, in the mornings, I switch to my CD player and turn to my CD collection. But it is not the same, listening all by myself and knowing that I am not sharing the pleasure with my select audience.

The Mid-Morning Classics era has slipped away, and many lovers of serious music are bereft of that slot in their daily schedule to which they had grown accustomed and which made for a refreshing beginning to their day.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Teacher Nandani

From ‘Milk Girl’ to Headmistress

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Mrs. Nandani Narine

Elections Clerk. For the recent Claims and Objections, she served as an Assistant Regional Officer.

Teacher Nandani attended Maryville Primary and later secured a place at Zeeburg Secondary. “Back then, there was no nursery school, and it was very difficult to obtain a secondary education, but my parents made great sacrifices for me. In those days, in the 1960s, money was not as plentiful as it is now. My two sisters, Rosa and Shirley, made tremendous sacrifices for me too, to go to secondary school. They cut rice (and) sell milk in order to raise money. And when I started secondary school, people were surprised.

They said, ‘Oh my God! Milk gyal ah guh high school’.”

Teacher Nandani wrote the London-based General Certificate of Education (GCE) and was successful with

seven subjects. In 1974, Teacher Nandani started teaching at Success Primary before moving on to Maryville Primary, the very primary school she attended. Later, she went to be trained at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), and was subsequently promoted to senior mistress in 1992 at Richmond Hill Primary.

She then left the island for Morashee in 1995, where she continued to teach.

“You have to love teaching in order to be successful in the field. I wouldn’t trade it for anything else,” Teacher Nandani has said.

In 2010, she had to return home to care for her elderly mother, Mrs. Rajpattie (now deceased) once her sister had migrated to Canada. Incidentally, ► Continued on page XXVI

Teacher Nandani with her husband Ajit and son Armand

By Telesha Ramnarine NANDANI Narine, well known as ‘Teacher Nandani’ on the island of Leguan and all across the West Coast Demerara, had to make lots of sacrifices to be able to obtain a secondary education. One such sacrifice was selling milk in La Bagatelle Village before attending school. This earned her the nickname ‘Milk Girl.’

While at Maryville Primary School, Headmaster Harold Singh (now deceased) observed Teacher Nandani’s ability, and suggested that she should take private extra lessons. This was out of the question for her, as she was well aware of her family’s financial situation and that extra lessons could not be facilitated.

Mr. Singh, however, approached Teacher Nandani’s father and urged him to consider sending her for the lessons.

The cost for the extra lessons was one

dollar and fifty cents. Her father, Mr Naroon Narine, agreed, but only if Teacher Nandani would make the sacrifice of selling milk each day before going to school.

Teacher Nandani agreed, and today she is happy that she did! “The sacrifices are very much worth it,” she reflected, during an interview with the Chronicle a few days ago.

Teacher Nandani, now 60, was born and raised at La Bagatelle, but she now lives in Belfield, another Leguan village.

She is now a retired headmistress, having taught for some 35 years. She is presently employed on a part-time basis with the Ministry of Home Affairs as a Liaison Officer for Community policing in Leguan.

She has also been working part-time with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) since in the 1990s. She started as a presiding officer and then became a trainer in Leguan, before becoming the

Teacher Nandani caring for her plants

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Teacher Nandani From page XXV

her mother was well-known on the island as ‘Milk Lady.’

CONTENTMENT At the beginning of each school week, Teacher Nandani recalled, her mom would give her 25 cents and tell her to make it last for the entire week. This was the same amount of money her peers would receive, only thing is that they received that amount daily. “But I was very contented,” she said.

Her father was a labourer and her mother and two sisters went along with him to work in the backdam.

Teacher Nandani loves the qualities of honesty and humility. “I don’t like people lying to me. Haughtiness gets you nowhere. I love simple people. I like to help people. I am a giver. In life, there are givers and takers.

I love to give,” she expressed.

She is hoping that everything regarding the upcoming General and Regional Elections in Guyana would take place in a decent atmosphere. “As we are approaching elections, I wish that we have a peaceful one. Whatever are the results, I want people to accept and let Guyana move forward. As it is, I think for the past three years we haven’t been making any headway, and I think the young people are suffering because the government cannot create jobs and things like that.”

Teacher Nandani is married to Mr. Ajit Kumar and they have a son, Armand.

Relaxing at home on a cool afternoon

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

XXVII

MASSAGE - An ancient healing practice with ‘modern’ benefits

By Tajeram Mohabir

MANY know massage as a tool to relieve the body of stress and pain, setting the mind and spirit at ease; but few are aware that massage is an ancient practice used by the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and the Japanese.

It was first utilised by civilisations in the East and West some 5000 years ago as a natural healing for injuries, a reliever of pain, and a cure for illnesses.

However, modifications and innovations over the centuries have moved massage from

SALLY HABEEB

mended for persons with chronic aches and pains; stiff neck; upper and low back pain; leg muscle tightness, and sore shoulders.

The movement of strokes applied are slower, but the pressure is deeper and is concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).

This type of massage, Habeeb says, is applied to athletes and persons who engage in intense physical activity. Persons who complain of mental stress, she says, are given a light body massage.

Massages can be applied by the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, feet, or by a massage device. There are numerous types of massage. Among them are the Anma Massage: a Japanese tradition involving various kneading, rubbing, tapping and shaking; the Balinese Massage: which involves the application of gentle strokes geared to make the patient feel relaxed and calm; Foot Massage: which is done both for recreational and relaxation purposes; Craniosacral therapy: the releasing of tension in the body by applying light touches to the skull, face, spine, and pelvis; and Infant Massage: which uses complementary and alternative treatments for infants.

The massage room of Sally Habeeb

FEELING COMFORTABLE Ms Habeeb told the Guyana Chronicle that massage is all about bringing relief to the client, but it first begins with making the recipient feel comfortable and relaxed.

This is done by creating a serene atmosphere. Habeeb says it happens through the playing of light music, the use of candles

listening to and observing their expressions.

Massage therapy by nature is private business, but with some probing, and with great reluctance, the therapist said most of her clients are successful businesspersons, including top gun athletes, teachers, labourers and carpenters.

Naming no one, she said that although she had been approached by a prominent doctor and a former magistrate, her services were never solicited by a politician.

instead of florescent lamps, and the burning of sweet-smelling aroma sticks.

Prior to being certified as a therapist, Habeeb disclosed, she worked as a masseuse; and upon certification, she practised her trade for a few years in Barbados.

She said that like any seasoned practitioner, over time, through years in practice, therapists develop their own techniques and quickly internalise their clients’ problems by

This newspaper was told that, contrary to popular belief, politicians are folks who generally are not too stressed out, but are among the happiest bunch of persons.

Nevertheless, those who get burned out from time to time do go for relaxation therapy at the high-end clinics, where they are well treated and pampered.

Habeeb said that although she enjoys what she does, having to deal with confused persons can be a challenge.

being a sacred system of healing into a system associated with sensuous indulgence.

However, the practice has grown in popularity because its stress relieving aspect has been coupled with that aspect of pleasurable absolution.

Massage Therapist Sally Habeeb, with over 15 years’ experience, has said that massage is about more than providing relaxation. She pointed out that massage increases blood circulation, allowing the tired or distressed recipient to feel refreshed and re-energised.

Habeeb is a certified therapist from the American Peace University located on Sheriff Street, Georgetown. She operates out of her 234 Munipur Street, Prashad Nagar residence, and specialises in two types of massage: Swedish, and Deep Tissue Massage.

RECOGNITION Swedish Massage, the most recognised and widely used, involves techniques that vary from light to vigorous strokes, and include sliding and kneading, rhythmic tapping and vibration or shaking. It reduces pain and stiffness in the joints.

Deep Tissue Massage, on the other hand, focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is recom-

HAPPY-ENDING BUSINESS She said that sometimes she is bombarded with calls from persons who believe that she is involved in the “happy-ending business.”

Those kinds of massages, she said, include Exotic Massage, the American-Style Massage, and the Twosome Massage. The Guyana Chronicle has learnt that the three mentioned massages involve sensual pleasure, and the last one is applied by two naked women.

Those pollutants, the therapist said, soil the real purpose of massages, which among other things include easing muscle pains, soothing anxiety and depression, improving sleep, boosting immunity, and relieving headaches.

Habeeb said that before she became a full-time therapist, she worked as a Dental Nurse, but she left the profession to pursue a passion that was closer to her heart.

She said the switch has been somewhat of a challenge, and pointed out that more persons are interested in the pleasure business than in the real massage business.

However, she said, she remains available to help athletes, labourers, teachers and businesspersons; and interested persons can visit her Facebook page -- Serenity Massage -- for more details.

This therapist is a former columnist of this newspaper. She says that doctors do not really appreciate massages, but a massage can help to prevent many illnesses related to blood flow or blood circulation.

The American Psychological Association Inc says peer-reviewed medical research has shown that the benefits of massage include pain relief, reduced trait anxiety and depression, and temporarily reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and state of anxiety.

XXVIII

Negla Brandis

By Alex Wayne WHEN we talk of divas, we customarily associate the word with classical ladies of high fashion and very stunning appearance, who indeed command attention wherever they go, and rate high points in the fashion world.

We also associate the word with intense glitz and glamour; and many times, we do not even bother to find out if those ladies’ heads are screwed on properly, if those heads are laden with ‘intellectual fillings’, or if they just rattle around empty as ever, hidden by the faraway dreamy expression that can fool us into believing the very opposite of who those ladies actually are.

This reporter recently embarked on a quest to find a true Guyanese diva, one who possesses both beauty and brains, is gifted with a balanced personality, and accentuates positive morals.

During my search, I met dozens of dazzling damsels, but none could represent all the attributes I was looking for in one package.

When I was just about ready to give up in frustration, I remembered the likeable Negla Brandis, who has practically stood out in everything that she did or promoted, and my instincts told me that she is the woman I was looking for.

So I went in search of her, and finally found her before nightfall. She was more than ready to be featured on our pages in the Chronicle. During a very riveting exclusive interview, I realised that she was not only pleased with all the personality traits I was looking for, but also gifted with tons of creativity, natural charisma, and gritty determination to be ultimately successful at anything she puts her mind to.

I was amazed to find out also that, to date, this very sophisticated and fashionable femme fatale holds the position of Executive Director of the Miss Renaissance Pageant, and has had overall responsibility

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Guyanese diva Negla Brandis has a positive aura that makes a difference for hosting this prestigious pageant for mature women from 2003 to present day.

Moreover, Ms Negla Brandis was the former coordinator of the Miss Guyana/New York pageant from 1990 to 1999.

This Guyanese-born fashion icon is a phenomenal woman with lots of talent and skills. She received professional nursing training in London, and completed her Midwifery training at the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion in Edinborough, Scotland. She qualified as a Registered Nurse

(RN), Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RMN), and State Certified Midwife (SCM) while in the United Kingdom. From the UK she moved to the USA, where she continued her higher education, receiving her BSc. (Hons) in Health Administration from the St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, and MSc. in Health Education from Teachers’ College of Columbia University.

Negla, who delights in shocking viewers and dropping jaws with her riveting fashion ideas, has been a nursing leader in

the USA for over twenty years in roles as Nurse Manager (Supervisor), In-Service Coordinator/Health Educator in hospitals as well as long-term care facilities (nursing homes). Her exploits in this arena and superb mentoring skills allowed her to upgrade Nursing Assistants to multi-purpose care providers at York College, New York.

Though it was challenging, her enterprising personality later had her involved in HIV Care and Treatment in the early stages of the virus discovery.

Negla was concerned always about the health systems and welfare of senior citizens in Guyana and returned annually during the 90’s to host her fundraiser dubbed ‘STYLE’ which she used as a fashion vehicle to garner much needed revenue for her many projects. ‘STYLE’ raised the bar of Guyanese fashion significantly and must have provided clues for budding fashion enthusiasts to work with.

Ms. Brandis has also held the franchise for the Miss Guyana Queen of Queens International Pageant and is the recipient of several awards and citations which includes the Medal of Service (MS) in 1989, for her numerous contributions to Health Care in Guyana. She also offers services as a Special Event Planner, Pageant Consultant, Health Educator and Senior Care Specialist at home and abroad.

Her workshops, ‘How to Produce a Pageants of Quality’, were fantastic, and should be used as stepping stones to perfection for many of the so-called pageant promoters who have sprung up around Guyana.

The Chronicle is more than elated to present Ms. Negla Brandis as a woman of substance and strength. She is indeed a diva with a positive difference.

You so-called pageant promoters who are bent on exploiting our females, check with Negla, you can learn a lot from her.

Or come out to her Miss Guyana Renaissance Pageant. Grab a seat….Then look and learn!

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Bollywood Actors: Shapeshifters!

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- Aamir Khan to pile on pounds for wrestling role

STAYING in shape is something all Bollywood actors take seriously. But not many have gone the extra mile to

put on or lose a significant amount of weight for their roles.

A great example of the

latter is Aamir Khan, who has played an array of roles that have required him to resemble people of all ages and sizes.

He has lost weight to play a college student in 3 Idiots (2009), and gained it for his characters in Ghajini (2008)

Aamir Khan and Dhoom: 3 (2013). In the latest instance, he is piling on the pounds to play a wrestler in his upcoming film. The same role requires him to lose all that weight after the initial portions have been shot.

Aamir isn’t the only one who has undergone a physical transformation for a film role.

Last year, Priyanka Chopra underwent strenuous training to get in shape to play Mary Kom in a film named after the boxer. “She worked hard to get a boxer’s body for the role, and if Aamir is playing a wrestler, he should look like one too. It helps the audience connect with the character,” says the film’s director, Omung Kumar, adding, “Many actors develop six-pack abs to look good on screen, but bodily transformation to justify a role is of far more importance. It leads the audience to forget the actor and only see the role they play.”

Akshaye Rathi, film exhibitor, also shares Omung’s opinion. He believes that the necessity for such transformations has risen due to the surge of biopics being made.

“Many actors are playing real-life characters these days, and physical resemblance lends authenticity and helps develop interest among viewers.” (Bollywood.com)

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Clive Prowell: Driving force behind the Classique Dance company

By Michel Outridge DANCE choreographer Clive Prowell is a force to be reckoned with at the Classique Dance Company which he founded in 2000, having excelled at dancing at the National School of Dance.

This enthusiastic individual says dancing is in his blood; and he keeps on going, knowing he has made a difference in the development of dancing locally.

He told the Chronicle that innumerable hurdles attend the life of a dancer, but the returns are great, since dancing took him to many foreign places and he has had numerous lifetime experiences.

Prowell said he was propelled to dancing when a friend invited him to a show which featured dancing.

He was not pleased with the performances, and made his feelings known.

He said he was challenged by that friend

to make it better at dancing.

This challenge motivated him, and he enrolled in dancing classes at the National School of Dance. After nine months, Prowell said he was ready to do his own thing in the world of dance.

Six years later he opened his own dance studio, featuring contemporary dancing. It now has more than 50 members, and is touted to be one of the best.

He wanted to have his own dance studio to engage more men in dancing, and to introduce his own style to motivate and mould young dancers. Today, his dance company has grown significantly.

This year, his dance company would be celebrating its 15th anniversary, and Prowell added that the company is going great, and he is bent on changing the face of dance by having more men in dancing, an activity currently dominated by women.

He said his dance company has several men, and the dancers are all gifted and work very hard to be on top of their game in terms of dancing, and he credits that to their willingness to learn and elevate themselves.

Prowell is a ‘no nonsense’ person who can work with anyone intent on learning how to dance, but he said that operating a

local dance company is not easy, because local people think there is no future in dancing. Foreigners, however, dance as part of their culture, and they embrace and support dancing.

He said people are reluctant to offer sponsorships since dancing is considered unimportant in our society; but he noted that, in dancing, there are no real opportunities here. But these things do not deter him from moving ahead.

Prowell is very passionate about dancing and wants his dancers to do better and have a decent, respected life as any other person but he is a ‘behind the scene’ kind of guy, who does his work well.

He admitted that apart from doing dance routines for his students and dancers he has not been on stage to perform in 13 years and that is not going to happen any time soon although he often gets the ‘adrenaline rush’ to do so.

This talented dance teacher would like to see the development of Dance, as an art form, locally and see it gets the respect it deserves and is optimistic that it will happen.

Prowell, 33, is single with no children and says dancing has enhanced his life and has opened many doors for him and it can do the same for anyone who will embrace dancing.

He said, “Dancing can change your life and can bring a host of opportunities and one should only participate in dancing for the love of it.”

CLASSIQUE DANCE COMPANY The Classique Dance Company is known to be one of Guyana’s most successful and well known contemporary dance companies, founded in 2000 by dancer and choreographer Mr. Clive Prowell with just 3 dancers.

The company’s mission has since been to empower young people through dance and creative collaboration in the performing arts, building self esteem and inspiring self-expressive community action. The company has travelled throughout Guyana.

CLIVE PROWELL

“Our repertoire of major events also includes CARIFESTA 10, of which the company was selected to lead the opening ceremony and represent the CARIFESTA logo,” he said.

The Company has built a loyal audience base, and has received accolades for its kinetic, high-energy performances, technical acuity, and generous personality. Such rewards include the Marcus Garvey Award of Excellence for sterling achievements and contributions in 2000-2009 in the field of performing arts (dance), which was awarded on the September, 19th, 2009.

Classique’s continued success can be directly attributed to the quality of training the dancers undergo, and the distinct dance techniques imparted by nationality renowned teachers.

“Our members participate in a dance experience of which all the instructors promote self-confidence, poise, personal achievement, and pure love for dance and artistic expression. Since its inception, the Classique dance company has received international acclaim from audiences throughout South America, the Caribbean and the United States of America.

The Company also performed for the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) meeting held at the National Cultural Centre on the 25th of November, 2010. “Details of our major performances include performances at the Guyana Folk Festival 2010/2012, held in Brooklyn, NY, of which 8 out of 16 of our company members participated,” he disclosed.

In 2012, the Classique dance company of Guyana was awarded “Best Dance Production/Dance Company in the Caribbean” at the West Indian Music Award Ceremony. Classique itself usually hosts three shows per year at the National Cultural Centre, to show the company’s growth.

Colour of La Dance is usually held in March, Dance Like U Do is held in August, and Classique and Friends -our Christmas show -- in December.

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AMANDA MUNROE - Putting a smile on the faces of ‘would-be brides’

By Alex Wayne

WHEN we think of events planning and decorating, we visualize the best in both services, but not often do we get more than we expected in this regard.

Ever-so-often, brides are made to cringe in dismay at the work some events planners present, but not so with Amanda Munroe; she puts a smile on the face of every client every time!!!

Ever-so-often, we wonder how in ‘heavens name’ can anyone be blessed with such exquisite talents and creativity.

But like they say, “Behind every face there’s a story; and Amanda’s was very stirring when we sat down for a little ‘chitchat’ over chocolate milk and biscuits.

Before we get to that story, let me tell you that, despite the haters, Mrs. Munroe continues to strive excellently, having copped the coveted ‘Best Booth Title’ at the 2014 Wedding Expo event.

Folks, I grilled her deeply about what she is bringing to the platter for the event this year, and expectedly -like any decorator would -- she smiled dreamily with that special sparkle in her eyes before gushing, “This year, Alex, our presentation will be off the hook… We are bringing our ‘A-Game’ to the forum like never before.”

To bask in the glory of the wedding mysteries she brings this year, folks, I guess you would have to rush down to the Wedding Expo, where she will be showcasing with pride.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN… As a young girl, ‘Mandy’, as she is more popularly known, received the gift of decorating and eventually events planning from her very gifted grandmother, Mrs Yvonne Mc Lean.

This granny was one of the most gifted cake decorators and bakers on the East Bank of Demerara, and little ‘Mandy’ would watch and marvel at beauty assembled when the completed cake eventually unfolded before her.

To this day she salutes her granny, who has built her foundation in propelling her to become one of the most-sought-after Events Co-ordinators/ Decorators on the local shores.

Mandy was particularly attracted to her grandmother’s exquisite presentation and approach when dealing with clients, and the manner in which she effortlessly placed a smile of satisfaction on their faces. At a very young age, Mandy resolved to be just like her granny, and to even

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Contact Amanda Munroe now and you will be smiling like she is…

outdo her.

Today, Amanda is one of the most vibrant sales people at the annual Guyexpo events, and she has always delivered as promised and expected. Her twinkling eyes and dashing smile literally melt her clients the moment they meet. These assets undoubtedly attract a steady stream of clients for her.

She accentuates her inimitable assets with professional customer service, great politeness, patience, understanding and the natural ability to make positive and valuable suggestions.

This very talented woman eventually brings to life the ideas of her brides, and in most cases surpasses their expectations.

I met Amanda while being employed at the Aracari Resort as a Marketing Manager a few years ago, and I could not remove myself from the banquet hall that she was decorating. I have had a chance to work along with her at several events, and have witnessed her create pure magic before my very eyes.

I have seen her creat autumn in spring; brought calm to stormy blizzards; thaw rock hard ice-bergs, and bring sunshine from behind billowing clouds, all with her magic fingers.

How she does it, I do not know. Angels have floated mid-air playing merry music on glossy harps under her touch. She has brought the very jungle and colourful flower fields from the outdoors to the wedding hall, and has caused water nymphs and fairies to be hopping and darting among blooming dew drenched lilies.

Amanda Munroe is absolutely gifted!

And she is such a humble soul, she notes that she owes much of her success to her husband Eon Munroe, who supports her always. She is definitely a ‘people person’.

She first went to Wedding Expo three years ago, and at that forum she took her mom’s cakes under the popular name ‘E-Cakes’, meaning exciting cakes for every occasion. So splendid were those cakes that she got a smashing gig in Berbice, when she did work for Fizal Ali of A. Alli and Sons Establishment.

They were blown away with her work, and robustly applauded her exploits.

Amanda’s guiding principle is: “When you do what you love, you don’t work one day in life”. From meeting and greeting people at weddings, she has evolved into the very popular personality she is today.

And she has always mentioned one ► Continued on page XXXIII

Some of the outstanding work done by the talented Amanda Munroe

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

AMANDA ... ► See page

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Alicia Katadin, a customer who made a positive change in her life which she thinks about almost every day. Then there is Wedding Expo, a stunning experience for which she is extremely grateful.

She also makes mention of one of her outstanding brides, ‘Caroline’ of the Republic Bank, who has left a lasting impression on Amanda with her pleasant and bubbly demeanour.

“Wedding Expo was indeed a very stunning experience for me, because it allowed me to become aware of the vast reservoir of people wanting to have weddings without knowing what to do and where to turn. And I have since done everything to deliver as expected, and even surpass my client’s expectations. This has also taught me that one can be important in almost any forum….

“You don’t have to put on high-heeled shoes and glossy stockings to be in an office. You can have that office wherever you work and in whatever you do. And

the joy in the job is bringing happiness to people’s lives,” Amanda declared.

Amanda will be showcasing this year at the Wedding Expo, bigger and better than ever. “Every day is a forum for improvement, and one must always thrive to get better than their last production. This year, I am going to Wedding Expo with more understanding, more patience, and also better equipped to effectively evaluate and deal with clients exceptionally.

“My aim is to get better with each task, and the best days are yet to come.

I am headed for non-stop stardom,” she declared.

This talented woman offers the following advice to other individuals in her field and those contemplating to venture in: “If you do not love it, don’t do it… Yes, they are obstacles along the road to success… When boulders show their faces, stop, breathe, gather strength and rise again… Every decorator

who loves what he/she does would always provide ‘A-Plus’ work,” she said.

Amanda says your event is her passion.

She has noted that her company, ‘Mandy’s Events Services’, was conceptualized out of the strong desire to create positive, everlasting memories of a great event.

She noted that her company’s purpose is to fully engage clients based on their own perception; gather detailed information; and plan logistically while focusing on timely delivery of service, which will create an atmosphere of ‘WOW’.

Mandy’s company has adopted a paradigm shift in its modus operandi, which has enabled her staff to provide a variety of services, such as birthdays; occasions for signature milestones; anniversaries; memorials; weddings and much more. They also focus on budgeting to suit their client’s capacity to pay. In the end, they hear another satisfied “Job well done!”, and they

XXXIII smile in Elation’ Mandy salutes all the other events co-ordinators/decorators and service providers, who give her strength to stay in the game.

She also thanks ‘Mr. Charran’, who gave her the opportunity to be his general manager until resignation.

So, my dear readers, brides: persons in the field like Amanda are humans just as anyone, so remember to keep your cool with service providers. They are important persons in our lives, and if they at any time seem to disappoint our expectations due to unforeseen circumstances, remain calm, they are only human…

Amanda can be contacted on phone numbers 592-216-0470; 592-6276150/592-623-4325. You can Whatsapp her on 592-666-9670; or, if you wish, you can look up her services on Facebook as Mandy’s Event Services, or send emails to mandyeventservices@ yahoo.com

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Confirmed! Shahid Kapoor to tie knot this year end

Shahid Kapoor

AFTER days of rumours on whether or not Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor is getting married and who is the girl, he spoke about his wedding plans. Shahid confirmed that he may be finally settling down by the end of 2015.

At a recent awards event, Shahid was asked if he has got engaged. To that, he said, “I am not engaged, but what you have been reading is kind of true. Marriage is on the cards sometimes towards the end of the year and I think that’s all I can say.”

Shahid, who was earlier in a relationship with Kareena Kapoor, is rumoured to be getting married to Delhi student Mira Rajput. But when probed further about any details about their relationship and plans of nuptials, he said, “I refrain from getting into details. I thought that since I am here today, it was important to acknowledge it in front of the media, so I am doing that.”

“Other than that, she is a normal girl and I am a normal guy, and we should treat it like something normal and regular. It’s my personal space and I won’t get into the details.

I’m just happy to announce it,” he added.

Shahid’s latest movie, Haider, was named for five National Film Awards earlier last week. Meanwhile, he’s busy with his new film Udta Punjab. (Bollywood.com)

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Jay Z & Beyonce’s next power play could leave Oprah in the ‘billion dollar dust’

OPRAH may have to take another look in her rearview mirror, because Jay Z & Beyonce may be hot on her billion-dollar heels.

The Gossip Table breaks down a new venture that

could easily capitulate music’s First Couple past the entertainment giant on the riches list.

The fight for streaming supremacy was already in progress, thanks to the

battle between Spotify and Beats Music. But things will get even more interesting now that Jay Z’s Tidal has joined the fray. Earlier this year - Mr. Carter made a US$56 million bid to pur-

Jay Z & Beyonce

chase Swedish tech company Aspiro, the parent company behind the streaming service.

Aspiro’s minority shareholders initially blocked the bid, but later came to their senses, and the deal was finalised this month.

Now that Jay has acquired the hi-fi music service, he’s enlisting some of music’s top names to call the service home. (vh1.com)

OPRAH

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XXXVII

For 25 Cents

ONE night, Murphy was walking home when, all of a sudden, a thief jumped on him. Murphy and the thief began to wrestle. They rolled about on the ground and Murphy put up a tremendous fight. However, the thief managed to get the better of him and pinned him to the ground.

The thief then went through Murphy’s pockets and searched him.

All the thief could find on Murphy was 25 cents.

The thief was so surprised at this that he asked Murphy why he had bothered to fight so hard for 25 cents.

“Was that all you wanted?” Murphy replied, “I thought you were after the five hundred dollars I’ve got in me shoe!”

Messy Husband A woman said to her friend, “I don’t know what to do. My husband is such a mess maker that you can’t imagine. He doesn’t put anything in its place, I am always going around the house organising things.”

The friend says, “Take a tip from me. The first

week after we were married I told my husband firmly, ‘Every glass and plate that you take, wash when you are done and put back in its place.’”

The first woman asked, “Did it help?”

Her friend said, “I don’t know. I haven’t seen him since.”

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Squeezing Lemons THE local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet.

The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money.

Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but nobody could do it.

One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice “I’d like to try

the bet.”

After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the little man.

But the crowd’s laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass.

As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man “what do you do for a living?

Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?”

The man replied “I work for the IRS.”

The Race

TWO gas company servicemen, a senior training supervisor and a young trainee, were out checking meters in a suburban neighbourhood. They parked their truck the end of the alley and worked their way to the other end. At the last house, a woman looking out her kitchen window watched the two men as they checked her gas meter.

Finishing the meter check, the senior supervisor challenged his younger coworker to a foot race down the alley back to the truck to prove that an older guy could outrun a younger one.

As they came running up to the truck, they realised the lady from that last house was huffing and puffing right behind them. They stopped and asked her what was wrong.

Gasping for breath, she replied, “When I see two men from the gas company running as hard as you two were, I figured I’d better run too!”

Party Entertainment

A lady is throwing a party for her granddaughter, and had gone all out….. a caterer, band, and a hired clown. Just before the party started, two bums showed up looking for a handout. Feeling sorry for the bums, the woman told them that she would give them a meal if they would help chop some wood for her out back. Gratefully, they headed to the rear of the house.

The guests arrived, and all was going well with the children having a wonderful time. But the clown hadn’t shown up. After a half an hour, the clown finally called to report that he was stuck in traffic, and would probably not make the party at all.

The woman was very disappointed and unsuccessfully tried to entertain the children herself. She happened to look out the window and saw one of the bums doing cartwheels across the lawn. She watched in awe as he swung from tree branches, did midair flips, and leaped high in the air.

She spoke to the other bum and said, “What your friend is doing is absolutely marvelous. I have never seen such a thing. Do you think your friend would consider repeating this performance for the children at the party? I would pay him $100!”

The other bum says, “Well, I dunno. Let me ask him. HEY WILLIE! FOR $100, WOULD YOU CHOP OFF ANOTHER TOE?”

How Fast?

LITTLE Johnny was talking to a couple of boys in the school yard. Each was bragging about how great their fathers are.

The first one said: “Well, my father runs the fastest. He can fire an arrow, and start to run. I tell you, he gets there before the arrow!”

The second one said: “Ha! You think

that’s fast! My father is a hunter. He can shoot his gun and be there before the bullet!”

Little Johnny listened to the other two boys and shook his head. He then said: “Sorry, dudes… but MY DAD is the fastest. He’s a civil servant. He stops working at 4:30,… and he’s home by 3:45!”

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ARIES There’s an unusual magnetism about you this week that might attract some excitement - and interesting people. A social plan comes to life, though you might need to work hard to get it off the ground. If you’re hoping for a touch of romance, consider Friday as a potential date night. A warm, companionable transit makes this the ideal time to enjoy each other’s company. It’s also excellent for a get-together with pals and a chance to relax after a busy week.

TAURUS Enjoy spending time at home and forget about making too many plans for now.

With Venus in your sign, this is an opportunity to take stock of your current situation and how confident you feel in your own skin. You might opt for a makeover, new hairdo, or elegant clothes to boost your confidence. You’ll have the most fun when you entertain at your place, especially over the weekend.

Allowing your creativity to flow can be very therapeutic.

GEMINI This can be an upbeat week that you’ll really enjoy. You may be able to attract both love and money if you’re in the right place at the right time. Where your career is concerned, new projects or offers could turn up that are quite exciting. Don’t be too quick off the mark, though. Give yourself time to mull it over. Collaborating on a creative idea can work out well if you connect with someone who is as dedicated as you.

CANCER Pleasant influences make this a week of special messages and friendly feelings. With your social life picking up steam, this is one of the best times to network and meet new people. You have more energy than usual to put into plans and goals. As Mars continues to move through Aries, it’s time to be proactive about reaching for the success you deserve. A fabulous transit encourages you to spend the weekend with the one you love.

LEO Love goddess Venus may be the reason you have romantic feelings for someone who shares your dreams. Go ahead and melt the ice. By the end of the week there’s a chance of a date. By midweek you may be busy getting inspiration for a creative plan or project. If your motivation seems to have disappeared, look for a fresh perspective and chat with others who may have ideas you can use. You’ll be back in the flow again before you know it.

VIRGO Consider domestic changes, as it may be time to redecorate or purchase something for your home. If you have artistic talents, use them to add special touches to key areas of your house. It’s also possible that you’ll want to make structural changes, in which case think about researching your options. Pay attention to your intuition on Friday. A pleasant surprise may come your way if you listen. There’s fun to be had when you move outside your comfort zone.

LIBRA The social tempo provides a happy beat with a promise of fun times and romantic opportunities. The presence of Venus in Taurus suggests that you’ll be in your element if you involve yourself in cultural activities that have all the sensuousness of a gourmet meal or silk sheets. Indulge your love of colour, shape, and style, as it will give you that feel-good factor. If communication seems a little off this week, keep trying. It could be a misunderstanding.

SCORPIO Avoid jumping to conclusions or letting your imagination run away with you early on. Things may not be what they seem. It’s better to get the facts than worry about something that isn’t happening. Warm and harmonising aspects make for good communication with a focus on romance. This is the perfect week to ease into a scintillating liaison and enjoy getting close to that special someone. You’ll be in party mode by the weekend, so go have a ball.

SAGITTARIUS It seems your social life is full of surprises, particularly as the call to adventure may be hard to resist. If you feel impelled to join a sports club or get into competitive games, you’ll enjoy every moment. It’s a good way to burn off excess energy, too. A softer mood takes over with the weekend bringing a chance to explore the potential for a romantic liaison. And while it may be tempting, try not to overindulge.

CAPRICORN You’ll enjoy getting out and meeting people and this is a good time to do so, particularly since you’re quite a charmer. Avoid sending mixed signals early on that could lead to embarrassment later. Midweek brings an opportunity to get to the core of an issue that may have bugged you for some time. It’s helpful to know that the root cause could be a limiting pattern that once released will give you the confidence and freedom you desire.

AQUARIUS You can talk your way out of anything or solve any problem, thanks to your inventive mind, which gets a boost this week. As you’re so alert, this is a good time to make travel plans, sell, advertise your goods and services, or connect with people you haven’t seen or heard from in some time. The energy is available for entertaining at your place, which could be particularly rewarding over the weekend. You’ll find a friend’s loyalty deeply touching.

PISCES There’s no point in being overly ambitious during a week that’s made for being a little laid-back. Use this opportunity to pamper yourself, whether that means a haircut, manicure, or more exotic spa treatment. A very indulgent transit on Friday suggests you could call a pal to accompany you. The presence of Venus in Taurus suggests that you may be attracted to someone with a mellow, honeyed voice. Those dulcet tones could be the thing that turns you on.

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English successful as he is hoping?

The liberty of the individual must be thus far limited; he must not make himself a nuisance to other people.

THE DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH

JOHN STUART MILL (1806-1873) On Liberty (1859), ch.3

First:

STUDY SUCCESS

We were afraid at night in the winter…. The upstairs of our house was not

Dear Student,

finished. A brick chimney went up one wall. In the middle of the floor was a

It is widely believed that each person possesses a faculty called ‘memory’

square hole, with a wooden railing around it; that was where the stairs came up.

and that some persons have better memories than others. It is also widely held that

On the other side of the stairwell were the things that nobody had any use for

practice in memorising poems or chunks of the Bible helps to develop people’s

anymore…. I had told Laird, as soon as he was old enough to understand such

memories. Both these beliefs are fantasies. A person who is good at memorising

things, that bats and skeletons lived over there; whenever a man escaped from

material is a person with good study habits – no more and no less. Be wise.

the county jail, twenty miles away, I imagined that he had somehow let himself

Love you.

in the window and was hiding behind the linoleum.

(Alice Munro’s “Boys and Girls”)

THE PASSAGE When Hattie Robinson moved from a lonely farm outside Tallahassee to West

About the First Paragraph

Perrine, Florida, this suburb of Miami was a friendly neighbourhood of small

The paragraph has a first sentence, its topic sentence that states the main idea

frame houses. Neighbours visited one another in the evenings, and the children

– the children were afraid at night – and the rest of the paragraph describes why

played tag in the shadows of the street lights. People went to sleep with their

they were afraid. This paragraph sets the stage for a scary night for two children.

screen doors unlatched. It was a good place to raise her grandson, Lee Arthur

The purpose here is to show once more, that topic sentences are as important

Lawrence, whose mother and father had split up…

Lee loved West Perrine, but Hattie’s income as a domestic was small and her frail health often kept her from working at all. When it looked as if they’d have to return to the farm, Lee quit school for a dollar-an-hour job at a sewing-machine

in writing descriptions as in any other form of writing. You can place the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph or at the end – it depends upon the effect you want to achieve.

company. Though Hattie remained sickly, Lee’s paycheck got them by through

Second:

the years.

Tall bookshelves stood to attention along the right wall; the books toed a

When he was twenty-four, Lee met Sarah Hagins at a church choir concert.

straight line. Two uncomfortable chairs were deployed strategically across the

Two years later they were married and in time had two children, Nita and Junior.

room. Matching brass trays holding paper clips and pens were set up across the

Sarah was a teacher’s aide; Lee worked at a convenience store. Hundreds of peo-

front of the desk. Rosa’s office clearly revealed her personality.

ple came by during the day to pick up bread and milk. Kids stopped for snacks,

About the Second Paragraph

and Lee talked to them all, keeping his fingers on the pulse of the neighbourhood.

This second paragraph has a different approach. Here the writer begins in slow

Lee and Sarah saved enough for a down payment on a house. Two years later a

march while developing a vivid picture one detail at a time. Everything builds

building became available for rent on 104th Avenue. Lee told Sarah he wanted to own this store. They withdrew all their remaining savings, two thousand dollars, and opened “Lee’s Grocery.”

Lee’s business prospered, but his beloved West Perrine was changing. Men

up toward the topic sentence at the end.

What can be inferred from the description about Rosa’s personality? Work with a study partner.

and women were hanging out on street corners. There were crap games and fights.

What to Do

Drugs were being sold. People no longer felt safe visiting their neighbours after

Find paragraphs. Identify two that begin with a topic sentence. Rewrite each

dark.

Yet in Lee’s mind, the neighbourhood of his youth was still here; it just needed a little sprucing up. “This is our home,” he told Sarah. “If I had a million dollars, I wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

Lee joined civic groups: Optimists, Jaycees, parent-teacher associations. And he got involved with the kids who came to his store…

(Kregg Spivey’s “Mr. Lee’s Side of the Street”)

paragraph with the topic sentence at the end. Compare the two versions. Explain which one you and your partner like better now it is rewritten.

Managing Context Clues Read the selection. Then, answer the questions.

Cats are carnivorous, or meat-eating, animals. They are also predators, skillfully hunting the animals that serve as their food. Members of the cat family include lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards, and jaguars. Although most kinds of wild

WHAT TO DO

cats are nocturnal, a few are more active during the day. Most cats are solitary

1. The passage has only one instance where Lee’s words are quoted by the

hunters, travelling alone, though some, such as lions, live in groups. A lion pride

writer. Of what effect does this technique of dialogue usage have in this writing?

Discuss it with interested study partners.

2. The passage is telling you something about life abroad (suburb of Miami).

may include up to twenty individuals.

Which of the following most clearly helps determine the meaning of nocturnal?

A travelling alone

B lions, tigers, cheetahs, leopards

Is it different from life as your grandmother once knew it? How would you

C skillfully hunting down the animals

conclude the story? What do you think Lee’s plan will entail, and will he be as

D a few are more active during the day

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

XLVII

Gay couple adopts Brazilian boy who was rejected for being ‘too black’ JOURNALIST Gilberto Scofield Jr. and his partner, Rodrigo Barbosa, adopted a fouryear-old boy in 2014. In an open letter published on the blog “Ser mãe é padecer na internet,” Scofield talked about the adoption process and the challenges of parenthood.

The little boy, who was born to a couple battling issues with alcohol, used to live in a shelter in Capelinha, a small city in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

When his mother died, his father abandoned him and he was later given up for adoption where he subsequently faced rejection from three straight couples. Their reason, Scofield said, was that the boy was “ugly” or “too black.”

Scofield sent a message to the Eduardo Cunha, a Brazilian Congressman and current Speaker of the Brazilian House of Representatives who is known for his conservative views and defense of the “Estatuto da Família”, a project that can be compared to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which stipulates that only a straight couple can be considered a family.

“No, Congressman Eduardo Cunha. Heterosexual couples don’t have a monopoly on parenthood,” Scofield wrote.

“If your religion doesn’t promote tolerance, try to pay attention to a simple fact: all children that are adopted by a gay or lesbian couple were abandoned, attacked or ne-

glected by a heterosexual couple. The same kind of couple that you say is only capable of raising ‘normal’ children.”

According to 2013 data from the CNA (National Adoption Database), more than 5,400 children are waiting to be adopted in Brazil and 80 percent of them are over nine years old. Even with fewer couples rejecting black children in the last few years, 29 percent of prospective adoptive parents are only interested in the adoption of white children while 42.5 percent are indifferent.

Scofield also wrote a post on Facebook, expressing his love for his adopted son: “The boy missed a female presence when he came to live with us.

He was always asking if he had a mother. Of course the expectations of a kid that leaves a shelter include a mother figure, but not all families are made up of a mother and a father. After two weeks, he stopped asking about a mother. Today, in the morning, we were watching a movie on the TV and we saw a scene of a sad girl playing the piano. ‘She is alone daddy, she wants to cry’.

Then a squirrel came from a tree in her direction and my son said: “Good. Now she will be happy. He is going to be her daddy.”

Children can teach us a lot, my friends. The shape of the modern family is based on loving relationships. Is there true love? Call it family.”

(This article was

originally published on HuffPost Brazil and was translated into English)

Gilberto Scofield Jr. and his partner, Rodrigo Barbosa with the adopted four-year-old boy

XLVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot March 29, 2015

Ex Guns N’ Roses manager blames Slash and Axl Rose’s feud on Michael Jackson Slash and Axl Rose

T

By Jordan Runtagh

HE schism between Axl Rose and Slash is one of the most notorious feuds in rock, in many ways marking the end of Guns N’ Roses’ glory years. Theories abound as to why the duo’s relationship soured beyond repair, but now we may have the spark.

According to the band’s former manager Doug Goldstein, Michael Jackson is to blame for their beef and subsequent split.

Goldstein revealed to Rolling Stone Brazil that the fight stemmed from Slash agreeing to perform in concert with the King of Pop. “In 1991, we were on the road, and Slash went to my office and said ‘I’ll be leaving tomorrow to play with Michael Jackson on a tribute concert.’ I told him not to do it because Axl was molested by his father when he was two and he believed the charges against Michael Jackson. Everyone knew Eddie Van Halen received US$1-million to play in “Beat It.” So, I asked Slash, ‘How much are you receiving?’ and he said, ‘I’ll just get a big screen TV.’” Axl was apparently more than hurt when he learned about the collaboration. “When Axl found out Slash was going to play with Michael Jackson and that the payment was a big screen TV, he was devastated. He thought Slash would support him and be against all abuse. From the point of view of Axl, that was the only problem.

He could ignore the drugs and the alcohol, but could never the child abuse.”

Slash continued working with Michael Jackson, most famously contributing the fiery guitar solo to Jackson’s 1991 hit, “Black or White.”

This only exacerbated the tensions in the band.

Slash played his final show with Guns ‘N Roses in July 1993, and by October 1996 he announced that he was no longer part of the band.

From Goldstein’s perspective, resolving this issue would reunite the pair once again. “Slash would have to apologise for the episode with Michael Jackson. And I really believe… I’d be the manager to reunite them, I don’t think anyone else could do it.” (vh1music.com)