Pepperpot 2015 4 19

THE TREE OF LIFE IS IN OUR MIDST ► Page XX

Providing food, water, shelter, and taking care of our medical needs

JOEL GHANSHAM ► Page XL

-Just what the television has been craving for!

BIBI NATASHA AZEEZ ► Page XI

A multi-talented, multi-faceted daughter, sister and mother

SELWYN

► Page VII

COLLINS Guyana’s son with the ‘Midas Pen’

TYRONE NELSON

Bahamas-based Guyanese fashion/ costume designer of exceptional talent ► Page XIX Produced and Edited by Mark Ramotar | Graphic and Layout Design by Rondel James

Rainbows and Roses

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

A story of friendship, loyalties, and legacies

By Maureen Rampertab

IN a land where beauty, uniqueness and magnificence enthrall the mind and captivate the heart to fall in love with this little country, on the edge of the South American continent from the Pakaraima to the coastland.

Aarti read with deep interest, the tourist magazines as the plane neared its destination to the land of many waters, people by six races, a land that had been home, twenty five years ago.

“Such a long time,” she mused, “I wonder what it’s like now? Would my friends remember me?”

Her family had migrated to England when she was just ten and she had never returned, with Europe for her becoming home. But deep within her heart as she grew from a child to an adult in a culture and society that was different in many ways from where she came, a connection to the home she had left stayed unbroken.

Her career as a journalist had taken her to many countries across the globe but uppermost in her mind was the hope that one day she would return to walk again on the green grass of the land of her birth.

The turbulent days of the past, unkind to many when the future seemed bleak,

were gone, washed away down the rivers and creeks and a rainbow in the sky was the new beginning that opened the eyes of the world to a little unknown paradise, untouched rainforest, exotic flora and fauna, majestic waterfalls and rivers and a rich multi-cultural society.

It was night when the plane landed and as Aarti stepped through the door, a cool wisp of wind, like a soft kiss, touched her face and she smiled, her heart beating with the rhythm of a song, soft and sweet.

“I’m home, dear Guyana!” she announced in exaltation.

From a distance she seemed to hear the sounds of the tassa drums, welcoming her, the music a reflection of her ancestry, golden memories that rode the waves of the dark water.

As she walked out the airport, the refreshing breeze sent a warm thrill through her body and she stopped, closing her eyes and inhaled deeply the pure freshness.

Opening her eyes she smiled and whispered, “Nice.”

The hotel, by request, had sent a cab for her and on the drive to the Princess Hotel on the East Bank, the taxi cab driver asked curiously, in a friendly tone, “Your first time home?”

“Yes,” she answered, amazed by the

smooth double lane roadway, streetlights and endless traffic.

“Why did you choose to visit now?”

“Is it not the right time?” she asked, in a deep British accent.

“Not really,” he answered, a bit hesitantly, “It’s just there is tension right now because of election campaigning.”

“Oh that?” she shrouded off casually, “It shouldn’t be a bother to me, I’m just a visitor.”

The cab driver nodded his head and smiled, “I hope you enjoy your stay, madam.”

It was late in the night and after a leisure bath, tired from the long journey, Aarti went to bed, a little smile on her lips as her eyes closed in sleep.

Tomorrow, a vacation here, that was her number one desire for the New Year would begin and friends from her old school and neighbourhood she had lost touch with for over two decades, she hoped she could see again. She had bought special gifts for her girlhood friends and the one friend she was deeply anxious to see was her old classmate, Diana. They had been best friends, two pretty little girls from nursery to primary school, nevermind they were from different ethnic back-

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com

II

grounds and culture.

Aarti awoke late in the morning, had a light West Indian breakfast and hurried down to the lounge where her ► Continued on page III

Rainbows ...

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

► from page II

two younger cousins from the city were waiting to drive her to her old home in the ancient county of Berbice. Arvin was a supervisor at a commercial bank and Devina, a highschool teacher, both having met Aarti once at a wedding a few years ago in New York City. It was a happy moment seeing each other again and Devina asked, “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Aarti said, excited, “The long wait is over.”

The long drive was a journey to cherish, awed she was by the green lush landscapes, the grandeur of modern architectural buildings and impressive housing schemes.

“New chapters of economics that have opened, new frontiers of development,” she observed, “It all seems like a dream.”

But what she loved better, just like any tourist would, were the food stalls along the roadway selling tasty Guyanese delicacies, the fresh fruits, the sweet sugar cane juice and thirst quenching coconut water.

“This is marvelous,” she exuded, sitting on a bench under the shade of a huge flamboyant tree, relaxing in the ambience on the scenic, peaceful countryside.

They had stopped at a roadside stall and she was enjoying the tasty cassava ball with the hot mango sauce that brought tears to her eyes, whilst marveling at the artistry of the coconut vendor as he cut the coconut.

“This place has changed so much, it’s wonderful.”

The smile on the coconut vendor’s face faded and he said, “That’s not so.”

“Oh?” Aarti looked at him perplexed but before she could say anything else, Devina touched her arm and shook her head, not to say anything.

She finished drinking the delicious coconut water in silence and after paying the vendor, she smiled and said nicely, “Thank you.”

The journey continued and after a short moment, Aarti asked, “What was that?”

“There are some citizens,” Arvin explained, “Who are reluctant to acknowledge the good things that have happened over the years.”

“That is strange,” Aartisaid, still perplexed, “Because for me who left here a long time, I can see the changes.”

“In the vaults of history,” Devina said, “There are texts of the lives and times of the people, the good and the bad and from such backgrounds, everyone is left with their own loyalties and legacies.”

“This shouldn’t have been,” Aarti sighed, a little worried, “For lost from the bosoms of our ancestral homes, all we had was each other.”

“Don’t worry about anything,” Devina said, squeezing her hand, “Just enjoy your vacation.”

The conservation changed to the old colonial churches and houses they saw along the way, priceless pieces of history.

“Do you know,” Aarti said, enlightening her cousins, “There’s an old family estate on the Corentyne with an old mansion style house that had been ruled by our authoritarian great grandmother?”

“Interesting,” Devina said, “I’ve never heard of it.”

“It’s sad though that after she died, the younger generation could not maintain the farmlands and they moved on but most intriguing is the family cemetery on a small plot of land with burial vaults where the old generation

lies to this day.”

“Oh my gosh!” Devina exclaimed loudly causing Arvin to brake the car suddenly.

“What is wrong with you?” he asked annoyed.

“That is so interesting,” she said unable to control her excitement, “I’ll love to see it” “Yeah and in the nights, you’ll see ghosts.”

“Shut up,” she said, punching him playfully.

After another short stop to buy some fruits, they reached Rosignol, a Community that had come a long way, boasting some fabulous houses that were real show-pieces and the Berbice river bridge like a rainbow in the sky.

They brought the tasty, crispy cassava and plantain chips from vendors who rushed to the car and as they drove across the bridge, Aarti said, “Okay, I’ll speak for myself here in saying this is a great convenience I truly appreciate.”

It was mid-afternoon as they drove along the Palmyra road and turned into Canje to Aarti’s old home in a sprawling settlement on the Western side. The streets seemed to be paved and she exclaimed in surprise, “This is unexpected,” and asking Arvin to stop the car, she stepped out to walk on the street that she remembered had always been bad.

“How often didn’t I fall down with my bicycle and hurt myself?” she mused.

She looked at all the houses she walked past but could recognise no one from her childhood days, “Where has everyone gone?” she wondered aloud.

But as she walked further down the street, she saw a few familiar faces who looked at her curiously, knowing from her outlook and accent, she was a foreigner. She introduced herself, recognised by her father’s name and soon the modest home she had lived in saw a steady flow of neighbours. It gave her such a wonderful feeling being home again, in the countryside amongst the people with warm, friendly personalities. There were no visible tensions, the way it had been as far back as she could remember that gave her a feeling of comfort.

Late that evening, two old classmates, now living on the Corentyne, came to see her and as they chatted, reminiscing about school days, Aarti asked about Diana.

“She and her family had left for the islands,” Alicia said, “The last time I heard about her, she was a hotel manageress in Antigua.”

“That’s wonderful,” Aarti said, happy her friend’s life was a success, “Do you know if she’s still there?”

“Not sure, but I can make some inquiries for you.”

“I think she came back and has been living in Georgetown,” Devin said, trying to remember.

That night as Aarti’s eyes closed in sleep, the last thought on her mind was for her friend.

“Where are you, Diana? I really want to see you.”

The next evening, Aarti invited all her friends who were living in Berbice for a social, a nice get-together, sharing stories of their lives as they grew up, girls and guys, the fun and laughter but one person was missing.

Alicia had discovered Diana was indeed in Georgetown and had been there for some time but she had no phone number so she sent a personal message to her. The night wore on and a few friends were still there when Diana ar-

III

rived. Aarti’s heart filled with happiness upon seeing her friend and they looked at each other for a long moment, smiling before embracing, two pretty little girls,now beautiful women. They were both crying and it was a little while before they could compose themselves.

“I never thought I would see you again.” Diana said.

“Our families both moved away,” Aarti said, “And being so young, life’s journey took us along different paths.”

They toasted to old friends, to their lives, careers, and guys. They were both married with one child and still looking slim and beautiful. They talked about old stories and Aarti said, “Remember when I was eight and our mothers went into town to shop for my birthday and they joined the wrong line?”

Diana nodded, the smile started to fade from her face, “The shoppers got unruly and a fight broke out before the two of them realised their mistake and ran two streets away,” Diana finished the story for her.

“That was so funny,” Aarti was laughing then stopped on noticing the sober look that crossed Diana’s face.

“What is wrong?” she asked.

“That was the past,” Diana said.

“I know,” Aarti said, “But even though those were days of hardship, we always could have found something to laugh about.”

“It’s not funny anymore,” Diana said, finishing her glass of wine and getting up to leave.

“I’m sorry,” Aartiapologised, not wanting her to leave, “I didn’t know things of the past would offend you.”

“Things have changed, Aarti.”

“What caused that change?”

Diana didn’t answer for a long moment then looking at her friend, she said, “I have followed my husband into the arena of politics.”

“Oh,” was allAarti could say and the two friends looked at each other, not little girls anymore but women in their own rights.

“I’m sorry,” Diana said, “It was nice seeing you after all these years.”

Aarti nodded, choked by the sad feeling in her heart and watching Diana leave, she whispered quietly, “Have I lost my best friend?”

-To be continued-

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

For the Love of Books

THERE is only so much a writer can reveal of her/himself through their work.

I am privilege to learn more about our writers by meeting them and working along with them.

The underlining message in those experiences is in order to write well one must read avidly. Here are some episodes of lives portraying the love for books and the love for reading: • (Extract from an interview with Cyril Dabydeen, Guyana, August 2007) I used to read voraciously while living in Berbice, not only the Guyanese and other Caribbean authors like Martin Carter, Wilson Harris, George Lamming and Sam Selvon, but also the British and American ones

wonderful woman.

• (Extract of interview with Ian McDonald, June 2010) Since I was a young boy of nine and ten I use to read avidly and at school my favourite subject was literature and here too I continue to read. As I continue to read I found I also wanted to write which is a natural transition from reading to writing.One of the things when you read, when you read something that impresses you, automatically your mind tries to assess and analyse why this is making such an impression.

• (Extract of interview with Janice Shinebourne, Guyana, February 2013.)

At…Bookers which is Guyana Stores now, was the place to be when you were

So that was the first and strongest influence.

Since then I’ve been reading all sorts of literature from Scottish to Indian and Irish authors.

• (Interview with Berkley Semple, Georgetown, Guyana, August 22, 2011) …I have writers in the family, but my people are mostly readers, consumers of books. My maternal grandfather, Jacob McKenzie, was a prolific reader of historic things, who use to memorise all kinds of poetry and recite them, even long passages of Shakespeare. That was certainly my point of departure. I was a hungry reader before I started writing. I like the sound of words, the tone and rhythm and cadence.

• (Part of an interview with CharuamanieBissundyal, Guyana, 2012.)

her books not just that one. BuchiEmecheta is a Nigerian woman novelist who has written a lot on women issues especially women in the post-colonial environment. One of her best books I think is ‘Second Class Citizens’ in which she details what life was like in England for Blacks and others who went there in the 1950s and how hard life was finding housing etc, in the face of discrimination, trying to find jobs in a society that was patently racist at the time.

I’ve also read Merle Hodge. Her books were a tremendous influence especially, ‘Crick Crack Monkey’, … and Haiti’s Edwidge Danticat.

• (Part of an interview with Peter Jailall, Guyana, 2008).

(PP): …We have talked about

BRENDA DOHARRIS

PETER JAILALL

JANICE SHINEBOURNE

like Eliot, Auden, Dylan Thomas, and those from India and Africa also like Tagore and Chinua Achebe. I would spend long hours in the British Council Library and the New Amsterdam Public Library, once or twice a week: I would ride my Raleigh bicycle about four miles from Canje Rose Hall to be there.

young…there would be these carousels of paperbacks and we use to go and buy our snacks. And then we…would go and look at books. So it was a culture that valued books and we were all well-read; we were up to date with the latest classics…

• (Extract of an interview with OonyaKempadoo , Georgetown, Guyana, January, 2008) There were two books which I read while I was growing up in Golden Grove – ‘Cannery Row’ by Steinbeck and ‘Miguel Street’

by Naipaul, both set on one street, similar to the street on which I live and seeing the possibility of capturing observations and characters and sort of social sketch and something so enjoyable to read, occur to me as something I could attempt one day.

• (Extract of interview with EllyNiland, Georgetown, Guyana, August 2007) I love 19 century literature above all else. I love Charlotte Bronte, Thomas Hardy, Seamus Heaney, Sylvia Plath, Walcott, Agard’s ‘Half Caste’, Grace Nichols’ ‘I is a long Memoried Woman’; What a Guyanese woman! I’d like to walk in her path; there’s a lot we can learn from the work of that

OONYA KEMPADOO (CB): There were other factors like the fact that my family members were ardent readers of the Valmiki and the Tulsidas Ramayana, the Mahabharat,….

(PP): Very important influences – it is important if you want to write well, you must be well read.

(CB): Right. So that was one aspect. Then there was the whole philosophy of poetry. If you read the Tulsidas Ramayana – the … Poetry is all about beauty and nature. That’s where Tagore got his influence.

• (Part of an interview with Brenda DoHarris, Guyana, January 2010.)

(PP): Talking about school and books, what were some of the books that influenced your writing?

(BD): One of them is BuchiEmecheta’s ‘Second Class Citizens’, well all

writing, what about reading, getting children to read?

(PJ): First and foremost, we can do the oral – tell stories and recite poems, get them comfortable with the oral, let them flow. Before you read, you have to deal with the scarcity of books. First, let’s get the books, good books, colourful literature, attractive books. Now back to the community, it is important that parents, and guardians and grownups read to children, get them to listen to words, words forming picture and music as in poetry. Teachers should read more and more to children, find poems and stories that tell about different lands, peoples and cultures, poems and stories about science and other subjects and learning will become easy.

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

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

THE DECLINE OF THE ARTS (Part V)

TODAY A DECLINE in creative literature or writing seems inevitable if the entire history of such writing (which goes back to 8th century BC when the Greek alphabetic system was invented) is denied an influence on today’s writing.

Such a denial of influence would censor the freedom of the human memory to circulate its total creative achievements, which the perspective of our historical present affords us to do, while learning from it.

DIFFERENT ERAS But it is obviously not the same social environment and its supernatural beliefs of Homer’s era, or Vergil’s, or Meliodorus, Petronious, Apuleius, Chariton, or Longus -- spanning almost a thousand years -- by which today’s creative writer is influenced. Rather, it is the actual linguistic examples of these stunningly beautiful and inventive antique Greek and Roman creative writers, who invented the ‘Novel’ as a creative fusion of both prose and poetry, which has enriched the art of their international literary descendants today, and avoids the historical amnesia which ushers in a decline in creative writing.

HOMER AND IMPROVISATION It is now known that Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ was written down in a specific alphabetic script representing vowels, which invented ‘creative writing’ by breaking away from previous writing (stretching back 3000 years BC, in Iraq at least) At least intended only for bookkeeping, or bureaucratic records. Homer recited the ‘The Odyssey’ to Greek

scribes, who caught the rich descriptive detail and tonal flow of his voice; a delivery certainly not given at one moment in time, but several, involving spur-ofthe-moment improvisation. Hence its noted inconsistencies and repetitions -- none of which is a ‘flaw’ in the text of ‘The Odyssey’, but make it the comparable forerunner of what some modern critics have said is an avant-garde Jazz style. No wonder we see references to such antiquity in the avant-garde Jazz recordings of artists like Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, Pharaoh Sanders, Chick Corea, Deodato, among others.

These flowing texts of Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ and ‘Iliad’, either printed in ‘poetic’ stanzas or pages of a ‘prose’ format, are primarily concerned with a vibrant display of visual imagery combined with an ecstatic narrative tone.

ANTIQUE MODERNISM Almost 3000 years later, we see a progression of the same Homeric (and others mentioned above) style of writing in some of the best modern novels and stories since the 20th century; a progression which does not indicate any decline in the art of creative writing, evident in novels and stories such as: James Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’; William Faulkner’s ‘Absalom Absalom’ and ‘Go Down Moses’; Hemingway’s ‘A Farewell To Arms’ and ‘The Snows of Kilimanjaro’; Truman Capote’s ‘In Cold Blood’ and ‘Answered Prayers’; Claude Simon’s ‘The Georgics’ and ‘The Acacia’; Robbe-Grillet’s ‘The Erasers’, ‘In The Labyrinth’, ‘La Maison de Rendevous’, and ‘Topology of a

V

Terence Roberts

Phantom City’; Phillippe Sollers’ ‘The Park’, and ‘Women’; Wilson Harris’s ‘Palace of the Peacock’; Alejo Carpentier’s ‘The Lost Steps’; Carlos Fuentes’ ‘Terra Nostra’; Cabrera Infante’s ‘Three Trapped Tigers’; Jay McIerney’s ‘Brightlights Big City’; Donna Tartt’s ‘The Goldfinch’, etc.

Indeed the very difficulty some readers may have with these so-called ‘new’, or ‘modern’ texts, may come from a lack of experiential knowledge of earlier creative writings by at least Homer, Vergil, Petronious and Apuleius; so that the ‘new’ is unrecognizable and even condemned, because the ‘old’ has been discarded.

BARTHES AND WRITING The clue to understanding why certain ‘novels’, ‘short stories’, and ‘poems’ may seem so out of the ordinary lies in replacing these limited formal categories with their broader reality, which in ‘writing.’

One profoundly definitive explanation of what ‘writing’ is was given by the semiological critic Roland Barthes in his essay: “The Death of the Author’, in 1968. In this essay Barthes stated that once something is said in writing rather than in the actual human activity of an oral voice, it exists independently as language outside the author’s human oral voice. The ‘author’ is then metaphorically speaking though ‘dead.

In other words, ‘writing’ and the real life of the ‘author’ are not synonymous, and the author only exists as someone who ‘writes’, not as someone who ‘speaks’ via

his corporeal body. In this unique short essay, Barthes established that the fabric of written language, or ‘writing’, is an invented ‘space’ that can only be ‘travelled’, not possessed, injected, or interpreted with absolute ‘meanings’, like an omnipotent ‘secret’ explained.

‘Writing’ therefore becomes a self-created act, which humbly immerses its ‘author’ in the creative wonder and human heritage of language as writing.

FLAWED REACTIONS Obviously, such a perceptive definition of written language annoys the routine opinions and beliefs of many academics of literature.

For example, recently added to several lengthy studies of the ‘novel’, such as a two-volume important study edited

by Fronco Moretti in 2006, (Princeton University Press), which all students of literature should know, is Michael Schmidt’s ‘The Novel: A Biography’, of 2014, whose entire premise is like a deliberately dogged attempt to refute the ideas of Barthes’ essay ‘The Death of the Author’.

Schmidt’s fat volume is stuffed with lively opinions about authors, their methods, and anecdotes about their (prosaic!) lives. This book also suggests that ‘The Novel’ is of an Anglo- social and philosophical origin, ignoring its true origin in BC and AD

by Homer, Vergil, Petronious, Apuleius, Meliodorus, Parthenius, Chariton, Longus, and Xenophon of Ephesius; therefore appearing quite biased, and even misleading.

VI

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

Gold teeth accused found guilty of robbery on improper identification Freed by Court of Appeal

By George Barclay VERBEKE Hodge, who was convicted of robbery-under-arms by a jury in 1976, had his appeal allowed on the ground of improper identification of the accused.

The Court of Appeal was constituted by Chancellor J.O.F. Haynes and Justices of Appeal Victor Crane and Keith Massiah.

At hearing of the appeal, the appellant, represented by lawyer Mr. Malcolm Taharally, also had his appeal allowed, and his conviction and sentence set aside.

The facts of the case disclosed that the appellant Vibert Hodge, armed with a knife, had attacked and robbed one Violet Ramadan of a wristwatch and a finger ring. When removing the ring, he had opened his mouth as if to bite the victim’s finger to get it off, and the victim saw that he was wearing gold teeth.

Some five weeks later, Ramadan identified the accused at an identification parade as the robber.

Three different versions emerged at the trial as to how the appellant was identified at the parade. The first was given by Violet Ramadan, who said she had identified him initially by his appearance; but in order to make doubly sure, had asked him to open his mouth.

The second was by Inspector Troyer, who had conducted the parade. Troyer said Ramadan had asked him to cause the men on parade to open their mouths, and that when they did so, she then touched the accused on the shoulder.

The third version, which was given by the accused, was substantially the same as that given by Inspector Troyer, with this difference: that whereas Troyer had said there were others in the parade with gold teeth, the accused insisted that he had been the only man on parade with gold teeth, which meant he was urging that the parade was unfairly conducted in that he had been identified solely by his gold teeth.

In his summing-up, the trial judge did not bring to the jury’s attention the apparent conflict between Ramadan’s and Inspector Troyer’s evidence; nor the fact that Troyer’s evidence, which said that the accused had been identified after he had opened his mouth, tended to support the evidence of the accused. The judge had merely left it to the jury to find as a question of fact, if they were minded to believe Ramadan and Troyer, whether the identification parade had been properly conducted.

The accused also said in defence that the charge against him was a trumped-up one; that he had been ‘framed’ by the police, because he and the policeman who charged him had had an altercation over a girlfriend; and that the policeman had threatened “to throw the book at me”.

Nothing was said about this important aspect of the defence to the jury.

On appeal, the Guyana Court of Appeal held the fol-

lowing: (1) The apparent conflict between Ramadan’s and Troyer’s evidence should have been pointed out to the jury, who ought to have been advised to be cautious about accepting Ramadan’s testimony that she had primarily identified the accused apart from his gold teeth.

(2) The jury should have been told that if they accepted Troyer’s evidence, then Ramadan’s identification at the parade was unsatisfactory; hence they should attach little weight to her identification in court.

(3) The jury should have been directed that if they believed that the accused was the only man on parade with gold teeth, the parade would have been unfairly conducted, and they should attach little weight to it.

(4) The defence was not properly put to the jury. The accused was alleging oppression and victimization on part of the police, and the judge should have told the jury to acquit if they believed this was so.

(5) The trial judge was in error when he allowed the accused, after conviction, to plead to six other charges forming the subject of five outstanding indictable offences, with a view to having them taken into consideration and to proceed to sentence him in respect of those charges.

(6) The correct procedure was for the judge to merely ask the accused whether he admitted his guilt on the outstanding offences. The accused must be sentenced only once, ie: in respect to the offence for which he was tried and found guilty.

The idea of taking other offences into consideration is merely to measure the appropriate sentence.

Appeal allowed. Conviction and sentences set aside.

Lawyer Malcolm Taharally appeared for the appellant.

Senior State Counsel N. Kissoon appeared for the State.

In delivering the judgment of the court, Justice of Appeal Massiah said: “The appellant was indicted with, and convicted of, robbery under arms, contrary to section 222 (C) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Chapter 8:01.

“The allegation of the state was that, while armed with a knife, he had robbed one Violet Ramadan of a wristwatch and a ring.

“There was evidence that while she was in the Le Repentir Cemetery with her husband on March 30, 1975, at about 4.15 p.m., the appellant went up to her, placed a knife to her chest, pulled her wristwatch from her left hand, and opened his mouth as if to bite her finger to get off the ring.

Ramadan told him not to bite her, and in fear, handed the ring to him.

“Five weeks later, on May 4, 1975, at an identification parade conducted at Ruimveldt Police Station, Ramadan identified the appellant as the person who had taken her watch and ring. Counsel for the appellant contended in this court, as the appellant had complained in the court below, that the identification parade was unfairly conducted.

“At the trial, three different versions were given as to

George Barclay

how the appellant came to be identified. Ramadan said she identified the appellant and then asked him to open his mouth “to be doubly sure”, and that “the gold teeth in (his) mouth made (her) doubly sure”.

Inspector Hubert Troyer, who conducted the identification parade, said something different. He testified that Ramadan “looked at the parade and asked (him) to cause the men on the parade to open their mouths”, and that when they did so, Ramadan “then touched the accused on his shoulder”.

The appellant, in his statement from the dock, said that the men on parade were first asked to show their teeth, and that he was the only man who had gold teeth. He was clearly saying that he was identified by his gold teeth.

The sum total of Ramadan’s evidence on this issue is that she identified the appellant partly by his gold teeth, whereas Troyer’s evidence suggests that she identified him wholly by them. What must be noted is that Troyer’s version was the same as the appellant’s, save that whereas the appellant claimed that he was the only person on the parade with gold teeth, Troyer said that there were others.”

Justice of Appeal Massiah added: “My view is that, in cases of visual identification by one witness who never saw the suspect before, a rule of practice should be formulated whereby a judge should warn the jury not to convict unless there is some evidence in support.

“This does not mean corroboration, as legally understood, but refers, for example, to the fact that the accused was within the vicinity shortly before or after the offence was committed. Such a rule of practice would, in the course of time, crystallize into a rule of law.

Continuing, the Justice of Appeal said in his judgment, “I would adopt that as a critical statement of the law. It should be borne in mind that the judge’s decision to take outstanding charges into consideration should not be automatic. Indeed, he should first be satisfied that the State consents to the accused’s proposal, for there may be cases which require public investigation; and even where there is that consent, the judge must still satisfy himself that the public interest does not require any further investigation of the outstanding charges before deciding to take them into consideration.

“It is clear that the proceedings herein were wholly wrong, and should be treated as a nullity. There has been a palpable miscarriage of justice. The convictions and sentences in respect of the charges required by the appellant to be taken into consideration must be quashed.

“It will remain a matter for the decision of the State as to whether they will proceed with those outstanding charges.”

Chancellor Haynes and Justice of Appeal Crane concurred.

Appeal allowed; conviction and sentences set aside.

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

VII

Traditional Orthodontic

I believe many a keen eye can spot someone who has had traditional orthodontic from a mile away.

There is a typical braces look – almost as though something is awry in the structural composition of the face and jaw.

Often people look as though their mouth is “bashed in” instead of in balance with the rest of their face and head.

That is because some orthodontists move teeth around without considering the relationship of the jaw to the surrounding cranial system. If you stop to think about it, your common sense will tell you that you cannot change the shape of your mouth without affecting the rest of your head.

Unfortunately not all orthodontists are trained to think this way. A lot of orthodontic treatment is done without regard to the rest of the head and face, with terrible results.

For example, it is common practice to move “buck” teeth, (what is commonly referred as “riders”), back to correct the bite. But the problem with buck teeth is usually not that they stick out too far – it is the problem that the jaw does not extend out far enough. Proper whole body dental treatment calls for the jaw to be brought forward into balance with the whole structure of the head.

Usually extraction of the bicuspids is done to give room to allow the upper front teeth to be drawn back. The bicuspids are the teeth just behind the eye teeth. When I began seeing a lot of patients who complain of pain in their jaw sockets, I noticed that many of them had their bicuspids removed at an early age. There are numerous disadvantages and problems associated with this: the first and foremost is a functional change in the temporomandibular joint apparatus (TMD). I firmly believe that orthodontics and bicuspid removal greatly contribute to the onset of TMD. Furthermore, the aesthetic result is usually less than desirable.

Few orthodontists are aware of the many implications involved in moving teeth. It is not enough to have the teeth line up nicely and look right. Their positioning has to be in harmony with the musculature and the temporo-mandibular joint. Often teeth are moved without consideration for the muscle balance, cranial alignment and the temporomandibular joint.

This is a dangerous practice since all joints of the head must be in harmonious relationship with one another for optimal health. The entire craniosacral system can be tremendously impacted by even a slight alteration in the

positioning of the teeth.

I began studying functional orthodontics because I wanted my patients to have a higher standard of care that was available with traditional orthodontics. At a seminar I attended last October in Texas, USA, Dr. John Witzig presented a remarkable case study dramatically illustrating the disruptive effects of orthodontia. He showed us pictures of identical twins born in England. When they were teenagers, the parents took the twins to a public dentist under the socialised medical system, who recommended extracting the first bicuspids and fitting appliances for both children. They proceeded with one twin, but then had reservations and took the second twin to a private dentist who fitted appliances without extractions.

Dr. Witzig then displayed pictures of the sisters as adults several years after the procedures had been completed. When those photos went up, the audience literally gasped. The two sisters were no longer identical.

The difference in their facial structure were striking. One sister had a beautiful broad smile and full balanced facial development. The other sister had a very narrow face and tight, unpleasant smile.

Of course, you can guess that the sister with the unattractive facial features was the unfortunate twin who had her bicuspids removed.

I cannot overstate the importance of the teeth in terms of proper bone development in the face and jaw. With traditional orthodontics, frequently teeth are extracted to make more room and then pressure is applied to move the remaining teeth around until they created proper bite and look straight.

Unfortunately, very little attention is given to the effect of the procedure on the overall bone structure and musculature, and often the appearance.

However, there are some orthodontists who practice what is now being termed “functional orthodontics”.

In the above example, a functional orthodontist would evaluate the entire structure of the head, the relationship of the teeth to the jaw and other facial bones, and then fit

Often people look as though their mouth is “bashed in” instead of in balance with the rest of their face and head.

That is because some orthodontists move teeth around without considering the relationship of the jaw to the surrounding cranial system.

an appliance that would stimulate growth and encourage teeth to realign themselves in proper relationship to the rest of the head and muscles. The entire mode of treatment, including the physical structure of the actual appliances, is different. Because a harmony is achieved between the muscles, and lip and tongue pressure, the chance of a relapse is greatly diminished.

SELWYN COLLINS Guyana’s son with the ‘Midas Pen’

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By Alex Wayne MANY Guyanese have, for one reason or another, left these shores to develop their talents or skills, and they continue to shine in the name of their homeland through their many splendid exploits overseas.

I recently had the distinct pleasure to interact with overseas-based Guyanese author

book was well received, sold well, and has provided much comfort to many.

“People have told me that they have given copies as gifts to others experiencing challenging times. I am happy I wrote it, because of what it does for others; but, more importantly, because it made my mother proud of me.

“However, I could not have done this

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

and CWS grew. ‘CWS Journeys’, as I call it today, is video and a live production, which is interactive through a chat room where the audience gets to participate in the conversation,” he said.

This medium was born to provide a media space where people can educate and empower others by sharing their journeys and stories.

He wanted to create an oral history of lives of Guyanese and other Caribbean nationals of note, so that future generations would have an idea of how those people had lived, and what were their trials, successes and triumphs in spite of the many challenges they had faced.

Selwyn believes it is important to show that success is not without commitment, focus, and sacrifice. He hopes that, through these conversations, people can be inspired with hope and positive action.

“I avoid negativity and sensationalism because I believe in a broadcast where people can be their best selves; and I encourage others to step beyond their challenges and limitations and transform and make a positive contribution to society.

“My diverse guests appear on the show through various recommendations, my reaching out, or they themselves requesting to be on the show. Everyone is welcome, regardless of colour or creed. When I am not broadcasting, I am managing my web development company, Selco2000 Web Solutions, coding, creating something artistic, or writing,” he disclosed.

only some of the many facets he enjoys.

Selwyn was born in Guyana, and resided in three places: Vergenoegen, Phoenix Park, and Campbellville.

He arrived at his present status through a journey of determination, trials and tribulations, pains and sacrifice, tough choices and decisions. “ ‘Who is Selwyn Collins?’ is not a question that I take lightly, as I have never been able to answer it without some anxiety, doubt, or fear that I do not really know who this person is. The truth is I am still getting to know me, and as I peel away each layer, hoping to find rhyme or reason to some of my choices and answers to some of life’s proverbial questions, I have been asking…As far as I can remember, I realize I have always been on a journey of self-discovery. The truth is (that) I have always been ambivalent about describing who I am, because I have never believed I can do justice to the sum of my experiences, good and bad, that have molded me.”

He continued: “Two deeper fears come from believing that I cannot fairly describe me without condemnation or judgment and the risk of underestimating or overestimating what I think of myself.”

“Sometimes I wonder if it is just my story, or maybe it is really because I enjoy the freedom of not knowing exactly who I am, and being able to create me in whatever image I choose,” he confided.

Selwyn declares that he is bold yet shy; deeply spiritual, but not very religious. He

The multi-talented Selwyn Collins Selwyn Collins, who is popular for his stirring pieces and has propelled not only himself but even Guyana ‘among the cluster of elites’ where talented writers are concerned.

I instantly realised that this man was a man of many wonders, and was also very deep and intense in his beliefs and aspirations.

“My greatest fear is that I might one day forget that I am more than the sum of my mistakes,” he confided. “My favourite quote is one given to me during one of my excursions into my stillness: “Fear not what fear whispers to you; fear your obedience to it,” he declared.

This quote he eventually gave to others through his inspiring book ‘The EartHeart Knows’.

The book, a collection of blessings and meditation for one’s daily life, was written as a gift to his mother and all the beautiful women who have, in some way, contributed to the person he is today.

Collins reminisced on how ecstatic his mother had been after she had received the advance copy. He said her words of encouragement and her declaration of how proud she was had a profound effect on him.

“I cried, and the tears soaked my shirt as I fought back the sounds in my throat,” he revealed.

The launching of his book was done on June 30, 2012, and was well attended. The

without encouragement from people like my significant other; my close friends; and my sons, who always believed I needed to share with others some of the wisdom I shared with them,” he disclosed.

Two years after the book had been launched, Collins was sitting among a group of other recipients at a Guyana Cultural Association (GCA) award ceremony at the Brooklyn Borough Hall, wondering again how he did get there. He was being honoured for Innovation in New Media. GCA’s theme for 2014 was ‘Bridging the cultural and ethnic divides’; and there he sat, still pondering how it began.

Selwyn was first introduced to broadcast media in early 2012, when he was invited by a neighbour and his wife to host the Pepper Pot segment of his show, ‘Coalition to Preserve Reggae’.

It was nerve-racking in the beginning, but the gifted man soon adjusted. When he left several months later, the bug of speaking with people on a live show had bitten him, so he decided to start his own initiative, dubbed ‘Conversations With Selwyn’ in May of 2012.

“I was crazy to step into such an arena.

Who would come and converse with me?

And how would I afford it? Those were my initial fears, but I persevered. The guests came

Selwyn Collins autographs one of his books for an adorable fan WHO REALLY IS THIS GUY? You may want to ask who is Selwyn Collins? Where did he come from? And how did he get here?

In short, he is an author, a WebTV talk show host, and an entrepreneur; but those are

further states that he is very creative, curious, inquisitive, forgiving, loving, respectful, technical and understanding. ► Continued on page IX

SELWYN COLLINS Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

► from page VIII

That aside, he loves nature, young people, laughter, music; and is comfortable in his own company.

“Then there is my intimacy with solitude.

It is one of my favourite pastimes for the quietude it allows. I love meditating, being still, listening to the persistent melodies of silence, introspection, and praying.

“I am never lonely, but I cherish the creative freedom in being alone. It is fitting to say that I am in awe of the sheer majesty and mystery of aloneness. I also love to write, so it is ironic and strange how paralyzing I find

“I was a very inquisitive, happy, and playful child with lots of friends. Everyone, especially my mother, indulged my curiosity with patience. I loved to read, so I read everything in sight. My mother enjoyed my reading, and I enjoyed watching her eyes light up as she encouraged me on. A smile and hug usually followed.

“It was affection and an attachment that grew even more as I got older. It is only through reflection that I began to understand the abundant unconditional love my mother had for me then, and still does today. Her compassion for others knows no bounds. I have never heard her utter a bad word about

with it. I was alone in this, and suffered the consequences. This fed a deep depression and withdrawal from friends, and family.

Over time, I became more withdrawn, hardly allowing anyone close. I trusted no one with my feelings except my mother.”

In between, he made the occasional visits to Guyana, most recently in December 2012, but his heart was always heavy. The weight of knowing he could not afford to give his children more, and that he was ostracized for his decision to not bring them into his situation in the US, was too much to bear. No one seemed to understand, so he avoided anyone who criticized or judged him. There was no one to turn to, so he chose the only available path -- solitude. It was maddening, and the internal condemnation was deafening.

“I have often wondered how I survived in America. I believe what prevented me from losing my mind and gave me hope were my mother’s unconditional love and encouraging words that I was born to make a difference to others, that I am gifted, and that everything in life is temporary.

“I must not write this without exposing the not-so-commendable side of me. I did something that is most shameful. It is my deepest regret, shame, and sorrow that, in 1988, when my daughter was born, I did not accept the responsibility that she is mine.

Worse, I kept it a secret from my family, including my mother. I was so afraid and so ashamed of myself and what I had done that I stayed away from any situation where there was a possibility of someone calling me out on my indiscretion.

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trying to survive his own doubts, condemnation and fears. No one knew about his struggles with academia, finances, a huge tax obligation and his daughter; so he hid from everyone, and avoided intimate conversations about himself.

Nevertheless, he knew it was a choice he had made, no matter how painful; and even though his humanity caused him ambivalence, there is one thing he knows for certain, and that is: “my past can be as encouraging as it is admonishing, exacting, and even unforgiving.

It is not me, but an important part of me”.

Selwyn writes candidly, not because he feels some sense of security that he will not be condemned, judged, or ridiculed, but because it would be dishonest to omit his unfavourable side and his bad experiences, no matter how painful.

He writes as a map of his journey to encourage others who might be in pain for past transgressions, or cannot find peace because of fear of discovery, or because they are ashamed to see it as a life that is not without its trials or triumphs.

“Perhaps it is selfish of me to choose this moment to indulge catharsis, but I assure you that whatever the reaction, private or public, it is worth it because I feel free. This is a freedom and a relief I cannot put into words, but I feel free to attempt this fire walk, this scream into the bowels of an echoing valley, this spiritual bungee jump.

“According to my experience, no freedom is greater than the freedom from regrets and shame. This journey stripped and whipped me. It humbled but transformed me with its harsh lessons. I dare not complain; and when I

Excited fans gather to get their copy of inspiring writings this exercise to describe who I am.

What a dilemma, this paradox that I am me, yet I cannot write easily or fluently about me.

“I realize also that to know me, or even attempt to explain who I am, I must indulge my past to find among the debris pieces I can put together to form a picture.

“I must examine all my experiences -- the pains and sorrows, the joys and euphorias, the disappointments and failures, and the successes and triumphs; each experience is a compass to my choices and decisions; perhaps they are tools of fate, each molding me into who I am and am becoming,” he said.

THE JOURNEY Selwyn’s journey began on April 3rd 1962, after his mother, Mrs. Marjorie Collins, gave birth to him, her ninth and last child at the Georgetown Public Hospital.

For the first nine years of his life, he grew up in Vergenoegen, which is a small village of mixed races on the East Bank of the Essequibo River.

He was disciplined when necessary, and his mother hardly spared the rod. His father, Edwin Albert Collins, deceased, I believe, had retired from the Police Force by the time he had arrived in this world, so he had never seen him in uniform. As a matter of fact, he had hardly seen his as he had lived and worked in Wismar at the bauxite company, and visited only when he could.

anyone. She taught me to be humble, to forgive, and to love those even if I believe they do not love me. Most important, she instilled in me the power of prayer, and advised that I must never forget to pray,” he disclosed.

“The family moved to Phoenix Park (Vreed-en-Hoop) for a little over a year, then to Campbellville, Georgetown, where we settled”. It is there he met this marvellous woman whom he describes as one of the women who have made a tremendous impact in his life. She was Ms. Edwards, his Common Entrance lessons teacher. It is there where he met some life-long friends. They haven’t been in touch much, but the bonds never weakened and the connection has never faded.

In 1974, Selwyn passed Common Entrance and started attending Queen’s College.

The following year, he was transferred to Bishops’ High School to begin the era of coeducation among the top secondary schools.

He completed high school and started working at Royal Bank of Canada in approximately 1981. By then -- and much to his mother’s displeasure -- he was no longer an altar boy. “I was tired of serving, Father De Weaver’s strictness, and nothing she said really convinced me to adorn the red and white again.

“In September 1982, my sons were born.

Three years later, I migrated to the United States.

The transition was very difficult for me, and I refused to bring my children into the chaos and stress I was experiencing. It was a controversial decision, because no one agreed

Public speaking is also definitely one of his strong points “In so doing, I believe that I denied myself and others the better, and perhaps the best of me. How could I have done that is a question that haunts me to this day. It was my deepest secret, and I am deeply sorry for the pains this would have caused everyone involved. I pray that I am truly forgiven this transgression.

“I promised myself many years later that I’ll never get another woman pregnant, and I’ll never get married until I make it right with my daughter. I have kept those promises.

Fate, it seems, is however merciful but with a sick sense of humour. It must have felt sorry for me and the years of self-condemnation to introduce into my life this person, this beautiful young woman who is forgiving and loving. The irony is not lost on me that this person who should be bitter forbids me from beating up on myself for what I had done. I am truly grateful,” he disclosed.

He had been a wreck for many years,

think of the burning, pounding, and polishing metal must go through to become a magnificent sword, or the pressure a stone must endure for many years to be transformed into a diamond, I am thankful for my experiences.

“Who am I to complain or deny any of my experiences? I aspire to give more of myself through my art, my broadcasts, and my writings.

“I must acknowledge patience, resilience, and love as my strengths, as I acknowledge occasional excursions into the past, perfection, and solitude as my weaknesses.

“It is my hope that revealing so much of me and my journey will, in some way, empower others -- someone, especially my peers -- to embrace their truth and find the courage to confront and interrogate their deepest doubts, fears, or secrets; and to be so transformed, if only to answer that proverbial question: ‘Who am I?”

THE REACTORS

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Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

- Bringing a new, enjoyable and contagious perspective to sketch comedy in Guyana

A

By Alex Wayne

group of gifted men and women are looking to ‘change the playing field’ in the local sketch comedy industry. For those who may not be acquainted with the term, sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called ‘sketches’. A sketch usually lasts from one to ten minutes, and is performed by a group of

comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium, such as broadcasting.

Sketches are often first improvised by the actors, and written down based on the results of those sessions.

With its dynamic composition of personalities, The Reactors are hoping to bring a refreshing approach to comedy. The group members include Randolph Critchlow (main writer and director), Mark Kazim, Mark Luke-Edwards, Leon Cummings, Tashandra Inniss, Sean Thompson, and two asso-

Rich, heady comedy emitting from the local shores ciate members, being Nirmala Narine and Michael Ignatius.

The ambitious group, making its way into the hearts of citizens across the country, told Gtmemoirs a little of its history, and just how it got the name ‘The Reactors’.

“The group was established about a year ago, after comedian ‘Chow Pow’ hired Randolph Critchlow to write some skits for one of his shows. After the initial success of the show, ‘Chow Pow Comedy Jam’, the decision was made to bind together those who had participated in the show and start as a group for hire.”

The group has since been performing all over the country, eliciting inspiring responses, the members explained.

As for the origin of the name ‘The Reactors’, it is said to be reflective of the time the members spent at the Theatre Guild acting workshops.

The members said, “At our first learning ground as actors, we met Mr Malcolm De Freitas and he coined the phrase “actors don’t act, they react.”

The truth of that statement resonated so deeply with us that we thought it would fit, since we benefited so much from that institution; and we strive to stay true to the very grain of our passion, hence we call ourselves ‘The Reactors’.

The group has done over twenty performances across Guyana. It has performed at schools, churches, fairs and many other concerts.

The group acts and makes decisions as a body, hence there is no manager or leader when it comes to decision-making. The director, Randolph Critchlow, oversees the creative aspects of action on the stage, but the group works as a unit of talented creative young people.

The main objective of the group is to provide entertainment that can be enjoyed by all, and to create a brand that can be sold locally and internationally.

“We want to become a household name in Guyana and the Caribbean region. We bring a new and fresh approach to sketch comedy in Guyana’s theatre through stand-up comedians, dancers and poets. With the potential we have, we are certain that The Reactors will be a force to be reckoned with,” the group asserted.

The group has also asserted that perhaps what sets it apart from other similar groups is its composition. The group brings together the young people who are at the top of their game and are poised to take over the industry, along with their fresh approach to comedy and a focus on providing the public with high-octane comedy.

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

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BIBI NATASHA AZEEZ

A multi-talented, multi-faceted daughter, sister and mother

By Michel Outridge

WHEN I first met Bibi Natasha Azeez and heard of her story and all the things she is trying to do to make a living, the song Hustlin’ by Rick Ross came to mind right away.

With this theme in mind: “Every day I am husltin”, the single mother

of one is self-motivated to work even harder to put food on the table, pay the bills and provide for her family.

The charming Azeez is savvy in the following areas: photography/video editing, voice overs for advertisements, children’s entertainment (clown), make-up artistry, folklore research, interior decorat-

ing, henna designing, acting (locally), face painting and graphic art.

Most people are drawn to her because of her outright pleasant personality and spritely attitude, which speaks of a willing person who is ready to learn; and with that frame of mind, she has been able to achieve a lot.

She told the Guyana

cated at D’urban Backlands, and successfully completed the course and earned a diploma in Photography.

Having matured at an early age, she quickly adapted to adult responsibilities to assist her single-parent mother and younger brothers, after their father had walked out of the home when she was

Three photos of the hand designed candles made by Bibi Natasha Azeez.

Bibi Natasha Azeez dressed as Savitri Winters in the Tides of Susanburg 2014.

Chronicle that is has not been an easy journey, but after five years of being a journalist, she quit for personal reasons and decided she has got to explore the possibilities, being propelled into the world of local arts.

It was quite manageable, since she has come from a broadcasting background and would have anchored the television news from time to time. It became her ‘first love’, and the two have since been inseparable.

Azeez also ventured into photography at the encouragement of Guyana Chronicle Photographer Adrian Narine, who urged her to become qualified in the field upon realizing that she had a natural knack for snapping photos.

She took his advice and enrolled at Kuru Kuru Cooperative College lo-

just 11 years old.

Azeez grew up seeing the struggles of her mother, who worked from dawn to dusk to ensure they got the basic necessities; and she told herself that would never be her fate. However, today she is a single mother as well, something she said she had no control over.

She had little time to socialise and do the regular things teenagers her age then did, and as a result of the lack of exposure to certain things in life, she wanted to do her own thing after she realised how much she had missed out during those years.

Azeez today is self-employed and works out of her Craig Street, Campbellville home. A typical day would begin very early and end very late into the night.

The 23-year-old Azeez

The charming Bibi Natasha Azeez. said it is safe to say she has found herself in a manner of speaking. She knows what she is about in terms of earning a living, and the possibilities are limitless, since it has dawned on her how many hidden talents she possesses.

She credits her achievements to a man she regards as a father figure, the one who has encouraged her “to try”; and that person is Mr. Michael Khan, the story teller known as Old Man Papi.

Azeez admitted that some days things are not so good being self-employed, but it suits her because she has so much going on and can work at her own pace. At least she is happy with the things she is doing for a job.

She gets work through the social media and referrals, in which people call and she takes or-

ders for things like custom-made candles. She, of course, has to deliver to get paid. That apart, she is involved in many activities, like in acting, fashion and drama.

Azeez describes herself as a ‘workaholic’ who is bent on providing for her family. She spends her free time dressed up as a clown to attend children’s parties, and can be reached on telephone numbers 655-4805/6689831 if her services are required.

This young woman said she is the way she is today because her childhood lacked family time together; and that as the mother of a soon-tobe seven-year-old girl, she knows the impact of spending time with the family, and would encourage all to make time for that.

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Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

ASUS SMARTWATCH TO HAVE 10-DAY BATTERY LIFE

THERE’S been plenty of talk about the Apple Watch’s battery, which lasts about a day on a full charge. Some consider that a weakness, and it’s one that Asus may intend to exploit.

The Asus ZenWatch is not the most advanced or glamorous smartwatch, and it’s certainly no true Apple Watch rival,

but the next Asus smartwatch could be a different story.Apparently called the Asus VivoWatch, it will pack a 10-day battery life!The Asus VivoWatch will be fitness-focused, the site says, and it could have other bells and whistles like sleep and heart rate tracking and GPS. HOW DOES IT DO IT? But its true selling point will be that extra-long life, a direct counter to Apple Watch’s perceived weakness.

It might achieve that significant battery life with an efficient black and white display/coloured LED light combo, which

you can see in the picture above. It also might not use Android Wear. Let wait and “watch” for it release.

APPLE TO UNVEIL GREAT THINGS, SOON Apple has finally announced the details for this year’s WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) in San Francisco. From June 8th to June 12th, Apple will host its usual massive get-together for developers that will offer over 100 technical sessions, as well as face-to-face meetings with more than 1,000 members of the Apple engineering team. The only problem? Getting a ticket is going to be a nightmare.

Of course, the real draw of WWDC isn’t the developer hobnobbing — at least not for most of us. This is the event where we learn about what Apple has planned for the next versions of iOS and OS X. At this point, it’s all but guaranteed that we’ll get our first official glimpse at iOS 9 and OS X 10.11 during the second week of June.

So, what are you hoping to see at this year’s WWDC? Do you think Apple will surprise us all with a brand new product, or are we in for more of the same?

POPE USED IPAD SOLD FOR BIG, BIG DOLLARS How much would you be willing to pay for an old, used iPad? Not too much, right? But what if that iPad once belonged to Pope Francis?

One bidder ponied up a cool US$35,000 for an Apple tablet once owned by the head of the Catholic organisation. The iPad sold at auction in Uruguay last Tuesday, and the proceeds will

be donated to a local school for the poor.

The device is engraved with the inscription “His Holiness Francisco and comes with a certificate signed by the Pope’s secretary, Fabian PedacchioLeaniz. Castells said the winning bid was placed by telephone, but declined to name the buyer.

The iPad will join a number of other vintage Apple products that have fetched big bucks at auction. In October, one of the first computers Apple ever produced

HUAWEI SAYS P8 PHONES HAVE ‘PROFESSIONAL’ CAMERA FEATURES Huawei has unveiled its latest flagship phones with cameras that it says are capable of creating “professional” looking photos and videos.

The firm said a mix of an advanced sensor and optical image stabilisation tech offered superior night photos and the ability to create “light painting” effects with real-time previews.The phone is

sold for a record $905,000 at auction in New York, far surpassing expectations.

In addition, in 2013, a working Apple-1 sold for $671,000at an auction in Germany, surpassing the previous record of $640,000 set by the same auction house in November. Before that, Sotheby’s in New York sold one for $374,500.

capable of photo effects including light paintings and long low-light exposures Huawei’s challenge is how to differentiate a great-looking device from the sea of similar smartphones.

Apple’s vice-like grip on the highend smartphone market has effectively locked out all rivals, with the possible exception of Samsung, which has to make an eye-watering marketing investment to attract consumers to its new products.

WHITE-COLOUR PIXELS The new Android-powered phones, which were unveiled in London, come in two sizes - the basic P8 with a 5.2in screen (13.2cm) and the P8max with a larger than normal 6.8in (17.3cm) display.

Both feature a 13 megapixel rear camera whose image sensor includes pixels dedicated to measuring white light as well as the more common red, green and blue colour pixels.

The firm says this delivers improved images in high contrast and low light situations.In addition, the handset features what the firm’s claims to be a “best-in-class” stabilisation component that minimises camera shake.

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

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Tonto encourages fans to ‘turn the other cheek’ E TONTO DIKEH

VENTS in recent times have continued to show a different and reformed Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, also known as ‘Mrs X’.

The Nigerian actress is known for controversies, but since her alleged husband-snatching saga, she has almost become a motivational speaker, posting inspirational messages on her Instagram page for her fans to make use of.

Tonto, a River State-born ‘Dirty Secrets’ star, not too long ago advised her

followers not to be moved by negative comments said about them, noting that “what people think about you is none of your business.”

She stressed that “There are some people in this world who have nothing better to do than bi*ch about you.

“If they have the time to talk about you negatively, they don’t have time to do any of the great things you are doing. These same people will smile in your face, because really, deep down they are scared of you,” Tonto wrote.

Ghanaian beauty set to dethrone Naija’s Omotola ––to become Africa’s sexiest actress

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JOSELYN DUMAS

HEN a woman has a body that keeps people talking, the rumblings that occasionally accompany her is usually generated by the male folks. And that is the situation in which Ghanaian actress, Joselyn Dumas has found herself.

Having co-hosted an event in Ghana over the weekend, she has since remained the talking point of the show because of her killer curves, which seem to have side-lined that of Nigeria’s Tolu Oniru, popularly called ‘Toolz’.

The outfits Dumas wore accentuated her figure, which left many people talking.

But with the way things are going, the Ghanaian actress seems to be ready and ripe enough to displace Nigerian actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde as Africa’s sexiest.

Some time ago, Omotola, with her hour-glass figure, was hailed the sexiest actress in Africa; but with the attention Dumas is getting these days, Omotola might just be a learner. (NigeriaFilms.com)

The actress added that, “The weak find negativity amongst all your positivity, highlighting how they could do what you are doing if they wanted to. They couldn’t or else they would shut up and do it.

“In reality, all they can do is talk. In fact, they can’t do anything, just keep your name ringing out to people because secretly they admire you; jealousy, and envy are self-destructive.”

Concluding, Tonto said, “I hope this helps someone who needs these words, I write to inspire.” (NigeriaFilms.com)

Desmond Elliot breaks out the champagne Desmond Elliot

OMOTOLA JALADE-EKEINDE

ALTHOUGH the results are yet to be officially announced, actor-turned-politician, Desmond Elliot is reportedly already celebrating his victory at the recent Lagos House of Assembly polls.

Desmond, who contested on the platform of the APC (All Progressives Congress) to represent the State of Surulere, marked his impending victory by popping some bottles. This in spite of news going the rounds that he was caught bribing voters.

Whatever the results, Elliot will go in history as the only entertainer that ran a successful campaign in the race for a seat in the Lagos House. (NigeriaFilms.com)

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

In West Berbice:

DROUGHT...STORM…NOW MOSQUITO INVASION - WHAT’S NEXT?

By Steve Narine BETWEEN the muddy waters of the Abary Creek and the ever running tide of the Berbice River stretches an expanse of land - rich and fertile.

But it’s a land of fluctuating fortune burnt recently by drought, flooded by rains and struck by thunderstorm.

It is a place where tigers prowl in people’s backyards and alligators have their mid-day siestas on the public roads.

Now millions of tropical pests threaten to destroy livestock and menace human beings.

Already many animals have succumbed to a massive “mosquito invasion.”

INTERESTING SECTION The West Coast of Berbice, with all its subversion, remains one of the most interesting sections of the ‘ancient county’. Visit this land when the rice is in bloom.

Watch the thousands of acres of young plants…like a green sea….stretching before you until it is lost in the horizon.

Return when it is harvest time and see the “sea of green” change to yellow.

But once famous for its abundant small game and fishing, this “land of comfort” faces a deteriorating destiny.

“Things are changing rapidly,” said a farmer. A decade ago we lived in comfort and harmony. Today only adverse conditions threaten us.”

“The big tractors have driven all our birds away. The sea defence irrigation sys-

tem has dried all our waterways where we caught fishes. Now the mosquitoes want to send us packing.”

‘DESERT WASTES’

The recent dry weather which changed the lands into “desert waste” and brought down tigers on the rampage was not repaired by rain.

Instead the heavy rains only flooded the lands and destroyed all hopes of the remaining

seeds sprouting. Then, still recovering from these drawbacks, the land was suddenly shattered by a ravaging thunderstorm.

In a devastating spell at Hopetown a storm struck leaving 83 people homeless and exposed.

Leaving as quickly as it came…all in a matter of minutes - like something seeking vengeance.

ANOTHER MENACE Even now another menace threatens them - a mosquito invasion.

The perpetual falling of the rain created breeding grounds for these pests.

And even down at East Coast Demerara similar invasions have been reported.

But an official of the Medical Department denied this, saying: “No reports have been received.”

Meanwhile, residents continue to suffer.

Using all their improvised methods of defence - smoking pots and mosquito brushes “with the vain hope of defeating the menace”.

“What will happen next?” they ask.

(Taken from Guyana Graphic July 15th, 1959)

Inside the Law:

CEDDIE & EDDIE HAD A SQUALL

CEDRIC is a man of an adventurous spirit. He has to be, for it is years now that he prospects for gold in the interior.

But while the spirit of adventure and pioneers are qualities to be admired and encouraged he was advised the other day to keep them for the bush.

In fact Magistrate Frank Vieira, before whom he appeared, told him that he should return to the goldfields as soon as possible for, in Georgetown, he would certainly run into trouble.

It seems that Cedric who spent years prospecting in the interior for gold came to town to spend some of the ‘yellow stuff’ and that is when he ran into trouble.

He had gone to a City Hotel to do another type of prospecting and there he met Edward.

Now Edward, it must be explained, is one of those chaps who is always on hand to help out chaps such as Cedric. And before the night was halfway out he had supplied the necessary female company for the lonely bushman.

However things did not go as either Cedric or Edward and for that matter the lady too, had planned for Cedric changed his mind about the transaction at the very last moment.

HE WAS FURIOUS Now to say that Edward was furious was putting it mildly. For Cedric’s fickleness had cost him his commission and a lot of drinks.

“You only waste de girl time,” he fumed as Cedric left the hotel and went into the street. “De whole night you deh wid she sporting and now you going home.”

Now these chaps from the bush are not accustomed to that kind of talk and Cedric is no exception.

The upshot was that the two men got into such a violent argument that the drowsy sentry at the Ministerial building in High Street had to leave his location to put an end to the row.

The following morning the men were

before Mr. Vieira charged with disorderly behaviour.

“Guilty or not?” they were asked and a smooth talking Edward said that he was.

“And what about you?” the Magistrate questioned the miner.

“Sir, is this man been making all the noise,” Cedric said.

“Guilty or not?”

“Ah guilty then Sir”, Cedric gave in.

“What do you want to say?” Mr Vieira asked Edward.

“Nothin,” the fellow said with a shrug of his shoulders.

Cedric however had a lot to say and it was from him that the Magistrate heard of Edward’s night life activities and his reasons for rejecting the proposal at the very last minute.

However when he was finished, the records showed that Cedric was not the saint he pretended to be for his misdeeds were all recorded in the interior where such behaviour is more commonplace.

“I see that you are a bush man,” Mr

Vieira told him examining the record and Cedric smiled rather self-consciously.

“You appeared at some courts that I have never even heard of” declared Mr Vieira as he read off the interior courts at which Cedric had been convicted.

“That is when ah drink,” Cedric explained lamely.

“Yes and you were drinking last night,” Mr Vieira rejoined.

“So you better go back to the bush,” he advised as he fined the pair ten dollars each.

“Georgetown is a dangerous place for you,” Mr Vieira told Cedric, adding, “go back to the bush…you seem to know it well.”

And promising to do just that Cedric departed. At least there he would not meet chaps like Eddie.

(From Guyana Graphic July 17, 1959) (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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GUYANESE AUTHOR FEATURED IN “AUTUMN YEARS” MAGAZINE NEW Milford, New Jersey, April 2015: PRIZE-WINNING Guyanese-American author Christopher H.K. Persaud was featured recently in “Autumn Years”, a Bergen County, New Jersey,

USA recreational magazine about notable Bergen County residents and their pastimes and achievements.

Persaud, who migrated to the USA over 32 years ago, moved with his family

to New Jersey, after living in New York for about 22 years. The “Autumn Years” article traces Christopher’s life from his childhood in Guyana (then British Guiana) to young adulthood, and his involvement in the Guyanese corporate world to his migration, along with his family, to the United States of America.

Persaud continued his career in finance and accounting at a number of entrenched national institutions, including the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He is presently Grants Administrator of a set of federally qualified health centers in Essex County in New Jersey.

The story places special emphasis on Persaud’s role as a published writer and poet. Christopher has, to date, written

seven full-length books, and has garnered five international literary awards.

Many of his essays and articles appear on the worldwide Internet.

Christopher is also a published poet, and his poetry is showcased in a number of international poetry anthologies. He expects to publish a book of poems in the near future.

Christopher is married to Pamela, and they have three sons – Duane, Jason and Justin.

The Autumn Years article can be accessed at www.autumnyearsmag. com Click on the Spring 2015 issue cover. Click on CONTENTS. Click on NEW MILFORD’S CHRISTOPHER PERSAUD for article. Zoom in for easy reading.

TYRONE NELSON

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Bahamas-based Guyanese fashion/costume designer of exceptional talent

By Alex Wayne

IT is not good enough to merely have dreams if you just let them remain as dreams. Those were the words of Bahamas-based Guyanese fashion/costume designer Tyrone Nelson.

Just 27 years old, Nelson graduated from the Charlestown Secondary and the Felix Austin Police Training College, traded in his gun and uniform after just one year and eight months of service to the Guyana Police Force, and migrated in pursuit of his dream to

Nevis at the Fashion Week, and the list goes on.

But while some may have qualms about being a male designer in the Caribbean, Nelson is not the least bit bothered. This former Guyana Police Force rank, who graduated as Best Classroom Student of his course, went on to complete a course and graduate from the University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus in Barbados in the field of business management, en route to starting his ‘English Duck International’ Designs (EDI) Company in October of 2006.

Nelson’s entry into fashion started as a hanger/model in Barbados under the Ebony Model Agency. He has to his name competition titles such as Mr. Ebony Barbados and Face of Shabeau Barbados. He also struts his stuff on many runways, including the Barbados Fashion Week event.

But even as he was enjoying the limelight as a runway model, he wanted more hands-on experience, as there seemed to be a paucity of creativity reflected in what designers gave him to wear. This desire saw him officially launch his EDI Line in 2007 at the Barbados Manufacturers Expo (BMEX) with a title, “Evolution”.

“The reviews were more than I anticipated for my artistic and creative work, and so I went after and completed a Diploma in “Fashion” at the Barbados Community College.” Since then, under his EDI Designs, Nelson ‘has not looked back’. In fact, his creations have found their way on stages including the “Caribbean Fashion Week; Red Run Way Fashion Show in Trinidad & Tobago; Ester Barnes Fashion Show in Toronto, Canada; Guyana Fashion Week; Barbados Fashion Week; and

Style Week Jamaica, as well as in the Bahamas.

“When you think of “futuristic”, that’s what EDI Designs is all about,” says Nelson, whose creations are as diverse as they are limitless for the more fashion-forward men and women.

“I’ve designed for individuals who want to make a fashion statement, as well as for pageants such as the Miss Guyana Talented Teen, Miss Freeport Bahamas, and Point-a-Pierre in Trinidad, among other names. In August of 2011, in the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Nelson launched his all-male clothing line, “venom”, to rave reviews, and there arose the challenge to create, design and produce carnival costumes.

In 2012 he made the bold step to create for children and adults. Naturally, many of his creations copped top prizes such as Band and Individual of the Year.

Nelson has since not stopped, and has taken his creations beyond the Caribbean borders to Miami also.

“I’m doing fairly well, but I’m not where I need to be just yet; but I’m determined to make a name for myself as a Guyanese who really rocks not just runways, but also made it into costumes for stars and movies,” he says.

Nelson is ever grateful to the Caribbean fashion icon Trinidad-born Fashion Guru and Artistic Director Richard Young, whom he says has been a guiding and influential personnel on his journey thus far.

Young has signed onto Nelson’s EDI designs clothing line as brand manager. To contact Nelson, visit: www.facebook.com/pages/Tyrone-Nelson-EDI-Designs.

Talented Guyanese designer Tyrone Nelson

be in the fashion fraternity. And now he’s well on his way to being a Guyanese fashion ambassador internationally, using pins, chains, furs, paint, cords, and fabric galore to do that.

While some guys are in the proverbial “valley of decision” as regards a career, the Freeport, Bahamas-based Guyanese Nelson, who hails from Bagotstown, East Bank Demerara, is currently in Trinidad preparing for the Tobago Fashion Week, scheduled for May. On that occasion, he will be launching a new clothing line, dubbed “Venom”, even as his clothing line “Leiu de Style”, Water in Style, will also be featured in an all-male fashion show during the Miss Port of Spain Pageant, which is being held as part of the centenary celebration of Port of Spain.

That apart, this Charlestown Secondary School graduate has got his plate crammed with events to showcase his creativity.

“I’m already booked up for numerous other shows, such as the Red Run Way Fashion Show in Trinidad; Virgin Islands Fashion Week; and the Antigua Fashion Week, where I was the featured Designer at the Launch.” He is also booked to showcase his designs in

Some of the brilliant designs created by this local designer.

THE TREE OF LIFE

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Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

Providing food, water, shelter, and

By Tajeram Mohabir

EVERYONE knows about ‘THE COCONUT TREE’, but how many know about its vast productive use?

It can easily be called ‘the tree of life’ as it provides food and water, and serves the needs of man in terms of nutrition, shelter and medicine.

In Guyana, the coconut three can be found in almost every yard in every rural village, and on some residences in the capital city, Georgetown.

Standing both short and tall, upright and sloped, the coconut tree does not only beautify its surroundings, but provides a ready source of refreshment after a good game of cricket or football, or a march in the brilliant tropical sun, or a fishing trip in one of the many back-

focused on a range of areas, including value-added; pest control; developing plant varieties; and good husbandry practices.

Dr Chin said the way forward for this industry is placing focus on the value-added side of production, but the industry has to be private sector-driven, with Government providing the enabling environment.

The Government, he said, has shown a genuine interest in resuscitating the industry, but for the industry to reach the stage it should be, it would require receiving similar support as is given to rice and sugar.

“My gut feeling is that we can double our productivity just by recognising the potential of the industry. By recognising that fact, we can quadruple the opportunities to be had from value-added products,” Dr Chin said.

HIGH DEMAND From the tree can come a product that is ideal for practically anything.

Once the tree is about 30 years old, the trunk can be used to make durable wood craft; and many here use the branches to make brooms. From the coconut tree comes copra and coconut water.

According to Dr Chin, there currently exists a ready market for coconut

dams in 83,000 square miles of Guyana.

It is estimated that some 60,000 acres of land are under coconut cultivation; and in terms of priority agriculture crop, coconut ranks third behind rice and sugar.

About half of the coconuts produced are exported to The Dominican Republic at a good price. These are mainly dried nuts.

Seasoned private and public sector manager and professional nutritionist Dr Leslie Chin said years ago that the coconut contributed one per cent of Guyana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Given its priority ranking, the contribution of the produce to GDP can easily be considered an underachievement.

But the Ministry of Agriculture, through the National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), has signalled its intention to resuscitate and position the industry on the path to realise its full potential.

WORK STARTED This will require much work, Dr Chin told the Chronicle. He noted that, importantly, the work has started.

Recently, two experts from Mexico visited Guyana to host a workshop for local farmers and related players in the coconut industry. During discussions, the experts

and with new technology and the addition of balata, a more refined product has been made.

These mattresses, the scientist said, were produced on a small scale under a poverty reduction programme in the Pomeroon, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam).

Dr Chin, a chemist by profession, spearheaded the making of the mattresses, and sold more than 200 to the Guyana Defence Force Dr Leslie Chin (GDF). He said there is a demand for the product, but it needs to be properly marketed.

The dust from the coconut fibre can also be used as fertiliser, while the shell of the coconut has been identified as a valuable product of the nut. Apart from being used to make craft items, the shell is also used to make charcoal.

ACTIVATED CARBON The charcoal, Dr Chin said, can be converted into activated carbon, which has a market in Guyana; but it will call for strategic business partnerships.

He said that in the heydays of OMAI, the company

A coconut plantation at Wakenaam, Region Three (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) water, demand for the product grows by some 5 to 10 per cent annually; but market for the copra is limited, stifling its potential.

He explained that it is much cheaper to produce palm or soya bean oil than it is to produce coconut oil.

Dr Chin told this publication that, some time ago, the fibre from coconut was used to make mattresses;

had a demand for some 800 tonnes of activated carbon annually at US$800 per tonne.

Activated carbon is used in the extraction of gold, and the scientist said that although Guyana had the capacity of supplying OMAI’s demand, transportation was an issue.

He estimated at the time that the production of 800

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d taking care of our medical needs tonnes of activated carbon required some 50 million coconut shells, which was gettable as Guyana was producing some 100 million nuts on an annual basis.

With several large mining operations in Guyana

from palm can be produced way cheaper.

A yellow colouring can also be extracted from the root of the tree, which can be used for dying fabrics. But this aside, the coconut milk and oil have been promoted

Copra from coconut is used to make oil using cyanide in the gold extraction process, Dr Chin said there is a viable opportunity for locals to supply activated carbon to these companies, but the business will require a partnership approach to be successful.

There can also be a healthy market for toddy. Toddy is a sweet drink extracted from the inflorescent before it is opened.

The liquid is extracted by tying the inflorescent before it opens, putting it in a downward direction and cutting the tip of the stock. A container is placed to collect the sweet substance, which amounts to about 2 litres per day, and the inflorescent pours for 20 days.

The tasty drink does not require processing, but requires refrigeration to remain fresh.

Dr Chin said if farmers are cultivating coconut palms for toddy, they can plant the trees close together, and a hectare of crop can produce 250 tonnes of litres. At US$2 per litre, he said, a farmer can earn a cool US$500,000.

SUGAR The liquid, Dr Chin said, can also be evaporated to produce syrup, which, when converted in a concentrate, can produce crystallised sugar, much like the crystallised sugar from sugar cane.

The market potential of this product, he said, is great, but requires marketing to be successful commercially.

Coconut is also being used to make pastries and cosmetics. It can also be used to make bio-diesel, Dr Chin said. However, it would not be a viable business as oil

as products with great health benefits.

Dr Chin believes that in the next 20 years, if given proper attention, the coconut industry, coconut produc-

tion and production of coconut products can become a major contributor to GDP. In another decade, he said, about 90 per cent of nuts produced will be for the water, as the demand for coconut water has been increasing significantly every year.

Importantly too, he said, like the other value-added products from coconut, production has to expand from the cottage industry to the commercial level to gain mainstream recognition.

But the industry, he said, is not big enough for this to happen. Another disadvantage, Dr Chin said, is that many coconut cultivations are small and not centralised, thus not allowing for harnessing of maximum benefits in relation to the logistical side of business.

These issues, he said can be fully addressed with the establishment of a team of experts to look into the challenges facing the industry, and providing a plan for the way forward.

But importantly, he said, it would be necessary for Government to give its full support to this work and a strong commitment to development of the coconut industry.

Government has recognised the potential of the industry in its National Agriculture Strategy 2013-2020.

In the strategy paper, the Government said the coconut industry will be re-engineered with a new orientation for value-added products.

Globally, the coconut industry is estimated to worth US$1 billion, and this value is likely to continue growing in the years ahead.

Dr Chin said that if the industry is given its due attention, there will be a bright future ahead for the industry.

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Ricky Sawh celebrates 50th milestone in Persian style

S

The Persian King (Ricky Sawh) is reposed in regal glory as the Persian Queen (Miss Mala) hovers nearby

Belly dancers Crystal Wayne and ‘Hefty Momma’ created quite a stir as they escorted the Sawh Family to the banquet hall

OME men are just lucky to have the best of wives, and Ricky Sawh has certainly found himself a diamond.

This year, through her efforts, Ricky Sawh celebratated his 50th birth anniversary with a lavish ceremony done in Persian style at the banquet hall in Park View Hotel at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara.

Each year, the feisty and bombastic ‘Miss Mala’, as she is popularly known, comes up with intriguing party concepts that are quite a thrill; and this year she topped it all when she hosted a lavish ‘Persian style’ birthday bash for her husband.

The guests numbered close to two hundred, and of course they were the very elite of society. When the ‘Persian King’ (Ricky Sawh) arrived with a roll of drums and a blare of trumpets, he was escorted by two provocative belly dancers who created havoc at the venue.

As the dancers ‘Crystal Wayne’ and ‘Hefty Momma’ twitched, trembled and shook their hips enticingly, the king and queen arrived, followed by the ‘Persian princes and princesses’.

With fifty exotic dishes to sample, the guests marvelled as they enjoyed fantastic delicacies that accompanied dances, speeches, songs and poems from well-wishers and close relatives.

GT&T’s ‘Feel the Beat’ Dancer Ean Spelling was also quite a hot item on the agenda. And our own Alex Wayne created tropical shock waves as the MC of the event, much to the delight of the jovial invitees.

This year, we will just let the photos speak for themselves…

The favourite dance of the evening

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THE TOP 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD EVERY country has its marvels and breathtaking landscapes, but these ten are blessed with a rare package

of outstanding natural beauty and man-made wonders that enhance their territories with everything from

1 | ITALY

THE world’s most beautiful city, the most inspiring cultural treasures, and magnificent scenery: Nowhere else in the world will you find a bigger concentration of beauty. There’s Venice, Florence and Rome with their varied architecture, the natural masterpiece that is

beautiful cities to timeless villages, magnificent parks and pristine scenery. They are countries that offer a

variety of sights and an abundance of inspiration from man and nature.

(Source (www.ucityguides.com)

2 | SPAIN

Tuscany with its rolling hills, vineyards and snow-peaked mountains. Then there’s the perfect naturalist painting that is the Amalfi Coast or Lake Maggiore and the Alps and you get the sense that no country on Earth offers as much beauty anywhere you turn as Italy.

3 | FRANCE

THE most common image of Spain is of the dreadful overdevelopment of the Costa del Sol or of the coastline of some of the Balearic Islands, but Spain is so much more than that.

It’s perhaps the most diverse country in the world, with everything from white Mediterranean villages to sophisticated urban centers.

You won’t find a city with a greater sense of individuality than Barcelona, and from the Pyrenees to Andalusia, Spain could serve as

the backdrop for any kind of film, book or painting. It’s also the world’s most seductive country, passionate about living the good life reflected on grand plazas in even the smaller cities, in well-preserved historic centers, and in the smallest of villages perched on hilltops.

To top it all off, there are some of the world’s grandest, most powerful and incomparable architectural treasures, from the Alhambra to the Great Mosque of Cordoba.

4 | AUSTRALIA

PARIS exudes the most perfect atmosphere of cultural grandeur but although the capital gets all the attention, France offers so much more. Villages with abundant Old World charm are all over the country, from around the magnificent Loire Valley to verdant Provence. Then there’s the glamorous Riviera and if you want to see the world’s greatest palace (Versailles) and museum (the

Louvre), here they are. But France is also a country of world-class living in outdoor cafes, in perfectly-preserved towns and in wine-producing regions such as Bordeaux and Champagne. If that’s not enough, see the majesty of Mont St. Michel, the numerous chateaux all over the country and the spectacular panorama of the Chamonix valley.

AUSTRALIA is more than a country, it’s a continent and still more than that. It’s its own world, from the Outback and the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park with its world-renowned stone monolith to the Kakadu National Park.

It’s in fact wild parks and a wide range of landscapes that make Australia so extraordinary, from the Mornington Peninsula National Park facing the open sea to the Great Barrier

Reef that’s one of the natural wonders of the world, to the unspoiled tropical Whitsunday Islands, but then there’s Sydney and its harbor, one of the most beautiful and iconic urban areas. Australia has it all, to be admired before or after a ride down the Great Ocean Road. ► Continued on page XXIV

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THE TOP 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL COUNTRIES ...

6 | PORTUGAL

5 | GREECE

THE Greek Islands on the blue waters of the Aegean Sea are home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. They’re the first images of the country but then there’s the majestic Mt. Olympus, extraordinary Meteora,

and ancient ruins around the country. While Athens disappoints those looking for aesthetic inspiration, Greece is a country that truly satisfies all the senses and it’s understandable how the idea of so many gods originated here.

7 | USA

FOR the pristine natural wonders of the volcanic Azores alone, Portugal would be on this list. Then there’s the “floating garden” that is Madeira, the dramatic coastline and mystical capes of the mainland, the serene plains of the Alentejo with the stunningly-sited white medieval vilages of Marvão and Monsaraz, the Peneda-Gerês National Park, or the perfect collaboration of man and nature in the

magic fantasy of Sintra and verdant Douro Valley. And while the old centers of Lisbon and Porto are inexplicably rundown and stubbornly neglected, it’s hard to match their scenic beauty with their grand riverside settings. Everything is in a small scale but when all combined it’s impressive how so much diverse beauty somehow fits in such a tiny country that seems to be a favorite of the sun.

8 | BRAZIL

IT has the ugliest cities in the developed world linked by shopping mall roads of fast food joints, car lots, billboards, cheap HOTELS AND soulless suburbs (with populations obliviously living the American nightmare), but when it comes to nature, America really is the beautiful. There are the Hawaiian islands, the epic scale of the Grand Canyon, the extraordi-

narily clear waters of Lake Tahoe, California’s Big Sur, the wildlife in Alaska, the breathtaking scenery of Monument Valley or of Yellowstone, Yosemite and the other great national parks, the forestland of the Great Smoky Mountains... The list of natural wonders seems to go on forever and then there’s San Francisco to save the country on the offer of beauty in an urban setting.

9 | SOUTH AFRICA

CAPE Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities (let’s just say it’s number 11 on our top 10 list), and the Kruger National Park is one of the most memorable experiences on the planet for anyone who visits. South Africa offers epic diversity of landscapes, from the Blyde River Canyon to the Drakensberg

Mountains. With all of that it’s almost easy to forget that it’s also a country full of problems with a capital city that is best avoided, but escape to the Cape and grab your camera to photograph all in between and you’ll be savoring one of the most awe-inspiring territories on the planet.

IT has one of the world’s most beautiful cities (Rio de Janeiro) and one of the ugliest(São Paulo) but Brazil really is blessed by nature. The Amazon is incomparable, impossible to begin to imagine its magnitude, and the horseshoe-shaped falls of Iguaçu regularly watched by a rainbow is one of the world’s most breathtaking sights. The

colonial baroque architecture of the northeast with their golden interiors mixed with singular traditions give it one of the world’s most soulful atmospheres, and if the country’s other major cities weren’t so bland (Brasilia, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Manaus, etc.), Brazil would actually rank higher on this list.

10 | GERMANY

YES, Germany. Perhaps the world’s most underrated country, Germany is a place of fairytales and architectural jewels. They’re not necessarily found in the largest cities (Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, or Cologne which are more vibrant than beautiful) but Munich has its charms and smaller cities such as Dresden, Leipzig and Potsdam have been preserved or restored to fairytale eye candy. But the real storybook Germany is

found all along Bavaria’s Romantic Road with its wealth of unbelievable castles, in the Alps’ gorgeous lakes and mountains, in the magical land of the Rhine with its vineyards or in the enchanting Black Forest. Begin to tour the country and you’ll discover a land of constant surprises, from the university city of Heidelberg, to old Bremen or Bamberg, to the wonderfully preserved medieval towns of Regensburg and Rothenburg.

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

Wheelbarrow Bet THE strong young man at the construction site was bragging that he could outdo anyone in a feat of strength. He made a special case of making fun of one of the older workmen. After several minutes, the older worker had had enough.

“Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is,” he said. “I will bet a week’s

wages that I can haul something in a wheelbarrow over to that outbuilding that you won’t be able to wheel back.”

“You’re on, old man,” the braggart replied. “Let’s see what you got.”

The old man reached out and grabbed the wheelbarrow by the handles. Then, nodding to the young man, he said,“All right. Get in.”

The Talkative Parrot

RHONDA’S dishwasher quit working so she called a repairman. Since she had to go to work the next day, she told the repairman, “I’ll leave the key under the mat. Fix the dishwasher, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll mail you a check.

Oh, by the way don’t worry about my bulldog. He won’t bother you.

But, whatever you do, do NOT, under ANY circumstances, talk to my parrot!”

“I REPEAT, DO NOT TALK TO MY PARROT!!!”

When the repairman arrived at Wan-

da’s apartment the following day, he discovered the biggest, meanest looking bulldog he has ever seen. But, just as she had said, the dog just lay there on the carpet watching the repairman go about his work.

The parrot, however, drove him nuts the whole time with his incessant yelling, cursing and name calling. Finally the repairman couldn’t contain himself any longer and yelled, “Shut up, you stupid ugly bird!” To which the parrot replied, “Get him, Spike!”

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Dirty Toothbrush

A small boy came running out of the bathroom in tears.

“What’s the matter?” asked his father.

“I dropped my toothbrush in the toilet.”

“Okay, don’t worry, but we’d better throw it out” So the father fished the toothbrush

out of the toilet and put it in the garbage.

When he returned, the boy was holding another toothbrush.

“Isn’t that my toothbrush?” the father said.

“Yes,” said the boy, “and we’d better throw this one out too, because it fell in the toilet four days ago.”

Words Words Words

A husband, proving to his wife that women talk more than men, showed her a study which indicated that men use about 15,000 words a day, whereas women use 30,000 words a day.

She thought about this, then told her husband that women use twice as many words as men because they have to repeat everything they say.

Looking stunned, he said, “What?”

Man goes to a dentist

A man went to his dentist because he feels something wrong in his mouth.

The dentist examines him and says, “that new upper plate I put in for you six months ago is eroding. What have you been eating?”

The man replies, “all I can think of is that about four months ago my wife made some asparagus and put some stuff on it that was delicious...Hollandaise sauce. I loved it so much I now put it on everything --- meat, toast, fish, vegeta-

bles, everything.”

“Well,” says the dentist, “that’s probably the problem. Hollandaise sauce is made with lots of lemon juice, which is highly corrosive. It’s eaten away your upper plate. I’ll make you a new plate, and this time use chrome.” “Why chrome?” asks the patient.

To which the dentist replies, “It’s simple. Everyone knows that there’s no plate like chrome for the Hollandaise!”

XXVII

XXVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

XXIX

XXX

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Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

XXXI

XXXII

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XXXIII

XXXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

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XXXV

XXXVI

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

XXXVII

ARIES - If it seems like you’ve done nothing but rush around lately, this week brings the chance to catch your breath. After all the razzamatazz and excitement, pause and assess your progress. You’ll also need to think about money and other resources, such as talents, information, and anything else necessary to get ahead and how you might make use them. If you still want to commit, make April 18 the day you decide you’ll stick with a plan or new relationship no matter what.

TAURUS -It’s time to turn inspiration into perspiration - take that bright idea and run with it. In this respect, Mercury’s move into your sign primes your ability to plan and research your options. But there’s no rush. Allow whatever you have in mind to grow organically and you won’t go far wrong. Don’t force anything, but do take advantage of a wave of enthusiasm on Thursday to make a start. Meanwhile, a romantic dream can come true over the weekend.

GEMINI - Have you been finding it hard to get through to someone? If so, this issue could come to a head around Tuesday, when the person in question may seem at their most stubborn. Don’t ask for any favours at this time, whoever it is, as you might receive short shrift. The New Moon in Aries can pave the way for a new beginning. This may be your opportunity to meet the person halfway. The weekend is great for movies, fun, and chilling out in general.

CANCER - With Jupiter forging ahead in your money zone, delays in receiving cash and other forms of abundance should soon come to an end. Those seeds you planted a while ago will begin to sprout, bringing the potential for greater income for you. You can also increase your chances of attracting golden opportunities by networking regularly, whether you’re looking for new friends or something more romantic. Begin a key goal on Saturday, when the New Moon in Aries can help you get a head start.

LEO -There’s plenty of potential for fun and drama in your life, particularly if you’re willing to move outside your comfort zone. There’s also a push to succeed in your career, which you can benefit from by slowing down and considering what you really want. It’s worth spending time doing this, as the climate is right for you to succeed so long as you’re heading in the right direction. A more sensitive influence over the weekend can spotlight some romantic possibilities.

VIRGO - The urgency around money matters may die down this week, leaving you feeling less anxious yet even more motivated to increase your earning potential. One way of doing this might be to upgrade your skill set by taking a course or class. If you’re driven to increase your knowledge, this is the time to go for it. On Saturday you’ll be confident enough to move in the direction of your dreams, as an optimistic influence pushes you to move outside your comfort zone.

LIBRA - If you’re eager to get your money working harder for you, the current alignment suggests that putting in the effort now can bring good returns further down the line. You can do even better if you’re willing to ask for advice from someone with experience. The New Moon in Aries brings an opportunity to take a relationship to a new level. Whether you’re in a budding romance or considering a business partnership, this is the time to go for it.

SCORPIO -Mercury’s move into Taurus brings an opportunity to clear the air, discuss your priorities, or find a compromise in a difficult situation. You’ll find your interactions have a soothing, beneficial effect on you. Even if you can’t agree on something, the earthy qualities of this week’s blend of energies can act as a balm to your soul. If your intense feelings have complicated matters, you’ll find the common sense solutions that show up this week to be a revelation.

SAGITTARIUS -A Venus/Saturn connection could leave you feeling out in the cold early this week. But because the aspect is temporary, things between you and another can quickly improve. As Mercury glides into Taurus it pays to nurture your mind and body by getting enough sleep, eating the right foods, and exercising regularly. If you’ve been busy, think about indulging in a spa day or massage. You are your own best resource, so it certainly pays to invest in your well-being.

CAPRICORN - The likelihood of romance is high as Mars continues its journey through sensuous Taurus. If you’re in the dating loop, you’ll have the most luck when you seek out others who share your love of the good things in life - people who enjoy gourmet food, excel at business, and love the same cultural activities. Saturday’s New Moon in Aries can be a catalyst for change on the home front. If you have a plan, that’s the day to put it into action.

AQUARIUS -A love tryst could seem to turn a little sour on Tuesday. Try not to take it personally. There’s a good chance your sweetheart has issues that have nothing to do with you. As it’s only temporary, you’ll soon be back on good terms. Are you in a long-term relationship? You may be eager to sort out home-based projects. Saturday could be your best bet, as a potent transit delivers the energy and enthusiasm to get things off to a great start.

PISCES - With Venus now in Gemini, it’s technically a great time to entertain at home and make family and friends feel welcome. The only exception to this could be Tuesday, when an edgy connection could throw a monkey wrench in the works. The weekend looks like perfect party material if you’re hoping to celebrate. It’s also excellent for a date with a romantic theme. If you want to impress or give your sweetheart special treat, this is the time to go for it.

XXXVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

Ten quick-and-easy tips for everyday etiquette

By Raveena Mangal

THERE are times throughout every day of your life when you have to make a choice of whether to use good etiquette or be impolite.

Please, for the sake of humanity and civility, take the high road and be a lady or a gentleman.

Even under the most trying of situations, it isn’t that much more difficult; and you’ll feel better later if you do the right thing.

Here are 10 quick and easy tips to assist you to practise good etiquette every day: 1. BE FRIENDLY AND POLITE: Even on miserable days, when everything seems to be going wrong, forcing a smile has the potential to lift the mood of not only the person you’re looking at, but yours as well.

Add the words ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘you’re welcome’, and ‘excuse me’ to your vocabulary, and you may find others responding with reciprocated kindness.

2. BE ON TIME: Avoid being late for an appointment with anyone, whether it’s your doctor or your child. Being on time shows that you have respect for the other person.

3. BE A HELPER: If you see someone whose arms are overloaded with packages, open the door for them. Also, if you have just entered a building and someone is right behind you, hold the door to keep it from slamming in his or her face.

4. RESPECT OTHERS: Allow others to voice their opinions without argument.

When you are in the company of someone of greater authority, show him or her proper

5. LET OTHERS GO FIRST: If you can let others go first without awkwardness, then do it! This includes walking, standing in line, and driving. A woman with small children

respect. The old saying “If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything” is wise, and should be followed in most social situations.

will appreciate getting through the checkout lane quickly, particularly if her children are hungry or bored.

6. MINIMISE THE NOISE: Keep your

cell phone ringer volume as low as possible.

If you work in an office cubicle, be considerate of your fellow office mates by keeping your voice low while chatting on the phone.

Don’t honk at other drivers, unless it’s to avoid an accident.

7. EAT POLITELY: Whether you brought your lunch or you’re eating out with friends, keep your elbows off the table, don’t talk with your mouth full, and avoid reaching across people to grab the pepper.

8. REMOVE YOUR HAT: The old “remove the hat indoors” etiquette rule still stands, and should be observed. If you are on a business call or job interview, don’t risk being seen as impolite by leaving your hat on.

When the national anthem is being played, it’s a sign of respect to stand and remove your hat.

9. SEND A ‘THANK YOU’ NOTE: Being thankful will never go out of style. When someone does something for you, or sends you a gift, thank the person with a handwritten note; a text message or a phone call can also apply.

10. INTRODUCE PEOPLE: When you are in a situation in which you’re the only person who knows the other parties, take the time to introduce them. Look at the person whose name you are saying; speak clearly; and if you’re in a social setting, find something the people have in common. (Source: etiquette.about.com)

SALVAGE AND CREATE – DIYs, beauty and fashion tips from Raveena Mangal HELLO EVERYONE! We are now in our customary February-to -April ‘dry’ season.

It’s filled with days when, after brightbright sunshine, you just want to shout at our suddenly gloomy sky: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!”

Instead of accepting the fact that you’ll either be too cold or too hot, remember these tips when you’re choosing your outfit and thinking of your skin.

1. OPT FOR A MAXI (which is quite the

rage currently). For those days when you are not quite sure if you want to go with shorts or pants (trousers), throw on a maxi dress or skirt. That way, you have the airiness of a dress with the cover of trousers.

A block-coloured dress paired with a nice jacket can also be worn for work.

2. THROW ON A SCARF On a breezy or rainy day, add a light scarf to your ensemble for added warmth. If you get too hot, you can always take it off and tie it to your handag for a cute look.

A scarf is also an easy way to add detail to a simple outfit, like a plain tee.

3 . T RY A K N E E - L E N G T H , HIGH-WAISTED CIRCLE SKIRT. These are the perfect solution to our weather dilemma. They’re great for keeping cool on your commute (they’re breezier and less constricting than pencil skirts), but they’re still office-appropriate.

Pair one with a collared blouse and you’ll stay cool as a cucumber and warm in an office which has AC. 4. AVOID HEAVY MAKEUP Heavy makeup can run in rain or too much heat. It is better if one opts for water- proof makeup or simple looks.

5. WASH YOUR LIPS AT NIGHT, and use a simple mixture of sugar and honey to slough away dead skin cells; and moisturize with petroleum jelly or coconut oil overnight.

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

Horse Sense

Dear Wayne & Tamara,

I’M a girl, 17, and I have known this guy my whole life. The boy I’m talking about is dealing with a lot right now. Four months ago his mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and recently started treatment.

We were church friends until last summer when we worked at camp together. As you can guess, I developed feelings for him. We suspected it would happen, but I never made my feelings clear because he told me he didn’t want that and I didn’t want to get hurt.

The more I kept it a secret the more hurt I got, especially since one of my best friends was becoming close to him.

I was so stressed, after five months I told him the truth. He told me he knew. I was hurt he didn’t confront me about it because I thought we had more trust than that.

He doesn’t believe this is a big deal and doesn’t appreciate that I put him in this position because he already made it clear he doesn’t like me that way. I was so hurt and confused I didn’t attend Dear Hanna, Hanna, a few days ago Tamara showed me a YouTube video of horses clustered on a grassy hilltop in the mountains.

A mountain biker, a grown man, brazenly moves toward one horse, who seems to be standing guard over the others.

This horse doesn’t care for the man’s advance. As the man draws nearer, it swishes its tail back and forth. Yet the man doesn’t break stride, even when the horse puts its ears flat against its head.

As the horse goes stifflegged, its entire body rigid, the man walks closer and holds out his hand to

church for two months.

Recently I started going back, and he’s noticed I don’t look him in the eye. Since my return, we’ve had numerous texting conversations. In the first I apologised for everything. The rest were to see how he was or him texting me stupid questions. Who did you sit with at the hockey game? Are you having people over this weekend?

Once, after I yet again apologised, he freaked out and said he was tired of me making him feel guilty and trying to change his feelings.

But I’m still hurt he doesn’t like me, isn’t too concerned about being friends again and is so close with my best friend. I’m trying desperately to fix this and he doesn’t even care.

Now I don’t want to make him out to be a bad guy, after all he’s got a lot on his plate right now, even if that’s no excuse.

You may say I need to let it all go. And in most cases you’re right, but this is someone I have to see once or twice a week. We have a lot of friends in common. I can’t just shut him out or act like it’s no big deal.

touch the horse’s muzzle.

In a flash the horse bites the man’s arm, breaking the flesh but not the bone.

The man retreats in pain.

Three times the horse signaled Do Not Advance.

Three times the man ignored him. Does this situation sound familiar?

This boy wants you as a friend. He thinks despite your feelings, you will stop coming on to him. He wants things to be the way they should be once someone tells another ‘no’.

And somehow you think he is the inconsiderate one.

A bad guy would trifle with you and take advantage of your crush. Be glad he isn’t that kind of guy.

Be patient. Someday you’ll find a man who shares your feelings, a man who won’t put his ears back at your advance.

Wayne

I can tell whenever it’s brought up, it causes him grief, and he doesn’t want to discuss it further. How do I fix this?

Hanna

XXXIX

JOEL GHANSHAM

XL

Chronicle Pepperpot April 19, 2015

-Just what the television has been craving for!

By Shivanie Sugrim OVER the years, television production in Guyana has drastically evolved with robust support from producers like Joel Ghansham.

Born with an inherent passion for volunteerism and upholding the tenets of the East-Indian culture, Joel has proven to be what Guyana has been craving for in the television industry.

‘Television production’ may appear as a walk through the park for some persons; but for Joel, after serving five consecutive years as a producer at the National Television Network (NTN) in Guyana, his accomplishments go beyond fame.

Renowned for his talk shows and his unique attire, Ghansham has been concentrating on adding more to the television industry, with his passion for culture leading him to chase the film industry to recreate long-standing Indian movies to match modern-day societies.

His biggest challenge is finding people who can think “outside of the box”, since

many producers tend to side with clichés. He believes that filming and production are both in their infancy in this country, since many are concerned about the dangers of expressing their opinions on air.

A bold Ghansham then says, “I have no hesitation when it comes to those things!”

His vision for Guyana’s television industry in the coming five years is invariably optimistic. He has declared with confidence that Guyana has the platform for the television/broadcast industry, and is heading in the right direction, but many are too unqualified to handle what the industry requires of them. To mend such a problem, Ghansham says it is time persons work on their “deliverances” and “attitudes”, since broadcast journalism calls for great personalities.

Ghansham has, thus far, advertised for numerous private entities in Guyana. He has done approximately 2025 advertisements followed by newly added talk shows.

“My achievement speaks

for itself,” said a beaming Ghansham. He credits his success to family members and friends along with companies like the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T), Ricks & Sari, Guy Track, Popeye’s, and BM Soat Auto Sales, among others who would have made his achievements possible.

Joel regards ‘Volunteerism’ as a hobby. As a strong animal advocate and spokesperson for the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), he has been donating necessities and aiding animals as a pastime activity. Given stray animals proliferate the streets of Georgetown and are constantly beaten and ran over by reckless vehicle drivers, Joel has been cooperating with the GSPCA to devise a plan to stem the proliferation of strays on the roadways. He had donated to the GSPCA the sum of $180,000 which he won in a competition.

Not only is he intrigued by animals, but the elderly also intrigue him. On a weekly basis, Joel visits charitable organisations and feed the

Joel Ghansham displaying his passion for the East Indian culture in his cultural wear

A smiling Joel Ghansham elderly and less fortunate.

He deems this as his relaxation quest, and has opined that there is nothing better than receiving blessings for helping others. He lives by the old saying: “Do an act of kindness; it makes you feel good about yourself.”

In expressing his thoughts on the “silly” (election) season, Ghansham recalled that, when he was a child, he had migrated to the United States of America because “Guyana was in shackles” and many were suffering from the reigning (PNC) government of that day. With smiles, he declared that upon returning to Guyana after there had been regime change, he had seen extreme progress, and has settled here to aid in further developing Guyana.

Asked about his age, Ghansham replied with a dash of humour: “I am 50 years at the doors!” In reflecting on his experiences in life, Ghansham disclosed that being married and divorced is an experience he had humorously said was “slightly foolish”, but it was, he said, one of his best. He does not regret his marital experiences, and would do it all over again if need be.

With a smirk, the witty Ghansham said: “I’m currently single and looking, though!”

Joel Ghansham poses with his adorable dog