Pepperpot 26 03 2017

Meet the West Side beauties â–ş Page

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...competing in the Miss Region Three Culture Pageant

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

– Meet Carmel Williams, a woman of many hats FOR Ms Carmel Williams, the sky is truly the limit. At 48, the mother-of-one has already achieved her childhood dreams of becoming a teacher, a firefighter, a law enforcement officer and community leader. As a matter of fact, this year marks 30 years since Williams joined the teaching profession.

Her fascination with the public service began while attending the St. John the Baptist Primary School in Bartica.

“I have a sister who is a nurse, another sister who is a teacher, and a brother who is a police officer, so, as a child, they would have inspired me,” Ms Williams said. She is one of 11 children born to her single-parent mother.

Based on the values instilled in her by her mother, Ms Williams, from a tender age, understood that having a solid educational foundation was necessary if she were to achieve her dreams. Due to unforeseen circumstances, however, she never had the opportunity to attend secondary school.

“I hadn’t the privilege of going to a secondary school, but we had the Primary Top, so I left St. John the Baptist at Form Four,” she recalled while walking down memory lane with the Guyana Chronicle.

Refusing to become a victim of circumstances, she, in 1984 at the age of 16, opted to attend the Carnegie School of Home Economics in the capital, Georgetown.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS And upon her return to Bartica in 1987, she was told of an opening at the Bartica Secondary School.

“There was this guy; a Mr. Thomas Robertson, God rest the dead!” she recalled. “He

Her soft disposition did not do the trick at first; however, it was not long before she became a very strict teacher that the children came to respect.

When duty calls! Ms. Carmel Williams deep in thought after returning from the scene of a fire

saw me one morning and asked if I was from around here. And, of course, I responded with a ‘Yes!’ I explained to him that I went to ‘Carnegie’, and he said, ‘You know what? We need a teacher at Bartica Secondary; a Home Economics teacher.’ I was just 19!”

But after giving the matter some thought, she applied for the post. As a junior staff, Williams acted as Head of the Home Economics Department; and when meetings were held, she took the “minutes”.

“I was exposed to all of the different areas within teaching; the work seemed so tedious at times,” she said.

Ms. Carmel Williams in her sport attire after winning two gold medals at another championship

OFF TO CPCE From 1996 to 1999, Williams attended the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE).

“Before I went to College, because I hadn’t Math, I was required to do the Teacher’s Foundation Programme which included the four core areas,” she explained.

At CPCE, she majored in Home Economics while doing Physical Education as her minor. “I returned home in 1999, and I returned home with my beautiful daughter, who is also a teacher now,” Williams said.

Then, in 2008, she was transferred from Bartica Secondary to the Three Miles Secondary; but it was not long before she was transferred back to Bartica Secondary.

In 2010, the mother-of-one would relocate to the city for a third time; but this time Turn to page V ►►►

Rural Constable Carmel Williams (seated first left) and her colleagues of the Bartica Community Policing Group

Ms. Carmel Williams and her daughter, Leah Smith, during their participation in the 2014 Mother and Daughter Pageant in Georgetown

Ms. Carmel Williams, Head Teacher of Bartica Secondary School (right) inspecting a teaching session being conducted by her daughter, Ms Leah Smith (seated), in the Information Technology (IT) laboratory

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

III

US-based Guyanese launches online food magazine

By Shauna Jemmott A step-by-step demonstration in making pepperpot created a stir on the pages of the newest online cuisine publication: ‘Taste Guyana Magazine.’ as American-based Guyanese Dionne Jones-Jones prepared for the grand launch of her website at www.tasteguyanamagazine.com dispersing Guyana’s brands of food in restaurants and kitchens the world over.

Recipes of dishes native to Guyana and those added to local menu cards are more easily accessible and even as the demonstration of cooking up Guyana’s hottest dish, its national ‘Pepperpot’ cuisine, which is most popularly created on hinterland grounds in a massive fireside setting. persons anywhere can now learn the art of pepperpot making.

“Pepperpot is a rich meat stew that has been handed down to us from our Amerindian ancestors (Ameridians are the indigenous people of Guyana). It is traditionally eaten with bread (I prefer homemade) on Christmas morning,” Jones-Jones posted.

She reflected on a Guyana December where the smell of the irresistible meat concoction fills the atmosphere in communities throughout the country.

“My favorite childhood Christmas memory is waking up to the smell of pepperpot and bread on that special morning. Pepperpot-making is a real labor of love. The best tasting concoction simmers for hours, even days before

being served. Mine takes about 6 hours, but most of the time it’s on the stove simmering away and you don’t have much to do,” she reflected.

As she updates her ‘Taste Guyana Magazine’ Facebook page, which is an extra on the online food mag, a non-stop flow of recipe requests like Keiateur pour into her inbox, and so she keeps posting.

Jones has gainfully blended her skill of cooking with website-designing and a love for photography, and has launched an exciting interactive venue for Guyanese food lovers and those big on culinary art.

Features of ‘Reminisce Guy-

Dionne Jones-Jones

ana’ founder Indra Mekdeci and how she artistically slices and arranges fruits and other attractive packages of goodies, the values of home-grown fruits and vegetables like psydium and breadfruit, and restaurants and recipes galore flood the pages of the magazine.

A Georgetown girl, who migrated to the USA some five years now, Jones-Jones said she observed that Guyana is emerging high on the world tourism market and embarked upon a new avenue to take its cuisine culture to new levels.

Tasteguyanamagazine.com will be launched next week, and recipe books will be available for sale through an amazon.com linkage.

Jones-Jones in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine said, “Guyana is on the cusp of becoming a tourist destination, food is an integral part of this industry, while we have many recipe books and restaurant guides in print or online, I prefer not to reinvent the wheel but to add another option to it. Most, if almost all of the Caribbean Tourist destinations have a food and dining magazine, I thought Guyana should have one too.”

The website is all-inclusive when it comes to food in Guyana and even give details about spices and ground provision as they unfold from the experts’ tables.

The website also features a ‘foodography’ section where

photographs of Guyana’s dishes can be submitted for display.

“In this magazine I am creating a section called Guyanese Foodography, where I would like to showcase the food/fruits/vegetables photography from Guyana/Guyanese photographers. The works of art will be promoted in a professional publication and all credits given including a short bio,” the invitation reads.

Jones-Jones has always had an interest in food and from a tender age wanted to become a dietician. Her tomboy nature did not keep her out of the kitchen with her mom, who also worked in the food industry. She said cooking had become more interested since there had almost always been a ‘new experiment’ in her family’s kitchen.

“Especially during the time when there was a ban on flour and the other food staples, my mom became a ‘food scientist”. I could still remember all the different recipes she created

using rice, plantain and cassava flour (and she made her own).”

In final year at High School, she successfully applied to the Guyana Agency for Health Sciences, Education, Environment and Food Policy (GAHEF) for a work study program.

“It was an experience that I would always remember. Even though eventually my area of study differed from that of the food industry, it seemed that anything I was involved in led me back to the culinary industry.”

Being a ‘Marketer’ and ‘Website Designer’ by profession, and a lover of photography, a blend of her photography and food passions led her to ‘Foodography’, and she invests much time observing similar work in glossy publications and websites featuring professional “food-ography”.

“Now I have decided to create my own, showcasing the many culinary delights of the country of my birth – Guyana. Guyana is a land of six peoples, this is a melting pot for a culinary “mash up”. Many of the foods that are native to Guyana were brought by our forefathers. Taste Guyana Magazine, will not only highlight those dishes but also trace their history.”

The magazine will also highlight culinary business in Guyana featuring interviews with Guyanese chefs, cake decorators, cooks, food establishment owners and others who are making a name for themselves. Business spotlight, restaurant reviews, musings, recipes, Guyana food news, and a glossary. The magazine can be found at www.tasteguyanamagazine.com and on Facebook: www. facebook.com/tasteguyanamagazine.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

Appellate Court sets aside Court Case Files conviction and sentence IN 1976, twelve-year old Sursattie Ramnauth complained to the magistrate of the East Demerara that the respondent Vishnu Ramdas had threatened to kill her.

But she had to prove that the offence took place within the magistrate’s jurisdiction.

Sursattie had replied to a leading question from the police prosecutor that the incident “took place at Strathspey, East Coast, Demerara , in the East Demerara Magisterial District.”

It was however clear from questions put to her in cross-examination, that she did not understand what magisterial meant, nor did she know the place where offenders were tried when charged for committing offences at Strathspey.

At the close of the case for the prosecution, counsel for the defence submitted that there was no evidence to show that the alleged offence was committed within the jurisdiction, but the learned magistrate overruled the submission.

He considered that there was no evidence that Strathspey was anywhere else than in the East Demerara Magisterial District, and that the inference was compelling that the offence took place within that district because, “the witness was unshaken that Strathspey is on the East Coast of Demerara.” The defendant was accordingly convicted and fined $100 with an alternative of two months’ imprisonment for having made use of threatening language to Sursattie where a breach of the peace might be occasioned.

On appeal, the Full Court did not agree with the magistrate’s reasons and set aside the conviction and sentence.

The Police Prosecutor appealed to the Court of Appeal.

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

That Court HELD: (1) That proof of locality to found jurisdiction has always been the same as it is in England and continues to be the practice in the Magistrate’s Courts in Guyana.

(2) That there is no set formula of words to be used in so doing , but proof may be simply established, either by a direct statement that the locality is within the magisterial jurisdiction or inferentially within it. But whatever accompanying words are used , it will always be a question of fact whether proof has been established to the magistrate’s satisfaction so that he can safely infer from the description of the place given that the complainant or plaintiff has brought the offence or suit within his magisterial district.

(3) That in the instant appeal, the magistrate had no right to allow vitally essential words of proof to be put in the mouth of the witness and at the close of the case for the prosecution he ought to have acceded to the submission of learned counsel that jurisdiction had not been proved and dismissed the complaint.

(4) That the magistrate ought not to be permitted the leading question in the first place , but then, having admitted it, he could not properly reject the direct part of it and accept the indirect or descriptive part of the statement.

(5) That the vice in the question which “led” the witness to give the answer desired by the prosecutor must have vitiated the whole and not a part of her answer.

Appeal dismissed with costs.Decision of the Full Court affirmed.

G.H.R. Jackman, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions for the appellant.

R. Ramkarran, for the respondent.

Justice of Appeal Crane delivered the judgment of the

By George Barclay Court.

Justice Crane said: The point for decision in this appeal is a matter of everyday importance to magistrates and to all those who practice before them.

Shortly put , it is: In what circumstances can a magistrate be justified in inferring from the facts of a case before him, that the matter has been proved to be within his jurisdiction?

In the administration of justice a magistrate is statutorily enjoined to have regard in the law which invests him with both civil and criminal jurisdiction. That law is to be found in ss.31 and 32 of the Summary Jurisdiction (Magistrates) Act Cap. 3: 05 and insofar as relevant to the question under consideration.

Speech disorders Recently, a woman brought her three-year old son to the clinic seeking help for a speech disorder. She complained that he could not speak, although he should be, because he has “tie tongue.” On examining the child I discovered that indeed he had a short frenulum (ligament that restrains the tongue from underneath). I explained to the mother that a short frenulum, although inhibits proper articulation does not prevent anyone from speaking. The child in fact had a speech disorder.

The ability to speak is a complex act. First the brain issues a command to the lungs to initiate an airstream. Before this

airstream can become speech, however, it must pass through, or by, the larynx (voice box), pharynx (throat), tongue, teeth, lips and nose. All these can modify the airstream in various ways.

The front of the tongue is especially plastic and can be controlled with great precision by the nervous system. To pronounce vowels, the tongue, by assuming different positions within the mouth, creates a great variety of resonance chambers, all different from each other, like the shapes of different musical instruments.

To pronounce consonants, the tongue collaborates with the other parts of the mouth to make partial or complete closures, either forcing the air through a narrow constriction ( as in the pronunciation of the “th” sound in breath) or stopping its progress altogether ( as with the “d” sound in breed).

The existence of pathology (disease), either functional or organic, is the basic distinction between true speech disorders and those faulty speech habits which arise from a complex of environmental, cultural, local-regional, educational and socio-economic factors.

Another distinction, at the behavioral level, is whether the speech disorder is assessed as a handicap. Speech disorders, both functional and organic, at the handicap level, affect about 50,000 Guyanese or 6 percent of the population.

Approximately 40 per cent are due to hearing loss, 10 per cent

neurological disease (for example autism), and the remaining 50 per cent a range of other causes.

The highest incidence of speech disorders occurs developmentally among children and youth. Functional disorders in articulation are the leading cause, stuttering is the second and hearing impairment with speech defect is the third. Now, voice disorders, or dysphonias, consist of two main types. There are those arising from speech habits, and psychogenic types arising from emotional disturbance. Both types represent either overactive muscular activity, creating harsh, grating speech, or underactive activity, creating subdued or sluggish speech.

Speech impediments include the following three types, cluttering (tachyphonia) is an erratic, jerky speech. Lisping, or immature speech (dyslalia), may relate to abnormality of the external speech organs, for example, in tongue, teeth relationships. Stuttering or stammering (dysphemia), once considered a psychogenic disorder, is now known to be caused by neurological deficiencies present at birth or resulting from injury.

Finally, other functional disorders include those caused by sensory inadequacies in the family setting, such as the presence of deaf parents. Also seen are delayed maturation of motor or brain function, emotional trauma due to parental neglect or abuse as well as institutional deprivations of adverse socio-economic factors, which result in learning disabilities related to development of speech. So, because the final instrument which produces speech is the mouth, the dentist should always be consulted as part of the treatment team.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

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Derek Walcott’s “Love After Love” Can a writer say that he or comfort and for the memories she writes about the Caribbeof when we first discovered and an if he or she was not influfell in love with the literature of enced by Derek Walcott? Can Derek Walcott – the man whom someone say that he or she Bulgarian writer and critic, Maenjoys Caribbean literature if ria Popova, describes as being he or she has never read Wal“a writer of such extraordinary cott? Derek Walcott is so emprowess that his 1992 Nobel bedded in the literature of the Prize in Literature appears a region, so much a part of it wholly inadequate measure of that were his oeuvre of works his mastery and mesmerism.” removed from the canon of When the news broke early Caribbean writings, there on Friday, 17th March, there would be a hole so wide, so was an immediate outpouring full of emptiness, and silent, of tributes, and in these displays that we, the readers and those of affection, one poem rose to in academia, would become the top, one that for some reason forever lost in it. Walcott began to connect and resonate gives us something to walk with everyone on that day. This on; he gives us support. His poem was Walcott’s short but poems lead us to the ledges affecting “Love After Love.” and nooks and crannies and The poem appears to be a offer us up to other writers in simple one, written in an easy the region. His plays pull us free verse that conveys the out of the chasms and lead us calm nature of the message at towards the light in which his its centre. The poem flows as and our fellow West Indian you read it, like a soft breeze, writers bathe. emphasizing that this poem is What is Caribbean literature one that is meant to be soothing, without Walcott? And what reassuring, and gentle. Walcott does it mean for the region writes that “The time will come St. Lucian Nobel Laureate, Derek Walcott now that he is no longer with / when, with elation / you will 23 January, 1930 – 17 March, 2017 us? These are questions that greet yourself arriving / at your we will need to address in the own door, in your own mirror / years to come. For now, it is enough that we mourn the loss and each will smile at the other’s welcome.” These lines could of one of the greatest poet/playwrights who ever lived and we be an indicator that in every individual’s life, regardless of all join the rest of the world in turning to his work for solace, for that has happened, there will eventually come a moment when ◄◄◄ From page II

around, it was to attend the University of Guyana.

“I attended the University of Guyana from 2010 to 2014, and during that period, I was attached to Central High School. I enjoyed that school so much,” she said.

And even after returning to Bartica in 2014, Williams still travelled to the city for a year to teach her Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) students.

“I pledged to the parents I would travel every weekend to teach those children I had taught since Grade Seven; and I did.

“And in the end, it paid off. Twenty-nine students wrote Food and Nutrition, and 59 wrote Home Management; and I got 100 per cent in both areas in 2015,” she said with a sense of accomplishment.

PAY-DIRT Her passion for teaching; her unwavering dedication and determination to qualify herself did not go unnoticed.

In 2014, Williams was appointed Deputy Head Mistress, and by 2015, she had been placed at the helm of the school, a position she holds today. She is also the Chairperson of the Guyana Teacher’s Union (GTU) Bartica Branch.

“As a teacher,” she said, “I have had many challenges. And ‘Yes!’ there were times when I really wanted to give up, but I always remember the words of Mr. Thomas Robertson, who told me that Saturday morning that I should never give in to situations; that instead I should come up with solutions.”

Based on her 30 years of experience as a teacher, Williams said too many children are left to grow up on their own. “There are too many single-parents,” she said.

“A lot of parents not at home, so these children, they leave home when they please; they return home when they please.

“But if we get more parental involvement in these children’s lives and their education, we are going to do so much more better.”

POLICING In addition to teaching, Williams has always had a love for the Guyana Police Force, and as such, in 1992, she enlisted in the Police Youth Group in Bartica. From there, she worked her way up to becoming a Rural Constable.

But she’d always felt that there was more she could have done to give back to her community, and so in 2010, she was trained as an auxiliary staff attached to the Bartica Fire Station.

To date, she remains very much active in the Firse Service.

“I grew up on Sixth Street, Bartica, and as a child, I always dreamt of giving back to my community; so this is me, fulfilling my dreams, all in keeping with my desire to see Bartica grow,” the woman of many hats said.

“I think we can do so much. If we all pool our resources together, we can get so much done for Bartica and its environs; we can really take it to another level,” she added.

In addition to those posts, Williams is a sport fanatic; in fact, she has won the national athletic championships for approximately nine in the teachers’ category.

Additionally, in 2014, she and her daughter, Leah Smith, were the third-place winners of the Mother and Daughter Pageant which is held annually in the city.

Her focus currently is the development of Bartica. As a councillor on the Bartica Mayor and Town Council, Williams is pushing to see many of the issues facing residents being addressed.

one recognizes him/herself as being all he or she wants to be – regardless of what that is: to be beautiful, to be successful, to be loved, or to just be enough. The important thing that Walcott is imparting in these lines is the fact that the recognition and the act of seeing oneself as one wishes to be seen comes not from someone else, not through the eyes of a lover or a friend or family, but from one’s self. Indeed, as the saying goes, one must love oneself before one can love anyone else – and one meaning present in this poem is coming to terms with the self; self-love that come from within, from accepting one as an individual that is as the individual would wish him/herself to be.

Walcott further writes that, “You will love the Stranger that was yourself”, a line which underscores this idea that before one can accept and love him/herself there must be an awareness of the way the self was once treated – as a stranger – and that in order to heal it is necessary to banish the idea of treating the self as a stranger and to treat the self as one would an old friend or family. “Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart to itself…” Walcott writes, showing the self must be nurtured and loved before it can become whole again, before it can smile again, before it can be happy again.

Sometimes there are people who hinder us from accepting and loving ourselves and this scenario is represented in the lines where Walcott’s persona says: “Take down the love letters from the bookshelf / the photographs, the desperate notes…”

Why does the persona say to do this? To destroy or discard them? That is certainly one interpretation that can work, since discarding mementoes from people we have loved is a symbolic gesture of moving the love we have to give from other persons and objects and redirecting that love to ourselves.

“Love After Love” is a strong and eloquent poem.

Readings on the internet abound as everyone from Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hiddleston to Linton Kwesi Johnson has given it a shot. It is enduring and deep and important and it is one of the many, many joys built from words that have been left to us by the icon of West Indian literature named Derek Walcott.

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e r t a e h T

By Subraj Singh

#SupportCreativity

The National Drama Company of Guyana (NDC) last year presented a production of Ti Jean and His Brothers, a play written by the late and iconic Caribbean poet/playwright, Derek Walcott. The production was geared towards assisting secondary school students who will be studying the play as part of their Literature classes. As teachers, and members of the NDC, know, plays are meant to be performed and not merely read, and the Company’s performance of Ti Jean was indeed a welcome part of the process of gaining a thorough understanding of the story of the play, as well as its deeper messages and themes, that no doubt, based on the students’ reactions at the end of the performances last year, fuelled some love of theatre and did manage to assist the students in their studies of plays and Literature.

This year, in keeping with the same theme of putting on a performance of a play that is on the CSEC syllabus, the NDC is currently in the midst of preparations for their next big production – which is going to be another famous postcolonial play: The Lion and the Jewel written by the Nigerian Nobel Prize Winner, Wole Soyinka. The comedy, as students will know, tells the story of the beautiful village girl, Sidhi, the titular “jewel”, and the two men in the village – the “lion”, Baroka, who is the traditional, older village chieftain and Lakunle, the young, modern schoolteacher – who both desire her.

The play presents various postcolonial themes, such as the Past vs. the Present, the Corruption of African culture, Women in Postcolonial Societies and Notions of Identity. The play is also known for its elaborate use of song, dance and other ritualistic elements.

The NDC, birthed in the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama (NSTAD) and made up of its alumni, is becoming known for its progressive, cutting-edge body of work and this production of The Lion and the Jewel is sure to contribute to the outstanding oeuvre that the Company is building for itself.

Company members, Ayanna Waddell and Nicholas Singh, are the directors of the play and they say that one of the reasons why the NDC decided that The Lion and the Jewel would be chosen as the Company’s next production is because it was one that allowed elements of Caribbean performance – music, dance, etc. – to play a major role on stage, and also because the play is on the CSEC syllabus and it was felt that this was another good opportunity to help the students by bringing the play to life. Waddell says that education, and the role of drama in the education of the nation’s students is one of the key goals of the National Drama Company and the upcoming production fits well with the NDC’s mandate to educate through the talents and creativity that is present within the organization.

Singh confesses that staging Soyinka’s play has been both a challenge and an exciting venture, acknowledging the popularity of the play and the fact that Soyinka is one of the most famous African writers of this era. “I find his work very rich and his use of his language so emotionally-invested…” says the director about Soyinka, before also pointing out that “His [Soyinka’s] characters, his themes…are so important not only in Africa, but universally in what they speak of…how they unite people.” The intimidating part of the play, according to Singh, lay in precisely capturing the essence and meaning of the work. Waddell agreed with her co-director and also pointed out another merit of the production in that it called upon a

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

The National Drama Company to Showcase The Lion and the Jewel

to Singh, is pantomime. He notes that Soyinka has great visual flair and a history of using pantomime, song and dance in his plays to create a jubilant atmosphere and bring out his themes and show, as in The Lion and the Jewel, not only African culture but also the effects of European culture on African culture through colonization.

Waddell noted that while there is not much time left until the date of the production, she is confident about the show being a success because they were able to find a collaborative and

Nicholas Singh, Director

variety of elements to blend harmoniously and was one that allowed the Company to step away from the simple and the norm and “do something that can help you to go places” that you wouldn’t be able to with the more conventional types of drama that is known to the Guyanese audience.

One of the most important elements in the play, according

Ayanna Waddell, Director

creative space where everyone in the team can work together. The use of dance and music in the play calls for a lot of different synchronizations and abilities and this means that it was important to allow all the people involved to play to their various skills. For example, the dances in the play are choreographed by Esther Hamer and by having her take care of that aspect of the play, a system was created that allows everyone to play to their strengths in an individual manner before everyone is reeled in to make the complete play within the holistic vision that comes from the directors.

The directors highlighted the fact that Soyinka’s characters are very detailed and very smartly-written, and therefore it was necessary that they incorporated a skilled, intelligent cast of actors to play the various parts. Tashandra Inniss plays the part of Sidhi, Keon Heywood plays the role of Baroka, and Lakunle is being essayed by Linden Isles, while Esther Hamer and Kimberly Fernandes round out the main cast and a variety of other roles will be played by other members of the National Drama Company as well as past and present students of the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama. The directors are grateful for actors and are aware of how necessary it is to have a spirit of collaboration, to have actors who are willing to put in extra work and to have a team that comes together to ensure that the production is a success – elements that they do seem to have found within the cast they have put together.

The directors also believe that the production should be seen by everyone, not only students, because the play is one that is very different from what people are used to. It is a good opportunity to see something different. The directors say that drama, as an art medium, is often taken for granted and The Lion and the Jewel has an important message for everyone, and that while it is important for students it is also important for the general public to see what the National Drama Company has achieved and to see the level of work that the Company is putting out. The shows are set for April 4th and 5th, at 1 PM, at the National Cultural Centre.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

WORLD CONSUMER RIGHTS DAY - PROTECTING AGAINST RISKS OF GROWING DIGITAL WORLD On 15th March every year, World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) is celebrated worldwide when focus is given to a particular consumer concern and consumers assert their solidarity. This year's focus is "Building a digital world consumers can trust".

By 2020, 52% of the world's population would have been online. At present, the figure is 40% which means that in less than five years the numbers of people worldwide being online would have grown by a third. Long before the third quarter of the century. therefore, the entire world would have been online.

The computerization of the world would bring fundamental and revolutionary changes in the life of Mankind and in Guyana there is the urgent necessity for state agencies to educate the population as to the constructive and creative use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The School System had already started work in this direction and many of the younger generation are quite knowledgeable in ICT. It has already become very important in Research and Education as a whole.

ICT would be far more extensively used in commerce and would be the main way people buy and sell goods and services.

It would also be used to find markets for the producers of industrial and agricultural products and could lead to the revival of industries such as Rice and Sugar.

It would also be progressively used by Government and people would be able to accession the services of Government Departments online. Such, for example, would be the payment of taxes, getting birth and death certificates and dealing with Departments such as the Deeds Registry, the Housing Department, the Forestry Department and Geology and Mines.

People would be able to contact each other, both at home and overseas, with greater convenience, speed and certainty.

In other words, ICT would be able to make social, economic and even political life easier, cheaper and less time-consuming.

But these benefits and the revolution which are now overtaking the world could bring with it certain risks to the consumers. For one, the new dispensation would require everyone to supply, overall, a great deal of personal information such as bank account and credit card details, medical records, e-mail and telephone connections, details on relatives and close members of one's family. All this information would be in the hands of servers and there is no security for it. And secondly, it could be stolen by unscrupulous persons. The accusations and cross-accusations of hacking of e-mails which came out during the recent United States Presidential elections is an example of this.

In this milieu of openness, ordinary consumers need to be protected more than ever and what underlines this necessity is that, at the moment, even highly advanced and sophisticated developed states such as the United States of America are finding it difficult to protect their secret and confidential information.

The first line of defense lies with the service providers who must meet the challenges of finding secure and reliable ways of utilizing data and developing strategies that would lead to a trustworthy digital world for consumers. The theme of this year's WCRD "Building a digital world consumers can trust" emphasizes this necessity and call for its quick implementation.

WCRD is particularly associated with Consumers International (CI) which has a membership spread over the globe. The Guyana Consumers Association was one of the comparatively early members of CI because of the brilliant leadership of the late Eileen Cox who was known and respected in consumer circles worldwide.

Consumer organizations all over the world, including our own Association, are devoted to protecting basic rights of consumers, demanding those rights are protected and respected, challenging market abuses and other social injustices, as for example when public utilities like the Telecommunication companies overstep their mark and attempt to exploit consumers.

Consumerism is a necessary concomitant to the successful working of the Free Market Economic System and indeed any other economic system. This need for Consumerism has led to its steady growth in all countries. Consumerism prevents adversarial relationships between the people of a country and economic and governmental systems and generally results in happier and easier relationships.

The main consumer bodies which the public could approach for help in their problems are the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, the Public Utilities Commission, the Consumer Division of the Ministry of Business led by Ms Cheryl Tinnis, the Competition and Consumers Affairs Commission led by Ms Dawn Holder and the Guyana Consumers Association.

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Guyana in

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Office in Guyana in collaboration with Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) has launched the first in a series of reports focusing on Guyana’s incredibly rich biodiversity: ‘Biodiversity Assessment Team (BAT) Survey of the South Rupununi Savannah, Guyana’.

The publication, which represents the most recent broad-based documentation of floral and faunal diversity in Guyana’s southern Rupununi region, is based on work undertaken in the Kusad Mountain and Parabara areas.

The team also assessed water quality of the area’s wetlands, creeks and lakes, and natural resource use by local indigenous WaiWai and Wapishan communities (Potarinau, Sawariwau, Karaudanawa, Parabara and Shulinab).

The report highlights some of most striking characteristics of the South Rupununi savannah region, especially focusing on its diversity of habitats, reflected in the high species richness and ecological diversity of the flora and fauna: More than 28 species, 12 species of fish, 1 bat, 15 aquatic beetles and between 10-25 % of ant species were new to science. Many

additional species were recorded for the first time in Guyana and the south Rupununi.

The south Rupununi is a stronghold for many charismatic and threatened species such as the giant river otter, harpy eagle, giant anteater, jaguar and Brazilian tapir. The Arapaima, a freshwater giant of the Rupununi, may be distinct from other species in the Amazon and thus likely endemic to Guyana.

More than 50 per cent of birds known to occur in Guyana (487 species), including the critically endangered red siskin and other enigmatic species, inhabit the south Rupununi.

“Our best chance at efficiently conserving our wild world starts with understanding where plant and animal species live. The south Rupununi expedition has given us the first clear snapshot of life in this otherwise unexplored region. With this vital information, we can now implement effective strategies to conserve the biodiversity in this unique place”, said Wes Sechrest, Global Wildlife Conservation chief scientist and CEO. This diversity flows from the largely un-fragmented nature of the landscape, where natural processes such as fire and flood go

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

Biodiversity survey team uncovers dozens of new species in Guyana unhindered to mould the landscape into a variety of forms. For instance, varying local conditions create mixed patches of different habitats, each harbouring a unique fauna.

Covered in forests and spanning a range of elevations, isolated mountains, such as Kusad, harbour many unique species such as the Orinocosword-nosed bat (Lonchorhina orinocensis), a vulnerable species of bat that was recorded in Guyana for the first time during this survey. And riparian forest and bush islands, play an important role by sheltering many forest species within the savannah grassland matrix.

But this area is not just a biodiversity hub, useful only for natural processes. The indigenous communities of the south Rupununi have depended on the resources of the savannah and surrounding areas for centuries, and continue to do so today, even as they move towards cash-based economies. At least 59 species of plants and 72 species of animals were identified by communities as important for food, construction, medicine and income generation. This diversity is an indication of just how critical the area remains as a source for life and livelihoods for more than 18 communities. Special habitats such as ‘bush-islands’, often referred to as a ‘store house’ for resources, support subsistence agriculture and enhance food security As Ms Aiesha Williams, country manager of WWF Guianas – Guyana Office affirms: “With such tremendous importance for nature and livelihoods, it is thus extremely important that economic development for the area and its inhabitants is based on the principle of using natural resources in a well-planned and sustainable way.”

In fact, maintaining the large-scale integ-

rity of the landscape, rather than viewing its component parts in isolation, is essential for its effective conservation. Such approaches are directly in line with Guyana’s vision of a green economy and can serve to further Guyana’s sustainable development.

The need for a holistic, well-planned approach to effectively manage the resources of the Rupununi to ensure long-term maintenance of natural services and flow of benefits, should be prioritized as threats from overharvesting of wildlife and gold mining are already evident in some parts of the south Rupununi. Together with the anticipated expansion of commercial agriculture in the wider Rupununi region, these activities represent major challenges and threats to the continued resilience of biodiversity, habitats and local livelihoods in the southern Rupununi.

Many joined WWF Guyana for the high-profile symposium at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, which presented the results of the report and highlighted the key importance of the South Rupununi.

The event featured key note speeches by scientists, representatives of WWF and local institutions, including many distinguished guests, such as Ms. Denise Fraser, Commissioner (ag.) of the Protected Areas Commission .

The BAT survey was done in close partnership with the University of Guyana, Department of Biology and School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, South Central People’s Development Association (SCPDA), Kanuku Mountains Community Representative Group (KMCRG), Environmental Protection Agency and the communities of Potarinau, Sawariwau, Karaudanawa, Parabara and Shulinab.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

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Meet the West Side beauties competing in the Miss Region Three Culture Pageant Story by: Tamica Garnett Photos by: Samuel Maugh Location: Aracari Resort The West side is the best side, and come April 1 eight

young ladies are going to hope to be the best of the best when they go up against each other in the Miss Region 3 Culture Pageant and After Show set for the park-

ing lot of the Leonora National Stadium (Track and Field Centre).

The miss region3 culture pageant is the first of this level in the region, and will be

Delegate # 2 Name: Geetanjali Nauth Age: 16 years old Platform: Empowering Women Occupation: Secondary School Student Village: Meten-Meer-Zorg Delegate #1 Name: Sonia Cummings Age: 26 Platform: Domestic Violence Occupation: Pharmacy Assistant/Cook Village: Phoenix Park My last chance! This pageant will mark the second and the last for Ms. Cummings, who previously participated in the Miss Universe Guyana pageant in 2014. She’s hoping that her previous pageant experience will give her an edge when things get underway. A bubbly girl, she smilingly spoke of her love for cooking, and working as a cook at her mom’s restaurant. She has a deep love for her west side life, where she emphasized how friendly and calming life is.

Sonia definitely feels like the kind of girl that’s easy to get along with.

Delegate # 5 Name: Whitney Robertson Age: 19 years old Platform: Environmental Protection Occupation: Aspiring Nurse Village: Den Amstel

Talk about transformation! We first met Geetanjali when she was a delegate in the Miss Talented Teen Pageant last year, and my has she blossomed since then. The shy Nauth did not place but walked away with a prize for being the “Most Improved Delegate”. Sitting down with Nauth earlier this week it was obvious to see that the improvement continued. Swinging her long locks, the ever smiling Nauth spoke of how doing pageantry last year helped her get out of her shell and work on her confident and public speaking. Nauth spoke to us a little about life on the West Coast, growing up with her loving family, and how much she looks forward to passing on the love and family togetherness to her own children one day. Pageantry, as well as modelling has always been a passion of hers and whether she wins or not she’s looking to continuing those aspirations.

Delegate #6 Name: Tonia Harris Age: 18 years old Keeping it natural! If nothing else Whitney Platform: Child Abuse stands out in this pageant and the only delegate Occupation: Aspiring Medical Practitioner rocking that natural hair flow. She also gives off Village: Canal #1 that model material vibe, and could be another Delesa Archer in the making. Robertson howev- A pretty straight up girl! Off the bat Tonia lets er is more looking to build on her dream to be a you know that confidence is one thing that she nurse, something she’s been inspired to do ever will be bringing to the table, even while describsince her grandmother became blind, and she’s ing herself as simple, sweet and easy to talk been helping to care for her. “I never got fed to. Speaking with her you could see how that up of it, I enjoyed it to the best. I was like why would be true. “I have the experience, all the not just do something I was passionate about,” other young ladies in the pageant have the exRobertson said of her ambition. She’s also perience too yes, but everyone is different, and all about that sports life and has dabbled in a what I would put forward I don’t think they can little cricket and football. She’s not too pleased bring,” she said. Tonia also comes with pageant with Guyanese and their lackadaisical culture experience, taking part in two pageants in 2015. towards pollution and that’s why she choose She reigned as queen in the Miss Emancipaenvironmental protection as her platform to tion (West Bank) pageant and finished second advocate for betterment. “The environment runner up at the Miss Secondary Talented Teen protects us and we should protect it,” she says. Pageant that was held at Queen’s College.

featuring “Culu Culu” singer international artist Savage in his inaugural performance in Guyana.

The queen from this pageant will be representing Guy-

ana at the Miss Caribbean Culture Pageant in 2018 in Sint Maarten. Earlier this week we sat down with the ladies, to get a little feel of what they’re like.

Delegate # 3 Name: Anicia Williams Age: 18 years old Platform: Street Harassment Occupation: Cosmetologist/Model Village: Windsor Forest

Delegate # 4 Name: Olancia Howard Age: 30 years old Platform: Peer Pressure Another Miss Talented Teen 2016 alum! Anicia Occupation: Aspiring Entrepreneur was also in the Miss Talented Teen pageant Village: Best Village last year, and this pageant is actually going to be her third as she works her way up to the big Total model material! At 30 years old Howard leagues! Anicia was also in a Ms. President is the eldest delegate in the pageant, and she’s Youth Award Republic of Guyana (PYARG) in also one of the tallest, and with some work she 2015 and finished as the second runner up! On could do some serious damage on a runway! the modelling end she modelled the runway at But what Howard really wants to do however Guyana Fashion Week (GFW) last year, and is to open her own business and be a crochet loves the adventurous experiences of being a teacher. She considers herself a shy person, model. She’s passionate about being a cosme- and is somewhat reserved, but only until she tologist because she’s totally in love with the starts talking about life on the west side, and feeling she gets when she can help another it’s then that her face lights up. “Life on the satisfied customer feel better about the way they west side is everything, this is my paradise over look! She’s also big on family. She choose street here. This is the place that I want to grow old harassment as her platform because she’s just in,” she expressed. She’s also avid about her about had it with all her bad experiences with peer pressure platform. The eldest of six sibdisrespectful men in society, and encourages lings she’s very enthusiastic about advocating other women to stand up against the issue. against peer pressure as she would hate to see her siblings get lead astray because of that.

Delegate # 7 Name: Kasherell Payne Age: 21 years old Platform: Suicide Prevention Occupation: Nurse Village: Uitvlugt

Delegate # 8 Name: Marcia Clarke Age: 22 years old Platform: Racism Occupation: Student Nurse Smile a while, and give your face a rest! Nothing Village: De Kinderen makes Kasherell’s day like being able to put a smile on someone’s face, and working in the Loving the skin she’s in! Marcia’s platform on health sector she gets the opportunity to do that racism is something that runs deep as she rea lot. Kasherell is all about being the change calls her schools days as a racial minority, havthat she wants to see, which is exactly how she ing to learn to rise above discrimination. She ended up as a nurse. It was thanks to a bad now enjoys encouraging others to not let whatexperience while one of her aunt was in the ever others might say about them, define them. hospital that Kasherell decided that she wanted “Not because you are being discriminated to do her part to make the world a better place, against you should do it to others. That should one patient at a time. “The level of care she not determine who you should be, or whether was getting was unacceptable, so I decided to you fall or rise in society,” she said, reminding join nursing to make a change within the health that “Not because you are being discriminated sector,” she said. “I really love to see smiles on against you should do it to others.” She decided a person’s face, if I can make someone smile it to become a nurse because she always had a would make my day.” passion for caring for other people.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

#SupportCreativity

Anna Correia-Bevaun Exploring ideas across media The name Anna Correia-Bevaun is a familiar one in the local art scene. Known in the early stages of her career for the exceptional ceramic work she developed under the guidance of her mother (the late ceramic pioneer Stephanie Correia), she admitted that her start in the creative field was a reluctant one. During a recent interview she explained that while all of her siblings pursued art at varying levels she shared neither their interests nor her mother’s in doing the same.

“I had no intention of doing art in school. My sisters and brothers, most of them did art but I chose to do Food and Nutrition because I wanted to be a nurse. I remember her [Stephanie Correia] going away after she got a scholarship.

She went to the [United States of America] and left some pots on the table for us to carve, my sister and myself. I hadn’t any interest in that. I did one and my sister did all the rest.”

It wasn’t until she was six months pregnant with her second child that she considered the possibility of pursuing art as a career that would allow her to work from home while she took care of her children. And it was through the suggestion of her mother that she decided to take up ceramics in particular.

“She brought a ceramic plate and asked, ‘Well, you want to do ceramics?’ And that’s how I got started in 1988. I started to do work with clay and then she gave me a crash course in

hand building, how to roll out and do things with coils etc.

That’s how I got started.”

A few years later, again through the prompting of her mother, Correia-Bevaun would take yet another decisive step in her art career by joining a local artist-led initiative established to nurture the creative practices of Guyanese women. She explained that as she produced her ceramic pieces her mother began showing them alongside her own work at various exhibitions.

“In 1995 when she left to go to Canada for the second Turn to page XIII ►►►

Anna Correia-Bevaun, African Queen I

A pen and ink drawing by Anna Correia-Bevaun Anna Correia-Bevaun, At the Bottom of the Mountain

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Red palm weevil The red palm weevil is one of the most destructive pests of coconut, oil palms and ornamental palms. Identification of the pest eggs are oval and creamy white in colour and are laid in scooped out small cavities, wounds and other cut injuries in the trunk.

The grub is light yellowish without legs. It is stout and fleshy with a conical body bulged in the middle and tapering towards the end.

The full grown larva pupates inside the stem and the cocoon is made out of fibrous strands.

The adult weevil is reddish brown and has six

dark spots on the thorax. The male has a conspicuous long snout with a tuft of hair.

SYMPTOMS OF DAMAGE 1. Holes can be seen on the stem with chewed up fibres protruding outwards.

2. Reddish brown liquid can be seen oozing out from the hole.

3. The grubs cause damage inside the stem or crown by feeding on soft tissue and often cause severe damage especially when a large number of them bore into the soft, growing

parts. In case of severe infestations, the inside portion of the trunk is completely eaten and become full of rotting fibres.

4. In the case of young palms, the top withers while in older palms the top portion of the trunk bends and ultimately breaks at the bend.

5. Sometimes the gnawing sound produced by the feeding grubs inside is audible.

6. In the advanced stage of infestation, yellowing of the inner whorl of leaves occur.

The crown falls down or dries up later when the palm is dead.

◄◄◄ From page XII

the renowned Cuban-born artist Josefa Valz at the National Gallery of Art. “When I got there she [Valz] assumed that everyone knew how to draw. I told her that I drew from pictures but I never drew from a model. I wasn’t taught how to draw. I just started by looking at pictures that I liked and drawing from that.”

As time went by Correia-Bevaun continued exhibiting annually with GWAA while developing her drawing skills, particularly in the pen and ink medium. She practiced arranging her own compositions by using clippings from various sources, another technique she learned from her mother and developed even futher.

Eventually she turned her focus to the Biennial National Watercolour Competitions hosted by the National Art Gallery, Castellani House. After finding out about the gallery’s 2007 competition she decided it was time to work on three paintings for consideration by

members of the jurying committee.

“I wasn’t expecting to win anything. Then they called me and told me that I won two medals, the silver and bronze. I entered again in 2009 with three paintings and then they told me I got gold and silver.”

While her outstanding skills in watercolour have been recognized and rewarded over the years, Correia-Bevaun admits that her preference is pen and ink since it allows her to work faster. “If you’re doing watercolour it would take you about five or six days to finish because you’re working it over and over and you have to leave it to dry before you could go back to it again.”

Nevertheless, she continues to explore the possibilities of each medium whether watercolours, pen and ink, pencil crayons, or even the occasional design work on ready-made ceramic plates.

When asked about the balancing act between her responsibilities, work commit-

time she said, ‘Anna why don’t you join the women artists?’ At that time Marjorie Broodhagen was the president and they had their exhibition at Castellani House for the first time. I worked a lot on small pieces but I would also do a big piece. So by the end of the year I had enough to show at the exhibition.

And that’s how I joined the [Guyana Women Artists’ Association].”

Correia-Bevaun had a prolific career in ceramics for a number of years but it was the discovery of her broken kiln in 2000 that ultimately led her away from clay and towards a different medium entirely. After the passing of her mother that same year she came across some of her watercolour paints and three empty watercolour notepads. A few years later, equipped with those materials and the will to master the techniques, she registered for a twelve-week watercolour course taught by

MANAGEMENT Cultural control: • All wilting or damaged palms in coconut plantations should be removed and burnt to destroy nesting sites of the pest.Cutting of green coconut leaves should be avoided; if needed, they should be cut about 120 cm away from the stem in order to prevent successful inward movement of the grubs through the cut end.

Turn to page XIV ►►►

ments and her art production she reiterated the importance of time management and the willingness to make sacrifices in order to get those things done.

“I work better under pressure. If I have a deadline to get something done then I would persevere. I used to see my mother getting up early in the mornings to paint because she had her home and children to look after. So over the years that’s how I did it. When you’re younger you could work in the night when everyone’s asleep. Now it’s harder to work and see properly in the night. But if you want to do it then you have to persevere.”

Inspired by her mother’s principles, Correia-Bevaun’s credits her continued success to the centrality of her faith. “God must always be in the picture and he must always come first. Pray before you do something and after you do it so that He will bless the work you’re doing. That’s what I’ve been doing for all these years.”

Anna Correia-Bevaun, Amerindian Life

Anna Correia-Bevaun, Part of Creation

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

I consider myself positive THIS PAST week was so beautiful with lots of highs even with the numerous challenges.

Women in Business is consuming and when you have massive plans with a small or no budget, your faith needs to be stronger than that of Job. Many times we attend events when the thank you and sponsorship list is announced is like wow so many people on board.

When I started organizing an evening event I realized that a large percentage of that list would have contributed in some way other than monetary or even in kind.

During planning this Expo I experienced all kind of emotions. Attending the meeting with the enthusiastic exhibitors to meeting my small team to strategize how were going to do this with very little resources.

Part of my daily routine is reading or listening to uplifting songs or speeches .This week I listened to Never Give Up and the Battle is yours by Yolanda Adams more than ever.

I can say without any doubt that without God in my life I could not have had the courage to be this confident that these

◄◄◄ From page XIII

• Proper spacing of plants is required and over-crowding in bud rot prone localities should be avoided.

Trap method: Step 1: Specialised buckets with 3 - 4 holes are made and the buckets are wrapped with coconut fibre/jute sack, so that the pests can easily enter.

Step 2: The lure (Ferrolure +) is suspended inside the bucket and 1 litre of water is added along with 100 g pineapple/sugarcane, 2 g yeast and 2 g Carbaryl.

Step 3: The bait buckets are placed at sites where infestation is most observed.

Step 4: After a week, the water is checked for the catch and refilled to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Chemical control: 1. Where the presence of the red palm weevils is observed, the bore holes are sealed except the topmost one. Then 1% Carbaryl (20 gm/l) or 0.2% trichlorphon or 0.1% endosulfan suspension at a rate of 1 litre per palm is poured into the hole, using a funnel. The hole is plugged and the process is repeated after 1 week.

2. When the pest infestation is through the crown, the crown is cleaned and the insecticidal suspension is slowly poured in the crown.

3. Where entry of the weevil is through the trunk, the hole in trunk may be plugged with cement or tar.

4. The crown and the axils of the uppermost three leaves are filled with a 2:1 mixture of fine sand and neem seed powder or neem seed kernel powder once every 3 months to prevent the red palm weevil from laying eggs in the area.

ventures would be possible.

I consider myself positive most of the time but we all have our low moments but it is necessary to pick ourselves up.

I contracted a cold last week coupled with a hoarseness in my voice. I had a few speaking engagements so I drank honey and ginger like never before. My word is my bond.

Small Business Bureau invited me to give a presentation on my business journey. I had a blast at the 592 My Confidence Rocks motivational event but the highlight was the time spent at Tutorial High School.

Those kids were amazing and I am in contact with some of them every day. They are sharing their dreams and aspirations which I am loving because I have a front row seat. They shared with me some of the things I shared that made them want to do more with their lives.

It just shows with a little encouragement we can make a difference no matter what.

At some point in all our lives things will just happen or Murphy will visit us.

There is what happens. Then there is what you do with what happens.

Helpful, hurtful, caring, indifferent, frustrating, joyful, surprising, predictable things happen to everyone. Each person makes something different out of all those things.

You are not special because you are a victim or a beneficiary of circumstance. You are special because of the unique life, the substance, the richness you carve out of your circumstances.

Pay attention to the situation, to what goes on in the world around you.

See each situation not as a locked enclosure, but as a starting point, a stage upon which you can express and fulfil your purpose.

Life is demanding, extremely difficult at times, but life never imposes itself on you. On the contrary, every twist and turn of circumstance provides

opportunity for you to more fully become your best.

Welcome that opportunity, in whatever form it may arrive.

Every moment carries your best possibilities, ready for you to fulfil.

Today I choose...

Today is filled with possibilities, and the world is filled with possibilities.

Let’s use them to benefit each other. Trust you would have enjoyed Saturday at the Expo and INSPIRE YOU and planning to visit again today.

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” - Bob Marley Email us at beyongtherunway1@gmail.com and visit our FB page BEYOND THE RUNWAY as we continue this beautiful journey called life beyond the Runway.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

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Living positively with HIV/AIDS – At first I felt like I wanted to die

By M Margaret Burke MARYANNE became a mother at 16 years old and by age 32 she was the mother of three children – two girls and a boy, who was five at the time. Her eldest child was just the age she gave birth to her – 16 when she learnt that she was HIV positive.

“I was a very happy young woman. I started life early and even though I had three children by the age of 32 years, I did space them out a bit. My eldest girl was 16; her sister was 13 and their brother, the youngest was 5.

My life was complete, or so I thought, because even though I was not working the father of my children ensured that we had every convenience in the home, as well as lovely clothes and good food. My children were well looked after and had the promise of a good life ahead of them.”

SUDDEN CHANGE Then came sudden change. The father of Maryanne chirldren died after a brief illness as a result of an accident. “He was very hardworking and caring; he was a real father to our children; he was like my best friend; a sweetheart; a brother and a husband to me. I cared for him deeply.

Maryanne explained that after the death of the father of her children she was confused for a while. “At first I didn’t know where to turn, what to do, or how I would make it. But, with encouragement from friends and family I pulled myself together and got a job at a security firm. I became a security guard.”

She recalled that it did not take long before she drew close to a male security guard at the same location. “I was young and even though I already had what I would call three grown children, I still had my looks – I was still very attractive and I was always mindful about how

with a guy there and the next thing I know is that we had gotten very close,” she said.

I carried myself. So just about six months after being on the job I had a ‘good thing going’

BEGINNING TO FEEL UNWELL Maryanne noted that as time went by, which was just about a few months into the relationship she began to feel constantly unwell.

“By now I began to lose that healthy appetite which I used to have; at the same time I was losing weight rapidly; beginning to feel weak most of the times – so weak that it had become difficult for me to climb up the stairway at my home. I ended up with acute strokes and had to be laid up for a while. I became almost helpless and it was at this stage that I made up my mind to seek medical help, with the enTurn to page XXVIII ►►►

folklore THE RICH FOOLS XVI

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

By Neil Primus

IN THE rapidly developing town of Blackstone things were getting better and better. This was a mining town and business people depended on this industry.

Three good friends invested in the gold business. They each became rich due to this. Alvin bought a dredge and headed into the Gold Bush. After two years of hard work he was able to buy a second dredge and employ a General Manager.

Sudesh opened a grocery store. He supplied the miners and dredge owners with all the necessary stocks. This proved to be a stroke of genius.

Harold went into mining supplies. He imported and sold all the equipment and spare parts used in the mining industry. His business was extremely successful.

The three bought large mansions, cars

and other expensive items. They lived the lives of the rich.

Then a very beautiful woman named Lavern came to live in the village. Immediately, all three of these young bachelors made their move. It was challenge after challenge.

They wined and dined her trying to win her affection.

The beautiful lady could not make up her mind which of them to choose. She decided to seek advice from a spiritual elder. The

old woman was gnarled, ugly and blind. Lavern got a simple piece of advice. “Choose the kindest one of the lot.”

But how?

The old spiritualist made a deal with her.

She changed Lavern into an old woman and it was in this new form that she went to see each of her suitors.

Alvin told her he was busy and had no time. He chased her out of his yard. Sudesh told her bluntly that he never gives money to people much less smelly old ladies. Harold sent his staff to put the old lady out of his place of business. She could hear him shout angrily at her.

“Let dat old crass get de hell out of here!

Don’t ever entertain her here again!”

She returned to Alvin to see if he was less busy. She got the same treatment: “Out!” When she was returning home she met a young man along the road. He was handsome and a gentleman. He shared his food with her and gave her some money. It was all the money he had. She immediately fell in love with him.

As part of the deal with the spiritualist she changed back to her original form when she fell in love. The two got married imme-

diately.

When the three rich men heard about the marriage they were filled with rage. The three plotted in order to get rid of their rival and get the beautiful prize. Then it dawned on them that she would never love them so they decided to get rid of her too.

The three made their way towards the home of the happy couple. That night they would get sweet revenge. The road leading to the house was dark and lonely. Suddenly an old woman appeared directly in their path. She was the same woman who had visited each of them.

“Wait! Is you again!”

“This X@&* Old Crass!”

“Look, lea we get rid of she too.”

BIG MISTAKE The air exploded in sounds of pain and howls, as blows rained down on the trio.

SMASH! BASH! BRAM! CRACK! The three died in a vicious hail of blows.

They were found on the road with body parts missing.

The happy couple: Well you know…..

(Lived happily ever after. Etc. etc. etc.)

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Accused of stealing her own compensation

By Shauna Jemmott PROSTITUTES always seek fortune, but many times they have an unfair distinction in the bracket of ‘womanhood.’ This is all because of the kinds of things labeled as work in the sex market.

Many times women and girls in such illegal business line the trails of hinterland districts at landing stops and entertainment spots preying on the pockets of men suspected to be stocked on minerals and money, some of whom are willing to participate in the illicit trade.

But the lives of such girls are never easy and even though many times they seem not to care, realistically they too experience hurt.

Screams of ‘murder’ from a feminine voice penetrated the midnight calm but though her genuine cries for help indicated she was in much distress, nobody responded as the clock ticked on.

That December night, celebrations reigned in the Mazaruni backdam. Women donned glittering cocktail dresses, ‘white and neon’ to attend a ‘glow party’. As bottles emptied of alcoholic drinks, fell to the ground empty cases were being refilled and delivered to revelers as the scent of marijuana saturated the atmosphere.

Young women and girls from several geographical locations were present for the affair. According to a Human Rights Report medical workers treating women and girls involved in prostitution reported that recruitment of girls into Region 7 is largely from other regions, especially with Bartica girls being recruited into Region 1 (Barima/Waini).

It said shop owners, in many cases females themselves, traffic girls ostensibly to work in shops, but they end up working in roughly constructed brothels called ‘caimoons’.

On the landing, two teenage girls from another region danced the night away. The more curvy of the two was just 16, and it was said that she lived under unstable conditions, moving from one home to another after being ‘thrown out’ from her own family’s home. Before she travelled to the Region 7 mining area she stayed with the older girl’s family.

That night after the party was over and everyone returned to their dwelling places, the loud screams were heard coming from a ‘caimoon.’ Two of the four rooms at the rugged guest house were occupied by the 16-year-old and her 18-year-old friend.

The life of the younger girl was at the mercy of a man in his late 60s. After about half-hour of screaming, residents and visitors on the landing finally ran to the rescue of the defenseless girl.

From inside the ‘caimoon’ the man was heard repeating “ah gon kill yuh” with expletives added to his exclamation, and the young lady’s voice weakened in a lower cry for “help, he gon kill me. Ow he gon kill me.”

Another man threatened to kick the door open after failed calls on the room’s occupants to open. Suddenly, a click on the lock signaled that the door was opened and the young girl, enveloped in a white towel, anxiously ran outside panting for breath.

“He say he gon kill me. I ain’t thief no gold,” she cried as if to convince a judge.

The heavily built dark-skinned man emerged from the room after taunting prompts from a reasonably sized crowd.

“Is you big man? Wha you doin sayin but yuh killing this lil gyal and yuh geh yuh wife and children home?” one man expressed with much disgust.

“She thief me gold,” he responded quietly.

His story was that he had two and a half pennyweights of gold (valued at the time at $37,500) in a pocket on his rugged pants. The goal was set aside for the teen’s payment in an oral prostitution agreement. While he was in her ‘cai-

moon’ the teenager asked to be excused to use the outdoor washroom and after she left for outside, he discovered the gold missing.

When the young woman returned, she received a beating during which the man repeatedly choked her and threatened her life.

The event took a turn when the landing’s assigned police arrested the teenager, handcuffed her, placed shackles on her feet around 2:00 hours that Monday morning and sent her away from the ‘bush’ on the first truck, which left that mining community at 6:00 hours.

Her bitter cries faded as the vehicle disappeared, heading in the direction of Bartica.

Life went on for that ‘big man’ who remains free still working as a pork-knocker in the Backdam.

No one knew where she went, but the Guyana Chronicle later learnt that the teen was one of those girls who had no fixed place of abode.

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Big Red Michelle “Big Red” King continues to make strides on the local music scene with her latest songs releases and videos.

Apart from her music career, King is an active member in several women’s organisations in an effort to empower women to enhance their lives through skills training and employment.

During a recent interview with the Guyana Chronicle the effervescent King said she has released two more songs.

The most popular being “Road March” which was released for Mashramani celebrations and the other one was released on International Women’s Day titled “Women on the Move.”

She added that “Women on the Move” features another

local upcoming artiste Shaundella Alleyne called “JP”, and is a song that comes with a video.

The video was sponsored by the Ministry of Social Cohesion which depicts the strength of women, to empower themselves in becoming independent.

King noted that the song speaks of women coming together to support each other instead and it was endorsed by Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton.

That song, which was produced by Vizion Sounds and track done by the Heatwave Band is being played on the local

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

Michell “Big Red” King on Mash Day in her costume gyrating to her song “Road March”

airwaves and featured on the various television stations.

King stated that she is working on releasing a new song for Easter “Don’t kay if meh husband call” and the video can be viewed via social media on Facebook and Youtube pages “Women on the Move.”

She implored Guyanese to continue to support local artistes so they can be recognised not only on the local scene but also internationally.

King related that she has also embarked on her own radio programme on 98.1FM named “The Big Red Entertainment Hour” every Wednesday from 8-9pm with Selector Sparta and DJ Reality.

In addition, King has teamed up with DJ Malachi to cohost the Vizion Sounds Music and Information Hour every Sunday from 9-10pm on 94.1 Boom FM. Meanwhile, this artiste told the Guyana Chronicle that in an effort to unite women she is a member of Women Across Differences (WAD) and the Public Relations Officer and member of Fight Against Sickle Cell Stigma (FACES) where they have several initiatives to empower women.

Michelle King and upcoming artiste Shaundella Alleyne called “JP”

Girls in ICT Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

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– Featuring girls in ICT, a career not pursued by many girls and women locally It has been said that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a man’s job but these three young women have defied the odds and are pursuing careers in this field.

They are Alicia Layne, Farnaz Baksh and Amrita Ramnauth, all students of the University of Guyana (UG).

ALICIA LAYNE

At 20 years of age Alicia Layne is a final year student at the UG who is reading for her Masters in Computer Science and is an example that girls and women can be just as competitive as that of the other gender in the field.

Layne is nearing the completion of her 4-year programme at UG and the experience has been a life-changing one for her since it has broaden her scope in many aspects in ICT and has her eyes set on becoming a web and graphic developer.

In her class of 24 students there are only seven young women but that has not prevented her from her studies.

Layne is a volunteer in the UG Girls in Computing Club and she is using her experience to reach out to school aged girls to pursue careers in ICT. The student told the Sunday Chronicle that women have a lot of potential in ICT and they are not maximizing the options.

Layne said, I did it and so can you (girls and women) since she finds it very challenging yet rewarding because her dreams are being realised and all it takes is the effort and the rest comes naturally once you apply yourself.”

She is in the process of developing a proto-type and framework for two health systems to help diabetic patients in Guyana manage their condition.

Layne is hoping to work along with the Ministry of Public Health in this project to gain work experience before continuing her studies of attaining her Masters in Computer Science.

She is originally from Golden Fleece, Essequibo Coast but reside with her parents and three siblings, who are very supportive of her choice of career and studies at an East Bank Essequibo village.

This ever-smiling young lady has an air of confidence unlike any other and is firm in her aspirations for the future.

Layne credits her success to the knowledge gained at UG through projects which allows students to showcase their creativity that ultimately brings out their scientific edge which contributes to their existing research agenda.

She said, “I see myself as someone who is interested in many things because I do not want to limit myself but satisfy

all my interests with no restrictions.”

This bubbly young lady is geared towards self-development and is also a member of the Girls in Computing Club which is involved in two-fold plan to visit high schools to inspire girls to visit UG and take up careers in ICT. Layne related that they would like to launch a ‘big sister’ programme at UG to mentor new students enrolled in Com-

puter Science studies.

FARNAZ BAKSH This 22-year-old first year Computer Science student said that so far, her journey in the ICT field has been an amazing Turn to page XX ►►►

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XIX

world of possibilities where she interacted with people that share similar interests.

From her experience at UG Baksh stated that she feels moved to reach out to girls and women to also follow careers in the ICT arena.

Her mission was conceptualised after her participation in the ‘Hour of Code’ which was held in observance of promoting Computer Science education week last year where coding was introduced to school girls.

Baksh is a robotics and artificial intelligent enthusiasts who is a member of the UG Robotics Club which was established a few weeks ago on campus with the aim of bringing students together to work on projects.

This self-starter of a young lady hails from Industry, East Coast Demerara, and is excited about her future in the world of ICT and is hoping to build robots to do household chores someday, giving women more spare time.

Baksh said, “Careers in ICT isn’t only a man’s job but women are also successful and girls and women with an interest and liking can make a start because that is all it takes.”

This budding professional believes in this quote which has become her motto “Behind every great success, there was a greater sacrifice” and with that in mind she urges every girl and woman out there to step up and go after their livelihoods in the ICT field.

AMRITA RAMNAUTH This petite, simple but yet interesting young lady is a third

Turn to page XXI ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

Guyanese Poetry; like a growing tree

By Francis Quamina Farrier Last Tuesday, March 21, countries around the world observed "World Poetry Day", a day when poets and their works are up-lifted and celebrated. And here in Guyana, poetry and poets are like a growing tree, with younger

Martin Carter and A.J. Seymour

people writing poetry and also performing poetry. The Theatre Guild Playhouse, the Up-Scale Restaurant, the Dutch Bottle, the Moray House and other venues have, over recent years, had many very impressive poetry sessions; in many cases, dominated by the younger ones.

"Poetry reaffirms our common humanity by revealing to us that individuals, everywhere in the world, share the same questions and feelings," according to a recent UNESCO release. I was fortunate to have known two of Guyana's leading and most revered poets; Martin Carter - 1927-1997 - and A.J. Seymour - 1914-1989.

Carter was the Minister of Information during a period when I was a young, budding playwright and documentary producer at that ministry. I easily gravitated to the great man, and fortunately, he took me under his wings as it were, Turn to page XXII ►►► ◄◄◄ From page XX

year student reading for her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science.

At first, she was intimidated by the large male population of students in the Computer Science course but has since overcome that hurdle.

Ramnauth told the Sunday Chronicle that there are only three females in her class and she felt out of place being there in that group that is dominated by men but decided she will not be deterred in any way.

She noted that it is not easy but all the hard work eventually pays off with self-application to become successful in an ICT career.

This 19-year-old is from a family of three siblings and parents that reside at Good Hope, East Coast Demerara. She is into web programming but is set towards establishing her own business in providing software and game development services.

Ramnauth said with more girls and women in the ICT field it will become more diverse and the opportunities are endless and urged females to get onboard.

Girls in ICT 2017 will be observed on April 27, under the theme “Expanding horizons, changing minds”.

‘Girls in ICT’ is a global initiative spearheaded by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to raise awareness of the need for more women to become involved in the ICT sector worldwide.

It provides an opportunity to inspire girls and young women to get involved in the sector by listening to women role models.

XXI

XXII

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXI

and gave me some very good advice as regards poetry.

In answering a question of mine about his focus on death, in a number of his poems - "Death of a Comrade" being the best known - he told me that, "death is always hovering over us from the day we are born." Many of his poems were written while he was incarcerated as a political prisoner.

In his poem "The Kind of Eagles" he states, "I dance on the Wall of Prison." Years later, Martin wrote a poem, "For a Nun Who Danced", in response to a controversy which erupted when I produced a show in the Sacred Heart Church on Main Street in Georgetown, at which the Catholic nun, Sr. Koska, did an interpretive dance on the High altar area.

When I was transferred from the Ministry of Information to the Department of Culture, I got close to A.J. Seymour - 1914-1989.

My original post was Drama Field Officer, and later I was promoted to the post of Director of Drama, when the previous Director of Drama, Ken Corsbie migrated. At that time A.J. Seymour was the Director of Creative Writing and Deputy Chairman.

I have to say that I learned quite a lot from that great Guyanese man of letters; not only about writing, but also about being a free -thinking Guyanese citizen. A.J. Seymour's "Verse," was published in the Chronicle in 1937. In 1940, his "More Poems" was also published in the Chronicle.

One of the things about A.J. Seymour that impressed many who knew him was his penmanship. He was not only a great poet, but an excellent writer; his handwriting was exceptional. As-a-matter-of-fact A.J. Seymour's calligraphy was regarded by many, as the best in Guyana, and probably in the world, during his lifetime. In 2015, A.J. Seymour was inducted into the Hall of Fame at the National Library in Georgetown, where his portrait is permanently on display.

There are many other outstanding Guyanese poets; John Agard, Dmitri Allicock, Stephanie Bowry, David Campbell, David Dabydeen, Mahadai Das, Ivan Forrester, Stanley Greaves, Ras Michael Juene, Lloyd Marshall, Wordsworth McAndrew, Ian McDonald, Grace Nichols, Sheik Sadeek, Rajkumarie Singh, and so many others.

Our Guyanese poets, like poets world-wide, have written quite a lot about the human experience; "I come from the Niggeryard" by Martin Carter is a very good example, and it is a poem which I love to perform. Most recently, I performed it at the Moray House at a poetry concert at which all the poems presented, were by Martin Carter. The concert was to celebrate the twentieth year of his death. There is also the very popular "Ole Higue" by Wordsworth McAndrew. That is also a poem which I love to perform, and have done so here in Guyana, the Caribbean, America, Canada, England and Australia. The poems of A.J. Seymour, also relates the Guyanese experience; his "Legend of Kaieteur", "Tomorrow Belongs to the People", "The Rice Harvest" and "The Making of a Slave", are classic examples.

"Poetry is a window onto the breath-taking diversity of humanity" says Irma Bokova, UNESCO Director-General, who is herself a lover of poetry. There is a growing number of Guyanese who appreciate poetry, and over the years, especially the youths, have been actively involved in writing and performing poetry.

There have been many locations in Georgetown where poetry has been read and performed. The Theatre Guild Playhouse, the Up-Scale Restaurant, The Dutch Bottle Restaurant, The Moray House and also the National Library.

At this time, Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, as well as the rest of the world, mourns the recent passing of Poet Laureate and Nobel Prize Winner for Literature, Derek Walcott. Born in St. Lucia, Derek out-shone his twin brother Roderick as a man of letters. For even though Roderick was an excellent writer, it was Derek who rose to the very top, out-classing not only his twin brother, but everyone else.

Regarded as the greatest Poet from the Caribbean, Derek Walcott has visited Guyana on a few occasions, his most recent being in 2008 for CARIFESTA. His works are well-known to all lovers of poetry here in Guyana, myself included.

Last year February, when Capt. Lloyd Marshall and I did our poetry production, "Two Gentlemen Doing Poetry" at the Moray House at Camp and Quamina Street in Georgetown, one of my presentations was the poem, "Love after Love" by Derek Walcott. My favourite line from that beautiful poem is, "You will love again the stranger who was your self."

And what about yourself? Is there a poem swirling around in your head? Who knows, maybe you will write it and perform it at next year's World Poetry Day. You could be a branch of that growing tree of poetry, here in Guyana. As explained by UNESCO, World Poetry Day is a time to appreciate and support poets and poetry around the World. It is held on March 21 each year, and is an initiative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization; (UNESCO).

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

XXIII

When we over-think Hello Everyone, I hope this week has treated you well.

I received an email from avid reader, Chris, who asked me to speak about over -thinking today. It was such a great suggestion. I do not know how or why I haven’t thought of it before as the majority of us are guilty of doing this- myself included.

Chris, thank you again for the suggestion as it has helped me to improve my own rapid thoughts and over-thinking. I can only hope it does the same for the majority of you.

What do we feel over- thinking is?

Over-thinking is exactly what it sounds like – when we simply think too much. We over analyse every situation and read into too many details that (most of the time) aren’t necessary or even have a positive effect.

It is a common method of self-destruction.

There are those that over-think current and even future situations and then there are those that over-think by replaying past situations over and over. These are called ruminators.

Both affect our ability to accurately dissolve situations, to make effective and healthy decisions, to take action and are constant consumers of time and energy.

It’s one of those things that take away our inner peace. One of the biggest issues with it is that only some of us know we are doing it. I believe most of you know by now that something cannot be fixed unless it is first identified and accepted.

Normally, as we fall into REM (deep) sleep at night, our brain files events away into our ‘memory bank’. We forget most of the unimportant daily activities during this time; if we may have tripped on the stairs, what emotions we felt when we saw our loved one and so on. However, this wouldn’t happen so easily for the over-thinker- especially if they are losing sleep over analysing these situations.

SO, DO YOU OVER-THINK? Now, everyone thinks about both past and future situations- this is normal. It’s actually very healthy to think things over – to both praise ourselves for a job well done and to learn from our mistakes. However, when does it become unhealthy and unproductive?

Affects our mood, energy levels and overall well- being? When we over think, we make every little thing an issue, even when there isn’t any. We also make any issue bigger and scarier than it actually is.

When we over-think, it looks a little something like this.

You go to work and your boss doesn’t smile at you the way he/she usually does.

The first thing that pops into your mind is ‘I did something wrong- what did I do wrong?’

‘Maybe when we last spoke, I said this and

he/she is still upset by it.’ You come up with a million explanations as to why/how your boss is upset with you and ruin your own mood. OR you go the other route and have a whole new opinion on that person’s character. ‘I thought they were nice but look how rude he/she was so they must be awful people.’ When the simple reality is that maybe they just had a tough morning. Maybe they smiled and you missed it. Maybe it doesn’t even matter.

This is very common with intimate partners as well. ‘I said I wanted to see him/her and they texted back ‘ok’. ‘They must not want to see me. They must not like me very much. They must be cheating.’ They could have simply meant okay.

In general, when over thinking, we: - Cannot stop thinking about a certain situation/thing/event - Read too much into other people’s behaviour/ actions towards you - Are not thinking about the solution but rather the problem on repeat - Often think in the negative - Often think about the worst case scenario - Often make problems where there aren’t any.

- Often create possible, negative scenarios in our minds - Often think about what you could or should have done differently in situations - Often worry about what we say and what we do - Often distracted/ have poor performance WHAT ARE THE HARMS OF OVER-THINKING? Over-thinking interferes with our overall mental health. Dwelling on our mistakes or potential future mistakes increases risk of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. This pattern of thinking causes high level of stress, unwanted memories as well as heavy burden and regret. It interferes with both our eating and sleeping patterns.

I believe we have all had sleepless nights because of something we cannot get out of our minds; something that really bothered us and we cannot fully explain why.

Because of these effects, over-thinkers must have a high level of coping abilitywhich sadly is often not the case. Subsequently, they turn to alcohol/drugs or food as comfort which could potentially develop into substance abuse or eating disorders. All of these potentials often lead to self-hatred, self-harm, suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

HOW TO OVERCOME OVER-THINKING? I’m not going to lie- this is/ will be very difficult to do. I have been trying it this last week and can say it takes a lot of effort and

commitment- but it is worth it!

There are quite a few things we can do.

Basic distractions are very good for taking your mind away from obsessive thoughts.

These include: - Exercise – walk, jog, run, swim, ride a bicycle etc.

- Music/ television - Journaling – writing down the accurate situation always helps - Get creative – draw, paint, adult colouring etc.

Basically, do whatever you find enjoyable.

Pay close attention to your thoughts.

Counter negative thoughts with positive/ more realistic ones. When you think of a situation, ask yourself- is what I’m thinking true? It is this important? Will this even matter in a few days? This really helps to

put things into perspective.

Set time for thinking and deadline decisions. Many of us do not do this as it is much easier said than done. Allocate a certain, scheduled amount of time to think about a certain event. When that time is done, try one of the proven to work distractions.

Try focusing on the solution, rather than the problem. Repeated thinking of the problem does nothing for us- concentrate on solutions instead.

USE POSITIVE SELF-TALK I’ve said this time and time again- we need to stop putting ourselves down. This decreases confidence and self-esteem. This is important as when one has high self-doubt, they are much more likely to over-think.

Try to be more present- live in the moTurn to page XXXIII ►►►

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

Assessing the future of the sugar industry – Government committed to ensuring that all stakeholders’ views are considered

IN Guyana, sugar is one among other factors. of the country’s priAs a result, the Camary revenue earners ribbean, which was once and, to date provides a powerhouse sugar proover 17,000 persons with duction region, experiemployment. But the enced sizeable regression. sugar industry has enThis regression can be countered its fair share seen in the response taken of financial and other by some Caribbean counsetbacks, requiring over tries such as St. Kitts and $38 billion in annual Nevis, which closed its bailouts since 2012, di300-year sugar industry verting tax revenues in 2005 and Trinidad and away from critical soTobago, which began a cial and infrastructural major restructuring prodevelopment projects, gramme for its sugar ineven as the demand for dustry in 2003. sugar on the global marIn 2013, the Caribbeket continues to diminan suffered another blow Stakeholders during one of the consultations held with members of the Opposition, GuySuCo, GAWU, NAACIE and other bodies with the announcement ish.

But this Administraby the European Union cultivation and manufacture in the West Indies and tropition has pledged to ensure that effective actions are taken (EU) - the largest importer of sugar - that it would abolish its cal parts of the Americas in the 16th century, followed by to address the difficulties of the ailing industry and bring quota regime at the end of September 2017. The EU’s quota greater improvements in production in the 17th through 19th about the best solution for all stakeholders and the country regime is a structure, which allows countries of the African, centuries. But despite its prolific lifetime, the global sugar as a whole.

Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP), of which industry has, over the past years, fallen victim to several Sugar production holds a long, productive history and Guyana is a member, to sell sugar at two to three times obstructions, including the introduction of alternative sweethas enjoyed much popularity beginning from its spread of the world market price. Without these preferences, sugar eners, which led to a decline in demand for the commodity, export revenues would decline significantly. This leaves sugar producing countries in the Caribbean in a further weakened position, as they would need to become more competitive by reducing costs, adding value to their sugar industries or diversifying into other crops.

Following this announcement, the ACP, in a statement in April 2015, expressed its concerns for the impending quota abolition, which it believed was responsible for a sharp decline in global sugar prices. While urging that the EU extend the quota regime to the year 2020, the ACP said that it has warned the EU that the abolition of EU sugar production quotas in 2017 will lead to drastic price reductions and major market instability, which will seriously undermine the substantial investments in the reform and adaptation processes of their sugar industries. “The ACP sugar suppliers strongly believe that they would continue to need

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

XXV

Some of the Wales workers during their meeting with Ministers of Government recently

additional support to complete the much needed reform programmes already underway to allow them to genuinely attain a level of competitiveness in order to face the market challenges,” the organisation said in the statement.

The removal of the quota systems and the price reductions in sugar will no doubt affect Guyana’s already ailing sugar industry. Sugar is responsible for a significant proportion of Guyana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and overall agricultural production. But the country’s largest cultivator and producer of the commodity, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), has been straddled with debt amounting to over $77 billion accumulated since the year 2000.

The sugar industry overall is in a dire state, with a production of just over 180,000 tonnes in 2016 in comparison to its expected 218,000 tonnes. GuySuCo workers were not paid any increases last year and there was no production bonus. Government also moved to close the Wales Estate on the West Bank of Demerara after an estimated $2B in losses was predicted for the year 2016.

Chairman of GuySuCo, Dr. Clive Thomas, reported earlier this year, that the corporation had lost 1.2 million man days (that is, the amount of work that can be done by one person in a day) since 2000 and that the cost for employment exceeds the revenue being earned by the company.

Additionally, GuySuCo also owes billions of dollars to the Guyana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Scheme as well as other creditors such as the Caribbean Development Bank. Coupled with poor labour turnout ranging from 52 percent in 2011 to 60 percent in 2016, which contributes to low production, the woes of Sugar Corporation continue to pile up. As a result of its financial state, GuySuCo has continually been bailed out by Government, receiving $4 billion in 2012, $5.4 billion in 2013, $6 billion in 2014, $12 billion in 2015 and $11 billion in 2016.

Since taking up Office, President David Granger has sought to remedy the ailing sugar industry, and has pledged to hold consultations with stakeholders on the way forward.

On the January 20 Edition of The Public Interest, the President said that his administration would seek to have a consensus with regard to solutions for the sugar industry, which is why Government had embarked on talks with members of the Opposition and Civil Society. “We realise that sugar is one of the oldest industries in Guyana and many of our foreparents were brought here to cut sugar cane… We have some clear ideas on what has happened to sugar over the years. We know what has happened to Skeldon. That was a financial catastrophe. We know of the mismanagement, which has taken place and brought sugar to the present situation,” he said.

In 2015, a Commission of Inquiry was launched into GuySuCo, the findings of which were laid in the National Assembly. Coming out of the COI, it was established that Government would move to facilitate consultations with stakeholders in charting the way forward for the sugar corporation. Further, a Cabinet Sub-committee was appointed in 2016 to augment this process. The Sub-committee comprises Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon; Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder; Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan; and Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman.

In December last year, Government met with members of the Opposition, representatives of GuySuCo the Guyana

Agricultural and Workers’ Union (GAWU) and the National Association of Agricultural, Commercial and Industrial Employees (NAACIE) began consultations on the future for the sugar industry. Leading the Government team, Minister Ramjattan said that the consultations were being held to

ensure that the stakeholders’ best interests were considered.

“We made a major decision at the last Cabinet that we do have to have consultations and it will be extended now. The Turn to page XXVII ►►►

XXVI

Dear Uncle Henry, I’ll test you on this one. Give me your best advice. I am a Pisces man. I adore women.

I have lots of girl-friends but the one I love more is not playing up. She is not flexing. We have dates, but she always refers to my women. I tried to tell her they are just friends and she is my only love. She is a tough Scorpio woman. How can I win her over?

Leroy –the lover boy.

ELUSIVE LOVE Okay Lover Boy Leroy, you love the

ladies eh?

Sure. Pisces men got sugar tongue. And the ladies most often fall for the macho looks.

But not this Scorpio. If you really wish to earn a bit of her love you got to come good.

1. Keep at bay those soft hearts hangers on.

2. Try to talk less, do more.

3. More time for her, less time for others.

4. Be a knight - for chivalry is not dead.

5. Give her gifts, they go for quality.

6. Be sincere. Let the conversation be

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

decent - God, Family, Life.

7. Show your ambition –a plan of life.

8. Less partying more attention..

9. Dress neatly.

10. Don’t be a whimp.

11. Be practical in your aims and endeavours.

12. Sweet words and gentleman’s approach better than flowers and chocolates.

13. Do not discuss your past philandering or present promiscuity.

14. Do not boast or brag or be flippant.

Less talk more action.

15. Generate confidence in her that she is the only one.

16. Above all treat her as a lady. Don’t ever try to seduce her. They are full of character, and yes, stoic. But if you gain her love you got the world. She doesn’t want a sweet boy but a real man. And rest assured they are going to be loyal.

I am married to a Scorpio. Follow my advice and you will be a happy man (smile).

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXV

documentation that we gave them as to the options proposed to us by GuySuCo has been shared and they said that they needed time to study it and we agreed with that because they only got them this morning. They have asked for some further additional reports and studies as to what made GuySuCo come to the decision and to set out these options. I agree with them because they must have source documents and so it is important that they be part and parcel of the decision-making or at least know how we are thinking and that is important.

I am very pleased with the entirety of the meeting,” he said.

Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said that participants of the consultations were actively involved in the discussions and that decisions coming out of the consultations would help to ensure the future of the sugar industry. “I think they all understand what the position is. We shared documents with them and I believe that we are going to have some fruitful consultations going forward since the [sugar] industry is a very important industry. It is of national significance and so decisions that are made in that regard must take into consideration those factors,” he said.

Head of GAWU, Mr. Komal Chand said that the organisation and its members were pleased by the Government’s move to discuss the way forward. “We were assured by the Government delegation that what they have are mere proposals and the proposals are for discussions and it is not a case where decisions are made and we are going through an exercise and that is satisfactory to us. We recognise that consultations have taken place and we take fact that the proposals are not final. That is acceptable to us.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Clement Rohee, speaking on behalf of the Opposition, said that they were glad for the invitation to be part of the consultations as the livelihoods of thousands of Guyanese are affected.

Later in February, the consultations wrapped up following a review of several documents including GuySuCo’s Business Plan for the period 2017-2025, Cost of Production for 2010-2025, Head Office component of Cost of Production 2010-2025, Breakdown of Government Support requirement for years 2017-2025. Proposals were also submitted by the unions and other stakeholders for consideration.

Government expressed its intention to ensure that the best decision is made for the way forward.

XXVII Even as Government considers options for the long-term viability of the sector anxiety among sugar workers continues to grow. Government’s closure of the Wales Estate sparked protest from the workers over their livelihoods. Earlier this month, Government met with the sugar workers to discuss several burning issues among which included the call from several workers to be given severance rather than to work at the Uitvlugt Estate. Minister Ramjattan, who headed the meeting, explained to the workers that Government would not be in a position to afford an additional $375 million in severance after having already paid $339 million in severance to a number of Wales Estate workers.

Even as Government continues to work on the situation at home, regional stakeholders are also working to seek solutions on the way forward for the Caribbean with the impending end of the EU quota regime. Guyana attended a two-day meeting organised by the Sugar Association of the Caribbean held in Jamaica in late March which facilitated an in-depth discussion of how the Caribbean sugar industry needs to adapt to the new market realities and the policy options.

XXVIII ◄◄◄ From page XV

couragement of a good friend,” she explained.

After some amount of delay, mainly because of fear, Maryanne said she eventually went to the clinic for a check-up. “It was in 2007 when, early one morning I had to return for my results and I was diagnosed as HIV-positive. At that time I was devastated and felt like I wanted to die; at the same time I felt that I wanted to live, but because of my children I decided to live.

“So many times I would walk to the seawall and look at the water and it is as if the water is calling me. Yes, it does. A lot of times I sit on the seawall and it is like if

somebody telling you to come, and then a ‘small voice’ would say you got to go home to those children. Those children who didn’t have anybody else but you. So I would get up and walk back home and I would sit on the step. And then climbing the step was another problem because I had no energy “Then the children would ask me how my mouth “buss up so”? I was scared to tell them, but afterwards I told my daughter.

“When I told my daughter she didn’t react anyway funny, she tell the others that she would take care of me. And so she started to make sure that I remember the times to take my medication. She would write it and put it on the fridge, put it in my phone, and the

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

wall too. She would make sure that I eat my meals too.”

END IT ALL OR WIN THE BATTLE? “My plan was to end it all. When I got the results I wanted to end it all. My plan was to kill the man who gave it to me; then my plan was to commit suicide. However, my brother encouraged me to turn my life to the Lord and He would see me through.”

After some amount of feelings of shame, rejection and the thought that death was controlling her destiny, Maryanne told of how she decided to “fight.” She talked about how she ‘took the bull by its horn’ and put up a fight. By this time she had taken her brother’s

advice to seek the help of God; in addition, she had started to gradually surround herself with people from the clinic she attended. She got involved in women’s groups, especially the ones that had members who had similar situations– but were doing positive things about their situation.

“I decided that I have to win this battle for my sake; for the sake of my children. I wasn’t going to kill anybody anymore and I wasn’t going to kill myself either. In my moving around I started to hear a lot of success stories and I started to feel more and more determined to make my life a success,” Maryanne offered.

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XXXI

Region forging ahead with Model Farm at Fort Wellington

By Clifford Stanley DESPITE vehement protests by squatters late last year, the Regional Administration of Region 5 is forging ahead with the establishment of a Model Farm demonstrating best farming / integrated farming practices at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice.

Regional Executive Officer Ovid Morrison said last week that the Model Farm project will occupy 30 to 35 acres of the 49.7 acres of the land in the area and was in response to a charge by President David Granger for the Region to craft a Plan of Action for Regional Development (PARD).

He remarked that since the Model Farm project was floated in October of last year a number of farmers who had been squatting on the land had raised their objections to being asked to vacate the land. He rubbished claims by some “politically motivated individuals” that over two hundred squatters will be adversely affected by the move to establish the Model Farm.

“There were actually ten squatters on the land,” he said adding: ”Late last year we gave these squatters up to February 28th , 2017 last to come in and discuss with us relocation and a deadline of March 31st 2017 to move from the land. Only six of the ten came in to discuss the situation with us on or before February 28th, and they will be given plots of 1.5 acres of land next to the Model Farm. Those four who did not heed our invitation are either being discourteous or have lost interest and they will be evicted after the March 31st 2017 deadline.”

He stressed that there was no question that the land belonged to the Regional Administration and that those former squatters who are granted permission to farm there on an allotted 1.5 acres each will not be given titles, or allowed to set up any permanent crops or structures, just short term cash crops. ◄◄◄ From page XXVIII

She also mentioned the names of a number of organisations that she was now involved in – both nationally and internationally, in which she plays very active roles.

After undergoing a number of training sessions, mostly centred around HIV/AIDS and other STIs, along with counselling, Maryanne has formed an NGO, where she is making every effort to assist women in becoming self-reliant. She is of the firm view that women and girls with HIV/AIDS must be able to hold their own, in terms of having economic empowerment.

DISCLOSURE “As soon as people get to realise that he or she is HIV-positive, one of the first things that they should do is disclose their status. It is hard to tell any and everybody because some people can hurt you by discriminating in all sorts of ways.

But people must, at least tell close family-members, and if there is a man or woman in your life, it is important that they are told too.

“For me, I did not only let members of my family know, but I eventually told my neighbours…when I started getting a grip of myself and started feeling and looking better, then I wasn’t afraid to let people know of my status. I am meeting a lot of people who are in the same position like me and I try to help them.”

ADHERENCE Maryanne further stated that faithful adherence to the drugs is one of the most critical aspect of recovery from HIV/ AIDS. She added that adherence is not only to the drug(s), but it is also to the simple, but proper meals, as well as exercise, associating with persons who will offer encouragement and counselling.

NOW MARRIED In fact, Maryanne met another male whom she said, “kept following me up” and so she said that once she realised that he was seriously interested in her she disclosed her status to him and he still did not let up. They eventually got married and live happily together.

“What is most important is that for a while now my HIV/AIDS status has been “undetectable” (meaning that as a result of my adherence to the HIV/AIDS drug-regimen, the virus is not showing up in the blood test). I am still very careful that I continue taking the drug given.” mercilinburke2017@gmail.com

Morrison said that the 30 to 35 acres large Model Farm will be established as a demonstration farm on the scientific principles of production of crops and will be maintained for a period of five years.

The intention is that interested residents, farmers as well as senior school children in the Region or even further afield can visit and learn about the application of modern concepts in the production of crops, livestock and fish. He added that it is generally known that integrated farming eliminates the need for many expensive inputs typically associated with conventional agricultural production such as feed and fertilizer.

The Model Farm, he said was intended to demonstrate the use of integrated farming systems such as those in which waste products from animals can serve as fertilizer or feed for fish and such water can be used as fertilizer for crops in a sort of cycle which makes a small farm almost completely self-reliant in the required inputs for cheap but highly pro-

ductive agricultural production.

He said that the Region also intends to assist senior students who are enthused by the technology of the Model Farm, in obtaining land from the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA), which is the Regional Land Administration agency, so that they can get involved in developing efficient and profitable systems of crops livestock and fish production.

A proposed management system for the Model Farm includes a Management Committee comprising Councillors of the Regional Democratic Council, Officers of the Neighborhood Democratic Council and experts in the field of crops, livestock and fisheries production among others.

Morrison noted that some land preparation has been done to date on the site but the Region 5 Model Farm project is expected to get fully underway following the expiry of the March 31st deadline given to the squatters.

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Black beauty from Uitvlugt A HUMBLE, dark-skinned maid becoming the wife of a red-necked Londoner created havoc in an already racial society.

THE WHITE OVERSEER The late 50s. A sugar plantation on the West Coast Demerara named Uitvlugt. This plantation, like the others, was owned by a giant British consortium - Bookers. And its management was all white expatriates. Some brought their families. Others were young bachelors. And they were on strict contracts. No socializing, intimacy or marriage to any peasants, especially the low-income maids. As best as it could these aristocrats were to use male services and the mess hall.

THE MAID But one red-neck decided to hire a maid. She was an un-

educated country gal. She was tall, dark and charming. She was flashy and had many suiters but chose to remain single.

Her sharp personality and vivacious conduct earned her that coveted job BLACK BEAUTY One of the conditions was that she would report for work at 6am and leave at 2pm. The strict security enforced this rule as the compound had to be cleared of all workers by 4pm.

MORE THAN A MAID But on this day the maid did not exit. A report was made to management. The next day the manager summoned Mr. Warwick, her boss, to his office. It was clear. Either this overseer fire his maid or face deportation to England.

THE MAID OR HIS JOB Warwick lost his job but he was able to take his Black beauty back to London. He was trapped in the maid’s amorous web.

It was sensational. It was the talk of the estate and an insult to the elite establishment. They deemed this ‘Bacra’ mad.

“Gal you hear? Ratta get married to White Man Warwick!

Yes gal, she played her charm well. Another fool. He go find out later and she going to England! Well deh weh de problem go begin. Big race ting over deh. You ain’t hear how Rafik was stabbed six times by a white man? De gal gone lef he.

She go do she own ting. Ah wish she well. Leh she try deh.

White man na like black people. He get ketch she give he good and he so young and handsome. Dem used to warn he about she wicked ways.

PLAY GIRL “Well da she luck nah. Ah we village gal go gone. Ah wah Ivan go do. He did praply love she. All ah he daddy money gone pon she, but she like de White man more how uncle Jai must be pleased she na go become his daughter -in-law.”

OFF TO LONDON Finally the ship sailed. And among the passengers were Mr. & Mrs. Warwick. All eyes on this couple. White in contrast to black never seen before and heading for a racially-torn country, but Warwick cared little of the gossip and stares. He embraced his bride all the way. And she basked in the glory.

It was love all the way- honeymoon, the cross Atlantic cargo/ passenger ship docked at Liverpool. The stevedores looked with surprise at this odd couple stepping onto the gang plank.

Some cheered them on. Others ground their teeth. The White guys were furious and some Negroes detested the union. They argued that a black is not suited for a ‘limey’. That he would just use her and dump her. Some pitied her. She was going to be ostracized.

PESSIMISM Out on the street, they tried to get a cabby. Warwick did not tell his parents of his dismissal from British Guiana and his marriage. He was going to give them a surprise. Even the cabby refused their patronage. They took the tube part of the way and walked the rest. When they entered their neighbourhood some folks stared in disbelief. It was an all-white community. Some cursed. Warwick waved at his neighbours.

They didn’t respond. Instead they closed their doors and shutters but began to peep.

MOTHER’S SHOCK Warwick rang the doorbell. His lovely wife clung to his side, very anxious to see his parents. Mrs. Warwick opened the door. She was shocked “Mother….” said Warwick with a smile, “I’ve resigned my job in Guiana and I’ve returned to live back here. This is my wife. Mrs. Warwick’s complexion turned blue. “What?”

(TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK)

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXIII

ment. This means, avoid worrying about things that have already happened or haven’t happened yet.

Spend time with the right people. This is something even I hate to admit, but we become who we spend a lot of time with. Our personality tends to change to suit who is around us. Just like when we become the most mannerly person ever when our bosses or elder family members are around, we tend to adapt to everyone else. Think about it, there are always people that permit us to curse more, that compels us to talk name more, or even forces us to be more kind. This means, there are people who dwell on the past and future events that force us to do the same thing. Identify these people and limit the time you spend with them. This is hard, I know but until you have mastered counteracting and positive thoughts, being around these people will harm more than help. Keep in mind that this is not only personal individuals but also social media platforms. Limit your time on these as well.

Do progressive relaxation and deep breathing techniques. These help to calm and relax the mind.

PROGRESSIVE RELAXATION Progressive relaxation involves relaxing all parts of the body from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. Sit up straight (but comfortably) in your chair. Start by paying attention and feeling the tenseness in your toes. Twirl them around and feel the stress releasing. Tense the muscle and release it for a few seconds. Work your way up your body.

Do the same with your fingers- squeeze them tight and then release. Work your way up to your neck- rotate it- feeling all the muscles relax. This whole process should take 10-15 minutes When your body is relaxed, your mind will soon follow.

BREATHING TECHNIQUE If you would like to calm down in a shorter amount of time, try a quick breathing exercise. Breathe through your nose for four seconds and out through your mouth for eight seconds. Only pay attention to your breathing at this point; drown everything else out. This quickly helps to relax the body/mind. Repeat at least 3 times (or as much as you need).

Lastly and very importantly, accept that there are certain things we just do not (and will never have) control over.

Over thinking (especially for future events/scenarios) is a way to attempt to control what’s going to happen- which we cannot do. This is not all bad. Not being prepared for certain situations forces us to step out of our comfort zones, learn invaluable lessons and develop resilience.

What worked best for me was asking myself ‘what’s the worst that can happen?’ I still get nervous giving speeches/ lectures and I asked myself this question before I performed yesterday. Of course the answers were ‘I could forget what I have to say’ ‘I could fall down’ etc. However, when the worst was played out in my head- I realised it wasn’t that bad. If I forget, I refer to my notes; if I fall, I get back up.

Again, all of these are much easier said than done. So do it in small steps if you like; a small step in the right direction can be counted as a leap. It will definitely take some time to perfect this but my research on the topic has allowed me to believe that I can indeed overcome over-thinking. I severely dislike when people say “I haven’t hurt you, you let me hurt you” but they are absolutely right. The only thing that’s making it a thing is that I keep thinking about it. Accepting that my own mind is my own worst enemy is actually a comforting fact because unlike other people’s actions and thoughts, I can work to control my own. Criss Jami said it best- “The older you get, the more you understand how your conscience works. The biggest and only critic lives in your perception of people's perception of you rather than people's perception of you.”

Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Or come in to see me at: Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department: Monday- Friday – 8am- 12pm Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department Drug and Alcohol group meetings - Mondays 4:15 Good mental health group meetings- Wednesdays 4:15 Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

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The Coconut Tree What other tree so well bears the weight of its huge head Or loses so much of its soil yet remains as grounded as lead Or produces so much of value but desires so little in return Or meet Man's expansive needs in ways we clearly discern Gives pina colada its alluring magic as connoisseurs have said Forever, graciously, the coconut king bows to greet its foes Sways to the rhythm of fierce annual hurricane woes Seldom breaks in face of such natural recurring pressure Always when the mighty sea roils up in great measure The king dances the twist, resisting till the wind goes How tall, most times straight and strong the trees stand If royalty there be among all palms, strike up the band The most useful to Man among all its kin In any test for myriad products this tree must win As it continues to multiply along our coastland Big men make boast of great strength to suit From the water and soft jelly of this tree’s fresh fruit By using science to help in extending coconut’s spans Long shelf life, processed, packaged, exported in cans Big business now leapfrogs road-vending coconut water youth Much wider commercial activity revolves on this tree From housewives’ small efforts to wider industry Fashionable hats, clothes and more come from its fronds Bread, bakes, cakes and creams of very many brands Made from the meat of this tree’s dried nuts – at times free So long has this tree helped to feed and protect Man: Its stout and stately trunk for new home-building can And far more than clothes, the fronds have wider application Plaited, they make leak-proof roofs for rural home protection And then produce “pointer brooms” which sweep a wide span Some industries thrive on the material in coconut husks: Fiber mattresses wear well and exist in king/queen-sized busts Coir rope and packaging bags resist the challenge of plastic Today's artists take well-dried coconuts and create caustic Caricatures of human faces and birds to meet tourism's lusts Coconut Oil was best for smoothing children's skin, in Mommy's view Which far too often had discerning classmates making fun of you But Guyanese age-old village tales regale its medicinal uses Of how beaten spouses used that oil to soothe husbands' abuses And say in time the world will see great coconut-linked cures that are new In Caribbean sport, the tree has surely helped cricket history grow Inspiring greats like Sobers, Richards, Worrell, Weekes, Walcott, Rowe Adorned sometimes in swim trunks and old straw hats They developed amazing strokes with home-made coconut bats Just youths willing to provide the many onlookers a beachfront show The coconut tree continues to stand tall in times of peace But its role was crucial before the order for hostilities to cease During World War 11 it helped to produce Allied gun-powders Thus, Caribbean states colonial to England were special exporters Ships braved German subs to take coconut shells on the increase In my father’s knowledge, the shells inflicted military blows Aiding in the British manufacture of explosives to inflict woes And I believed, from evidence aplenty in Guianese frames Nothing could match the shell’s fierce, clean burning flames In “coal-pots” where flat irons were used to ‘press’ clothes These many idyllic islands of our emerald Caribbean Sea So steeped in tourism and visitor approval as they be Would have scant beauty to boast about without such trees Head always up, gracing rugged shoreline to hills of steep degrees Roots widespread, daring the sea, protecting the beach abidingly There are times, though rare, when flaunting its elegant crown The trunk twirls into an S or mimics the rainbow's gown Or produces two bearing heads, or even the mystery of three Defying nature’s design.... and Man wonders: how could this be?

That’s when the coconut tree becomes a master class of its own (H. S. Williams - June 1998)

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XXXV

Rare coconut tree on sale for $1m

By John James BBC News, Abidjan

Scientists in Ivory Coast are trying to sell a rare multi-headed coconut tree for a million dollars.

They have yet to find a buyer. Most coconut palms have a single trunk and head - this one has three

heads.

"It is a rare botanical curiosity", says Dr Roland Bourdeix, who works with the Marc Delorme coconut research station outside Abidjan.

"We have 150,000 palm trees in this research plantation and there is only one which has three heads like

this."

Such branching is sometimes a result of an insect attack or falling palm frond, but in this case there are no signs of damage, meaning the branching could be genetic.

This palm was imported from Malaysia about 40 years ago.

"We are going to multiply the tree about 150 times to see if the progeny have three or even four heads."

It will take 20 years to find out.

Almost horizontal coconut tree

No buyers have come forward for the million dollar tree

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Wedding Expo bride

As Kerron Boston and Akeem Peter prepared to tie the knot Saturday, various exhibitors anxiously lime at their booths marketing their products at the decorated Roraima Duke Lodge.

It is Wedding Expo 2017 and Boston told Sunday Chronicle that she and husband-to-be Peter were hosting a ‘quen queh’ Friday night.

“We’re both excited about tomorrow. We will be doing our own vows. Tonight is good. We actually have a quen queh. We can’t do the full traditional thing,” she told Pepperpot Magazine.

Exhibitors in various booths display cosmetology, fashion, wedding decor and other creative pieces and services, as the music of pan created the background of the celebration.

Fashion displays of brides and grooms and wedding attendants in various cultures were awe-inspiring and even as five-year-old Tavyana Braithwaite displayed her mini-bridal gown like a doll the presence of the elegant fashions was the highlight of the evening’s affair at the opening night of Wedding expo.

Fashions worn by brides of the different cultures created an atmosphere of a Guyanese diversity in a wedding exhibition setting, as the shower of a fountain splashed around the Duke Lodge pool.

Amerindian, Chinese, East Indian, African and Christian wedding fashions were on display.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXXVI

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English 2017-03-26

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth and Falsehood, for the good or evil side.

JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL (1819-1891) The Biglow Papers, No. 6. The Pious Editor’s Creed STUDY SUCCESS Dear Students, Today we again touch on some misused grammatical constructions because they continue to arrest our eyes and ears. We know that some constructions can be confusing, but if you are careful enough you can avoid them; meet them with an open mind. You should also meet Forms of Writing which could spur you to gather and present interesting information about particular topics or persons. This worthwhile skill enables you to search for, acquire, and to make good use of information found.

Thanks. Be wise.

Love you GRAMMAR A. Misused Grammatical Constructions To help alleviate some grammatical constructions that can be confusing, here are some reminders about good subject-verb agreement.

1. When other parts of a sentence come between the subject and the verb, these parts do not change the person or the number of the verb.

The boys who had a good time at the

concert are now playing golf.

The advertisement about vacant positions and work contracts was distributed.

2. Inverting the order of the subject and verb does not affect agreement.

In the trunk were piles of money. [Piles of money were in the trunk.]

3. Some nouns are plural in form that end in –s but are singular in meaning and therefore agree with (take) singular verbs.

Many of these nouns name branches of knowledge: ethics, mathematics, physics...

Others name a single unit or idea: Measles, news, series, United Nations.

Singular: The news was heartening.

The United Nations is an international organisation founded in 1945.

Mathematics is an intriguing subject for Simon.

Some nouns are plural in form but can be either singular or plural. These are tricky nouns, which depend on their meaning in the sentence.

When words such as ethics, politics and acoustics do not name a branch of knowledge but rather indicate characteristics, their meanings are plural.

Similarly, such words as eyeglasses, pliers, and scissors, though they name single items, generally take plural verbs.

Plural: The acoustics in the village hall are bad.

The scissors are in the sewing basket.

4. Two or more subjects joined by and take a plural verb.

Macaroni and cheese are included on Johnny’s grocery list. [They are on the shopping list.]

If the two subjects form a single idea or are thought of as a unit, they should take a singular verb.

Macaroni and cheese is Johnny’s favourite dish. [It is Johnny’s favourite dish.]

Something to Do Making Confusing Subjects Agree with Their Verbs 1. Social studies (was, were) my favourite subject at primary school.

2. News about the lost gold coin (hasn't, haven't) been forthcoming recently.

3. International politics (has, have) caused many problems here at home.

4. The referee’s ethics (is, are) important to be considered at the conference.

5. Civics (has, have) always been a subject of interest to me.

6. The series of recitals (was, were) patiently put together by the principal.

7. My pliers for jewelry-making (was, were) left way back in the Monkey Mountain guest house.

8. Medical Ethics (is, are) our next

classroom quiz.

FORMS of WRITING Encyclopedic Entries Below is an entry just like articles in an encyclopedia. Encyclopedic entries provide interesting information about a particular topic or person. Try to follow the one below. It informs about John Audubon, an American.

Au◦du◦bon, John (ôd′ ǝ bon, jon) 1785 181 John Audubon was an artist who studied and painted American birds. His paintings were so lifelike and natural that he became rich and famous because of them.

As a young man, Audubon had many business failures. While his business partner worked, Audubon roamed the countryside. He searched everywhere for wild birds to observe and paint. Finally, Audubon thought of publishing a collection of his bird paintings. He could not find an American publisher, so he went to England and Scotland. The British people loved Aubudon’s paintings. His Birds of America collection was published there. Later, Aubudon returned to the United States where he published more of his work.

Note: The letters and signs used are pronounced as in the set of words below.

Symbol Key Words ô law, horn ǝ u in focus Some Useful Information Exercises like this one enable students to search for information, and to use sound and trustworthy sources beyond the internet. They help students to develop skills enough to pick out particular information of value, which includes the oral form, and so, not be overwhelming by voluminous stuff.

Much information is good, but worthwhile information is better.

Another thing exercises like this one do is to encourage critical reading with a purpose in mind. Students must find time to read extensively, and decisively.

All in all, finding good information is what students should be concerned about for it enhances all forms of writing.

Something to Do Think about someone that was important to you. It could have been a great grandmother, a farmer, or a radio/television personality. Write a paragraph or two providing interesting information about your particular person. Be certain to only provide facts and information from trusted sources. Let it be clearly expressive of the person’s particular importance.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 26, 2017

XLVII

Entertainment

Harrison Ford called himself a 'schmuck' after plane incident Harrison Ford is heard calling himself a "schmuck" in an audio recording released on Friday of his exchange with an air traffic controller following a February incident in which the actor landed his private plane on a taxiway instead of a runway.

"Yeah, hi, its Husky Eight-Niner Hotel Uniform," Ford is heard saying on the recording, using the phonetic pronunciation of his aviation call sign. "I'm the schmuck that landed on the taxiway."

The star of "Star Wars" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" then goes on to explain that he landed in the wrong place because he

was distracted by two jets.

On the audio tape, released by the Federal Aviation Administration, the air traffic controller asks for Ford's name and pilot's license, assuring the film star that the mishap is "no big deal."

"Well it's a big deal for me, hold on," Ford responds, adding that he is looking in a backpack, apparently for his pilot's license.

At that point the audio cuts off.

In the Feb. 13 incident Ford flew his single-engine Aviat Husky over an American Airlines Boeing 737 jet in Santa Ana, California, before landing on the taxiway that runs parallel to the runway. Taxiways

are paths along which aircraft can taxi when moving to or from a runway, where planes take off and land.

In 2015 Ford crashed a vintage plane onto a Los Angeles-area golf course, suffering serious injuries.

Cultural diversity at Harmony Village

Salara (Coconut Roll) Ingredients 1 tbsp dry yeast ¼ cup warm water ¼ cup sugar 1 cup milk ¼ cup shortening 1 tsp salt 3 cups flour 1 egg, beaten 1 tbsp butter 1 egg white

Filling 1 cup shredded coconut ½ cup sugar ½ tsp cinnamon ½ tsp vanilla essence 5 drops food colouring Preparation • Dissolve the yeast in warm water. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of sugar. Mix and let stand.

• Warm the milk, combine the shortening, salt and sugar; add flour and egg. Knead to make a moderately stiff dough. Shape into a ball.

• Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover; let rise to double in size for about 1 hour.

Combine all the filling ingredients and set aside.

• Punch down the dough and divide in half. Roll each half into an 12 inch x 8 inch rectangle, and brush with melted butter.

• Sprinkle half of the filling mixture on each rectangle of dough. Roll up lengthwise and seal the edges.

• Cover and let rise until double in bulk.

• Brush the rolls with beaten egg white. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 - 30 minutes.

• Cut into slices and serve. Yields 2 rolls.