CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
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SEE INSIDE: Page IX
‘From the ashes, we rise’
Page XXVII
What’s faith got to do with it?
Introducing Cameo Hazelwood ► Page
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... Scholar footballer, daughter of Guyana
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
M a k i n g sacrifices for her children
Joyceline Singh
By Gibron Rahim MOTHERHOOD is not easy, as any mother is very well aware. It requires wisdom, patience, sacrifice and no small amount of problem solving skills. Despite the challenges they face, many mothers wholeheartedly affirm their devotion to their children. Joyceline Singh is one of these mothers. Joyceline is originally from Plaisance on the East Coast of Demerara. She recalled that she used to live on Prince William Street. She and her family left Plaisance when she was around nine years old, moving to the community of Sophia.
“We grew up there,” she said referring to herself and her siblings. “[We] went to school at Redeemer Primary and then Campbellville Secondary.” She currently resides, along with her husband and children, in East La Penitence. A mother of five, two daughters and three sons, Joyceline has very busy days. In addition to her working full-time, being a wife and mother is also a full-time responsibility. She has been a domestic worker for the past eight years. She related to the Pepperpot Magazine that, before her current occupation, she worked as a security guard. Joyceline noted too that her
job skills extend beyond those two areas. She has worked in bakeries and factories. “I’ve worked at many places,” she said, “but I did security [work] for quite a while and now I’m doing domestic [work].” On a typical day, Joyceline rises early and prepares breakfast for her family. She also gets her youngest son ready for school and then her husband drops her off at work and returns to his workshop located at their home. After a full day spent at work her husband picks her up and they proceed home where she prepares dinner. After that it is time for bed. She also takes the time to go to church on
some evenings. Joyceline’s balancing of the roles of wife, mother and worker is not without its difficulties. “It was challenging especially pertaining to my children,” Joyceline told the Pepperpot Magazine of her past job as a security guard. “I [didn’t have] much time with them because when they were at school I was at home and when they were at home I was at work. By the time Joyceline would return home, her children would be asleep. “It was very challenging, it was a sacrifice that I had to make in order to provide for them,” the mother affirmed. Even currently, Joyceline is not perfectly content
with the balance between work and motherhood that she has managed to establish. Even though she and her husband share the domestic duties, she related that having to balance work and life at home can still be difficult for her. However, circumstances have required her to make difficult decisions. “Between myself and my children, we don’t really have that bond or that close relationship because I’m working and not there every day,” said the mother. “But I have to work it’s a case where I have to.” Joyceline needs to work for her children’s benefit. As is often the case, parents like Joyceline and her hus-
band want to build better lives for their children than the lives they had when they were young. “If I don’t work they will have a lot of needs and I don’t really want to put them through that,” she explained. “I went through that and I don’t want to put my children through it.” As time has gone by, Joyceline has been able to see the benefits of their hard work paying off. “They’re able to go to school every day, they’re able to have meals and their certain needs are being met,” she said. Her and her husband being able to provide the children with their needs affirms to Joyceline that she is doing a good job. “When they come with a certain assignment and so on I have the money that I put into that, I have the money that I put into their education.” This includes investing in lessons and other activities that benefit the children educationally. Joyceline emphasised that the benefits that she and her husband are able to provide the children with, require sacrifices in other areas. Indeed, knowing that by working they have been able to provide for their needs has not made the sacrifices any easier. One of the greatest sacrifices has been being able to spend time with her children. “That time in being with them, sitting with them, I really don’t have that,” Joyceline said. “That’s very hard for me.”
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
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Introducing Cameo Hazelwood Cameo on the attack (Samuel Maughn photo)
Cameo Hazlewood, Lady Jaguar and scholar athlete
FOR Cameo Hazlewood, football is in her blood. From the 1920s when her grandfather A. D. Hazlewood (known to teammates as ‘Peck’) represented Berbice against Georgetown; to her father Dr. Dexter Hazlewood and several uncles who, through the 50s, 60s and 70s were outstanding high school and club football players in Guyana, at Queens College, St. Stanislaus, as well as Juventus and Sandbach Parker in the local football league.
Her father and coach, himself an avid footballer, played for Santos FC and Woolford United before migrating to the United States where he was a key player for his high school Brooklyn Tech, his college Columbia University and Blackpool Football Club in the New York Cosmopolitan and Caribbean football leagues. No doubt Cameo is following the blueprint laid before her. As a proud Lady Jaguar in the CONCACAF qualifiers,
Cameo, with the talented lineup of ladies, will be extending the boundaries of Guyana’s football toward World Cup aspirations. It’s an honour she takes very seriously as she bonds and relishes the time spent with her Lady Jaguar teammates. Cameo brings solid credentials rooted in her early training which emphasised scrupulous attention to mastering the fundamentals of the game. This has been amply displayed in the current Group ‘E’ Qualifiers for the World Cup where Cameo scored Guyana’s pivotal equalising goal against pre-tournament favourites, Bermuda. She garnered assists in both games while demonstrating versatility by playing in multiple positions, when called upon by the coach, to promote a successful outcome for Guyana. SCHOLAR ATHLETE Cameo has had the opportunity to train under coach James Galanis, best known
(Extreme left) Cameo’s grandfather Arthur D. aka “Peck” Hazlewood in 1928, Berbice vs Georgetown Football Teams
... Scholar footballer, daughter of Guyana
for his training of Carli Lloyd, USA (Women’s World Cup winner, Olympic gold medalist and twice FIFA World Player of the year). Her understanding of the game comes from patient tutelage over the years coupled with being an avid student of both women’s and men’s football. Her pursuit and achievement of a USSF coaching license while still a competitive player, has given her tactical acumen and awareness crucial for successful international competition. The talented Lady Jaguar is a crossover athlete who featured for her high school in the 100 and 200-metres track events, setting school records in both. Cameo’s speed is an invaluable asset often posing a challenge to opposing teams, and is an indispensable attribute of the modern game. Cameo’s mental toughness and determination is the result of deliberate and strategic exposure from an early age to the highest level of football participation available in her home-base in Illinois, USA. This often required travelling two and a half hours each way on school nights to attend practices. The demanding effort was necessary to compete for playing time in the weekend tournaments on the premier clubs of which she was a member. These clubs often competed for National and State titles while having many of its players called into youth national team camps. Cameo has been a standout in the Olympic Development Programme representing Illinois and being included in the regional pool camp (the best players from 14 U.S Midwest states). All of this was done while maintaining high academic standards that allowed her to be heavily recruited by
colleges across the US where she has played NCAA Division One football in the Ivy League. At 21, Cameo hopes that her lifelong preparation and experiences can be brought to bear for this moment: representing the home of her paternal ancestors at the highest level in the sport that she loves. Her hope and intent are to be a part of
propelling the Lady Jaguars, under the expert and proven guidance of the coaching and management team, led by Dr Ivan Joseph, in presenting enough of a confounding dilemma for their opponents in this series. She looks forward to being a part of and eventually catapulting Guyana’s Women’s football firmly on to the world map of international football.
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A ministry and a one-man health expo
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
At the Health Fair, President of Guyana, H.E. David Granger; Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence; Minister of State Joseph Harmon; Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin; and Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Sydney Allicock. (Photo by FQ Farrier)
By Francis Quamina Farrier THE 2018 Health Expo by the Ministry of Public Health opened last Wednesday evening with fanfare at the Sophia Exhibition Centre, Georgetown. The ‘pomp and ceremony’ included the Health Expo Jingle by Alicia Martin, a Chinese Dragon Dance by members of the Chinese Association, a very entertaining solo on the saxophone by Roy Stewart and a very creative dance by the National School of Dance. The Expo closed last evening after thousands of citizens attended the four-day event and listened to important health messages by President David Granger and Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence. Delivering the feature address at the opening, the President informed the nation of the government’s objective to ensure that there will be health facilities available to all Guyanese within their towns and communities. “There will be neighbourhood health centres to provide free health care”, according to President Granger, who also stated that “the mental, physical and social health of the nation is of importance,” and that “prevention is at the centre” of a healthy and happy life.
Hilton Lewis, 99, is a shining example of long life as a result of good health. (Photo by FQ Farrier)
Both Ministers Volda Lawrence and Karen Cummings of the Ministry of Public Health addressed the gathering at Wednesday’s opening ceremony, supporting the president’s objective and that of the Ministry to bring the best in healthcare to the Guyanese people. A living example of this year’s Health Expo theme “Reaching for a Better Life with Good Health”, is 99-yearold retired educator, Hilton Lewis. Born on March 21, 1919, the retired headmaster and uncle of the late Commissioner of Police, Laurie Lewis, attributes his longevity and good health, first and foremost, to his love of God since he was very young. A member of the Anglican Church, Hilton, familiarly called “Champ”, in an interview, told me, “Laughing all the time and engaging in athletics from a little boy,” have also contributed to his ability, even at age 99, to be able to do 4’6” high jumps and 14” long jumps. “I attended the St. George’s school as a little boy, and we had to run on the street around the Cathedral 35 times every school day,” adding that, “Good food is very important; fresh fruits daily and greens.” He pointed out that these foods clean the arteries preventing strokes. Hilton is also a lover of the Arts - painting and singing among them. He has the ability to sing not only in English but also in Italian, French, Spanish and Latin. To prove his point, he gave me examples in his rich tenor voice. “I never smoked,” he said proudly, which is a point that was raised by President David Granger during his feature address at the opening of the Health Expo 2018. Hundreds of citizens were also given free medical attention during the four days of the Health Expo 2018. For Hilton, who was in the teaching profession for 55 years, his long and healthy life was summed up by him in four words, “Life is so good.” He is already excited about celebrating his 100th birthday on March 21, 2019.
FILES E S A C T COUR
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
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PPP won 1953 General Elections
Suffered loss of candidate at elections petition THE victorious People’s Progressive Party (PPP) headed by Cheddi Jagan won the 1953 General Elections but suffered the loss of a candidate through an election petition. The petition was brought by James Graham, a registered voter in respect of the election of Frank Obermuller Van Sertima for the Georgetown North Electoral District. The hearing by Chief Justice, Edward Peter Stubbs Bell, lasted 18 days after which the court found in favour of Graham to the effect that the election was not conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Representation of the People Ordinance, 1953, relating to the secrecy of the ballot and as a result thereof the result of the election was affected. In his decision the Chief Justice had said “In the result I feel obliged to declare the election held in that district on the 27th April, 1953, to be void and I declare accordingly. I will certify that declaration to the Governor as required by the law. “This is no victory for any political party. This Court is not concerned with the struggles of political parties, but is only concerned to ensure that elections are conducted in accordance with the law.” At the hearing the Petitioner was represented by Mr. H.C. Humphreys, Q.C., C. R. Browne with Amina Sankar. Appearing for the respondent, were, Mr. J. O.F. Haynes, Mr. L. F. S. Burnham, Clinton Wong and Rudy Luck. IT WAS PROVED AT THE TRIAL: (a) That at each of the four polling stations in the area the arrangements for voting were faulty and lent themselves to the secrecy of the ballot being violated. (b) At all the Polling Stations, it was possible for the Polling Agents to have seen each voter as he went through the act of voting as distinct from seeing for whom he voted. (c) 295 ballot tickets were marked by Presiding Officers. Knowledge of that fact became known in the Electoral District and some
voters expressed the fear that it afforded a means of its becoming known for whom a voter had voted. Section 82 of the Legislative Council (Elections) Ordinance 1945 reads as follows: 82 (1) “ The election of a candidate as a member of the Council ( Member of the House of Assembly) shall be declared void in an election petition if any of the following grounds be proved:(a) that by reason of general bribery , general treating, or general intimidation or other misconduct or other circumstances whether similar to those before enumerated or not, the majority of voters were or might have been prevented from electing the candidate whom they preferred. (b) If it appears that the election was not conducted in accordance with the principles laid down in this Ordinance and that such non-compliance affected the result of the election; (c) That a corrupt or illegal practice was committed in connection with the election ;by the Candidate or with his knowledge or consent , or by any agent of the candidate; (d) That the candidate was at the time of his election a person not qualified, or a person disqualified for election as a Member.” The Chief Justice held that the contrivance used at the election was not a compartment of the kind contemplated by the Ordinance and Regulations. In addition the principles of the representation of the People Ordinance, 1953, and the mode thereunder were infringed and the election was not really conducted under the existing election laws and such non-compliance affected the result of the election. Delivering his judgment Chief Justice Bell said, “This petition is presented by Mr. James Graham, a registered voter against the return of the respondent Frank Obermuller Van Sertima, a member of the House of Assembly for the Electoral District No. 13 (Georgetown North) at the General Elections held on the 27th April, 1953 in the Colony. “The General Election of
the 27th April, 1953, from which this petition has arisen, was the first General Election under the New Constitution recently granted to British Guiana by Her Majesty’s British Guiana (Constitution) Order in Council 1953. The election presented the law Officers and the Registration Officer ( Mr. H.R. Harewood) who was responsible for the general conduct of the election, with a number of difficult decisions to make both as regards the content of the law regulating the election and the administrative arrangements which were necessary to carry out the law. “The election was the first one to be held with full adult suffrage and not the least of their problems was to devise satisfactory for the casting of votes by a population very many of whom had never voted in their lives before, and very many of whom could not read and write. “The existence of such illiteracy is established by what Mr. Harewood, the Registration Officer, said in evidence, namely, that he had no reason to doubt that the illiteracy rate amongst East Indians in British Guiana was still over 40%. He went on to say: “When we set up the election machinery we did not contemplate ballot tickets being left outside ballot boxes and between them and on the floor. It was quite a surprise .The fact that we had such a high rate of illiteracy controlled the type of mechanical arrangements we had to make. About two thirds of the total number of voters had not voted before at any election. “It did not occur to us to have the Poll Clerk come to the compartment and see that the vote had been put into the box. We did contemplate having the vote cast behind a screen with a Poll Clerk within the screen, but we abandoned that as it would lead to the many difficulties”. The Chief Justice went on to state that the election authorities had reproduced as accurately as possible the conditions as they were on election day for inspection by the court and lawyers on both sides.
The Chief Justice who along with lawyers and other court officials visited the 4 Polling Stations, added, “I am of the opinion that at each of those four Polling Stations it could have been possible for Polling Agents (either by accident or of set purpose) to have seen how the ballot boxes were grouped together; behind the screen; what position each had occupied in relation to its fellow; what was the position occupied by each box in relation to the length of the screen behind which they were placed. “My reason for holding those views; are these: each of the 4 rooms in which the actual voting compartment was placed was quite small with the result that when seated in their places, the
Polling Agents were in no case at any greater distance than say an average of 20 feet from the voting compartment. It shows (at least in my view) that the arrangements were faulty and lent themselves to the possibility of the secrecy of the ballot being violated at those 4 stations. I accept it as proved”, the C.J. had said. The Chief Justice also pointed out that it has been established beyond any doubt, that 295 ballot tickets were marked by Presiding Officers in Electoral District No. 13 on Polling Day, the 27th April, 1953, with the registered number of the voter or some other mark whereby the voter might have been identified. “I have no reason to believe, however that as
By George Barclay
a result of that irregularity it became known during polling hours for whom any voter had cast his vote. I am, however quite satisfied that knowledge of the fact that tickets were being so irregularly marked became known in Electoral District N. 13 (Georgetown North) from early in the morning of Polling day and that a number of persons in that district were openly talking about that irregularity and expressing fears that it afforded a means of its becoming known for whom a voter had cast his vote. After viewing all the circumstances including the various irregularities the Chief Justice declared the North Georgetown election void.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
Discussions on ‘21st Century Literature’
From left, Al Creighton, Latoya Rodrigues, Diana Cruickshank, Qwanza Patrick, Nadata Caesar Pryce, Donella Edwards and Cristean Peters (All photos courtesy of Diana Cruickshank
University of Guyana hosts interactive session By Gibron Rahim
WHEN we hear the term “literature” we most often think of books or other written works. While that definition is correct in a strict sense, literature in the 21st century moves beyond those boundaries to incorporate works across various media. This change was evident in the recent annual presentation of re-
search by students of the University of Guyana’s Department of Language and Cultural Studies’ Special Author or Period course. The presentations, under the theme “21st Century Literature” were held this past Monday in the Education Lecture Theatre (ELT) and saw six students putting forward their research findings based on topics ranging from dancehall music and
Caribbean film to ‘Game of Thrones’ and oral literature. The floor was opened for questions and comments after each presentation. In his welcome and opening remarks, the course’s lecturer, Mr. Al Creighton, noted that the course is research based. The students, he related, are allowed to select their own subjects for research. “The course has broadened, it has moved and it is the students
who have moved it,” he said. First up was Latoya Rodrigues who presented a thematic analysis of contemporary dancehall music. Acknowledging that dancehall music has a reputation for being vulgar, lewd and violent, Rodrigues related that her research was conducted under the hypothesis that dancehall music can alleviate some of the social ills in our society if more airtime is given to
songs of social commentary. While she did come across dancehall songs with positive messages, she related that those songs do not receive the same response and airplay that more mainstream dancehall tracks garner. “The artistes are all aware of their social responsibility but feel compelled to sing the kind of music that is supported by the masses” was among Rodrigues’ findings.
Diana Cruickshank, who also acted as the event’s chair, focused on women in Caribbean films. She noted that, while we as West Indians have no trouble naming Western films, we would find it difficult to name West Indian films. To capture how women are represented in Caribbean cinema, Cruickshank examined the major
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
Donella Edwards presents her research
and minor female characters of five Caribbean films – Dancehall Queen (Jamaica, 1997), Wan Pipel (Suriname, 1976), Blinded (Grenada, 2006), To The Night (Guyana, 2013) and Battledream Chronicle (2016, Martinique), the Caribbean’s first full-length animated feature. Cruickshank found in her analysis that Caribbean films reflect traditional gender roles for men and women. She pointed out; however, that women in Caribbean films exert resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity and oppression. “We need to change the visual culture of how we present our women of this region, to
the rest of the world,” she said in her conclusion. The issue of copyright laws and the importance of protecting intellectual property were among the issues brought up in the questions following Cruickshank’s presentation. Nadata Caesar Pryce’s presentation was titled “Praise and Conflict: Gospel and Secular Artistes in Collaboration”. Her research focused on the potential conflicts and contradictions that occur when gospel musicians produce songs with secular artists who arguably do not portray a Christian lifestyle. Caesar Pryce guided the audience through the history of gospel music, from its
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University of Guyana hosts ... Continued from page VI
beginnings to contemporary times. In concluding, she questioned the notion that the messenger does not matter as long as the message of the Gospel is sent out and argued that the messenger does, in fact, matter. “The Presentation of Women in the ‘Game of Thrones’ was the focus of Cristean Peters’ research. Through an analysis of how various female characters in the series are portrayed, Peters established that many female characters in the series are oppressed and subjected to physical and sexual violence. She acknowledged that there are female characters, such as Arya Stark
and Brienne of Tarth, who challenge and defy traditional female gender roles. She concluded that, while producers have responded to complaints from female fans about the presentation of women, more needs to be done as TV series such as Game of Thrones have a significant influence on society. Quanza Patrick’s research focused on the presentation of masculinity in dancehall music. She related that her objective was to show, through keen focus on dancehall music, how masculinity is portrayed by various dancehall artistes. Patrick noted that masculinity in dancehall music is
Diana Cruickshank during her presentation on women in Caribbean film
portrayed based on a patriarchal structure. She used music clips from various male dancehall artists to illustrate her point. She proceeded to contrast these portrayals with clips from female dancehall artistes who defy patriarchal structures and assert their sexual independence. Artistes such as Spice and Ishawna, Patrick said, flip the patriarchal discourse. Wrapping up the evening’s presentations was Donella Edwards with an examination of oral literature as a tool for cultural sustainability. She related that her focus was on sustaining Guyanese culture through oral tradition. “I
believe this topic is something that we constantly talk about without actually putting our heads and hands together,” Edwards said of the idea of our cultural sustainability. She noted that, based on her interviews with storytellers, oral traditions are dying out and being forgotten. Among the oral traditions that Edwards noted were stories of Anansi and Balgobin, the myths of Ole Higue and Baccoo and queh-queh. She cautioned that oral tradition, a vital part of Guyanese culture, will die out without efforts to preserve and pass it on to the next generation.
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Beware of foreign scams OVER the years, Guyana has been the target for international scammers, the most ubiquitous being from Ni-
geria. The scammers throw out a variety of ruses, one of the most common being the offer of buying shares
in tickets for the world’s richest lotteries, such as El Gordo of Spain where the prizes are hundreds of mil-
lions of dollars. Letters from these lottery scammers come from all over the world - from Germany,
Australia, Britain and other developed countries. By some means, they manage to obtain the names, addresses and even telephone numbers of their intended victims. These letters are attractively written, addressing the intended victim familiarly by his first name. Some letters begin by informing the victim that he has won so many million dollars in a lottery and describing how he should come to receive his money. When he reads on further, the letter then discreetly tells him how much money he must forward to them and even the mechanism of so doing. The letters initially ask for a fairly manageable sum so as to have the victim take the bait, and once he is hooked, the scammers may even follow up with voice contact. In Nigeria, there are actually training schools for such scammers which results in the scammers using the same line of approach. One of the favourite Nigerian letters begins by saying that the scammer works with a Minister of Government who has under his control large amount of funds which no one has any record of and he would be willing to send it to the foreign account of the intended victim who would receive 40 per cent or half the funds for his service. Other letters of this type would say that he, himself or one of his close associates is a very senior public servant who has in his hands millions of dollars not in the accounts of his department and that he would immediately send these large sums to the victim’s foreign bank account and that the victim would receive 50 per cent for his service. From other parts of West Africa, especially the francophone countries, terrorist groups which would like to launder money offer their victims large sums and suck them into the world of international terrorism without actually paying over any money. The object of these Nigerian scams is mainly to secure the number and details of the victim’s foreign bank account and other personal details which they could use to rob the victim. All of these gambling offerings are meant to rob the victims. One Guyanese victim of these Nigerian scams was a dentist who was so taken in by the scammers that they would telephone him
with short calls that could not be recorded. The victim ended up by losing his house and died almost a pauper. The only foreign gambling offering that was fairly credible was the English Football Pools which was played here for many years, until the scarcity of foreign exchange caused their local agents to close shop. With the football pools, there were local agents, the results of the matches were broadcast by BBC and some players did win even large sums. There was accordingly a fair amount of transparency. For some time now there had been a lull in the activities of these foreign scammers but since the news that Guyana was on the verge of becoming an oil-producing country, there has been an upsurge of their activities. When one receives a letter from the scammers, and sometimes several letters would arrive in the same week, one should immediately destroy them. Do not reply or do not show such letters to any friend or associate for that is exactly what the scammers would hope. No law enforcement body could deal with them since everything about them is fake including their addresses which keep changing. One must resolutely protect one’s self against the skill of these confidence tricksters. The lottery in Guyana is owned by a Canadian company and they sell millions of dollars per week in tickets. Much of this money is spent by players who feel that the greater the amounts of money they “invest” the greater would be their chances of winning the jackpot. Many of these persons have never won anything but they persist in the hope of winning. The players who believe that the greater the amounts of money they spend on tickets, the greater are their chances of making winnings are assuming that there is some rationality about the lottery drawings and that they are not dependent on pure chance or luck. If winning the jackpot is solely dependent on chance or luck then with the purchase of one ticket, if it is one’s luck to win, then one will be the winner. This proposition is testable from the experience of hundreds of buyers.
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‘From the ashes, we rise’ UG Creative Arts Department hosts exhibition
The eight artists on show
By Lisa Hamilton EIGHT young women from the University of Guyana’s Creative Arts Department through a grand art exhibition on Monday wowed the public with their imaginative creations centred on the theme: ‘From the ashes, we rise’. With the collaborative efforts of the university and the Castellani House National Gallery of Art, the women proved their talents to artistically interpret the beauty of the Caribbean through their paintbrushes and hands. Present at the Castellani House were numerous paintings as well as sculptures which attracted the viewing of members of the public and well-wishing family and friends of the artists.
Featured artist Elodie Cage-Smith
Of the eight artists representing the University was final year student, Elodie Cage-Smith who was chosen as the exhibition’s featured artist having seniority in her craft and wide understanding of art. Through her work, she aimed to express the region’s history and in her statement said: “Our dark but rich history is the canvas upon which the kaleidoscopically diverse culture of our beautiful Caribbean has been painted.” Elodie, who is a Martinique national now living in Guyana, had 23 pieces on display. She also created a video presentation which captured a merge of the theme and the empowerment of Caribbean people. The other artists on show
included: Keeta Robertson with her pieces evoking nostalgia; Rayann Darrell and her colourful patterned art and Chelsea Ramotar who captured the innocence of our time. Works were present too by Keisha Beharry with her mysterious paintings; Alvina Naughton and her depiction of passion and peace; Shaquana Cummings with her abstract reality paintings and Akeena Mendonca with her interpretation of fictional gardens. Remarks at the event came from UG’s Vice Chancellor, Ivelaw Griffith who said that it is important for the Arts to be “supported and propelled” in the country, for the benefit of the exceptionally creative in society. He encouraged the audience to not only enjoy the products of the artists but to support their trade while he called on members of the community to double efforts to pass on the tradition of a national focus on the Arts. “I’d like to encourage people who are from the civic community, from the business community, find a way to support the arts; find a way to support what the university is doing; find a way to buy, not only admire, but purchase, to support in tangible, practical terms,” he said. Speaking too was Head of the Department of the Language and Cultural Studies, Al Creighton who presented a history of the creative arts in Guyana and commended the research work of the artists to best understand and represent the theme. In his statement to the gathering, Curator of the Exhibition, Philbert Gajadhar said: “The display of artworks by the students of the University of Guyana is representative of the production of an entire younger generation, who have grown and are growing up attuned to the sort of intensive media coverage that now inspires them to speak,--beyond any irreconcilable cultural peculiarities—in a universal language.”
Visitors admire the work of the artists at the Castellani House National Gallery of Art (Photos by Samuel Maughn)
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Self- mutilation PERSONALLY, I cannot think of anything as cruel to one’s own self, which is nothing else but self-mutilation, as body piercing; a trend that is becoming increasingly popular in Guyana. I am seeing it much more now among my patients as say15 years ago. One common type of body piercing is tongue piercing, which involves placing a “barbell”-type stud through the tongue. The fact is wearing a tongue stud puts people at risk for chipped teeth and recessed gums. However, most people don’t realise that
getting an oral piercing also places them at risk for developing a fatal infection or, in some cases, a mini-tongue and serious nerve damage. A young woman’s pierced tongue developed a large, round lump adjacent to the piercing. The lump, which she called her “second tongue,” didn’t hurt, nor was it infected, but it was growing. This mass was determined to be a scar tissue formation. Improvement was noted after oral hygiene was increased (frequent use of mouthwash and hydrogen peroxide mouthwash) and the tongue stud was even-
tually removed and the tongue was repaired. Although this is clearly an extreme case, there are some very common dangers associated with tongue piercing. Unclean piercing equipment used in this unregulated procedure can cause bloodborne hepatitis B, C, D, and AIDS. So far no cases of tetanus or tuberculosis transmission have been reported with regards to oral piercing, both have been documented in relation to earlobe piercing. Also, if a patient is not instructed to avoid touching the piercing, they might spread infections with their own fingers.
I see a lot of damage caused by piercing-tooth fractures, tooth chips. Patients don’t see the relation between them and piercing, which weakens the tooth. The damage is almost always in the pre-molars, the middle teeth, almost parallel to the piercing. The best way to prevent damage is to not get your tongue pierced. Not too long ago, teens wanted to avoid the moniker “metal mouth,” but the oral piercing trend seems to have overshadowed that social fear and so piercing the tongue, lip or cheeks is a fairly popular form of self-expression. However, infection is a possibility with any opening in the skin or oral tissues. Given that the mouth is teeming with bacteria, oral piercing carries a high potential for infection at the site of the piercing. Handling the jewellery once it has been placed also increases the chances of developing an infection. Damage to the tongue’s blood ves-
sels can cause serious blood loss. Swelling is a common symptom experienced after oral piercing. Unlike an earlobe that is pierced, the tongue is in constant motion, which can slow and complicate the healing process. There have been some reports of swelling subsequent to tongue piercing that has been serious enough to block the airway. In addition, oral piercing carries a potential risk of endocarditis, a serious inflammation of the heart valves or tissues. The wound created during oral piercing provides an opportunity for oral bacteria to enter the bloodstream, where they can travel to the heart. This presents a risk for people who have cardiac abnormalities, on which the bacteria can colonise. Oral jewellery interferes with normal oral function because it can stimulate excessive saliva production,
can impede the ability to pronounce words clearly, and may cause problems with chewing and swallowing food. Furthermore, metal alloys used in the manufacturing of oral jewellery can potentially sensitise susceptible people, resulting in allergic contact dermatitis. Jewellery in the mouth can block the transmission of X-rays. Clear radiographs, what you know as “X-rays,” are essential to a complete oral health evaluation. Jewellery can prevent a radiograph from revealing abnormalities like cysts, abscesses or tumours. Then there is always a possibility that the jewellery can come loose. As with any loose object in the mouth, unfastened jewellery becomes a choking hazard. The jewellery also could be ingested, which could result in injury to the digestive tract.
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#SupportCreativity
By Subraj Singh
The allegations against Mae’s School and its intersection with cultural forms in Guyana RECENTLY, much has been said, particularly on social media, about the allegations of discrimination against the Mae’s Schools, emerging out of an incident where for a “Culture Day” event, students were asked to dress in attire that is representative of the different races in Guyana. However, according to these allegations, a student who dressed in an Indigenous costume was reprimanded for not wearing a shirt. The student’s mother used social media to elaborate on how her child was affected by this incident, and the story quickly spread like wildfire across Facebook and other social media platforms. The incident has led to peaceful protests outside the school and it has also forced us, as a nation, to observe some very important aspects of our society, p a r t i c u l a r l y c u l t u ral forms as expressed through costumes and other mediums, as well as the ways institutions may be both speaking for and contributing to the lessening and general misrepresentation of traditional cultural forms. Ideas of changing/ altering authentic cultural ideals have long been traditions of the colonialist mentality and, therefore, it has a very strong presence in Guyanese and Caribbean history. For this reason alone, the alleged refusal to allow
a student of indigenous descent to wear the kinds of clothes that are appropriate to his culture, even as the school claims to be celebrating Guyanese culture on “Culture Day” is problematic, not only because it invokes something terrible that reminds us of our colonial legacy, with colonialists banish-
Of course, seeking to cover up the Indigenous Peoples in artistic depictions and performances is not something that is relegated to history or, allegedly, to the Mae’s Schools. There have been examples of this in other areas. The one that immediately comes to mind is my own play,
than trying to instill some sort of dress code for the sake of doing so. Furthermore, “Masque” is a play that highlights a segment of Guyanese history, showing the effects of European colonisation on the Indigenous Peoples of Guyana. Despite being a successful production,
CARIFESTA and efforts were made by officials to have parts of the costumes extended and bodysuits to be given to the cast in order to ensure everyone was properly covered. The whole thing was ironic considering that, being aware of the relationships to clothing and identity, I had made
(From left) Nkofi Hodge, Tashandra Inniss and Adesh Rambharose in a performance of “Masque.” (Photo by Salimah Hussain.)
ing many aspects of the cultures of the “other”, but also because such an act would lead us to the realisation, as others have pointed out, that institutions which instill such a dress code may not actually want to represent AUTHENTIC Indigenous cultural costumes – in which males being topless may be a part – but would rather embrace a less authentic, altered version of the costume that caters to their prudish whims.
“Masque”, that was chosen to represent Guyana at CARIFESTA XIII in Barbados last year. The play is inspired by a series of films (including “The New World,” “The Road to El Dorado,” “Atlantis: The Lost Empire”, “Avatar”, etc.) that address colonialism and the ‘native experience’ – every one of which presents the characters in traditional wear that is suited to the tropical climate and traditions of the people, rather
winning several awards at the National Drama Festival in 2016 including the award for Best Use of Costume, the cast and production team had to deal with the suggestions of alterations to the original costumes that were to be used in the CARIFESTA performances. The use of traditional Indigenous costumes, including tibisiri skirts and bras for the women and loincloths for the men was implied to be too scandalous for
several efforts in the writing and staging of the play to include commentary on costumes and culture. The actors were supposed wear what they wore initially. Skin was supposed to be shown. The Indigenous Peoples in the play were meant to be contrasted with the fully covered Europeans. The slow progression from the actors shedding their modern clothing that fully covered them back into the more revealing
traditional costumes as the play progressed had much symbolic value. I did want to show that one of the effects of colonisation had to do with changing what people wore and, by extension, the alteration of their culture. Yet, when it came down to it, at the end of it all for the CARIFESTA performances, all of this was to be disregarded in order to ensure the actors were properly covered. Symbolism must be thrown away for the sake of propriety. Artistic expression must be suppressed because of prudishness. To not offend the few, we must sacrifice elements that were meant to help the many. In much the same way that our adherence to dress codes that stifle us within the tropical climates is a part of the legacy of colonialism, it is possible to surmise that the way in which some segments of society react to the bearing of arms and legs and midriffs (as seen in the case with the actors in “Masque) is also a part of that same legacy. Continuing to further colonialist traditions in 2018 is unfortunate because not only is it a legacy that is steeped in bigotry and ignorance, but it is also one that is harmful to one’s culture, one’s identity, and one’s sense of self – and such harm should not be passed on to anyone, much less a child in the Guyanese society.
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Street food vending in Georgetown
A socially and economically viable business By M Margaret Burke STREET food vendors are enjoying increasing patronage in the city of Georgetown and elsewhere in the country due to certain economic developments which are forcing many city dwellers to eat their major daily meals out of the home. Vendors enjoy a quick turnover and some have confessed that the business is indeed a viable one, with very little external expenditures attached. At the same time, customers feel a sense of familiarity with the meals being offered and the fact that they can almost dictate what they should receive at times, tends to create a win-win
situation of convenience. Cook-up rice; fried rice; chowmein with chicken, beef or mince; various curries; soups and ‘ital’ foods all form part of the food vending menu in the streets. Sometimes some black pudding and white pudding, capadulla tea or porridge are welcomed additions. And, customers sometimes feel at liberty to dictate how some foods must be done the next time to please them. The fact is that the selling of these foods on the street provides ready-made meals at a relatively low price for the consumer while creating employment for the vendor. It also helps to bring relief to people who ply their various
trades on the streets. People sometimes leave the comfort of their offices and other places of work to support the street food vending activity. STREET FOOD VENDING AND THE FOOD SAFETY ACT The Food Safety Act 2016, which is still to be passed, has paid much attention to the whole issue of street food vending in Georgetown and elsewhere. “Street food” means ready-to-eat foods prepared or sold along streets and other similar public places; while, “street food vending” means ready-to-eat food prepared or sold from a vehicle, watercraft, cart, tray or other similar facil-
Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and City Council, Ms. Debra Lewis
ity, the Bill indicated. Public Relations Officer of the Mayor and City Council, Debra Lewis told the Pepperpot Magazine that street food vending has rules and regulations, “which if implemented to the letter” can make many vendors very uncomfortable. However, she said that there are certain regulations that must be adhered to. These include a general medical examination, which will allow them to receive a health certificate. This certificate, she said must state that the person ‘is in a fit state of health to engage in street food vending’. Lewis, holds a similar position as is being introduced in the Bill, which states, “An operator of a food-handling establishment shall ensure that the preparation, processing, manufacturing, packaging, storing, transportation, distribution, handling and offering for sale or supply of food are carried out in a safe hygienic manner that is accepted food safety practice.” HUMAN FACE VS THE LETTER OF THE LAW As part of the regulations of the street food vending business, Lewis explained that the initial position was that the food business should have been a mobile one. However, she noted, “In an effort to put a ‘human face’ to the approach of the M&CC, being fully conscious of the socio-economic situation of many of the food vendors, most of whom are women, we cannot fully implement ‘the letter of the law as yet’.” The Meat, Food and Hygiene section of the M&CC has plans to hold another food vendors’ seminar soon, at the same time the council will continue to encourage these vendors to observe the rules that are laid down, Lewis said. She further explained that from the time food vendors apply for permission to sell they are required to go through a process, which allows them to understand what is expected of them once permission is granted. VISITS Lewis told the Pepperpot Magazine that because of the
shortage of staff at the moment, the council has not been able to make regular visits to some of the locations as is necessary. She said that they (at the council) are fully conscious of some of the requirements that must be in place to ensure adherence to the rules. Some of the rules include a clean environment; properly displayed foods for sale, as well as a tidy serving area; hot foods being kept hot, while foods to be served cold be kept cold as well. Additionally, she pointed out that visits should also be made to the food vendor’s place of preparing most of the meals. “It is a requirement that we see first-hand where these meals are being prepared, and to make recommendations where needed. If there is a need for us to close the business until they put systems in place, then we do that also. However, Lewis said that while they are not happy to report that not much, as they would like to do is being done, at the same time they are trying to do their best and do have plans to do more so as to ensure that consumers get the best deal. Meanwhile, she said, the M&CC is not out to put street food vendors out of business, but that they just want to ensure that there is equal benefit for all. CONSTANT MONITORING NECESSARY However, in the pursuit of maximum profit by many vendors, and maybe at the same time make street foods affordable for their customers, some vendors make use of cheaper and sometimes unsafe ingredients that may be detrimental to the health of the same customers they are striving to please. Many street food vendors may consider the amount, as well as the price over fresh, clean and safe foods when shopping for raw foods to be cooked or selling. In addition, some street food vendors easily use leftover perishable raw materials for next day’s preparation withTurn to page XXVIIII
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The importance of technology in food production Global food production needs to increase by 70 per cent by 2050 in order to feed an additional 2.3 billion people. Food production in developing countries needs to almost double. Production will not need to grow as fast as in previous decades because of the slowdown in population growth rates, but incomes are growing, and the volume requirements are still remarkable: for instance, an additional one billion tonnes of cereals and 200 million tonnes of meat will need to be produced annually by 2050. In developing countries, 80 per cent of the production increases are projected to come from increases in yields and cropping intensity and only 20 per cent from the expansion of arable land. In land-scarce countries, almost the whole of the production increases would be achieved through yield improvement. But the fact is that globally, the rate of growth in yields of the major cereal crops has been steadily declining. The rate of growth in global cereal yields, for example, dropped from 3.2 per cent per year in 1960 to 1.5 per cent in 2000. The challenge for technology is to reverse this decline, given that a continuous linear increase in yields at a global level following the pattern established over the past five decades would not be sufficient to meet food needs. Plant breeding techniques, particularly mod-
ern biotechnology, have aroused large public debates in the last decade. Technically speaking, modern biotechnology has the potential to speed up the development of improved crops, which may increase yields and/ or decrease crop losses. For instance, marker-assisted selection increases the efficiency of conventional plant breeding by allowing rapid laboratory-based analysis of thousands of seedlings without the need to grow plants to maturity in the field. Tissue culture techniques allow the rapid multiplication of clean planting materials of vegetative propagated species for distribution to farmers. Genetic engineering can help to transfer desired traits between plants more quickly and accurately than it is possible with conventional plant breeding. Genetic engineering for biotic stress and herbicide resistance has been shown to be successful in some cases: it has permitted to reduce pesticide applications and has lifted yield of crops subject to insect attack. Engineered herbicide tolerance in soybeans, maize and canola has facilitated conservation tillage and permitted more-timely planting with modest benefits for yields. Further yield improvements by using genetically modified crops that are stress resistant are seen by some experts as a good possibility for bridging yield gaps. Some experts also predict that by 2050 genetically modified
technologies would be cheaper, far more widely available and used to a much greater extent
to improve potential yields and yield stability of staple food crops. Nonetheless, it has to be
recognised that genetically modified crops, and particularly transgenic modification,
carry risks and arouse widespread public concerns in many countries.
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O2N STYLE IN O2 Park
I HAD some memorable moments in Trinidad in the past but last weekend took the cake for many reasons. O2N STYLE and Exhibition was held in O2 Park Chaguaramas, Trinidad. Nicole Dyer Griffith and Richard Young outdid themselves with that production. It was the best production to date that the fashion evangelist has directed. It saw the fusion of fashion, dance and music in a super sophisticated
atmosphere. Over 20 designers from across the region presented stunning collections on the unique styled runway. All the designers delivered, from veteran designers Robert Young, Heather Jones, Claudia Pegus, Nigel Eastman and Marando Askee; to emerging designers like Sejoux( Trindad), Dayle Angus (Tobago), Karen Fraser (St Vincent) and Shirrine Gillon( Antigua). The music that was selected for my collection was
Eddie Grant “WALKING ON SUNSHINE” which was played for my black and white collection with a touch of African Print. During the evening, I sat there and looked around with admiration and thought this feels like the climax of a fashion week. I also caught a glimpse of someone sitting in the front row in her SONIA NOEL DESIGN. In my opinion, it was the best production my dear friend Richard has
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produced. HIS COMMENTS ARE BELOW: “O2N Style was a successful effort at harnessing creative energies and corralling like-minded creative entrepreneurs to celebrate, strategise and network stakeholders regionally. We, Nicole Dyer Griffith and I, believe fervently in the New World style and the Caribbean aesthetic. We have forged our own identity-branding by confronting our peculiar realities and by crafting our novel ways of life, costumed resplendently by our fashion and beauty arts. With 24 fashion designers and over 20 entrepreneurial style makers, we branded our style and presented it to the world.” I enjoyed the exhibition because it allowed me to interact with people who for the first time were learning about my books. They were very impressed that I could have transitioned and have written
Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel
... Inspiring lives through fashion for my journey. The next morning was one of the highlights of my trip and I was re-energised. I was invited to speak at the General Assembly at St Francios Girls College which houses over 700 young ladies.
They are asking when I will be back so I must have left an impression. A copy of LIVING WITH INTENTION was presented to the head teacher M. Gittens for the library. It is a fulfilling feeling when people give you feedback how they felt as a result of you sharing your story. It was time for my interview at TV 4 after such great interaction. The hostess Karma Ballah got so emotional as I got to an intense part of my story which always brings tears to my eyes. You just never know how your story touches people because there is hardly a day that passes without receiving messages from people I encountered or someone I have never met. REMEMBER WE ALL HAVE A STORY THAT WILL INSPIRE & MOTIVATE Feel Free to share with us part of your journey as we continue to celebrate this journey call life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
and published four books in four months. My good friend Carlton Defour, who was Caribbean Airlines Manager years ago, came to support me and received his copies of the books. I will never forget how supportive he was for the first few years of GFW and it is always a pleasure to catch up with him. The exhibition was a beautiful open air space that overlooked the sea and was accompanied by an intoxicating breeze. I was chatting with some clients as I noticed a gorgeous tall woman with a white flowing outfit approaching me. I recognised the outfit immediately because of my signature. She said, ‘We never met but I ordered this outfit last year after seeing someone wearing it on a cruise in Barbados.’ We chatted for a while then she got her copy of WOMEN ACROSS BORDERS. Next day, she sent me a great review of how inspiring the book was and had some very encouraging words
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XV
To Phone or not to Phone? AS SOME of you know, my speciality is addiction and I have written about many types. Today, I would like to talk about a different kind of addiction- one that also isolates us; causes insomnia as well as a loss of interest in previous activities that we once loved. Are you addicted to your phone? Particularly, smartphone? I must admit, I check my phone compulsively; I would say every 10-15 minutes. I do not always know what I’m looking for but I always look. My phone is such a normal part of my life and so constantly in my hand that I cannot count the number of times I have searched for it, while it was actually in my hand. The first thing I do when I get up in the morning and the last thing I do before going to sleep is check my phone. I decided that this wasn’t healthy and something must be done. I looked it up and found that women were more likely to become addicted to their phones as men are less likely to have social media apps. Also, older people are less likely to become addicted. I believe this is because they do not know how to use smartphones. (My father actually still uses a Nokia) I asked some of my colleagues and friends how bad losing your phone would be on a scale of one to 10. Ninety-eight per cent said 10 and two per cent said 9. They all claimed that it would be the worst material possession that they could ever lose. They continued to say that feelings of anxiety, irritation and overwhelming sadness would be felt if they were to lose their phone today. It seems harmless, right? Caring so much about a phone? Well, this week I’ve been really paying attention to the importance that I and others around me give to a phone, rather than what’s actually going on around them. Our phones- whether we are speaking to other people, using social media or playing games- can be addictive as they alter our moods, beliefs and trigger enjoyable and unenjoyable feelings. Apart from obviously being my main source of communication, my phone is my newspaper, watch, alarm, map, recorder, day planner, calendar, camera, music player, calculator, a weapon (sometimes) and my friend when I’m bored or lonely- basically everything. However, it is also my constant interrupter and distractor. I (I imagine much like most of you out there) have a deep desire to know everything that is going on. I believe that is human nature. But when does it become too much?
Well, I believe it’s too much when it has a name. ‘Nomophobia’ is the term coined to describe the fear of being without a mobile phone. Seriously, what have we come to? It becomes an addiction when the object begins to control your life and interferes with your daily activities, work, and relationships. I read somewhere that “The biggest obstacle to productivity is connectivity” but overuse can affect a lot more than our productivity. The truth is, overuse of our phones can harm us psychologically, socially and physically. With regard to affecting our social skills, how many of us miss out on a joke or good conversation as we were on our phones? How many times have we annoyed our good friend or family member because we were posting on social media how much fun we are having with them? It really affects our relationships without us even realising it. A common thing that some of us (yes, myself included) do as well is to be on our phone when we are left alone- just out of sheer discomfort. This stops other people from engaging with you.
NOW, WHAT ARE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF CELL PHONE OVERUSE? This is done mainly by our apps on our phone than the phone itself. Social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram are associated with bullying, privacy violations, stress and anxiety. Low self-esteem and depression are also common when we decide to compare ourselves and our lives to what others ‘share’ about theirs. Cell phones have somehow also become a representation of social status so there is pressure to get the newest releases. This can, of course, result in monetary and (at times) legal issues. Finally, cell phone overuse can physically affect us. For example, car accidents. It is a law of physics that no one thing can occupy the same space at the same time in your mind. If your eyes are on your phone, they are not even a little bit on the road. Overuse can also give us headaches, blurred vision, impair our memory and concentration and even dizziness. I have paid attention to my use lately and have experienced all of the above, along with neck pain and less sleep. I also tend to get sick quite often and I now believe it is because I take my phone everywhere with me and tend to put it down anywhere! SO, WHAT CAN WE DO TO DECREASE OUR CELL PHONE USE? Firstly, keep track of the
reasons why you check your phone. Is it boredom or loneliness? Is it just to check the news? It is important to know why so a substitute can be implemented. Secondly, try not to use your phone (unless it’s an emergency) for the first hour of your day. This worked very well for me. This is because when the day starts a certain way, it has the ability
to shape your entire day in that direction. For example, if you start a Saturday lazing around all morning, chances are you won’t get much done in the afternoon either. When I didn’t check my phone for the first hour, I didn’t check it as much as I would normally throughout the day. Also, try creating a ‘No-Phone Zone’. This can happen any time throughout
the day – for two hours at work, when you’re having lunch with someone or when you have to spend time with your children. Simply put it down and walk away. Finally, read an actual book or newspaper before bed. This way you will still be entertained and informed but you won’t be up all night – more than likely minding someone else’s business.
WHAT CAN MAKING THESE EFFORTS BRING? I believe self- discipline, better concentration, higher productivity and deeper awareness of your surroundings. Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com. Also, remember the group meetings you can attend. Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!
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A necessary conversation for Guyana’s first peoples RECENTLY, there has been uproar against the Mae’s Primary School for allegedly rejecting the attire of nine-year-old, Joshua Chacon, who chose to dress in indigenous wear for the school’s culture day. The school received ridicule and disapproval from many, coming from the Junior Minister of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, Valerie Garrido- Lowe, to the supporters across the ethnic spectrum in Guyana. Though the school issued a statement seeking to justify the situation, many persons have been angered by the blatant disapproval of the culture of Guyana’s first inhabitants. This issue of disrespect for the people and their culture did not originate from Mae’s though. Guyana has an Indigenous population of about 76,000, the largest in the Caribbean, but discrimination against this demographic has been an ongoing struggle. Every day, for example, Indigenous people are referred to as “Bucks” or any variation of that word. The terminology is used as a negative connotation to describe the people as inferior, unintelligent, not quite civilised and of low social standing. There is a pervasive sense of inferiority placed over their heads in their culture and livelihood and the incident at Mae’s served as a stark reminder of this. Ironically, enough, though the institution was quite effective in fostering this concept of social cohesion that has been touted over and over. I daresay, because of the incident, Guyanese of all ethnic groups have banded together in solidarity with the young boy to defend the Indigenous culture. Perhaps many may go back to trivialising the simplicity of the Indigenous way
of life when the ‘hype’ birthed from this matter dies down, but there is the glimmer of hope that the incident has sparked a wider conversation that would lead to the dismantlement of ethnocentrism in Guyana. Fortunately or unfortunately, this year I wrote Communication Studies instead of Caribbean Studies at the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE). But I was surprised to hear that this year for Caribbean Studies the question that caught quite a few people off guard was one that required CAPE students to discuss the concept of “Indigenous Perspectives”. Until studying history in secondary school, the prevailing views I held about the Indigenous Peoples were those that stemmed from eurocentric accounts. With the glorious tales of Christopher Columbus and his conquests of the New World (and the people living there), it was easy to believe that these people were primitive. These eurocentric accounts were written from the European perspective which basically advanced that the European culture was superior and because the Indigenous way of life was so seemingly simplistic and different, it was obviously adjudged as inferior. And as history would show, this superior-inferior relationship provided the justification for European conquest and led to native genocide in the Caribbean. Indigenous perspectives, on the other hand, seek to offer the other side of history and provide insight into the unique way of life for the people. Beginning from as early as the first half of the 19th century, West Indian scholars have engaged in measures to detail the history of the people and shower them with a sense of dignity
and belonging. You know the sentiments Pocahontas expressed to John Smith when she sang ‘Colours of the Wind’ to him? Those very same sentiments and more are actually being recognised and accepted. Additionally, this perspective is slowly gaining popularity because Indigenous peoples are being empowered to stand up for their culture and heritage more so with the impetus from the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Yet, even as progress has been made in empowering the Indigenous peoples, their development is still stymied by so many factors. This discrimination remains one of those pervasive factors. Indigenous perspectives remain critical in fostering an inclusive plural society. I spoke before about the concept of the plural society which characterises Guyana. A fallible attempt at cohesion, in my opinion, is ignoring the differences between our ethnic groups. This may be seen as an avenue to eradicate discrimination, but it effectively invalidates one’s cultural identity. Thus, there needs to be the acceptance of the Indigenous culture if discrimination against them is to be eradicated. Guyana is a multi-ethnic or plural society, where each and every ethnic group should be equally accepted, appreciated and celebrated. The story of Joshua Chacon not only serves as a stark reminder of the discrimination Indigenous people face in Guyana, but it has provided the leeway for a national conversation to be fostered to eliminate ethnocentrism. The future will tell whether the young boy’s plight was in vain or not, but better must come.
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folklore
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By Neil Primus
Walking the line SOME spirits rest peacefully while others roam restlessly, searching but never finding that elusive thing that will help them to move on. A few choose to walk the line; in this case the Sideline Dam of a rural village. The people of Breadfruit Grove were running scared. Numerous sightings of ‘jumbies’ had been spreading among the highly superstitious villagers. Many abandoned the use of both Sideline Dams, even though it would mean an extra half mile would be added to their already lengthy journeys. Strangely enough, all the sightings were made by men and each one was of a beautiful woman. What was unusual was the different versions recounted. One man claimed that he was approached by a black woman wearing a long elegant gown. She just smiled at him and his knees buckled. As she was about to pass him, she vanished. It took him about 15 minutes before he could get enough service out of his legs to make it to the first house in the village. There he stayed until daylight. Another man testified that he met a white woman in a shocking mini. This blew his mind so badly, that he could not remember what colour she was wearing. He could clearly remember her shape. He called it ‘figure eight’. An old, half blind, drunk farmer, claimed he saw a beautiful Indian girl in a sari. “She was sweeter than any film star in Bollywood. I try to talk to she but she jus drift away,” he said. The villagers didn’t blame the beautiful maiden. Rufus
was not known to take too many baths. The one that beat all the fairy tales ever told, was the one told by ‘Chinee’. His real name was Chang. He was born to a Chinese father and a Guyanese mother. Chang grew up in the church. He was a fervent Christian and the village saint. One new moonlit night, he was heading home after a wonderful crusade. The preaching had made him feel closer to God. He hummed as he strolled for home. From out of nowhere, a beautiful woman appeared. Chang admitted that all he could do was stare, then turn away in shock. He ran home, not out of fear, but out of modesty. When asked what she was wearing, he blushed bright red and took off. The villagers couldn’t imagine what he saw that caused him such trepidation. Vernon the ‘sageewang’ (Drinks all sorts of liquor; including rubbing alcohol and methylated spirits) was on his journey home. Sometimes he fell down on the Sideline and slept until dawn or, he would find an abandoned building and crash for the night. One night he was so drunk, that he slept on a tomb. He claimed afterwards, that it was the most peaceful sleep he had ever had. The night in question was a full moon night. Vernon had drank and overdrank. He walked in a haphazard, zig zag, heading for home. Eventually, as he walked, he sputtered, drooled and cursed everything that he could focus on. He had one thing on his drunken mind. How come he had never met any of
them women? “Boy! I got real bad luck. Why they don’t come and test me?” Falling, staggering and vomiting, he navigated his way home on rubbery legs and tilting roads. Halfway down the road, Vernon spotted a woman ahead of him. Laughing in glee, he rushed toward her. His movement although forward was not a direct one. He started going, then he was coming. He went left, then right. Eventually, he was able to reach the stationary woman. “AHA! At last. Long I wan fuh meet you!” She turned and smiled broadly at Vernon. When I say broadly, I may be understating what took place. When Vernon’s eyes settled on her face, his face went from drunken smile of seduction to a sick ashen grey of revulsion. He put his head between his knees and vomited past and present. It stank. Now Vernon was not upset because he was not old as she was. He was mature himself. It was not because she smiled. Though it split her face in half, he could live with that. It was her most prominent feature. The old creature had missed ‘The Ugliest Creature OnThe Planet’ by a near mark. She was uggly. Her teeth were multi coloured. There was black, cream, some green and deep orange sprinkled generously around. Her breath cannot be explained in any known language. Her clothes were literally ‘out of this world’. She held and caressed poor Vernon with two scrawny birdlike hands and she cooed lovingly in his ear. He tried to break free but found that to be impossible. She em-
braced him close despite his valiant struggle. Smack! She put a wet kiss on him. Even with the unusually high alcohol in his system, her aroma finally penetrated and hit a nerve. Vernon passed out cold and on the
Sideline Dam. Vernon woke up at home the next morning. Someone had brought him home last night. When he asked his wife, she declared; “One of yo drunken friends jus knock an leff yo outside. When I open, they gone.” His wife was very angry
with him. You see, Vernon had a number of ugly hickies all over his neck, chest and back. No matter how hard he tried to convince her, she would not buy it. “Liar!” He sighed. “Maybe it was a lie after all. Well, next time deh.”
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Linden artiste touchin g souls with gospel music
SINCE she was a little girl, growing up in the fishing community of Rock Stone, Rowena Renola De Jounge knew that her ‘calling’, as Christians would say, is to sing and record gospel music. This was further confirmed in her mind with the recent release of her first single, ‘Tell it to him.’
the gospel singer she knew she could become. “At the age of 14 I gave my life to Christ, and I became a member of the Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church. Shortly after I joined the church, I started to sing in church, doing solo pieces and so on. As my talent developed more and more, I found myself being a part of
Unfortunately, this decision caused her to become a little stagnated so she decided to take a spotlight off herself and place it on the youths of Linden who had the potential. Over the years, Rowena would have worked with several Linden artistes who would have succeeded at various competitions but
Gospel artiste Rowena De Jounge
Her journey of becoming a local solo gospel artiste is one filled with tidal waves, hurdles and distractions, but because she knew what exactly her innate desire is, her determination to make this a reality has overpowered every negative force that would have formerly succeeded; though temporarily, and now her music is touching souls across Guyana. Rowena said it all started when she and her cousins would play church in Rock Stone and she would always be the pretend, worship leader. “I always find myself in the forefront like the worship leader and we are always singing the choruses and so on,” she related. It was at this tender age, her talent was realised and she pushed through to be
the Sasca Herelders Choir. I was an active member of the church, I was very active in the youth group,” Rowena highlighted. In 2007 Rowena decided to enter the GTT jingle competition and that was her biggest spotlight in the local music area. “Seeing myself as one of the final five, it was a great joy for me... the feeling was unexplainable, being on a stage in front of a huge crowd. I gained the third position and I was very happy and I told myself, ‘this is it’.” That very night, Rowena was flocked by producers but turned it all down because the offers were for soca and dancehall music, but she knew that was not her genre. She said she knew God knew her heart and didn’t want to divert from her true passion.
because of the unthankful response from many, she decided to work on herself. This caused her to take a sabbatical from gospel music and to try other genres. “I took a swing because I felt this gospel thing isn’t getting anywhere, because I wasn’t getting the support and that is what had me stood for a number of years; so I decided I need to do something for myself,” she said. She joined the Irate Band which is the backup band for First Born and would have recorded several reggae songs during that time. She even made an appearance at Cronixx first show to Guyana, where she backed up 17 local artistes. She was also the choir director at the Linden Technical Institute where she is currently employed.
Rowena has travelled the length and breadth of Guyana singing and recording but that void was still in her for gospel. She decided to recommit herself to Christ and to really pursue her desire for gospel. “I needed to return to the Lord, for all these times I recorded
music, yet the music wasn’t put out there and I think is because that is not really my calling, so when I decided to recommit myself to the Lord and to focus on me and my gospel music since last September, from then to now, there is a lot I would have done,” she shared.
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Her first single was released by Signal Production with the help of Bonny Alves. It is now available on Sound Cloud. She will soon be releasing her next single ‘Believe’ and in September 2019, Rowena is hoping to release her first album.
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The
profundity
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
behind
Art
Guyana gradually moving toward the world stage
Model Tesha Northe
By M Margaret Burke COCONUT leaves and lucky beads were two of the most essential materials used by Natasha David in making a set of three dolls; one of her more famous artistic pieces done recently. Each one of the dolls is well adorned in their own fashion and style. She made them beautiful and seemed quite
happy in their own individual attire – fully clothed in coconut leaves. One doll’s dress is made of cleverly organised red lucky seeds; while the last doll is majestically attired in tibisiri, trimmed by lucky seeds and coconut leaves. Both are decked with hats made of coconut leaves, tibisiri straw and cotton thread.
SO WHERE DID THE ARTIST GET THESE AND ALL HER OTHER IDEAS FROM?
David, who has been into art and craft for over nine years, said that she never went to school to learn how to do all the things she now does. “My artistic education came from inspiration from ‘on high’. I never went to school to learn how to do these things and with my mother being an Amerindian lady, it gave me the urge to
create many of the indigenous things I am now putting out there,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine. She stated that because of her love for the Art, she started with what she considered to be the smaller, less challenging things. “I started with dolls and then I began to see the need for clothing – not only for the dolls, but also clothing that people would wear. Not long after, I also saw the need for accessories to go with the clothing and I started adding these to the pieces of craft I was making. Now I am only getting stronger with all these items,” she stated.
SUPPORTIVE FAMILY
David is a wife and mother. While working hard to satisfy the needs of her husband and son and also managing a home, she strives to balance it with the demands of her business. She was proud to state that her husband and son are also very supportive of what she is doing. “In fact, my husband is also an artist and while he would do his own things, he is very helpful to me in ensuring that I get the job done and that my demands are met. I have a very supportive family,” she said. With so many art and craft exhibitions around the world these days, Guyana is not to be left behind and David, with each and every opportunity she has so far gotten, said that she has done everything possible to ‘show-off’, not just
Tibisiri and bamboo baskets, vase made from coconut shell and other local craft
her pieces, but the beauty of Guyana as well.
THE PROSPECTS FOR GUYANA
Guyana has its fair share of cultural events throughout the year and David said that she would usually take full advantage of it. “Whenever there is an event people would order all sorts of things – from clothing to accessories for that day. Also, on regular days people also show interest in what I make and I am happy about it,” she pointed out. She said that as a member of the Guyana Arts and Craft Association, where she is able to meet with other artists, who are excelling in their area of work, she has been able to become more aware of what is taking place in the art and craft arena, not only in Guy-
Coconut leaves, lucky seeds, tibisiri straws and a little natural cotton thread were used to adorn these three beautiful dolls
than with the money he can gain from it. On the other hand, studies have shown that there is a correlation between the love and exposure to arts
Loraine Warde of NCN, modelling an Indigenous head-dress and two-piece skirt suit
ana, but also in the Caribbean and around the world. David, who said that she is always proud to put Guyana on the map whenever the opportunity arises, told of having the chance to attend a number of art and craft exhibitions in Guyana, and other countries such as Barbados, Suriname and Miami. She said many other Guyanese also attend some of these exhibitions and they are all well appreciated wherever they go. In general, art and craft, which continues to be a growing industry in Guyana, is being advocated as a panacea, which encourages education development. There is one school of thought which says that an artist is usually more in love with what he does
and a person’s ability to learn easier. Dr. Kerry Freedman, Head of Art and Design Education at Northern Illinois University said, “Children need to know more about the world than just what they can learn through text and numbers. Art education teaches students how to interpret, criticise and use visual information and how to make choices based on it.” Studies went further to say that the involvement in art and craft provides opportunities for children, in particular, to learn words for colours, shapes and actions; that art education strengthens problem-solving and critical-thinking skills and that there is a correlation between art and other achievements.
For David, the creation of art and craft came naturally. “I had a love for it [the art and craft] and I just started doing things,” she said, while explaining that as she started playing around with dolls – doing things to make them look even more beautiful, eventually she moved from stage to stage, creating more and more pieces, and then advancing to the level she is at the moment. She is now encouraging young girls and boys, as well as adults to do whatever they are comfortable with – once it is something good and honest; if possible, make a career out of it and there will be no regrets; you have to work hard at it; you have to have big dreams and visions. It is not always easy, but with energy and determination it can be done, she assured. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)
This doll is completely decked in banana leaves and accessorised with beads and local bead chain
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Empowering people through L
ENSURING that democracy is maintained is paramount to ensuring that a country is run in the best interest of all its peoples, ensuring that all citizens have equal access to the nation’s resources and services offered by the state. With the quest for the ‘good life’ at the foundation of the current Administration’s mandate, Government is committed to ensuring the tenets of democracy are secured and maintained. Government has pledged to ensure the regular holding of Local Government Elections (LGEs), which were restored after a 23-year absence under the People’s Progressive Party. LGEs are due this year and will be the second such elections to be held since President David Granger returned democracy to the people by ensuring its return as one of his first acts as Head of State. In this week’s Government in Action, we will take a look at the preparations being put in place by the Guyana Elections Commission and the Ministry of Communities for the holding of Local Government Elections this year.
RESTORING LOCAL DEMOCRACY This year’s LGEs will mark the first time in Guyana’s history that successive Local Government Elections have been held. In fact, it was one of the damning charges against the previous Government, which seemed uninterested in holding those elections, thereby allowing ordinary Guyanese to have a say in the administration of their towns and villages. Then Leader of the Opposition, David Granger led a picketing exercise from September 2014 to December 2014, a period of four months, in front of what was then the Office of the President, calling for the Government to hold LGEs. “I patrolled the streets of Georgetown. I picketed Mr. Donald Ramotar’s office demanding Local Government Elections and now that I am
where he was, I will give you Local Government Elections. We changed places,” President Granger said at the commissioning of two buses at Rose Hall in February 2016. The then Opposition parties had favoured a system in which less power was concentrated in the hands of the subject Minister and more power is given to the people, while the People’s Progressive Party Government preferred maintenance of the status quo. The President of the day, Mr. Donald Ramotar had used his veto powers to frustrate the enactment of legislation passed by the Parliament. Upon coming to power in 2015, the present Government quickly pushed through the delayed legislation and
Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, said that it was the lack of political will from the previous administration and the need for control that hindered local government empowerment for over two decades. “It has taken a long time for us to have the political will to implement and institute the Constitutional provisions for Local Government elections but with the ascension of President David Granger following the May 2015 elections, what it brought is that political will to ensure that the ENSURING that democracy is maintained is paramount to ensuring that a country is run in the best interest of all its peoples, ensuring that all citizens have equal access to
LGEs are due this year and will be the second such elections to be held since President David Granger returned democracy to the people by ensuring its return as one of his first acts as Head of State. In this week’s Government in Action, we will take a look at the preparations being put in place by the Guyana Elections Commission and the Ministry of Communities for the holding of Local Government Elections this year. RESTORING LOCAL DEMOCRACY This year’s LGEs will mark the first time in Guyana’s history that successive Local Government Elections have been held. In fact, it was one of the damning charges
Georgetown. I picketed Mr. Donald Ramotar’s office demanding Local Government Elections and now that I am where he was, I will give you Local Government Elections. We changed places,” President Granger said at the commissioning of two buses at Rose Hall in February 2016. The then Opposition parties had favoured a system in which less power was concentrated in the hands of the subject Minister and more power is given to the people, while the People’s Progressive Party Government preferred maintenance of the status quo. The President of the day, Mr. Donald Ramotar had used his veto powers to frustrate the enactment of legislation passed by the Parliament.
Flashback: Then Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, now Minister within the Ministry of Social Protection, Mr. Keith Scott and others protesting at the then Office of the President calling for Local Government Elections to be held.
moved towards making good on its promise to hold the elections sooner rather than later. The Opposition had vigorously argued that the elections could not be held since the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) did not have the necessary infrastructure in place but GECOM, for its part, contended that it was ready. Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, in an invited comment with the Public Information and Press
the nation’s resources and services offered by the state. With the quest for the ‘good life’ at the foundation of the current Administration’s mandate, Government is committed to ensuring the tenets of democracy are secured and maintained. Government has pledged to ensure the regular holding of Local Government Elections (LGEs), which were restored after a 23-year absence under the People’s Progressive Party.
against the previous Government, which seemed uninterested in holding those elections, thereby allowing ordinary Guyanese to have a say in the administration of their towns and villages. Then Leader of the Opposition, David Granger led a picketing exercise from September 2014 to December 2014, a period of four months, in front of what was then the Office of the President, calling for the Government to hold LGEs. “I patrolled the streets of
Upon coming to power in 2015, the present Government quickly pushed through the delayed legislation and moved towards making good on its promise to hold the elections sooner rather than later. The Opposition had vigorously argued that the elections could not be held since the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) did not have the necessary infrastructure in place but GECOM, for its part, contended that it was ready.
Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan, in an invited comment with the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, said that it was the lack of political will from the previous administration and the need for control that hindered local government empowerment for over two decades. “It has taken a long time for us to have the political will to implement and institute the Constitutional provisions for Local Government elections but with the ascension of President David Granger following the May 2015 elections, what it brought is that political will to ensure that the system of Local Government is accorded its rightful place in the governance architecture according to Constitutional provisions. So, at the time of our ascension to office that heavy hand of the Government that existed for decades and decades was removed and it has been replaced by the hand of cooperation,” Minister Bulkan said. Citizens’ empowerment President Granger has said that this important process, which was neglected for decades, has led to a democratic renewal that has sparked hope and enlivened communities that were slowly becoming mere dormitories. At the commissioning ceremony of buses at Rose Hall Town February 27, 2016, President Granger said that his Government will ensure that the local government system continues to function in the interest of the people and empowers ordinary citizens to become more involved in the administration of their own communities. “Everything that happens to you, as soon as you put your foot out your door is about local government. Whether you getting bite by mosquito, zika, chikungunya, big foot, malaria, dengue, all these diseases are brought by mosquitoes; if your neighbourhood is unsanitary, if you don’t have the ability to remove solid waste you are
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Local Government Elections going to suffer and that is why we need strong NDCs, strong municipalities, and that is why this Government has struggled to ensure that we put power back into your hands in the form of Local Government Elections. Since 1994 we have not had elections, but in 30 days’ time, we
In an interview with the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, Chairman of GECOM, Justice James Patterson said that the Commission began its work months ago as it is cognisant of the fact that every system must be in place to ensure a
Minister of Communities, Mr. Ronald Bulkan
will have elections. You will elect your own councillors because you will have the power, we will empower you and if they don’t perform, move them and put people who are concerned about your welfare,” President Granger said. With LGEs just months away, preparations are ongoing to ensure that citizens can exercise their franchise in a fair and transparent way. The Guyana Elections Commission has commenced the process of registration across the country to ensure that every eligible citizen is registered and given the opportunity to exercise their democratic right. The process commenced on May 21 and will run until July 15, 2018.
free, fair and transparent election, whether local government or general and regional. “We started preparations ages ago because there are stages and we are at the stage now where everybody is doing something that the Statues of the Constitution say to do. We have reports coming in daily from all of our positions throughout the country. I think most of the people come at least weekly with reports so we have everything ship shape in that regard. We have more registrants as we speak, far more than when we began and that gives me some comfort,” Justice Patterson said. Minister Bulkan said that he is confident in the assurance given by GECOM that its preparations are on target.
He noted that from the Ministry’s end, preparations have been made for the town of Mahdia as well as eight other Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) to be included in this year’s elections. “Nine new local government authority areas are expected to be announced by next week. It allows for one new township, which would be Mahdia, eight new NDCs, three of these being in the Pomeroon-Supenaam (Region Two), two in the Demerara-Mahaica area (Region Four) along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, two in the East Berbice-Corentyne area (Region Six) and one in the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo area (Region Nine), which will be the village of Aranaputa. So we are not only deepening the scope of Local Government but we are also widening it with the creation of new local government areas when these elections are held,” he said.
EDUCATE TO EMPOWER GECOM Chairman, Justice Patterson noted that the Commission has already started its Voter Education Campaign countrywide in an effort to educate citizens on their rights and what the process entails. “Voter education is important. We have a Voter Education Department right here and a very responsible person is doing that job at the moment and you can count on us to do what we can to educate people on the need to vote. How to vote and who to vote for is out of my pay grade. That is for the particular party contenders whoever they may be… It’s an ongoing process, we don’t stop working. GECOM is either out of an election or we are going into one and I have an excellent staff very excellent staff,” the GECOM Chairman noted. On this note, Minister Bulkan said that the Ministry of Communities will be launching its Local Government Public Awareness Education Project on Friday, June 8, 2018, at the Parliament
Building with the aim of empowering the Guyanese public to become more involved in community and regional leadership. The countrywide project is expected to run for 18 months. Minister Bulkan said that while the turnout at the 2016 LGEs was slightly in excess of 43 per cent, one of the Ministry’s immediate goals for the public awareness campaign is to increase voter turnout to a minimum of 50 per cent. “What is required to accompany this empowerment is that people must begin to take ownership of their communities. I believe the first step of ownership requires citizens’ participation. Persons must participate in these elections, which is an opportunity that is being afforded to them to elect candidates from their communities who will become councillors who in turn will be entrusted with the significant authority and responsibility to manage and develop their respective areas. I think that is the key element of ownership,” the Minister of Communities said. Given the fact that before 2015 LGEs had not been held in decades, many citizens are still unaware of the enormous functions, responsibilities, and authority of local Councils. This is why he noted, the Ministry has to fill the information deficit to ensure that persons understand the importance of their own participation in the process. He noted that it is the Government’s responsibility to shore-up the governance architecture of the country and the LGEs form a major part of democratic governance. “The sum of about $2.9 billion was allocated in the 2018 budget to fund the work of GECOM. This is in addition to $500 million that they had in their coffers; so it’s approximately $3.5 billion that have been allocated by this administration to GECOM to ensure that these elections will be held. Many are questioning this investment. The Administration, however, is not second-guessing itself. It’s an investment in
democratic governance. It’s an investment to ensure that our citizens, wherever they reside, are allowed to exercise their democratic right to elect persons to manage and develop their own administration. So, it is to say that this Administration is committed and we have no intention of being distracted or diverted from delivering on this commitment that we made. Ultimately the hope is that the system is entrenched to the point that there is no danger that any succeeding administration will want to return to the model that obtained for the greater part of our post-independent history,” he said. Justice Patterson also echoed these sentiments as he noted that the right to vote is not one to be taken lightly. “I want to encourage the Guyanese public not to be apathetic about it. We have put a lot of human and material resources in our efforts and this Chairman doesn’t want to see all those efforts
go down in vain and people need to know. The Guyana Elections Commission is an independent body and that independence is embodied in its Chairman. I see no faces, I know neither names, I have no or any interest political, economic or otherwise in the outcome of the elections and I wish everybody to know that and to be at peace,” the GECOM Chairman noted. Government has fulfilled its commitment and has returned Local Government Elections and power to the people. It is now up to every citizen to take advantage of the opportunities presented and exercise their right to vote and elect their leaders that can best serve their interests. Persons who have not yet been registered can visit the GECOM’s office in their area from 08:00hrs to 17:00hrs on Monday to Thursday, 08:00hrs to 16:00hrs on Fridays and 10:00hrs to 14:00hrs on weekends and holidays.
Chairman of GECOM, Justice (Retired) James Patterson
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Riding high!
‘Tiger Bay’ children receive donation of bicycles
Some of the bicycles which were donated by the businessman to the community
By Leroy Smith CHILDREN representing close to 20 households in
Rosemary Lane ( Tiger Bay), were on May 25, gifted with pedal cycles compliments of General Con-
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
struction Company General Manager, Peter Lewis. The donation which is pegged at just under half a million
dollars, was made after the businessman expressed his appreciation to the residents of the community. Lewis, who engaged the community through the office of Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, Clifton Hicken, explained that he decided on the move given a pleasant working relationship he had with the community a few years ago. The businessman made reference to doing construction works in the community and while having to leave his equipment in the community, he had no instance of theft. He said that the development caused him to view the com-
bilities to the communities in which he serves. The Assistant Commissioner reminded that the doors of every commander in the various divisions are always open, so that business operatives and individuals can engage the divisional heads should they want to lend assistance to the various youth groups being formed by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) through its social crime preventions.
Force Social Crime Prevention Initiative. However, the group and its activities have not been so visible since Hicken was called to serve in a higher office within the Force, leaving the command of the division to another officer. Hicken told the children that he will return to working with them as he plans to adopt the community of Rosemary Lane through his office at the GPF Headquar-
(From left) Businessman Peter Lewis, Assistant Commissioners Clifton Hicken and Leslie James in discussion as Deputy Commander ‘A’ Division Errol Watts listens in.
munity differently, in spite of the consensus of many other persons who have a certain perception about the community. At Friday’s handing over of the cycles, Lewis said that he is of the view that people generally do not get up on a daily basis with the intention to commit bad acts, but the system might be the number one reason why persons end up finding themselves on the other side of the law. ‘A’ Division Commander and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Leslie James who has oversight for the Rosemary Lane community was also present at the handing over ceremony. He called on the community to take good care of the items, even as he called on individuals and entities working in other communities across the country to emulate the actions of the contractor. He commended the businessman’s commitment to his corporate and social responsi-
Hicken, was also on hand at the handing over. He underscored the importance for the community to keep the gifts serviceable, since it can pave the way for further donations from
ters, Eve Leary. Hicken also outlined several initiatives which would be adopted to make this possible, including opening up the Guyana Police Force Band Room
Mr. Lewis speaking at the handing over ceremony where he made a commitment to continue supporting the community
the very businessman and other persons who may be looking on. It was Hicken who formed the Rosemary Lane Youth Group several years ago under the Guyana Police
and Mounted Branch for the children to gain access in the afternoons and on weekends, so that they be part of other meaningful activities outside of their communities.
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‘What’s faith got to do with it?’ By Vanessa Braithwaite THE story of how a young Lindener paddled her way to the shore of success with mustard seed faith, was documented in her book, ‘What’s Faith got to do with it?’ and is now available to be shared with all of Guyana. Feigel Niles was born
She did not know how she would have done it, but she only knew that she had to get it done. “My parents could not have afforded to send me to study and by faith, I believed that God was going to make a way for me to be able to get through this phase of my life,” she related, and he did. “Many doors opened up; I got little scholarships
Feigel Niles
and bred in South Amelia’s Ward and while she was not dirt poor, all was not a bed of roses either. Being a part of a big family; and being the fourth of nine children, even at a tender age while attending the Amelia’s Ward Primary School, Niles wanted to have an education, as she saw it as the solution of poverty. Graduating from the Mackenzie High School was not enough for Niles and though her parents could not afford to support her financially to pursue tertiary education, it was at this point that her insurmountable faith stepped in.
here and there and I was able to make it.” In 2008, she left Guyana to attend the University of Southern Caribbean in Trinidad. “All I had in my purse was US$25,” Niles reminisced, but it was enough to water her plant of faith and keep her going. By the grace of God, as she puts it, she successfully completed the programme where she majored in Family and Consumer Science and minored in Health. Niles then returned to Guyana and landed herself a job as the principal of the Agape Educational Institute in Port Kaituma. As the old Guyanese saying
goes, “When ya think ya bad, others deh worse,” and this was a reality that Niles faced during her stint in Port Kaituma.“ It was during that time I met a young lady while I was there who had dropped out of school since in Grade Seven and she should have been in Grade 10, she really wanted to go back to school and so I got her back into school even though I was not financially stable to do so, I reached out and helped,” Niles said. One good however was not enough, as there were many children in the com-
munity that were school dropouts and yearned for an education, but could not have afforded one. With her principal’s salary, Niles was unable to help the multitude, but just saying no was not enough. “Others reached out but I could not have helped everyone, so one day I sat in my office and said to myself, ‘What can I do to be able to help these children a little?’” she said. She decided that one answer may be to work on the book she has now authored. Faith again peaked its way into Nile’s life and
she journeyed to the United States where she benefited from scholarships and pursued studies at Andrews University in Michigan. She commenced the process of writing her book and though a plethora of challenges faced her, she had to complete writing that book and completed it she did. “With faith, I stepped into the unknown and it took me places I could have only dreamed about,” Niles said. Her book was released in January and is currently on Amazon. It is also available for sale in
Amelia’s Ward Linden for GY$5,000. In 2019 Niles will be launching the Feigel Olive Niles Foundation, which aims at helping students, especially those in the Hinterland, to have an education. “It doesn’t matter what you do in life, make sure you have a basic foundation because education can take you out of poverty. I support education 100 per cent. My struggles brought me to where I am today. I’m so grateful for them,” she posited. Niles also plans on writing more books in the future.
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Can AI make it to number one? How close are we to hearing a song composed by a computer making it to number one in the charts? Taryn Southern has been working with artificial intelligence tools for some years. Her single Break Free was composed with the help of AI tools. Of course, musicians have been adopting all kinds of technology for years and using computers to generate or enhance new music is not new. But Taryn says her work with AI is different because the feedback loop enables the computer and the artist
them. That means it has different influences to her own. “If I grew up listening to the Beatles and Britney Spears and N-Sync, chances are that I’m going to be drawn to making music more in that style,” she explains. “By working with an AI that is trained to find patterns that my own brain cannot find, that forces me as an artist to think out of the box.” In this case, AI is augmenting the work of humans rather than replacing it. Taryn Southern describes her work as being like a film
to learn from each other. “Once the AI exports a song and the artist makes changes, the neural network can learn from their suggestions and start to develop a taste for the artist’s preferences,” she explains. While Taryn is a pop artist, the AI she uses has been trained on thousands of hours of piano pieces from the 18th Century and searches for patterns in
director getting the best out of the artificial intelligence in a collaborative process. She’s not the only one in this field. Jukedeck and a number of similar tech firms are using AI to generate music that can act as a soundtrack for videos. The technology continues to advance - but has it taken music in interesting new directions?
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A social and economically ... out consideration for proper storage facilities. Also, the manner in which some of the foods are transported plays a significant role in the contamination of food while on the street. Some vendors report that they sometimes prepare their products on the morning of sale while some of the vendors state that they cook certain foods at night, which is some hours before it is consumed. SAFE PRACTICE Almost all of the street food vendors in Georgetown make use of disposable serving containers, spoons, knives and forks. Moreover, most of them conform to hygienic practices such as clean clothing, aprons, head cover, while others even wear gloves. However, in terms of the vending environment, the Pepperpot Magazine has observed that there is still very much to be desired in almost all cases and in some of these cases, there is cause for concern. For example, most street food vendors situate themselves in areas
that are busy – a lot of human traffic (children and adults), as well as vehicles; most are also situated where other businesses are located – shops, stores and sometimes even near more other eating houses that are more established. This may be well understood, simply because they have to go where the people are. PUBLIC CONVENIENCES But many of these places are in the middle of streets or near street corners, yet hardly where there is the availability of public toilets and lavatories or active running water from pipes or nearby; also in some cases, gutters or drains as a route to move waste is not always there. Naturally, the absence of toilet and lavatory facilities where street food vending is taking place, can make many customers feel compelled to seek out every possible space within the vicinity to ‘empty’ themselves,in whatever form(s) necessary.
Continued from page XII Because of instituted bylaws by the M&CC, littering is not as prevalent at the food vending sites. Some vendors are particularly mindful of the environment in which they ply their trade, making sure it is kept clean at all times. Generally, street food vendors understand what is required of them and some comply, even if not totally. The trade is seen as a very important social and economic prospect for many who utilise it. And while it can pose some amount of health threats if not monitored and handled properly, it is clearly the type of business that a lot of the ‘working poor’, among others, benefit from. This type of selling is a common feature of most cities and towns, especially in developing countries and it is felt that this trait is mostly related to the favourable cooking skills of many vendors, most of whom are women. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)
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Samsung won’t be forced to update old phones Samsung will not be forced to update the software on its mobile phones
for years after their release, after it won a court case in the Netherlands.
A consumer association had argued that Samsung should update its phones for
at least four years after they go on sale. Regular software updates can address security problems but older models do not typically receive all the latest updates.
erlands would get software updates for two years after a handset first went on sale in the country. It said the information was readily available to consumers and it promoted
without knowing what bugs may be discovered in the future. Consumentenbond said the ruling was “disappointing”. “Samsung chooses to
However, the court rejected the association’s claims. What was the issue? Samsung produces some of the world’s best-selling mobile phones running Google’s Android operating system. Google regularly produces software updates that address newly discovered security flaws, and offers these to phone manufacturers such as Samsung. It is often up to the phone manufacturer to distribute the update to its customers. Consumer group Consumentenbond said Samsung was not distributing updates in a “timely” manner. It also pointed out that many of its handsets no longer received any security updates at all. It claimed Samsung should support phones for at least four years after they first go on sale - or for at least two years after they were last sold. What did Samsung say? Samsung said it guaranteed consumers in the Neth-
its guarantee at the top of its Dutch website. The company said it issued updates in a “reasonable” timeframe, after testing that they would be compatible with its devices. What did the court say? The court ruled in Samsung’s favour and said the claims made by Consumentenbond were “inadmissible” because they related to “future acts”. For example, if a severe issue was discovered in the future, Samsung might choose to update all its previous handsets. Equally, it may not be able to update the software due to the nature of the bug and the limitations of older phone hardware.
bring so many models to the market, there is noone who forces them to do so. An automobile manufacturer must also ensure that all its models are safe and reliable and remain so. Samsung has the same obligation,” it said in a statement. However, the group said the lawsuit had “achieved something”. “During the legal procedure, Samsung has taken steps to provide consumers with better information,” the group said. In a statement, Samsung told the BBC: “We are satisfied with the ruling. The judge has acknowledged that Samsung is doing more than enough to ensure safety of its products. “It is a pity that the court route taken by the Consumentenbond has unjustly cast our update policy in a negative light, as the ruling shows that we take the security of the smartphones we provide to consumers very seriously.”
For that reason it is not possible to say how many Samsung phones would receive a software update if a critical software flaw were discovered in the future. Therefore the court decided it was not possible to order Samsung to update all phones for four years,
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The plunge on the impulse CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
By Abdool A. Aziz A YOUNG sailor had loved to be fashionable and follow the latest trend in footwear. When ‘pointed-tip’ shoes gave WAY to ‘chisel tip’ he rushed to the city and spent his entire wage on a pair of the ‘chisel tip’ type. That night, at the end of his shift, he stepped on deck showing off his expensive footwear. He placed them on the board gunwale of the ship which lay at rest for the night, tied to the stelling. A crew member distracted him and when he turned, his elbow hit one overboard. Without hesitation, he plunged to retrieve it. He clutched it before it became submerged.
His colleague saw him leap over the gunwale. He knew the fellow was a good swimmer, so he laughed and disappeared into the forecastle. A lady standing on the deck of the stelling saw the sudden plunge too. She hustled away thinking it was a suicidal leap because it was crazy. In the dark water beneath the stelling, the distraught sailor tried to swim ashore. But with the shoe in one hand, his attempts were hindered. So he splashed from stanchion to stanchion holding on to each to ‘catch’ his breath. And in so doing, he suffered cuts and bruises from the splintered barnacles. The salt water added insult to injury. He struggled on alone in darkness but despite the ag-
ony, he held on to his beloved shoe. Finally, he reached shore exhausted and bleeding with his flesh on fire. He rested his ‘prize’ on his chest and fell asleep on the sand. He awoke just in time to hurry back to the ship and prepare for the early morning shift. But where was the other shoe? It was gone. One of the colleagues hid it. He was frustrated and angry. When the ship returned on the midday run the lady who saw the plunge stepped aboard. She went straight to the sailor. “Still alive?” she blurted “Yes here I am, why?” he said. She held him by the ear. “Come!” she ordered, “Look down!”
He complied. “See those greenheart spikes like church steeples? One could have impaled you like barbequed meat on a skewer. I was scared that would have been your terrible fate.” He looked down again and gasped. He knelt down and thanked God for saving him. At the point of going overboard, he would have landed on spikes. Thank God, the water was high. Now it was low tide and those rotten pillars looked so horrifying. Every time his
eyes saw those needle–sharp points he shivered in fear. He didn’t wish to see those deadly objects and refused to think of that night he missed being impaled by inches for what he now considered a stupid act. He once again became a land-lubber and a social worker. He felt God saved him for a purpose. Material things are important but not above life. He departed the ship without those shoes. No more fashion trends. The only trend he follows is the behaviour of people,
especially in this ‘high tech’ world. And he offers this bit of advice: Do not court danger to marry disaster. Life is a gift from the creator-value it. Nothing material can equate it – nothing. Be a living coward than a dead hero. Many suffer injury and death fighting to retain their possessions. For a shoe, he placed his life in harm’s way. Now he advises on the dangers of the unknown and leaping before thinking. The head, not the belly must be in charge!
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STRAWS, plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic utensils and plastic cups. What do these items all have in common? Besides the fact that they are made of plastic; in most cases they are used once, then they are disposed of. When was the last time you used one
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
“Beat Plastic Pollution”
of those items? Probably just a few minutes ago or you may even have one in your possession as you read this article. Think about it, around the world millions of people like you are using and throwing away plastics. This problem presents a huge challenge not only
to the environment and human health but it also places enormous economic burdens on countries such as Guyana. Therefore, in an attempt to raise awareness on this escalating global issue, World Environment Day (WED) 2018 is being observed under the theme
‘Beat Plastic Pollution’, with the slogan, ‘If you can’t reuse it, refuse it’. WED is an iconic day on the environmental calendar as it is designated to spread awareness about various environmental issues, seeking to initiate positive actions for the environment. Over the
years, the focus has been on many pervasive issues which include climate change, wildlife conservation, and pollution, among others. First observed in 1974, WED is celebrated on June 05, each year.
THIS YEAR’S THEME The focus of this year’s theme is on reducing plastic pollution due to the many negative impacts that can arise especially from single-use plastics. While plastics are a convenient item, they pose significant environmental issues. Improper disposal of garbage leads to the clogging of drains, and for those who live along Guyana’s coast which is under sea level, there is the increased risk of flooding. Plastics are non-biodegradable which means that when they are disposed of, whether in a landfill or not, they remain there for long periods of time (hundreds of years). In fact, plastics never completely go away; they are broken down into very tiny pieces that remain. Plastics are a danger to wildlife. When we dispose of plastics improperly they make their way into the marine environment where they can be ingested by animals such as sea turtles and marine birds. Since these animals cannot digest plastics, they eventually die of starvation. Plastics are a risk to human health since they contain a number of chemicals, many of which are toxic or disrupt hormones. These can make their way into our water supply or can enter our bodies through food. Plastics can also serve as a magnet for other pollutants, including dioxins, metals and pesticides. Do your part to beat plastic pollution • Reduce the number of plastics you use • Make use of alter-
natives, e.g., paper bags, cardboard boxes, biodegradable food containers • Refuse a plastic bag when doing shopping • Take your own reusable bag for shopping • Reuse plastic items to make craft • Take your own lunch to school/work • Take your water/ juice to work in a reusable container At the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we are committed to combatting this issue. Presently, we enforce the Litter Prevention Regulations which make littering a crime. We also organise training and awareness sessions for various groups and organisations aimed at imparting practical knowledge of how plastics can be reduced. Additionally, we coordinate different programmes which highlight initiatives that are aimed at reducing the use of single-use plastics. We encourage all Guyanese to make it their motto to ‘REFUSE WHAT YOU CAN’T REUSE’ so together, we can BEAT PLASTIC POLLUTION. You can also contribute to the movement against single-use plastics by attending any of the following activities: National Conversation on Single-use Plastic, Herdmanston Lodge, June 5, 2018 at 10:00 hrs. Mayor and City Council WED Concert, Promenade Gardens, June 5, 2018, at 10:00 hrs. Beach Clean-up, Kingston Seawall, June 5, 2018 at 17:00 hrs. You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail. com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
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English
ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON (1809-1892)
STUDY SUCCESS Dear Students,
AT some time or other in their line of study, some students argue that external-type examinations are difficult, premised first upon unfamiliarity. But then opinions become favourable for many in the face of more examination experience and appropriate study techniques. Anyhow, no matter the opinions forwarded by others, stalwarts among you believe that all examinations are only as difficult as they are perceived. Encourage yourselves using experience and appropriate study skills. Be wise. Love you. A FAMILIAR PASSAGE Some breeds of dogs, like the Newfoundland and the Labrador, are named after parts of Canada. Of these two dogs, the Newfoundland is bigger – so big that a boy can ride on its back! It is also big enough to rescue people from drowning, especially as its webbed feet help it to swim well. Its shaggy coat is almost always black. The Labrador is also a good dog, although not as big as the huge Newfoundland. It can also be black, but some Labradors are a beautiful brown colour. Whatever the colour, the coat is smooth. It has a tail like an otter, thick at the base and covered with long hair. Because it is an intelligent dog, it is still used for hunting, especially to find and retrieve game. It is particularly good for fetching waterfowl, as it is an excellent swimmer, even when the water temperature is below zero. In fact, fishermen have used it to carry messages between ships! There are other breeds of dogs which take their names from places where they have originated. Still in North America, but at the opposite extreme both location and size, we find the Chihuahua. Chihuahua is in Mexico, in the far south-west corner of North America. The dogs, which originally came from Chihuahua, are so tiny that one can fit into a large pocket! They have bright eyes and smooth short coats, which make them look even thinner. They have a high-pitched bark, but many people like to have them as pets because they are intelligent, quick to learn, and
fearless for their size.
ABOUT THE PASSAGE Today’s expository passage about dogs is chosen for its quality of expression. Something to Do Along with chosen study partners, respond to the following questions: 1. What is the passage about? Read the passage again and underline the words and phrases expressing main points. 2. Circle the many details fleshing out the main points. 3. Can you say the passage is notable for its clarity of expression? What do you understand by ‘clarity of expression’? Tell it to your study partners. 4. What linking techniques are used between topics? Circle the linking words and phrases. 5. Now compare what you find here with what your kind of writing is like. Be honest with listing whatever aspect(s) you need to improve upon. Look for improvement in your next new production. SECOND PASSAGE “Well, still day-dreaming?” my uncle asked. “Yes…No…I…” “If you go on like this, we’ll lose the lead.” “I was thinking about Uncle Bo. Where is he now?” “God only knows! On his last visit, he was … You see, I don’t know where he is any more! He’s never in the same place: he’s like a bird: he can’t stay quietly on one tree, he needs the whole sky.” “Will I, too, be like a bird some day?” “What are you talking about?” “Well, you’ve just told me that Uncle Bo is like a bird.” “Do you want to become like him?” “I don’t know yet.” “Well, you have plenty of time to make your mind up, anyhow. Meanwhile, take this sheaf.” And he would go on reaping. Even though his body was soaking wet, he always returned to his work with great vigour, as if he was only just beginning. But all the same, the heat was a burden; the air would seem to weigh down upon us: and weariness would gradually begin to creep over us: draughts of cold water were no longer any good, and so we would begin to fight
our weariness with singing. “Sing with us,” my uncle would say. (Camara Laye’s “The African Child”) ABOUT THE PASSAGE Today’s second passage also is simply written. It is chosen for its dialogue usage to portray characteristics of persons, feeling, conflict, and environment in building a story. The use of dialogue in this passage would be of interest to those who find dialogue challenging to employ; who don’t quite recognise the great value of dialogue in story writing. It is also for those young writers to persist in overcoming this barrier of fear and to go on to produce a wide variety of good stories. SOMETHING TO DO Write a short story based on any interesting thing that happened around you. Let dialogue be put to some good use in your story. Remember dialogue can portray characteristics of persons, feeling, conflict, and environment in building a story.
GRAMMAR The ever-present sentence fragments in your writing NOTE: What is a sentence fragment? A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence punctuated as if it were a complete sentence. Look at each of the following SIX sets of information and correct wherever you find a part missing; upgrade from sentence fragment to complete sentence. [Add necessary words and phrases to complete each message.] 1. A short story can be fulsome and exciting. Never lacks reader interest. 2. Obviously your readers will have different levels of enjoyment. And varying degrees of interest in character and setting. 3. With what kind of language can you reach a younger audience? Probably conversational. 4. Regardless of their personal opinions. Make sure that your audience understands the setting and plot you use. 5. There are children who like to listen to stories. Read every night by their parents. Seem to like myths.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Man is the hunter; woman is his game: The sleek and shining creatures of the chase. 6. The examination boards emphasise the difference between imaginative
or creative writing on one hand and practical or factual writing on the other. Free
treatment of created material. Controlled treatment of factual material.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT, June 3, 2018
Channa and Potato Curry
1/2 lb Dried Channa or 1 tin of Channa (Chickpea) 4 potatoes, peeled and chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 small onion Chopped 2 wiri peppers finely chopped 2tbsp Curry powder 1/2 tsp Geera 1/2 Tsp Masala 1/2 Tsp Salt or Salt to taste Instructions If Dried Channa is used, Pressure Cook the channa in salted water (1 tsp) for later use Wash and peel potatoes then chop them Heat oil and add onion and Garlic Add the Curry and Cook until almost Dry Add Potato and Green Seasonings. Stir until Coasted with curry Add Channa and Mix. Then add the pepper Add the Salted “Channa� Water. Pour enough to almost cover the channa & potatoe (about 2 cups) Cook until potatoes are tender and Mixture is Thick Season with Salt, Gheera, Masala. Add pepper to taste
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