Pepperpot E-Papaer 05-09-2021

Heritage Month 2021 “Maintaining our traditional integrity; Celebrating our cultural identity” From the archives: Even as this year’s Heritage Month celebrations will occur virtually, many Amerindian communities will still partake in their traditional preparations in observation of the month. In this flashback photo of 2019, a young man from North Rupununi cuts a palm that was later used for the roof of a benab (Guyana Chronicle file photo)

Sunday September 5, 2021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

Guyanese student becomes first Legal Reform Fellow with US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform

- Advocates for more diversity in legal profession

Ryan copiously paid attention to his studies and engrossed himself in all other campus activities

By Telesha Ramnarine GUYANESE student Ryan Duff is currently advocating on behalf of Howard University in Washington DC for more diversity within the legal profession, having been selected as the first legal reform fellow with the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform.

This is a new programme and the 26-year-old said he felt honoured to be selected as the first fellow when the Chamber chose to partner with his university.

Currently a second-year law student at Howard University School of Law, he has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and one in Political Science.

“It was such an amazing experience for me to be the first legal fellow because the Chamber was very open to my ideas and plans in terms of how I think they can help develop diversity. In the US, there are only about five percent of black lawyers, so I think it was a really big step on their part to raise the number,” Ryan told the Pepperpot Magazine during an interview.

Back in 2014, Ryan left Guyana, having attended the prestigious Queen’s College, to attend Howard University, a historically black college.

He went to do an undergraduate programme so that he could’ve eventually gotten into law school there.

Ever since he began attending the university, Ryan copiously paid attention to his studies and engrossed

himself in all other campus activities, eventually being awarded the Capstone Scholar and invited as a member of the College of Arts and Sciences Honours programme.

Ryan recalls that even though pursuing a career in the legal profession was not a plan that he always entertained, there’s nothing that he’d rather be doing now.

“One day, it just kind of hit me that this was what I wanted to do, and I told myself I would be a good lawyer. So I think I randomly woke up one day and decided to do it, which was very funny because it was a couple of months before writing CXC and I decided to start doing history.”

Having graduated from the ‘under grad’ programme in 2018, he began attending

University student Ryan Duff

One of Ryan’s biggest goals is to bring home to Guyana the skills that he would have acquired in Washington DC.

Howard University School of Law and will complete his studies there in 2023.

Commenting on his opportunity to represent the university in this fellowship programme, Ryan said: “I felt a huge responsibility to be advocating for Howard University for more diversity in the legal profession.

It’s really important to have

diverse minds in the legal profession and diversity improves the quality of work that different organisations produce, so I was really happy to be the first legal fellow to showcase those important principles.”

One of his biggest goals is to build the skills that he can bring home to Guyana.

SEE PAGE V

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

Highlighting the interests of Guyana’s indigenous peoples

By Telesha Ramnarine

ALTHOUGH a government scholarship to attend secondary school brought with it tremendous benefits, Executive Director of the Amerindian Peoples Association (APA) Jean La Rose regrets that she was unable to spend more of her youthful years with her parents and siblings.

Now 59, she reflected on how the move affected

left Santa Rosa village in Moruca (Region One) to come to Georgetown and even though she made multiple trips home every year, life was simply not the same as it was when she was fully immersed in the activities of her village.

Today, the experience makes her feel strongly about certain issues present in indigenous communities, including children having to leave home for an education.

lage, there was no secondary school. In moving from home, I lost quite a bit because of having to transition at a young age. I felt that as a really huge loss because I didn’t live with my brothers and sisters for any length of time. I lost that kind of family closeness during that period,” she continued.

Owing to her own experience and feeling that no child should have to separate from their families for any

APA’s Jean La Rose is on a mission

Executive Director of Amerindian Peoples Association, Jean La Rose

Getting to spend time with her siblings in present day

her childhood and family life even as she was able to complete five years in school successfully and then begin a career that would help her accomplish the things closest to her heart.

At 13 years old, La Rose

“We need not have to move away from our homes for education; higher education must happen in our own communities,” La Rose expressed in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

“When I left my vil-

reason, La Rose continues to work hard through the programmes of the APA to bring about better conditions.

“Many families do not have access to Information Technology and many children have been missing

During a recent discussion with residents in Santa Rosa village

classes. This is one of the things we would like to see improved not only because of the pandemic but because it should be,” she pointed out.

She has also witnessed firsthand how things like cultural preservation are waning and how the indigenous peoples have sadly lost a lot of traditional lands.

“One of the things that really propelled me as well was when a timber company was granted a huge concession to work in Region One and the subsequent loss of land by indigenous communities.

“If you ask some of the politicians, they will say the people did not have titles to those lands, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t have rights to the land. They were living there and somebody

chose not to give them the paperwork for the land. Their homes and farms were bulldozed, and I’ve seen this happen over and over again when it comes to indigenous communities, especially in relation to extractive activities and to a lesser extent, the forest industry with logging and so forth,” La Rose mentioned.

As such, she has tirelessly continued to use her voice at various forums to highlight these issues of importance to the indigenous communities.

She would especially like to see a revision of the act governing Guyana’s indigenous peoples that takes into account traditional land rights, the strengthening of government systems with the respective villages, and

the education system being upgraded so that those communities are brought on par with coastal ones.

La Rose would also like to see indigenous women and girls being able to participate in the decision making of their villages. “The APA will be pushing all of this for the next few years,” she assured.

These and many other related matters concerning indigenous peoples have been cited in the media as priority areas for the current administration.

On a more personal note, La Rose is also hoping to find the time to write a few children’s books with stories that bring the indigenous way of life to the fore so that they can learn to value their heritage.

The beautiful Santa Rose village in Moruca, Region One

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

Whatever happened to

GUYFESTA?

By Francis Quamina Farrier

GUYFESTA - the Guyana Festival of the Creative Arts - like the Cavalcade of Sports, has not been held here in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana since the late 1980s. That is, over 30 years. It will be noted that all of the developed countries pay great importance to sports and culture. We all witnessed, either directly or on our television screens, the strong competitions at the recent Summer Olympics which were held in Tokyo and the glory which those who won medals brought to their countries.

We also witnessed the role which cultural productions played at the opening and closing ceremonies. While the members of the Guyana contingent did not win any medals, their very presence at the 2021 Games was a step closer, and in the hearts of many Guyanese is the resolve “Next time.”

From time to time, over the years, cultural groups such as the Chinese have Panel of GUYFESTA adjudicators. Farrier at left. sent performing arts groups a vibrant country in which singer on stage. Her rendition to Guyana, which have diseven ordinary citizens were of that patriotic song was so played the music and dance allowed to do extraordinary perfect that it earned her a of China to the Guyanese things—exposing their cre- well-deserved Certificate of people. Their performancative talents at GUYFESTA Excellence. Being accomes at the National Cultural panied by the composer of being one of the events.

Centre are memorable to all During a recent conver- the song on the guitar was who have had the pleasure of sation with cultural celebri- the icing on the cake, so to seeing them. In more recent ty singer/songwriter Hilton speak, and one of the iconic times, the Chinese governHemerding, who composed moments of GUYFESTA. ment has sent ferry boats as the two patriotic songs, “I couldn’t imagine that my gifts to Guyana. The ques“Beautiful Guyana” and “Go- song, ‘Beautiful Guyana’ was tion, as posed in the headline ing up the Potaro” among not only popular in Georgeof this article is, “Whatothers, he recalled a GUY- town and along the coast, ever happened to GuyfesFESTA session at Kamarang but also all the way in the ta?” which was successfully on the Upper Mazaruni River deep hinterland,” Hemerdstaged on over six occasions at its tributary, the Kama- ing recently told me. That, across a 20-year period of rang River. A young female of course, was long before the 1970s and 1980s. There Indigenous participant came radio stations were set up in are those events which ought on stage and began to sing various hinterland communever to be left behind; goat his popular composition, nities. At that very GUYracing, cross country run“Beautiful Guyana” unac- FESTA, a Group which had ning, swims across the Decompanied. Stopping the par- travelled from Purima on the merara River from Georgeticipant as she entered the Upper Kamarang River, did a town to Vreed-en-Hoop and song’s second stanza, then unique rendition of Handel’s similar events which kept leaving the adjudicators’ ta- Hallelujah Chorus, which the citizens of Guyana not ble, Hemerding got his guitar earned them a Certificate only entertained but with a and joined the young female of Excellence also. After feeling of being citizens of

their stage performance, they were invited to repeat their prize-winning performance on the bank of the Mazaruni River. That was video recorded and later broadcast on the VCT Television Network on the coast. Can one juxtapose that scene with a choir of 100 performing that very Handel’s composition in the St. George’s Cathedral?

While many performers shine like stars while on stage, things went wrong for some of them from time to time. There was one instance when a participant actually sabotaged his own performance and a chance at earning a Certificate of Excellence. The singer who possessed a very pleasant singing voice, had registered to sing “Only the Lonely.”

However, when he went on stage he began to sing “I’m a lonely man.” Confused, the

musicians who had already been accompanying him, all stopped playing, and calmly left the stage. The singer was then left standing all alone on the stage and indeed, a lonely man as the audience roared with laughter. While there were those awkward and embarrassing incidents by a few of the participants at GUYFESTA, there were many terrific performances which earned the performers Certificates of Excellence and a ticket to the GUYFESTA Finals in Georgetown.

Most of those performances were of international standards and would earn the approval of international audiences. Performing at the Finals was always a big deal for GUYFESTA performers since members of the audiences included many VIPs such as the President, Prime Minister, Minister of Culture

and other national celebrities.

GUYFESTA also gave the Ministry of Culture the opportunity to have culturally creative citizens residing in all the 10 Regions of the country, the opportunity to display their performing and other creative talents to the rest of the nation. It unearthed some of the best talents that Guyana boasted at the time. Individuals, churches, schools, clubs and even family groups and all types of social organisations were involved in GUYFESTA. Newly written plays and poems were created—many with current themes. For example, if there was a GUYFESTA now, many of the calypsos, poems and plays would be about the COVID-19. Back in the day of GUYFESTA, pieces about HIV and AIDS surfaced quite a lot. National unity was also another popular theme of songs and poems which were presented, many of them being awarded the Certificate of Excellence.

Not only were the themes about national unity, but quite a number of group entries were multi-ethnic. It was obvious that GUYFESTA was partly a means of racial cohesion for many persons who were involved with GUYFESTA. That cultural festival did not only discover new talent, it also encouraged and gave a sense of pride, value, purpose, belonging and direction to creative talents regardless of genre - literary, performing or visual.

Many citizens who participated in, or were members of audiences at GUYFESTA feel that it should be brought back and let Guyanese of the present generation with performing talents get the opportunity to showcase their talents and entertain their fellow Guyanese. Such an event, they feel, will continue to forge this country into a nation of “One People, one Nation with one Destiny” of cohesion.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

The Lichfield STEM Club wins bronze medal at IYRC after building an impressive ‘robot friend’

By Marissa Foster T H E Lichfield STEM Club was birthed from a partnership between the Department of Youth and subsequently, the Ministry of Public Telecommunications, STEMGUYANA and ExxonMobil.

This year, five youths from the Lichfield STEM Club participated in the International Youth Robotics Competition (IYRC) from August 6 to 8 in Daejeon, Korea. The International Youth Robot Competition is an annual robotics competition and is organised by the International Youth Robot Association (IYRA).

The Lichfield STEM club makes up a significant part of the overall Guyanese Team. The objective of this competition is Robot Creation. It is aimed to provide a platform for students to share their creativity, innovative thoughts and programming skills.

This year’s competition was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, the team competed against 71 other countries and they are one of the STEMGuyana junior teams to win a bronze medal for their robotic creation. This year’s team includes five committed robotics enthusiasts; Zaki Ishmael, Jayden Robin, Lenisha McAlmont, Daniel Lewis, and Joshua Doris.

Bradley Downer and Denica Grant coached the team.

This year’s theme is “Robot, be my friend” and the Lichfield’s team built a robot by the name of “Golden Retriever”. It is described as a stationary toy that a child can play with. It was also programmed to play with paper balls. This team from Berbice wanted to showcase what a robotic friend can mean for the future of Guyana. They incorporated their youthfulness into their design.

The Lichfield STEM club or “Team Dominators”, as they were known in the National team structure, was required to work together as a team to design a robot based on the given theme.

The team was also only allowed to use My Robot Time (MRT) kits to build their robot. They also successfully presented and demonstrated their robot creation because they convinced and impressed the judges. The team wanted to represent their county and country with pride and resilience.

They would like to pave a way using their platform for other young Berbicians to follow in the world of STEM and Robotics.

The Pepperpot Magazine asked Jayden Robin what being a part of STEMGuyana means to him. He responded by saying “It means the world to me. It allows me to explore the fields of Science,

The Lichfield STEM Club Source: Bradley Downer

Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. In the future, I aspire to become an Engineer and STEMGuyana’s robotics sessions are pointing me in that direction.

STEMGuyana also taught me how to utilise technology to solve problems”.

Zaki Ishmael is also another member of the

Litchfield team. He shared that, “For the past two years, I’ve been participating in the International Youth Robotics Competition (IYRC). Being a member of the Lichfield team means a lot to me because I get the opportunity to learn about robotics and coding. At STEMGuyana,

we get to learn skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, learning the importance of teamwork and public speaking.” The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GTT) is currently sponsoring the teams, including the Lichfield team. One of the team’s coaches, Bradley

Downer stressed that last year the team participated but did not gain a medal.

That did not deter them.

They learned from their mistakes and emerged stronger than ever this year. Team Guyana 2021 currently holds ninth place out of 175 teams.

Guyanese student becomes first ...

FROM PAGE II “I am primarily interested in building avenues for there to be more Guyanese legal professionals on the international scale,” he shared, adding, “One of my biggest interests is international law, primarily international arbitration, and I think we have such a huge skillset there in Guyana...to handle global issues,” he explained.

Ryan observed that such knowledge and skills are now ever more important since the world is becoming more globalised, borders are being corssed each day, and international organisations are showing more and more interest in Guyana.

“It’s very important that we have persons in Guyana who are aware of the international law, and the way in which to operate with these organisations,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Ryan was also handed the opportunity to conduct service-oriented outreaches to South Africa following his selection as a fellow with the Young African Leadership Initiative, and is currently doing research on the displacement of African Americans in Washington DC. He remains grateful to his professors at Queen’s College whom he said pushed him to work hard at an early age.

Currently a second-year law student, he has a BA in Economics and one in Political Science

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

Burma Housing Scheme The village of rice, cattle and poultry

Burma Housing Scheme (Carl Croker photos)

By Michel Outridge THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the countryside village of Burma Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice to highlight the way of life of the people and the village.

Burma Housing Scheme is a small village that is tucked away about five miles away from the main road.

The community was developed in the 1970s by then President Linden Forbes Burnham for workers of the then government-owned rice mill.

There are some houses

on one side of the road going in and there are vast lands on both sides of Burma, which are used for large-scale rice cultivation.

Burma Housing Scheme has 31 houses but it has about 71 house lots, some of which are empty. Due to the condition of the road, some people did not occupy the lands allocated to them.

There are three streets in this small village.

The village has a nursery and primary school housed in one large building, the Augsburg Primary School; it has a large ballfield, the Saj Rice Mill, MARDS Rice Mill

which has been abandoned, and the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) Research Centre with a housing complex, a gated place and Air Services Limited Aerodrome, at the back of the village.

Burma Housing Scheme has two small shops, but most bulk shopping takes place at Rosignol, Bush Lot and other parts of West Coast Berbice, New Amsterdam and also in the city.

The people are mostly

Focus on the Village

friendly and it is a farming community of cows, ducks, fowls, goats, sheep and meat birds.

Although it is a rice-farming village, the locals do not plant rice except for the 23 acres of land which rotate among villagers and the large-scale rice farming is done by people who live outside the community.

Burma Housing Scheme was once a lively place - almost like a shopping complex back in the days when the Rice Mill was in operation and they had hundreds of workers.

It was told that people

came from all over to spend Thursday night just to shop on Friday in Burma in its heyday because it was payday for rice mill employees and it had the first ‘bend down market’ back then.

There are no remnants of a railway line but old buildings once owned by the rice mill, such as the oil bunker, the pay office and storage buildings are still there and some with just the concrete columns.

The population of Burma Housing Scheme is just about 100 with 31 houses, and the Mahaicony Creek can be

accessed through this village.

Burma Housing Scheme is between Catherine and Calcutta villages and almost everyone in this village is either a cattle or a poultry farmer.

A handful of locals have cash crops, but due to the recent flooding most people lost cattle and crops and are now trying to re-plant.

The people are mostly Afro Guyanese with about three East Indian families, but they exist in peace and harmony with absolutely no racial undertones.

The locals of this rustic countryside village are hardworking, simple people who need a better road and a few basic things such as landline phones, better, reliable supply of potable water and internet services.

A visiting doctor would SEE PAGE IX

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

The people of Burma Housing Scheme are aiming for self-sufficiency

By Michel Outridge

GANGARAM Singh is a resident of Burma Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice and is a taxi driver/ security guard at the Saj Rice Mill.

He is a long-serving employee of the Rice Mill, since it was state-owned and today, it is on its third private owner.

Singh told the Pepperpot Magazine that after working in the village for so many years, he decided to relocate 13 years ago because he used to reside in the Mahaica Creek and would ride his bicycle from there to the Rice Mill.

The 59-year-old stated that the village is a very quiet place, mostly breezy, but they need a good road since they never had a better one.

He added that most people are either farmers or work at the Rice Mill or at the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB); others work with large rice farmers,

are the main issues we have and other than that we good.

When you turn on the pipe there is no running water, for six weeks now we are not getting water. The pipelines are obsolete and old and need replacing and the well needs an upgrade. There is no proper water pressure and if you don’t have money to buy drinking water, it is not nice.

We are suffering at the back here; we need clean water, it is rusty and of no good,” he said.

Singh stated that he is barely holding on to his job at the rice mill because due to the pandemic and the economic hardships, the company laid off 50 workers recently.

“A lot of people are on the breadline in here and it is hard,” he said.

He disclosed that if they have an all-weather road things will be better and they will not have to pay high transportation costs to traverse.

Some of Rennick Harry’s cows he was grazing in the village

Rennick Harry

Gangaram Singh (Carl Croker photos)

throwing paddy.

The father of five owns one of two small shops in the village and he is a resident of the last street. His small business is manned by his stay-at-home wife when he is at work.

“In this village, potable water supply and the road

The cattle farmer Rennick Harry is a cattle farmer who has 126 cows, 300 goats, some ducks, fowls and a few horses he would use to get in the pasture to tend his cows and goats.

He is a resident of Burma Housing Scheme and has

been living in the community for the past 23 years.

The 50-year-old hails from Nurney, Corentyne, Berbice, but relocated in search of a better life and today he is self-employed and has his wife by his side.

Together, they tend to the cows, goats, ducks, fowls and horses.

Focus on the Village

Harry told the Pepperpot Magazine that he would take the cows into the pasture during the day and would keep an eye on them until it is time for them to be penned.

The father of five explained that his wife would also assist him and he is grateful.

“Being a farmer with cattle is hard work and a lot of sacrifice and not a job for the fancy as you can see, I am bare-footed with a bicycle in the sun, so it takes a lot of time and effort to rear cows,”

he said.

Harry disclosed that he is a skilled welder and dry operator and had worked at the rice mill for many years; because he had his cattle to take care of, he had to decide to either stay on the job or quit.

He quit the job and is self-employed today and is doing fine, because that is a full-time job he cannot get fired from.

Harry is trying to become fully self-sufficient, but the odds are against him because of challenges with flooding

and potable water supply.

He was a rice farmer but stopped doing that due to the unavailability of lands in the village and he has a small kitchen garden for vegetables, most of which were destroyed by floodwaters.

Harry is a simple man who would go about his daily routine in a quiet, organised manner and would return home for meals and a good night’s rest to start another day in the countryside village of Burma Housing Scheme.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

Making an honest living

By Michel Outridge IVOR Hamilton has one of the tidiest yards in Burma Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice and he is a contractor-turned-weeder, who would ensure that his surroundings are well-kept.

The 61-year-old has aged like fine wine, as the saying goes, and is also a poultry and livestock farmer who returned to Guyana last year from Canada after some time.

in the village, who has been there for the past 27 years.

He started from a small, wooden cottage, where one of his daughters reside now and built a bigger house on the same plot from scratch and he did it all by himself.

Hamilton told the Pepperpot Magazine that Burma is a peaceful, quiet place when it comes to security and independence.

He disclosed that Burma Village is a housing scheme

houses were built for the workers and plots allocated, but to date, some people are still not occupying the land.

“Opposite my house is the school and a playground; we had a sports club and a guesthouse,[but] both buildings are gone and we also had a market,” he said.

Hamilton recalled back in the days, his wife was the caretaker of the guesthouse when the rice mill was government-owned and em-

Hutton Chichester

Ivor Hamilton

“I came home for a while but due to the pandemic, I am unable to return to Canada, so here I am trying to work and live locally, home, my country,” he said.

The father of six is a humble, well-respected elder

developed by the late President Linden Forbes Burnham for ricemill workers, who used to journey from all over for work in the community when the government owned the rice mill.

Hamilton added that

ployed hundreds of people.

He stated that the houses constructed by the then government was colonial-style wooden buildings and today, only two of those houses are left but are aged.

Hamilton explained that

One of the two colonial-style houses that still exist in the village

Home of Ivor Hamilton (Carl Croker photos)

Focus on the Village

after the rice mill went into receivership, a lot of the houses were sold and sections of the rice mill were left to rot.

“My step-father, Morgan Allicock was the co-founder of this village and the chairman, but he passed away a month ago at age 93 years old and he played a vital role in the development of the community,” he said.

Hamilton told the Pepperpot Magazine that the outskirts of the village are used for large-scale rice cultivation and wasn’t really affected by the flood, but the village itself was inundated.

He noted that he lost some cows, ducks, goats, creole fowls, and only two meat birds survived from more than 40.

The farmer reported that

Burma is a rice-producing area, but locals don’t do the rice cultivation and some people would get work with the rice farmers to throw rice, but he never worked with them.

When Hamilton is not building houses, he is weeding yards for a living and still has to take care of his cattle and poultry.

“I used to work with the NDC as a CIIP worker when there was [sic] five of us, but it cut down to just two and I was paid for three months then my contract wasn’t renewed, so I had to find work,” he said.

Hamilton describes life in Burma Housing Scheme as very safe, since the people do not take anything that doesn’t belong to them.

Hutton Chichester Meanwhile, Hutton Chichester is a resident of Burma Housing Scheme and he lives in one of the two colonial-style houses.

He bought the property when the rice mill was privatised and has been living in the village for 43 years.

The 65-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is a cash-crop farmer and he rears some meat birds and creole fowls.

He was one of the rice mill workers and he left his home village of central Mahaicony to live and work in Burma.

Chichester stated that these days he is retired and would do some taxi work in the village and tend to his animals and garden.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

Chairman of Burma Housing Scheme, Japeth Williams, welcomes development in the village

By Michel Outridge JAPETH Williams is the Chairman of Burma Housing Scheme, West Coast Berbice and he would make representation for the people at the regional level and upwards.

The 70-year-old has a small roadside shop by the Saj Rice Mill Complex in the village and he would ride his bicycle during the week to go to his small business but when it rains, it is difficult to navigate through the muddy road.

He displayed some cuts and bruises he received on his feet due to the condition of the road, which caused him to fall off his bicycle many times.

Williams is also a cattle and poultry farmer who suffered losses of his livestock when their village was flooded.

The father of seven added that he has been residing in Burma Housing Scheme since 1968, but he is originally from Belladrum, West Coast Berbice.He had left his home village in search of work when the rice mill was then state-owned and things

were good in Burma.

Williams recalled that back then, they had more than 600 workers at the rice mill and people from all over came to find work and eventually settled in the village.

Sadly, today only sections of large, sprawling, old, weathered buildings remain of what was once a booming rice mill which was eventually privatised.

Some old oil boilers, workshops, stores, mills, and silos are still there but many outbuildings, such as the administrative building, are gone.

“At that time, the train used to pass through the village carrying parboiled rice and other goods and when the rice mill operations folded, it was leased to some foreigners and today a group of foreign investors are operating the rice mill,” he said.

Williams remembered that when he used to work at the MARDS Rice Mill, the area was transformed into a large shopping plaza where people were plentiful, selling all kinds of things and people used to stay overnight for the Friday Market Day. He recalled that Friday

Japeth Williams (Carl Croker photos)

was payday for rice workers and it was big spending then and things were really good.

Williams reported that Burma Housing Scheme was developed for ricemill work-

Focus on the Village

ers because they came from all over and accommodation was a problem.

The then government allocated lots to rice mill workers and government houses were built for them, just two of these colonial-style wooden houses still exist.

Williams reported that since the flood people were in the area sharing out cleaning supplies and a Medex would visit monthly.

“The sad part about living

Burma Housing ...

Augsburg Primary School

in here is, we do not have the rice lands to cultivate rice but the outsiders do, many acres of lands were leased to them and they have control of it,” he said.

Williams added that even though lands were promised to them, they never benefitted except for 23 acres, which the villagers rotate to plant rice.

The Chairman of the village stated that he has a few cows, some ducks and fowls

and he would try with them as his livelihood but suffered losses of his cattle when the floods came earlier this year.

Williams would also go by his snackette by Saj Rice Mill to sell some snacks and cold beverages to rice mill workers on weekdays.

He reported that the koker in the village is blocked and not functioning and that needs to be fixed before the rains come again.

FROM PAGE VI come every month to see locals at the Saj Rice Mill building and a visiting veterinary would also make her rounds in the village.

There is no Health Centre in this community and the people usually have to go to Belladrum Health Centre for medical attention or elsewhere.

Transportation costs are expensive in this village due to the road condition which is being patched with fine bricks and soaked with water presently and there is no bus service here, only hired cars.

It is a very safe place to live and it is one of those villages where the people are very familiar with each other and they would leave their doors open and go to the city and return with nothing missing.

They have had incidents where a few cows would go missing and it is said to be ‘outsiders’ who would pass through the community in the ‘dead’ of night to steal cows.

The people crave development and job opportunities, but otherwise it is the ideal countryside village to raise a family and it is a place where getting in the rice fields is via horseback.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

Giving back to the community through education

By Michel Outridge MARIEL Joseph, better known as ‘Sir Joseph’ has a unique way of giving back to his community by providing extra lessons at central Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, having exited the formal school system as a teacher after 32 years.

Presently, he isn’t attached to any school, but two days per week, he would commute to central Mahaicony to have extra lessons on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

He specialises in Mathematics for both primary and secondary school pupils and students, but he would prepare them for the Caribbean Secondary Education Certif-

have been holding extra lessons for the past 12 years.

“Working with secondary school students is a real joy and I would do everything to ensure [that] they are moulded correctly,” he said.

He spent his teaching career at Calcutta Primary School and at Belladrum Primary and also taught at schools in Region Six. “I observed a long time ago that children need that extra help in the primary level which serves as the foundation since they did not grasp the teaching concepts in Maths well, so that’s how the extra lessons started, I wanted to help,” he said.

Sir Joseph stated that when you start extra lessons

He added that 12 years ago, he decided to host extra lessons in Maths. It has been a rewarding journey because the rewards are tremendous, seeing the children excel in the subject area is something to talk about.

But his real joy comes when his pupils and students excel in exams and move on to higher learning or seek jobs.

Long before hosting extra lessons Sir Joseph has been involved in community work, volunteering in cultural aspects, doing shows and concerts whilst teaching in schools.

In primary schools, he became a coach in athletic sports mentoring pupils in

Mariel Joseph (Carl Croker photos)

that end has its advantages and disadvantages.

He stated that the advantages are, less distraction, he gets to do yard work and have a kitchen garden and finds it quite relaxing and

people work with the rice producers, the rice mill and the GRDB Research Centre.

Sir Joseph stated that there are three streets in the village and two small shops.

He lost his kitchen garden

more people moved in and she has got accustomed to the quietness of the place.

The mother of six related that she is originally from Belladrum Village, West Coast Berbice and so far life

when the flood came and was trying to prepare the land for farming again.

Sir Joseph is a true son of the soil type of man and he is well-respected in the village and its environs.

is good.

The 43-year-old added that she has a car which she uses to get in and out the village but not everyone has a car and it is difficult to traverse due to the condition of the road, and the hire car prices are not cheap.

“As long as you have transportation you can go anywhere but others are having a hard time getting in and out so something should be done to upgrade the access road,” she said.

Tamika Wilson

icate (CSEC) examinations.

Sir Joseph is well-known and is a household name since his reputation is outstanding, having produced many top performers and

for primary-level pupils it is good, because when they reach secondary school they have a solid foundation to lean on in Maths and they tend to do well.

track and field and it was very fulfilling.

On another note, he told the Pepperpot Magazine that living in the Burma Housing Scheme, the last village on

Home of Tamika Wilson

peaceful.

While, on the other hand, the disadvantages include the road, which many other residents have highlighted.

Sir Joseph related that despite the issues, it is a good community to reside and he has been there as a young boy since 1974.

The father of one reported that life is fair there because most people have cattle and livestock and they depend on that for their living.

There are a handful of cash-crop farmers and some

The shop owner Tamika Wilson is a resident of Last Street, Burma Housing Scheme and is a shop owner.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been there for 23 years and at first the place was dismal, but

Focus on the Village

Home of Mariel Joseph

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021 XII

XI

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, August 8, 2021

A HAND TO HOLD WITHERING BLOOM

For tiredness lies On my lids CHRIS opened his eyes and laid still in the dimly lit My body like a hotel room, listening to his own breathing.

Broken goblet A song, a voice softly humming, had awoken him once The Earth can feel again.

The my slight No more feetquiver was like a deep plea for something.

He got up, his thoughts troubled, wondering about “So I must come home, dear Lord,” was the hoarse pleathe sadthe voice hadold been hearing since arrived home, from lips he of the woman, lying in ahe recliner onback the patio. a The voicemiddle-aged to which henurse felt aaid strong connection. sitting close by reading the Was she trying to reach out to newspaper inquired of the old woman,him?

He opened his wallet and took out a small, faded pho“What is it, Sharda?” tograph, thinglooking he had of It was theblue picture She didthe notonly answer, upher. at the clear sky,of a beautiful young woman, a happy smile on her face, and her eyes not so dim, her hearing still fine. She could see the a confident look in her eyes.

The career woman she had lovely flowers bloom and hear the sweet songs of the birds in but but hadher lostlove it all. herbeen, garden, and passion for nature were slowly fadingWhere away. could she be now?

He sighed deeply, tears his life eyes.

How does one continue tofilling embrace when the body “Whataged happened to you, dearsometimes mother? How didinto you has become and feeble, memory floating fall from grace ruined your career nothingness, when that you need a young, strongand handcaused to holdyou andto losewas your children?” there none?

He could nothappen?” remembershe everything abouttears her, misting being the “How did this asked herself, of three just five years old when they in youngest her eyes, “Why didchildren, this happen?” took away towas theahospital lateinone Theher loneliness deep ache hernight. heart, craving for She never came and back. the children she loved missed so much just to hear their But herthey lovewere keptgone, her memory alive in her little son’s voices.

But now matured adults pursuing heart.and sharing their lives with new loves and interests. careers Hismother fathernow had lived explained that she was sickhad and The aloneto in them the home where they she needed medical but moulded strangelyand he guided did not shared a beautiful familyattention, life. She had seem worried.

“What is wrong with mommy?” Chris had cried that night, all night, no one had answered him.

He remembered vaguely how his father had kept her in another room for weeks, just allowing them once in a while to stand just inside the door and look at her as she slept.

Once she opened her eyes that seemed dark and sunken and stretched her arms weakly, but he had pulled them out

and closed the door.

His father had held him firmly by the shoulders and told Chris in his little heart then had felt something bad had him in a stern voice, “Your mother is not coming back, she hadleft walked them, her hard work and andrich them happened to his mother onelifestyles night, he made had crept qui- shehas you.” away from children to provide care and for they hardhome with companionship forget wheretothey sacrifices laying a foundation etly out of bed and walked cautiously the came room.from, It was her matrimonial “No!” he had screamed, “That’s not true!” ly found any time in how theirshe andhisfor the sitting aged by mother, foropened the successes theyand hadhe saw a tiny crack father her bed- her four His children little heartinto hadthe grieved, not understanding daily schedules to spend withHe throes of an unknown world. there was no time. achieved in their lives.

But side, talking to her quietly, then saw him inject something could have left when she loved her children so much. their mother.

She had worked long A lone tear trickled down after reaching great heights in her arm. The deep plea in her eyes had caused Chris to hardly ate his food and fell ill, but his older brother and That night as she laid in every day distressed to build athemselves, wrinkled face, a face stilland hours in gasp the business world, their and he ran as his fatherher turned to see who it was sister, though managed to deal with bed, she looked at the paintlittlemother’s home with comfort hid under his bed, tremblingbeautiful in fear. never mind her age nice their absence better.

At nights after she had been taken away, he would Time moved painfully one day at a time and six months awake and search all over the house for her then one night later, a younger, fashionable woman came to the house he had opened the door and walked out onto the road in and was introduced by their father as their new mother. his pajamas. A neighbour coming home late from work had It had shocked the children, SEE PAGE XXVI seen him and brought him back home. for they had been living with

and she lifted a trembling hand to wipe it. A hand that was once strong, that held her children’s small ones every step of the way.

A wry smile crossed her face and a faraway look shone in her eyes as her thoughts took her back to a time when she was a young woman. She was so full of life, like a butterfly with amazing colours and a simple, little home filled with love, then her father gave her hand in marriage to a rice farmer’s son; a new life as a bride and later, a young mother. Paths she had walked paved with love, compassion, tears and pain, episodes of her life written on the leaves of time.

Then one day, fourteen years later, when she could have borne no more of her husband’s arrogance and abusive behaviour towards her,

for them and today, instead of holding her hand, like she had held theirs, they turned their backs, leaving her alone.

A choked sob escaped her lips and once again she whispered, “It’s time for me to come home, dear Lord, there’s nothing left here.”

The nurse aid got up and took her hand, urging her gently, “Come on, Sharda, it’s time for your meal and medication.”

She sighed and looking up at the nurse. She inquired, puzzled, “Who are you?”

“I’m Jeanette,” the woman answered patiently, as she assisted her to her feet, “Your nurse aid.”

“Oh,” she exclaimed softly, a momentary lapse in her memory.

The kind woman had been with her for the past three years, financed by the

ing on the wall facing her and a smile touched her lips, lessening the pain in her heart.

It was the picture of three children, her father working in the garden and her mother standing not far off with a bucket of fresh vegetables on her arm, smiling warmly as she watched her children.

A portrait that captured a simple life and a beautiful family.

“You have left so long ago, mother,” she said in a weak voice, “I can’t remember much for now I have grown too old.”

The brother and sister playing with her had also left, their names now written on tombstones whilst she, the youngest, waited still alone.

“Whisper my name, mother,” she said, “And I shall come, so we can be SEE PAGE XXIX

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

XIII

XIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

Rumination

o not always know what I’m looking losing your phone would be on a scale of 1-10. 98 percent y phone is such a normal part of my said 10 and 2 percent said 9. They all claimed that it would my hand that I cannot count the numbe the worst material possession that they could ever lose. have beenit ex-was is called rumination results continued in lack of hedLATELY, for it,I while actually in and my mood and They to say that feelings of anxiety, irritation and periencing a reoccurring I’m going to try and help sleep? event, one that up I often many of you identify it and and That is what psycholo when I get in the morning overwhelming sadness would be felt if they were to lose their taught my clients how to make a positive change in ogists call rumination. It’s going toSometimes, sleep is myhealth. phone. I the focus overcome. evencheck your mental on the negative phone today. though you know exactly Have you ever had neg- thoughts and outcomes, as healthy done. opposed to anyItsolutions. what toand do, yousomething aren’t ca- ativemust thoughts,be especially seems harmless, right? Caring so much about a pable of doing it yourself. about things that have alSome of you may think and found women werethatmore phone? this week I’ve been really paying attention While frustratedthat at myself, ready happened, play that it just sounds like Well, ‘worI then thought about the over and over in your mind? ry’, but there is a major d tothousands their phones simply because men tobetween the importance that I and others around me give to a of people who It’s more than worry- it’s the difference the two. consistently do this but do (what seems like) unstoppaWorry is known as almost ocialnotmedia apps. Also, older people phone,andrather than what’s actually going on around them. know what to do at all. ble thoughts that constantly being preventative tends This recurring Iexperience and often lower your to focus on problem-solving e addicted. believerepeat this is because Our phones -- whether we are speaking to other people, use smartphones (My father actually using social media or playing games -- can be addictive as they alter our moods, beliefs and trigger enjoyable y colleagues and friends how bad 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) options. Worrying itself is tion is also highly correlated even in the last year? and my friend when I’minbored orrangelonelyev-and an attempt to engage with a wide of mental basically There are signs mental problem- solving on health issues and illnesses symptoms that determine if erything. However, also such myasconstant interrupter and an issue whereit theis outcome depression, anxiit is rumination. It is espemay be uncertain, but it ety, obsessive-compulsive cially when your thoughts distractor. I involves (I imagine muchdisorder, likesubstance most abuse of you out there) the many possibillead you to feel sad, worthities to resolve the problem. disorders, self-harm and less, and angry. There are have a deep desire to know everything thatalsois physical goingindicators on.

Rumination tends to fo- suicidal thoughts.

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 more on the past, the Now, it’s not your fault such as increased heart rate, miss out on acus joke orleaves good as weshortness wereofon our negative and littleconversation as there are many causes breath, tremroom for problem-solving of rumination. The most bling/shaking or muscle phones? Howandmany times have weisannoyed good friend improvement. common a specific traumaour tension and pain.

Before I get into how such as a death or a breakup, So, to prevent the above, or family member because welowwere posting social media we can reduce rumination, self-esteem, a desire toonlet’s try practising the below. why should we even bother be perfect, an event that hapHere are some tips that how much fun we are having with them? It truly affects our in the first place? As we all pened that you deemed as a will aid in reducing rumiknow, it causes extra and unnecessary stress as well as a lack of sleep, but rumina-

failure etc. Now, who hasn’t experienced one or more of those in their lifetime or

nation. The first is the most SEE PAGE XVIII

XIII XV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT September 05, 2021 CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ―― Sunday, February 28, 2021

Street crime upsurge

ON THE AWARENESS OF THE AESTHETIC AND THE ‘BEING’ OF OUR YOUNG NATION Part II

- Always, a sign of specific social times…

THERE’S an evident un- owned by the Italian Mafia, easiness of trust and caution and the local professional that has clawed itself into and official silence has not the public consciousness. helped. Though this is the Homes are closed earlier, perception a generation of and the gaff on the stairs is Guyanese are schooled into not without concentrated accepting, where the landstairs to the street beyond, scape of success lies. By far with keen observations as to who and how many have turned into the yard, above all, can we recognise who they are? Somehow, there are adequate weapons to outfit bandit this unitsdiscussion, across which is intended to raise IN concluding the country, andthe wereader shouldand inspire responsible actions questions within not bethose surprised.

Theredecision is among that acquire making positions or are a criminal riche already there,nouveau we cannot arrive at a sensible without considerations retrospect.and So in a brief flashback, we must who needsinprotection, recognise, what we have lost to our physical memory referare well connected enough ence archive, and use this as to have a legal cache of inspiration, to be able to raise a weapons natural alarm, a connection to the aesthetic sensitivity and obviously alerting us to the fact that we need to have a historical an auxiliary stash. Then memory in respect to our surroundings, as buildings, landthere and are our wide borders scapes architecture are inherent of memories in both with Venezuela and Brazil. the conscious and subconscious awareness. We have to Over two they become otherdecades, than people who occupy a geographic space weapons forwhat is the necessary thinking onhave this brought planet, and relate to that enable us to address salewill into Guyana, apart from the now onward what isfrom significant to telling our stories, especially stories imtheir gangs infiltrating portant to ourareas, timelines.

When we became independent, our Mining which the euphoria seem to be of a self-governed soft target nationhood intoxicated us, it availability. had its grounds forisintoxication alongside sober examCrime now ination. We did not make the observation that all around by narcotics uscomplemented within the borders of countries we still held controlled that have been allowed to the edifices of past times. admiration for, had retained become a parallel normal, it is dismantled not the conclusion on Our own coloniser England never Hadrian’s in the context an individual level, because Wall.

In surreal more ways thanthat one, from previous colonisers and lawfrom enforcement arrest thisthey is not new still also despiseddo local leaders, kept theand memory for reflection, in our Caribbean, Christophe’s spectacular drug traffickers.

But there people strive when shown fortress of defence Haiti willa remain, of his has never been ainpublic genuineregardless alternative to history. the obvious white supremacy that thrust Europe towardswith educating transcend. emerged with colonisation destroyisthe our adolescents and slowdid notWhere thesculptures alternate of Afro-European Knights, artworks and literature that learners of the down side of inspiration going to come spoke of, or alluded to the African presence in a much drug usage, except for the from and what is the narraolder Europe, of course, they didn’t in-depth celebrate foreign adaptation of their an- identities tive and systems that will be them either, and also hid with new portraits ti-cigarette campaigns. The used to create a balance that and in movies. criminal much was therenot aretono Where landscape we erred inisGuyana usepure the sanctimostructures that became available the decline trademark services more complex today,with there nious of human systems, but like to generation build museumsthat dedicated to that part ofthat our aretheanTrains, entire there are standards historical memory.

Why preserve the physical imagery of the who have grown up and can should be held above other past?

Simple, our of ancestors livedmethods it, for theinhistorian, the creidentify streets high-rise going forward? ative mind, the investigative journalist, the physical location buildings (by Guyana stan- That there are a large popis important. The development of museums was a continuous dards) were ulation of young peeve of that the late Dr.financed Dennis Williams, who had Guyanese identified

by Museums Narco-dollars, and the who are Five to be built, he insisted that passing a marine through museum recenthave foreign statethe imagine courts and through would been press a must.

I can now a display of the the ments of local companies prison cannot be disship’s kitchen on Lady Northcourt withsystem, its cook, the portrait of indifference ‘John’, ‘keep away from John’s kitchen, and why?’ A caption should read before this rude faced ship’s cook made of papier máché –“whose kitchen lay beneath a toilet, from which water dripped continuously, or so we were made See Page XIX

puted, and it’s in that system that an interception can be made, though not the stage for the only interception. In the late 90s I volunteered a self-financed project to teach Art in the prison. In charge was Chief Officer/Director

home for guidance. I assured him and his colleagues that the best option was to have a job while developing their artistic skills, which he did. I have not on queering learnt of his retrogression into prison.

The fact is, that rehabilitation

home baking days.

That was a period when the criminal population was small enough a tribe to be catalogued. The police knew who to look for when certain crimes were committed. Unlike today, where

in a past article of a conversation between myself and a senior policeman in respect to ‘drug addicts’ he with a smile had responded to me “If we pick them up, which is not a bad idea, but then, whey we gon put them?” that

Dale Erskine, who agreed to the mechanisms I had out lined. It took several months in which I had successes. I practiced an initiation engagement to explore who were serious, wasting time and above all had the skill and talent to make a self-difference in the field.

I even applied to Ronald Gajraj for an early release for one of the inmates in the class who I had known was enduring prison in and out for too long, and with the support of Director Erskine this prisoner was allowed the early release. With another colleague he pursued art projects, coming to my

is not magical. It requires effort, and we have precedents.

There are no Guyanese who have had parents working at Hospitals as ward maids, cleaners, kitchen staff and even medical staff, who are over 50 that did not eat ‘Jail Bread’ because at that time the prisons baked for other institutions, had its own printery, that took in outside jobs, produced their own mattresses, had a boxing gym, a football team and drama club that was identified as the Republican this or that.

As for the ‘Jail Bread’ yes, I ate it, as soon as it arrived home to supplement the Saturday and Wednesday official

law breakers are springing out of the woodwork on a momentary frequency, at times from surprising backgrounds, no longer are the wards of old South Georgetown, Tiger Bay, Lodge and other familiar “blame areas” for our old expired class pretention comfort zone narratives, are realistic.

Extrajudicial methods didn’t work, it worsened the social fabric, and the psychological lives of many sensitive policemen involved. It was submerged in error. Today, technology is in place to apprehend suspects. Still, the problem is, as I mentioned

reply was “Check mate’” on a subject board- that has gotten worse, in that it has become accustomed to.

In closing much of what was mentioned in the past that were commendable, did not work because though the spark that was awakened through programmes like ‘GUYFESTA’ (The Guyana Festival of the Arts). It stopped there.

There was no continuation plan, as were the prison skills learned. It became a rehabilitating dream with no vision to allow it to exist in the reality of the coming dawn.

021

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021

Protecting against further learning losses caused by the pandemic XXVII CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 28, 2021

XX

Aye or no for A year of parliamentary decorum?

COVID-19

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, March 7, 2021

AFTER more than one textbooks to all learners. year of school closure Efforts were also made to caused by the COVID-19 expand the Guyana Learning pandemic and the resulting Channel into rural and hinmeasures geared at reduc- terland communities so that ing the spread of the novel learners could benefit from coronavirus, schools are ex- the educational content that pected to reopen tomorrow. was being created.

This reopening is against Still, the local education the backdrop of substantial authorities agree thatthe there DURING this past week’s edition of ‘In National learning losses that took have been significant learnON March 11 last year, COVID-19 became a stark realtracing, and treat patients the pandemic.

But, standing the need forrepresenting the face masks, so cluster access to online and to get Assembly,’ Parliamentarians debated the 2021 National attention afforded to of them in first dose. and encouraged tospreading take the training oflearning Parliamentarians soahead that aof semblance decorum Are theyofadequately us and our best interests in Guyana. it had already spreading place ity while children were was not to unusual; all countries across the globe had to was very possible. We owe our gratitude to all the frontline ing losses, starkly illustrated may that becould exposed violence, Budget, whichThough was presented earlier inbegun the month

by Seall times? though, we COVID-19 vaccines. be maintained in thea National Assembly.

ItThese is envi- at classroom setting.

Previously, the globe fewOffice months before, this novel coronaadapt and contend with the pandemic. What was workers who were trying to keep the nation safe then, and forced across into learning by the more than 500 abuse, and quickly neglect. nioronline Minister inathe of the President withchilresponsisioned that such training sessions also help guidesaw that there was a lull are notwould issues that canto be became a great concern for Guyana and many of unique about Guyana was its unfolding elections quagmire. who continue to do so even now. The ministry has said that during virus the ongoing pandemdren who did not sit the Nability for finance, Dr. Ashni Singh. The debate, however, And, warned: “Theparliamentary procedures. the he officials on proper I hope we can do better. teachers who do not wish to the Caribbean countries only during March.

From the It is not unreasonable to assume--because there is no Aside from the political occurrences, however, it is wellic. In fact, the Minister tional Grade Six Assessment longer children spotlighted a lackofof decorum in the Parliament. remain out should force us to reconsider what But also, these events take any of the other COVID-19 very beginning, Guyana was exposed to the stark reality real empirical evidence--that the protracted elections’ peknown that the pandemic also impacted every sector.

Education ItPriya (NGSA) in August,forthough is bothManickunderstandable and acceptable the different of school, the lessand likely they from our elected officials -- all of we expect accept If you would like tostymied, discuss thiswill column or anyand of vaccines be required to because the first person the local health authorities disriod-and all of the shenanigans encompassed--distracted Business productivity was schools were closed chand has dubbed 2020/ were registered to. sides of thethe house -- the they government and opposition sidesare -- to them-return.” my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via while they discharge their responsibilities towards us. submithit thewith results of a PCR covered was infected, died.

Guyanese from this pandemic.

While the pandemic raged the tourism sector took the hardest the closure of 2021 academic year oneviews of on the to have opposing Afterceremoall, the national The At budget. a recent they articulating our collective values they make vish14ragobeer@gmail.com way I see it, it isfew not test intermittentGuyana’s ofthe thegovernment’s pandemic, at least in the beginning, onAre during the first months, and we werewhen embroiled in borders and email: the constraints to COVID-19 leisure activities.

The closure budget illustrates vision, priority areas, the hardest, if not thestory hardest ny, UNICEF representaracist, sexist, and not other derogatoryfor statements? just that internet andhomophobic, electricly, showing that learning— they have isand a truly unique one.

Certainly, the country was not as preour post-elections drama, it was uncommon there to of schools eventually prompted a shift to virtual general policy direction, since it points towards what year for education delivery tive to Nicolas Pron explained ity challenges have impacted pared as it should have been conduct testing, do contact be large gatherings and we had not yet developed an under‘Zoom school’—which has been fraught with challenges not been infected with the policies, programmes and the government to in Guyana. thatplans the extended closureintends of access to online learning, due to inherent inequalities and disparities. novel coronavirus.

Guyana’s money to schools fund. could have an ad- but it is also the ability of But, use there were practical Social services, too, have been which But, constrained, the Guyana Teachwould be strange forimpact each member to agree on responses toIt the challenge, verse on children, es- children to be engaged while has been particularly worrisome since(GTU), the pandemic ers’ Union has disevery singleand thing, various individuals have difincluding creating dis- since pecially the most vulnerable at home; it is their access to has disproportionately impacted vulnerable agreedthe with this and groups instead ferent priorities and views and perhaps different sides tributing worksheets and children who have limited devices and the structure and in our society. With the slowdown in business called for the PCR directly tests to of the house have different plans, projects, or policies contributing to a reductionbeor lossfor of free. income, social done Otherwise, that would guide Guyana’s developments; and, that is safety nets were necessary to support persons. Moreover, if teachers are barred from completely fine. it has been found that the pandemic— perhaps due to entering schools It is neither understandable nor remotely acceptable, the ‘stay-at-home’ focus— has contributed to abecause rise in they are unvaccinated and however, for elected officials, sworn in as Members of abuse and domestic violence. These present even greater Parliament (MPs), to openly hurl insults at each other and do of notsocial present these tests, the concerns over the construction services.

As time make racist, sexist, homophobic remarks. It is not acceptable solved overnight and cer- or and a slowing down when union said it would pursue the pandemic progressed, however, efforts would be for this level of disrespect to be entertained in the National tainly not in a few months in those adults who wanted the disproportionate legal action. made to ensure that these effects were Assembly. a pandemic. vaccines hadon already been While that aspect of mitigated, all fronts.

The normalisation of racist, sexist, and homophobic reAnd so, the decision has inoculated.

Thereafter, the the reopening conversation To a large extent, nevertheless, we’re still navigating marks in our common, social spaces might be a conversation been made to reopen schools challenge became convincevolves, think to it importthe complexities of this pandemic andI trying manage for another day, but for crying out loud, this is our National however, we’re also -- not universally, but on an ingourselves those whobetter. were Now, hesitant ant for us all to contending appreciate Assembly! Or, our Parliament, as it is more commonly the emergence of the newer,the modified forms of that the virus individualised basis. The or with outright opposed to learning loss has called. It is not touting at the bus park!

-- the variants, or strains as they are commonly Education Ministry said that COVID-19 vaccines to get plagued children called. acrossThe all Imagine the astonishment one would experience, years scientific and these variants based on the space and cir- vaccinated.

It medical remainscommunities to levels,expected across Guyana, and from now, if they were to revisit the hansards. Instead of arrive at some point orreally the other, do cumstances at each school, be would seen whether this will think since aboutviruses why getonly well-articulated, thorough analyses of the $383.1 bilmutate. individualised measures will happen this time around ting them back into schools lion budget that was presented for the year 2021, there would The variants so far — the United be applied to ensure the safe- or whether parentsthat willhave all emerged is crucial. be remarks signalling homophobia or thinly veiled insults of Kingdom(UK), Brazil, and South African variants — all ty of all. agree that their children need It is not only that they an MP’s reproductive capabilities. have the ability to infect more persons. If we’re not careful, The conversation on the to be protected. need be toback in rise those To be fair, however, there were a few salient presentatheir increased transmissibility couldtolead a sharp in reopening of schools also For now, though the Minschools but it is that we have tions. On the first day of the debate, it is a point of pride our cases, additional deaths, and an overwhelmed healthencompasses a key aspect: istry of system.

Education is strongly to think preventing that two women -- MPs Susan Rodrigues and Amanza care Guyana has not been ableabout to identify whethera vaccination of key -teachers encouraging parents to give surge in school dropouts and Walton-Desir who are also new Parliamentarians -- made we do any of these variants without our borders. We have and children. consent for their children it issamples about ensuring that chilgood presentations that one would expect at this forum. been sending a few COVID-19 to the Caribbean Vaccination has been to Public get theHealth PfizerAgency COVID-19 dren for cantesting, learn but andthose develop Though this absence of decorum from many of the (CARPHA) few touted as an integral aspect vaccines, chil- That themselves.

Simultaneously, samplesunvaccinated were not variants. is not enough to rule out MPs,is perhaps, not a new occurrence in the local context, the will possibility we have variants. in the reopening of schools dren not bethat preventthe reopening of schools it begs us to ask ourselves: what valuable contributions are Onattending the otherphysical hand, we’ve able in to ways secure a our elected officials making at this forum? to ensure that the children ed from mustbeen be done that number of the COVID-19 and children we have been One would hope that the leaders elected by the people and teachers are kept safe. classes when schools are vaccines ensure that and vaccinating our frontline healthcare Soon, of Guyana, whether in government or opposition, would Becoming vaccinated with reopened. teachers areworkers. kept safe beother frontline workers, thecause elderly, and persons with maintain a certain level of decorum in the house. In disCOVID-19 also reduces an Generally, COVID-19 learning loss would comorbidities (underlying and undetected concharging their duties towards the people of the nation, at the individual’s chances of get- vaccination is not mandatory. matter much lesshealth if any child ditions, such as diabetes) will be vaccinated too. very least, it is expected that they would engage in critical ting seriously ill or even The education ministry stat- or teacher is hospitalised.The vaccines is that they allow the body to analyses of the budget. The budget debate should attempt to hospitalised with the disease ed importance that parents of who choose I genuinely hope that create an immune response to the virus, thereby fighting pinpoint deficiencies in allocations, or indicate what other COVID-19. notoff to infection. send theirAnd children to all eligible people, children Guyana, incredibly, has been able to areas of priority should be focused on.

However over the past school on the days they are included, can vaccinated secure several vaccines in a short periodget amid global This is how you operate in a democracy, where transtwo weeks, vaccination has scheduled to attend will be so that we can have a safer concerns of vaccine nationalism, where larger, wealthier parency and accountability are underpinning tenets. This is been extended to children enjoined to ensure that those to schools and to life countries are hoarding thesereturn vaccines for themselves. how you respect the sanctity of Parliament. And above all aged 12 to 17 years old in children are continuously generally.

But, even so, vaccines are not necessarily the ‘magic else, is this how you adequately represent the people of the Guyana. This was made pos- engaged home.

If you like to bullet’atfor the population and there are, would understandably, nation you committed to serve? Parliamentary affairs -- evsible due to a donation of Still, the other key stakeconnect with me to discuss many concerns.

Due to the perceived short period during ery single aspect-- should be geared towards enhancing the more than 146,000 doses of holdershavewere to bedeveloped COVID-19, this column, or which teachersthe vaccines and granted emergendevelopment of the nation and its citizenry. cy-use authorisation, concerns about the long-term benefits the US-made Pfizer vaccines. considered.

There is a wider any of my previous works, Admittedly, clever innuendos and witty remarks have andfor impact of the vaccines the efficacy The rollout of these vaccines push vaccination nation- linger. feelAdditionally, free to email me at long been part of parliamentary presentations, not only in of the on the variantsvish14ragobeer@gmail. is still evolving. In Guyana, has already gotten underway, ally, but vaccines one would expect Guyana, but around the world. The addition of clever satire mayteachcontribute to the vaccine-acceptance with hundreds of children (atthese least, concerns I expect) that com has its usefulness in communication, no doubt. Much of efforts are made (or continued) to proalready in receipt of their ersrates too unless wouldgreater be educated what we saw last week, however, appeared to be a common mote greater education, communication, and trust. bottom house or rumshop debacle, replete with “props” and

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

Environmental Education

THE environment sustains all life on earth. It provides us with nourishment and inspiration. Our economy thrives on a healthy environment. A growing body of research tells us that time spent in nature provides physical and psychological benefits. Our personal and cultural identities are often tied to the environment around us. At the

same time, it’s impossible not to be deeply concerned about the unprecedented environmental, social, and economic challenges we face as a global society—from climate change and loss of species and habitats, to declines in civic engagement, decreasing access to nature, a growing gap between the haves and have nots, and other threats to our health, security, and future survival.

We are in September, and that means Education Month

in Guyana. The EPA takes this opportunity to shed some light on environmental education and the role of the EPA in promoting awareness and education among the Guyanese populace.

Environmental education is a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in prob-

lem-solving and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions.

The components of environmental education are: * Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges SEE PAGE XXIII * Knowledge and understanding of the envi-

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Rumination...

FROM PAGE XIV

important and therapeutic one – one that helps so much that the rest just supplements it.

When you find yourself ruminating, ask yourself three very important questions 1. Have I come any closer to finding a solution to this problem?

2. Do I understand something more about myself or the situation?

3. Do I have any less self-hatred or more self-esteem since I began thinking about this?

More often than not, your answers to all the above will be ‘No”- and that’s how you know it’s rumination and not worry. But if your answers are no, that’s not a problem- what you do now is tailor your thoughts to now answer those questions.

So, what do you do when you have answered ‘no’ to these questions? Plan to take action. This means, instead of repeating the same negative thoughts, take your time and list out ways that you can address the problem.

Make a list of the problems on your mind and put them in columns, side by side, so you can see if there are any connected parts. This could mean identifying that there is one issue in general that keeps repeating and allows for identification of any consistencies in your triggers, time of day/ night you are having these thoughts etc.

When you have identified these, write down two proactive solutions for each thought. Meaning, how can you change this situation- is it one that can be changed? If not, how can you learn from it? Overcome it? This is very specific to each individual and situation. Being specific is key when it comes to making plans – what exactly are you trying to achieve? What date will you start? Are there any barriers to work on that may prevent your best-wanted solution?

Another option commonly used is a distraction- however, this is more short term and does not actually address the real issue. It just helps until you are ready to. This means finding something that you’re passionate about- something that you enjoy doing, something that makes you feel good that can turn your thoughts away from the negative spiral.

This can be anything at all, such as music, movies, sports, calling a loved one, art, prayer- literally anything that you are into.

Also, the following basic, everyday tips are also beneficial in reducing rumination. ? Avoidance of triggers – when you have written everything down and have figured out a pattern- is it something you can avoid? Simple examples are avoiding social media if this triggers anger or low self-esteem; limit the amount of news you watch if it brings sadness and feelings of helplessness.

Exercise: I’ve written time and time again that exercise allows for the release of more serotonin and dopamine in the brain (happy hormones) and reduces cortisol (stress hormone).

Increase self-esteem and self-confidence: Many ruminate because they believe they could have done something better or different. While it may be true that you probably could have handled a situation better in the past, that is self-awareness and should alone bring forward the aforementioned because it means not only do you know you can do better, but you are striving to. What good practices make you feel good about yourself? Mentally and physically? Increase these!

These are the basics, and I hope they are helpful. If you have any further questions on rumination, please feel free to reach out.

Thank you for reading and please continue to send all interested topics to caitlinvieira@gmail.com

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Environmental...

FROM PAGE XVII ronment and environmental challenges * Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental quality * Skills to identify and help resolve environmental

challenges * Participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action. Rather, environmental education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue through critical thinking and it enhances their own problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Environmental education is more than information about the environment.

Environmental education through environmental information increases public awareness and knowledge of environmental issues * Provides facts or opinions about environmental issues * Teaches individuals critical-thinking * Does not necessarily teach individuals critical-thinking * Enhances individuals’ problem-solving and decision-making skills * Does not necessarily enhance individuals’ problem-solving and decision-making skills * Does not advocate a particular viewpoint * May advocate a particular viewpointEPA and Environmental Education The Environmental Protection Act mandates the EPA to play a pivotal role in environmental awareness and education - promote public participation in relation to scoping of environmental-impact assessments, and encourages a better understanding and appreciation of the natural environment and its role in economic development.

The work of the Communications Department of the EPA lends to the agency realising this important mandate.

Environmental Communication - Conduct meetings/ consultations with communities/member of the public to address environmental concerns/conflicts and ensure the communication platforms and tools are upgraded; Environmental Education - Conduct outreach to various stakeholders including organisations, businesses, developers, groups and schools and environmental issues and EPA’s processes and procedures; and Environmental Awareness - Develop materials on environmental issues in formats including publications, games, models, annual magazine and calendar; development of ads, vidoes, documentaries etc and utilisation of diverse media platforms.

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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.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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WITHERING...

FROM PAGE XI hopes that their mother would return.

“What happened to mom?” Jason had asked in a serious tone.

His father had smiled a little wryly and answered, “I’ll explain later.”

“No!” Chris screamed adamantly, “I want my mommy!”

But as children, they couldn’t change their father’s decision and it brought a change in their lives -- not for the better.

The new mother was reluctant to give them the love and comfort they needed. She had a vibrant social life and had stated uncaringly, “I did not sign up to mother three children.”

No answers were given for their mother’s prolonged absence until almost a year later, when the children were told that their mother had been confined to the asylum because she had lost her mind.

“How did that happen?” Jason and Alana had asked.

“Drug abuse” was the shocking answer from their father.

It had shattered the little boy’s hopes to see her again and once more, he fell ill. All

seemed lost when the family migrated to America, to a new life, new home, not a picture nor mention of the mother, to remember her by.

Chris had grown up not having a good relationship with this father and at 22, he had become mature and brave enough to ask him a few questions.

“Was my mother really a drug addict?”

“Why do you care?” he had responded with disinterest.

“It’s the past, it’s gone.”

“She’s my mother,” Chris has answered firmly, “I have to care.”

The more Chris reflected on it and the more he remembered the needle in his father’s hand that night, his mind stayed with the belief something bad had happened to his mother. Jason and Alana were busy with their lives and showed no real interest to find out the truth.

“It’s been a long time,” Alana had said, “What can you find now?”

“I don’t know but I am going back home to search,” Chris had said with determination.

The answers would be there he knew, because someone had to know something.

To be continued…

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The Indigenous people of Guyana deserve more respect

THE month of September is known for many auspicious occasions, including the month that commemorates the heritage, history and culture of the Indigenous peoples of Guyana. On September 10, 1995, the then Prime Minister of Guyana, Cheddi Jagan, officially designated September as Amerindian Heritage Month. This was done in memory of Stephen Campbell’s achievement-to become Guyana’s first Amerindian Member of Parliament on September 10, 1957. This year’s Amerinidan Heritage Month theme is, “Maintaining our traditional integrity; celebrating our cultural identity.”

As we celebrate the theme this year, we must also acknowledge and internalise what it really means for the Amerindians and what it also means for our country on a whole.

Maintaining one’s traditional integrity means that they ought to be honest with their history and values. You must also be responsible enough to honour your traditions and the rich history that was passed on to you. Likewise, when one celebrates their cultural identity, they celebrate every fibre of uniqueness, norms, beliefs and social behaviours that are authentic to them and their ancestors. Guyana is big enough for all of us to live.

However, it’s not big enough for egos and superiority. There should be no place for the superiority of the shape or form of races in this country.

This month should also be a reminder of how resilient and strong the indigenous peoples are. All Guyanese should acknowledge and learn from them. Despite everything that happened during the early days of Christopher Columbus arriving into their lands, many Caribbean islands lost their indigenous populations or their culture. Guyana is blessed enough to still have a rich preservation of that culture. By preservation—I mean that we ought to remember, observe, celebrate and pass on the richness of their culture onto the next generation. They were owed a debt that is over four centuries old.

As such, this is a personal call for more inclusivity, openness and, most importantly, respect for the Indigenous of our land. We should strive for a Guyana where their lands and communities thrive. We should strive to ensure that when we give them access to basic necessities—it’s not a gift; it’s a right. Their schools, healthcare, and legislative inclusions should be equal to that of every other race in this country. None of this is up for debate.

I hope that we keep in mind the lessons learned from our social studies classes and history classes as well. Many Indigenous peoples lost their lives, caught diseases and were even forced as slaves. There was a rapid decline in the indigenous populations throughout the Caribbean in the early days of European arrivals. As such, when we acknowledge their culture—we ought to keep their perseverance in mind. While we’re on this topic, the indigenous people deserve more respect than they’re given by other Guyanese. They do not deserve the disrespect and discrimination that is often thrown towards them. They have rights just like the rest of us to this very country. This is also their home, their land and they are also citizens of Guyana. We have to protect their interests from exploitation—from corporations, organisations and oppressed systems that want to gain from them.

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PRESIDENTS SANTHOKI AND IRFAAN ALI HAVE DONE THEIR COUNTRIES EXTRAORDINARILY WELL

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ―― Sunday, CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday,February January 28, 10, 2021 2021

THE SEAWALLS FOREVER!

REVISITING THE GUYANA/ VENEZUELA CONTROVERSY SOON TO COME BEFORE THE ICJ IN the first quarter of the 21st century, the most memorable events which occurred in Guyana were the discovery of large deposits of oil in Guyana’s territory with the promise of metamorphosing Guyana into a well-endowed first world country; the final affirmation of democracy and the democratic culture in Guyana; and lastly, the exchange of visits of President Dr Irfaan Ali of Guyana and President Chandrikapersad Santhoki of Suriname,

which revolutionised relations between their two countries. From our perspective, Suriname had also had a similar experience in its first quarter of the 21st century.

In this offering, we shall focus on the presidential visits and the deepening of Suriname/Guyana relations. Unfortunately, this could be done only in a very constricted way since our allotted space does not permit comprehensive coverage of the details that such relations encapsulate. Yet,

E Guyana/Venezuela controversy will again shortly and discussions where factual bases invariably become e up before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). blurred.

Guyana, most oflie thedeep writings the controversy have In thisisoffering, we will depart this with normseashells and try to THE Seawalls in theon consciousness of Guyanese today rather muddy was oncefrom covered and npeople, of a historical and factual nature and this a good questions have been asking theup but especially Georgetowners.

Yet itis has rarelyanswer theretwo would alwaysthat be many children exploring and since picking g, since the Guyanese of theoftwo Guyanese fishing boats inthey Guyana’s terribeen noticed by the newspublic mediaare andnot the encouraged last time it wasseizure seashells different colours; sometimes may find large mentioned as an item into of national concern was five or sixtorial conch shells. move their attention the realms of arguments waters by a Venezuelan navy ship. The first question years ago when the Ocean overtopped the wall and flooded The foreshore or continental shelf gradually rises and falls the yards parallel to the Public Road. This was the first every 20 years and today, the foreshore land between Camp time in living memory that there was such an occurrence Street and the Pegasus Hotel has almost risen to the height of and it led to great panic. The authorities hurriedly con- the wall and coconut trees and other vegetation grow on it. structed a barrier of standing concrete slabs on the Walls to counter such overtopping. In the last few weeks, the Seawalls have again featured in the news, but in a happier vein.

From Camp Street to the Demerara River, the wall had become disfigured by an accumulation of unsightly garbage and no one assumed the responsibility of cleaning it. A homeless man, Carl Melville, who sometimes slept there was noticed by Dwayne Hackett trying to clean the garbage and immediately volunteered to help him. Hackett placed the incident on social media and immediately numbers of persons volunteered their services.

First Lady Arya Ali was one of the first to volunteer and the Ministry of Public Works, the Director of Solid Waste Department of the Georgetown City Council and the Fire Service became involved with her. The Fire Service cleaned the bandstand and in a few days all the garbage was removed and Seawalls appeared as if they had always been maintained! Many have been high in their praises of this example of civic responsibility.

Likewise, the sea has reclaimed the land along the Kitty SeaThe Seawalls had always been the promenade and park for wall where houses once stood. Indeed, a substantial building the people of Georgetown and the surrounding villages from is still standing close to the wall near the Kitty Pump Station, the last quarter of the 19th century and continued to be so until but the sea is under it. Old fishermen who set their nets on the 1960s when the country became plagued with political ten- the foreshore sea could vividly describe the cyclical rise and sion and there were robberies on the Seawalls. For most of the fall of the beach.

1960s, therefore, fewer and fewer people visited the Seawalls.

The Seawalls provided a favourite place for health enIn its heyday, the Seawalls were the most delightful place thusiasts. Many would go there to practise deep breathing of in Georgetown. The vast openness of the seascape and the the clean and fresh sea breezes. Others would be cycling or surrounding landscape, the blue skies and silver clouds, the even training for cycle races. Probably the most notable were ever-present seagulls and the steady flow of the health-giving the ones who went for physical culture. Many of this group trade winds and the enveloping peace and quietude attracted would go to the Seawalls by either jogging to get there or by hundreds of people at all times of the day. The beach which cycle and they would arrive there at 5 o’clock, long before

Research work helping curb...

From Page III

timate for that area and in the space of 18 months, some 33 Giant Anteaters were identified.

According to Millar, researching the animals included going out on horseback

zone in the village. “So we will work with the villagers to create certain rules and help them to know what they should and should not do. For example, no one is allowed to kill them, keep them as a

several short documentaries called the “Secret Life of Giant Anteaters” and each episode focuses on different aspects of the work being done. Two more episodes are expected to be released this

the sun had risen. to say enough conveysowere the weight imporis, we why is the Venezuelan public convinced they Onhope moonlit nights the to Seawalls alwaysand athat crowded tance of them. have a valid claim to two-thirds of Guyana’s territory and promenade. Many went to socialise with friends, but all went President Santhoki and his brilliant Foreign Minister why their politicians are so bellicose and aggressive about to enjoy the beauty of the moon rising from the sea and the Dr AlbertAnd Ramdin have proved themselves able diplomats this claim? the second is, why did there President blue-green moonlight whichquestion was brighter, since were and have not only strengthened relations with Guyana to Maduro of Venezuela choose this time to seize thevarious boats nothe road lights to dilute it.

Others would enjoy the highest pinnacle ever reached, but have secured many when heofknew he would alienate theevery Guyanese population phases the gains New Moon with theon background of social, purple ecoskies important for Suriname frontandnomic causeand the international community to condemn or embellished withwhat thousands of stars in which political- and they achieved threeappear days disapprove of his action, leaving Venezuela isolated interbrightertake since theremonths. were no city lights.

Others would normally many President Ali, on his nationally on the issue. would go tothat the there Seawalls the late afternoons part, always ensured was ainsynthesis of Guyana’sto and TheSuriname’s answer to interests. the sunsets first question began during theinto Cold admire gradually transforming the The discussions place the bases blue light ofof dusk.

War: At thepresidential beginning the 1960stook Britain hadondecided to of the reports made by the various sub-committees of Another of the joys of the Seawalls were the withdraw from Guyana and grant the colony independence, Guyana-Suriname Strategic Dialogue Cooperation earlylikely evening concerts givenof bythe the newly Militia butthe it was very thatSunday the Prime Minister Platform (SDGP).

They reported on the collaboration Band and the Police Band at the Bandstand which independent state would be Dr Cheddi Jagan, an avowed and coordination initiatives inpeople. foreign Their policyrepertoire coordination attracted hundreds of conMarxist.

U.S. Cold War interests tried to persuade and political dialogue;the environment; security; Britain health; sisted of light classical music such as Strauss’ and to delay Guyana’s but all that Britain could infrastructure andindependence, transportation; agriculture; investment other waltzes, ballet music such Delibes’ pizzicato promise was that would hand of over to sector. a non-Comand trade; andshe enhancement thepower private The andfurther Sylvia,agreed atAmerican leasttoone English patriotic such munist Prime Minister.

Intelligence feltsong that this Presidents initiate discussions between as “This royal throne of Kings” and Guyanese and their offer Ministers responsible for Legaland Affairs towards the British needed further insurance so they devised Caribbean folk songs.

The concerts were arranged conclusion of atheir mutual legal assistancewould agreement and an a plan whereby client Venezuela threaten to foragreement. early evening so that children could attend; extradition Theymany were Guyanese committedintolater thelife Inter-Guiana Games have admitted that and their the Inter-Guiana Cultural and collaboration befirst exposure to Festivals classical music was from these tween theBandstand universities, since these increased people-to-peoconcerts. ple contact. On Easter Monday thousands of kite-flyers The Presidents committed themselves to close coopturned out from five o’clock in the morning.

Kites eration in their oil and gas industries to take advantage were all hand-made and were in a variety of shapes of avoidance of duplication in areas of infrastructure; such as boxes, birds and snakes, but the predomto facilitate the production of electrical energy from was the Guyanese octagon and in a natural inant gas; shape to promote manufacturing and creation variety of colours.

Singing engines, a kite of petrochemical industries, as well as refining which from made a loud sound, one of the most natural gasdroning resources suchwas as bauxite; and the popular. exporKite-flying always combined withenergy.Of picnicking.topical The Easter tation of was surplus, clean electrical imkite-flying a pale of theofheyday. portancetoday as oilisand gasreminiscence is the protection democracy inAs Suriname and Guyana and in the Region a whole. mentioned above, the political tensions andascriminality Thepeople Presidents, underscored need for kept away therefore, from the Seawalls in thethe1960s.

Bythe the invade Guyana if collectively theremore wasstable any of guided a Marxist Region to work andpossibility continuously, 1990s life had become and people again beganbyto government installed inambience Guyana. the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society, to strengthen frequent the being Seawalls, but the had changed.

There and safeguard democratic governance and to strenuousThe 1899 Arbitral Award had settled the boundaries of grew up stalls lining the parapet of the Public Road from the ly condemn political violence.

Guyana and Venezuela and these boundaries were fully Kitty Pump Station to the Pegasus, selling refreshments and Theby menu programmes and activities outlined above accepted bothofwere parties and the communiallare of these stalls well-lit.

TheInternational character of the Seawalls taken from the joint communique issued by the two ty.

One of the junior lawyers representing Venezuela had changed from aconclusion peaceful promenade to visit a lively fair. at Presidents on the of the official of President the arbitration, MalletPrevost, left ais letter was not Now that the tourism industry beingthat revived, the Santhoki. toSeawalls haveIt would been opened until after his death.

In that letter, still be offer an attractive attraction. useful to explain in greater detail the various he programmes claimed thatagreed the Arbitral wassothe result of an by the Award Presidents that the public arrangement between Britain and the Russian arbitrator would know their complexities and impacts, but space to deprive Venezuela of ofitsonly rights.

After than half would permit mention one or two more as examples.

Oura first example is thebased bridge the Corentyne posthumous River. Prescentury, Venezuela, onover Mallet-Prevost’s identnow Ali rejected gives its the raison d’etre Award as “Once the letter, Arbitral andconstructed, claimed twobridge would serve as a permanent link between the peoples thirds of Guyana’s territory. Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous of Suriname and Guyana and would enormous benletter was the causus Venezuela used be to of threaten Guyana efits to the tourism, transportation and trade sectors.” and this continued after the Cold War, the raison d’etreThe for building of the bridge would involve a plethora of other theactivities claim, had ended. such as advertising for contractors, engaging varMost lawyers studying and historians whodiligence took any notice ious consultants, reports, due of persons of contracted Mallet-Prevost’s it as a historical to executeletter certaindismissed functions, mobilising building curiosity or very which to continually attempt to materials, etc. flimsy And theevidence managersonhave to be alert to avoid any slippage time. All plans and upset a long-accepted ArbitralofAward.

Butpapers, the Venezuelan politicians and the Venezuelan public gave credence and SEE PAGE XXIX importance to Mallet-Prevost’s posthumous letter, which would have been dismissed in the modern world. But

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

PRESIDENTS SANTHOKI AND ...

FROM PAGE XXVIII so on have to be vetted and agreed upon by both sides.

In addition to the areas of cooperation in the oil and gas industry mentioned above, there are a large number of other areas of continuous cooperation such as marketing, strategies in negotiation with the oil companies, training of locals, local content legislation and execution to ensure that the people of Suriname and Guyana accrue maximum benefits from employment and ancillary spending such as supply of goods and services. Then there are the Sovereign Wealth Funds which have to evolve a model which would be transparent, win the trust of the populations that there would be no corruption or theft of funds and

that the populations would be fully aware of how funds are spent. Both Suriname and Guyana would have to work together to get the best solution.

Guyana became British only in 1815, but before then, Suriname and Guyana were the same country as contiguous Dutch colonies.

In other words, Guyana and Suriname have been longer one country than they have been two. And this common identity surfaces in many ways: Sranam Tongo is an English Creole and could quickly be learnt by any Guyanese in a few months; Sranami Hindi is spoken and understood in both countries; Guyana used the Civil Law which Suriname uses until it was replaced by the English

Common Law in 1918, but the legal assumptions remain largely the same; the thought processes and ways of life of both countries are much the same. No two countries in the world are closer than Suriname and Guyana and this familial instinct was shown when, between the 1960s and 1980s, Suriname generously accepted tens of thousands of Guyanese immigrants and kept supplying Guyana with essential food items such as wheaten flour during those years. This opportunity of regaining our oneness offered by the various agreements made by our two Presidents should be seized with alacrity since the execution of those agreements would more quickly usher in the good life.

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September 05, 2021 THOUGHT FOR TODAY

How soon hath

Time, the subtle thief of youth Stol’n on his win g my three-and-twentie th year.

JOHN MILTON (1608-1674) So nnet 7. On his having arrived at the ag e of twenty-three

STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome, dear friend.

When you revise, distribute topics in your revision timetable so no content should wax old toward examination day and never consider last-minute cramming as a revision strategy. You are to allow plenty of time for each session, fairly allocat-

ing difficult topics and those you have failed the first time round, and improve upon them in a timely manner.

Use combinations of proven basic revision methodologies as you aim at particularly great results. Be wise.

Love you.

THE TEXT In the house where I grew up, my brother was on his back in his bed for almost 33 years, in the same corner of his room, under the same window, beside the same yellow walls. Oliver was blind and mute. His legs were twisted. He did not have the strength to lift his head or the intelligence to learn anything....

When my mother was pregnant with Oliver, she was overcome by fumes from a leaking coal-burning stove.

My father pulled her outside, where she revived quickly.

On April 20, 1947, Oliver was born. A healthy-looking, plump, beautiful boy. A few months later, my mother brought him to a window and held him in the sunlight.

Oliver looked directly into the sun and my mother realised that her baby was blind.

My parents learned, with the passing months, that blindness was part of the problem.

The doctor at the Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City told my mother and father there was absolutely nothing that could be done for Oliver. He did not want my parents to grasp at false hope. “You could place him in an institution,” he said.

“But it is our son,” my parents replied. “We will take Oliver home, of course.”

The good doctor said, “Then take him home and love him.” ....

(Christopher De Vinck’s “The Power of My Powerless Brother”) About the Text (and composition writing in general) This text was chosen to help our students see how dialogue enhances writing; how thoughts are captured in dialogue. Dialogue does not have to proliferate your story to be an effective tool. It is about what, how and why dialogue is used.

However, beside dialogue, notice how the writer

is revealing the happening in simple terms, yet being effective. You feel what is coming even before it comes along.

Read the piece again and really grasp the feeling of love, courage, and insight that pervade the atmosphere.

Something to Do 1. In what point of view is the story written? Give your supporting points.

2. Explain the following phrases: blind and mute, did not have the intelligence to learn anything, overcome by fumes, healthy-looking, part of the problem, grasp at false hope.

3. Of what effect do you find the use of dialogue in this passage?

4. What do you know about a coal-burning stove?

Respond in a short paragraph.

5. Oliver lived for nearly 33 years. Say in what way you think love, courage, and insight pervaded Oliver’s home environment.

GRAMMAR Using numbers Numbers provide our communications with specific information quantities, dollar amounts, percentages, measurements, dates. Let us look slightly at when to write numbers in words and when to write them in figures.

1. When to use an abbreviation before a number: No. (Number) when followed by a numeral, except at the beginning of a sentence: Who has No. 756? Number 756 is the winning ticket.

2. Use figures in mathematical material. Spell out any number that begins a sentence; within a sentence, spell out any number of fewer than three digits.

Six hundred twelve persons were called; 215 were accepted.

Two hundred seventy-five sales representatives have attended our telephone techniques seminar. (a bit awkward) Our telephone techniques seminar has been attended by 275 sales representatives.

(Rephrased sentence is not awkward.)

3. Spell out round numbers; i.e., hundreds, thousands, and so on.

The widow has sold seventy-eight hundred acres of

the estate. [not seven thousand eight hundred; use the shortest form possible] The hinterland population has grown to over eighty million.

4. Use figures for dates, house numbers, and pages or parts of a book; for decimals and percentages; for hours and minutes with A.M. ; but (except where brevity is highly essential) spell out street names. Be sure also to spell out per cent. [per cent – British; percent – American].

The renovated MoneyGram office at 49 Burnie Street reopened on June 9, 2020.

Please call again at 3:00 P.M. We shall be ready to distribute at three o’clock.

According to the notice on page 6, we can get a 50 percent discount.

5. Treat alike all numbers in connected groups. If the largest number has three digits, use figures throughout.

The sheep pens have, respectively, 8, 54, 77, and 116 lambs.

Do These Application Exercises Find and correct the errors in the following sentences. Write OK if there are no errors.

1. The small, flower garden will cost the mother seventy thousand seven hundred fifty dollars after the sum borrowed has been repaid.

2. The 3 children hope to visit their father in Australia.

3. 60 boys earned enough to pay eighty % of their school expenses.

4. Ms. Sandra Beaton lives at seventy Bacon Ave. with her grandmother, Dr. Sheila Willis.

5. Yes, I’ll be able to meet with you to discuss this at 15:30.

6. If you would like 3 or 4 more copies of the brochure, just call Sandra.

7. The board members discussed the issue until 00:15.

8. According to newspaper reports, the estimated cost of manufacturing each helicopter will exceed $10.7 million.

9. Of course, we realise that there is more than 1 way to solve this kind of problem.

10. The new interior schools have, respectively, nine, 27, 84, and 107 teachers.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― September 05, 2021

XXXIX

Pre-school tooth trauma THE dental health of a person is primarily decided during the pre-school period of that person’s life and the role played by the parent or guardian is an essential factor. But while tooth decay is the principal agent which decimates an individual’s oral health, traumatic injuries form an important part of this, especially in children. A recent study of injuries to primary teeth showed children two to four with the highest incidence.

Falling has been described as the most common cause of dental injury, and the most common type of injury to the primary dentition is displacement. Other studies have shown soft-tissue injuries and enamel dentine fractures to be the most prevalent.

Clinical evaluation of the injured pre-school child can be difficult because the dentist is often dealing with distraught parents and a frightened and uncooperative child.

Crown fractures of primary teeth involving enamel only are usually not restored or filled. All that is needed is a slight recontouring of the biting edge to improve aesthetics. However, dentine involvement in the crown fracture necessitates restoration to seal the exposed dentinal tubules containing nerve endings. Because of short roots, primary teeth root fractures are unusual. The location of a root fracture in a primary tooth usually determines the outcome. Only when the x-rays show that the tip is broken should it be treated.

When the fracture is closer to the crown, the tooth is usually dark and shaky and has to be extracted.

Sometimes a child may suffer a blow to a tooth without it being displaced from its normal position. The structures supporting would be injured. This condition is called a concussion. The tooth is usually tender to biting pressure and may be shaking with bleeding occurring around the crown.

No treatment is indicating other than the slight filing of the chewing surface if the child complains of biting sensitivity.

Mobile teeth generally tighten up on their own after a few weeks. The parent should be instructed to give the child a soft diet and eventually return to normal foods according to the child’s tolerance. The future for concussed teeth is good.

Displacement occurs more frequently than a crown or root fracture, because of the resiliency of the alveolar bone and short-tooth roots. These injuries may be extrusive (the tooth being knocked straight outward), lateral or intrusive (driven deeper into the jaw bone). In most cases, these displaced teeth have to be removed. The dentist analyses the clinical picture before deciding to extract the displaced tooth. Trauma to temporary teeth can cause psychological affliction to the child, unlike an adult. If these teeth require more than six months to be replaced by the underlying new ones, special effort must be made to preserve them in the dental arch.

Failure to do so could result in crowding (“riders”) and

malocclusion (abnormal bite) unless a space retainer (a type of denture) is fabricated for the child.

Parents should not insist on extraction but allow the dentist to advise on the proper recourse, so that any hasty action would not be regretted.

XL

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, September 05, 2021