Pepperpot e paper 03 12 2017

Camaraderie Models showcasing the Indian wear during the show’s intermission [Samuel Maughn photo]

QC celebrates Phagwah ► Page

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Sixth form students acting as the grown Radha and Krishna (dressed in white) while another pair, acting as the God Krishna and Goddess Radha, look at their love story being acted out from their seat in the ‘heavens’ [Samuel Maughn photo]

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

QC celebrates Phagwah

By Vishani Ragobeer THE Hindu festival of Phagwah or Holi, was celebrated on Friday at Queen’s College (QC) as the students from the school’s Hindu Society hosted their annual Phagwah Concert.

In a Bollywood fashion, the concert fea-

tured a skit explaining the significance of Phagwah and one of its origin stories while incorporating numerous dances, singing and modelling. The skit explained the significance of the festival of colours through the classic ‘Radha Krishna’ love story and students, both from the religious society and from the general school populations, enacted Two first form students acting as the Young Radha and Krishna.

[Samuel Maughn photo]

A packed house at Queens College [Samuel Maughn photo]

this story. They showed that the love the God Krishna had for Radha never faltered even when they could not be together while on earth.

This story had the crowd going wild especially when the couple acting as Radha and Krishna portrayed the more romantic scenes. Also, never forgetting that such concerts have the ability to raise awareness on pertinent matters, a young fourth form student did a rendition of the popular ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ and he dedicated the song to persons who lost their lives to cancer.

After the concert ended, students of the college and even a few good- spirited teachers trampled outside to the rhythmic beats of the ‘tassa’ drums where the entire school ‘played Phagwah’ on the school’s lawn.

While the talents of the students were highlighted, there was no greater spectacle than the show of camaraderie among the students as they forgot any differences and

celebrated the festival together- adorning each other in the beautiful colours.

Speaking briefly to the Guyana Chronicle, President of the Hindu Society, Ashley Anthony, highlighted that the show was a collaborative effort from all students even those outside of the religious society. Preparations began weeks in advance and the students found time to rehearse even with their packed class schedules.

“The crowd was very receptive to the show, and despite minor hiccups all in all, it came together nicely,” Anthony elaborated.

She also highlighted that the powder used for the celebrations was provided free of cost to all students by the religious society.

The president urged too, “During this time of Holi, the Queen’s College Hindu Society would like to urge persons to repair any bad relationships, and to remind everyone that this is a time for forgiveness and moving forward.”

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

Mixed-race couple:

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'The priest refused to marry us'

By Claire Bates (BBC News) TRUDY and Barclay Patoir met during World War Two at a time when mixed-race relationships were still taboo. More than 70 years later they reveal the obstacles they had to overcome to stay together.

When Trudy Menard and Barclay Patoir told friends and family they were going to get married, no-one thought it was a good idea - because Trudy was white and Barclay was black.

"When I told them at work they thought I was daft marrying a black man. They all said, 'It won't last you know,' because it was a mixed-race marriage," says Trudy.

"I think some people thought I was marrying beneath myself."

When the couple had first met, a year or so earlier, Trudy admits she too had been uneasy.

"I had been working at Bryant and May's match factory, but it got bombed in the Blitz," says Trudy, now 96.

“People don't walk on the other side of the street like they used toTrudy “ "I needed a new job and was told they wanted girls at the Rootes aircraft factory in Speke. We were paired up with engineers and they told me to go with Barclay. I said, 'I'm not going with a coloured man. I've never seen one before.' But they told me if I didn't I'd be sacked so I just got on with it."

Barclay, 97, was an apprentice engineer who had travelled to the UK from British Guiana in South America, now known as Guyana.

"There was a shortage of engineer skills in Britain in World War Two so young men from the Caribbean volunteered to help the mother country," he says.

Between 1941 and 1943, 345 civilians from the Caribbean region travelled to Liverpool under a scheme to increase war production. Barclay was assigned to work on Halifax bombers at the factory in Speke and Trudy was chosen to work as his assistant.

"He stood on one side of the

wings with a drill and I stood on the other side with the dolly. I was frightened to death of him - I'm not frightened of him now!" says Trudy, laughing.

"We didn't speak for a while and then he started to bring me a cup of tea, and then he started bringing me sandwiches."

Over time the pair became firm friends.

"We used to talk about Liverpool and history. And she was very inquisitive about Guiana," Barclay says.

"The others at work used to say, 'They're never going to come down now, they're talking too much,'" Trudy adds.

They went out for the first time when production at the factory slowed down and staff were given a chance to take time off.

"I took him to Southport on the train. We got some dirty looks then.

I could tell some people were talking about us on the train but we took no notice, did we dear?

“I didn't tell my mother when I was going to see BarclayTrudy” "When we got there we had something to eat and on the way back we went to his place, the hostel, for a cup of tea. And all the lads were so happy to meet me," Trudy says.

Liverpool had the longest-established black community in the country, however racism was still very much apparent in the 1940s. A study of West Indian workers' experiences in Liverpool found that while many white women would talk to black colleagues at work, they would ignore them in public. They feared "the attitude their friends or their family would adopt if they found out that she had been out with a coloured man," writes the author of the study, Anthony Richmond.

It was a prejudice that Trudy and Barclay were all too aware of.

"I didn't tell my mother when I was going to see Barclay," Trudy says.

"She thought I was going in to town to meet the girls. She had noticed I was very happy but she didn't know why.

"When she did find out she threat-

ened to throw me out the house."

The couple would go to tea rooms and sit in the park together. One special date was to a concert by the Austrian tenor Richard Tauber, who was touring the country.

"We saw him at the Empire Theatre. He sang 'My heart and I.' That's our song," Trudy says.

“It was difficult to find accommodation because nobody would have you if you were a mixed marriage Barclay” "I knew then that I couldn't live without Barclay, but I didn't dare tell anybody for months."

Eventually, in 1944, after they had known each other for about a year, Trudy decided she was ready to take the plunge and told Barclay she would like to marry him.

"He said to me: 'It's going to be very hard, you know that don't you?'

And I said: 'Yes, I know.'"

Trudy was keen to have a church wedding but the priest at the local Catholic church in Liverpool refused to perform the service.

"He said, 'There's so many coloured men coming over here and going back home leaving the women with children. So I'm not marrying you.' We were upset about that," says Trudy.

However, they were determined to marry and settled for a brief ceremony at the Liverpool Register Office.

"Only Barclay's friend and one of my sisters went. The four of us went for a meal afterwards," Trudy says.

Shortly afterwards they decided to leave Liverpool.

"I had a friend who told me: 'Come to Manchester. It's more hospitable and there aren't as many racial problems,'" Barclay says.

“I missed my family for about 10 years - I used to dream about themBarclay “ "But it was difficult to find accommodation because nobody would have you if you were a mixed marriage."

They eventually got a room in a boarding house where Barclay's friend lived.

"The landlady had lodgers in but she took us in anyway and gave us her

big front room," Trudy says.

"She was a prostitute herself but what a good woman she was."

Barclay continued to work in Liverpool, returning to Manchester at night. When the war ended he took the option offered to volunteers from British colonies to remain in the UK. However, it took him some time to adapt to his new home.

"You've got to have a good mentality to survive. I missed my family for about 10 years - I used to dream about them. And I found the freezing cold hard. I was used to a tropical climate," he says.

"He had more clothes on in bed than he took off!" Trudy adds. "He couldn't get warm in bed at all."

Barclay found it difficult to find a new job and ended up walking the streets of Manchester looking for work. He was eventually hired by the Manchester Ship Canal dry dock.

The couple settled in to their new life in Manchester. They joined the local sports club, where they played tennis.

"We won a set of cutlery in the doubles," Barclay says.

The local Catholic priest agreed to perform a second wedding ceremony for them in his church. Two daughters - Jean and Betty - followed, and the young family were desperate to get a home of their own.

"The priest mentioned that they were building houses in Wythenshawe," Barclay says.

"Nobody from Manchester wanted to live there, as there we no shops, just fields."

Trudy went to have a look at the new housing development.

"There was thick mud everywhere and I had a baby in my arms as I stood looking at the place. I couldn't get inside to look but I didn't care. I couldn't live in one room any more."

She went straight to the Town Hall and told them they would take one of the new houses.

"We were jumping for joy when we got the key," Trudy says.

The Patoirs were one of the first families to move into the area.

"We were the only mixed-race couple there but we didn't have any

trouble in the community," Trudy says.

"When this place filled up everyone loved our girls."

However, their daughter Jean did encounter bullying on her first day at primary school.

"The teacher sent her home and asked me to keep her home while she had a chance to talk to the school about how God loved all his children.

Jean didn't have problems after that," Trudy says.

Trudy's mother Margaret also changed her attitude towards Barclay after her granddaughters were born.

"She would come every weekend to stay - she loved seeing the girls," Trudy says.

Both Trudy and Barclay think attitudes to mixed-race relationships have improved dramatically over the decades.

"Before people would stop and watch you, or whisper and laugh as you passed and now they're not bothered," Barclay says.

"People don't walk on the other side of the street like they used to," Trudy adds.

Barclay has been very active in the community over the years. He has been president of the local social club, a school governor and sat on the local hospital board. He got involved in local politics after he stopped working at the dry dock in 1979.

The couple now have two children, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

"It's hard to keep track of them all," Trudy says.

They received congratulations from the Queen and the Pope on their 70th wedding anniversary in 2014.

"We discuss things if we don't agree. We never really had a big argument," Trudy says.

"We're so used to each other, we don't aggravate each other," Barclay agrees.

While Trudy says she "can't put her finger on" what she loves most about Barclay, her husband has a ready answer.

"Trudy is genuine, she's a partner," he says. "Every morning I wake up I thank the Lord for having such a good wife."

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

Defective summing-up in 1953 led Court Case Files to quashing of robbery convictions IN 1953, Samaroo and Ezaz, charged with Robbery with Aggravation, led an alibi defence and were convicted.

They appealed to the Court of Criminal Appeal which freed them after finding that the trial judge’s summing up was defective.

The Court of Criminal Appeal was constituted by Edward Peter Stubbs Bell – Chief Justice; Frederick Malcolm Boland - First Puisne Judge; and Joseph Lyttleton Wills – acting as

Additional Judge.

That Court Held: It is of paramount importance that the judge in his summing-up must fairly put an accused’s defence to the jury and as that had not been done in an otherwise careful and meticulous summing-up, the convictions and sentence must be quashed. Appeals Allowed.

B. O. Adams for appellants.

G. M. Farnum, Solicitor General for respondent.

At the conclusion of the arguments the judgment of the Court was delivered by Bell, C. J. Chief Justice Bell said: “These appeals, which were heard together, are appeals against convictions and sentences. The appellants had appeared before the judge and a jury on charges of robbery with aggravation.”

Learned counsel for the appellants argued a number of points. He abandoned two of the points recorded in the grounds of application for leave to appeal.

“We are against him on two other points, namely, that there was no proof what the grounds of appeal call ownership, and that the possession of the stolen goods, the money, was not fully established. We are against the appellants on those two grounds.

The main grounds argued were that the learned trial judge failed to include in his summing-up to deal fully with the evidence of the prosecution, particularly with the cross-examination of the witnesses.

We have had the benefit of considerable argument by learned counsel for the appellants,” to which the learned Solicitor General replied.

Now, it is clearly settled law that it is of paramount importance that the summing-up must fairly put the case for the defence, whatever it may be. No matter how trivial or stupid, or unlikely the defence may be, it is of paramount importance that the Judge in his summing-up must fairly put that defence to the jury. If authority were needed for that proposition, there is plenty of it in the books; for instance, the cases of Totty (1914) 10 C.A.R.; Immer (1917) 13 C.A.R., and Dinnick (1909) 3 C. A.R. But while it is settled law that the summing-up must fairly put the case for the defence, there is no need for the judge to go into every detail of the case, nor is there any need for him to put the defence in technical language. For instance, if the defence is an alibi, there is no need for the judge to put the defence to the jury under the name, or to use any technical names for the defence offered.

There is no need, as we understand the law that the judge should put the defence at any

By George Barclay particular stage of his summing-up.

He can deal with it as he deals with the witnesses for the prosecution, but there are obvious advantages of emphasis and orderly arrangement that the judge should put the defence’s story to the jury after he has finished with the story for the prosecution, and that is the mode that we would certainly recommend.

It is also quite clear that it is sufficient if the defence is put substantially, that is to say, if it emerges from an examination of the summing –up as a whole that the issues in the case were, in substance , put to the jury by the judge.

Now as regards this particular case , we have come to the conclusion that in an otherwise meticulous and careful summing-up by the learned trial judge , who is careful and meticulous, it cannot fairly and reasonably be said that the defence of either of the appellants was put to the jury clearly or in such a way that their attention was sufficiently and emphatically drawn to the nature of that defence.

It cannot be enough, we feel, merely to assume that because the jury has heard both sides of the case they are cognisant of the defence which is put forward. Something more than that is necessary. Something must be done to emphasise to the jury the defence which an accused person is offering.

Now , unquestionably , throughout the learned trial judge’s summing-up he did not make reference to statements which had been made by the appellants, but we are of the opinion that he did so for purposes other than the purpose of putting the defence to the jury in the way we feel it ought to be put.

It would not be enough, we feel,, to say: “Well, when these statements were being dealt with by the learned trial judge it must have been apparent to the jury that the statements raised the defence of an alibi in each case.”

Something considerably more than that was required in our view, so we are left in the result with the view that at no stage can it be said that the defence, as put forward by the appellants was sufficiently clearly and emphatically put to the jury and we are forced to the conclusion that that very vital principle has been infringed.

It must be, we feel, the duty of this Court to ensure that judges trying cases with juries do not overlook that important principle. We would reiterate that it is the function of the Court to make sure that a judge sitting with a jury never loses sight of the fact that at some stage of his summing-up and in some language and method he must alert the jury to the defence which has been offered to them by the accused. That is a very fundamental duty which we, as a Court of Appeal, would fail in if we did not emphasise it.

Now we have very earnest consideration to the question whether the proviso to the Criminal Appeal Ordinance should be applied in this case and after that careful thought and consideration we have come to the conclusion that it would not be a proper case in which to apply the proviso. We have been unable to satisfy ourselves, on the principles laid down in the cases of Haddy (1914) K.B., Stirland (1944) and R. v. Farid, that had there been proper direction the jury would have come to the same conclusion.

For these reasons, we feel that the appeal in each case must be allowed and the convictions and sentences quashed.

That being so, we direct the discharge of the appellants.

Appeals allowed.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

e r u t a r e t i L

By Subraj Singh

#SupportCreativity

Kevin Jared Hosein’s

“The Monkey Trap”

(Kevin Jared Hosein Image via: Peepal Tree Press)

KEVIN Jared Hosein is a Trinidadian writer, perhaps best known for winning the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2015 for his piece, “The King of Settlement 4.” He has written poems, novels and other short stories, one of which includes “The Monkey Trap” which was featured in an anthology of Caribbean writing (Pepperpot) published by Peekash Press (a joint publishing initiative by Peepal Tree Press and Akashic Books) in 2014. Of course, “The King of Settlement 4” is the stronger, more well-known story, but Hosein’s earlier “The Monkey Trap” is a good indicator of the ability to extract the emotions from people and places who often occupy positions of extreme hardship and pain in our Caribbean societies.

The story tells of an old man named Talon. He is senile and is convinced that a monkey lives in the gully close to the home he shares with his daughter, Sana, who is forever concerned about her father’s health and is bound by both love and duty to protect and take care of him. The story spends time establishing Talon’s obsessive belief in the existence of the monkey, presenting his senility in the way he forgets things and through his odd actions, as well as Sana’s attempts to ensure that he is comfortable and taken care

of. Things take a turn, however, when Talon escapes out of the house one day in an attempt to capture the elusive monkey.

Talon and Sana are the main players in the story and they are all the characters the author really needed to tell this tale. Talon comes across as a very sympathetic character. He is a sharp and accurate depiction of everything that can come with old age: the loss of the sense of himself, as well as the knowledge of his environment and those close to him. His treatment of Sana, in particular, though done unconsciously and definitely not the most troubling aspect of the story, is what creates the most emotions in the mind of the reader.

The scene where he trashes the house and then listens to the song from her music box is a particularly poignant one – indicating, perhaps, that deep down Talon has some understanding of the things that bind him and his daughter, which is a point further underscored when Sana herself at the story’s sorrowful end turns to the same music box for some solace.

Sana can be seen as representative of the contemporary daughter figure, saddled with caring for her parent, bound by love (and perhaps guilt, as she too remembers how Talon once defended her by fending off an intruder and becoming injured in the process) and forced into a position where she is tasked

with caring for a man whom it is incredibly difficult to take care of and on the other hand trapped and judged by both an unsympathetic society and her own conscience. She is an intensely relatable character.

The story invokes the true meaning of a short story, by being extremely concise and tightly written. The conciseness of the words and the way they are used sparingly almost has a poetic sense of being able to put to paper only that which is truly important. The story, therefore, not only indicates Hosein’s skills as a writer but also, through this use of brevity, highlights his own skills as editor/ writer – which is something all good writers are. Hosein could have included more details than was necessary to tell the story; he could

V have introduced more characters and more plot twists, but it definitely seems like he knew when to stop, and that mark of discipline makes all the difference.

The shocking twist at the end of the story will not be spoiled in this recommendation of the text. Instead, the originality of the story, the memorable characters, the Caribbean vibes that emanate from it and the fact that it exists in a book alongside the work of Barbara Jenkins and Sharon Millar, marking Hosein, as much as his Commonwealth Prize win does, marks him as a Trinidadian writer to watch and should be enough to prompt readers to find a copy of Pepperpot and have a good read of several Caribbean short stories.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

Intraoral electricity RELATIVELY frequent of the problems I encounter in my patients are related to electrical currents caused by dissimilar metals in the mouth. Any chemical engineer can tell you that when you put two different metals together in a salt solution, metals act as a battery, and depending upon which metals you combine, the amount of electricity generated can vary.

The amount of current produced in the mouth by having different metals in the mouth would seem quite small. But

when you consider that your entire nervous system is managed by a very small electrical current, you would readily understand the significance. In fact, the five metals in amalgam, when placed in saliva, could generate enough current to interfere with your brain or heart function. When you begin to realise the impact of even a subtle electrical charge on your nervous system, it is actually surprising that this link has remained so elusive.

Every action you take, every thought you have is propelled into bodily function by tiny electrical impulses jumping across the synapses in your nervous system and across cell membranes. These electrical messages are actually a form of language that the nervous

dental work was done recently.

Studies from Europe indicate that it is considered acceptable for teeth to emit electricity below 100 millivolts and three micro amps. Many of my patients’ fillings exceed the norms, especially when gold or other metals are in the mouth along with amalgams.

In my experience, excess current floating around your body can have a very serious impact. Because the current

system decodes and relays, for example, from your brain to your hand. Some of these are conscious, like when you decide to turn the pages of a book.

Every hour billions of electrical impulses create an automatic messaging system that keeps your body functioning as a highly sophisticated series of processes. Everything from the production of blood cells to the rate at which your bones deteriorate is controlled by the network of electrical impulses in the nervous system. The electrical ‘messages’ emanating from the metals in your mouth may be in disharmony and interfere with your normal electrical signals and it should hardly seem remarkable that this current could make you ill.

So whenever patients attend my clinic complaining of a tooth that “shocks”, I first check for dissimilar intra-oral metals if

flows through the path of least resistance, it is very difficult to predict the effects, or where the resulting problems will occur. Diagnosing the impact is difficult, and a lot of research is needed in this area. But interestingly, more than 50 years ago, the American Dental Association journal included studies about systemic effects of these galvanic currents. The article noted the symptoms of galvanism as being: 1. Metallic or salty taste.

2. Increased salivary secretion.

3. Burning or tingling sensation along the tongue.

4. Occasional nerve shocks and pulp sensitivity from connecting restorations or by connections made with a spoon or fork.

5. Pathological changes in the blood, kidney or organs or probably caused by absorption of ionized toxic metals.

6. Generalized discomfort in the mouth, irritability, indigestion, loss of weight, and in some cases, reflex radiating neurologic pains through branches of the fifth trigeminal nerve.

When I see a problem clear up instantaneously or within a few hours, then I can logically assume it was electrical in nature. Mercury does not leave the body this quickly.

At least half of the improvements reported to me by my patients fall into this category. When 60 Minutes did their show in 2015 about dental amalgams, one of the people interviewed described how she got out of her wheelchair in a few hours. The ADA said this could not have happened so quickly if she had been mercury toxic. In any event, your dentist should evaluate and advise you when you permanently have different metals in your body simultaneously.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

VII

Attracting girls to the Sciences Women-in-STEM Conference hopes to inspire Middle School girls

By Liz Nolan, Contributing Writer Dr. Oneeka Williams Northborough – The Northborough Junior Woman’s Club will be hosting its 10th Women in STEM Conference Saturday, March 25. The free event is open to girls in fifth through eighth grade and will expose them to careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math through workshops presented by dynamic women role models working in those fields.

A light breakfast will start the day followed by keynote speaker Guyanese-born Dr. Oneeka Williams, a distinguished urologic surgeon at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center and assistant clinical professor at Tufts Medical School.

Williams is also the author of the children’s book series “Dr. Dee Dee Dynamo-Super Surgeon on the Go,” whose motto is “Not even the sky is the limit!” Williams is committed to encouraging excellence and inspiring especially girls and children of color.

The book series is a mechanism to engage children in the joys of science at an early age.

Her belief is that by planting the seeds of curiosity, incorporating science content into an entertainment platform and delivering the message in the form of a powerful, confident girl character, she will be able to create early imprinting of what is possible.

The girls have the opportunity to attend four, 45-minute workshops led by professional women in fields such as architecture, physical therapy, dentistry, health and nutrition, surgery, environmental science, and forensic science. All presenters volunteer their time to the event.

“We offer up to 16 hands-on workshops from which the girls may choose four to attend,” said Northborough Junior Woman’s Club Education Committee member Martha Michalewich. “We try to keep the class size to no more than 12.”

She has seen the conference grow over the past 10 years.

“Each year we have an increasing number of participants and presenters; many returnees – this alone speaks to the success and need for such a conference,” she said.

To her knowledge, Michalewich said, there are no similar programs in the area.

Architect Diana Nicklaus has been a presenter since 2012, in addition to providing sponsorship through her firm Saam Architecture.

“I take the girls through a quick presentation on aspects of the industry and then help them design their own studio apartments,” she said. “I give them a scale to teach them about drawing a plan to scale.”

As a mother of two girls, Nicklaus believes in the mission of the conference and said that she never had an opportunity to learn about such a wide range of technical careers at that age.

“They need to understand what options are available and that any profession, even a male-dominated one, is open for women,” she said. “I love seeing the students. They ask great questions, do amazing drawings, and I am often inspired myself by the keynote speaker.”

The conference concludes with a networking lunch.

Michalewich said that the free event would not be able to be run as successfully each year without donations and support from

Dr. Oneeka Williams

the community and area businesses, which help to offset breakfast, lunch and facility costs.

The event will be held at Algonquin Regional High School, 79 Bartlett St., Northborough, from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

and is open to girls from the Metrowest and Worcester areas. Enrollment is limited to the first 180 girls and choice of workshops is based on a first-come, first-served basis. The popular program always fills to capacity.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

Guyana broke the glass ceiling

over half a century ago

By Francis Quamina Farrier THERE is this perennial debate since Adam and Eve, as to which gender is the stronger; male or female. Physically, the majority of men are stronger than the majority of women. However, that being agreed on, whenever the debate gets more complex, such as how would a man cope with delivering a baby; or two or three or four or five, and sometimes even six, at one pregnancy, men tend to become very silent.

Some of us know of women who have had the experience of multiple deliveries at one pregnancy. Here in Guyana, there are quite a number of twin births and a few triplets. For the mother, that is hard work; and what she goes through just before delivery is known as "Labour." Super Mom Bridget, a vendor has four sets of Twins.

International Women's Day was observed all around the world last Wednesday. It has been observed on March 8 every year for just about a century. The theme this year was "Be Bold for Change." In-as-much as Guyana is a small developing country, one has to admit that we have broken the glass ceiling with bravado, years ago, and we can be proud of that achievement.

Here in Guyana, women have served, and continue to serve in many senior influential positions, both in the Public and the Private Sectors. Guyanese women have been appointed as Head teachers for over a century. Over the decades women have been appointed to senior positions in many areas of the Public Service; the Judiciary, the Police, the Guyana Defense Force, the Post Office Corporation, the Police Band, among many others.

Women sit in Parliament on both sides of

the House. Both of the two major political parties, the PPP and the PNC, have appointed women as their Chief Whips, which is a very important responsibility; to ensure that their parliamentarians get to Parliament, especially when there is to be a vote of grave importance.

I can recall being in the Public Service back in the mid-1970s when I functioned under three powerful women; a woman Minister in the person of Shirley Field-Riddley, a woman Permanent Secretary of the Ministry in the Person of Gwen Parris, and a woman Chairman of the Department of Culture, in the person of Lynette Dolphin.

As the Director of Drama at the Department of Culture, I was functioning under those three very powerful women in the country. Those three women all functioned in unity and professionally. Of course, Guyana has had a woman as our President

in the person of America-born Janet Jagan.

Recently, just when Americans and the rest of the world thought that the United States of America, was finally going to have a woman president, there was a generally unexpected out-come to that November 2016 USA Presidential Election. The woman contender, a former First lady and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, lost to her male challenger, billionaire businessman and television personality, Donald Trump.

That came as a shock to many in America and around the world. The generally expected election result just did not happen. America did not elect its first woman president.

That brought much sadness to many women, and men for that matter, all around the world.

Meanwhile, sixty 60 countries around the world, have already had women either as their Prime Minister, Governor-General or President.

India, Britain, Canada, Argentina, Israel, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, Jamaica and Brazil are among them. What very few people in the rest of the world, including Americans do not know is that little Guyana down in South America, already had a woman president. She was born in the city of Chicago, Illinois, in the USA. The irony is that the perceived front-runner in that 2016 American Presidential Elections, a woman, in the person of Hillary Clinton, like the late President Janet Jagan of Guyana, was also born in the city of Chicago in the USA! If only at this time there was a President Hillary Clinton, who like the late President Janet Jagan, was born in Chicago! What if a woman was the most powerful person in the world, as we celebrated International Turn to page XIX ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page VIII

Women's Day, 2017! But that is now just gushing water of tears under the bridge of America's democracy; the Electoral College. Hillary Clinton garnered almost three million more votes than Donald Trump. But the popular vote does not ensure success for the USA presidency.

The theme of this year’s International Women's Day was: "Be Bold for Change." So how well are we doing as a country with our professional women in 2017? Is there room for more change? Is there more upward mobility for our professional women in 2017? What about our younger women; especially those who desire to establish their very own businesses?

How much of a financial hands-up do they receive in the form of loans from the commercial banks, in order to be as successful as they could be? And have we done all that we could do in ensuring that Guyanese women and girls are safe from sexual assaults from any lustful boss? Here is an example; a male senior in one of the Public Service entities, invites a female junior into his office, he turns on the video player which shows some extremely hot X-rated material, and invites the woman to, "Let's try that."

Are our women and girls being given every opportunity to soar like a Harpy eagle, to the summit of the Kanaku Mountain range; soaring to their highest potential, and making sterling contributions to their own development, and that of their families and the country of their birth.

With a woman having been elected president (even though she was born in Chicago, USA), Guyana can still say that we should be regarded as being a country in which women can reach the very top. Guyana as a small nation has long ago broken the glass ceiling. Many top positions both in the Public and Private sectors are headed by women and that has been so from the time of Independence, 50 years ago.

Last year, history was made when Superintendent Charmaine Stuart and Inspector Karen Todd were appointed Band Master and Deputy Band Master respectively, of the previously male-dominated Guyana Police Band. Three years ago a woman was appointed Postmaster General of the Guyana Post Office Corporation. More recently Justice Roxanne George-Wiltshire, SC, was appointed Acting Chief Justice, and Justice Yonnett Edwards-Cummings, was appointed Acting Chancellor of the Judiciary. Obviously, there is no glass ceiling in our little country, Guyana, and we can be proud of the progress made by many Guyanese women.

Among my top 10 Guyanese Women High Achievers is retired Headmistress of the Bishops' High School, Carmen Jarvis. Now enjoying her golden years of retirement, Carmen Jarvis was a brilliant veteran Educator, Girls Guides Leader, International Public Servant and author. Her book on the History of the Bishops' High School was published 12 years ago. Another great Guyanese woman educator is Edna Cadogan. She has taught and groomed many of her successful students over her many years as a teacher. Guyana is so fortunate to have such dedicated and wonderful women as citizens of this Magnificent Provence.

However, we have to be cognizant of the many women and girls who are victims of Trafficking in Persons, Domestic Violence, Sex slavery and other degrading evils right now in Guyana. There is still a lot of work to be done in our country for our women and girls to fully enjoy "The Good Life." We must, of course, recognize the wonderful work which the very brave Simona Brooms has put in, and continue to put in, to help stop Trafficking in Persons in our country.

Ten years ago in 2007, the theme of International Women's Day was: "Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls". Sadly, during the past 10 years, dozens of Guyanese women and girls have been maimed and murdered here in Guyana and also in foreign countries; in some cases, by other women and girls. There is still so much more to be done to make our women and girls safe, and enjoy the promised "Good Life." There is an international call to "make every day International Women's Day." Let's make every effort to make that motto a reality. And in saying so, we must recognize those decent gentlemen in our society, who have made the women in their lives happy.

By-the-way, just in case you are unaware of it, and you would like to know…yes, there is an International Men's Day, which is usually celebrated on November 19.

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Dear Uncle Henry, My neighbor’s son is harassing my daughter. His parents fail to stop him.

The police show little interest. And when confronted he puts the blame on my child saying she loves it. She doesn’t complain but I do not like his behavior. When I am home it’s okay. As soon as I am gone it is restarted. This fellow is bigger than she and

a dope addict how can I stop it? I fear my daughter can be a victim of “false love.”

Help me out please A mother’s cry Imelda Mother Imelda, I share your woes. As I see it that guy is no match for your daughter. Apart from

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his age, that dope is detrimental. He will sink in the abyss of an in-human state if he doesn’t stop and what you claim as ‘harassment’ may not be so. You see she entertains it. His parents will show their laissez-fair attitude because they observe a bi-lateral relationship. Perhaps they are too scared to talk with him. Guys under substance abuse can be troublesome. The police perhaps saw the loop hole. Blame must rest partially on your child.

Since you cannot control your neighbor you must try with your off-spring.

1. Tell her to desist from cross-fence talk.

2. Impound the cell phone if it is a tool in clandestine calls.

3. Leave a tape recorder on covertly to

record any discourse. And confront her with the evidence. (Mom is watching while away) 4. Erect a tall zinc fence if affordable. But it’s all up to the young lady. Try to show her the pit-falls.

Teens have their sanity flooded out by emotions that became tidal waves. She doesn’t see logics. All the interest lies in her fancy.

If all fails, sell out and move on. Bear it all up and hope it will die off over time.

But do not lose control. That would be the bridge to a darker relationship with the philanderer. Show more love and tolerance to the young lady. She is still in your care and custody and your daughter.

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Depression Explained Hello Everyone, I hope this week has treated you well.

Today, I’m going to speak about depression, which I have touched on before.

Unfortunately, I still do not think that people understand it the way they should; the way that allows for a reduction in stigma and a rise in empathy.

I have recently seen status updates and even articles on social media where people claim that depressed people are “too weak” or need to “fix up they self”. This alone tells me that it is not fully understood. I wish to change this view today.

Depression can be compared to sadness.

Of course we know that feeling sad is normal for every human being. What do we do when we feel sad? We cry, eat too much or too little, sleep too much or not enough, isolate ourselves, lose interest in things we love etc.

These are normal and acceptable symptoms of sadness. However, if you experience these symptoms for months at a time, you are more likely suffering from depression.

Depression is one of the most common and serious mood disorders. It affects every aspect of life- from how we think and behave to our relationships and ability to play an effective role in society. Like most mental illnesses, depression cannot be cured but it can be successfully treated. It comes in different forms- from mild to severe – but any form or type requires professional and familial support.

Many people with depression suffer in silence which is why it is important for everyone to know the most common signs and symptoms. Like I said, it is important to be able to differentiate between sadness and depression. It is not just the length of signs and sadness but also the severity.

Depression will start off with sadness and crying – this could be every day or even a few times per week. The individual’s daily mood will change for the worse – seeming sad, anxious, disinterested, irritable etc.

They will lose motivation and energy quite quickly. This makes school or work projects very difficult. Interest will be lost in activities (and even people) that were once previously enjoyed. There are general issues of memory due to trouble focusing and lack of concentration There will be changes in behavioural patterns such as eating and sleeping. This subsequently results in personal neglect such as weight loss or gain and lack of hygienemostly due to self-loathing. The individual may talk about suicide or dying in general.

Suicidal thoughts are very common among depressed individuals- with a higher correlation than any other mental illness. Keep in mind, suicide could be a thought and not a topic of conversation. It is also important to remember that people feel and experience depression differently. For example, during depression, one individual may become extremely sad and isolated, while the other

may be extremely irritable and displaying reckless behaviour. Depression also has physical symptoms. Head and body aches, digestive problems and respiratory problems are common.

WHAT MAY CAUSE DEPRESSION? There are a number of risk factors for depression. Knowing these factors are important for it allows for empathy and a better understanding of the individual and their struggles.

Depression can be caused by biological, psychological and situational factors. Biological factors include a family history of mental

illness and brain function. This means, there is usually a chemical imbalance that limits our emotional scale.

Psychological factors include neglect, any type of abuse or trauma or any other existing mental illness.

Situational factors include one’s environment, a major life change, the death of a loved one, substance use and a physical illness/injury.

Basically, this means that anyone is at risk for depression.

Most individuals will feel helpless and Turn to page XV ►►►

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World Wildlife Day message of special importance to Guyana ON Friday last, 3rd March, World Wildlife Day was commemorated worldwide.

The theme of this year's commemoration is: "Listen to young voices" when serious effort would be made to engage young people in the philosophy and practice of the protection and conservation of Wildlife.

In Guyana, the leadership of this effort falls under the aegis of the Wildlife Division which is associated with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of plants and animals (CITES).

In the Western World we have only comparatively recently discovered the importance of the protection and conservation of wildlife.

In ancient Societies, as for example the Buddhist-Hindu Tradition, they believed all Life to be one, analogous to the flame of one candle lighting a thousand, the flame of each candle being the same as the others.

Doing violence to any life-form is therefore ultimately doing violence to one's self and to others. Ancient Buddhist societies therefore maintained animal hospitals and protected trees, especially medicinal ones, in special groves. In the West, we are now forcefully discovering as John Donne, the Metaphysical Poet puts it "No man is an island".

Environmentalists and Ecologists state the same concept pointing out the interdependency of all Life. Every living thing - tree or animal - plays its part in achieving a Balance of Nature and makes life of Man more secure and safer. No one knows exactly the role of these myriads of life-forms and how they enrichen, protect and stabilize human existence.

For example, in New England in the United States, many years ago, the apple orchards were being attacked by insects and they successfully eliminated them. Next year, however, they had a very poor crop since the bees and other insects which pollinated the blossoms had all been eliminated.

It was only then that the farmers realized that a bountiful crop depended on the insects.

World Wildlife Day is more important to Guyana than most other countries in the world. Guyana is one of the very few countries where most of its territory is covered with pristine forests containing many rare and endangered plants and where many endangered animals still dwell. This is a unique national resource of which immediate use could be made and other uses still awaiting discovery. For example, there are many

medicinal plants in our forests and many more still to be discovered. There are many unique animal species such as the Giant Anteater or the Arapaima, the largest freshwater fish in the world. Or many strange and colourful birds. The Canje Pheasant, the National Bird, for example, is a rare bird whose body has some of the characteristics of an animal. Guyana presents to the world a unique laboratory where scientists of many disciplines could do notable work and probably make new discoveries.

Among the many offerings which the pristine flora and fauna of the Guyana Hinterland holds out is Eco-Tourism which the Government of Guyana and commercial interests have taken with enthusiasm.

Sun-and-sand tourism which has brought prosperity to several Caribbean islands is unstable and has many negative social effects.

Eco-tourism is not only a more profitable form of tourism but has many positive social effects.

The promotional and marketing material published by the Tourism Ministry and the Tourism Association is educational and informative and the public would do well to read them. One would understand why Guyana is a bird-watchers' paradise and know more about the Harpy, the largest of the world's eagles or the Arapaima, the world's freshwater fish.

In giving greater meaning to this year's World Wildlife Day's theme "Listen to Young Voices", the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Tourism and the Tourism Association should cooperate in having ecology and protection of endangered species be made a part of the syllabus of the Teachers' College and the school system. Once this is done, the population would come to recognize the value of protecting all life-forms and would realize the economic value of such effort.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XIII

hopeless and would require a push and a great deal of support to seek help.

TREATMENT Like any other mental illness, depression needs to be treated with a constant combination of prescription medication and psychotherapy. The earlier the individual seeks treatment, the better.

The medication will be anti-depressants that improve the way certain chemicals function in the brain. It is important to mention two things. 1. It may take time to find the right medication for you specifically. 2. Anti-depressants take time to work. One needs to take them exactly as prescribed for a minimum of 2-4 weeks for the intended effects. No alcohol or other substances should be taken with the medication prescribed by your doctor. A common mistake individuals make is to stop taking the medication when they start to feel better.

Do not forget that you are starting to feel better BECAUSE of the medication and should not lower the dose or stop completely without your doctor’s guidance. A typical course of medication is 6-12 months.

The psychotherapy form of treatment would include discussing the risk factors of your depression, your symptoms and how to increase coping skills to better manage them.

Of course there are always other things you can do to increase the speed of your recovery. As always, these include eating and sleeping well, exercise, introduce productive hobbies, listen to music and finally, confide in your loved ones.

Use your support network- isolation fuels depression.

Below is a personal story written by a dear friend of mine who has been battling with depression for years. M, thank you for the strength it took to write the following piece: “If any of you have ever had the pleasure of meeting me you would think I was making my depression up. If I had a dollar for every time I have been asked, “What do you have to be depressed about?” I’d be making a killing. The truth is that, I don’t have anything to be depressed about, I have a great, well paying job that keeps me extremely busy, I have a caring family that always finds the joy in everything, I have amazing friends who would do anything in the world for me.

I have a professional team of doctors that are always making sure I am keeping on track.

The truth is yes; I don’t have anything to be depressed about, yet I am depressed about everything. There are days that I wish my mattress would just swallow me up whole and then there are days where I just can’t wait to jump out of bed and start a new adventure. Regardless of how I feel there is forever a lingering ball of emotions that I have to keep at bay.

My depression was created out of a need; it creeps up on me like a shadow of guilt, anger and confusion. My depression has never been sadness, it has always been a ball of emotions, anxiety, unfortunate events sometimes even some glimpses of happiness. Depression is different for everyone.

Some people keep going until they crack, others feel so sick they can’t get out the house. I have had the unfortunate pleasure of being on both sides. Being a seasonal workaholic (when I get into my money making moods a few times a year) I tend to push down whatever it is that is making me uneasy and ignoring it until it is impossible to function. I think most people who initially begin to feel depressed also follow into the same pattern as most of us are not experienced or self aware in the beginning.

When I say my depression was created out of a need, I need to clarify a bit. I was diagnosed with depression at 21, however after years of therapy it has been narrowed down to my depression starting at around the age of 8. As the last of four children, I was misplaced in where I fit into my family and friend group and I found comfort (as morbid as this sounds) in the feeling of despair. I wasn’t comfortable in my surroundings unless there was chaos, anger and hate; a cognitive behavioral pattern that was sub-consciously possessing me. With no understanding of how to conduct my emotions and how to deal with my surroundings, my comfort was what I knew and understood best. Instability.

Childhood depression is becoming more and more prevalent as our society changes. I think most people thought of me as a weird child, a loner, rude and constantly destructive.

Flushing my best friend’s dolls down the toilet for no apparent reason is a story still told in my circle to every new comer.

Looking back on it now, as much as I find humor in my mental illness, there were always telltale signs of what my future held. I wrapped myself in the warmth of my depression for so long, I had forgotten what it was like to be emotionally stable.

Depression is like knowing a bad friend for a long time, a friend that no one likes that constantly takes from you and puts you down, a friend that sleeps on your couch for weeks at a time and never helps around the house, but you can’t just let them wonder off because you have never known what it is like to not have them as a friend.

Depression can make you feel physical pain, emotional pain and it can isolate you from your loved ones like nothing else you have ever experienced. It can tear you apart, and just when you think you can’t take anymore it will make you feel even worse. Do not let it win.

I want all of you to know that there is always a silver lining. As a suicidal depressive person, I have had to teach myself how to find the positivity in every circumstance. You HAVE to look at the highlights of your life and find joy and pleasure in the little things.

Most days, a smile from a stranger or a whiff of blooming flowers is all you need to get by, and some days not even a million dollars will satisfy your urge to hate yourself, but no matter what, you have to keep going.”

M told me personally that music has helped her a lot through her depressive states.

We will talk about that in detail next week.

Thanking you for reading.

Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Or come in to see me at: Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department: Monday- Friday – 8am12pm Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department Drug and Alcohol group

XV meetings - Mondays 4:15 Good mental health group meetings- Wednesdays 4:15 Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 2230009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

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Vermont Studio Center Alumni:

Versia Harris and Ewan Atkinson

ALTHOUGH there isn’t a readily accessible database of artists from the Caribbean region who have participated in the Vermont Studio Center’s

residency program, I was informed that the number is far greater than the nine I had incorrectly estimated in the first article of this series (it could be

VERSIA HARRIS BARBADOS APRIL 2013 “The Vermont Studio Center is a collection of houses and studios

well over fifteen). This number is expected to increase as two more artists from the region prepare to join the program in the very near future.

made available to over 50 artists at any one time to use and produce work. I applied as a way to keep myself involved in art making after leaving school in 2012. I wanted the

Work made by Versia Harris while at VSC

“I was an artist in residence at the Vermont

experience of a residency and also to hopefully connect with artists outside of my small island. The VSC's isolated location and serene surroundings emphasize the time and space that

the invaluable time spent in Vermont and the importance of that time to the development of their individual bodies of work.

residents have. It becomes an incubator for artists and creativity, where you are not only cutoff from your regular life but also from the rest of the world.”

A collection of works produced by Harris during her time at VSC

Work made by Versia Harris while at VSC

EWAN ATKINSON BARBADOS SEPTEMBER 2006

Stepping up to the platform to share their experiences at VSC this week are Barbadian artists Versia Harris and Ewan Atkinson. Both reminisced on

A section of Versia Harris’ studio at VSC

studio center in September 2006. This was the second residency I had been privileged to attend (the first occurred in 2001 in Trinidad, at CCA7).

In both cases the experience was unforgettable and invaluable. Residencies have been important

milestones for me, keystones rather. Definitive developmental transformations in my practice and person are forever bound to artist residencies.

My time in Vermont began with some difficulty. The spacious white room that was to be my

studio was daunting. I was not used to operating in such a space, and the perception that I was to “fill it” with work seemed improbable and Turn to page XVII ►►►

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shattered my confidence. Where was I to find that sense of place and familiarity that I was craving? The other artists and writers that I had met briefly at dinner had disappeared; they went straight to work. The Trinidadian residency had begun with boisterous laughter. The Vermont air carried only silence. I had to unwind.

Where was the bar? A week later, much had changed. But it did take almost that long for me to make a single mark. I abandoned all the ideas I had brought with me and roamed the countryside with my camera, my iPod and my shaky singing voice. It was the place itself, its unfamiliarity that decided what was to happen in my empty studio.

As I looked I contemplated differences in structure, form, flora

Ewan Atkinson, Dog Tracks I, mixed media on paper 2006.

of quirky imaginary compatriots. They have continued to inhabit and drive my work.

The residency culminated with an exhibition that my new friends and I opted to curate for the small gallery in the centers iconic Red Barn. What began in silence ended with laughter, wine, and our artwork in conversation on the gallery walls. I can hardly express how important it was to work amongst others who share similar urges, face similar challenges and consequentially

Ewan Atkinson, Archipelago, mixed media on paper 2006.

and fauna:

The quiet DVD rental store in the basement of a building down the street (and my new blue laminated membership card).

The old covered bridge that creaked in some kind of agony.

A small snake that hid in the gutter beside the graveyard.

The empty church that sheltered ribbons of shredded tires in its tired shadow.

The hornets nest outside my broken bedroom window.

The closet, inscribed with messages from inhabitants long gone. “We were here too.”

The television-ready skunk-sprayed dog that we were forced to shun.

An empty baseball field that must have seen better days, and less weeds.

Ewan Atkinson, Dog Tracks II, mixed media on paper 2006.

The cold river at night, my naked body in shock.

Details.

These details wrought contemplative comparison to things at home. This is how The Neighbourhood Project was born, a project that I have continued to build over the past ten years.

I knew I had to return home, and somehow take what I was to make with me. Artist and friend Stanley Greaves once told me that Caribbean artists were nomads; their work should be able to pack up and move with them. I had smiled enough to suggest I understood, but in Vermont I took it to heart. In the need to be mobile and influenced by one particular resident who was painting the burgeoning fall foliage, I was surprisingly led to watercolour for the first time in my life. As the images developed with additional materials and collage, I had embarked on new visual style that I have since embraced wholeheartedly.

The artists I met were working in a variety of modes with a myriad of backgrounds, and it was the connections I was eventually able to make that sparked curiosities and experiment. Weekly bonfires outside the sculpture studio (and impromptu dance parties) were what I looked forward to most. Conversation was vivacious and provoking, I was certainly not alone. What strikes me most in retrospect is that the writers became slightly more influential than the visual artists. In working with a novelist who asked me to help her visualize her characters, I began to develop my own set

Ewan Atkinson, Orange Dog, mixed media on paper 2006.

drive each other towards solutions. When I returned home the work continued fervently. Four months later what I had done became a successful exhibition that was in many ways a new start, a change in direction that I never saw coming. Answers to questions I would have never know to ask, were it not for a month of quiet Vermont air.”

Visit www.theneighbourhoodproject.com to view more of Atkinson’s work, which developed as a result of his time spent at VSC

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Coconut eriophyid mite ERIOPHYID mites are translucent cigar-shaped microscopic mites that cause deformities to coconut fruits.

They are noticed when their feeding causes abnormalities.

The mite is usually found under the bracts of fertilized female flowers and does not infest the unfertilized flowers.

These mites are very minute in size measuring 200-250 micron in length and 36-52 micron in width with two pairs of legs. The nymph and adult are pale in colour with an elongated body and worm-like appearance. The life cycle of this mite consists of the egg, two larval instars and an adult stage and is completed in seven to 10 days. The mite resides under the sepals of developing nuts up to six months and feeds on the mesocarp.

SYMPTOMS OF DAMAGE ● Triangular pale or yellow patches close to perianth

● Necrotic tissue ● Brown colour patches, longitudinal fissures and splits on the husk ● Oozing of the gummy exudation from the affected surface ● Reduces size and copra content ● Malformed, smaller nuts with cracks and hardened husk In severe cases, the nuts are malformed with cracks and hardened husk. The mites

cause the nuts to be scarred but the water quality is unaffected. However, severely-scarred tender nuts may not find acceptance by consumers. These mites do not cause any damage to leaf tissue as with red palm mites (which would be discussed next week).

MANAGEMENT Cultural control: ● All mature and prematurely- fallen nuts of the affected palm should be collected and destroyed ● Adequate irrigation and fertilization based on soil test should be provided to increase tolerance to the feeding and damage by the mite

Chemical control: ● Borax (50g)+gypsum (1.0kg) +Manganese sulphate (0.5kg) should be applied per palm annually ● Young bunches should be sprayed with five percent wettable sulpher Spot application of ecofriendly botanicals: ● Azadirachtin one percent (5ml in 1 liter of water) + Teepol (30ml in 1 liter of water) should be alternated and applied to the crown region by a climber, covering only the top six bunches during the dry season.

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folklore

NOISE NUISANCE THE OLD cemetery was undergoing a much need clean-up. Grass, plants, trees and garbage were being removed.

It was very hard work for two reasons.

Firstly, the ground had been neglected for years causing the vegetation

By Neil Primus

to assume a jungle-like appearance.

Secondly, it was very hot and humid.

This combination was the main cause for the difficulty the labourers faced.

When lunch time arrived the men made their exodus en-masse. Only one

man remained. Michael decided to work through lunch and leave an hour earlier that afternoon.

Wack!

Crack!

Bam! Chip!

He worked energetically, his cutlass flashing in the fierce sunlight. Every now and then he took a drink of El-Dorado and coca-cola. This was a necessary part of his working routine. He continued working, sweat pouring down his entire body.

Someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“Hey buddy, do you mind?”

“What!” he almost jumped out of his skin.

He turned and saw an old man.

“What’s up old boy.”

“You are making enough noise to raise the dead.”

They both burst out laughing at the irony of the joke.

“Could I have a drink?”

“Help yourself uncle.”

Michael continued working, slashing and hacking at the stubborn green wall of vegetation.

“Got a smoke?”

Michael responded by pointing to the cigarettes and matches near to the rum on the tomb.

“Sure there.”

The man sat on a tomb and smoked deeply, his eyes shut as if in ecstacy.

“That felt good” “Like you didn’t smoke cigarette in a long while.”

“Yo so right.”

“Tek de pack partner”.

“Thanks friend. Remember, ease down on de noise.”

The labourer returned to his job, his cutlass clearing a way forward.

“Why yo talking to yo self?”

His co-workers had returned from lunch break.

“Na, is me an old boy hey.”

He turns around but only his workmates are there.

Puzzled he muttered.

“B….B….but…..”

“Like you seeing Jumbie or what?”

“Since when you does smoke?”

“Not me. Is old boy. A give him your cigarette but he aint take it.”

“Michael stop yo dotishness!”

“Keep it down a trying to rest!”

The voice came from the tomb they were sitting on.

No need to guess what happened next.

The entire weeding gang left very early that day.

That night there was a strange gathering in the cemetery.

“Long time me aint see cutlass and hoe.”

“Me too”.

“A wonder why they left all they equipment here?”

And Michael had an even stranger dream. The old man spoke to him.

“Thanks for everything. Check next to de blue tomb where yo working and yo gon find something a left fo you.”

Then he was gone.

Next day an excited Michael went to work an hour early. He headed for the blue tomb and found a small packet.

Inside were half a dozen glittering diamonds. He nearly passed out.

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Engaging Youths to Shine a Light on Climate Change THE importance of the youth voice on socio-economic and environmental issues is at an all-time high. But young people must not only be engaged and become active, they should also become more aware and informed: owning and understanding a topic is the only way to really push a message forward after all.

As such, the Caribbean Youth Environment

Network in Guyana and the Eco-Trust Society (Faculty of Earth and Environmental Sciences; University of Guyana), with support from the WWF Guianas – Guyana Office, have come together to engage 2nd, 3rd and 4th form students of Secondary Schools in a highly rewarding debating competition.

Titled “Youths Shining a Light on Climate Action”, this debating competition endeavours

to improve public speaking, analytical, listening and note taking skills of students while presenting organised arguments for or against a topic that is of critical importance to Guyana.

The debate format, which is fresh and engaging, will actively involve young persons, inviting them to become “vocal” about a topic and matter they care about: climate change.

Through guidance from the trainers, students will be asked to formulate, research and deliver persuasive arguments on a range of vital issues that surround the three Earth Hour thematic areas: Conservation and Biodiversity, Renewable Energy and Agriculture.

This competition is part of this year’s “Earth Hour in Guyana” series of activities, and will run from March 15th to 23rd and target three (3) Secondary Schools: Diamond Secondary School, North Georgetown Secondary School and La Bonne Intention Secondary School.

Two teams will battle in the first preliminary round on March 15th, with the winner advancing to the Finals. The losing team will debate the last team in preliminary round 2 and the winner will proceed to the Finals. Both Preliminary rounds will take place at the National Library Conference Room from 9am to 12noon, and the Finals will take place at the University of Guyana on March 23rd from 9am to 12noon.

These events will be reserved for school

audiences only, but all persons will be able to follow the competition on social media: tune in to WWF Guianas and CYEN - Guyana Facebook page on the dates of the event to see who will win!

Other upcoming (public) Earth Hour events include: ● March 15th 2017: screening of “Xingu” by Cao Hamburger, at the Brazil-Guyana Cultural Center (309 Church Street, Queenstown) at 7:15 pm - organized by the Brazilian Embassy ● March 18th 2017: “Fête de la Francophonie”: an evening of French culture and music, at 7:30 pm at Giftland Mall - organized by the High Commission of Canada. ● March 21st 2017: screening of “Sunú” by Teresa Camou Guerrero, at the Mexican Embassy (44 Brickdam) at 6:30 pm – organized by the Mexican Embassy. ● And of course the Earth Hour main event will be a “Light’s Out” concert and entertainment show that will take place on March 25th, 2017 at National Park (Carifesta Avenue Parking Lot) from 7:30pm.

Submitted by: WWF Guianas – Guyana Country Office EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail. com

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Novar Beach

…a hidden adventure at Mahaicony The expanse of the beach looking east

THE BEACH is promoted as the “gap” between Georgetown and the Number 63 beach on the Corentyne. But while it stretches for miles from both ends, Novar Beach is not well-known to many.

The beach is located aback Novar village in Mahaicony on the West Coast of Berbice.

To find the beach, one has to make a few queries from villagers as regards its location since there are no visible signs on the public road to provide an indication of its existence.

Last weekend this publication ventured into the Mahaicony area in search of the beach. Once at Novar, some 45 minutes from Georgetown, checks with a pedestrian provided some indication of where the beach is located. After turning into a street on the northern side of the roadway, a few more inquiries led down a roadway with lush, green mangroves on both sides.

A few goats nibbled at shrubs along the roadway while a few lay on the road occupying the afternoon‘s minutes. Further up, a cow yanked some grass out of the ground while the roadway led to a few turns into the direction of the sea.

A family relaxing and sharing a light joke while at the beach last weekend

Five minutes after leaving the public road, there appeared a clearance in the mangroves ahead and the sea was now visible. A few washed up empty receptacles could be seen among the bushes while the relatively well-kept roadway led to two plots of space, presumably for the parking of vehicles.

Then suddenly, the beach appeared. A family sat in the opened minibus, absorbing the afternoon breeze while sipping light and alcoholic refreshments. In the distance two children played in the water as the family watched with keen eyes.

“Well, we come here in search of some-

Another view of the beach looking in a westerly direction

Parting the entrance, vegetation at the sides of the beach

where to relax,” Prem , the patriarch of the family told the Guyana Chronicle . He said that his son mentioned the name of the beach to him once and as such he decided to travel to the area along with his family. “Me live Barbados for years and it nice to come out with the family to the beach and this one is the only one near here,” he said of Novar’s beach.

Prem noted that while the beach provided a natural setting for enjoyment, much work needed to be done to upgrade its standard.

He said that having experienced the beach atmosphere in Barbados, there is no doubt that Novar Beach can match those in the islands.

“It need some benabs , some regular activity to make it popular,” he said of the beach. In addition, he noted that there was need for signs

along the roadway which could identify the beach. ”The public roads don’t have anything to say where this beach is,” he said.

In addition, he noted that lots of games such as cricket and even beach football tournaments could be hosted at the venue. “It got space,” he added, noting that rangers could also be employed to maintain the general upkeep of the area.

Looking east, long swathes of land were visible along the beach as both sand and hardened clay lined the entirety of the beach. West of the entrance to the beach, the landscape appeared much more vegetative, as green mangrove branches hung over the sides of the beach.

Last year the West Berbice Chamber of Industry and Commerce promoted Novar Beach as a Tourist destination. In November last year, a day of activities was hosted to commemorate the re-branding of the Chamber from West Berbice Chamber Industry and Commerce to Region 5 Chamber at the beach.

Beach cricket, jet ski racing and locally-made boats provided activities at the venue.

Novar Beach is described as a hidden adventure and is considered an ideal venue for family relaxation.

Last year, president of the West Berbice Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Imran Saccoor, said the beach would provide greater opportunity for patrons in and around the area to have calm and relaxing beach days.

The folks from near and far are waiting with bated breath.

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

Securing Guyana’s Democracy:

Presidential Term Limits ENSURING that democracy is maintained is paramount to ensuring that a country is run with the best interest of all its peoples in mind, so that all citizens are afforded and access to the resources, services and opportunities. With the quest of a ‘good life’ as the foundation of the current Administration’s mandate, Government is committed to ensuring the tenets of democracy are maintained.

It is with this in mind that Government has pledged to ensure that Guyana’s Constitution is respected and upheld and this includes the defence of the provision, which states that a President is eligible for re-election only once. Government has already indicated its intention to proceed to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) following the flawed determination by the Appeals Court that the term limit is unconstitutional.

In 2001, Act No. 17 amended Article 90 of the 1980 Constitution and held that a person elected as President could hold only two terms in office. The amendment was assented to by then President Bharrat Jagdeo, but in February 2015, a private citizen, Mr. Cedric Richardson, filed a constitutional challenge regarding the two-term limit for the country’s presidency.

Richardson’s case sought an interpretation from the Court on the provisions in the Constitution. The matter appeared before then Chief Justice Ian Chang and on July 9, 2015, Justice

Eon Bollers

Chang in his written ruling said that Act 17 of 2001 needed a referendum and is invalid and without legal effect for reason of non-compliance. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams, in August 2015 then filed an appeal in the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court stating that he is “dissatisfied with the whole of the decision” handed down by Chang.

The matter was finally set for a ruling on February 21, this year, by the former Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Carl Singh. Justice B.S. Roy and Justice Yonette Cummings Edwards were also on the panel, which looked at the case, and on February 22, Justice Roy and Chancellor Singh voted to uphold Chief Justice Chang’s 2015 ruling while Chief Justice Cummings-Edwards voted against it.

For legal practitioners like the former Judge Justice Duke Pollard, it is a decision that is deeply flawed and contrary to the Constitution. In a letter published in the Stabroek News on July 11, 2015, Justice Pollard said, ”The judgment is arguably tendentious, occasionally pleonastic, bereft of sustained rationality, and strangely and curiously, not to mention inexcusably, has eschewed the application of the required rule of statutory interpretation in construing the provisions of Article 1 of the Guyana Constitution, given the concatenation

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

Brian Smith, National Secretary of the GYSM

of genus-describing attributes employed therein.” The recent ruling has led to Government’s position to take its case to the Caribbean Court of Justice for a final ruling, where it is confident the right decision will be made.

Members of the Public expressed the view that the ruling does not auger well for the country’s democracy. Eon Bollers believes that different persons should hold the Office of President in order to ensure a different perspective. “In my opinion there are other people out there with ideas that they can contribute in terms of the development of Guyana so two terms should be enough,” he said. For Mr. Kenneth Wilson, it is unthinkable that any one person could run for the Presidency for as long as he or she wants. “We have to wait to see what the Caribbean Court will say. Democracy has failed… it seems as though all the systems are failing because they want to break the rules,” he said.

Meanwhile, the notion that the ruling is not ideal for Guyana’s democracy seems to be one that is shared across the political divide. Former President Donald Ramotar, as well as members of the People’s National Congress Reform (PNC/R)

Attorney General, Basil Williams

and the Alliance For Change (AFC) have all stated positions in opposition of that ruling. Mr. Ramotar, in 2015, days after the Constitutional motion was filed in the High Court, said that neither he nor the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) was supportive of any President being able to run for more than two terms in that office. In a Stabroek News article dated November 2, 2015, Mr. Ramotar said “I think with two terms, it’s enough for any President.”

Leader of the AFC, Mr. Raphael Trotman, who was also named in the case, said that the ruling by Chancellor Singh and the High Court is tantamount to a threat to the democracy of the country. Mr. Trotman said that the AFC believes that the ruling was an error. “I was a part of the Constitutional reform. I was a member of the dialogue team and it was agreed and accepted that we would have term limits. All parties in Parliament agreed and we even had legal opinion, which said that we didn’t need a referendum. In fact, we set up a number of other institutions like the Rice Commission and so it is strange that this one was plucked out and set apart,” he said.

Mr. Trotman said that the AFC is supportive of the intention of the Government to take the case to CCJ for a final determination. “Our democracy is under threat because we believe that given the makeup of Guyana, our history of division and ethnic tension that no one party or President should be in power for more than two terms and for us to have a reversal means we will be going right back to some dark days. So we

XXVII look forward to getting to the CCJ and we have no doubt that justice and good sense will prevail and the ruling will be overturned,” he said.

The Guyana Youth and Student Movement (GYSM), which is the youth arm of the PNC/R also endorsed the views of the other political entities. According to Mr. Brian Smith, National Secretary of the GYSM, the decision is disappointing and the GYSM believes that it does not communicate the general sentiment of the populace. “The spirit of the limiting of terms speaks to an understanding that there is need for, from time after time, a new beginning; a new appreciation; new leadership. What we find happening is that a judgement in this regard for us is more of a recession in democracy because it tells us that there is a belief, which we don’t subscribe to, that there doesn’t exist competent leadership in our country,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Basil Williams said that Chancellor Singh erred on several grounds when he chose to uphold the 2015 ruling. “The decision was not unanimous. Chancellor Singh and Justice Roy, they had the majority decision and we believe that the ruling, which was given by Chancellor Singh and concurred by Justice of Appeal Roy. We believe that the ruling was flawed in many areas and obviously, we believe that the entire issue must be settled by Turn to page XXIX ►►►

XXVIII

Let the achievements continue I AM LOVING this month even more because the celebration of women’s achievements continue.

I felt honoured to be part of a fashion cabaret in Barbados last weekend to celebrate the amazing work of the Barbadian legend Betty West. I did my first major show in Barbados over 15 years ago and she was instrumental in the first production of a fashion Cabaret in: SIMPLE IRRESITABLE. This creative genius has certainly curved her way in the history in her homeland and I salute her.

Across the miles and back to my homeland. It was a privilege to be on the national panel for International Women’s Day hosted by the Ministry of Social Protection.

When we examine the massive impact women are having all over the world, we are getting even bolder for change. The UN declared 50/50 by 2030 and even if we don’t get there, we will be close.

As women we need to learn to be comfortable with our discomforts because that is when growth is taking place.

Some we have to go where there are no pathway so we can

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

leave a trail.

Leading well is not about enriching yourself but empowering others.

It is important to take others with you when you are doing something you need to pass on.

We have made great progress, but it is not enough. Because we can do more.

Life is about giving, and that’s something we can do whatever our situation may be. As much as we have done, as much as we have given, you always have more to give.

Indeed, it is giving to life that sustains you. Giving, doing, making a difference benefits your world, and benefits you.

The purpose of achievement is not to sit idly on top of it, smug and self-satisfied. Instead, build on that achievement and expand it to have a positive impact on more lives.

There is always more to be done, more substance we can offer to life. Take every opportunity to let unique, meaningful purpose flow through us, energizing our very soul.

Life is made for giving, and it is made good by giving, so keep going, keep giving. All the goodness you give is also your own.

I was invited to have an interactive session with the kids from North Georgetown Multilateral School and I left there so energetic and in high spirit.

Most of them learnt that day of my humble beginning in Bartica and my struggles as a single mom.

The kids were so receptive and eager to learn and some even shared their stories.

No matter how successful we are, no matter how important and accomplished, we do need people.

Every day is full of opportunities for improvement. By making use of those opportunities, I know that I will be closer to my goals by this time tomorrow.

I enjoy interacting with people of all walks of life every day and hearing their stories.

Recently I met a women from West Bank who was sharing her story with me and I become so emotional.

She prepared and sold salted fish for decades to educate her three kids who are now grown and did well with their lives. Her stories reminded me of my mom’s commitment to us and the difficult journey she had. The registration was closed but after hearing her story I decided if it was my booth, she had to be one of the women who will be exhibiting her products at Women in Business Expo 2017.

I am thrilled to be part of a dynamic team to give small women businesses a chance to expend and grow.

Also looking forward to INSPIRE YOU with some phenomenal women from local and overseas to share with us. Dr Anna McCoy from Texas is a certified executive coach and master trainer in the area of entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development.

Dr. Linda Wallace, is a resident of California and lives in Aruba. She is an Empowerment Specialist, Global Solutionist and an Advocate for Women Rights…a revolutionary thinker and social activist.

Guyanese Kerensa Gravesande who is Country Manager at El Dorado Offshore (Guyana) Inc, since March 2016. Kerri comes from a HR background with extensive experience in Crew Management, Training / Competence Development and Logistics in the Oil Industry. She has worked in Trinidad and Colombia for the last four years in the Oil and Gas Sector.

Sherry Dixon is a London-based Guyanese who is an award-winning motivational speaker and media personality. She has travelled the world and shared the stage with world-renowned personalities.

St Lucian Pamela Michelle Robinson is a transformational/motivational/inspiring speaker….and she's on a mission to ensure that all women recognize how phenomenal they are.

Hilda Bourne, has been a successful entrepreneur for more than 15 years. She is the founder and C.E.O of Dreams 360.

She travels to multiple locations, encouraging women who have been exposed to some form of trauma to DREAM. I know they are thousands of stories and no matter where you are from or what size you have or race we all have the following in common: WOMEN ARE DYNAMIC WOMEN ARE CREATIVE WOMEN ARE VERSATILE WOMEN CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE WOMEN ARE UNIQUE WOMEN ARE INNOVATIVE Turn to page XXX ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXVII

the Caribbean Court of Justice and so we will make the necessary approaches to that Court but the Chancellor erred on many grounds,” he said.

The Minister said that one of the areas in which Chancellor Singh erred was when he ruled that the introduction of a term limit is diluted democracy in Guyana when in fact democracy is enhanced. “When you see in practice there were three elections after the coming into effect of the alterations in Article 90. They were three elections and everyone would agree that those three elections successfully were the most peaceful elections in the history since the Independence of Guyana. We saw dynamic changes in the way the results of elections operated,” he said.

Further, explaining the legal contentions with the ruling, the Minister pointed out that the Chancellor held that Mr. Richardson had a right under Article 177 of the Constitution to vote for a Presidential candidate of his choice, when in fact Article 177 gives Parliament, within the ambits of the Constitution, the power to make provisions for the conduct of elections of the office of President. “He hasn’t addressed my contention that there is no direct vote for President in this country and no voter in Guyana determines who would be a Presidential candidate. All of that is for

a political party and you vote for a political party and not for a Presidential candidate. So the Presidential candidate is tagged on to a party list and the electorate votes for the party list and when they are voting for the party list, Article 177 says that they are deemed to be voting for the Presidential candidate,” Minister Williams said.

Minister Williams refuted the contention that the term limit infringes on Articles 1 and 9 of the Constitution. “They were required to address the issue of whether the alteration of Article 90 was valid or not. It is clear that it is valid. They now had to go further to show whether it affected Articles 1 and 9. So we are saying that the court erred by not determining whether it was a lawful alteration of Article 90 by a two-thirds majority,” he said.

In Cedric Richardson v Attorney General and Raphael Trotman, the complainant alleged that Act No.17 of 2001 purporting to amend Article 90 of the Guyana Constitution and disqualifying a person from seeking election more than twice as President of Guyana, diminished and restricted his democratic right of choice, and, having not been approved by the electorate in a referendum as required by Article 164(2) of the Guyana Constitution, was constitutionally invalid, void and of no legal effect.

Former Judge Justice Pollard disagrees with this stance and agrees with Minister

Williams that on the contrary, the Proviso of Article 164(2) expressly prescribed that there was no need for approval by referendum of the relevant bill since it was passed by a two thirds majority vote and did not alter any provisions of Articles 1 or 9 of the Guyana Constitution.

Minister Williams also contended that Justice Singh erred when he ruled that Articles 1 and 9 gave Richardson a personal interest enough to qualify him to bring an originating summons.

According to the Minister, those articles are of general application and they do not give any individual rights.

Further, Justice Singh’s ruling also

XXIX compared judgments in other jurisdictions to the current case. According to Minister Williams, when Justice Singh suggested that the right of voters to vote for candidates of their choice in other countries including the United States of America, he failed to take into account that Guyana’s Constitution and electoral system is not the same as those identified in his ruling.

Justice Pollard, certainly no novice to the legal fraternity, is quite convinced in his belief too that the law will prevail and will vindicate the Government’s position as they move to the Caribbean Court of Justice.

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◄◄◄ From page XXVIII

WOMEN AE RESILIENT WOMEN CAN CHANGE THE WORLD WOMEN ARE ENTERPRISING WOMEN ARE RISK-TAKING WOMEN ARE EVOLVING WOMEN CAN CHART THEIR OWN DESTINIES WOMEN ARE BELIEVERS WOMEN ARE HEALERS WOMEN ARE LOVERS

WOMEN CAN SAVE OUR HUMANITY WOMEN ARE MOTIVATORS WOMEN ARE MENTORS WOMEN ARE MOTHERS WOMEN CAN RISE TO THE OCCASION Let’s continue to Celebrate, Commit and Contribute to each other’s well- being.

Send your comments to beyondtherunwayway1@gmail.com and visit our FB Page BEYOND THE RUNWAY as we continue this beautiful journey called Life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

By Tamica Garnett OVER the past few months, many have been wowed, scared, and stunned by the outrageously realistic experience of the virtual reality (VR) world of the Oculus 9D gaming systems at the Giftland Mall’s Universal Games arcade.

Now they’re upping the ante with the introduction of the state-of-the-art Oculus RIFT+Touch, which was officially launched last Thursday afternoon, alongside the arcade’s new PS4 systems.

Whereas the Oculus 9D took you different places, all while sitting in the comfort of an egg-like seat, there will be no sitting for the Oculus RIFT+Touch.

With the Oculus RIFT+Touch, it gets oh so real when you strap on that headset, enter a whole new world, and literally walk around to battle virtual robots, among other quests.

The Oculus RIFT+Touch comes with just the VR Headset, plus the hand-held touch controllers.

A group of students enjoying one of the games at the Universal Games arcade

FUN TO USE For the most part, the system is pretty easy to understand, and most persons get a good grasp of the basics within seconds of playing, which makes it even more fun to use.

Within moments after the game was launched, patrons flocked around excitedly observing patrons on the system.

To any ordinary onlooker, patrons look funny walking around, staring about the place, physically moving around in virtual places; but a 52-inch Samsung Smart TV hung overhead will give them a 2D perspective of the world that the player is in.

The system comes with four different games, but Robo Recall has already been shaping up to be a favourite. There are also Tangos Ferry Tail, Unspoken and Arizona Zombies.

Persons can take in 15-minute turns on the system for $700 a pop. The only downside of this is that currently, the arcade has only one. And, knowing us Guyanese and new Turn to page XXXII ►►►

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Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXXI

things, be prepared for long lines if you’re looking to have a go anytime soon.

But, of course, if you’re not in the mood for the long line, there’s tons more to check out, including the PS4 area.

ANOTHER HOT-SPOT Tucked away in a crack at the back of the arcade, the PS4 area is another hot-spot that’s probably going to be a hit with Guyana’s gaming community. There’re three systems, but its $500 for 30-minute intervals get the discounted price of $800 per hour. Quite a lot of allowances are going to be well spent in that room!

With the PS4, there’re 15 games to choose from, including favourites like Call of Duty, Black Ops 3, Infinite Warfare,

Operations Assistant, Adrian Munroe, (right) and Universal Games Manager, Bonita Lakhram (centre) and other staff of the arcade during the ribbon-cutting of the new PS4 area on Thursday (Photos by Cullen Bess-Nelson)

FIFA17, and Uncharted 4. Each system comes with a 52-inch Samsung Smart TV for viewing pleasure.

The Oculus RIFT and PS4 additions are a fitting complement to the encouraging arcade, an over $20M investment in Guyanese entertainment. Thus far, the Oculus 9D and 12D theatre have been big sellers.

The attractions have seen some patrons screaming and scared out of their wits, while others saw it as good fun and enjoyed the adrenaline rush. The Oculus 9D has 30 games, five of which cater specifically to children 11 years and under.

The games immerse the patron in a panoramic experience that hardly has them believing it’s all make-believe as you go through the thrilling VR worlds. The Oculus 9D seats synchronise with the movements of your VR surrounding, while the built-in sound system transports you smack dab into the middle of the VR world.

CUSTOMER DEMANDS Universal Games Operations Assistant, Adrian Munroe, says that in keeping with customer demands, the business is looking to continue in the direction of the VR games, and phase out some of the other arcade games.

“We ask the customers what they want, and listen to what they say they want; and when we have our meetings, we discuss what to do to bring more for our customers,” Munroe said.

Other arcade games at the facility include the Manx TT Superbikes, Paradise Lost, and the House of the Dead 4.

The arcade is usually opened from 12:00hrs daily on weekdays, and at 09.30hrs on weekends. It closes whenever the last customer leaves, so feel free to take your time and enjoy.

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Chronixx plays Reggae

– but rejects idea of “Reggae Revival”

JAMAICAN reggae and dub singer, Chronixx (real name Jamar McNaughton) is a passionate believer in the music that his home nation has produced, and more to the point, keeps on producing.

The son of Chronicle, a popular reggae singer in his own right, Chronixx has been immersed in music and the arts pretty much from birth. As a result, he’s also been surrounded by talented musicians from childhood.

The man has grown up in Jamaica surrounded by music, so he knows what he’s talking about.

So, when Chronixx says we should quit referring to all Jamaican music as reggae; and when he reminds us that a country as culturally rich as Jamaica is bound to produce a multitude of different types of musicians, all with their own little flavours; and that even those classified as reggae can vary dramatically in sound, we should listen.

“People don’t understand how rich Jamaican music is,” Chronixx says. “If you generalise Jamaican music and brand it as reggae, then you’re literally killing our music, because our music also has ska, dancehall, reggaeton, mento, hip-hop. It’s all our music! It’s all rooted in Jamaican traditional sound!

“Focus more on the music; where it’s coming from and where it’s going, and you’ll find very interesting things and interesting artists.”

This is relevant, because Chronixx has been roundly lumped in with a perceived “reggae revival”, along with other contemporary artists like Dre Island, Jah Bouks, Protoje and Jesse Royal.

But he’s keen to point out that the phrase “reggae revival” is a media creation, and not something that the musicians dreamed up. For certain, Chronixx isn’t interested in spearheading any such movement.

“I don’t get paid to spearhead anything,” he says. “I

didn’t sign up to spearhead a movement, but I really feel like I’m a part of something very powerful that is happening in the Jamaican music space, because it is undeniable that a lot of attention and a lot of great music has been coming from young people in Jamaica in the music space.

“Not just in reggae, but dancehall. There are a lot of artists with the potential to take our music to a whole new level; to places that it has never been before.”

That harks back to the reasons that Chronixx wanted to make music in the first place. He saw, through his father, the liberating power that creating music can bestow upon a person. Still, rather than follow in anyone’s footsteps, Chronixx wanted to create something all his own.

“I liked the feeling of making music, not just listening,” he says. “It gives a very special feeling. I saw that happen to a lot of people; people that were around my father, and even him.

“After making a good record; after being in the studio for a while, you start feeling good. But I didn’t really decide to follow his footsteps in music; I just decided to do music.

“I just wanted to learn music honestly, and with total purity; I wanted to learn how to sing, play instruments, dance.

“I started doing that at a very young age. I knew, based on the vibe I experience making music, that I would be doing this for a very long time.”

Chronixx had a huge year in 2012. That was when his music started receiving widespread airplay in Jamaica. It was also when he realised that his well-thought-out Online presence was paying dividends in other countries.

People in Europe, Africa, Australia and right here in North America were listening to his music. Chronixx just had to take advantage and get out on tour.

“That gave me hope, and made me stick to an unconventional way of sharing my music,” he says. “Not just taking my music to the radio stations; I would create a Soundcloud link and send that to people, create download links and send that out; that was how the music got out there. That way, it doesn’t have any limits. I’m not trying to be popular; I’m just trying to share it with people. That was how the music got out.”

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XXXV

Procare Diagnostic to the rescue

Amazing developments after only two years

By Shirley Thomas A 62-year –old grandmother now relives the horror of the events leading up to, and horrifically – following the premature birth of her grand-daughter, now five, having suffered cerebral palsy when she was less than five days old.

“Precious” (not her real name), having been born prematurely at a private hospital in Capital Georgetown, the grandmother says, had to be placed in an incubator where she remained for a few days.

Unfortunately however, the equipment ‘broke down’ or malfunctioned for the second time in two weeks, but allegedly went unnoticed by the staff in the ward. The distraught grandparent said that a family member detected the fiasco and brought it to the attention of the authorities, by which time the child had begun discharging puss

Managing Director, Procare, Ms. Candace Wickham presents scholarship package to the grandmother of client 5-year-old ‘Precious’

from the head.

The baby was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital and immediately taken to theatre and operated on. She received a new lease on life, but unfortunately developed Cerebral Palsy, (CP), having suffered extensive injury to the brain, which resulted in neurological disorder: impairment of body movement and muscle function, as well as her ability to walk and speak.

GREATER HOPE But today, even as the family continues to give thanks to God for sparing the child’s life, and for the timely and efficiently intervention of the GPHC, there’s new hope for her, thanks to the professional and amazing humanitarian intervention of Procare Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, which last week celebrated its second year in operation. The facility is located at Lot 261 Forshaaw and New Garden Streets, Georgetown.

Her parents, having learnt about this new diagnostic and therapeutic facility in town, about six months ago, registered little ‘Precious’ (not her real name), got the Assessment process going and a prognosis was made, after which the appropriate therapy was introduced.

It’s now been about six months since ‘Precious’ – a cute and equally pleasant little girl child, has been a patient of the facility, says Managing Director, Candace Wickham, adding that she has been doing well.

The child who was admitted to the centre unable to walk or speak, is currently receiving speech therapy. And with an air of satisfaction, the director assured the Sunday Chronicle: “We are seeing improvements from her, even in terms of her head balance. Her physical structure as well; her fine motor skills and things like that are improving considerably. So we see her prognosis is very good.”

Such amazing developments on the part of little ‘Precious’ landed her a ‘wind fall’ scholarship as Procare Diagnostic and Therapeutic Service celebrated its 2nd Anniversary on March 3, 2017.

Making the announcement, the director proudly declared: “There is one child from the class room (a Cerebral Palsy case) who has been with us for a while, and we’ve decided

Exhibits on display during Procare’s Anniversary Exhibition

to give her that scholarship because we see she has lots of potential in terms of development of her speech, communication and physical intervention.

She will therefore be having free therapy on the PROCARE as we seek out a revision in terms of therapy for her for the rest of her life.” Another scholarship was given to another deserving child.

Such good news brought tears to the eyes of her grandmother who had accompanied the child to the function on that Turn to page XXXVII ►►►

Years of High Hopes XXXVI

BOOK REVIEW: By Donald Trotman Author: Dorothy Irwin Hansib Publications Limited Just when the traditions of keeping personal diaries and of writing substantial personal letters have almost fallen into desuetude, here comes a book that loudly invites their revival, while at the same time straddling two eras and two continents.

“Years of High Hopes” encompasses the genres of both traditions – letter writing and diary keeping. In fact it may even be called a reconstituted letter-diary, comprising nearly two hundred letters written in daily doses, some large, some small, but all uniquely flavoured with special story-telling quality which the author’s parents, Marian and Howard Irwin, generate in their recording of daily events through the medium of letters.

Chronicle Pepperpot March 12, 2017

While due credit must be given to Dorothy Irwin, the author of this book, it is submitted, with respect, that her mother Marian, should be credited with being the real author of it and that daughter Dorothy be urged to accept her own part as co-author or glossator, ceding lead role to mother Marian! For it is Marian whose remarkable written expressions have made the book possible; and whose peculiar gift of communicating ordinary, everyday events into grippingly dramatic prose, makes the book so sustainably interesting and captures the continuing attention of its readers.

A wide and general description of the book tells the story of the life of a young American couple, Marian and her husband Howard, and their two infant daughters, Elizabeth and Dorothy, during the period 1952 to 1956, in British Guiana, the only En-

glish speaking country then, and now, in South America; and the variety of their experiences and encounters during those years in the then British Colony.

But that variety is so considerable, almost infinite, that it could do with some measure of classified arrangement that enures to the enhancement of it; and adds spice to the enjoyment of its readers; and the author has succeeded in doing this with an orderly and methodical collocation of its contents.

Consequently, the composite letter-diary of Marian and Howard together with Dorothy’s Prologue and Epilogue, may be divided into four conveniently understandable categories – Autobiography, Biography, Social and Political, History.

The letters relate the personal life experiences of the couple in British Guiana of the nineteen fifties. Both educated college graduates and of apparently wealthy American families, came to live in an underdeveloped tropical country where the amenities for comfortable living were not as available as those to which they were accustomed; and a country which still suffered from the vicarious consequences of a ravaging war which had devasted the social and economic life of its governing imperial master, Britain.

Allowing Howard to pursue his biology teaching and at the prestigious Queen’s College for boys and his outreach botanical researches in preparation for his future academic career, Marian was content to stay at home, settling down to efficient house-keeping and household management, dutifully ensuring that husband Howard was well fed and tidily clothed, and devoting much, if not most of her time to the loving care and attention of their infant daughter Elizabeth, and later to the newborn Dorothy – doing all this with meticulous efficiency, and in similar fashion finding time to write her almost daily letters to her and Howards’s family in America.

These letters were consistently graphic and detailed, extending to events outside of the home, capturing the feeling and spirit of the Guianese people and objectively observing the social, political and economic conditions of the still colonized country.

What comes out of Marian’s letters are the vivid expressions of a courageous woman of strong character, determined to meet and beat the challenges and hardships of living in a strange environment where its own pre-existing inhabitants were still walking waywardly in the footsteps of their forefathers, trying desperately to find pathways that would eventually lead them out of the labyrinth which had been systematically built by their colonial masters over many years of slavery, indenture, malign oppression and benign neglect. But she, Marian, continued to insulate herself from the negative influences of these phenomena by consciously managing to avoid assimilating them by writing Turn to page XXXVII ►►►

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them away and not letting them come close to her; by staying home for much of the time; by cooking, washing, baking and sewing; by relating only to a small circle of friends and engaging in few social activities.

As the days and years go by, Marian’s letters continue to be detailed and descriptive, whether they deal with purely domestic matters or with extra-marital happenings; but her discipline of taking time to sit down and write in the midst of all her household chores and constraints also continues to be remarkably consistent.

Her unyielding, creative energies were not exhausted by these mundane pre-occupations. Regrettably, Howard takes second place in the actual letter writing exercise, even though, when he occasionally puts his thoughts to paper to his own parents or to Marian’s, they could compete commensurately with hers. But his storkgram of October 11, 1955, sent to his in-laws informing the birth of Dorothy (the author), is an exemplary lessons in literary brevity. It reads “Girl born 10th 9lbs 6oz blonde 21 in both doing well” However, his letter of July 11, 1953 to Tom at pages 339 to 342 of the book; and that of 21 April, 1956 to Marian while he was still in BG while she had gone back with the children to the USA after Howard’s job came to an end, are full of news about his own solitary existence and of his work at school and in travels connected with his botanical researches in the wilds and interesting persons and places encountered during these outreaches.

But it is to Marian that we have to keep returning when the vitality of narrative has to be sustained. It is to her that we look for a searching account of the nuances, attitudes and mannerisms of Georgetown middle class society, more particularly the genteel ladies of the city’s superficial social and cultural elite. And it is to Marian that we must return to get a bird’s eye view of an objective observer of the political and economic landscape of British Guiana in the nineteen fifties.

It might very well be that Marian’s assessed observation of ◄◄◄ From page XXXV

occasion.

Meanwhile, commenting on the service provided, Ms. Wickham said the centre is aiming to provide professional care for children and adults. Services offered include Speech and Language Therapy; Physical Therapy; Occupational Therapy and Family Counselling Therapy as well. There is also a Literacy Programme - Helping children with Dyslexia – difficulty with reading, writing and spelling, intellectual impairment as well. She is urging anyone who has a child/ children with Special Needs to come in to Procare Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services, Albeit, the director stressed the need for parents/guardians to work along with the programme in order that maximum benefits would be realized for the child’s development.

“It is important to note that when persons are doing therapy, once they stick with the intervention plan and actually do the home programme as well, that’s where you see results.

Even so with the children. We’re working with them in the classroom and we will work to the best of our ability to use methods and strategies to help them improve their communication, physical development or intellectual capacity.

However, parents still have to try their best at home with the children,” she stressed.

Ms. Wickham cited an example where a client undergoing speech therapy was placed on ten sessions, but because she stuck to the programme and was doing her part at home, had begun seeing remarkable results by the 8th session, the result being that today, there is absolutely no evidence that she has ever had a problem with her voice.

Meanwhile, the director observed that since opening doors, the response has been so good that within the first six months they had literally outgrown their space and are looking towards a bigger facility. In house facilities include a children’s classroom which has 25 children being taken care of by staff on the premises. The centre is open Monday through Friday, from 8:30nrs to 17:00 hrs.

The staff compliment comprises the Managing Director who is a Speech and Language Therapist, with a background in Special Education, having studied in Cuba; a trained Formation Teacher who has 30 years of experience working in that field; and four tutors - all trained in special education She is urging parents with children attending Special Needs Schools to feel free to visit the Procare Diagnostic and Therapeutic Services located at 261 Forshaw and Church Streets, Queenstown at their convenience.

Cerebral Palsy, commonly referred to as “CP” and described by loss or impairment of motor function, Cerebral Palsy is actually caused by brain damage. The brain damage is caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain that occurs while child’s brain is still developing — before birth, during birth, or immediately after birth.

the economic conditions was more relative than real, having regard to the fact that she had come from an affluent society and a well-provided family household; and her comparison of comfort and convenience between life in America and life in British Guiana led her to making unfair assumptions which prevented her from accepting things as they were in her new host habitat, from wanting too many things as she used to have back home and from adjusting to a different economic environment of lesser sufficiency, though not unbearingly unlivable.

But her reporting of the political situation in the colony is more realistic, giving us an unvarnished sketch of the country’s political climate and leading political and official characters in the early days of its grant of Independence, the greedy withdrawal of that grant, the revocation of the 1953 Independence constitution and the retrograde return to imposition of direct rule by the United Kingdom government.

Despite the wide-ranging variety of persons, places and experiences displayed in the pages of “Years of High Hopes”, the focal part of the book is the Queen’s College Compound where Howard taught biology and which Marian saw as an extension of her life and his; and which commands centre stage in the dramatic portrayal of the lives and wives of the College’s masters, of the

XXXVII masters themselves and of the students and student activities of the College. Details of many of these real-life performances are so enjoyably scripted in Marian’s letters, that they must be left to be relished by avid readers rather than be made to suffer from inadequate rendering by the writer of this review.

The author’s experience and expertise acquired in her career in the publishing industry in her country of domicile, the USA, have enabled her to compose the collection of letters which comprise the book, in a way that makes it seem as though she were living through and in those lettered experiences of her parents in the country of her birth, Guiana, and spiritually bonding with them and with it.

The book ends, appropriately and effectively, with an Epilogue. Indeed, the movingly nostalgic Epilogue of “Years of High Hopes”, recollecting her return to Guyana in 1994 with her father Howard, evidences this psychical, extrasensory connection by the author with a place which she could not have recognized from memory, since she was only five months old when she was last there, but which her emotional intelligence lets her know that it was and will continue to be a part of her being and a place to which she belongs, wherever else she may happen to be, and however long she may happen to live.

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English 2017-03-05

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

THE BIBLE (OLD TESTAMENT), Proverbs 16:18 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Students, You are not without the knowledge that errors commonly made in grammar and usage are present in your compositions daily. Take heart. These slips, once they are recognised, can be easily rectified using methods of correcting and avoiding.

Your study today deals with misused grammatical constructions which confuse things. You will receive explanations of some common and avoidable problems. Be wise.

Love you GRAMMAR Misused constructions Faulty Pronoun References 1. Every pronoun must have an antecedent. Place pronouns as close as possible to their antecedents so that it is clear what word the pronoun refers back to.

Confusing: After Danielle talked to Daniela, she was afraid.

Clear: After Danielle talked to Daniela, Daniela was afraid. or Danielle was afraid after she talked to Daniela.

2. Avoid vague references. Vague references occur when the antecedent of a pronoun is not actually stated. Using they, this, that, and which to refer to an entire statement (rather than to one noun) is a common form of vague reference.

Vague: Handel had not completed the spider chart, which irritated Miss Higgins.

Clear: The fact that Handel had not completed the spider chart irritated Miss Higgins.

Handel’s failure to complete the spider chart irritated Miss Higgins.

3. Avoid the indefinite use if it, they, and you.

Confusing: In the third chapter, it shows Brenda’s hunting prowess.

Clear: In the third chapter, Brenda’s hunting prowess is shown.

In the third chapter, Brenda shows her hunting prowess.

Shifts in Point of View In writing, the point of view should be as consistent as

possible. Shifts in point of view include changes in number, subject, tense, and voice. There are of course times when you do need to change the point of view. But frequent and unnecessary shifts are confusing.

1. Avoid unnecessary shifts in number (singular and plural).

Wrong: Boxer dogs are cute, but it requires much care.

Correct: Boxer dogs are cute, but they require much care.

2. Avoid unnecessary shifts in the subjects in sentences.

Wrong: If you dissect a frog, it will be a great exhibit.

Correct: If you dissect a frog, you will have a great exhibit.

3. Avoid unnecessary shifts in tense (present, past, future).

Wrong: Busy Ms Jackson came home and quickly took off her jacket. She runs to the bathroom and washes her face and hands. Fifteen minutes later, she was ready for young Jackson to bring in her dinner.

Correct: Busy Ms Jackson came home and quickly took off her jacket. She ran to the bathroom and washed her face and hands. Five minutes later, she was ready for young Jackson to bring in her dinner.

4. Avoid unnecessary shifts in voice (active and passive).

Wrong: Santiago did great manoeuvres that day, but no special praise was received from his trainer.

Correct: Santiago did great manoeuvres that day, but he received no special praise from his trainer.

PROOFREADING Useful notes When you are proofreading your efforts, your job is to identify any errors in the writing conventions – punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and handwriting. It is often best to proofread after you have completed editing your piece of writing, and after a draft or drafts have been written and reshaped to suit a purpose.

The proofreading checklist can be exhaustive. It is made up of specific items your teachers have been trying to instill in your productions over the years. Here are some items to check thoroughly in the four areas mentioned above.

1. Capitalisation:

Amazing Facts

a) Is the pronoun I capitalized? b) Are you sure no capitals are wrongly used for quotation marks (inverted commas/ dialogue labels) within a sentence or, after closed inverted commas, for the continuing part of the quotation when it does not start a new sentence?

2. Punctuation Is the hyphen used correctly in each case?

- in compound words - to divide words at the end of a line - between two or more words in a compound modifier (e.g., a low-grade yogurt) 3. Spelling a) - Is any word misspelled because of the way it is pronounced or confused with another? b) – Is any words misspelled because two adjoining vowels have been changed around, or because one of them has been left out (e.g., captian for captain)?

4. Handwriting Do all the letters in the word slant in the same direction?

WRITING WELL Reminder of paragraph structure - Definition Use this paragraph to awaken your memory of what the definition structure is like unto.

We say a child or young person is being bullied, or picked on when another child or young person, or a group of children or young people, say nasty and unpleasant things to him or her.

It is also bullying when a child or young person is hit, kicked, threatened, locked inside a room, sent nasty notes, when no one ever talks to him or her and things like that. These things can happen frequently and it is difficult for the child or the young person being bullied to defend himself or herself. It is also bullying when a child or young person is teased repeatedly in a nasty way. But it is not bullying when two children or young people of about the same strength have the odd fight or quarrel.

(From “A survey of the nature and extent of bullying in junior/middle and secondary schools” by Irene Whitney and Peter K. Smith)

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Holi: Festival of colour HOLI is a Hindu spring festival in India and Nepal, also known as the "festival of colours" or the "festival of love".

The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, end of winter, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships, and is also celebrated as a thanksgiving for a good harvest. It lasts for two days starting on the Purnima (Full Moon day) falling in the Bikram Sambat

Hindu Calendar month of Falgun, which falls somewhere between the end of February and the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar. The first day is known as Holika Dahan or Chhoti Holi and the second as Rangwali Holi, Dhuleti, Dhulandi or Dhulivandan.

Holi is an ancient Hindu religious festival which has become popular with non-Hindus in many parts of South Asia, as well as people of other communities outside Asia.

It is celebrated at the approach of the spring equinox, on the Phalguna Purnima (Full Moon). The festival date, which is determined by the Hindu calendar, varies from year to year on the Gregorian calendar, typically coming in March, sometimes in February. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, and their diaspora in other regions of the world. In recent years the festival has spread to parts of Europe and North America as a spring celebration of love, frolic, and colours.

Holi celebrations start on the night before Holi with a Holika bonfire where people gather, do religious rituals in front of the bonfire, and pray that their internal evil should be destroyed as the bonfire starts. The next morning is celebrated as Rangwali Holi - a free-for-all carnival of colours, where participants play, chase and colour each other with dry powder and coloured water, with some carrying water guns and coloured water-filled balloons for their water fight. Anyone and everyone is fair game, friend or stranger, rich or poor, man or woman, children and elders. The frolic and fight with colours occurs in the open streets, open parks, outside temples and buildings. Groups carry drums and other musical instruments, go from place to place, sing and dance. People visit family, friends and foes to throw coloured powders on each other, laugh and gossip, then share Holi delicacies, food and drinks.

Some customary drinks such as those that include bhang are intoxicating. In the evening, after sobering up, people dress up and visit friends and family.

VISHNU LEGEND There is a symbolic legend to explain why Holi is celebrated as a festival of colours in the honor of Hindu god Vishnu and his follower Prahlada. King Hiranyakashipu, according to a legend found in chapter 7 of Bhagavata Purana, was the king of demonic Asuras, and had earned a boon that gave him five special powers: he could be killed by neither a human being nor an animal, neither indoors nor outdoors, neither at day nor at night, neither by astra (projectile weapons) nor by any shastra (handheld weapons), and neither on land nor in water or air. Hiranyakashipu grew arrogant, thought he was God, and demanded that everyone worship only him.Hiranyakashipu's own son, Prahlada, however, disagreed. He was and

remained devoted to Vishnu. This infuriated Hiranyakashipu.

He subjected Prahlada to cruel punishments, none of which affected the boy or his resolve to do what he thought was right.

Finally, Holika, Prahlada's evil aunt, tricked him into sitting on a pyre with her. Holika was wearing a cloak that made her immune to injury from fire, while Prahlada was not. As the fire roared, the cloak flew from Holika and encased Prahlada, who survived while Holika burned. Vishnu, the god who appears as an avatar to restore Dharma in Hindu beliefs, took the form of Narasimha - half human and half lion, at dusk (when it was neither day nor night), took Hiranyakashyapu at a doorstep (which was neither indoors nor outdoors), placed him on his lap (which was neither land, water nor air), and then eviscerated and killed the king with his lion claws (which were neither

a handheld weapon nor a launched weapon).

The Holika bonfire and Holi signifies the celebration of the symbolic victory of good over evil, of Prahlada over Hiranyakashipu, and of the fire that burned Holika.

KRISHNA LEGEND In the Braj region of India, where the Hindu deity Krishna grew up, the festival is celebrated until Rangpanchmi in commemoration of the divine love of Radha for Krishna. The festivities officially usher in spring, with Holi celebrated as a festival of love. There is a symbolic myth behind commemorating Krishna as well. As a baby, Krishna developed his Turn to page LII â–şâ–şâ–ş

Gulab Jamun Ingredients 1 cup skimmed milk powder 1/2 cup white flour 2 ozs butter or margarine 1 tsp baking powder Oil for frying Milk for mixing Syrup:

2 cups white sugar 2 cups water 2 drops yellow coloring 6 cardamoms Instructions Mix milk powder, flour, baking powder and margarine till mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Knead with milk to form a soft dough.

Set aside for a few minutes. Form small balls with mixture. (If mixture has hardened, add more milk and knead). Heat oil on low flame, fry a few at a time and set aside. Boil sugar and two cups of water for five minutes. Add yellow coloring and cardamoms.

Add the fried balls and boil for five minutes. Cover and let stand for six hours without opening. (Yields 20-25 Gulab Jamuns)

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characteristic dark blue skin colour because the she-demon Putana poisoned him with her breast milk. In his youth, Krishna despaired whether the fair-skinned Radha and other girls would like him because of his skin colour. His mother, tired of the desperation, asks him to approach Radha and colour her face in any colour he wanted. This he does, and Radha and Krishna became a couple. Ever since, the playful colouring of Radha's face has been commemorated as Holi.

Beyond India, these legends to explain the significance of Holi (Phagwah) are common in some Caribbean and South American communities of Indian origin such as Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. It is also celebrated with great fervour in Mauritius.

OTHER HINDU TRADITIONS Among other Hindu traditions such as Shaivism and Shaktism, the legendary significance of Holi is linked to Shiva in yoga and deep meditation, goddess Parvati wanting to bring back Shiva into the world, seeks help from the Hindu god of love called Kama on Vasant Panchami. The love god shoots arrows at Shiva, the yogi opens his third eye and burns Kama to ashes. This upsets both Kama's wife Rati (Kamadevi) and his own wife Parvati. Rati performs her own meditative asceticism for forty days, upon which Shiva understands, forgives out of compassion and restores the god of love. This return of the god of love, is celebrated on the 40th day after Vasant Panchami festival as Holi. The Kama legend and its significance to Holi has many variant forms, particularly in South India.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The Holi festival has a cultural significance among various Hindu traditions of the Indian subcontinent. It is the festive day to end and rid oneself of past errors, to end conflicts by meeting others, a day to forget and forgive. People pay or forgive debts, as well as deal anew with those in their lives. Holi also marks the start of spring, for many the start of the new year, an occasion for people to enjoy the changing seasons and make new friends.

OTHER INDIAN RELIGIONS The festival has traditionally been also observed by non-Hindus, such as by Jains and Newar Buddhists (Nepal).

Sikhs have traditionally celebrated the festival at least through the 19th century, with its historic texts referring to it as Hola. Guru Gobind Singh – the last human guru of the Sikhs – modified Holi with a three day Hola Mohalla extension festival of martial arts.

The extension started the day after the Holi festival in Anandpur Sahib, where Sikh soldiers would train in mock battles, compete in horsemanship, athletics, archery and military exercises.

Holi was observed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and his Sikh Empire that extended across what are now northern parts of India and Pakistan. According to a report by Tribune India, Sikh court records state that 300 mounds of colors were used in 1837 by Ranjit Singh and his officials in Lahore. Ranjit Singh would celebrate Holi with others in the Bilawal gardens, where decorative tents were set up. In 1837, Sir Henry Fane who was the commander-in-chief of the British Indian army joined the Holi celebrations organized by Ranjit Singh. A mural in the Lahore Fort was sponsored by Ranjit Singh and it showed the Hindu god Krishna playing Holi with gopis. After the death of Ranjit Singh, his Sikh sons and others continued to play Holi every year with colors and lavish festivities. The colonial British officials joined these celebrations. (Wikipedia)