See inside: Everyday wear and Indigenous fashion â–ş Page
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Life in the Rupununi portrayals through art â–ş Page
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The late Stephanie Correia at work in her studio circa 1989. Photograph courtesy of her daughter, Anna Correia-Bevaun
Celebrating Indigenous Art
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Editor’s note
THIS week’s Pepperpot continues to celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month with the rest of Guyana by highlighting the art of our Indigenous people and how Guyanese of Indigenous heritage are infusing their traditions and telling the stories of their ancestors by using modern day art forms. Our lead story features the work of Vanda Allicock-Calistro, who, though fresh to the local fashion industry, has used her platform to combine Indigenous symbols and designs and make them a prominent fixture on every piece of her ready-to-wear clothing line, which, so far, has been quite popular on the local market. Last week, we featured the work of artists showcased at the National Art Gallery under the theme ‘Guyana’s First Peoples; sustaining a rich cultural environment’. There,
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017 Jerry Marco’s paintings were on display, and this week we zero in on his work, his inspiration and his plans to return home after graduating from the E.R. Burrowes School of Art to aid in the development of indigenous art in the Rupununi. We look at how women are looking to expand the sales of their hand-made craft to bigger markets, and we also celebrate the work of late ceramist Stephanie Correia- whose iconic photo graces the cover of this week’s Pepperpot- and how her work has influenced other artists of today.
The dedication of
Indigenous Artisans
By Gibron Rahim
implement craftwork into her students’ schoolwork. Eventually, though, she deWITH Indigenous Heritage Month veloped her own design motifs and started upon us, the craftwork of Guyana’s creating pieces such as baskets, handbags, first peoples come to the fore. Craft- hats and placemats, the technical knowlwork undeniably always catches the edge of which she had gained from her eye. The intricacy and beauty of craft mother and from workshops in which she pieces no doubt naturally sway you to had participated. buy them. It is unfortunate that, at the Clinton greatly enjoys being involved same time, the casual viewer is unaware with her craftwork. She is just as passionof the amount of work that is put into ate about teaching young people where these pieces. Indigenous artisans create they could benefit from a knowledge of their unique pieces in celebration of the art of craft work in their spare time. their heritage and to pave a way for- She explained that though the earnings ward for the future. from the occupation are not huge sums, In the village of Moraikobai, Veron- being involved in craftwork provides them ica Clinton continues the craftwork that an opportunity to entertain themselves in she learned from her mother. She told their spare time. Being able to teach and the Pepperpot Magazine that her mother having her work appreciated is heartening taught her that craftwork was a way of not to Clinton. “It gives me more encourageonly earning a livelihood and not having ment because to this day my craft goes to depend on others but also as an activity on exhibition,” she said. The people in to be done in her spare time. Before she her community also express an interest dedicated more of her time to crafting she in her work and from this, she is able to was a teacher. In fact, she found a way to receive orders. From the responses she receives she still has “that ambition and that willing spirit to go ahead in doing craft. The process of gathering the materials for crafting can prove difficult at times. Clinton uses tibisiri from the ité palm in all of her craftwork. Gathering requires going into the interior and finding the trees. Once found, the branches from the trees are cut. The distance that needs to be travelled to find the palms has greatly increased in modern times since the savannah land is being burned and cleared for farmland. “Sometimes we go on the tractor and bring back like five or six bundles," she said. Once the branches Some of Veronica Clinton’s pieces on display are gathered and (Photo Credit: Cacique Designs) taken home, the
silk is stripped from them. The silk is then boiled and left to dry in the sun for three days. It is after this lengthy process that the actual crafting can begin. The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke with Miranda Bernard of Pakuri Village, formerly St. Cuthbert’s Mission. Bernard was introduced to craftwork through her parents, Mark and Beryl Bernard. Bernard recently represented Guyana at CARIFESTA in Barbados as part of the Art and Craft Producers Association of Guyana and she proudly declared that all her pieces were sold out by the end of the event. She has also previously participated in the Business Expo, Guy Expo and last year’s Indigenous Food and Craft Exhibition. Like Clinton, Bernard also works with tibisiri. The pieces she creates include fruit baskets, coasters, placemat sets, bowl sets, jewellery boxes, and floor and foot mats. It is important to disMiranda Bernard displaying one of her pieces at the tinguish between the craft Indigenous Food and Craft Exhibtion in 2016. styles of different Indigenous (Guyana Chronicle Photo) groups. The type of craft zine that she was making preparations to produced depends on the tribe, as Clinton explained. The people display her work at Moraikobai’s Heritage of Moraikobai and Pakuri are Arawaks. Day on September 16. Bernard also spoke The craftwork in these villages is centred about the difficulty in finding a market for around tibisiri which they are experts on her products in Guyana. She opined that working with. “We do the craft in our Guyanese were not as interested in Indigculture, in our traditional way,” Clinton enous craftwork. This makes it difficult said. On the other hand, artisans from the to justify investment in exhibiting locally. Rupununi are mainly Makushi and Wap- She has found greater success in making ishana. Their craftwork is composed of sales at exhibitions in Caribbean islands. nibbi and beadwork. Each distinct style is The ability to work with one’s hands beautiful in its own right and reflects the is a wonderful skill, and sometimes it heritage of the craftspeople. is underappreciated one. Indigenous Locating a market for their work can craft are sometimes exquisite pieces prove difficult. Clinton explained that the that are also functional. The dedication craftspeople are willing to produce once to their craft that is evident in Clinton they are assured of a steady market for and Bernard illustrate that, with proper their work. Recently, she has been receiv- investment, Indigenous craftspeople can ing help with marketing her craftwork. honour their individual heritages, while She carries her completed pieces with her also being able to move forward into a whenever she makes the lengthy trip into hopeful future. That quality of keeping Georgetown and leaves them with a marour roots planted firmly in the ground keter. Some of these pieces can be found at Venus The Beauty Planet on Parade with our branches reaching toward the Street. She also told the Pepperpot Maga- sky is one we can all benefit from.
Everyday Wear
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
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Vanda Allicock-Calistro weaves Indigenous Fashion into our closets
By Ravena Gildharie
“the Africans have theirs and so do the East Indians, so why shouldn’t we have our own too?” According to Allicock-Calistro, Indigenous people are still associated with styles that their ancestors would have worn centuries ago but have since faded. To her, there is need for modernised clothing that can still depict indigenous culture, customs and traditions. Though she experimented with the use
WHEN we think of 'indigenous fashion', it is habitually conceptualised as loin cloth for men and aprons for women made of either cotton, tibisiri fibre or beads. We would often see this traditional wear only during Indigenous Heritage celebrations, and other cultural events. However, local designer Vanda Allicock-Calistro is on a style mission to create a line of indigenous-inspired yet modern clothing, affordable and ideal for everyday wear. Originally of Surama, North Rupununi, Allicock-Calistro is the sixth offspring of Sidney Allicock, Guyana’s Minister of Indigenous People’s Affairs. She is married, a mother of two children and currently resides in Georgetown. She made her ‘Designs by Vanda’ debut less than a year ago during Guyana Fashion Week in November 2016, under the guidance of Guyanese fashion icon, Sonia Noel. Since then, the indigenous-inspired designs have invoked great interest and are gaining much popularity across all cultures. Just two weeks into Indigenous Heritage Month 2017, and Allicock-Calistro has already sold out all of the pieces she created by Vanda Men’s shirt designed to market during this season. “I didn’t have enough to meet demands,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine. Currently, she is working on a special design for all 10 contestants of the upcoming national Indigenous Heritage Pageant. The fashion designer uses art and her creative ability to infuse her rich indigenous culture and beliefs into all of her creations. She produces shirts for men, dresses, tops, pants and skirts for women as well as traditional indigenous costumes. Most of her creations are white and brown cotton fabric that boasts paintings or embroidery of various animals, objects, symbols and other characteristics that indigenous people can identify with including petroglyphs which are markings of ancient natives. In between attending to her family’s needs, she spends time drafting of beads, she realised that these on paper, various designs and fashion ideas. were not suited for everyday wear and not She engages her 24-year-old nephew, Nigel preferred by customers. Butler, who is a skilled artist, to paint on the Proud of her Indigenous identity and culfabric and later utilises a local seamstress to ture, Allicock-Calistro hails from a commubring her creations to reality. nity and family recognised for promoting and “I believe there is a great need for Am- maintaining native traditions. She hails from erindian fashion,” she said, highlighting that the prominent Surama Culture Group, which
creatively represents Makushi heritage. Her husband is a band member of the famous local Calibro, created by Guyana’s first Indigenous calypsonian, Neville Calistro, better known as ‘Mighty Chief'. The two met in Annai when Calibro performed at a cultural event 11 years ago. As a child, the designer spent her early years in Surama and only temporarily relocated to Georgetown during her teen years to attend secondary school. She subsequently returned to the Rupununi and taught for about one year at a local school in Fairview Village until she took a job as an assistant researcher at Iwokrama Wetlands Project. After working for three to four years, she got married and had her first child. EXPERIMENT IN FASHION While a housewife and stay-at-home mom, Allicock-Calistro started utilising her deceased sister’s sewing instruments. “My older sister did sewing, embroidery and knitting and when she was alive she tried to teach me, but I never liked it and I wasn’t interested. But after she died, I took her needles and I started knitting. At first, I did pony holders,” the designer said. Around the same time, her nephew, Nigel, wanted to enroll at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, but he hadn’t enough funds. Allicock-Calistro came up with an idea to create a line of clothing featuring indigenous fabric-painting done by Nigel. Her first designs were men’s shirts with paintings of various birds found in the rainforest of Guyana and native symbols and lines. With a chuckle, the designer said that her father was her first customer, and he purchased most of her designs. He then encouraged her to expand her endeavours based on people’s response when he wore the clothing. This led her to Guyana Fashion Week and stemming from the success there, the indigenous designer was subsequently
Indigenous People’s Affairs Minister Sidney Allicock wearing one of Vanda’s designer shirts
selected as part of a group of fashion designers to showcase in Suriname. Again, her creations took the market by storm paving the way for the designer to improve and extend her creativity. She produces about five to six pieces each week mainly based on orders from customers. Some of her buyers include non-Guyanese, as people from Antigua and Suriname have also taken a liking to her designs. She currently operates out of her home and utilises exhibitions, fashion shows and other public events to market her pieces. She has showcased at the Women in Business Expo and several charity fashion shows. “I believe that as an individual, you must be proud of who you are and then you can be able to find ways and means to showcase your culture. I think that many Amerindians today are ashamed of their identity and don’t want to embrace their culture. For me, I am proud of who I am and of my beliefs,” Allicock-Calistro emphasised.
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
FILES E S A C COURT
Convicted robber jailed for 2 years with 6 strokes freed on appeal CONVICTED robber Shahadeo Satoopersaud who in 1966, together with two persons unknown, was found guilty by the jury of robbery with aggravation committed on Chinma Baburam and Iris Baburam of two pairs of bangles, was sentenced to two years with six strokes. But he appealed on the ground that the trial judge in his summing-up did not direct the jury that, before they could convict of the offence charged , they would have to find that he was acting together or in concert with the two unknown men with the common purpose or design of robbing both C. B. and I. B. The Appellate Court presided over by Chief Justice, J.A. Luckhoo, was satisfied that the judge had given no such direction . The appeal was allowed and the conviction and sentence quashed. K. Prashad for the Appellant. G. Pompey for the Crown. LUCKHOO, J. A., read the following judgment of the court: The appellant was convicted of the offence of robbery with aggravation contrary to s. 222 (b) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Ordinance. Cap.10 and was sentenced to imprisonment for two years and ordered to receive a whipping of six strokes. It is of some importance to observe the particulars of the offence charged which is as follows: “Sahadeo Satoopersaud on the 22nd day of August…together with certain other persons unknown, robbed Chinma Baburam and Iris Baburam of two pairs of bangles.” The case for the prosecution was that the
appellant during a dark night forcibly removed a pair of bangles from the hand of Chinma Baburam, and that two other unknown persons at the same time and place forcibly removed a pair of bangles from the hand of Iris Baburam. The particulars of the offence charged related then to two robberies, and the circumstances of aggravation consisted of the presence of two other persons unknown acting together with the appellant when Chinma Baburam and Iris Baburam were robbed. In general, an indictment must not be double; that is to say, no one count of the indictment should charge the prisoner with having committed two or more separate offences; but an indictment may charge the prisoner, in the same count, with felonious acts with respect to several persons if it was all one transaction. Counsel for the appellant raised as his main objection to the summing-up, the failure of the trial judge to direct the jury as to what in law constituted acting in concert, in as much as the aggravating circumstances in the particulars of offence required the appellant to be acting in concert with persons unknown, if he was to be found guilty of the offence for which he was charged. All that the trial judge told the jury on this aspect was – “The aggravation alleged by the Crown is that the accused person acted with certain other persons unknown…… The case for the Crown is that the accused acted in concert with other men who are not known to the Crown .If they were known, naturally, as you might expect, they would have been in the dock alongside of the accused. But that
does make any difference to the offence charged against the accused, for it is quite permissible to charge him in the present matter as having acted together with certain other persons unknown. That should not give you any difficulty to understand.” There was no direction of any kind to indicate what in law is meant by acting in concert (and the Crown concedes this to be the case and consequently the facts of the case were never considered in light of such a direction, which should have been given. On the evidence, the two unknown men in no way interfered with Chinma Baburam and the appellant in no way interfered with Iris Baburam. The jury were never told that if they found that the two unknown men were acting independently of the appellant, when he removed the bangles from Chinma Baburam and when they (the unknown men) removed the bangles from Iris Baburam, then the appellant could not be convicted of the offence as laid. The jury should have been directed that before they could find the appellant guilty of the offence charged, they must find that he was acting together or in concert with the two unknown men with the common purpose or design of robbing both Chinma Baburam and Iris Baburam. The omission to so direct the jury may well have left them with the impression that the mere presence of the two unknown men with the appellant at the particular time would have been sufficient for them to conclude that they had been all acting in concert. The jury then would not have appreciated that where presence may have been entirely ac-
By George Barclay
cidental, or where there was no participation of one person in the act of the other, or where there was no concerted design, such a conclusion could not have been reached. Having regard to the facts of the case, and In the absence of proper directions as regards acting in concert with the two unknown persons , I am of the opinion that the conviction with respect to Iris Baburam cannot stand, However, it may well be argued that, because of the provision of s.102 of the Criminal Law (Procedure) Ordinance, Cap. 11, which provide that every count shall be devisable , on the evidence the appellant could properly have been convicted of robbing Chinma Baburam and this court was in fact invited by counsel appearing for the Crown to substitute such a conviction in accordance with s. 17 (2) of the Federal Supreme Court (Appeals) Ordinance, 1958 (No. 19 ). But I am unable to say that the jury would inevitably have come to the same conclusion if they had received the directions which in law should have been given. I am not unmindful of the fact that the jury having convicted the appellant on the indictment must have accepted the evidence for the prosecution, but to have convicted the appellant as they did, they had to find that he was acting in concert with others both in respect of Chinma Baburam and Iris Baburam, and in the absence of a proper direction on this aspect ,it is not known what verdict they would have reached and so it would be unsafe to allow any part of the conviction to stand. For the above reasons the appeal is allowed and the conviction and sentenced quashed. Appeal allowed.
The rage of the ‘Baccoo’ By Abdool Aziz IT WAS June 5, 1956. I came in from school for lunch. Just as I sat down to eat, a missile landed on the old zinc roof. Lots of dust fell onto my plate. I thought it was a baby coconut falling from the overhanging palm tree. I rushed outside to investigate. I saw no one, but still I heard the sound again. This was no baby coconut. Someone was pelting. There was no one in sight, but the pelting continued. With anger and frustration, I left for school. On my return, my sister–in–law showed me the metal dust that fell every time a missile struck while I was away. I climbed up to the roof. The missiles were solid stone. These granites were not found in our area. No construction
was in progress. The road was made of red mud. My father was taught to deal with ‘Baccoo’ spirits. It is said that these spirits constantly pelt your house if angered. I questioned my dad on the concept but he shrugged it off. We called the police. A day and night surveillance was launched – no success. One security officer sat in the coconut tree benefitting from a panoramic view of the surrounding but there was no sighting of the perpetrator. One night, a rock got him on his forehead. He hustled down and abandoned his job. All were scared. We had to evacuate the premises. It was big news: ‘Disgruntled Baccoo pelting Master’s house’. Many gathered to hear the stones hammering the house day and night. We begged our father to appease the devils.
He said it was not his Baccoos. The police pulled away. The estate security deserted us and we were at the mercy of the unknown. We hired a few scouts. No one saw anyone pelt, the unseen spirit was the culprit. We went down hard on our dad. We threatened to leave if he didn’t control these evil monsters. My sister–in-law decide to return to her native Pomeroon. Then it stopped suddenly. I went up the roof again and gathered a basket full of stones. I showed it to my dad. He smiled and walked away I shouted “Your dirty devils did this!” One day I was cleaning out my sister garage. I came upon a bucket filled with stones. They looked similar from the one taken from the zinc top. My mind went into overdrive. Was my sister, the culprit? But how? She was short, quiet
and fragile. Perhaps it was one her sons or husband. I confronted her. At first, it was total denial. I pressed on and the truth emerged. She was the ‘human’ baccoo. She told me she was jealous of my sister–in–law, that she suspected an affair between her and her husband. Those bricks were meant to agonise her and send her back to her parents. Well, it did accomplish its goal. Now I was puzzled, how she did it from such a distance and so accurate and invisible? She demonstrated how she threw the rocks and hid behind the outhouse. No one could see her. A diminutive, slender lady accomplishing such a dastardly feat. I guess when Satan is in you, you achieve the impossible. Jealousy is a formidable force, and it was an unfounded rage.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
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#SupportCreativity
By Subraj Singh
Stephen King's “It” and understanding the concept of Guyanese Horror SOON, autumn will be upon Iowa, and the International Writing Programme writers, currently based at the University of Iowa, will be exposed to everything that comes with it. Pumpkin pie, piles of leaves, cold days and Halloween. My own early thoughts about autumn and Halloween combined with the current hype surrounding the new film, “It”, recently got me thinking about horror in Guyanese literature (oral or written) and culture. What elements are there in our country, in our villages and towns that we would equate with true horror? This space would be a good place to insert a joke about current Guyanese politics. However, I shall resist the urge and will focus on the task at hand. When I say “horror” in the Guyanese context, I mean what are those terrifying mythological/supernatural elements in our culture that can be written into our literature and achieve the nationwide level of notoriety that “It” has given to the creepy clown at the centre of the plot? Unfortunately, I have not managed to see the film as yet. But I can tell, based on reviews and an assortment of trailers, videos, memes and viral threads (all of which constitute a virtual body of literature created by the young people of today), that the newest incarnation of Stephen King’s groundbreaking novel “It”, is quite a sensation. Of course, Guyanese horror exists as much as American horror exists. There are those who might say that horror is horror and that it cannot be categorised culturally. Some might argue that people, as a whole, can be scared by the same things. Some might also say that all peoples get scared in the same way. But is this really true? To define Guyanese horror is to define supernatural elements that bring fear to the Guyanese people. But the relationship between Guyanese and the supernatural has always been one that consists of several layers – only one of which happens to be fear. With the supernatural in our country, otherworldly beings can be viewed with admiration or can be treated with scorn; they can be worshipped or they can be shunned; and, of course, they can be feared. In this way, creatures and beings who contribute to the notion of what might be termed “Guyanese horror”, have a relationship with the local populace that might appear to some to be more nuanced and more complex than the sort of representation of the creature that the film and, perhaps, King’s book itself presents to us. Of course, fear alone can be quite a complex feeling to unravel and it does not do to simply simplify the fascination with the clown from the film as simply being the after-effects of a horror movie. Film is literature, and a literary/psychological/sociological/
cultural study of the film could possibly offer important understandings of horror in American culture. Why are people scared of the shapeshifting clown? What does the creature in King’s book truly represent? Why has this form of horror endured for such a long time in the realms of local and popular culture? In a similar manner, fear – what we fear and how we fear, coupled with religion and other cultural factors, helps to shape the elements of what we are calling Guyanese horror, but with the addition of particular layers to the relationship between the supernatural and the people who believe in it. Guyanese horror would stem from local folklore because that is where all of the superstitions in Guyanese culture, including
aspects of several religions, emerge from. This connection of horror to folklore and folklore to religion might explain the additional layers that form the relationship between people and the supernatural. In Hinduism, for example, there are various deities who are to be worshipped, but there are also an equally important branch of gods and goddesses who are meant to instill fear in the believer, whether that fear is to ensure that an individual does the right thing or whether that fear comes about simply because of the depictions of that particular god or goddess in the oral tradition that has been handed down to us. A good example of this is seen in the Hindu goddess, Kali – often portrayed with several hands, a garland of skulls, a platter of blood, a severed
human head in one hand, and an open mouth with a protruding red tongue. The image itself is terrifying, so the goddess must be feared. The goddess, however, is a slayer of demons, so she must be admired. Kali is also a form of the god, Shiva, so she must be loved. Kali helps to underscore the various layers of the relationship that Guyanese people can have with the “terrifying” or “horrid” within local folklore, within the concept we are regarding as “Guyanese horror”, which as exemplified through this brief discussion on Kali is not built on fear alone, but on other important emotions and reactions as well. Of course, there are other aspects of local culture that present this sort of complex relationship with beings and creatures from another realm. The god-figure of Makonaima from Indigenous folklore might generate various emotional reactions, other than fear, from the people who believe in him. Even those spirits and monsters from folklore that are generally known to be explicitly negative forces might undergo a re-presentation in literature in order to shape the relationship between humans and the folkloric to be one that is much more than fear. The examples that come immediately to mind are Dr. Paloma Mohamed's play, The Fairmaid’s Tale, where a young girl is transformed into the mermaid-like fairmaid, inspiring fear, yes, but also sympathy and admiration considering what the girl achieves earlier in the play. In other versions of fairmaid stories, we see the fairmaid being approached by at least one lecherous man who tries to assault the creature, believing her to be a beautiful woman at the riverside on a dark night. More often than not, in these stories, the fairmaid usually strangles or drowns the man. This also inspires fear but also imparts admiration, respect and a sense of justice on behalf of the creature. Certainly, in both the oral and written literature in Guyana, there are many other examples which can highlight the multifaceted relationship that exists between Guyanese people and the creatures they believe in. Fear is only a single part of the complex concept that we are here referring to as Guyanese horror. As an outsider looking in on American pop culture, it is fascinating to observe the various reactions to “It”, all of which are, in a sense, celebratory of an iconic horror figure created by an iconic horror writer. As everyone celebrates “It”, I think a lot about our own monsters that can be found in Guyanese literature and the fact that they are slowly dying. The ole higues’ flames are slowly ebbing out. The baccoos are locked in their bottles. The massacuraman moves further upriver. The cries of the churile are becoming fainter and fainter.
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
Life in the Rupununi
Jerry Marco's portrayals through Art By Abigail Brower ART is not the typical career choice for most money seekers in the Rupununi, but young Jerry Marco has become an exception in his community. The budding artist whose work predominantly centres on painting and sculpture has recently showcased his collection at an exhibition at the National Art Gallery, Castellani House. Born in 1998 and raised in an extended family in the Wowetta Village of the Rupununi, Region Nine, Jerry always had creative tendencies and much of his work incorporates indigenous cultures and traditions. The young man is known as a versatile artist for his drawings that mostly portray scenes and natural aspects of the Rupununi. He also specialises in realistic portraits of the people in the Wowetta Village. “I love bringing out emotions and expressions of people in my drawings,” he said. The artist earned a Grade Two in Visual Arts at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Examinations in 2014. Faced with deciding what he wanted to study after secondary school, though Jerry was torn between several options, he made a decision in 2015 when he moved to Georgetown to attend the E.R. Burrowes School of Art to enhance his artistic skills. Jerry has done numerous drawings. The portrait artist explained that the value of his drawing is embedded in the detail and understanding of this subject, adding that capturing a person's emotions requires a professional skill. But Jerry's natural creative ability coupled with his academic training, certainly equip him to depict these emotions with much ease. The artist admits that he regularly encountered problems such as lack of art materials, but he credits these challenges as the reason why he became so creative. “I usually look for other things I can use to make my art work," he said, adding that he is also grateful for the moral support from his secondary school teacher. Jerry works with different materials like wood, metal, wire, stone and paint to create sculptures and paintings which depict mostly social issues. Driven by the creative passion, the budding artist recently completed his schooling and will be graduating later in September. He is determined to launch his creative career in and around
sport, Jerry also mentors young artists in the Rupununi. After graduating, he plans to return to his home in the Rupununi permanently. “It’s difficult to find a place to rent and being able to keep up with the rent,” he said, but more than that, his schooling has led him to notice that many locally-made products were not branded effectively. This observation has encouraged him to open a small business in the Rupununi and to
Guyana. Although his own creative work is outstanding, Jerry is inspired by local artist George Simon and Compton Babb. In his spare time, apart from indulging in
contribute to the development of art in small villages. Jerry stated, however, that he also has a strong desire to travel Guyana in his quest to further develop his own artistic capabilities. “Rupununi will always be my home. I have my family who helped shape me into the person I am today,” he said. Apart from his entrepreneurial ambitions, Jerry is adamant that young people holistically should follow their passion and live their dreams. “You want to be a footballer? Even if Guyana doesn’t have the scope in this field, it doesn’t mean you have to throw away your dreams," he said. His works have also been on exhibition at the recent Onhare Indigenous Festival at the Courtyard Mall, in Georgetown.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
VII
Sensitive teeth
I WOULD SAY without fear of contradiction that nearly half of the patients who visit my clinic for dental treatment complain that their teeth pain when they eat or drink hot or cold foods or drinks. Pain may also be felt when they breathe in cold air. The condition can be rather annoying but the solution to the problem can be easily prevented or treated. Sensitivity can happen when gums pull away from the teeth or when gum tissue is lost. Gum loss can also occur as a result of brushing too hard or not brushing and flossing regularly. When gum loss occurs, the part of the tooth below the gum line can be exposed. This exposed part is called tooth root. There are tiny tunnels that contain fluid and lead from the tooth root to the tooth’s nerve centre. This nerve centre is called the pulp. When heat or cold touches these tunnels, the tooth fluid can excite the nerve, causing pain in your teeth. Sensitivity can also happen if the tooth’s hard surface layer, called enamel, gets worn away. Now the sensitivity can also come and go, but ignoring it can lead to other health problems in your mouth. So, what are the factors that can contribute to tooth sensitivity? Brushing too hard which eventually destroys the extreme attachment at the gum line or using a toothbrush with hard bristles. Remember toothbrushes with stiff bristles are really meant for artificial teeth and gums such as dentures, bridges, etc. Coca cola, fruit juices and sugary snacks can contribute to cavities, which may cause sensitivity. The initial stages of tooth decay around the neck of the tooth could manifest as sensitivity. Another situation that can result in sensitivity is teeth grinding. This is made complicated for the dentist to treat due to the fact that most cases involve a heavy influence of the patient suffering from a psychological disorder, either permanent or temporary. For example, when a person is stressed out he or she may be consistently grinding their teeth without being
conscious of it. Not long after, the result is the initiation of gum line retraction with accompanying teeth sensitivity. There are other less common causes such as tooth mobility, tooth cracks or fractures, nerve damage and tooth trauma. Something that may surprise you is the fact that frequent dental cleanings can lead to teeth sensitivity. In other words, you dentist can actually harm you in this way. The effects are usually transient but you should revisit your dentist if it persists.
And by the way, in addition, those frequent and unnecessary professional cleanings can cause your teeth to darken (but that is another topic). Teeth whitening may also be the culprit in sensitivity because many of the over-the counter products are able to disorganise the chemical construction of the enamel’s surface. How can you help to prevent sensitivity? First, brush and floss thoroughly at least twice a day to prevent gum loss. Be sure to clean all parts of your mouth, including between the teeth and along the gum line. If when you are finished you are not sure if the job you have done is not adequate, then you can utilise plaque disclosing tablets. Now, what should you do if you have sensitive teeth? Before visiting your dentist and having to pay for information that you can get free from this column, start by purchasing and using Sensodyne Toothpaste for Sensitive teeth. Now there are many tooth pastes that claim to help sensitive teeth but few actually are effective. The important thing is to read the ingredients label and if it does not contain potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride, it may not work to your satisfaction. Meanwhile, remember to observe all the preventive instructions mentioned earlier. If the prescribed medicated toothpaste does not work, then see your dentist. He may then apply fluoride gel and other chemicals if necessary. Also, depending on the dentist’s diagnosis he or she would do bonding to cover the exposed tooth root, repairing cavities, selective filing of cusps to relieve grinding, etc.
‘Saints’ boy aiming for the heart
Seeks scholarship to pursue his goals
LINDEN-born, Cleon Bovell, has passed the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) with flying colours, having been named top student of the St. Stanislaus College for CAPE, and is now hoping to attain a scholarship as he pursues an exciting, yet challenging, career path as a cardiothoracic surgeon; a medical doctor who specialises in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, oesophagus, and other organs in the chest. The 18-year-old McKenzie native created history as the first student from St. Stanislaus to have obtained 10 Grade Ones in the Science subjects at CAPE. Bovell wrote a total of 11 CAPE subjects between 2016 and 2017. Bovell is no stranger to excellence, having secured 13 passes (Grades One and Two) in the June 2015 Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certificate (CSEC) examinations. Sweetened by those successes, the young man pronounced his readiness to run with the horsemen at a higher institutional level and aim to become one of the world’s most
renowned Cardiothoracic Surgeons. He has commenced studies in Biology at the University of Guyana (UG) and plans to switch majors to pursue the MBBS programme in preparation for his intended career. “Preparing for CSEC exams was the foundation and I have learned from my mistakes in preparing for CSEC… For CAPE I studied smarter and not just harder, so I was able to manage my time better. Time management is the main thing and is one of the keys to success,” Cleon said. “After I do the MBBS programme I hope to specialise. After becoming a general practitioner, you would then go through internship – depending on which institution you are at.” CHOICE OF PROFESSION The young scholar said that being able to help people was something he aspired to do. "[I chose to be a doctor] when I was quite small and as I continued to grow, I realised I could do so much more. Currently, there are a lot of heart-related and dietary problems.
I love the heart. It’s my favourite organ of the entire body, that’s why I opted to go into cardiology," he said. Prior to securing a place at Saint Stanislaus College in Georgetown, Bovell attended Watooka Day Primary in Linden and was among the top 10 achievers in Linden in the National Grade Six Assessment Examinations in 2011. He then moved to the capital city to live with other relatives for seven years as he continued his education. Bovell is now seeking support to pursue a career in Medicine. "I am extremely proud of my achievements and am hoping that I would be considered for the award of a scholarship, which would allow me to realise my dreams of pursuing medical studies to become a Cardiothoracic Surgeon," he said. He has enrolled to do the first year in Biology at the University of Guyana (UG) and is hoping to obtain a transfer to their medical programme at the earliest opportunity.
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
WHITHER ARE THE PARKING METERS?
WE did not expect to revisit the Parking Meter issue so soon after the Report of the Commission of Inquiry was debated by the City Council since we felt that a more rational spirit would have subsumed the issue. But the issue is almost at the same point from which it started: the City Council has decided that the Contract with Smart City will stand and will be effectuated but certain parts of it would be re-negotiated.
The decision to renegotiate the Contract came as a great surprise as there were a number of factors which positively militated against such a decision. In the first place, it is generally felt in intellectual and consumer circles that a large majority of the citizens of Georgetown, as well as people countrywide, reject the imposition of Parking Meters on the City. And this position seemed to have now infected the City Council itself which was regard-
ed as the bastion of pro-Parking Meter support; now, the Council is almost equally divided between supporters and opposers of the Parking Meter scheme. It would be foolhardy to attempt to carry out a scheme to which the majority of people were opposed. In the second place, the Council should have precluded itself from doing any further business with Smart City since that Company had publicly insulted the City Council when it refused to make available to the Council's Commission of Inquiry certain basic documents such as the Feasibility Study of the Parking Meter scheme which was essential for the thoroughness of the Commission's work. Smart City's refusal to make available such records also transgressed the Government of Guyana's policy of transparency in conducting the affairs of Government. A number of other such factors were mentioned in the City Council's debate and in the media. We could not reiterate these but one example would suffice: Councillor Duncan's questioning of the bona fides of the Smart City Company and the past brushes with the Law by some of its senior personnel. The Councillor had done his research on the Internet and from current magazines. The M&CC mentioned that its re-negotiating team would be drawn from the Council and from citizens who possess the skills relevant to such negotiations. The Mayor has divorced herself from serving on this team. But so far M&CC has not indicated that Smart City would be amenable to re-negotiation of the Contract. In consumer circles, there is a strong body of opinion that Smart City would not go any further with the Parking Meter scheme. The main reasons proffered are that, firstly, there is a precondition to any renegotiation which is that the quantum of Smart City's profits would be reduced. When it is realised that Smart City would be making an investment of about US$10. millions as against the Guyana side whose share of the investment would be the road system of Georgetown worth billions of dollars as well as M&CC's obligation to maintain the parking meter areas in good repair for the next 20 years at least, it would be realised that Smart City would be making 1% to 5% of the total investment while M&CC would be making at least 95%. With this kind of investment proportions, Smart City would have to be allocated far less profit than the 80% they were expecting. Secondly, the validity of the Contract they originally made is under question and if it is found that the Contract has no valid-
ity and could be voided at any time, Smart City may be unwilling to continue in such a situation. Thirdly, the Company would have to make regular foreign exchange remittances abroad and should have the acceptance of the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Guyana. As far as we understand, both agencies have not been engaged in this respect. And fourthly, there is a large body of local opinion at all levels of the Society which is against Parking Meters and there is no guarantee that it would not continue to be adversarial. Smart City would find it uncomfortable to operate in such a milieu. The M&CC must, therefore, ascertain with Smart City whether they are interested in continuing and if they are, the minimum conditions on which they would be renegotiating the Contract. In Traffic Control, there are three phases: In the first phase, users of the roads regulate themselves; in the second phase, regulation depends upon the Police; and it is only when personal and Police regulation become ineffective that Parking Meters come in as a last resort. Most of downtown Georgetown is far from congested and the comparatively small areas which become congested at some hours of the day and some days of the week could be managed by the Police. Indeed, whenever the Police are manning traffic at rush hours or certain days with heavier traffic, they do so quite effectively. If there is a constant Police presence, there would be no traffic problem. There are two observations we would like to make for readers to think about: All Parking Meter proposals and schemes have had their origin abroad; no rooted and resident Guyanese citizen has ever proposed a Parking Meter scheme for Georgetown. The second observation: The M&CC went into the parking Meter scheme primarily to raise revenue and not to control traffic. The motivation of the Parking Meter scheme has been financial on all sides, talk of traffic control and traffic congestion has been an afterthought.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
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Climate change and its effects on Guyana … Still seasonal weather, but with slight variations
By M Margaret Burke IN TODAY’S world climate change is everybody’s business. Things are happening even at this very moment across the globe and by now, while Irma is becoming a household name, so will be two other tropical storms if they have their way – Jose and Katia, which are now rolling in the Atlantic basin. Komalchand Dhiram of the Office for Climate Change (Guyana), explained that climate change is a continuing present day issue. He said that floods, heat waves, strong winds and their impact on society reach us almost every day and these reports imply a threat to our present way of living, urging for responsibility, pro-environmental behaviour and ecologically sustainable progress. “There is an increasing awareness that climate change is not only an ecological and economic dilemma but also a social and psychological one. Guyana can expect prolonged dry spells, flash floods and rising sea level,” he said. THE VERY HOT DAYS ARE NORMAL In an explanation for the very hot days that many Guyanese are complaining of; many feel that it is unusual and that something else might be in the ‘air’, Dhiram said that during this time of the year from, June to August the northern hemisphere of the globe experiences summer, while the southern hemisphere should be experiencing winter. He noted, however, that because Guyana is located within 10 to 70 latitudes north, the atmosphere above Guyana experiences its highest Net Radiation during this time of the year, using the imagery with figures below to provide further explain the details: Guyana, he said, has transitioned into the primary (longer) dry season, which will last until mid-November. During this period, there will be long dry spells (days without rain fall) and short wet spell will peak in October, the reason being because of the position of Guyana relative to the sun, hence this is normal. According to Dhiram, another cause for the very hot days is the global and environmental change that Guyana, as well as people in many parts of the world, are experiencing. He explained that human activities have further contributed towards the increasing heat waves during the hot days, by the increasing global emission of greenhouse gases. “In Guyana, we may not have the mega factories that produce significant amount of greenhouse gases, but the increasing use or air condition units (ACUs) along with an increased
number of motor vehicles urbanisation of the cities and villages may well interfere with the atmospheric chemistry. Other results show a warming of the surface air temperature at land stations. In general, he said, the indices based on minimum temperature show stronger warming trends than indices calculated from maximum temperature. The frequency of warm days, warm nights and extremely high temperatures have increased, while fewer cool days, cool nights and extremely low temperatures were found. CHANGE IN CLIMATE AND DIRECT EFFECTS Climate change, Dhiram said, is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system that persists for several decades or longer, usually at least 30 years. These statistical properties include averages, variability and extremes. Climate change may be due to natural processes, such as changes in the sun’s radiation, volcanoes or internal variability in the climate system, or due to anthropogenic (human influences) such as changes in the composition of the atmosphere or land use. Over the past two decades, Guyana has experienced its most extreme meteorological and hydrological disasters on record, which are to some extent related to the increasing climate variability and change. He noted that research showing local data have indicated an increase of 0.8 C of the difference between night time and day time temperature for northern Guyana and 0.6 C for southern over the last 50 years. The frequency of extreme rain events and prolonged dry spells have also increased throughout Guyana (e.g. 2015 coastal flood, July 15, 2015, and December 23, 2016 floods in Georgetown, and May 16, 2017 flood in Region Seven and Eight;1997/98 and 2015/16 drought episodes, etc.). Meteorologically, the increasing variability of floods and dry spells are having severe impacts on the livelihoods of all Guyanese, he said. SEASONAL WEATHER PATTERN Northern Guyana has two rainy seasons while the south has one. The first rainy season in the north starts around the last week of April to the first week of May and ends around the last week of July to the first week of August. The second rainy season in the north starts around the second week of November and ends around the first week of February. The dry seasons are between the rainy seasons. There is no definite start and end dates of the rainy and dry season because it depends on the dynamics and thermodynamics of the atmosphere. Hence close
monitoring is being practiced, Dhiram said. He noted that the rainfall seasons in Guyana are found to be associated with the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The ITCZ is located between the borders of the northern and southern hemispheres, the behaviour of the atmosphere in this zone results in an uplift of air and generation of heavy convective rainfall and thunderstorms moves north and south with the progression of the seasons. The seasons are associated with the varying position of the Earth relative to the Sun, hence, the behaviour of the atmosphere is highly correlated with the radiation from the Sun. The rainy seasons in Guyana are also influenced by the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) because of the high correlation between the temperature irregularities in the Eastern and Central Pacific (ENSO Region) and northern South America and other regions across the globe. ENSO refers the interaction between the atmosphere and ocean in the tropical Pacific Ocean that results in a somewhat periodic variation between below-normal and above-normal sea surface temperatures and dry and wet conditions over
the course of a few years. It also has three phases: El Niño (above normal temperature) and La Niña (below-normal temperature – with high intensity and longer rainy season); and Neutral (temperature that is close to normal). “There is still seasonal weather in Guyana but with a slight variation because of the increasing occurrence of El Nino and La Niña and another forcing,” Dhiram said. He further explained that the Hydro-meteorological Service has been developing capacities to mitigate the impacts of climate variability and change, mainly through the Global Framework for Climate Service (GFCS), which is a global partnership of governments and organisations that produce and use climate information and services. GFCS seeks to enable researchers, producers and users of information to join forces to improve the quality and quantity of climate services worldwide, particularly in developing countries. It also seeks to build on continued improvements in climate forecasts and climate change scenarios to expand access to the best available climate data and information. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
Pakuri Lifeguard Club gains momentum By Michel Outridge THE lives of residents and visitors to Pakuri Village (formerly St. Cuthbert’s Mission) who want to take a swim are safe under the watchful eyes of the members of the newly-established Pakuri Lifeguard Club. The Club was formed in August in time for the observances of Indigenous Heritage Month and the Village Day, as both events were held at community.. It’s main aim is to prevent any incidents of drowning or accidents while visitors and residents are have-ing a swim in the creek, located in the village, and which serves as a prominent attraction to many.
Eight of 10 members of the Pakuri Lifeguard Club
Samaya Simon, a member of the club
Club member, Samaya Simon, told the Pepperpot Magazine that being a lifeguard was not her first career choice but after undergoing intense training
and becoming certified, she eventually took a liking to it. Being an excellent swimmer is also a plus for the 20-year-old Pakuri resident who said she has been swimming in the community since at the age of six. The Pakuri Lifeguard Club is comprised of 10 members of both sexes from the community who undertook three-weeks of formal training conducted by qualified Peace Corps volunteers. The group was coursed in First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and rescue breathing and other skills which required them taking both practical and theory sessions. According to Simon who was born and raised in the community, the experience is a life-changing one and being a certified lifeguard will certainly aid towards enhancing the lives of youths in the village. The training as challenging but she was up for it and told herself she had to succeed to become a lifeguard. She said that since the programme was quite successful it is hoped that it can be
expanded and more youth be trained to and train to become members of the club. Noting that safety is paramount, Simon said while it is the club’s role is to ultimately oversee and protect persons who are in and around the water, she also emphasised the importance of visitors paying heed the warning signs which are erected around the creek, adding from observation most times people pay scant attention and put themselves in danger. As a consequence, whenever there is an event at the Creek (Mahaica River) or there are visitors at the Pakuri community, the all 10 members of the club will be on duty. The Pakuri Lifeguard Club will be under the guidance of Toshao Lenox Shuman, however another village, Oneka Dundas, has been tasked with the day to day supervision while Village Council will undertake the payment of emoluments to the lifeguards. For Simon, the Pakuri community is home for her as she has grown accustomed to the way of life there.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
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MY BROTHER’S KEEPER We continue this week with our stories in observance of World Suicide Prevention Day which was held last week. Below is the story of Renee Tench and her brother Wayne. WAYNE was 15 years old when I left home for good. We had separate friends at that time because of our age difference, and I don’t feel like I knew him as well after I left home. Fifteen is a tough age and with me being so preoccupied with my own life, I kind of lost track of Wayne and just assumed that all was well with him. When we saw each other, he seemed to be the same old Wayne to me. He had a couple of jobs but seemed not to hold onto them for very long. Anytime we talked he was always telling me about going and doing things with his friends. His best and steady friend was Kelly. They seemed to go everywhere together and I know Wayne loved her very much. She was so cute and she seemed to “get” Wayne better than anybody ever had. I thought she was a great girl and I was happy that Wayne had her in his life. Many years later, Kelly and I reconnected as adults and she has become a very important person in my life too. Wayne never once said anything to me about anything outside of normal. He was always the class clown kind of guy. Always ready with a joke at any time. He could come up with hilarious things to say. After I had moved away I never once worried about him. I was just so clueless. THE SIGNS On Tuesday, February 21, 1984 Roger, my husband, and I were visiting Momma when Wayne and Kelly came by to get something from Wayne’s room. I don’t remember what exactly, but they were on their way somewhere else, so the visit was brief. As they were leaving, Wayne walked back up the hill to the carport where I was standing and he hugged me and told me that he loved me. Well, he hadn’t done that in a very long time and I had a twinge of something strange, but I ignored it. As Roger and I were leaving that day and were heading down the road in front of Momma’s house she came running down the hill yelling for us to stop. She asked me to step out of the
car because she had something she wanted to ask me in private. She told me that she had found something in Wayne’s room that made her think that he was thinking about suicide. I said, “every kid goes through those kinds of feelings, so don’t worry about it, it’s just a phase.” Furthermore, I told her that if she let Wayne know that she had been in his room snooping that he would be furious with her. I will live with those words for the rest of my life. Two days later, on Thursday, February 23rd, 1984, I was at work at the animal shelter with my shirt stuffed with orphaned kittens. I was carrying them in my shirt to keep them warm and was bottle-feeding them every couple of hours. My friend and co-worker, Susan
said seriously? Why didn’t I realise that he was really saying goodbye to me on the carport? Why had I not been more in touch with him as his sister? His friends knew way more about him than I did. He was only 17, how could I have let this happen? I ask myself these questions still even after more than 27 years have passed. From that moment on, every member of my family became someone else. Our very identity had changed. We were now the mother, father and sister of the boy who killed himself. Trying to wrap my mind around this was impossible.
Boyer, came into the room that I was in and told me that Roger was out front and needed to see me. I could tell by the look on her face that this wasn't a good visit. Roger was at work that day at the Fire Department and I knew he would never leave the firehouse unless it was extremely important. As soon as I laid eyes on him I KNEW it was Wayne. But, all he kept saying was for me to go get my things because we had to go. I kept asking him what was wrong, but he wouldn’t tell me until we got outside. As soon as the front door closed I told him I wasn’t going any further until he told me what was wrong. He looked at me and said “Wayne has taken his life.” I started screaming and crying and laid down on the ground so grief-stricken that I could hardly breathe. I feel exactly the same way right now. This is so incredibly hard to remember. It is even harder to admit my selfishness. Why didn’t I take what Momma
AFTER THE NEWS Roger took me home to change clothes and then he drove us through pouring rain to Momma’s house. When I walked in the door and saw her I almost died myself. I was so incredibly hurt, but seeing Momma completely broken… I can’t find the words to describe it. It was like we all went into a time warp that I’m not sure that my Momma ever came out of. I was so confused and unsure of what to do, but I knew I had to take charge because Momma sure wasn’t able to think straight. I don’t remember a whole lot during this time because everything just ran together and I guess I was just so in shock. I was like Wayne in that once I was mad, I was livid. So, this made for some interesting moments at Momma’s that day and the days to follow. Later that day my Uncle Ray came to the house and he had Wayne’s clothes, wallet and class ring along with 37 cents that he had in his pocket. He had gone to the hospital to identify Wayne and they gave him Wayne’s belongTurn to page XVII ►►►
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
#SupportCreativity
A pillar in Guyanese art history
Stephanie Correia
LARGELY considered by many in the local arts community as Guyana’s pioneer ceramist, Stephanie Correia MS AA (b. April 28, 1930 d. July 17, 2000) was responsible for elevating clay works far beyond the parameters that limited consideration of the medium as merely utilitarian to a position just a few years later where they were finally given the opportunity to share the same platform as fine artworks. In recognition of the many years she dedicated to perfecting her work and educating countless eager students in the process, Correia was awarded the Medal of Service (1980) and
the Golden Arrow of Achievement (1996) by the Guyana government. The invaluable contributions she made to her field of creative practice and her commitment to the preservation of local indigenous iconography through the production of her own work and the subsequent engagement with other practitioners using the same medium, have secured her a leading position in Guyana’s relatively short history of art production. Born Stephanie Helena Campbell to Stephen and Umbelina Campbell nee DaSilva, she would go on to spend the rest of her life drawing inspiration from and studying her
family’s heritage in order to better inform her creative practice. Her father, a Spanish Arawak originally from Venezuela, was the first Indigenous legislator in the British Guiana House of Assembly (a position he held for nine years), while her mother was the daughter of Portuguese immigrants from Madeira who had settled in the Pomeroon District. Young Stephanie grew up with her family at Santa Rosa Mission, Moruca in the North West District where she learned about the indigenous cultures under the guidance of her father. She often accompanied him to various settlements and would observe residents
engaged in, among other things, pottery-making activities. Recognising an early creative inclination, her father encouraged her to draw objects from life and also taught her the art of bow and arrow making, tibisiri spinning and basket weaving. In 1950 she enrolled at the Teachers’ Training College on Main Street (now the Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology). Two years later she graduated with a Class I certificate after securing first position both years and becoming the recipient of the inaugural Bain Grey Prize. The early years of Turn to page XIX ►►►
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
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Paulla DeSouza’s Beauty Empowerment Celebration By Shauna Jemmott REVEALING the naturalness and holistic relevance of makeup, international beauty advisor Paulla DeSouza is making it a birthday affair as she heads to her homeland to share the tricks of the trade with an aim to take the local makeup industry to another level. Come September 24, Paulla will do what she does best while reinstating why she has been appointed as Brand Ambassador of “blackUp Paris” based in the twin-island of Trinidad & Tobago. In an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine DeSouza explained: “I am giving [women] the opportunity to join me on a very special day, my birthday- not just celebrate my birthday but to celebrate us, as I share the tricks of the makeup trade that will take their glam to the next level.” At the end of the session, those who attend will receive skills and tips which will make them understand how to “look like a movie star on the red carpet, master the art of shading your eyebrows - minus the painted look, master the art of makeup and get professional guidance that will help you to look your best at your morning board room to your evening business meeting.” The event will be held at the Cara Lodge, on Quamina Street Georgetown between 14:00 hours and 18:30 hours, and is planned for casual women, the professional woman and Make-up Artists (MUA) as well.
DeSouza said she continues to share her skill at affordable costs as she believes that it is the responsibility of every woman to become beautifully empowered to look “effortlessly chic and gorgeous”. And with decades of experience and professional training, and becoming a trainer herself, she has a lot to offer. The list of knowledge and skills to be taught include: Embracing your natural beauty; Self-love, Self-acceptance, Self-care from the inside out; Embracing your worth; The importance of a skin care routine; Understanding the art of makeup; and Application techniques. De Souza said she has long loved working with women all backgrounds and ages and recognised the desire of many to learn her trade of designing the perfect professional look. Working as a beauty advisor for Corporate and Business Professionals through blackUp Paris also exposed her to
Beauty Advisor and Brand Ambassador of “blackUp Paris” Paulla DeSouza
that need, while working with one woman who voiced the desire of many others. “I was busy selling product, during my demonstration, she was like, ‘Wow! Look at what you did, you didn’t even do a lot and I look amazing, please host workshops.’ These women are always asking for the short cuts, as you can imagine time is a luxury. The plea is 'please teach me how to look nice and fresh at seven in the morning to seven at night.' How do I cater to the woman who generally has 10 to 12hrs days?” LESS IS MORE Her secret lies in exhibiting that ‘less is more’ despite the trend. “It really doesn’t take a lot to highlight a woman’s natural beauty. In my eyes every woman is attractive. I am forever amazed at what a consistent skincare routine, tweezers and mascara can accomplish. Sometimes it is that simple. Believe me, the less is more approach is fresh, more classy and elegant, it is less distracting, especially in a business setting,” DeSouza said. With obvious concern, DeSouza hinted at the increasing number of videos on social media giving demonstrations of makeup application by non-professionals who seem to misguide those who seek to learn. “We have to admit, makeup is now wilding out, there are so many 'wanna be’s' on social media that are misinformed, so what we have happening is the blind leading the blind. I am not knocking anyone’s game; but here is the thing, the girl featured in her video is doing her makeup, she never explains why she is doing what she is doing and unfortunately for the women looking on, who also has no clue, they are misled. Some simply give up and conclude makeup is not for them,” she said. She added that the upcoming session, which is expected to be massively supported,
is one to allow true professionals to regain control and let proper make-up artistry live on. “My Beauty Empowerment sessions are tailored to giving professional guidance. My attempt is to take back the wheel, one face at a time. Beauty professionals are not just service providers enhancing the beauty of women, we are counsellors," she said. 'I help women to see themselves holistically and embrace their natural beauty. I generally encourage good skin care routines, taking care of your body from the inside out. Makeup is really awesome, it adds to my self-confidence, I literally get a high from my subtle transformations, but I'm not a slave to makeup. I am big on skin care, from head to toe and eating right for my skin.” Paulla is excited about the forum dubbed ‘Beauty Empowerment Celebration’, and to bring home that fabulous and youthful look to Guyanese women. The dress code for the forum is elegantly chic.
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
Locally produced ice cream a healthy choice DAMION Da Silva is on a mission to provide Guyanese with healthy fruit- flavoured ice creams to satisfy their desires. This is done by transforming locally produced fruit juices such as soursop, cherries, passion fruit, and guava into delicious ice-creams.
Da Silva started making ice creams three years ago, expanding the line of products available at Nicky’s Natural Fruit Juices & Ice cream. Initially, the businessman’s primary product was fruit juice. However, after being exposed to fruit flavoured ice creams during a trip to
Brazil, he made the strategic business decision of producing icecreams. “I was in Brazil looking for equipment for my juice business when I came across soursop ice-cream in an ice-cream parlour. Immediately I started thinking of doing the same thing back home. So when I returned to Guyana I ventured into ice-cream making using my fruit juices. If you melt my ice-creams you could drink them as juices,” Da Silva said. This decision has proven to be profitable. The 100-percent locally produced ice- creams are big hits among consumers. They are available at the company’s three locations: Albert Street, Camp Street and City Mall. Da Silva intends to increase the number of retail outlets to have this product widely distributed across Guyana. Currently, he employs 16 staff, who are involved in the different stages of his retail operations. He employs another six persons, who work on his 35-acre farm situated at Namyrck Backdam, East Bank Essequibo. Da Silva established his farm many moons ago to supply his fruit juice business, which was established in 1994. Having realised that the price for fresh fruits on the local market was controlled by demand and supply Da Silva decided to start farming. “I started out selling a gallon of fruit juice a day and then my business started to expand. So, I decided to start planting. I brought in some seeds and the others I got from the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).This started a long-standing relationship with NAREI. Extension Officers visit my farm from time to time to provide technical support,” the businessman noted. Today, the majority of the fruits used to produce juices and ice creams are grown on his farm. He also purchases fruits in bulk from other farmers depending on the price and quality of produce. Fruits that are not used immediately are kept in a cold storage facility. Having fruits at hand is essential since the company produces hundreds of gallons of fruit juices daily. While, Da Silva loves to farm, he says it entails a lot of work and long hours. As such, when his retail business expands he will be purchasing the additional fruits from farmers. This would also benefit other farmers financially, Da Silva said. He is proud of his achievement to date. Da Silva is pleased that he could provide Guyanese with healthy choices.
folklore
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
HAUNTED FIELDS THE ferry made its way slowly along the Essequibo River on its journey to Bartica. It was a typically long trip so Sudesh was able to eat, take a few drinks and sleep before it reached its destination. He was on his way into the interior to do some farming. After retiring from the government services, he decided to buy a piece of land in the hinterland and start a small farm. Supplies and equipment were purchased for an initial period of three months. Three wheelbarrows, a dozen forks, half a dozen shovels, a dozen cutlasses, two spray cans, bags of seeds and fertilizers and other necessities. He was heading for a new adventure away from the coastland. The boat arrived many hours later after making numerous stops along the way. The supplies and equipment were packed into a ‘Bush Truck’ and they headed deep into the interior. Tomorrow when he arrived he would inspect his property. The very next day he intended to begin work on the farm. The next day Sudesh checked out his plot of land. It had already been marked so serious work could begin. He cleared a small area and pitched tent. He cooked, ate then sat and planned the next week’s work. Later that afternoon he paid a courtesy call on the Toushou (Chief) of the nearby village. While there he discussed employment of villagers on his new farm. He would meet the perspective workers the following morning. He walked back to camp ate, then slept soundly. Next day Sudesh waited impatiently for the labour force to arrive. Two hours after the pre-arranged time he decided to take matters into his own hands. With purposeful strides, he headed for the nearby village. When he arrived in the peaceful community everyone was going about their usual daily routine. Men were already in the backdam at their small farms or fishing. Women were cooking and cleaning. The children were the only noisy ones. They were splashing and swim-
ming in the creek that passed on the outskirts of the village. Sudesh approached the Toushou and enquired about the workers that were supposed to be sent to his farm. That meeting was the earliest signs of all his careful plans unraveling. The Chief apologized to him and explained that the men were reluctant to work on the farm. Shocked by this, Sudesh demanded to know why. The answer was the bigger shock. The farm he was occupying was haunted. He had never heard such rubbish in his life. Haunted? Nonsense! He decided to find a way around this. He employed Porknockers on a part-time basis. They did short stints then headed deeper into the backdam. First, the land was cleared. This exercise took the better part of two weeks. The land was then ‘turned over’ and beds were made. Water from the creek was diverted to help in the irrigation of his crop. Things were moving slowly but surely. Just when things seemed to be working itself out fine, the second crisis hit. This was the period when his first corn crop was close to the stage of being harvested. All his part-time farm hands were off on their gold quest. He had been working the farm solo for a week now. One morning he got the shock of his life when he inspected the fields and found a quantity of corn missing. Angry and indignant he stormed into the small village and demanded satisfaction. The Chief patiently explained that it was not the doing of his villagers. They would never set foot
there. Sudesh stormed out, furious and confused. Suspecting that his neighbours were stealing his crop, he kept vigil to see if he could catch the culprit. For the next three nights, he patrolled, checked and watched for intruders. Nothing happened until the morning of the fourth day. To his horror and disbelief, more corn went missing. Sudesh was beside himself in anger. This had to stop and quickly. The next night he drank an overdose of very strong coffee. He needed bright, opened and alert
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By Neil Primus
eyes if he was going to solve this mystery. He ensured that his torch had brand new batteries then he slipped quietly and stealthily into the corn field that had not been raided yet. He settled down to wait. Crack! Swish! Rustle! Sudesh jumped and came awake. Swish! Rustle! Giggle! Someone was moving around in the field. He clutched his torch
in one hand and his cutlass in the next. Tonight the thief was going to get it good. Crack! Rustle! The plants moved. Some were being bent as the corn was torn off. He crept silently towards the spot ready for action. The moon and clouds were wrestling back and forth for supremacy of the night. Some periods were bright and others were black. It was an even match-up. Rustle! Turn to page XVI ►►►
XVI ◄◄◄ From page XV
Swish! Pluck! Sudesh eased carefully through the cornfield and made his way straight to the spot where the plants were moving. Lucky for him, just then the moon got the upper hand and the field was illuminated by its silvery beams. As his eyes adjusted he saw three small children moving ahead of him. He could not see their faces but he knew they were kids because of their sizes. “Got you! You all lil thieves!” With a scream of triumph, Sudesh rushed at them. Swish! They were gone. It was as if the ground had swallowed them up. Having seen them with his own eyes, he would have a few choice words for the Toushou. He returned to camp and slept soundly. His next visit to the village was a loud, bad-tempered affair. He related the events of the previous night to the Chief and a few elders. All he got in response was nods of understanding. The chief’s verdict was firm and emphatic. No child of the village ever goes there. Spirits were at large. Sudesh stormed out in exasperation cursing under his breath. The next night he was well prepared for the night raiders. This time he had assembled a small arsenal of bricks and two nice, thick whips. He was going to teach them a lesson. At least the chief could not be angry because no children came to his farm. Therefore, nobody could get buss head and lick like peas. Smiling in satisfaction and anticipation, he settled
down to wait. Tonight revenge would be sweet. Swish! Rustle! Pluck! They were back. The movement of the plants showed him how much progress they were making. Snatching up a whip and some bricks, he moved purposefully towards them. Then he launched into his attack. Bricks flew fast and straight. These were followed by him and a cracking whip. Crack! Ply! Wax! He swung lustily left and right. Even though he had taken them by surprise his whip seemed to be hitting corn plants only. By the time this fact registered they had vanished again. He stopped breathless and puzzled. Pow! Ply! Crack! Wax! Bricks and licks had started up again. But none of it was his doing. From out of nowhere bricks rained down on the terrified Sudesh. Then the lashes began. He tried running, no use. He tried dodging; the same thing. CRACK! A brick struck him a jarring blow on his already bleeding head and he descended into welcomed darkness. When he opened his eyes he was looking directly into the sun, it was morning. He had blacked out and stayed in the field. He felt
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017 as though he had been put in a blender and chopped. Rubbing his aching head, his hand came away bloody. He squinted and shielded his eyes from the harsh sunlight. He sat up groggily and looked around him. As his eyes took in his surroundings, he noticed many tiny footprints in the soft soil. They had stood around him looking down at him. Thank God they did not bother to finish him off. He knew he had a number of wounds in his head and some about his body. His head was still bleeding that meant it was a serious injury. He needed help. In pain, he staggered and stumbled towards the village. Then he blacked out for the second time. This time he awoke in less pain. He was in a hammock and his wounds had been attended to. Feeling better, he asked to see the Chief. When the elderly man arrived, Sudesh told him what had taken place. The Chief looked intently at him and sighed heavily. “My fren youlucky you alive. Dat was Bush Devil dat get yu.!” “What’s dat?” “Dem is small, mischievous, playful spirits. They love to play pranks on you. Some use pieces of wood to mek de sound of someone chopping a tree. Plenty people get lost trying to find de woodcutter. Dey does only get violent if you interfere wid dem.” Sudesh closed his eyes and tried to think even though his head was throbbing like the bass drum of a noisy rock band. He wasn’t thinking about the buss head and licks. He wasn’t thinking about losing his corn. He wasn’t thinking about the sleepless nights he had. All he could think about was getting to town. That would be very difficult to do under the present circumstances. He had no money on him and did not know anyone he could borrow some from. What he was positive about was that he would never be returning to that farm. The Little Devils could keep it for all he cared.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XI
ings. My poor Uncle Ray was just so sad when he walked up the hill to the house. He was the one constant in Wayne’s life as far as a male influence. Wayne really looked up to him and respected him like no other person on this planet, and so did I. Momma walked around like a zombie and we both just existed the next few days. The trucking company my daddy worked for made sure that Daddy got the message and the company flew him home. He was there the next day as we were at the funeral parlour picking out the casket that would soon hold my brother. My heart was so broken for him and Momma, and I didn’t know what to do for them. I had never felt so helpless. Roger looked over at my daddy and saw that Daddy was wiping away tears. This was the first time I ever saw Roger cry. Daddy had already started drinking, but he didn’t do anything out of the way. After the funeral parlour, we went to the city graveyard to pick out a plot for Wayne and one for Momma right beside of him. Daddy never came over, but he stood outside of his truck and watched us from on top of the hill. To this day that is the saddest sight I had ever seen and it physically hurts to remember it. My poor daddy would have never won a father of the year award, but I know he loved Wayne so very much, but he just never found a way to really tell him that. They were both alike in that, but neither would have ever admitted it. Roger and I stayed with Momma until after the funeral on Sunday. That first night Momma just walked around the house like she was lost. Late that night under the lighted bookstand that the funeral home gives you to hold the sign in book, me and Momma just held each other and cried. It was like we were in the middle of the sea in a storm and we had no idea which way to go. I cannot to this day imagine the grief that my parents must have felt. I do know that until the day that they died, that grief never lessened for either of them. I learned later on that my daddy had gone down to the funeral parlor that night, drunk and grief-stricken, and had tried to pull Wayne out of the casket to take him home with him. He kept saying that he knew Wayne was cold and he couldn’t stand for him to be cold. The funeral home people were able to finally get him out of there, but I bet they were sure worried about the services ahead and how Daddy was going to deal with it. Just hearing and thinking about that happening still tears me apart. Thank God I was not there or I may have never been able to have gotten past it. We held the “Receiving of Friends” at the funeral parlour and I think there were over 300 people that came. I am appreciative now of the outpouring, but at the time I was so preoccupied with thoughts of people being there just so they could see the spectacle. It went against every fiber of my being to have people walking by and looking at him there in that casket. It was all so surreal. It was like walking around in a nightmare. At one point I was in the room beside of the casket when I saw the distinct flash of a camera bulb. I shoved my way through the crowd to find my Papa’s wife Wilma standing there with a friend of hers with a Polaroid of my brother lying in the casket. Have you ever felt yourself almost rip through your own skin? That’s what I felt like right at that moment. I started screeching at her for being such an idiot, and how dare she take a picture of my brother, and on and on. At the same time, I am ripping up the picture and told her she had one chance to get out of there with that camera in one piece. I realise now how out of control I was, but again I could have cared less. In some small way, it was the last time I ever got to take up for Wayne and I like to think he would have appreciated that. The funeral was held on Sunday and I have almost no recollection of that at all. I do have an audio cassette of it but still can’t listen to it. I know that Wayne’s friends were there, and I was vaguely aware of them from time to time but hadn’t yet put together what all they were going through. Kelly had been one of his friends that came to Momma’s house and had found Wayne dead in his car from carbon-monoxide poisoning. I can’t imagine what all she went through because of the choice Wayne made. How does a 17-year-old handle something like that? That vision burned into her brain forever. We have talked about it just a little, but I could never fully understand or know what all that did to her. Wayne actually left several suicide notes to his friends in addition to one that he had in the car with him. Suicide is so incredibly selfish. I know the person isn’t trying to be selfish, but it just takes the pain from that person and places it on many others. I have gone through phases of being furious with him, especially when I was dealing with the deaths of our parents. I have also gone through such profound sorrow and guilt for not doing something to stop it when I had the chance. I try to cut myself a little break in that I was only 20 years-old. I was not old enough to have a clue myself, but I should have. We never really found out what made him do this, but by reading his cryptic journal and the suicide note itself, I can only see an intense anger and disappointment with his life. In reality, it doesn’t really matter why, it wouldn’t change a thing. Wayne would still be dead. Momma was consumed with wanting to know why, and she never really gave up trying to figure it out
so that it would make sense to her. Suicide never makes sense, so the torture she went through was fruitless. YEARS LATER After Wayne’s suicide, we all spent the first couple of years walking around in a daze of confusion. Trying desperately to make sense of it and hoping that we would all wake up and find it to be just a really bad nightmare. Momma struggled to simply not burst into tears all day, every day. I have always heard the term “broken-hearted”, but until this happened to my Momma, I never really understood what that meant. She was truly broken in all sense of the word. She and Wayne were so close throughout his life and it was literally like someone cut one of her legs off. She was crippled. Momma probably blamed herself more than anybody too. Wayne was so much like her and neither one of them could every really let themselves be truly happy. It was almost like they didn’t think that they deserved to be happy. Momma recognized this in herself and felt more of a responsibility in allowing Wayne to follow suit. Since Momma and Daddy had divorced shortly before Wayne passed, Momma lived alone. This was not a good thing for her because it allowed her to wallow in her sorrow. Momma
XVII held on to her sorrow with an iron fist. She never stopped punishing herself. Rog and I both tried to spend time with her and help her at least think of something other than Wayne’s death, but she just about made it impossible to be around her. We were so very different from each other so it was hard to find a way to communicate with her that didn’t drag me down into her despair, but I wanted desperately to help her. All I managed to do was bring me down because I was such a failure at helping her. Daddy just made sure he drank as much Vodka as he could to drown his ache. Daddy tried to drink away a lot of guilt. Poor Momma, she had to go to an empty house with nothing but memories to haunt her. Momma and Daddy both blamed themselves until their dying day. All of us will forever wonder if we could have done something, but the truth is, it wasn’t about us. It was about Wayne and his irrational decision to take his own life. That one decision made from desperation affected so many people and will forever define who we are. I know Wayne would have never done that to us if he had been thinking rationally. I have often said that when I reach Heaven, the Good Lord best turn His head because the first thing I am going to do when I get there is punch Wayne right in the mouth! Then I will grab a hold of him and never, ever let him go again.”
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
Ozone Protection – 30 years later ON September 16, 2017, Guyana joined the international community in celebrating International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. This day marked 30 years since the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was first agreed. As we pause to acknowledge this important milestone, it should be not-
ed that its success can be largely attributed to a gamut of collective effort. For years, scientists have been studying the depletion of the ozone layer. However, this was formalised in 1985 at the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer when scientific data confirmed its alarming rate of ozone depletion. This Vienna Convention was initially adopted and signed by 28 countries. Further, in 1994, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 16 September, the International
Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (resolution 49/114). THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL AT A GLANCE The Montreal Protocol aims to protect the ozone layer by controlling the global production and consumption of ozone depleting substances. The Protocol focuses on several groups of ozone depleting substances (ODS), approximately
100 of which require control. The Protocol also established a timetable for the phasing out of these ODS and their ultimate elimination. While the success of the Montreal Protocol merits celebration, there are still some challenges. The Protocol does not prohibit the use of existing or recycled controlled substances beyond the phase-out dates. Additionally, there are a few exceptions for essential uses where no acceptable substitutes have been found. These include metered dose inhalers (MDI) commonly used to treat asthma and other respiratory problems and halon fire-suppression systems used in submarines and aircraft. THE OZONE LAYER The ozone layer is a sheet of ozone gas (O3) which acts as a filter, protecting us from the harmful ultra violet rays of the sun. This layer of gas is found in the upper part of the atmosphere called the stratosphere. This is the good ozone which comprises about 90% of all ozone. However, in the lower parts of the atmosphere there is bad ozone formed by pollutants which is harmful to life. Examples of ozone depleting substances (ODS) * CFCs - used in aerosol products, as sterilants of medical equipment, food freezing, tobacco expansion, fumigation and cancer therapy. * Foams - CFCs have been used extensively in the manufacture of polyurethane, phenolic, polystyrene and polyolefin foam polymers, used in many different products. * Halons - used in portable fire extinguishers, fixed systems
throughout the industrial, commercial, marine, defence, and aviation industries. * HCFCs (hydrochlorofluorocarbons) - used in the refrigeration, foam, solvent, aerosol and firefighting sectors as a transitional substance to substitute CFCs. * Methyl bromide - used as a fumigant in agriculture, for pest control in structures and stored commodities, and for quarantine treatments. THE OZONE LAYER AND CLIMATE CHANGE Today, the Montreal [Grab your reader’s attention with a great quote from the document or use this space to emphasize a key point. To place this text box anywhere on the page, just drag it.] Protocol while helping to protect and repair the ozone layer, has also greatly aided in the fight against climate change, the protection of human health and the environment. Efforts to address climate change focus on reducing the emission of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The most obvious link between efforts to mitigate ozone depletion and climate change is the fact that certain ozone-depleting substances (ODS) such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are also powerful greenhouse gases. In addition, hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs) and other halocarbons, which do not deplete the ozone layer but are greenhouse gases, are currently commonly used as alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs. This illustrates the need to consider the implications for both issues when
choosing alternatives to ODS, and to consider environmental impact as an important factor, in addition to technical and financial feasibility. Guyana is among the countries that agreed to reduce the use of ozone depleting substances such as CFCs. This is done through the Hydromet Department, National Ozone Action Unit (NOAU) which is responsible for implementing the Protocol. To date, Guyana has taken several actions to achieve this goal, among them, promoting of and training for retrofitting of refrigerators to convert to non-CFC coolants. Efforts have also been made to restrict the importation of CFCs, and to educate the public on recommended substitutes for CFCs. Today, we can boast of having successfully phased out CFCs in 2008, two years in advance of the January 2010 Protocol phaseout date. It is expected that Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) will be reduced by 97.5% of current consumption by 2030. All national efforts have gone a far way in contributing to the global restoration of the Ozone Layer. Source http://www.un.org/en/ events/ozoneday/ozonescience.shtml You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit. epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XII
her professional career were spent teaching in different capacities at a number of institutions including the Sacred Heart RC School, the ER Burrowes School of Art and the St. Joseph’s RC School in Mabaruma. She gave up teaching shortly after in 1955 and got married to Vincent Jerome Correia, whose job at the then Interior Department required him to make frequent trips to hinterland locations. In the same way, she accompanied her father on trips to the interior, she would also later accompany her husband. Between the years 1955 and 1961 she visited a number of Indigenous reservations and continued her observations, sketching their customs and scenes from their daily life. It wasn’t until around 1970 at age forty that her first connection with clay was made. After joining a clay club in the National Park, Correia began experimenting with the material, trying to find ways of working around the difficulties she faced trying to shape the material into complex figures. After making some progress mastering the material she began to make and sell smaller clay items to persons who showed interest in acquiring them. From there she ventured even further to decorate the pieces with underglazes using Amerindian motifs. She spent the next few years researching the subject and experimenting with different types of clay found in
the coastal areas. Following a series of trials and tribulations, Correia knew exactly how to work around the fact that our earthenware clays tended to crack easily. Her participation in two overseas ceramic courses between the years 1972 and 1974 also strengthened her understanding of some the technical difficulties she was experiencing with the material and equipment. Since there were no glaze supplies available at the time Correia sought alternative methods of decorating the vessels that best suited the warm red colour of the clay while maintaining the black, red and white colours traditionally used by the Indigenous peoples. Eventually, she found that white and cream slip could be applied wet using a number of different techniques. Her range of coloured slips then expanded to include black and brown, both of which were developed from different oxides. Correia also worked on developing a glaze for the interior of pots, which would be lead-free and safe for food and drink. These seemingly simple features quickly became markers that separated her work from the rest, making them easily identifiable in the process. As her career progressed over the years, her focus shifted to producing the kind of bowls, water jars, goblets and cooking pots that were common among the indigenous tribes. Although she did occasionally experiment with the shapes of her vessels and
sometimes added organic materials such as leather and beads to accentuate some of the pieces, she remained committed to using only indigenous motifs in her work. This decision, which came very early on in her career, was what made her work distinctive. It represented the perfect balance of traditional and modern ceramic practices. More importantly, it was done in a way that did not compromise the integrity of the heritage she was paying tribute to. Correia exhibited regularly with prolific women artists of the time and had spent three years (1979 to 1981) training a group of twelve Guyanese women who would later form the Lama Craft Group. During the ac-
XIX tive years of her career, she exhibited works in a number of regional and international exhibitions and has had her works added to collections in many countries in the region and further afield in England, Canada and the USA. Her work continues to be a source of inspiration for generations of local ceramists (and painters alike, as she was also an accomplished painter). In fact, a casual observation of the ceramic works currently on our local market would reveal some subtle and not-so-subtle hints of Correia’s unique aesthetic, a testament to the lasting impact her vision and work had on Guyanese art production.
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Women on the Rise and New York Fashion Week I did mention last week that I was anticipating the Women on the Rise event in Long Island. I had no friends going to the conference but I did not feel like a stranger because even before going into the door I met two women who follow me on the Social Media and we started chatting.When I entered the hall a womAn said, “I saw you in Barbados at
Carifesta.” Those words came from Dr Jackie Evans Phillips who was from St Lucia but lives in Connecticut. We hit it off and now I will be speaking at her event next month in Connecticut. I met some other phenomenal women such as the hostess Masha Guerrier who is a business coach and author, Patricia RobinsonDirector of Operations for WBLS, Hot 97
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
and WLIB, Donishia Boston Hill,C.E.O. at Keeper of the Brand Marketing Agency, CEO & Founder / Creative Director at Ice Princess NYC LLC,Terryl Ebony, Executive Director at The Misunderstood Youth Development Center (MYDC) and many others. I love attending events with a nice flow of energy and women inspiring each other with their stories. The networking was great and I received an invitation from the ever so beautiful Patricia Robinson to Circle of Sisters (COS) which is the largest expo for women of colour in New York City. Unfortunately, it is clashing with another event but I have it on my schedule for ... Inspiring lives through fashion next year, God’s willing. The event had expo component to it which reminds me of keep us from participating. our Women in Business Expo I ran into a few people I knew and a few who In September, the fashion buzz is crazy in knew me but is always so interesting is people’s NYC because of New York Fashion Week. My reaction to my braids and the numerous question friend Walter Greene who is an international asked and the last one is always "Can I have a journalist invited me so the view from the front picture with you?" row was awesome. It was also a good place to network while The designer Miguel Vieira, has become drinking wine on the deck and enjoy the lovely a symbol of luxury, elegance, and glamour. view. His beautiful collection featured both men and It was nice to finally trade my six-inch heel women. The models' hair was done in a simple shoes for some flats and walking down Manhattan ponytail and their make up was on point. catching up on old times with Walter. We chatted I got an opportunity to meet the guy re- about the launch of GFW to our love lives. sponsible for the make. The director of makeAs we grew older our appreciation for good up artistry, The talented Romero Jennings who friendship intensifies and that is priceless. is the director of makeup for MAC. Let’s continue to keep a positive mindset, love I sat there and envisioned one day our life, nature and the people around us. designers will be part of NYFW and not the Send us your comments to beyondtherunside shows we have done so far. Many times way1@gmail.com and visit our FB page as designers say they have done NYFW and it we continue this beautiful journey call life is the real deal but resources most of the time BEYOND THE RUNWAY
Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel
Back stage at New York Fashion Week with Romero Jennings, Director of Makeup at M.A.C.and Fashion Blogger Oyinkan in the background
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
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The Magnificent Dreams of Guyanese Teens By Francis Quamina Farrier A FEW MONTHS AGO, the news of a New York-based Guyanese teenager reached us, to the effect that she had been accepted by all eight Ivy League Colleges in the United States of America, to which she had applied. Such a magnificent achievement by students in the United States is not a regular happening. In fact it is becoming much more difficult for students to gain acceptance in any of America's eight Ivy League colleagues. To gain entry in all eight is certainly outstanding. So when 17-year-old Guyanese-born, Kelley Hyles, formally of Vryheid's Lust, East Coast Demerara (ECD), and now based in Brooklyn, New York, realised that she was accepted by all eight Ivy League colleagues to which she had applied, it took quite a while for that achievement to sink in, according to her. Kelly's achievement made history since she is the first Guyanese to have done so. But it wasn't easy. Kelly migrated to the USA at age 11 and joined her mother in Brooklyn. There she continued a discipline which she had inculcated since her pre-teen years; she focused on her studies, as she did while still in Guyana, where she always topped her class as a student of the Vryheid Lust's Primary School on the lower East Coast Demerara. After migrating to New York where her mother Anetta had already migrated, the brilliant teenager became well grounded in that city of a million distractions; especially for a teenager. But Kelly knew why her mother had sent for her, and she was grateful, continuing her passion for higher education in the 'Land of Opportunity'. Kelly's mother was well aware of the brilliance of her daughter from her early pre-teen years, and so she did all within her power to give Kelly the best chances to achieve what was possible; but not without hard work and discipline, and Kelly has, so far, not disappointed her mother, who works two jobs to ensure that her daughter gets all the financial and other support
Kelly Hyles of Guyana
she needs, to continue her path to accomplishing her magnificent dreams. "I am currently a rising sophomore at Harvard College on the Pre-Medical track," Kelly told the Pepperpot Magazine, stating that she plans to concentrate in Human Development and Regenerative Biology, since that major seamlessly blends her interest in Biochemistry and Neurosurgery. VOLUNTEER WORK Added to her focus on her studies, Kelly Hyles has a passion for community service, and so, she decided to travel from New York to her native Guyana, where she recently did a six-week volunteer service stint at the Georgetown Public Hospital. She had previously done similar volunteering at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. While in Guyana, she also visited her Alma Mater, the Vryheid Lust Primary school, where she interacted with students, sharing with them her experiences here, as well as in New York. During her recent farewell address to a gathering, at the Georgetown Public Hospital, which included over a dozen fellow teenage students, Kelly Hyles said , "A special 'Thank You' to my family and everyone else who continue to encourage and support my dreams." As I listened to that teenager delivering an address like someone very mature, I concluded that here was a very special teenager. She was one of two overseas-based teenage students volunteering at the Hospital, who had
given six weeks of Voluntary service. The other was Guyanese-born Crystal Griffith, who is also a Medical student, studying at the University of Florida. Although based in the United States, both teenagers decided to take time out and give voluntary service here in the country of their birth. What is of significance, is that at this very time in America's history, when Immigration is one of the ongoing controversial issues, there have been teenage immigrant students, who continue to do exceedingly well at their studies in the USA. A few of the very high achievers, like Kelly Hyles, have applied and been accepted by all eight of that country's Ivy League colleagues; they are Stefan Stoykov from Bulgaria, Harold Ekeh from Ghana, Kwasi Emin also from Ghana, Kelly Hyles from Guyana, Jude Okonkwo from Nigeria, Augusta Uwamanzu-Nna also from Nigeria and Munira Khalif from Somalia. With her on-going medical studies, Kelly has expressed concern about the 350 million people around the world, including children and teenagers, who are suffering from diabetes, and plans to focus on working to alleviate that illness in her future medical career, as she gains more experience. In one of her essays, Kelly stated, "Experience has been my greatest teacher." That recalled for me, the "tagline" from the promotion of the recently produced movie "The Intern", starring two-time Academy Award-winning actor, Robert De Niro, which states, "Experience never gets old." Very articulate, and with a bubbling personality and with one of the most heart-warming smiles on the planet, Kelly was the Valedictorian of her High School class in the USA, and so when she addressed the gathering at her farewell function at the Public Hospital Georgetown, I immediately recognised in her, the ability as a public speaker. She related her experiences while volunteering at that principal Guyana health facility; "I was allowed to observe doctors and surgeons in the Medical and Surgical Out-Patients Department, Internal Medicine Clinics, Paediatrics Ward and
All smiles. Crystal Griffith, Kesaundra Alves and Kelly Hyles at the end of the Farewell Function. (Photo by Francis Quamina Farrier)
finally, the OB/GYN clinics," she said, and also showered praise on the Board Chair of the Hospital, Kesaundra Alves, who provided her with the opportunity to give voluntary service to that Health Institution. Continuing her farewell address, she told the audience which included teenagers who were wearing their school uniforms, "My schedule helped me cultivate a better understanding of my country's medical system while providing me with clinical experience to complement many years of research." And in a previous Television interview in the USA, she had this to say; "The biggest part of my achievements is realising that I'm only human and I'm going to make mistakes, but it's how I handle those mistakes that I face, that will determine whether or not I'm successful." OVER-ACADEMIC? We are aware that in recent years, there has been a growing number of Guyanese teenagers who have been excelling in academia, gaining multiple passes in 10, 15
and even 20 subjects at examinations. That, for some adults, is cause for concern. They argue that such teenagers do not have time for extra-curricular activities, and as such, will not become rounded adults. Seventeen-year-old Kelly Hyles strongly recommends extra-curricular activities to her fellow teenagers who also excel academically. Listening to Kelly and observing the way in which she has, so far, conducted herself, one is left with the conclusion that adults need to be as supportive as they can, and give whatever guidance that is within them to teenagers, whether to those who excel or not. There is a role for adults in the affairs of teenagers, and those roles, whatever they may be, should never be abdicated. Kelly Hyles, and so many other teenagers, have magnificent dreams. As a result, the matured and the elders, especially those with the power to do so, should ensure that they lend support to teenagers and assist them to realise all their magnificent dreams, and so help to make our world a better place.
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This year Guyana and China celebrate 45 years of Diplomatic ties and as China prepares to observe National Day of the People’s Republic of China and to further improve the bilateral rel
Belt and Road golden chance for global growth By Wang Hongjiang (Contributor) THE Belt and Road Initiative has brought tremendous trade and investment opportunities that the world cannot afford to ignore. In the first seven months, China signed 78.09 billion U.S. dollars of contracted projects along the Belt and Road, up 32.6 percent year on year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. “Its concepts, such as inclusiveness and strategic connection, conform with the common interests of the world and therefore have attracted global attention. The initiative has become the world’s largest growth initiative, livelihood project and public good so far,” said Wang Yiwei from the Renmin University of China. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes.
European Union (EU) direct investment on the Chinese mainland increased 5.4 percent year on year. The EU is China’s biggest trading partner, while China is the EU’s largest source of imports and second largest two-way trading partner. Enormous potential for further investment cooperation still lies ahead given the EU’s investment in China only accounts for about 4 percent of its total overseas investment, while Chinese investment in the EU only takes up about 2 percent of all foreign direct investment (FDI) flowing to the EU. Besides trade and investment, interactions have also increased in culture, education, science and technology, tourism and other areas. On Aug. 18, a Belt and Road high-level meeting for health cooperation was held in Beijing. China has launched 38 key projects in the health sector along with the Belt and Road countries, covering fields including infectious disease control, emergency medical assistance and traditional medicine. As of February, 25 projects had been completed, according to the meeting.
INVESTMENT ON FAST LANE China’s outbound investment to countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative stood at 6.61 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2017, accounting for 13.7 percent of the country’s non-financial outbound direct investment (ODI), up 6 percentage points from the same period in 2016. In contrast, the country’s total ODI dropped 45.8 percent year on year to 48.19 billion U.S. dollars in the H1, Ministry of Commerce (MOC) data showed. Investment growth between China and Belt and Road countries is mutual. As a case in point, in the first seven months, the
INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS China has been exporting high-speed trains and related technologies to the Belt and Road countries. In 2014, China completed the construction of its first overseas high-speed rail in Turkey. In June 2015, China and Russia inked deals for 770 km of track connecting Moscow and Kazan. China’s rail services are stretching all the way to the west along the ancient Silk Road. In August this year, China and Egypt signed a 1.24 billion-U.S.-dollar light rail contract. The 66-km 11-station line will connect Cairo with adjacent cities. Thanks to the China-Europe rail link,
in particular, merchandise trade witnessed robust growth between China and European countries including Germany, Spain and Britain. Since May last year, over 64 million yuan worth of German products have been imported via the China-Europe rail link, data showed. The number of transcontinental cargo rail lines via China’s northern Manzhouli port alone had increased to 35 as of Aug. 9 this year. “The Belt and Road Initiative is key to solving the problem of sluggish recovery and has seized the crucial link of world economic growth -- infrastructure,” Wang Yiwei said. SOLID DRIVER China’s growth will continue to be a key driver for a firming recovery of the world economy, according to the International Monetary Fund chief economist Maurice Obstfeld. Global investors, including the EU, continue to be optimistic about China’s economic growth prospects. In the first seven months, 17,703 new foreign-funded companies were established in China, up 12 percent year on year, according to the MOC. Expressing their confidence in the economy, international financial heavyweights have raised their forecasts for China’s economic growth. For example, the International Monetary Fund in July raised its forecast for China growth to 6.7 percent for 2017. “Strong Chinese growth drives growth particularly in Asian region but also throughout the world,” said Obstfeld. China’s economy expanded 6.9 percent for the first half of 2017, with consumption and services, as well as new innovation-driven economic sectors, taking up larger roles in the economy. As China is transforming its economy from traditional manufacturing sector to service and consumption-oriented sector, its structural transformation and the rebalancing of its economy should lower the growth rate and put growth on a firmer basis over time, the chief economist said.
WIN-WIN SCENARIO Claims that the Belt and Road Initiative is a tool by China to expand its economic interests and dominance abroad ignore the key element underpinning the initiative -- win-win results. Since China launched the initiative in 2013, it has invested more than 50 billion U.S. dollars Egyptian Prime Minister Sherif Ismail (4th R, Rear) attends the signing ceremony between Egypt’s in countries involved in the Belt National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) and the joint coalition of China’s AVIC International and and Road as of May. Meanwhile, China Railway Group Limited in Cairo, Egypt, on Aug. 15, 2017. The Egyptian Ministry of a total of 56 economic and trade Transport and a coalition of Chinese firms signed an agreement worth 1.24 billion U.S. dollars to cooperation zones have already build a light rail transit in new districts around Cairo. (Meng Tao/Xinhua)
A China-Europe cargo train was waiting to leave Qingdao station in east China’s Shandong Province on June 24, 2017. The international rail freight line will leave China at Manzhouli port in north China and head for Moscow. (Yu Fangping/Xinhua)
been built by Chinese businesses in these countries, generating nearly 1.1 billion U.S. dollars in tax revenue and creating 180,000 local jobs. In May this year, China announced at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that it will contribute an additional 100 billion yuan to the Silk Road Fund to scale up financing support for the Belt and Road Initiative. A total of 29 foreign heads of state and government leaders attended the forum. Other delegates include officials, entrepreneurs, financiers and journalists from over 130 countries, and representatives of key international organizations. Thanks to the forum, Belt and Road countries had reached many agreements, including 76 items comprising more than 270 concrete results in five areas. Appreciating that China has entered the debate on globalisation in a positive way, Obstfeld believed the Belt and Road Initiative is “very important” in the context. China has been striving to open up wider, instead of erecting trade and investment barriers. In August, the country announced more measures to attract foreign investment, including easier access and better protection of intellectual property rights. China could take concrete actions to promote the global system, Obstfeld said.
Delegates pose for photo as they issue the Beijing Communique of the Belt and Road Health Cooperation at the “Belt and Road High-level Meeting for Health Cooperation: towards a Health Silk Road” in Beijing, capital of China, on Aug. 18, 2017. (Zhang Yuwei/Xinhua)
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a on October 1, we wish to highlight some of the work of our Chinese partners in an aim to help Guyanese understand a bit more about the country lationship between the two countries.
China to build world’s most challenging railway By Yu Fei (Contributor)
BREATHTAKING scenery and breathtaking dangers -- both will face Chinese engineers as they embark on building the world’s most difficult railway. The Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be the second railway into southwest China’s Tibet Autonomous Region after the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. The line will go through the southeast of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, one of the world’s most geologically active areas. “The construction and operation of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway must overcome the biggest risks in the world,” said You Yong, chief engineer of the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), who is leading a scientific and technological support team to avoid disasters in the mountains. China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd., which is designing the line, said it will run from Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, through Ya’an and Kangding, and enter Tibet via Qamdo. It will then go through Nyingchi and Shannan prefectures before arriving at Lhasa, capital of Tibet. The total construction length will be about 1,700 kilometers and it will cost 250 billion yuan (about 36.88 billion U.S. dollars) EPIC JOURNEY Already dubbed an epic journey, the Sichuan-Tibet Railway is a key project for China’s 13th Five-Year Plan from 2016 to 2020. It will climb from the Sichuan Basin several hundred meters above sea level to the “Roof of the World”, at an altitude of more than 4,400 meters. Xia Lie, a senior engineer at China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group, described it as a huge “roller coaster” through risky terrain of mountains and canyons. It will go through eight ascents and descents, and more than 80 percent of the line will be tunnels and bridges. “The cumulative ascent of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway will exceed 16,000 meters, which is equivalent to double the height of Qomolangma, the world’ s highest mountain,” said Xia, “It will be the most difficult super project in railway construction history.” Construction has begun on the two ends of the railway. The section between Chengdu and Ya’an is expected to open in June 2018. The feasibility study on the section between Ya’an and Kangding has been completed. The section between Lhasa and Nyingchi is under construction. However, the section from Kangding to Nyingchi -the most difficult and the longest section -- is still under design. Its construction is expected to begin in 2019 and could take about seven years, said Xia. The Sichuan-Tibet Railway will be a major line in the western China rail network, connecting Tibet and more developed central and eastern regions. The design speed is from 160 kilometers per hour to 200 kilometers per hour. On completion, the travel time by train from Chengdu to Lhasa will be cut from 48 hours to about 13 hours. BEAUTIFUL BUT DANGEROUS White snow-capped mountains, crystal glaciers, steep mountains, deep canyons, dense forests, green grasslands, clear lakes and swift rivers... The Sichuan-Tibet Railway will string together many beautiful vistas -- but with hidden dangers. You Yong, who has spent almost 30 years studying mountain hazards, said the line will traverse the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has sharp changes in terrain. It will go over 21 snow-capped mountains more than 4,000 meters high and cross 14 major rivers. The region is full of steep slopes and deep valleys, You said. The active geological structure of the region causes strong earthquakes. The railway will go through earthquake zones such as the Longmen Mountain and Yarlung
On the other hand, a large construction project traversing the region might aggravate the risks of mountain disasters and endanger the project itself. “We must urgently master the distribution pattern of landslides, debris flows and other mountain hazards, and their influence on the railway project. We need to demarcate safe and dangerous areas, and study how to forecast and prevent disasters,” You said. The CAS began in 2014 to analyze the mountain hazard distribution patterns and risks, and experiment on disaster prevention along
An aerial photo of a landslide in Baxoi County in Tibet (by Jin Liwang/Xinhua)
Zangbo River seismic belts, You said. The magnitude-8 earthquake that devastated Sichuan’s Wenchuan County in 2008 caused great environmental changes and destroyed countless roads. The quake caused mountain hazards such as landslides and debris flows. You said the Sichuan-Tibet Railway has four major environmental characteristics: significant terrain elevation differences, strong plate activities, frequent mountain disasters, and a sensitive ecological environment. Mountain hazards were a major challenge. “The regions along the Sichuan-Tibet Railway have the most developed, most active, most diverse and most serious mountain hazards in China,” You said. For instance, there are 399 hazard sites in the region along the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, regarded as one of the most dangerous road sections in the world. The frequent hazards block roads and cause crashes. Scientists point out that the dangers along the railway route include landslides, debris flows, and snow and ice damage. The landslides mainly happen in the alpine gorges of the Hengduan Mountains and southeastern Tibet. The section in Tibet could suffer from the most concentrated, frequent and serious debris flows in China. The region has 341 large or medium-sized debris flow gullies. Southeastern Tibet and western Sichuan have many glaciers, which are sensitive to global climate change. Melting ice and snow causes devastating bursts of glacier lakes and debris flows, said Chen Xiaoqing, deputy director of the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment of the CAS. In July 1988, a burst glacier lake and debris flow swept away a village in Midui gully, in Tibet’s Bomi County, and closed the road for half a year. Another huge landslide and debris flow in the Zhamu Creek, Yigong Village of Bomi County, on April 9, 2000, destroyed all the bridges, roads and communication facilities built over the previous four decades in the lower region, causing direct economic losses of 300 million yuan and indirect losses of up to a billion yuan. SCIENTISTS’ CAUTION “Constructing a railway in such a complicated geological environment will face a lot of scientific and technological difficulties. And the prevention and control of mountain hazards will be key to its success,” said You.
You Yong (left) and his colleagues from the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment are investigating the landslide in Zhamu Creek, Yigong Village of Bomi County in Tibet. (by Jin Liwang/Xinhua)
the route. To date, scientists have identified the basic distribution and activities of mountain hazards and set up a data bank for the hazards along the route. Based on analysis of the risks, researchers offered their advice on the route selection and technologies to prevent and control the landslides and debris flows. The government is also planning to build an expressway connecting Sichuan and Tibet. The scientific findings will also be applied in that construction. Experts say the railway and expressway will push forward the opening up and economic development of Tibet. Chinese research and expertise in mountain hazard prevention and control have also been introduced to neighboring countries. The CAS launched a research plan in 2016 to help in natural disaster relief in countries and regions along the Belt and Road routes. Cui Peng, an academician of the CAS and deputy director of the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, said countries such as Nepal and Kazakhstan also suffer from many mountain hazards. “Our expertise can also be applied in those countries.” Chen Xiaoqing led a research team to help solve key technological problems related to disaster relief along the highway from China to Pakistan through the Karakorum Mountains. Chinese scientists also helped Tajikistan formulate a scheme to monitor a high-risk landslide dam.
Sketch map of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway (provided by China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd.)
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China’s jumbo jet sets course for global skies By Hu Tao (Contributor) THE twin-engine C919 took off from Shanghai Pudong Airport on its maiden flight on May 5, 2017, marking a milestone in China’s aviation industry. It is expected that the Shanghai-based manufacturer COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) of China will be the next global aviation giant after Airbus and Boeing. “The C919’s successful maiden flight realizes China’s dream of developing a jumbo airliner,” said COMAC chairman He Dongfeng. China’s homegrown large passenger plane C919 prepares to make its maiden flight in “It not only marks a Shanghai on May 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) major step toward China whole flight,”?said co-pilot Wu Xin after the 79-minute becoming a global aviation powerhouse but also offers the maiden flight. world new benefits from China’s development.” The aircraft’s name C919 is quite symbolic. The letter The maiden flight crew comprised two pilots, two test “C” stands for both China and COMAC, while the number flight engineers and one observer. 9 symbolizes “forever” in Chinese culture, and 19 represents “A steady take-off and all systems functioned well the the aircraft’s 190 seats at max-
China’s homegrown large passenger plane C919 makes its maiden flight in Shanghai on May 5, 2017. (XINHUA/Ding Ting)
imum capacity. With a standard range of 4,075 kilometers, the narrow-body jet is comparable to the updated Airbus 320 and Boeing’s new generation 737. “The C919 is made totally with Chinese intellectual property. It shows China finally has a jumbo passenger jet designed and developed in accordance with global airworthiness standards,” said chief designer Wu Guanghui. China began developing large passenger jets in the 1970s and the first, the Y-10,
had a successful test flight in 1980, but the project was later abandoned for some complicated reasons. In 2007, the State Council approved plans to develop a large passenger jet. In November 2015, the first C919 rolled off the assembly line.
Crew members wave to spectators on China’s homegrown large passenger plane C919 after its maiden flight in Shanghai on May 5, 2017. (XINHUA/Fang Zhe)
The C919 also represents cooperation between China and the rest of the world. More than 200 enterprises in 22 provinces and cities in China took part in the development of the C919, and 16 leading international aviation companies were selected as airborne system suppliers, with 16 joint ventures set up. Major components such as the avionics and control systems were sourced from the joint ventures and partners across Europe and the United States. “You can see [the] new giant of the global aviation industry. China is moving forward with major steps,” said Olivier Dubroeucq, executive vice president of the COMAC and AVIC program of Safran. A leading aero engine and equipment manufacturer, Safran made the LEAP-1C engines and nacelles for the aircraft through CFM International, a joint venture between Safran Aircraft Engines and GE. “China has created valuable opportunities in global aviation,” he said. “We are not working in the short term in China. The market is here and we are right here. All we have done is to pave the way to share the future.” Honeywell Aerospace Asia Pacific president Steven Lien was also confident of China’s aviation future. “China is willing to share growth opportunities with the rest of the world. Honeywell has invested heavily in China, and we are picking the winner,” said Lien. Honeywell provided the auxiliary power system, flight control package, wheel and braking system, and navigation package. Almost 1,000 Honeywell personnel around the world worked on the C919 project. “Root in China, share the honor with the Chinese aviation industry. Honeywell cherishes great opportunities of growing together with the second largest economy in the world, sharing mutual benefits along with its growth,” said Lien. The C919 was designed and developed first to meet the booming domestic civil aviation market and then global markets. According to a Boeing forecast, China will require more than 6,000 new aircraft over the next two decades with a total value of 1 trillion U.S. dollars. It will need 5,110 new single-aisle aircraft by 2035. Unsettling the dominance of Boeing and Airbus in the near future is unrealistic, observers say, but Chinese airliners could be a strong option for global carriers in decades to come. COMAC is seeking airworthiness certificates from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and foreign aviation regulators before making its first deliveries around 2019. As of June 2017, the C919 had 600 orders from 24 foreign and domestic customers, according to COMAC. COMAC and United Aircraft Corporation of Russia announced in May a plan to jointly develop a wide-body jet for long-haul flights. To become a real “competitor” in the global civil aviation market, China and its C919 still have a long way to go.
Make it right
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Salvation Army strives to aid persons in hurricane-affected areas By Shirley Thomas FOLLOWING the devastation caused in parts of the United States of America and the Caribbean by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the Salvation Army’s General, André Cox, is exhorting all Salvationists and friends, wherever they are, to do the following: • Pray for the emergency services who are still responding and serving on the front line • Pray for our own emergency services as they respond to support the statutory emergency services and the local people impacted by this disaster • Pray for good working relationships between local, state and national governments, as well as between NGOs • Pray for a spirit of generosity, compassion and helpfulness to prevail • Pray for people’s safety in the anticipated rain and floods to come • Pray that people will turn to God as a source of hope when everything around them is lost • Pray that everyone would work together for the rebuilding and transforming work that must be done in the years ahead. The General is calling the worldwide Salvation Army to action, noting that it has now launched an international fundraising appeal to support the Storm Harvey emergency response. More information can be found on the IHQ’s website (www.salvationarmy. org/harvey) Meanwhile, in the Caribbean, Divisional Commander of the Guyana Division of the Salvation Army, Major Matignol Saint Lot, after witnessing the devastation caused by the two hurricanes has concluded that: “Without God, we are really nothing on this Earth, and we should stop to engage in sober introspection.” He has urged that we be thankful that we have a chance to make things right with God, with family and friends, and be at peace with ourselves and each other, instead of fighting over things that are here now and could be gone in a matter of minutes. In a WhatsApp message over the last few days, Maj. Saint Lot wrote: “Seeing all those videos and pictures of the devastation of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, made me realise more, that we are really nothing on this earth and the material things that we lose sleep over, lose friendship over, are not really worth it.” He continued: “The position, the stature that we want everyone to know we possess, would not save us. Look at the way Barbuda in minutes, lost 95% of their infrastructure. In minutes people lost their homes, their businesses, their crops. Thank God they have life. Today, let us go out and really think about how thankful we should be, for we have life and a chance to make things right with God, with family and with friends. Let us go out and love more, smile
The Salvation Army in the Bahamas, Captain Miller says, is responding in both Freeport and Nassau. The Salvation Army’s Haiti Division is also mobilising in areas affected by flooding and storm
Salvation Army General André Cox
more, help more and make peace with each other, instead of fighting over things that are here now and could be gone in a matter of minutes,” he concluded. Meanwhile, according to the International Leader of The Salvation Army, General André Cox in a statement released on September13, 2017, The Salvation Army has activated all of its U.S. and Canadian emergency disaster response assets, in an unprecedented response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma which have wrought devastation across large areas of the Caribbean and southern USA. As at September 13, 2017, The Salvation Army had already served “more than half a million meals to people who have been displaced or have had their homes damaged by Hurricane Irma in south-eastern states of the USA. This is in addition to the Church and Charity’s ongoing emergency response in many of the Caribbean islands and in reaction to Hurricane Harvey in Texas,” the report said. General Cox says the units are able to provide food, shelter and emotional and spiritual care to those impacted by this ongoing devastating weather event. “As you would expect, The Salvation Army was quickly deployed, as we are always ready to respond to human need. The Salvation Army in the USA is well resourced, trained and networked to be able to respond instantly and work in partnership with other agencies,” General Cox said. He outlined that The Salvation Army is not just there for the immediate crisis. “We are there for the duration – to see people through the immediate disaster and to help them rebuild lives, homes, businesses and communities,” the General assured. Meanwhile, Captain Derick Miller, officer-in-charge of operations on the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean, reports that The Salvation Army’s facilities there have been badly damaged, and most corps (church) members have lost their homes.
surges. And in Antigua, Salvationists continue to offer food, water and other practical support to people from nearby Barbuda which has almost been completely evacuated.
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First Impressions: iPhone X Garners Lots of Cautious Thumbs Up Apple on Tuesday raised the curtain on its next-generation iPhone X, and it so far has been greeted with praise -though tentative -- from early hands-on reviewers. For the most part, they gave the X kudos for design and build, but reserved their
unequivocal endorsements until they could spend more time with the phone. "The iPhone X is one of the most exciting phones released this decade -- but not because it offers anything particularly innovative or new," wrote Gareth Beavis for TechRadar.
"It's exciting because it's the most radical redesign of an iPhone yet," he continued, "tying together a number of key trends in the industry and adding in a level of polish that will attract legions of Apple fans to upgrade, and spend another couple of years in the iCycle." A sore point with many reviewers was the mobile's price. A unit with 64 gigabytes of storage costs US$999 and one with 256 GB costs $1,146. Not all reviewers were annoyed by the pricing, though. "The thing that a lot of people want to talk about with the iPhone X is its $999 starting price, but when you have the phone in your hand, it feels... worth it," wrote Nilay Patel for The Verge. SMASHING IDEAS INTO THE FUTURE Tech critics hailed the X's design. "The new iPhone X is easily the best-looking phone Apple's ever made," TechRadar's Beavis wrote. "We were fans of the industrial design that heralded the arrival of the iPhone 4, and the curved lines of the iPhone 6," he continued. "But it feels like the new phone takes all of those ideas and smashes them into the future." Others found the X's size a definite plus. "This phone gives you the jumbo screen size of a Plus model into the compact body size of the non-Plus iPhones," wrote David Pogue for Yahoo Finance. "That's a big, big deal for anyone who
loves the features of the Plus models (a zoom camera lens, longer battery life, huge screen) but isn't crazy about wielding a phone the size of a VHS cassette," he added. A DISPLAY THAT WOWS The X's 5.8-inch OLED "Super Retina HD Display" made a favorable first impression with many evaluators. "If the planned effect of the iPhone X was to wow with its display, it's certainly done that," TechRadar's Beavis noted. "The colors are just so vivid on the all-screen front, and it truly feels like you're holding one of the iPhone concepts we wrote about years ago." To give the X an edge-to-edge look, Apple had to shrink the bezels around the display. As thin as the bezels are, though, they aren't thin enough for everyone. "What did bother me a little more than expected were the bezels that run around the screen," wrote Chris Velazco for Engadget. "To be absolutely clear: they're really not that big, and I expect most people thinking about dropping $1,000 on a phone couldn't care less," he explained. "Still, given that Apple's competition has done an incredible job trimming the cruft from around their displays, I can't help but feel that the iPhone X's design doesn't have the same kind of impact as, say, the Essential or Samsung's recent Galaxys."
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Full steam ahead with Alladin’s Meals on Wheels By Jamall Adams
SINCE the age 20, Macio Alladin, the owner of Alladin Meals On Wheels, Meal Delivery and Catering Service has been risking it all, changing the game on the local food market. Macio Marcellus Alladin was born in the mining town of Linden, where he gained his primary education at the Watooka Day Primary School. He then graduated as one of the region’s top students, causing him to relocate to the capital where he attended St. Rose’s High School. His athletic and academic record was nothing short of outstanding throughout the years. He then graduated, earning himself among the top 10 positions at both CSEC and CAPE Examinations at that school. After graduating High School, he went on to the University of Guyana (UG), where he studied Economics whilst balancing two jobs. This overload, he admitted, resulted in mental exhaustion and subsequent depression, forcing him to resign from both jobs as well as requesting a leave of absence from the University so that he could recoup his strength. During this recovery period not only did
him one of the few independent Guyanese to provide catering services to some of the top private companies here in Guyana. “I’m so grateful to all those who supported me over the years; my team who have devoted their time and efforts regularly to ensuring that we produce and deliver the best, and to my mother who is my constant rock,” Macio expressed when talking about
Macio Alladin
us since it will contribute to our country’s economic development and in a nutshell, it’s inexpensive, efficient and provides unlimited access to larger audiences.” Two years after he would have launched his business he resumed his studies at the University. This Linden native is currently in the process of expanding his business since his customer base has increased, and the demands for Alladin’s meals on wheels around Guyana are rising on a daily basis. Macio is also preparing to celebrate five years of operation and plans to intrigue his supporters taste buds with exquisite cuisines from both local and international recipes, as he celebrates yet another milestone Macio’s love and dedication
One of Alladin’s specialties
Macio get better, but he also used the time to make a bold step by venturing into business via the local food market. Cooking had always been a therapeutic strategy of his, and with this passion, he opened one of the first electronic-based food services in the country; a move that would soon help to change the way people experience food. Another of the young chef’s meals When asked why he chose to set up business strictly ‘online’, Macio told the Pepperpot Magazine, to his craft have given him a great deal of “Times have changed and so should we as popularity around Guyana. His dedication a people. I believe that we should make use has also given him an impressive number of of all the newer technologies available to customers from the private sectors, making
his journey thus far. He then went on to say that he would like to encourage his fellow Guyanese, youths especially, to “Create your own paths where none seems available. Believe in yourself and be unafraid to fail. Love what you do and make use of the resources life has provided you, Then and only then will you succeed.”
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How Pakuri became my home
Scotland’s Elizabeth Andrews talks about her love for the village
Elizabeth Andrews with her two children and other children of Pakuri
By Michel Outridge DURING her first visit to Pakuri Village, the Amerindian reservation formerly known as St. Cuthbert’s Mission, Elizabeth Andrews fell in love with the community and its people. It was in this beautiful little village that she even met her husband eight years ago, eventually leading her to call the place her home. Originally from Scotland, Elizabeth visited Pakuri in 2009 to spend time with a friend who was residing in the village as part of the completion of her Ph.D. Programme. It was then that Elizabeth fell in love with the place and she knew she had to return. “I was quite enthralled by the beauty of Pakuri and its people, their simplicity and way of life. I knew right away it would become my home,” Elizabeth said. It was during her one-month stay in the community that Elizabeth met Paul Andrews, who is the Treasurer of the Village Council and the man who would later become her husband. She returned to Scotland with a heavy heart, but returned to Guyana for the occasion
of Indigenous Heritage Month and decided to make the village, and Guyana, her home. Elizabeth married Paul Andrews and is now in charge of the local library. The couple has two children, both of whom live and attend schools in the community. She describes Pakuri as being a magnet that draws people to the village and once there it is not easy to leave. Elizabeth added that she was also drawn to the people of Pakuri who, are friendly and welcoming and that the atmosphere is quite relaxing.
“The experience with Guyana’s First Peoples is something like out of a storybook where their way of life is very different from most people,” she said. According to Elizabeth, the people of Pakuri are mainly from the Arawak tribe and mostly the older residents speak in dialect while the younger generation is more ‘city-savvy’. THE VILLAGE LIBRARY Elizabeth oversees the smooth running of the Pakuri Library, which is utilised by all
villagers especially the school children, with a staff of four. She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she started a book drive in 2009 when she first came to Guyana and her friends from Scotland and Canada made generous donations of books. Elizabeth recalled that a building was constructed, books were arranged on shelves and they moved sometime in 2014. Prior to acquisition of the new building which now functions as a multi-purpose facility in which thousands of books are stored, the library was housed in a one- room space The Pakuri villager has embarked on a mission to encourage all the children in the village to read more and utilise the library instead of being on cell phones. The library is open on weekdays as well as on Saturdays when they have games. The building has two laptops for students to type their assignments but there is no internet service in the village as yet. Cedric Clenkian who was born in the village and still resides there said that there is a need for internet service in the community since they have nursery, primary and secondary schools and that the internet would be of great benefit to the children.
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Aries There are plenty of reasons to maintain a low profile today, but the temptation to do something crazy becomes harder to ignore throughout the day. You are painfully aware of your obligations and sincerely intend to fulfill your commitments. Nevertheless, you can’t quite let go of a risky plan that could fire up your adrenaline and, hopefully, put you on a path to pleasure. The choice is yours, but so are the consequences. There are times when even an impulsive Aries must sacrifice the fun and do what is right. Taurus You are known for your easy-going but somewhat linear attitude to romantic relationships; you like the future to be a logical extension of the past and the present. However, you might be more inclined toward experimentation now that your key planet Venus is dancing with radical Uranus. You want to be surprised today, even if the uncertainty is discomforting. Gloria Steinem wrote, “Without leaps of imagination, or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” Gemini You are hoping to be distracted by your friends today. Better yet, attending a social situation where you can circulate and meet new people might be your cup of tea. Unconventional Uranus excites pleasure-seeking Venus in your 3rd House of Communication, motivating you to interact with interesting people about a whole range of subjects. Your only agenda now is to satisfy your unquenchable curiosity. Benjamin Franklin wrote, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” Cancer Your friends wonder what got into you because you might be acting out of character today. Your normally reserved personality has been replaced by an exuberant and extroverted one. Instead of waiting for another person to start a conversation, you jump right in with pointed questions and respond with clever witticisms. Oddly enough, you don’t even think twice about your outgoing behaviour. You only know that interacting with others is more fun now and you don’t want to rock the boat. Mark Twain said, “To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” Leo You might get off to such a slow start today that you doubt your ability to turn the day around. But surprising Uranus zaps sweet Venus in sassy Leo, encouraging you to catch the wave of enjoyment, even if you must paddle extra hard at first. Thankfully, your perseverance is rewarded and you notice one thing after another falling into place. The dark clouds disperse and you’re eager to let the good times roll. Remember, it is your positivity that fuels your progress. Change your thoughts and change your world. Virgo You’re worried that circumstances will quickly escalate out of control today. However, there is a rebellious voice whispering in your head now, telling you how much fun it will be if you’re released from your constraints. In fact, a part of you is ready to blow off a previous commitment to do something for the sheer pleasure of it. Chances are you won’t have to let anyone down now in order to follow your heart’s desire. This is one of those special times when you deserve to have your cake and eat it, too. Libra A friend or acquaintance may approach you with an out-of-the-box invitation today. But instead of carefully weighing the pros and cons before you respond, you automatically say yes. You’re uncharacteristically emphatic about making the most of an opportunity, even if it stretches you beyond your limits. Electric Uranus shocks and awes your key planet Venus in your 11th House of Dreams, infusing you with a sense of urgency when it comes to experiencing pleasure. Your rearview mirror is worthless now; keep your eyes on the road ahead. Scorpio You are trying harder than ever to break old habits and create new routines. You’re highly motivated to improve the quality of your life while enriching Venus harmonises with progressive Uranus in your 6th House of Logistics. But you’re not interested in making a minor modification just so you can track its influence on your daily life. Consider this a cosmic wake-up call, demanding that you respond immediately or forever hold your peace. You have no choice but to concentrate your efforts on the power of now. Sagittarius You love the idea of expanding your knowledge base and are willing to take a risk in the pursuit of learning. Whether you make a long-term plan to study an intriguing subject or you engage in a dialogue about a topic that is outside your normal interests, you want to dance with the edge and push your boundaries now. You don’t care if your new exploration threatens the foundations of your thinking. You’re driven to transcend your limits in your current search for the truth. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote, “A mind that is stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions.” Capricorn You’re in the mood for a different kind of love today. It makes more sense to shine your light into the darkness than to stagnate in the emotional security of a safe discussion. Even if you’re involved in a committed relationship, you want to intensify the connection by delving into the unspoken mysteries. There is magic to be discovered in the shadows and the lightning-like strike of Uranus is what you need to gain a deeper awareness of your heart. Rumi wrote, “Your task is not to seek for love but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” Aquarius You’re willing to entertain the craziest of ideas today. In fact, your key planet Uranus is electrifying your 3rd House of Information -- the more radical the ideas, the better. Of course, you shouldn’t believe every conspiracy theory you uncover now. Bring your latest discovery down to earth by verifying sources and researching the fine print. Make your choices based on facts not assumptions. B.B. King said, “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” Pisces Some people would try anything to get out of doing chores, but there’s something reassuring about the regularity and familiarity of your routine. Paradoxically, you’re more motivated by the response of those close to you than you are in the tasks at hand. You delight in putting on a show while vivacious Venus is visiting dramatic Leo. However, your mind is restless with erratic Uranus also in the picture today. You want tangible results but you’re ready to try an unconventional approach to your work. Be stubborn about your goals now, but flexible about your methods.
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English THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Who steals my purse steals trash; ‘tis something, nothing; ‘Twas mine, ‘tis his, and has been slave to thousands; But he that filches from me my good name Robs me of that which not enriches him, And makes me poor indeed. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616) Iago in Othello, Act 3, scene 3 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Devote each revision study session to a separate subject, with variety and breaks. Ideally, allow revision of each previous night’s session, then again in a week’s time, a fortnight’s time, a month’s time, and more frequent times facing the examination. During this period keep concentrating on revision from your well-worked notes, mind maps, summary mind maps, and cue cards. A regimen of proficient study makes nonsense of the need to learn new things at this stage, and will reinforce and consolidate existing stores of knowledge. Be wise. Love you THE PASSAGE Comprehend this simple passage in quick time. “All right, Your Honour. I will tell you exactly what happened as best I can recall, without holding back.” The witness, Simon Butterscotch, shifted in his seat and continued his testimony: “You see, I called the police as soon as my mother, Seta, told me the car keys were gone. It was a strange day from the beginning, really. Something woke me up at 05:00 hours – much, much earlier than usual. I looked out the window and saw my car in the driveway. That surprised me, because the night before my mother asked me if she could borrow my car for the next day. Her car had broken down last week. So I gave her my keys and said ‘Sure – I get a bus ride to work anyway.’ My car wasn’t supposed to be in my driveway because my mother is a packer and on her present shift she leaves at five
in the morning! When I went downstairs, I took one look at my car. That’s when I saw the windshield broken on the driver’s side. I called my mother to ask her whether she knew what had happened. My mother said her shift had been changed and she hadn’t taken the car yet. Then she realised the keys were not where she left them.” Something to Do 1. To whom was Simon Butterscotch telling his experience? a) a neighbour c) his lawyer b) a witness d) a magistrate 2. “A strange day” means: a) a day that brought peace b) a day that could be understood c) a day that was cold and long d) a day that was not average 3. Point out the sequence of events in the testimony. i) He saw the broken windshield. ii) His mother’s car broke down. iii) He called the police. iv) His mother asked to borrow his car. v) His mother said she had not taken the car. vi) His mother said she realised the keys were missing. vii) He went downstairs to look at the car. viii) Something woke him early that morning. a) vi), iii), viii), iv), ii), vii), i), v) b) i), ii), viii), v), vi), iii), iv), vii) c) v), vi), viii), iii), i), ii), iv), vii) d) ii), iv), i), vi), iii), vii), v), viii) SENTENCE STRUCTURE Using simple language A Word: The clearest and most forceful
language is usually simple and direct. The use of many long, pretentious, and unfamiliar words interferes with easy communication and often creates the impression of insincerity. The following exercises can help build appreciation for the use of simple and direct language. A. How does the following passage communicate with you? What is the author trying to say? Pick out samples of simple, forceful, expressive language. All three children carried themselves rather better than the common run of “green” pupils that were brought to Miss Nixon. But the figure that challenged attention to the group was the tall, straight father, with his earnest face and fine forehead, nervous hands eloquent in gesture and a voice full of feeling. This foreigner, who brought his children to school as if it were an act of consecration, who regarded the teacher of the primer class with reverence, who spoke of visions, like a man inspired, in a common classroom, was not like other aliens, who brought their children in dull obedience to the law; was not like the native fathers, who brought their unmanageable boys, glad to be relieved of their care. I think Miss Nixon guessed what my father’s best English could not convey. I think she divined that by the simple act of delivering our school certificates to her he took possession of America. (From The Promised Land by Mary Antin) B. Make clearer the picture in each of the following sentences by completing it with an actual comparison. Example: This bird is about the size of a hummingbird. 1. This travelling elevator cage runs on
Amazing Facts
rails like . . . 2. In the side of the military sea craft was a hole about the size of . . . 3. Daniel recognised a huge electric generator nearly as tall as . . . 4. This was a giant ceiba tree in Yucatan, Mexico with huge roots shaped like . . 5. He was leading a pony no larger than ... 6. The face mask should have the consistency of . . . C. Explain the underlined words in the first five of the following sentences by using synonyms; in the second five, by using antonyms. Compare work with your study partners. a) A synonym is a word similar in meaning to another. b) An antonym is a word opposite in meaning to another. 1. We all appreciate your candor in explaining this matter. 2. His youngest son has been coddled far too long. 3. The trainer urged them to avoid a belligerent attitude. 4. Yvonne gave the unfortunate beggar a bland smile. 5. What we need in our group is more camaraderie. 6. This change in sponsorship should expedite matters. 7. Arthur Bailey has a petulant disposition. 8. Her way of life is marked by frugality. 9. It seems that she always nettles her father. 10. You should spurn his offer next time round.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 17, 2017
Bollywood news
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Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi Story: Hasmukh Patel (Paresh Rawal), a conservative Gujarati shopkeeper who lives in a gated society has a list of dislikes which include alcohol, non-veg food and Punjabis. Patel's new neighbor, Guggi Tandon (Rishi Kapoor), is an unholy mix of all the latter restrictions. Tandon is a chicken lollipop chomping, whiskey glugging, bashful Punjabi who opens a garage right in front of Patel's shop. Tandon also has a son Monty (Vir Das), who is quite like him and falls for Patel's daughter Pooja (Payal Ghosh). A harrowed Patel tries every trick in the book to evict the Tandons, but to his horror, Pooja, too, is fond of the roguishyet-good-natured Monty. This intensifies the rivalry between the two families. Review: Warring neighbors as a plot is not an uncommon thing in Bollywood films. It's an age-old trope, yet it has given us fun films that we watch and enjoy till today. 'Patel Ki Punjabi Shaadi' tries to work on those lines but does not succeed. On paper, there's little not to like in the
film. With Rishi Kapoor as the brash but loveable used car dealer, Prem Chopra as his whiskey guzzling dad with a roving eye and Paresh Rawal as the super conservative Gujarati shopkeeper; the movie has a strong cast of characters. But when it comes to execution, 'PKPS' doesn't quite add up. With a choppy edit, over the top performances by all and an overkill of hate on Paresh Rawal's part, it resembles a TV show more than a film. It relies heavily on stereotypes for its humour, which is understandable given the film's title, but even that falls flat. You hope that the war between the Gujaratis and the Punjabis will, for once, move beyond the stereotypes. What it is, is a two-hour-long, predictable film full of uninteresting songs and loud gags, where characters talk a lot without meaning much. The chemistry between the two enemies seems watered down and the climax is formulaic and guessable. Watching reruns of 'Tarak Mehta...' may seem like a better bet.
Entertainment
Rosie O’Donnell’s Ex-Wife Dead At 46: Michelle Rounds Dies Of Apparent Suicide The outlet is claiming that Michelle’s death was an apparent suicide inside her home on Monday, September 11. Although her death is still under investigation, Michelle’s mom posted about suicide prevention on her Facebook account, according to the outlet. The devastated mother allegedly wrote, “If anyone would like to give to the National Suicide Prevention it would also be greatly appreciated. There are so many out there in this world that have demons that they think suicide is the only way out.” The OC Sheriff gave HollywoodLife.com an EXCLUSIVE statement, saying “Michelle Rounds-Monteleone was discovered deceased on September 11, 2017 at 7:07 a.m. at 12748 Bideford Avenue, Windermere FL. This is
Devastating news today: Rosie O’Donnell has confirmed that her ex-wife, Michelle Rounds, has died. A report claims that Michelle’s death was a suicide. Michelle Rounds, 46, is dead, reports TMZ. In a statement, Rosie O’Donnell mourned the loss of her former wife. “I am saddened to hear about this terrible tragedy,” Rosie told
the outlet upon hearing the horrific news. “Mental illness is a very serious issue affecting many families. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle’s family, her wife and their child.” Although Rosie and Michelle have been legally divorced since 2016, they do share an adopted daughter, Dakota, who is only four years old. This is truly heartbreaking news.
Wendy Williams Fires Back At T.I. & Shades Tiny — ‘I Could Buy A Booty Like Your Wife’ Yikes! The tension between Wendy Williams and T.I. could soon reach a boiling point, since the talk-show host just dragged Tiny into the mix during an interview on Sept. 14. After T.I. posted about Wendy’s bikini body on Instagram, she didn’t hold back! Wendy Williams, 53, is known for speaking her mind — whether people like it or not! She reportedly fired back at T.I., 36, in a major way, shortly after he commented about her bikini body via Instagram. “I was just in Barbados with my husband on vacation and the paparazzi caught me,” she told the New York Daily News on Sept. 14. “T.I. referenced my lack of behind.” She then surprisingly brought his estranged wife Tameka “Tiny” Harris, 42, into the mix! “I wanted to say ‘I could buy one like your wife and so many people have done.’ I could buy one any day,” Wendy said. “It’s flat.” Tiny has been open about her plastic surgery procedures, but TIP might still not like Wendy’s comments about his longtime love, even if they weren’t meant to be rude. T.I. shared photos of the talk-show
host rocking a barely-there black bikini from her exotic getaway with Kevin Hunter, 44, on Sept. 12, using it as an opportunity to voice his frustrations with her. “Ok now as much sh*t as this sister talk about people… (Myself included),” the rapper passionately began. “I know what y’all expect. But I’m not gon do the obvious & fye her ass up. NOPE!!! I’m gon be respectful because regardless of her flaws she’s still a independent black business woman that’s had to fight her way through life to get where she is. JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE SHE JUDGES DAILY!!!” The rapper said he decided not to viciously diss Wendy, since he hopes it will make her “not be so malicious & vindictive in the future” when it comes to judging others on TV. Wendy later claimed she’s really misunderstood, since she’s not “as shady as people think that I would be in real life.” She explained, “I do this for work. I did the scene of pop culture. When it comes to being a good friend and holding a secret, you’re looking at her, believe it or not.”
an open and ongoing death investigation and there are no other details available for release at this time. “ Rosie and Michelle met and started dating in 2011, then married in a private ceremony a year later in 2012. Sadly, they split in November 2014, with their divorce becoming finalized in March 2016. In July 2016, Rosie confirmed in a Q&A on her website that she had full custody of their daughter, nicknamed Dax. HollywoodLifers — Leave your condolences for both Rosie and Michelle’s family, friends and loved ones in the comments below. Our thoughts remain with the O’Donnell and Rounds families during this difficult time.
Cow-heel Soup Ingredients 1 cow heel (about 1 1/4 lb) 3 pt water 2 tsp salt 1 onion 1 piece of celery 1 piece of pumpkin (about 4 oz) 1 lb mixed root vegetables 1 tsp chopped parsley lime juice grated nutmeg Method 1 Scald, scrape and thoroughly clean cow heel. 2 Cut it up and put to boil in the water. Skim, and add salt and chopped seasonings. 3 Pressure cook or boil until tender. Reduce heat to simmering point. 4 Peel, wash and dice vegetables. Remove meat from bone, cut into neat pieces and return to soup with prepared vegetables, except pumpkin. 5 Simmer soup again until vegetables are soft-about 30 minutes. Add pumpkin about 5 minutes before soup is finished. 6 Add parsley and a few drops of lime juice and grated nutmeg just before serving. Serves 12