Pepperpot e paper 2 19 2017

Fung-A-Fat exercises at Fitness 53 gym (Sameul Maughn photos)

The ‘diverse’ Senior Counsel ► Page

XXVI

See inside:

Jimmy Hamilton: The man who II helped coin the word "Mashramani" ► Page

Fifteen-year-old Lethem ► Page XVIII fisherman dreams big of owning his own fishing business

Baby Ovir diagnosed with cancer at two years old ► Page

XXVII

Senior Counsel Charles Fung-A-Fat

Karaoke, outdoors, reading, body-building

II

Jimmy Hamilton o helped coin

The man wh … ” i n a m a r h s a M “ d r o the w

By Rabindra Rooplall MASHRAMANI should be a celebration of Guyanese heritage and adoption of all foreign concepts should be removed from the celebration and it should not be called “Mash”, former Public Relations Officer (PRO) and Chairman of the Jaycees of Greater Mackenzie and founding father of the Mashramani event Jimmy Hamilton said.

Jaycees was an organisation with a mandate to promote community development in Mackenzie, Linden.

In an interview with this publication, the 86 year-old Hamilton remained a slim, distinguished-looking man who aged gracefully over the years as he gestured with his cigarette explaining the event which commemorates the country’s Republic Anniversary, which was achieved in 1970.

This year the festival will be celebrated under the theme, “Celebrate with Dignity, Liberty and Greater Unity.”

Mashramani began in the town that known as Linden in Region 10 following independence in 1966, a place where Hamilton spent 40 years of his life. The Jaycees of Greater Mackenzie which included wards of Wismar and Christiansburg was formed in 1965 by an enthusiastic group of ambi-

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

- Says the event should never be called “Mash” which has no meaning

tious young men from the bauxite-rich township on the Upper Demerara River who wanted to utilize their time to better themselves and their respective communities.

Consequently, numerous fundraising activities were hosted, with the main attraction being the crowning of an Independence Queen, an event whereby the various departments of the then Demerara Bauxite Company The man who (DEMBA) would sponsor one of its helped coin the word “Mashr female employees. The employee amani” hold s up one of the pictur would then solicit support from the es Miss Mashram of the first ever community members, who, by their ani contest votes, would decide the winner.

Among supporters were businessmen, electricians, machinists, foremen, in- City, Wismar. The group surance agents, engineers, accountants and of contestants soon grew from the four that senior managers of DEMBA Limited. initially participated. “In 1969 a girl from As the event grew in popularity, Ham- Bartica who, but I can’t recall her name.” ilton said the organisers decided to move it Following the success of the Independence from an ‘Independence Queen’, to an ‘Inde- Carnivals, the Jaycees were faced with the pendence Carnival’, which saw new features task of ‘Guyanizing’ the event, as the new and participants. socialist republic would not recognise the The first such event was held in 1968, monarchy system. and was hailed a success. Jimmy Hamilton, “Jour Ouvert became fo-daymawnin who was the PRO for a number of years and jump-up(a way of describing the early later chairman, said the first ‘Independence morning celebrations in the streets). Ole Mas Carnival’ queen crowned was Evadne Gr- became the Revolt Dance and the Calypso asvesande. She was a student from Silver Contests became the Shanto Contest.” Jimmy Hamilton said as he chained smoked. He has been smoking for over six decades.

The Calypso contest was abolished and replaced by a Shanto contest. Shanto, he said is a rhythm and beat developed from a combination of African drums, East Indian strings, and Amerindian chants.

Within a short time, the group managed to win the respect and cooperation of their communities by organizing small projects, such as donating dustbins to the local authority, sponsoring scholarships to the then Mon Repos Agricultural School, painting the Mackenzie All-age School and organizing business administration courses for small businessmen, and several seminars and leadership development courses for both Jaycees and other service organisations.

Guyana was also gearing for Republican status, and in 1970, a decision was taken not

to have an independence carnival in Mackenzie. Hamilton recalled that the then government had set out on a socialist agenda, resulting in a restructuring of many of the country’s traditional events.

Terms such as ‘monarchy’, ‘crowning of queen’ and ‘carnival’ had to be replaced, and the search began for patriotic names.

Former West Indies cricketer, Basil Butcher, one of the organising members, was tasked with travelling to the three Counties (Berbice, Demerara and Essequibo), soliciting interests, while Hamilton and several others were required to come up with a new name for the national celebrations.

Hamilton said the search for a name was extensive and tiresome, as it entailed research from the University of Guyana, the National Archives and several other intellectual sources, which, unfortunately, proved futile.

It was at a meeting in early December 1968 that someone suggested they find an Amerindian name.

There were over 400 Amerindians working with the bauxite company and others in settlements in Wismar, Old England, Coomaka and many others up the Demerara River.

Alan Fiedtkou, an Amerindian who worked in the geological department of the bauxite company and lived in the hinterlands was called in on the research project.

Alan had a grandfather who was over 80 years old and lived at Malali, a settlement about thirty miles by river from Mackenzie.

After consulting with the old man, Fiedtkow said his granddad recalled celebrations where people living hundreds of miles apart would get together and celebrate for days in an identified area. The word used for this celebration was Arawak in origin, but in English sounded like ‘Mash-ra-mani’. It was a celebration which usually goes for days during a wedding, or after the end of hard labour.

After hearing the story, Hamilton said the organisers felt that it was the perfect patriotic name for the celebration.

The idea was immediately taken to Adrian Thompson, a historian and a District Commissioner who worked in the hinterland Turn to page III ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page II

among several Amerindians; and following days of extensive verification, Thompson advised that the event should carry the name, “Mashramani”.

Adrian Thomson concluded that since no one could have confirmed or denied that the Arawak word for festival was Mashramani, then the festival could be called Mashramani.

Hamilton said Mashramani quickly became popular, and the celebration attracted the sponsorship of the Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL).

FROM LINDEN TO GEORGETOWN With the first Republic Anniversary celebration fast approaching, organisers of the Independence Carnival were prompted to transform the event into a national celebration involving participation from across the country.

From every nook and cranny they came.

From down river they paddled their canoes, some came on horseback, others walked long distances and yet more came by bus. The year was 1970. And the stage was well set in the bauxite town of Mackenzie.

The first Mashramani was a resounding success. Six contestants participated in the first ever Miss Mashramani contest, and 20-year-old Hazel Figueira, a Mackenzie beauty sponsored by D’Aguiar Bros, came out on top, becoming the first Mashramani Queen.

Her costume was designed by Godfrey Chin and entitled, ‘Woman and Beauty’. It depicted the ever changing mood of a woman in a riot of shimmering colours — silver, red, yellow, gold, blue and orange. Young Guitar Levans, son of the legendary Shanto singer, Guitar Levans, became the first Shanto champion in Guyana.

The costumed bands performed on stage to be judged. Large bands performed in sections, according to their themes, and the

One of the scenes from the first Mashramani pageants (Photos courtesy of Jimmy Hamilton)

largest crowd ever to assemble in the mining town took to the streets, led by the first Miss Mashramani and her followers in an open float.

Due to logistic reasons, however, only the parade came to Georgetown, as it was hard to transport costumes and bands to the city.

President Forbes Burnham later acknowledged that Mashramani was a tremendous success.

Burnham wrote: “I congratulate the community of Mackenzie, Wismar and Christianburg not only for having presented one of the most comprehensive programmes for the first anniversary celebrations but also for having provided the title for the celebrations – MASHRAMANI.” He contended that the name “Mashramani” was particularly appropriate since it was one of the words used by Guyana’s indigenous people – the Amerindians – in reference to the celebrations which follow a successful completion of a community or co-operative project or enterprise.

Some four decades later many celebrate Mashramani but are uncertain of its origin or of the circumstances that are responsible for the observance of the Republic’s The first Independence Carnival anniversary in carnival style queen Miss Evadne Grasvesande on February 23 each year. received a car, a trip to New York, The Mayor of Christianjewelry amongst other gifts in burg, Wismar and Macken1968. (Photos courtesy of Jimmy zie township later known as Hamilton) Linden, was not left out. He

opined that “the community has matured into a township.” He further stated, “I appreciate that the JAYCEES in the continued effort to improve the area has encouraged the young men and young women to play a greater role in the civic life of the area and has encouraged them to play a greater role since there is much the young people could do if given the right stimulus.”

After Guyana gained Republican status, Mashramani was taken to Georgetown for the first time in 1972, following the then government’s call for it to travel to other parts of the country in keeping with nationalistic principles.

Hamilton disclosed that the Region Ten residents were not pleased with the idea to move Mashramani out of the Region, and that same year, the Bauxite Company in

III Linden decided to mount a 500-strong band to visit Georgetown to showcase Region Ten, as it felt that it needed to remind the country that Mashramani was theirs.

Hamilton said Region Ten held the reputation as the first region to mount a band of that magnitude, and later influenced other groups, such as the Joint Services, to join the bandwagon.

After witnessing the massive crowds, glitter and level of competition, Mr. David Singh, a Government Official, held discussion with the Jaycees Committee about bringing the event to Georgetown, the nation's capital. Approval was also given by the then President Forbes Burnham for Mashramani to be a National Event for the Republic celebration. Mash activities were rotated in Linden, Berbice and Georgetown but due to sponsorship, the Costume Bands contest remained in Georgetown.

In 1972, the Jaycees were advised by the then government that the celebrations would be decentralized.

Now 87 years old and a colleague of designer Don Gomes, Hamilton has never missed a Mashramani celebration since, and believes that it is a part of him.

Companies such as GT&T, Banks DIH, Digicel and Ansa McAl have over the years, joined in the sponsorship and participation in Mashramani, making it bigger and better.

With Guyana being as large as it is, people travel from miles out of town to be a part of the celebrations, with children, food and all, because they see this day as a day of celebration. The Mash Day depicts a hive of activity from Vlissingen and lrving streets all the way to the National Park, with an air of expectancy. Thousands of people summon to the streets to participate in the annual Mashramani celebrations, which has been a part of Guyanese culture for over 50 years.

IV

Appellant convicted of carnal knowledge of two step children

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

Court Case Files

Conviction set aside…new trial ordered

THE APPELLANT Alfred Kellman was charged and found guilty on a two- count indictment with having unlawful carnal knowledge of his two step- children, aged 9 and 11.

The children’s mother was not at home at the time but on her return some four hours later observed that Barbara was in a distressed condition and related this to the jury.

Each child was an eye witness to the offence involving the other and at the Assizes both gave sworn testimony implicating the appellant.

The medical evidence was of no help and there were no external signs of injury whatever to the children.

The trial judge did not however warn the jury that it was dangerous or unsafe to convict on either count on the uncorroborated evidence of children of tender years; he never used the word ‘warn’ or ‘caution’ or told them of any danger or risk in convicting if they did not find corroboration, although he did explain that corroboration was always looked for as a matter of practice even though it is not required as a matter of law in sexual cases.

The jury was however told that the independent eye-witness evidence of each child , if believed, was capable of amounting to corroboration, and that they could consider the offences as proved if they believed what the children said about the appellant .

On appeal, it was contended on behalf of the appellant that the cumulative effect of the judge’s directions did not amount to a sufficient warning to the jury, that it was unsafe to convict on either count on the uncorroborated evidence of children of tender years.

HELD: (1) (per HAYNES, J.A.) That the jury was not in terms of effect warned, as they ought to have been, in a sexual offence on children of tender years; that they should be cautious before convicting the appellant on uncorroborated evidence . This prima facie would be fatal to the conviction unless there had been no substantial miscarriage of justice.

(2) That the crucial question was whether the State had in relation to each count such substantive corroboration apart from the evidence of the other child; that the court felt that if a proper warning had been given, a reasonable jury would inevitably convict the appellant.

(3) (per curiam) That the only bit of evidence which could possibly be corroborative was that of the children’s mother, about one girl’s distressed condition but it was not entitled to much weight as it was not observed until some four hours after the alleged assault.

(4) (per curiam) That the conviction and sentence must be set aside and a new trial ordered.

Twenty-seven (27) cases were referred to.

C. B. Sheppard represented the appellant.

G.H.R. Jackman, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (ag.) for the State.

HAYNES, J.A. (delivered the first judgment at the request of Chancellor E. V.

By George Barclay Luckhoo). The case for the prosecution was that on Saturday, January 15, 1972, between 12 noon and 1 pm, the appellant had had unlawful carnal knowledge of his two step daughters.

According to the evidence , each child was an eye-witness to the offence involving the other. The medical evidence was neutral. There were no external signs of injury whatever.

The appellant admitted that he was at home with the two step children between noon and 12.40 pm but he swore he did nothing to either of them during this time or at all.

Consequently, the State had to prove (1) that the sexual acts occurred; and (ii) that the appellant was the man involved. He was unrepresented by counsel and the jury found him guilty on both counts of the indictment.

Corroboration was not required as a matter of strict law, but it was obligatory on the trial judge as a matter of law to warn the jury in terms or effect, that in the eyes of the law it was dangerous or unsafe to convict on either count on the uncorroborated evidence of the two children for two reasons - firstly, because the charges were sexual offences and secondly as each girl was regarded by the common law as a child of tender years.

What he told the jury was as follows: “In most cases members of the jury, corroboration is not required as a normal matter of course, but in sexual offences such as this, although corroboration is not required as a matter of law it is always looked for as a matter of practice.

“And it seems to me that if you accept the evidence of these two girls, their independent evidence as to what they saw in relation to each other may be considered as corroboration. Is there any better corroboration than the actual eye-witness to the crime?”

Conviction and sentence set aside. New trial ordered.

y r t e o P

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

V

By Subraj Singh

Catullus’ Poems OFTEN, when us Millenials think about the literature from ages long gone, and the people who wrote those works, we often fall into the trap of visualizing the “old time” writers as being a bunch of prudes, of being interested in philosophy and religion and being unable to link fun, sex, and ribald humour into their poems and novels and plays. However, a quick glance backwards into history will unveil that this notion about past writers is so very incorrect that, in some cases, our own generation with our modern and liberal outlook on life is the one that ends up appearing to be truly prudish, uptight and conservative. A good “old timey” writer who proves this is Catullus (full name: Gaius Valerius Catullus), a Roman poet who probably lived around 84 – 54 BC. Catullus was a bit of a rebel. He stepped away from the norm and fell into a group of Roman poets known as the “neoterics.”

These were poets who wrote about personal things, rather than about great Roman history or the deeds of the great Roman heroes.

Their poetry tended to be more playful, to focus on things that might be considered trivial when compared to the tradition of Homeric poems which were epic, serious and grand in scale. Catullus’ poetry covered various themes, many of which the young people of today might find shockingly entertaining, thoughtful and well-written. Is it scandalous to say that Catullus’ poetry reminds me of

the modern day lines that sneak out of our fingers when we post on Facebook and Twitter? Is it a literary offence to compare the man’s well-thought out literature to people’s daily banter on social media? Perhaps in form, structure, diction and delivery, the two are very different from each other. But when it comes to purpose, a modern day teenager with an internet connection seems to be very similar to this high-class Roman poet who lived centuries ago.

For example, Catullus was often in love, and had a relationship, with a married woman referred to as Lesbia. Their relationship seems to have been a complicated one, according to Catullus’ poetry, as Lesbia might have been unfaithful to him on several occasions. Often the poems were romantic, as seen in Carmen 7 (Poem 7, trans. Daniel San) when he writes: “You ask, my Lesbia, how many of your kisses / are enough and more than enough for me” and then providing the answer by going on to say, “As big a number as the Libyan grains of sand…” and “Or as many stars that see the affairs of men, / when the night is silent.” While most of us may be incapable of expressing love in such a beautiful fashion, there is no doubt that we share Catullus’ affectation for needing to express his love in words, even if our own pre-Valentine’s day status updates are more filled with subtle hints and the pining of “young people” instead of well-articulated comparisons to stars and the like.

(Painting: Catullus at Lesbia’s by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1836-1912)

Despite the number of love poems Catullus wrote to Lesbia, he also wrote a few that sought to disparage her. Yes, we also often give in to the dark side of ourselves and all of us, at some point, has written something hurtful about someone on social media. But truly, most of us cannot really claim to be able to bring, nor want to bring, the pain the way Catullus does in his poems. Take note, for example, of when he writes of a former lover in “Carmen 11” (trans. Bryn Stromberg): “Let her live and flourish with her adulterers / whom having embraced three hundred of them at the same time, she owns and keeps them, / truly loving none of them, but repeatedly breaking the groins / of all of them…” This is not only an invective against someone he is trying to hurt, but it is also clearly an example of Roman slut-shaming, something that, unfortunately, continues to

this day.

Catullus, like a never ending newsfeed on a Facebook page, keeps going on and on, writing about everything from politicians to catamites, his friends and his lover’s pet bird. He has many other poems that are sure to be enjoyed by the young people today, as much as they are enjoyed by academics. Despite the diverse topics (love, sex, politics, the nobility, his friends) he addresses, the constants that remain in all of his poems are his enduring wit, his way with words and his wicked, critical, poetic voice. Perhaps then, it would not be such a good idea to simply brush away those writers who operated in another era in world history. Give them a chance and you might just find that we have more in common with them than you think.

VI

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

Benefits of flossing FLOSSING delivers several important health-maintenance benefits. Since microorganisms (germs), both living and dead, build up between contacts where the teeth touch each other, flossing is important for reducing the possibility and incidence of cavities between the teeth (“interproximal decay” in dentistry terms).

Microorganisms at the contacts can process the foods we eat, such as carbohydrates and starches, and in this process they can produce acids that dissolve enamel. So, for those who are susceptible to these types of cavities, flossing is exceedingly important in helping to keep decay between the teeth under control.

Additionally, for those who have had their fillings, or other types of dental restorations on tooth structure, lost to decay between the teeth, it is imperative to effectively and frequently cleanse the surfaces between the teeth to reduce the incidence of new decay in these areas.

Because microorganisms are so abundant under the gums and are so intermingled with sloughed-off epithelial cells from the gum tissue wall of the sulcus, it is important to do what we can to keep this toxic-mixture to a minimum which will consequently reduce the chances of early stage gum infections (gingivitis) or the more advanced stages of infection and destruction associated with periodontal disease (gum disease).

Properly done, flossing can be very effective at dislodging accumulated plaque and cellular debris from the sulcular spaces between the teeth, allowing this plaque to be ultimately removed

from the mouth, usually by expectoration (spitting it out).

How do we floss properly? The first step is to choose a brand and type of floss that works for you, one you can, and will, use. There is a confusing array of flosses available waxed and unwaxed, dental tape (wider than floss and easier on the fingers for those with tight contacts), flavored flosses, and even floss in a handheld device that allows flossing to be done with one hand.

Although dentists and hygienists have been known to draw swords over the relative merits of waxed versus unwaxed floss, the best floss is ultimately the one that you will use every day.

Start trying out various flosses until you find one you like. Whatever self-motivation it takes to include flossing as an everyday component of your oral-cleansing activities, do it. I’m sure I’d approve of your choice.

Besides all the health benefits of flossing, one further motivator could be that flossing makes breath fresher. Fresh breath is difficult to achieve when loads of necrotic, stinking plaque is left under the gums and between the teeth for long periods of time.

Since patients with bad breath seldom smell their own halitosis, they may not even be aware their breath is offensive.

A simple test to see if you have a problem is simply to floss, then smell the floss. The odor, if present, will become worse as the plaque dries. One thing is for certain, flossing and fresh breath go hand in hand. If you floss and the material smells all right, you are on the right track. One has never had bad breath worsen by having a cleaner mouth.

If you still need encouragement to floss daily, consider this: the words floss and heart both have five letters. While this observation may seem silly, flossing can keep the inflammation caused by gum disease at lower, safer levels. So, if you aren’t flossing for fresh breath and healthier gum tissue, or working to keep your cavities and decay between your teeth under control, then floss for better heart health. Poor oral hygiene is associated with hear attacks.

How do you go about flossing safely, easily, and effectively? You’ve chosen your floss already, so the following is the same information I pass on to my patients. Hopefully it will work for you.

I instruct my patients to take a nine-inch section of floss and wind it around the middle fingers of each hand until the index fingers or the thumbs on each hand are close enough to touch.

This allows the floss to be directed and controlled, by using both thumbs to direct the floss if flossing the upper teeth, or by using both thumb to direct the floss if flossing the upper teeth, or by using the index fingers when flossing the lower teeth (making sure to use only gentle motions throughout the flossing).

With one to two inches of floss in between, start by flossing the front of the last tooth on the upper right. By using a system, you won’t miss anything, and by starting in the same place every time you floss, you flossing will become a habit.

Keep the floss taut with your fingers and with your thumbs, direct it between your upper teeth, then guide it through the contact and scrub the front of the last tooth, up and down, with just a slight amount of rocking motion, until you feel the surface of the tooth is clean. You have just flossed the front of the tooth and cleansed the part of the sulcus at that tooth. The next step is to lift the floss over the gum tissue between the two teeth and floss the back of the next tooth, the one directly in front of the first one you flossed. Remove the floss from between the teeth and insert it into the next contact forward. Floss the front of one tooth and the back of the next tooth and move on to the next contact.

Please remember you are not just cleaning the front of one tooth, but you are cleaning the back of a next one, as well as cleaning a bit of the sulcular debris from both sides of the gum tissue in between the teeth (the interdental papillae).

Then, move on to the lower teeth, again systematically flossing to ensure that no surfaces will be missed. You can floss effectively between the lower teeth by keeping the floss taut and directing it between the teeth using your index fingers. If the floss tears or frays from the effects of really tight contacts, rough fillings, or sharp edges between the teeth, just release one wind of floss from one middle finger and take up the slack by winding it onto the other middle finger.

Assuming you have a full complement of teeth, you can do a very effective job in about a minute and a half, so the potential reward in improved health will b a good enough reason to include flossing as an important part of your daily health maintenance regimen.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

VII

Have a Healthy Relationship!

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

Last week I wrote about Valentine’s Day and the physical and mental benefits of love.

I received quite a bit of positive feedback (which I always appreciate) but I also received a few emails saying that love fades so it may not be the most important thing.

A woman, who claims that her marriage is strained, asked me to speak about how to better get along with your partner.

Now, I’ve received some training in marriage counselling but I’m definitely not an

someone else, doesn’t understand what it means to be in a relationship. There are mutual expectations in a functioning and loving relationship. There will be many instances of self-sacrifice in order to love and live harmoniously with another human being. No two people get along constantly without effort.

Some say that if it’s real love, there wouldn’t be any fights. Again, this is absurd as fighting brings huge benefits to the relationship. It brings to light what your partner likes and doesn’t like, what they will tolerate and what they won’t; what they are willing

expert on this. Being unmarried myself even adds to that statement. However, I have seen quite a few marriages succeed and even more fail so I can only offer my humble opinion as to what mainly contributes to both.

I don’t think this piece would only pertain to married couples, but any individual in a relationship.

Firstly, if you are worried about the future of your relationship, you have plenty of company. People always get married thinking it will last forever (obviously) but sadly, in our generation, the general statistic is that 1 in 3 marriages will end in divorce.

Love is never easy, actually it is the hardest thing I have ever done. There are a few myths about love and healthy relationships that I do not appreciate. People say that if it was meant to be, it will be easy. That’s just silly. It is hard for anyone to put someone else’s needs, wants and desires above their own. It is hard to compromise on things that you really do not want to compromise on. It is hard to be accountable for someone other than yourself. It is hard to change some things about yourself to suit someone else. Whoever says you should never change yourself to suit

to take and what they are willing to give.

The important part is HOW you fight and what you say during fights. In my opinion, not fighting is easy, actually being able to handling differences is the hard part.

Something I learned later than I wanted is to that we get back the love we give. There are of course exceptions and extreme cases – but for the average couple and the average love, we get exactly the love that we give. If we want kindness, we must give kindness, if we want respect, we must give respect and if we want heavy displays of love, we must give it.

There are a few essentials to make love and a relationship work. I will say with absolute certainty that a relationship (not just marriage) cannot work without mutual respect, trust and kindness. It seems obvious to say this but if it was that obvious, so many marriages wouldn’t fail. Maybe people want to show these to their partner but they cannot.

Maybe, you know that these factors are important but you’re not exactly sure why. This is what I would like to focus on today.

Respect, trust and Kindness. How important these are!

Let’s start with respect.

People underestimate the power of this.

Steve Hall said “the truest form of love is how you behave toward someone, not how you feel about them.

However, the most important thing to remember is that you need to respect yourself first. No one will respect you unless you respect yourself. I believe that respect for ourselves is what allows us to have ethics while

respect for others is what allows us to have manners. Both are needed for a functioning relationship.

It is no secret that verbal abuse is widespread in our community, especially in relationships. We have all (myself included) been guilty of this. We tend to speak to our partners worse than anyone else – this defiTurn to page X ►►►

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

Prof. Griffith unfolds new dimension to UG renaissance

IN THE THIRD week of July, the University of Guyana would be hosting a "Diaspora Engagement Conference".

This is part of the Renaissance Movement of the University of Guyana which Prof.

Griffith has been creatively spearheading. Prof. Griffith, as a man of great perspicacity, had already started building the infrastructure for the Conference.

His initiatives would ensure that the Conference would not suffer the fate of so many other conferences which happen in the Caribbean where participants enthusiastically gather, engage in fine intellectual discussion, disperse with promises to do so many things but in a few weeks oblivion overtakes it all.

In building this infrastructure, this fairly novel idea has had to be disseminated among the stakeholders including the intellectual classes, the business community and Government. This is absolutely necessary to win full local acceptability and support.

The Diaspora has also had to be contacted and alerted so as to bring greater completeness to the whole idea. Had Prof.

Griffith and his colleagues concentrated their efforts in Guyana without at the same time involving the Diaspora, it would have been like trying to clap with one hand.

One of the university's first formal engagements with the Diaspora was last September when Prof. Griffith and a team of University personnel visited New York for a few days. The raison d'etre was primarily to make and strengthen contacts and build bridges as well as to raise funds.

The visit was a success since it secured the success of the Conference and did raise about half of the cost of the visit. The total cost of the visit was just over G$4 million and just over G$2.million were secured in contributions.

Some members of the media and some uniformed persons, mistaking the visit as a fund-raising effort, thought that since there was a shortfall of approx. G$2.million, then the visit was not successful. When one understands the importance and raison d'etre of the visit, we should congratulate ourselves that so much was achieved for only G$2.m.

The engagement with the Diaspora would help to raise academic standards of the University with the infusion of high level academics who would be attracted to the University to meet the challenge of creating a world-class institution. State of the art equipment and ideas would begin to flow into Guyana and academics from Europe, North America, and Asia, in particular India and China would come to the University. In the early years of the University, it was fairly international in that there were teaching staff from Europe, North America and Asia.

Prof. Griffith’s vision is to have, growing out of the Engagement Conference in July, a "Caribbean Diaspora Engagement Centre". Such would give Guyana a leadership role in the West Indies analagous to

the University College of the West Indies when it was established at Mona, Jamaica at the end of the 1940's. Out of Mona came the Trinidad and Barbados campuses. A Caribbean Centre would make it more amenable for academics from the other Caribbean territories to serve in Guyana.

Many Trinidadians, for example would like to serve here and we may even be lucky to have a few oil experts to help in our Petroleum industry.

Prof. Griffith's vision and positive effort to establish a Diaspora Engagement Centre would have many spin-offs at the national level. Almost all countries in the world with large Diasporas have been making serious efforts to engage them. India and China, two countries with Diasporas running into millions, are good examples of this. The Chinese and Indian Diasporas invest billions of dollars in their former home-countries and contribute many scarce technical and other skills.

Their former home-countries bind them closer by offering them something in return: The Chinese have two categories of nationals- Home Chinese and Overseas Chinese-and they enjoy the same rights.

The Indians have NRI's - Non-resident Indians - who have the same rights as citizens except they cannot vote at elections.

PIO's - people of Indian origin - is a fairly recent category and their facilities are less than NRI's. PIO's include descendants of Indentured immigrants. To be recognized as a PIO one has to register. There is also GOPIO which people of Indian origin from all over the world could join. They meet every few years in various capitols, and at the meeting this year, the Prime Minister of Portugal, who is of Goan origin attended as a member.

In Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, we need to take a leaf out of the book of these countries, and not only seek to ask the Diaspora to accord us help in various ways but to give back something in return. For example, since we recognize dual nationality, nationality could be extended to those former nationals who have become foreign citizens. The same could be done to the children of former nationals. Some educational programes, for example how to buy property or deal in the stock markets, could be mounted by Caribbean governments for their Diasporas. And Caribbean citizens must be given help and protection by Caribbean governments wherever they might be. In this regard, Caribbean governments may learn from Israel, another small state.

The Diaspora Engagement Centre would obviously primarily be concerned with academic matters and support for the University, but during the Conference in July, the wider issues of Guyana and other Caribbean states involvement with and support for and from the Diasporas are bound to arise and could very well provide a positive agenda for Caribbean Governments.

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Vermont Studio Center Alumni:

Richard Mark Rawlins and Katherine Kennedy

SIX weeks ago I began a series of articles documenting my time at the Vermont Studio Center (VSC). My intention was to share with the Guyanese audience the importance of spaces like VSC to the development of any creative practice. This week, with the series recently concluded, I thought it would be of even greater value to extend this platform to other artists in the region who have also been residents at VSC. I invited them to share, in their own words, how their time in Vermont influenced the way they considered their individual bodies of work as well as any memorable moments they would’ve had there. Of about nine persons from the region who have participated in VSC’s residency program so far (one writer and eight artists, myself included), the following two artists have opened up about their time in Vermont.

Richard Mark Rawlins Trinidad & Tobago October 2012 My stint at VSC was during the month of October 2012. The experience really gave me an understanding of scale. Not just physical scale but mental scale. I started working much bigger as I had the space. My studio up to that point had been a guest bedroom (which was fine). As luck would have it my studio was over at the Barbara White building, a little walk away from my residence.

Many of the other artists in Barbara White wanted to be located closer to their residences, so after about a week, two other artists out of Seattle and myself were left with the entire second floor. So we made it into a studio space and gallery as more space became available.

I started the residency off with a bit of a meltdown as I felt virtually unconnected to all of my normal content and destroyed all the work I had done on the first day. Being close to the river and hearing it all day and night (as I would do 24hr sessions in my studio at

A series of prints featuring Rawlins’ “Megee” iconography

Katherine Kennedy Barbados May 2013 Permission; this word remained with me throughout my residency at the Vermont Studio Center (VSC) in May 2013, after the introductory remarks from Found-

er Jonathan Gregg on the first evening. He spoke about the fact that in this world of constant pressures, whether internal or external, it is easy for creativity to become lost and stifled as each action we perform becomes scrutinized to the point where we shut down our ideas before giving them a chance to take shape. […] Being in an

times) and being fuelled by a number of documentaries I would play in the studio (about the Action Painters) while working to break the silence, I started painting on large paper, utilizing a spatula and slopping acrylic everywhere. I painted a rubber duck over and over.

A whimsical rubber duck. I’ve never shown these. But the process involved felt liberating.

I was just making without any predefined or intended destination. I felt free.

I also wanted to explore printmaking while there, but that was booked up by another artist and the press bed was much too small

for what I wanted to do anyway. So I basically carved huge linos and made multiple impressions (as much as 70 in one particular piece) by inking the lino, placing it face down on large pieces of paper on my studio floor and dancing on the back of it. This series would be come the Mega-megees.

I left VSC with 16 large pieces and studies, [an indication of] a great experience. [I have made] two art for life artist friends [and I have] a deeper, more fearless understanding of myself and my process. Oh and then there was Yoga. But that’s another story.

The whimsical rubber duck Rawlins painted repeatedly during his month-long residency at VSC

environment so removed from my regular life, where all of the activities, which usually occupy my thoughts, seemed to belong to someone else, this was a welcome change of pace. Although letting go of inhibitions and judgment is far easier said than done, I gradually found myself receptive to the concept – able for the first

time in a while to grant myself permission to focus only on my artwork. […]

I have always considered myself to be both an artist and a writer, although I found that to be somewhat of an anomaly at the residency. Despite primarily foTurn to page XII ►►►

X ◄◄◄ From page VII

nitely should not be the case.

People believe that love includes respect.

It does not. They believe that love trumps respect. It does not. From the other side, we have to display behaviours worth respecting as respect is earned over time, not expected.

To do this, we (again), first respect ourselves and then we set and uphold clear and fair boundaries. Our partners are not mind readers and they do not automatically know what needs respecting. Boundaries make both partners feel heard, safe, cared for and of course, respected.

HOW DO WE SHOW RESPECT? It is not easy to show respect as it’s required at all times- especially during fights/ anger.

It has different forms, it’s not just the absence of physical or verbal abuse. Not speaking at all is a sign of disrespect. Not valuing your partner’s opinions, beliefs, religion, family etc. are signs of disrespect.

Being unfaithful is a sign of disrespect. Arguing in public is a sign of disrespect. Not apologizing when you are wrong is disrespect.

The world would be a much better place if people stopped trying to justify their mistakes and just apologize. Not showing gratitude when it needs to be shown is disrespect. You want to show respect? Do not do any of the above. Respect your partner both in front of

their face and behind their back. People who speak badly of their partners when they are not around do not show respect. Simply put, treat your partner the way you would want to be treated. Seriously, it’s called ‘the golden rule’ for a reason.

KINDNESS I’d have hoped that this one was obvious by now but it isn’t. Mutual kindness is vital in making a relationship work. It’s easy to be mean; being kind is the difficult approach, especially if you feel that one may not deserve it at the time.

It does take effort, especially when angered but there is a simple but very effective way of being kind- think before you speak! The world would also be a better place if people thought about what they are going to say, as well as its effects, before speaking.

Kindness comprises of many things as well. I’d say the most important is the willingness to comprise as this is basically putting your partner’s feelings and wants before your own. It requires need consideration, especially when angered.

Kindness also requires attention. We all have a lot going on- all the time. Kindness is putting aside your own feelings/ situations and focusing on your partners. It’s never one sided. I would advise every couple to take turns every day to speak about their days and what upset them. If you’re

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having a problem with communication in general, this is also a great tool. I think most of the problems in a relationship are caused by how something is said rather than what is actually said. People need to feel comfortable with venting their concerns; what they like and do not like. However, keep in mind that there is a difference between complaining and criticising. It’s fine to complain – for example, saying “the garbage needs to be taken out” or “the dogs need to be fed” multiple times can be considered complaining, yes. However, when it turns into “you never take the garbage out” or “why can’t you just be helpful for once and feed the dogs?” becomes criticism.

It’s when one begins to attack the personal character rather than the behaviour. That becomes the problem. On the other hand, complaints over time naturally turn into criticism so it would benefit everyone if you just listened to your partner’s needs the first time around. Having said all that, kindness also requires unwavering tolerance, patience and forgiveness.

Kindness also means to love your partner the way they need to be loved, not the way you do. My cousin lent me a book called “The 5 Love Languages” by Gary Chapman and it was the best education on love that I’ve ever had. I recommend that everyone in a relationship buys this book and read it together.

It basically explains that everyone loves differently and therefore require different types of love- much like a completely different language. There were 5 which were Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service and Physical Touch.

For example, you might base your love on words of affirmation- such as I love you, I need you and all sorts of compliments. You might need this and therefore you assume your partner needs this type of love to be happy as well. That’s not the case. More often than not, your partner has a different love language than you do. For example, they might like Physical touch and therefore, will be expressing physical touch to you. All the while, all you want is words of affirmation. It’s genius and may very well be the reason so many marriages fail. Decide what your and your partner’s love language is and express theirs to them, not yours.

TRUST Trust is a must. This is a little rhyme to remember.

Trusting someone with your heart and happiness is very difficult, especially if you come from a broken home due to broken trust or if you have been hurt yourself.

However, a proper foundation cannot be

built without trust. Without trust, there is insecurity, doubt and fear- all things that limit the potential intimacy of a healthy relationship. . It is the hardest thing to gain and sadly the easiest thing to lose.

It takes two to trust and building and upholding trust requires one simple thinghonesty. Well I shouldn’t exactly call it simple because if it was easy, everyone would do it. It does cause discomfort and hurt but through that, one finds trust. That being said, you need to be someone your partner feels he/she can be honest with.

Your level of understanding and compassion must be high; your reactions not too over the top. I am super guilty of over the top reactions but it is something I have accepted and work to improve every day.

You can trust people in some areas and not in others. Most people believe that trusting someone is solely about trusting them not to be unfaithful but it is so much more than that. There are different types and levels of trust.

One needs to trust that the other will be sexually faithful, yes. One needs to trust that the other will be emotionally faithful.

One needs to trust that the other has their best interest at heart- that they will not control or reject the other. One needs to trust that the other will love them- even when they hate them- without any selfish reasons. One needs to be able to trust that the other will not abandon them during hard times but rather make them a priority.

Trusting someone completely is a terrifying thought but looking at the potential benefits, it is a risk worth taking.

If these are not currently prominent factors or situations in your relationship, not to worry. Love, respect, trust etc. – do not look at these as feelings but rather activities or skills. Upholding a healthy relationship is a skill and like any other skill, there needs to be constant practise to improve.

All you need to do is decide where you are most lacking and start from there.

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

Always

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

Dear Henry, My parent plan “match wedding”. I oppose. Please advice. So troubled.

Alecia THE REPLY Dear Alecia, Match wedding had been around for centuries. It came to Guyana when East Indians

came as indentured labourers. It was predominant in their culture. But it is a dying norm.

Parents deserve the right to choose for you.

But you do not have to accept. You have the in alienated right to make your own choice.

But in these sensitive family affairs, compromise can be reached. Discuss their choice.

Meet the guy. Perhaps the chemistry will kick in. Parents do have the, maturity to know a good person. They check his family back-

ground, his way of life. His health, education and morality. They want the best for you.

But teen today accept their right to choose but it is not the compatible person. Most times the eyes make the choice-his\her personality. But that is not all for life partnership. Looks can deceive and fade. The inner person that counts.

His\her virtues and attributes. A relationship must be founded on strong moral values. Too often the choice is shallow. Dissatisfaction follow and the marriage goes on ‘’the rock’’. More lust than love.

So talk it over with your parents . Often they are right. Perhaps introduce your choice or the type of person you have in mind. Many

XI

couple respect their parent wish and marriage last. But you have the final . Good luck.

Uncle Henry

XII ◄◄◄ From page IX

cusing on my sculpture and installation practice, it was stimulating to be around creativity in both of these media, and the artists and writers were mutually supportive, attending one another’s talks and readings. This is not to say there was no crossover; many of the artists and writers became active participants in one another’s projects. […] This is an example of what, to my mind, is a significant benefit of residencies; allowing yourself to be affected by who and what you find, and experimenting in whatever form emerges. […]

While it is true that my practice has always been site specific, I would argue that all residencies are site specific to a large extent. Speaking with the warm staff and repeat residents, one thing

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they all stated was that no two residencies are alike, even in the same setting.

You cannot know until the very end how all of the factors – social, physical, emotional, environmental etc – will come together to create your personal experience, and impact on your work in ways you may still be feeling ripples from years from now. I do feel that my month at VSC was what I needed, and it has inspired me to look into undertaking future residencies. I would encourage emerging practitioners to do the same if they are able, and regardless, to give themselves that permission to embrace creativity and change. (Extracted with permission from an article Katherine wrote for ARC Magazine titled Permissive Thinking – Unpacking my Time at Vermont Studio Center)

Kennedy’s colourfully wrapped stalks inserted into the crevices of a brick wall

A composite of two stills from Kennedy’s video animation

The stalks were also installed along the river line

Another installation of “aluminum flowers” that became activated through her use of light and shadows. (Photo by Caleb Cole)

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Fifteen-year-old Lethem fisherman dreams big of owning his own fishing business

By Vanessa Braithwaite HE braves the thick rugged forest of the Rupununi, crosses swamps and climbs savannahs, sometimes all in the scorching blaze of the sun to reach the Rupununi River just to have that feeling of accomplishment when his bait is swallowed by the mouth of a hungry fish. To a regular city lad, the daily routine of this Makusi teen would seem tedious in addition to being monotonous as he does it every day of the week. To 15-year-old Damion Bowen of Region 9 (Lethem), fishing is not only an everyday chore, but the way of

Damion Belgrave

life for his family. He started at the age of 6.

The peering of the sun’s light into the cracks of the walls of his modest home, serves as an indication that it is time to get up, time to brave the day’s weather and commence his two-hour journey to the Rupununi River. “We would trek through the forest and when we get there, the canoe is there so we would start fishing,” he revealed. “The journey sometimes is rough but I was doing it since I was six years’ old. My grandfather taught me to fish as he did with everyone else in my family.”

Like a housewife would go through the various meats in her refrigerator as she decides

Damion Belgrave and his sister show off their catch of Lukanani at the Rock Stone Fish Festival

what to cook, Damion’s mother’s refrigerator can be likened to the river where he sorts the waves of the water for the right fish to complement their meal of tumapot, cassava bread, rice or farine. Will it be lukanani today or maybe perai? He may not know until he raises his bait to confront the wiggling fish.

“Sometimes we would catch lukanani sometimes arawana or Haimara and we would take it home to eat it, every day,” Damion said with a shy bend of the head.

Since his home is not equipped with refrigerators, his mother and sisters would salt the fish in an effort to preserve it and then she would sell the surplus. “When you salt it, it would keep for over a month and we would sell it but every day we would catch to eat,” a smiling Damion revealed.

Dreams big Despite only practicing subsistence fishing now, the youngster has dreams of one day owning his own fishing business in his village of 260 residents. With the absence of this currently, he believes that he can make a difference and relieve other youths of the burden of fishing every day. Though he recently completed his secondary education in Rupununi, Damion has no plans of furthering his studies but taking a direct path in the fishing industry.

He recently took a leap of faith and journeyed to the community of Rock Stone in Region 10 to participate in the ‘fish catching’ competition at the Rock Stone Fish Festival. Though he had his eyes on copping the winning cash prize, he received a trophy for his efforts. “I did it also for the experience; it was a good experience for me because it was my first fishing competition. We went out into the Essequibo River around 8 AM and returned with a huge catch of Lukananis that were sold after the competition.”

This young Makusi fisherman also enjoys playing cricket and football with his friends but nothing beats taking a swim across the river to see who would emerge winner. He is satisfied with his village life and said that his few visits to the city never caused him to want to leave for a more civilized life. Every day he will get up and trek the forest to the river for as longs as he has to feed his family of 10,” Damion said.

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Field maintenance is crucial for healthy coconut production EARLY seedling care is crucial and major emphasis should be placed on field maintenance.

Irrigation and drainage is one aspect of field maintenance that needs special attention. It is important that rainfall be well distributed throughout the year for optimum coconut production. Irrigation is necessary to provide sufficient soil moisture during dry periods to ensure good growth, development and yield.

An adult palm requires 600 to 800 litres of water once in four to seven days.

Meanwhile, the production of female flowers and setting percentage increases significantly under irrigation. During periods of drought, there is high mortality of transplanted seedlings, shedding of young nuts, drying and hanging down of older fronds and, failure of young fronds to open.

tion of 200 litres of water once in four days to a shallow radial basin dug around the plant.

In coastal sandy soils, seawater can be used for irrigation of palms older than two years.

Scarcity of water and increasing cost of labour and energy make drip irrigation a viable option to flood, basin or overhead sprinkler irrigation. Drip irrigation makes more efficient use of water, labour and energy. It enhances plant growth and yield and is most suitable for soils having a low water-holding capacity and undulating terrain.

It reduces weed growth, improves efficiency of fertilizer use and facilitates fertigation. In coconut production, four drippers/emitters per tree are recommended. Water can be applied at the rate of 65-75 litres per palm per day during dry months. Field drainage should be conducted to remove excess soil moisture for proper tree development. A minimum of 50 cm of depth of well-drained soil should be

During year one in the life of the young plant, irrigation should be done at a rate of 20 litres of water per plant per week; and, in the second year, 45 litres per plant once in four days. Basin irrigation is practiced by applica-

maintained during wet periods.

NUTRITION AND FERTILIZATION Coconut palms require adequate nutrition during the early years. Young plants that receive fertilizer prior to flowering, grow faster, produce more and larger leaves, come into bearing earlier than unfertilized palms and, produce more and larger nuts. The most rapid growth occurs between the second and fifth years in the life of the coconut palm.

Supporting the crown is the stem and the latter grows 30 - 50 cm per year, up to about 40 years. Dry matter production is about 50 - 80 kg per year. In its prime, a coconut palm normally produces 12 - 15 leaves and about 80 - 100 water nuts per year.

Soils in old coconut plantations are expected to be impoverished if there was no Turn to page XX ►►►

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◄◄◄ From page XIX

fertilizer programme in place. Planting new and improved palms to replace old coconut groves makes very little sense if adequate nutrients are not supplied to the plants. Nitrogen is important in promoting leaf growth and development. Deficiencies in phosphorus retard palm growth and delay flowering. In

potassium deficient soils, potassium fertilizers have a positive effect on the number of inflorescences, number of bunches and number of nuts per bunch, and total nut production.

Alternatively, instead of using 15-5-20, urea, triple super phosphate (TSP) and potash can be purchased and blended in the ratio Turn to page XXIII ►►►

folklore

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DON’T DRINK AND......

By Neil Primus

WHEN THE Mighty Sparrow sang “Drunk and Disorderly’ he must have had Harold in mind.

‘Drunk and Disorderly, always in custody. Me friend and me family, all them fed up wid me. Drunk and disorderly; every weekend I in de jail.

Drunk and disorderly, nobody to stand me bail….’

H a r o l d seemed to have patterned his life after this popular calypso. He drank every night. The only time that things changed was on the weekend. On these occasions he drank even more and got much drunker than two case of large El-Dorado Rum. If he was not sleeping it off on the side of the street, he would be wallowing around in a

gutter or raising such a din that forced residence to summon the police. At first, he would be arrested then released the next morning. No charges were laid against him.

This was quite normal in the small rural community of Confluence, where everybody knew each other.

But after a while they stopped locking Harold up.

Harold’s wife had tried to help him make a change. This was not successful. He continued on his merry ways chasing every bottle he could. One important feature about his drinking habits was that he did not spend a lot of money on liquor. His friends did most of the buying and he did most of the drinking.

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By Neil Primus

Whenever he managed to walk home he could be seen weaving and wobbling all over the place. One night he entered the wrong house and was rudely ejected. Another evening he banged and hammered on the door of a police officer’s home. Angered by the disturbance, the irate cop handcuffed Harold and dragged him down to the station. When the veteran policeman saw them approaching, they quickly instructed the new officer to release him. He did so reluctantly wondering why this old drunk had such a profound effect on his colleagues.

They had their reasons. He was once arrested and placed in the lockup for disorderly conduct and intoxication. He was seen urinating on parked cars. Half an hour after his incarceration the officers were assailed by a foul, pungent odour. On investigating the source of their discomfort they found the

‘drunk’ wallowing in his vomit and excretion.

It took them close to a week to clean the station. He was never again arrested.

Harold bobbed and weaved, as he steered uncertainly for home. It had been a good binge and he was filled to overflowing with four brands of liquor; gin, vodka, whiskey and rum. He had put up a good showing in each category and now he was on the way home proud of his conquest. He had for company a half bottle of El-Dorado rum tucked awkwardly in his back pocket. Every now and then he reached for the bottle and took a mouthful.

He drifted merrily on his way. One problem Harold experienced every night was the urge to urine frequently. He made pit stops along the way to relieve his over taxed bladTurn to page XXIV ►►►

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XX

(by weight): 3 urea: 1 TSP:3 potash. The Jamaica Coconut Industry Board recommends that fertilizer should not be placed in the planting hole because the planted seedling is still feeding on the endosperm. The body recommended that first application of fertilizer should be made three to six months after planting by which time active feeding roots will have developed.

Subsequent applications should be made at six-monthly intervals. The fertilizer must be spread over the zone where the active root tips occur. This zone stretches from the base of the palm to the limit of the leaf spread (Plate 33). During the first year, fertilizer should be applied in a circle 15 – 20 cm from the seedling stem. Subsequent applications should be made in wider circles as the roots grow outwards. For bearing trees, fertilizer

should be spread about 2m from the base of the trunk. On sloping lands, the fertilizer should be incorporated to a depth of 15 cm at various points at the same radius as described previously.

Coconut husks are high in potash.

Burying fresh or dried husks around the palm may reduce fertilizer cost through nutrient cycling. It can also increase retention of moisture and benefit drought-prone areas. For the placement of the husks, circular trenches may be dug 2m from the trunk, 0.5 m wide and at the same depth.

The beneficial effect of husk burial was reported to last five to seven years. The application of fully decomposed farmyard manure, where available and economic, has also been found to be beneficial to the palms. However, it should be noted that the use of organic material can attract the Rhinoceros beetle.

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der. The source seemed unlimited because no sooner had he passed water than the urge was back again. So he weaved, wobbled and leaked, bobbed, weaved and gushed on his way home.

As he staggered around a dark corner, he tilted towards the bushes on the side of the mud road and fumbled for his troublesome fly. Soon he was smiling in relief. Then he was back on the road. Harold arrived home and took quite some time to open the door and enter. He stripped and fell into bed.

He dreamt that he was sitting on the Jetty

watching the ships drift by. An old man in white approached him.

“Harold I want to speak to you”.

Harold looked up at him but did not recognize him as a friend, that is, someone who regularly sponsored him a drink.

“Sure old man”.

The man looked as though he was very angry and his voice left no doubt about this.

“You have no respect for other people”.

The accusation was sharp and directed at the puzzled man.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.”

This was his best approach. He had of-

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

fended so many people in the past that he had lost count. He wondered what he had done to this poor fellow.

“You are very disrespectful to me!”

“No way! I have never even met you before!” Harold bellowed.

The man stormed off muttering angrily to himself.

Harold awoke in a slightly confused state but this too was nothing new.

The next night was a carbon copy of the previous. When he fell into bed his bottle of rum was empty. He began to snore before his head hit the pillow.

He dreamt that he was walking home drunk to the world. Every now and then he would stop and pass water. Halfway, home and just around the same dark corner, he headed to the side and began to urine.

Rassssssp!

Grrrrrrate!

A rasping and grating sound could be heard nearby. He looked over his shoulder but no one was there. As his head swung to the front he saw a man standing a short distance off. It was the same old man in white. He stood there glaring murderously at Harold.

In his hand was a razor sharp cutlass and

he was snarling with a ferocity that caused goosebumps to erupt on the drunk man’s skin.

What horrified drunken Harold was the man’s stare. His vicious eyes were not looking Harold in the face. His focus was elsewhere.

“Tonight I gon stop you from peeing all over de place. You pee on me grave!”

With that the man advanced, a malicious sneer on his face. The cutlass was poised for action.

“Yeeaaaaah” Harold screamed in terror and stumbled backwards. His clumsy finger struggled to fix his fly.

Zzzip!

With a might tog, Harold closed the zipper and screamed for a second time as a sharp jolt of pain shot through his belly.

Quivering in pain he raced away from there heading for home and safety. Harold came awake howling and sweating in terror, He looked wildly around expecting to see the old terrorist hovering nearby but his bedroom was empty. He made a quick body check then sighed in relief. He would have one hell of a tale for his buddies tonight. One thing for sure, if he wanted to pee in future, he would find a car.

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– The young DJ from humble beginnings, seeking to soar to greater heights

By Vishani Ragobeer NINETEEN- year-old Mahin Sugrim is a determined young man. And to prove this point he has barged unheralded into Guyana’s music world after being a disc-jockey for less than a year. He specialises in Electronic Dance Music (EDM).

Sugrim, who was born on December 11, 1997, proudly stated to Guyana Chronicle’s PEPPERPOT, “My development for music in general has a timeline, starting from primary school to now.”

He recounted that when he was younger, he would listen to dancehall, dub-step reggae and soca music and back then he also remembered that he enjoyed those “promotional CDs” where local DJs would record a “mixtape” of songs from the different genres and use those to promote local events.

“Since from those days, I developed my interest and liking Mahin Sugrim at an recent EDM event hosted at 704 for those music genres and the “I was totally hooked!” he exclaimed. art of DJing,” the young man Since then, he began listening to more reminisced.

However, Mahin’s interest in becoming a EDM songs and was especially fond of ‘LevDJ peaked when he started at Bishop’s High els’ by world renowned EDM DJ- Avicii.

School in 2009 and managed to discover Eventually, he honed his DJ skills and is now “Virtual DJ”- a free software that helped him trying to produce EDM but has only been able to create mash-ups and music edits so practice music mixing and blending.

Attesting to his humble beginnings that far. Nonetheless, he has been able to exercise aided him to become the successful DJ he is his skills as a DJ known as ‘Ray Vester’ at today, Mahin recalled having an old personal various nightclubs for EDM events.

“I had to do a live mix for the management computer which wasn’t exactly the brightest tool in the shed. He remember buying cheap of EDM Guyana in order to land my first club headphones from a supermarket to do his gig which was on June 18, 2016 at Club 704,” the young DJ highlighted. “Since then I've mixing and blending music.

Besides his obvious interest in mixing and played at four major EDM events.”

Sugrim explained however, that being a listening to music, Mahin also stated that he loves meeting and connecting with new peo- DJ was definitely not as easy as it appeared. ple. He also explained that he has developed “Being a DJ is much more than cueing songs an unquenchable thirst for learning anything and pushing buttons,” he said, adding, “You that could be useful to him in the future, such have to read the crowd and in many cases, as photography or keeping abreast with the test them by playing certain songs to see their rapidly developing field of technology. Here, reactions.”

The young man explained that EDM is a he has hope that he would be able to apply all he has learnt to combat existing problems in broad genre that encompasses all electronic music genres and with this in mind, it’s his our Guyanese society.

However, his heart really belongs to task to keep updated on the sometimes huntravelling, especially internationally and he dreds of songs released daily, and remain coghas an unwavering aspiration of becoming an nizant of how to mix and blend these songs.

Becoming a DJ through his humble beginairline pilot.

“Travelling is something I will always nings has motivated him to strive to achieve look forward to,” Mahin asserted and joked all of his other aspirations too. It gives you also, “becoming an airline pilot one day is my the feeling and the drive to never stop trying greatest dream ever since I started dreaming.” to do something you actually want to do. It His transition from the Caribbean genres sustains your motivation in life to achieve of music (dancehall, reggae and soca) to EDM other goals.”

He admitted too, “It does feel awesome interestingly occurred because of his affection for aeronautics. Sugrim explained that this to be a DJ.” For the fans anticipating his next event, transition occurred when he saw a video of an airplane taking off but with trance music (a Mahin said that he will be in action for the Glow Eruption event, next month. However he sub-genre of electronic music) playing.

conceded that the venue was still unconfirmed.

While he strives to become a pilot, Mahin balances his life of being an increasingly popular EDM DJ by night and a being a diligent Computer Science student at the University of Guyana by day.

Sugrim posited that just as he was able to achieve one of his dreams and is striving to

achieve another major aspiration, youths every where can do the same.

“My advice is to not limit or confine yourself to interests based on the opinion of others; be yourself, discover what you want to do in life,” Mahin stressed and contended more importantly: “Try to influence someone positively every day.”

Meat Pie Ingredients 8 oz cold meat brown sauce, gravy or stock 1 onion, chopped 1 tsp tomato sauce or ketchup 1 lb cooked yams Method 1 Remove skin and fat from meat and mince it.

2 Season the meat well with salt and pepper, and add brown sauce, gravy or stock to moisten. Add onion and

ketchup.

3 Place the meat in a greased pie dish.

4 Mash yam.

5 Pile the yam crust over the meat and make it neat with a knife dipped in hot water.

6 Cook in a hot oven, 400 degrees, for 10-15 minutes.

Serves 6 Note: Any other root vegetable may be used.

XXVI

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

The ‘diverse’ Senior Counsel

Karaoke, outdoors, reading, body-building

By Ariana Gordon

ing, but for the CPC it is not just reading, he loves poetry and history. He is currently reading two books, V.S Naipaul’s ‘Half a life’ and ‘The Rubaiya of Omar Khayyam’ the Fitzgerald translation.

“I am reading the two books at the same time… I enjoy reading.”

But even as jovial as he is, he noted that he spends the majority of his time working and expressed gratitude to his wife and family for being understanding. “It demands a lot of your time, it demands that you are au fait with everything happening because as a legislative drafter you have to understand how the people in your country

RECENTLY-appointed Chief Parliamentary Counsel (CPC) and Senior Counsel Charles Fung-A- Fat Jnr. believes that “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.”

Though an astute attorney, who specializes in legislative drafting, Fung-A-Fat also has a very active personal life.

In a recent interview with the Pepperpot, Fung-A-Fat disclosed that he is a body-builder who has a knack for the outdoors and loves to sing Karaoke. The CPC explained that while he has a very hectic schedule and demanding career, he finds time weekly to spend with his family.

He believes that there must be balance and with balance there is success. “Yes, because of my career choice I have to dedicate much of my time to work, but I am of the opinion that it is important to be diverse.”

Legislative Drafter Charles The CPC said body-building Fung-A-Fat lifts weights and exercise generally help him during an exercise routine in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

He accepted that it is a hobby but noted that it provides him with a gym noting that he can deadlift 400lbs. “rejuvenating feeling”.

“I also love the outdoors,” he told “When you exercise, your blood cir- Pepperpot gleefully as he disclosed culates better; at the end of it you feel some of his many adventures in the refreshed and ‘ready to take on the world’ country’s vast hinterland region. At one as they would say.” Currently, Fung-A-Fat time, Fung-A-Fat would every weekend, is enrolled at the Fitness 53 gym owned by travel overland to varying areas with former Guyanese and West Indian cricketer relatives.

Ramnaresh Sarwan. He said he attends gym “I enjoy traveling to the Rupununi five times weekly and believes that persons and looking at the vast savannahs…I need to take exercise seriously. enjoy nature. While outdoor you get to He posited that many don’t understand see so many animals that you’d probathe importance exercise is to health and said bly never knew were present in Guyana he doesn’t see himself moving from the as well as many species of birds that are not even in the zoo.”

Fung-A-Fat, whose nickname is ‘Johnny,’ noted that being in the outdoor Senior Counsel Charles with his family was more Fung-A-Fat stands alongside his of a family tradition as his daughter Charlotte Fung-A-Fat father Justice Charles FungA-Fat Snr. did so when he was a child. “It is like a tradition,” he said as he show- think; you have to be familiar with many cased photographs of himself things including the socio-economic conditions of your country,” he noted. while outdoors.

The legislative drafter who was admitted Another hobby of the CPC, to the bar in 1983 said legislative drafting a quite surprising one, is his love for singing. During the has become his life. He noted that it was interview he disclosed that he his father’s desire for him to follow his had a love for singing karaoke footsteps and become a judge but he opted and once time permits, he visits for legislative drafting though at one time he Duke Lodge twice weekly to had thought of pursuing studies in dentistry.

“It challenges me, it is very rewarding do same.

“I sing you know. Have when you complete an assignment…it is you ever seen a Chinese sing? very exacting but I love it; I love what I do,” You’d be surprised, I sing al- said Fung-A-Fat who hails from a family most every week and I enjoy of lawyers. His sister Charlene Fung-AFung-A-Fat displays a it,” said Senior Counsel Fung- Fat and brother Paul Fung-A-Fat are all bird caught along the Linden-Lethem trail A-Fat. Being a lawyer some attorneys.

He said his long hours at the Attorney during one of his many would posit that it is almost outdoor activities necessary for one to love read- General’s Chambers, Ministry of Legal Affairs, have paid off and he is proud of

his accomplishments over the years. Senior Counsel Fung-A-Fat said legislative drafting has allowed him to benefit from several training programmes in the area. He was trained in Kenya, at the Kenya School of Law in 1982; he attended a seminar on Industrial Property and Patent Information which was organised by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) in 1986, workshop on draft model legislation relating to women in CARICOM States, Human Rights Training for Commonwealth public officials, Drug Control Legal Training, Multinational training seminar on Money Laundering Crimes, Copyrights and Neighbouring rights fellowship, Disaster legislative workshop and he also served as a member of the Inter-Governmental task force to implement the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) to name a few.

With his wealth of experience and the ever-changing global society, FungA-Fat believes that continuous legal education is important. “It is not easy… you work seven days a week sometimes when there are deadlines and there is no short cut. It is has been a lifelong ambition to do legislative drafting,” he said.

The CPC finds his job amusing at times noting that “there is never a dull moment at Parliament.” He remembers working with many Attorney Generals of Guyana and noted that each was unique but exceptional.

“All of the Attorney Generals were exceptional men…their knowledge of the law and most times how they emulated and articulated their opinions. It was a great opportunity to work with the distinguished Attorney Generals.”

Fung-A-Fat recounted observing Carl Greenidge, who now serves as the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the 1980s and described him as an “eloquent speaker.” he described the late Dr Cheddi Jagan as a “fiery speaker” and former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr. M. Shahabuddeen as eloquently subtle and very dignified. He worked with Dr. M. Shahabuddeen for seven years as a junior counsel.

From the time he was admitted to the bar Fung-A-Fat said he has prepared numerous Bills for Parliament and Subsidiary legislation including the more important Bills in the Annex and he also sat on Parliamentary Select Committees.

Thus far in his career, the CPC said it is always a proud moment for him to see all his hard work come to fruition and noted that “It is nice to see laws being accepted and implemented.”

Asked to state the most memorable experience in his career, Fung-A-Fat said being appointed CPC after the retirement of Cecil Dhurjon, CCH, SC and being appointed Senior Counsel by President David Granger in January.

“Being appointed Senior Counsel… it is an accolade farthest from the mind.

Young lawyers dream of those coveted initials…it is something memorable…all the hard work has paid off. To me it is worth more than money; it was a proud moment,” he said.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

By Telesha Ramnarine

XXVII

– Parents would love to get a second opinion

INSTEAD of being at home with his family, a bed in the Georgetown Hospital’s Pediatric Ward is now the base for his toys and all his activities. Having been diagnosed with cancer at just two years old, little baby Ovir was admitted and is now about to receive the second cycle of chemotherapy.

He had quite a normal birth, but at around two weeks old, a relative told his mom, Ms. Amanda Ford, that she didn’t like how he was breathing. Ever since then, it is a constant trip to the hospital after doctors said that Ovir had asthma.

Then one day, Ovir’s babysitter drew to the attention of his mother that there was a certain hardness on the left side of his belly area. “I took him to the hospital thinking it was an abscess.

They did an ultrasound and then advised me to go private and do another ultrasound. I went to Woodlands and did it and took it back to Georgetown and then the doctor transferred me to Surgical Clinic,” explained Ms. Ford.

Speaking to the Chronicle at Ovir’s bedside Friday morning, she recalled that it was on last December(11TH) that she went home and was playing with her son and watching a movie when all of a sudden, his eyes started rolling up and he started throwing up the milk he had Two-year-old Lloyd just had. “So I get Ovir Griffith afraid, picked up a little purse with

some money and run out the house without even a pamper. I rushed him to ‘Emergency’ and they admit him from then.

They admit him for throat infection and fever and then the doctor said it’s a mass.”

Since then, Ovir’s parents were sent to get an MRI done for which the Ministry of Health stood half the cost

A SECOND OPINION Ms. Ford is not satisfied with the information being provided to her by doctors who are treating her son. “I’m looking for a second opinion. Doctors here didn’t give me what I’m looking for. I want a straight-up answer. They giving you piece-piece.”

Ovir’s dad had asked the doctors if there was anything positive that he and the family can look forward to, even if it is a 50-50 chance of Ovir’s survival.

But the family was not given any such information.

Ms. Ford feels that the doctors are hiding some of the information from her regarding her son’s illness, but she said she prefers to know exactly what is happening with her son. “I can’t feel satisfied here when the doctors not straight-up with me. You getting a piece from this one and a piece from that one. It’s best if they tell me the truth and not hide anything from me so I can keep focus and not be studying what will happen to my son.”

Ovir’s mom works as a ward maid at the said hospital and has since decided to remain at her son’s side on Ovir and his loving mom Amanda a 24-hour basis. “I don’t go home. I stay right here, work, bathe and sleep on two chairs. I hardly get to sleep at the Cancer Institute. They then had to pay because I’m here with him all the time. I to do a CT scan. “The doctor didn’t like what play with him, make him happy and I feed he see in the report and they take him back and leave him for work and check him every to Cancer Institute and punctured his belly two hours. I don’t know the last day I see my where they take out something and the father house,” the caring mother related.

(Mr. Lloyd Griffith) take it to Woodlands After baby Ovir finishes his chemotheraHospital and had to pay $60,000 for that.” py by Friday, he will go home and rest for 21 When the report came back, doctors told days after which he will return to the hospital the parents that baby Ovir was diagnosed for the third cycle. with cancer, but they would not say what Ovir’s parents would deeply appreciate type. “Until now, the doctor never really tell help from the public to have their son taken me what type of cancer it is and then lately, to a private institution for a second opinion they tell us how my son’s cancer went to of his medical condition. They would also stage 4 and is touching the liver. Other peo- love to take him abroad to be treated. ple tell me that with stage 4 cancer, you can’t The parents can be reached at 672 move and would be in pain, but my child is 1381 (dad) and 686 7033 (mom). eating and playing as normal.”

Sweet Pan Music and a Golden Geddes half-century STEEL PAN genius Roy Geddes, AA, and his Queen Pamela, this year celebrated a special Valentine. The loving couple last week celebrated Valentine as man and wife of 50 years. What an achievement!

And no doubt all the fans of the now defunct Roy Geddes Silvertones Steel Orchestra, as well as family and friends, are very happy for this husband and wife team, who over the decades blended their love for each other with sweet pan music.

Internationally, the romantic annual Valentine Day celebrations are usually related to the young. But for many long-married couples and the young at heart, such as Roy and Pamela Geddes, Valentine love is so much sweeter; like cured wine. The relationship of Roy and Pamela which goes back for over half a century, is a special mixture of romance and business, and of course, pan music.

Over the decades, when the Roy Geddes Silvertones Steel Orchestra ruled the musical world here in Guyana, Pamela Geddes served as the unofficial Secretary-General,

CEO and President. She was the queen, and all members of that talented and very revered Guyanese musical organization, loved and respected her as she worked to ensure that there was never a 'sour note' in the daily and weekly activities of the steel orchestra. And certainly not a sour note in the love she and her husband shared.

Pamela Geddes ensured that she shared her husband's vision and objective for pan music, which was, "the commercialization and the respectability of the Steelband art form." Over the decades, I have seen the Roy Geddes Silvertones Steel Orchestra at a wide range of events; Panorama, fairs, receptions and other events, and always - always playing the best of music suitable for the event.

The Silvertones possessed a very wide range of musical genres.

At receptions the orchestra would play softly so that conversations by guests were easily exchanged while they still enjoyed the background music. The selections played were always appropriate; and the players always adding their vocals to embellish the entertainment. Players were always appropriately dressed for the occasion. And always - always - the epitome of discipline.

Behind it all were two lovers - man and wife; Roy and Pamela Geddes - who over the years, supported each other as they ensured that sweet pan music was always part of their lives. And like the wide variety of music

played by the Silvertones - folk, jazz, funk, reggae, Indian, rock-n-roll, Latin, gospel, calypso, classical and others - there was always variety in the romance of Roy and Pamela.

Since the dissolving of the Silvertones Steel Orchestra, Roy and Pamela Geddes have established a Pan Museum - most likely the only such museum on the planet. It is located at their extremely decorated home at 190 Roxanne Burnham Gardens in south Georgetown, just off Mandela Avenue. They can also be contacted by phone; 226-9844.

The Roy Geddes Pan Museum is visited my many who are interested in learning more about Pan Music; and they include Guyanese and non-Guyanese alike.

On Valentine Day 2017, as Roy Geddes, AA, and his dear wife Pamela continued to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, they remained a shining example that Valentine Day is not only for young unmarried couples, but also those whose love has stood the test of time for 50 loving years; especially when pan music has been serenading them daily.

XXVIII

Be good to yourself FIRSTLY, I must respond to the person who read and sent me feedback from the BEYOND THE RUNWAY Column.

Your kind words of encouragement are appreciated. A few weeks ago I mentioned how much the leadership Guru, John Maxwell impacted my life and that I'll be sharing some content from his teachings.

I try every day to read or listen to material that will add value to myself. That is the only way I can add value to others. We have strengths and weaknesses. People often make mistakes in their personal development when they focus too much on their weaknesses which keep us from maximizing our strengths. I try to focus on people’s strengths and pointing them out because most have strengths but they rarely use them.

Someone did an interesting research and found that every person can do at least one thing better than 10,000 people. Think about that! You possess an ability that can’t be matched by anyone in your town or neighborhood, college, university or in your

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

company or industry .

Have you discovered that ability? If so, you may be well on your way to pursuing your purpose. If you haven’t, wouldn’t you love it if someone came alongside you and pointed it out? I bet you will be very grateful to that person.

We should all try to become that kind of person in someone else’s life. When we do we might just be helping others to discover the thing God created them to do.

When people tell me something good about the people around me, I encourage them to speak to that individual because people need to know when they have made a difference in someone's life. When that happens people feel centered and their work becomes meaningful.

Lots of times people congratulate me for Guyana Fashion Week and the other work I do and I constantly tell them I could not do it without my small but loyal team.

It is not a sign of weakness to let people know you love and

appreciate them. It is a sign of security and strength.

When you are honest about your need for help, be specific with others about the value they add as you build a team to do something bigger than who you are, and everybody wins.

Sometimes it can be difficult to relinquish but when you need to groom leaders in your team or organization it is necessary.

I will give an example with two young persons in my team - Meleesa Payne and Keron Noble.

They are key elements to GFW and I value them dearly. They are given responsibilities and I don’t interfere until they request my intervention. I have seen tremendous growth over the years in Meleesa and Keron and both possess lots of leadership qualities.

One is too small a number to achieve greatness and we need to believe in people when they don’t believe in themselves. We all talk about leading a successful life but the meaning of the word success has various meanings.

Success is when you add value to you and significance is when I add value to the others. You find yourself in success and lose yourself in significance. When your why is bigger than your purpose you have a career and when your purpose is bigger than your why, you have a calling.

Too often we think that if we can impress others we will gain influence with them.

We want to become heroes and be larger than life. If you want to influence others, don’t try to impress them. Pride is nothing more than a form of selfishness and pretense is only a way to keep people at arm’s length so that they can’t see who you really are.

Instead of impressing others let them try to impress you. It is really a matter of attitude. The people with charisma, those who attract others to themselves, are individuals who focus on others, not themselves. They ask questions of others and listen and never try to pretend to be perfect.

Try listening to others today and let them impress you. The right attitude plays a part in our daily lives but not every day in the same mood because we deal with various aspects of our lives. We are all guilty of making decisions with too little time managing the decisions we already made.

You can make a decision to have a good attitude but if you don’t make plans to manage that decision everyday then you are likely to end up right back where you started. I don’t know about you but I am guilty of this charge. But here is the good news, maintaining the right attitude is easier than regaining the right attitude.

“Be pleasant until 10 am and the rest of the day will take care of itself”- Elbert Hubbard When we wake up in the morning we need to remind ourselves of the decisions made to have a positive attitude. We need to manage our thinking and direct our actions so that they are consistent with your decision. Take responsibility for your attitude and not blame anyone but you. Manage it every day and cultivate and develop positive thoughts and habits so you can be your greatest asset. It can become the difference maker in your life, opening doors and helping overcome great obstacles.

MAKE THE DECISION NOW TO HAVE THAT GOOD ATTITUDE TODAY. THEN MANAGE THAT DECISION FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. Be good to yourself and remember to send your comments to beyondtherunway1@gmail.com Remember to Join us on weeks days @7:15 on radio Guyana as we continue this beautiful journey call Life BEYOND THE RUNWAY

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

XXIX

Former Beauty Queen now…

Building communities of strong families

By Shauna Jemmott

OLIVE GOPAUL has never lost her touch of class! And while she has long resigned from the runways and beauty queen shows her heart is set on a discovered purpose in the social construction of families and communities through empowering at-risk youths and promoting social cohesion nationally.

Olive Gopaul was that Miss Guyana World 2001 beauty queen who represented Guyana at Miss World and was named by Global Beauties as the ‘Most Beautiful Queen in South America’ that year. Her facial beauty seems perfect and her personality, smile and love for people have certainly complimented her reign.

At-risk youths are less likely to successfully transition into adulthood without being involved in crime, to achieve academic success, and become financially independent according to online reports.

Gopaul said it is out of this concern and the fact that reports recently revealed that

Beauty with a purpose! Miss Guyana World 2001 Olive Gopaul (Photo by Samuel Maughn)

more than half of Guyana’s population was under the age of 24, the beauty has adopted the purpose of adding class to the lives of atrisk youths and families to preserve Guyana’s future. She is now Director of O-zone.

Turn to page XXX ►►►

XXX ◄◄◄ From page XXIX

“O-zone Foundation’s mission is to build communities of strong families and goaloriented youths. It is important that while our mission is to capture the youth at risk and we want to ensure that we can intercept them before they become law- breakers,” the former beauty queen told Pepperpot Magazine in a recent interview.

One of the communities to which she has directed her attention is Plastic City on the West Demerara where a massive health outreach program was coordinated by her non-governmental organization (NGO).

Gopaul, who now works within the Social Cohesion Department at the Ministry of the Presidency said it brings joy to her heart when she is able to chart the life course of youths

who are at risk, and to change the lives of those who have already been caught up in delinquency, making them better goal-oriented individuals through mentorship, education and employment opportunities.

“And even those who would have had negative contact with law enforcement, we would still capture them under our program which sees mentorship, education and employment as the three key factors that can positively impact the lives of these young boys and girls who were at risk of becoming hard core criminals, and who can pretty much live a very short life span.”

The average age of persons committing crimes is between ages 19 and 28 and with half of Guyana’s population around 24 and younger she expressed concern that too many

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

youths were becoming criminals.

“So if you have so many persons below the age of 24 who are committing crimes and are losing their lives, then in a couple of years our population will diminish significantly.”

And with complex problems and situations influencing youths to become criminally involved, the organization is working beyond the individual and targeting families.

“This is where the family comes in, and if we have individuals (young men), who are losing their lives at a very early age it means that there will be less and less of families which will lessen our population size. So it is important for us to extend our program to families as well, to ensure that the mentorship makes an impact.

She said mentors were persons who would

have had real experiences and have overcome such troubles. They can now through empathy and knowledge fit comfortably within a group of “young hardcore persons” who are thinking about crime, and talk them out of that conversation.

O-zone Foundation partners with government ministries and other credible organisations like the Rotary Club of Central Georgetown, the United States Embassy, and a few others to push its work.

“We can live in peace and harmony and reduce and eliminate our personal prejudices against individuals so that together we can work to be a stronger nation,” Gopaul said.

She is also pursuing a Masters’ Degree at the University of Guyana, and is a proud mom of two handsome boys.

Chronicle Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

XXXI

From the

archives

Reviews Of ‘Beyond Revenge’

BY PARVATI PERSAUD-EDWARDS

THE blurb on the back of Godfrey Wray's first novel, 'Beyond Revenge' says that it embraces several genres – suspense, romance, science fiction and drama. I will add one more drama – travelogue.

The Ministry of Tourism should embrace this book. And although Wray incorporates Jonestown, Guyana's ghettoes such as Albouystown and Tiger Bay; as well as the mental asylum in Berbice, he manages to do so in a contextual way that makes even these places worthy of interest. But above all, he describes the indigenous way of life and the interior locations so graphi-

cally and realistically, and with such evident knowledge of their Eden-like ambience, that anyone would want to experience the divine grandeur of Guyana as Irish born Ms Megan did.

As one reads this book, one wonders about the author. It is a rare man who could write with such insight into the mind of a woman. Even rarer is the male author who promotes the empowerment of women to the extent of giving them 'cojones' in order to defeat the male protagonists who violate their bodies and their rights.

Wray's transition from journalist to novelist is not completely smooth and his descriptive methodologies bear a hint of the amateur; but his story and storytelling overshadow this and makes this first novel 'unputdownable'.

The soldier heroine's betrayal by her colonel lover, who sacrifices her to the mnemonics project by collaborating with his American CIA counterpart to make her a guinea pig for America's memory replacement project, is the catalyst that takes her to the point of revenge – and beyond.

Abused women everywhere – from every walk of life, will get supreme satisfaction from the justice Lizzie metes out to her

rapist – taking them down in true jungle commando style – incorporating her army training and the self-defense techniques taught her by her godfather with her indigenous people's cultural lore to defeat the finest from the American army. Their emasculation

and humiliation at the hands of this beautiful Amazon may not be adequate punishment but is certainly enough to evoke a sense Turn to page XXXIV ►►►

XXXII

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."

– Benjamin Franklin

Some incidental thoughts on bullying and suicide

By Scheherazade Ishoof Khan For years, a dear friend of mine, whenever we met, would always greet the other with ‘Yuh put on!’ to which the other would say ‘Yuh look pull down!’ It was our way of lampooning the usual habit women have of greeting each other with a subtly critical comment about appearance, in that either you’d gained lots of weight or that you looked sickly from weight loss. This little joke reminded us that what we valued about each other had nothing to do with silly, vapid chatter nor did it matter how the other may have appeared.

I recount this because I recently had cause to reflect on how girls/women interact with

each other, beginning in adolescence as they start to mature and natural curiosity leads them to expand their awareness of those around them. It was brought to my attention that one of my friend’s daughters had been experiencing what could only be described as ‘bullying’ at the hands of some young ladies in her peer group. I suppose that I’ve been an adult long enough to have forgotten what it was like to be bullied as a little girl, especially one that was shy, reserved and socially awkward. While some of those traits may still be present, it does not ever cross my mind that someone would attempt to bully me now.

My own experiences with bullying began in elementary school in Miami. However, I was always encouraged by my mother never

to allow someone to intimidate or frighten me.

To always find a way to speak up for myself.

That my father was a former Army officer may have played a role in strengthening and creating a resolute nature, one that was never going to tolerate anyone attempting to threaten or demean me. But, I believe that I have forgotten that despite the occasional rapscallion inclinations, girls generally can be very loving, kind, gentle, empathetic individuals.

We live a country where it is no secret that suicide has plagued the population for years, granting Guyana the status of first amongst nations in suicides per capita, the majority of victims, unsurprisingly, are women. The Turn to page XXXV ►►►

Heartbreak Hill?

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

XXXIII

…“A Piece of Cake”!

By Hubert Williams

BOSTON, Massachusetts -- I have conquered the infamous "Heartbreak

Hill" segment of the celebrated Boston Marathon, which annually has posed one of the great challenges to athletes from throughout the United States and

across the world, competing in this widely-publicized race for which there are no religious, sexual or age barriers.

It attracts thousands of men and women.

The great 26-mile-plus Marathon is held every April under considerable security measures, particularly since the 2013 terrorist bombing of the race which killed three and injured 264. None of the athletes were killed or injured. Of the two brothers who carried out the terrorist act, one died in a shootout with the police; the other was captured, convicted in a Massachusetts court and sentenced to death.

As a precursor to marathon day, the city of Newton (one of those through which the marathon passes) has for the

past 24 years arranged companion athletic and other activities for one day ahead of the race.

Its invitation this time said: “Already feels like Spring outside, so it’s time to start dusting off those running (or walking) shoes! The 24th annual Heartbreak Hill Road Race and Family Walk is a perfect way to shake off some of that cabin fever!

“Just one mile, up and down famed Heartbreak Hill! Every runner receives an official digital-clock timer, a race medallion, goody bag and a free ticket to the pre-race pasta party at Newton City Hall.

“The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place runners in each category win a trophy! The first Turn to page XXXVIII ►►►

XXXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXXI

of vindication.

Yes, tears are cathartic and she does cry like the emotional woman that she is, as women have done since time immemorial when faced by the betrayal of the men they love; but then she wipes those tears and does battle – for herself and for other abused women.

Wray explores and makes a myth of the concept that women are weak. He extols the fact that women have always been the torchbearers of humankind, but remains uninspired by the egoistic male species and their superior brawn; so he has given his heroine muscles with which to cut them down to size.

Unapologetically, Wray supports not sparing the rod and spoiling the child when he writes, "Many persons admit that they are better persons because of the tough, homemade discipline."

The enigma Wray's heroine was faced with was a good Catholic girl, coached and tutored all her life by a mentor who was a Roman Catholic priest, caught in a dilemma where her human instincts for vengeance competed with her religious upbringing.

Lizzie finds herself questioning the God who could have allowed such atrocious acts to be committed on her and Wray cleverly and sensitively creates correlation of the two diverse dimensions of her personality to bring his book to a climax.

The real love story transcends the romance between Lizzie and her lover to encapsulate the spiritual bond between her parents and the stunning revelation of the identity of the father she always wondered about...

Wray's characters are real and likeable but the fact that the underdog becomes the winner in a very believable way, although a much tried story-line is very true in this instance.

He interweaves the various lifestyles of the Guyanese communities – from the ghetto to the beauty of the Amerindian way of life in a manner that will enable the Caribbean Diaspora to feel at home and the wider readership to discover something both riveting and edifying.

REMARKS FROM HUBERT WILLIAMS re BEYOND REVENGE It is beyond my ken why "Beyond Revenge" is not already a widely acclaimed West Indian literary work. Indeed, had I been its author, I would have thought that I had produced something of which to be justly proud.

Having received your autographed copy yesterday afternoon, I began by thinking that I would devote only as much time as was required to complete the first chapter. It would be the final night of my visit to New York, and it was natural to think that other matters would, too, demand time and attention. But "Beyond Revenge" was both demanding and vengeful, and, like a jealous mistress, permitted no respite until it was satiated, or, rather, its pages exhausted - all carefully read. I think it an exceptional piece of work; and hope that soon it will be discovered by many buyer/readers. It may be flippantly deemed a romance novel, but its depth goes beyond much of what I have encountered from a number of other West Indian authors whose work has won acclaim. Have I any reservations? Of course, I have.

But there are always author's prerogatives which readers really do not have the right to challenge. There are some minor oddities (just a few) which I have noted and will bring to your attention, so that in the event of a reprint the necessary corrections can be made. But minor errors are not what I was referring to with the use of 'reservations'. To me, the end (final few pages) was a deflation, whereas the quality of the book seemed to deserve a crescendo, something that seemed to have been promised (almost) on page 174. In books which have more than a modicum of romance, women readers (and many men too) prefer a happy ending, where the male, if contrite, reunites with the woman he has hurt but truly loves, and who has much to give but only to him. The current end seems to destroy three lives (Robert, Yvonne, Elizabeth), consigning two women still beautiful and in full bloom to an existence of lovelessness and man-hunting of a different kind. Mother Theresa-ism for women of such bountiful physical gifts cannot be sufficient. To my eyes, the book's climax might better have been a sexual climax, with an ecstatic Robert and Elizabeth married and back in bed for the first time since the betrayal.

Even a full repeat description of the sensuality expressed on Pages 45/46 might have been the perfect end. It seems an oddity, too, that a highly trained, skilled and dedicated professional soldier would so insult the trust/confidence of the commander-in-chief's on-the-spot promotion by resigning shortly thereafter for no apparent reason, making meaningless the injunction (page 176) that "the army is one of the finest institutions in this country. I urge every one of you to help keep it that way."

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXXII

question of what compels women and girls in this country to take their own lives at such an abominably high rate is one that I cannot authoritatively answer, but I can offer some small insight into how a path to that end may be paved.

Quite honestly, it probably begins at a point when the individual seriously starts to doubt their self-worth, their value and place in society, their academic ability or usefulness, their outward appearance and attractiveness, or any combination of the above. These myriad aspects of self-doubt can become emotional lodestones, growing heavier and more confining as girls mature.

That feeling of ‘not belonging’ or the fear of extreme social ostracizing, being isolated, being deemed unacceptable for some superfluous reason, these can all contribute significantly towards planting poisonous seeds into the psyche of our young girls and women. So much so, that when faced with what seems like insurmountable odds and grim situations, they view suicide as their only option. Ending it all, simply not to existing.

Why, in Guyana, do more girls and women get to this point than girls and women ANYWHERE else in the world? What do we do to examine how we are socializing and raising our girls so that they rarely consider suicide an option in adversity? Or rather, as a society, what are we doing wrong that has so demoralised our young ladies that they choose nonexistence?

My very unscientific observation has been that all too often, we women/ladies are our own worst enemies. A truism to be sure, but with deadly local consequences. We constantly seek to define and describe our fellow women by narrow, achingly parochial, social confines. We relentlessly point out flaws, constantly comparing appearances, engaging in the destructive back-handed chatter that demolishes the self-esteem of so many girls and women. To be ‘feminine’, to look and behave a certain way (‘girly’ as opposed to ‘mannish’) is rigidly enforced, no matter the ethnicity, education or proximity to urban centers. The mores and norms that we aggressively expect to impose on our girls and women eventually erode what should be an acceptance of normal divergence and healthy individuality. Failure to conform leads to a wealth of chatter in the immediate community that girls live within, and very few have the courage to withstand and cope with a constant barrage of widespread gossip-mongering.

Sometimes women who have themselves been in oppressive situations can be the worst, rabidly enforcing inflexible existences for their daughters in an effort to groom ‘proper girls’ who will eventually marry well. This being the supposed pinnacle and purpose of girls’ existence in Guyana.

At some point, we have to agree that women, girls are not shackled to the stereotypical roles and ways of appearing and being and thinking that have characterized the history of our existence. Women should not be obliged to look and act a certain way, simply because they want to avoid harsh societal censure. The self-determination that they must have and achieve, and if necessary, demand, is essentially mostly an emotional, intellectual freedom, one enabled by economic freedom. One that emphasizes their own perception of who they are and what they want to be. That they are extremely valuable and capable, and to hell with anyone who believes otherwise!

Now, getting back to bullying-the passive-aggressive, BS back-of-the-hand whispering that women and girls do to each other has to stop. This simple, yet devastatingly effective instrument terrorizes and torments. Almost impossible to ignore, it defeats and demeans the spirit of countless young girls and grown women every day.

Sometimes, bullying isn’t a large looming dark force, but a small, diffident, contemptuous coarseness that spitefully and deliberately savages the psyche of vulnerable girls and women by maliciously excluding or isolating them. Feeling alone, unsupported and misunderstood, one can begin to understand how this oftentimes barely audible trickle of foulness slowly erodes even a grown woman’s self-esteem and self-worth, eventually leading to a decision involving suicide. So. When next you wish to snidely point out to a friend or young lady that she’s a: gained weight, b: lost weight, c: wearing ugly, uncool clothes, d: any completely unnecessary nasty comment or criticism; think…And remind yourself that we do not know what sadness lurks in the hearts of our girls and women, try not to be a force for perpetuating misery and meanness. Teach this to your children as well. Be a force for good, tap into your vein of humanity and say a kind, welcoming word. If not, feel free to just smile politely and keep your mouth shut.

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OUR PROTECTED REPTILES THIS week we continue our series on protected animals of Guyana by putting the spotlight on reptiles. Often

viewed as scary, reptiles do not enjoy the popularity of attractive birds, butterflies or fish. But reptiles are an

important link in nature’s food chains and are needed to maintain its balance in the environment. Read

on, and no doubt you will change the way you think of reptiles.

WHY PROTECT REPTILES? Reptiles are usually considered as hardy and difficult to injure or penetrate. However, they are vulnerable to a number of threats. Since reptiles have inhabited the Earth for more than 250 million years, they are adapted to many habitats. However, they are not usually perceived as the most charming and thus may have been

overlooked for conservation efforts. Yet, with only one third of described reptile species evaluated, the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species comprises about one third reptile species! This means that many of the known reptiles are threatened.

MAIN PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION: PROTECT THE HABITAT Ultimately, the key to protecting reptiles is to conserve natural habitat. Some small species might be able to persist for decades on a few acres of disturbed woodland, but larger species that occupy the top levels of the food chain require the protection of thousands of acres to maintain viable populations.

Conservation efforts for species with complex life cycles must protect the full range of habitats required by all life stages. For example,

many freshwater turtles need cover, basking sites, and feeding and nesting areas.

Conservation efforts need to ensure that habitats are connected to avoid the consequences of isolation and habitat fragmentation and

shredding.

PROTECTED REPTILES OF GUYANA Here are some quick facts about Reptiles under legal protection in Guyana.

BLACK CAIMAN (Melanosuchus niger) ► This impressive aquatic hunter is the largest of all alligator species, with reports of individuals measuring six metres. ► The black caiman superficially resembles the American alligator.

► These night hunters have acute sight and hearing to locate their prey. ► Most adults are 2.8 - 4.26 m (9.2-14 ft) in length, with a few old males growing larger than 5 metres (16 ft) and exceeding a weight of 400 kg (880 lbs).

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE (Dermochelys coriacea) ► Leatherback sea turtles are the biggest turtles on Earth. ► Unlike other species of sea turtles, which have hard shells, the leatherback's shell is leathery; it feels almost rubbery. ► According to Scientists, these huge reptiles lived 100 million years ago, during the dinosaur age but their future remains uncertain amidst the numerous threats. ► Only female Leatherbacks leave the ocean, they breathe air at the surface, but can stay underwater for up to 35 minutes at a time

HAWKSBILL TURTLE ((Eretmochelys imbricata) ► Generally smaller in size compared to other turtles, hawksbills grow up to about 45 inches (114 centimeters) Turn to page XXXIX ►►►

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Makeba Scott

child hood dream has become a reality

From country girl to airhostess

By Vanessa Braithwaite

GROWING up in a wooden enclosure under her grandmother’s little country house in the back dams of David Rose Street, Bagotville, West Bank Demerara, was the simple country life enjoyed by Makeba Scott for most of her life. As a child, she would run through the narrow dam close to her home with her siblings and cousins shouting “Airplane! Airplane!” every time one was passing by. While she ran, seemingly following the plane, hoping that the passengers and the pilot may be seeing her, it never crossed her mind that she would one day spend most of her working life in one of those planes.

When the plane got out of sight, Makeba would go back to the regular country girl games of playing in the trench, climbing the mango trees in search of the juicy spice mangoes, chasing after the dogs or milking the cow Rosy.

When the sun cools, the bunch would journey to the back dams to raid the farms and would most times return home at night with their tops filled with all kinds of fruits and even some bush fish. She would take a bath in the outside bathroom or even in the yard and for this it was like Pagwah every day.

The house was filled with children, her mother alone had 6 and her grandmother looked after about 6 of her grandchildren and so they would all cuddle up on the floor at night waiting to be served their cow milk and slice of hot pot bake before reclining to bed. While she lay at nights, Mackeba’s thoughts would

sometimes go back to the airplane she followed during the day, Would she ever get the chance to go in one? Would she ever get the chance to go to the America everyone wanted to go to? While the idea seemed like just a facade, something within her little soul always held on to thought that it is highly improbable but not impossible. “I've always seen myself in a fabulous lifestyle, although I wasn't quite sure of the route by which I would get there. I looked at movies and documentaries and I was so sure that I would live my dream someday, travelling the world”.

Mackeba became a high flier in school, placing first in every class. She held her academic potential very dear as it was something very rare in her family circle. She wanted to make her mother very proud since her father had suddenly passed in her early teens. Though there were financial constraints as her mother now became the sole bread winner for the family even at a time when she was unemployed, Makenba was determined to break free from poverty and to make something of herself, to make her mother very proud and that she did when she wrote the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) at the Patentia Secondary School. “I sat CXC in 2012, undertaking 10 subjects. My love for Mathematics has led me to gain a distinction in that, and four other subjects, and Grade twos in five other subjects.

Because of my grades I was the best graduating student for that year,” she proudly related.

Though this achievement occurred amidst many struggles including the death of her dear

Grandmother who passed away during her exams, it was only made possible through the support of her immediate and extended family members.

Makeba decided to continue in the field of academia and enrolled at Queens College where she sat the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) and the country girl was again successful. Even as she continued to qualify herself, she still had dreams of one day sitting in that airplane she often followed while she was a child. She went into the teaching profession temporarily but this obviously was not her dream career so she prayed for something more fulfilling to cross her path.

It was not long after that she saw a vacancy for flight attendants for Fly Jamaica Airways.

“I grabbed at the opportunity knowing quite well I possessed the physical and academic requirements. There was a first interview which basically included general questions so as to determine whether or not one would be selected to attend a second interview which then consisted of more rigorous questions,” Makeba related adding that she was successful in both and was recruited for the training sessions.

For Makeba, the feeling of finally being able to live her dream is beyond ecstatic.

“The journey so far has been absolutely delightful as the airline fosters family spirit amongst staff and it is nothing but the best.

I try to be strong in all aspects of life but as humans we all have weaknesses and fears and my fear would be being insufficient as it relates to work and family life, in that, I

work extra hard and do my best in trying to connect all the dots.” She finally got to experience, that feeling of sitting in an airplane and now realized that all along, it was impossible to see running children in the country side. As she prepares to be the best airhostess Fly Jamaica would have ever recruited, Makeba encourages every little country girl or boy to always hold on to their dreams.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXXIII

500 registrations receive a free T-shirt. There are free activities for kids organized by the Lasell College Special Events students. Not a runner? Everyone can walk the course at 11:30 a.m.” Fast-walking the course was my preference.

The Marathon route covers 26 miles and 385 yards of sometimes hilly, sometimes flat, terrain between Hopkinton and Copley Square in the city of Boston.

The race starts in Hopkinton, located to the westsouth-west of Boston, on Route 135. It continues east on Route 135 through Ashland, Framingham, Natick, and Wellesley.

In Wellesley, Route 135 merges into Route 16. The race continues east on Route 16 into the Lower Falls area of Newton, just to the east of Route 128, where it merges onto Commonwealth Avenue (Route 30).

The race continues on Commonwealth Avenue over four challenging Newton hills, including the notorious Heartbreak Hill… all of them constituting more than four miles of ascending roadway, much of it patterned on the contours to the region’s reservoirs. I understand that because of the peculiarities of the Boston Marathon course, the race is not eligible for the award of world records.

This was an issue that arose following the 2011 Marathon when the winner, an African, Geoffrey Mutai posted a time of 2 hours 3 mins 2 secs, the fastest ever recorded over the marathon distance, and the IAAF ruled that the point-to-point nature of the Boston course was not in conformity with IAAF standards and also due to the fact that there is a net loss of elevation over the course that exceeds IAAF limits which were established in 1990.

Marathoners who survive the Heartbreak Hill exertion then continue through other areas such as Beacon Street, Fenway Park and Kenmore Square, where they veer right onto Commonwealth Avenue again and run a few more blocks toward the city of Boston, on the way to Boylston Street for the final four blocks to the Finish Line at Copley Square near the Boston Public Library.

In the exciting Newton preliminaries to the big event, hardly anyone among the thousands gathered on Heartbreak Hill would have taken any note of my achievement.

Nothing special… for they were all seeking to accomplish the same thing.

However, I glowed. It was the first time that I had set foot on this widely publicized international sporting landmark... the Heartbreak Hill, reputed to be among the world’s very tough marathon courses.

The sunshine was truly Caribbeanesque. The temperature (64 degrees) – was a great improvement on the recent unspring-like freeze here.

Following my initial euphoria at having 'conquered' Heartbreak Hill, a member of my family group chose to put things into proper perspective: Oh yes ! It was an achievement to have fast-walked the inclined highway and back to starting point; but little compared with what the actual big day’s marathoners must endure... for they encounter Heartbreak Hill after they had been running 18 miles along the course…. crunch time.

I had gone by vehicle to the beginning of the incline, fast-walked a mile up the “hill” to a point where it seemed to level off, then back to starting point – along with a large group of people. The next several hours were spent enjoying the competition among hundreds of children, who in consecutive age groups from 8 to 16 were racing the two miles for public plaudits and prizes from the City Council – with contestants including my 9-year-old grandsons Mark Anderson and Lucas Williams, with their good friend Caleb Noel.

In years to come, I'll likely boast about having conquered Massachusetts' notorious "Heartbreak Hill" - without providing details.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XXXVI

in shell length and 150 pounds (68 kilograms) in weight. ► They get their name based on the fact that their head ends end in a sharp point resembling a bird’s beak. ► A further distinctive feature is a pair of claws adorning each flipper. Male hawksbills have longer claws, thicker tails, and somewhat brighter colouring than females. ► Hawksbills are omnivorous and eat mollusks, marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, and jellyfish. Their hard shells protect them from many predators, but they still fall prey to large fish, sharks, crocodiles, octopuses, and humans.

GREEN TURTLE (Chelonia mydas) ► Green sea turtles are the world’s largest species of hardshelled sea turtle. While most individuals weigh about 300

to 400 pounds (136 to 181 kilograms), some can be as heavy as 440 pounds (204 kilograms). ► Adult green sea turtles eat a primarily plant-based diet consisting of seaweed and sea grass. ► Similar to other sea turtles, green sea turtles migrate long distances between their feeding grounds and their nesting sites, with recorded distances longer than 1,615 miles (2,600 kilometers).

GIANT SOUTH AMERICAN TURTLE (Podocnemis expansa) ► The giant South American turtle is the largest river turtle in South America. ► The giant South American turtle nests during the low water season, laying from 75 to 125 leathery eggs per clutch. ► The gender of the hatchlings is determined by the average temperature at which they are incubated; females develop at higher temperatures and males develop at lower temperatures. ► The giant South American turtle inhabits freshwater rivers with sandy banks or sandbars, which are crucial for nesting.

PACIFIC RIDLEY TURTLE (Lepidochelys olivacea) ► The Pacific Ridley Turtle, also known as the Olive Ridley Turtle due to the greenish colour of its skin and shell, has an average life span of 50 years in the wild. ► Males can be distinguished from females by their tails, which stick out beyond their carapace. ► This turtle is mostly carnivorous, feeding on such creatures as jellyfish, snails, crabs, and shrimp but will occasionally eat algae and seaweed as well.

For a complete list of protected species in Guyana, have a look at the Wildlife Management and Conservation Regulations that can be found on the Agency’s website at www. epaguyana.org.

SOURCES ● http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/1828426/a_scaly_crisis_why_we_must_act_now_to_ save_reptiles.html ● https://ssarherps.org/conservation/protect-habitat/ ● http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/ green-sea-turtle/#green-sea-turtle-closeup-underwater.jpg ● http://www.arkive.org/giant-south-american-turtle/podocnemis-expansa/ ● http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/ olive-ridley-sea-turtle/

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Rich with money but poor on Happiness

By Abdool A. Aziz

The true story of a subsistence family winning lotto.

The old adage: Everything is money but money is not everything so true in this expose.

THE SIMPLE BUT HAPPY LIFE Father, aged 73 and son and daughter in law lived in the backland of Hubu, East Bank Essequibo. Fishing and farming their occupation. A modest unpainted shack. No electricity.

No running water, toiletry and sanitation done outside, even cooking on a mud ‘fire side’. But they were happy.

PARIKA MARKET Pooraan, the son and his wife Nalini would come to the Parika market every Saturday to buy and sell. She will return alone with basis food stuff while he would repair to the local bar called parliament. He would have a good time and on his way home he would have a ‘’flatty’’ of rum in his back pocket and in the shirt pocket.

EYES ON THE LOTTO JACKPOT A six pick lotto ticket on this trip the profit was good and Lotto stood at 25 million. He bought 2 tickets. Back home, he, his wife and father would stuff themselves on curried chicken and rice and rum.

A CAREFREE LIVING If the weather is good, the senior Pooran would fall asleep in the outdoor hammock. And Pooran and his wife would just lie on the floor, enjoying the wild breeze. Sometimes night catches them still asleep. A care free abandon. No neighbours, no wild animals. Just the songs of the feathered choristers in the canopy. Now and then the distance sound of a howler monkey. A little’’ paradise’’ carved out in the jungle. Sometime sunshine will awaken them. And off to the farm where the lush stream provide the elixir of life water.

Sometimes they even make ‘’ bush cook ‘’ with no contact with the outside world, not even a radio, those tickets will have to be checked out the next Saturday.

CHECKING OUT THE TICKET And on this market day, Pooran saw the jackpot plummet to 4 million. He said to his wife ‘’ eh eh somebody win. Give me dem ticket’’. Nalini snapped me ain’t bring dem –you nag on win leh the shopkeeper give the winning numbers. His house was a bit dark. He found the numbers matched one of his tickets. His blood flushed.he dashed into the open and checked the ticket again he can’t believe his eyes. On top of his voice he screamed ‘’ Nalini! Papa, come quick!.

WINNING THE LOTTO JACKPOT They rushed over. He grabbed them and and start dancing. ‘’ wha happen to you bai, you drink too much!’’ ‘’and me go drink mo!’’ He handed her the ticket. Now we all millionaires!’’

MILLIONAIRER Nalini eyes bulged. Her heart thumped faster as she checked out the numbers with trembling hands. ‘’ oh my God, its true, we win “.

THE DREAM LIFE She began to dance and sing. “papa, join us we rich. We go live in town. You go drive in car. No more old clothes and bare foot. Ah we go go way from this mud and bush.

UN-HAPPY FATHER The old man was not very happy. He grew up a farmer.

He lived his life- style. Work, eat, drink and sleep. He ain’t fancy no town life.

The next day Pooran and Nalini journeyed to town by a special taxi. And they spent the night at a secluded hotel.

That night they dined on a lavish Chinese meal. They were so happy. They couldn’t sleep.

THE CHEQUE Promptly at 8am they visited the lotto office and got their cheque for 1\4 of 100 million dallars yes- straight to the bank.

Though he couldn’t drive he bought a car-cash and hired a driver. He scouted for a house and found one in Nandy Park.

He bought it.

FANCY RESIDENCE Turn to page XLI ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017 ◄◄◄ From page XL

It was a posh residence-3 bedroom,with concete yard and car port. They funished it well. To fridge, stove and even a stero set. No tv at that time was widely owned. And of course the popular microwave.

EXTRAVAGANT SHOPPING Nalini, went on a shopping spree and bought all she fancied, house-hold and personal. Pooran spent much of his money to boost his “ ride’s” Image especially the stero system, even tinting his glass windows. And he pursued the adverse way to gain a driver’s licence.

LUXURY CAR He then went for his father. He took new clothes. A Wilson hat and a Reebok boots. The old man disliked all.

He was force to dress like a town man. This is the first time too that he would sit in a deluxe car. He was sad to leave his homested of over 50 years AN UNHAPPY GUEST The bright light of the suburb and the cozy house. Did not tickle his fancy. As soon as he entered the building, he discarded the boots and threw away the hat. Nalini showed him to his room.’’ Here papa, lie down. This is not our grass mattress, see how soft it is, bought specially for your aching back. New clothes in your wardrobe.

A NEW LIFE Now put on some slacks and come to the dinner table’’.

Pooran obliged. She dish out some cold food and microwave it. He watched with awe as she handed him the food hot. ‘’See papa, no mo fireside.no mo everyday cooking. We go gat time to walk mo”.

That night Pooran tried to sleep. The bed was too soft.

He placed a sheet on the floor and dropped away. the next morning he went to the toilet, it was occupied. He couldn’t stand a toilet in a house. He missed his out-house in the bush.

BEGGING TO GO HOME He begged his son to move back home. He refused. In brushing his teeth at he sink with the fancy toothbrush, he missed his black sage one Walking on the concrete, he yearned for the grass. No birds sang here. No one around. But the dogs bark and vehicles come and go-strange place. He hated it all. Now drinks yes. But on the verandah and in a glass. No bush rum here.

Some days he is left alone. The kids gone shopping. He would hold the steel gates and look around the closed up residence and empty street. He felt like a prisoner DRESS WELL PAPA One day his son came home and found him bare-footed and without a shirt. He was scolded ‘Paps, this is town. Wear a shirt and footwear. We are millionaires. The neighbours watching”. The old man felt humiliated.

BUT TIMES ARE CHANGING But the excitement was beginning to diminish. His nightly trips to the city to have a good time was getting boring. He had no friends . though he dressed well. He still had the look of a county bumskin. His speech was awful. The fancy girls just loved his money THE FEUD He would now stay home and blast music. The neighbours complained. He spoke of their dogs barking. A feud developed. No one liked them.

MISSED THE OLD LIFE He got money. He got material wealth but something was lacking. He wasn’t happy. He longed for the rowdy company at the rum shop called “parliament”.

Nalini missed her friends at the Parika Market. They disliked micro-wave cooking.

THE RETURN And they had sleepless night because of the thieves in the area. No peace of mind. Oh no! this is no life. Back to basics.

The joy is just not there. There is more to life than wealth.

Richness in the soul is better. They sold out and went back to Hubu.

CATTLE RANCHING He bought acres of land where he raised cattle. See him on horse-back corralling his stock. The old man even rides a donkey and Nalini back to cooking outside and splashing in the nearby stream. It's open life, friends again and the “moon-shine’’ The simple life but the fulfilling life. Money is not everything!

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BK International Partners with Equality News

By Shirley Thomas

Local business tycoon Brian Tiwari, Managing Director of B.K. International, is teaming up with Canadian-based Guyanese Bashkar Sharma, publisher of the Equality News, to set up an office in Guyana which will contribute to the editorial and advertising content of the 40-page Toronto weekly newspaper.

Sharma said he’s all excited, ready and rearing to go, and plans kicking off the initiative to coincide with his 66th birth anniversary come February 21 while in Guyana.

The objective he says is to become trail blazers and contribute positively towards selling and improving Guyana’s image among the 350,000 residents in Toronto and further afield.

TRIPLE CELEBRATION And so for him, it will be a triple celebration - his birth anniversary, the opening of the office and Mashramani 2017 in Guyana. While the newspaper will continue to be published in Toronto, the office to be set up at BKI’s holdings in Water Street, South Cummingsburg, will be under the jurisdiction of Tiwari, with its day to day operations overseen by editor Ras Leon Saul. The local office will have responsibility for putting together editorial content, editing and proof-reading of articles and ads from Guyana.

PROMOTING TOURISM Both Sharma and Tiwari have expressed concern over the fact that there are so many good and positive things happening in Guyana, yet crime continues to dominate the front pages and take centre stage in many of the local newspapers.

The partners said such an approach is not good for the image of ‘our country’, since it immediately serves as a deterrent for both the diaspora wishing to return home on vacation or wishing to invest in Guyana’s development.

“The aim,” the duo contends, “is to revolutionize the approach to selling Guyana, with a determination to disseminate positive messages which will attest to Guyana’s potential as an attractive destination for investment and trade; to make known its potential for becoming a world class oil-producing country; and as an open economy with a welcoming and enabling trade environment and rewarding possibilities.”

Equally so, the present approach to reportage, they claim, does not go down well with tourists wishing to visit Guyana to experience its amazing eco-tourism potential: the majestic Kaieteur Falls; the natural beauty and charm of our flora and fauna, pristine jungles and rich wild life; as well as heritage buildings such St. George’s Cathedral (the world’s tallest wooden building); City Hall; The Brickdam Cathedral; the floating Demerara Harbour Bridge; and other such prized heritage architecture.

Sharma had just weeks ago, in an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, remarked: “In Canada there are 350,000 Guyanese living in Ontario alone, let alone main-stream Canadians wanting to know more about Guyana, but sadly there is little information on Guyana’s tourism product, with the diaspora being literally starved of this vital information.”

He added: “I have seen over the years, many beautiful world class tourism publications [coming out of Guyana], but in Ontario Canada where there are over 5,000 travel agencies very little is available at these agencies, which is very sad,” Sharma told the Chronicle. He, at that time, proposed that a Guyana Tourism Board be set up in Toronto and promised to offer whatever help he could.

The ‘Equality’ Newspaper, a source of Guyanese-Caribbean news, has been in circulation for the last 35 years.

It services 3,500 outlets in Ontario, Canada; has an average circulation of 45,000 copies weekly, with 1.4 Million hits every week on equalitynews.ca

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English 2017-02-19

STUDY SUCCESS Dear Students, Do as much revision work as you can at this time. Search yourself to see what areas of study need attention, and then rate them. Plan strategies for each and wisely pursue with your undivided attention. Reach out to genuine helpers. Reach out, all the more, to your own power of understanding, retention, and production. Be wise.

Love you COMPOSE & COMPREHEND Something to Try The CXC English A examination happens some months from now. See how prepared you are by trying to complete the following questions in good time.

1. In about 450 words write on one of the following areas. a) Describe aspects of a city or other community life in preparation for a chosen national celebration. b) Choose a pleasurable movie. Indicate its scope, nature, and story. Try to estimate its value to some part of society. c) Write on the advantages of playing steel pans as opposed to watching pans play. d) Write a short story ending with the words: “…so the root of his problems became well known and understandable.”

2. Read the following passage carefully, and then answer the questions below it.

It is fashionable for employers to complain of the standard of English that they find in students leaving school. Doubtless this has been a common complaint, perhaps part of the popular pastime of condemning the younger generation. Alarmists have even seen, as a result of the increase of influences such as television, cinema and strip cartoons, and social media, a cessation of reading, and an approaching era of mass illiteracy and incapacity for thought.

The examining of the work in English of candidates reveals an encouraging state of affairs, and may give some help even to the most pessimistic. It is perhaps, necessary to say that the candidates for this examination represent the highest level of national intelligence at the age of sixteen - roughly the top 15 per cent.

It can be said, that the secondary schools are undoubtedly producing a large number of boys and girls who are fitted to fill posts which demand an ability to form and express ideas. Most of the candidates, even under examination conditions, showed powers of observation, imagination, critical thought, and a facility of expression.

Faults and mistakes proceeded more often from carelessness than ignorance. Although it is dangerous to generalise, this widespread carelessness appears to

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A safe stronghold our God is still, A trusty shield and weapon.

MARTIN LUTHER (1483-1546), Klug’sche Gesangbuch, (1529). Tr. Carlyle

be a weakness that needs correcting and may reveal a danger to which children who grow up in a fast-moving mechanised world are liable. Handwriting, however, a common source of public complaint, was generally legible, and pleasant in appearance.

Something to Do 1. Use about 80 of your own words to describe what a Caribbean examination revealed of the standard of English in children leaving secondary schools.

2. Give meaning to each phrase as used in the passage: a) the popular pastime of condemning the younger generation; b) an ability to form and express ideas c) proceeded more often from carelessness than ignorance 3. The writer, in the last paragraph, suggested the main cause of wide-spread carelessness. What is the danger in this weakness?

4. In your view, does the Caribbean examination tend to give what may be called a too favourable view of Caribbean attainment in English? State your view in about two sentences.

AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Accuracy in pronoun use A. Underline the correct pronouns for the following sentences.

Read them aloud afterwards to hear the sound a correctly used pro-

noun makes in a sentence. If help is needed, look up the examples at the bottom of the sentences.

1. Haroldson and (she, her) have been awarded front row passes for the Monsoon Junior Softball Championships.

2. Somebody probably knew besides you and (I. me). (Who, Whom) do you suppose informed on (we, us)?

3. Gregory is a stout-hearted player (who, whom) the village people believe will win the trophy.

4. You need to employ (whoever, whomever) has met the requirements.

5. Jeremiah has pronounced ( we, us) boys to be stalwarts at fielding. Do you support (our, us) opinion?

6. Do give Eva and (I, me) a hand at carving out ice-cream balls at the children’s party.

7. Everyone except (I, me) said that Ivory Lace deserved the harsh-looking sentence.

8. Michael plans to save up as much money as (she, her).

Some Help Your Way 1. When a pronoun is part of a compound be careful that you use the correct form of pronoun.

David told Helen and (I, me).

2. A noun or a pronoun is in the objective case when it is in apposition with another noun or pronoun in the objective case.

They took (them, they), Francis and (he, him). (apposition with direct object) They need two girls, Jennifer and (I, me). (apposition with girls, direct object) 3. Use who and whoever as subjects or predicate nominatives; whom and whomever as objects. (Do not be misled by the insertion of a phrase such as “do you think” or “in your opinion.” It does not change the case.)

(Who, Whom) do you think is winning the relay? (subject of is winning) (Who, Whom) did you include? (Object of did include) Give the trophy to (whoever, whomever) you prefer. (object of prefer) SKILLS of STUDY Reading Speed How quickly can you read, and how much do you understand after reading? Here are some thoughts to keep in mind.

- Reading speed without comprehension is not reading.

- Rapid, average, or slow readers who comprehend poorly should not pressure themselves at this time to read more rapidly. Just make certain that you read carefully.

- Right now, flexibility in reading rate is more important than speed. Just vary your speed in accordance to your purpose and the difficulty of the reading material.

Amazing Facts

Chronicle Pepperpot February 19, 2017

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Entertainment

Amid record betting on Oscars, 'La La Land' is seen as a lock "La La Land" is set to sweep the Oscars, but the race to be crowned Hollywood's leading man is going down to the wire, say bookmakers who are seeing record bets on the Academy Awards this year.

Casey Affleck, star of "Manchester by the Sea," had been the favorite to win the best actor statue for several months. But his odds tightened as a flood of money flowed to Denzel Washington after he took home the Screen Actors Guild award in January for "Fences."

Ladbrokes favors Affleck with 8/15 odds, compared with 13/8 for a Washington victory, but says it will be close.

"This is without a doubt the most competitive category of 2017," said Ladbrokes spokeswoman Nicola McGeady, who said a rush of bets on Washington in recent weeks had moved the market significantly.

Bookmakers, however, are overwhelmingly confident that "La La Land" will take home the best picture statuette on Sunday, Feb. 26.

"At 1/7, we reckon there is an 87.5 percent chance it will win best picture," said Feilim Mac An Iomaire, spokesman for Paddy Power Betfair.

The musical starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling has faced some recent competition from "Hidden Figures," the tale of black female mathematicians in the 1960s space race.

But at 12/1, it's well behind the favorite.

Turnover on bets for novelty events such as the Academy Awards and other awards shows has doubled since 2014, said Mac An Iomaire.

"This year, we are expecting to end up 30 percent over last year, taking some 250,000 Euro ($270,000) in terms of the bets," he added.

Punters are finding several ways to put their money behind "La La Land." Ladbrokes has the film 3/1 to equal the record for most wins - currently 11 - held by "Titanic," "Ben-Hur" and "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King."

The odds for "La La Land" to beat the record for most wins is 10/1.

Alex, 31, of London, who did not want to give his surname, said he'd backed "La La Land" to win best picture in early December at 4/5.

"I also backed Emma Stone to win best actress at 7/4,"

he said. "Unfortunately, I was restricted to only 70 pounds ($87) on the latter.

"I was tempted to back Denzel Washington for best

actor but decided that would be my emotions making the bet. I try to keep my own feelings on the film well away from my actual bet."