Pepperpot epaper 11 05 2016

The Arawak girl and the sea creature

- Ignored for generations, a pile of mysterious bones in the North West is now at the heart of a drive towards community-based tourism

â–ş Page 20

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

Moblissa Women’s group on the move Economic advancement remains the focus for the women living in the small but cohesive village of Moblissa, located on the Linden/Soesdyke Highway, Region Ten and approximately ten minutes away from the mining town of Linden.

This was emphasized when Vice President and Minister of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Sydney Allicock and team visited the village last weekend and made a timely donation of sewing equipment including a singer sewing machine and fabric.

An ecstatic Carmelita Rutherford described the donation as enormous since the women there will now be better able to put their sewing skills into practice thus putting money in their pockets.

Rutherford explained that every effort is being made to ensure the sewing group becomes an economically viable establishment.

She explained that a bale of cloth, which was donated a few years ago, had brought with it the hope of expanding since out of that bale of cloth the women were able to produce and market table cloth, hand towels and pillow cases and other work.

However, she explained that when they

Members of the Moblissa Women’s Group

were out of sewing material they were almost back to where they began.

An adamant Rutherford reminded that fortitude overcomes all challenges, including the fact that they have to take on dual roles owing to the absence of the men folk who are seeking employment opportunities elsewhere.

She said “the contribution that we receive

is a big help because in Moblissa we don’t really have people with jobs; so if we can sew school shirts for the children, we sell them at a lower price than Linden, and it will be a real relief to the parents.”

Rutherford further explained that plans are also in train to assist the elderly, since some of them are visually impaired. “…we talked among ourselves in the group that once we get these things sell we can like give them a hamper for the holidays to just make their holidays a little more nice.”

Coleen Williams, another group member, said the donation will result in progress since “we get we own material, we own machine, we own thread so we don’t have to go out to Linden and buy these things; so we will try and make uniform for our children and so on.”

Annie Dey, a seamstress for some time now, believes working together will yield positive results for the group and by extension the village economy.

“We will go there and search market and see if we get our produce sell and we will continue investing and investing,” Dey assured.

Miister Allicock made good on a promise to the thriving Women’s Group there after they had highlighted some challenges they faced in acquiring materials and other much needed equipment.

The Minister commended members of the group who assembled at the Moblissa Health Center to receive items for the group for their passion demonstrated and added that this passion is very encouraging to his Ministry.

The Minister also reminded that the current Government is working assiduously to ensure there is economic development within communities, including empowering the women folk.

“We have a desire for economic drive within communities and also the importance of women in development, women in leadership roles we have decided to start to give support to you the women here in this community.

“I’m happy to say that we have been able

to meet some of the request you have made, we have been able to provide more than eighty percent of that request for the women’s group, we have a sewing machine for you, cloth, thread, needles, scissors among others,” the Minister said.

“I would like to hand this over to you as a beginning to your greater dreams and I am happy that you can come here which means that you are really serious and that’s what we are looking for, we are looking for the opportunity that you can be able to allow yourselves to become highly professional in what you do and since you have shown the interest, the Ministry and the Government would support,” was the assurance given by the Indigenous Affairs Minister.

Stressing the need to ensure there is accountability, Minister Allicock said “it is the delivery of service to your community to your people and the upliftment of your skills individually. This is not only for this community but for all of the communities across Guyana.”

Speaking on the recent revelations in the Auditor General’s 2015 report, the Vice President said “it has been a matter of concern for a very long time and we are doing all we can to make the correction so that we can have proper recording of the spending of taxpayer’s money and the spending of monies coming into our coffers because if we do not account or cannot account for such matters then our businesses could be in jeopardy; so for us we need first of all from the Ministry to correct whatever issues there may be in the area of accounting.”

The Minister proposed additional training for staff which he said will ensure the success of this process which will ensure the Ministry moving forward unhindered.

According to the Vice President, the United Nations Development Program UNDP has indicated its willingness to support such an undertaking while further revealing that “Mr. Anand Goolsarran who is a well-known figure and who they feel very strongly could give us that guidance and training to correct our weaknesses.”

Goolsarran will be contracted until January and Minister Allicock is optimistic that his stint at the Ministry will yield resounding success.

A Mobilissa woman inspects a newly acquired sewing machine

Danny Singh Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

By Frederick Halley

UNLIKE most Guyanese and West Indian cricketers who migrated to Canada as fullfledged first division or first class players, Danny Singh left Guyana when he was just 16 years old with little or no experience in the sunshine game. He however recalled representing St Stanislaus College in an Under-14 fixture against Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) prior to migrating.

Some 39 years later, Singh is still revered as one of Canada’s top cricketers, having played for his adopted homeland in several international tournaments and also skippering the Canadian national team for a number of years.

While Singh still plays occasionally at the age of 55, he’s an active member of the Scarborough Cricket Umpires Association

ed in playing cricket and offered to take him to practice sessions twice a week to Transac Cricket Club.

By the following year, 1979, Singh was selected to represent the Canadian Under-19 team which toured Barbados for a schools tournament, which included a team from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus. During that same year, he also participated in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Youth tournament in Canada.

Among the teams involved were England (North and South), Bermuda, Holland and Ireland with the hosts winning two games and Singh being voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his side, a top-score of 79 being the highest individual score.

Outstanding all-round performances at the club level earned Singh a call-up for the Ontario Under-25 side although he was just

Danny Singh

(SCUA) and recently was the victorious coach of the Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) Under-19 team which defeated Ottawa Valley Council in the final of the Ontario Cricket Association (OCA) tournament.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Singh recalled how he got involved in club cricket almost by accident and the strides he made during the ensuing years.

According to Singh, himself and brother were involved in a game of hockey on the street when an individual by the name of Harry Ramnarine inquired if he was interest-

19 but his joy soon turned to gloom when he failed to find favour with the Canadian selectors for the team’s Under-19 tour of Bermuda.

Undaunted by this setback, Singh was selected in the senior Ontario team, which included former West indies player Faoud Bacchus and the late Guyanese all-rounder Clement Neblett in 1981for a tournament in Alberta and became a permanent fixture in the Canadian national the following year, the first of his ICC Trophy tournaments, played in England.

III

– an unsung hero in Canadian cricket

Singh remembered that tournament vividly, pointing out that the weather played havoc with it although Zimbabwe, with the likes of Duncan Fletcher, Kevin Curran and John Traicos, went to win easily.

In the interim, while playing club cricket, Singh donned Canadian colours in Los Angeles versus a USA team which included former Guyana and West Indies great off-spinner Lance Gibbs and ventured to Australia from October 1984 – March 1985 through the auspices of Aussies coach Ray Catherall.

During the six-month stint in Tasmania, Singh played Grade One cricket which was one grade below the Sheffield Shield and despite being recalled by the Canadian selectors during that period for a three-week tour of Jamaica, opted to stay Down Under, a decision that did not go down too well with the authorities.

Singh disclosed that his club failed to win any games but he nevertheless earned the runner-up MVP prize for his useful batting performances which included a century.

Back in the Canadian ICC Trophy team in 1986, Singh explained there were high expectations for the side but they failed to live up to the pre-tour hype, losing to Holland with Zimbabwe again emerging victorious.

In 1991, in his third ICC Trophy tournament, Singh was appointed vice-captain and again felt the team was strong enough to win but once again faltered after defeating favourites Holland and losing to Bangladesh and Denmark, A third win for Zimbabwe ensured that they earned Test status.

Singh made his debut as captain of the Canadian national team versus a Guyana XI, skippered by Timur Mohamed and also included Keith Semple, Ravindranuath Seeram, Bacchus and the late Nizam Hafiz among others, a game which saw Semple blasting a century and Singh himself putting in a fine

all-round performance, hitting 55 and claiming four wickets.

Leading the Canadian team to Kenya in 1994 in what proved to be the last of his ICC Trophy tournaments, the North American side finished fifth with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) defeating home team Kenya in the final.

Singh also had the distinction of being at the helm of the Canadian side which whipped a West Indies Red Stripe X1 in 1993 at Ross Lord’s Park, a side that included the legendary Brian Lara who Singh boasted he dismissed for 42.

Prior to that he had also represented a Rest of the World X1 against the West Indies at the famous Skydome (Rogers Centre) with the Rest winning the United Way sponsored charity game.

With his international career ended, Singh played for several clubs, including Victoria Park, Vikings, Overseas and Civics, recording several outstanding innings, including a mammoth average of over a hundred in a season for Victoria Park in the Toronto & District Association competition.

Obviously disappointed with the strides in Canadian cricket over the years since his exit, Singh posited that there are not enough tournaments as in previous years, referring to tours to the Caribbean and visits by international teams to Canada.

Singh opined that the standard was much higher than it is currently but felt the players need to improve on their own instead of blaming the administrators.

“The administrators however need to target a pool of players with a view to earmarking them for major tournaments.

These players must be stick with once the potential is there and instead of subtracting from the pool, other players should be added.”

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

South Rupununi safari revs off Nov. 24 RAINFOREST Tours in collaboration with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) is once again organising a safari to the South Rupununi.

Rainforest Tours has led the Pakaraimas Mountain Safari for many years, and over recent years has been conducting the safari to South Rupununi.

For this year’s safari, which will take place from November 24-29, registration is still open.

Frank Singh, of Rainforest Tours, said that 15 persons have so far expressed interest and registration should wrap up by next Friday.

The Safari offers the opportunity to explore little known villages of the South Rupununi.

The trip includes camping in the open and driving for miles in the flat savannahs. In total,the safari takes participants on a journey of 1, 000 miles.

This tour not only benefits the participants because the indigenous people get opportunities to showcase their culture and market their produce.

The Safari will pass through 14 Amerindian villages.

The journey includes places such as Lethem and Dadawana Ranch.

Some of the main sites Singh encourages participants to look out for are the Bottle Mountain, the Kanuku Mountains, Shea Vil-

lage and the Shea Rock, Petroglyphs, over 400 species of birds and a visit to the corral to see the vaqueros tame wild horses, brand steers, tan leather and roundup cattle.

Persons are encouraged to come on board the safari. Admission per vehicle is $15,000 and those who don’t have a vehicle can pay $60,000, all-inclusive.

For further information persons can contact Rainforest Tours on 231-5661.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

V

Men’s long working hours, short sleep may harm health in old age (Reuters Health) – Working long hours and skimping on sleep in midlife may lead to poorer physical health in old age, according to a study from Finland.

A quarter-century study of Finnish businessmen found those who worked more than 50 hours a week and slept less than 47 hours weekly when they were middle aged were in worse physical health as old men than peers who had healthier work and sleep habits when they were in their prime.

“The results are in line with what we hypothesized, but we were not sure if we would be able to detect these long-term associations,” said lead author Dr. Mikaela Birgitta von Bonsdorff of the University of Jyvaskyla.

She and her coauthors examined a very unique cohort of old businessmen, Dr. von Bonsdorff told Reuters Health by email.

The researchers used data from the Helsinki Businessmen Study to follow the health outcomes for more than 3,000 white men born between 1919 and 1934. About 1,500 of the men had provided clinical characteristics of health, self-rated health, working hours and sleep duration in 1974 when they were in their mid to late 40s, on average, and completed health related quality of life surveys in the year 2000, when most were in their 60s and 70s.

During their working years, nearly half of the original group of men had what researchers considered normal working hours of less than 50 hours per week and 352 men worked more than 50 hours a week. Similar propor-

tions of men had normal sleep of at least 47 hours per week, versus shorter sleep totals.

Researchers found that men with long work and short sleep or long work and normal sleep in midlife had poorer scores for physical

“My thought is that official working hours are not that long today but the time that people actually work (e.g. email etc.) is not included in the official working hours and thus my thought is that people actually today

functioning, vitality and general health than those with normal work and normal sleep, according to the results published October 25 in the journal Age and Ageing.

Midlife smoking and self-rated poor health at that time explained some of the association with the results at older ages, but not all.

work quite long hours,” Dr. von Bonsdorff said. “I think that this is true for several professions, particularly for white-collar jobs,

businessmen, entrepreneurs and managers.”

Short sleep increases stress and strain, which are important aspects of quality of life, she said, and sleep problems might be related to an unhealthier lifestyle as well.

Professionals with disturbed sleep or experiencing sleep deprivation will experience physical, cognitive and emotional changes, in addition to a drop in immune function, said Dr. Marco Tulio de Mello of Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, who was not part of the new study.

“This is an exciting study because the follow-up is unusually long, 26 years,” said Dr. Mika Kivimaki at University College London in the U.K. who also was not part of the new study. “It also adds a new element to the research on long working hours as overwork in combination with short sleep captures a stressful lifestyle much better than long working hours alone.”

The effects of working life may persist into older ages and affect the quality of retirement, Dr. Kivimaki told Reuters Health by email.

“The results indicate that it is important to rest if working long hours,” and employers should promote healthy living habits which contribute to better sleep quality, Dr. von Bonsdorff said.

VI

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

Education and how it affects our wellbeing Hello Everyone, I hope this week has treated you well.

I received an email from one of my avid readers, a local high school teacher, who informed me that the school drop-out rate within her community is increasing. She said multiple factors were causing this and that drop-outs are becoming younger and younger. There is so much community, governmental and familial work that needs to be done to decrease this but for now, I will make the first step and write about the importance of education and how it effects our overall wellbeing.

There is a common saying that goes “education is the only thing that cannot be taken away from you.” It’s cliché and I rolled my eyes whenever I heard it growing up but I’ve come to believe and appreciate it over the last few years.

It might seem like an easy question with an obvious answer but why is education important in life? The obvious answer? It allows people to better navigate the world through reading, writing and communicating. The not so obvious answer? Education allows for awareness, reasoning and enables individuals to make informed decisions.

It is easy to see the harm in uninformed decisions (not just in Guyana) when you look at general voters opinion. For example, the recent Brexit where the locals voted and was granted the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union in June of this year.

This resulted in so many financial, educational and societal issues that it was obvious the majority made an uninformed decision. Having said that, education allows people to positively

contribute to their community.

It removes gender discrimination and inequality, promote women and children rights, bring good governance and remove corruption. Education decreases baseless superstitions, creates exposure to other worlds without the expense of travel. I’ve never been to a Middle Eastern country but I know some of their history, culture and practises. It is what allows for further planning, goals and ambitions.

It allows for better morality, mental and social skills. Education even allows for mental and physical health. It results in the understanding of the problem, decreases stigma and encourages help seeking. It allows for higher self-confidence and esteem. It increases medical testing and healthier lifestyles. A recent study shows that if a mother is educated, the mortality rate of her child is reduced by at least half.

If the power of education is so obvious, why do so many people drop out?

These reasons vary and can depend on many factors such as the family, environment and the individual. If one comes from an impoverished or uneducated family, they are likely to be uneducated as well. In Guyana, it is most common for children to drop out of school in order to help financially support their family. Additionally, if they are in an environment of drugs and alcohol, gangs, teenage pregnancies and bullying, they are much more likely to drop out. Early marriages, abuse in the school and mental and physical disabilities are also common reasons for Guyana as, sadly, most schools are not equipped to deal

with these issues.

The sad truth is that simply going to school is not the answer. Many schools actually promote early promiscuity, drug/alcohol abuse and have overall toxic environments so the problems equally lie between the family, school and community. We have a lot of work to do.

In my experience, the higher the education a person has, the more they know they have to learn. An educated person always listens and continues to learn as they are aware they can never know all there is to know because they understand that education is a continuous and slow process.

My parents always told my sister and I that we can decide where their money will go. That they will either pay for a wedding or university- but not both- and it is our decision. We both chose schooling but I don’t think at the time it was an easy decision for either of us.

However, I have never once regretted it, only appreciated it, as it showed us the true value and sacrifice of a formal education.

I want to say that it’s never too late to want or get an education. It’s common to not even want it until later in life. In primary and high school, I was a very average student with at times less than average grades. Sometimes, when you are young and something is just given to you, you take it for granted. I promise you if you are feeling this now, your opinion will change in a few years.

Being uneducated is not a problem just for the individual but rather a societal problem. If a society has high levels of school drop-out, it also has high crime rate, drug abuse, gangs, lost earnings and tax revenues, poorer health services, higher mortality rate and so much more.

I don’t live in an idealistic world. Actually, a lot of people confuse my realism with pessimism, which tends to upset me. I know that there are hundreds of people in Guyana

who cannot go to school for many reasons.

However, there are many other ways to get an education. Don’t give up- self- educate.

Show curiosity about everything. When I was younger, I would hear a word or topic mentioned that I didn’t know and I simply ignored it. During university, I forced myself to Google anything that was brought up around me that I didn’t know. It’s now a habit that I cannot break. Read – all the time. You can never go wrong with reading. You can also learn a lot from television if you watch the right programmes- news, documentaries and so on. Don’t get comfortable. Many people re-read or re-watch the same thing. Comfort and familiarity brings us no new knowledge.

The hardest part about doing this is there are no teachers or deadlines pushing you to do it. Major self-discipline is required. However, it’s not unlike any other routine- force yourself for the first bit and then you will genuinely enjoy it. Kind of like how most of us feel about gym.

Just like anything else, education may not be the key to happiness, but it definitely is the key to a lot of other things which come together to make you happy. There is absolutely no down side of having an education.

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 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

Literature

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

By Subraj Singh I am ashamed to admit that I first came across the term “intersex” and learnt of its meaning only after I started reading Jeffrey Eugenides Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Middlesex, a few years ago. But that is one of the functions of literature, as we know, to inform and to educate, and Middlesex, even though it is written by an author who himself is not intersex, offers an piercing and insightful introduction into the mind of a protagonist who is inter-

(Bloomsbury Publishing, 2003)

sex, a protagonist as interesting and poignant as Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye or Christopher Boone from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

Eugenides’ protagonist is initially named Callie (short for Calliope) and raised as a girl. However, during the character’s teenage years, it becomes clear that she (he) is, in fact, intersex – which can manifest in a number of ways, but in the novel, the character is feminine in appearance while having male sexual organs and a male gender identity. One of the major stories told by Middlesex then, is how Callie embraces her identity as intersex and becomes Cal. The novel’s treatment of its intersex character is a subtle and delicate process, albeit the character at the center of this process is rambunctious, witty and often wild, and it manages to relay knowledge of being intersex in a way that is always informative and never exploitative or presented in a way that is denigrating to Cal. In fact, Eugenides’ sensitive presentation of an intersex character makes Cal, his relationship with his family, his involvement with girls, his unruly teenage years, and all his insecurities, his flaws and his gifts, intimately human to us all in the way his experiences in life, apart from him being intersex, is so very familiar to us all. For example, many people might not be intersex, but we have all been uncertain about sex and sexuality at some point and we have all been in love and we have all felt the need for a physical and sexual connection with someone we love and so, we all identify with Cal. The novel is also about family and relationships and the author relies on his own Greek heritage as a base for the lengthy background information that leads up to the birth of Cal. Indeed, the story

VII of Cal’s grandparents and their incestuous relationship, their flight from war-ravaged Smyrna, their hiding of the fact that they are actually siblings and their move to America to start anew contains so many great themes (forbidden love, war, the immigrant experience) that it might as well be a book by itself. Indeed, this is one of the criticisms of the novel.

Although not a complete distraction, the history leading up to Cal’s own story is heavy and runs for many, many pages, so that by the time Cal’s story picks up, there is the risk of being already too wound up in the story of Lefty and Desdemona, Cal’s grandparents. But there is an argument which suggests that the history of one’s family is as important as the individual, as we are each a compact summary of everything that came before us and it seems as if Desdemona recognizes this later in the book when she wonders if her old relationship with her brother was expressed in the way their grandchild was born intersex. Eugenides’ subtle hints to Greek myths – the Minotaur, for example – have also been found to contain much commentary on his intersex character and, of course, we must also consider the way that modern critics have sought to present the Minotaur as being more than simply a terrifying monster made of the combined halves of two different creatures. Likewise, Eugenides’ book tries to assertively affirm the need to neither fear nor vilify intersex individuals or, indeed, all that is unfamiliar.

The subjects of the book may be unfamiliar and intersex characters in literature are definitely rarities, but if those reasons are not enough to convince you to read the novel, then let the other reasons convince you. Read it for the story, for its lifelike characters, for its humour, for the way it teaches us about things we know little of.

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

What is oral health?

In late 2005, the dental and medical communities were hit with a revolutionary research outcome that showed a link between oral health and systemic health. The culprit was bacteria. Today, it all seems second nature.

Many say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, which means that they could be seen as the window to the body – or better yet, the door.

It only makes sense that what a person ingests will lead to either a healthy lifestyle or an unhealthy lifestyle. The oral cavity is not separated from the rest of the body and why it took centuries to realize that oral bacteria could contribute to declining health may forever be a mystery.

There will be short-term and long-term effects of what one does today as a result of their diet and exercise routine. Yet many people would rather live for today than worry about tomorrow. For the dental professional, it will be imperative to influence patients to make a change in their eating habits if they want to save their teeth. For other health care providers it will be imperative to influence patients to make a change in their lifestyle in order to live a longer, healthier life.

But what is oral health? This a pertinent question because the Ministry of Public Health is celebrating this month as Oral Health Month. Is oral health the same for everyone since many people have different oral conditions,

such as missing teeth, restored teeth, and so on?

This is good question to consider, since everyone has different existing conditions. According to the World Health Organization (1982), “Oral health is a standard of the oral and related tissues which enables an individual to eat, speak and socialize without active disease, discomfort or embarrassment and which contributes to general well-being.”

Society in general has always viewed a pretty smile as an indicator for good teeth and healthy gums. Yet statistics are indicating otherwise and all professional dental organizations have begun to advocate for optimal oral health. Few people die from oral diseases, yet the costs of treating it is astronomical at all levels: Individuals, families, third party insurance companies, and government agencies. For example, in the United Kingdom, costs for treating dental disease overweigh the cost for treating all cancers and heart disease.

A few days ago, I returned from Denver, Colorado, USA, after attending the American Dental Association’s Annual Conference. I am among those dentists who promote the importance of oral health, recognizing that more than 90 percent of all systemic diseases have oral manifestations and that oral infections can affect major organs, the classic example being bacterial endocarditis.

This was a prominent theme of the meeting. Global studies indicate that some type of periodontal disease or gingivitis affects more than 75 percent of the world’s population. The statistics reveal the significance of the dental professional in preventing and treating oral diseases, as they may be the first health care provider to diagnose a problem. The importance for regular oral health care and education becomes imperative for improving oral health and will impact the well-being of all.

For many years, it has become more apparent with continued research that not only is cardiovascular disease linked to oral disease, so is respiratory disease and preterm low birth weight (PLBW) babies. There are good or normal bacteria

Dr. BERTRAND R. STUART, DDS. thriving in the same environment as infectious microorganisms.

As medical research continues to assist in better understanding this link, oral health practitioners must continue to educate patients in the relationship that exists between oral and systemic health. Of course, bacteria are not the single influence to systemic diseases that take the life of millions each year. Other known risk factors still include stress, tobacco use, high blood pressure, family history, genetics, obesity, alcohol use, and lack of physical activity. There are more and more risk factors being discovered each year that can shorten one’s lifespan and perhaps the simplest way to start is by examining one’s oral health status.

Cardiovascular disease may be exacerbated by periodontal inflammation. The National Institute of Dental Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) reports that scientific theories site opportunistic infectious bacteria that colonize in the mouth form biofilms. These biofilms can activate white blood cells releasing inflammatory mediators that can enter circulation and either enhance or perpetuate systemic effects. This inflammation, along with other risk factors, taxes the body’s ability to fight systemic disease. In a periodontal pocket, bacterial biofilm directly contacts ulcerated epithelium. The more advanced the periodontal condition, the more surface area for bacteria to enter the bloodstream.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology, more recent studies are now indicating that elevated levels of C-reactive proteins are better at determining the risk for cardiovascular disease associated with periodontal disease.

The liver makes c-reactive proteins after being triggered by the number of bacterial by-products in the bloodstream.

This trigger response system causes increased arterial inflammation.

I often wonder why dental disease is not considered relevant to the Chronic Diseases Department of the Ministry of Public Health.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

IX

Eating for Environmental Sustainability THERE is increasing consciousness that the environment provides for our needs. It is where we get our free supply of air to breathe, warmth, sunshine, rain, and glimpses of nature’s diverse forms of life and landscapes.Interestingly, all these gifts of nature also interact,giving rise to many more services - gifts. Food is one such gift – a free service of the environment.

Earth allows us to cultivate plants for food; however, the unbridled use of environment for

this purpose is not without consequence. At present, Climate Change is at the forefront of environmental issues, and it is no secret that agriculture contributes to over 10% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This, along with other human activities,such as, energy production (oil and coal industry), transportation, industry, etc., continue to spout increasing amounts of GHGs into the atmosphere. This increase in GHGs, is linked to an increase in global surface temperatures, which in turn, is linked to climate change.

But what are the sources of GHG emissions from agriculture? The Food and Agricultural Organisation

(FAO) in 2014, reported that 13% of agriculture based GHGs come from the use of artificial fertilisers.

Nitrogen fertilisers, which have a large energy footprint are applied to crops to enable them to make

protein necessary for their growth.

Reliance on such fertilisers is high globally, with about 40% of the protein providing foods grown worldwide relying on nitrogen fertilisers.With the world be-

coming more conscious of the need to reduce GHGs it is therefore important that this heavy reliance of nirogen fertilisers be shifted to alternatives that enable environmentally sustainable food production for

the world’s growing population.

But the origin of GHGs in agriculture in not limited to nitrogen fertilisers, biological processes occurring Turn to page XI ►►►

X

By the WWF Guyana Country Office WWF began its work in Guyana in 1977, initially supporting the monitoring and protection of nesting sea turtles such, including the green turtle, the olive ridley, the hawksbill and the leatherback. Thanks to the efforts of WWF and other national and international conservation organizations to protect theseendangered species and their critical nesting habitat, Shell Beach was established as a protected area by the Government of Guyana in 2011.

Protected areas are critically important for conserving our unique national assets for future generations and we salute President Granger’s commitment to add 2 million hectares to Guyana’s protected areas network. Protected areas make an important economic contribution as the foundation of our developing nature-based tourism industry. Kaieteur National Park had over 6,000 tourist visits this year

and generated over US$1 million in economic activity. California’s Yosemite National Park is calculated to generate over US$400 million in annual economic activity. While our protected areas generate significant economic benefits and have enormous potential for growth, we also recognize that Guyana needs a broad-based green development strategy.

With the world’s second lowest popu-

rs

A conservation story of

yea

Guyana in

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

lation density and second highest percentage of rainforest cover, Guyana commands globally important ecosystem services – ultimately more valuable than our gold, diamonds and oil. Our vast excess of fresh water resources in a world of increasing water shortages, our forests with their enormous quantities of stored carbon, and our rich and unique biodiversity, provide a powerful opportunity for Guyana to develop sustainably.

Guyana’s forests hold among the highest carbon content of any tropical forest (up to 350 tons/hectare versus 115 tons/hectare in the Peruvian Amazon), and with nearly 18.5 million hectares of forest and relatively small population, Guyana possesses the second highest level of forest carbon per person (6,700 tons/capita) of any country on Earth. The international community increasingly recognizes the value of maintaining forests in the effort to combat climate change, including incentives for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+).

Only 20 years ago, the value of Guyana’s 6.6 billion tons of stored carbon was unrecognized. Today, our forest carbon can provide Guyana a strategic advantage in our quest for sustainable development. Our analysis suggests that we’re reached the tipping point in Guyana where REDD+ has the potential to

compete with timber harvesting and provide more benefits for conserving standing forests than could be gained by exploiting them. The challenge is to ensure the economic benefits of REDD+ are used to create new job opportunities.

As the first country to sign and implement a national scale payment for performance REDD+ scheme, Guyana is universally recognized as a REDD+ pioneer. The Guyana Norway Agreement provided for payments up to US $45,000,000 annually for maintaining Guyana’s historically low deforestation levels WWF believes that there is a unique opportunity to leverage REDD+ (and a new Guyana Norway Agreement), as a cornerstone of Guyana’s Green Development Strategy (including the careful development of our offshore oil reserves), and a focus on nature-based tourism as the pillars of Guyana’s sustainable development. This would provide the opportunity to rebrand Guyana’s international image as innovator of sustainable economic development based on preserving forests and biodiversity and benefiting from their conservation rather than their consumption.

With 11 staff members working in its Queenstown office and in the field, WWF Guyana hopes to continue to offer its support to facilitate Guyana’s conservation and sustainable development in the coming decades.

Follow WWF-Guianas on Facebook www.facebook.com/WWFGuianas.org

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016 ◄◄◄ From page IX

in rice paddies (rice fields) contribute about 10% of the total agricultural GHGs. Further, about 12 % of the agricultural GHG emissions come from energy use to power agricultural machinery, irrigation pumps; fishing vessels etc. However, the biggest contribution, by far (39%), to agricultural GHGs comes from the fermentation process in livestock that release the GHG methane during “belching”.

It is increasingly being acknowledged that it is necessary to change the way agriculture is being managed globally, to reduce GHG emisisons. As such, changes are being made to: reduce the quantities of nitrogen fertilisers used (applyingjust the right amounts – no excess); improveanimal manure management; reduce wastage of animal feed (use optimum amounts - no excess); improve tillage methods; practice more agro-forestry; use improved plant varietes (removes carbon dioxided more effectively); rice crop management (to reduce methane emissions); and improve water management etc.

However, while efforts are being made to effect changes to lower GHGs from agriculture, it is a fact that some crops are naturally, low in their impact on the environment, including their contribution to GHGs. One such type, is a family of plants commonly called legumes; they have the ability to fix nitogen in the soil and hence require very little or no nitrogen fertiliser

at all.Legumes harvested for their dried seeds are called pulses; these incredibly, are rich in protein, while needing only half the amount of energy (non-renewable) inputs of other crops.Common examples of pulsesare lentils, kidney beans, blackeye peas, chickpeas (channa). Pulses are a critical and inexpensive source of plant-based proteins, vitamins and minerals for people around the globe. Moreover, not only do they have a low fat content, contain zero cholesterol, and are a significant source of dietary fibre but are also gluten free.

From an agricultural point of view, multiple cropping systems that include pulses enhance soil fertility, improve yields, and contribute to a more sustainable food system. It is particularly noteworthy that pulses have a very low water footprint compared with other protein sources, and can be grown in very poor soils where other crops cannot be cultivated. Crop residues of pulses, and legumes in general, can also be used as animal fodder, thus increasing the quality of the animal diet.

Recognizing the value of Pulses and the potential benefits for climate change, the UN General Assembly declared 2016 as International year of the Pulses. Although the year is quickly coming to an end, our utilization of pulses should not end as we intensify our fight against climate change.

Here are a few quick facts about pulses: 1. Pulses have nitrogen fixing bacteria in their root systems which are naturally able

to fix nitrogen from the air; they result in higher yields in crop rotations.

2. Pulses help to feed soil microbes which benefit soil health.

3. Residues of pulse crops have a richer bio-chemical mix for the soil.

4. Pulses have a lower carbon and water footprint than animal sources of protein and some other plants.

Start adding pulses and foods with pulse ingredients to your foodbasket to-

XI day to do your part in helping farmers to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Later, try some quick recipes to get you started with your pulses.

Souces: http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_ doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/68/231&referer=http://www.un.org/en/events/observances/years.shtml&Lang=E http://www.pulsecanada.com/environment/sustainability/non-renewable-energy http://iyp2016.org/themes/productivity-environmental-sustainability Share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or you can contact the Agency on 2255467-9.

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Karran Sahadeo Recently, I sat down with Karran Sahadeo, a Guyanese born overseas-based photographer and designer whose works were recently included in the Un|Fixed Homeland exhibition at the Aljira Center for Contemporary Art in Newark, New Jersey, alongside photographs from twelve other artists of Guyanese heritage. We spoke about his uncertain recollections of “home”, his return to Guyana after 24 years, the value of the immigrant experience and his involvement in the steady progression of local photographic exhibitions.

Dominique Hunter: You submitted four very distinct photographs with varying styles to the Un|Fixed Homeland exhibition. Why those images?

Karran Sahadeo: These photographs to me are so normal but at the same time so brand new and abnormal. I left Guyana when I was four but I remember when I was in Uitvlugt my mother would place diyas and they would cover the whole house.

When I was there I saw Christmas lights go up. They would do it [place diyas] but it wasn’t the same intensity as I remembered. So it made me wonder if these memories are even real or if it’s just something that I built up over time and idealized, romanticized.

All of the photographs are basically that: My idea of Guyana, what I have in my mind, growing up with

my family, the traditions that we kept when we left and how we adapted to the new surroundings when we brought those traditions with us. I think that’s what those photographs are. The one with me in the bedroom [Un-

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

Exploring the disconnections of migration through conceptual photography titled (Blue)] was probably the first photograph I took when I came back to Guyana.

It was a bit of a shell shock. I noticed right away that as much as Guyana seems to be trapped in time with certain aspects, when

lived here or been here in so long.” Have you encountered that and if you have, how did you respond to that?

KS: I can see why that is a critique but at the same time there is something about the immigrant experience. The majority of the people that left were fleeing basically, that’s what it was. They all left around the same period between the 70s and the 90s. So they were fleeing the country and I think there is something about that. You’re not willfully leaving. You’re not going because you don’t think Guyana is great. You’re kind of being ripped away from it. So when you leave, you take whatever you can of Guyana with you and I think that’s very, very authentic. Some aspects of that might even be more authentic than what is happening in Guyana itself.

When Grace [Ali] first came to Guyana to speak to photographers there was a lot of chatter like “Who does she think she is?” and “She left for so long. She doesn’t understand it and she’s Untitled (blue), 2014. Archival pigment print on canvas, 24 x 34 in. (Photo: Courtesy of the artist) trying to make this exhibition about Guyana.” it comes to technology But the exhibition really isn’t about that. It’s everyone is pretty much trying to pull away from the cliché shots of up to date.

Guyana. I think what’s unfortunate and what DH: You spoke of your I tried to address while I was there is that I memories of Guyana as don’t think Guyanese photographers living opposed to when you in Guyana show Guyana. I think they go for came here and the dis- these really beautiful shots and they ignore connect that followed. certain aspects of the country [even though] A lot of the critique I think they have a lot of brilliant material. directed at diaspora art- You have guys like Nikhil [Ramkarran] and ists is that they don’t Avinash [Richards] who are doing amazing share the same lived work. I feel like the other guys are taking experiences and that these really nice seawall shots and if you turn what they attempt to a few degrees to the right or left you would recreate and label as the see this mound of garbage that they ignored “Guyana experience” is on purpose. That was one of the things Grace not exactly true or au- mentioned. When you Google Guyana, you thentic. In an exhibition see photographs of Kaieteur Falls and that’s like this when you have basically it. And that’s not the reality. so many other artists Outside of Guyana, photography is responding to ideas of almost the method of fine art nowadays: “homeland” you tend Photography, video and installation works. to get some push back That is fine art. But in Guyana, it’s comfrom artists living here pletely opposite. People think just because saying things like, “You they have a camera, anyone can do it. But don’t have the authority we worked hard against that. That’s why we to comment on this because either you haven’t Turn to page XIII ►►►

Untitled (blue 2), 2014. Archival pigment print on canvas, 24 x 34 in. (Photo: Courtesy of the artist)

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

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of money. We got it down between $150,000 and $200,000. had those photography sesWe had some sponsorship too, sions at Moray House where which was nice. But it still had people would just come and the underlying concept where show others what they’re doit was about making these exing. More important than that, hibitions democratic. With was speaking to them about it, Visions it was about taking the telling them why they’re doing control back from government it and why this is important. resources. Art, as you know, is I believe that’s when the art very dependent on government aspect comes in. But as far as in Guyana. Visions was the first fine art in photography, it has [photographic] one that had a long way to go in Guyana. nothing to do with the governDH: You mentioned the loment at all. cal Facebook photography DH: Even the way the exhibigroup, Guyana Photographers. tion was mounted was very unI know that you guys were dolike anything that has ever come ing a lot of work at one point out of Guyana. A lot of times and you were very active in curators or persons in curatothat process. How important rial positions get lazy and just was it for you to have that stick things on the wall without fraternity and support system? really thinking about activating KS: It was very important. the space, which is what I think Right before I left, I remember you guys did really well. And I told Mike that if it weren’t that it came from a very young for them then I probably group of photographers who wouldn’t have stayed in Guywere thinking about context ana as long as I did. And I and engaging with the bigger definitely would not have done picture was really refreshing. the work that I did or took the So what’s on the table for photographs that I did because you right now? What can we I wouldn’t have felt like there expect to see from you in the was a reason to. Meeting those Untitled (fire), 2014. Archival pigment print on canvas, 24 x 34 in. (Photo: Courtesy of the artist) future? guys and talking to them made me realize KS: Right now I don’t have anything in the istry of Education.

It was supposed to be a it came down to who had the most expendable that what I was doing would be understood, pipeline but I can tell you what I’m noticing in would have meaning and would have some change in the way photography exhibitions income to put towards this. So the person my photography work. I’ve been in Guyana for with the bigger prints, which might not have sort of an impact. If it weren’t for them I were done in Guyana.

Prior to this, photographers would have been as good technically as the person with two and a half years and I got accustomed to a probably wouldn’t have stayed six months in to do all of the work. It would be up to them the smaller prints, commanded more attention certain lifestyle there. So trying to reintegrate Guyana let alone two and a half years. into North America is a little weird. I’m startDH: You were the driving force behind the to print and frame the work, and the curators because they were bigger. I wanted to move ing to notice these similarities from Toronto to Visions exhibition. How was that experi- would just choose and display. That was away from that, to make it more democratic. Uitvlugt and I’m quite amazed by it because I done in the previous Capture Guyana and the But it came down to the fact that government ence? didn’t notice them the other way around. I’m KS: I think Visions was great. I was very GVACE [Guyana Visual Art Competition & didn’t want to pay for that kind of stuff so the seeing similarities here that are in Guyana. I’m surprised at how it turned out. I did not ex- Exhibition] a few years ago. What I had envi- project was nixed.

So when Mike and I decided to go on our trying to look at those connections. pect it to be as successful as it was but that sioned for Capture Guyana was that it would I’m going back through my old work was partly because of the circumstances the be democratic. Everybody would’ve submitted own to do Visions we had to scale it back a lot to see if I can do diptychs perhaps of phoexhibition came out of and because of what an image and we would’ve printed and framed because the original budget for Capture Guy- tographs from today versus photographs ana was, I think, $2,000,000. When we decided happened with Capture Guyana, which was it for them.

What I didn’t like about GVACE was that to do it ourselves, we didn’t have that kind from a year or two ago, of the same thing what we were supposed to do with the Minjust slightly different. ◄◄◄ From page XII

Untitled (wind), 2014. Archival pigment print on canvas, 24 x 34 in. (Photo: Courtesy of the artist)

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

Gearing Up for the

National Drama Festival 2016 If, in the evenings, you walk on Homestretch Avenue and you pass the National Cultural Centre between 5 PM and 9 PM, there is a chance that you might see and hear things that, at least momentarily, startle you into a state of sudden pause. You might hear a scream, ringing strong and true into the black night as it echoes from some hidden chamber in the top of the building. Should you choose to enter the National Cultural Centre, you will be able to see and hear much, much more.

You might see, high on the high and imposing balcony jutting out from the building, a young woman bound in ropes or flying wild and free with her arrows and bow clutched tightly in her hands. You might see a young woman terrorized by memories and a mannequin. You might see three friends opening an

ancient bottle and unleashing hell upon themselves. You might see god and the devil, and their child, women being struck to the ground, dancers shedding their clothes, and lovers kissing passionately. You might see things you have never seen before.

You might feel the tremble of the drum as the music pounds deep inside you. You might cry at the songs being sung. And when you wander around the Cultural Centre, with your hands trailing on the walls and your feet leading you into the heart of the building, you will see more and more of them – actors, directors, singer, dancers, stage managers and writers, many of whom have emerged from the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama – all gearing up for the single greatest theatrical event of the year: National Drama Festival 2016.

If, in the evenings, in the first two weeks of November, you are

(A Scene from Some Other Nights – NDF 2015 Photo Credit: Mr. Godfrey Phil, MOE)

(A Scene from A New Beginning – NDF 2015 Photo Credit: Mr. Godfrey Phil, MOE)

(A Scene from Laugh of the Marble Queen – NDF 2015 Photo Credit: Mr. Phil, MOE)

to pass the National Cultural Centre once more, you are sure to see a steady stream of people trickling in and out of the building. The Ministry of Education logo and Digicel sigils will be plastered all over. As you find a seat in the audience and as you wait in the darkness for the curtains to rise, you will think about the rehearsals you saw, and then, as the anthem ends and the show begins and the colours explode on to the stage, the rehearsals, like a black and white film, will fade into the background of your mind as you witness the full colour beauty of the live plays.

You will laugh at the comic and cry at the tragic. You will marvel at actors who are fused together for much of the play, at how walls are made of cloth, at how people build their set out of items they lift from the wings, at the costumes that are ripples of colour across the stage, at how reality is manifested and ma-

nipulated before your unbelieving eyes even as you choose to believe, in what you see and you feel in your heart.

Perhaps, you will be there on one of the nights during the week of Preliminaries, from the 7th to the 14th of November, and you will see one of the many good plays that do not make it into the Finals.

But that is the beauty of the competition. It is a fierce fight between the competitors, and yet it remains wholly, solely, about theatre, about art. Perhaps the play you see will be one of the 17 plays in the Schools category, one of the 12 in the Debutante category, one of the 7 in the Junior category, or one of the 18 in the Open categories.

There is a wide range to choose from, each unique and special and indicative of the new wave of theatre that is rippling across the country.

(A Scene from Diplomatic Blow – NDF 2015 Photo Credit: Mr. Godfrey Phil)

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

The Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Co. (GTT) since its establishment in Guyana over a quarter of a century ago, has been doing better than any other company with an average profitability of 30% per annum. In this process of harvesting these massive profits, they have exploited the Guyanese consumer.

Their initial assumption when they came here and were able to acquire the Guyana Telecommunications Corp. (GTC) at a price and conditions on their terms which left Guyanese, both at home and abroad, stunned, led them to confirm their belief that Guyana was a banana republic with complacent and ignorant people.

Guyanese were not the ignorant people they thought, and from its establishment there was much hostility and resentment as evidenced from the media and the minutes of the PUC's hearings. The company was very litigious and went to the courts whenever they could, knowing that it was the Guyana consumers who would ultimately have to foot the bill.

Then the company seemed to have had an inspiration and for the first time appointed a Guyanese, Major General (retired) Joe Singh, as Chief Executive Officer of the company. Singh was able to bring back some consumer trust. When he demitted

office, Yog Mahadeo was appointed.

Mahadeo was a nationalist and always ensured that the consumer and the nation were fairly treated but he was also fully committed and devoted to his corporate interest. This ability to synthesize his company's interest with the consumer's and national interest was a rare achievement.

Under Mahadeo's watch, consumer and public confidence and trust in the company grew and even the government became more friendly and for the first time the feeling gradually grew that the company could become the country's national telecommunications flagship company.

At this high point, Mahadeo demitted office. The image of the company began a downward slide and relations with the public and government gradually declined.

GTT still has the potential of becoming the flagship telecoms company of Guyana and the preferable company by consumers but it has to nurture and develop along the lines mapped out by Mahadeo.

Instead of moving along these positive lines, GTT has started up a new debacle: Without the knowledge and permission of the consumers and the PUC, they clandestinely and stealthily inserted in the land line recordings so as garner more money from the consumer. They seemed to be confident

to be able to increase rates and change the terms of service before consumers or the PUC could be aware of it.

The recording they inserted said words to the effect that the person telephoned was not in or was unavailable and came off after 5 rings. In many cases the person was at home and the party telephoning knew this.

This misinformation by GTT caused much embarrassment.

The old, the sick and the poor are the ones who subscribe to land line phones because they do not make many calls and cannot afford cell phones. When the telephone cuts off after five or six rings, old and sick people cannot get to the phone on time and so lose what could be an important call. This aimlessly walking up and down by persons with arthritis is a distressing burden.

After the pitfalls of the first message was known, the company changed that message to invite callers to leave a message for the person phoned. This ploy was

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to try to deceive consumers into giving them the impression that it was something like voicemail on cell phones. In point of fact, no messages were ever delivered.

Telephone conversations are very personal things and to have third parties intervening is unacceptable.

Just as this article was about to be dispatched to the newspapers, a member of the GCA telephoned to say that the recording had been removed from my phone and I assumed that it had been removed from all others. But then one cannot be sure since GTT had clouded this whole illegal affair in secrecy.

The reason why it is illegal: (1) GTT has no right to change the rates or terms of service without the imprimatur of the PUC; (2) They have no right to intrude into a consumer's or any citizen's privacy; (3) Their stratagem of inserting a recorder so that when a caller answers, a charge is immediately registered is deceitful.

folklore

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DE WUK D

OREEN was in hospital; she was admitted after a brief illness at home. The doctors had run tests, checked her all over, and came up with zero; they couldn’t find anything wrong with her. The family asked for her discharge, and took her home. But she got worse.

There was now some amount of panic. Auntie Bibi suggested they get ‘outside help’. They eventually took her to an Obeah Man. ‘Gramps’ was famous for curing people with all sorts of complaints. He grew rich because of his lucrative practice. He examined Doreen and then took her family aside.

“She has a curse on her. I’ll protect her, so she’ll be okay after now, but your family has to maintain a two-year sacrifice.

If not, the curse will remain, and affect your family.”

They all agreed. So, every two years, on the first Saturday of the first month, they must sacrifice a sheep and a black fowl, and offer four different kinds of fruits. All this at 3:00am at the Seawall. This was to appease the spirit. The first ritual was done the day after leaving the Obeah Man. By the time the next two years came around, half of the family was living in Canada, and the others had completely forgotten about the ritual..

It was Auntie Bibi who reminded them all by e-mail.

“Please remember the ritual; two years will be up next month. Need details on how we’ll do it.”

Nobody replied. She called her four sisters and three brothers, but they all bluntly refused to have anything to do with it. They all went back to their regular lives. So did Bibi.

A week after the two years had expired, David died suddenly. The post mortem examination was inconclusive: Cause of death unknown. After the funeral, Bibi again tried to warn

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

By Neil Primus

of how it all began.

“Remember what ‘Gramps’ warned us? Now, we paying for it!”

“Well, we not doing that again!”

And that was that. am, the youngest brother, still lived in the family house.

Suddenly, he began talking to himself, and answering himself. He then graduated to walking in his sleep, and topped it off by dancing on his head. But that was not all he was capable of. For a man who left school before ‘Second Standard’; who could neither read nor write, he would unexpectedly launch into some foreign tongue or the other, none of which he was capable of speaking under normal circumstances. Two of these tongues were later identified as Dutch and French; the other was of unknown origin.

The family encouraged him to sell the property and move.

He did this.

Unfortunately, he did not tell the new owners about the history of the property. Soon, the new owners came to realise that the house was haunted. Voices and footsteps were heard at night; lights flickered on and off; doors slammed; chilly breezes caused discomfort; and to crown it all, there were regular episodes of sighting strange beings. They hurriedly sold out and moved.The new owner had the same experience.

This time, they could not get the house sold.

One brave man bought it after a while. He raised pigs, cows, sheep and goats. Every two years, three of his animals -- a cow, a goat and a sheep -- would die mysteriously. Then his wife got very ill in January. He took her to the doctor, but they could not find anything wrong with her. Someone advised him to see a priest. He did. After strong spiritual intervention and the relocation of his family, all was well. His wife recovered, and the livestock stopped dying.

As for the property, it has since been abandoned. No one can live there. Even vagrants have to run out of there, screaming and bawling. It remains empty to this day.

R

them, but they would have none of it. Overseas members returned home.

Next two years came, and with it the death of Pansy.

She died on the same day as David. Still, the family was not moved. Two years later, Stella died under mysterious circumstances. This time, there were signs of panic.They tried discussing how to deal with the situation. Bibi wanted to keep up the ritual; the others were still sceptical. They would have nothing to do with any Obeah business. Bibi reminded them

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Four main varieties of coconuts used for commercial purposes locally The resuscitation of the coconut industry is a priority of the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI). Between October 27 and 30, 2016 Guyana held its first Coconut Festival that brought together stakeholders from across the country, Region and further afield.

The festival allowed the dissemination of information and provided a forum for farmers and processors to express concerns and share success stories about the emerging coconut industry. As such, starting from today NAREI will be sharing pertinent information about the coconut industry with readers.

This week’s feature seeks to educate

Further, the nuts have distinct colours. In essence, there is a wide range (diversity) of coconut palms in Guyana. This diversity has been in existence for at least 100 years.

Commercial holdings of coconut are mainly planted with two types of the Tall variety and two types of the Dwarf variety.

The Tall types are the predominant source of copra and oil while the Dwarf variety is specially grown for their sweet water. One variant of intermediate height, known as ‘Bastard Nut’, is grown in the Pomeroon River area and is cultivated for both copra production and for its sweet water, although its copra yield is inferior to the Tall types.

TALL TYPES The most common Tall types existing in the country are the Jamaica Tall and the Panama Tall, each consisting of two basic colour forms: Green and bronze. The JamaiRed Malayan dwarf

Bronze dwarf

readers about the different varieties of coconuts available in Guyana.

Anyone traversing the coastland of Guyana from Crabwood Creek to the Pomeroon, or on a visit to Essequibo Islands, would notice that the coconut palm is the most identifiable tree. There are palms in homesteads, pure coconut plantations as well as coconut intercropped with cash crops. It is estimated that there are 28,000 acres under coconut cultivation with an average annual yield of 92 million nuts.

A casual glance would indicate that there are many types of coconuts grown in Guyana. There are tall and short trees as well as those of intermediate sizes.

ca Tall bears long, angular nuts with distinct ridges and a thick mesocarp. De-husked, its nuts are also angular and pointed at the end.

On the other hand, the fruits of the Panama Tall are much more spherical with thinner mesocarp. These two types may be considered the ‘original’ Tall types in Guyana.

Another variant of the Tall type found on the Coastal Corentyne (No. 60 Village), is a type with spherical, medium-sized nuts but with a pronounced dark pink mesocarp. Several variations in epicarp colour forms have also been observed. Generally, commercial stands could not be classified on this criterion alone. Farmers, however, could distinguish between the two Tall types known as Clara Nut and Cocrit Nut. Clara Nut is similar in character to the Panama Tall. Cocrit Nut, on the other hand, seems Turn to page XXIII ►►►

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

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Makeup Tools... Are they really necessary?

The ever so often controversial topic is sanitation in the beauty world, meaning, things that salon professionals do that might not be healthy for your skin, such as getting nails done with unsterile tools causing fungi, outbreaks, and irritations or getting haircuts and brows tweezed in an unclean room without proper safety measures.

What's most important about makeup is your skin care routine; good skin guarantees good makeup.

Otherwise, it would be called cover up, quite the con-

trary to the purpose of makeup. Its supposed to be expressive, decorative, and decadent. It's an organized process that should move with the skin. It's not an element of disguise, it's an alter ego.

Because makeup is organic, the best tools to use are actually your hands, your fingers. One beauty writer describes hands as the ultimate lo-fi beauty tool.

Here 5 major reasons why you should ditch brushes: 1. It's sexy to use your hands while applying makeup. Women applying makeup is just as appealing to a man as perhaps a man doing construction work is appealing to women. Watching a woman pout as she taps her lipstick in place. There is a certain je ne sais qua about it.

2. Makeup, especially cream formulas, blend well when applied with fingers. The warmth of the skin helps to loosen the product creating a smoother natural appearance. It also garners more control since it allows enough leverage to sense and measure the viscosity of the product. Since the fingertips have many nerves endings, it can easily sense texture, moisture and fluidity much better than a sponge or brush could. It allows you more control with mixing formulas and blending colours.

3. It's actually more sanitary to use your hands. You know how clean your hands are; you can wash, wipe and sanitize

your hands as you go.

There is a myth that consumers and clients have that it's unsanitary for a makeup artist to use their hands. Consider it debunked, and let's just blame ignorance and disaccustomacy. There's is no perfectly sanitized area or room. Hospitals carry the most germs and bacteria and they are cleaned often.

It's imperative that people understand that, especially new makeup artists.

Instead of following hearsay, seek the facts.

4. Think of it this way, they are some people, take men for example, who have never used makeup or any skin care or proper grooming regiments.

They still end up with break

outs, discoloration, premature aging, and other damaging effects. The environment can do far more harm than makeup itself.

5. Easy clean up. Keeping brushes and sponges clean is often a daunting tedious task. All you have to do with hands is wipe, wash, and remove. It's fast and easy. I often take pleasure in using my hands to apply makeup, everything from eyeshadow to foundation and blush. Especially eye makeup, eye shadows apply richer and blend easier when applied with fingers, there's no applying then using a blending bulrushes, it's just touch and go, since blending and applying is a two in one process with fingers. As a makeup artist I'm forced to wash brushes every day, since I have work often, so it's much of an ease to use my hands when applying my own makeup, especially, and just use a makeup wipe to clean my hands when I'm finished.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

The Arawak girl and the sea creature

project. We know what the problems are: The youths have not graduated, they don’t have their CXC. I thought this was a marvellous project. I thought this was well crafted, well thought out and well executed.”

Since she had worked with indigenous groups in the past, including a stint as a tour Each indigeno guide following the Pitjantjatjastory to tell (F us community has a aizool Deo ph ra, the nomadic aborigine tribe oto) of Australia, she understood the importance of the youngsters becoming culturally empowered.

After getting the relevant permission, the South African began imparting her knowledge to some of the young adults of the communities who were already studying tourism and agriculture.

Her main objective was to give them hands-on experience and exposure. She has promised to employ several of them at the resort, but feels that they can also benefit from tourism within their community.

To date she has had stints with approximately 100 students from the HEYS programme in several part of the region and will be working with some of the communities in conjunction with the ministry to help develop Tourcommunity-based tourism. ists have been travelling to In Wakapoa, where she started, one Wakapoa with Jessica Hatfield, the manager of the students told her about the bones after of Adel’s Rainforest Resort and Eco-Lodge she had asked them to investigate what was on Akawani Creek. She has formed a work- unique about their community. She then coling partnership with both the Wakapoa and lected 40 gallons of gas donated by Golden Akawani communities.

Brook and set off in search of the animal’s A few months ago Jessica travelled with remains. She travelled with a guide who workers from the Ministry of Indigenous knew the location, and some children from Peoples’ Affairs who were visiting the stu- the Ruimveldt Children’s Aid Centre (whom dents of the Hinterland Employment Youth she treated to an adventure).

Service (HEYS) Programme. She was Jessica said that every time tourists travel thrilled with what she saw. to see the bones the community benefits.

“I was really excited about the HEYS There is someone who gets paid to teach the travellers how to make cassava bread, the boat captains get paid and persons who make handicraft are able to sell their products.

The resort manager added that the goal is to have as many persons as possible involved by implementing different projects.

Along with the Akawani community, several other areas are looking to promote their tourism, including St. Monica and Kabakaburi.

“Everybody wants this (to develop tourism), and each one of them (the communities) has an individual story, each one of them has a different draw.”

Some of the areas are naturally beautiful; some are teeming with wildlife, while others have history, like the petroglyphs and shell mounds of Kabakaburi.

In Wakapoa the bones have since created a sense of pride. And some persons believe that there are other big bones in the area, but perhaps those are underground.

Finding bones is not the only way that the community is keeping the story alive.

One of the older women claims to know the song that the little girl used to sing to the fish. She said it was passed down over the ages.

She is now teaching the song and story to youngsters in the community with the hope of them passing on the legend of the girl and the sea creature to the next generation of villagers.

- Ignored for generations, a pile of mysterious bones in the North West is now at the heart of a drive towards community-based tourism

By Faizool Deo There is a belief that approximately a century and a half ago a whale or another big marine animal terrorised the indigenous community of Wakapoa in Region Two. The tale might have been altered over the decades, but the consensus by the elders in the village who know the story is that it started with a young Arawak girl who found a beautiful little fish and kept it as a pet.

That animal however began to grow, so much so that her father had to make an extremely big pond to house it. From a loving pet it turned into a monster and eventually swallowed the child.

The fearful villagers turned to one of their leaders for help. Armed with a blade, hot pepper and a whistle, he allowed the animal to swallow him and once inside he was able to inflict damage. Eventually with the help of the villagers he not only freed himself, but killed the creature in the process.

And that brings us to a pile of bones at Wakapao.

Since the tale was a part of the folklore, the residents of the community avoided the bones in the generations that followed.

The bones, which many believe belonged to a large whale, are now chopped up and covered by moss

Estimated to be around 60 feet long, it was visible for many decades until someone, out of fear, decided to chop it up some time back. Today the bones, which were once an eyesore to the community, are helping to rebrand it.

Several tourists have visited the area over the last two months. Two Canadians have actually argued that the bones (now in pieces and covered by moss) might have belonged to a dinosaur. Others believe that the animal’s remains might be thousands of years old, but until it is carbon dated by professionals, the tale remains the only source of information.

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Defying the odds, and stereotypes The Sophia girls, now lawyers, who dared to dream and want others to do the same

By Telesha Ramnarine COMMUNITIES are so much more than the stigmas attached to them, and no one knows this better than the three women from Sophia, Greater Georgetown who were all admitted to practice law last month.

Twenty-threeyear-old Lisa Attia Gabrielle Cave and Collette Marks have known each other since their primary school days, but it was upon reaching the Hugh Wooding Law School that they met and became friends with Latoya Roberts, 29.

It was there that the girls obtained their Legal Education Certificate.

Lisa, who hails from Cummings Park, Block 'E,’ Sophia, attended St. Agnes Primary School where she wrote the Common Entrance Examinations and was awarded a place at St Joseph High School.

There, she obtained passes in ten subjects at the CSEC level and then proceeded to complete her secondary education at the Bishops High School where she obtained passes in four subjects at CAPE 1 and 4 subjects at CAPE 2.

After completing her secondary education, she attended the University of Guyana and successfully completed her Bachelors of Law Degree.

Collette, who lives at Section ‘B’ Sophia, attended St. Agnes Primary, St. Joseph High, Bishops' High, and the University of Guyana (Bachelor of Laws).

Latoya, of Field 9, Section B, Sophia, attended Sandhills Nursery, Sandhills and Tucville Primary Schools, North Georgetown Secondary (and graduated Valedictorian in 2004), President's College (CAPE Valedictorian 2006), and University of Guyana (Bachelor of Laws in 2010).

MERELY EXISTING Latoya, the Best Graduating Guyanese Student for 2016 from the Hugh Wooding Law School, is pained to see the scores of young people who can be found liming on the street corners of Sophia.

“I am disappointed by the fact that from all appearances, it seems as though many of these individuals are content with merely existing rather than building a future for themselves and their children who may come after them,” Latoya told this newspaper in an interview recently.

She wants every young man and woman in her community to know that they do not have to just surrender and fall prey to the norm that they see around them.

“Rather, they can decide to do better, achieve more, attain the highest of standards and become avenues of

positive change in our community and country. I will also like to encourage every that is still attending school to focus on their education and perform to the best of their ability; to think big and to never stop working until their dream becomes a reality. I wish that every young person in Sophia would understand that our community is much more than the stigmas that are often attached to it and that if they be the best that they can be, we can transform our community and help to mold and shape our entire country.”

Latoya is currently aiming to gain as much exposure as she could in the various types of law practiced in Guyana so that she can make an informed decision when it is time to choose an area in which to specialize.

HARD WORK AND DEDICATION Lisa, who has a preference for civil jurisprudence,

wishes her fellow Sophia youths to know that hard work and dedication really pays off.

“Growing up, my brother and I were often told by our father that we should never let our circumstances define us. I am a living testimony of that statement because despite the challenges and prevailing circumstances, I overcame all the odds and today I’m richly rewarded with a profession in pursuit of higher goals.”

Lisa intends to take her career one step at a time.

However, her eyes are firmly fixed on pursuing a Masters

Degree and then a PhD. “I was taught that I ought to aim for the sky and fall in the clouds.”

DARE TO DREAM Collette, whose petition was presented by former Speaker of the House and Senior Counsel Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, is now attached to the Guyana Legal Aid Clinic and will be handling both criminal and civil matters.

She, too, has noticed the “vicious” cycle among the more impoverished families in her community where, when puberty hits, the boys begin liming on the corners and eventually getting in trouble with the law; and the girls, sooner or later, become pregnant.

She said: “Only few persons seem to move forward from such experiences. Thus, I would like to challenge the youths to see themselves in a dif-

ferent light.

Dare to dream that they can become more than a statistic; dare to dream that they can become more than what society expects of them; then dare to follow your dream and passion; dare to break that cycle.”

Collette believes that the environment does not de fine who a person is.

“The community has a negative stigma attached to it, however, we do no need to see ourselves in this light.

It’s our responsibility to reject such negative perceptions of us and to start to perpetuate a more positive image and that starts with the individual.”

Collette is grateful for the many sacrifices that her family and friends have made in her behalf.

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Social media President

What has Tanzania's Magufuli done during his year in office?

On John Magufuli's first day as Tanzania's president, a year ago, he created a storm on social media by making an unannounced visit to the finance ministry, catching the workers off-guard. But what else has he achieved in his first year? The BBC's Dickens Olewe looks at his highs and lows.

(BBC) What would Magufuli do?

During that visit to the finance ministry, he reportedly asked after those who were not at their desks a subtle message that he would not tolerate the legendary absenteeism of government workers.

He said he was keen to ensure that the government would have enough money to fund its election promises.

Surprise visits of government offices have become a trademark, meant to project his looming presence and to instil discipline and accountability.

But perhaps his most effective stunt yet was leading the country in cleaning the streets on independence day, 9 December.

He had already announced the cancellation of the planned lavish celebrations, with the allocated funds going to cover expenses in public hospitals.

This act boosted his reputation among East Africans, inspiring a hashtag on Twitter; #WhatWouldMagufuliDo which was widely

used in neighbouring countries.

Although the hashtag was mostly used to mock Mr Magufuli's austere policies, it unwittingly defined his leadership style, which many have come to admire.

Kenyans are calling on their president to get tips for fighting corruption from Magufuli. (AFP photo)

APPROVAL RATING Despite winning early admirers, many doubted that he would maintain his hands-on strategy, but so far he seems to have dumbfounded his critics.

He continues to attract admiration for following through his campaign promises to change Critics say that he has reduced civic space for freedom of expression (AFP photo)

"business as usual" in Tanzania.

A recent poll says he has a 96% approval rating.

"There is no doubt that President Magufuli is very popular among many ordinary Tanzanians," political analyst Kitila Mumbo told the BBC. "But many are also keen to see him provide civic space for freedom of expression and political gatherings and rallies which his government banned a couple of months ago."

MAGUFULI EFFECT Weeks after he assumed office, government officials seem to be following his cue.

A top local official, probably wanting to impress, ordered the police to lock up workers who had arrived late for a meeting.

The move was criticised by human rights groups who said that employment laws should be followed.

The BBC's Sammy Awami in Dar es Salaam says that the attiTurn to page XXIV ►►►

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to combine the nut characteristics of the Jamaican Tall and the Panama Tall.

The Cocrit Nut is regarded as a ‘nut number’ type rather than a ‘nut size’ type.

Fruits of the Cocrit Nut are more spherical than oblong, with a thin mesocarp and thick kernel. Nut size ranges from small to large, with trees of larger nuts being less prolific.

Commercial copra producers prefer the ‘5year’ (five years to begin production) nuts with an intermediate nut size, high yield and precocity.

The Clara Nut is a ‘nut size’ type.

Husked nuts are large and spherical, with a high water capacity but thin kernel.

Green Malayan dwarf

The coconut water of this type is described as sweet and is favoured over all the other types grown for their coconut water. The hectarage devoted to Clara Nut, however, is minuscule compared to those variants preferred for copra.

A preponderance of Tall types can generally be found in all commercial holdings. However, in the Pomeroon River area, there is a higher frequency of Dwarf types in commercial holdings.

DWARF TYPES Commercial Dwarf types are mainly of the green and yellow ‘3-year’ (three years to begin production) variants. Manthriratoa (1980) described the Green Dwarf as being similar to the Brazilian Green Dwarf in growth habit, number of nut per bunch and size of nuts.

The Yellow Dwarf, however, is different from the Malaysian Yellow Dwarf, in having a larger nut size Atlantic Tall and a less intense yellow colour in petioles and epicarps of the nuts. A third Dwarf type variant is the Red Dwarf (Orange Dwarf), restricted mainly to the Pomeroon River area.

XXIII Another variant, the Bronze Dwarf (socalled because of its bronze epicarp), is a relatively new find of about four years ago.

The Bronze Dwarf was reportedly introduced from Surinam. Currently, there are only a few homesteads with this variety, but the current demand suggests it has the potential to spread rapidly to commercial holdings.

BASTARD NUT Bastard Nut is predominately recognized in the Pomeroon River area.

The origin of this variant is attributed to natural cross pollination between Dwarf and Tall types, being an apparent Dwarf x Tall hybrid. Bastard Nuts show marked hybrid vigour in trunk and leaf size, number of bunches produced per year and number of nuts per bunch.

(Contributed by Dr. Oudho Homenauth, Chief Executive Officer of NAREI)

XXIV ◄◄◄ From page XXII

tude of government workers has changed since Mr Magufuli came to office: "They are now more willing to do their jobs and are afraid of engaging in corruption. People are experiencing better services in hospitals and schools," he says.

The president's main

promise of extending free education to secondary school, which came into effect in January, has also been well received, our correspondent adds.

GHOST SLAYER In May, an audit ordered

by Mr Magufuli revealed that there were some 10,000 "ghost workers" on the public sector payroll.

Payments to the non-existent employees had been costing the government more than $2m (£1.4m) a month, according to the prime minister's office.

Such revelations continue to magnify the challenges the country faces and his actions endear him to Tanzanians.

EXAMPLE TO KENYA

A recent example of his popularity came during a visit to neighbouring Kenya earlier this week, only his third foreign trip since he came to office.

His visit coincided with news of an alleged corruption scandal that has rocked President Uhuru Kenyatta's government.

Kenya's top cartoonist Gaddo depicted state of-

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016 ficials, who had gone to receive Mr Magufuli at the airport, dashing off as he emerged from the plane holding a whip.

His image as a corruption fighter has captivated Kenyans who suggested that Mr Kenyatta's government should get tips from him.

However, it has not been all rosy for Mr Magufuli.

ANOTHER AFRICAN DICTATOR? Gaddo recently caricatured African leaders, perceived to be dictators, in several categories.

He listed Mr Magufuli as a petty dictator, saying that his government's actions to shut down the media and intimidate oppoTurn to page XXV ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016 ◄◄◄ From page XXIV

sition parties shows that he's "an aspiring dictator".

At least 10 people have been charged for "insulting" Mr Magufuli on social media platforms, leading to criticism from human rights organisations.

His popularity seems to be the antithesis of what US President Barack Obama

famously called for as a solution to the continent's political problems during his inaugural visit to Africa in 2009: "Strong institutions instead of strongmen".

Mr Mumbo told the BBC that despite Mr Magufuli's popularity, many Tanzanians also want to see an "open-democratic space".

In June, opposition parties criticised his gov-

ernment for banning live broadcasts of parliament sessions and street protests.

Attack on freedom of expression The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a US aid agency, cancelled nearly $500m (£405m) of funding in March partly on concerns over the enforcement of a cyber crimes law which they say limits free-

dom of expression.

MCC also expressed concern about the election in the semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar which it said was "neither inclusive nor representative".

The October election for president of the semi-autonomous archipelago was cancelled half-way through the count.

The opposition Civic

XXV United Front (CUF) said the annulment was because it had won, but the electoral commission said there had been widespread fraud.

The information ministry has also banned two radio stations for allegations of "sedition" and a weekly newspaper for "defaming" Mr Magufuli.

It seems these concerns have not shadowed what

many consider as his attributes.

AFRICAN OF THE YEAR? In fact, Mr Magufuli might just cap his year by winning the prestigious Forbes Africa person of the year award - he has been nominated for "boosting Tanzania's economy".

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XXVII sive toys. Patsy knew this because of how her friend would pay more attention to the ragged doll than the other toys whenever they got the chance to play. This made Patsy happy, and, very often, she offered to lend Sparkle the doll for a night or so. Sparkle would welcome the idea with smiles.

Patsy truly missed her doll whenever she had to give it up for a short periods, because she always kept it close to her. Further, that was her main toy. At nights, she hugged it

Short Story…

Best friends for life

By M. Margaret Burke

SPARKLE was a very beautiful and intelligent girl, but she was also a very lonely and sad looking little girl. At the age of eight years old, she was still not allowed to play with other children. Her parents were rich, and so they felt that buying all sorts of lovely dolls and other toys for her was enough to make her happy. And so they did just that.

Her parents were afraid that she would get hurt by her friends; that they will hit her and also take away her things.

She was never spanked by her parents, or even spoken to in a more than quiet tone.

Furthermore, her parents asked her teachers not to allow her to go outside of her classroom, unless it was necessary.

In the meanwhile, Sparkle was craving for love and affection. And even though her parents were so jealously guarding her from friends, they did not find the time to be with her and show her the love and affection she so longed for. They were too busy trying to make money and to buy her lots of ‘things’, which they thought would make her happy.

However, they soon discovered that they were not as successful as they would have liked to be. Sparkle so longed for friends that she used every opportunity, and did everything within her power to gain friends.

Sometimes Sparkle gave away her toys, books and other precious gifts just to gain the attention and friendship of others at school. The situation got more and more heartbreaking when most of the boys and girls that she thought were her friends really were not. She had a lot to give, but received very little in return. The motive of many of her so-called friends was to get everything that she had to offer.

At one stage, the situation got so bad that the boys and girls she considered to be her friends had quarrels among themselves about who got more things from her. They all accused each other of the same thing, which was taking advantage of her friendship, mainly to get her things.

Sparkle was not all ‘bad-lucky’ though. There was one girl among all her friends who truly cared for her. Her name

Sparkle and Patsy having fun with their dolls and other toys

Sparkle in her bedroom with one of her dolls in her hand as a make-believe little friend

was Patsy. She hardly took anything from Sparkle, but instead offered to lend her of her only toy.

Patsy was very poor though, and she had a particular cloth doll, which was old and tattered, but she treasured it and made little clothes for it. She even made some hair, and placed it on the doll’s head. Even though the doll was old, she kept it tidy, and always in a safe place.

Sparkle liked Patsy’s doll even more than her own expen-

tightly and rocked herself to sleep. However, she did anything that she felt would make her friend, Sparkle, happy. Patsy truly liked her friend.

At the same time, Sparkle really appreciated what Patsy did for her. She felt wanted, and realised that her friend, Patsy, was sincere; that at times she went out of her way to make her happy.

The friendship between these two girls really got tight; so tight was it that Sparkle started dropping off some of her other ‘friends’. She began to understand what love and true friendship really meant.

So happy was Sparkle, that her parents could not help observing that there was something different about their daughter. They saw a glow and smile on her face that was hardly ever there before. But even more than that, they saw her playing with an old tattered doll, the type that they would never buy for her. However, almost afraid to show their unhappiness at what they saw, they held a quick discussion between themselves, trying to find a way to ask about the old, strange doll, and eventually agreed that her mother would ask about it.

When her mother questioned her, she immediately told her the truth, as if she totally forgot that playing with others was an unwritten but clearly understood rule in the house. She told her mother about Patsy with so much excitement that her mother, along with her father, decided to invite Patsy and her mother to their house for dinner.

In the end, they all felt that it was one of the best ‘meetings’ they had ever had. After this, Sparkle was allowed to exchange visits with Patsy, and they became best friends for life. Sparkle’s parents and Patsy’s mother also became the best friends ever! THE END.

Environmental Matters…

The effects of Global Warming THE effects of global warming are already being felt around the globe. Global warming has a major effect on crops and weather conditions around the world.

SEA LEVELS:- When many people think of global warming, their first concern is the possible rise of sea levels. With a large number of the world's cities in coastal areas, this is a crucial problem. There are two major causes of rising sea levels. First, extra water is produced when ice melts. Secondly, the natural expansion of sea water as it becomes warmer. The range of sea ice around both the North

and South Poles continues to shrink as it melts. Even with the level of greenhouse gases present today, the earth may warm enough in the next 50 years or so to completely melt the sea ice located on the poles. Experts believe that global warming

could increase the intensity of hurricanes by over 50 per cent.

WEATHER:- Some parts of the earth will become considerably dry, while others will become wetter. There will be countless numbers of storms, floods and drought.

AGRICULTURE:- Temperature increases may cause agricultural zones to shift northward, opening up new crops for some areas, while limiting them in others, thereby causing crops and livestock to be threatened by heat stress and drought.

For example, food productivity in Turn to page XXVIII ►►►

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Dyeing for some colour

◄◄◄ From page XXVII

the tropics is likely to decline, because many crops are already grown at their maximum temperature tolerance. Agriculture is also quite vulnerable to floods, droughts and hail, though these will vary regionally from year to year.

HUMAN HEALTH:- Global warming brings in its trail health hazards which include deaths from more frequent temperature extremes (particularly heat waves) and an expanded range of vector-borne illnesses (those transmitted by rodents and insects). Diseases like malaria are also likely to become common in the United States and Europe.

PLANTS AND ANIMALS:- As temperature and weather changes, the homes of plants and animals will be affected at large. Polar bears and seals will have to find a new habitat if the ice in the Arctic melts. Many animals and plants may not be able to adapt to the climatic change and can die.

OZONE LAYER:- The Ozone Layer is a layer of ozone gas which surrounds the earth some 15 to 35km above its surface. This 20km-wide layer acts like a natural filter, and prevents most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching the earth. Without this filter, more people would get skin cancer and eye diseases. Animals would also have been affected, and so would farmers' crops and the top layer of our oceans.

This beneficial natural ozone layer accounts for about 90% of all the ozone gas that exists. (kidsgen.com)

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Poonam Singh is photographed by Shameer Hescott

Poonam Singh wins big at Miss Global International Despite countless challenges, singing sensation Guyana’s Poonam Singh outshined 25 international delegates at the recent Miss Global International 2016 pageant in the Dominican Republic.

Equipped with a master plan and fierce determination, Poonam not only secured the first runner-up position for Miss Global International 2016, but also managed to be awarded with many other accolades (special awards). These accolades included Best Personality, Best Evening Gown which was designed

by House of Person- Quinton Pearson, Best National Costume which was designed by Nachle DesignsMelicia Partab, First Runner up for Maja Dress of the World which was designed

by Shivanie Latchman. She also was among the Top Three in the talent segment.

CHALLENGES In the Dominican Republic, given her limited knowledge of Spanish, com-

munication was a huge barrier, but with constant effort and hard work she was successful on getting over her points on a daily basis.

She said that she is a living example of the statement “nothing good comes easy” as she clearly remembers almost giving up on the night of Maja Dress competition while she was preparing backstage and the most horrifying thing occurred.

The entire zip of the dress was damaged and the sad part was that there was only one minute left to go on stage.

Luckily, her National Directors quickly used the Guyanese tactic of safety pins to fix the dress together, which clearly reminded her of the slogan “Pin An Pan Am” and she giggled with relief.

She went on to say after all this that winning this segment was never on her plate.

“At the end of the night all the young ladies were on the stage beautifully dressed, and when the finalists were called I heard a

Poonam Singh in national costume

strange sound like my name being announced, in which I was presented with a medal and all the girls cheering in happiness. I was clueless.”

She later discover that the award was for First Runner Up for Maja Dress.

On the coronation night, another similar challenge was conquered by the safety pins. This time the zip’s head of the evening gown broken off but a safety pin with four pairs of hands, of Guyanese and Jamaican decent, managed to get the zip up.

She has no problems, then, adopting the name “Pin An Poonam.”

HIGHLIGHTS “If you’d asked me a year ago what I think about pageantry, I would have said to you nothing, because it was never on my bucket list. Today I can proudly say, pageantry is a magical journey.

“Miss Global International 2016 created a platform for me to unite with some of the most beautiful

faces and souls of the Globe, whom I can now call my pageant sisters. The memories we have shared will last for a lifetime.

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Poonam Singh and the winner of Miss Global International

XXX ◄◄◄ From page XXIX

“Pageantry allowed me to recognize a different side of my potential and also gave me a higher boost of self-confidence, one that will remain with me for a very long time.”

Among the highlights, Poonam was deemed the best dressed delegate for the duration of the pageant and always had her love for Guyana and her charity cause at the forefront. Because of this, many new interests of visiting Guyana was created.

Poonam wishes to thank the entire country for having faith and supported her.

She would also like to thank the media for the generous publicity, her sponsors for believing in her and to her Miss Global Guyana team for their hard work towards her journey.

WELCOME HOME PARTY The Miss Global International Guyana Director, Mrs. Melicia Partab- Alli explained that the team has planned a grand

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

welcome home party to celebrate the success of Poonam and the franchise.

This will be in the form of an evening of karaoke and dance at the Vintage Wine Lounge, on Lamaha St., on Sunday 13th November, 2016, from 07:00pm. Tickets for this event cost $2,000 and can be uplifted at Amanda’s Bridal Guyana (Vreed-en-Hoop & Regent Street), the Vintage Wine Lounge, or any committee member. For further details please contact telephone number 592688-0036/ 592-680-5999.

Best National Costume The costume, “The Guyana Guardian” was created to showcase Guyana’s strong will of spreading immense purity and peace amongst its nationals and countries globally.

Handmade feathers of glitter foam, feathers, pearls, gems, glitter amongst others, adorned this masterpiece which was designed by Mrs. Melicia Partab- Alli of Nachle Designs.

BEST EVENING GOWN The Best Evening Gown was created

In her Maja dress

using sliver sequins material which was crafted in a unique design to fit Poonam seamlessly. The highlight of the dress was the rich architectural and creative

application of hand designed mirrors which was designed my Quinton PearsonHouse of Pearson.

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Aries You have a choice to make every time you open your mouth today. People take your words to heart so readily that your logic hits home more than you realize. Fortunately, a calm and measured approach soothes others while a more emotional message can be agitating or even upsetting. But don't try to convince anyone your plan will work for anyone else. Let each person decide their course of action without your outside interference. There are many paths up the mountain, but the view of the Moon from the top is the same.

Taurus You're wondering about your place in the world today and whether or not your life has a purpose beyond your little local sphere. You might attempt to demonstrate your wisdom to your friends by telling them what you would do in a similar situation. But don't be surprised if no one seems interested in hearing your suggestions now. The old proverb, "Never give advice unless asked" makes plenty of sense if you want to cultivate peace instead of conflict.

Gemini Trying to keep your mouth shut may be a losing battle today because every time someone says something, you have more details to add to the story.

Unfortunately, your facts might not be relevant, even if you think it's necessary for everyone to know the truth. Oftentimes, he who has the most valuable information wins. Albert Einstein wisely said, "ninety-nine percent of genius is knowing what's important." All data is not created equal.

Cancer Your anger is stirred when someone tries to elicit your help today. Your reaction can be confusing to others because they don't understand the source of your annoyance. They expect you to jump right in with a practical perspective that sheds light on their dilemma. But you're upset that people think you should drop everything and bail them out with your expert advice. Nevertheless, it's wise to assist others in their time of need the best you can. You never know when you might need that shoulder to lean on.

Leo It's as if you are using x-ray vision today to see right through someone's carefully constructed smokescreen and into their heart. Unfortunately, you may need to keep the truth to yourself if there's no one trustworthy you can lean on.

Sometimes, it gets very lonely when you have no choice but to share a secret with a casual acquaintance. Nevertheless, you possess the determination to breakthrough barriers and reestablish solid connections with those closest to you. The power of love creates miracles.

Virgo The less deviation from your routine today, the easier it is for you to stay on track. You might even spend your time cleaning up a mess you made yesterday now that the storm has passed. It seems as if everyone wants you to tell them your plans for the future. Your tendency is to oversimplify a complex array of known facts, but today's interpersonal dynamics remain complicated.

Luckily, your persistence solves the puzzle and leads to the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Libra No matter how many unfinished chores linger on your plate today, you can't explore the exciting lands of relationship karma until you untangle the busyness of the day. Unfortunately, communication dynamics are blocked, increasing the level of difficulty you encounter when trying to explain your intentions to others. But don't just repeat your story if you're not understood. Let the ambiguity stand for now and try again once clarity returns tomorrow.

Scorpio People are drawn in by your magnetic charm without realizing the intensity of your message. Mysterious cosmic currents empower your words with magical healing properties. But some of the power is derived from your lack of specificity today, forcing others to fill in your descriptions with details of their own.

Ben Franklin wrote, "Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I may remember.

Involve me and I learn."

Sagittarius It's tempting to spend your entire day on one soapbox or another because your words just seem to flow eloquently today. As much as you can sway the opinions of others, you might stir up more of a commotion than you intend.

You want everyone to support your positions now, but you expect them to fall in line behind you. You're quite surprised when you see that so many people want to start their own parade instead of joining you in yours. Nevertheless, keep marching to the music inside your head; that's what counts the most.

Capricorn It's as if your finger is on the zeitgeist of your network of friends and family today. You're not doing anything special, but your heightened sensitivity enables you to perceive the thoughts and feelings of others. You have a responsibility to use your psychic powers for the good of all, rather than for personal gain.

As Lao Tsu wrote, "A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving."

Aquarius You can feel the stress in your stomach beginning to churn and there doesn't seem to be anything you can do that will stop this process. You're stepping up to the mic and speaking publicly today on issues that concern you, your community and the environment. But you can be so dedicated to your cause that your extremist position could alienate the very same people you want as allies. Paradoxically, you will receive even more support when you speak from your heart and not from your head. Rumi wrote, "With life as short as a half-taken breath, don't plant anything but love."

Pisces You're aiming toward the future and are determined to mold it to your liking.

Your main weapon is your ability to communicate and you're not afraid to rock the boat while delivering your message. Nevertheless, motivating others to think just like you is an exercise in futility. Everyone needs to bring their own perspective to the party and your job is to remind people to be true to themselves. Set an example by saying what's on your mind without diluting the truth.

XXXVII

XXXVIII

English 2016-11-6

STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, What makes you want to continue reading something?

How does an author capture your interest? Why can some people write stories and others cannot? How did man ever think about a tree that bears all kinds of fruits, a gold mountain? What does it mean to say, “He let his imagination run away with him”? Be wise. Think on these things.

Love you.

WRITING WELL Looking at Writing: Loving a Story We all have things and people we like. Have you met some people you like? Have you ever met any important people? What makes people important? Tell it to a study partner.

Here are some important people that you might have already met. Remember: you are a language detective and you must notice clues.

As you read, observe how each character is put against the other in order to create conflict, struggle, and plot.

Know that you yourself can write very well with some effort.

1. and his only alternative to escape from the labour of the farm and the clamour of his wife, was to take a gun in hand, and stroll away into the woods. Here he would sometimes seat himself at the foot of a tree and share the contents of his wallet with Wolf, with whom he sympathised as a fellow-sufferer in persecution. “Poor Wolf,” he would say, “thy mistress leads thee a dog’s life of it; but never mind, my lad, whilst I live thou shalt never want a friend to stand by thee!” Do you know this henpecked husband or one similar?

2. His left leg was cut off close to the hip, and under the left shoulder he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird.

He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham - plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling. Indeed, he seemed in the most cheerful spirits, whistling as he moved about among the tables, with a very merry word or a slap on the shoulder for the more favoured of his guests. Who is this one-legged man?

3. At length he came close to me, and then he kneeled down again, kissed the ground, and, taking my foot, set it upon his head; this, it seems, was in token of swearing to be my slave forever. I took him up, and made much of him, and encouraged him all I could. But perceived the savage whom I knocked down was not killed, but stunned with the blow, and

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY A person seldom falls sick, but the bystanders are animated with a faint hope that he will die. RALPH WALDO EMERSON (1803-1882), Conduct of Life,. Considerations by the way

began to come to himself…. He no sooner had it than he ran to his enemy, and, at one blow, cut off his head so cleverly, no executioner in Germany could have done it sooner or better….

Who is being described and who is describing him?

4. His head was small, and flat at top, with huge ears, large, green, glassy eyes, and a long, snip nose, so that it looked like a weather-cock perched upon his spindle neck to tell which way the wind blew. To see him striding along the profile of a hill on a windy day, with his clothes bagging and fluttering about him, one might have mistaken him for the genius of Famine descending upon the earth or some scarecrow eloped

CONTINUE TO READ GOOD BOOKS 1. Sit with a few study partners and let the group make up a list of good books in which you found likeable people and important characters; material to create excellent conflict, struggle, and plot important to your study at this time.

2. Let each partner tell from which stories he/she has ever drawn material from to make up an interesting and successful story.

3. Discuss thoughts on how some characters from stories live forever.

4. Describe a character from your imagination.

5. Write the names of the five best friends you have made through reading and write one short paragraph telling why they are special to you.

GRAMMAR Building in the Verb Function In the following sentence, which basic element does the blank stand for?

The old car ------------- to a stop. (Verb) Let us find a verb that fits this context. Observe that verbs such as slowed and came simply tell us that the old car stopped. Suitable verbs help build excellent pictures in stories.

But there are other verbs which give a more exact word picture: rattled, rolled, slid, or groaned, don’t you think?

Perhaps you and your study partners can suggest still other verbs that fit the context of this sentence.

from a cornfield. Who is this odd-looking creature? Remember you are a language detective. Are you noticing all the clues?

5. After some moments of silence, which not one of us dreamed of breaking, “Gentlemen,” he said in a calm and penetrating voice, “I speak French, English, German, and Latin equally well…. What I now affirm is, that I have a right to speak of these seas, under which, in less than ten months, I have crossed 20,000 leagues in that submarine tour of the world, which has revealed so many wonders.” Who toured the bottom of the sea?

SOMETHING TO DO In each of the sentences below, use at least three different words in the verb function. Be sure that each word you use makes sense in the sentence.

1. Old Joseph Barnwell -----the three-vehicle garage last week.

2. Jenny ------ when she skinned her ankle the first time she played ‘jump rope.’

3. The preacher ------ when Colin deliberately threw the expensive ‘Children’s Bible’ through the balcony window.

4. The boys ------ five speedboat across the mouth of the Mazaruni River.

5. Mr Trotts ------ every night after supper.

6. We ------ into the old barn when it started to drizzle.

7. Elderly Ms Citronella ------ when she heard the breaking news.

8. The young nephew ------ when he heard the breaking news.

9. Big Man Sambo ------ his way through the thick gathering crowd when he heard the breaking news.

10. He then ------ a little girl and her ailing mother across the street.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 6, 2016

XXXIX

Bollywood Movie Review

Shivaay (Reuters) More than 25 years after he first made his debut in "Phool Aur Kaante", Ajay Devgn directs himself in "Shivaay" and if the 172-minute evidence is anything to go by, it would seem he was looking for a Bollywood relaunch.

Because that's what "Shivaay" feels like. A three-hour tribute to Devgn and his myriad talents, an unrelenting showcase of his many qualities and a chance for everyone else in the cast to pronounce - at random moments in the film - how wonderful, upright and "hot and sexy" he is.

From the very first scene, in which he leaps across craggy mountains for seemingly no reason, we are given to believe Shivaay is a man of action, not words. He ostensibly works as a trekking guide, but also helps the Indian army in covert

operations and rescues people from catastrophic landslides.

He falls in love with Olga (Erika Kaar), a Bulgarian student who goes on a trek with him. When she gets pregnant, Shivaay forces her to go through with it. "Give me the baby and leave", he tells her, choice be damned.

When his daughter Gaura grows up and asks about her mother, Shivaay is forced to take her to Bulgaria. But Gaura is kidnapped by a gang of traffickers before she can meet her. The rest of the film is dedicated to car chases, in which our hero escapes from life-threatening situations without so much as a scratch but kills trained assassins with a flick of his hand.

This is not the only problem with "Shivaay". For a film that promises lots of action, we get some lazily executed sequences. The intrigue is non-existent and Devgn's insistence on drawing out every second scene in slow motion only makes it more of a drag. The plot is barely even a plot. We are given to believe that Shivaay ends all of Bulgaria's trafficking crime in one day and that the rescued women meet their long-lost families over one Skype phone call.

There's also the curious case of the Oedipus complex, a running theme in the film illustrated in the most bizarre manner by newcomer Sayyeshaa Saigal. She plays Anushka,

a helpful embassy worker and Girish Karnad essays the role of her father. In a strange dream sequence, immediately after having been threatened by Shivaay, Anushka sees her father in his youth, an image that then morphs into that of Shivaay.

Later, she tells him that women who have good fathers find it difficult to find love. Intentional or not, Devgn cannot pull off this bit of Freudian psychoanalysis.

Of the cast, Saigal tries hard and looks the part of the smitten young girl. Kaar is reduced to little more than a

stereotype and Karnad probably did this role to ensure the health of his retirement fund. Devgn is in every frame, and by the time the 172 minutes are up, you are likely to be tired of the two-and-a-half expressions he can muster during all the jumping and diving.

Like the snow-covered mountains that form a backdrop to much of "Shivaay", the film may have been meant to inspire awe, but the end result leaves you stone cold.