Pepperpot epaper 02 18 2018

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Celebrating culture, celebrating Guyana

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Pomeroon agro-processor seeks bigger market for local products

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Editor’s note AS Guyana prepares to observe it’s 48th Republic Anniversary under the theme “Let's Cooperate and Celebrate Republic 48”, the Pepperpot Magazine has decided to focus on colourful stories- much like the celebrations themselves. Our cover captures some of

our talented school children at their best during the Children’s Mashramani Competitions. We zero on in how one school, which performed well in the Costume Competition, strives to keep the spirit of Mash alive among its children and how they encourage en-

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

thusiasm and togetherness in their students, especially at this time. Our other stories take you to other parts of the country and give a little preview of other cultural aspects that all contribute to making us uniquely “Guyanese” – be it through our agriculture, our tourist attractions or even our history. We hope that this collection of stories gives you even more reasons to celebrate!

Deon Anderson and the ‘Blue Lakes’ of Linden A group of youngsters creating great memories at the Blue Lake

By Naomi Marshall OVER the years, Linden has been mostly known for its bauxite and is even called ‘The mining town of Linden’ as a result of this reputation. However, one young man believes and is determined to prove that Linden is not just a town filled with red mud.

“Linden has unique landscapes: beautiful white sand hills, amazing mountain top views, pure overhead springs as natural showers, fresh clear water springs, natural fruits and berries along immense sand plains, ideal camp-out and cook-out spots and of course outstanding natural blue lakes yet to be explored in all its glory,” Deon Anderson said. “The exquisite creeks and lakes in Linden create the perfect combination of opportunities for lovers of nature, sport, adventure, outdoor fun and incomparable quality time for families, couples, groups and friends, all at no significant cost.”

Anderson, a Chemical Engineer by profession, is a young man who can be best described as completely outgoing, a nature lover, a fan of adventure and one to always capitalises on the simple moments, making them into unforgettable exciting experiences.

It was in 2010, while on vacation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica that this young nature lover developed a natural love for water used for recreational activities.

“Jamaica, like most Caribbean islands I have visited, has some of the most amazing vacation spots if you love to swim, climb against waterfalls or even swim with dolphins, it’s a vacation haven. So I began to fall in love with nature all over again,” Anderson noted.

In August 2011, the young Lindener started working with the Guyana Water Inc. as a Chemical Engineer attached to the laboratory.

In his curiosity to know more about water treatment and water quality, he pursued a Master’s Degree in Water and Wastewater Engineering in England, which resulted in him being promoted to Head of Water Quality at Guyana Water Inc. Inspired by opportunities for transformation and improving livelihood in Guyana, he is presently completing his Doctor of Philosophy in transformational leadership, a field of study that Anderson thinks is much needed in this country.

HIDDEN GEM RIGHT IN LINDEN Recently, his curious mindset led him to stroll along a clay road in Linden, which “seemed to lead to nowhere of

significance,” however he proceeded along the unknown path.

“To my pleasant surprise, I stumbled upon what many would call a “Gem”, an untouched breathtaking, photo-capturing moment. This was the Kara-Kara Blue Lake. For a moment I felt as if I were in Antigua or Barbados or at least one of the tourist destination islands, literally, for this picturesque scenery mirrored exactly what some have only seen in magazines, movies and postcards. It was unlike any other creek I have visited in Linden, the rushing yet calm waves of the water, whistling birds in the background, soft caressing breeze over my face and the fine sand between my toes. It was as if I was on some other island in the Caribbean, I literally pinched myself,” he said. “My ideas were running wild as I filled my hands with the famous “fat-poke” an incredibly tasty fruit unique to Linden’s terrain,” expressed Anderson as he described his experience.”

This breathtaking experience led him to plan a family vacation at the location which turned out to be a moment of extreme tourism.

“This beach-like landscape was perfect for my vacations, so a few days after I decided to go in search of some Kayak Boats and Jet skis – a spur of the moment idea- just to have this beach all to myself. Luckily I got the kayak boats and I took my family on an on-the-spot vacation,” he said. “To my surprise, it was extremely amazing, beyond what we expected, to the extent that we literally did not want to leave. [People] began to flood Facebook, my call log and inbox began to full up very fast, it was sensational. Just a simple spur of the moment idea with my family, it grew into a moment of extreme tourism, this is the power of Linden’s Sceneries.”

TOURIST DESTINATION POTENTIAL “So my question is, why is Linden still not a tourist destination, with all of these natural beauties for sites? I think it is time, yes, it is time for a resort to be developed in Linden where scores of persons can experience high-class fun at lowcost prices,” he noted.

CONCERNS ABOUT CHEMICALS Should you be worried about the chemicals in the water?

As a chemical engineer, Anderson says absolutely not, noting that he can attest to the safety of the water for recreational uses.

According to Anderson, recent chemical analyses have been carried out on water samples taken from this site which

Deon Anderson

showed that the water is completely free of heavy metals such as mercury, copper, cadmium and lead and very soft water.

To further verify this, he has teamed up with two final-year Medical Technology students at the University of Guyana, who will be assessing the water quality in comparison to other water sources over several months and comparing these findings to international guidelines for recreational waters.

He noted that these results will be made available in the public domain so that persons can rest assure of the safety of the water. Laboratories that will be used include; The Institute of Applied Science and Technology, GuySuCo, and the University of Guyana ( UG) among other certified laboratories.

“Currently, all results indicate so far, safe water for recreational use. Even if persons are still worried (which there is no need to be), the kayaking experience is still an amazing option that allows you to experience Linden like you have never done before, and the best part, you don’t even have to get wet to kayak,” said Anderson.

He added, “I truly believe that life is a continuous vacation and as such, you should celebrate every moment, and when you do, just add a bit of class and finesse.”

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

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School of the Nations excels at Mashramani Costume Competition

By Gibron Rahim MASHRAMANI is once again upon us. This year Guyana celebrates its 48th Republic Anniversary under the theme “Let’s Cooperate and Celebrate Republic 48”.

An undeniable highlight of the annual celebrations is the Children’s Mashramani Competition and the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade.

These activities grant our country’s young people the opportunity to showcase their talents and celebrate the melding of cultures that is at the heart of the festivities.

These last few weeks have been marked by an array of activities all leading up to the Children’s Float Parade which was scheduled to take place on Saturday, February 17. There have been Regional Mashramani Competitions in each of the 10 administrative regions. The activities saw schoolchildren from various schools across the country performing individually and collectively in the areas of dance, music and costume, to name a few. Among the schools that participated and won in Region Four’s competition was School of the Nations. The school was among the winners for Individual Costume in the topical category.

The Pepperpot Magazine was able to speak to the school’s principal, Mischka White, about the school’s participation in the competition. She explained that the Individual Costume was not the only Mashramani activity they were involved in this year. At the national level, School of the Nations was also set to be a part of the Children’s Mashramani Costume and Float Parade. The school was interested in participating in even more activities at the national level but, unfortunately, missed deadlines for the regional dates prevented participation this year. Internally though, the school has been involved in a number of other activities centered on Mashramani. These include a Spelling Bee competition and an inter-class Mashramani costume competition.

White noted that the students have always responded favourably to the school’s Mashramani activities. The win in the Individual Costume competition has filled them with even more enthusiasm and excitement. From the start of the activities, they have been very actively involved in the different aspects of the preparations. They have worked on adding the finer details to the costumes for the parade. Additionally, all the work on the costumes for the inter-class competition was theirs. They have reacted to the win by working even more diligently on their costumes and all their other Mashramani preparations.

School of the Nations’ winning costume is entitled “Eco Paradise”. The costume, White said, is a celebration of the rich biodiversity of Guyana’s interior. It is a reminder of the importance of our rainforests and of their need for protection. She emphasised the importance of acknowledging Guyana’s unique composition of flora and fauna. To reflect this, the materials used for Eco Paradise

were biodegradable or recyclable.

When the Pepperpot Magazine spoke to White, further improvements were still being made to the costume to have it ready for the parade on Saturday last. Among the improvements was the discarding of the traditional wheeled float design. White explained that the main float would be worn by a student instead. It was their goal to try another method and one that would distinguish them in the parade.

IMPORTANCE OF CULTURE Mashramani honours the coming together of Guyana’s many cultures into a collective. That multicultural aspect resonates with the school. Indeed, White explained that the celebration and preservation of various cultures are at the heart of School of the Nations. “We have more than 25 different nationalities in our school so culture for us is very important,” she said. Celebrating and learning about different cultures from an early age helps the students to appreciate the values of other persons and cultures. In turn, she said this leads to tolerance, sharing and building relationships. The earlier this exposure and learning about culture begins, the greater the anticipation among the students for the celebrations of various cultures that make up their identities.

The various cultures of the different students are incorporated into the school’s curriculum. In the case of Mashramani, the costumes for the inter-class costume competition are also being graded toward the students’ art assessment so that, at the same time they are enjoying themselves working with feathers and other materials, they are simultaneously learning and being graded. =In this same vein, there are various celebrations at the school throughout the school year. As an example, this past Valentine’s Day was also the school’s Spanish Culture Day where students from the nursery level upwards, dressed in attire inspired by Spanish speaking countries and an afternoon programme was conducted completely in Spanish. Such activities are very common at the school White said. These celebrations are used to allow the students of various

Joelton De Oliveira in the costume that won in the Individual Costume category of the Regional Children’s Mashramani Competition (Photo compliments of Mischka White)

nationalities to share their history and culture with the rest of the school’s population. In that way, “We all learn,” White said. This has been the case with Mashramani.

Mashramani is once again upon us. Even as the celebration has over the years sought to discover and remake its identity, the themes of cooperation and multiculturalism have always found their way to the forefront. The celebration of culture and acceptance, as School of the Nations has been doing, is intrinsic to the concept of Mashramani. We need to strive toward building on this ideal as we continue our “celebration of a job well done”.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

When Berbice had two Governors at the same time

By Francis Quamina Farrier IT IS well known that the present is extremely important. But let us recognise that the past is also of importance. As I type this, my latest Pepperpot feature, what I already know from the past, is important for me to write an article which some readers may learn something from, and hopefully, enjoy reading. Some may also be moved to send me some feedback, especially on any aspect of this article which they feel strongly for or against.

What I am writing now, is also hopefully, going to influence future thinking about the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolution. So here I am, combining the past, with the present and the future, in this article about a vital aspect of Guyana's exciting and dramatic history.

During my years of in-depth study and research of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolution, I have come to the conclusion that both African Governor Cuffy and Dutch Governor Hoogenhime, were geniuses in their own right. Heading a war against each other, they both had tremendous challenges to claim, to maintain and to resist the abominable system of slavery of Africans in the Dutch colony of Berbice, during the mid-18th century.

As we know, Hoogenhmine was appointed by the Dutch Government as Governor of the South American colony of Berbice. We also know that at the commencement of the Slave Revolution of 1763, Cuffy appointed himself Governor of his people. So there it was, two strong men, each as a governor of Berbice at the very same time, and with a mission. Very resolute in what they believed in, one was for the support and protection of the slave owners, the other with a mission to put an end to slavery and the freedom and self-determination of his people. It was a sort of a "Clash of the Titans."

Before I continue this feature, I have to mention that slavery did not begin with the African Slave Trade but was part of the human activity since the days of the first Book of the Holy Bible, Genesis, when we read of the youngest sibling, Joseph the Dreamer, being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. We also know of Spartacus and so many

A sketch of Fort Nassau located 50 miles up the Berbice River, as it looked in 1763

other stories about slavery.

Meanwhile, we need to recognise two facts; that the African Slave Trade was the worst in history, with millions of Africans brought from their homeland to the West, and enslaved for over 400 years making others rich, while they had nothing, except their will to be free. What is also noteworthy is that thousands of Africans were captured and sold into slavery by their very own brothers, (as was the case with the Biblical Joseph), died on board the slave ships, and their bodies were dumped overboard, where their bones now litter the bottom of the Atlantic Middle Passage.

There are some parallels between the Berbice Slave Revolution of 1763/64 and the American Civil War of 1861/65. Both conflicts were primarily about the enslavement of Africans and the efforts in both locations to put that barbaric system to an end. In Berbice, they enslaved themselves and took the initative. In America, it spawned a brutal Civil war in which whites fought against each other; in some cases, brother against

brother, resulting in the deaths of thousands.

From my research over the years, I found out that Hoogenhime, the Dutch Governor of Berbice back in 1763, was a young man; probably in his mid-thirties. Leader of the 1763 Berbice Slave Revolution, Cuffy, was a "house slave"; the type of enslaved individual who is usually considered as being a sort of "Uncle Tom", who worshipped the : White Massa", and scorned his fellow enslaved Africans who worked in the fields.

Nothing could be further from the truth in the case of Cuffy, a house slave. It was he who hatched a revolution which is still regarded as one of the most ambitious and brutal in the history of Slave Revolts in the Western Hemisphere. It was a war of liberation to put an end to the brutal system of one group of human beings being owned as property by another group, and considered as being sub-human and treated almost less than animals.

On my two separate visits to the Dutch established Fort Nassau which is located about 50 miles up the Upper Berbice River, I submerged my thoughts into the spirit of the environment where Governor Cuffy dwelt for some period of time during that 1763 Revolution.

It was an effort for freedom, which sadly for the enslaved Africans, ended in disaster. The revolution headed by Cuffy was

crushed, and the briefly freed Africans were returned to slavery for another 75 years.

However, during that 75-year period, there was another Slave Revolt. That one was headed by the enslaved Deacon Quamina, of the Congregational Church at Success in Demerara, in 1823. That, too, ended in disaster for the enslaved African people.

Full Freedom finally came to the enslaved Africans of British Guiana (the British had taken the colonies from the Dutch) and the rest of the British Empire, in August 1838. Almost immediately some of the formerly enslaved groups pooled their financial resources and purchased a number of former estates, establishing villages such as Victoria and Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, and Queenstown on the Essequibo Coast.

But back to Governor Cuffy and the almost successful Slave Revolution of 1763, in the Dutch Colony of Berbice, in South America. In my painstaking research of over five decades, I discovered that Cuffy had a bit of the Nelson Mandela spirit of almost saintly fairness to his former oppressors who brutalised his people and raped the women with impunity.

At the early stages of the War of Liberation in 1763, Cuffy offered the lower flat lands of Berbice, neighbouring the Atlantic Ocean, to the Dutch. Cuffy decided to establish his African Republic some miles further inland. There the land is high above the Berbice and Canje Rivers, so he established large agricultural areas of the New Republic, where the land is fertile and conducive for successful agricultural enterprises.

Cuffy displayed a discipline of Agriculture to ensure that his people were well-fed and healthy. His was a vision of prosperity for a once-enslaved people who were brought from a land far away on the other side of the Atlantic; Africa, However, while the revolution for freedom from slavery and the vision for a successful agricultural-based Republic were being established, Cuffy was partly engaged in a personal battle of revenge; he constantly abused one of the Dutch female captors in revenge for what the Dutch males had done to the enslaved African females for centuries.

As a house slave, Cuffy would overhear the young Dutch males boasting about their sexual conquests on the hapless African women, and so he thought that revenge of Turn to page V ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

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Seven Years Later - Part 2

Families of 2010 Berbice accident still in pain THIS week we will continue to share the stories of the hurt and pain family members continue to experience from October 29, 2010, which took the lives of 12 persons on the Corentyne highway.

Those left behind continue to suffer and are haunted by that tragedy which remains fresh in their minds as they await justice.

It is still unimaginable to relatives that the man responsible for taking these lives, did not even spend a few weeks in jail and is still allowed the privilege of driving on the country's roadways with no remorse.

NOT THE SAME The world became colder and lonelier for Salina Juman's three children after she died.

The woman who was working above and beyond at the Port Mourant Hospital to make ends meet and support her children was suddenly gone. At a young age, the eldest sibling, Shaneza, quickly took her mother's place for her two siblings.

"I had a little sister to take care of and a brother who shut me out because she was his best friend and so, I didn't know how to go comfort them or what to say. My dad tried but he is not the mother it was hard; unto now it's hard," she said.

To ease the pain they developed their own coping mechanisms and kept their mother's love forever imprinted in their hearts.

"Sometimes we just pretend that it was the accident but she's not gone but we just can't find her. We don't keep that thought that she is gone, you live with her but you just don't see but she's there," she said.

The Friday that Salina left home, she had borrowed money to travel to work which was a reflection of her dedication to providing for her children.

TRYING TO BE STRONG A mother's worst fear confronted her after learning she would be burying her son. Harriett Collins lost her son, Orlando DeMattos who was just 30-years-old at the time. She did her best to remain strong for her grandchildren and daughter-in-law but became feeble after her son was laid to rest. Her pain is like no other but she will continue to represent her son until her last breath.

Remembering the good times and thoughtful person Orlando was, is bittersweet for the elderly mother.

"He would also help to provide for me...I just can't explain because if I tell you how I feel, I've grown him up without a father, so somedays when things hard it hurts more," the mother said. "When the children come and ◄◄◄ From page IV

a similar nature was absolutely warranted, now that the war for freedom was going in his favour. That sub-war by Cuffy took an important measure of his focus from the principal war effort of liberation and what proved to be an exercise in futility.

Meanwhile, the young Dutch governor had many problems of his own; the fact that his well-trained soldiers were far out-numbered by the revolting Africans was most depressing for him. Added to that, some of the Dutch soldiers were deserting their fellow Dutch and going over to the Africans and fighting with the Africans against their own fellow Dutch soldiers.

In all of that almost hopeless situation for the Dutch, Governor Hoogenheim remained resolute. He engaged Cuffy in a number of written correspondences, as he

Orlando DeMattos

Salina Juman

visit me it's a fountain of tears. I don't sleep and that man is free walking and has nothing to say- never give us anything to help with those children."

Collins insists that justice must be given to the families who are made to suffer twice since the perpetrator is yet to face any serious consequences.

Orlando's wife, Marci, was forced to leave Berbice after her husband's demise in search of work to sustain her three children, even though her family did their best to help. Her eldest son has not recovered from the ordeal and refuses to allow or engage in any conversation that would bring back the memories of his late father, while her youngest who was just one year old, only knows his father from the pictures shown to him.

"That same year we were planning to build our house but everything just fell apart," she said.

ONLY MEMORIES Chinma Subryane’s only daughter was taken in the accident. She has framed pictures of her daughter and decorated most of her home with them which brings her some amount of comfort.

Her daughter, Patricia Asgarally, was 28 and worked at the Ophthalmology Centre at Port Mourant when she died. She has left her three sons, Darrien, Aaron and Brian to mourn.

"Unto today me nah alright, especially when I look at the children them. If my daughter was alive I would have been home for her to take care of me, how I had this surgery," Subryane said.

Abu Bakr Razac and Ameena’s daughter were expected to migrate to Canada days after the accident and shared her excitement with those close to her about beginning this new phase.

"The devastating effects of the loss of a bided his time awaiting military back-up and support from Suriname and Holland, for his depleting army. Hoogenhime sent letters to Cuffy which necessitated a written response.

A lesser man would have given up and fled either to neighbouring Suriname or to his mother country Holland. But he stayed and fought what was for him, a war which had to be won. And win he did.

In as much as Cuffy lost his war for liberation, he set the blueprint for other wars including those lead by Quamina in 1823, and Burnham and Jagan in the 1950s and 1960s. The outcome of the latter was the granting of Independence for British Guiana in 1966, and the elevation to Republican status in 1970. Guyana now celebrates the 48th Anniversary of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; and at this time, there is word about the resuscitation of Cooperative Societies in Guyana.

Salma Razac

child are such that it cannot be explained. Only those who experience it will understand, so the effects are still there. Although we were promised counselling there was nothing that was forthcoming to date," Razac said.

Salmaa was 23 and worked at Nand Persaud Communications at Tain. She was on her way home from a hard day’s work when she died.

"The happiest day again in my life is when I reach back with her and I know that one day I will, because I believe in God and with him is the real justice. I always beg for patience and I pray that I will be able to cope with my life until the end, till I reach with God where I will have my reward," the sad mother related.

Nazarudin Mahinudin was also returning

from work when he met his death. He was described as an ambitious young man who was constantly looking for ways to better himself.

The man's mother, according to his father, passed away a few years after Nazarudin's demise. The elder Mahinudin said his wife was treated numerous times for her nerves and died heartbroken, even though she tried to overcome the experience of burying her child.

Franklin Baker said his sister, Janet ‘Pearly’ Baker, joined the bus to go to work at Lucky House Restaurant in New Amsterdam. He said the bus had picked up his sister and then dropped off two schoolchildren. It crashed less than half-a-mile away from her home.

"We need justice in this matter because it's been seven years now and, it's not about money it's about justice."

JUSTICE TO BE SERVED Oduit Babulall was the driver of the minibus involved in the fatal accident. His wife, Ashwantie Singh, was the conductress and a survivor. She remembers her husband for the kind and hardworking man he was.

Next week you will hear from the survivors involved in this accident who will share the story from their eyes, to help us better understand what really happened that day.

Most of them have been trying their best to cope with that incident but are often in tears when they remember that day and the ones they lost.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

Late stage diagnosis result in many cancer-related deaths – early screening could save lives

By M Margaret Burke DR LATOYA Gooding, President and Founder of the Giving Hope Foundation is continuing in her fight to save lives, especially those with cervical and other cancers. Through her foundation, she has been offering various forms of free medical services to members of the public. At the same time, she has been advancing the view that early screening and detection save lives.

nurses and volunteers as they provided services such as free pap smears, VIA, breast and prostate examinations, as well as free blood pressure and blood sugar tests.

The outreach saw more than 100 men and women turn out to take advantage of

DEMBAKE MEDICAL OUTREACH On Saturday February 10, Demerara Bakery, in collaboration with the Giving Hope Founda tion - Guyana, HEROC A participant of the DEMBAKE Health Outreach asking Dr. Gooding (almost hidden) a question and the Ministry of Public Health, hosted a free cancer screening outreach at the Bakery's the free screening exercise, acknowledging Block G1,Land of Canaan, East Bank De- the fact that early detection could save merara location, at the same time reaching their lives. out to surrounding communities on the Many were thankful that such a project East Bank. was done on the East Bank and were esThe exercise was aimed at giving back pecially grateful to Demerara Bakery for to the community, especially to those taking a lead in it. They were also ecstatic living on the East Bank. According to Dr that not only did the bakery provide some Gooding, the Demerara Bakery was more of the best products in the country, but they than happy to facilitate the team of doctors, also had the public's health in mind.

GIVING HOPE STRESSES EARLY SCREENING Founder of the Giving Hope Foundation, Dr. Latoya Gooding was present at the event and reiterated the importance of early screening as many cases of cancer-related deaths in Guyana occur because of latestage diagnosis. She was also happy about the collaboration with DemBake and expressed her anticipation for future collaboration with the company.

Dr. Gooding, who is a practising medical doctor, is of the view that one case of cervical cancer is one too many. She is concerned about the fact that this form of cancer is the second leading

na is the exocervix (or ectocervix) and is covered in squamous cells.

These two cell types meet at a place called the transformation zone. The exact location of the transformation zone changes as you get older and if you give birth.

Studies also indicate that most cervical cancers begin in the cells in the transformation zone. These cells do not suddenly change into cancer. Instead, the normal cells of the cervix first gradually develop pre-cancerous changes that turn into cancer. These changes can be detected by the Pap test and treated to prevent cancer from developing – a condition Dr. Gooding has been persistently advocating for.

Studies have assured that although cervical cancers start from cells with pre-cancerous changes (pre-cancers), only some of the women with pre-cancers of the cervix will develop cancer. It usually takes several years for cervical pre-cancer to change to cervical cancer, but it also can happen in less than a year. For most women, pre-cancerous cells will go away without any treatment. Still, in some women pre-cancers

An interactive session with participants and organisers of the DEMBAKE medical outreach

cancer among women in this part of the world - accounting for the majority of cancer deaths among women here.

Studies have shown that women need not die from cervical cancer since early testing and detection can facilitate successful eradication of the disease.

THE GROWTH OF CERVICAL CANCER Cancer of any sort is said to start when cells in the body begin to grow out of control since cells in almost any part of the body can become cancer, spreading to other parts of the body. Cervical cancer, also known as cancer of the cervix is no exception. It starts in the cell lining of the cervix - the cervix connects the body of the uterus to the vagina or birth canal.

Research has shown that the cervix has two different parts and is covered with two different types of cells. The part of the cervix closest to the body of the uterus is called the endocervix and is covered with glandular cells; The part next to the vagi-

turn into true (invasive) cancers. Treating all cervical pre-cancers can prevent almost all cervical cancers.

CANCER SURVEILLANCE REPORT The Cancer Surveillance Report of 2015, which was conducted by Dr, Morris Edwards has shown that the cumulative incidence rate [CIR] of cervical cancer during the reporting period – 2003 – 2012 was 270 per 100,000 populations; the recorded state of cancer was just over 1,000 reported cases of cervical cancer back then.

Dr. Gooding, who has a wealth of experience in this field of study, is of the view that Afro and Indo Guyanese women continue to account for the majority of cervical cancer cases, but that no woman, regardless of race is exempt from cervical cancer.

Giving Hope Foundation plans to continue moving across the length and breadth of Guyana giving hope to all women who would make themselves available to receive advice and attention. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

VII

Making Cents for At-Risk Youths in Guyana

By Derise Williams Siddiqa overseeing her small operation

SIDDIQA Shabazz, a 21-year-old school drop-out, became a single mother at the age of 17 and now has two children, ages three and two years old. Siddiqa’s main sources of income are braiding the hair of friends and neighbours and operating a trampoline on weekends.

After the loss of her mother in 2016 who was her main source of support, Siddiqa found herself depressed and struggling to provide for her two children. It was at this point that a village leader told her about a business entrepreneurship programme being launched to target at-risk youths in her community of Sophia.

Sophia is a former squatters’ settlement, which still is characterised by high levels of crime despite having been regularised over 10 years ago. For these reasons, Sophia was selected under the IDB-financed technical cooperation, “Support for the Implementation of the Citizen Security Strategy”, as a community that can benefit from the intervention.

FROM RISK TO OPPORTUNITY The Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, popularly called YouthBiz592 because of its focus on youths in business, was implemented through a collaboration involving Guyana’s Ministries of Public Security, Education and Business. The YouthBiz592 programme provided entrepreneurship and life skills training to 87 young people from various communities in Guyana considered to be at-risk, with the goals of providing support toward reducing negative behaviour and of generating economic opportunities to this specific group. Under this three-month-long programme, participants received coaching on starting a business and benefitted from opportunities for work attachments with established firms. Networks were developed between students and with trainers. Moral support and guidance were provided for persons who felt they did not have the skills and behaviour to contribute meaningfully to Guyanese society.

BIRTH OF AN ENTREPRENEUR Siddiqa’s journey started under the programme in April

2017. Although she faced challenges, such as being unable to work during the period of training as well as time away from her children, she was able to persevere, thanks to the financial support and childcare provided under the programme.

Based on her business proposal, Siddiqa benefited from a US$1,500 grant, which she used to expand her “S&J Funzone Rental Service” business with the purchase of additional trampolines and a generator that allowed her to increase her working hours. In addition to the grant financing she received, Siddiqa said that the skills learnt on business strategies, socialising, empowerment and even parenting have been instrumental in expanding her business. She is now not only able to comfortably afford her living expenses but also is growing her business. She recently hired her first employee, who helps her with her operations.

Under the YouthBiz592 programme, Siddiqa has transitioned to a life full of zest, as contrasted with previously being overwhelmed by the everyday responsibilities of providing for her family. Her self-confidence has dramatically improved.

Currently, she is in the process of applying for another grant to further expand her services to a full party service and rental

business. She has even decided to continue her schooling and will be taking a few subjects, inclusive of English and Mathematics, at the next Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations. “I would recommend such a programme to anyone since it changed my life,” Siddiqa declared.

At its closing, the YouthBiz592 programme was deemed quite successful, with 85 out of 87 beneficiaries completing the course programme and with an attendance averaging over 83 percent. Eighty-four business plans were submitted, out of which 72 were approved, and 66 beneficiaries received grants of up to US$ 1,500 to start their business ventures. The YouthSiddiqa Shabazz Biz592 programme (Photo by Neilon Dias) was able to institutionalise a business model on youth entrepreneurship within the Government’s Small Business Bureau (SBB). Since this was the first such programme implemented in Guyana, the success of the YouthBiz592 programme has led to its replication in 20 communities across Guyana where at-risk youths will benefit from entrepreneurship training under the Citizen Security Strengthening Programme.

Facebook page for Siddiqa’s business is S&J Funzone Rental Services ABOUT THE AUTHOR Derise Williams is a Senior Operations Associate at the Inter-American Development Bank’s Country Office in Georgetown, Guyana. Before joining the IDB, she was a Commerce Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce from 2004 to 2007 and also lectured at the University of Guyana in the Department of Economics.

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Pomeroon – a place plush in agricultural produce

By M Margaret Burke POMEROON-Supenaam, Region Two, has a population of almost 47,000 according to a 2012 Official Census. Its main economic activity is agriculture – rice planting, ground provisions, coconut, coffee, citrus, and vegetables.

Timber production is also carried out but on a small scale.

It is under such premier conditions that the Stoll Estate - Pomeroon Trading was formed in Guyana in October 2017.

Though Mr Duncan Turnbull, Chief Executive Officer of the company said that he and his partners have been working on the concept for nearly a year before it actually started.

Mr Turnbull told the Pepperpot Magazine, “I believe that coconuts can play a central role in Guyana's agriculture industry. Yet the industry is still too fragmented with the majority of production coming from smallholder farmers and there is a lack of international investment.

“To bring coconuts to the forefront

there needs to be a concerted investment and consolidation. Consolidation of land will bring economies of scale, it will bring the incentives for external investment, and it will allow faster development.”

He said that the Caribbean is close to the world's largest coconut demand centre (the US) but produces less than one percent of the world’s supply of coconuts.

“With Guyana's fertile soils and perfect agronomic conditions, I believe that this can change,” he said.

Duncan Turnbull, CEO of Stoll Estate - Pomeroon Trading

Gary Grant, Manager

NOT JUST OIL, BUT AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION The CEO said that Guyana has been squarely placed on the map since the discovery of oil. This has brought greater awareness and interest from the international community. “One of my partners first visited Guyana one year ago (though our Head Scientists actually first came on an expedition to Guyana in 1961 and believed that the future of Guyana is not just oil - it is diversification and development of the agriculture industry,” he said.

INTERCROPPING Mr Turnbull told the Pepperpot Magazine that a major plan of the company is the expansion of intercropping along with the planting of coconuts.

He said that currently, the company is running pilot projects, based on agronomic expertise and supported by data, to determine what crops and varieties grow best. He said the company is also developing international markets for these. Without substantial international markets, the crops may not be viable for the huge-scale production that Pomeroon Trading is aiming for.

He said that the company is running pilots in moringa, black pepper, avocados, turmeric, cinnamon, passionfruit, and citrus fruits and will continue to run more in due course.

“We are only part way through the pilots so have not decided what we will roll out across the estate. In any case, we are sure that intercropping coconuts is the best strategy: it's good for land management and helps your bottom line.”

Photos courtesy of Duncan Turnbull

POMEROON COCONUT NURSERY The CEO said that after the company realised that coconut seedling supply was one of the greatest limiting factors for the rehabilitation of Guyana's coconut industry, they started the Pomeroon Coconut Nursery.

“We carefully hand-select seed-nuts from the best suppliers in the country, as well as some imports and grow these in our nursery at the Stoll Estate, Pomeroon.

Turn to page XIII ►►►

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“Guyanese poet, educator and activist”

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

XIII

Miming her way around the world

– she left everything behind to pursue her dream

By Lisa Hamilton GUYANA is the 35th country to be crossed off the list of Miljana Žuti?, a young woman seeking to travel all the countries in the world to experience new cultures while surviving only on gains from street performances.

The Pepperpot Magazine met up with the travelling pantomime who said that the idea, which she refers to as a “seed”, was planted in her since she was a little girl growing up in Serbia on the Balkan peninsula of Southeast Europe.

“I wanted to travel and see the world since I was a little girl. While watching TV, I saw a guy who was travelling the world and he was making episodes of what they’re eating in countries, what they’re doing, how they’re living, their buildings and architecture, many interesting things. After watching, I wanted to do the same as him one day,” Miljana said.

When she grew older, she worked in a five-star hotel as a chef. Then, one day, her job saw her visiting Istanbul in Turkey for six days where she met a group of people who were ‘couch surfers’.

The term defines persons who travel from place to place using the homes of hospitable strangers for overnight shelter.

The couch surfer at times will sleep on a bed, the floor, a hammock, or- as the name suggests- even a couch, hence the

◄◄◄ From page XI

“This is already the largest nursery in Guyana and we hope one day it will be the biggest in the Caribbean.

Our plan is to sell high-end coconut water and coconut products to the American and European markets,” he said.

When quizzed by the Pepperpot Magazine about for such a readiness, Mr Turnbull said, “I believe that Guyana deserves a first-class coconut water plant that is capable of exporting to the main international markets. There are an estimated 24,000 acres of coconut land in Guyana. With proper management, I think this land could be more productive. This would give enough coconuts (even allowing for those coconuts that are dry nuts i.e. for oil, not water) for a water processing facility. But this requires a huge amount of investment to meet international standards and also very strong linkages with the markets. We have this,” he assured.

100 PERCENT STAFFED BY WOMEN Mr Turnbull said that his company is building out a team in Guyana; a core team of five in the country, with another 45 staff on the estate. He offered that Pomeroon Trading is looking to hire more women, particularly to work in the nursery and has the vision to see a one hundred percent women staff in this section.

Women, he said, are under-represented in the workforce in the Pomeroon. With our nursery we can offer a safe work environment; one where they will gain skills and training.

We already have over 40 men working on the estate so it's only right that we should be pushing to have more women

origin of the term.

The couch surfers Miljana met were all students who travelled by hitchhiking on a low budget and, after hearing their stories, she began to think seriously about quitting her job and following her childhood dream.

The first challenge Miljana faced was that although she knew she wanted to hitchhike, while in the various countries, she would still need to pay for necessities such as food as well as air, water or land travel Miljana shows off a few tricks to get from one country to during her miming performance the next. as an inquisitive Guyanese crowd gather to contribute to her cause “So I thought: ‘Right now, I have money but I don’t have time because I ruary 2 and, before we met up with her, had already visited have a job. But if I quit my job I will not have money but Lethem, Kanuku Mountains, Moco Moco Falls, Fairview VilI will have plen- lage nearby Iwokrama and hoped to later visit Kaieteur Falls. ty of time.’ So I Revealing her thoughts of Guyana, she said: did some research “The more countries I visit the more I’m amazed at how to find out how I they are all different. Georgetown is much more different could earn mon- than any other city that I have ever visited before. Here aley, even though I most every house is made of wood, I don’t see any [really] would be moving tall buildings and it’s very nice, the people are lovely,” she all the time,” she said cheerily. told the Pepperpot She added that the only problem was that she was warned Magazine. by residents not to stay alone outside in the nights because of All of Milja- the possible dangers. na’s investigations South America is the fourth continent Miljana has visited. led her to some Before getting to Guyana, she visited Brazil and next on the form of street art, list on this continent is Suriname, an ongoing journey which so, with the help began since June 4, 2015. of a friend, she The young woman speaks six languages namely, Serbian, was taught how to English, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese and Russian. perform as a panSmiling and in her thick accent, she summed up the jourtomime and later ney which saw her leaving everything behind, saying: bought her very “I’m travelling around the world so that I can know how own costume- the people are thinking, how people are living in other parts of the o n e s h e w e a r s world in other countries because all the countries are different now- to travel the and we should encourage these differences because this is world on her own. what makes the world a better place.”

She arrived in You can follow Miljana’s journey on her Facebook Guyana on Feb- page, Pierre Statue. working. Women should earn a fair wage and thus have more independence in the home and community.

PRESIDENT GRANGER’S 5B PROGRAMME With much enthusiasm, the CEO declared that his next community project will link into President Granger's 5B programme: breakfast, buses, bicycles, boats and books.

“We want to remain focused on issues that affect the community immediately around us i.e. in the Pomeroon. We have a particular focus on education and women empowerment.”

He said that this stage the company is buying seed-nuts from many farmers here and that in due course, once the seedlings are more grown, the company will supply seedlings to farmers in the Pomeroon ‘at fair prices’ so they can replant their plots. He said that he considers this to be a really important service.

“We have been selected by a new project jointly run

by NAREI/CARDI/ITC to be a "model farmer" in Guyana. This involves running training for local farmers and being available to let others tour our nursery. I attended a recent session on this in Charity where around 20 farmers attended and the programme is being well received,” he said. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

Resuscitate that old fruit tree A FRUIT tree or two can easily be found in many yards across Guyana. They are oftentimes multipurpose- a playground for young children, shade from the scorching sun heat and of course the hunger and thirst quencher.

Fruit trees age more quickly than most other non-fruit species. They rapidly accumulate the ‘veteran’ features associated with over-mature trees: large volumes of standing dead wood in the form of ‘stag’s heads,’ whole limbs, breakage of limbs at fruiting and harvesting, and rotting heartwood. These result in diminished fruit production and lifespan of the trees.

The life of these trees could be resuscitated by pruning and shaping. Pruning is essential for producing better quality fruit, containing tree sizes and removing disease and damage. It may be time-consuming and difficult to teach to others. But, pruning is not

a large task for a dedicated gardener.

Some fruit trees like mango, rambutan, golden apple, and cashew nut are tip-bearers.

This means that flowering occurs at the apical tips or terminals of the branches. Therefore, it is important to have a high number of healthy,

new, vegetative tips, which will be where flowers and fruits are produced from the following year (one-yearold timber). On the other hand, fruit trees like guava need to be pruned to encourage fruit outgrowths. This is where the fruit is produced and the age of the wood is not important.

Renovating old and overgrown fruit trees is best carried out gradually over a few years. The restoration process could begin immediately after harvest. Simply remove crossing, rubbing, broken parts of branches, or dead stubs and branches. Use removal and reduction cuts where practical and heading cuts where necessary.

The structure of the tree should be intact, without any visible cracks or large wounds on the main trunk, limbs, or main roots. Trees can recover from complete leaf loss or significant damage to the canopy, including several broken limbs, but major trunk damage is often irreparable. The

prime objective is to increase air and sunlight penetration by removing some of the surplus wood. The idea is to create a basic structure of a clean stem supporting large limbs with fruiting branches.

PRUNING TECHNIQUES Heading cuts: stimulate the growth of buds closest to the cut. The direction in which the top remaining lateral bud is pointing will determine the direction of the new growth.

Don’t use heading cuts (also called topping) on branches over one year old, to avid stimulating unwanted water sprouts and suckers.

Heading or topping also disfigures older trees and exposes large areas if bare wood to disease and insects.

Thinning cuts: remove branches to their points of origin or attachment. When you prune a branch back to another branch or prune a branch from the trunk, you are thinning. Thinning cuts stimulate growth throughout the tree, rather than in single branches, as do heading cuts.

Pomeroon agro-processor seeks bigger market for local products

By Indrawattie Natram A FATHER of six from the Kabakaburi Amerindian community in Upper Pomer-

oon in Region Two said that he takes pride in selling his locally made cassareep and honey. Denis Campbel, however, said that he hopes to find a larger market for his

Campbel said when he does not get the chance to process the cassava or honey he would venture to Marawarin, Region One and Moruca, to support local agro-processors in those areas. He said that many housewives in those areas depend on him to purchase their locally-made cassareep but the process is becoming expensive. He related that he usually has to travel long hours in the rough terrain to reach out to these housewives.

"The single mothers in those isolated areas make their own cassareep and honey. I go and I buy by the gallons. They depend on me to provide for their families, many of them work beyond hours to process quality cassareep for the market. They would call me in advance for me to come buy from them. I feel very honoured to support these women and to purchase their cassareep but then there is no market" Campbell said.

He said that based on the economy he would sometimes drop the prices for his products to reach his customers' pockets.

When asked what he feels can be done by the Government to support local entrepreneurs, agro-processors and vendors like himself, he said the establishment of a Small Business Bureau within Region Two. He said with that, persons would be able to access the services, grants and loans to support their local business. He said once the Bureau is set up, then small businesses can benefit and support would be given to them especially when the economy is slow and profits are not being made.

Denis Campbel with his products

products so that his business can be more productive and prosperous.

Campbel said that he spends numerous hours processing locally made cassareep and honey and then sells his produce at the Anna Regina Market. By now, the name Campbel is well known in the area since almost every day Campbel and his daughter are at the Anna Regina market selling their local products.

Campbel, who started his business years ago said that it is his only form of income and that it sustains the livelihood for himself and family. Commenting on sales, he said that the market for these locally made products fluctuates but he never gives up faith.

He said on a monthly basis he is left with a few bottles, however, because of his love for what he does, he continues with courage and determination.

“I have a passion for farming, I love my independence and it’s something I am doing to support my family. I will not give up my trade, however, more market for my products will lead to more profit for me,” Campbel said.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

FILES E S A C COURT

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Accused appealed convictions – Alibi was not put to jury

Appellate Court affirmed convictions & sentences IN 1967, the Guyana Court of Appeal affirmed the convictions and sentences of Appellants, robbery accused Carlton Adams & James Lawrence despite allegations that the trial judge erred by not putting the alibi defence to the jury.

Dismissing the Appeal, and affirming the conviction and sentence the Guyana Court of Appeal, constituted by Chancellor of the Judiciary, Mr. Kenneth Stoby and Justices of Appeal, Mr. Percival Cummings and Mr. Victor Crane held that: “It is not necessary for the trial judge to give a special direction, as he must in respect to certain other defences such as provocation, self-defence and drunkenness, etc.”

The facts of the case disclosed that one man was robbed by one of the appellants as he was about to enter a shop. Two constables who were on duty in plain clothes at a nearby corner were attracted by shouts of “thief” and saw when one of the appellants joined the other one, who had a bicycle, and the two of them rode away.

The two constables gave chase and subsequently apprehended the appellants who, at their trial, gave sworn evidence testifying that they were somewhere else: one said he was shopping, whilst the other said he was making enquiries about work.

In his summing up, the trial judge directed the jury on the burden of proof and on the standard of proof, but at no time did he specifically explain that the defence was an alibi or give any specific direction regarding the alibis.

On appeal against the conviction and sentence the Appellate Court held (i) an alibi, as such, is not a defence, and accordingly, there is no evidential burden cast upon the accused ; (2) where an alibi has been set up, as here, then it is not necessary for the trial judge to give a special direction as he must where certain defences such as provocation, self-defence , drunkenness, etc. are raised, once he makes it quite clear that the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence charged . If this is not done, then the accused is entitled to

the benefit of any reasonable doubt.

Mr. Desmond Christian represented the appellants, while Senior Crown Counsel, Mr. W. G. Persaud appeared for the respondent.

Delivering the judgment of the Guyana Court of Appeal, Chancellor Stoby said, “This appeal which was admirably argued by Mr. Christian for the appellants, raises once again the question of what is the proper direction to be given to a jury when the answer by the accused to the charge is an alibi.

“The appellants were charged with robbery with violence. A witness gave evidence that as he was about to enter a shop in Regent Street,one of the accused attacked and robbed him. This witness chased that accused and saw him join the other accused, who was waiting on a bicycle at Regent and Alexander Streets.

The two accused rode away and were pursued for a considerable distance by this witness.

Unknown to the participants of this incident, two police constables on duty in plain clothes were standing at the corner of Alexander and Regent Streets. Attracted by shouts of “Thief” they saw one of the accused join the other accused and saw them both ride away.

They followed on a motor cycle and caught up with them some distance from the starting point. As the policemen approached the two accused, they abandoned their cycle and ran into a nearby yard. The Police followed them.

After a chase which involved entering into various yards and out on to various streets, one accused was apprehended by one policeman at the corner of Light and North Streets and the other at Light and Robb Streets. The policemen and the two accused were always within their vision and the effect of their evidence was that the men arrested, were the men who were chased from Alexander and Regent Streets.

Both accused gave sworn evidence. One said that he had shopped that morning at the material time with his mother in the market.

After concluding his purchase he walked to Light and North Streets, where he was arrested.

The other accused said he was sent to Robb Street to do some work about 1:15 p.m.

He went there and made enquiries at the first house between Light & Cummings Streets and was sent further down Robb Street. While walking in Robb Street he was arrested.”

One accused called two witnesses to support his alibi.

According to the Chancellor, in his summing-up the judge directed the jury on the burden of proof and the standard of proof, but at no time did he specifically explain that the defence was an alibi or give a specific direction regarding a alibi. He did, however, deal very fully with the defence in language which will be referred to hereafter.

He also said that counsel for the appellants in submitting that the convictions should be quashed for non-direction, amounting to misdirection, referred to R. v. Maraj (i), where it was contended that the trial judge erred in not giving to the jury the direction that ought to be given where a defence of alibi is setup.

In delivering the Judgment of the court, GOMES C.J. said (1961-1962), 4, W.I.R. 277, at p. 278): “Where the defence of alibi is set up, the requirement for an adequate direction to be given by the judge to the jury is of such an elementary nature that it should not require constant repetition. The fundamental principle is that before a jury can return a verdict of guilty, they must feel sure that the prosecution has discharged the onus of establishing the guilt of the accused.

“Where an alibi is set up as a defence, not only does that onus remain on the prosecution, but the trial judge is required to go a step further and direct the jury that, even if they reject or do not believe the defence of alibi, they must nevertheless, still consider whether the prosecution has proved all the ingredients of the

charge that must

By George Barclay be established before they can convict.

“The main reason why that further direction or reminder is required to be given is that, where an accused person gives evidence or calls witnesses, or does both of those things, in support of his alibi, the jury is confronted with two diametrically opposed versions which are created by the presentation of evidence, the truth or falsity of which can be tested and be determined by them. In such event, a jury, in the absence of the further direction, might think that if they reject the alibi, they must or can only accept the version put forward, by the prosecution.

“That situation, however does not arise where no evidence in support of an alibi is given by the defence or otherwise appears, as is the case here, and the trial judge was therefore not required to give to the jury the further direction mentioned above.”

According to the Chancellor, counsel for the appellant had argued that the appellant had not only given sworn evidence of their alibis but had called witnesses, and consequently the case came equally within the rule laid down

by GOMES, C .J. After dismissing the appeal and affirming the convictions and sentence, Chancellor Stoby said that while accepting that in certain circumstances a judge should follow the pattern laid down by GOMES C. J., he noted that the reason why in some cases a judge ought to give a special direction in respect of an alibi, is solely to make sure that the jury approach the consideration of a verdict in the correct way.

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Age and oral health CONSIDERATION of the relationship between age and oral health is important for two reasons. First, there is the concept of socialisation, which is the term given to the process whereby we learn the values and norms of a group or society. It is an ongoing and gradual process which continues throughout life. By the age of three years, for example, children know many of the basic norms and conventions practiced in their culture such as the ‘correct’ toys for boys and girls and the occupations that adult males and females typically enter. Children are very adept at picking up such rules.

The process of transmitting general cultural information, including ideas about health, is termed primary socialisation. Research suggests from a study of 521 people aged 70 years and over that the oral health and related behaviours established early in life are crucial. An interesting oral health example was provided by a group

of mothers who were interviewed. They all had young babies and the survey was done to establish the degree of comparison between mothers’ and children’s intake of sugar. It confirmed that both their babies with a high sugar consumption also had mothers with a high sugar consumption. The concern was that these early childhood habits, once learnt, would have a longer-term impact upon the permanent dentition and possibly lead to obesity.

The outcome of the parent acting as a role model for the child has also been demonstrated in adolescence.

Scientific analyses identified associations between parent and offspring oral health behaviours, such as tooth brushing and the drinking of sugar-free mineral water. It was further proven that children should be the number one priority in the development of dental services so that the dental health of future adults can be safeguarded.

A second reason for being interested in the relationship between age and oral health is that older people often present particular oral health problems. Those who have always attended the dentist regularly will probably continue to do so and retain some or all of their teeth. Of course, retaining one’s teeth in a relatively healthy state until one attains an advanced age, has genetic implications. One study which investigated the oral health-related quality of life reported less dental pain or discomfort, fewer eating problems and less were positively related to use of dental services.

When investigated, it was found that the social impact of oral conditions in older people was important. Older age was associated with significantly greater amounts of impact, with edentulous (without any natural teeth) males reporting higher impact scores than edentulous females.

About 10 per cent of this sample reported problems with chewing food and avoidance of certain foods fairly or very often. These impacts reflect a lifetime of disease experience.

Levels of dental anxiety may also vary by age. The Corah Dental Anxiety Scale was administered to a sample of 580 people aged between 50 and 89 years of which were classified as dental anxious, with older individuals having lower scores than the younger. An older dentally anxious person was less likely to have a source of regular dental care, less likely to have avoided or delayed dental treatment.

Members of the primary dental care team should recognise that the general quality of life is clearly linked to oral health in older people. The dental condition may contribute to nutritional intake. Systemic diseases and the medications taken to treat them will also often have a sensory function. It has been proposed that organisations of oral health origin, develop alliances between primary and oral medical care teams, to ensure general health assessment of an older person.

So physicians who see elderly patients for medical conditions must include an oral component whereby the patients are routinely referred to dentists, and that oral conditions, once identified, are treated.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

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WIRSPA conference and challenges to the rum industry

RUM has always been the wine of the Caribbean and has been used and enjoyed by all classes. In the 18th Century, it was regarded as a cure-all and was used as a preventative or cure for fevers, colds, bodily pains and abrasions. It was also a drink used socially and was so attractive in taste that people tended to overindulge in it. Overindulgence has serious effects- it led to drunkenness, destruction of health, inability to work, neglect of family and social responsibilities and poverty. The secret of avoiding these negative effects is simple - use the beverage responsibly and in moderation - and this has been one of the main injunctions of the Rum Industry and the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers Association (WIRSPA).

Indeed, the main rum producers in Guyana, Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) and Banks DIH have long been appealing to the public to use the beverage in moderation and their appeals have had some success. This could be seen at parties and at festive times where overindulgence in rum is rare. In fact, most drinkers who become inebriated would have been drinking other liquors than rum. Yet people, quite loosely would attribute any inebriation to rum. The reason for this is that for centuries rum was the only liquor used by the overwhelming majority of West Indians unlike today, when there is a large array of liquors from various countries

easily available.

Last week, WIRSPA, one of the oldest inter-West Indian organisations, met in Guyana under its Chairman, Mr. Komal Samaroo, Chief Executive Officer of Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL). One of the main themes of Mr. Samaroo's opening address which proved to be the keynote of the conference, is that people must drink responsibly. Religious leaders of the churches, masjids and mandirs have long been enjoining their members to eschew alcohol and particularly rum. Now it is ironic, if not revolutionary, that the head of a company which is one of the greatest rum producers in the world and other West Indian producers, should be emphatically advocating the same thing.

In his address, Mr. Samaroo mentioned that international demand for premium and super-premium spirits has been growing and this opens a great opportunity for premium rums.

DDL for years has been producing the best rum in the world and has been spending vast sums in promoting the Eldorado brand worldwide.

They have been successful in this and Eldorado could be found at all the major airports in the world and the exclusive top-of-the-line bars. In fact, in some countries, Guyana is known only

by Eldorado.

Another great achievement DDL has made for West Indian rums is that the company has succeeded in securing "Geographical Indica-

tion" after much effort. This it did in April last year and Jamaica has recently now secured it.

This means that foreign producers could not brand their product "Demerara" or "Guyana" since in international trade, Demerara or Guyana rums is recognised as being produced only in Guyana. Scores of years ago, Champagne, the famous celebratory French wine, acquired GI status. Champagne wine could only be produced in the Champagne Region of France and this is known and accepted worldwide. The GI status is very useful in protecting Guyana and West Indian rums since producers in various countries, for example Germany, have been producing brews which they have styled rum.

Eldorado, being the best rum in the world, would be subject to forgeries. Mr. Samaroo feels that marketing Guyana and West Indian rums would be protected and enhanced by the use of the Geographical Indication.

On the global stage, the Caribbean rum industry is still relatively small and several Caribbean governments have been working on ways they could help the industry to grow and expand its international markets. One of the greatest inhibitions and challenges to the further growth of Guyana's rum industry is the outdated Laws and Regulations, which date

from past times and are now inappropriate.

Some effort is being made to adjust these and if such is quickly done, it would greatly help to propel the industry forward.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Carl Greenidge, was one of the main speakers at the conference.

His observation that “rum and sugar have been an integral part of the economy and culture of the Caribbean and therefore they are difficult to separate,� should be seriously considered by rum producers, now that sugar production in Guyana is contracting. Mr. Greenidge may be hinting that rum producers should get involved in sugar production since, without sugar, rum could not be produced, WIRSPA has many challenges but it has taken them on with the hope of success. They will study the impact rum has on society; educate the population to drink responsibly and in moderation; try to have the public understand that drunkenness and overindulgence in drinking must not always be placed at the doorstep of rum; have governments rationalise and modernise their Laws and Regulations affecting the Rum Industry; and to try by whatever means they could to keep adequate sugar production in the Caribbean with requisite molasses supplies.

folklore FAMILY BELOW XVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

By Neil Primus

LIFE along the Cuyuni River was simple and peaceful.

Except for the passage of neighbours in their balahoos or corials, the only other sounds were those of animals. In that area, many people lived near the bank of the river because of the easy access to water. There are two modes of travel, through the jungle or by river. By jungle, it would

take days or weeks to reach nearby villages. By water, it would be much faster.

The houses were built out of nearby trees with troolie palm roofs that were always home to scorpions, centipedes and snakes. But those small structures were comfortable to live in.

Mary and Desmond De Souza lived in one of these houses

along with their 12-year-old daughter. Desmond was away in the backdam hunting and fishing with some of the men. They would be back in a couple of weeks.

Mary now had to manage the small family farm alone. This meant that while she was at the farm, Samantha would stay at home and do the necessary housework. Early that morning Mary headed for the farm which was located more than three miles away.

Little Samantha cleaned the home, washed the clothes and cooked. By now it was late afternoon and the child had one last task; to fetch water. That was easy. She could afford to relax and do that later. She sat swinging in the hammock admiring her surroundings and listening to the beautiful melodies of the birds.

She opened her eyes and looked around her. She had fallen asleep and forgotten about the water. It was already dark. She ran to get her buckets and hurried down to the river. After rinsing the two buckets, she filled them and leaving her slippers on the small landing, she hurried to pour the water into waiting receptacles. Down she went again to get her second load. But this time there was a surprise waiting for her.

As she approached the landing she saw a young woman swimming and marvelled at her beauty, especially her long black hair which glowed brightly in the moonlight. She walked out onto the landing and called out to the woman.

“It’s too dark to swim. Come out of the water. It’s not safe,” she said.

This statement was greeted with girlish laughter and little Samantha smiled. She filled one bucket and was about to fill the other when a hand rose from the water, grabbed her and pulled her under.

Mary returned from the farm tired and hungry. She had worked hard all day clearing, cutting, planting and reaping.

Packing her warashi ( a kind of basket fetched on the back with an extension strap worn around the head for stability) with cassava, eddoes and plantains, she had walked for more than two hours to get home.

When she arrived, Samantha was absent. This angered her.

For the first time, her daughter had deliberately disobeyed her. She would give her a sound thrashing when she came home. She ate then went looking for her. After checking at all of the nearby houses she began to feel anxious. The men in the village began a search. One of them approached her with Samantha’s slippers and two of her buckets. There was no sign of her daughter. She began to weep.

She tried to control her worst fears. More than once children had disappeared and were never found. Because of this they were never allowed to move around after dark and were forbidden to go anywhere near to the river at night.

A large search was conducted during the daylight hours of the next day but nothing turned up. Reluctantly it was concluded that the child had mysteriously disappeared at the river. Mary was inconsolable. What would she tell Desmond when he arrived home? Sleep eluded her for three nights and tears besieged her during the day. On the fourth night, she fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion.

There was a beautiful mud hut nicely designed with seaweed and colourful shells of all sizes. Three children were playing, swimming, laughing, calling. One of them was waving to her. It was Samantha. She ran to her daughter but each time she drew near she seemed to just be out of reach.

“Samantha! Come to mummy.”

“No mummy. You come.”

“Come where baby?”

“Come stay with me and my new friends.”

“No! Come home right now!”

She tried to grab her and the dream ended abruptly.

Mary woke up crying. Two neighbours who were staying with her listened to her relate her dream and sent for the Village Captain. He listened and instructed her as follows.

“Go back to sleep. She will appear again. When she does, tell her you want to go with her. Ask her for the time and Turn to page XIX ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

XIX

A farmer’s honesty and unexpected rewards

By Abdool A. Aziz EVERY day this poor and decrepit farmer goes out looking for work. Some days he is lucky, others, he is not. This day he got no money and his sick wife depended on him for her medicine. He trudged home in agony. She needed her medication. What would he tell her? The sun was extremely hot, so he rested under a silk-cotton tree.

His eyes caught the looks of a purse. He picked it up unzipped it and found cash and documents. His heart raced with joy. At last, money! He took out some as he walked on air and headed to the drug store.

THE WAR OF CONSCIENCE He sat by a bridge and the angel of morality and the devil waged a battle in his head.

He was confused, the angel won. He put back the money into the purse and headed straight to the police outpost. He handed over the find. The police laughed at him for his honesty. But there were great rewards to follow.

He told his wife what he did, she too praised him. He told her he wanted to use some money to buy medicine. She said “Good, that is not our money, that medicine would not have been good, 'can’t a' money,” she said.

THE OWNER The owner of the purse was a doctor. On his way to see a patient, he stopped to use his cell phone under a tree. He misplaced the purse. He did go back to the spot where he stopped but the purse was already in the hands of the tall, lanky old peasant. The doc◄◄◄ From page XVIII

place,” the Captain instructed.

Mary coaxed herself back to sleep. Slowly the dream seemed to replay itself. When Samantha asked her to come and stay with her and her friends, Mary promised to. She asked her daughter for the time and place.

“Midnight on the next moonlight night down by our landing,” Samantha said.

She promised to be there.

When she awoke she told them everything. Plans were made. They would be ready when the time came.

Three nights later it was full moon and bright as day. Mary hurried down to the landing to wait for the appointed hour. At midnight there was a gentle splash and Samantha and a beautiful woman rose halfway out of the water.

Samantha beckoned to her mother smiling sweetly but Mary remained near to the end of the small landing following the instructions of her Captain. Smiling and sobbing she held out her hands calling to her daughter.

“Samantha, come baby. Let’s talk a bit before I go with you.”

Samantha glanced at the woman and as though some silent consent had been given, rose and walked to her mother on the landing. As soon as she was within reach Mary grabbed her and screamed for help. The surrounding jungle erupted with villagers armed to the teeth. Samantha was dragged kicking and screaming away from the landing and to safety on the bank.

Meanwhile, in the water, there was a terrible trashing and blood-chilling screams were heard. Then the silvery figure dived underwa-

tor was contacted by the police. At the station he found all contents intact. Though the money was valuable, the documents were of greater importance as it related to his upcoming immigration to Canada. He took all the particulars of this Good Samaritan. He went straight to his house – a troolie roof, mud floor hut. The old man was out searching for work. His wife was in bed with a fever.The visitor did not go into the hut as it was closed.

THE REWARDS He returned the evening and met them.

He began to show his profound gratitude. He began to treat the old lady and bought some ration. Eventually, he employed the husband as a gardener. The sick wife recovered from her illness. He offered to build them a wooden house but they turned down the offer.

They would not part with their humble abode.

They begged the kind doctor to donate the money to the needy children of the village.

THE LEGACY When the God-fearing couple moved on, the house became a heritage site with a huge sign before its door: “The home of the Takerams- Honest folks lived by the sweat of their brows”. That house or rather, a shrine is still there and maintained by ‘Dr. Ramsey’s Good Citizen Foundation” and on the wall, there is a mural of a decrepit man giving a cent and receiving a dollar by the Angel of Honesty. It is a good lesson for all and the village is proud to have Mr. Takeram as their own. He and his wife are buried in the doctor’s compound which is now ter accompanied by a few arrows and spears.

It took nearly a week for Samantha to stop trying to return to the water. She had to be constantly guarded. She was not allowed to go into the jungle or go near the river. Slowly but surely the child became sick. As everyone watched helplessly, the girl got worse. What could she do?, Mary wondered. How could she save her daughter?

That night she had another odd dream.

The beautiful woman was approaching and trying to tell her something. Mary tried to listen but could not understand the strange gurgling noise coming from the creature.

“Save my daughter please,” Mary pleaded.

The woman smiled then vanished.

Mary woke up to find Samantha standing beside her hammock. She looked healthy and alert.

“Mummy, I have to spend time with them and time with you. If I don’t I will die.”

The child’s round eyes pleaded with her.

Mary knew instinctively that this was true.

She would save her daughter even if it meant sharing her with this water creature.

When Desmond returned he was quickly informed of the past events. Mary explained in detail about her dreams and Samantha’s illness. Like Mary, Desmond preferred to have her for a time rather than lose her altogether.

What had to be done could not happen in the village.

Packing up their few belongings, they bid the villagers goodbye and moved away to live many miles upriver. In this way, Samantha was able to come and go freely.

One thing had to change in their house, however: NO MORE FISH!!

abandoned as the benefactor is living abroad. Praise came to them due to the

safe return of the purse and the immigration papers.

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Beyond the Runway's first anniversary

I HAD an extremely busy but productive week with the WOMEN IN BUSINESS activities and a wine tasting and book signing evening at the Lusignan Golf Course. That venue is so perfect for

classy events and the young Jazz musician Roy Stuart certainly added to the supplicated ambience that was created.

If you are excited to experience an event there, save March 4 for a Tea Party and

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

Fashion Show as one of the events for women’s month.

This column is special today because we are observing our one-year anniversary for BEYOND THE RUNWAY in the “Pepperpot Magazine" and I decided to publish a compilation book to mark this significant milestone.

The book will be launched on Amazon on February 22 with free downloads. I encourage you to tell a friend and visit the Beyond the Runway FB page for the link.

Thank you to all the per... Inspiring lives through fashion sons who have supported me through the year and my impacted their lives, you all are the reason gift to you is a preview of the Synopsis, Acknowledgment and Ded- I got to one year and I celebrate you. May ication. I appreciate you and will also be God continue to guide and bless us all as we continue this journey called “Life Beyond sharing the cover with you.

Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel

SYNOPSIS COMPILATION - Beyond The Runway will feature 40 awe-inspiring short stories that will stimulate you to go the extra mile. Beyond The Runway, the column is celebrating one year and I extracted some of the most intriguing, motivating and mind-blowing featured stories to share with you. I’m certain there’s a story that will resonate with everyone no matter where you live or where you’re from. Stories that will show how a little effort can take you from ordinary to extraordinary. Join me as we continue this beautiful journey called “Life BeyondThe Runway”.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I was working on completing Beyond The Runway “Inspiring lives through fashion” which tells the story of my fashion journey for over two decades. I diverted again to a different concept, Compilation, Beyond the Runway.

As I celebrate one year since I started writing the column Beyond The Runway for the Guyana Sunday Chronicle, I decided to celebrate my one year anniversary in style. I must thank a few persons who were instrumental in me starting a column in the “Pepperpot” section of the Chronicle; Godfrey Wray, Nigel Williams and Shauna Jemmott. Jasmaine Payne, it is great working with you. A special thank you to Richard Young for the Foreword and for the creative concept for the cover and Shiv Dindyal for making it a reality. Thank you to my assistant and baby sister who helped in compiling the articles, Denielle John.

To Kathy Kidd and KIDD Marketing who keep inspiring me from behind the curtains.

To Eldiclia for the Spanish translation, you are a sweetheart. For all the persons who sent me messages and met me in person and told me how much the column has

The Runway”.

DEDICATION I dedicate this book to Guyanese who are living in Guyana and around the world as we celebrate Mashramani (celebration after hard work) on February 23, in observation of our 48th Republic Anniversary.

May we use this unique celebration to bridge the gaps and think seriously about the words in our Motto: One People, One Nation, One Destiny Send us a message on to our FB page or beyondtherunway1@gmail.com telling us your favorite stories of the year. Continue to join us every week as we continue this beautiful journey call life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

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#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks THE USA celebrates February every year as Black History Month. Although the idea of having a month dedicated to Black History has been met with some controversy and may seem unusual to those who do not observe it – generally, there is an awakening of sorts that can be gained when people around the world learn about the achievements and contributions of black people whose stories have never been told due to the pervasive power of the white hierarchy, born from colonialism, that has resulted in the covering up or the loss of these stories that remind us of the many gifts, talents, and influences that black people have left for the world.

My students are currently studying The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. It is a work of non-fiction that presents to us the life and legacy of a black American woman named Henrietta Lacks. Her story contains several lessons that are important not only for people of African ancestry alive today but also to the world in general, as the story of Henrietta Lacks is one that reminds us of the plight and misfortune that affect black people, even as they are exploited for financial gains by others. It is a story that simultaneously brings to mind the darkness of slavery from our history books, while also being a warning for the still-existing danger in modern and future times, with one of those dangers being especially the danger of not unearthing stories that were buried and bringing to the forefront stories that need to be told.

Henrietta Lacks was the woman from whom emerged the first immortalised cell lines (the HeLa cell line) – cells that had the ability to recreate themselves forever – and were then used for a great number of important scientific purposes, such as the invention of the polio vaccine, as well as in furthering research on cancer, etc. The author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks ensures that she highlights the fact, and perhaps the most sensational aspect of the book, that Lacks did not consent to have her cells removed from her. In fact, she did not even know her cells were being taken. Added to that is the fact that the cells went on to make money for the men who replicated and sold them, while Lacks and her family all lived in poverty. It is a tale of theft and exploitation, one that is shot through with science and such far-reaching consequences that it managed to stir up debates about consent in science, and remains an enduring example of the acts that have been committed not only against people of colour but also in the name of science.

Skloot’s writing is well researched and filled with poignant moments that help to fill out the character of Henrietta Lacks, giving her an identity that was denied to her in all the years that her cells were being used without most people knowing that she was the source of the cells. Skloot writes of the moment when she first learns about Henrietta Lacks, as a college student studying cells. She retells the story of how her professor, a man named Defler, writes Lacks’ name on the chalkboard

for the class. Skloot writes of Defler informing the class that “HeLa cells were one of the most important things that happened to medicine in the last hundred years” before he goes on to say, “She was a black woman” and then promptly erases Lacks’ name from the board “in one fast swipe and blew the chalk from his hands. Class over.” This kind of narrative detail makes Skloot’s book read like a work of fiction, even though it isn’t. It’s easy to see how in the way she structures and presents details in the scene outlined above, we can analyse the information she gives us, from the casual way Lacks is highlighted as being only “a black woman” to the way the professor wipes Lacks’ name away, giving the impression that that is all there is to know about her.

In much the same way that this is the catalyst for young Skloot to pick up an interest in finding out more about Henrietta Lacks, the writer uses the same technique on the reader to ensure that we, like herself, are drawn into the

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Crown, 2010)

story of Henrietta Lacks by responding to the lack of information that exists in the general knowledge of us, readers, about a woman who would have contributed so much to science.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is filled with many such moments.

Skloot’s knack for including even the most minute pieces of information that come together to form an entire picture of Henrietta Lacks and the story of her cells is truly admirable. There are many important insights on the family of Henrietta Lacks, doctors, nurses, and countless others who in some small way or another contributed to the tale that Skloot’s book tells, and the writer ensures that she gets all of them in there so that the story is told in a way that

is both interesting and capable of covering many different personalities from different fields who helped to make it what it became. The Immortal Life of Henrietta

Lacks is a dazzling work of non-fiction about a woman who deserves every ounce of publicity she can get for everything her cells have done for the world.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

IN DAYS THAT ARE DEAD (A Look back in time)

By Clifford Stanley SUNDAY GRAPHIC JANUARY 1, 1967 THIS WILL BE THE YEAR OF OIL: Mr Graphic’s “Crystal Ball” makes his 1967 forecast.

“The New Year is upon us and once again I have the urge to consult my old crystal ball about the future.

But before I tax the powers too much about 1967, let me pause a while to pat it gently for the accuracy of the forecasts for 1966.

The year ahead is going to be a tough one for Guyana not only for the Government but also for the opposition and indeed all of the people.

Government’s call for import restrictions in the interest of bringing about a more healthy balance of payments issue will give rise to many grumblings from the mercantile community and a campaign for relaxation of the controls will develop, and we may be treated to the spectacle of more coalition difficulties on this score.

Difficulties will be forgotten however with the glad news that oil has been discovered in marketable and commercial quantities in two widely separated areas of Guyana.

Apart from the discovery of oil, construction work will begin on an oil refinery which will depend on imported crude oil, to begin with.

Following further disagreements over portfolios and tax policy, Mr Peter D’Aguiar will resign within the next three months from the Coalition Government.

However, four members of the United Force including one Minister will adhere to the Government.

A new Government will then be formed by the PNC with the help of ex-UF and PPP members with a further reshuffle of major Cabinet posts.

The Prime Minister will assume responsibility for three Ministries- External Affairs, the Public Service and Economic Development.

One of Guyana’s ambassadors will resign for private reasons.

An ex-PPP MP will rejoin that party but there will be new bickering and other crises and threatened splits.

Government will introduce an American type registration for voters involving the use of Identity cards and voting machines.

The big social news of the year- the marriage of Prime Minister Burnham - will turn out to be a disappointment to the thousands who expect to be invited to the ceremony and the reception afterwards.

THE MARRIAGE WILL BE IN SECRET. Practicing what he preaches the Prime Minister will have a “Buy Local” honeymoon in Guyana.

There will be several changes within the Prime Minister’s Office. There will be some transfers, retirements and at least one resignation.

RELATIONS BETWEEN GUYANA AND VENEZUELA: Relations between Guyana and Venezuela will improve and the Venezuelans will eventually withdraw from Ankoko peacefully and without any publicity. There will, however, be some bickering over the long-drawn-out discussions of the Guyana Venezuela Mixed Commission.

Guyana’s position as one of the leading powers in the Caribbean area becomes more clearly defined. Guyana will be the champion of the “small islands”.

The Free Trade Area begins to function with a greatly increased membership although there will be abstentions among the bigger islands.

By the end of 1967, a way is found for all the English speaking Caribbean territories except British Honduras to join the Association.

Road accidents will continue to soar and a vigorous campaign will help to publicise this fact without stopping accidents.

Emergency works will have to be undertaken in one hitherto neglected coastal area and new drainage and irrigation works will have to be hurriedly installed.

A major smuggling ring will be uncovered and justice will take its full course.

The Attorney General Ramphal may return to private

practice in Jamaica by year end.

There will be major strikes in the sugar and bauxite industry following which the Government will begin taking steps to enact an Industrial Stabilisation Act along the lines of the Trinidad Act. There may be a split in a major sugar union.

The Sugar Commission which at last will be appointed will recommend steps to settle the struggle for Union recognition.

The Civil Service will make demands for increased pay.

The trade unions will form a rival body to the TUC. There will be a strike of doctors.

The new airport terminal building will be opened in July.

Lufthansa the German airline will begin to fly to Georgetown.

A franchise for the introduction of TV into Guyana will be awarded to a UK company.

The Government will start its own radio station.

One weekly paper will go out of circulation.

Chief Justice Bollers will be knighted.

The Guyana women’s hockey tour of West Germany will be remarkably successful.

No new hotels will be built in Georgetown.

Guyana’s own currency coins will be issued.

A society divorce case will provide the scandal of the year and will feature a leading personality in the Arts.

A wealthy widow will marry a leading legal figure in the most talked about marriage of the year.

There will be a national catastrophe when the seawall breaks on the East Coast of Demerara and on the Essequibo Coast during the year.”

“IN DAYS THAT ARE DEAD-A Look Back in Time” is made possible with Newspapers stored in the Archives of the Guyana Chronicle newspapers. Quotation marks surround stories as they appeared in the Guiana Graphic and the Chronicle newspapers 100, 75, 50 and 25 years ago, with their original grammar, punctuation and spelling. You can contact Clifford Stanley at cliffantony@gmail.com.

Feed your patients more fruits

...Resist the lure of simple sugar and sugar-coated snack foods EVER happened to be in a rush and forgot to pick up fruits from any of the municipal markets to take for your patient who’s hospitalised at the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC)?

Then you’ll know how difficult, nay, impossible it is to get fruits to buy at any of the 12 or 15 mini stalls operated by vendors outside of the hospital compound. Except for about two or three of them selling coconut water at stands along New Market Street and other neighbouring stands, there is no other facility offering fruits for sale.

But perhaps, they are only operating within their means, since other fruit vendors at the Stabroek Market for example, claim that the intense heat of the sun has adverse effects on the fruits they put up for sale. Bananas for example, quickly become black when exposed to the sun, they contend.

From a distance, the colourful and well-displayed items for sale in the showcases could almost exert a magnetic pull you. But getting closer, one will find that they are stocked with an array of sweet beverages of all colours, sizes and preparations. There are, for example, high-sugar content carbohydrates snacks such as caramels, chocolate, sweet biscuits and other high sugar-coated snack foods made of refined flowers. Unlike those simple processed sugars, complex carbohydrates – the starch and fibre found in fruits, vegetables and unprocessed foods, generate the body’s energy.

Unless used in moderation, the snack foods currently on display and which will inevitably be given to patients by their relatives and friends, create further problems for persons who are already sick and battling disease conditions.

The body converts the excess sugar and from ‘simple

sugar’ (snack) foods into fat which is deposited into the body’s tissues, hence can cause the users to gain weight.

Overweight people have heightened incidences of heart disease and strokes since extra fat puts pressure on the heart, lungs, and other internal organs. It robs energy and life quality in a number of ways. Obesity can also cause stoppage, clogging, congestion, and obstruction.

And for people who are diabetics and have a difficulty producing or effectively using insulin which is necessary, it results in an elevation of blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows your body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the food that you eat for energy or to store glucose for future use. Insulin helps keeps your blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia).

Uncontrolled blood sugar elevation can, in time result in serious complications such as: • Problems in the eyes (diabetic retinopathy), which is the depletion or death of the cells responsible for supporting and feeding the retina (the eye component sensitive to light).

• Kidney problems (diabetic nephropathy). The lesions in the small capillaries of the kidneys cause a progressive loss of their capacity to filter and eliminate the toxic products of the body. This results in renal failure.

• Diabetic neuropathy: Problems involving the nerves: The lesions of large and small capillaries which in turn cause damage to the nerves. The brain is connected to the muscles, the skin and all the organs through an extensive network of nerves which carry messages and orders back and forth.

Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include:

- Sexual impotence; lessening or absence of vaginal lubrication; a tingling sensation on the feet; numbness of the feet; unsteady walk; muscle weakness.

Fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories.

They may reduce the risk of disease. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables may help reduce the risk of many diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and some cancers.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FRUITS IN YOUR DAILY DIET Eating fruit provides health benefits — people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases and cancers. Fruits provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of one’s body.

Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories and have no cholesterol. Fruits are sources of many essential nutrients including potassium, dietary fibre, vitamin C, and folate (folic acid) which helps the body form red blood cells.

Fiber-containing foods - fruits such as mangoes, golden apples, pineapples, help provide a feeling of fullness and yet have fewer calories. Vitamin C is important for growth and repair of all body tissues. It helps heal cuts and wounds and keeps teeth and gums healthy.

Dietary fibre from fruits helps reduce blood cholesterol levels and may lower risk of heart disease. It is important for proper bowel function; helps reduce constipation and diverticulosis and heals cuts and wounds.

It also keeps teeth and gums healthy.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

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Planting seeds for tomorrow IN primary school, I learned that there were a few prerequisite conditions needed for a seed to grow. It must have warmth, moisture and air. With these conditions present, the seed would be able to transform itself into a fruitful plant (Ha, puns).

Fortunately, I - the ‘no longer a Science’ student- will not be talking about germination. Instead, I’ll share my experience at the Queen’s College Students Conference (QCSC), held on February 8 and 9.

This conference was created by the Old Students Association - New York Chapter, in 2014, while Queen’s College was celebrating its 170th anniversary. Since then, it has grown from strength to strength. As expected, this year hosted the largest number of participants- a whopping 250 students from 11 different secondary schools.

The first day of the conference usually has concurrent workshops following the themes of leadership, career guidance, the creative arts science and technology and business.

It functions as a great segway for the second day.

Now something called ‘the innovation challenge’ occurred on the second and final day of the conference. Here, groups of students were required to identify issues in their schools or communities and craft their own solutions.

Befittingly, the entire conference is organised under the theme: “Empowering and inspiring youth for the future.”

Quite a few of the groups this year decided to tackle self-esteem and bullying. Another group decided to formulate a solution for the lack of clean, running water in their school and another opted to foster camaraderie in the school through clubs and social activities, while encouraging the

development and sustenance of the school’s infrastructure.

Notably, each group crafted their project pitches specifically to cater for the unmet needs in their schools or communities. They all conceptualised their solutions and with a bit of mentoring, they were able to present their solutions to the identified issues.

What was most pleasing for me was what I would call the ‘fruits’ of the innovation challenge. The teams were well-positioned to implement their project ideas to tackle the problems and even a step further, some were even given a means of starting their projects.

This feature has been part of the conference for some time now, and it parallels the recently initiated Youth Innovation Programme of Guyana (YIPoG), which also requires young people to create solutions to their problems, in their communities.

While the conference could have only targeted a few schools this time, its impact was made nevertheless. And I shouldn’t speak for everyone, but I can ascertain that some positive impact, no matter how minute, was made on each and every participant.

I can recall that the members of the old students association stressed, “We came with the intention of planting seeds for tomorrow.” Those seeds were planted within us three years ago, and that sense of responsibility was embedded in us to give back to the conference that helped to shape us.

For the past three years, I’ve been a participant of this conference and I have benefitted tremendously from the career guidance and leadership workshops I attended. But for the fourth conference which was held recently, I was

actually a workshop presenter alongside three other current students. I can say we are a testament to these seeds being planted.

YIPoG, on the other hand, was only initiated in 2017 but was more wide-reaching, targeting youth in all 10 the administrative regions.

Twenty-four groups and 13 STEM Clubs from the 10 Administrative Regions- all comprising of youth - were presented with a total of $50 million in government grants under the Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture, Agriculture, Arts, Anthropology, Mathematics (STEAM) initiative of the YIPoG. The young people had the freedom to conceptualise projects in any of these fields.

The programme aimed to decrease unemployment amongst young Guyanese, engage youth in the development of a Green State and creative thinking through the application STEAMS and develop a network between partners that work in the field of creative thinking and youth development.

It is with a staunch belief that I say that events like the students’ conference and the YIPoG are excellent catalysts for development. They plug youth involvement and garner solutions from this grassroots-level, emphasising the role of human agency.

Additionally, it fosters a sense of responsibility in youth so that when they are the leaders, they would have already garnered experience in creating solutions for local problems.

There is a myriad of ole sayings that have one general message: Youth are the future. Shaping our minds will only impact the wider society. Giving us a platform will undoubtedly let us shine.

Authoring her own journey

Samanthani Singh GUYANESE born S a m a n thani Singh, versed in Communications, Computer Science and lots of ‘Business’, has decided that she will be the author of her own book of life.

For Singh, each day presents a new opportunity to write another exciting page. “There's always a new goal on my table to accomplish and a new day that must be worthwhile and personally fruitful,” she highlighted.

“I was always studying [or] working or both, and spending time with my family,” she reflected and said that she had a “fairly normal” social life, for relaxation and networking. She had most fun with her family, though.

Singh graduated from the University of Guyana (UG) in 2000, with Diplomas in Communic a tion Studies and Computer Science. Later, she acquired her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the Newport University and then her Master’s in Business Administration (International Management) from the University of Wales.

Over the years, she has garnered experience also as a Chartered Business Administrator for the Chartered Association of Business Administrators - Canada, in 2008 and a Fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management (U.K), in 2013.

She also served as the Media Manager for Catholic Media Initiatives Guyana; Coordinator for the Loyola Documentary Film Festival;

and Administrator for Arthur Lok Jack’s Graduate School of Business (Guyana Office).

Notably, she mentioned, “My professional contribution to be a part of Arthur Lok Jack's Graduate School of Business Executive and International MBAs, and professional development programmes generated a higher quality of opportunities and transitions for many local professionals to enhance their skills and qualifications.”

Perhaps leaning on her Communication Studies and Business background, she wrote a book called ‘The Importance of Soft Skills for Global Managers’, in 2017.

Authoring this book is her most recent accomplishment, and according to her, “[It] is a fresh new perspective for International Management and Business professionals and executives.”

Her inspiration for writing this

book came from an article written

by Glenn Rifkin in the Harvard Business Review, in 2006, called: “The Soft Skills of Global Managers”. She explored this topic for her MBA dissertation and she just felt it would be useful to share the findings of her research. And so, she published a book.

The ‘soft skills’ zero in on the level of interaction and understanding and the right mindset, critical to doing business on a global scale.

According to Singh, it highlights how to balance corporate culture with the culture of the operating country and illustrating how soft skills are pertinent to enabling success and promoting sustainable growth.

She related, “The research took approximately two years with a lot of work to understand why this concept mattered at all. Rifkin’s article was my light bulb moment.”

Her book is a contribution to all Guyanese professionals as she highlighted that though she left Guyana in 2015, “This book gives local professionals a unique perspective to be successful globally for their organisations.”

It strategically includes discussion of local, regional and international corporations who operated across continents.

While she has accomplished quite a bit, she says, “Everything I accomplish, I endorse to the greater glory of God.” For persons entering the business field, her advice is to understand that soft skills are necessary for all global managers because corporations are impacted by this skills gap.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 18, 2018

EPA Making Strides

LAST week we examined how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is being repositioned as an effective and influential regulator to meet the needs of Guyana’s emerging green economy.The article also highlighted efforts being made to improve the Agency’s operations at all levels to ensure efficiency and effectiveness. This week we will continue to examine the transformative process which commenced in 2017,

in greater details under three (3) broad categories to increase your awareness of the Agency’s work.

IMPROVING ORGANISATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CAPABILITIES ● Commenced Laboratory Development – EPA has also commenced the development of the Agency’s first independent environmental analytical laboratory.

● Dedicated training arm/programme – The Agency is more strategic in its continuous capacity building efforts. This is to ensure it is equipped with a cadre of trained professionals to effectively deliver on its mandate. ● Improved HR and Financial management procedures – Significant strides were made to improve HR and financial management procedures through the development of a number of policies.

● Field Ready and Functioning Fleet – A priority for the Agency is ensuring adequate field-ready vehicles and equipment to execute work.

IMPROVED CONFIDENCE IN THE EPA AS THE PRIMARY ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATOR The Agency sought to improve the experience of people who interact with EPA by focusing on outcomes and timeliness. Efforts being made to address these include: ● Fast-tracking of the Environmental Authorisation Process for low-risk projects: (e.g. Gas stations, lumber yards etc.) ● Referral of complaints to other relevant authorities: (RDCs, NDCs etc.) ● Improving communications with the media, government agencies, NGOs, educational institutions, developers and the general public through consistent social media and other engagements; as well as the establishment of a new website. ● Exploring improved opportunities to engage communities and make environmental laws and policies more accessible to educate them on EPA’s role and promote awareness of the Turn to page XXVII ►►►

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duty of care to the environment. ● Improving the Information Management System for Authorisation and complaints through the acquisition of a new software. ● Increase the use of GIS to aid science-based decision making - Acquired Drone technology, tablet and internet system for improved field monitoring and informed decision -making.

EFFECTIVE PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT ● Re-aligned and Improved Effectiveness of Regulatory Functions through; ● Update and publication of the State of the Environment Report. ● Robust Authorisation Process re-aligned to Environmental Protection Act. ● Adopted a Risk-Based approach to compliance and enforcement focusing our efforts on

risks and where we were most likely to provide the biggest benefit to Guyanese and the environment. To this end, 64 risk assessments spanning nine (9) sectors were completed in 2017. Risk-based approach includes: ● Risk-Based Screening for Authorisations and Complaints; ● Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessments; and ● Key strategic objectives based on State of Environment, such as; – Ensuring clean air.

– Reduced impacts of mining and other development activities on our waters.

– Improved waste management and promotion of resource efficiency and recovery in industry.

– Protection and Conservation of our Biological Resources - ecosystem-based approach to managing coastal and marine resources.

– Heighten education and awareness.

Join us next week as we continue to en-

gage you in environmental matters and remember; “The environment is everybody’s business” You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at eit. epaguyana@gmail. com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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CJIA Expansion Project: Gateway to a ‘modern’ Guyana AS GUYANA continues to pursue the ‘green’ pathway to sustainable development through conservation, technological advancements and progressive initiatives at the policy level, Government has recognised that investment in public infrastructure programmes, aimed at putting the country on par with other nations in the Caribbean and South America, will spur transformative development for the country.

One such infrastructural development project is the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) Expansion Project, a US$150 million initiative, which President David Granger has described as the gateway to a

President David Granger and Ministers of Cabinet during the tour of the Airport Project

One of the two passenger boarding bridges

modern Guyana.

In this week’s edition of Government in Action, we will take a look at how this project has evolved from one shrouded in secrecy and controversy to one where there is maximum transparency.

A project that will enable Guyanese and visitors alike to enjoy the facilities of an international airport designed to accommodate the rising number of visitor arrivals.

GATEWAY TO A MODERN GUYANA In 2011, news broke through the Jamaica Observer newspaper that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration had signed a secret deal with China Harbour Engineering Company for the expansion of the CJIA. In 2014, the PPP administration took the Project to the National Assembly. Despite questions raised by the then Opposition about how the proposed US$150 million for the project would be spent, no answers were forthcoming. The Opposition, then the Alliance for Change (AFC) and A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), jointly took a decision to vote against the project, during the 2014 Budget. Despite this, the PPP went ahead with the project. In 2015, the newly-elected coalition Government mandated Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson to review the expansion project under a different model than the one presented by the previous government.

The new model caters for the expansion and extension of the runway to satisfy international requirements for large aircraft landing and operating out of the CJIA and a modified airport terminal. These modifications allow for the project to be completed with the funds that were available.

Two years later, the project is on schedule for a December 2018 completion.

During a tour of the Airport in January by President Granger and the Ministers of Government, the Head of State said that with the emerging oil and gas sector and advancement of the ‘Green’ State Development Strategy (GSDS), it is important for there to be greater efficiency in the service provided at Guyana’s main entry point, since he expects that there will be an influx of tourists and investors.

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“This is the entry point for the modern state. It is very benefit from the oil and gas Works on the check-in counters are important to our development. Infrastructure would attract [sector] and we’re going to still ongoing. At the completion of the tourists, and now that we are embarking on a new industry have so many suppliers and airport, there will be 32 such counters people would want to come in their numbers, and they business traffic coming. I should be coming to Guyana at a modern airport. In time to think the expansion of the come, we should be able to put a time on visitors, meaning airport is opportune,” he that no visitor should be able to spend more than 10 minutes said. in the airport. We need an efficient service so that as soon as someone lands, they can be on their way, of course, after NEW POSSIBILITIES satisfying all security requirements. We need to plan for the FOR GUYANA future,” he said.

At the close of the The Head of State charged the management and staff of project this year-end, the the CJIA to commit to ensuring that the operations of the runway will be extended newly-modernised airport are defined by efficiency, high from 7,500 to 10,800 feet, standards and quality service. which will accommodate “It will be very functional and it is very important to the almost every large aircraft, future development of our country. It is the gateway to the while the terminal building, ‘green’ state and I hope these can be reflected in the murals which received facelifts in so that it can showcase the character of the country. It is also the 1960s and 1990s, will a gateway not just to the Caribbean but South America as well, so it is an important cultural statement as well. From With a modern airport, a functional point of view, a however, come the challengmajor problem in Guyana is es of security, health and the absence of adequate infraadequate customer staffing. structure and many people do Mr. Ghir said that mannot come to Guyana because agement has taken these it is very bothersome because into consideration and has there are a few direct flights already begun putting sysand so this is very functional,” tems in place. With regard the President said. to staffing, he said at present Chief Executive Officer there are 270 employees, of the CJIA, Mr. Ramesh with 60 more being recruited Ghir echoed the sentiments in anticipation of the needs shared by the Head of State, of the airport. In addition, noting that the airport, when customer service training unveiled, will become the sessions are conducted at gateway to the ‘green’ econfrequent intervals.

The artist's impression of the completed Cheddi Jagan International Airport omy and the main contributor “There are several sets to Guyana’s development. of training. What we aim for “This is our main international airport and we process be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility. is to expose the frontline staff to customer service training about 600,000 passengers a year. Lots of visitors, persons The benefit of an extended runway and new terminal at least once per year, but we have several other types of from the Diaspora returning to Guyana and business travel building is two-fold. With an extended runway, the coun- training that take place. With the new airport, for example, use this port of entry. In addition, the airport itself contrib- try’s aviation operators will be able to entice and attract come some facilities that we’ve never had like the boarding bridges so we have to get additional staff trained in that area.

In-house, we have our own cleaning department so we call them the airport’s custodians. Two weeks ago we had about 26 of those persons trained and within the next two weeks, mid-February, we’re working with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) to have all of our red caps and airport taxi drivers also trained not only in customer service but to learn more about Guyana, so that when they’re taking passengers down or receiving passengers from the airport, they can better represent our country,” Mr. Ghir said.

In January, the airport facilitated a visit from representatives from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the United States, who were in Guyana to conduct a security audit at the airport. Guyana performed well in that audit but the CJIA management under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure is looking to improve efficiency and security through training.

“I am very pleased to say that coming out of their audit there are no, what we call, “open items.” Open item means that they haven’t found anything of significance that warrants for them to say that we have to implement or correct anything going forward. In terms of security staffing, our staff is approximately 110 at the moment. We will continue to recruit more staff and we envisage by the end of this year there will be another 20 or 30 more employees in that division. The training in security is varied. We have our own training department, about 10, what we call, trainers.

In addition to that we have, for last year alone, we have The spanking new baggage claims area had several areas of detection, explosives, and security awareness training and this is an on-going exercise. Equiputes significantly; aviation contributes just about three per larger transatlantic aircraft, which means that the passenger ment-wise, we’ve started the process to upgrade our security cent of the GDP [gross domestic product] for Guyana. In flow will be significantly increased. The key components equipment. At the moment, for example, we’re the only our estimate, with the expansion work, for example, we’re of the airport expansion project are two passenger boarding airport in the region that has a full body , but in addition to probably going to have another 200 persons employed with- bridges, a CCTV system with approximately 300 cameras, that we’re going to upgrade most of the scanning machines in the airport environment. So apart from its contribution to a 13,737-square-metre terminal building area, 32 check-in that we have,” he said. the economy, with the expansion of the airport, it will also counters and a 450seat departure area, as well as elevators There is a port health authority located on site to deal allow us to attract, what we call, large Trans-Atlantic flights. and escalators. The airport will also be outfitted with kiosks Turn to page XXX ►►► The next most important thing I think is that we’re going to to facilitate self-check ins, in an effort to save time.

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with medical emergencies as well as the Guyana Defence Force’s Medical Corps nearby. With regard to emergencies, fires and accidents, the airport is outfitted with two reservoirs at the end of both sides of the runway and a sprinkler system in the terminal building. Safety drills are conducted on a frequent basis, with more than 300 stakeholders involved.

QUALITY CONTROL The Project was due for completion in December 2017, however, the technical team had several obstacles to overcome. Some of the challenges included the weather, the removal of several other buildings in the path of the runway works and finding a workable solution to deal with the rehabilitation of the terminal building while continuing the operations of the airport.

Project Manager, Mr. Carmichael Thorne, said that most of the challenges were beyond the control of the team but he noted that systems have been put in place to ensure that the project stays within its budget and remains on schedule for its December 2018 deadline.

“We have elaborated on the schedule of the remaining time in very detailed steps and we are looking at each step individually and identifying the potential problem areas and addressing them beforehand. So, these are very dynamic sessions that occur twice weekly where we will go through all the plans for the remainder of the year and try to look ahead and see what the problems are and resolve them beforehand.

I think we are in a good place of achieving the new schedule.

So far we are on target to the December 2018 deadline,” Mr. Thorne said.

With regard to some concerns raised about quality control, Mr. Thorne explained that there is a thorough process in place to check every material and aspect of the work to ensure that Guyanese get their monies’ worth.

“The quality control programme is very robust. First off before any piece of equipment or material is even shipped into the country the specifications of these materials and equipment has to be agreed, it has to be presented beforehand and approved prior to even being imported. Once it gets here it is examined and the contractor first off has his laboratory where he does some of the examinations, the consultant has his laboratory that will do some independent checks and the ministry as well, we have our lab that can do further checks so it’s a lot of layers in the quality programme to ensure that all the requirements are met,” the Project Manager noted.

THE VISION The new arrivals terminal building, generator building, pipe installation, pump station and water tank, boarding corridor and passenger boarding bridges will be completed by the first quarter of the year. Work on the Check-in and Departure lounges and the first phase of the Departure terminal, Screening and VIP areas and the South West runway will be completed by the end of June. All other works will be completed by December 2018.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Mr. David Patterson, during the tour in January noted that the project is now entering its ‘third fix stage’, where the first set of finishing touches will be installed. As such, he noted that a decision was taken to allow the members of Cabinet to provide input.

“We thought it would be good to bring all the members of the Cabinet here today so that if there are any inputs, they can do so today. We are at the third fix stage and this is where we are now going into finishes and for a project this big, we want persons to give their input now before we go ahead. The Ministries of Business, Public Health and Public Telecommunications are already catered for but they can review and give their comments,” he said.

At the end of the project, a roundabout will also be constructed outside the airport to reduce traffic congestion and to allow for a faster exit from the airport zone, he said.

As Guyana prepares for the oil and gas industry while pursuing a ‘green’ economy, there is no doubt that the country will become one of the most sought-after investment destinations in the Caribbean and South America.

The modern Cheddi Jagan International Airport will therefore become the gateway to the new Guyana, where rapid development and a good life for all Guyanese is assured. Already, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Airport is optimistic that the airport will be able to offer a memorable experience to all visitors.

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FEBRUARY IS AFRICAN HISTORY MONTH

ACDA Region 1 School Children at African History Month Exhibition

ON December 17, 2018 ACDA began the 25th year of its work of “Seeking an all-round improvement of the African presence, both in quality and in all aspects of life and in this way to influence for the better the quality of life in Guyana.” As a result of our anniversary, ACDA’s Theme for 2018 is “Celebrating 25 years of Activism, Community Development and Servant Leadership.”

Black History Month was started in 1925 by a Harvard-trained historian, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who observed that in all the educational institutions he had attended no mention was made of African Peoples contribution to the world history. Dr. Woodson believed that unless something was done to rescue African people from history’s oversight, we would have become a “negligible factor in the thought of the world. ACDA joins with Dr. Carter G. Woodson when he stated that there is no such thing as African History, what is called African History is really “the missing pages of world history” ACDA cordially invites you to our African History Month programmes at the AKWAABA (Welcome) Centre. Some of our programmes planned are: The UJAMAA Challenge where young entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful business persons. Monetary prizes will be awarded. Preparation of CV workshops and CV writing training in schools for school leavers; Movie at the Princess Cinema for participants in the Aviation programme; Final presentation of “Know Thyself Projects”; Prize-giving ceremony of the Awareness with Action and Knowledge for Employment (AWARE) Project; African Historical Exhibition; Lectures; Film Shows & presentations.

The exhibition is open to the general public on Monday-Friday from 10:00hrs- 16:00hrs and Saturdays from 10:00hrs-14:00hrs For further information: contact ACDA at 225-8420 or write to guyacda@gmail.com

ACDA School Children at African History Month Exhibition

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English THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

To suppose, as we all suppose, that we could be rich and not behave as the rich behave, is like supposing that we could drink all day and keep absolutely sober.

LOGAN PEARSALL SMITH (1865-1946) from In the World STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, This is just the time to focus on examiners. They are human, they know their subject, and they understand English.

They are not at all interested in your personal prejudices, beliefs, political opinion, social comments, or other likes and dislikes. Neither do they want any love notes from you. All they want is the most sound, lucid and logical interpretation of the questions set, and to mark them accordingly for you. They wish that you revise always, even shortly before the examination. Be wise.

Love you.

GOOD WRITING When you must use several main ideas

to write about a topic, you immediately visualise the use of several connected paragraphs to develop these ideas. You intend to address each main idea, and to have each supported by its own set of details. You aim also to let the several main ideas together give all-round support to the overall main idea of the entire piece of writing.

Yes, writing formats, such as reports and stories, are written with several connected paragraphs. In this revision of good writing, we want you to understand that paragraphs in a longer piece of writing are arranged in much the same way as the details of a single paragraph. Just aim to perfect the strategies below.

What you must do is this: 1. Decide upon an overall main idea

for your writing and use only one main idea for each paragraph.

2. In the beginning paragraphs you give the overall main idea, arouse reader interest, and / or suggest what is coming next.

3. In the middle paragraphs, give the main ideas and their supporting details. Make sure that each main idea supports the overall main idea. You will never go wrong with each main idea clearly stated in a sentence.

4. In the ending paragraphs, summarise the main ideas, restate the overall main idea, or emphasise the overall main idea. If your piece of writing is a story, give the outcome.

5. Use signal words and phrases where appropriate to connect the main ideas and to connect the details to each other and to the main ideas.

The How and Why of New Paragraphs Writers change to new paragraphs for numerous reasons. They also use quite a few techniques to link paragraphs. Let us see.

Reasons - why writers change to new paragraphs: 1. To deal with a new idea: Here they introduce a new idea related to the overall main idea.

2. To expand main idea details: Here they give additional information about one of the details of the previous paragraph.

3. To show a change of type of details: Here they show a change in time or place.

4. To give a direct quotation.

Techniques – how writers connect paragraphs: A.. Signal clues: By using a signal word or phrase in the beginning sentence of a new paragraph.

B.. Looking-back clues: By repeating a key word or idea from the last paragraph in the beginning sentence of the new paragraph.

C.. Looking-ahead clues: By putting in a paragraph’s ending sentence a key word or phrase that refers to the main idea of the next paragraph.

D.. Dialogue format: By using quotation marks to show the exact words of the speakers; by using dialogue labels to show the speaker’s thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Something to Do Here are two sets of paragraphs about famous people. Read them, and then consider the answers the two following questions:

~~Why did the writer change paragraphs? ~~How did the writer connect the paragraphs?

First Set Background: Frank Budd was born with one leg smaller and weaker than the other. He started running because he wanted to please his father.

Overall main idea: Frank Budd won the title “world’s fastest human” even though he had a physical handicap.

When he became a student at Villanova College, still prodded by his father, Frank went out for the track team. He hardly impressed the school’s track coach as a future great. He ran with a pronounced limp. His right leg was smaller at the calf and thigh than his left. This was a result of a childhood illness that might have been polio.

The coach prescribed a unique method of training to correct Budd’s limping condition. Frank did weightlifting, and he ran up and down the seats of the athletic stadium wearing a ten-pound vest.

Second Set Background: Marilyn Bell was 16 years old when she swam across Lake Ontario in September of 1954.

Overall main idea: Marilyn Bell had mastered swimming six years before her swim across Lake Ontario.

Because Marilyn’s youth and the comparative obscurity of marathon swimming, neither the newspapers nor the C.N.E. officials were aware that Marilyn had been an accomplished swimmer for at least six years…. The coach at the pool, Alex Duff, asked her to join a group of junior swimmers called the Dolphinettes, who put on demonstrations to raise funds for the Community Chest. Through Duff, Marilyn met Gus Ryder, a tough-minded, white-haired swimming coach who ran classes at the Lakeshore Memorial Pool.

Ryder invited her to join his swimming club, which, between meets, taught crippled children to swim.

“She was the most charming kid, thoughtful and eager, “Ryder later recalled. “She had a sort of deep well, a kind of reservoir, and a tremendous loyalty.”

Application: Write a short story for your community newspaper and apply appropriate techniques.

Reminder: When developing a piece of writing with several connected paragraphs, decide when and why you want to start each new paragraph.

Then decide on the technique you will use to connect the paragraphs.

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Entertainment

Why Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston Are Still Everyone's Golden Couple Has anyone ever noticed how the Internet has made it exponentially harder to let things go?

Any sorrowful tweets posted Thursday in response to the news that Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux had separated were instantaneously overwhelmed by a wave of joyous realization that Aniston and Brad Pittare now free to return to their rightful place by each other's side.

It's understandable. Together they were an honest-to-goodness golden couple (not least because of their enviable tans), the head cheerleader and the quarterback, king and queen of the prom. The last 13 years we've been in bizarro mode, spinning off course, and now the world can finally right itself.

That would be nice. The world needs righting. It’s just not going to be an Aniston-Pitt reunion that does it.

And we do get why the idea is so desirable. (We’ll also do you one better—before she announced her engagement, to another Brad, we even felt a twinge of possibility that Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow were still meant to be.) When Jennifer

Aniston and Brad Pitt got together in 1998, everything was just great. They were two of the biggest deals on the planet.

Pitt was still in Legends of the Fall mode and was about to burst out in the cult classic Fight Club. Friends was on.

We repeat, Friends was still on. Pitt even did a Thanksgiving episode and was nominated for an Emmy.

When their romance first blossomed in the spring of 1998, they bided their time before going public, denying reports when they were still in the getting-to-know-you phase and then taking pains not to be photographed together, even when they arrived at places in the same car. But the sightings were stacking up: date nights at trendy spots in L.A., Friends’ 100th episode party that fall, Acapulco for Valentine’s Day in 1999 and Jen’s 30th birthday.

Aniston would tell Diane Sawyer years later that they both knew, “on our first date” (set up by matchmaking agents), that they would be a thing. “It was weird...That was a really easy evening. It was really fun.”

“Jennifer’s a lot more peaceful now, like a woman who’s in a good relationship,” Lisa Kudrow told Rolling Stone (which noted a framed photo of Pitt in silhouette sitting in Aniston’s L.A. home office, and then a relaxed, laughing Pitt on her coffee table) in March 1999. “There’s not a lot to say about them because there’s no problems. They’re both lightyears ahead of themselves. You know how your grandparents have a certain perspective about life? They’ve got that now.”

Asked what attracted her to Pitt, Aniston told the magazine, “Oh, I hate this! I can’t talk about it. I’m sor-

ry. I’m not withholding, just preserving something that’s mine.” As for those who speculated the actors were trying

to drum up publicity by issuing denials and playing coy, she denied that.

Coconut Ice-Cream

Ingredients 2 coconuts, grated 4 pt milk 2 oz custard powder 4 eggs sugar to taste 1 tsp almond essence Method 1 Heat 1 1/2 pints milk, pour it over the coconut and leave to stand for 5 minutes.

2 Squeeze thoroughly to extract flavour, strain.

3 Blend custard powder with 4 tbsp of plain milk.

4 Heat the remaining milk in a saucepan.

Remove from heat and add custard powder.

5 Blend well, return to pan and stir constantly until mixture thickens. Remove from heat.

6 Whisk eggs lightly with sugar, add essence, pour hot custard on and whisk well.

7 Add coconut milk and mix well.

8 Cool and freeze as usual.

Serves 10-12 Note: Milk which has been flavoured with coconut should not be heated.