Sunday February 14, 2021
A whole lot of love This Meten-Meer-Zorg resident was in full celebration of Valentine’s Day as she showcased a variety of teddy bears and other VDay-themed items at her stand(Carl Croker photo)
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Love bloomed out of a garbage clean-up campaign
By Francis Quamina Farrier TODAY is Valentine’s Day, and in keeping with the spirit of LOVE, let me relate the story of a love that blossomed right out of a garbage clean-up exercise in Georgetown! That may not sound as the most romantic start of an article for Valentine’s Day. Nonetheless, it is a true story of young love which came to be because of a garbage clean-up exercise by a group of public-spirited young people in Georgetown. The group, Guyana Shines/Youths for Guyana, is very active in helping to keep the city clean. The former spokesperson of the group was Shaunee Thompson, who was on line explaining one of the cleanup projects undertaken by the group in Georgetown. That video was seen in many foreign countries. “We first ‘met’ online when I created a status to poke some innocent fun about Guyana,”
said Dexter Tyson who was born in the US Virgin Island of St. Thomas in the Caribbean. He grew up in the former British colony of St. Kitts. As such he was a born American citizen with British Caribbean upbringing. He knew nothing about Shaunee Thompson who was born in Linden in Guyana, hundreds of miles away in
South America. Shaunee Thompson was among those who responded to Dexter Tyson, and they had a hilarious back and forth. What Dexter was unaware of was that Shaunee and his co-admin, a Jamaican, were also online friends, so one day the Jamaican put up a video that she was in and Dexter questioned him about
Dexter and Shaunee with their young daughter in Florida
the video in which Shaunee was featured explaining about a clean-up campaign in Georgetown. I have seen that video and I can tell you it was heart-warming to see those young Guyanese having so much fun cleaning up garbage. When I viewed the video, Shaunee, in her role as the spokesperson of the group, I also recognised in her someone special. She had a professional aura. Shortly after, the Jamaican had introduced Dexter to Shaunee - all done online - via three-way communication between them developed to the point when Dexter was asked to assist Shaunee with a decision she wanted to make about a vacation choice between St. Maarten or Antigua. At that time, there was no love interest by Dexter for Shaunee. “When I first saw her in the video, she looked so youthful causing me to think she was a 16 year old,” Dexter related. He recognised her beauty, but he was not driven to take the communication to
Shaunee and Dexter on their Wedding Day
any higher level. “I thought she was pretty, yes, but just a schoolgirl, however, over the course of the above conversations, I learned she was much older, but there was the factor that we were close to 3,000 miles apart and she was in a country [Guyana] I had no serious desire to go to.” That was the position of Dexter Tyson at that time.
“However, over time, as we talked for hours on end, day AND night, I drew a deeper interest in her and she in me,” he said. That was back in 2013, as the two were using call apps like TANGO, SKYPE and WhatsApp to get around a huge monthly See Page IV
Guyana Online Learning sets high standards for virtual classrooms
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
EVEN before they knew that Guyana would fall victim to the deadly coronavirus disease, Joel and Shennel Freeman had been working on Guyana Online Learning (GOL), an after-school tuition service that aims to supplement a child’s learning experience via virtual classrooms. The Freemans were online teachers who had seen firsthand how convenient internet schooling can be for both parents and their children, and so they decided to register GOL in the same month that the pandemic started making waves here in Guyana (March 2020). At the time that the business idea came to them, they couldn’t yet fully imagine the practical benefits that GOL would eventually bring to its users, and how much their services would be both needed and appreciated. They were initially thinking that GOL would come in handy for parents who have safety concerns regarding their children. “Since most after-school lessons are conducted later in the afternoons, parents don’t have that extra worry of their children coming home late if they’re already
affordable rate; our love motivates us to do all we can to provide a service of high quality that meets the gold standard of education,” he said. He recalled how shortly after getting started, GOL was able to assist students who were preparing for the National Grade Six Assessment last year. “This
Latoya Simon – Parent and organising to be able to build a business that would become reliable and trustworthy. In less than a year, they have managed to acquire pupils from all across Guyana, including from the East Coast of Demerara, West and East Berbice, Corentyne, Skeldon, Linden, the East Bank and West Bank of Demerara, Parika, Leguan, and Georgetown. Managing GOL, with all of its operations being on line, is no walk in the park for the Freemans, but they are getting it done with good communication and cooperation. “During the initial stages of setting up, we were privileged to have trained and highly qualified professionals who brought an invaluable amount of
Children from all across Guyana can continue their education in the comfort and safety of their own homes learning in the comfort and safety of their homes,” Joel told Pepperpot Magazine recently. With the raging pandemic continuing to show its true colours around the world and here in Guyana, Joel and Shennel came to see that their business would now become even more practical and indispensable. They thus started down a road of careful planning
expertise and insight that contributed to the smooth and successful operation of our programme. Our experienced teachers are very diligent and committed to helping each student to succeed,” Joel expressed. In addition to careful planning and good preparation, Joel said running GOL calls for deliberate and consistent follow-through until success is achieved. “We keep our prices at a super
in the reading and phonics areas.” Whenever a pupil from her class is absent, she makes it a point to reach out to them and ensure that they receive the necessary notes and explanations. “I try to get them to be comfortable in class and participate in discussions,” she offered. Grimmond especial-
A Rose Hall pupil during a class session brought a measure of relief to many parents who registered for our programme. Parents and children who were overseas and unable to travel due to restrictions were also able to benefit,” he said. Since then, GOL has observed how the kids are always excited to be online. “With their minds already engaged, teachers can capitalise on this opportunity
to engage them in a variety of learning activities to maximise their academic potential,” Joel noted. One of GOL’s trained teachers, Alice Grimmond, makes it a goal to build a relationship with each of her pupils just as she did when she was in a physical classroom. “What makes me proud is [sic] the constant improvements that I am seeing in my pupils, especially
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ly likes the organisational structure at GOL and praised the team for being approachable, dedicated and confidential. “They’re always willing and ready to give a word of encouragement or guidance. There are times I will encounter difficulties or have questions and I would call on them and they’re always there to support and encourage me.” Sharita Alladin, of Rose Hall, has two children enrolled with GOL in Grades Two and Eight, because
Joel and Shennel Freeman she said this helps to keep the teachers use to get the them in line with the ed- children’s attention and hold ucation curriculum. She their attention for the period doesn’t have the time to of time,” she commented, home-school due to a job adding, “I also like that I and other responsibilities, can text a teacher and she and so she is grateful for will get back to you with GOL. information and will provide “The kids love the vir- feedback. They know your tual teaching method. It child and if you ask about allows them to be exposed them, they are able to proto technology and to interact vide details. I must say their with friends from various professionalism [is] topparts of Guyana. Their social notch,” Simon remarked. and interaction skills using According to GOL’s technology have greatly im- website, www.guyanalearn. proved,” she expressed. com, overall, the aim is to Latoya Simon, too, is allow individuals to satisfy another parent from Linden their education needs in an who has three children in affordable, convenient and the programme in Grades enjoyable way. Three, Six and Nine. “I love the teaching techniques that
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Preserving the environment and protecting its inhabitants
By Niomi Parris
GUYANA is a country of vast wonders, from the coastland to the hinterland regions our lands are covered in vibrant forestry, mighty rivers and soaring mountains. However, we the people are not the only inhabitants of this beautiful land. Guyana is home to many animals and even some endangered species and we the people have to do our part in preserving and making this land safe for our wildlife. With a love for the environment and its inhabitants, 23-year-old Felicia Collins has dedicated her time and energy to preserving the environment and teaching others how they can protect their surroundings and the animals that live in them. Having grown up in
Port Kaituma, Region One, Collins spent most of her childhood surrounded by the forest and its beauty and wanting to learn more of the wonders, after completing her secondary education at the North Georgetown Secondary School and Queens’ College, she pursued Marine Biology and Ecology & Environmental Biology studies at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad. Collins disclosed that her career path had already been set, as she was to have become a doctor; however, she was very much intrigued with the phenomena of nature and all that depended on it. “My interest lies more in conservation and indigenous development or community development. Even though I like conservation work and
- Budding environmentalist, Marine Biologist excited to be back home
environmental protection, I also see the importance of working in the communities and working in minor groups just to empower more people on the ground to know more about the environment,” Collins told the Pepperpot Magazine. Collins, who recently graduated last year is now back home in her hometown working closely with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) on a project to monitor the wildlife in the Barima Mora Passage. “Since coming back home I started volunteering with the Guyana Marine Conservation Society and a research project came up in Region One and they saw it fit for me to be the project coordinator as it was in my
23-year-old Marine Biologist Felicia Collins
field and I’m from Region One,” she said adding: “We went to Region One to set up some camera traps; the purpose of setting up the camera traps in the mangrove forest is to see what kind of animals are the biodiversity there,” she said. The traps, she explained, will be able to capture photos of some of the small and large-bodied animals in the area, thereby helping herself and team collect data for their research. “We can hopefully use that data to get abundance and the distribution of that data and the activity patterns of these mammals, just their mindset, how they behave, how they live and that kind Collins along with a colleague of thing,” she said. setting up camera traps in the In simpler terms, she exBarima Mora Passage plained that the research is to determine how many animals call the mangrove area in the region their home.
Love bloomed out ... From Page II
phone bill, but both of their jobs had a tremendous amount of flexibility which allowed them to talk all day on their phones, creating a strong bond and kicking of the sparks that would develop into a fire of love. “About four months into talking, we decided to commit to a relationship. After that time, I realised I was deeply in love with her and decided a FIRST trip to Guyana was in order.”
Dexter eventually took two days after Valentine’s Day. It was five days before Shanee’s birthday. “I had a great time and ALL things checked off between us, prompting me to take another trip back to Guyana two months later in May of 2014.” It was then that Dexter asked for her hand in marriage. Some ten months later, on March 21st, 2015, they got married. The ceremony was held in the Promenade Gardens in George-
town. It was the venue where they had their first date over a year earlier. The reception was held at the Pegasus Hotel. A little over a year later, Shaunee travelled to New York City to be with her husband. They have since relocated to South Florida where they had a baby in September of 2017. Dexter Tyson has visited Guyana a total of seven times since meeting Shaunee Thompson, the young woman he met online after seeing her
in a video involved in a garbage clean-up campaign in Georgetown. His first two visits to Guyana were in February and May of 2014; and so many happy things have happened in his life since then. The meeting of Dexter and Shaunee was destiny at work. “Our relationship path was somewhat unconventional in how we met, how we progressed and how we built it,” Dexter pointed out. “It was long distance, but we managed to avoid the pitfalls of a long-distance relationship, including staying loyal to each other and we now
The young woman disclosed that she is particularly excited about being back home and having the means and resources to do what she loves. Her biggest achievement thus far is just being an inspiration to other children from the hinterland region. Collins stated that in her line of work, she is able to travel and explore the different layers of Guyana, all while meeting new people which for her is very much rewarding. She noted that the best part of her job is working with people from the hinterland region to ensure community development and teaching them how to care for and protect the environment, to preserve the lives of the many wildlife and exotic creatures that share the land of Guyana. “At one point I was
overwhelmed with emotions, but mostly positive emotions because in so many ways I am to give back to my community, my region and to me that is something that I really like to do,” she said, adding: “The fact that I came from here and I can come back and I can be an inspiration to others from the region. Being a part of this research project here and being in the field and interacting with the people on the ground.” On the days when she is not working, Collins spends her free time reading and travelling through to various parts of the country. Additionally, she also does some light photography, taking pictures of the various places that she visits on her own free time and when she is working in the fields.
have a loving, blissful and productive relationship and marriage,” he said. During the 15 years in which I produced my radio programme series, The Eighty Plus Club, I have been told stories by elders of blossoming love despite restricted communication. One gentleman in his mid 90s related his early love story as a young man between himself and the young lady who later became his wife. It was at a time when the elders kept the adolescents and young adult males and females, well apart. The gentleman
explained that they never got to speak to each other but their love still blossomed. When I asked him how that was possible, his response was, “We spoke with our eyes.” Initially, Dexter and Shaunee spoke to each other with their computers and their cell phones, then finally, face to face. On this Valentine’s Day 2021, they most likely will be listening to a favourite love song of theirs; “Evermore” by Ryan Shaw with lyrics which state, “...and this love will grow stronger...in my arms, I will shelter you baby.”
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Champion of diversity and inclusion continues to build on community engagement
By Frederick Halley ADVOCATING for equality does not mean treating people ‘equally.’ It means treating people ‘fairly’ regardless of race, gender, religion or other characteristics and identities. It is about ensuring everyone has a chance at equal opportunity or treatment, based on human rights. It can also take many forms such as the fight for democracy, upholding human rights and the principles of social justice. These values are needed in our society to help progressively build on our engagement and life experiences. Guyanese-born Janet Naidu, having left the shores of Guyana in the mid-1970s to make Canada her new home, has been on this progressive path, both in her profession and in her volunteer support in the Guyanese-Canadian community in Toronto. In an interview with Pepperpot Magazine, Naidu talked about her long-term career with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), as a Manager of Diversity Management, promoting diversity and inclusion in a traditionally male environment, which made positive transformations in gender representation under Naidu’s leadership when she worked there. She emphasis\ ed the need for policies and educational programmes as a foundation for progressive change and as a long-term strategy. Her role as President of the Toronto Employment Equity Association helped to foster new ways of influencing the leadership. Growing up in Covent Garden, East Bank Demer-
ara, Janet comes from humble beginnings. Her father was a cane-cutter and her mother sold greens in the village and the market. She often reflects on the hard work they put in to make a better home for their family, to ensure the children went to school and obtained an education. Naidu believes her strengths to enter the field of human rights, diversity and inclusion came from the foundation of witnessing the hard work of her parents, as well as having impressionable school teachers who instilled the values of developing one’s skills to compete in the working world. Janet sees Guyana as her early ‘home’ and will continue to receive attention and necessary help from the international community of Guyanese. Naidu is recognised for her literary contribution to poetry and other writings, having published three collections of poems – Winged Heart, Rainwater and Sacred Silence. Janet gives credit to the late Rajkumari Singh, who encouraged her to write poetry in the early 1970s. Singh, Guyana’s iconic figure as a writer, political activist and cultural leader in the arts had formed the Messenger Group and mentored poets and writers such as Rooplall Monar, Henry Muttoo, Mahadai Das, Gushka Kissoon and others. Janet herself recognised the need for a writers’ support group in Toronto, and she initiated the formation of the Pakaraima Writers’ Association to encourage writers and poets to support each other in their writings and publications. She served as its President for 12 years
Janet Naidu
and continues to participate in community readings, while encouraging writers to join the group. Some of Janet’s poems have been academically published in the University of the West Indies Journal on Women’s Studies. In the early 1990s, Janet joined the Association of Concerned Guyanese (ACG-Canada), when she learned that it supports the efforts of the people of Guyana towards a society based on peace, democracy, equality and human rights. Janet is
the second female President in the association’s existence. The ACG-Canada was formed in Toronto in 1973 to mobilise support in the international community for supporting the restoration of democracy in Guyana. Naidu stated that she appreciates the opportunity to serve the ACG in this leadership capacity, where she can continue to make a positive contribution as part of the diaspora for the benefit of Guyana, as well as to help foster the Guyanese-Canadian community towards a spirit of
unity. Being a community activist, Naidu has served in the community as a member of the Guyana Independence Festival Committee and CoChaired the Committee the year the festival first expanded its events. She volunteers in the wider Canadian community, whether in professional organisations or in the community where she resides. As a certified Career Coach, she serves as a mentor to young professionals in the human resource profession to help them in their career goals
and aspirations. She has been a speaker of conferences in the area of harassment, bullying and discrimination in the workplace and also as a speaker at community events such as a guest of honour at a dinner for educating girls in western Kenya, delivering a talk on juggling work and family and other demands in the life of working women. Naidu has a BA in Political Science and Caribbean Studies from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of London, UK. Having completed her legal education later in life, Janet is not a practising lawyer; she has utilised her legal education to teach legal courses in the subject area of hospitality and tourism at George Brown College in Toronto. She currently works as a consultant in conflict-resolutions issues, workplace restoration, facilitation and human rights- related issues. She is an investigator of allegations of workplace harassment and discrimination for the Government of Ontario, specialising in several protected grounds of the Ontario Human Rights Code. She has helped employers with change- management strategies and training programmes to incorporate code of conduct and ethics into managerial and supervisory leadership skills and, where appropriate, to foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace policies
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Meten-Meer-Zorg
THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited MetenMeer-Zorg (MMZ), West Coast Demerara, a community that has a lot of roadside businesses and it is considered a place where everything is within reach. Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara is a very large village that is sandwiched by De Willem and De Kindren. It is home to a multi-ethnic people and it is a place where commodities, goods, meats, vegetables, fruits are plentiful. Meten-Meer-Zorg has its share of butcher shops, bars, supermarkets, shops, stores and many other small to large size businesses that lined the public road and also within the village. Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara is divided into two parts. On the
- A comfortable place to live
The Tuschen/ Uitvlugt NDC Chairman, Ramzan Ali.
west side, there are Ocean Garden, Chateau’s Land, the original MMZ housing scheme which was established by the sugar industry for workers, the Railway View after which is the cane
fields and backlands area, which will be developed for a new housing scheme. On the east side of the village are Kastev and Prem Nagar. This community has
on the Village
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MMZ Village (Carl Croker photos) potable water, electricity, cable, internet, landline and cell phone services, good infrastructure and a variety of services are also offered. Meten-Meer-Zorg has a primary school, two nursery schools, a post office, a health centre, the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office, gas stations, Nirvana Hu-
One of the paved streets in the community. manitarian Society, beauty salons, restaurants, a Pepperpot Shop, a community centre ground, the MMZ Islamic Academy, two privately-owned water businesses, two masjids, nine churches and two mandirs. Most villagers work at the Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, in the city and there are the small and large scale business owners, self-employed folk, the skilled tradespeople and the professionals, who hold office jobs, farmers,
fishermen and others. It is home to Editor-in-Chief of the News Room, Ms Fareeza Haniff, whose father is one of the local butchers; Acting President of Central Islamic Organisation, Goolzar Namdar; President of Region Three Chamber of Commerce, Halim Khan; NDC Chairman, Ramzan Ali and many others. The village starts from See Page XII
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Committed residents making their mark on their community and the lives of others By Michel Outridge MAYBE there is no other way than to spend one’s retirement than tending to a flower and a kitchen gar-
straight from high school on a Friday to a classroom, teaching on a Monday morning, my career as a teacher started and I never regretted it because it has moulded me
thirds of his yard space consists of fruit trees he planted and he doesn’t buy fruits and would use his organic fruits to make fresh fruit juices instead of having carbonated
Staff of the restaurant.
den, as a form of relaxation and contentment and this is so, for retired teacher Deonarine Prashad. He is a resident of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, a village elder and
into a well-rounded person,” he said. Prashad stated that in 2019, when he had a vacation in Canada his past students numbering more than 18 came together to host a
Deonarine and his wife, Maurleen Prashad (Carl Croker photos) a respected member of the community, who is always willing to assist others. The 75-year-old retired as the headteacher for the MMZ Islamic Academy Primary after teaching for more than 52 years. Prashad, a mild-mannered disciplinarian told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is the fourth child of 11 siblings and he wanted to bring in an income in the home, back then his father was the sole breadwinner. “So for economic reasons
get-together for him and that was a splendid gathering which was a surprise in his honour. He related that some of his past students have surpassed the age of 60 years old and it was good seeing them after all that time. The father of three added that he has lived all his life in the village and he is wellknown and 90 percent of his time he would spend tending to his crops of vegetables, fruits and flowers in his yard. He reported that two-
beverages, a healthy choice, he is accustomed to. It was after he completed Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) that Prashad married his sweetheart, Maurleen in 1971. Deonarine taught at six government schools and three private schools in his lifetime of teaching before he called it a day. Prashad retired three years ago from the noble teaching profession and spent 14 years alone at the MMZ West Islamic Academy Primary. “I would often be asked if I wasn’t fed up with teaching but I didn’t because every year I would get new pupils and it was refreshing and it never bore me one bit and I enjoyed it all these years,” he said. The elder disclosed that it is because of his strict upbringing he wanted to impart knowledge to others and he too, is a disciplinarian and is well-respected for it. “If my wife goes out and return from shopping and she has bags the neighbours or other villagers would fetch in those bags for her to our home and that is how the people live around here and we respect each other and get along well,” he said. Prashad is always willing to help others and often people would stop by for his
advice and assistance and it is his way of contributing to
others. As for his wife, Maur-
on the Village
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leen, she never worked a day in her life. After attending commercial classes and sewing she became a housewife and she enjoyed See Page XIII
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
West Side is perhaps the ‘best side’
By Michel Outridge
WHEN on the West Side you have a variety of options when it comes to shopping and reasonable prices. When residents want a delicious serving of pepperpot that tantalises the tastebuds, they can get that at the West Side Pepperpot Shop, located at the Old Bulla Road, the street just behind the Meten-Meer-Zorg West Masjid. This 24-year-old small
business is a family business operated by a husband and wife, who also has a small grocery shop at their premises. Sandra Sewperasad called ‘Priya’ is the lady behind the delicious pepperpot which is made up of beef and it is a dish she has perfected over the years and it is available only on weekends. The mother of two related that on Fridays she would prepare beef pepperpot and on Saturdays they have white beef and mutton pudding,
on the Village
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Unique attractions across the river The Pepperpot Shop
Sandra Sewperasad called “Priya” at her shop (Carl Croker photos) black pudding, chicken foot and cow face souse. “We started off small with a roadside stand and we were asked to relocate when
the road was being upgraded so we erected a small stall at our fence and opened the Pepperpot Shop here,” she said. She stated that the spot is well-known and people from far and wide would visit on weekends to make purchases of this Guyanese delicacies. The 43-year-old reported that she is a stay-at-home mother, whose children have grown and left home to pursue their separate lives and she decided to open a grocery shop to occupy her time. Sewperasad told the Pepperpot Magazine that collectively she and her husband would tend to the shop and on weekends he would assist her in the preparation of the pepperpot, puddings and souse. Sewperasad added that her small business is alive because of the taste, quality and she keeps up the standard so people come for the deliciousness.
“From this small business I manage to educate my two sons, throughout schools and today they are doing well and for that I am very pleased,” she said. The Beauty Shop Meanwhile, right at Meten-Meer-Zorg Public Road there is a beauty shop operated by Sherry Hassan and her employees, who provide a professional service doing hair, nails, waxing, eyebrow arching, manicure and pedicure. This business has a barbershop/grocery store which adjoins the beauty salon and that section is operated by her husband and son. The small business started 16 years ago and today Hassan has seven employees and a lot of clients, who are from the village as well as, far as Berbice, Essequibo, East Coast Demerara, Parika, Timehri and other parts of the country.
Sherry Hassan at work in her beauty shop at Meten-Meer-Zorg Public Road
“I started this business with one wooden table and two plastic chairs and this business has grown over the years because I worked hard to make it happen with the support of my family,” she said. Hassan related that her husband, alone was working and trying with his barbershop and she decided to assist him because they were struggling and that motivated her to open her own small business. The mother of one said she is originally from Suriname and when she got married to her Guyanese husband she relocated to this country which is her home. The 42-year-old stated that she has been here for the past 26 years and it feels good to have her own business and to provide a reliable service to clients. People don’t just come for the service but because of the ‘homey’ feel to the place, the salon is well organised and it has a living room setting which is very comfortable with nice sofa and other décor which promotes the beauty of the place. Hassan is a very friendly, mannerly person, whose charm is welcoming and easy to talk to and she is a professional beautician, who can multi-task, a skill her clients love and keeps them coming back. The beauty shop is secure and they practice all protocols for COVID-19, hand washing is necessary as well as, face masks, and before and after every client the place is sanitised and different sterile tools are used. Upon entry, the clients’ temperature is tested and good hygiene is also practised.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
The Nirvana Humanitarian Society fulfilling purpose to assist the community By Michel Outridge WITH the motto “Service to humanity is service to God” etched in his mind, this Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara resident, Dinesh Prashad oversees the operations of Nirvana Humanitarian Society (NHS), a place which caters for the needy and the elderly. The 61-year-old is better known as ‘Harold’ in the village and he supervises with more than 20 volunteers, who are also from the village to assist the less fortunate, the sick and the elderly in whatever way they can. He reported that the Nirvana Humanitarian Society was established in 1997 and is a non-profit and cultural organisation led by volunteers whose commitment directs them to support broad-based non-sectarian humanitarian activities. Prashad stated that the organisation also engages in educational programmes to promote basic civic responsibilities such as road safety, protection of animals, environmental cleanliness, and tolerance. He disclosed that they offer computer classes, sewing
and activities that cater for the development of art, drama, and music. He explained that they have had scholarship grant for school/university students to cover tuition fees, provide financial awards and trophies to schools. Prashad noted that they have bi-monthly senior programmes which entail cultural activities (singing and dancing) as a form of entertainment and relaxation for senior citizens. NHS caters for medical outreaches for the public, addresses social issues such as suicide, host lunch at
School children at the NHS building making use of the computer and free internet access to do their online learning (Carl Croker photos) courses, cake decoration, dance classes and will embark on cosmetology and karate classes soon. Prashad added that these are all low-cost training courses for young people to take the opportunity to become empowered. The Nirvana Humanitarian Society aims to create opportunities and offer support for the less privileged to be afforded equal rights to engage their talent and skills for their own and social benefit, while, offering aid to the poor, the aged, the sick, those that are physically and mentally challenged. Prashad pointed out that over the years, the organisation has been involved in various cultural and humanitarian activities to promote West Indian culture as well as, to empower youths of the community. He reported that annually, the organisation displays talents of its members and youths via charity shows throughout the country in the form of Variety Shows and Theatrical Plays. What they do Prashad told the Pepperpot Magazine that they provide assistance to the poor and relief to victims of disasters, help promote educational opportunities for economically deprived children, support programmes to assist abuse children and women, sponsor and encourage programmes
on the Village
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Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary School for the economically challenged children and community service for needy families such as donations for medical expenses and provide wheelchairs, walking sticks, or financial help. Prashad told the Pepperpot Magazine that the NHS would provide monthly grocery hampers to the less fortunate families, donate clothing and school supplies to the needy of the village and neighbouring communities. “Every other Saturday we would prepare a meal for senior citizens at the NHS building and elders from as far as Vreeden-Hoop to Parika, East Bank Essequibo would come to be
MMZ resident, Dinesh Prashad, who oversees the operations of the NHS
entertained and partake of the celebration which has a stage show,” he said. The 61-year-old stated that the NHS was founded by Ramesh Dilchand, an overseas-based Guyanese from the village 21 years ago and he constructed the building and it is his way of giving back to society. Prashad added that over the years, the organisation has grown and they are looking to extend their services to another building and to have recreational activities for both youths and mature people. “The NHS hosts a cultural show twice yearly as a fundraiser and they have a gate fee of $500 and that money is used to run the place and the shows and performances are done by the volunteers,” he said. The NHS building in Kastev, Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara has a stage, an auditorium, washroom, stage area, kitchen, and a library, a computer centre with free internet access for all children and free printing of all school assignments. The place is opened to the public daily and volunteers are always there to oversee the smooth running of the organisation.
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Fulfilling their calling
By Michel Outridge ACTING President of the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), who is also the Administrator/Trustee of the MetenMeer-Zorg (MMZ) West Masjid and a trucking contractor with Guysuco, Goolzar Namdar is fulfilling his service to the community and humanity
through the masjid and as a religious leader. The village elder is also a Justice of Peace and Commissioner of Oath and Affidavit, a licensed marriage officer, who once had a grocery store but after his only son, Zulfikar Namdar called “Vicky” was shot and killed during a robbery in 2013 that business closed and has been converted into a storeroom.
Namdar told the Pepperpot Magazine that the MetenMeer-Zorg West Masjid was first funded by villagers and a building was constructed at De Kinderen in the train line days and later a new building housing the MMZ West Masjid was built at MMZ Public Road. He related that a learning centre was housed in the compound for skills training
Residents serving their community and over time it expanded into a larger facility. Namdar explained that in 1999 when the Zakat House of Kuwait offered to build a school to promote Islamic learning they were elated and a large school was constructed and still stands today.
MMZ Health Centre
He reported that they have a prayer room for ladies class and meetings and the school was built in the masjid compound and when it was completed they went house to house
programmes and hamper distribution and a section which caters for the distribution of pension books and where senior citizens and physically challenged people can access government
Registered Nurse, Marcia Clarke
in the village seeking students, retired teachers and others to come and join. Namdar added that they started the Islamic School with 30 students and now it can hold 300 students since two additional buildings were constructed. The MMZ Islamic Academy today caters for school children from playgroup to CSEC and they have grown over the years. The MMZ resident stated that the masjid has a ladies quarter, prayer section for women and hospitality centre where cooking classes are held monthly for single parents. He reported that they also have sewing classes to empower people in the community to become self-employed and earn. Namdar added that they have outreaches including medical, feeding
services as it relates to their National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and pensions. He pointed out that the MMZ West Masjid is a full capacity regional centre for that region and they aim to have everyone benefit from their humanitarian services free of cost. The 57-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that they also take care of orphans and needy children and provide transportation and cater to their needs in terms of food, clothing, and school supplies. The masjid will look after those children until they finish school, teach them a trade to work and when they reach the age of maturity they would ensure they marry a suitable partner to start their life. Namdar is also a counsellor and his doors are always open to residents and See Page XI
on the Village
Focus
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021 The MMZ West Masjid
Staffers of the MMZ Health Centre
From Page X members of the Muslim community and just about anyone else. He disclosed that his father was the Imam of the MMZ West Masjid but when he passed away. His name is a household one in the village and in the Muslim community and he is often engaged in a lot of benevolent work behind the scenes. The Meten-Meer-Zorg Health Centre Like many frontline health care workers, registered nurse, Marcia Clarke, who is attached to the Meten-Meer-Zorg Health Centre is very proud of being a nurse, caring and serving the community. The 26-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that when she registered to become a nurse was the best thing to happen in her life, to become a professional and for that her parents are very proud of her achievement. The De Kinderen resident stated that at the health centre they provide primary healthcare to all, free of charge and they have out-patient and dressings done daily. Clarke noted that they also provide medical administration, different clinics, ante-natal, infant and child care, chronic diseases, admission of new-born, diabetic foot care dressings and family planning. She pointed out that the health centre is opened form 08:00hrs to 16:30hrs from Mondays to Fridays and they provide professional services to members of the public. Clarke is a registered nurse for the past four years and it is something she loves and is confident that her job will never become boring. “I was working at Fun City, Princess Hotel and one day it dawned on me I
Goolzar Namdar (Carl Croker photos) have to stop doing that job and have a professional career, a job that I love and then took up nursing and got qualified and there she is today, a happy person,” she said. Clarke is the first nurse in her family and it feels good to be a professional and has three siblings. The MMZ Health Centre has four staffers which comprise a doctor, one registered nurse, a nursing assistant and a community health worker. The facility is clean and organised with a doctor’s room, a pharmacy, dressing area, waiting section, counselling room, sterile room, vaccine room and the triage area. Exiting the nursing school, Clarke said it is the first place she worked and the people of the village are cordial and respectful with no budding issues. “Once you love what you do you will not have problems and you will enjoy your work no matter what comes your way,” she said. Clarke stated that the health centre only needs an air conditioner and they have all the other resources in place to offer a professional service. “I wanted this job so I can be an example to my daughter and set high goals for her because I want her to have a professional career, as well,” she said.
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Meten-Meer-Zorg... From Page VI
The NDC Chairman and his staffers.
Tarla Dam and ends at the canal which separates the villages of Meten-Meer-Zorg and De Kinderen. M e t e n - M e e r- Z o rg i s home to about 6,000 people mostly of Indo and Afro descent and they co-exist peacefully. The people of this com-
munity also take pride in keeping their surroundings and yards clean and tidy and they have planted many flower plants to beautify the environment. The landscape has many large houses and other buildings that seem to tower several stories and the designs and layout are also interesting and very colourful. Developmental highlights of the village Meanwhile, the NDC Chairman, Ramzan Ali, took the time out to highlight developmental works within the community. He stated that about 300 residents of the Sideline Dam benefitted from an all-weather road recently which was once a mud dam Ali reported that Fourth Street Prem Nagar was upgraded through central government and a concrete bridge in Prem Nagar is being constructed by members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF). The NDC Chairman added that they have 20 Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP) workers maintaining the drains, canals, and trenches and parapets in the community. He stated that the Meten-Meer-Zorg NDC oversees the villages from Tuschen to Uitvlugt and they are tasked with maintenance of drains, trenches and canals within these villages. “During the rainfall period from December to January, we had assistance from local government and did a massive clean-up of garbage in several villages to prevent flooding because it was clogging drains and that was main issue residents had,” he said. Ali disclosed that during his walkabout in several villages, residents complained about the improper garbage disposal and it was recognised that some villagers are not making use of the private waste disposal service and are dumping refuse illegally.
The NDC Ali reported that the Tuschen/Uitvlugt NDC has three staffers which includes the overseer, the assistant overseer, a ranger and 20 councillors. At their service are three Environmental Health Officers, who are based at the NDC building. He disclosed that their work plan for this year includes developing the village- streets will be upgraded, bridges will be constructed, and another concrete strip/walkway will be constructed at Zeelugt Burial Ground and another at Uitvlugt Burial Ground, Sideline Dam for easier access. Ali stated that Zeeburg Old Road will be re-paved with crush and run, repairs will be done to the NDC fence, front and back, a bridge at Block Eight Tuschen will be built and a concrete strip will be constructed there too. The NDC Chairman added that drainage and irrigation works will be done in several villages and roads in Zeeburg will be upgraded this year. The Village Imam Ali is also the village Imam (Magee) of the MMZ West Masjid and would officiate the last rites of elders and members within the Muslim community. He has been the Imam for the past 21 years and grew up in a staunch Muslim home, his parents, originally from Zeeburg, East Bank Essequibo but he relocated to Meten-Meer-Zorg Village after marriage. In 2000, the village Imam passed away and at his funeral, it was announced by elders of the Masjid that Ali would be the new Imam after which he took over the responsibility of the West MMZ Masjid. Ali is also a licensed marriage officer and would offer his services to the general public as well as, members of the masjid and the Muslim community. He noted that at the masjid, they have prayer services twice daily and he is a health advocate for non-communicable diseases and received training in that regard and he would give health and hygiene talks every week.
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Committed residents making ... From Page VII those years tending to children and a house, she still does the chores to date. “Maurleen is a good wife and mother and when we first met I knew I had to hold onto her because she really sparked my interest and was the simple person I wanted to start a life with,” he said. Halim Khan, a man, who wears many hats Another villager, Halim Khan, who owns the Medina Halall Restaurant at Zeeburg is also making his mark in the community and farther afield as a result of his charitable gestures. The 57-year-old resident of Kastev, MMZ told the Pepperpot Magazine that his restaurant was established in 1996, a place for strictly Halall local cuisine and fresh local juices to go with pastries. Before Khan opened the restaurant, he was an importer and seller of spare parts but had a change of heart when he realised that
He related that when people leave their deceased relatives at the hospitals with wrong addresses and contact numbers and when they cannot be located he would take it upon himself to give these folk a proper send-off by covering their funerals. Khan is also a civilian partner who works closely with the police in several community projects to foster trust between the community and police. He is also a board member of the Leonora Technical Institute, the Region Three Coordinator for COVID-19 Task Force, who has constructed a shed with seating accommodation and wash facilities at the MMZ Post Office and the Den Amstel Post Office for the comfort of senior citizens. The businessman stated that he is working with the Divisional Commander, Errol Watts on several community/police projects to create a safer environment in terms of security for the region. He explained that one of the projects include Police
Inside Khan’s restaurant.
corridor needed a local Halal eatery. He has a total of 30 staff who work on a shift system and is also proud that he was able to keep his staff and business opened during the pandemic last year even though the employees preferred a pay cut, for a short time. Khan stated that the decision was theirs to keep everyone and opted for a pay cut instead of closing the business and laying off workers. Khan is the President of the Guyana Softball League, GTT 20/20, President of the Soliciting Movement with Cuba, founder member established 12 years ago, Chairman of the Region Three Tourism Association, Member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) and The Community of Latin America and the Caribbean States (CELAC) and Imam of the MMZ East Masjid for the past 17 years.
Tourism Officer at Vreeden-Hoop and at Parika for tourists to access information and assistance if needed and the police will be easily identified by their all-white clothing. This project is in the making and is yet to be approved by the relevant authorities. In the region, they are also looking at alternatives for convicts with minor crimes instead of jail time they can do community work wearing branded teeshirts. Khan said the region is also aiming for eco and agro-tourism priorities and measures will be in place to have COVID-19 free travel and at the ports of entry in that region. He pointed out that to boost tourism special river tours at both Vreed-enHoop and Parika with the speedboats are in place to facilitate pocket-friendly river tours for both locals and foreigners. In addition, Khan report-
ed that they are making that region safe for travels and people should feel safe to visit and shop without worrying about their security. He also told the Pepperpot Magazine that they are making local tourism cheaper for families to get the opportunity to visit Fort Island, Leguan, Wakenaam and other islands within the Essequibo River and also the Demerara River. Khan added that the region is vying for agro-tourism where tours are in place to drive to Ruby and Parika
Back to large scale farms, to visit and witness rice harvesting and planting as well as the rice and paddy processing at Hakh Rice Mill at Harlem, West Coast Demerara. “I strongly recommend that we have more recreational parks and boardwalks for people to visit and relax, a place for leisure for all, a safe place within the region and the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling area is an ideal place for a boardwalk that is similar to that of Supenaam Stelling,” he said.
Retired teacher, Deonarine Prashad in his yard
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Forgiveness ‘Love makes and the world go ‘round’ Happiness
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ―― Sunday, January 31, 2021 CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT Sunday, February 14, 2021
IT’S Valentine’s Day Everyone! I feel today is a day that physical benefits. This is what I would like to focus on today. even when we don’t realise it. We celebrate birthdays and LAST week either I wrotelove a column on--spoonfuls of happiness, someoneOf does me something wrong I forgive them andto ourActually, forgiveness is not their but really people or hate no in between. There are course, we should showand love and attention promotions because wefor love thebenefit, individual. We areforpatient which resulted in a opinions lot of emails howit’s tovital dealforthey do it again, I gonna more unhappy withevolved them and Docompromising you ever reallybecause think about what holding a grudge many different on itasking -- someme think a partners every day, butbeValentine’s Day has in a wayyours.and we are willing to do whatever it withrelationship strong emotions that do not allow for full happiness. myself.” While I completely understand that point, I think or being in conflict does to us, both mentally and physically? and others think it’s a commercialised day for that encourages us to be more affectionate, kind and loving takes, for however long it takes for the ones we love. Helping The suckers. one that However, was discussed most me wastohatred and love the and it is beneficial meother to explain howanything forgiveness workedease up increases pressure, heart rate, it hasthe brought talk about today thanfor any day. Like else,will thereresult are manyGetting to simply burdens isour outblood of love. Forgiveness, patience grudges it brings. Atofew asked me, “is there a point in happiness. levels which increases possibility of of heart its importance ourhave well-being. definitions of love. We tend to choose which definition (of acholesterol and even confrontation are oftenthe done purely out love. in forgiveness?” andto“is even truly possible?” of all, forgiveness choice; it’s choice tosecurity, let go anddisease or diabetes. It encourages unhealthy skills I would like getforgiveness this out of the way now –- love causes First word) most relates to is us.a “When the the happiness, One thing I believe I learned too late incoping life is the process When I attempted to challenge these thoughts and feelof anger and resentment towards a person or situation. I think such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes and other drugs. many hardships and only very few would dispute that. Love well-being of another person is as real or more to you than of love. Love isn’t taught, it’s transmitted. We love the way ings,can I was re-challenged when one reader sharedorhis belief and the biggest misconception forgiveness is that people a grudge brings bitterness tothe ourway past,it present and to make us feel overwhelmingly sad, angry confused your own, you love thatwith person”Harry Sullivan’s definitionHolding we were loved; we express love was expressed that forgiveness may cause unhappiness. He claimed, “if thinkisit my is for the other person -- the onedefinition who has done to mention, it increases the possibility of anxiety, so many other undesired and powerful emotions. However, understanding of love. Your mightwrong. be differentfuture. us.NotThis then brings out the question: is there an unhealthy suicidal thoughts. sometimes we tend to overlook or forget the other side –- the and therefore your actions would be different from my own. depression way ofand loving someone? I believe there are as many ways and as resentment ourand joy.yes, Think about whencan be extremely blissful one. The feeling that distinguishes from Love manifests itself in different ways, all of which are Hatred of loving there are steal people some of them out and see the person it is) that you everyday contentment. The side that has both mental and necessary and useful. A lot of what we do is centred on loveyou go unhealthy. However, as I(whoever said, I am choosing tohaven’t focus on the forgiven. At that moment, you. positive today. Whenthat thatperson certaingets waythe of better love isoftransmitted They to take away your attention, fun and peace of mind for to us, we can take that wherever we like. We are not bound the night. may love evenwe goreceived as far as--mentally playing outlikely exert You the same we are simply more scenarios confrontation. Forgiveness to doof it. possible One of my favourite quotes is, “Love releases is a drug and you from that grip they have on you -the onemay you not hatebetoa drug, everyone is an addict.” Why? Because love admitbut they it have. certainly feels like one. It provides a high, unlike any Adrug second is, Itpeople youmisconception have experienced. elicits believe a seriousforgiveness craving and then makeswithdrawal us weak -- pattern that it means we are allowing to of take when not being in the people presence the one advantage over Frankly, us. The truth is that only the is strong you love. it’s addictive, which why forgive we are lucky that it actually provides physical and mental health benefits. Being in love causes physical symptoms on our bodies. We experience our heart racing, butterflies in the stomach, anxiety, nervousness etc. But you feel these symptoms in the best of ways. Love helps to cope with and reduce stress. It gives us extra support, someone to confide in and offer advice. People generally tend to live healthier lifestyles while in relationships. When people care about you, they care about your health and well-being. Therefore, they are likely to encourage you to drink less alcohol, stop smoking, and eat healthier. Love causes over-all better hygiene. Many people don’t like to admit this but I know many people who go to sleep without showering or brushing their teeth. However, if their partner is there, you better believe they do all of that and more- even just for show. Studies show that, that extra support that only a partner can give results in higher success rates of treatment in illnesses such as cancer and addiction. Sometimes we don’t have the strength to do things for ourselves and our self-confidence, -- it isself-worth one of theand hardest thingsare you’ll have do. You motivation low.ever So we doto things for those do notwe have let someone know that you haveperson forgiven them more lovetoinstead. A substance dependent is much for it to release you from negative emotions. Keep in mind That likely to come off ofitsdrugs if they have a loving partner. that forgiving and forgetting are not the same thing. You canprove kind of support is unparalleled. Overall, many studies remember what someone did and take caution, but there must that people in loving, long-term relationships have longer be forgiveness forspans therethan to be personal peace. average life those who are not. Forgiveness does not Mentally, mean to continue to allow others to hurt us. Itand does love increases our self-confidence feelings not even mean that we think what they have done is okay. It of self-worth. We are less self-conscious as we have someone is notwho minimising hurt, normoods is it accepting responsibility loves usour for us. Our automatically improve when for something someone Instead, freethey are around. Weelse aredid. more selflessforgiveness as this loveisencourages ing yourself from your past, allowing yourself to heal us to sometimes cater to this individual more thanand we cater rebuild. It is allowing innerare peace andatfreedom -- a word to ourselves. Ourfor minds more ease because we know whichweI believe synonymous withwhen forgiveness. have thatshould extra, be unwavering support needed. Love It takes quite a bit of energy and commitment, so does encourages us to be more open-minded. Webut open up to new hatredthings and anger. that our partners enjoy or care about. This can range Here a few fun facts about fromare anything to trying a newforgiveness. television show to experiencForgiveness allows us to be promoted frominthe victim ing an entirely different culture. Keep mind thattobeing the hero of any situation. open-minded naturally results in higher coping skills as well Forgiveness actuallyLove not aallows natural it takes as levels of is resilience. forinstinct a more –social life -- you work meet and only minority can. manythe new peopleactually, when in truly a relationship; this improves Learning to forgive isand actually another of which learning our communication overall peopleway skills directly to control emotions and emotional affectsyour our productivity andhigh efficiency levels.responses (something I believeallevery humanit being work Analysing the above, is safeneeds to sayto that loveon). is ALSO Forgives increases strength, optimism and empathy capable of lowering depression and the possibility ofand suicidal compassion. It leads to high self-esteem, healthier relationthoughts. ships andNow, overall of life. theenhanced benefits ofquality celebrating days like Valentine’s Day How can we begin to forgive? What do? with showing are just as numerous. You can nevercan go we wrong Always keep in mind that when you are standing onfact a that the person you love, that you love them. Celebrate the table,you it ishave muchsomething easier to jump down to someone than to pull special. them up to you.do If not you’re to life resentment, If you haveholding love in on your right now,and thatact is okay on it, too. you are jumping down to their level. If you forgive, Do not underestimate the power of familial you love and beginfriendship. to pull them higher If up youtohave lostground. love, do not give up hope. This Try writing to the person expressing how youand feel, gives you aaletter chance to start a whole new chapter experiyou do not have to give it to them. It just gives you an outlet ence all the above benefits in a completely different way. to relieveThanking the pain. you for reading. Please keep sending any topics Relinquish and your feelings. It is okay to. be you’d like to talkaccept about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com If you’d angrylike –- private it is a completely healthy Sometimes counselling sessions,emotion. please contact me at +592 how we with it may not be healthy but without anger, 623deal 0433 it is difficult forPrevention us to know Suicide Helpline Seenumbers: Page XIII223-0001, 2230009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always
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FINDING LOVE FROM WITHIN THE BROKEN PIECES OF THE PAST “SUCH a long time, it has been,” Alvin mused as the plane started its descent at the Cheddi Jagan Airport in Guyana, South America. “Home again,” he said, with a happy thought and sense of relief. He had left home years ago as an eighteen-year-old to study for a Master’s degree in Architecture, Europe and had planned to return home after the completion of his studies but instead, he stayed for a further two years, working to gain some experience. The real reason for his change of plans though, was because he didn’t want to return home just yet, something he kept to himself. His mother and father’s marriage had developed problems whilst he was in high school, studying for his ‘A Levels’ and it kept getting worse. The deep tensions in the home and verbal conflicts his young mind had borne to a point where he couldn’t take much more of it, leaving to study overseas, then, was a reprieve from it all. He had hoped things would get better by the time he was ready to return but close to that time, his parents’ marriage crashed, culminating in a bitter divorce that created an enmity between the mother and father’s side of the family. He had felt his mind wasn’t strong enough to deal with that problem and he enlisted in the Navy, taking comfort in the fact that his mother was in the good hands of his elder brother and sister who were mentally stronger. He had written letters regularly to her, detailing his life as a soldier, how good the training and the duties were for him so she wouldn’t worry. His father he wasn’t so much in contact with but often he had thought of him. Today, Alvin had become a mature young man, tall, brave and strong with a cool and suave personality, not to mention his classic good looks. His mother cried with joy and hugging him, she said, “I am so happy to see you again, son, and I am so proud of you.” She did not speak of his father and he did not ask to avoid opening wounds. Alvin decided he would speak to his father later since he
was informed he was on a business trip in Panama, so he spent that week reuniting with family and friends. So much had changed, many of his friends had gotten married and he could find none of his old girlfriends. “I guess we will have to find you a new girlfriend,” his old high school buddy, Kevin, who had been so shy, said with confidence. “Nah man, I’m good,” Alvin said and looked at his old friend bemused, “Since when have you become so brave with girls?” They were standing by the water coconut vendor at Bourda market, enjoying the cool, delicious water, something they had done regularly as schoolboys, and Kevin answered a bit ruefully, “Since my best friend left, I had to find my own way in life.” That hit Alvin because he hadn’t realised his friend would have needed his support so much and he said with regret, “I’m sorry bro, staying away so long hadn’t been in my plans.” “I understand,” Kevin said, “That’s life.” “I have a lot to make up for,” Alvin said. That night, lying sleepless in bed, he thought of his father, who had been blamed for all the problems in the family because of his infidelity, but Alvin couldn’t find himself hating him. He had managed to keep an open mind because his father at one time has been his hero, a smart and astute businessman with a strong personality. “We somehow lost that bond,” Alvin said with deep regret. The scattered broken pieces would be hard to find and piece back together so maybe, something new could begin. His father, his sister told him, had remarried and when Alvin questioned to whom, his sister told him candidly, “You’ll see when you visit him.” He would be seeing him on Sunday so Saturday night was good to go out with Kevin and a couple of friends. A great night it was for Alvin experiencing Georgetown’s nightlife at different entertainment spots – Hardrock Café, Giftland Strip, Bistro and winding it down at Palm Court at 2:00 hrs. The par-
ty was in full swing and as the second round of drinks came around, three beautiful women walked in, sass, style and breathtakingly chic. At the different spots that night, Alvin had seen and spoken to some astounding beautiful girls but only now his interest was caught by one. She was wearing a chic, little black dress that accentuated her slim, stunning figure. He looked at her, liking the way she laughed, the light reflecting off her reddish, gold hair, and just as he decided to approach her, three guys walked up, asking the girls to dance. “Slow,” Kevin teased him. “It happens,” Alvin said casually. He looked back minutes later and saw she had come back alone to the table and he did not hesitate a second time, approaching her in his usual cool and casual manner. “Hey, can I join you?” She looked at her, smiled a little and shook her head. “I’m here with friends.” “Can I buy you a drink then?” Before she could answer, the guy she was dancing with was coming back and Alvin saw the smile fading from her face. She said to him, “You can sit and I’ll have that drink.” He sat down and signalled the waiter as the guy, stopped, stared angrily at him and walked away. “I guess I’ll sit here and be your bodyguard until your friends return.” She laughed a little and after a few drinks, she was ready to dance. She was a wonderful dancer, moving with the flow of the music, elegant and sensuous, but not long after she left with her friends. When Alvin woke up later in the day, he laid in bed for a long while thinking of her and he said quietly, “She’s so beautiful, I wonder if I will see her again.” He had felt that incredible rush in his heart when he was with her and he wondered, “Is this falling in love?” That evening he went to visit his father who was living in a smaller house but with modern luxuries, in an upscale area. Alvin was directed to the study where his father stood looking out the
bay window. He turned and father and son stood looking at each other, neither saying a word until Alvin broke the silence. “It’s good to see you again, dad.” His father nodded and pouring a long shot of whiskey, he lifted his glass and said to Alvin, “It’s been a long time, son.” He finished the drink and walking towards Alvin, he held him by the shoulders and said, his voice a little un-
steady, “You’ve grown into a man, I am so proud of you.” Alvin nodded, his emotions a bit shaken and they sat and talked for a while, then his father said, “I’m sure you heard I remarried.” “Yes…” Alvin answered. “Come,” he said with a pleased smile, “let me introduce you to her.” He stood at the bottom of the stairs and called for his new wife but Alvin did not look up the stairs until his
father said, “Here she comes, my new bride.” Alvin turned and looked at the young woman as she came down the stairs, beautiful, simple and yet stunning in a royal blue dress. The shock he felt at seeing her, left him at a loss for words. His father’s bride was the young woman he had met and was dancing with last night. The woman his heart spoke for. To be continued…
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 07, 2021 CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, December 20, 2020
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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
THE OIL CRISIS OF THE ‘70s AND ITS THE MYSTERY SYSTEM OF CHRISTMAS Nurturing the imagination of IMPACT a child ON GUYANA AND THE CARICOM WELL-BEING A enable tale oftheir thechances humanofethos will survival in more ways than you can imagine
THE world and the facts OF course, it’s a commerand details that led to cial period that from my the ‘Oil Crisis’ are not a perspective, husbands simple or straight line of should keep the attention events and characters, of wives ago at home decade a of itOVER wastheir aa consequence rather than walking downsenior teacher, the wife power struggles that exI think from experioftown. a before business colleague isted we became a ence that there are many and a woman who had nation, naive and pedesspirits embodied what taught at in the trian inmy so wife many areas Campbellville is defined theGovspiritofof were we on as both sides ernment School closed Christmas, like the muses the political contesting down the evening they have different teams. We must classlookcateto esgories that the one ofofinspiration the areacatered thefor African children of some of the the is ‘Shopping beyond continent that colonisation country’s wealthiest boundaries of necessity’ deemed ‘The Middle East’ her almost sad tarand that inspiration isparents, where the contentions to the Most wordgets women. men ofresponse determination existed less question I had the that ledato post-WWII have listthe that includes asked with my readable restlessness between stress-related bills, theold last expressionprincipally was: “They have enemies, the record I read, mentioned no references.” What this claim territory occupied thattomen die more from elegant lady was referring bystress-related Muslim Arabs by Eurothan to was notarguing thatillnesses they would pean Jews biblical women; that’s because not pass examinations and rights. For an introduction we’re with importthis list get nice,born and even to of the modern origin of not-to-dos ant well-payingthat jobs.define But this conflict see the whine, biog‘manhood’: don’t will the mind be able to raphy of Arthur James complain, beg, cry, and be trained, whether selfBalfour 1906-1930, or realiseorthat aretheto no trained to bethere sensitive “Balfour Declaration” ‘Sugar Mamas’ only the worlds beyond self‘Sugand that condensed with the ar Daddies’ don’t become conspicuous consumption? post-WWII migration one, the stress will of deTo be or curious enough, to question and investigate the stroy you. human that Thisenvironment is a phenomenon envelops the very authority of Christmas not only in that they will, may house Guyana, butorfrom larger themselves in, as they proceed to set the dangerous stage of a moat around a gated dwelling, where the analytical perception, trained by exploring the imagination to evolve from the inception, into a youthful interpretation of the world that encircled that childhood evolution, would have enabled the skill to ‘empathise and recognise’ that the answer may not rest with the moat and the walls around the gated township, but instead, hearing what is whispered and comprehending the conversations and expectations of the ‘Grounded exchange.’ What this teacher meant by ‘no references’ can be translated as having a void of symbolic and interpretive language which relates largely to the realms of literature, for example, terms in conversation and emphasise on the layers of ideas, like “That was his Achilles heel” or
European Jews 1948-49 to economies that I’ve lived in what would become Israel for aindeed while, where the enthuwas a contributor the season conflict compels tosiasm this of continuous an intoxication of shopping. zone. The Organization however, Exporting have a conofThey, Petroleum sumer privilege to take was back Countries (OPEC) items, rebalancing the budget into reality, that provides a favourable sober-up reprieve. From the beginning of time, human governance has instilled in populations the longing for redemption; thus, more so the longing for divine intervention. Somehow this has accounted for the remarkable presence of shepherd Elders across “Common bornabefore cultures. I sense inherited book book” or “Conscience ain’t published in 1913 on comneed loudspeaker”. To put parative religions by Rev. it simply, proverbs, quotes, Charles H. Vail titled ‘The cultural, religious, or historiWorld Saviors.’ tookfrom me cal references all It come some years to explore its habits of reading or been read founded in in narratives andBaghdad in-depth conto at a younger age. The anSeptember by Venetent on the1960 similarity of cients sustained admirable cizuela, Saudi Arabia, Iran unusual revolutionary souls vilisations through the drama and Kuwait. Theacross Israeli thatdance have emerged all and of storytelling, and war with Egypt in 1967 human variations, not so long ago inProphets, Guyana ushered in Avatars the first Messiahs, etc.oilIt there were Anancy stories, embargo; this however occurred to mePork-Knockthat cynical Jumbie stories, asstories I am, and that fairy it is tales doubtful er (the latter basedwas on European that there a global and exborrowed This change offolk this tales). idea, since ispeople a background takenover for hardly travelled granted, but these cultural practices contributed to stimulation of the imagination, which is an essential faculty in applying such metaphors learnt, to every-day re-enactments by current characters high and low, whom we will encounter that will summon reminiscences of a ‘Brigah Bobby’ here and there, in comparison to a solid person, a useful part of the socio-cultural toolkit for sensible assessment and decision- making, provided by grassroots sociology. It was to the absence of the above that the teacher referred to the lack of references. In primary and secondary school, ‘Reading’ was part of the weekly school timetable during the old school age. Today, with more subjects to grapple with, I’m not sure how this essential area is being guided. With the technology available it needs to be guided because it would be easy for young and not so young to be tied to the
lasted for only months 100 miles to go anywhere, and was ineffective. But except sea routes, here oil had by become a political and there,The for example, the weapon. second war entire Biblical geography commenced when Egypt is located the African and Syriaon attacked the continent. The remarkable Bar-Lev line and the Gothing is that in this very book and others after, there was a common denominator, of common birth timing, based on a specific astronomical uniformity for all these saviours. However, the essence of the birth of Jesus who would become the ‘Christ’ is rooted in our human culture of the sacred, that echoes the relevance of religion over-burden of gossip-based, and the constant quest of and opinion on change wheninformation the illuminasocial media, and worse intion dims, and the business cluding mysticism on the net of man-contrived gods usurp and social media, though the higher ex-a surfing is responsibility essentially not pounded at the birth of the badHeights thing, arespectively survey should lan in manifestation. be done to enquire of the October 1973 and immediChristmas also enveearly following teens andthat, pre-teens ately Arab lopes the old fesabout ‘who areharvest their favouoil producers cut productival custom with through the rite authors’ a direct tion by five percent. This cleansing preparing of request ofand probable hobby was followed by continued the whether owned or andhome, long term reading on camonthly production that cuts. rented, acknowledging a reer interests, it would be an house is notsurvey. a home,Recently, a home interesting a an four-year-old of is environmentrelative within the mine spent a few weekends walls, of souls with shared at my home, I was starempathy andand compassion. tled at how he would find his way on my phone to Cartoon character animation stuff. I did admire how he comfortably handled the phone -- it’s his world. Then that little voice whispered to me to transcend my admiration and chum-up with the little person, so I started with alphabet characters, he knew them. The problem came when I put them together, the way my pre-school teacher did before I started school in ‘little ABC’ to ‘Big ABC’. Then to ‘First Standard’ yep, a couple of hundred years ago. He couldn’t understand common and capital usage for letters, nor could he identify them together as Cat, Dog etc. I had opened a ‘Pandora’s box ‘ on the task me and this little Pickney have. I went down to Austin’s and bought chalk and a blackboard for our next fun encounter. Seriously, I think learning should be fun and must be encouraged, not driven by fear. We live in a much more
By December production In another age, we cleansed was cut by 25 percent; this and in treated tribal farmlands was retaliation to U.S. and waterways, shared food arms support for Israel. and gifts for those less proThe world would pay as a ductive, with Christmas we result of the intensification stilleconomic cued to the stage profound ofarethe of symbolism that has sustained us through the ages. The Christ season sum-
complicated world, which requires an in-house coverage of the most basic skill of being able to read, to be transferred to upcoming family members and friends. Withconflict, COVID’s as gripthis uponconthe this world, economic options are tributed to a global recesnot going to be the same for sion, and much worse for a long time. A retreat to simnations that were not oil pler, but effective methods producers. This was the era of the ‘Cold War’ and the anti-colonialism thrust resulted in the formation of very serious para-military groups throughout Europe and the Middle East. Not all were centred on the same cause, but there were support relationships in specific cases. The combination into a special unit led by Venezuelan Ilich Ramirez Sanchez aka Carlos the Jackal led a commando attack on the OPEC headquarters in Vienna in December 1975 to execute the oil ministers accused of not wanting to raise oil prices, specifically the Saudi Arabian Minister Sheik Ahmed Zaki Yamani’; this was attributed to Saddam Hussein--see David Yallop’s ‘TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.’ This was the world situation that the young CARICOM nations would find themselves fitted into -- a helpless economic vice; to once more quote ‘THE NEW YORK TIMES’ article by David Binder Feb. 18, 1974, titled Oil disrupts Caribbean Development Plans Crisis “Georgetown Guyana. The international oil crisis struck hard at the Caribbean
region’s newborn economic mons the otherwise deeper community, disrupting decontained aspects of our velopment plans, stopping nature: we think of giftsand to currency convertibility persons who have affected causing severe shortages us basic positively, ourgoods. famimustconsumer be to considered, of lies-meaning spouse and and the culture develFour small states -- Barbaoffspring andformative others; oped in-- the despite social years will media, remain we an are still inspired by of beauactive influence the young adult and possible leader of the future. In 2011, I purchased a recommended text “Over-schooled, but under-educated” by John Abbot with Heather Mac Taggart. The book is based on an argued crisis in education. It’s not a book that can be discussed in an article, however, I close with an extract from this same text for observation and examination, as locally we hear the blame on dos, Jamaica, Trinidad and the school for the behaviour Tobago and Guyana formed of children, we should add the Caribbean community this extract to the debate: “ last August on a crest of opAnd here is the problem that timism. They are scheduled to be joined by at least seven other tiny states next May. But the current oil shortage and the accompanying spiral of fuel prices have damaged even Trinidad and Tobago, the twin-island state that produces and refines her own oil and gas at $ 1,000, the fourth-highest per capita income in the western hemisphere. Nowhere are the effects of the oil crisis more evident than in Guyana, a sparsely populated nation the size of Idaho (population 713,000), on the north-eastern coast of South America. “It has eaten drastically into our foreign currency reserves,” said Winston King, the 44-yearold Minister of Economic Development in an interview. The age of manufacturing in Guyana would largely collapse, several shirt companies and BATA Shoe Company disappeared; cinemas hardly brought new films, and book stores were diminished and replaced by a new wave of second-hand bookstalls. Street crime did escalate, but without the weaponry that our other Caribbean brethren boasted. Shortages and the disappear-
ance of customary goods tiful and relevant funny became visible; this was cards. We must also think exploited dishonestly by polof thosebut outit did of employiticians, get worse. ment, for those Spares for ageingrelatives vehicles and we worse; apply an seems torare, be getting werefriends, and there inwas old family custom; we do creasing numbers of today’s hardly a car that didn’t have that sub-ration ‘thing.’ adolescents suffer from the sharp attachments andAnd profact that their parents haven’t jections thatXXII didn’t tear away See Page grown op [sic] themselves, at the stockings and skirts of and so have nothing to were say working women who tointheir about how thosechildren overcrowded vehitocles, become parents sinceeffective most men used themselves.” The reality is bicycles. The worse of it was both schools whentheGWI couldand notsociety operate are by the humanandoccupied water became a scramity identified in the extract, bled commodity, wherein so we start that to deal thehow fewdopremises 19ct with it? vats still existed, owner’s orderly allowed neighbours CORRECTIONhereNote: or there to draw water briefly in last week’s arti-of after rainfall, the health cle Saddam Hussein these vats waters werewas very mentioned as responsible questionable. for the 1975 OPEC attack. Most people had KeroAsene literary source related stoves, but both Kero that Ramirez long Sanchez and Ilich gas required lines --toaka Carlos the treasured Jackal purchase these --social identified as the vitals Qathafi along with food source that were incident. items. of Worse the blackouts, which occurred in the middle of a cinema show, or repeatedly at times every night, this was the dismal era that gave birth to flour-smuggling and suitcase traders, and cross-border trading for consumer items with Venezuela for our rice, sugar and liquor. Guyanese blamed their government, who never itemised the global situation to its citizens. But across the western hemisphere of nations citizens also suffered; in the United States price controls were in place, motorists faced long lines for gasoline. The Netherlands imposed prison sentences for persons who exceeded their rations of electricity. The UK, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Norway banned flying, driving, and boating on Sundays. The embargo was lifted, but the rise in oil prices continued to affect the world throughout the ’70s. The big countries adjusted, having the technology to acquire support for energy sources like coal. But countries such as Guyana had to endure regardless and... “we had to bear we chafe.”
XIX
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
Valentine’s Day without capitalism
AFTER the Christmas and New Year season, things are calm for a few weeks until February comes around. Business sales increase again and people start to shop yet again as the season of love approaches. Even the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic can’t seem to stop the celebrations of “Love Day.” People find very sentimental and/or extravagant ways to express how they feel about their loved ones. Gifts and cards are given to express how you feel about your loved ones and
for the past week, the most popular colour was red. Of course, most of the advertisements and ideology that surrounds this day is quite capitalist. Most of the gifts and experiences that are available for this day are sold to make a profit. Now, don’t get me wrong, that’s good for business and entrepreneurship. However, does this affect how we view and celebrate love? Is this why many people refuse to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Is it an exploitation of the most sought after feeling in the world?
I believe that everyone has a choice. If you choose not to celebrate the “Day of Love,” then that’s fine. If you do, then that’s also fine. We react and express ourselves differently as human beings. I use this day as a reminder that I am loved and that it is necessary to give love to those who deserve it. I use this day to reflect on the love that I have for myself as well. No amount of gifts, cards, roses or materialism can truly express and profess deep, meaningful and genuine love. The “Day of Love” is a
great way to express love and to be loved, especially if you don’t get to give or receive it regularly. It’s also a great way to remind your friends, families and partner(s) about how loved they are. What I can say with certainty is that we, as human beings don’t need a specific day to celebrate and be loved. We are capable beings with pure and raw emotions. Love is what generates most of life’s best moments and in all honesty, every day should take the form of Valentine’s Day.
If you’re spending the day alone, with no loved ones around or an inability to love, just remember that every day given to us is a possibility to explore and live to the best of our abilities. I am a rational, logical writer for most of my pieces but I’d be a fool if I did not admit that this feeling that seems to keep the world spinning is worth writing about. It’s why there are
so many love songs, books and films. It’s what gives us the best of memories for old age. It’s the feeling that allows us to feel a bit more significant, whether we’re giving or receiving. Happy Valentine’s Day to all you all, I hope this day brings more meaning and genuineness to your ability to give and receive love—like never before.
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, January 31, 2021
XX
Being Themindful enduring of the rest work on combating your mind, gender-based bodyviolence needs
XXVII
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
THIS past week I sat down for three hours (from 20:00hrs practising mindfulness or across just the Caribbean. The loss of her dad and many of us to 23:00hrs trying toAshanti write aRiley. piece.Tara My mind was a Ladoing things are enjoyable life was that another stark reminder of the hideous disaster in Andrea) Bharatt. Krishnaran. whirlwind of thoughts that I couldn’t categorise and (reading, watching a--TV show, our societies gender-based violence. Once again, the rissa Singh. string together in any coherent way. The Outfield’s ‘Your running, orofpaintingto name has led to public outcry. death another woman These are three women and one young girl who were Love’ was emanating from some corner of my brain, and a few), Folk there in has to be more Trinidad and many of us across the Caribbetaken away from this world far too soon. were daughthe flurry of thoughts was reverberating inThey a painfully to life and living than an are mourning. merely We’re mourning the loss of yet another ters, mothers, friends, colleagues but most importantly, they discordant manner. I felt overwhelmed. going through the monotony young woman whose life was snatched from her and weremy human beings whoclassdeserved better. I had first Leadership LEAD 2001: Personal of the rigours of ‘what needs her loved ones. We’re mourning the loss of yet another Recently, Andrea’s kidnapping andbefore. deathAs struck Leadershipfor the new semester a few days mostTrinito be done.’ ntroductory classes go, there were greetings and formalities If you would like to diswith the course’s lecturer, a brief run-through of the course cuss this column or any of outline, and just a tad bit of course content, enough to dip our my previous writings, please oes into the course. There was one concept that struck me, feel free to contact me via however. It was my lecturer’s focus on “mindfulness.” email: vish14ragobeer@ The term brought back fond memories of being on camgmail.com pus with my friend who would remind me about the weekly ‘Mindful Mondays’ held on Monday evenings in a Lecture Building. It was a space where my university’s Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) would allow students to meditate and relax for an hour. And despite my friend’s many reminders, I only ever went once -- the last session before the semester ended in 2019. Before that Mindful Monday session, I was similarly overwhelmed. I was at the end of my first semester at university abroad and cognisant that I would soon be returning to Guyana, diving headfirst into work and some of life’s other responsibilities. I distinctly remember the anxiety creeping in. Nevertheless, I attended the session and I wouldn’t have imagined how much of a transcendent experience it would be, giving my mind and body the chance to relax for the hour. We engaged in a few breathing and visualisation exercises for the hour, which, I will hasten to add, felt as though it was ess than 10 minutes. Each activity, it seemed, was tailored o make us acutely aware of how the elements around us affected our sensory organs -- the sounds, the feelings, and the (imagined) sights and tastes. There was one specific exercise that required each of us o clear our mind and count until we found our mind drifting o another thought that was previously occupying our minds. And, I remember not being able to count further than 11 without being distracted by one of those overwhelming thoughts. But I persevered because this sort of release was one I had never allowed myself to engage in. The months that followed included work, school, elections, and an enduring pandemic and I realised, only recently, that I haven’t given myself the chance to engage n any sort of mindful or relaxing activity. The realisation hit me when I was in my Leadership class, discussing mindfulness with my lecturer, while my laptop’s screen was split in half, allowing me to type an article at the same time. I was also trying to keep a colleague’s company at the same time. That wasn’t a strange occurrence. I realised then and here that I had been keeping myself constantly busy or at east constantly distracted. From planning meetings on the drive home, or reading a handout while walking, I have been perpetually multitasking. Becoming overwhelmed couldn’t come as a surprise to me, therefore. Fortunately or unfortunately, my lecturer asked us to take a short mindfulness quiz developed by the La Salle University n Philadelphia. And, my rating suggested that I am “... less ikely to practise mindfulness” and I have a tendency to be “preoccupied” and to “ruminate.” If it’ll be of some merit, suggested exercises to cultivate mindfulness include: Walking Meditation -- turning your attention to the sensations of walking, from the balancing of your body to the sound of your steps, to cultivate a calmer mind, and, Savoring Walk -- taking a different walk, this ime being mindful of all the sights, sounds, and smells around you—and discover a newfound appreciation for your surroundings. I’ll be honest and say that I’m not entirely sure how to navigate all of this. But, for what it’s worth, as much as reasonably possible, I’d encourage any and everyone to take he time to allow your mind and body to rest. Whether it’s in
fragment of our humanity. After a while, though, we’ll mourn less and less. Eventually, our grief- and the anger towards the individuals responsible for such a heinous act will subside and we’ll carry on with our lives until something else happens that reminds us that time alone does not heal all wounds. I would hope that the reminder doesn’t come in the form of another life snatched away, but, we are aware of the society we live in. In the aftermath of Andrea’s death, there were no new ideas or solutions proffered. Our resilient activists and advocates continue to emphasise the need for transformed power relations, where the entrenched system of patriarchy yields power over women, and even those men who are perceived to be ‘weaker’. These ‘weaker’ men are those who respect women and ‘pull up’ their ‘brethrens,’ but the mere fact that they are ridiculed and labelled effeminate (“he’s not a real man”), again, emphasises the dynamics of these unequal power relations. These power relations are about who can make decisions and take actions, and who do not. They are about who is accorded respect and authority, and who is not. They are about who is seen as the property of another person, or merely a sex object, and who is not. These power relations are pervasive because though the status quo is continuously challenged by people like our activists and advocates, the rest of us are only proactive for the short while we are angered and are mourning. These unequal power relations between men and women are also pervasive because our socially constructed beliefs, norms, and traditions have legitimised how men interact (degrade and disrespect) with women, and on what women are supposed to stay silent. Now, don’t get me wrong. This is not an attack on men. It has never been an attack on men. It is an attack on the system into which we are all socialised. It is a call for men to realise that we exist in a harmful system, in hopes of raising consciousness that could help them hold themselves and their brothers more accountable. This is another attempt at illustrating that it was never acceptable for men to disrespect, “cuss,” beat, rape and kill women. It was never acceptable and it will never be acceptable. But, here are occurrences of violence in Trinidad and right here in Guyana, where the perpetrators of these heinous, criminal, cowardly acts seem to think that it is acceptable. Our way out of this pandemic of violence against women is to continue raising consciousness and revamping our socialisation processes. There is much work needed in family spaces, religious settings, and schools. Gender inequalities and gender discrimination must be rooted out if we are to dismantle the system that suppresses women and women’s rights. We need to move beyond thinking that the men who perform these heinous acts are outliers, or that they are crazy, twisted men. Instead, we have to consider interrogating learned traditions, beliefs, and norms of “manly” behaviours and “silent” women. Importantly, too, we have to have the appetite to support our resilient activists and advocates -- who are normal people just like the rest of us -- in the continuous work that they do. They have done the research, they have engaged stakeholders and they are knowledgeable of the issues we face. We have to trust them and we have to support them. I recall a few months ago, a local women’s rights activist explained to me how the system of oppression belabours women. Before long, however, she stopped and opined that I probably didn’t want to hear her go ‘on and on’ about that. But that’s the thing, people like me, people like us, have to have the appetite to listen, learn and support. How can we expect things to change if we don’t play our part? A reformed society, a safe society, is possible. But it is only possible if we work towards making it that way. If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com
CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 07, 2021 CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, February 14, 2021
St Valentine’s Day celebrates ON GENOCIDE romantic love and more
COMMEMORATION
ST Valentine’s Day is celebrated today and is often described as “the day of lovers” or “the festival of love.” It is marked by the shops decorated with red balloons, red hearts, Cupids shooting arrows, and red streamers. The bakeries offer heart-shaped cakes covered with red icing ON 8 2020,offer World Genocide Commemoration andDecember the restaurants special Valentine dinners with Day waswines. marked worldwide. was commemorated un-of choice The stationeryItstores display a variety der the auspices of the United Nations “to commemorate artistic Valentine cards and the jewellers offer brooches the victims genocide highlight humanity’s responand rings of which theyand expect the lovers will buy. The sibility to prevent futuretheir genocides.”. been confectioners display striking Genocide varieties has of chocodefined as the “theflorists intentional systematic of lates and their and roses, and not toeradication forget the TV an ethnic, racial or religious group” which carries Valentine’s Day programmes from all over mediaThe in Guyana gave noticealmost to the Day, except theThe world. festival haslittle become completely for Swami Aksharananda’s enlightening the evident editor. submerged in commerce and business letter is far to more Swami Aksharananda stands outThe as one of Guyana’s greatest in it than “love” or “lovers.” origin and significance humanists and educationists. One fact alone, (in addition to of the festival have almost been completely effaced to the point elevates where many believe that the educafestival others) him topeople one ofnow the country’s greatest was invented by commercial year, because tionists: with almost no funds, heinterests. created a This school at Cornelia of the COVID-19 pandemic, these celebratory aspectsallof Ida in the countryside which admitted children whom the festival have been schools had rejected andsomewhat who camerestrained. from financially poor The earlyInorigin the years, festival littlearelationship backgrounds. a fewof short hehas created school whichto romantic love, which is in theresults. theme of the modern festival rivalled Queen’s College Swamiji’s reputation and none at all to commerce. The festival evolved with the attracted donations which were directed towards the creation of a non-Christian (pagan) a Christian ofblending new school buildings which todaystream stand with out as among one. the pre-Christian of This ancient Rome, Februthe bestInschool buildings inreligion Guyana. article is largely ary 14th was celebrated as the Day of Juno, wife of Jupiter inspired by Swamiji’s writings. andMost Queen andassociate Mother of the Gods.with Shethe was a protector people “genocide” Nazi murder of women and of marriage. The Day of Juno was always of the Jewish people of Europe -- some six million -- the hormerged into the fertility festival of Lupercalia which ocrors of which are well documented. To now, most people still curredbelieve the next day on an February fertility cannot that such atrocity15th. couldThe occur in the which 20th Lupercalia was both agricultural and human and century in thepromoted most civilised continent in the world where the Lupercalia was so important to the Romans that its celebracream of Europe’s cultured middle classes were destroyed. tion continued even after Rome became Christian. We must however not forget there have been other genocides The festival is named St Valentine’s Day after a Catholic in this century such as the Armenian genocide by the Turks, Saint with that name. There are 13 Catholic Saints over the when one million Armenians killed or centuries who bore the namewere Valentine, butthe theRwandan one after
whom Valentine’s Day was named lived in the third century during the reign of the Emperor Claudius II, when Rome was still largely non-Christian. Claudius II found that recruitment to his armies had fallen and he attributed this to the fact that married men were unwilling to leave their wives and children to serve in the army. He, therefore, banned marriages. Valentine, a Catholic priest, knew the Emperor’s order was wrong and immoral and felt determined to defy it. He therefore quietly and clandestinely began to marry hundreds of men. When his defiance of the Emperor’s order was discovered, he was executed on February 14th. The year was about 270 AD. In 498 AD Pope Gelasius canonised him as a Saint and February 14th was designated his Day. Rome by this time had become Christian, but the Romans still celgenocide whenLupercalia. one million people suddenly attacked ebrated their The Pope were abolished Lupercalia and and killed,itmostly with cutlasses.Day. Almost same aswas genoreplaced with St Valentine’s St.the Valentine the patron saint of marriage, was still some relationship cide is the mass expulsionsoofthere communities as was the case Lupercalia. oftothe Huguenots (French Protestants) or the Jewish comMarriages in theworld. ancientGenocides world were “love marriagmunities in the Arab andnot mass expulsions es,” but to bring forth raise children and to always doalliances irretrievable damage to and the social and economic unite twocountries families.where This idea ofcrimes couplesarefirst falling in love life of the these perpetrated. andThe as group a result, deciding to marry, was unknown in the anwhich has suffered genocides and expulsions cient world and today, of Asiayears and Africa, “love marcontinuously over the in lastmost thousand are the Romas riages” are still regarded as alien and belonging to the West. or Gypsy people of Europe. Europeans, as a whole. have In the West,toittheir was plight only inand theseem 14th century cult become inured not to bewhen able the to see of Courtly Love became an integral European culture their suffering though it stares them inpart theofface. Proportionthatto romantic love became and became theinmain ate their population, more popular Romas were murdered the basis for marriage. ‘Europe was still completely Catholic, Nazi death camps than Jews. Eli Wiesel, a Jewish survivor church now thewinner, idea of said romantic love and ofbut thethe Holocaust and apromoted Nobel Prize that the Gypmarriage. sies (Roma) suffered more than any other group in the death in the Middle fromofsparse campsEurope since, unlike the JewsAges whosuffered had persons powerpopuand lations. The populations grew very slowly and both church influence to speak up on their behalf, the Gypsies had no one and state felt that marriage and the growth of families should since they were poor and powerless. At the Nuremberg trials be promoted. St Valentine’s Day helped to imbue the idea of of the Nazi war criminals, no mention or notice was taken romantic love and marriage and the raising of large families. ofOther the Gypsies. cultural inputs were used to strengthen the message right-wing in Europe still speak of their the of Today, St Valentine’s Daypoliticians such as birds beginning to find Roma in terms almost identical to Hitler’s “final solution”. mates from February 14th and the Roman God of Love, InCupid, Hungary, example, active Zsolt at Bayer, a leading member beingfor particularly this time, shooting his arofrows the at governmental party, referring declared:to hearts, causing couples to falltoin Gypsies, love and desiring “They are notEurope’s suitable population for being among people. Most are be married. then grew steadily making animals and behave like animals. Animals should possible. not exthe continent’s economic and cultural development ist”. In. this .Bayer is obliviousage to in thewhich important contributions post-industrial we live, the trend in Gypsies have made to Hungarian music. Likewise, Western countries is for the populations to decline inGypsies number, have made important contributions to societies Spanish such music. Mr a trend which is affecting non-Western as Japan Sarcozy, President of France, a country as the as well. when People are no longer getting marriedknown as a norm and even if they marry, they have very small families, at most one
or two children. The same trend is affecting North America, which, except for immigration would be much like Europe. The original pre-Romantic Love message of St Valentine’s Day needs to be resuscitated, that is, for couples to be married early and have large families as a societal norm. message of St Valentine’s Dayharassed -- romantic love, homeThe of humanitarianism and freedom, the Roma marriage, families -- is again very relevant and expelledhaving many oflarge them. to The Western andfrom a growing of non-WestRomasocieties emigrated India number some 1500 years ago and still remember their Indian affinity. India has never recognised the Roma and has never offered them any help, though individual groups in India had extended the hand of friendship to them. When Ashook Ramsaran, a Guyanese-American, was President of GOPIO, the Organization
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ern ones. Religious groups and NGOs should again promote the core values and message of St Valentine’s Day and if this is done, the sexual superficiality and commercialisation which have now overtaken and enveloped the forfestival peoplewould of Indian origin,St. heValentine’s was able toDay offerwould associate dissipate. then membership to the Roma. serve society, rather than commercial houses. Since Guyanese people are descended from African slaves, Indian semi-slaves and Amerindians who were neglected and expected to diminish and disappear by the colonialists, it was expected that the media would have given more notice to World Genocide Commemoration Day and showed a fellow feeling for the plight of the Gypsies.
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Everyone can’t be in your FRONT ROW!
New authors creating waves
I BELIEVE this is my season to write more and encourage others to also do so. The question people often ask is, “Are you still a designer”? Fashion will also be part of my life but it’s at the moment sharing the stage with other passions. I have been working with a few first-time authors locally and internationally and some have already published their books and many are in the process of doing so. Today, I will focus the spotlight on two brilliant young people who are showing up and doing great to contribute to society. Their book will be on Amazon in a few days and I encourage you to support them. Every life has a story and Alicia Daniels from Guyana and Phil Umoru- Iko-Oko are on extraordinary journeys. I met Alicia Daniels, who is a teacher, when she registered for the Women in Business Expo. I did not take me long to discover how talented she is, but it was not only her talent that caught my attention. Her teachable spirit and discipline captivated me. After reading her poems, I encouraged her to publish her book on Amazon and that will be a reality on January 27, God’s willing. Please allow me to share one of her inspiring poems with you. Prophetic Age
THERE are many advantages to sitting in front, whether at school, at a conference, at a fashion show, football, basketball game etc. Students occupying the front rows are more attentive than those in the back, which can give an advantage. Have you ever looked at one of the NBA playoffs and noticed many Hollywood superstars in the courtside seats? Front row seats are super expensive and are always in demand. The Prophetic is a stream that never dies, It’s over a word from the heart of God, I have had many productions the years and we always reserve the front row, which To change our lives. When itseats seems likewere we’re at our wits end, represents premium seating. These reserved for sponsors, the media, well-known The Prophetic encourages us to try again. personalities and others who supported the production for it to be a success. As the widow of Zarephath who almost gave up, Let’s go to our lives now, reflect. Who in your front row? Remember, there is left right When along came theis Prophet, And gave her reason to look up. and centre front and all positions have a significance. For her redemption was in her sacrificial gift, I wrote about this in my first book” Which of course she did not resist. Living with Intention” and received many messages regarding this topic. I had had people tell Though she did not unme that they omitted people from their circle after careful examination. Sometimes it could be Champions Don’t do, provides a clear insight into the adaptderstand, ability you of the willpower a determined young man. He had It couldn’t her the any next difficult to shift family members, but if you desire to godoto haveofto. It is difficult to be intentional to enrol in the gym of adversity to build worse to obey his comhis faith, hope and resilience muscles to be able to fight the mand.this journey with when we realise that not everyone will be taking us. good fight. The Prophet saw life tomorrow, Not everyone is healthy enough to have a front-row seat in our lives. Some people in your These captivating narratives carry messages of determiShe saw only death tolife need to be loved from a distance. nation, self-doubt, focus, consistency and hope to make the day, impossible possible. It shows you that it is possible to turn And where there The more you seek quality, respect, growth,seemed peace loveintoand truth around you… realities and the results of taking action. His story to be noof way,mind, dreams reminds me of our mentor, the great Les Brown story. He The Prophetic word the easier it will become for you to decide whobrought gets inday.the front row and who be was certainly not expected to be one should of the top motivational herto to asit clearer speakers in the world similar to how Phil was not expected Les Brown is one of moved to the balcony of your life. to be an attorney. my mentors who imWhen manyrow. people Positive label you as a dunce and against pacted life and many Allow people with such dreams and desires asmyyours in your front people all odds you become everything society did not expect is a around the world. One monumental achievement. He decided to persevere. He also such person is Phil-Umowho can inspire and support you in your endeavours; people who can hold you accountable; decided to share his story to inspire others. Like the late great ru Iko-Ojo. We connected Myles Munroeyou said: “You must decide ifpeople you are going to through the Les Brown guide you or encourage you when you are going astray; help to keep focused; rob the world or bless it with the rich, valuable, potent, ungroup and instantly contapped resources locked away within you.”? ? nected and was excited to who also have set high goals. ?To live a fulfilling life, we need to discover why we were share about the book he It was a reality check for me years ago when I had shiftcreated some fromdiscovered my front and Ipeople believe he certainly that. ?It is an was writing. He to decided honour to contribute a foreword to this book that will transto enrol in the virtual row to the balcony. In some instances, the balcony full andform I no any place instory. manylonger lives becausehad many will resonate with this Writerswas Retreat to get I am proud of the man Phil-Umoru Iko-Ojo is becoming! some insights into craftmy life for that person. Remember to join us on live stream every day ing a compelling story (weekdays 19:00hrs-20:00hrs and weekends 16:00hrs info on publishing. I saw this amazing poem by an unknownand author and I believe the content will bless to 17:00hrs) until January 31. On the Sonia Noel FB Fortunately, he received Page, People from around the globe will be sharing their what he was looking for someone. journeys. Get your copy of the 365 Invaluable Life Expeto complete his book and it will be available on Amazon on January 29. THE SCRIPT: What
riences as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
Everyone can’t be in Your FRONT ROW Life is a theatre, so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives. Some people in your life need to be loved from a distance. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimise your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships and family! Everyone Can’t be in Your FRONT ROW. Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to: Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill? When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse? Which ones always have drama or don’t really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you? Everyone Can’t be in Your FRONT ROW. The more you seek God and the things of God, the more you seek quality; the more you seek not just the hand of God, but the face of God, the more you seek things honourable, the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you; the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.
Everyone Can’t be in Your FRONT ROW. You cannot change the people around you...but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life. Remember that FRONT-ROW seats are for special and deserving people and those who sit in your FRONT ROW should be chosen carefully. Everyone Can’t be in Your FRONT ROW I have attended many events and had front row seats and did enjoy the privilege, but the ones with the most satisfaction are ones with the front row seat to someone’s life journey. It is a huge blessing that I occupy a front-row seat to some many lives. I must be doing a few things right. We are still in the first quarter of the year and have awesome plans for 2021. An opportune time for cleaning of your circle as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
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THOUGHT FOR TO
February 14, 2021
DAY
It is not merely of some importance but is of fu n tance that justic damental impore be done, but sh should not only and undoubted ould manifestly ly be seen to be done. LORD HEWART v. Sussex Justic(1870-1943) Rex (King’s Bench R es, 9 Nov. 1923 eports, 1924, vo i, p. 259) l.
Dear Student, WELCOME, dear friend. Revision is the name of the ‘now’ game. Revise moreso on your own; it deepens self-confidence and personal effort. (Anyway, it is permissible to use study partners
until extremely near examinations). Revision informs your resilience to fashion knowledge and understanding into great on-the-spot responses. Practise responding to teacher-suggested topics and past papers under examination conditions every two/three weeks and try to improve on question types as the time draws nearer. Your future is important. Love you. READ THE PASSAGE Read the following extract carefully and then answer items 1-5 on the basis what is most accurate. Hides and skins are the raw material of the leather manufacturer or tanner. When man first used animal skins is not known. Skins, even when preserved by tanning, do not last as long as stone, pottery, metals and bone, and our knowledge about the early use of skins is vague. However, the numerous flint scrapers and bone or ivory sewing needles in our museums show that tens of thousands of years ago, in the early Stone Age, skins were prepared and used long before textiles. Nowadays, hides and skins are essential raw materials and important articles of commerce. Any animal skin can be made into leather, but the skins chiefly used come from cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses. To a lesser extent the skins from dogs, deer, reptiles, marine animals, fish and birds are also used. Snakes, lizards, seals, whales, and sharks all contribute to leather manufacture. There is usually a long interval between the flaying, or stripping, of the skin from the animal and putting it into the tannery for processing of cattle hides. If the flayed skins were left wet, they would go bad just like meat; they must therefore be preserved in some way. The commonest method is salting. This involves sprinkling the skin with salt on their inner side; or immersing the skins completely in strong salt solution for some hours, after which they are drained and sprinkled with solid salt.
Getting Ideas 1. Skins do not last as long as pottery A.. unless they are preserved by tanning. B.. however well preserved by tanning. C.. except after certain processes. D.. unless made into leather. 2. Our knowledge about the early use of skins is vague A.. because there is no evidence. B.. even though there is some evidence in the form of tools. C.. although numerous Stone Age skins have survived. D.. in spite of some written evidence. 3. Leather can be made from the skins of A.. any animal except fish and birds. B.. any kind of animal. C.. cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses only. D.. the larger animals only. 4. The skins of sheep, lambs and ponies are dressed A.. with the hair or wool still in place. B.. in one of two different ways. C.. after the hair or wool has been removed. D.. with the hair or wool added later. 5. Skins are usually preserved with salt after stripping A.. because they cannot be tanned immediately. B.. to preserve their moisture. C.. to make them taste better. D.. to keep insects away. Similar or Different? In the following sets of sentences, each first sentence is from the selected passage, “Making Leather”, and is to be compared with each second sentence. 1. a) However, the numerous flint scrapers and bone or ivory sewing needles in our museums show that tens of thousands of years ago in the early Stone Age, skins were prepared and used long before textiles. b) Indications of the early use of skins by man are the tools used to prepare and sew them. 2. a) If the flayed skins
were left wet, they would go bad, just like meat; b) Unless skins are left moist, like meat, they decay. 3. a) This involves sprinkling the skins with salt on their inner side; or immersing the skins completely in strong salt solution for some hours, after which they are drained and sprinkled with solid salt. b) Each skin must go through four processes: (a) salt is sprinkled on the inside; (b) it is immersed in a salt solution; (c) it is drained; (d) it is sprinkled with dry salt. GRAMMAR Key to last week’s spotting errors to improve sentences. Exercise One: 1. Wayne and her; 2. than any other agency; 3. with first-class designs and unique drawings; 4. Kathy is faster, but Georgiana is more nearly accurate; 5. better than anyone else; 6. Either James or Franklyn, two of our wellknown chemists, is accepting the award; 7. There are several reasons; 8. Ask Mr. Browne’s assistant; 9 Whom did Ms. Nors want to talk with? 10. Give these brochures to Mr. Manger; I’m sure he needs them more than I. (This sentence is O.K.) 11. Until this morning, these cartons had lain there untouched for nearly six months. 12. Perhaps Brandon and I could help… Exercise Two: 1. Of all the ideas that the designers presented, Eva’s was certainly (unique). 2. Constance is one of the (most tactful) student teachers in the present batch. 3. Pauline has already ordered (a) uniform, hasn’t she? 4. Mrs. P. Sammy always recommends buying (high-quality) merchandise. 5. My supervisor, Sandton Prince, is a better manager than (anyone else) in the Georgetown office. 6. We prefer this word processor to (any other) on the market. 7. Clearly, the diamond she showed us is the (most valuable) of the jewels on display. 8. Ithaca Post will not insure (these) sorts of packages. 9. If you prefer (this) kind of frame, you should go to the Frame Shop on Main Street.
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venting Paediatric dentistry m disease
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hear and begin to communicate with the dentist and learn pediwrap, papoose board or simply having the parent or WOULD be the first to admit that treating children the cooperative behaviour required for the safe course of guardian confine the child’s head, hands or legs while the is not my first choice, considering categories of patreatment. This technique must be linked with voice control, dentist executes acts which usually intimidate, such as exmade bytients Antoni Van Leeuod. Thismost formula advocates thatis,ONE minute should bebehaviour spent right techniquestracting for brushing, and gum massaging. based on their ages. Although children are that cessation of oppositional is immediately a tooth. Itflossing is not advisable to restrain a child who is ered the existence of bactecleaning tooththat in ONE day. In other words, if a person The contemporary patient has come to accept a cooperative dental patients, some displayONE behaviour accompanied by removal of the dentist’s hand from the more than five years old unless it is consideredthat necessary. en on a microscope, has 28 teeth, he of should leastand a total of 28 minutes personal responsibility necessary formanpresent obstacles towhich the safe and effective delivery care. spend child’satmouth the simultaneous giving ofreasonable positive verballevel of The drug most noteworthy forispharmacologic In these theago. dentist can use 24 behaviour-manageis nitrous oxide. Many sedatives can be delivered f more thaninstances, 300 years every hours in brushingreinforcement( and flossing praise). etc. his well-being. agement Achievement and maintenance of health are ment techniques to modify the child’s behaviour. Perhaps in Guyana, physical restraint is the most widely orally or by injection. General anaesthesia is also used in ng my teeth with salt in the Bleeding is a fearful thing for many people, but demon- seen as a cooperative programme between the individual When using behaviour-management techniques in paediused method to ensure that an uncooperative child receives particular circumstances. h withatric water, and often after stration by the dentist will proper show dental that this is a sign of disease and the health care provider. The modern preventive regdentistry, it is critical that the child’s parents or guardtreatment. This may involve using bite block, h a toothpick as well as rubwhich in most cases can be overcome by simple measures. imen includes abstaining from unhealthy practices, as well ians be educated as to the usefulness and appropriateness of herefore my teeth, back and Timing and the mechanics of cleaning can be assisted by the as practising those measures which are thought to improve the desired techniques. This is necessary for two reasons. First, it has been shown that parents who are informed and that only a few people of my dentist (or dental nurse) who can help the patient to find the personal health. educated about behaviour-management techniques are more positive and accepting of their use. Second, the use of some of these methods may require consent by the parent. Methods to accomplish control over children who do not
cooperate with the dentist include, “ tell-show-do”, voice control, hand-over-mouth, physical restraint and drug-induced management. “tell-show-do” technique is the foundation of all o, whenThe I rub my gums with child management. It involves the dentist first describing to the child exactly ntistswhat or toothbrushes, this is going to be done, then showing the child what will ognised theand relationship be- the procedures as previously be done finally, performing discussed and shown. It is important when using this techtitis (gum disease). nique to use and words for dental instruments and procedures well-accepted primary that are suitable for the s describe the difference child’s be- age. About 80 percent of all the children above the age of ums based on colour, texture, three years, with normal intellectual and emotional develand the position of the opment, can be guidedgums successfully through new procedures jective difficult for a withsigns, this technique. Voice control usually onment to observe,isand alsodescribed as the dentist assuming a more authoritative role rofessional. The absence ofwhen the child starts to display disruptive behaviour. It can also be described as the dentist sign of health, although it is constantly speaking to the child in a supportive manner when g between thedisplays tooth and gum behaviour. It is important, the latter appropriate ot demonstrate bleeding on that the facial expression and when using voice control, demeanour of the dentist mirror the attitude he or she is mposed gingivitis. to convey. It is also important to note that the nce ofattempting patients and the degree technique is most effective cleaning skills seem to be af- when applied if inappropriate behaviour is initially observed and less effective when inyond the controlbehaviour of the dental appropriate is full-blown. he patient inhand-over-mouth the instructionaltechnique is not commonly used The fective method of The achieving in this country. purpose of this technique, which calls forcare. the dentist to studying place his or her hand over the mouth of a health When or screaming care,hysterically one tendscrying to focus on child, is to gain the attention of the child and establish communication. Thus, the child can
in susceptibility, seriousness, nd the importance of dental ement in the management of onsidering brushing habits. s see themselves capable of cause of it being a chronic
toothbrush and use it at least satisfy personal beauty, if not s not enough to tell people to rather, the focus must be the e way one can recognise the y far the best way to prevent to obey the triple-one meth-
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