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Sunday March 26, 2017

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The Lotus: Sacred and Versatile

Page 3

The Beginning of the Gold Industry in Guyana Page 7

Designer bow ties Page 10

‘Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey’ Page 16

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Feature

Soft Wallaba of the Iwokrama Forest

O

ften when people explore the rainforest, there is much interest in the birds and other rainforest animals. But the world of plants is equally enchanting and Guyana’s forest, with an excess of 8,000 plant species, presents a haven for plant lovers.

The Soft Wallaba (Eperuafalcata) is a super important tree for Guyana.

Often we see our electrical wires strung from wooden

Soft Wallaba flowers

poles, which are made from this species and it takes a very special skill to create this important value added timber product.

Soft Wallaba is a tree with a straight trunk, and can be distinguished by long reddish hanging fruit pods (once fruiting) that adorn the tree like Christmas tree decorations.

According to Guyana Forestry Commission’s “Guyana Woods – 21

Species” publication, (revised 2004), the heartwood of the Soft Wallaba is reddishbrown in colour, with dark gum streaks which tend to spread over the surface. The sapwood is pale in colour and is sharply defined from the heartwood. The texture is coarse and the grain is typically straight. The bole, or trunk, is 15-20m in length and diameter is approximately 60cm and occasionally up to 100cm.

The publication added that Soft Wallaba heartwood is highly resistant to decay and subterranean termites, and is fairly resistant to dry wood termites. Due to its resistance being extremely high, Soft Wallaba has excellent properties for transmission poles, flag staffs, marine and bridge construction in non-teredo areas owing to its strength and durability. It is suitable for general heavy construction, utility and industrial floors and chemical vat staves. Additionally, the timber is used to make fence staves, fence posts and shingles for roofing.

A leguminous tree, the seeds may be eaten by rodents in events of the scarcity of other fruits. The flowers are a staple resource for monkeys (howlers, spider, and sakis) during the dry season.

It is a generalist species so it can be found in all forest types, but is co-dominant in Wallaba forest type on white, highly drained sands.

When you visit Iwokrama you can find it on all the tourist trails. It certainly will be one of the tree species the Iwokrama’s guides will be happy to show you.

Ecotourism is one of the important components of Iwokrama’s strategy for financial self-sufficiency.

Visits to Iwokrama directly contribute to the communities in and surrounding the Iwokrama forest. Tourism there supports the development of an eco-friendly sustainable model, which is being shared locally, nationally and internationally.

The Iwokrama forest and the Rupununi wetlands and savannahs offer visitors exceptional natural and cultural experience set in a learn-

Soft Wallaba pod and seed

ing context. Iwokrama is a place for all ages and all interests and you choose what you want to do.

At Iwokrama, you can retrace the footsteps of the Makushi people, wander the extensive trail system and discover the unforgettable flora, fauna and Amerindian history so special to this tropical paradise.

The Iwokrama forest is an extraordinary destination for naturalists, birders and

anyone seeking an authentic retreat to the jungle.

For more of the tours that Iwokrama offers, call the Iwokrama office on (592) 2251504 to speak with Chauncy or Diana or email tourism@iwokrama.org.

Visit http://iwokramariverlodge. com or check out Iwokrama International Centre for Rainforest Conservation and Development on Facebook.

(Photos by Dr. Raquel Thomas)

Soft Wallaba seedling

Soft Wallaba pods hanging from the tree branches

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

3

Times Feature

T

he lotus, because of its abundance in murky ponds and trenches, is often taken for granted and even considered a nuisance by some as it clogs up canals, but this plant’s selfcleaning mechanism and religious significance make it worthy of a second look.

The lotus (Nelumbonucifera) is an aquatic plant that produces individual leaves and flowers directly from a root system. Its leaves float on the water or are held up about six inches above water by their stems. Its flowers are held up by their stalks about six inches from the surface of the water. Each flower spreads about four to eight inches across and has pink petals. The receptacle holds the seeds (the seeds are known locally as “water nuts”) of the flower, and is located in the centre of the flower.

James Rodway writes in “The Story of Georgetown” (1920) that the Nelumbium, or Lotus was introduced to the Botanic Gardens “in the early eighties…” (1880s)

Religious symbolism and significance

The lotus, sometimes called the Indian lotus or the sacred lotus, is widely cultivated for its fragrant flowers.

Over time, throughout many cultures, the lotus has been a powerful image and a spiritual symbol. In Hindu, Buddhist and Egyptian religions, the lotus is considered a sacred flower. Among its many meanings and significance, the lotus represents divine birth, spiritual development and creation itself.

“The Story of World Religions” (2005) states: “The lotus is the cosmic plant of Hinduism. When the divine substance of life is in the process of bringing forth the universe, a thousand-leaf lotus grows out of the cosmic waters and is the opening, gateway and mouth for the development of the universe. The cosmic

A man, partially submerged in water, cuts the leaves of the lotus for use as receptacles

lotus is the organ of procreation of the Absolute that gives birth to the universe and symbolizes the neverending succession of existences. In pre-Vedic times, the lotus was the symbol of the Great Mother Goddess or “Earth Goddess”, Shri or Lakshmi. In the post-Vedic period the image of the one born of the lotus was transferred to Brahma, and shortly after a number of gods were depicted sitting on the lotus.”

Many of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism are linked to the flower.

The goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi, is usually depicted as being seated atop a fully opened lotus flower.

Likewise, Brahma, the god of creation, is depicted as emerging from a lotus that crawls from the naval of the sustainer Lord Vishnu.

The lotus is able to emerge from muddy waters un-spoilt and pure; it is considered to represent a wise and spiritually enlightened quality in a person, representative of somebody who

The lotus flower in full bloom

carries out their tasks with little concern for any reward and with a full liberation from attachment.

Inspiring manmade objects

Lotus plants stay dirtfree, an obvious advantage for an aquatic plant living in typically muddy habitats, and they do so without using detergent or expending energy. Leaves of the sacred lotus are self-cleaning thanks to hydrophobic nanoscale bumps.

In a research done overseas, the lotus was artificially contaminated with various particles and subsequently subjected to artificial rinsing by a water sprinkler. In the case of water-repellent leaves, the particles were removed completely by water droplets that rolled off the surfaces.

This is because of the lotus’ surface roughness, reduced particle adhesion and water repellency – the keystone in its self-cleaning mechanism.

Surface finishes inspired

by the self-cleaning mechanism of lotus plants have now been applied to paints, glass, textiles, and more, reducing the need for chemical detergents and costly labour.

use as sun protection today in some parts of India.

Because of the lotus’ incredible history and biology, there is on-going research in many parts of the world

on the biological and technological importance of the lotus. (Cover: A bright pink flower stands out among lotus leaves)

An edible, useful utensil

The lotus flowers, seeds, young leaves, and "roots" (rhizomes) are all edible.

Lotus leaves are circular and indented in the middle, giving the leaves a funnellike shape, ideal for usage as a receptacle not only because of its sturdiness but also because of its known symbol of purity.

In Guyana, “seven-curry” is only enjoyed in lotus leaves at Hindu weddings and other Hindu functions.

In Chinese cuisine, mature lotus leaves are used to wrap steamed food. In many parts of the world, they function as water vessels for fetching and drinking water.

In bas-reliefs of the goddesses Ganga and Yamuna on the doorframes of Hindu temples, the lotus leaf served as a parasol for the deities. They were also used as hats when tied inverted under the chin in ancient Egypt. Hung upside above the head in the artwork, the leaves are said to be still in

Krishna and Radha sitting on a lotus blossom (Miniature of the Parkarischool, Basohli, 1715)

Lotus' seeds known locally as 'water nuts'

4

Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Feature

By Dmitri Allicock

T

he town of Linden is synonymous with bauxite where the discovery of bauxite in Demerara shaped every aspect of life.

The community grew from a small and sparsely populated one to become the second largest town in Guyana.

History of Bauxite

Bauxite was found at Christianburg and discussed as early as 1860 before its full potential was realized.

Interest in this ore peaked as aluminium became of age. In 1897, Sir Henry Harrison collected samples of the ore at Christianburg and Akyma, and had it analyzed in Georgetown.

Once the facts were established, mining companies began to show interest. 1n 1913, Geologist George Bain Current bauxite mine, Linden

Mackenzie was visiting the area and collected samples of the ore for testing. In 1914, he bought lands for Alcoa in the area now known as Mackenzie.

In 1916, The Demerara Bauxite Company was incorporated and registered in Georgetown, and started operations on the lands bought

by Mackenzie. 1n 1917, bauxite mining started at Maria Elizabeth and nearby Akyma. Both areas are south of Mackenzie, about 8 miles upriver from the city.

The area was briefly called Mackenzie City but the ‘City’ was dropped later. The bauxite plant on the east bank of the Demerara River was soon built. The mining community would soon follow.

the prospecting teams. This

team

was made

Bauxite mining

The first part of bauxite operations was the search by

Bauxite barge on Berbice River

up by people that were familiar with the terrain and life of the area.

When the signs were favourable for bauxite, the land would be cleared enough to get samples by drilling.

After analysis of the sample promised rich bauxite and full scale mining was justified, then the work begin.

The jungle would be cleared.

Salvageable wood would be taken then the area cleansed by fire.

The next objective is to get to the buried bauxite. Many times hundreds of feet of silica sand have to be removed.

Powerful water jet monitors were used to wash away the top layers of overburden in some cases. This process is called hydraulic stripping.

Other primary stripping was done by drag lines and bulldozers.

Today, bauxite is blasted. Holes are drilled and dynamite placed to blast the topsoil off to get the ore. The traditional daily booms of blasting still ring in my ears from early childhood.

The broken chunks of hard, reddish bauxite was dug by massive draglines and loaded onto trains. Each mine was connected by rail to the plant. This was Guyana’s second inland railroad. The train ran until the 1970s when they were retired for the very massive dump trucks.

When the ore reached the Mackenzie Plant, it was crushed and washed clean of sand and clay. The second process is that of heat. The heat application was dependent of whether the ore was being exported as a dry product or as a calcined product.

Demba produced several kinds of bauxite. The world-famous type called ‘RASC’ (Refractory A- Grade Supercalcined) bauxite was produced by the plant at Mackenzie. Guyana’s RASC is still the standard by which others are judged. The Berbice operation was the primary source of abrasive and chemical grade bauxite. Guyana, China and now Brazil hold the distinction as the world supplier of RASC bauxite.

Bauxite today

What has changed is that the bauxite industry has drastically declined from what it was.

I can hardly write about bauxite and Linden and skip over some significant events that occurred with the bauxite industry and Guyana.

Guyana gained independence from Britain in 1966, and the journey to political maturity was complex and difficult. We would, sadly, spiral down into that tragic abyss that is so typical of most. Guyana entered a stormy night of inner strug-

gles and serious mistakes that lead to a disastrous decline all over Guyana, including in the bauxite industry.

Nationalization without deep forethought on future sale and market of bauxite, strikes, corruption, mismanagements and a long series of events from the 1970s saw this downward turn and failure of this industry.

The ruins of the multimillion dollar Alumina Plant was a shocking site in 2010. I stood outside its broken gates and witnessed the jungle taking over. Large sections being cannibalized and salvaged for scrap iron.

The industry was already in the red as early as 1976 with a negative cash flow, according to Prime Minister and former Minister of Energy and Mines, Sam Hinds.

For the many thousands who left the area, bauxite will no longer play any significant part in their lives. For those at home the relationship will continue. The final chapter on bauxite is yet to be written and optimistically it will be a good one. Painful lessons were hopefully learnt and will improve understanding and actions.

The story of bauxite and its relationship with the people of Upper Demerara for one hundred years must be told and not forgotten, because it is a story of the people of Guyana.

Transporting bauxite ore

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie

A cover of one of her music albums

J

Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie

oyce FerdinandLalljie was a Guyanese child prodigy who began playing one of her mother’s piano pieces when she was just three years old. She and her younger sister, Mavis, both became concert pianists and were known as the “two Ferdinand girls”.

Joyce is credited as being the first black woman to play a full piano concerto.

In his article on radio in British Guiana for the 1951 Chronicle Christmas Annual, Albert E L Isaacs described Joyce FerdinandLalljie (later Joyce Ferdinand-Saunders) as one of the “Big Finds” of local radio (and stage) during 1951. Isaacs’ article stated that Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie’s genius was shared with the people of British Guiana through the radio programmeBerbice Calling, produced by Olga Lopes-Seale on ZFY. Joyce was born in 1923 in New Amsterdam, Berbice. Her mother, Edith Ferdinand, was an important musical personality in New Amsterdam.

She was a music teacher and organist at both St Patrick’s Anglican Church and Mission Chapel Congregational Church.

Joyce’s other teacher in British Guiana was Mrs Ruby McGregor. It was under her tutelage that Joyce earned the Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (Piano Performing) in 1948.

By 1951, Joyce was the toast of the nation. She dominated classical music and was celebrated for her performances on the British Council broadcasts. As mentioned earlier, Isaacs described her as one of the “big finds”, and the Guiana Times voted her ‘Musician of the Year’ in 1951.

Charles Knights remembers her as the first Guyanese to perform a piano concerto with the British Guiana Philharmonic Orchestra.

This was before the performance by Winifred Atwell, the celebrated Trinidadian pianist.

In 1946, Joyce married Rev William Lalljie. He was very supportive of her and encouraged her to continue her musical career.

Joyce’s musical career took her to the United Kingdom, the United States, and back to Guyana.

Before leaving for the UK on a British Council scholarship in the early 1960s, Joyce relocated to Georgetown, where she established herself as an innovative teacher, performer and composer.

The British Council scholarship enabled Joyce to study at the Trinity College of Music in London.

There she completed diploma programmes in piano education and the teaching of music in schools.

She was awarded the Fellowship of the Trinity College of Music in 1964.

Between 1964 and 1976, Joyce taught music in Birmingham. According to the Snijders and Loncke, editors of “One Hundred Years of Classical Music in the Guianas: Selected Pieces for Pianoforte”, Joyce returned to Guyana in 1976 to accept an appointment as a lecturer at the Cyril Potter Teachers’ Training College.

Although her stay in Guyana was relatively short, she did engage in a number of activities that influenced her music creativity. Among the activities were renewing her contact with Guyanese folk music and her engagement with ‘Broadcast to Schools’.

In the late 1980s, Joyce made another trip to Guyana. The period following those visits has been marked by compositions celebrating the Guyanese landscape.

In her correspondence with the editors of “One Hundred Years of Classical Music in the Guianas: Selected Pieces for Pianoforte”, she explained: “The effect on me was profound, and thoughts of Guyana and the difference in life-style produced acute nostalgia.

I was compelled to use the only means of expression at my disposal, and it was this feeling that impelled me into composing.”

Joyce has composed for viola, flute, voice, and pianoforte. Her “Carousel for Flute” was premiered by Guyanese flautist Keith Waithe. Among her

compositions for pianoforte are “Odyssey of the Demerara River”, “Three O’Clock in Bourda”, “The Legend of Kai”, “Stabroek Blues”, “Water Lily Canal

by Moonlight”, and “Janie Gal”.

In a Jan 2015 letter to a local newspaper, in which E B John wrote that he learnt about the passing of Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie, he stated that Joyce’s “devotion to Guyanese music and song was steadfast,

and not long ago she recorded Seymour’s “Legend of Kaieteur” there in Birmingham”.

Joyce is, without doubt, a Guyanese music legend. (www.guyanesegirlsrock. com)

6 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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Times Book World The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

T

he anthology has an invaluable role to play and an unenviable task in collating, packaging, preserving and distributing a country’s literary and cultural heritage.

Consequently, the anthology ought to be a flexible instrument to execute a number of exploits. The anthology ought to bring out the best; bring attention to bear on the lesser known, but significant; have a fair representation of the literary landscape; and to provide writers with a wider audience. Additionally, the anthology ought to be able to form a link between the writer and the reader, stimulating discussion and debate; it ought to be some sort of record of achievement of a people, serving to build a sense of national pride. The anthology ought to provide periodic assessments, acting as a barometer of a nation’s progress in certain areas of certain periods.

Significantly, anthologies mark certain momentous periods in the history of a country, like a golden jubilee, a centenary or any other significant milestone.

This is a tall order for an anthology of any country during any era. Such a mandate very often results in omissions due to lack of space excluding longer materials, and therefore a true representation of the landscape (littered

'Anthology of Local Indian Verse' by C. E. J. Ramcharitar-Lalla

by prolific writers, writers with a small oeuvre of lengthy pieces or writers straddling different periods) may be absent. An anthology may suffer from inadequate funding, lack of access to certain works, copyright constraints, and a subjection to an anthologist’s personal preferenc-

'Sky Dance, An Anthology of Poems by Guyanese of Indian Ancestry'

es and prejudice. This last challenge - to be precise, shortcoming - can be overlooked, except when the omission is blatant as with the case with Guyana’s first anthology of poetry.

This first anthology of poetry did not include any Guyanese writers of Indian ancestry, even though they were known of by Cameron who said in his “Introductory Essay” that Joseph Ruhomon and C. E. J. Ramcharitar-Lalla are “adding their contribution to our stock of religious poetry”. That anthology came out in 1941.

In response, Ramcharitar-Lalla produced the first “Anthology of Local Indian Verse” published in 1934, so the above omission can be taken as a blessing in disguise.

Why it took half of a century for the next such anthology to surface is open to speculation. What we know, however, is that it took a cultural icon with a passion and leaning towards Indian predicament and wellbeing to make that bold move. So we find in 1986, Laxhmi Kallicharan producing “SHRAADANJALI”, another slim volume but important in that it marked a sort of turning point in the Indian literary tradition.

Five years later, Kampta Karran produced “An Introduction to the Poetry of the East Indian Diaspora 1901-1991”. This was a substantial collec-

tion and aptly subtitled,“A Celebration of Guyanese East Indian Poets”. That anthology was divided into six sections, namely “Section One: Patriotism”, “Section Two: Estate”, “Section Three: Protest”, “Section Four: Nature”, “Section Five: Culture” and “Section Six: Children’s Perception”. The book included works by established writers, emerging writers and little-known writers.

“They Came In Ships - An Anthology of IndoGuyanese Prose and Poetry”, selected by Lloyd Searwar, Ian McDonald, Laxhmie Kallicharan and Joel Benjamin, was published in 1988 to mark the 150th anniversary of the arrival of East Indians from India to Guyana.

At the time of publication of the book, it was felt that the contribution of Indians to the development of Guyana was welldocumented,‘save and except’ their contribution to society in the arts. So 'Jahaji - An Anthology of Indo-Caribbean there was a need for such Fiction' by Frank Birbalsingh a document, and what a source document it turned Arts Council (1976), and ry (2038) of the arrival of out to be. The fact that it “A Treasury of Guyanese Indians. remains relevant to this Poetry” edited by A. J. Responses to this auday is a testimony of its Seymour (1980). thor telephone (592) 226scope and import.

With such mandate at- 0065 or email: oraltradiIn the wake of “They tached to the anthology, tion2002@yahoo.com Came in Ships”, antholo- we now look forward with What’s Happening: gies seem to be rolling off great expectations to an Coming soon - A new the press at a brisk pace. anthology marking the pocketbook, “Guyanese In 1997, “Sky Dance, centennial end to inden- Writers of Indian Ancestry” An Anthology of Poems tureship (2017) and one

by Guyanese of Indian to mark the bicentenaAncestry” was edited and published by Roopnandan Singh.

In 2000, “Jahaji: An Anthology of IndoCaribbean Fiction”

by Frank Birbalsingh was released, followed in 2001 by “Just a Number” (poems) by Roopnandan Singh.

In 2008, “An Anthology of Caribbean Poetry for Carifesta X”, edited

by Petamber Persaud with introduction by Al Creighton, was published. This was followed by “An Anthology of Contemporary Verse from Guyana”,which was edited by Petamber Persaud with an introduction

by Dr. Lynn Macedo and came out in 2013.

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the ‘national’ and international anthologies which included the works of Indians.

Those include “Voices of Guyana” edited

by Donald Trotman (1968), “Independence Ten” produced by the National History and 'They Came in Ships - An Anthology of Indo-Guyanese Prose and Poetry'

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

The Beginning of the Gold Industry in Guyana

Gold digging, British Guiana

'Gold offices station, River Waini, British Guiana'

By Odeen Ishmael

B

etween 1849 and 1857 reports of gold discoveries in Essequibo were circulating in British Guiana, now Guyana. Then in 1860 the Superintendent of Rivers and Creeks declared that gold could be found on the beds of some rivers in Essequibo. Not too long after, the owner of a Georgetown jewellery estab-

lishment, B. V. Abraham, received permission from the Government to prospect for gold in the Cuyuni River.

Abraham set up machinery at Waririe on the right bank of Cuyuni and managed to gather small quantities of gold, but the gold company, which he established with a capital of $75,000, could not maintain itself since only small quantities being found. Mining operations

were halted and Abraham, on behalf of the company, asked the Court of Policy for financial relief claiming that over $65,000 was spent without obtaining any profit. This request was refused.

Abraham was convinced that gold existed in large quantities, but more capital investment was necessary. He travelled to England to convince business persons there to sub-

scribe capital to his company so that he could continue the mining operations. However, investors in England were discouraged by the report of the geologists Brown and Sawkins, who stated that Guyana was unlikely to produce large quantities of gold. Further, the British Government at that period declared that there should be no mining in the area where gold was found in that region because it had an agreement with Venezuela that due to existing territorial claims, neither country should occupy it.

Abraham returned to Guyana where he established a business association with D'Amil, a Portuguese woodcutter, and they secretly mined for gold; both men became very wealthy.

In 1863, a quartz crushing

the Government (or acting Governor) of British Guiana, Charles Bruce, issued a public notice that licenses issued for gold mining were subjected to a subsequent settlement of the border dispute with Venezuela.

This notice did not help at all to encourage investors interested in gold mining.

This state of affairs changed in 1889 when the new Governor Viscount Gormanston announced in the Combined Court that the British Government would no longer recognise any Venezuelan claim east of the Schomburgk Line. He declared also that the territory near the Orinoco, where gold was also found, would become a separate administrative area known as the North West District.

of African men in the villages found great difficulty in finding employment in the estates and in the towns. Gold mining became a lure for these men and they singly or on groups departed for the interior districts in search of gold. Most of these miners operated independently or in small partnerships as soon as they staked mining claims in the interior areas where they "panned" for gold in the rivers. Since much of their diet consisted of salted pork, they began to be referred to as "pork-knockers". The settlement of Bartica, the gateway to the interior, became a busy service centre, growing rapidly in size and officially becoming a township in 1887.

As gold production grew, the sugar estates continued to face a serious threat of los-

'Washing' for gold in the Mazaruni circa 1908

Rice harvesting, British Guiana (no date)

Roadside on a sugar plantation, British Guiana (no date)

operation was started in the Cuyuni, but the low quantity of gold obtained forced it to close down.

In 1879, after information circulated that gold was found in other parts of Essequibo, many individuals left the coastal region and became independent gold miners in various tributaries of the Essequibo River. In October of that same year, one African gold miner, Jules Caman, using a placewashing system, found relatively large quantities in the Akaiwanna Creek and the Konawaruk Creek, two of the smaller tributaries of the Essequibo River. Gold was also found in areas near the source of the Demerara River.

The Venezuelan claim to most of Essequibo at first hampered the development of the gold industry in that area. As late as March 1887, the Officer Administering

The dismissal of the Venezuelan claim encouraged gold miners to rush back to the Essequibo region, particularly to the Potaro where large gold discoveries were made. The Essequibo Gold Mining Company was established and it operated mainly in the Potaro River area where it made rich finds and earned large profits for its investors.

Gold mining had a serious effect on labour on the coastal areas, especially in the sugar industry. This was because many of the male African workers departed for the gold fields with the hope of earning quick riches. In an effort to stem the drain of labour, the Government in 1880 imposed a royalty on would-be gold miners of two percent. But this did not halt the flow especially since sugar was fetching a low price in Europe. Earnings were never sufficient and hundreds

ing many of its skilled workers.

The Government in 1896 published its ‘Mining Regulations’, which placed a number of demands on gold miners, possibly with an intention of discouraging them from moving to the gold fields. Prospectors, in addition to the royalty they had to pay, now had to fill out lengthy forms to obtain licenses for which fees were charged.

In addition, they had to submit themselves to a body search when they were departing from the gold fields. Nevertheless, these actions did not deter more and more persons from becoming gold miners, some of whom branched out into digging up the gravel banks of the river to search for diamonds after those gems were discovered in Mazaruni. (Text from “The Guyana Story: From Earliest Times to Independence” by Odeen Ishmael)

8 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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Times Travel & Tourism

Foothills of the Kanuku Mountains

T

he Kanuku mountain range lies in the southern half of Guyana, Region Nine, and runs east to west,dividing the north and south Rupununi. These mountains are internationally recognised as being extremely rich in biodiversity.

The Kanukus contain habitats as diverse as gallery forests, lowland forests and montane evergreen forests and savannah. It is home to 70% of all mammals and 53% of all birds known to exist in Guyana.

At least five of the South American giants

live at the Kanuku Mountains - the Harpy Eagle, Black Caiman, Giant River Otter, Arapaima fish and the Giant Anteater.

The Macushi and Wapishana peoples make up the populationsliving in communities in or near to the Kanuku Mountains, caring and wisely using the resources in traditional ways.

Nappi, a Macushi Amerindian community, is found sitting in the hills of the Kanuku Mountains.

A house in Nappi with the Kanuku Mountains in the background

Rain descends on the mountains

Nappi Creek, Kanuku Mountains (Photo by Julie de Carvalho)

Scenic view of the Kanuku Mountains from Maparri River

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Can You Be Overweight and Healthy?

W

e know that carrying some extra weight can increase the risks of conditions like heart disease, high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and even death. But is being slightly overweight really so unhealthy? The answer might surprise you.

Excess weight and a laundry list of healthy concerns are not always synonymous. But, don’t be so quick to ward off a healthy diet and exercise — this subgroup of overweight people, dubbed the metabolically healthy obese, fit some very specific criteria.

Defining the risks Body mass index: An individual’s risks for these conditions don’t depend solely on the numbers that appear on the scale, nor on any other single measure, like body mass index.

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure used to determine body fat based on a person’s height and weight, and is typically used to assess the risks your weight has on your health, but even that is an imperfect mea-

sure.

“I use risk to define everything,” Neil McDevitt, MD, a bariatric surgeon with Summerville Medical Center, U.S., says. “There's a lot of social issues that go into what people feel comfortable with, so we use a BMI chart to give us an overall gestalt of what your general risk is, based on your weight,” he adds.

By definition, overweight and obese people have a BMI greater than 25 or 30, respectively, but, “there's a weakness inherent in BMI charts,” McDevitt says. “It doesn't take into consideration muscle mass.”

That’s not all. The healthiest BMI for longevity might not fall within the normal range (18.5 to 25), although the jury is still out on the optimal BMI for lowest mortality. In fact, one study suggests the “sweet spot” for longevity is a BMI of 27, which you’ll find right in the middle of the overweight range. Other studies, still, suggest the lowest rates of mortality are among those with a BMI between 20 and 24.

Hip-to-waist ratio: Concerns over weight may not be directly related to how much fat a person is carrying, but where on the body they’re carrying it. One major risk factor of metabolic syndrome is a large midsection, often described as an “apple-shaped” figure.

“We look at something called the hipto-waist ratio,” McDevitt says.

“The World Health Organization says that abdominal obesity is significantly more of a risk

This Is What a Healthy Plate Looks Like

factor than obesity of the periphery of the body.”

The measure used to determine fat distribution is known as hip-to-waist ratio — a comparison between the smallest part of the waist and largest part of the hip.

A ratio of one or greater for men and .8 or greater for women, is considered an apple shape, and thus carries a greater potential for obesity-related health risks and death.

In combination with BMI, waist circumference gives a good picture a person’s risk of obesity-related mortality — even if you fall within a healthy BMI range.

Other factors: Exercise tolerance and genetics play a role in determining the risks of your weight on your health, as well. “There's a huge difference between somebody who has a higher BMI, who is only able to walk one thousand steps a day, versus somebody who is capable of walking nine or ten thousand steps a day,” McDevitt says.

Good genes can very well bless an overweight individual with normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels, thereby relieving some pressure to shed the pounds.

Extra pounds may be OK “What I look at is sustainability — if somebody has a BMI of 27 or 28, but they’re healthy, making good food choices, exercising, and they’re able to maintain that BMI, then I don’t really foresee an issue,” McDevitt says. “Why should we push them any harder, unless they want to be a lighter weight?”

The bottom line? A BMI that is indicative of being overweight or obese doesn’t innately make in individual unhealthy. “So, it is very possible, and very acceptable, to be overweight and still be healthy,” McDevitt says.

Before you run to the pantry, keep in mind, metabolically healthy obesity isn’t common — about one in every seven people — and it

might not last forever. Age, lack of exercise, and other factors can turn that excess weight into a dangerous health concern.

Although extra baggage is OK for some, excess weight is a problem for many — two out of three Americans are considered overweight or obese, and many of them are unhealthy.

There are certainly some people whose bodies aren’t built to handle excess weight. In these cases, they may develop metabolic syndrome — a group of risk factors that up your chance of developing issues like heart disease and diabetes.

Excess weight can also take a toll on your knee and hip joints, your ability to sleep, and has been linked to respiratory issues and even some cancers. Don’t sweat (or do) — many of these conditions can be managed with weight loss. In the simplest terms, losing weight is a matter of burning more calories than you consume.

The only sure fire way to assess these risks is to visit your doctor. Work with your healthcare provider to create a diet and exercise regimen that works with your lifestyle. “Adjust your lifestyle, so that you don't have to work harder,” McDevitt says. “If you make better food choices consistently, you don't necessarily have to make up for it at the gym.” (www.doctoroz.com)

Benefits of Grapefruit Juice

O

ut of all the fresh produce in the supermarket, grapefruits are too often overlooked, thanks to their reputation for being somewhat bitter tasting. However, the health benefits in this citrus fruit far outweigh the cons, making grapefruit juice an excellent addition to a healthy diet. Just be sure to juice the fruit yourself to get all the vitamins and nutrients and none of the unhealthy sugars that come from the store-bought variety.

Low-Calorie If you are looking for a refreshing beverage that won’t cost you a ton of calories, you can skip past the smoothies and milkshakes and go straight for the juice of one medium grapefruit instead. For around 70 calories, you will get a generous serving of vitamin C and vitamin A. Immunity A medium-sized grapefruit has about 128% of your daily-recommended vitamin C intake (based

on a 2,000 calorie diet). By drinking grapefruit juice you can support your immune system and potentially even fight off the common cold and other illnesses that strike when your immune system is defenseless and depleted.

Cholesterol The pectin in grapefruit may help lower your cholesterol if you include this juice as part of a healthy diet. Some studies have shown that regular consumption of pectin helped lower LDL cholesterol, though as always it’s important to maintain a healthy diet as well. While pectin doesn’t come from the juice, it is in the seeds, membranes, and the thick white pith of the grapefruit, so you can eat the grapefruit whole in addition to juicing it for the full effect.

Calming Citrus scents are known for being invigorating and stress reducing. If you’re feeling anxious or tired, try taking in the scent of your grapefruit as you squeeze the grapefruit juice into your cup. You’ll be surprised how much more alert and happy you feel.

Hydrating Did you know that grapefruits are made up almost entirely of water? If you’re feeling dehydrated, a glass of grapefruit juice is a great choice. Like watermelon or cucumbers, this fruit is particularly delicious on a hot day when you lose a lot of water from sweating outside. www.doctoroz.com)

10 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Fashion

Designer bow ties G

uyanese designer Andy Cummings recently launched a chic collection of bow ties, showcasing his designing talents in creating applauded pieces for a distinct look.

“I launched my brand of bowties at this year’s International Women's Day celebration in La Guyane.My new breed of ties is for the new-age, high fashion men who are tired of plain ties.

The Caribbean is known for alot of tie-dye and discharge, so I introduce my new tie-dye and discharge bowties. Because I cannot forget my African heritage, I use bold African prints with bright colours, which always stands out from ‘normal’ ties,” the designer explained in an

interview with Sunday Times Magazine.

Cummings graduated from the Burrowes School of Art in 2012 with a major in Ceramics and minor in Textiles. He was awarded best graduating student and best ceramic student for his year. In that same year, he won the Guyana Model Search/Designers Portfolio, which gave him the opportunity to be fashion partner with veteran Guyanese designer Sonia Noel. Cummings was named Most Promising Young Designer of 2013.

Forever looking for newer and bigger challenges to conquer, in late 2014 the designer decided to enter “Mission Catwalk” - a regional design-

er competition that targets the Caribbean’s best young designers. He made inroads again when he became the first designer from Guyana to make it to the finals of the competition.

Cummings was able to secure the “Most Promising Designer of the Year” title.

Now, the designer’s dreams, which he is working feverishly to make a reality, are to pursue a fashion degree from an accredited university and to work for an international fashion company with the aim of one day operating his own establishment.

To contact the designer, email a.acummings68@yahoo. com. Ties featured today are available at Unique Boutique in Merriman's Mall.

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Sunday Times Magazine 11 MARCH 26 , 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Hollywood

Z

oe Saldana is an American actress and dancer.

Following her performances with the theater group Faces, Saldana made her screen debut in an episode of “Law & Order” (1999). Her film career began a year later with “Center Stage” (2000), where she played a struggling ballet dancer, followed by a role in “Crossroads” (2002).

Saldana's breakthrough came in 2009 with the roles of Nyota Uhura in “Star Trek” and Neytiri in James Cameron's “Avatar” (2009). The latter film received widespread acclaim, and is the highest-grossing film of all time. Saldana continued her career with films such as “Colombiana” (2011), “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014) and both “Star Trek” sequels: “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013) and “Star Trek Beyond” (2016). Saldana is set to reprise her roles in “Avatar 2” and “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, which is set to be released in May 2017.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Times Hollywood

Zayn Malik beats anxiety, Wyclef Jean mistaken eating disorder for petrol station thief M

Z

ayn Malik says his eating disorder and anxiety are now behind him and are "demons of the past" thanks to more time spent relaxing at home.

The singer, 24, has spoken before about his mental health problems but has now confessed it was a "control thing".

He launched a solo career after leaving One Direction more than a year ago, but had to cancel live performances because of low selfconfidence.

He says time with his mum in Bradford has also

really helped him.

In an interview, he spoke about how food was one of the only areas of his life he had autonomy over.

"Every area of my life was so regimented and controlled it was the one area where I could say, 'No, I'm not eating that.'

"Once I got over the control, the eating just came back into place, super naturally.

"I came back to the UK and spent some time with my mum and got some TLC, and she cooked me food and I got back in touch, mental-

ly, with a lot of the things I'd lost."

Last June he pulled out of his first European solo show at Wembley Stadium, saying he was suffering the worst anxiety of his career.

He said it was during his 1D days that his issues were at their worst.

"I now have no problem with anxiety. It was something I was dealing with in the band."

And he said it has helped break down barriers and stigmas which often stop someone speaking to other people about their mental health.

"People saw strength in that, and they didn't seem to expect it from a guy, but they expect it from a female, which to me is crazy.

"People are often afraid to admit difficulties, but I don't believe that there should be a struggle with anything that's the truth."

Zayn says his girlfriend Gigi Hadid has been a source of stability to him for the last year and a half.

(BBC)

‘The Big Bang Theory’ has been renewed for two more years

T

here had been speculation about whether the show would end at series 10, but CBS said it's struck a deal with producers to keep it on the air.

The main cast, made up or Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar are all signed up to continue in the show.

Deals are still being negotiated with their co-stars Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.

Earlier this month it was reported the five stars of the show had agreed to take pay cuts to make sure Rauch and Bialik would get raises.

Parsons and the other original stars are said to earn around a million dollars (£811,000) per episode, while Rauch and Bialik are thought to make about US200,000

dollars (£162,000).

They offered to take less to free up US500,000 dollars (£403,000) for Rauch and Bialik, who did not join the programme until the third series and are paid less.

As well as the confirmation of the new series, a prequel called Young Sheldon was recently confirmed to start later this year.

It's been created by Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro, the executive producers behind the original show.

Young Sheldon will star Iain Armitage as a nine-year-old Sheldon Cooper, one of the main characters in the hit show.

Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon, will narrate the new show as the adult Sheldon.

(BBC)

usician Wyclef Jean has criticised police in Los Angeles for mistaking him for a man who robbed a nearby petrol station.

The Haitian rapper tweeted a video of himself standing next to a police car after being handcuffed.

He claimed the LAPD put him in the cuffs for "absolutely nothing" but the force has since tweeted to say it wasn't them.

In fact officers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department were the ones who detained him.

Wyclef Jean is best known as one of the founding members of rap group Fugees and has worked with Shakira, Timbaland and Lil' Kim.

He says he was in the studio with the artist T-Baby when the petrol station robbery took place and claims he was only stopped

by the police afterwards because he was a black man in a bandana, which matched the identity of the robber.

In the clip he says he is "coming from the studio with T-Baby, y'all see the police have handcuffs on me, they just took off my Haitian bandana".

Speaking to BBC Newsbeat a spokesperson from the LA County Sheriff's department said that Wyclef Jean "was in the passenger seat of a vehicle that matched the description of the car used in an earlier armed robbery."

The police say it was case of mistaken identity and the singer was released without charge. (BBC)

Adele pays heartfelt tribute to those involved in Westminster attack

A

s the UK comes to terms with the events at Westminster, which happened on Wednesday, that saw four people dead and 29 injured, Brits further afield were similarly struck by feelings of grief.

Over in New Zealand, Adele performed an emotional tribute to those involved during her concert in Auckland on Thursday.

The London-born singer told fans that it felt "strange" not being at home before dedicating her hit single Make You Feel My Love to the victims.

"Today there was a terror attack in my hometown of London," she said.

"I'm literally on the other side of the world and I want them to see our lights and to hear us," she said.

"It's very strange not being home, all I want to do today is be at home with my friends and family".

She added: "All of them are fine, but there are four people who aren't fine, so let's dedicate this to them tonight." (Glamour)

Beyonce FaceTimes fan with rare form of cancer

B

eyonce has FaceTimed a fan who's being treated for a rare form of can-

cer.

Ebony Banks, who is a high school student from Houston, Texas, has always said one of her dreams is to meet Beyonce.

Earlier this month, the school held an early graduation for Ebony in the hospital, whose nickname is Ebob.

Her friends then used the hashtag #EBOBMEETSBEYONCE in the hope of attracting Beyonce's attention.

A few days after the hashtag trended the singer surprised Ebony with a call.

A recording of the conversation appeared on Beyonce fan pages.

Ebony is seen lying in a

hospital bed saying "I love you Beyonce" to which she replies, "I love you".

The school tweeted: "Thank you to everyone who helped #ebobmeetsbeyonce @ Beyonce."

Cristal Depaz, another pupil at the school, said: "We try to make sure she has a smile on her face and to make her wishes come true." (BBC)

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

Z

ain Imam is an Indian television actor.

He made his television debut with MTV India's youth based show, “Kaisi Yeh Yaariaan”. He is best known for his role in “Tashn-e-ishq” as Yuvraj Luthra. Zain is currently seen in “Naamkarann”, an Indian Hindi romantic drama television series. For his work in “Tashn-e-ishq”, he was awarded Favourite Dushman at Zee Rishtey Awards 2015 and Best Actor in a Negative Role at Zee Gold Awards 2016.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Bollywood

Deepika Padukone Akshay Kumar urges everyone to build toilets has the highest, most coveted brands W

ith one more brand added in Deepika Padukone’s pool, the dimpled beauty sustains her position of having the highest number of brands and the most coveted ones.

The Mastani of Bollywood has recently been announced as the face of a mobile manufacturing giant and is now the brand ambassador of as many as 18 quality brands across various segments.

The “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” star, who has left no stone unturned in making herself a global icon, is a hot name in the brands circuit because of her massive popularity.

On the professional front, the 31-yearold is currently gearing up for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum-opus “Padmavati” that also stars Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor in lead roles. (New Delhi)

Shahid Kapoor: ‘Past with Kareena Kapoor is world secret’

H

appily married to Mira, and loving his new real life role as a father, actor Shahid Kapoor chose to “get back” when asked about his “secret past” with Kareena Kapoor Khan on Friday.

Shahid was at the India Today Woman Summit and Awards when an audience member was keen to know about his “secret past”.

“I have a secret past,” Shahid asked, almost puzzled.

“How do you know about it? Were you spying on me? I can’t confess to my secret past,” he added.

On being prodded with Kareena’s name, he said, “How is that secret, madam? It’s a world secret.”

Later, when Shahid was asked to teach one of his dance steps to the audience, he invited the same lady who wanted him to talk about Kareena. “The lady who said, Kareena Kapoor, I want her on the stage.

See, this is Karma, life gets back. What goes around comes around and it’s not just Justin Timberlake who said that... It’s true for life,” he quipped.

Shahid and Kareena had one of the most talked about relationships in tinsel town in recent years, and their split courted equal media attention.

Kareena went on to marry actor-producer Saif Ali Khan, and is now a mother to their first child -- a son named Taimur.

Shahid went for an arranged marriage

A

ctor Akshay Kumar talks from his heart and when he does, fans can’t help but listen. In his latest video, the actor has taken up the cause to spread awareness about open defecation and highlighted how it’s one of the major problems in our country. Making it clear that this video is in no way a promotional activity or publicity for his upcoming film, about the same subject, Akshay said that he was shaken to find shocking facts during the research for his film.

Addressing the issue of open defecation, Akshay said, “More than half of the population in our country, especially women, do not have access to toilets and they have to

Jacqueline Fernandez takes up marine conservation with Delhi girl Mira, and they have daughter Misha.

In the midst of the discussion here, when the host said she won’t go into his past relationships, he said, “So kind of you.

Shaadikebaadyeh sab mat kiyakaro (Don’t do all this after marriage).”

He spoke about love and arranged relationships.

Asked if love is a prerequisite for a marriage, Shahid said, “Of course, it is, but in an arranged marriage, it’s about companionship and friendship first, and love follows.”

(New Delhi)

Ayushmann Khurrana: 'I like learning new languages'

A

yushmann Khurrana has played various characters on screen such as a quintessential boy from Haridwar (“Dum Laga Ke Haisha”; 2015), a Maharashtrian boy (“Hawaizaada”; 2015) and now a Bengali in an upcoming movie.

Ask him if it’s his Indian appeal that has earned him such roles, and he says, “I think it is because of my theatre background. We’d travel across the nation doing street plays and interact with people belonging to different backgrounds.”

defecate in the open. Since they cannot go in broad daylight, they step out, out of their homes, as early as 4 in the morning and go out to the jungles or fields to defecate.”

The actor called it ironic that in a country where women are expected to cover their heads, they are also expected to defecate in the open, in dirty surroundings.

Calling it a practice that makes everyone prone to ailments, Akshay shared: “As many as one thousand kids are dying every day due to illness. It’s like two airplanes carrying 500 kids each crashing everyday in our country.”

It’s the thinking that needs to change, Akshay added. “People think when there are such vast jungles and fields in villages, why does one need to build toilets? It’s shocking that 54% people in our country do not have toilets in their homes. They don’t understand that if kitchen and bedroom is necessary, so are toilets.”

Sharing the statistics, the actor revealed that in the last one year, the government has built over 10 toilets.

“But unfortunately, most people have tied their cattle or are using them as storeroom and some have made them into shops.

I fail to understand why we need to wait for the government to take such initiatives. We can’t easily wash off our hands and let government take action.”

Making another strong point, Akshay said that whatever we donate in the name of religion, we can give at least 10% of it to the needy, and build toilets for them to improve their lives.

Urging people to change their thought process, the actor concluded by saying, “Clean India is a dream and it can be accomplished only when we pledge to keep our houses clean and take care of everyone’s health and hygiene. Please improve both your thoughts and hygiene.” (Hindustan Times)

Apparently, the actor has a penchant for languages. “I am a linguist. I like learning new languages and have a knack for it. I play a Bengali in my next film.

So now, I can understand Bengali completely,” says Ayushmann, who is well versed in Marathi too.

“It has been eight years in Mumbai; I can understand the language. It’s because my Sanskrit — the root language for every Indian language — is very strong. So, it really helps me. In fact, my Hindi is stronger than Punjabi,”

says the actor whose childhood days at home were full of “references of Harivansh Rai Bachchan and Munshi Premchand”.

Not many know that the actor has a Burma connect, and knows a bit of Burmese too. “My mum is half Burmese and she would recite Burmese poems when we were kids. I cannot speak Burmese well but I know Burmese nursery rhymes. Though it is not the most widely spoken language in the world, it is quaint for sure,” says the actor. (Hindustan Times)

J

acqueline Fernandez, with much talked about projects in her kitty, is surely will have a good 2017. However, it is not just movies on her mind now, she is all ready to take up social causes as well. The star will associate herself with the cause of marine conservation as she plans to lend support to the environmental cause, in or-

der to save marine life.

Jacqueline shares, “Around the world, marine ecosystems are being threatened, degraded, damaged or destroyed by human activities, one of which is pollution.

Taking a stroll along any beach or a ride on a ferry, one will get an idea of just how much litter is floating around in the form of the sand strewn with plastic bottles, fish boxes, light bulbs, flip-flops, scraps of fishing net or timber.”

Further adding, “The scene is the same the world over, for the seas are full of garbage. I’ve witnessed this many times on the ferry to Alibaug or to Madh Island and it’s an extremely disheartening sight. I really feel we need to educate people and spread awareness on Marine conservation.”

The thought of marine conservation has been always in her mind and the actress is looking forward to creating awareness on the cause.

“We can start with the smallest of steps to contribute towards Marine Conservation, like restricting or reducing our use of plastic products as plastic end up as ocean debris contributing to habitat destruction and entangling and killing tens of thousands of marine animals each year. We can also help by not littering beaches and waterways, disposing off waste in an environmentally safe way and reusing and recycling whenever possible,” she said. (New Delhi)

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

15

Times Feature

Star of the week

S

tacy Persaud, a “freelance” model, ardently focuses on developing the entertainment industry and effecting change through it. She believes that modelingis a “unique part of the arts”, as it plays an integral role in boosting her confidence and empowering her. Stacy has exclusively worked with Nachle designs, owned by Guyanese designers Hashim and Melicia Alli. Apart from modeling, Stacy’s passion is being a dancer, which she has been since the age of three. She spent many years with the Ishara Dance Troupe, founded by Shivanie Latchman.

Stacy credits the dance group for the endearing qualitiesshe has developed over the years. Qualities such as “love and care” have motivated Stacy to give back.

Being a member of the Nirvana Humanitarian Society, Stacy offers her services through different forms of the arts and is also engaged in feeding programs, which she does annually. She expressed: “Humanity is the ultimate goal in one's mind hence the typical quote applies, ‘The more you give the more you received.’ In my years of offering to others, I will never forget to always remain humble.” Presently, Stacy is a University of Guyana student pursuing a diploma in Business Marketing.

The aspiring entrepreneur hopes to one day be “successful and to leave a legacy of solid contribution towards our entertainment industry”. Her advice to youths is to “always remember to remain humble, take chances, conquer trials and keep in mind that no matter how hard it gets better will soon come”. (Photo by Shamer Hescott)

Trending Now

Rainbow Roots T

he latest ‘big thing’ is called rainbow roots. This trend, which has been dominating Instagram, sees a myriad of colours applied to the roots of the hair, really close to the scalp, so that when the wind blows the rainbow is exposed.

Because the colours are only applied to the roots of the hair, this trend is a little different to your everyday rainbow hair; it’s a lot softer and less in your face.

A few things to keep in mind: Rainbow roots need to be applied to prelightened blonde hair.

Brunettes, who are interested in trying the look, have to lighten their roots first using a safe bleaching product. Consult a professional hairstylist on bleaching your hair.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Art

‘Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey’

100th anniversary of the abolition of Indian indentureship. The costumes also bear similarity to those that were owned by the Indians when they were first brought to Guyana. “The reason for me choosing to highlight sugar is due to the fact that it brought everybody to Guyana, each race,” the artist noted.

Brian Tankoon pointed out: “For the occasion, I will be focusing solely on the Chinese, seeing that I was stripped Artist Betsy Karim

T

o commemorate the centenary of the abolition of the Indian indentureship, the Arts Forum and the Guyana Indian Indentureship Abolition Association are sponsoring an exhibition of works by several Indian Guyanese artistsat the National Library, Georgetown.

Guyanese artist Bernadette Persaud

The exhibition, “Ganga Ship 1917: The Long Journey”, will commence from March 28to April 1, 2017. Participants in the exhibition will include nationally and acclaimed regionally artist Bernadette Persaud, along with notable national artists PhilbertGajadhar and

Michael Khan.

Another recognised artist, Betsy Karim, will present, among other pieces, installation costumes that pay tribute to the Hindu gods Ganesha, Siva and Durga. These will be modelled live at the formal opening on March 28.

Emerging artist

DarshaniKistama will also be showcasing her fabric art in a Rajput sari piece, along with more traditional canvas pieces done in acrylic and watercolour.

Two other newcomers, Brian Tankoon and Ramroop Mahase, will be exhibiting some of their pieces for the first time in a national art exhibition. Sunday Times Magazine’s Page 6 contributor, Petamber Persaud, will also showcase a display of books written by and about Indian Guyanese.

Some of the participating artists shared their inspiration behind their work and the significance of thechosen pieces to be exhibited with this publication.

Betsy Karim said she will be displaying three pieces (consisting of skirt and top), celebrating the 'The List' by Brian Tankoon

of the Chinese heritage.

My piece will give a little insight into the Chinese culture, my inspiration for this.”

Michael Khan added: “I lecture textiles at the University and I love the whole concept of weaving, so my inspiration usually comes from weaving materials, then I put a concept to that.”

The exhibition is opened to the public from 9am to 5pm and on Saturday from 9am to 2pm. Admission is free.

All are invited to the exhibition’s formal opening on March 28 at 5pm.

Schools that wish to bring study groups to the exhibition may call 220-3337 to make arrangements.

The exhibition will continue at the National Art Gallery, Castellani House, from April 11 to May 6, 2017.

'An Installation Costume' by Betsy Karim

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

A

pple announced a load of new products recently.

From glamorous red iPhones to cheap new iPads, the California tech company unveiled updates, refreshes, and accessories for many of its product lines.

Apple didn't hold a big media event to coincide with the announcements either. Instead, it briefed a few media outlets and dumped the updates on its website.

Here are some key announcements by Apple:

Special-edition iPhone 7 (RED) The (RED) special edition of the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus comes only in 128 GB and 256 GB options, not the 64 GB option.

Apart from the color change, it's still the same iPhone 7.

With each purchase of a red iPhone 7, Apple contributes to (RED), which supports HIV/AIDS prevention and research.

New iPads Apple updated and simplified its iPad line on March 21, 2017. Now you can get an iPad Mini, the new 9.7-inch iPad, or the iPad Pro in 9.7-inch or 12.9-inch varieties.

The new 9.7-inch iPad is a bit thicker than the iPad Air 2 — its case is about the size of the original iPad Air — but it has a much cheaper price tag, starting at $329 for 32 GB of storage (£339 in the UK).

That tablet is powered by Apple's fast A9 chip — the same one that's in the iPhone 6S — but it lacks the special screen on the iPad Pro, including its True Tone display and wide color range. It also doesn't come with the iPad Pro's stereo speakers.

New Apple Watch bands Apple introduced a handful of new Apple Watch bands so customers can further customize their watches. The new options include a new striped woven nylon, Nike Sport, and Apple Watch Hermès bands.

Tech BYTE

A

New iPhone cases Apple introduced six new colors of iPhone 7 and 7 Plus cases.

The new color options for the silicone models include Azure, Camellia, and Pebble (US$35, or £35 in the UK).

For the leather options, the new colors include Berry, Taupe, and Sapphire (US$49 or £49).

(Business Insider)

A new app called Clips Apple's newest app is called Clips, and it's a mix of Snapchat and iMovie. It lets you create photos or short videos — or import them from your Photos app — to add special filters and effects before sharing them to your favorite social network.

Fruit-shaped sensor 'can improve freshness'

new fruit-shaped sensor could help cargo companies to keep fruit fresher in transit, researchers say.

The device - which mimics the size, shape and composition of real fruit - is packed in with produce in transit and closely monitors its temperature.

It comes in orange, apple, banana and mango varieties, and alerts firms to problems with their cooling processes, allowing them to take action.

It could also lead to fresher fruit for consumers, researchers said.

The project, which is still at the trial stage, is being conducted by the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa).

Communications spokeswoman Cornelia Zogg explained: "Mangos, bananas and oranges have usually travelled long distances by the time they reach our shops.

"However, not all the cargo makes it safely to its destination.

"Although fruit is inspected regularly, some of it is damaged or may even perish during the journey. This is because monitoring still has significant scope for improvement."

The researchers say this creates risks for both suppliers and consumers.

State food agencies can order container

Improvements to the iPhone SE Apple is ditching the 16 GB and 64 GB models of the iPhone SE and replacing them with 32 GB and 128 GB options. The cheapest iPhone SE model still costs US$399, while the higher-end version has gone from US$449 back to its original price of US$499. (In the UK it's £379 or £479.)

loads of fruit to be destroyed if it hasn't been stored at the right temperatures.

And fruit which is overripe or not fresh can end up being sold to consumers.

"Cargo could be left outside during a layover, or you could have a power outage during transit, all of which affects quality," project leader ThijsDefraeye told the BBC. "Exporters do have ways to measure freshness, but our sensor is more accurate because it simulates the characteristics of individual types of fruit."

To achieve this, the team X-rayed real fruits and modelled their shape and texture, he says.

They then determined the exact composition of each fruit's flesh and simulated it in a laboratory, using a mixture of water, carbohydrates and polystyrene.

The mixture was poured into a fruit-shaped sensor mould, created on a 3D printer.

MrDefraeye said: "If something goes wrong, suppliers will be able to access the temperature data from the whole journey and work out what happened.

"We hope this will help them control their sanitary protocols and cut the cost and time of logistics."

Field tests for the sensors are under way and the researchers are looking for potential commercial partners. (BBC)

Tech news

F

Google balloon mistaken for UFO

armers living in central Tolima province in Colombia say they were terrified when an object they took to be a UFO crashed in a field on Sunday.

"It was smoking and a strange liquid was leaking from it," a resident of the small town of San Luis said.

Police have since identified the object as an internet balloon developed by X, a company founded by Google, to boost the signal in rural areas.

It is not yet clear what caused the bal-

loon to crash.

Tolima police commander Jorge Esguerra denied previous reports on Twitter and local media which had described the object as a satellite.

"It's a technological device used by Google which moves around and is held aloft by a balloon," he explained, adding that it formed part of X's Project Loon.

X, which was formerly known as Google X, is using the devices to extend internet connectivity to people in rural and remote areas by having the balloons, which travel on the edge of space, relay the signal.

But many people in the rural area near San Luis where it crashed said they were convinced it was something more sinister.

"We all thought it was a UFO or the remains of a space craft," locals told El Tiempo newspaper.

It is not the first time a Project Loon balloon has crashed.

In February 2016, one came down at a tea plantation in Sri Lanka during a test flight. (BBC)

18 Sunday Times Magazine

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Times Home & Cooking

Recipe of the Week

A

By Cindy Yanasha Angulo

dding a throw to a living room can give it a completely different look and style.

Get inspired by these ideas to add some style to your living room.

Putting a throw against the back of a sofa gives the living room an inviting look

Ingredients 2 cups allpurpose flour (plus additional for rolling out the naan) 1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used Greek yogurt) 1/2 cup warm water 1 packet yeast 1 teaspoon sugar 1.5 tablespoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons salted butter (melted) 1 teaspoon parsley flakes Method Put the warm water in a measuring cup with the packet of yeast and sugar. Stir to combine; then set aside for the yeast to activate.

Use a small bowl to melt the butter and combine with the minced garlic. Add parsley flakes also.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, granulated garlic and some parsley flakes and mix to combine.

Once the yeast is bubbly (about 10 minutes), add the olive oil and yogurt to it.

Stir until the yogurt dissolves.

Pour the yeast mixture into the bowl with the flour and start kneading. Take more dry flour if you need to.

Matching a throw with pillows gives the living room a touch of elegance

S

Greatest Cooking Tips

easoning a sauce comes at the end, if at all, and never during the process of making it. This will make a tasty, not bland, sauce.

Open the oven door too early and too often and an under-baked cake might crack or cave in the middle. The early stages in the process of baking can be crucial for the proper development of baked goods.

Tongs are an extension of your hand. Use it to flip meat, pull a pan out of the oven, stabilize a steak while slicing and much more.

O Adding a brightly-coloured throw adds an unexpected pop to the living room

Once the dough is formed, cover the bowl with a paper towel and set it aside to rise. I put mine in a microwave (leave it off though).

Leave it to rise for about an hour.

Take the dough out and break pieces off a little larger than golf balls.

Heat a large cast iron skillet on mediumhigh heat. Roll out the naan using a rolling pin.

Pour a little vegetable oil in the skillet, then place the naan in the middle. Let it bubble up for about 30 seconds then flip.

Once you flip the naan, brush on the garlic butter mixture. Use tongs to remove the naan once it's cooked on the other side.

Repeat with all the other naan.

Enjoy with paneer makhani or your favourite curry! (www.yanashaskitchen.com)

Home Help

pt for patterned upholstery, which conceals dirt better than solid fabric.

Arrange furniture six inches from walls instead of flush against them so there will be fewer smudges from bumping to tend to later.

You’ll also have easier access to dusty corners that need a visit from a dust mop.

Use ketchup to remove tarnish from copper and brass cookware.

Squeeze ketchup onto a cloth and rub it on pots and pans. They should go back to their coppery colour in minutes. Rinse with warm water and dry with a towel.

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Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

B

iting is a part of almost every little kid's life -- either he puts his fangs to someone else or someone sinks her teeth into him. How to handle both:

A

JOKES

frog telephones the Psychic Hotline and his Personal Psychic Advisor tells him: "You are going to meet a beautiful young girl who will want to know everything about you." The frog is thrilled, "This is great!

Will I meet her at a party?" "No," says his Advisor, "in her biology class."

A

little girl asked her mother, "How did the human race appear?"

The mother answered, "God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so was all mankind made..."

Two days later the girl asked her father the same question.. The father answered, "Many years ago there were monkeys from which the human race evolved."

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?"

The mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his."

W W

alking into a lawyer’s office, a man asked what his rates were. "Fifty dollars for three questions," the lawyer stated. "Isn't that awfully expensive?" the man asked?" "Yes," replied the lawyer.

"What's your third question?" hen a guy's printer type began to grow faint, he called a local repair shop where a friendly man informed him that the printer probably needed only to be cleaned.

Because the store charged $50 for such cleanings, he told him he might be better off reading the printer's manual and trying the job himself.

Pleasantly surprised by his candour, he asked, "Does your boss know that you discourage business?"

"Actually, it's my boss's idea," the employee replied sheepishly, "We usually make more money on repairs if we let people try to fix things themselves first."

F

armer Joe decided his injuries from the accident were serious enough to take the trucking company (responsible for the accident) to court. In court, the trucking company's fancy lawyer was questioning farmer Joe. "Didn't you say, at the scene of the accident, 'I'm fine?" questioned the lawyer.

Farmer Joe responded, "Well I'll tell you what happened. I had just loaded my favoUrite mule Bessie into the..."

"I didn't ask for any details," the lawyer interrupted, "just answer the question. Did you not say, at the scene of the accident, “’I'm fine!'"

Farmer Joe said, "Well I had just got Bessie into the trailer and I was driving down the road..."

The lawyer interrupted again and said, "Judge, I am trying to establish the fact that, at the scene of the accident, this man told the Highway Patrolman on the scene that he was just fine. Now several weeks after the accident he is trying to sue my client. I believe he is a fraud. Please tell him to simply answer the question."

By this time the Judge was fairly interested in Farmer Joe's answer and said to the lawyer, "I'd like to hear what he has to say about his favourite mule Bessie."

Joe thanked the Judge and proceeded, "Well as I was saying, I had just loaded Bessie, my favourite mule, into the trailer and was driving her down the highway when this huge semi-truck and trailer ran the stop sign and smacked my truck right in the side. I was thrown into one ditch and Bessie was thrown into the other. I was hurting real bad and didn't want to move. However, I could hear ole Bessie moaning and groaning. I knew she was in terrible shape just by her groans.

Shortly after the accident a Highway Patrolman came on the scene. He could hear Bessie moaning and groaning so he went over to her. After he looked at her he took out his gun and shot her between the eyes. Then the Patrolman came across the road with his gun in his hand and looked at me. He said, "Your mule was in such bad shape I had to shoot her. How are you feeling?"

When your child's the biter Get eye to eye with the nipper. Then, using a stern voice, say, "No. We don't bite." Babies as young as 9 months can understand that, and given that they usually bite because they're teething, a gentle but firm no typically suffices. Older babies and toddlers tend to chomp out of frustration or anger and require further action.

Immediately remove the biter for a mini time-out, which will help defuse the intense feelings. For most toddlers, even a 30-second break will feel like an eternity.

Once he's calmer, have him tell the other child, "Sorry."

Not talking yet? A gentle pat will do. The goal is to introduce the idea of empathy, says David Schonfeld, M.D., director of developmental pediatrics at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, U.S. If the tot continues to bite a lot going forward, praise him whenever you see him not doing it during a similar situation. You

can say something like, "Harry, I'm proud of you for asking Sally nicely to share the toy." Should the habit continue beyond age 2 or after several weeks of positive reinforcement for not biting, check in with your pediatrician.

When your kid's the bitee If your child is bitten by another, wash the bite with soap and water right away, even if the skin's not broken. If there's even a little bleeding, apply antibiotic ointment and cover with a bandage. Actual deep puncture wound? Call the doctor; she may prescribe an antibiotic.

Keep an eye out for signs of infection, such as redness or swelling at the bite site, or a fever.

STORY TIME

Flowers

By Lakeram Haynes

A

very long time ago, a family lived in a place that is known today as Wowetta, in the North Rupununi. During one of their outing into the nearby forest, the family heard a noise coming from the mountain, which is very high to our standards. It sounded as if a creature was blowing into a bamboo whistle from the top of the mountain: Tuuuuung, tuuuuuuuung…

They wanted to know what was making such a strange noise. But as soon as it stopped, a very strong wind engulfed the whole forest and the area was plunged into darkness, as sudden rains developed. The family got so scared that they decided to hastily head back to their camp, which fortunately was not too far away.

Another day, they managed to observe the creature. It took the form of a giant domesticated cat, which had lots of bright spots on its body, what is today known as the Jaguar. It was making the exact noise as the one they had heard before when the storm and rain had passed through the forest, Tuuuuung, tuuuuuuuung. This time, however, the creature had come down the mountain into the savannah. Despite having weapons to defend themselves, the family had to make good escape. The Jaguar was so huge and mighty that they did not stand a chance!

After this, no one was allowed to venture into the savannah or the nearby forest for a long time as the massive Jaguar was known to be lurking in the area, and it was by far the largest creature they had ever seen in their lifetime.

A long time passed and people eventually started to go back to the forbidden area. They were relieved to notice that the bamboo whistle

sound could not be heard anymore. Out of curiosity, they even decided to overnight in the area, and spent a very quiet night. To make sure that it had disappeared for good, they returned several nights but to their relief, the noise was gone and so was the creature.

It was suspected that the Jaguar may have died or moved away. They decided to call the savannah Kiwan Piti, or Jaguar Point Savannah.

But people wondered what had caused the Jaguar to be so big in size. It was thought later on that the abundance of yellow-footed tortoises in the savannah and the forest might have been the reason.

Uncle Campbell confirmed to me that during his young days, he used to run into an abundance of turtles congregating in the savannah. He said, “For the jaguar, feeding on these turtles would have been an easy life.” But an elder man had told him that in the centre of the savannah there is an island forest, and in the centre of this forest, there is a boulder in the shape of a canister that looks almost like a turtle. It was believed to be the master of the turtles, which is why they were always found in abundance there.As people realized that these turtles were a good source of food, they started to harvest them.

In recent times, their population has dwindled and the time has come to protect them, but the memory of their abundance has remained and is passed from generation to generation through storytelling and in the names given to the landscape. Today, we call this savannah Turtle Ranch. (This story was told to Lakeram by uncle Campbell Ewell, resident of Wowetta village, in the North Rupununi; www.pantaniblog.org)

I have never learnt the names of flowers From beginning, my world has been a place Of pot-holed streets, where thick, sluggish gutters race In slow time, away from garbage heaps and sewers Past balanced old houses around which cowers Stagnant earth.

There scarce green things grew to chase The dull-grey squalor of sick dust; no trace Of plant save few sparse weeds; just these, no flowers.

One day they cleared a space and made a park There in the city’s slums; and suddenly Came stark glory like lightning in the dark, While perfume and dark petals thundered slowly.

I learnt no names, but hue, shape and scent mark My mind, even now, with symbols holy.

-- Dennis Craig

T

he English language has a varied and ever changing vocabulary. Let’s take a

look at the interesting histories of some common English words.

X According to OED research, an ‘x’ was first used to represent a kiss in a 1763 letter from Naturalist Gilbert White.

Over the years, people have been using “xoxo” in letters and cards to signify “kisses and hugs”.

Awkward The adjective ‘awkward’ is based on the Old Norse afugr, meaning ‘turned the wrong way around’. In this sense, it could be applied, for instance, to an animal that was on its back and was unable to get up.

Clue ‘Clue’ originally meant

‘a ball of thread’. Its current meaning came via the idea of thread being used to guide somebody out of a maze.

Computer The word ‘computer’ has been used to refer to a person since 1613, to a machine since 1869, and to an electronic device since 1946.

Corridor Have you ever been told not to run in corridors? Well, corridor evolved from Latin currere ‘to run’ and actually means ‘running place’. The modern sense of ‘a long passage in a building’ dates from the early 19th century.

Girl In early use, ‘girl’ was used to refer to a child or young person of either sex. The origin of the term is not known for certain, but it is perhaps related to Low German gör, meaning ‘child’.

20 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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Times Sunday Puzzle

T

here were 9 children, all of whom were in the same family. They were all born 18 months apart.

The oldest one (George) was 5 times older than the youngest one (Michael).

How old was Michael? see ANSWERS on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Sunday Times Magazine

21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

The Walking Catfish

T

he walking catfish is a major ‘invasive species’ (which means a type of plant or animal that is not indigenous to a particular area and causes economic or environmental harm) in the US state of Florida.

The walking catfish is native to Asia, common in ponds and freshwater fish farms from Pakistan to the Philippines. The fish's ability to survive in stagnant water makes it a valuable source of food, especially in Southeast Asia.

In the 1960s, aquaculture farmers in

Florida imported the fish. Within 10 years, the fish spread to 20 counties in the state.

The walking catfish was able to spread so quickly because of two unusual adaptations: It can breathe air, allowing it to survive out of water, and it can use its spiny front fins to waddle from wetland to wetland.

Walking catfish often feed in aquaculture ponds, "walking" from fish farm to fish farm, preying on the fish there and causing millions of dollars in damage. (National Geographic)

B

The Potaro River is known for its refreshing blackwater

lackwater rivers (or creeks) flow through forested swamps or wetlands. As vegetation decays, tannins (a compound found in plants that aids in plant growth and protection) leak into the water, making transparent water that is darkly stained, resembling tea or black coffee. Most major blackwater rivers are in the Amazon Basin and the Southern United States.

Not all dark rivers are blackwater in that technical sense. Some rivers in temperate regions, which drain or flow through areas of dark black loam, are simply black due to the colour of the soil; these rivers are black mud rivers. There are also black mud

estuaries.

Blackwater rivers are lower in nutrients than whitewater rivers. The unique conditions lead to flora and fauna that differ both from whitewater and clearwater rivers. The classification of Amazonian rivers into black, clear and whitewater was first proposed by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1853 based on water colour, but the types were more clearly defined by chemistry and physics by Harald Sioli in the 1950s and 1960s. Although many Amazonian rivers fall clearly into one of these categories, others show a mix of characteristics and may vary depending on season and flood levels.

Word Search

1. Red 2. Yellow 3.

Light Green 4. Dark Green

Please see solution on page 23

5. Blue 6. Purple

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

22 Sunday Times Magazine

MARCH 26 , 2017

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Snake found on a plane

I

t was left on a commuter flight after a passenger had left the animal, which was listed as a pet, in the cabin on a previous flight.

Passengers were first made aware of it when the pilot announced: "Guys, we have some loose snake on the plane, but we don't know where it is."

The pale yellow five foot snake wasn't venomous and was first spotted by a boy who was climbing his seat.

When he saw it, the snake was asleep and partially covered by a duffel bag near the back of the plane.

According to his mother, Anna McConnaughy, there wasn't much of a panic on board.

She explained a pilot came back to lead a short discussion with a flight attendant on how to capture it.

Staff then grabbed the snake by the belly and dropped it into a plastic

trash bag.

It spent the rest of the flight in an overhead storage bin, and the plane reached Anchorage on schedule.

The crew were first made aware of the snake when an unnamed passenger reported his pet was missing after he got off a flight to Aniak, which is also in Alaska, and suggested the reptile was likely to be on the return

I

Brain Teaser Answer

3 yrs. old.

If each child was born 18 months apart, then there has to be a 12 year gap between oldest and youngest.

Therefore George is 15 and Michael 3.

This is the only 12 year gap that has a difference in ages of 5 times.

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

Times World

An entire town is up for sale for US$3.8M

trip to Anchorage.

Ravn Alaska spokesman William Walsh said the airline was thankful for the heads up but added the passenger had violated airline policy by bringing the snake aboard without declaring it.

He didn't confirm the type of snake or whether the passenger could face charges. (BBC Newsbeat)

This new 'Lego tape' could change how you build with bricks f you believe Lego only belongs spread across the floor, you might want to broaden your horizons.

A new tape has been developed which will allow builders to place their creations on the walls, the ceil-

Sunday Times Magazine 23

ing, furniture and pretty much anywhere else.

This will no doubt be depressing news for parents whose homes are already a minefield of tiny plastic bricks.

Nimuno Loops is not an official product but is causing a stir among fans.

Lego aren't so keen on Nimuno's tape and tell Newsbeat that it is not "a project we are involved in, endorse or support".

It is a roll of tape which is sticky on one side but has buildable studs on the other.

The people who invented the tape promise it's compatible with Lego, Mega Bloks, Kre-O and most other building block systems.

Anine Kirsten and Max Basler, the makers of the tape, asked people online to donate $8,000 (ÂŁ6,556) to help them develop their product through a crowdsourcing platform.

So far they've raised almost US$400,000 (ÂŁ327,800) from people wanting to use it, after working on it at home in Cape Town for more than a year.

So far it's proved pretty popular.

"We have done almost all of the product development ourselves on laptops and in Max's garage," they wrote on their fundraising page.

"It's been a crazy-steep learning curve."

The tape is manufactured in the US and the developers say they hope to start selling it in July. (BBC Newsbeat)

T

he entire town of Tiller, in the US state of Oregon, has been put up for sale with a price tag of US$3.8m (ÂŁ3.1m).

It's a mostly uninhabited area 225 miles (362 km) south of Portland.

The deal includes six houses, a flat, petrol station and a shop. Roughly 250 people live in the surrounding area.

But residents began leaving the area after the decline in timber harvesting and the closure of the town's mill, according to the estate agent.

Tiller originally went on the market in 2015 but didn't include the old primary school building.

Only two residents remain in Tiller it-

self - a former teacher who lives next to the school, and the vicar of the local church.

Neither of their plots is for sale.

So why does nobody want to live here?

"When the federal money started dwindling away for timber, basically the mill shut down," said Garrett Zoller, the owner of Land and Wildlife.

"And when the mill shut down, a lot of the loggers started having to go away."

The family that owns Tiller now bought it lot by lot as other families left.

Interested buyers have so far included a number of Chinese investors, people interested in starting medical facilities and hemp-growing operations. (BBC)

24

Sunday Times Magazine

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MARCH 26 , 2017

Fun Times

Archie

Change can be good, as long as you know what you (March 21are doing and what you want April 19) to accomplish. Impulsive decisions will be your downfall.

Look before you leap.

ARIES

Contain any disappointTAURUS ment you feel and refrain (April 20- from taking on too much, May 20) overspending or overreacting. Let your intuition guide you and your experience and knowledge help you overcome adversity.

Emotional disillusionment GEMINI will overwhelm you if you be(May 21lieve everything you are told.

June 20) You’ll get the wrong impression. Ask questions if you feel uncertain about the information someone gives you.

CANCER (June 21July 22)

LEO (July 23Aug. 22)

Dilbert

VIRGO (Aug. 23Sept. 22)

Partnerships can be developed and ideas shared. A chance to do something different will be exciting and will bring you in contact with people who share your concerns and dreams.

Making travel plans, getting together with friends or attending a reunion will give you something to think about and look forward to. An old acquaintance will spark your imagination.

Don’t limit what you can get done at home. Gather the facts and find out exactly what’s required to make your personal surroundings more convenient and comfortable.

LIBRA Catch up on jobs you left (Sept. 23- unfinished. Get your paperOct. 23) work in order and deal with taxes, investments and health issues. A physical attempt to make your life better looks promising.

Peanuts

Show how much you care.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24- Do something special for a Nov. 22) loved one. Explore new pastimes that you can share with him or her. The effort you put in will motivate you to make personal improvements.

Emotional deception is SAGITTARIUS present. If you feel uncertain, (Nov. 23ask questions. Someone will Dec. 21) challenge you if you overreact or fail to live up to your promises. Handle personal situations carefully.

Calvin and Hobbes

Stick close to home and CAPRICORN make innovative chang(Dec. 22- es to your lifestyle. Do the Jan. 19) work yourself to cut costs, gain satisfaction and receive compliments for your efforts.

Make sure your papers AQUARIUS are in order if you trav(Jan. 20- el or deal with a governFeb. 19) ment agency or institution.

Question anything that sounds too good to be true.

Focus on what you can PISCES (Feb. 20- do, not on what you can’t.

Mar. 20) Personal improvements will require precision, energy and the motivation to get up and get moving. Strive for good health.