Sunday, September 9, 2018
A cultural group from the Rupununi at the Sophia Exhibition Complex during the opening ceremony of Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations last weekend ( Delano Williams Photo)
For the culture
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
‘I was determined not to let anything hold me back’ - Top disability student Anjalie Sookra
By Telesha Ramnarine
Principles of Business, EDPM, and Office Administration; and received two Grade Ones, three Grade Twos, and four ANJALIE Sookra, the top Caribbean Secondary Educa- Grade Threes. “I am very happy about my grades because I tion Certificate (CSEC) student for disability this year, wasn’t expecting any Grade Ones,” she said. depended heavily on the support she received from fellow Sookra, who started experiencing vision problems classmates and her family. Having achieved good grades in around age five years, said she sat at front of her class to be closer to the blackboard, so as to be able to see a little. She credits her classmates for helping her significantly when it came to writing notes given in class. “I don’t know what I would have done without my classmates and I am so thankful.” To read her notes at home though, Sookra had to place them up close in front of her face. She is also grateful for the support she received from her immediate family members. According to her, dad Pradeep, mom Mohini and brother Sandeep all provided help to her in their own way. “My parents played a big role during my school years. They arranged for a special car to take me to school and bring me back home,” she recalled. Despite the help, Sookra recalled that some of the challenges she faced at times were feeling ashamed because everyone was sighted at school except her. “Everyone else seemed perfect except me. I felt like giving up at times and wanting to stay at home. I cried many days. It was quite challenging but I had a goal in terms of getting maximum marks. I was determined not to let anything hold me back in life. I have gotten over all those negative feelings and I now understand my life,” she expressed. At the University of Guyana where she has embarked on studies in Social Work, Sookra said her aim is to be able to help others facing a similar situation as her. “I Anjalie is grateful to her classmates for helping her in school. understand what it’s like so I want to show them how to cope and that it’s not the end
all of the nine subjects she wrote, she is now pursuing a career that would put her in a position to assist others. The 17-year-old Berbice resident attended mainstream schools and thus did not benefit from the provisions made available by the Guyana Society for the Blind, through its CSEC programme, for students who are blind or visually impaired. Progressing through school on account of her disability was quite a challenge, Sookra recalled during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine. She attended Tain Nursery and Primary Schools and Berbice High School. And, it was only a few months before she wrote the CSEC exams that her EDPM (Electronics Document Programmes and Management) teacher told her about the Guyana Society for the Blind and urged her to reach out to the institute. “My teacher was concerned and told me about the Society. Ganesh (Executive Member Ganesh Singh) started calling and motivating me. He also promised to provide whatever I needed to write the exams and he did,” Sookra related. She said that Singh provided her with magnifying glasses, helpful computer software, along with a reader and scribe. Sookra is especially thankful for the scribe and reader since she could have hardly seen what on the exam paper. She wrote nine subjects namely: English A and B, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Principles of Accounts,
Top disability student for 2018, Anjalie Sookra.
of their life. Meanwhile, in an interview with this publication, Ganesh Singh from the institute said he heard of Sookra a few months before she wrote the CSEC exams and did not delay in trying to get her certain provisions. “The school was aware but the support wasn’t totally there. Through the Exams Division at the Education Ministry and [I]; we were able to assist her during the exams. She was in a room by herself with better lighting, a reader and scribe and one of those magnifiers to help her,” Singh related. “She is very bright. She wrote nine subjects and got good grades. She topped. She is the top student for disability this year. I hooked her up with a scholarship and she’s now at UG,” he added. Singh said this goes to show that even with a disability, anything is possible once someone is prepared to work hard.
Family members each provided help in their own way.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
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The craft of the 2018 Indigenous Food and Craft Exhibition
By Gibron Rahim
ART and craftwork are but a small reflection of the true richness of Guyana’s Indigenous cultures. However, as the recently concluded Indigenous Food and Craft Exhibition held at the Indigenous Village at Sophia for Indigenous Heritage Month has once again shown, they can also allow us valuable insights into the histories and cultures of Guyana’s nine Indigenous tribes. Among this year’s exhibitors was Janette Patterson of Janette’s Handmade Products. It was a profusion of colour and a buzz of activity that greeted the Pepperpot Magazine when this publication visited the exhibitors’ booths at the Indigenous Village this past week. Potential customers eagerly moved between the booths, examining the wares on sale with keen interest. The first sight that drew the eye upon visiting Janette Patterson’s booth was the woven basket decorated with a pattern that included all five colours of Guyana’s flag. Janette is a resident of the Indigenous community of Santa Aratak Village in Region Three. The journey to Georgetown involves crossing the river to Santa Mission followed by travel by boat through the Camuni Creek and then by road for a 25-mile trip from Timehri. Janette travelled the considerable distance to be able to exhibit her products. She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been involved in craftwork for over 25 years. Janette explained that she learned her craft skills from being part of a craft group in the village. That group lasted for a number
Janette’s daughter Shereen stands with some of the craft pieces of Janette’s Handmade Products
of years and included the community’s older women who taught their skills to the younger ones. “And now we continue to do it and get more into it,” she said. Presently, the pieces that Janette and her fellow craftswomen create include fruit, bread and floral baskets, jewellery boxes, pans, mats, fans, bags, hammocks and placemats. She noted that the men also create matapees and carve canoes. Different persons, she said, are involved in creating different pieces. The branches or ‘spires’ of the ite palm that provide the tibisiri straw used to create
the woven pieces are obtained from the savannahs. Janette explained that the spires are cut and then stripped of their silken strands. Those strands are then boiled and left to dry in the sun. Noting that the strands are more commonly referred to as ‘straw’, she related that it is the straw that is used to create a range of craft products. The process of obtaining the spires can be time-consuming, taking the men anywhere from half a day to an entire day to gather on a single trip. The following day is then devoted to stripping the spires. The weather also has an impact on
the length of the crafting process as the sun’s heat is needed to dry the straw. Additionally, “When the rain steps in it’s difficult for us to get the materials,” related Janette. Craftwork is one way in which Janette and her fellow artisans celebrate their heritage. She noted that the Food and Craft Exhibition at Sophia is the only one that she is usually involved in, for all five days. She and Janette’s Handmade Products also become involved on occasions when the community opens its doors such as on village days. Being an artisan and owning and operating her own business, is not without its challenges as Janette noted. Besides the difficulties during the rainy season, Janette noted that one of the greatest difficulties can be waiting for a sale. She related that, once the craftswomen have completed their pieces, the wait is on for a sale. The wait can be discouraging she said as the sales of their pieces are a source of income for the women. Despite those challenges, the reactions of customers make all the effort worthwhile. “They always commend us,” said Janette. She related that the feedback they receive is usually very positive, as was the case with this year’s exhibition. “Some buy [the products], some don’t,” she stated. Indeed, when the Pepperpot Magazine visited numerous customers were seen milling around, considering their options. As the curtains have come down on another year’s Indigenous Food and Craft Exhibition for Indigenous Heritage Month it can only be hoped that we have gained a greater understanding of our Indigenous cultures, even as we enjoy the food and craft that are reflective of them.
QC CSEC top achiever had her family split for five years so she can attain an education RESEDA Hack is a resident of Bartica, but after gaining a place at Queen’s College in 2013, when she wrote the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA), her parents, Carl and Petal Hack, had to make a profound decision as to whether she should remain in Bartica to complete her secondary education, or whether she should take the move to the capital city. The latter, they knew would have come with a plethora of difficulties and challenges but they reasoned that those challenges would have been worth the while, for his only daughter to attend Guyana’s top-ranking high school. Five years later, the fruits of their labour were not in vain, as Reseda made her family’s sacrifices far from regrettable, after gaining 15 Grade Ones at this year’s CSEC examination, copping the eighth spot in the entire country. The 17-year-old, as any other high achiever, is very elated but as she reminisced on all the sacrifices her parents made for her to attend school in Georgetown, her main reason for rejoicing was that she made them proud. The hardest of all the sacrifices was that her small and closeknit family had to be split for the five years. “It was extremely difficult for me to leave Bartica, as I left everything that I knew and was comfortable with. I basically took my mom away from her husband and family and caused them to invest millions into getting things in order for me to have a comfortable life in Georgetown. For that I’m eternally indebted to them and to God, I’m extremely grateful to them for making such a huge sacrifice for my sake, and to God for giving them the strength to make it,” the high-achiever noted. Her parents had to rent a home, made sure it was furnished and had all the necessary amenities to ensure, she was comfortable. While many people would reason, it did not call for all of
Reseda and parents, Petal and Carl Hack
that sacrifice, as the old saying goes, ‘if you think education is cheap, try ignorance. ’ Those words strengthened her parents every time they faced those hefty monthly bills, she added. As Reseda reminisced on the big move, she said, “Honestly it was quite frustrating at first to be in a completely foreign environment, I remember my second day of school, I cried like a baby because I missed home. The weekends used to be the highlight of my week because on Friday afternoons after school, my mom and I would travel to Bartica but I hated Monday mornings, in having to leave my home again, not to mention having to be awake at three o’clock so that we could get a boat to travel.” She described the period as the most difficult in her life that took a toll on her family mentally, emotionally and physically. That is why I tried my best to make them proud at every exam I took or every piece of coursework I did.” When CSEC got closer, those weekend trips home turned to months because of the heavier workload, the longer hours at school and extra classes, but at that time she had found new friends who she said turned into family and so those longer stays became easier for her as time progressed. The results came as a complete surprise to her but she is happy, she made her family proud. She expressed appreciation to all her teachers, relatives and friends who would have contributed in whatever way throughout her primary and secondary school life. Reseda also thanked the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs for affording her a scholarship. Her encouragement to others that may be in a similar position is, to remain focused, work hard and their main goal must be to make their parents proud. Reseda will continue to make the sacrifice of having a split household as she commenced her Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) studies at QC in Natural Sciences.
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Bringing life to ‘dead wood’ utilise his inherited skill. He related that he left his hometown of St. Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri Village) in search of work and he was employed at the Rock View Lodge at Annai until he became a teacher, but still practices his artistic passion in his spare time. Being an artist takes a lot of patience and time and for Taylor, he has the time and his patience never runs thin whenever he is making a piece because once he is in a good mood, he is ready to finish that piece - whatever it is. “Depending on my mood, a piece can take days to finish or it can finish very quickly because for you to make a good piece you must be well in body and spirit and also be at peace with yourself before you can execute that task,” he said. Taylor is a descendant of the Arawak tribe and he still believes in some of the stories that were told to him by his grandfather and with that in mind, it continues to be his motivator. He told the Pepperpot Magazine that even ‘dead wood’ can be converted into something beautiful and that is how we need to look at life; by seeing the value of things and bringing them to life. Taylor’s pieces will be on display and sale at the Castellani House on September 13 at 19:00hrs and he is usually present at all the Rupununi events in October, annually.
The Chief’s Mask
By Michel Outridge FOR artist Roland Taylor carving ‘dead wood’ from fallen trees into beautiful pieces of art is a way of life and it means even more to him because growing up, he used to hear stories about the way of life of his fellow Indigenous Peoples from his now- late grandfather and it is these stories that he incorporates into his pieces. “I do it on wood, I reveal those stories told to me in my pieces. For me, carvings bring me the peace of mind I need to be complete because I feel so alive when I make pieces of art from ‘dead wood’,” he told the Pepperpot Magazine, Taylor and his totem pole
Artist Roland Taylor and his masterpiece the “Chief’s Mask”
while at his booth in the Heritage Village at the Sophia Exhibition Centre. The father of six, who is originally from St. Cuthbert’s Mission (Pakuri Village), presently resides at Rupertee, Annai where he is a teacher at the Bina Hill Institute Youth Learning Centre which provides vocational training for the youth of the North Rupununi. Taylor said it was not his first time visiting the Whirlwind Heritage Village. In fact, it is his third such trip to the city to showcase and sell his pieces. Describing some of his pieces, the 45-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that the ‘Chief Mask’ represents the nine indigenous tribes. The large totem pole, he said, depicts the power of the medicine man. Taylor stated that he would go into the farm/forest and take wood from fallen trees and bring them to life. He pointed out that he is against the cutting down of trees and only takes wood from fallen trees (dead wood) which he sources from the forest and converts into works of art. His artistic journey started when he was just 13 years old and he used to watch his mother make unusual pieces. Later on, his brother mastered the art and he knew he had to step up and he quickly acquired that skill. Taylor added that they have artistic blood in their veins because his mother was a gifted artist and she made some lovely pieces, so for him it was not too difficult to
Roland Taylor at the Sophia Exhibition Site, Sophia with some of his pieces (Adrian Narine photos)
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
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Life back home GFS Employee reminisces on life in Yawong Village entails issuing stock, intake of stock and doing inventory of uniform and stationery. She is also tasked with balancing the books daily and ensuring all stocks are accounted for and the stock room is efficiently run. Jacobs has been employed with the GFS for the past three years and five months and although she has never been on a fire scene like her colleagues, she intends to one day because she was trained to fight fires She resides on the East Bank Demerara and is quite pleased with her life stating that she chose to work hard to achieve her goals of becoming gainfully employed.
Firewoman Indra Jacobs
By Michel Outridge IN 2012, Indra Jacobs made a decision to leave her village of Yawong located in the valley of the Paramakatoi Mountain Range in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) and journeyed to the city in search of work. Today, the 24-year-old mother of two is employed at the Guyana Fire Service (GFS) as a stores clerk. According to Jacobs, being a stores clerk
YAWONG VILLAGE Even though she has adjusted to the city life, her heart remains in her hometown where she was born and raised and she often returns home to visit her parents and siblings. Jacobs told the Pepperpot Magazine that back home in her village, the residents are all of the Patamona Tribe. She stated that with limited jobs, most of the residents take up farming or teaching in the village. In fact, Jacobs’ entire family is involved in cassava and watermelon farming. She stated that the days are very hot and the nights are cold but life there is serene and the place is so picturesque that it appears to be from out of a storybook. Paramakatoi is home to about 3,000 resi-
are accustomed to. MORE ABOUT LIFE This firewoman related that her father is the pastor of the Mountain Foot Wesleyan Church back home, so they basically grew up in the church which was about half hour walk from their home in the valley. Although framing is ‘back-breaking’ work, Jacobs and her siblings helped their parents on their farm. She stated that they still plant watermelons, corn, eschallot and cassava, most of which they use for cooking and meat would be sourced from hunting. Jacobs said the wild meat would be smoked for preservation and stored in ‘salt bags’ for cooking purposes since they do not have electricity or a refrigerator. Jacobs remarked that some of the villagers have never visIndra Jacobs and her husband ited Georgetown or even left their village because it is quite dents. The villagers use mainly bicycles and motorcycles for transportation or otherwise costly to travel via plane. The village can only be accessed via walk to get from place to place. Sometimes, aircraft from Paramakatoi to Ogle. Nevit could take hours to get from one place to another through rough and rugged terrain. ertheless, she said that people are content Jacobs said that from her village of Yawong with life there since “it is a place where the to Paramakatoi takes about an hour and a half people make do with whatever they have of walking, a daily task most of the villagers and never complain and it is a place where life is just simple.”
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Homage to Stephanie Correia, A.A.
Exhibition hosted in honour of esteemed Indigenous Artist CASTELLANI House in collaboration with the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs held its opening of exhibition Homage to Stephanie Correia, A.A. in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month at the National Gallery of Art, Vlissengen Road, Georgetown on Thursday night which saw a large gathering. In her address, Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs Valarie Garrido-Lowe said that she was very pleased to be there at the event which is one of a series of planned activities slated for Indigenous Heritage Month. She spoke of the work of the group of local artists drawn from across Guyana called “Moving Circle of Artists” whom she recognised for their raw talent and expertise guided by artist/ anthropologist/archaeologist, George Simon.
The minister added that there is a need for a painter’s paradise to be launched in St. Cuthbert’s Mission and a farmer’s institute to be housed in Moruca as part of President David Granger’s vision of village improvement plans. Giving an overview of the exhibition, George Simon said that being the founder of “Moving Circle of Artists” he is pleased about the support he continues to get from the locals since he resides in Spain. He talked about working with young artists especially those from the E.R. Burrowes School of Art and how multi-talented they are being carvers and painters all in one. Simon, however, recognised the need for more training for young artists as he talked about the work of the late Stephanie Correia, A.A. on Friday night and her teaching days at the Burrowes School of Art. First Lady Mrs.
In attendance at Castellani House’s event paying homage to Stephanie Correia, A.A. were First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, members of the Diplomatic Corps and other invitees. (Delano Williams photos)
Sandra Granger and members of the Diplomatic Corps graced the event. The programme saw two cultural dances by the dance group from Rupertee, Annai after
which the exhibition was declared open for viewing on Friday night at Castellani House. Turn to page VII►►►
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018 Stephanie Correia, A.A. was one of the most remarkable artists both in Guyana and the Caribbean and whose works are in collections all over the world. It is very appropriate to celebrate her remarkable achievements this month and coincidently, one of the main reasons that September was chosen as Indigenous Heritage Month, is that her father Stephen Campbell was the first Amerindian elected to legislative council on September 10, 1957. Stephanie was born on April 29, 1930 on the Moruca reservation, the third of nine children to Stephen Umblina Campbell, who was the daughter of Portuguese immigrants from Madeira. She enjoyed an idyllic childhood in a farming community being close to nature and enjoyed boating and swimming, which were really essential skills, and also learned and enjoyed planting, reaping, how to preserve fruits and foods; the making of cassava bread, farine, casareep, corn meal, and the making of coconut oil. Her family grew their own cocoa, coffee and reared livestock and poultry. Despite doing all of that, the girl children and there were eight of them – and just one boy – were taught to excel in embroidery, knitting, weaving, sewing, painting and drawing. Stephan Campbell often took his daughter on visits to Amerindian reservations and also on boating, fishing and farming trips, which exposed her to and awakened her interest to the rich folklore of her heritage. Stephanie’s were teachers and noticed her artistic ability which they encouraged and she did not disappoint them. Her intelligence shone through at an early age.
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George Simon posing with the young artists
The Rupertee, Annai dance group at Castellani House on Thursday night.
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Guyana Cultural Association of New York delivered again and drummers and a similar group from The Gambia in West Africa. Playing the role of the bride-to-be, was one of the young female members of the Gambian group. What was surprising, or in fact, not surprising, was the way the Guyanese and Gambians fused their chanting and drumming. For someone who was not told in advance, they would have been totally unaware that the drummers were individuals from different sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The two groups readily forged into one and got the participation of the large audience who joined in singing. THE LITERARY HANG
While journalists prefer to report the news, rather than to be aspects of the news, it is sometimes unavoidable to omit one’s involvement in a happening. For example, it is somewhat difficult for me to report that I was one of the presenters at this year’s GCA Literary Hang, at which I read some of my poems. However, in a way, I am reporting Farrier the poet and not Farrier the journalist. One of the poems which I read, “We Are Older Now”, was a Prize Winner at the recent poetry competition by The Guyana Annual 2018. In that position, I answered questions from members of the audience, instead of me asking the questions. That reversal of roles, which is very rare, was a good experience. There was a minute of silence held to
Young Bill Rogers on stage at the GCA Family Fun Day 2018, in Brooklyn, New York
By Francis Quamina Farrier THE four annual events of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. - the Awards Ceremony, the ‘Kwe Kwe’ Nite, the Literary Hang and the Family Fun Day, were all up to expectations. One may even say, above expectations. In his message, President of the GCA, Dr. Vibert Cambridge, stated, “This year, the Guyana Folk Festival explores Ma’iupe, the tradition of working together,” and thanked the many sponsors who have supported the Guyana Folk Festival; many of whom have done so over the years. Last week, I reported on the awards ceremony, which was the first of the four events and
West Indian Carnival in Brooklyn, New York. It is also always well-attended. Most years there are some Guyanese visiting from out of state and in a few instances, Guyanese visiting from home. This year, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon was present. Also in the audience was the Guyana Consul General in New York, Barbara Atterley. The origin of this pre-wedding ‘Kwe Kwe’ ceremony has its roots in Africa. Over the years, it has been usually held in Guyana by Guyanese of African Heritage and almost always in one of the rural villages. A reality is that on an occasion or two, there were real life fiances who were in the GCA ‘Kwe Kwe’
Dancer Rose October-Edun on stage at the Family Fun Day
This event brings Guyanese authors, poets and other intellectuals together, where literary works are read and discussed. In every case, books are on sale either by the authors themselves or their agents. This year, the book of choice was “Stepping on Cracks, Reflections on my Homeland” by Dr. Carmen Barclay Subryan. A retired professor at Howard University, she is a native of Linden, Region 10, where the action of the book takes place. On the other side of the age range was the 23-year-old rising star Clinton Duncan, who is a playwright and actor. He Gambians in the front row with Guyanese in the back row; the two cultures seemed identical spoke of his writing projects, as they chanted and played their pulsating Kwe Kwe songs (Photos by F.Q. Farrier) and more importantly, his attachment to a production on Broadway. This young dramapromised to report on the other three event. It is also known that some Guyanese tist may likely be the first Guyanese to make events this week. Well, here they are; weddings in the USA do have a pre-wedding it really big on Broadway in New York City. ‘Kwe Kwe’ ceremony. Also making presentations at the Literary THE KWE KWE NITE: At this year’s GCA ‘Kwe Kwe’, there Hang, were Dr. Lear Matthews, Patricia This event is always held on the last was a ground-breaking collaboration beJordon-Langford and Ronald Lammy. Friday night before the annual Labour Day tween the Guyanese ‘Kwe Kwe’ chanters
the honour and memory of the late Romesh Singh, a member of the Guyana Cultural Association Board of Directors who died on August 17, at age 67. Romesh who hailed from Subryanville in Georgetown resided in New Jersey, USA and was very active in the programmes of the Guyana Cultural Association, especially with literary and journalistic projects. THE FAMILY FUN DAY This very popular event brings down the curtains on the four annual events of the Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. It is an open-air event at which there are varied stage performances, as well as many stalls at which Art and Craft items are on sale. There are also a number of stalls at which a wide range of food and drinks are on sale. Among the artistes entertaining the packed venue in Brooklyn this year was Young Bill Rogers. In the audience were three elected officials; Minister of State Joseph Harmon, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan and New York State Senator, Guyana-born Roxanne Persaud. Also gracing the event with his awesome presence was one of the greatest test cricketers of all time, Clive Lloyd.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Upgrades to Linden/Ituni/ Kwakwani Road significantly reduce travel time
- contractor commended for excellent work
Ongoing maintenance works on the Linden/Ituni/Kwakwani road have been welcomed by residents in the communities as it has already reduced travel time. Member of Parliament (MP), Audwin Rutherford told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the average travel time on the road, prior to the maintenance works, was more than three hours. Now, it is under two hours. The upgrades began in late July. “We have no need to complain. Trucks will no longer be left on the road due to wear and tear from poor road conditions. Commuters using private vehicles using the road are more encouraged, due to less travel time and less maintenance on their vehicles. We do not anticipate transportation prices to rise due to poor road conditions which happened in the past,” MP Rutherford explained. The government MP pointed out that the contractor has done an excellent job on the road and also upgraded some internal roads
which were not included in the agreement. This, he stressed, is value for money. Orvil August, a resident of Kwakwani who operates a transportation service, said it took her “one hour and a half from Kwakwani to Ituni and now is just about forty minutes driving at sixty-five kilometres per hour. Also, now that the road is maintained, I will be saving significantly on maintenance of my vehicles.” Ituni resident, Ron Wilson expressed similar sentiments and commended the contractor International Imports and Supplies for an excellent job on the road. The Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), through the Natural Resources Ministry, awarded the contract for repairs to the Linden/Ituni/Kwakwani road to International Imports and Supplies at a cost of $239.7M. The Linden/ Ituni/Kwakwani road will be maintained annually.(DPI)
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Let us see your smile
YOUR smile plays a major role in how you perceive yourself, as well as in the impressions you make on the people around you. Surveys have shown that more than any other physical feature – eyes, hair, or body – the smile is what both men and women find most attractive in other people. A charming smile can open doors and knock down barriers that stand between you and a fuller, richer life. If, on the other hand, you are dissatisfied with your smile, it may be holding you back from fully embracing life and its opportunities. Are you ready for a new smile? Perhaps you have wondered whether straighter teeth might help you feel more confident in your professional life, or if a whiter, brighter smile might boost a dwindling social life. If you’re not completely happy with your smile, perhaps it’s time to get a new one! If you are unhappy with your appearance, you already know it. The dilemma lies in determining where you need improve-
ment. Many people erroneously believe that all their facial defects reside in their smile when, in fact, their flaws lie elsewhere. In these cases, cosmetic or oral surgery or perhaps just a new hairstyle or updated makeup, rather than dental treatment, may be more helpful. Take the quiz below to determine if changing your smile might give you the boost you’re looking for. Are you confident when smiling? Do you ever put your hand over your mouth when you smile? Do you photograph better from one side of your face? Is there someone you believe has a better smile than you? Do you look at models in magazines and wish your smile looked like theirs? When you look at your smile in the mirror, do you see any defects in your teeth and gums? Do you wish your teeth were whiter?
Are you satisfied with the way your gums look? Do you show too many or few teeth when you smile? Are your teeth too long or too short? Are your teeth too wide or too narrow? Are your teeth too square or too round? Do you like the way your teeth are shaped? If most of the answers above are “ yes”, then you need to see your dentist. Keep in mind that people don’t always look at you directly from the front. Defects that are minimal from one perspective may be prominent from another view. As you’re performing the smile analysis, consider the angles at which people are most likely to view you. For example, if you’re short, most people look at you from above. Therefore, pay particular attention to your lower teeth, especial-
ly the biting edges. If you’re like most people, you probably don’t see what’s in the back part of your mouth, but observers see it every day when you speak or laugh. Some people reveal most of their teeth in a wide smile. That’s why it’s important to evaluate every part that shows, not just those that are most apparent. If you’re not happy with your smile, or if you’re curious about the possibilities of changing it, take the test below. One purpose of this test is to make you aware that a smile consists of not only the front four or six teeth but all of the teeth and gum tissue that show when you’re speaking or when your lips are in your maximum smiling position. It’s important to know the components of a beautiful smile so that you can discuss your particular problems with your dentist and develop a treatment plan that meets your long-term goals. In order to evaluate your smile:
In a slight smile, with teeth parted, do the tips of your teeth show? Are the lengths of your central incisors in good proportion with your other front teeth? Are the widths of your central incisors in good proportion with your other front teeth? Do you have space (or spaces) between
celain, veneers, and crowns – look natural? Do any of your teeth have visible cracks, chips, or fractures? Do you have any missing teeth that you have not replaced? When you smile broadly, do your gums show? Are your gums red and swollen? Have your gums receded from the necks
your front teeth? Do your front teeth stick out? Are your front teeth crowded or overlapping? When you smile broadly, are your teeth all the same light colour? If your front teeth contain tooth-coloured fillings, do they match the shade of your teeth?
of your teeth? Do the curvatures of your gums create half-moon shapes around each tooth? Is your mouth free of decay and gum disease, which can cause bad breath? Do your cheeks and lip area have a sunken-in appearance? Does the midline of your teeth align with the midline of your face?
Is one of your front teeth darker than the others? Are your six lower front teeth straight and even in length? Are your back teeth free of stains and discolourations from unsightly restorations? Do your restorations – fillings, por-
Do your teeth complement your facial shape? Is the shape of your teeth appropriately masculine or feminine for your overall look? If your “yes” answers total more than your “no”, your mouth is in good shape. Congratulations!
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Small Business in focus… Moraikobai’s unique dishes tempt taste buds
September is Indigenous Heritage Month and for this period, small business focus will feature our Indigenous brothers and sisters, who use their unique skills to sustain their livelihoods. Every year as we celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month, many look forward to indulging in unique Indigenous dishes. Many of the dishes, such as; tuma pot and pepperpot, are prepared with a variety of wild meats including labba, deer and bush cow. Also, on the list of dishes to enjoy during this period is cassava bread and some of the more popular drinks like piwari and fly. During the past week, a 12-member team from Moraikobai Village in Mahaica-Berbice has been operating a food and beverage booth at the Heritage Village in Sophia. Heading the team is councillor of the Moraikobai Village, Mary Joseph, who said many residents from her community look forward to Indigenous Heritage Month to sell their products. Joseph said the residents of Moraikobai begin preparing for heritage celebration months in advance. This year she, along with two additional persons, prepared 150 cakes of cassava bread for sale. Jospeh said she is heartened since patrons of the event have responded positively to their dishes.
“We get our products sold because it’s pure and natural stuff. We do not add anything. No essence, ajinomoto [monosodium glutamate] … For example, we do not put anything in our cassava water, it is pure. When cooking the tuma pot which has fish and other meats in it, we do not add other seasonings to give it flavour, it has its own flavour. We just add salt and pepper; steam the meat with black pepper and that is the flavour.” The Moraikobai councillor added that this year the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs supplied them with benabs and means to travel, removing their usual challenges of transportation and accommodation. The increase in vendors from Moraikobai Village resulted from efforts by the Village Council to promote farming and self-help activities in the village. Joseph encouraged residents from other indigenous villages to become involved in farming and to obtain the necessary food-handler certificates in order to participate in the annual exhibition. Persons interested in sampling Moraikobai’s dishes can place orders on 6024165. (DPI)
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
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Understanding the precarious process of bargaining FOR the past week, schools throughout the country have been disrupted. No matter how effective the Ministry of Education (MoE) was in implementing their contingency plan, I don’t like the fact that children countrywide were affected by the teachers’ strike. The first week of school was disrupted. That’s one week closer to the end of the term, which is another week closer to examinations. This also means that one week of valuable instructional time was lost and one week to complete coursework has elapsed. Now, this puts a strain on the teachers because when they do return- and they have to return undoubtedly- they will have to understand what was thought and how to continue from there or even revisit what was done. I struck up a conversation with one of my teachers this past week and from her many years of experience, she told me, in fact, that it is very difficult to ‘unteach’ children. So whatever these trainee teachers would’ve taught during the strike period must be completely accurate and beneficial, lest the students fall short when applying the infor-
mation as the need arises. The more I immersed myself in the strike and protest action, the better I was able to understand the situation and how precarious the bargaining process is. On one hand, the driving force of the masses would be empathy for the teachers and the pay increases they are clamouring for. No doubt, teachers are instrumental in developing a nation, given their role in creating the future workforce and the next set of leaders. And many, like me, believe that they are deserving of the pay increase, in light of this. But on the other hand, there is the prevalence of the rule of law. Here, officials from the ministry and no less than the Minister of Education, Nicolette Henry have been rigidly adhering to the rules and procedures that are in place to mitigate and resolve the situation. And for me personally, I was wholly in support of the teachers before and for the most part- I still am, but now I also understand the stance Minister Henry has taken and her reasons for doing so. That’s because, in the simplest of terms, she and her ministry are between the infamous rock and a hard place.
You see, as much as she maybe wants to cave in and fulfill all the demands of the teachers she cannot unilaterally make any decision. It is all good and well for her to say that the 40 per cent that the teachers are asking for will be given to them, but unless this is tangibly supported by the Finance Ministry, her statements will be empty ones. More than that, the 1983 collective bargaining agreement stipulates the processes that must be followed by the two bodies in order for any decision to be made. And as much as it would be easier to loosen the ministry’s rigid stance, the rule of law must be upheld so that its credibility and validity are not questioned at all. This process involves the processes of negotiations, conciliation and then arbitration. The key thing is if the parties move on from one phase there can be no return to that, the parties can only move forward. Yes, this means that bargaining between the union and the ministry becomes more difficult when the two have different solutions to their problems. Throughout the entire ordeal, the teachers
have stood in solidarity and held their ground. The ministry has also held its ground that it cannot afford to pay the teachers the sum they requested. Both parties were seemingly immovable. Now, the process has gone to the arbitration where neither party has much say. Arbitration is the settlement of a dispute (whether of fact, law, or procedure) between parties to a contract by a neutral third party (the arbitrator) without resorting to court action. In this case, the decision is left to the independent arbitrators who will make the binding decision for both parties. But this decision will only come after assessing the socio-economic conditions of the nation. Fortunately, at this juncture, the strike is off and the teachers will be returning to school so that there is no further loss of precious instructional time. Furthermore teachers’ will not lose any pay for their participation in the strike action, there will be no victimisation and there will be no loss of seniority. Only time will tell now what the teachers will get and how long this process will take now.
A true patriot M I GRATING often changes people and in some cases make them forget the bounties of their homeland and even the memories which they once held close to them. One person who refuses to forget where he came from is Shawn McAllister, who sincerely believes that people must maintain their identity even after migrating. McAllister, who now lives in the United States of America (USA), said he had an amazing childhood in Guyana and for that, he feels the need to keep those great memories close to his heart. “Displaying my country’s name or image on a shirt gives me the greatest feeling, but even better to know that I designed it,” said the young designer. His fascination for computers/technology started when he was a child, but he really got to explore it when he migrated to the US back in 1997. “I eventually got my certificate in Computer System Design in 2004. During that same year, I started finding computer graphics to be much more interesting, so I decided to learn it on my own,” said McAllister.
That decision was the stepping stone to the establishment of his US-based clothing store, DemRoc Clothing Inc. He is the proud owner of the fully branded store which was opened on August 25, 2018. Although he has used technology to complement his designs, McAllister was never intrigued by the latest gears and fashion. “My style of fashion has always been very simple but clean cut. The discovery of the two brands Sean John by Diddy and Roca Wear by Jay-Z opened my eyes to a whole new world of what I want to look like when I leave the house,” he said, adding that when he got the opportunity to create his own brand, he had a sense of what to pattern it after. Getting to where he is today was not easy but although the challenges were not unusual, his biggest challenge was himself. “The ability to believe in yourself is one of the greatest hurdles any entrepreneur will face. You cannot sell, teach nor promote anything to the best of your ability if you don’t believe. The moment I understood what I was capable of, my entire perspective changed,” he explained, adding that past challenges will always prepare persons for the new ones ahead.
Shawn McAllister
McAllister also believes that the support from family members is important because self-motivation is often limited. With continued support and commitment, he hopes to one day have a physical store in Guyana. While he does not have a physical presence in Guyana, he has been able to do business through shipping. “I would sometimes send down t-shirts based on what’s in demand to sell generally. At the end of the day when all is said and done, I would love to see DemRoc being worn throughout the entire country,” said the young designer. McAllister said he will continue to approach every day with optimism and not just to be motivated by fame and money because that can sometimes be the fastest way to failure. He believes that the passion and love for what you do will always make room to take you to the next level. The blueprint for everything he does is to stay focused, invest time, remain humble and be patient. Persons who wish to see his work could follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @demrocclothing.
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Linden NGO
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
on a mission to eradicate poverty
THE Linden’s Lions Club is targeting underprivileged communities in Linden, as several of these would have been beneficiaries of recent projects geared towards empowering vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, single parents, the unemployed and children. Members of the club, have been volunteering their time and resources to providing a better life for these ones and have many success stories as testimony for the over six years, the club has been in existence.
Jermaine Joseph, Membership Chairman noted that the club is actually a branch of the D’Urban Park Lions, but after gaining cognisance Linden Lions Club members volunteering of the high ratio of unemtheir services in a feeding programme ployment, poverty and neglected elderly persons in services in the form of distribution of food hampers, medical Linden, a decision was taken to form a club in the mining outreaches, monetary donations and feeding programmes town, to address these issues, for the elderly etc. “We would have rehabilitated the Linden in ways as much as their re- Hospital Complex’s bus shed, painted pedestrian crossings, sources would allow. donated fans and other items to teachers and students of the Lately, the club would Linden Centre for the differently-abled. Our two major projhave conducted community ects this year were a backpack drive and fun day for more than
Children of depressed communities in Linden assemble to receive back packs from a recent drive, hosted by the Linden Lions Club
300 less-fortunate primary school children and a luncheon for 40 senior citizens at the Linden Dorfolk Home,” he noted. The projects were done in collaboration with friends of the Lions from the United States of America (USA). The Linden Lions Club also partners with the G.I.V.E. Foundation, which is also an NGO that aims at providing vital products and services, as well as, medical and dental aid to improve the lives of the most destitute individuals in the Linden community. The mission of the G.I.V.E. Foundation is to significantly improve the health and well-being of the underprivileged members of the community. The members cannot do it on their own, so collaboration is pertinent so that maximum service can be given to those in need. Joseph noted that while they as members may not be able to completely eradicate poverty in Linden, they will put their best foot forward in making a difference in the lives of those less fortunate. He describes himself and the others as servers to the community and vows to keep volunteerism a pivotal part of their lives. He is also encouraging other youths to come on board and render selfless service to their community. “Providing a service, to those in need is more than just being part of a service organisation, but a higher calling,” Joseph said. Other volunteers who are members of the Linden Lions Club include President Lion Alexis Billy, Secretary Lion James Trotman and Treasurer Lion Schoda Cush.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
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How to healthily consume alcohol OVER the past few weeks we have been speaking about alcohol- what it does to our mind and body - and whether our consumption is too much. Most experts on alcohol and addiction will tell you that the safest amount of alcohol is none at all but there are quite a number of things that we can do to drink healthier. There are two aspects to this- individual and the role of society/policymakers. Today we are going to focus on the individual- what you personally can do to ensure the safest level of drinking. As previously revealed, there are countless factors (both in and out of our control) which will determine how alcohol affects us, how much we consume and even whether we become addicted. Absolutely everyone responds to alcohol differently. Therefore, these tips on healthier drinking are basic and general but can be successfully implemented based on your personal situation or current level of use. The first and one of the most important to healthy consumption is to always eat before you start to drink alcohol. Alcohol is not broken down in the stomach but rather the small intestines which means that a full stomach will slow down the absorption of the alcohol. Without this, the intoxication happens much faster and is additionally dangerous. Also, if you are drinking for long periods of time, a few snacks in between can’t hurt. The second is to avoid binge drinking which means large and dangerous amounts in one sitting or during a short period of time. This amount differs between men and women with it being five or more for men and four or more for women. This is an important rule to follow as our liver can only process one drink per hour. Whatever cannot be processed in that time will remain in our bloodstream. It is advised to have a glass of water or coconut water between every two or three drinks – depending on the amount you drink. The water concentration in your body is one factor that determines how drunk one can become. It will also fill up the stomach so you automatically drink less. This also makes a hangover much less likely as a hangover is basically severe dehydration. While the over-consumption of any alcohol is ill-advised, there are some types of alcohol that are healthier than others. Wine (not high wine!), in moderation, for example, is known to be physically healthier than most for a number of reasons. It contains small amounts of iron and potassium as well as it reduces the possibility of heart disease. It also holds a smaller amount of calories than most liquors which avoids weight gain. Surprisingly, Guinness is known for having similar antioxidants and benefits as red wine, also reducing the possibility of blood clots and heart disease. It has a bit more calories than wine though! However, do remember that nothing is healthier if it is multiplied by five. Moderation is key. Another option which makes a huge difference is to switch to liquor with a lower alcohol content, especially if you are going to drink for long periods of time. Spirits usually contain about 40 per cent alcohol while beer or wine range from 5-15 per cent, a much safer and healthier choice. An additional good tip is not to mix the type of alcohol that is being consumed – something that many of us do. We may start out with beer then switch to rum, have some shots in between then back to beer for a ‘wash down’. This confuses the body and liver on how to proceed to break down the alcohol and therefore brings about a much faster intoxication and dangerous interaction. Research on the topic also shows that mixing drinks puts you more at risk for alcohol poisoning. Try to avoid alcohol or mixed drinks that are high in sugar as these are more likely to raise blood pressure, disrupt our metabolism as well as contribute to other issues such as diabetes and obesity. After a night of drinking, make sure you take your vitamins, mainly C and B and refuel on electrolytes. Alcohol depletes these, especially potassium and calcium so have a banana (for example) the next day for a better and healthier recovery. Finally, stop drinking alcohol at least an hour before you go to sleep. Make sure you drink water for that hour. This is just to ensure you lessen the intoxication, have a better quality
of sleep as well as a slightly less painful hangover. It may sound difficult but just be aware of how much you are currently consuming and make an effort to cut it down during every session. For example, keep track of how many alcoholic drinks you consume during this week or next weekend. If you have counted 10, ensure that it does not s eight the following week. Even the smallest step is progress. No one should really drink more than one drink per day. However, ideally, everyone should have at least three non-drinking days. Just set small goals and stick to them. There are also indirect behavioural changes that one can make to ensure safer drinking. Not drinking and driving is a good place to start. Utilise the resources we have; buses, taxis etc. Avoiding people who usually make you aggressive or emotional unstable in general would also be a good idea. You can also help out others. If you notice that a friend or family member has drunk too much, ensure their safety. Make sure they get home okay or don’t practice any unsafe behaviours themselves. It is important for me to mention that anyone with physical health problems such as diabetes, liver or heart diseases or an active mental illness, particularly substance abuse should not be consuming any alcohol at all. The same goes for women who are pregnant. In the upcoming weeks, I will provide the necessary knowledge and tips to make this a possibility. Please read next week to see what society, as well as policies, can help to lower the consumption of our people. Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always! Suicide Prevention Helpline – 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444 or 600-7896. Do not be afraid to reach out!
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R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Grand farewell for the Queen of Soul SHE lived with courage, not without fear but overcoming her fears. She lived with faith, not without failure but overcoming her failures. She lived with power, not without weakness but overcoming her weakness. I just love her” These were the words from former US President Bill Clinton at Aretha Franklin’s farewell ... Inspiring lives through fashion reception. Listening to all the testigood singer; Alicia Keys- young performer, monies made me think of 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I good writer/producer; Taylor Swift - great have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” gowns, beautiful gowns; Whitney Houston This was a scripture shared in church a few - a talent, definite talent and she had a gift. nights ago and I decided to add it to my Cissy’s baby. Nicki Minaj, hmm, I will pass vision board. This will give me a constant that one.” She always spoke highly of Smokey reminder of things I need to do to be able to repeat this scripture one day and mean it. Robinson, Cissy Houston, Gladys Knight We all have a confirmed ticket to that and Chaka Khan and regarded them as destination. The date and departure time friends. Smokey Robinson was her oldest varies. The legend recently took her flight and dearest friend. Smokey was eight when at age 76 on August 16 which is the day after my birthday. Her life is a testimony that it does not matter where you start but how and where you finish. Imagine a young black woman giving birth at age 13 and 15 and bouncing back with a career that made her the queen of soul. She was just a child herself and found it difficult to cope but her God-given talent helped her to make a way. She could have felt defeated with so many unfortunate things happening around her, including her mom’s death. Her dad was a very popular pastor Publicist Gwen Quinn who was instrumental in her career, starting in the church like many of the greats. She got married at they met through her brother Cecil. He visit19 to her manager Ted White and gave birth ed her home and was greeted by a little perto another son. Then a few years later, she son on the piano and singing. He was saying had another son by her manager. Her career to CNN’s Don Lemon (who was emotional) was moving fast but her personal life was he is celebrating her life because of the great disastrous. She was a trailblazer, broke memories they created. He said he spoke to many barriers and paved the way for many her until she could not speak anymore. “She was the breaker, the person that set of the singers we are enjoying today. It is still difficult for women of colour to grace the pace for the rest of us. I was 12 when the cover of a prominent magazine and she I first heard Aretha sing. She touches you made the cover of the Times Magazine in somewhere with her music. We all looked 1968. Isn’t that something? She was the first up to her,” said Gladys Knight. The iconic Aretha Franklin performance woman to be inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. She was nominated for over was simply ‘Electric’ as she performed before dignitaries at the Kennedy Centre Hon40 Grammys and won 18. ours. President Obama was very emotional and I think that will be regarded as one of R-E-S-P-E-C-T Her song became like an anthem for the her most memorable performances. The funeral was as star-studded as Civil Rights Movement and she was very proud of that. She did not just raise her voice the big award shows. Her outfits changed in song but also in justice. She travelled with daily and Bill Clinton joked about looking Dr. Martin Luther King Jr who was very forward to seeing the dress the diva will be close to the family and sang at his events wearing. The performances of all genres were and also at his funeral. She had such a diva attitude even though amazing and I was stunned by how Shirley it was said she had confidence issues and Caesar, who is 78, looks like 58. I had the she had a great sense of humour. She made honour of sitting next to her and chatting at me laugh during one of her interviews a few the GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends years ago. A guy from the Washington Jour- 2017. Franklin was a fan of the Cadillac, nal was asking her about some of the current singers and he called their names and she specifically pink ones and sang about had to make a comment : “Adele- Young, them in her 1985 hit “Freeway of Love.”
Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
WE have commenced Indigenous Heritage Month which is commemorated in September each year. The month was appropriately kicked off with a service of the Halleluja Religion which is an Indigenous Christian-inspired faith. The heritage of ethnic communities is largely concerned with cultural, historical and societal matters in their broadest sense and not with economic and social requirements of that particular community. For example, to speak of the State creating roads or water supplies or electricity or educational institutions or village government and attempting to link these things with Indigenous Heritage Month misses its focus. wwwwwwwThe State is obligated to provide these public works and social amenities to all communities and the country as a whole and is involved in doing those things every month of the year. Indigenous Heritage Month and its activities are national events which all ethnic groups are expected to respect and in which to even participate. Politics in Guyana is a divisive thing and as such we should avoid it touching Indigenous Heritage Month since it will diminish the meaning and impact of it. There are numerous aspects of our Indigenous Heritage which need to be explained and exposed to the wider community and they range from many simple things which persons who are not of Indigenous heritage take for granted such as the Presidential emblem with the large macaw feathers. It would be an enlightening exercise to explain the use of feathers in the Indigenous tradition, their colour, length, how they are placed in relation to each other and so on. There are many other more important areas of Indigenous Heritage which need to be explored and researched. One of the most important areas is the Indigenous languages. Although some philological work has been done on the Guanani language of Paraguay and the Quecha language of Bolivia, both of which are widely spoken languages, no philological work has ever been undertaken on the seven Indigenous languages of Guyana, some of which are spoken in the neighbouring countries. The University of Guyana, for many years, has had an Amerindian Research Unit which was headed by Dr. Desrey Fox and whose mother-tongue was an Indigenous language. The unit was always underfunded and little or no philological work was done. It was recently reported in the press that the Child Care and Protection Agency (CC&PA) would be issuing some notices in four Indigenous languages. This was a very welcome initiative for it gives the Indigenous languages some official recognition and communicates with Indigenous language speakers. In the past, because so large a part of the population were Hindi/Urdu speakers, the Law Courts always had Hindi interpreters available. And ballot papers used at national elections until the 1950s had their basic instructions in Hindi as well as in English. Despite this and the fact that Hindi/Urdu is still used in the mandirs and masjids and is the language of Bollywood films and Indian TV Soaps, it fell out of spoken usage. Our Indigenous languages, in contrast, have far less of a survival potential than Hindi/Urdu and are in imminent danger of being eliminated by English. Quick action is, therefore, necessary to save and sustain the Indigenous languages and preserve one important aspect of the cultural heritage of not only the Indigenous community but of all Guyana. A number of activities could be taken by the State, the educational authorities, NGOs which are involved in Indigenous affairs, the churches and the Indigenous community itself to preserve these languages: In the first place, some economic benefit should be accorded the use of the language. One such could be that Government employees who work in Indigenous areas should be given extra allowances if they could speak and understand Indigenous languages. Also, advertisements for small contracts or for certain jobs could be carried in the Indigenous languages. The widest spoken Indigenous language should be chosen as the lingua franca and taught in the schools while the smaller languages should be encouraged as “home languages”. In time, prizes could be given for literary attempts in the language. Word spellings should be agreed upon and dictionaries should be produced both for the language itself and with Indigenous words in English. These actions will standardise the language and make it more accessible. The basic language could fairly quickly be introduced in the elementary classes of the schools in the Amerindian areas. Since there would be initially a shortage of teachers, they could be shared. Lastly, help could be sought through UNESCO and from the relevant academic institutions in the USA, Britain and France. Amerindian Heritage Month 2018 could be a watershed if the language programme could be substantively considered.
INDIGENOUS HERITAGE AND INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
#SupportCreativity
By Subraj Singh
Guyanese artists need to support the teachers THE teachers have done it. At the time of writing this article, they are still the streets, striking in order to express their desire for a better living wage, from a government that notoriously rewarded its ministers an unwarranted raise in pay very soon after it came into power, a damning opening move that pretty early
on established, in the minds of the Guyanese voting populace, a sense of where the government’s priorities lay. Now that the teachers have taken to the streets in order to demand restitution for their years of having to teach, parent, counsel, and help the children of the country, it is imperative that their calls are heard
and supported by all Guyanese, and that we collectively see that the government stands by whatever promises it makes to the teachers. I think that artists in Guyana- writers, visual artists, actors, directors, fashion designers, should show solidarity with the teachers in their fight for betterment, simply because artists, perhaps more than those in many other occupations, know what it is like to be marginalised, to be shortchanged, and to be never rewarded properly, whether through compensation or respect for the hard work that they do. This is the thing that connects us with the teachers, and while the various art forms have yet to be popularised and accepted to the extent where artists are able to hold a strike that is on par with that of the teachers, it is still essential for artists to lend their voices to the pain of the teachers, not only because of the similarities between their struggles and our ongoing, never-ending pain, but also because almost every single artist can point out at least one teacher who played a vital part in that individual’s formation as the artist he/she is today. Almost every one of us had a teacher who served as the catalyst that sent us veering off into the right direction, into that beautiful void we call fate or destiny or truth. That teacher who saw something in the future writer that no one else saw. That teacher who brought materials from home to help the future fashion designer to make his/her first costume; That teacher who showed the future sculpture how to hold his/her knife; The teacher who taught the future actress how to find the character from within. Teachers have always been instrumental in the lives of artists and while every working person in the world owes a debt to teachers, artists, in particular, have an even greater debt to pay, simply because, in the Guyanese society, it is rare for anyone, especially a teacher, to encourage someone to go into an artistic field. It is an infrequent and precious thing. I have very few memories of doing anything artistic when I was in primary school. I remember being in Diwali and Phagwah shows put on by the schools. Those were very big back in the days. Also, back then I was religious – well, as religious as one can be when being a part of religion, to a child, was a norm and an unavoidable expectation, linked to family, education, success and self-worth. In any case, I have memories of being a part of these school shows that were directed and choreographed by the teachers who actively recruited students to be a part of them. However, my real growth as a writer and director truly began when I was in high school, when my English teachers made me write creative essays and short stories, when my teachers taught me how to analyse literature, when my teachers introduced me to Shakespeare and Martin Carter and works of Caribbean fiction, where the characters looked and sounded like me, where their stories could easily be the stories of me and my peers. I devoured the Shakespearean plays and I wrote and directed early scripts that were
staged in awkward, heavily-graded skits, inspired by my love of movies, which we staged in English B classrooms. It took me a long time to realise it, but it was during these assignments, created and led by teachers, that my appreciation for the arts, for literature and drama really emerged and developed. These moments in the classroom were the early indicators of the person I was to become. There were some terrible teachers, of course, but the ones who mattered and helped and guided me outshone them, in real life, in memory, and in the legacy that is my life, in much the same way that the life of each student serves as a legacy for each of the teachers that came into contact with them. At Queen’s College, there was Ms. Savory, who was still a student at the Cyril Potter College of Education when she began teaching me, I believe, in Second Form. She was important to me because while my parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles had already made me fall in love with stories, it was this teacher who showed me how strong stories could be. She was the one who taught me the strength and beauty of literary analysis. Mr. Talmah, on the other end of the spectrum, as an older, more experienced, male teacher, furthered this love of literary analysis and he encouraged my writing, making me feel as if I was capable of doing something, as if I was talented and good at something, while all around me my colleagues studied hard to become doctors and lawyers as my abysmal Math grades kept going lower and lower. Later on, inspired by the powerful impact of these two teachers to love literature so much that I ended up studying the subject at university, I encountered many more teachers who changed my life. Ms. Miller taught me the importance of including women writers and about always bringing a feminist perspective to the table. Ms. Abigail blew my mind with her craft at teaching and with the way she was able to show me how Caribbean literature could be as beautiful as any other type of literature in the world. Mr. Hosein made me embrace my Guyanese Creole – after years of trying to speaking perfect English because Queen’s College students were expected to speak a certain way back in those days. Ms. Bennett and Dr. Tumbridge introduced me to Literary Theory and Postcolonial Literature – the two strands of literary study that are, in my opinion, the most important for Guyanese writers. Dr. Mohamed taught me how to write plays. Mr. Creighton taught me every single thing I know about theatre, about folklore, about staging a play, about writing poetry, and about the gorgeous, wild, diverse history of literature in the world. Without my teachers, I would not be the person I am today. Perhaps, it is now cliché to say that, but cliché does not mean untrue. I hope the teachers who are striking get what they are looking for so they can return to shaping the future of the country. I wish them well.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
folklore
IT PAYS TO BE POLITE THE old man shuffled slowly along the muddy street of Blue Waters. Even though the village had such a picturesque name the water there was muddy brown and often foul smelling. He was a stranger and did not speak to anyone. School vacation was in full swing and the children were roaming all over the small village looking for adventure. There was none to be found. Blue Waters could be summed up in one word, ‘boring.’ The kids felt that whenever they were home on holiday there was nothing much to do; they were often right. As the old man made his way slowly to the back of the village, the children were running free in the same vicinity. When he reached the empty field overgrown with trees and bushes he stopped and rested. Sitting under the shade of a nearby mango tree, he soon fell asleep snoring noisily. The children were chasing each other and four boys raced onto the empty field. They ran in every direction shooting and capturing each other. They were very noisy and were unaware that they were not alone. It was Albert the youngest who first saw the stranger. “Hey! Come see dis thing!” Albert said. They all ran to his side. He pointed at the sleeping man. Then Errol took charge. “Hey! Wake up!” he shouted. The old man slept on. Errol nudged him with his foot but that did not wake him. The boy kicked the old man on the foot and his eyes fluttered opened and stared at them warily. “Get up!” Errol said. He just sat there glowering at them. “Get up and go away from hay!” the boys demanded. He struggled to his feet and stood on shaking legs. He stooped and gathered two bags filled with his life’s possessions. “Get out of hay!” One of them gave him a violent push. He almost fell and barely managed to stay on his feet. With pushes and nudges, they herded him towards the Side Line Dam that led out of the village. As they followed him they taunted him mercilessly. “Old Fool!” “Stupid old man!” “Stinking old man!” He tried to increase his pace so as to get away from them but there was only so much his old legs were capable of. Errol became very aggressive. He stooped and picked up a handful of bricks then he started to hurl them at the helpless stranger. The old man was hit several times in the back, on the arms and feet and twice in the head. One of the strikes to the head drew blood. The old man touched the bloody wound and looked at the blood on his fingers. He turned towards his tormentors. By now the others had stopped their tormenting. Only Errol had proceeded beyond that. He was now the lone attacker. “Stop!” the old man’s voice was low and
grating. “Shut up!” shouted Errol. He threw another missile. It hit the man on the chest. “Go away and leave me alone!” he pleaded. Thud! Bam! More missiles hit him. “You mus learn fo respect yo elders!” he cautioned. “Shut up!” Errol said and sent more missiles. “If you don’t stop you gon regret it!” was the old man’s warning. This seemed to infuriate the delinquent and he threw a few more bricks hitting the man. Another drew blood from his forehead. This one flowed freely. When Errol saw the blood, he turned and fled. His friends were a short distance ahead of him and he ran to catch up. He made them swear to secrecy then the mob headed for home. That night Errol had a dream that quickly became a nightmare. He was walking on the sideline in the back of the village when he saw the old man walking ahead of him. He grabbed a few bricks and sped forward. When he was within range he let them fly. The bricks rained down on the old bum. Then a strange and terrifying thing occurred. The man turned to face his attacker but he was no longer an old man but a hideous creature; old, ugly and ready to seek revenge. Errol turned and fled but it was no use. The thing appeared in his path. Then it began to beat him mercilessly. Pow! Bam! Whack! Crack! Blows hit him like falling raindrops. Soon he had two black eyes, a bloody nose, two bloody lips and multiple black and blue bumps all over his body. He raced away screaming at the top of his voice. The beating continued. His mother shook him awake. She was shocked to see the state her son was in. He looked like he had fought the Chinese army and lost. He grimaced in pain, tears streaming from his swollen eyes. When he told her all that had happened leading up to the dream she called his grandmother. “Dat boy too disrespectful to his elders. He lucky to be alive!” “Why mum?” She asked her ageing mother. “He interfere with Old Man Paw Pee! You know how much people he kill? Errol lucky he din bruk he neck. Yo better tek dat boy in hand!” Granny hung up. “Mamee, I frighten fo sleep because Old Man Paw Pee gon come fo me,” Errol said. “Boy why you so bad? Thank God dat man sarry fo you. Look! Next time yo dream he beg he pardon and promise never to do it again!” Errol did as he was instructed. The next night the Old Man Paw Pee returned to his dream. This time he was the same old man but he was smiling with a wicked glint in
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his eyes. “You is a hard ears youngsta. Is only because of yo modda dat a spare you.” “Ow uncle, a sarry. A promise a gon
never do it again!” Errol swore. “Yo better don’t, or a gon come an visit you again, only dis time yo not gon wake up!” Errol wet his bed.
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The Samsung Galaxy Watch is now TechRadar’s
best
smartwatch in the world The Apple Watch 3 has been toppled In our in-depth review Matt Swider said, “The Samsung Galaxy Watch has the best design and slickest operating system of any smartwatch we’ve tested. “It resembles a real watch, has a healthy number of auto-tracked workouts, and its core software operates intuitively via the rotating bezel. The four-day battery life allows for more doing and less charging. “ In at number one The Samsung Galaxy Watch has bumped the Apple Watch 3 from the top spot in our list, which has sat at the top spot for almost a whole year since our review was originally published. Samsung may not have the number one spot for long as there have been lots of watches announced at IFA 2018 that we’ve yet to review and there are rumors of both an Apple Watch 4 and Google Pixel Watch. Any of these could easily rank in our best smartwatch guide when we’ve fully reviewed them, so it may be our ranking will change dramatically in the coming months.
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What you need to know about Sweet Potatoes - Part Two Major Pests and Diseases of the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas)
IN Guyana Sweet Potato is the second most widely grown root tuber after yams and cassava. The crop is largely produced under traditional, low input technology and consequently, often suffers poor quality yields. Much of this is due to inadequacies in crop management practices. Economic damage by diseases, pests and weeds of sweet potato is relatively moderate, although sweet potato weevil can be a menace in some regions, if the problem is not identified early, and remedial action not implemented in a timely manner. INSECT PESTS OF SWEET POTATO (IPOMOEA BATATAS) IN GUYANA Sweet Potato Weevil (Cylas formicarius) Among the 300 insect and mite species that feed on sweet potato in the tropics and subtropics, only sweet potato weevil (Cylas formicarius) is the most destructive insect pest. No resistant source is available.
Cultural Control: Integrated pest management for this insect is recommended, consisting of the following measures: • Crop rotation; • Eradication of Ipomoea weeds; • Use of clean planting material; • Deep planting; • Regular hilling to fill soil cracks around plants; and • Use of sex pheromone which is effective to trap male weevils; Chemical Control: • Pre-plant slip treatment using Triazophos 40%EC; and • Soil treatment using Basudin 60 per cent EC once monthly. Vine Borer Symptoms (Omphisa anastomosalis) O. anastomosalis adults are white with a brownish-yellow pattern on the wing. They lay slightly domed, greenish eggs with a flat base, on the upper and lower surfaces of the leaf and on petioles. The eggs are usually laid singly and egg incubation lasts for about one week. Soon after hatching, the larvae bore into the stems and gradually eat their way down the vines. Full-grown larvae are 30 mm long and light purple, although they may also be yellowish-white. The head capsule
is brown, the ventral surface and legs are white, and the back and lateral sides have yellowish-brown grooves. The larval period usually lasts 30-35 days but may vary between 21 and 92 days depending upon temperature. Pupation usually takes place in the vine but larvae may also bore into storage roots and pupate when roots are close to the soil surface. The adults are active at night. Both males and females mate at one to six days old. Cultural Control: • Integrated Pest Management; and • Crop rotation Chemical Control: • The use of Sevin and/or Decis gives effective control of O. anastomosalis, increasing the yield of treated plants. • Systemic insecticides such as Carbofuran are applied to the soil in the vicinity of the main stem. The chemical is translocated, killing the insect larvae boring in the stem, but does not come into contact with natural enemies. However, treatment with Carbofuran is barely economical because the price of sweet potato roots in local markets is low Cricket Gryllotalpa spp. (Orthoptera: Gryllotalpidae) Acheta spp. (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) Mole crickets, which have heavily sclerotised front legs that are adapted for digging, are usually common in sandy soils. All crickets are nocturnal, feeding at night and secluded by day, under the soil. They feed at or slightly below the soil surface and can cause considerable damage before being discovered. Crickets spend their entire life cycle below the soil, which may go through a period of approximately 28 -35 days. They are termed soil insects. Adult Cricket Sympton Crickets eat tubers of sweet potatoes. Fully grown crickets are brown in colour and are about 2.5 – 3.5 cm long. The various species of these insects usually live in the soil, bushes and under decaying crop residues and vegetation. Cultural control: • The areas where sweet potatoes are grown should receive full sunlight, kept clean of weeds and all crop residues should be removed and burnt. • Proper land preparation serves to control weeds, diseases, and soil insects, and also helps in the destruction of large soil clods, which act as hiding places for cricket. • Good field sanitation- rid the field of weeds and plants residues from previous crops. Chemical control: • Any approved soil insecticide at the recommended rate may be applied, such as Basudin 60% E.C (Diazinon) or Vydate L 40 percent E.C at the rate of 10 mls to 4500 mls water to cultivated areas. White Flies Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) These insects are in fact bugs. The adults are white mothlike insects (Figure 4) that fly upwards from the plant when disturbed. They are about 2 mm in length and their wings are covered with a white waxy powder. The pinhead-size nymphs are oval and flattened and are attached to the leaf surface until maturity. All stages of this pest can be found on the underside of leaves. Nymphs and adults feed by sucking plant sap, resulting in leaves becoming mottled, yellow and brown before dying. Feeding whiteflies excrete honeydew on the leaf surface which encourages the growth of sooty mould, thus hampering photosynthesis. Ants are also attracted to the honeydew. This pest is also a vector of viral diseases. The life cycle may be completed in about 28-35 days. Cultural Control: • Do not plant a new crop next to one which is mature: The common practice of having mature crops adjacent to newly planted ones makes management of the pest very difficult since the cycle of the pest is never broken. • An integrated control strategy is necessary for the effective management of this pest. • Good farm sanitation, including removal of weeds around the cultivation, is necessary since weeds serve as hosts for the pests. Chemical Control: • Several new generation insecticides are now available for the effective control of white flies. Targeting both nymphs and adults with soap-based products should be applied very early in the morning or late in the evening. Other chemicals which may be used include Admire, Pegasus and/ or Basudin and Vydate L at 10 mls to 4500 mls water.
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Unsworn evidence of a child
Cannot corroborate sworn evidence, Appellate Court ruled
IN 1967, a Judge led a Demerara Assize jury to believe that the unsworn evidence of a nine-year-old girl could corroborate the sworn testimony of her mother who had testified that she (mother) was raped by a burglar. As a consequence of the misdirection by the judge, the jury found the alleged burglar and rapist Boodram Lall, guilty of burglary and rape, resulting in the judge sentencing him to concurrent terms of imprisonment for seven years. Lall, represented by lawyer, Mr. J.O.F. Haynes, Q.C., appealed. The Guyana Court
of Appeal allowed the appeal and quashed the convictions and sentences. The facts of the case disclosed that the appellant, Lall, was indicted on two counts, firstly, for ‘burglary with intent to commit rape’ and secondly, ‘rape’ on K, the mother of K.R., a nine year old girl. The trial judge questioned the child and recorded his opinion that she was not of sufficient competent understanding to give evidence, but he did not permit her to be sworn as he did not think she understood the nature of an oath and, as a result, she gave unsworn evidence. Her testimony , if admis-
sible and if believed, afforded strong corroboration of her mother’s evidence, the trial judge had said.. The jury were directed that the rule of practice was to look for corroboration of the mother’s evidence. He told the jury that they could convict on the uncorroborated evidence of the mother, and he also told them over and over again that K.R.’s unsworn evidence corroborated the mother’s testimony. The Appellate Court held – (i) the unsworn evidence of a child could not be used to corroborate the sworn testimony of another person; (ii) the directions were of such a nature that it was impossible to say whether the jury relied for their verdict of “guilty” on the uncorroborated evidence of the mother alone coupled with the warning that they were so entitled to do, or, on the evidence as corroborative of the mother’s testimony. The Appellate Court, constituted by Chancellor Kenneth Stoby, and Justices of Appeal, Percival Cummings and Victor Crane, allowed the appeal and quashed the convictions and sentences. Queen’s Counsel Mr. J.O.F. Haynes appeared for the appellant while Mr. Neville Graham, Senior Crown Counsel, appeared for the respondent. Delivering the judgment, Chancellor Stoby noted that the trial of the appellant took place at the Demerara Assizes on the 10th of April, 1967. He was arraigned on an indictment containing two counts, the first charging, ’burglary with intent to commit the felony of rape,’ and the second ‘committing rape’ on K., the mother of K.R. After a trial lasting two days, he was convicted on both counts and sentenced to concurrent terms of imprisonment of seven years. Continuing the Chancellor had said, “At his trial, a nine-year old girl, K.R, was called by the Crown as a witness. The Judge questioned the child and at the conclusion of his questioning recorded that in his opinion she was of sufficient competent understanding to give evidence. “The Judge did not permit her to be sworn as he did not think she understood the nature of the oath, and in the result she gave unsworn evidence. Her evidence, if admissible, and if believed, afforded strong corroboration of her mother’s evidence. “The main ground of appeal is whether the trial judge was correct in directing the jury that the unsworn evidence of the child could corroborate sworn evidence. “The manner in which the law developed to permit the unsworn testimony of witnesses is not without interest . In
By George Barclay
early times all evidence had to be given on oath and on the Gospel; no one but a Christian could testify. “Competency to testify depended upon acceptance of the witness belief in the Gospel. Non-Christians and children of tender years were deemed to be ignorant of the nature and obligation of an oath ; they were not allowed to be sworn and so could not testify. Such was the state of the law until the celebrated case of Omychund v. Barker,(1744) “ The Chancellor went on to say that in this country in1894 , the Legislature passed an Evidence Ordinance by which a child and certain other categories of people who were ignorant of the nature and obligation of an oath could give evidence without oath provided the judge considered the child or other persons were of competent understanding. Pointing out that there were many similar directions that were given to the jury, Chancellor Stoby in his judgment declared that there was clearly no direction in the light of the proviso to section 71 but the alternative situations on either of which it was suggested to them they could act were put in the manner : (a) they might either return a verdict on the uncorroborated evidence of the mother K. alone , though it would be dangerous for them to do so: (b) if theywere not so minded and desired corroboration of it , they might choose to find in her child’s evidence, providedly they could safely on it. If, however, they found that they could not reely on the child’s, they would be left only with the mother’s evidence, on which it would be dangerous to act. The Chancellor added, “Such being the directions of the learne judge, it is impossible for us to say which of these two alternative situations the jury accepted – whether they relied for their verdict of ”Guilty” on the uncorroborated evidence alone, coupled with the warning as they were entitled to do, or on the evidence of the child as corroborative of the mother’s. “Indeed, the jury having been told it would be dangerous for them to act on the uncorroborative evidence of K. alone may very well, it is contemplated , have heeded the judge’s warning and convicted with the help of the evidence of the child which was repeatedly suggested to them ( the jury) as being capable of corroborating the mother’s. “It seems to us that the likelihood of a verdict of “Guilty” returned in such circumstances, without the proviso (14) being explained to them is unsafe, and founded as it is on a non-direction which amounted to a mis-direction in law , ought to be set aside in the interests of justice,” the Chancellor declared as he allowed the appeal and quashed the convictions and sentences.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Mark Zuckerberg: Fixing Facebook is going to take until 2019 Facebook is facing “difficult tradeoffs,” ones that can’t be fixed in a year, writes the CEO.
Zuckerberg on Friday posted on Facebook that fixing the social network is “at least a three-year project” that will extend through 2019. Though he expected “to end this year on a significantly better trajectory than when we entered it.” Zuckerberg also said he will write a series of notes outlining how he wants to address Facebook’s many issues. This comes after the Facebook CEO kicked off 2018 with an open letter pledging to fix the company’s problems that had flared up in the past year. Zuckerberg and Facebook have been going through a tough time, confronting everything from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, to Facebook’s role in spreading false information, to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and more. Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg appeared before Congress on Wednesday to answer questions from lawmakers about many of
these issues. Zuckerberg has been working on tackling Facebook’s problems over the past year. Last August, he spoke out against hate groups on Facebook’s service as they were being shut down. In November, he lent his voice to new initiatives from the company to expand the reach of community service organizations across Facebook’s more than two billion monthly active users. “While a lot of this work is just about doing our jobs better -- finding issues faster, making fewer mistakes, etc. -- many of the hardest decisions we face involve difficult tradeoffs between principles we value deeply,” wrote Zuckerberg in his post. “For example, giving people a voice is at the heart of our mission. But we also have a responsibility to keep people safe.” Facebook didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. CNET’s Ian Sherr contributed to this report.
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Meet Marlin Motiram – the woman with MARLIN Motiram has always owned a dog and other pets while growing up, but she never thought that one day she’s be the owner of 57 dogs! She had as many as 80 up to last year as a result of accepting stray dogs from persons who found them. But lately, she decided that she had enough to care for and therefore stopped accepting more. Motiram, 69, migrated to England when she was just 11 years old and returned to her homeland about 15 years ago. Ever since then she’s been residing at Bushy Park, Parika.
57 dogs!
“I lived in England and I am still back and forth between here and there. I love animals; I had a few and it just happened now that I have a lot. People would bring their stray dogs and I would take them in. I also go out and feed some stray dogs at the junction,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine in an interview. Motiram lived in the street leading to Bushy Park beach but moved to another house on the Parika main road so as to afford the dogs more space. “At first, a few of them came in and I fed them and they stayed. I have 57 dogs at the moment. I have a big yard and lots of space,” she related. Each day, Motiram will make her way to the dogs where she will spend most of her day. “I don’t
Marlin Motiram
Some of the dogs coming to greet Marlin on her arrival
Motiram has hired two persons to cook and care for the dogs daily
Marlin knows each one of her dogs by name
work otherwise, but I have an income because I look after my rented properties. So, most of the time, I am with the dogs. I live on the main road but I come here in the mornings. I used to live here but then, I think the dogs got too many so I moved to give them space,” she recalled. Motiram has hired two persons to help care for the dogs and they would cook daily for the animals. “We have two big karahis; we cook meat and rice and vegetables. And then they have the dog chow. Every day we cook; they must eat every day,” Motiram, who finances it all, expressed. She said there is also a vet who would go to the facility to have the dogs vaccinated and whenever one is sick. Whenever there is a need for the Turn to page XXXI ►►► dogs to get to Georgetown, Motiram would transport them
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with a rights activist, who in turn has put her in touch with someone who helps to take care of animals. “One time I got help to vaccinate the dogs because there was a big scare of a virus.” Motiram, whose husband is dead, finds a lot of joy in caring for the animals. “They give me a lot of joy. I mean, when you come in and they all jump up, it gives you a lot of joy. And every day is a nice experience with them. Now I am getting a little older Marlin has moved out of her house so I am trying not to take in to allow more space for the dogs ‘Every day is a nice experience with the dogs.’ – Marlin any more. Right now I have enough to cope with so I have in her car. interested in. “I like all animals. to refuse when people bring.” imals. I really liked animals maybe because Speaking about the reason she chooses I like cats, dogs, any animal. It’s just that Each of the dogs, mostly the common my sister was much older than me and I was to invest so much time and resources into the dogs happened to be there. But I mean, I breed, has a name. “They’re all from famon my own, in a way.” the dogs, Motiram expressed: “I don’t have would love to have cats as well. But the dogs ilies so they have names,” she said. Recently, Motiram has gotten in touch a reason; it just happened. I love animals don’t like cats; so they will get killed.” and once you have them and they increase Motiram is not so sure what is responsiin their numbers, what are you going to do? ble for this kind of love she has for animals You can’t put them out on the road. And but she feels it may have something to do I just love animals; and I hate to see them with the fact that while growing up, she did suffer.” not have a lot of company. “I always had a But dogs are not the only animals she’s dog while I was growing up; always had an◄◄◄ From page XXX
XXXII THIS WEEK’S PREVIEW: Sept. 10-16 , 2018 Hungry nah know bam-by. What will desperation force Coretta to do? Ignatius, James and Sonny strategise how to deal Simon who they think has been posting negative comments about them on Facebook. Will their plan work? Lucille wants Cecil to wine and dine her but is he interested in this latest move at reconciliation? Sister Patsy is campaigning hard for Local Government Elections. Will she challenge Simon to a Debate?
Is it legal what Ignatius is asking Coretta to do? Aunty Myrtle receives a proposal for marriage. What is her response? What is Coretta doing under Simon’s bed? Don’t miss this week’s episode!!!! You can also listen on www.merundoi.org FOR COUNSELLING ON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES INCLUDING SUICIDE CALL THE HELPLINE 24-HR. HOTLINE 623-4444
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Scenes from the Indigenous Heritage Month Opening If you missed the grand opening of the Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations, here are some vivid photos showing some of the activities which took place last week at the Sophia Exhibition Complex. (Photos by Delano Williams)
President David Granger is escorted into the event by two cultural performers
A cultural performance with traditional instruments Turn to page XXXIV ►►►
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President Granger is presented with a token of appreciation by one of the performers
Traditional Indigenous dance performed on stage
The brave, little one had a lot to say!
A cultural performance at the beginning of the event
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The Cost of Climate Change for Small Islands and Coastal Nations
CLIMATE change induced by human activities is happening whether we are prepared or not, however, it will not affect us all equally. The poor and marginalised will experience the brunt of climate change. Climate change has already resulted in mass migration in Bangladesh forcing over 50,000-200,000 climate refugees to relocate as a result of sea level rise, and this number is expected to rise in the coming years. Hitting closer to home, last year, our Caribbean neighbours suffered from the destruction of both Hurricane Irma and Maria. Bermuda, Puerto Rico and Dominica were devastated and a year later, are still struggling to rebuild. Furthermore, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Barbuda and Turks and Caicos were also affected significantly. Last year’s hurricane took the lives of over 3,191 citizens and caused damages as high as $130 billion. THE HIDDEN COST … As we continue to rely on fossil fuels to power our economies, disasters like the ones we experience in the Caribbean last year will worsen. Globally, fossil fuels increase greenhouse gas emissions leading to human-induced climate change creating rising sea levels, increasing storm strength, and killing coral reefs and other critical nutrition producing environments. There is a correlation between warming oceans temperatures, high sea levels, and the increasing impact of natural disasters. National Geographic reported that hurricanes draw their power from warm water; warm and moist air provides greater energy for these storms boosting their damaging impact. Globally averaged, seas level is expected to rise by 1-4 feet in the next century, this will increase the damage of storm surges. A YEAR LATER... A year later, countries are still grappling to rebuild from last year’s hurricane. Even worse, it was reported that Puerto Rico lost a total of 2,975 lives as opposed to the 64 that was first recorded. This number continues to rise as a lack of medical facilities to care for those affected. Many were not able to receive necessary care during the hurricane. Once again, this disproportionately affects the poor who are reliant on local facilities. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said only $20 million has been pledged to help his country rebuild after Hurricane Irma caused $220 million of damage to tourism-dependent Barbuda. We are in the middle of hurricane season, and for most people in the Caribbean, this means living in fear for what’s to come. Small island nations produce less than one per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are the most vulnerable and are at the frontline of climate-related disasters. “Climate change is a security issue and a survival issue for our countries, as we are witnessing right now with the impacts of Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean,” said Enele Sopoaga, Hon. Prime Minister of Tuvalu, speaking at the high-level political event, organised by UNDP. Natural disasters worsen the resource and capacity issues of any nation. It is worrisome to think that as a result of climate change, we will experience these events more frequently and with greater force. Last hurricane season, hundreds of human lives were lost, infrastructure was damaged beyond repair and it seems as through recovery is a long road ahead. This year, we can only hope the Caribbean will have an uneventful hurricane season. MOVING FORWARD For us to move towards a more resilient future, the international community must reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and implement stronger policies to curb our current
high level of greenhouse gas emissions. Domestically, we have to invest in infrastructure that would withstand the effects of climate change, preserve coastal wetlands to absorb storm surges and improvements to coastal protection must be accounted for in our budget. Countrywide, we need to prepare prior to storms by strengthening our national evacuation plans and warning systems. More than ever before, it is important to understand Guyana’s Green
State trajectory and actively participate in the process. Creating a green economy will not only help in Climate Change mitigation but adaptation as well. You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, Georgetown, or email us at eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
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Apple says Watch, AirPods, and chargers will be more expensive under Trump tariffs New letter says government should back down from trade war Apple says the United States’ latest round of proposed tariffs on China would affect a number of its up and coming products, including the Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod. The proposed tariffs would put a 25 percent tax either on the products themselves or on components within the products, raising the price on them and likely depressing sales as well. Several other products would also be hit, according to a letter submitted by Apple to the US Trade Representative earlier today. Apple says the Mac Mini, Pencil, its wireless mouse and trackpad, leather cases and covers, and some adapters, chargers, cables, and internal components would also be impacted by the tariffs. Apple asks that the US revise its proposal and decline to place tariffs on the product categories that cover these devices. “It is difficult to see how tariffs that hurt US companies and US consumers will advance the government’s objectives with respect to China’s technology policies,” Apple writes. Until now, the US and China had avoided placing tariffs that would affect major technology products — an area where the countries have a strong relationship. Apple, in particular, has been an obvious point of concern. The company’s US-developed hardware products have made it one of the richest companies in the world, but those products are built in China, creating a huge num-
ber of jobs. While the US did not explicitly say it would tax smartwatches or wireless headphones, the government did say it might tax “machines for the reception, conversion, and transmission or regeneration of voice,” which could describe many Apple products, as well as more specific technology categories like “plugs and sockets for making connections to or in electrical circuits” up to a certain voltage. This round of tariffs was proposed throughout June and July as part of President Trump’s ongoing feud with China over its trade practices. The proposal called for tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. The proposal’s public comment period closes today; Apple’s comment was filed Wednesday but just became public. Apple said that, if applied, the tariffs would “show up as a tax on US consumers” and ultimately “increase the cost of Apple products.” The company says this would put it at a disadvantage relative to foreign competitors, and that the US would be hit the hardest by taxing these categories. It’s still unclear when the proposed tariffs will go into effect, or whether there will be significant changes or exceptions in the final list. “We will evaluate the comments and we will make a decision,” said White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow in an interview this morning with Bloomberg TV.
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
English STUDY SUCCESS
Dear Students, Effective memory depends upon three laws: Impression, Repetition, and Association. About Impression: use your powers of concentration, observation and all other senses to creatively visualise pictures of what you want to remember. Yes, create unusual and larger-than-life images for the words and important points of help for your examinations; orators have long since been benefiting from this approach in their professional careers. Also, an intense interest in a topic will assist you to remember things about it better. Be wise. Love you IMPROVING WRITING What good writing entails You need to write a story featuring a mammal of any known forest or land feature? All right; choose your creature and probably gather information in note form. Choose basic characteristics like where it lives, how it moves about, what it eats, how it produces its young, and even how long it survives. Choose important points about its relations with dwellers who share the space; record benefits and challenges. Is the mammal a friend or foe; does it provide food, transportation, medicine, clothing, house-building material; is it inspiration for making more effective weapons of protection. Include its guile, and some lesser-known but need-to-know information as story enhancers. But there are other requisite skills you need to have up your sleeve besides that of information-gathering. You need word power for coining
full and interesting sentences with apt descriptions to capture your reader’s imagination. Also, you need to write with a rhythm or tempo to keep expectations rising towards the crescendo. After all is put into place and your handiwork is done, read carefully and make necessary corrections only. Something to Do 1. Write an interesting story which features great interaction between a mammal in its natural environment and the people who dwell there too. Try to interweave little-known but need-to-know information to further your reader’s knowledge about both creature and dwellers. 2. Make each of the following sentences more interesting by changing the words in bold type into something more descriptive. You and your study partners are permitted to change the sentence structure without shaving the original meaning. 1. The Antarctic wolf came off the face of the earth before it could have had the sense of protecting itself. 2. Several studies in the field told much about chimpanzees. 3. There has always been unknown things about the seals on Antarctica whose remains have been found 20-30 miles from the coast and 2,000 feet up the glaciers. 4. The pig in its natural state will eat roots and stalks just the same with leaves or fruits. 5. The devotion of some animal mothers to a still-born baby, or to one that dies soon after birth is not nice to see. 6. In Africa baboons are now a great threat to crops where the leopard has been killed off. 7. The European wood mouse has been tested over and over again by scientists to find out how mothers
respond to their babies’ ultrasonic distress calls.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
War its thousands slays, Peace its ten thousands. BEILBY PORTEUS (17311808) Death (1759), 1.179
GRAMMAR 1. Some nouns are singular but mistaken for plural (vice versa) A pair of is singular. It is one pair. A pair of pliers was found at the left entrance of the Wooding Craft Centre. 2. Some multiple subjects are singular. When sentence sense makes one of the elements in a multiple subject appear subordinate, then the subject is singular. * The chief commander and his assistants are reopening some closed cases. * The chief officer with his assistants is reopening some closed cases. Together with and as well as cause a singular problem. * The original title, together with a forged copy, was found in a hidden canister. * The prankster, as well as his brothers, was caught by a ‘sting’ method by alert policemen. 3. Sometimes finding the true subject is made difficult because of ‘attraction.’ Some sentences are coined with plural nouns or pronouns standing between the true subject and its verb. This verb, in this circumstance, is often made plural when the young writer is misguided by the plural noun standing nearby. Here are examples of correctly written sentences. Their true subjects are all collective nouns. a. A box of LABELON nickel-plated steel T-Pins standing on the craft table was sent for. b. A collection of her handmade ribbon roses is now on display at the indigenous heritage food and craft exhibit site.
4. a) Look at this sentence. Forty years ago, a herd of North America buffaloes was counted in millions. b). Here is one other sentence. It is correctly written. Its true subject is not a collective noun and therein lies the difficulty for some young writers. The phrasing of some test questions is misunderstood by ill-prepared students who fail consequently. 5. Definition: A collective noun is a name applied to a group: navy, club, band, class. It can be used in a singular or plural sense according to the need of the writer. If the subject of a sentence is a group named by a collective noun as a whole – as one thing – treat it as a singular subject. a) The sitting room suite has been unused for nearly twenty years and its chances of being eaten into by termites are high. b) The jury has decided that the accused is guilty as charged. If the writer is thinking of the separate individual objects that make up the group named by the collective noun, then the noun must be treated as plural. Correct: Occasional bouts of people chattering, and a steady stream of especially men using the washrooms indicated that the audience were not closely following his teaching. Consistency is the watch word.
Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Farine Fish Loaf
Ingredients 1 lb farine 2 lb fresh fish 2 tbsp chopped celery 1 or 2 wiri-wiri peppers, chopped juice of 1 lemon or lime, or 2 tbsp vinegar 1 oz margarine 1 oz rice flour 1/2 pt milk Method 1 Pour some water on the farine and strain away any impurities. 2 Leave farine to swell. 3 Grind celery and pepper. 4 Clean fish and season with the ground celery and pepper, salt, lemon or lime juice or vinegar. Set aside. 5 Steam fish, keeping the liquor. 6 Remove bones and mash finely with a fork. Make a white sauce with the margarine, rice flour, milk and reserved fish liquor. 7 Add fish to farine and mix well with white sauce. 8 Place mixture into a greased 1 lb loaf tin and bake in a moderate oven, 375 degrees. Serves about 8
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Chronicle Pepperpot September 9, 2018
Entertainment
Ed Sheeran’s Love Life, Marriage
And Song He Wrote About An Ex JAMAICA Gleaner - With feature stories in People Magazine, USA Today, US Magazine and numerous other global publications, the million-dollar question that fans want answered is, did Ed Sheeran get married to fiancee Cherry Seaborn? While he has not given a definitive answer to the question, he hinted at it during his recent interview with Access Online by pointing to a ring on his finger when asked if he had picked a date for his wedding. The notoriously private singer who had one of the biggest songs, Shape of You, in 2017, announced his engagement in January. The dancehall-infused, Grammy Award-winning song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 240,000 downloads and 20 million streams in its debut week in the United States. It peaked at number one on the singles charts in 34 countries, and in September 2017, became the most streamed song on Spotify, with more than 1.32 billion streams. To get an insight into his love life, we spoke with his cousin Jethro Sheeran (aka Alonestar). The two recorded three songs (Raise ‘Em Up, Real Life & Outlaw) for the #1 Billboard reggae album Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica, a collaboration album that features Jr Gong Marley,
up.
Singer Ed Sheeran
Sean Paul, Vybz Kartel, Sizzla and Sean Kingston. “I’m not allowed to speak on the fact of whether Ed got married or not because it is a family matter,” Jethro told The Gleaner. “I will say that when his marriage is officially made public, Ed will be taking a
break from music to focus on having a family,” he added. DATING EXPERIENCE Jethro said that while Ed is a global superstar who has his choice of women to date, things were much different growing
“Growing up, girls didn’t really like Ed until he got his first record deal. His first album was literally about his relationship with his first serious girlfriend.” Jethro explained that after Ed became famous, he had a celebrity crush and eventually a love affair with Ellie Goulding, which would forever change his interaction with women. They had a really bad break-up, and this caused Ed to write the song Don’t mess with my Love. He then had another serious relationship with a girl who broke up with him after the Brit Music Awards, because of his partying behaviour at the time, and the fact that he was going on tour for a year. After the break-up, he reunited with Cherry Seaborn, to whom he is currently engaged, possibly married to. Speaking about the relationship with Seaborn, Jethro said, “The truth is he (Ed) never had a relationship with her in high school. She was the girl he had a crush on but didn’t get,” he explained. “Ed is into long marriage and relationships as we were raised Catholic. Our grandparents were married until death, and Ed’s parents were married before he was born and are still together today,” Jethro shared.
Miss America contestant slams Trump: He’s caused a lot of division ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A contestant in the Miss America pageant says President Trump “has caused a lot of division” in the nation. Madeline Collins, Miss West Virginia, was asked an onstage question on Friday night about what she feels is the most serious issue facing the nation. She replied “Donald Trump is the biggest issue our country faces. Unfortunately he has caused a lot of division in our country.” The interview responses were limited to 20 seconds and Collins did not go into additional detail. The Miss America Organisation has rejected a request from The
Associated Press (AP) to make Collins available for an interview after Friday night’s competition had ended. She did not win the interview contest. That honor went to Miss Massachusetts Gabriela Taveras, whose question dealt with how Americans traveling abroad should interact with people in other countries. She said it is important to let people in other nations know that, “We as Americans are supporting them and that we are there to help them.” The onstage interview has replaced the swimsuit competition in this year’s pageant, a change that has created controversy among those who feel the pageant
needed to be modernised, and those who feel an integral part of the pageant is being sacrificed. Friday marked the third and final night of preliminary competition in the Miss America competition. Also on Friday night, Miss Indiana Lydia Tremaine won the talent portion for singing Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life.” The next Miss America will be crowned Sunday night in the nationally televised finale from Atlantic City. During the first two nights of competition, some of the onstage interview questions have touched on hot button issues, including NFL national anthem protests.
A question on the propriety of those protests helped propel Miss Virginia Emili McPhail to a preliminary win Thursday night. She told judges players have the right to protest by kneeling, noting that the real issue is police brutality. In the talent competition, Miss Louisiana Holli’ Conway won for a vocal performance, singing “I Believe.” On Wednesday, Miss Florida Taylor Tyson won the talent competition for a piano performance, and Miss Wisconsin Tianna Vanderhei won the interview competition for her comments on education.