Sunday, October 7, 2018
Cancer survivor, Zalina Jasmin Singh (Adrian Narine photo)
Battling breast cancer ‘I had to stop crying and be brave’
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
Never giving up Mothers working tirelessly to ensure their children get equal chances in life
By Naomi Marshall CEREBRAL palsy is a disorder that prevents persons from speaking, walking or even writing at times, But Usha Persuad and Lorette Payne are mothers who refuse to let this disorder prevent their daughters from becoming academically successful. Three months after giving birth to a beautiful baby girl by the name of Rajni Persaud, Usha observed that her daughter was not doing things a normal three-year-old should do. Subsequently, Rajni was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy at only six-months-old. According to Michigan Cerebral Palsy attorneys, Cerebral palsy is a term that refers to “a group of non-progressive motor conditions often caused by brain damage.” These disorders are characterised by a loss or impairment of body movement, reflexes, balance, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, and posture. There are four types of Cerebral Palsy – Spastic, Ataxic, Dyskinetic and Mixed Cerebral Palsy. In Rajni’s case, she has spastic triplegia cerebral palsy which causes stiffness in the muscles of the lower parts of her body, particularly her legs, in addition to her left arm. As such, she depends heavily on a wheelchair to move around. After deciding to send her daughter to school, Usha recalled having to push her daughter in a wheelchair from one village to another in order for Rajni to have nursery and primary education. Running tired of the hassle to get Rajni to school, Usha had decided not to send her daughter to secondary school after Rajni came out successful at the National Grade Six Assessment, copping a spot at St. Joseph High School. “When she write Common Entrance I didn’t decide to
Usha Persaud and her daughter, Rajni, pose for a picture (Vishani Rogobeer photo)
send her to school back, tell you the honest truth. I use to walk from here (Coldingen), pushing her in a wheelchair from here to meet Enterprise Primary School, everyday fah go and come. When the rain fall then we tek taxi,” Usha said. Usha described transportation as one of her challenges, calling it a “sacrifice”. However, with motivation from others, Usha allowed her daughter to attend President’s College instead because of the availability of transportation, and as a result she paid $5,000 per week for a taxi to take Rajni to school. It paid off, Rajni graduated from President’s College in 2017 with eight Grade Ones and three Grade Twos. Determined to give her daughter a fair chance of attending university, Usha and her husband Khanai, agreed to foot the hefty taxi bill. Today, 18-year-old Rajni is a first-year student of the University of Guyana, who is pursuing a Diploma in Accounting. However, transportation still remains an issue, says Usha. “It’s really expensive, to be honest for a week it’s $18,000 I pay now for UG. When she used to go President’s College I used to pay $5,000 a week, every week,” said the mother, who has given up working to facilitate the movement of her daughter. In addition to taking her daughter to university, Usha also sits in Rajni’s classes in order to make her daughter feel comfortable. “When I take her to UG I stay there because I think she’s more comfortable for me to be there with her, than just carry her and leave her. She wouldn’t be comfortable there, and I usually see her go from class to class and if I need assistance I ask anybody there to help her. The students there they do assist,” the mother, who has given up working to accommodate her daughter, explained. In order to involve her daughter in society, Usha would take her daughter to the movies, zoo, mall and the park. The mother of two is advising parents of children with disabilities to involve them in society. “I am telling people that have disabled children [that] they should come out. I know it’s hard but someday it will
pay off. I think many parents don’t take out their children that have disability. When you go out there, everybody is not positive but I think if more parents go out with their children and meet with people out there, there can be changes for people with disability. Because with people’s advice that I am getting that’s why I am this far with her,” Usha said. Usha expressed sincere gratitude to the teachers of President College, Sir Daeraj, Enterprise Nursery and Primary School and to Ganesh Singh. While Rajni has spastic triplegia cerebral palsy and cannot walk, 13-year-old Trinity Payne of Linden was diagnosed with Spastic quadriplegia – a disorder that affects all four limbs, however, therapy has enabled her to walk. She, on the other hand, does not speak. TOP PERFORMER With the help of her mother, Lorette Payne, a teacher, Trinity has remained the top performer of her class at Harmony Secondary in Linden. Lorette has been the main source of communication between Trinity and the school system, using her limited knowledge of sign language to teach her daughter. Just like Usha, Lorette observed that her three- monthold daughter was not doing the things a normal baby her age should be doing, afterwards, Trinity was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy. “I know that at three months a baby was supposed to be holding up her head and I wasn’t seeing that, and I was noticing that she used one side more than the next side. She was born in August and this was the November, we went to a private doctor and as soon as the doctor saw her, he told us that the condition was Cerebral Palsy,” Lorette told this newspaper. Being told that her firstborn may walk until age five and may not speak, Lorette felt devastated. “When I found out that this is what she had, that was really devastating to me, because I’m like ‘God why me”’,” she expressed. Lorette placed her daughter in the mainstream education and set out to ensure her daughter does her best in the education sector. Lorette started writing her daughter’s school notes since writing became difficult for her. “The writing part was a little difficult, sometimes I would have to go and write for her when I go to collect her, or collect somebody’s book to get the notes,” Lorette said. Due to her daughter not being able to speak, Lorette proceeded to learn sign language in order to communicate with her daughter, however, Lorette noted that her knowledge of signing is limited. She said, “Because of her disability I end up going to check out to see how I can best communicate with her with signs. I was able to teach her the alphabet, days of the week, months of the year and all those. For Grade six, like I said, I would normally go in from time to time and collect the notes and work with her.” Being a teacher at Harmony Secondary School, the same school that Trinity attends, Lorette shared with the Pepperpot Magazine how she prepares her daughter for exams. “I’m at the school so I would help out with her, if she has a test or so, we would study the night before and then I would work with here at the test, taking into consideration, persons might say oh you cheating for your child,” Lorette noted. But she stated that getting persons to sign for Trinity is difficult, which is one of the reasons she delayed attending the University of Guyana. She said, “This is one of the reasons that I delayed going to the university because I’m thinking there is nothing, nobody is there, no interpreter for her at the school.” Lorette also shared that she delayed having another child for years because she wanted to place her attention on herTrinity. The mother of two is urging “persons who have a child with disability, they need family support because if you ain’t get your own to help you, who else will help you, and that is one of the things I got from my family and my husband’s family.” She has also encouraged parents to “push” for their children and to “appreciate” them.
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
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Battling breast cancer ‘I had to stop crying and be brave’
indicators that ‘Jay,’ as she’s lovingly called, would actually be spending the rest of the year frantically battling breast cancer. The nurse at her workplace, Banks DIH Limited, where she has been employed for the past 14 years, referred her to ‘Georgetown Hospital’ where she was sent to do a Fine Needle Aspiration biopsy of the left side breast. When the results came back, though, the doctors were skeptical and did not want to make a definitive pronouncement, as they weren’t clear if it was in fact breast cancer that Jay had. So they sent her to do an Excisional biopsy. Jay had to spend six months away from her “When these results came back, family and friends so as to get treatment I was Stage Two breast cancer positive,” Jay, 44, recalled during an inBy Telesha Ramnarine terview a few days ago with the Pepperpot IT was a morning in June 2017 while Magazine. She had suspected something was amiss, showering, casually and unsuspectingly, that would change the life of Zalina though, because when the hospital received Jasmin Singh forever. She felt a lump in the second set of results, they called her to one of her breasts and hastened to tell go in, although they had already given her her husband and other family members a date on which to return. “My husband and I went and they sat about it. me down and told me that it’s cancerous There was no pain, even as she would squeeze the area where she was feeling the and I’m Stage Two; that the option was to lump. In fact, there were absolutely no other do surgery and to do it as early as possi-
One of Jay’s biggest fears was to not be able to see her daughter, Maya, grow up.
Her husband, Heamraj (at right) remained strong for the entire family. At left, is their son, Vishal.
ble.” Her mind went blank after the doctor told her this. “I started crying right there. I didn’t know what to do; I just started crying. I cried a lot from there on.”
fingers were numb; my toes were numb. They had to change my chemo and give me another one. My face broke out, my hair dropped out, my eyelashes and brows were gone…and not to forget the pain from the chemo.”
WEAK MOMENTS Jay decided to do treatment overseas and left Guyana in November to pursue such. GIVING UP WAS NOT AN OPTION She returned home in January and then left again in February to start her chemotherapy and radiation treatment. “When I went abroad, they took out some lymph nodes and the cancer did not spread; it was just at one spot.” Dealing with her new reality took its toll on Jay, and what is more, she had to undergo treatment in a foreign country without being around her family and friends. Jay had to battle alone many days, making her way to therapy and back on her own. “I go do my treatment and come back, alone and sick. But each time, I used to get up and pull myself up. I cried a lot. At times, I thought I wasn’t going to make it back home. Plenty days I felt like giving up because the ‘chemo’ wasn’t easy. I was really sick. I used to throw up; I couldn’t walk and the pain from the medication was too much. I was a mess.” Jay’s breaking point came when she thought she was going to die. “That I’m not going to see my family again; not going to see my daughter, Maya, grow up or my Jay lived life on her terms and never once son, Vishal, get married; not see thought about suffering from breast cancer my parents again. It was horrific. You have your weak moments.” Jay spoke with her husband, Heamraj, every day and he and the children On many days, Jay felt like giving up even visited overseas. “But being there all of her efforts to get well. Along with alone; dealing with all of this alone was her physical pain, she also had to battle her really hard.” For this reason, Jay said, she is emotions, as well as an anxiety disorder, not sure she can go through all of this ever which kicked in shortly after she was diagagain. “It’s that hard. Look at my nails. I nosed with breast cancer. still have numbness in my fingers from the Turn to page XVIII ►►► treatment. My chemo was so strong my
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
Discovering the magic of realism
Joanna Suchit By Dominique Hunter
A CURSORY glance at the artwork produced by Joanna Suchit would suggest an artist who has had years of experience in the field, perhaps even working as an apprentice under the learned eye of some great master artist or the other. There is confidence and directness in the way she paints that would convince you of this. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, it was something she took up rather impulsively and has since held onto, determined to see it through regardless of where it might lead. At just 22 years old, the former President’s College student described her years at the school as having done nothing to encourage any form of artistic endeavour. “I absolutely hated art in President’s College. It was in 2015, the same year I applied to the art school, that I met a friend who was showing me his artwork. I didn’t think it was very nice. So I decided to try
ing up before her, energising her practice and encouraging her to press on in spite of what was happening around her. Speaking on some of the challenges
instinctual response to her various subject matters that ultimately led to her decision to employ what she refers to as “intro reality” as the conceptual framework of her art. The result of this was an allowance for the kind of self-reflection that eventually manifested in the form of a visibly diverse group of paintings that are all connected thematically. “It’s like introspection but more about me accepting who I am,” she explained. “Once I based the work off of myself, it opened up a wide range of paintings for me. Whether it was still life painting or portraiture, everything just made sense because it was about my emotions and my expressions. It’s my way of speaking without actually speaking.” This new personal philosophy represented quite a significant shift considering her early resistance to making art. She went on to explain that her transition from one extreme to the other in such a short amount of time did not go unnoticed. In fact, it fostered a deep appreciation for the
Portrait of Sanna
The Confession
she would have encountered during her time at the art school, Suchit explained that aside from the steep material costs attached to pursuing art formally, she managed to keep most of her challenges at bay by envisioning her goals and training her mind to stay fixed on them. “Nothing really bothered me in the art school. I knew what I wanted to do so I just focused on that,” she said. When asked whether her art-making process could be described as premeditated or intuitive, Suchit explained that her preference is to make
been teaching painting and drawing classes. More recently she has been employed as an art tutor at her alma mater, President’s College. While she admits that she is often filled with pride to witness each student’s growth as they realise their individual potential, she can also be quite disheartened by the alarming rate at which many students abandon their dream of pursuing art professionally. “I’ve seen so many persons drop out of the art school. All it takes is commitment, a little bit of patience and understanding that you won’t get it right away.” Her advice to the art school hopefuls out there is simple: “Remain committed and have patience because those are the two things that you need in order to get through.”
Untitled
my own thing to show him that I could do better than that. And I did. The next month I gathered all the work I made and used them to apply to [the E.R. Burrowes School of Art].” For someone with no prior art training and a general aversion to the subject itself, her first portfolio of artwork was impressive enough to secure her a spot in the school’s three-year diploma programme. And while she admitted there was an initial feeling of overwhelming dread about having to complete the institution’s many introductory courses, Suchit quickly realised how crucial they were to her growth as a creative practitioner. She readily acknowledged that it was the exposure to those subject areas she was less enthused about that allowed her the opportunity to mature in both her personal and professional life. She went on to explain that soon after embracing the sometimes-uncomfortable nature of her new creative journey, her eyes were opened to the endless possibilities each art medium presented individually, as well as in combination with each other. Suddenly new avenues for experimentation were open-
Camila Sinensin and Poison
free flowing work, far removed from the burdensome nature of any kind of planning. She is not one to resolve ideas through multiple sketches and/or colour studies. Instead, her approach is much more visceral and it relies heavily on instantaneous decision-making. It was precisely this type of
incredible talent she discovered once she changed her mindset. “When I understood portraiture and I could control the brush, instead of having it control me, that’s when I started to smile. I would say I am blessed with the skill to paint because in three years I’ve acquired so much. I wasn’t practising art before but I caught on really quickly. So I’m very grateful for that.” Now that she is no longer working under the constraints of a rigid art school curriculum, Suchit is hopeful about making time in her daily schedule to strengthen her figure painting techniques. One particular subject area she has expressed a desire to study even further is human anatomy. She explained that once she has a thorough understanding of how the figure operates, whether in motion or at rest, she would much closer to mastering realism and taking her work to the next level. In addition to her love of art, she has been pursuing another equally fulfilling passion: teaching. Suchit works part-time at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, where she has
Self Portrait
Suchit’s hard work and discipline has certainly not been overlooked. She recently graduated from the E.R. Burrowes School of Art where she was the recipient of the ‘Best Graduating Diploma Student’ award and the ‘Most Outstanding Student’ award, all of which she has expressed profound gratitude to have obtained. “Being valedictorian is something I’ve dreamt about and for that dream to come true is absolutely amazing. It feels good knowing my hard work paid off,” she said with enthusiasm.
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
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Jewellery as art in its own right By Gibron Rahim IT IS undeniable that jewellery is created to be beautiful. However, pieces of jewellery, similar to pieces of art, can also convey messages. Jewellery is one way in which the history and culture of a people can be preserved and expressed. It is for this reason that Deborah Mathias’ handcrafted jewellery pieces, some of which were displayed at the recently concluded Heritage Art Exhibition, are as meaningful as they are beautiful. Deborah Mathias is the creative force behind the brand Rave Designs. Mathias is one of the foremost designers in Guyana who use natural and repurposed materials, as well as locally produced semi-precious stones, to create jewellery. Mathias related to the Pepperpot Magazine that Rave Designs came out of the Quintex Advertising Agency, her father’s company. She worked alongside her father until his retirement when she assumed
times she even temporarily leaves a piece to work on another and then returns to the first one at a later time. Deborah’s three jewellery pieces that were on display at the Heritage Art Exhibition were titled “Atlantis”, “Mayan” and “Pompei”. She noted that the names were chosen to reflect great ancient civilisations that inevitably fell, pointing out that it is quite likely that civilisations will fall in a similar manner in the future.
“Pompei”
the reins. “Then at some point, I decided to take the company in a different direction in terms of being more artistic,” she explained. “And so we decided to go with Rave Designs which I think was a better description of the work we were doing.” At that time the agency was focused mainly on costuming which Deborah noted is still part of the Rave Designs repertoire. She pointed out that costume work in Guyana is mainly done for Mashramani. It was during downtime between Mash seasons that Deborah decided to start designing jewellery to stay relevant. She related that she had already been designing jewellery as a hobby. “A lot of people were complimenting me on the jewellery that I wore and asked me to [design pieces] for them as well,” she stated. Deborah revealed that moving the jewellery designing aspect of the business to its own brand is currently under consideration, as it has reached heights of popularity in its own right. Deborah has been interested in all the aspects and facets of craft since childhood. Her mother is a dressmaker while her father, as noted previously, worked in advertising. Of her mother’s work, she recalled, “I would always pay attention to the work that she was doing.” By chance, she grew up in a household where both her parents were involved in creative work which in turn nurtured her own creativity and interest in the area. The length of time it takes to create the pieces varies. According to Deborah, the beadwork pieces take about a day. “But it depends on how much time you put into it within the day,” she was sure to note. That, she said, can be dependent on how long it takes the idea for the piece itself to develop. “Sometimes I develop it very quickly and I think it depends on how comfortable I am with what I’m doing at the particular time,” she explained. “Sometimes it takes me days to feel comfortable with a piece and actually move forward.” Some-
She posited that it is possible that those ancient civilisations fell because they were not evolving in response to the changes occurring around them. The concept behind the three pieces was “sustainable lifestyles in art”. That concept was based
“Mayan”
on the idea that indifference to our planet has led to the destruction of numerous ancient civilisations. That cycle can only be broken by learning to live in harmony with the planet as the Indigenous Peoples have done since ancient times. The three pieces on display were created using ethical methods and materials in an effort to raise awareness about living a sustainable lifestyle. They highlighted each of three areas where Guyanese need to embrace more sustainable practices, those that balance the use of resources with protecting the environment. Atlantis represents the ethical harvesting and production of our ocean resources. The mainly seashell piece and its driftwood display speak to the use of found materials. Mayan
represents the ethical harvesting and production of our agricultural resources. The coconut and calabash pieces speak to the use of natural foods, remedies and adornments. Finally, Pompei addresses the area of ethical harvesting and production of our mineral resources. That piece speaks to the fragile balance of the ecology in relation to the extractive industries that decimate the environment. The pieces altogether emphasised the need to exercise caution in our selection of the resources we consume “Atlantis” with our very existence on the line. Jewellery can undoubtedly also be art. “That is exactly how we portray our jewellery,” said Deborah, “as an art form.” She noted that, for security reasons, persons are shying away from the use of the more expensive metals in their jewellery. “We try to do pieces that people can wear and call ‘statement pieces’,” she said. Those pieces she said make a statement about the wearer’s personality or that of a personality they aspire to. They can also act as a sign of
Deborah Mathias (All photos courtesy of Deborah Mathias)
the wearer’s commitment to the sustainable use of Guyana’s natural resources. “We add complements, such as glass beads and other materials, to create a further enhanced look and to create a statement also so that people are more interested in wearing the pieces.” The jewellery of Rave Designs is not mass produced. “Lots of them are one of a kind pieces,” said Deborah. She noted that, just as with art pieces, it is difficult to put a price on the jewellery pieces. “It depends on how much the person who is prepared to buy it values it.”
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
How loved, respected and cared for are elders in Guyana? By Francis Quamina Farrier SHOULD Guyanese of a certain age be officially discriminated against? Should Guyanese of a certain age be officially euthanised? Is growing older in Guyana becoming a crime officially punishable by death? I suspect that with those three strange questions, you are already seeing where I’m going. Yes; many older persons in Guyana are being discriminated against, precisely because they are older persons. In some instances, that discrimination re- A recent photo of veteran politician and Attorney-at-Law Ashton Chase, now in sults in their premature demise. his mid-90s. (Photo by F.Q. Farrier) The reason why I have commenced this feature article in such positions, or to remain in certain positions, a dramatic way is because of the many open based entirely on their age. The fact that comments in Guyana, in more recent years, these older Guyanese are enjoying relativeagainst older Guyanese citizens. Some ly good health and are still in possession people openly question whether someone is of their youthful zeal for life and living, “Fit and Proper” to be appointed to certain
seems never to be considered; it’s just about the number they state when they are asked their age. That dooms them classified to be discriminated against. For those on the receiving end of this negative growing trend, it is becoming somewhat frightening. While the mandatory age for retirement from the Public Service is 55, there are many positions which retired persons can fill and perform creditably and continue to contribute to the ongoing development of Guyana; a country which is still classified as one of the poorest in the Western Hemisphere. For those who do not know me, they
statement was made in the presence of impressionable young people who are now 10 years older, and are now young adults who are about to take their places as national leaders in the Guyanese society. One can only wonder whether a seed was planted 10 years ago into the minds of those youngsters and which continues to grow and ready to produce a bitter harvest, after hearing that statement by someone who had, and still has, tremendous power and influence over thousands of young minds in Guyana. Last year, Guyanese were shocked at the news of two elderly female citizens discovered murdered by home invaders in their Georgetown home. There was also an elderly female who had re-migrated, and was murdered, also by home invaders, at her home at Amelia’s Ward, in Linden. And there are sadly, many other elderly persons who have been murdered, some even by close relatives. Elders certainly need more protection both in their homes and in the public domain. One such public domain is in the minibuses, which for the better part, treat elders very shabbily. We know of the case not so long ago, when an elderly passenger was so roughed-up by a minibus conductor that the poor gentleman collapsed shortly after and died. I am unaware whether that minibus conductor, with blood on his hands, has ever been apprehended and charged E.R Braithwaite pictured at age 104, just five for manslaughter. months before he passed (Photo by F.Q. Farrier). On December 14, 1990, The United Nations General Assembly designated
Farrier with Matilda Lewis when she was 108. She lived for another five years, passing at 113 years of age.
will certainly recognise that I am an elderly person due to what they read in my feature articles. But here I am, living and doing what I love, in a way that I could not have done when I was 40- half the age I am now. I was shaken to the core when, at 17:52 hrs on September 1, 2008, an extremely powerful Guyanese official went on record making the following statement: “I am fed up with the old people. They had their time. They must go one side and let the young people learn from their own mistakes.” What was more frightening, was that this
October 1, “The International Day of Older Persons” which is a day “intended to highlight the need to stand against ageism and to promote the development of a society that is hospitable to people of all ages.” October has also been designated “The Month of the Elderly” by the United Nations. In Guyana, the Ministry of Social Protection is tasked with the official mandate to ensure that senior citizens in the country are neither discriminated against or abused in any way. Turn to page XXX►►►
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
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Sharp increase of cervical cancer detected in Hinterland women More awareness needed
By Michel Outridge A sharp increase in cervical cancer in Hinterland women has been detected by the authorities in recent years and Director of the Cancer Institute of Guyana , Dr Syed Ghazi believes this may be linked to the lifestyle of the people living there. Dr Ghazi told the Pepperpot Magazine recently that there may also be other risk factors attached to the instances in Hinterland areas as compared to the urban population. With early detection lives can be saved, Dr Ghazi explained that in the earliest of stages it can be eliminated completely which makes it treatable. A silent killer Cervical cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in the cells of the cervix — the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina. Various strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection, play a role in causing most cervical cancer. When exposed to HPV, a woman’s immune system typically prevents the virus from doing harm. In a small group of women, however, the virus survives for years, contributing to the process that causes some cells on the surface of the cervix to become cancer cells. You can reduce your risk of developing cervical cancer by having screening tests and receiving a vaccine that protects against HPV infection. Where does cervical cancer begin? Cervical cancer begins when healthy cells acquire a genetic change (mutation) that causes them to turn into abnormal cells. Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Cancer cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don’t die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from a tumor to spread (metastasize) elsewhere in the body. It isn’t clear what causes cervical cancer, but it’s certain that HPV plays a role. HPV is very common, and most women with the virus never develop cervical cancer. This means other factors — such as your environment or your lifestyle choices — also determine whether you’ll develop cervical cancer. Types of cervical cancer The type of cervical cancer that you have helps determine your prognosis and treatment. The main types of cervical cancer are: Squamous cell carcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in the thin, flat cells (squamous cells) lining the outer part of the cervix, which projects into the vagina. Most cervical cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Adenocarcinoma. This type of cervical cancer begins in the column-shaped glandular cells that line the cervical canal. Sometimes, both types of cells are involved in cervical cancer. Very rarely, cancer occurs in other cells in the cervix. Risk factors Risk factors for cervical cancer include: -Many sexual partners. The greater your number of sexual partners — and the greater your partner’s number of sexual partners — the greater your chance of acquiring HPV. -Early sexual activity. Having sex at an early age increases your risk of HPV. -Other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Having other STIs — such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV/AIDS
Dr Syed Ghazi
— increases your risk of HPV. -A weak immune system. You may be more likely to develop cervical cancer if your immune system is weakened by another health condition and you have HPV. -Smoking. Smoking is associated with squamous cell cervical cancer. What the statistics reveal The Cancer Institute of Guyana Inc has revealed that patients treated with radiation therapy from 2010 to September 20, 2018 are as follows: In 2010, they recorded 25 cases, 42 cases in 2011; 18 cases in 2012; 54 cases in 2013; 41 cases in 2014; 68 cases in 2015; 55 cases in 2016; 35 cases in 2017 and 32 cases in 2018 so far, with a total of 370 cervix patients. Cervical cancer occurs in sexually active women and kills some 36,000 women in the Americas every year, said Dr Ghazi , who also related that a lot of women suffer from cervical infections which comes as a ‘precursor’ of cervical cancer. He pointed out that it can cause non-cancerous vaginal warts and sexually transmitted diseases by women who have multiple sexual partners, women with multiple pregnancies, and there are so many risk factors such as, smoking or late menopause. Dr. Ghazi added that cancer is the transformation of cells can it could happen in women who are immune compromise like diabetes, HIV those women are more exposed to this transformation to cancer. He reported that screening is the first step, that is a pap smear and they reach out to farfetched areas annually where they would see about 1000 women. Annual outreach Dr. Ghazi added that an annual outreach to the interior and other rural areas is facilitated by an Australian grant which he deemed a good contribution towards the screening of women in those areas. “We have to change our mind set and start talking about cancer being curable and the first stage is to get a yearly pap smear that is, the screening test for girls or women once they become sexually active,” he said. The doctor related that there is a need for more health education because there are so many factors like such as the lifestyle, and risk factors. Dr. Ghazi talked about the much-touted HPV campaign done by the government to get girls vaccinated since prevention is better than cure. The Cancer Institute of Guyana was founded in 2006 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and services offered are not
free but subsidised because cancer treatment is very expensive. Dr. Ghazi said, “In this region we have invested in high end equipment for specialised treatment at the institute so it is difficult to offer free services but they do not turn away patients in need because the idea behind the facility was conceptualised out of compassion more than a business.” He told this newspaper that cervical cancer is a ‘monster’ and more awareness campaigns should be held so as to educate society since the disease needs to be fought collectively. He disclosed that they are part of the Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC) which is an umbrella organisation of different cancer organisations and cancer centres. Cervical cancer survivors The Pepperpot Magazine however, spoke to cervical cancer survivor, 46-year-old Esardai Nankoo, who was diagnosed with the ailment last year. She recalled having serious bel-
ly pains and was taken to the hospital and was told she has cervical cancer. Nankoo, a mother of three said she was devastated and it was difficult for her to cope but with treatment which was very costly she is cancer-free today. She added that the journey was not easy but is thankful she is better and still goes for her check-ups every three months. As for 65-year-old Rukhmin Mortley, she found out she had cervical cancer in February last year after waking up one morning and going to the washroom where she recalled she was bleeding severely and was taken to the hospital. She added that she had no symptoms and after medical intervention she was told she had stage three cervical cancer for which she underwent rigorous treatment. Mortley, a mother of two stated that today she is doing well as a cervical cancer survivor but the treatment was intense and she endured a lot of pain and expended a lot of money.Today, she is happy to be alive and well.
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
IICA
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
celebrates 43 years in Guyana on display many of the local products produced by farmers and agro-processors in Guyana. “We have done a lot, not as IICA alone; we have our partners – the OAS, FAO, CARDI, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the other various different ministries for which we are thankful because collectively we have a greater impact,” said the IICA’s Country Representative, Mr Wilmot Garnett. NEW MEDIUM-TERM PLAN (2018 – 2022) Mr. Garnett noted that throughout the years IICA has been involved in a number of activities, all in an effort to
Mr. Wilmot Garnett, IICA’s Country Representative to Guyana addressing the gathering Guyana (Photos by Adrian Narine)
By M Margaret Burke THE Inter-American Institute for Cooperation of Agriculture (IICA) celebrated 43 years of working in Guyana with a grand opening ceremony on Thursday at its head office on Brickdam. Agricultural Health Specialist of IICA, Dr. Maxine Parris-Aaron opened the ceremony with a word of prayer, after which she remarked that the actual official day for the celebration of IICA’s 43 years in Guyana is today, Sunday, October 7. However, because members of the IICA team will be individually elsewhere, a decision was made for the opening activities to be done on Thursday, October 4.
IICA’s Country Representative to Guyana, Mr. Wilmot Garnett receives a token of appreciation from one of the IICA (Guyana) staff
“It is a wonderful organisation with talented people, but what we do we do not do alone and we also recognise our friends, collaborators and partners,” said Dr. Parris-Aaron, as she extended greetings to the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Noel Holder; Minister of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings; IICA’s Representative to Guyana, Mr. Wilmot Garnett; Mr. Jean Ricot Dormeus, OAS Representative to Guyana; the Ambassador of Argentina, His Excellency, Dr. Felipe Alejandro Gardella; PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr. William AduKrow; Mr. Garvin Cummings from Hydromet, Mr. George Joves, a long-time friend and associate of IICA, and others. Dr. Parris-Aaron informed the gathering that also participating in the celebrations were some of IICA’s beneficiaries who formed part of the exhibition – men and women who came from Georgetown, as well as from the Pomeroon Women’s Agro-Processors Association. They displayed many local products, from edibles to cosmetology and medicinal products. The New Guyana Marketing Corporation also had
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develop, improve and sustain agricultural development in Guyana. “However, I just want to mention that we have a new medium-term plan, 2018 – 2022, that highlights five main areas: agriculture, health and food safety that remains a priority; we look at business: agro-business, agriculture is a business; of course climate change remains a priority for us; rural development and well-being; and certainly the fifth is international trade. But also too, cross-cutting issues, which is technology and innovation; and gender and youth. Turn to page XI►►►
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
folklore
ROOSTER RENDEVOUS GRANDPA Simpson awoke with a start. He sat up hurriedly and peered unsteadily into the darkness around him. Someone or something had disturbed his sleep. He cocked his ears and listened. Silence. He rested his grey head on the lumpy pillow and slipped back into peaceful slumber. “Cock-a doodle doo!” He jumped up and swung his legs off of the bed. Crack! His ankle struck the lamp-stand and the sharp pain made him curse aloud. His groping fingers found the light switch. The room was flooded with light. He looked suspiciously around him as if he expected to see a rooster perched on his chair. The clock on the wall showed the time to be 1 a.m. “Cock-a doodle-doo!” The piercing cry was coming from somewhere outside his bedroom window. He opened it and looked out. His poor eyesight was not much help in locating the bird. All he could make out was the dark form of the genip tree that grew just outside his window. His brain began to click in and by the time the rooster crowed again he was positive that it was nestled in the crook of the tree, right above his bed-head. It had to be a stray fowl. He had no chickens. Someone would come searching for it the next day and take it home relieving him from the noisy intruder. He switched the light off and willed himself to sleep. “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” “Cock-a-doodle-doo!” “Cock-a-doodle-doo!”
It was as if the animal was taunting him. Each time he drifted off the bird would shatter his peace with its constant response to other birds in the distance. “You can’t sleep tonight! You can’t sleep tonight!” It seemed to be saying. He tried wrapping the pillow around his head but this had little effect on the volume of the crowing bird. By the next hour, Grandpa was livid
with anger and frustration. Try as he might he just couldn’t sleep through the din made by his tormentor. Dawn came and he smiled as he lay in his bed Now he would get back some of the sleep he had lost last night. The crowing went on for the next two hours. He got up reluctantly. Opening the window he spied
By Neil Primus
the noise nuisance and proceeded to chase it out of his tree. “Shoo! Shoo! Shoo!” The Rhode Island Rooster edged away from the window and continued his discourse with nearby birds. Grandpa Simpson grabbed a pair of shoes and flung them violently at the source of his recent torture. Both missed the mark by some distance and ended up in the next yard only to be torn to bits by his neighbour’s fierce dogs. By now he was fuming and cussing. If anyone had come at that moment to claim the fowl they would have gotten a hostile reception. He would have demanded payment for his good shoes, which now lay strewn in tatters in the adjacent yard. How could he get the bird down from the tree and off his premises he wondered. He knew that if his wife Lucille were alive she would know what to do. Tears welled up in his eyes. He missed her so much. She had died two years ago from cancer. Even though she had been in considerable pain she did not complain. How he loved her. The cock flew down from the tree and this interrupted his reminiscence. Descending the steps he opened the front gate and tried chasing the fowl out. Each time he tried the bird would dodge past the exit and dash back into the yard. He gave up the futile exercise and closed the gate. He felt drained. Slowly, he headed upstairs. Halfway through breakfast, the rooster strutted through the open back door and into his kitchen. That was the last straw. Leaving his breakfast he shut the door and advanced on the beast. Time for a little revenge. Grandpa Simpson now wore a big smile. Noon found Grandpa relaxing on the sofa watching TV. He was happy and content. No more sleepless nights. For a moment he felt guilty about his actions but the sweet aroma of curry quickly put that to rest. The rooster had been killed, plucked and partly cooked in curry. The remainder was safely tucked away in his freezer. He sat down and ate heartily. Later that afternoon Basil came to visit Grandpa Simpson. He and Mr. French-the owner of the dogs were Grandpa’s neighbours on each side. Basil was always losing things. He had bought pigeons, a parrot, ducks and rabbits. None of those lasted very long. The pigeons flew away and never returned, the parrot screeched and screeched driving the neighbours crazy until one day it suddenly went missing. The ducks were around for about four weeks but because there was no water nearby, they had to go almost four blocks to get to a small trench. One day they didn’t come back. Basil searched and searched but nobody knew where they had disappeared. The rabbits were fun to watch as they bounded around his yard. That is until they sneaked out and ended up in Mr. French’s yard. Both rabbits disappeared
among the dogs. Grandpa invited Basil in and the two men sat sipping XM Rum. “Boy, I can’t find me fowl-cock,” Basil said this between sips. Grandpa Simpson almost choked on his drink. “What happen to it?” he asked slyly, trying to hide the guilt he was feeling. Basil sighed, “It must have flown over the fence and somebody steal it, or, French dogs eat it.” He opined. “Boy you don’t have luck with dem things at all,” Grandpa replied. “You right. I spend whole afternoon checking around. I got to go and cook now. I really hungry.” Basil downed the remainder of his drink and got up to go. “Wait! Sit down. Let me give you some food.” Grandpa said then hurried to the kitchen before Basil could respond. He returned with a plate filled with hot rice and a bowl of curry-chicken. Putting these on the table in front of Basil he headed to the kitchen for his plate. The two friends sat and ate hungrily. Basil ate quickly shovelling food into his mouth with serious intent. Grandpa ate slowly seeming to savour the juicy pieces of chicken. “Tomorrow I getting a dozen fowls. Four are roosters the others layers.” Basil said this in a matter of fact way. This time Grandpa Simpson choked. His head swam as he coughed up the rice that had inadvertently slipped down the wrong passage. Basil tried slapping him on the back and after a while, his choking spell subsided. “What about if we join together and buy some fowls? You got plenty space and we could build a big pen for them at de back.” Basil spoke as if he was surprised at not thinking of this before. Grandpa Simpson groaned and put his face in his hands. He saw an image of roosters perched all over his genip tree driving him crazy every night. No Way! He looked up at Basil and smiled. “Sorry friend but I get too old for that now. Any chicken I want I will buy.” Basil nodded in understanding. “I’ll just keep my few,” he concluded. Grandpa looked at him in alarm. He was serious. “My plans are a bit different,” continued Grandpa. “I already beg Mr. French for two puppies from the next litter. I will mind two dogs. Plenty thieves around and is me alone.” No more chickens in my yard he thought with satisfaction. “And tomorrow I cutting down de genip tree.” “But why?” asked a startled Basil who was accustomed to getting his fair share of the delicious fruits when the tree was in full bloom. “It blocking my view and it too handy to others,” he replied, remembering the many times he had to chase children out of the tree. But his main reason had to remain a secret. No more rooster refuge. He continued eating only now he was keeping up with Basil.
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page IX
Dr. Karen Cummings, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health is engaged in the tree planting exercise within the IICA compound (Photo by Adrian Narine)
He mentioned that an IICA team will during agriculture month be conducting visits. On his behalf and that of his Director General (of IICA), Dr. Manuel Otero, he congratulated the government and people of Guyana for celebrating October as Agriculture Month. THE GREEN ECONOMY Mr Garnett disclosed this year IICA will be focusing especially on the theme: The Green Economy, and also on technology and innovation to encourage the youth. He noted that the days of cutlass and a hoe will be yonder and being replaced by the drone. The drone, he said, has been used in different parts of Guyana to identify the best forage areas for bees. So it is not only about cutlass. “The partners that are here with us today: The Women’s Agro-Processors Network represent over 15 groups; six years ago we started with three groups and we are at 15 now, and we realise that we all have experiences that sometimes we start groups, we leave them alone and they disappear. So what we have done, we have a coaching programme and at our office, we have an office for the network; they take care of their own bills, they have an administrator now and so we continue to provide coaching and technical support for them,” Mr Garnett explained. REVOLVING FUND Three years ago, IICA started a revolving fund with one million Guyana dollars and that has grown significantly. And, while the group reports to IICA, Mr. Garnett said that they are left to operate independently, since they also need to manage by themselves, the IICA representative noted. “We have the Guyana Apicultural Society, because as you would understand, it is extremely difficult to try to go and work with individuals, so over the years we have assisted in terms of organising them and with a lot of support with organisational skills, as well as with governance, as we are talking money among people and so on. Here we have to be clear in terms of responsibilities, who do what and so on,” Mr. Garnett posited. He also made mention of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture, which will be held next week in Barbados. Guyana, he said will be having a booth, which will be managed by the New GMC, as well as Go-Invest. FOOD SAFETY BILL Mr. Garnett said that he was even more pleased to have the Minister of Health, Dr. Karen Cummings and the PAHO/WHO representative present because of the fact that IICA is working very closely with the government for the implementation of the Food Safety Bill. The Bill has already had two readings and we are hoping to have a third reading very soon, he added. “There are some issues that we need administratively, that we need to work out internally, but I just want to highlight that when we look at what happen with the fish – we lost that market and the main reason is that what we have right now is where there is, unfortunately, some communication issues in the many different organisations - who supposed to be doing what and unfortunately they fall between the cracks in terms of compliance with international standards and that is one example,” he said. HONEY Mr. Garnett said that he was very happy that Minister Holder and the technical team will be discussing honey; the honey
situation and the trade in the Caribbean, which he think is a “ticklish” situation but assured that in the coming weeks these situations will be resolved. The official activities ended with the cutting of an IICA cake in celebration of the occasion, as well as a tree planting exercise within the IICA compound. Also in attendance were secondary school children, most of whom are agriculture students. The children spent the rest of the afternoon, moving around the booths, where they also had a question and answer session of matters related to agriculture. (mercilinburke2017@ gmail.com)
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Minister of Agriculture Mr. Noel Holder pays keen attention as one of the exhibitors, Ms. Rosamund Benn, from the Pomeroon, talks about the item. Looking on is Ambassador of Argentina, His Excellency, Dr. Felipe Alejandro Gardella, while Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings, examines another item
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
Aracari Resort Lotto Blast Mini Casino opens with a bang WITH its ever supporting customers in mind, the Aracari Resort on Friday opened with a bang, its Lotto Blast Mini Casino to the public. At a special function for shortlisted invitees and the media, the resort’s management opened the doors to the spanking new facility. As soon as the ribbon was cut to declare the facility open, persons could barely contain themselves as they rushed inside to seat themselves at the Lotto blast machines with every intention of carting off large winnings. Speaking at the official launch yesterday, Aracari Resort’s General Manager, Alex Wayne said that the initiative was the end result of a joint collaboration, between the resort and the Guyana Lottery Company (GLC). He said that management was prompted to initiate the entertainment venture since many ‘Westsiders’ complained of the difficulties of having to trek as far as the Princess Hotel Casino at Providence, East Bank Demerara to seek leisure time activities, as the ones the Lotto Blast provided. He said it was also a forum to keep hotel guest properly entertained during their stay, as well as, provide ‘entertainment with a difference’ for visiting groups, NGOs and other entities that visit for excursions, retreats and other functions. The large and spacious Lotto Blast facility houses 24 machines, a sophisticated beverage bar and space that allows mingling and friendly interaction. Cutting the ribbon to declare the mini casino open on Friday, was five-year-old Andy Tulsie Shewnarain, son of the Aracari Resort’s CEO, Sase Shewnarain.
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
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In October, we wear PINK! THE famous line from Lindsay Lohan’s Mean Girls goes: “On Wednesdays we wear pink,” and in the context of this article, I think it’s befitting that October 3 (the day mentioned in the movie) fell on a Wednesday and just as Breast Cancer Awareness Month began. Here’s what you need to know first and foremost: According to data published in the 2015 Cancer Surveillance Report of the Ministry of Public Health, breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer deaths in Guyana. A further breakdown of the figures in Guyana for the years 2003 to 2012, as highlighted in the report, there were 1,090 cases of breast cancer; 1,014 cases of cervical cancer; 865 cases of prostate cancer; 440 cases of colorectal cancer; 325 cases of cancer of the uterus; 240 cases of stomach cancer; 233 cases of lung cancer; 219 cases of liver cancer; 212 cases of cancer of the ovary and 136 cases of lymphoma. Basically, cancer is a disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body. Breast cancer, with this in mind, is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, or fluid coming from the nipple. Now in Guyana, much emphasis is being placed on breast cancer and with it being the leading cause of cancer deaths-at least at one point in time, if not now- it is completely understandable why. The disease is just truly terrible.
October is also dubbed ‘Pinktober’ as part of the observances of Breast Cancer Awareness Month since pink is the colour used for Breast cancer. There are multiple events being hosted to commemorate this month and it’s nearly impossible to miss all of them. What I appreciate is that there seems to be a lot of public awareness being raised on breast cancer through these events, and for some, even money for treatment and assistance. And we all know, treatment is a very expensive something. What I don’t necessarily appreciate is the commercialisation of breast cancer because I
think for many it’s all about the hype and not necessarily the actual cause. Is this the price to pay for some goodness? Before getting lost in the hype of the events, I think it’s important to remember the purpose of it all. And that purpose is raising awareness on breast cancer: what signs to look out for and how to prevent it. Furthermore, funding to treat breast cancer locally will be raised also. And while it’s all good and well to participate in the marches and the fun events, it’s more important to remember the stark reality of breast cancer and cancer, generally.
If you’ve read this far, there are some key pointers you should keep for yourselves or someone who may need it. Common signs of breast cancer include the swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt as yet), skin irritation, breast or nipple pain, nipple retraction (turning inward) and some nipple discharge (other than breast milk). A lump felt in the breast or underarm that persists after your menstrual cycle is often the first apparent symptom of breast cancer. These lumps associated with breast cancer are usually painless, according to WebMD online, but some may also cause a prickly sensation. The lumps are usually visible on a mammogram long before they can be seen or felt. I cannot overemphasise just how important it is to remain cognisant of these signs. Remember, early detection in order to improve breast cancer outcomes and survival, remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. Prevention is always better than cure and the sooner the threat is identified, it can be uprooted and dealt with. And though only October is set aside specifically for awareness on Breast Cancer, the disease does not go away and return until next October. It is a lingering threat to so many women, and their families and friends and it is a grave disease that causes disfigurement, pain and discomfort and possibly, death. Wear pink, show your support but remember the important things too. Together we can fight Breast Cancer!
Being mediocre should never be an option - a young artist’s perspective T H E easiest thing for us to do at times is to settle to be average or settle to do the average, either because we are demotivated or we’re just afraid of a challenge. But 19-year-old Cristal Simmons believes that being mediocre should never be an option, in fact, striving to be the best you can be should always be atop our priority list. A Communications major at the University of Guyana, ‘Bartician’ by birth, and exceptionally creative, Cristal described herself to the Pepperpot Magazine, as a simple girl who grew up in a simple family, manages both work and studies and while still finding the time to do what she loves. “I would always refer to myself as ‘A free soul’; the kind of girl who would rather go camping and enjoy a campfire than going to the fanciest restaurant. I believe that you should live life to the fullest and not waste a second being mediocre. Be positive, think positive as positivity surrounds you,” she said. Her passion lies within the arts, as she believes that through art, one’s true emotion can be adequately expressed. “I love everything artistic. I like to create things that can trigger one’s deepest emotions,” Cristal said. She shared that her love for art developed when she was just
the tender age of seven. Cristal said she has an uncle who is both deaf and dumb but is an exceptional artist. Growing up, I would always watch my uncle draw, despite being deaf and dumb, he is a great artist. I believed that was where my artistic love stemmed from,” shared the artist. A few of Cristal’s art pieces can be seen at The Duke and the Education Lecture Theatre, at the University of Guyana, Turkeyen Campus. Apart from being inspired by her uncle, Cristal says that she is also inspired by empowered women. “Empowered women. That’s my inspiration. The drive to raise the bar higher each day, for women to gain great respect in this world. That moves me. And of course my mother, who motivates and supports me, she’s my best friend,” she added. Aspiring to achieve all her goals and living each day in peace and happiness, are but a few of the things that Cristal wants for herself. She shared, “My message to those out there would be to ‘Just do it.’ Don’t think about it too much, don’t listen to negative people. If there’s something that makes your soul happy, then just do it. And don’t let anything or no one get in your way. And most importantly, don’t settle to be mediocre.”
Cristal Simmons showcasing one of her art pieces
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
MovieTowne scouts local talent
g n i n e p o r a l u c a t c e p s for ANTICIPATION is rising and the excitement is building as MovieTowne Guyana enters its final lap to completion. Events and Entertainment Manager of Multicinemas Incorporated, Heathcliff West is currently scouting Guyanese talent to perform at the spectacular unveiling of the Cineplex.
missions and I’m very pleased by what we have seen so far. We know that Guyana has a tremendous amount of talent, so we are excited to be able to show this to the world,” West noted. Ever since its establishment in 2002, MovieTowne has transformed the economy of the Twin Island Republic. It has also boosted
In addition to the opening ceremony, MovieTowne will also have weekly entertainment featuring talent from Guyana at Fiesta Plaza. “We want to showcase the best of Guyana to the world. Of course, we will be surprising our patrons with some regional and international artistes on occasions, but our full commitment is to Guyana and the development and flattering exposure of its people,” West said. He explained that MovieTowne’s Fiesta Plaza in Trinidad and Tobago has been responsible for securing international markets for several of the performers there. “It has been incredible. Only recently, we had one group being afforded the opportunity to tour Japan. They only recently returned... that is the kind of impact that MovieTowne is hoping to have in Guyana,” West noted. A call has been issued via social media for persons to submit biographies and videos of their talent, so that a database can be created to ensure that a wide variety of talent goes on full display when MovieTowne opens. “So far, we have had a couple of sub-
the Creative Arts Industry, while providing several hundred employment opportunities for Trinidadians. When opened, MovieTowne Guyana will provide hundreds of job opportunities. The complex hasn’t even been completed yet and it has already been attracting the attention of a host of internationally recognised entertainment franchises. The ultra-modern complex is ideally positioned on 10 acres of prime land, with a 200,000-plus square foot building, standing fascinatingly along the East Coast Demerara corridor. In the coming months, MovieTowne will take Guyana by storm, satisfying every craving for clean, classy, secure and exciting family-oriented entertainment. Guyanese are invited to be part of this journey, by participating fully in the entertainment aspect. Interested persons can send their submissions to Mr. West via email at fiestaplaza@movietowne.com or via the MovieTowne Guyana Facebook page. Join the magic by making your submissions on or before October 7th, 2018.
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Toothache - avoid hot, cold or sweet stimuli. This will help prevent pain from pulpitis. - if the pain is prolonged and severe, painkillers such as ibuprofen (eg. Nurofen) may provide some relief. Remember even if the pain goes away, without treatment it will eventually become worse. - if the pain is caused by exposed root surfaces, toothpaste for sensitive teeth, either used normally or rubbed onto the
WHILE the caption may seem overly simplistic, in reality, it is not. It seems that the essence of dentistry is the embodiment of toothache. So, what is a toothache? The most common cause of a toothache, or pain in the region of the jaws and face, is pulpitis - inflammation of the pulp of the tooth. The short, sharp pains usually occur in response to hot, cold or sweet stimuli. If left untreated, the pulp dies and becomes infected, leading to the formation of a dental abscess. The pain from a dental abscess tends to be in response to pressure on the tooth and is throbbing and continuous. What causes a toothache? It is mainly caused when the acid produced by germs in the mouth which ferments sugars and starches, dissolves the enamel until the tooth’s nerve becomes affected. Another cause is a cracked tooth. This may be invisible and so can be difficult to diagnose. Irritation of the pulp following dental treatment may result in a toothache. Regardless of how well it is done, dental treatment and the materials used to fill the tooth can sometimes cause pain later. Additionally, pain results from an exposed tooth root, which can occur if the gums recede or are damaged by over-vigorous brushing. The following problems can also cause symptoms similar to a toothache, even though the teeth themselves may be free of disease: - an abscess in the gum (lateral periodontal abscess). - ulceration of the gums (acute ulcerative gingivitis). - ulceration of the soft tissues can sometimes be mistaken for a toothache. - inflammation of the gum around a tooth which is in the process of growing/ breaking through (pericoronitis). - inflammation of the sinuses (sinusitis)
can be mistaken for a toothache in the upper jaw. Several other conditions may also cause pain in the mouth - always seek advice from your dentist if you have a toothache. It is worth remembering that the nerves supplying the teeth sometimes give the wrong message to the brain. This means that, although you feel pain in a particular tooth, the problem may actually be in a different tooth - even one located in the opposite jaw. HOW CAN TOOTHACHES BE AVOIDED? The best way to prevent a toothache is to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Try to avoid cavities by reducing your intake of sugary foods and drinks - have them as an occasional treat and at mealtimes only. Brush your teeth twice daily using a toothpaste containing fluoride. To get the most benefit from the fluoride, do not rinse the toothpaste away after brushing. Clean between your teeth using dental floss, wood sticks or an inter-dental brush according to your dentist’s advice. Visit your dentist regularly. This way, problems can be diagnosed early and your treatment will be more straightforward. WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE A TOOTHACHE? If you have a toothache, seek immediate advice from your dentist before the problem becomes severe. Pulpitis is often reversible and, once your dentist has identified and treated the problem (usually with a simple filling), the toothache will disappear. A dental abscess will require extraction of the tooth or a more complicated filling (root canal treatment) if the tooth is to be saved. However, the following advice may be helpful until you are able to see your dentist:
exposed root, may be helpful. a hot saltwater mouthwash (a teaspoon of salt to a cup of water) used to thoroughly rinse the painful area may help if the problem is caused by a tooth erupting. a saltwater mouthwash can also prevent infection if you have mouth ulcers. - visit your dentist as soon as possible. This way any treatment will be simple.
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
Sun-dried Tomato Project meets farmer’s financial expectations
THE Pakaraima Flavours Sun-Dried Tomato Project has provided farmers of Paramakatoi and neighbouring communities with the opportunity to increase their household income, whilst offering consumers locally produced tomato ketchup and salad dressing. Eselinda Kaiser is one of the many farmers, who cultivate tomatoes for the project, which is being implemented by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), the Institute of Applied science and Technology (IAST), and the Ministries of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs, and Social Protection. The 49-year-old farmer has been with the project since its inception last year. It was the first time the veteran farmer planted tomatoes. Esetlina grew up in a home that depended
sava, eddoes, eschalot, plantains and bananas. “At the time I heard about the tomato project I was really looking to earn more money for the family...So I grabbed the opportunity which I find very beneficial...It was the first time I was going to plant tomatoes...NAREI donated the seedlings and trained us how to grow the plants and care for the fruits,” Kaiser said. In addition, to the readily available market for the produce, Kaiser is pleased with the project’s payment plan, which gives her the opportunity to earn a decent living. The farmer explained that she and other farmers receive an initial down payment for their produces. After a profit was generated from the sale of the products farmers enjoy a higher rate than the initial payment.
on crops traditionally grown in the hinterland. In fact, up until this project was initiated the Kaisers planted primarily ground provisions. She now dedicates a portion of her fouracre farm, situated at Bamboo Creek, to grow tomatoes. There are now 723 bearing tomato plants, which are being intercropped with cas-
“I am committed and confident about the project. I am ready to put more land under cultivation with tomatoes. Of course, that would depend on me getting seedlings supplied at the right time...Right now NAREI is very helpful in getting seedlings to us,” she stated.
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
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Help our addicted loved ones LAST week, I told those who asked that if you want to help your addicted loved ones, you must help yourself first. I hope all of you have been (and will continue to) put yourself first. Now that you have accepted that you are your number one priority, I can now tell you how to move forward and healthily aid in your partner’s recovery. It is extremely difficult to see someone you love abuse alcohol as well as experience the negative effects that come along with it. I know you feel like doing everything possible. One thing that will remain constant is that you cannot force anyone to get help. However, once they have made this decision, there are things to do that can help them along. If you would like to open the conversation and express how you feel, you can stage an intervention. This is a planned and focused meeting where the loved ones of the addict tell him/her their concerns about the excessive drinking. It’s not to bully them but an attempt to open their eyes and allow them to see how their actions have been affecting you, them and everyone else around them. It can be just you or a team of people who are all close to and genuinely care about the addict. If there are any strangers, it must professionals appropriate to the situation such as an addiction specialist or a doctor willing to help. The addict is not typically aware of the intervention before it happens. The intervention must only happen if the person is sober, and therefore has the capacity to understand, process and remember the conversation. An intervention can understandably bring out a wide range of emotions so, experts often advise that each intervention member prepare what they are going to say. This is typically done in a letter format addressed to the addict expressing your genuine concerns about their drinking. You can bring up certain examples of instances that were dangerous to them or those around them. This should be done in the form of ‘I’ statements rather than ‘you’ ones. For example, people tend to respond better to “I feel like you are drinking too much” rather than the simple “you are drinking too much”, as it’s less accusatory. Do not use negative labels such as “alcoholic” or “drunk”. It is possible that they still become defensive and may start yelling or even walk out. They may even blame you or other people for their drinking. You must not match their emotions. Their intention is typically to distract you so do not take any of it personally, and do your best to stay on track of the plan. Simply say “please let me finish” and move forward. The most successful interventions come with a list of consequences if the addict decides not to make a change. It’s important that this does not come off as a threat, so the language used is very important. For example, you can say “I’m worried that I am contributing to your drinking so if you continue to in this way, I can no longer financially support you or do this and that.” “I am worried about my safety so if the drinking does not change,
I will have to leave the house.” You should be very careful with the words you use here because this is not supposed to be an empty threat. This is your final straw and an incentive for the addict to get help. Be sure you mean what you say because if you go this route, you have to be absolutely sure you are going to deliver as the hope is that the addict believes that treatment is better than the alternative consequences. In preparation for a positive response, you must be knowledgeable of all the possible treatment options. The following would not be a successful intervention. Loved one - okay, I’ll get help. What should I do? Where should I go? You- don’t know. You can also outline both short and longterm goals for the loved one. This usually provides them with hope that they didn’t even know they had. Decide on a start date which should be the moment after the intervention. I know this will be a difficult conversation, one that even the thought of it may scare you. However, you are scared anyway, all the time. You may as well tell the truth about how you feel. If the addict is prone to violence, it is better to have more people around. Everyone in the meeting should display nothing but understanding, empathy and a non-judgemental attitude. An intervention helps to improve relationships, not end them. If the alcoholic refuses to get help during the intervention, there are still some things that you can do. The first and most important is to no longer enable their drinking. You may not even be aware that you are but most people close to an addict do. This is anything that makes drinking easier, or have fewer consequences. This includes making excuses for them, cleaning up after them, paying outstanding drinking bills or anything along those lines. Most people do this because they are embarrassed for or by the addict but you are not responsible for their drinking and it reflects on you in no way. It sounds harsh but an addict won’t even realise he/ she has a problem unless they are made to feel the consequences. They typically have to hit their idea of rock bottom before they decide to make a change and sadly, you need to let them. To the best of your ability, make your living space an alcohol or drug-free zone. Do not bring any into the house- for you or anyone else. Do not drink in front of the addict - whether you have a problem with alcohol or not. Many people want their loved ones to stop drinking but they aren’t willing to stop themselves. If they do decide on treatment, offer support whenever they need it. It is beneficial for you to accompany them to any form of treatment they are choosing- doctor’s appointments or AA meetings. I have to remind everyone that people have to slowly wean off of alcohol as it is very dangerous to the body to cut out alcohol if a large quantity is often consumed. Please see
your doctor if this is what is decided. 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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“I had to stop crying, and I had to be brave,” she recalled, adding, “One day I cried so much till I stopped and said to myself yes I’m there alone, but I have my support group here. I’m not alone anymore; I need to get up and get going. This is not the end. Giving up is not an option. That was my turning point.” She started fighting after adopting the right mindset and today is happy to say that she has been two months in remission, meaning two months cancer free. Now, she has to ensure she eats healthy and exercise regularly. “I eat a lot of fruits; no processed foods, lots of green vegetables and hardly any meat and sweet. Before, I would’ve eaten anything, gone anywhere, and done anything. But now, you have to think about yourself, your health and family. You gotta put them first and
change your lifestyle if you want to live longer. I’ve slowed down a lot. I hardly go out anymore. I’m still in pain because of the chemo, but every day is a new day and every day it’s getting better.” Jay feels that had she not acted immediately to treat the cancer, it could’ve grown and gotten out of control. So she is advising that other sufferers take it in hand and muster up the strength to take action right away. “It’s not the end of the day. Just do your treatment; do what you have to do,” she is advising others who might be experiencing the same things that she did. “It’s hard but you need to put your mind there. You need to pull yourself together. If you don’t do it, nobody else can. It takes a lot from you but you have to be able and willing to do it. Once you can pull it through, you can beat it. “You will feel weak and like at the end
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
but I have found that talking about it helped me a lot. So don’t keep it to yourself. It’s not a stigma. That’s one thing my husband taught me. He told me I should talk about it and embrace it. It’s not anything to be ashamed of. Be positive and have that inner strength to help you. Find a group who is going through this same thing. Just don’t shut the door. If you shut the door, you make it worse. At some point, you reach the stage where you just want to be alone and give up but giving up is not an option, especially when you have a family,” she added. MAKING EACH DAY COUNT Jay is grateful to all those who played a role in helping her through this traumatic period of her life. “I must thank Banks. I was away for about six months and they were there with me all through it. Also, my friend, Anusha, kept me there for six months. She and her family were really nice to me. Her husband, Johnny,would always tell me not to give up and to have more faith in myself.” Jay said her parents, Doreen, and, Haroon, were also rocklike figures in her life,
along with her sisters, Ryan, and Narda. She is also thankful to the doctors of the Georgetown Hospital Oncology Department. As for her dear husband, she said: “He was strong. I’ve never seen him cry. He said whatever has to be done, we have to do it and we will do it together. He has never given up on me. He never broke down in front of me. One day I asked him how come he never broke down, and he said if everyone broke down what would happen? Somebody had to be strong.” As scary as the entire experience has been, it taught Jay some valuable lessons. “You value life more; you treasure people more. You live for every day; every day is a special day. You live every day as if it’s your last day. You also get to see who care for you and who doesn’t. I’m no longer living in fear. I’m positive I beat that demon. That demon is out of my body.” She makes sure to do her follow-up hospital visits so as to ensure that the cancer does not return. “But it’s not going to come back. I’m positive. It’s not going to come back. I’ll make sure it’s not going to come back.”
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E S FILES A C T R U O C
Sacked cop gets $100,000 and other benefits for wrongful dismissal Court of Appeal increased benefits but denied reinstatement SACKED Policeman Orwin Williams, who was removed from office by the Police Commissioner in 1988 in the Public Interest, was granted $100, 000 for false imprisonment, and six months’ salary for wrongful dismissal, by a judge. The judge had refused an application for reinstatement. On appeal against the latter orders, the Court of Appeal constituted by Justices of Appeal Claudette Singh, Nandram Kissoon and Ian Chang, S.C., allowed the appeal, increased the damages from six months salary to nine months salary. The Court also refused his reinstatement on the ground that that (reinstatement) was not as of a right, according to law. The facts of the case disclosed that the appellant Orwin Williams served the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as a constable for three years and four months. He was discharged by the Commissioner of Police. The letter of discharge read that the appellant’s discharge was desirable in the public interests in accordance with Section 35 (1) of the Police Act Chapter 16:01. The appellant challenged his removal on the ground, inter alia, that it was wrong in law and claimed compensation and damages for loss of office. He also sought an order for reinstatement. The trial judge awarded the appellant six months’ salary as damages for wrongful dismissal. The appellant appealed. THE GUYANA COURT OF APPEAL HELD: (1) In the instant case, the Commissioner of Police had not afforded the Constable an opportunity to offer an explanation, neither was he charged, and the appellant had not known the reason which had prompted the Commissioner to terminate his service. Natural justice would require that the constable should have been aware of the evidence on which the Commissioner had acted. Although section 35 of the Police Act did not specifically state that a hearing was required, the justice of the common law would supply the omission in the section and it would be implied as a deprivation of office by discharge or dismissal would result in loss of property; Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd. V. Evans [1910] AC 444 and Twist v Randwick Municipal Council (1976) 12 ALR 379 considered. (2) Whilst there was a duty to mitigate loss , in the special circumstances of the instant case, the trial judge’s order would be varied in awarding the appellant salary for a period of nine months as that time would be ample for a person with the background of the appellant to have secured suitable employment. (3) Reinstatement was not as of right in that the law did not allow for the granting of specific performance of a contract for permanent services. It followed that the appeal would be allowed and the order of the trial judge varied in relation to the question of damages. The Court of Appeal referred to 12 cases in support of its judgment delivered in 2007. At the hearing of the appeal, Veteran lawyer, Mr. Benjamin Gibson, with Mr. Satran appeared for the appellant. Senior counsel Mr.Doodnauth Singh, Attorney General with Ms. Jagnandan, appeared for the respondent. Justice of Appeal Singh
who delivered the judgment for the Court of Appeal noted that the grounds of appeal were:The learned trial judge awarded damages and compensation on the wrong principles in that: (a) The Commissioner having decided to remove the appellant from the police force on certain allegations ought to have followed the mandatory provisions set out in the Police (Discipline) Chapter 17:01. (b) Had the Commissioner of Police invoked the Disciplinary Code, he was duty bound to interdict the appellant and apply the provisions of section 8 of the Police Disciplinary Code and the learned trial judge would have had the necessary guidance for the computation of damages/compensation. (c) The learned judge, having declared the plaintiff wrongfully removed ought to have ordered the plaintiff to be restored to his office or be superannuated for his services. According to Justice of Appeal Singh, the Attorney General also appealed on the ground that the award of $100, 000 for false imprisonment was excessive. However, he advanced no argument against the award. In the circumstances the award stands. The cross-appeal is accordingly dismissed. Justice of Appeal Singh went on to state that Mr. Gibson for the appellant argued that the Commissioner in proceeding to act under section 35 did so contrary to the provisions of article 212 of the Constitution and section 8 of the Police (Discipline) Act Chapter 17:01. She added, “However due to the fact that the trial judge found that the appellant was unlawfully dismissed it would not be worthwhile to engage in a discourse as to what ought to have been done. I view the submissions by counsel as being totally irrelevant in the circumstances. “Counsel for the appellant further submitted that the power of the commissioner under section 35 were replaced by the Police (Discipline) Act, Chapter 17:01 made under the 1980 Constitution and as such section 35 is void for inconsistency. “I make the observation that the Police (Discipline) Act Chapter 17:01 was enacted in 1975 and therefore could not have been made under the 1980 Constitution but that of 1966. The Act was therefore saved as an existing law under section 7 (4) of the Constitution of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Act 1980. It therefore follows that there could have been no supersession by the 1980 Constitution of section 35 since section 35 was an existing law which was saved under section 5 (1) of the 1960 Guyana Independence Order 515/1966 as well as 7 (1) of the 1980 Constitution Act., Justice of Appeal Singh declared. She declared, “There is evidence on the record that the Appellant worked at Linmine Constabulary since 18th September 1991. Despite the fact that he testified that he worked as a barber there is no evidence on record of what his income was. The defendant ought to have established this under cross-examination but having failed to do so, it is not for the court to speculate. “In the present case the Commissioner undoubtedly, discharged the constable for cause since dismissal at pleasure had long ceased to exist in the country. Section 35 provides the circumstances under which a constable can be discharged. The Commissioner of Police did not afford the constable an opportunity to
proffer an explanation neither was he charged. It is obvious that even if he had been given such an opportunity he might not have been in a position to offer an explanation when he did not know the reasons which prompted the Commissioner to so act, Natural Justice would
By George Barclay
require that the constable should be aware of the evidence on which the Commissioner acted.”, Justice of Appeal Singh said. The appeal was allowed and the order of the trial judge varied in relation to the question of damages..
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
Bonasika residents celebrate heritage month By Michel Outridge THE Indigenous settlement at Bonasika, Essequibo River, East Bank Essequibo on Saturday held their heritage celebrations with a packed day of activities which entertained the dozens that gathered there. Speaking to the Pepperpot Magazine, Toshao Stassford Williams said that the heritage was organised to bring people together to reflect and celebrate their identity, as in keeping with the theme for Indigenous Heritage Month 2018. He related that in their community they do not encourage the consumption of alcohol beverages, as such the programme was
one of decency which saw gospel songs being sung by villagers as well as church members. Williams said it was the second annual event which attracted visitors from the nearby communities, such as Morashee, Aliki, Fort Island, Caria Caria, Hubu and as far as Parika and Tuschen. The activities included a game of volleyball, indigenous dances, singing, poems and skits. Many villagers were decked out in their traditional wear and headdress and they came alive through songs and dances including the baboon, hummingbird and ‘crappo’. Stories were told by village elders and their way of life was showcased via skits
and poems which were well-received by the large gathering. One of the many visitors, Andre Christopher, who hails from Hubu, East Bank Essequibo, said he was there for the very first time and was pleased since it was a nice day of clean fun where it was family-oriented and not a ‘big party’ with excessive drinking of rum. Others told this newspaper they had a good time even though it rained a few times during the hot day. Bonasika is on the mainland and is accessed via the Essequibo River through a tributary. The area consists of Lower and Upper Bonasika, a farming community of Indigenous people and East Indians. There are about 144 residents in Lower Bonasika and the school is three miles down the river. Most of the men in that community are labourers on farms or are farmers themselves. Upper Bonasika is more populated and has a health post and a school as well as a community centre ground and an active community policing group and outpost. Indigenous Heritage Month was celebrated with a calendar of activities under the theme “Proud of our Indigenous identity, celebrating in unity.”
Residents of Bonasika
Villagers in their traditional wear
Toshao Stassford Williams with the residents of Bonasika
Bonasika Village on Heritage Day
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Government’s Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Strategy
Employment is essential to human development as it provides financial resources for the generation of sustainable livelihoods, thereby improving the standard of living and quality of life of people. In Guyana, youth unemployment remains a central issue affecting young people. Recognising this, President David Granger and his administration have designed a two-pronged approach to youth empowerment in the forms of entrepreneurship and education. In this week’s Government in Action, we will take a look at the Government’s efforts aimed at not only creating jobs, but the promotion of agro-processing and entrepreneurship and the opportunities and financial support available for young entrepreneurs, particularly at the Small Business Bureau (SBB), the Ministry of Social Protection and through other programmes facilitated by the various Ministries.
expand or consolidate their businesses. At that event, President Granger in his address to the entrepreneurs said that the programme will open new doors for occupation through self-employment, adding that there are four pillars necessary for enterprise: investment, information, infrastructure and innovation. The President said that the government wants to create an environment, which can provide the facilities for young people to be self-employed. “We are bringing all the youth programmes together to have a common core curriculum so that every child, whether or not he or she is a school dropout, who enters that programme will get common training, which will prepare him or her to get employment in Guyana. I don’t like to see young children, some of them who have left secondary school in the Rupununi for example, drifting over to Brazil to do menial work. I think they can stay here and get a good living, not only because oil is on the horizon but because we can produce practically every food that the Eastern Caribbean needs. The country is wide open and it is open to you… Your education will not only equip you for employment but it will also equip you for entrepreneurial activities so that you can become rich,” the Head of State said at a youth luncheon held at State House in January 2018. Another has been the SLED initiative, which was launched in September 2016 by the Government of Guyana under the Ministry
Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau (SBB), Dr. Lewell Porter
Demerara (Region Three), Demerara-Mahaica (Region Four), Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five), East Berbice-Corentyne (Region Six) and the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice (Region 10) regions. EMPOWERMENT THROUGH President David Granger, who delivered ENTREPRENEURSHIP the feature address at that event, said that the answer to tackling unemployment can be While training and vocational education found through investments in education and will no doubt empower a generation of talentrepreneurship and the SLED initiative is a ented young people, who in most cases just part of that investment. need a second chance, this administration has “The SLED Initiative is part of a prodemonstrated that it is interested in inculcating gramme that reinforces the administration’s a culture of industry and entrepreneurship. In efforts to stimulate economic development in this regard, programmes have been developed communities, especially at the grass root level. to provide the necessary support for budding It has provided training, mentorship, business development skills and start-up grants to individuals and groups,” President Granger said on that occasion. Minister of Communities, Mr Ronald Bulkan, in his remarks, said the origin of the SLED Initiative is contained in the vision of President David Granger, who at the time of expressing this vision was Opposition Leader, and who spoke of the challenges facing the country’s young people, including the high rate of unemployment. He said that the beneficiaries and entrepreneurs were among the first to take advantage of this helping hand offered by the Government. “This initiative tries to ensure that we don’t leave anyone out of the loop The Government of Guyana has supported this Tomato Processing Project in Paramakatoi of having that better life. Every inVillage, Potaro Siparuni (Region Eight). The Project targets small-scale tomato farmers, giving tervention ensures that there is a level of training, mentoring and technical them an opportunity to earn a livelihood. support, even after the project is completed. Building the capacity, ability entrepreneurs, while others focus on skills of Communities as a means of introducing and the right to earn and sustain a livelihood of training to aid in employment ability. job-creation measures to promote micro and the most vulnerable in society would be futile In the area of entrepreneurship, pro- small-scale enterprises so as to open opportugrammes such as the Linden Enterprise Net- nities for the disadvantaged and the county’s and unsustainable, if that is not complemented work (LEN), which was launched in December youth. Through this initiative, scores of young by institutional strengthening at a local gov2016, provide support to young people aspiring people are given the chance to tap into resourc- ernment and community level that can offer along these lines. The programme provides es that allow them to become business owners. support mechanisms and services to strengthen entrepreneurs across Linden and other parts The initiative has, since its implementation, local economic activities at a grassroots level,” of the Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice region enabled more than 100 youth business start- he said. the opportunity to access loans to further ups from among the Essequibo Islands-West
SMALL BUSINESS BUREAU In his 2018 National Budget presentation, Minister of Finance, Mr Winston Jordan said that the David Granger-led Administration recognises the important role that entrepreneurship and by extension, the private sector, play in generating employment and income. It is imperative, therefore, that the Government continues to strengthen the fabric of micro and small businesses, especially those owned by vulnerable groups, through the alleviation of prohibitive constraints, he said. This is where the Small Business Bureau (SBB) plays a critical role. Chief Executive Officer of the SBB, Dr. Lewell Porter, in an interview with the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency, said that the agency is mandated to not only assist small businesses to develop but is also responsible for helping them to access financing for their businesses and to advocate for Policy development, which can grow and develop this sector. In terms of financing, Dr Porter said that the Bureau provides grants starting from $300,000 to one million dollars to young entrepreneurs, who have viable ideas once they fulfil the established requirements. “We require you to, first of all, be a registered kind of the small business and when you do that, we verify a couple of things because the Small Business Act defines the small business as any business that has less than 25 employees and the gross annual revenues is less than 16 million and the business assets is less than $20 million so as long as you meet two of those requirements, you can be registered as a small business. You come to us with a business side to your plan. We will sit down with you and try to understand the viability and the sustainability of that plan and if you benefit for a loan or a grant. Grants are usually for startupS to just give it that impetus to continue in their effort, so the grant process is simple access for the grant. We will come to do a site visit to ensure that you are who you say, whatever you said to us is correct, this is our verification process and then from that, we come back and there is a committee that meets and then they say whether that persons get a grant or not,” Dr. Porter said. In addition to this, the SBB helps small business owners to access loans at Republic Bank Limited and the Guyana Bank and Trade Industry (GBTI) for the expansion of their businesses. The SBB provides the technical assistance in completing the application and helping the individual to acquire all necessary documentation to access a loan. It also issues a referral letter to the bank for the client. In addition to this, it provides 70 per cent of the capital for the small business borrower. Dr Porter noted that since the inception of the programme in 2014, approximately 173 loans have been approved and more than 530 grants given out. For 2018 alone, more than
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018 50 grants have been approved and 17 loans facilitated. Approximately 40 percent of the Bureau’s clients are young people between the ages of 18-35. The CEO said that the SBB recognises that young people play a critical role in the development in the country and in most cases, need someone with the financial capabilities to support their creativity and vision. The Small Business Bureau, he said, is more than happy to play this role. “I think the Small Business Bureau has an exceptional role here in the development of small businesses. Let’s say specifically youth, I personally believe that small businesses are the backbone of any economy and with all these business ideas that we have floating around, if
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH EDUCATION Education also plays a critical role in empowering young minds to pursue ventures and opportunities, which can provide them with a means of income and independence. That is why the Government has been placing heavy emphasis on access to education and providing opportunities for empowerment even to those who have dropped out of school. In his 2018 Budget presentation to the National Assembly, Minister of Finance, Mr. Winston Jordan said that the Government acknowledges that youth represent a significant proportion of Guyana‘s population and that the future success and growth of Guyana depends
President David Granger visits a booth owned by this young lady at the Regional Agricultural and Commercial Exhibition (RACE) at the Lusignan Community Centre in November 2017.
we look back at some of the richest persons in the world today they had a simple idea, their ideas were sometimes shut down but then somebody came up and said “you know what? Let me put 10,000 into your fund to help you”. So, in the same way, we’re trying to help you, so it’s young people we are targeting to come up with all of these fantastic ideas and to see how we can help them grow. So come down to us, let us help our young people to develop into something fantastic,” he said. In addition to financing opportunities, the Bureau also arranges training sessions for small businesses owners to hone their skills. While specialised training are offered in some areas, it also focuses on generic business training areas including how to develop a business idea, how to write a business plan, how to record financial information, marketing and dealing with clients. “We also do specific business training. We have a sustainable mining programme, sustainable forestry training. We did cosmetology training because we believe that there is a need for having a higher level of cosmetologists here in Guyana so we hired a consultant from the United States and it was excellent. An excellent programme, free of cost for everybody attending. We just don’t want to be able to say that we gave out twenty million in loans but what was done with that money, we want to make sure that it is contributing to the betterment of those entrepreneurs,” the CEO said. Minister Jordan in his Budget 2018 speech, said that additional support to micro and small businesses will be delivered in 2018, through the creation of business incubators and accelerators in Regions 5 and 9 at a cost of $36 million. These structures will foster the growth of businesses by facilitating the provision of support services, such as business registration, documentation, and capacity building. Meanwhile, the sum of $100 million has been allocated in Budget 2018 to replenish the Small Business Development Fund. This will be managed by the SBB.
on how equipped this section of the population is to handle emerging and future challenges. The Government, he said, stands resolute towards ensuring that concerted efforts are made in satisfying the needs of young people. In this regard, Government‘s approach to the development of our young people is based on the twin pillars of youth empowerment; and youth employment and entrepreneurship. “In relation to Youth Employment, several initiatives have been, and are currently being, rolled out to ensure that our young people are gainfully employed in environments where their skill sets can be readily applied, and where they can make meaningful contributions. The Youth Innovation Project of Guyana (YIPoG), Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST), Sustainable Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development (SLED) Programme, and the Hinterland Employment and Youth Scheme (HEYS), are programmes designed to ensure that youth attain the relevant skill-set that is required for the job market, either to become employable or be their own bosses. Taken together, in 2018, Government will be investing over $1.7 billion on youth programmes,” he said. One such initiative which looks at vocational training is the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS), which was launched in October 2016. This is an exchange programme where persons teach, discuss, learn and exchange experiences and knowledge in order to improve their standard of living and contribute positively to the development of their communities. The programme includes training and capacity-building in several key areas including plumbing, carpentry, sewing and wiring among many other vocational areas. It targets 2000 youth in 106 communities across the hinterland regions and is in keeping with President Granger’s promise of improving lifestyles and standards of living for youth and young adults who reside in the hinterland. Then there’s the Youth Innovation Project,
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which seeks to engender creative thinking amongst youth, and provides grant resources up to $2 million to finance innovative solutions. In and out of school youth, between the ages of 16-35, are benefitting from this programme. “The project, which operates under the theme, ?Aspire, Inspire to reach?, was designed to decrease unemployment among youth; engage youth in the development of a green state; and foster creative thinking for problem solving through Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, Anthropology, Archaeology, Architecture, Arts, Mathematics and Spirituality. In this regard, Government has invited youth to submit proposals for financing,” the Minister of Finance noted. SUPPORTING THE YOUTH It is imperative that the Government creates and maintain institutions, which can provide young people with vocational and technical skills that can make them marketable, thereby improving their quality of life. This is where the Board of Industrial Training plays a critical role. Chairman of the Board, Mr. Clinton Williams, in an interview with the Public Information and Press Services Unit of the Ministry of the Presidency said that in addition to running an apprenticeship programme, since 2005 it has been offering training programmes in a number of areas, which caters to primarily vulnerable youths in society and school dropouts. “That has in fact been our main focus; to train people with those skills that are required by the various sectors in the country. That programme has generated thousands of skills in various skills profiles. We categorise them as technical, commercial and clerical skills and so on, welding, fabrication, carpentry, mechanical engineering, and a whole host of other skills. We have been tracing what happened to those skills that we produce and also where they are employed and who employs them and so far, 65 percent of those we have trained are gainfully employed,” he said. For the past 18 years, the organisation has generated over 20660 artisans and semiskilled workers that have been added to the workforce. Additionally, the renewed focus of training implemented under the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) programme has shaped the opportunity for the beneficiaries to gain entry into the regular programme of recognised Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions,
communities that are considered to be vulnerable and we have done programmes in Region 4 and this year we will be working in Agricola, Linden, Region Three and Region Nine and they are intended to satisfy some requirements to ensure employable skills and poverty alleviation and improve economic independence,” Mr. Williams said. Mr. Williams explained that the certificates received by the students are regionally and internationally accepted and provides an opportunity for young people to not only be gainfully employed but to also become entrepreneurs. “Our programmes are so intense in terms of the quality assurance that we believe that whenever we issue a certificate, then that certificate gains acceptance and recognition by a number of agencies and countries. We have now moved on based on an arrangement we have with the Caribbean National Training Agency (CANTA) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat to now award the CARICOM Vocational Qualification (CVQ). All those programmes ultimately will have substantial marketability in the sense that we can use them to gain employment not only in Guyana but elsewhere so the recognition is assured,” he said. For 2018, BIT plans to implement its NTPYE programme in 18 areas across the 10 administrative regions of Guyana in the areas of block making/masonry, boat building, electrical installation, Fitting Machine, Food Preparation, Garment construction, General Building Construction, Heavy Duty Equipment Operation, Information Technology, Motor Vehicle Repairs, Plumbing, Refrigeration/Air Condition, Small Engine Repairs, Supervisory Training and Welding and Fabrication. Additionally, during the year BIT is scheduled to commence the implementation of training for the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF) in Boat Building, General Building Construction, Heavy-Duty Equipment Operator Maintenance and Repair, JAWS Computer Training for Persons with Visual Disabilities, Small Engine Repairs and Solar Photovoltaic training in installation, maintenance and repair of Solar Photovoltaic equipment. These trainings will be implemented in all 10 administrative regions and is expected to realise the empowerment of approximately 1400 persons. The Board is also looking to partner with the University of Guyana to accept the students exiting its training programmes since they are brought up to the entrance level requirements through the rigorous training programmes.
Concrete blocks made by one of the participants of the Hinterland Employment Youth Service (HEYS)
such as the Mahaicony Technical Vocational Educational Training Centre in Region 5, the New Amsterdam Technical Institute and the Leonora Technical and Vocational Training Centre in Region Three. The Board has also worked alongside the Office of the First Lady to train students from villages in Regions 4 and 10 in information and Communication technology. The Chairman said that plans are in train to take the programme to other vulnerable communities across the country. “We are very happy to work with her [the First Lady] to generate skills particularly in vulnerable areas, for out of school youths in
Such initiatives will help to mould Guyana’s future and they reinstate the government’s commitment to ensuring ‘a good life for all’ through education, employment and enterprise. Moreover, as time progresses, through the government’s commitment, we will see the introduction of more such programmes that aim to ensure that the country’s young people indeed get the chance to enjoy this good life. The President believes that such initiatives help in overcoming the problem of unemployment and will also help to create a generation of young people who will become the new entrepreneurial class.
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BEST-SELLING AUTHORS AT HARVARD nap. I had promised my friend Claudia Vidal that I will attend the event at Harvard to support her, and the other bestselling authors on their platinum tour. We are all from the Best Sellers Guild hosted by Kidding Marketing and are on a mission to inspire. We communicate online and Claudia was the only one I met in person before. I received an amazing welcome from all of these empowered ladies and I had no idea I was such a motivation source for them. The Harvard Campus is huge ... Inspiring lives through fashion and reminded me of the day I got lost on Brown University I HAD a fast-paced week but it was productive. I enjoyed some priceless moments Campus in Rhode Island. I was the first with mom in Bartica. We watched Dancing Caribbean Designer invited to that Ivy with the Stars while she greased and mas- League School to do a presentation on sage my scalp. Those moments brought Caribbean fashion. The nature of this presentation was back fond memories of childhood. Hours later, I was on a Caribbean Airlines flight different because it was not students from to the city that never sleeps. I attended the Harvard, but was hosted in the Harvard Caribbean Business Connect (CBC) event Faculty Club. All of the presenters did well and I in NY hours after getting off the plane. I attended one in June and found it was a great decided to share highlights with you this place to network, and for people who know week. Author Pamela Garrison from Califorme are aware, that I rarely miss networking opportunities. They provide a platform nia, topic was Bubbles therapy -Don’t Stress for creating new partnerships between Blow bubbles. Her talk addressed the issue of being Caribbean and American business owners and professionals. I got the opportunity angry, frustrated, and irritated. She explained to discuss some possible collaboration. a pivotal moment where she discovered you I was on my way to Boston after a brief can’t blow bubbles angry. In order to get to
Beyond the Runway
the bubbles of life, you must pause, take a deep breath, and slowly breathe out to get to the bubbles of life-joy, peace, happiness, etc. Dr. Aimee Sanchez spoke about healing your money drama. She has dedicated over two decades of her career to helping
with Dr. Sonia Noel
individuals heal, and has taught thousands of women how to rewire their lives for success by helping them to achieve and bring strategic alignment to their life visions, value and goals. How to free yourself from beliefs that are rooted deep within the unhealed money
stories from your past, and learn to create a healthy awareness of your relationship with money Saundra Cage who is calm and beautiful, her topic was, Please wake up! She encouraged people not to be a walking dead and find their purpose. She mentioned how too many people die in before the day they are pronounced dead. The energetic K. Moneak presented on the Three Keys That Fits Every Door: Clarity –We must be clear about where we are going and what we want to achieve. Courage -To be able to press on even when things are not ideal. Confidence –That assurance that it will happen no matter what. L.A Roberts spoke about the faith we have as children and encouraged us that sometimes we need to go back to that kind of faith. My friend Claudia Vidal was the last speaker who spoke on six words that impacted her life. “There has to be another way”, those six words became my everyday mantra as I navigated through the complexities of life. Today, I intend to share some of the experiences that led me to discover a powerful tool that shifted my mindset from a limited perspective to an expanded perspective, allowing me to discover who else I could become, as I engaged with other people’s point of view. It is great when you can find a way to use your experience to inspire others no matter where you are from.
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#SupportCreativity
By Subraj Singh
The Fall of Fan Bingbing TO the poor souls not familiar with the vibrant, magnificent, powerful, and ever-expanding world of Chinese cinema, there has recently been a salacious story that, though unfamiliar in its scope and content to artists in Guyana, still holds several important lessons that remind us of our roles as artists and the fact that we, as with the people in all other professions, need to be held accountable
for our actions. Fan Bingbing is the name of one of the biggest superstars in China. An immensely beautiful, talented, award-winning actress, Bingbing is one of a few select Asian actors to become known to the Western movie-going world. She made an appearance in “X-Men: Days of Futures Past” and was due to appear in “The King’s Daughter” with Pierce Brosnan
and Kaya Scodelario, as well as the thriller, “355”, alongside Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong’o, Penelope Cruz, and Marion Cotillard. However, if one wants to get a true understanding of Bingbing’s skills as an actress, then one would have to turn to her Chinese-language films, such as “Buddha Mountain.” Importantly, she has also established herself as a fashion icon, thanks, in part, to the costumes she wore at several Cannes Festivals – including the famous “swan dress,” “the four beauties dress,” and the “dragon dress,” with a version of the last of these being collected by the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the original being bought by Madame Tussaud’s. So far, so good – and based on this summation of the career of the actress, it should become obvious that her life was seemingly perfect and justifiably enviable in every way. The biggest star in the most populated country in the world, several awards, status as a fashion icon, and a ripe Hollywood career ahead of her, and yet, as everyone in China and everyone else interested in international films now knows, Bingbing’s world has come crashing down all around her. According to various media outlets, the actress has been accused of tax evasion, due to her allegedly signing dual contracts (commonly known as ‘yin-yang’ contracts in China), and reportedly later paying taxes on only the public contract, which contained the smaller fee being charged for work in a movie. When the news first broke, the actress disappeared from the public eye for several months, prompting much speculation into her disappearance, with some people even suggesting that the Chinese government may have had a hand in the vanishing of China’s most famous star. But now, Bingbing has returned, emerging from a secret detention centre, releasing a statement from behind the mysterious veil of social media, acknowledging her crimes, apologising to the public, and seeking to make reparations for her mistakes. She also highlighted her devotion to the state and to her fans, writing, according to an article on “Vulture” by Anne Victoria Clark, that, “without the Party and the state’s good policies, without the love from the people, there would have been no Fan Bingbing.” Steve Rose, writing for “The Guardian,” pointed out that Bingbing now owes an astronomical £112 million in fines and unpaid taxes, noting that Chinese authorities have begun to initiate a plan of action in the entertainment industry that seeks to put limits on actors’ pay in an effort to curb money worship and the idolisation of celebrities by the youth, among other things. The tale of Fan Bingbing is a lurid and outlandish one, highlighting a megastar who flew too high to the sun, breaking the laws of China, out of all the possible countries in the world – and now as she falls back to earth, crashing-landing so hard that we are yet to see if she can resurrect her career from the aftermath of the fall, all the artists should look to her story and mine the lessons that can be unearthed from it. Immediately, of course, and perhaps most obvious, is the warning about breaking the law. No one is above the law and as in Bingbing’s case, her beauty, her abilities as an actress, her fame and power are all not enough to save her from whatever penalties await her. One of the most beautiful women in the world, a constant presence at film festivals, and someone with adoring fans all around the globe, and yet, if she is unable to pay all of the money she owes, she may very well end up in prison. Artists, of all people, should have a better understanding of how the law works in order to subvert it – not all laws, of course, but those that are oppressive or seek to devalue the human rights of the people whom our art can address. Manipulating or downright breaking the law for personal gain, on the other hand – as artists, as people who seek to highlight and fix the maladies of human nature, is an absurd concept to understand in my mind. Perhaps this is because I am biased and I tend to see artists as the kind of people who want to help, who are do-gooders, trying their best to eke out a living while also serving humanity by preserving and telling our stories, by entertaining, by creating. Perhaps it is because I know how difficult it is for artists to work and to make money and therefore it might be incomprehensible to me because I cannot understand someone, an artist, especially, making a comfortable living and still breaking the law for more. The artist as a criminal, is indeed something unique, something wrong, something still incomprehensible to my probably-idealistic mind.
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COMPLAINTS AGAINST CAR DEALERS CAN BE CORRECTED IN Guyana, the overwhelming majority of motorcars now imported are second-hand - either reconditioned or sold as is from the previous owner. Until the last three or four decades, only new cars were imported and the firms which sold such cars were the most reputable companies in the country. Complaints were rarely ever heard and if there was a manufacturer’s fault, this was quickly and discreetly addressed by the agents who sold such cars. Though Japanese cars were beginning to capture the market, American, German and British cars were still seen on the roads of Guyana. This post-colonial fairly stable milieu steadily metamorphosed into the present: The country suffered severe shortages of foreign exchange and this affected the importation of cars. Indeed, Russia accommodated Guyana by barter arrangements and some Russian cars were imported. Then there were currency devaluations and cars became even scarcer and finding spare parts was an arduous and difficult exercise. Almost all the companies which used to be agents for new cars were nationalised or closed. Under Mr. Desmond Hoyte’s presidency, the Free Market was re-introduced and the economy of the country began to improve and it became possible to again import cars. But there was no return to the post-colonial milieu mentioned above; a number of one-man car dealers established themselves and took over the market. This trend coincided with the aggressive marketing by Japanese second-hand car dealers from whom these newly-established local dealers imported. And since there was a car famine for such a long period, these newly-established car dealers enjoyed a good market. Later, the commercial banks entered the second-hand car business by offering loans at discount interest rates to purchase cars. We thought it useful for readers to have a background understanding of the second-hand car industry. Today, the market has become more equilibrial, or some may perceive it as oversupplied. The dealers seem to have become less careful of the quality of the second-hand cars they import, with the result that most purchasers seem to have serious complaints with the vehicles they would have bought. Warranties are for six months only and even for these six months, the warranty does not cover all the faults which may arise in the car. And in many cases, the warranties are not honoured under one subterfuge or another. The situation is such that buying a second-hand car from one of these local dealers is now a high-risk operation. Surmounting these difficulties and the “jhanjat”, to employ a very apt Creolese word, as mentioned in Prof Richard Allsopp’s Creolese dictionary, could easily be achieved once the governmental authorities and the purchasers have the will. The Chairman of the Competition and Consumers Commission, Attorney-at-Law Ronald Burch-Smith, as was recently reported in the press, feels that the fundamental problem in affording protection to the consumer is reform of the hire-purchase laws and also standardising contracts between car dealers and purchasers. These contracts are often unfair to the purchaser. Mr. Burch-Smith pointed out that his commission does not have the authority to reform or strengthen the law, since that is the province of the attorney general’s office on a request from the Ministry of Business. To provide immediate first aid in this matter, it would seem to us that the CCAC, the Consumer Association and the Bar Association should devise a suitable contract and circulate it and not await the reform of the Laws. At the same time, the warranties should be strengthened and may identify parts of the car. It would seem to us that two other approaches could be employed in achieving a more equilibrial relationship between dealers and customers and removing bases of conflict and confrontation: The first is that the purchaser should engage a good mechanic to examine all parts of the car. For example, the use of plastic parts in the engine when metal parts would be safer and longer lasting could be challenged. Such a mechanic must be armed with appropriate equipment, especially to be
able to test electronic parts and their functionality. Today’s cars are highly electronic in their functions, since that is now the usage in the developed world where cars are manufactured and are most used. In this regard, Guyanese technical teaching institutions have to keep abreast with technical changes and mechanics and repair shops have to do likewise. The Beharry Auto Agency is a leader and example in this field as they are able to acquire advanced
repair tools, such as the car equivalent of an MRI scan machine. Such equipment would be able to effectuate repairs quickly and efficiently and would be happily less costly to the consumer. The various iniquities of the car dealers about which the purchasers regularly complain could be rectified in a fairly short time if stakeholders have the will and determination to address them.
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Guyana Marketing Corporation record-high increase in exports
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
Flashes an 18 per cent hike in non-traditional agricultural commodities
The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) items in agricultural crates
By M Margaret Burke THE Central Packaging Facility in Sophia, as well as the Parika Agro-processing Packaging Facility, have been very busy preparing record-level commodities for the export market. The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) has reported that for the period January to August 2018, their facilities have processed over 809 metric tonnes of non-traditional agricultural commodities for export. According to the GMC, this amount represents an 18 percent increase in exports when compared with the corresponding period of January to August last year. Additionally, “A total of 56 shipments were processed, of which 46 were for exports via sea and 10 were for export via air,” the GMC reported. These non-traditional agricultural commodities have so far been exported to countries such as Antigua, Barbados, St Kitts, St Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Canada, and the United States of America (USA). UTILISE PACKAGING FACILITIES Exporters of non-agricultural commodities are now being urged to take advantage of the two facilities available to them to process and package their fresh produce to target local supermarkets and export markets. This comment was made by the GMC’s General Manager, Ms. Ida Sealey-Adams, who noted that while the increase is commendable, much more use should be made of the processing facilities. She noted that coming from various parts of the country, the Central Packaging Facility of the GMC ensured that products such as crushed peppers, pepper sauce, steamed and curried katahar, cut green mangoes, steamed bilimbi, mango achar, preserved carambola fruits, coconut oil and cassava cassareep were being properly prepared for bulk shipment. Cassareep, honey and Chinese sauce were also included in the preparation for export. SATISFYING EXPORT DEMAND Ms. Adams stated that many exporters are still finding it difficult to acquire the quantity and quality of produce that is required to satisfy the demand of the export market at a competitive price, even with the increase from the processing and packaging facilities. Manager of the GMC Packaging Facilities, Ms. Celestine Butters, said that the unfavourable weather conditions being experienced by many of the exported have contributed to the shortage of produce. This is especially so in areas such as Berbice and the Pomeroon. At the same time, she stated that “there is a growing export demand for produce such as watermelons, plantains, seedless limes, pumpkins and dried coconuts.” TRANSPORTATION CHALLENGES Further, it was posited that apart from the difficulties with the acquisition of the desired quality and quantity of produce for shipment and the unfavourable weather condition, the Turn to page XXIX ►►►
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The Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) packing commodities into the refrigerated truck
issue is compounded by the fact that air shipments, especially to Barbados, have become inadequate since the change of ownership and route of AMERJET. This has resulted in the company no longer offering its services to Barbados exporters. According to Ms. Butters, cargo shipments are also offered by Caribbean Airlines and Fly Jamaica. However, it was noted that unfortunately space is usually limited since the luggage of passengers are usually given first preference. However, notwithstanding the difficulties with regards to transportation, the Guyana Marketing Corporation is very thankful to the Air Cargo and Sea Freight Cargo Service providers who have consistently availed their services to the Exporters, she stated. As the Corporation continues to engage with other service providers to expand the availability of transportation service for Agricultural commodities, efforts are continually being made to encourage service providers outside of Guyana to offer their services to local exporters, especially at routes that are not currently being serviced. USER-FRIENDLY FACILITIES Ms.Sealey-Adams sought to encourage farmers to continue to make use of the GMC packaging facilities that are available to them, noting that while there has been a noticeable increase in the utilisation of the facilities so far for the processing of agricultural commodities for export, much more can be done at the facilities. She said that efforts are being made to continue to upgrade the facilities, stating, “Plans are in place to undertake semi-processing of agricultural commodities in sections of the facilities to target both local and export markets. This service will soon be made available for use by other stakeholders.” She went on to state that over the years the GMC, through its Central and Parika Packaging Facility, has been making it easier for exporters of fruits and vegetables and other non-traditional commodities. The Central Packaging Facility and Parika Agro-Packaging Facility facilitate the processing of fresh fruits and vegetables to export markets. BILATERAL ARRANGEMENTS Ms. Sealey-Adams explained that there is a bilateral protocol arrangement between the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) and the respective Ministries of Agriculture in Barbados, Antigua, Trinidad and Tobago and St. Lucia. According to her, these facilities were established to ensure traceability and correct monitoring of fruits and vegetables being exported from Guyana. They are furnished with equipment that can be used for washing, drying, sanitising and cooling of commodities. The Corporation she said, through these facilities also provides refrigerated cold storage, refrigerated trucking service and the rental of agricultural crates for its stakeholders. EXPORT CONDITIONS Meanwhile, for farmers to be able to export fruits, vegetables and other agricultural commodities they must observe some general conditions. Among these conditions are that farmers must be registered and operate in pest-free zones and at the same time their products presented for export most originate from Guyana; that the packaging must be done under approved farming conditions, for example, there should be proper drainage and irrigation, as well as proper sanitary facilities. Additionally, there must be proper management of the crops from the initial stage until harvesting the commodities that are intended for the export market. These commodities are expected to be certified and stamped by the relevant officials in Guyana so as to secure the integrity of the products for export. (mercilinburke2017@gmail.com)
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There is also the National Commission for the Elderly which also looks into the care and protection of elders, including those who reside in senior homes. Visits are made to those senior homes from time to time and notes were taken of the standards applied - good, average or poor - and the necessary action to be taken. “Three Religious Services - Christian, Muslim and Hindu” - will be held during October, according to Everette De Leon, who is the Chairperson of the National Commission for the Elderly. There will also be public awareness programmes aired on radio and television. The recently launched New Dawn Clubs in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Seven, will also have a variety of programmes during the month. In two previous feature articles in the Pepperpot Magazine, I wrote with the focus on growing older; one was entitled, “Do not be afraid of old age”. The other was, “This elderly gentleman welcomes age 80”. That being said, I know of many Guyanese elders who worry about their golden years. Some worry themselves to an earlier deat, but not all. Many elders continue to live full lives, making sterling contributions to the continuing development of Guyana. Elders who would have retired from the Public Service and from private companies have gone on to doing extremely well in other ventures. Retired police and prison officers as well as soldiers, for example, have gone on to serve in private security firms. Retired judges and educators have found new careers in religion and commissions, for example, retired Headmistress of The Bishop’s High School, Maureen Massiah, who is now the Senior Pastor of the St. Andrew’s Kirk. Retired Justice Oslyn Small is now the Senior Pastor at Smith’s Memorial Congregational Church. Some educators have continued teaching in private schools while a few have gone on to work in private companies, including the media. Popular folklorist of the 1970s and 1980s, Guyanese-born, Toronto-based Pauline Thomas aka Auntie Comsee, now in her late 80s, is someone who elders can emulate. When in her late 70s, she enrolled in a five-year course at the University of Toronto and graduated. Her philosophy in this, her Golden Years, is “Enjoy when you can. Endure when you must.” And in an online survey I took, here are a few of the comments I received regarding being active during old age: “You can continue to do what you love best until you yourself decide to stop”. “Elders should be there to guide, mentor and support young persons who are filled with zeal, but are not exposed to the intricacies of everyday life.” “I definitely believe elderly people in Guyana should have more opportunities to keep them occupied.” “As long as you have life and you are in your right mind, why not be active?” “Young people are the future, but older people form the very foundation for the future. We should respect our older folks.” Retired Headmaster Hilton Lewis, who resides in Georgetown, is enjoying pretty good health and is a very active person. He can be seen fairly often in downtown Georgetown going about his business unaided. He travels overseas from time to time and is scheduled to pay another visit to his son, William who resides in New York. Hilton Lewis, who is the cousin of former Police Commissioner, the late Laurie Lewis, possesses the aura of an educator and can still teach the younger ones quite a lot. He has a beautiful tenor voice and sings musical compositions in four languages. Two of our national fighters for Guyana’s Independence, Ashton Chase and Eusi Kwayana - both in their mid-90s - are still with us and enjoying good health. During the 15 years I produced the Radio Programme Series, “The Eighty Plus Club” in which I interviewed over 500 elders in all of Guyana’s 10 Regions, all CARICOM member states, America, Canada and Britain, also Australia and New Zealand, I have learned quite a lot of what makes seniors tick. And just in case you are interested, here are three items of Guyanese senior trivia; the longest living Guyanese author was E.R Braithwaite, of “To Sir, With Love”, who passed on at age 104. He was active up the very day he passed. The longest living East Indian Immigrant in Guyana was Bibi (name uncertain) of Guava Bush, Albion, Corentyne Coast, who passed on at age 111 years. The longest known living Guyanese was Mathilda Lewis who died in Georgetown at age 113 years. She was sharp of mind and discussed national and international affairs up to the very end. I had the pleasure of interviewing all of these elders and featured them on my Radio Programme series, “The Eighty Plus Club”.
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Transforming Lives through Disaster Risk Reduction - International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2018 “I SAW asphalt rolling and the road folded ... I saw houses rolling, and the ground breaking open…A lot of people fall inside. It’s thanks to God I am alive now, with my children ... I thought it was doomsday” these are the statements reported by CNN from a public servant in the aftermath of Indonesia’s earthquake which struck on September 28, killing at least 1407 people. Starting in 1989, and on October 13 every year, the United Nations observes International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR), recognising the need for nations and societies to be more risk-aware and geared towards disaster risk reduction. Professor Jonathan Stewart, speaking on the liquefaction of soil as the main cause of destruction in some parts of Indonesia following the earthquake, said that “As with most problems, the first step in mitigation is recognising that a problem exists. We have an engineering procedure for this. Had they been applied, there is a good chance the hazard would have been recognised.” Stories like these urge us to consider where the impacts are felt greatest when disaster strikes – people. Significant economic losses from disasters destroy livelihoods, forcing
millions into poverty every year, especially those in low and middle-income countries. This year, IDDR highlights the human cost of disasters and advocates that “reducing economic losses from disasters has the power to transform lives.” 2018 celebrations continue under the Sendai Framework of 2015, with its seven targets to measure progress on reducing disaster losses. Guyana’s experience with El Nino droughts and La Nina flood conditions, have resulted in significant economic losses and negative impacts on development. The losses suffered in the agriculture sector and the number of lives affected due to the floods of 2005, are difficult to forget. In 2015, the UNISDR ranked Guyana 13 out of 162 countries for flood risk and reported that 0.69 per cent and 0.42 per cent of the population and GDP, respectively, are exposed to the effect of flooding. Our vulnerability, notably for food security, poverty reduction and agriculture development could be further enhanced due to the impacts of climate change, particularly due to Guyana’s low-lying coast. The EPA has taken on a risk-based approach to environmental management. This will allow us to become more resilient and proactive in our efforts to protect human health and the environment. - Disasters are gateways to poverty and distress for many vulnerable people living in low and middle-income countries particularly. - Investing in disaster risk reduction is a precondition for developing sustainably in a changing climate. Knowledge transfer in risk management and school safety As we observe International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, coincidentally, Guyana is about to benefit from a timely intervention in this regard. Through bilateral cooperation with the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation of Colombia, APC-Colombia, Guyana will be a direct beneficiary of a knowledge transfer mission focused on risk management and school safety. Workshops will be held during October 08-12, 2018, in Georgetown. The exercise has three main objectives: 1. Knowledge transfer in School Risk Management from
Colombia to Guyana; 2. Implementation of the tool for the formulation of a School Risk Management Plan; and 3. Technical advice and training in the management of the tool and in the formulation and implementation of School Risk Management Plans. This mission is the collaboration among APC-Colombia, the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the Guyana Red Cross Society. The
official opening ceremony will be held at Herdmanston Lodge on Monday, October 08, 2018, at 08:30h. It’s time to get serious and proactive about disaster risk reduction, being unprepared can cause avoidable injuries and deaths. 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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STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Your written examination responses are important, as presentation quality is constantly being underlined by examiners, and greater emphasis is placed on written and presentation skills. Examination authorities want to see (and even reward) you on the favourable use of all-round aids. To enhance your preparation, be mindful of the following skills: effective arrangement and presentation; clarity of expression; logical argument; clear and concise English; and clearly, legible handwriting is included. Be wise. Love you THE PASSAGE Everyone admits that it is praiseworthy in a prince to keep faith, and to live with integrity and not craft. Nevertheless, our
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
English
experience has been that those princes who have done great things have held good faith of little account, and have known how to circumvent the intellect of men by craft, and in the end, have overcome those who have relied on their word. You must know there are two ways of contesting – the one by law, the other by force. The first method is proper to men, the second to beasts; but because the first is frequently not sufficient, it is necessary to have recourse to the second. Therefore, it is necessary for a prince to understand how to avail himself of the beast and the man. This has been figuratively taught to princes by ancient writers, who describe how Achilles and many other princes of old were given to Centaur Chiron to nurse, who brought them up in his discipline; which means solely that, as they had for a teacher one who was half beast and half man, so it is necessary for a prince to know how to make use of both natures, and that one without the other is not durable.
A prince, therefore, being compelled knowingly to adopt THOUGHT FOR THE DAY the beast, ought to choose the fox and the lion, because the lion cannot defend himself The quality of Mercy is not strain’d, against the snares and the It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven fox cannot defend himself against wolves. Therefore, Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed: it is necessary to be a fox to It blesseth him that gives discover the snares and a lion to terrify wolves. Those who and him that takes. rely simply on the lion do not understand what they are WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616) about. Therefore, a wise lord cannot, nor ought he to, keep The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene1 faith when such observances may be turned against him, d. Is the argument by analogy successful? and when the reasons, which How? cause him to pledge it, exist no longer. e. By what means does the writer attempt If men were entirely good, this precept would not hold, but because they are bad, to convince readers to accept unpleasant and will not keep faith with you, you are assertions? not bound to observe it with them. Nor will GRAMMAR there ever be wanting to a prince legitimate In English the lack of inflectional endreasons to excuse this non-observance. Of this, endless modern examples could be giv- ings forces us to rely upon the position of en, showing how many treaties and arrange- words, phrases, and clauses in order to estabments have been made void and of no effect lish their grammatical, logical, and rhetorical through the faithlessness of princes; and he relationships within the sentence. Ambiguity and confusion arise when who has known best to employ the fox have modifiers are placed so that their relationship succeeded best. But it is necessary to know well how to to the words they modify is not clear, or disguise this characteristic, and to be a great when they are left without a word to modify. The Problem retender and dissembler; and men are so Note: Every modifier, whether word, simple, and so subject to present necessities, that he who seeks to deceive will always phrase, or clause must refer clearly and unfind someone who will allow himself to be mistakably to the word which it is intended deceived. One recent example I cannot pass to modify; and it must modify a word in the over in silence. Alexander the sixth did sentence in which it stands. Failure to observe this rule leads to nothing but deceive men, nor ever thought of doing otherwise, and he always found the error of the dangling modifier. A danvictims; for there never was a man who gling modifier is a modifier which is out of had greater power in asserting, or who with proper grammatical and logical relation to greater oats would affirm a thing, yet would the sentence. It ‘dangles’ - that is, it has nothing to modify. observe it less. Today we’ll look at the dangling ellip(From The Prince, by Nicolo Machiatical clause. velli) An elliptical clause is a clause from which subject and verb are omitted. The WHAT TO DO 1. Give the meaning of the following subject and verb are implied by the context. Let’s look at the example that follows. words and phrases found in the argument: Wrong: When two years old, my father integrity, circumvent, the first method is proper to men, to have recourse, brought used to take my twin brothers on his lap and them up in his discipline, dissembler, subject let them play with his heavy finger rings. Right: When two years old, my twin to present necessities. 2. a. “There are two ways of contesting.” brothers used to sit on my father’s lap and What is meant by ‘contesting’? Explain play with his heavy finger rings. Right: When my twin brothers were what the two ways are. b. Why is it necessary to have recourse two years old, my father used to take them on his lap and let them play with his heavy to the ‘other’ way? c. Why do those who “rely simply on the finger rings. Getting it right by reasoning: In the lion” not understand what they are about? d. Do you agree with Machiavelli’s ar- first sentence, the elliptical clause, when two years old, seems to refer to my fagument? 3. a. Princes, says Machiavelli, have ther. An absurdity is created. My father been “figuratively taught” by means of the when two years old could not have taken Centaur Chron. What figure of speech is my twin brothers on his lap; and had no heavy finger rings I understand. The erinvolved? b. Do you consider that Machiavelli’s ror can be corrected in two ways: (1) by reference to the lion and the fox helps his supplying a subject, which the elliptical clause can modify; and (2) by filling out argument? How? c. Is the writer’s example affective? the ellipsis (when my twin brothers were two years old…). How?
Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018
Samosas INGREDIENTS 1 cups flour Salt to taste and water to mix Some oil and flour mixed to a think paste Filling: 1 lb potato/peas or minced meat 1/2 tsp jeera, dhania, garam masala, salt, turmeric Few drops of lime juice Oil Some flour and water mixed into a thick paste INSTRUCTIONS Add salt to flour and mix with water to form a stiff dough. Divide into small portions and roll out portions into small circles. Spread oil and flour mixture on one and place another puri over it and repeat twice. (Do not put paste on the last ? 4th one). Now with four puris as one, roll out very thin. Heat tawa and bake roti light without browning it. Place on a flat surface and cut out edges slight to obtain a square shape. Cut into 4 long strips and separate the layers in each strip. You now have 16 strips. Repeat with the rest of the dough. Alternately make the dough with the help or water and two tablespoons of butter. Roll it out to a size of a chappati. Cut into half. Shape into a triangle. Fill with potato/meat mixture. Seal ends and deep fry. Stuffing: Various stuffings may be used. Heat a little oil in a pan and add jeera. Add mashed potatoes (seasoned with salt, turmeric, pepper, dhaniya powder, garam masala, a few drops of lime juice). Cover and let simmer till cooked. Fill the pastry strips with stuffing forming neat triangles. Use flour and water paste to paste the edges. Heat oil and fry samosa to a light brown color. Yield twenty five to thirty samosas.
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Chronicle Pepperpot October 7, 2018