Guyana Chronicle E-Paper PEPPER POT 21-09-2025

Sunday, September 21, 2025

Connecting Generations Through Language

Guyanese indigenous languages teacher and activist Sabantho Onyi is preserving languages and legacies

Sweetening Sustainability How Beekeeping is Transforming Lovely Lass

By Michel Outridge

IN the soft glow of dawn, farmer David Dutchin tends to his hives with the quiet confidence of someone who has learned to move with nature rather than against it. Bees swirl around him, foraging freely among the mangroves that stretch along Guyana’s shoreline.

For Dutchin, each hive is part of a bigger story of how tiny workers are transforming Lovely Lass Village, West Coast Berbice, into a diverse, eco-friendly agricultural zone by integrating apiculture into its traditional livestock base.

Cradled by fertile backdam fields and the protec-

tive mangrove forests along Guyana’s shoreline, the small farming community of Lovely Lass has long been known for its cattle, goats, and small-scale crops.

The mangroves, once seen only as coastal protectors, now serve a dual purpose—providing rich forage for Dutchin’s bees while benefitting from the pollination that helps sustain and regenerate the forest.

A Farming Legacy Finds New Wings Dutchin is no stranger to farming. A third-generation farmer, he grew up in a family where raising livestock and tending fields was a way of life.

“I learned that you have to love what you do, that way, it will lead you on the right path to success,” he reflected.

His own yard in Lovely Lass is a testament to that love, neatly divided to house pigs, black giant chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigeons, and even 14 dogs, all coexisting in relative peace.

Yet, for all his experience, bees were once the one thing outside his farming world. That changed the day he noticed a swarm clustering on a sucker tree in his garden. With no protective gear and little knowledge, he carefully placed them in a box. Only later did he realise the danger he had faced with Af-

ricanised bees, creatures that can be deadly if mishandled. That chance encounter marked the beginning of a new path, later nurtured by fellow beekeeper Lloyd Angus and strengthened by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), who provided boxes, training, and guidance.

Mangroves and Bees: A Natural Partnership What makes Dutchin’s beekeeping venture unique is its connection to the mangrove forest. Along the coastline near Lovely Lass, bees forage among mangrove blossoms, producing honey that is distinct in both taste

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Connecting Generations Through Language

Guyanese indigenous languages teacher and activist Sabantho Onyi is preserving languages and legacies

By Shaniya Harding

LANGUAGE is one of the most vital characteristics of a people. In the same way, Guyanese words and terms are a defining factor of who we are, languages all across the world are a way of connecting people with their roots. This is why the work being done by people like Guyanese indigenous languages teacher and activist Sabantho Onyi is so essential.

Working alongside institutions like the University of Guyana, Onyi is among a growing number of people working to ensure that indigenous languages are preserved. For nearly a decade, Onyi has been advocating for the importance of indigenous languages in Guyana.

Today, robust work is happening across the country to keep the languages of Guyana’s indigenous people alive—from books to dictionaries. Onyi says indigenous languages will be kept alive in Guyana for as long as she is.

Roots in Wakapau

Onyi’s journey into her cultural self-discovery began while she was still young. Born and raised in the Arawak village of Wakapau,

located in the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region of Guyana, Onyi was immersed in her culture. Through dance, food, and music, her family and community preserved the rich culture and little-known traditional practices.

“My parents always taught us the traditional way and asked us to keep our culture and traditions alive. Even though they were avid Christians, they still kept the dances, the food, the language. Everything was vibrant in the home, and that’s how I grew, loving my language and my culture,” she stated.

Although well acquainted with her culture, after leaving home to attend high school in Georgetown, Onyi felt lost being away for the first time in her life. She was in a new environment, among people and places so vastly different from what she was used to.

“As much as I tried to assimilate and let go of my traditions, the call of my culture continued. When I got a scholarship to come to school in Georgetown, I felt lost. Georgetown was different, and growing up with guardians who didn’t understand me was a huge challenge. But the calling of my traditions and my culture was always there. Whenever

I went home, I tried to learn as much of the language as I could because I wasn’t fluent when I left.”

When she was in her twenties, however, Onyi returned to Wakapau permanently. This, she said, was the beginning of work on preserving her language that would last a decade.

“As an adult, I went back home permanently. I started working with my mum to record the language. In 2002, my mum met linguists from the University of the West Indies. Being exposed to linguists and language activists awakened that love for language in me. When my mum passed away in 2018, I took it upon myself to continue her work. I couldn’t let it go. I started doing more for the language, learning as much as I could.”

Carib, Lokono, and Beyond

For much of the last decade, Onyi has been a part of the University of Guyana’s Guyanese Languages Unit. Through this unit, she has worked with various communities across Guyana in learning, preserving, and teaching a number of indigenous languages.

“I became part of the Guyanese Languages Unit

at the University of Guyana. I got training and exposure not only to my language but to other indigenous languages in Guyana. I went to different communities and did data collection, including on the Carib (Ka’inya) language in Baramita. Everyone there spoke and understood the language, and it became one of my favourites.

Even though the community has challenges, I enjoyed the people and the language. I’ve now worked on language revitalisation for almost a decade.”

Onyi has also extended her work beyond the University of Guyana, working with regional and international associations. Most recently, she has been part of a team working on a dictionary.

“For the past two years, I’ve been working with the Council of Native Caribbean Heritage, or CONCH. We’re also working on a robust dictionary with English translations, word classes, and audio. It’s an exciting journey, because my love for language is endless. I love to hear indigenous languages reaching new heights.”

The dictionary is focused on Lokojañ (Lokono Ajian), the language of the Arawak/ Lokono nation. This initiative is being done through the

For Onyi, the revitalisation of languages is a major part of the revitalisation of culture. As she shared, language is not just about learning Lokono words and phrases; it is about continuing the stories told by generations of her family.

“In order for you to know who you truly are, you have to know your language, your roots, and your traditions. All of that comes with how you communicate.

People who speak their language and keep their cultures alive are more connected. Some of my own sisters aren’t as interested in language preservation, and because of that, there’s traditional knowledge they don’t know. But for me, if I feel sick, I know what bush medicine to use, and it helps. That knowledge has carried me through.”

Passing Down Words and Wisdom

Today, Onyi is continuing that passing down of words as well as wisdom. Through her family, she is ensuring the language of her culture stays vibrant.

“I teach my daughter ev-

erything about language, culture, and traditions. Even when she was in my belly, I sang to her. Now she loves the language as much as I do.

My grandson, who is just two years old, sings in many languages and identifies body parts in Lokono. I love teaching the language to anyone who will listen, because with the language comes traditional knowledge that can help anyone, not just indigenous people.”

Earlier this year, Onyi was among the few people who made the audiobook of Arya Takes A Swim possible. Recorded in Lokojañ, the audiobook, which is now widely available, represents a major milestone in preserving indigenous languages. Onyi is very optimistic that with continued work by people like herself, the language of Guyana’s indigenous people will not only survive but thrive.

“It is good to know who you are, where you come from, and most of all, where you’re going. The knowledge from the past keeps you focused on the future. Languages define us. They tell us who we are. I know that in the future, there is so much more we can do, and I know Lokono will not die as long as I’m alive.”

Appreciating Art, Culture and Craft

Appreciating Art, Culture and Craft

Indigenous artist Dillon Craig shares how nature, culture, and mentorship shaped his work, and why

By Shaniya Harding

THE paintings, sculptures, and crafts of Guyanese Indigenous artists decorate the walls of Castellani House once again, amidst the Amerindian Heritage Month Art Exhibition. Among the more than thirty pieces of art and various artists being featured is Dillon Craig.

The twenty-eight-year-old creative has been putting paint to canvas and creating captivating pieces for as long as he can remember. A full-time artist whose works have been sold to diplomats and art enthusiasts internationally, Dillon says that art is vital to life, and although Guyana has a strong and growing art landscape, more appreciation for art is needed.

Most of the paintings that currently cover the exhibition walls of Castellani House are Dillon’s. Born and raised in Caria Caria, a riverine community along the bank of the Essequibo River, Dillon has always had a unique perspective on Guyana’s biodiversity.

Through his work, he not only highlights Guyana’s natural beauty but also tells stories, utilising powerful creativity and even greater subjects to transform his canvas into

an immersive experience.

Guyana’s art scene deserves more recognition

“I would have been exposed to nature from a very tender age. So, it has played a very critical role in terms of my artistic ability, in terms of the strength of my artistic pillar,” he added. “Growing up in the riverine area, I would have had that direct connection with nature, the waterways, the creeks, flora and fauna, animals. Those are some of the things that influence my work.”

But Dillon’s work extends beyond painting. He is also a skilled mixed-media artist who utilises a variety of materials to bring his pieces to life. While today he can work with any medium, from wooden sculptures to leathercraft, he began quite uniquely and authentically—with the moco-moco leaf.

“I would have used some of the natural materials from my environment to create art. One would be the moco-moco. I used to make boots and stuff from moco-moco. I also used cardboard to craft small pieces so that, as a child, you could play with it. It was also very easy to work with because, as a child, you wouldn’t have access to a sharp knife or those kinds of things. Those are some of the materials that I used to work with from very small.” He added, “I probably would have

A full-time artist whose works have been sold to diplomats and art enthusiasts internationally, Dillon says that art is vital to life, and although Guyana has a strong and growing art landscape, more appreciation for art is needed (Samuel Maughn photo)

leaned more towards being a sculptor, but as I grew older, I also fell in love with painting.”

For more than a decade, Dillon has worked on giving his art a unique style and look. Today, he is part of the moving circle of artists and several other creative groups, learning and teaching among his fellow artists.

Dillon says he owes much of what he knows today to his mentors,

with one of his biggest being famed Guyanese painter and internationally acclaimed artist Winslow Craig.

“Art is a natural part of me, but I would also have to express my gratitude to a couple of persons who would have moulded me, or who would have refined my skill, who would have played a critical role in terms of encouraging me. One of the persons would actually be my uncle, who’s a famous guy and an artist, Winslow Craig. He’s one of my greatest inspirations.”

He further added, “We’d look at each other’s work, and we would talk about it. And I think it actually played a great role in moulding me and allowing me to become the person I am today as an artist.”

However, appreciation for art remains a significant challenge for Guyanese creatives. As Dillon highlights, art is central to society, being part of everyday life, but professional art is still underappreciated in his opinion.

He expressed that while, on the surface, his art, like all others, may seem easy to achieve, it requires hours of work and years of expertise.

“Art plays a very critical role in society, but I think that it’s basically, I guess I would say, behind the scenes. I think it needs to come more to the forefront. I think persons need to appreciate art more. I would say art is basically everywhere; everything is basically art. Art plays a very, very fundamental

role in society. I think it should be more appreciated.”

The hurdle of achieving notoriety for artists is why exhibitions like the one Dillon is currently part of are so important.

“I think exhibitions like this are very important for us as Indigenous artists because they allow us to know more about ourselves and our art, to experience our rich culture, and to get a better understanding of what we do as artists, especially as indigenous artists. So I think we play a key role.

“Exhibitions like these are very much needed, especially to highlight the fact that they allow us to know more about ourselves, our culture, where we’re at, and where we’re currently heading.”

Running up until the end of September, the exhibition is open to the public and gives visitors a chance to interact with artists.

“I would also like to invite, for instance, everyone to the ongoing exhibition here at Castellani House. It will be throughout the month of September, so you guys could come out and see some of our work that is currently on display.

“You might even have a chance to chat with the artist if he is here at that time. It’s not just painting. We have a variety of artwork on display, like sculptures, fine craft, paintings. And I am sure if you come out to this exhibition, you would not be disappointed.”

Creating a classroom without limits

At the Schoonord Learning Centre,

Ms Rogers combines patience, creativity, and dedication to help children with disabilities thrive

AS Guyana celebrates Education Month, teacher Akeisha Rogers exemplifies this year’s theme, “Quality Education for National Development.” Speaking to Pepperpot Magazine from the Schoonord Learning Centre for Diverse Needs, where she has been working for the past three years, Akeisha Rogers discusses the challenges, daily routines, and creative ways she helps her students learn and grow. Through patience, love, and innovation, she is an educator making a real difference in the classroom.

Young, vibrant, and passionate, Ms Rogers did not begin her career working with children with disabilities. Originally striving to become a primary school teacher, she was hesitant when asked to teach at the Schoonord Learning Centre for Diverse Needs, but took the opportunity.

“It wasn’t really my plan to be here because I was trained to be a primary school classroom teacher. However, the school was a bit full, and I got a call, and it was like, ‘Hi, are you interested in teaching at a special needs school?’ At first, I was very nervous, and then I eventually said yes,” she stated. That yes would lead her to a classroom very different from what she was used to, but she would soon fall in love with it.

“When I came here, it wasn’t a usual classroom setting where it’s chalk and talk,

and you stand in front of the classroom and have a full-on conversation. It’s more about having patience, finding new ways to put over your lesson. It was very difficult at first, but eventually, I gained that patience and that comfort in my classroom, and now I’m working with autistic children.”

While days in any classroom are hectic, for teachers like Ms Rogers, it can be especially chaotic. Working with children with autism requires specialised teaching tactics and a calmer-than-usual approach. Ms Rogers adapts her teaching style and classes to suit her students.

“If they like painting, I have to find something that relates to painting so I can put over my lesson. I have a child who likes to sing. I sing a lot. I don’t know what I’ll be singing sometimes, I don’t know where I’ll find the lyrics, but improvisation—I have to improvise on my songs and everything,” she stated. Arriving every day at 7:25 a.m., Ms Rogers says her days start with greeting children with either a handshake or a hug and ensuring they are comfortable and ready to start class.

“In the beginning of all lessons, I have to sing. I have to calm them down. If they’re not comfortable in the classroom, I have to take them outside. I have to give them that break, or we have a sensory stimulation room where they can climb ladders, probably watch TV, experience a bit of light changing and these things.

From that, we usually have our break. We eat.”

Even lunch is a bit different in Ms Rogers’ class. Ensuring that her children are always comfortable, she gives up the classic utensils and teacher’s desk to join her students on the floor with a unicorn lunch kit.

“I usually sit together. I have a lunch kit because everything needs to be more of a skill. So I have a little lunch kit with a little unicorn in it, and I sit amongst them and show them how to open the lunch kit, how to open the water bottle, and try to be a role model for them so they can follow me,” she explained.

Ms Rogers also does plenty of work comforting parents. For many parents of children with disabilities, school can be a daunting thought for both them and the children. But as she shares, although difficult at first, children do get comfortable in the classroom with a little extra support.

“It’s just like when your child is now starting nursery, they’re going to cry, they’re going to throw a tantrum. So what we do is invite mummy or the parent into the classroom, let them see the setting and what it’s usually like, give them a run-through,” she said.

Apart from fears, misconceptions are another hurdle. Many people—and parents of children with disabilities—see learning as impossible. But Ms Rogers says not only can children with disabilities learn, they can become important additions

to society and live and work like anyone else.

“A lot of parents usually have the mindset that, okay, my child has a disability, and they’re not doing the things that a normal child would, and they won’t learn. I totally disagree with that because they’re very, very intelligent. They don’t process information like a normal child would, but they process it a bit slower. Eventually, they get it. I totally believe they can do so many things.”

That belief is why the Schoonord Centre ensures that their children are equipped with a number of skills outside of academics. The school is home to an agri-plot and has a number of clubs for children to join.

“We try to implement a lot of life skills where we have the chicken pen. We have a garden sport. I personally do hair and nails, more of a cosmetology club with

the children.

We have robotics. We have so many things for them to explore, and we find what they like and we work on that. So eventually, they can do something or leave here with something.”

Moving forward, Ms Rogers would like to see more emphasis placed on training teachers outside of academics. A cosmetology specialist, she says that the skill has helped her in her classroom and thinks that training other teachers in a similar field could make a big impact.

“What I usually do as a teacher is try to train myself first before I come to teach the children. So, for example, I do a cosmetology club. The school has different clubs, and what we as teachers did is teach ourselves first and then we bring it into the classroom. So if we could have workshops continuing on how to build ourselves to bring it into the classroom, that would be totally appreciated.” For Ms Rogers, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge but also about learning alongside her students.

“Teaching and working with my class has impacted me. I have grown so much. It has also helped me with motherhood. I’m a mum of one, and the patience and being around these children has improved my personal life,” she stated. The classroom becomes a space of mutual growth, where educators and learners alike explore, adapt, and discover new ways of understanding the world. Her experience reinforces the notion that education is a lifelong journey—one that requires patience, creativity, and a willingness to embrace challenges as opportunities to grow.

Advancing Sheep Farming in Number Five Village Through Innovation and GLDA Support

By Michel Outridge

ALONG the mangrove-lined seashore of Number Five Village, Lester Henry has transformed a family tradition into a model of productive and sustainable sheep farming.

Introduced to animal husbandry at the age of 10 by his grandparents, who raised sheep, goats, cows, pigs, and other livestock as their primary source of income, Henry has since evolved into a progressive farmer and community leader.

Henry is a proud beneficiary of the Government of Guyana’s Barbados Black Belly Sheep Project, implemented by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).

The initiative aims to develop a genetically robust breeding flock for local farmers. “Since the introduction of the Barbados Black Belly ram under the GLDA project, I have witnessed a stark improvement in the genetics of my flock,” Henry said. “The lambs’ birth weight averages six pounds,

and the meat quality has improved significantly for the market.”

From a single ram, Henry’s flock has expanded to 28 animals. This growth reflects both the genetic intervention and his adoption of modern husbandry practices under the guidance of GLDA extension officers.

He has mastered the administration of medications, management of foot rot, and the provision of balanced nutrition, integrating rice bran, wheat milling by-products, and corn husk with fresh grass. Pre-natal and post-natal care have become central to his operation, ensuring high survival rates and healthier lambs.

Henry is equally committed to food safety. “I pride myself on providing quality, safe meat for consumers. I ensure all my sheep intended for sale are withdrawn from any antibiotics or drugs at least four months prior to sale.

prevent the transmission of antibiotics or drugs to consumers,” he explained.

A unique feature of Henry’s farm is its proximity to the mangrove forest along the seashore. The forest provides a natural grazing ground, allowing the animals to feed efficiently while reducing the operational costs associated with the labour-intensive cut-and-carry feeding method.

“The mangrove is a natural resource that helps me sustain my flock at a lower cost while ensuring they receive adequate nutrition,” he noted.

Henry is now preparing to adopt the elevated pen design promoted by GLDA. His current flat-floor pens are vulnerable to heavy rainfall, causing hygiene challenges and high lamb mortality. “During the recent rainy period, I lost many lambs due to poor pen design and management practices,” he reported.

post-natal stages. This infrastructure upgrade aligns with best practices in modern small ruminant management, enhancing both productivity and animal welfare.

The farmer has also welcomed the PPP/C government’s Agri-Development Bank initiative, which he believes will enable farmers like him to access financial capital without the usual bureaucratic hurdles experienced at commercial banks. “This initiative is very promising for farmers looking to expand and improve their operations,” Henry said.

the need for financial support to construct elevated pens and expand grazing areas. He also envisions community-level collaboration, forming a local farmers’ group to share resources, tools, and breeding stock.

“The ram I received from the government was not kept for myself; I lent it to other farmers so they too can benefit and improve their flocks,” he said.

If an animal becomes ill during this period and cannot meet that withdrawal requirement, I refuse to sell it. This ensures adherence to food safety guidelines and helps

The elevated pens are expected to mitigate flooding, improve overall hygiene, and prevent foot rot, particularly during pre- and

Beyond training from GLDA, regular visits by Dr Joel Dilchand, GLDA’s Region 5 Coordinator and Veterinarian, and Kyle George, Livestock Assistant, alongside blood testing, farm surveillance, and proper record-keeping under the National Traceability Programme, have empowered Henry to manage his flock more effectively. These measures have ensured the safety of the meat he produces and improved his overall profitability.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain. Henry identified

In addition to sheep, Henry maintains goats, cows, and pigs, with his cows raised exclusively for beef production. His farm stands as a testament to the transformative impact of GLDA programmes and the potential of innovative, knowledge-driven farming in Guyana. By combining traditional expertise with modern veterinary practices, strategic breeding, sustainable resource utilisation, and rigorous food safety standards, Lester Henry continues to enhance livestock production in Number Five Village, contributing to both local food security and the broader agricultural economy.

By Michael Jordan

‘Death is too mild a penance for me.’ JASMAINE Payne heard those chilling words distinctly in her sleep one night in December 2013. He had no face she could discern, but she instinctively knew the whispering voice was that of “some heinous man of British descent”, she recalls.

Back then, the young journalist and fledgling writer was still struggling to find an intriguing idea for a novel. Even on awaking, those disquieting words stuck with her. Was this a character gaining form in her mind? Convinced that this was the case, she jotted down the words.

“I knew I had to build a world around this villain, she says. “I remember posting the announcement that I got an idea for my first novel on a blog that I had at the time, and that people should ‘stay tuned.’”

This was in December 2013. Twelve testing years and five drafts later, she had added a name and a face to that voice. He was John

‘LEECH’ author aspires to be new face of psychological thrillers

reveal himself to some humans and even control their minds.

He becomes fixated on a struggling writer, Arianne Smith, and compels her to turn his ghastly story, with never-revealed details, into a bestselling novel. But for Arriane, overnight fame becomes a terrible, all-consuming curse.A fan of the macabre, Jasmaine reveals that John Leech’s character was influenced by her favourite books, movies and television shows.

“Jack the Ripper was my first inspiration (The first letters of his forenames - John Thomas Reginaldmirror the first letters for Jack the Ripper), but I found more freedom in creating my own villain.

Hannibal Lecter, John Doe from Se7en, and Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray were also influences on his character.” A journalist and communications specialist with a demanding schedule, she had to adapt to writing “whenever and wherever” she could.

“I wrote in the middle of the day, in the middle of the night, early morning, on my phone, and even made voice notes while driving.”

DAUNTING

Thomas Reginald Leech, the malevolent serial killer in her debut novel, LEECH.

Last month, Jasmaine self-published her Gothic horror novel, and on September 20, she held a well-attended book launch at the Love and Latte Café Royal Hotel, where she spoke with guests and posed for photos with fans, ea-ger to obtain autographed copies of her novel.

She’s still not gotten over the exhilaration that her idea has made it from rough manuscript to glossy-covered novel with her name as its author.

“It’s an amazing feeling! I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal, because I have seen my name in print countless times over the last 15 years through journalism, but there is something about seeing a finished product, from cover to cover, with your name on it that knocks your emotions out of the park! Even better, when you hear people discuss your work with such seriousness, knowing that you have successfully convinced them of this fictional

world, is a feeling of honour that you have created a work of quality.”

But she’s also having first-time author jitters, regarding how her novel will stand up to the scrutiny of readers and critics.

“I am absolutely terrified because of how close writers naturally are to their work. LEECH feels like ‘my baby’, as they say, and now I am sending that baby into the world to be scrutinised and interpreted at will. It is a feeling of equal dread and exhilaration, but I am certainly enjoying the newness of it.”

TIME-TRAVELLING

KILLER

LEECH is a terrifying time-travelling novel set in nineteenth-century London and 2023 New York. Her main character is John Thomas Reginald Leech, a self-proclaimed scientist who carries out heinous experiments and commits suicide after murdering several colleagues who had discredited his work.

But Leech finds himself ‘reborn’ in contemporary New York. He discovers that he has the power to

Although she had written short stories as a teen, the former St. Rose’s and Queen’s College student soon discov-ered that writing a novel was a daunting prospect.

“Eleven years were spent writing the first draft, with many stops and starts in between. I did not understand the process; I had no writing community or support.

“Sometimes I felt so lost, and it was so daunting, not knowing what the next step was and not having anyone to share my frustrations with. Many times, I just said, ‘This is not the story I was meant to write.’ At one point, I even tried to convince a cinematographer friend of mine to convert it into a movie script, thinking it would be less chal-lenging.”

But like her writer protagonist, Arianne Smith, she felt compelled to share the story of John Thomas Reginald Leech with the world.

“It was always like this unfinished task that kept nagging at me, so, no matter what, I kept returning to it out of pure obligation to finish what I started.“

She finally sought professional guidance.

“Jim Parsons (RIP), a writing coach from Australia, gave me my first developmental edit in 2015-2016. He helped me to tell Arianne’s story through the eyes of a psychiatrist instead of her first-person account only, so Dr. Oscar Pressum was born.

“In 2023, I hired a second Developmental Editor, Stephanie Wilson, who really helped me to give Dr. Pressum more depth and fix many of the inconsistencies that had arisen across years of writing.

“In 2025, I hired a copy editor, Magda Bartkowska, and just after we were about to wrap up, I met Guyanese writer and playwright Harold Bascom, an award-winning veteran in the Guyanese literary space, who suggested another developmental edit to tighten some loose ends. Over the last three weeks before heading to print, we caught some final points that really polished the story. Admittedly, the whole process was tough, but extremely fulfilling.”

She’d initially planned to set part of her novel in Guyana.

“But after studying for my BA in English from the University of London, I was so inspired by the Victorian era and other aspects of English Literature and language that I wanted to set at least part of the novel in England in the 1800s.

“I also spent some time in New York, where I immersed myself in the rich literary culture and received my first experience in writing groups and book fairs. New York was such a vibrant and artistic place that I was inspired to use it as the main setting.”

One of the most commendable aspects of Jasmaine’s novel was her success in creating authentic images of nine-teenth-century London, as if she, like Leech, had time-travelled.

“Those images of London in the 1800s came from pictures of that era. Along with details about medicine in that time, I needed to know what the place looked like so I could properly portray it. So I would search for artists’ paintings and renderings of different areas, and then I would describe what I saw.”

Some have queried her reason for “writing about a white man from England,” rather than turning to her Caribbean roots for settings

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Crabbing in Mahaica: Mud, Memories, and Mad Fun Crabbing in Mahaica: Mud, Memories, and Mad Fun

AT the break of dawn, our convoy of cars rolled out— siblings, cousins, children, and grandparents—twenty of us in total, all buzzing with excitement. The plan? A family adventure like no other: our very first time crab catching, together.

In the past, a trip to Mahaica meant winding roads through the city to get to the East Coast, early morning yawns, and a chorus of “Are we there yet?” from restless kids. But this time was different. Thanks to the new Ogle Bypass Road, the journey was smooth, quick, and almost effortless. With the windows down and cool morning air rushing in, we zipped out of the city and into the countryside with ease. By

the time the first streaks of gold broke across the sky, we were already deep into our adventure.

No trip to Mahaica is complete without a quick detour to Spready’s, the beloved roadside stop known for its snacks, cold drinks, and easy-going vibe. It’s more than just a shop—it’s part of the road trip ritual. We piled out of the vehicles, kids tumbling after us, and stretched our legs.

Inside, the men stocked up on essentials: water, drinks, and a few extra treats to keep the children happy.

Outside, the women gathered under the benab, enjoying a cool breeze and swapping guesses about how many crabs we’d actually catch.

“Let’s hope we bring home more crabs than mosquito

bites,” my aunt joked as we loaded up again. Fuelled and ready, we set off, the excitement in our convoy even higher now that we were getting closer to our destination.

Originally, we had set our sights on Abary, a wellknown crabbing spot. We were headed there, then midway on our journey someone suggested Fairfield instead. “It’s supposed to be good crabbing grounds,” they said. None of us had ever been there, and we had no idea what to expect. But that’s how our family likes to roll— always ready for adventure, even if it comes with a little uncertainty.

laughing at their exaggerated bravado, while secretly hoping they wouldn’t come running back at the first snap of a crab claw.

The children squealed as they watched their fathers and uncles wade deeper into the sticky mud. It wasn’t long before shouts of triumph rang out. “Got one!” someone yelled, holding up a fat, angry crab whose claws waved furiously in protest. Cheers erupted from the riverbank, and just like that, the adventure was in full swing.

The crabbing was messy, muddy, and hilariously chaotic. Crabs darted under roots and into holes while grown

A quick detour brought us to a winding dirt road; much to the excitement of the toddlers on board, the roadway was littered with cattle and sheep grazing idly by. After a ten-minute cruise, the path abruptly ended and gave way to the mangrove bush, hiding our clawed treasures within.

The moment our boots hit the dirt, the men sprang into action. Not a minute to spare; armed with sticks, rice bags, and the confidence of hunters on a mission, they headed straight for the mangroves. The rest of us followed behind, navigating the narrow, rickety overpass that bridged the water-filled gap. We were

We’d heard whispers of a golden beach hidden beyond the mangroves, and despite the sun blazing down like fire and the mud threatening to swallow our boots, curiosity won.

The trek was no joke.

The heat was relentless, making the air shimmer and our skin prickle. Mud sucked at our feet with every step, thick and unforgiving. At one point, we had to climb over jagged rocks, carefully

balancing as the gaping void below threatened to swallow our ankles with one misstep. Sweat dripped, laughter bubbled, and there were more than a few moments of, “Whose idea was this again?” keeping us going. But when we finally broke through the last stand of mangroves, our breath caught.

Before us lay a stretch of untouched golden sand, glowing in the sunlight. The TURN TO PAGE XXIII

men lunged after them like kids in a playground. The cheerleading children standing on the bank, peeking through the thick underbrush, tried their best to call out when they saw movement in the mud. Every escape sparked a chorus of groans and laughter, and when one uncle became stuck, mud splattering in every direction, he became the day’s running joke. By mid-morning, though the catch was sparse, the men were wearing their mud like a badge of honour.

While they were deep in their crabbing mission, a few of us ladies decided to take on an adventure of our own.

Managing Challenges in Your Home

EVERY family is unique!

The challenges in each family may vary, since their directions and needs may vary.

1. Providing for the family

Every family must provide for their own needs. Some people like handouts. However, there is no certainty that those who provided for yesterday will also provide for tomorrow.

The needs of each family vary. The proportion of things needed for one family will differ from that of another family.

The number of members in families differs. For example, one family may comprise a husband, a wife, and two children. That family may be considered a small family. On the other hand, some families comprise a husband, wife, and six children. That family may be regarded as a large family.

The needs of a small family will have some differences when compared with the needs of a large family. Therefore, it is not easy to evaluate each family using the same criteria.

It might be easy for a small family to meet their needs. However, with a large family, their needs will be greater, and sometimes, they will depend on others to support them. Parents who have to support large families may need to work long hours or hold multiple jobs because they have more family members to care for.

2. Creating a family budget

Even when family earnings are small, it is still important for families to establish a budget. The budget will act as a guide. Wherever possible, they should seek to work closely with their budget.

Families whose earnings are fixed should seek to plan beyond monthly budgets for yearly budgets. As they plan

for the year, they will project their expenditure based on their fixed earnings. If they anticipate that some expenses will increase, they may need to consider reducing others. If they are unable to do this, then they can consider trying to increase their earnings.

No family should be satisfied with expenses that exceed their earnings. They must take deliberate action to manage their earnings and expenses.

Some people, when they hear the word “budget,” think of something complex. However, they are expected to plan how they will utilise their income and expenses for their family. They should also consider saving a proportion of their earnings. If parents have children attending school, they must include all expenses related to their children’s learning in the family’s budget. If children are attending private schools, then parents are expected to allocate greater funds to their children’s learning, since learning at private institutions is more expensive than learning at government ones.

People who have to repay vehicle loans and mortgages must include those amounts in their budgets. As far as possible, people must account for all possible earnings and expenditures when they prepare their budget. If families plan to engage in regular entertainment, then they should project the entertainment cost and include it in their budget.

3. Preparing meals

Not everyone likes to prepare meals, as cooking requires not only time but also skill. People are delighted to eat meals prepared by others, but they do not like to prepare meals themselves. Depending on age, children often have to wait for their parents to prepare meals. Once their parents have prepared the meals, they know

they have food to eat.

Meal preparation requires skill, and novices may struggle to prepare quality meals independently. Those who are experienced at preparing meals will often get much recognition.

Many people will travel long distances to purchase meals they love; they eat delicious meals, and they are satisfied.

They will also pay more for meals that meet their expectations. Whenever they eat meals that do not meet their expectations, they complain. The ingredients needed for the meals must be available. Many people will purchase in advance the ingredients they need to prepare meals. They will store those ingredients at home and take them out when they are ready.

An important skill people need to have when preparing meals is coordination. Not all items can be cooked or baked at the same time. When meals are prepared without coordination, they will not taste delicious, since different ingredients must be cooked at different times.

Timing is important when preparing a meal. Some meals require a slow fire, while others need much heat. When the right proportion of items is placed into the pot at the right time and the heat is adequate, then the meal will meet the satisfaction of many people.

4. Cleaning the house

In some homes, some family members do not like to clean the house. They are comfortable with shopping for groceries and cooking, but they do not have the desire to clean. Due to a lack of motivation, they tend to procrastinate and only clean the house when they feel like doing so.

Cleaning the house can be a monotonous exercise. Some people become tired of doing the same thing over

and over. As hard as people try to keep their homes clean, dust will appear. Even if people close their house and go on holiday, after they return, they still have to clean. Even recently built houses still have to be cleaned.

When toddlers and teenagers are at home, parents often have a lot of cleaning to do. Those teenagers and youths do not know the amount of cleaning they put their parents through.

5. Washing dirty dishes

As family members eat at home, they will have some dirty dishes. Some people enjoy eating but not washing the dirty dishes.

Keeping the dishes clean

is very important for every family to do, and they must do so daily. This task cannot be put off. If each family member takes a turn in washing the dirty dishes, then the house and sink will remain clean.

People must wash dirty dishes quickly after using them. Oftentimes, dirty dishes attract insects. Those insects can infest the house and cause family members to become sick.

Washing dishes is not the job of one person; everyone should take their turn in keeping the kitchen clean.

6. Maintaining the house

People often build beautiful houses but struggle or neglect to maintain them. Some people do not pay much attention to their buildings, since they believe that their buildings will remain beautiful without their in -

volvement. Other people enjoy the beauty of buildings they built several years ago, all because they maintained their buildings well. Several people may recognise that when one problem with the house is identified, suddenly other problems also appear. For example, a leaky pipe may be followed by a leaky roof. Other people go from one electrical problem to another. It is also possible that a small issue, if not addressed in a timely manner, can develop into much larger problems. For more information about Geary Reid and his books, please use the following contact information: Amazon: http:// www.amazon.com/author/ gearyreid, Website: www. reidnlearn.com, Facebook: Reid n Learn, Email: info@ reidnlearn.com, Mobile #: 592-645-2240.

‘LEECH’ author aspires to be new face of psychological thrillers

and characters.

“This is my story, and I am a storyteller. I don’t believe that I should be bound to any one place or narrative, regardless of where I come from.

“ ‘Write what you know’ was one of the first creative “rules” taught to me, and I immediately disliked it. For me, it was terribly limiting, especially growing up in a small Caribbean country where ‘what you know’ was not so much of the bigger world.

I always wanted to write beyond my borders and tell stories far and wide about all and sundry. I started to seek ways to defy that rule, and I realised that many writers themselves have advised that the concept is more about ensuring that you have sufficient knowledge about what you are writing. In this modern age, that simply means: research and experiences.”

She’s ‘hung out’ for so many years with her despicable serial killer John Leech, that he has become “like an old maniacal friend.”

“I know him well, including and especially all of his flaws. I took a lot of time and care carving out who he is, to the point that it is hard for me to dislike him. I don’t like the person, but I do have a fond-

ness for the final product; the creation.”

Her other main creation, writer Arianne Smith, who falls under Leech’s spell, “is actually more a part of me,” Jasmaine confides.

“She is the essence of my writing frustrations, my insecurities and a lot of repressed emotions. I used her as an outlet for some grievances I had about life, relationships and especially writing. That being said, however, because she is an intimate part of me, her character was ironically the most difficult for me to flesh out due to the extent of self-examination it required.

While some mainstream authors and critics dismiss horror fiction as being an inferior genre, Jasmaine unabashedly claims horror as her main literary influence.

“It takes special skill, I believe, to write something that gets into a reader’s mind to evoke fear and worry. Not that I like them feeling that way, I am more fascinated with the challenge and the skill of getting that kind of writing right. My main influences are Stephen King (The Green Mile, The Stand, Salem’s Lot, Misery, On Writing), Anne Rice (The Vampire Lestat, Interview with a Vampire, Memnoch the Devil) Richard Matheson

FROM PAGE VII

(I am Legend, Hell House), Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Invisible Monsters); and classics like The Picture of Dorian Grey, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Great Gatsby. Movies and Shows: Se7en, Hannibal, From and, believe it or not, the Anime World of Naruto.”

For Jasmaine, her success is an amazing leap from her years as a nursery school pupil with reading and writing challenges.

“In nursery school, I actually fell behind in reading and writing, but I received special tutoring to bring me up to speed. Afterwards, I consistently outwrote the other students in Composition class with my imaginative stories.

“I won my first (and only) writing competition when I was 11 - A UNICEF Environmental Poetry Competition. My work has been shortlisted and received an honourable mention in The Guyana Annual Competition. I developed my first reader fan-base in St Rose’s when I used to write fanfiction with my friends in exercise books. I was also very proud of my Distinctions in English A and B at CXC. I was one of the few children who were happy to rewrite our English A pa-

per after an unfortunate leak that year, but I got to write a second story!”

She hopes that Leech will help her to emerge as a new voice in psychological thrillers and supernatural horrors.

“Would it be crazy if I said I wanted to be ‘Guyana’s Stephen King?’ I want to be just as prolific and varied in my storytelling as he is. I want to tell many more stories and have Guyanese be able to read the thriller and horror genres from a writer

right at home. Ownership of our stories and representation for Guyanese writers are essential for me. I also want to be a resource for helping other writers develop their craft and get published. So I am passionate and optimistic about the prospects.”

She‘s grateful to the unwavering support of her parents, sister, partner, and four-year-old son, Greyson (“the most magical and intuitive little boy you will ever meet”), as well as her small

circle of friends and even those in the Diaspora. Horror fans, in particular, will be happy to know that two other novels are in the works. Her second novel, still in its early stages, is a modern imagining of the Moongazer myth. Individuals wishing to purchase copies of LEECH can contact Jasmaine Payne on Facebook or Instagram. Copies can also be purchased in ebook or paperback format on Amazon.

Sweetening Sustainability

and texture—heavier, darker, and sweeter than honey harvested inland.

“I have some boxes at the backdam and some at the waterside among the mangroves. [The honey of] the bees placed at the waterside by the mangroves are different in taste, colour, sweeter and heavier in texture, while the backdam honey is sweeter and also completely different,” he explained.

But this relationship runs

deeper than flavour. The bees pollinate mangrove flowers, helping sustain and regenerate the forest, while the mangroves provide forage and a relatively undisturbed, chemical-free environment for the bees.

For Dutchin, this is a living example of how ecology and agriculture sustain each other. The mangroves not only protect the coastline but also feed both the bees and the small ruminants that for-

age along their edges, creating a web of interdependence that strengthens livelihoods in Lovely Lass.

The Rhythm of the Honey Flow

Beekeeping in Guyana follows the rhythm of two honey flow seasons: from March to May and again from October to December. These are the times when flowering plants produce abundant nectar, allowing

FROM PAGE II

bees to gather and store honey in surplus.

“Poor flow season is caused by adverse weather patterns. If it is too dry the trees and plants will not produce flowers as they should, and if it is too rainy, it beats off the flowers,” Dutchin noted. “The weather has to be balanced for a good flow since bees forage and multiply before the rainy season.”

For Dutchin, responsible beekeeping means never

taking more honey than the bees can afford to spare. “One box can give you one gallon of honey, but I always leave back the rest for the bees. That way they won’t become stressed and swarm,” he explained.

During the flow seasons, bee activity increases significantly, and Dutchin cautions residents to be careful when encountering hives in trees or buildings. Africanised bees, he reminded, can be aggressive if disturbed, and safety must come first.

A

Family Affair and the Future of Apiculture

The Dutchin Farm Apiary is not a one-man effort. Davidson Dutchin, David’s 22-year-old son and a final-year student at the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA), manages his own 35 hives—gifted through GLDA support—and is bringing new energy to the business.

Davidson is spearheading the development of an independent queen-rearing facility, a forward-looking innovation that will allow the family to expand their apiary sustainably while strengthening bee genetics in the region.

Together, father and son now manage nearly 100 hives between them. It is a partnership of tradition and innovation—David’s steady, experience-honed wisdom complemented by Davidson’s technical training and youthful drive.

Building a Brand

of

Trust and Quality

For Dutchin, success is not measured in gallons of

honey alone but in the trust of his customers. Under the Dutchin Farm Honey brand, every bottle is labelled with its origin, allowing customers to trace it back to Lovely Lass.

“I believe in value for money. Once you do business, you give people quality—they will come for it and they will trust you. You must show them what true honey is from the fake ones on the market,” he said firmly.

Food safety is a priority, with hives kept in chemical-free environments to ensure the honey remains pure. For a growing number of health-conscious consumers turning to honey as a substitute for sugar, this authenticity is non-negotiable.

Honey Fest: A Platform for Growth

Beyond the farm, Dutchin is an enthusiastic participant in GLDA’s annual Honey Fest, a forum designed to showcase authentic honey, educate the public, and strengthen networks among beekeepers.

“Honey Fest is an excellent initiative. It gives us as beekeepers the opportunity to showcase our product, educate the public, and build networks of support. I am ecstatic about this year’s event,” he said, looking forward to Honey Fest 2025.

For Dutchin, the festival has been invaluable in boosting business exposure, creating opportunities for collaboration, and deepening solidarity within Guyana’s growing apiculture sector.

Generational Poverty and Its Disadvantages on Its ‘Heirs’

I CANNOT think of a quote I despise more than “poverty is a mindset.” People often believe that poverty is a state of mind — a trance of some kind, where one can magically elevate out of. I highly disagree. Poverty is a deep-rooted, systematic, and sometimes generational social issue. Poverty, just as fame or wealth, can also be generational.

Wealth is often seen as a cycle to be continued throughout families. People born into wealth are most likely to continue being wealthy, and their ancestors were possibly wealthy for a long time, with the obvious exceptions of “new money” wealth. In the same light, poverty can also be a cyclical demise for many people and, unfor-

tunately, it leaves the “heirs” at a complete disadvantage throughout their lives. The reality for these families is hardly ever noticed or reported, but it can be quite impactful on the quality of life they live, the type of education they receive, and their overall future can be shaped into a certain way of life, as if it is destiny. It, however, is not destiny, but a systematic programming.

Poverty is often seen as a temporary challenge or setback, but this is not the case. In Guyana, the children from poverty-ridden households are forced to compromise their entire educational pursuit due to poverty. In some households, children must take turns attending school for the week

simply because their parents are unable to send all the children to school simultaneously.

The lack of punctuality will affect their learning abilities and the overall quality of education they receive. Without the necessary foundation for school attendance and resources, most children from low-income households often underperform at national examinations. In return, this puts them at a disadvantage when entering tertiary education or competing in a highly competitive and qualifications- or skill-required labour force.

These children, who will eventually become adults, will then have to work and earn to build a life for themselves and their future

TURN TO PAGE XXV

THE FALCON PRINCESS A CURSE UNBOUNDED BY HOPE

IT glided through the sky — the falcon, its longspanned wings in smooth rhythm with the wind, its sharp eyes fixed on the forest below. This powerful bird seemed not to be hunting for prey but searching for something.

In the day, it flew over the mountains, valleys, and rivers, resting sometimes at a high vantage point until dusk. Then, as night settled in, it fluttered its strong wings and flew down to the forest into the thick foliage. It tucked

its head close to its chest to sleep and, as the hours wore on under the soft velvet of the night, in the embrace of the forest, an astounding scene unfolded.

The feathers of the falcon slowly vanished, and an incredibly beautiful Native girl stood there. She walked slowly to a small stream and sat there for a long time, crying quietly.

“How long do I have to live with this curse?” she cried.

No one could answer be-

cause no humans were there, just the trees and the animals. She sighed deeply, “I need to find someone to help me so I can return home.”

She had flown from a far-off land, searching for something she had been told could be found in this South American land. To break the curse that entrapped her in a bird form during the day, and in the darkness of night, she was transformed into the girl she was.

Her sharp eyes had been watching the native hunters

and farmers far below, not sure who she could reveal herself to and tell her story, to help her. In the morning, as the sun rose, she spread her wings and flew up in the sky, hoping that today something

promising could happen. Hopes were all she had been living with since that fateful day two years ago, until now. From her vantage point in the sky, she saw the young Native hunter sitting alone on the riverbank, watching the sunset on the horizon, and with a speed her breed is known for, she descended. The hunter was resting his weary body by the riverside TURN TO PAGE XXIV

By Michael A. Jordan

THE two cops came about an hour after Sealey entered the Jaguar’s Den.

The older man was a police sergeant named Calvin Caesar, who had been stationed at Kamarang for about three years. The younger man looked familiar, too.

They were in plainclothes, but both had black notebooks. Sealey saw now, too, that their shoes and trouser bottoms were stained with mud and moss. These men had just come from the jungle.

Alvin Benn, the Jaguar’s Den proprietor, stared curiously at them. “Something happen, Calvin?”

Caesar wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “We just come from over the river. We find a dead child in the jungle. The whole flippin stomach tear out.”

“Christ,” Benn whispered. “Jaguar?”

“Dunno yet.” Caesar glanced across at Sealey. “Is one of ole Perez great-grandsons.”

Sealey suddenly felt cold. He pressed out his half-smoked cigarette and hurried down to the river. A boy in a corial took him to the other side. He stepped ashore, and took the track that led to the Amerindian village, and to Perez’s hut. Sealey followed the boy down a path that led to an area about fifty yards from the huts, where Sealey saw a small gathering of men with shotguns. Sealey saw Perez and one of his sons within the circle of men. They were standing around a sort of wooden platform. On it, wrapped in a piece of canvas, was a bundle with the unmistakable shape of a child.

Sealey edged his way to Perez, who was staring at the bundle. The old man glanced up.

“You heard.”

Sealey nodded.

Perez turned back to the wrapped-up form. “My youngest great-grandson,” he said.

A sigh went up from the circle of men as the body was bared to their view. The child was naked. If you looked at his face, you might have thought him asleep, except there was a gaping hole where his stomach should have been. Something had scooped it out clean. Sealey could see the edges of a few broken ribs.

Perez stared at the child for a moment. He plucked a dry leaf off the boy’s chest, then ran his fingers gently though his hair. “My youngest great-grandchild,” he said again, looking into the boy’s face, as if speaking to him. He touched the wrapped-up form once more, then stepped back into the crowd.

“What did this?” Sealey asked.

The Child Who Strayed Too Far in the Forest

From the supernatural novel “KAMARANG”

His voice sounded hoarse and far away.

“We not sure yet…” he sensed something evasive in his friend’s voice.

“How it happened?”

It seemed that the boy and some of the other children had been playing hide-and-seek on the outskirts of the village. It was only when dusk fell and they were leaving for home that the others realised that he wasn’t with them. They found him this morning in the forest, in an area about an hour’s walk from the settlement.

“You saw anything in the area to tell you what happened? Like animal tracks?”

In answer, Perez touched Sealey lightly on the shoulder then began to shift away from the crowd. His two sons, with their shotguns, and a middle-aged hunter with two skinny dogs followed, until they came to a small trail that led into the forest. Perez and his two sons checked their shotguns. The hunter glanced at the trail. He spoke to Perez quickly in the Akawaio dialect, while gesticulating at the trail.

Perez answered him in the dialect. He pointed angrily at the trail with his shotgun.

The hunter fumbled in his pouch and took out some crushed leaves. He passed some to Perez and his two sons, and, after a moment’s hesitation, to Sealey, who watched as the men put the leaves into their mouths. Sealey followed suit, almost too puzzled to notice the pungent taste. He knew of the binas Amerindians used to give them good luck on the hunt.

There was the one where you rubbed ginger into cuts on your hands. There was the one where you put slime from a frog’s skin up your nostrils. But these crushed leaves were not a hunting bina. This was supposed to be a powerful charm to protect persons walking through the forest alone, and to protect them during sleep, and against evil.

What evil did Perez think awaited them in the jungle?

Now the men spat out the chewed-up leaves. They muttered something again. Then Perez nodded, checked his shotgun again, and stepped into the trail…l.

As they went further, silence enveloped them, save for the panting dogs and the sound of their progress. Suddenly, Perez signalled, and they turned off the track into another trail; the ground soft beneath their boots and thick with decaying leaves. Sealey could see where the earth had been churned by the clumsy feet of the policemen who had gone before them.

As Sealey stepped into the trail,

leaves from a stray branch brushed his face.

Their touch stirred some buried memory and he suddenly thought, with surprise, I have been here before! For a moment, even the feel of the rotting leaves beneath his boots seemed disturbingly familiar. But he shook off the feeling of déjà vu and continued down the trail.

And now Sealey sensed that the men had grown more alert. The dogs, pulling on their leashes, made occasional, yipping sounds. Perez’s pace had increased. His sweat-soaked cotton jersey stuck to his back, but he was almost loping along like a youngster.

Suddenly Perez stopped and said, “Here.”

They had reached a semi-clearing in the forest. Perez pointed to a spot to the left of the trail. The grass here was pressed down, as if something had been lying there. There were splotches of blood on the ground.

And now the dogs erupted into hysterical barking; crouching low, noises pointing to the crushed grass, tails locked between their legs. The men looked around hastily, squinting in the semi-darkness, shotguns pointing to and fro.

After a while, the hunter murmured to the dogs and the barking subsided.

Perez peered into the forest a few moments more. Eventually, he lowered his shotgun and squatted to the forest floor. “This is where we find the little one,” he said, his voice TURN TO PAGE XXV

Knowing Ourselves The Problem of Parasocial Relationships

THE evolution of a world condemns its occupants to choosing between fading away alongside an unsustainable past or surviving

OVER the course of our lives, all human beings unfurl and bloom like the creased pages of a diary that is slowly being filled with fresh stories. We allow life to embrace us, and, in return, we are granted the space to be who we are. As we grow up, the gentle discomfort and pressures of creating your identity fade. Our skin becomes our armour, and our heart fills with the satisfaction of being able to live our lives just as we had imagined in our

in a strange and unfamiliar future. This is a choice that is placed on the table in front of every generation that experiences unprece-

childhood dreams. Even those who may not yet have attained their goals are comforted by the freedom of choice—the grace of knowing that, even though they have not reached their destination, they still have the power to steer themselves towards it. The reward for those who are true to themselves is the ability to look into a mirror and respect the person they see. They shall experience no loss or failure that can take away this ability from

dented changes in its lifetime.

them.

For the generations that live in today’s world, the ‘unfamiliar’ future consists of a

Recently, I discovered the story of Narcissus from Greek mythology. Narcissus was a young man who was prophesied by a prophet to live a long and fruitful life as long as he did “not know himself.” He was known to be extremely handsome but prone to rejecting the affections of others, no matter how sincere they were. Then, one day, as he was travelling through a forest, he came across a body of water and caught his reflection glimmering

digital window that provides us with access to a whole new dimension of connection. Every day, this dimension grows larger and more real-

on its surface. He leaned forward and watched as his own perfect face peered back into his eyes. Then, he remained there, falling in love with his own reflection until he passed away from thirst and starvation, unable to tear his eyes away from it. The spot where he died was marked by a bright yellow flower known as the Narcissus. We now commonly refer to the Narcissus flower as the daffodil.

The myth of Narcissus is a fascinating tale

istic so that we can no longer tell where the real world ends and where the digital world begins. We cannot tell a real voice from a digital one, nor a real face from an artificial one.

Yet, as confusing as this development is, failing to understand how to navigate it is the same as cutting ourselves off from a significant portion of the outside world. By choosing to denounce it without understanding it, we are effectively choosing to remain tied to the past. Perhaps this is why the younger generations have become so proficient in navigating the digital world — they are simply refusing to let the new world leave them behind.

that offers us a valuable lesson. It teaches us the dangers of self-absorption and the losses we may face by refusing to open ourselves up to the love and affection of others. We may speculate that perhaps if Narcissus had already been in love with another person, he might never have been inclined to fall so madly in love with himself. It also shows us that our destiny is rarely within ourselves. We may spend a lifetime preparing ourselves to be better people, but this preparation will not mean anything if we do not use it to change the world for the better. Beauty and good character have no power if their positive influence does not extend beyond our own boundaries.

As such, Gen Z has grown into a generation characterised by its ability to navigate the seemingly strange and dangerous digital world with ease.Despite this fact, we seem to find ourselves trapped time and again in a rather strange phenomenon. We seem to get caught up in the phenomenon of parasocial relationships. We seem to be able to differentiate between a real video and one created by artificial intelligence quite easily. We seem to be quite comfortable with the culture of being extraordinarily frank in the digital space, even if our opinions can be seen as offensive.

The process of building an identity—of “knowing ourselves”—is necessary as we progress through our lives. Attempting to live without being comfortable with who we are is much like living in a space where we cannot fully walk, stretch, or look upwards at the sky. However, it is also quite easy to fall into the lonely path of knowing no one but ourselves. As we lean forward to watch our shimmering reflection grow and transform into something that we are

However, when it comes to seeing past the digital world and into the real world, we are entirely unable to do so! We often find it difficult to understand that even the real faces and voices we see on our screens can be quite different in real life. We cannot fathom that the personalities and the lifestyles we see are sometimes not any more real than the screens we see them on. Not only does this mean that we often celebrate people who may, in fact, be quite cruel or indifferent in real life, but it also means that we often persecute and attack people over mistakes that may not be real, or may

have no great importance in the real world. There have been many instances where extremely well-known and celebrated individuals have been revealed to be the face behind horrible deeds. On the other hand, there have been many instances where we have looked back at history and realised just how cruelly we have treated some celebrities for seemingly no apparent reason.

proud of, it is quite easy to forget to look around us at the people who are fuelling the successes and the joys we are experiencing.

The affections of others are a gentle influence. These affections can fade away and disappear long before we glance around and begin to notice that we stand completely alone. Yet, the emptiness they leave behind when they are gone is a mighty force. Those who have developed a strong sense of identity and learned to love themselves deeply will not be limited by the failures they experience or the losses they face. However, they are still quite open to the possibility of grief.

Both of these occurrences stem from the fact that we begin to place unrealistic expectations on these individuals with the assumption that, because we consume so much of their content, we know them well enough to understand their lives or their choices — that we are capable of judging their actions.

In a similar manner, it is possible for our own influences and connections to the world to fade away, just like the affections of others. When we fail to acknowledge and reciprocate the love that others proffer us, we will eventually lose it. If we stop reaching out to the world with kindness, we will ultimately lose our ability to impact it.

Each of us holds a massive power within us. Let us allow this power to extend beyond us so it can reach parts of the world that truly need it.

Our attachment of such intense emotion to the figures in the digital world has consistently proven to be unhealthy. Regardless of this fact, we constantly repeat the same mistakes that have destroyed the careers of passionate artists or allowed guilty persons to hide from their crimes. As a generation, we have become so accustomed to navigating the online world and seeing it as part of the real world that we have forgotten a key fact — we have forgotten that following an influencer or being a fan of a celebrity is not the same as being friends with someone or loving someone. It is okay to appreciate someone for their skill in music, speaking, or acting. It is okay to follow someone’s fashion advice or cooking recipes. However, we must be mindful of the extent of the connection that we have with the celebrities and influencers that we might admire. We must remember that there is an unbreakable screen between these individuals and the viewers that prevent them from seeing us, and, most importantly, us from seeing them truly and wholly.

Crabbing in Mahaica: Mud, Memories, and Mad Fun Crabbing in Mahaica: Mud, Memories, and Mad Fun

water shimmered like smooth chocolate, as the silted waves washed in from the sea. We had long kicked off our muddy boots to wade through the sticky swamp and eagerly made our way to the water’s edge to let the cool waves wash over our tired feet.

Ahh, I felt the heat and struggle melting away with the lapping waves. It was a private slice of paradise—a secret reward for our determination. “Okay,” I said between laughs, “this was totally worth the sunburn.”

By the time we made it to where the menfolk were, they were triumphant. They, and the crabs, were washed clean in a nearby canal, their shells gleaming as they were packed safely in water for the journey home.

But before heading out, we lingered under the only shade nearby—the open car trunks—letting the adrenaline wear off and the quiet of the countryside sink in. Drinks were passed around, laughter flowed, and the morning heat felt less punishing with a cold beverage in hand. Nearby, other groups of crabbers gathered too, each eager to share their own strategies for snagging the clawed creatures. Stories were swapped over shared drinks, each tale more dramatic than the last, proof that crab catching wasn’t just a hunt—it was a culture, a way to connect.

It was nearly 11 a.m. by the time we finally packed up and rolled out, tired and burnt, crabs in tow and smiles on our faces.

The conversation on the return journey was over whose house was best to clean and prepare our catch—the criteria ranging from who was closer to who had the biggest cahari. The choices were Providence, Friendship, and Timehri. Eventually we settled on our uncle’s place in Friendship, a great midpoint for everyone. When we arrived, the excitement continued. The men didn’t just claim victory as crab catchers—they also took charge of the cooking, determined to turn their hard-earned catch into a feast. Meanwhile, the women pitched in with cleaning the crabs and tending to the kids, who were just as wild and energetic as the crabs themselves.

It was a scene of harmony and tradition. The kitchen

came alive with sizzling spices—the curry, masala, geerah, garlic, onions, and fiery wiri wiri peppers hit the hot oil, filling the kitchen with their mouth-watering scent. Coconut milk bubbled gently as the crabs were added, claws and all, into the pot. The men stirred pots with pride, the women orchestrated everything quietly but efficiently, and the children darted between legs, sneaking peeks at the bubbling curry. “This curry better taste good—these crabs were hard to catch,” one aunt teased, sparking laughter from everyone.

When the crab curry was finally ready, we gathered around the table, our hunger matched only by our excitement. The first bite was pure bliss: tender crab meat soaked in a rich, spicy coconut sauce, served with steaming rice and fiery pepper sauce on the side.

As we ate, the morning’s chaos turned into an endless reel of stories—the uncle who was stuck in the mud now being portrayed as having been swallowed whole by it, the giant crab that got away growing larger with every retelling, and our beach trek becoming a tale of heroic proportions.

What started as a spur-ofthe-moment outing became something deeper. It wasn’t just about catching crabs or finding a secret beach—it was about teamwork, discovery, and creating new memories together. The men had their victory in the mud and the kitchen.

The women carved out a little adventure of their own. The kids got a taste of both, wide-eyed and thrilled by it all. Somewhere between the mangrove roots, the golden sand, the clinking glasses, and the simmering curry pot, a new family tradition was born.

As the sun set and we sat back, full and content, it came to me: we didn’t just catch crabs today, we caught memories. It was a very simplified way to look at it, but while the mud will wash away, the cuts and scrapes will be treated, the crabs will be eaten, and the sunburns will fade—the laughter and love of that day will stay with us forever.

And next time, maybe— just maybe—the men will coax the women to join in the crab catching.

THE FALCON PRINCESS A CURSE UNBOUNDED BY HOPE

when the reddish-orange hue of the sunset seemed to come alive as a large blue-grey bird streaked across, like the sudden swish of an artist’s brush.

The hunter’s hands, in a swift, smooth motion, armed his bow and watched as the bird alighted on a rock on the opposite bank. The bird stayed still, looking at him curiously, and he lowered his hands, recognising the peregrine falcon, the female, famed for its hunting skills.

The hunter looked at it for a while, then sheathed his arrow and left the riverside for his village. That night, he was restless in his sleep, for in his mind, he sensed something was amiss about the bird. He awoke just before the sun rose and went back to the riverside, but the bird was gone. He saw it later in the day in the sky, and at dusk, it once again came to the riverside while he sat there. He felt as though it wanted to tell him something, but he couldn’t be sure, and he wondered, “Is this bird a spirit form of something?”

On the fourth day at dusk, the bird flew down from the sky with such speed that it was as though it had lost control of its strong wings. It didn’t take the hunter long to realise that it was injured, and he moved swiftly as the falcon hit the water. But he couldn’t go close, for with an arrow protruding from one wing, its fluttering wings and sharp claws would rip him badly. He managed quickly to cut a long branch from a nearby tree and helped the bird out of the water.

He stood looking at it, not daring to go closer, just making sure it was okay. Sitting by a tree, as the dark settled in, he closed his eyes, not wanting to leave the injured bird alone. As the night became darker, a sound caused him to open his eyes, and he saw something so incredible, it left him stunned. The bird’s feathers slowly vanished, and, lying on the riverbank with an arrow in her shoulder, was the most beautiful woman the Native hunter had ever seen.

She looked at him and cried softly, “Please help me.”

He knelt by her and gin-

FROM PAGE XVI

gerly extracted the arrow from her shoulder. She tried not to scream, just grimacing in pain, and said, a little breathless, “Thank you for saving my life.”

He looked at her for a long moment, then asked, “Who are you and what happened to you?”

She took a deep breath, sitting on the forest floor, and told him her story.

She was the daughter of a noble family, recognised as a tribal princess. One day, a son from another noble family saw her and wanted to marry her, but she refused because he was cruel to his own people and involved with dark, evil forces. He became so enraged at her refusal that he had a curse put on her.

“Since that day,” she said, tears in her eyes, “This has been my life — a bird in the day and human in the night.”

“Is there a way to break this curse?” he asked.

“It has been said that on top of a high mountain in his land, there grows a small flower, its nectar so powerful, it can cast away any evil.”

“Is that why you’ve flown so far?”

She nodded and asked him, a plea in her voice, “Can you help me?”

He had felt her pain and desperation as he listened to her story, and he said, “I will do whatever it takes to help you.”

He left to get a small team from his village and, three days and two nights later, as she anxiously awaited his return, she heard him calling for her. She flew down from a tall tree where she had been resting and alighted on his arm. He had found the flower to break the curse.

One week later, after the village chief, through the Indigenous Peoples’ Ministry, had informed her father where she was, she waited in his village for an envoy sent to take her home. She touched his arm and, reaching up, kissed him lightly, “I will remember you always as someone special.”

“And forever in my heart, you will live,” he said in his mind, “my falcon princess.”

The Child Who Strayed...

a half-whisper. He looked at Sealey, who had squatted besides him. “You notice anything strange?”

Sealey scanned the spot where the body had been found then said: “Not much blood.”

Perez nodded in agreement.

“Maybe it feed somewhere else.”

“And then bring the body here?” Perez shook his head. “No blood anywhere else. We checked.”

He squinted at Sealey. “Notice anything else?”

A faint, rankish smell that he couldn’t quite place. He sniffed the air. There it was again…

“You smell it too,” Perez said. “Not jaguar smell. And the boy’s body. No scratches. You know how jaguar eats.”

Sealey nodded. A jaguar would have held the body down with one paw while it tore at the body with its teeth. The body should have had scratches made by the big cat’s paws.

“One more thing,” Perez said. “Look.” … Perez picked up a twig

and pointed to the spot where the body had lain.

And now that Perez had shown him, Sealey saw the faintest of footprints.

Sealey stared at the footprint, feeling more unsettled by it than by anything he had seen so far. What could it mean?

As if Perez had read Sealey’s mind, he said: “We don’t think that the little one was killed by a jaguar. We think he was murdered.”

“What?” Sealey heard the shock and dread in his own voice.

Perez nodded. “He killed by something more dangerous than jaguar.” Perez paused, then ended: “I think he was killed by a bush dai dai.”

Michael Jordan, is also the author of The Girl In The Pink Pleated Skirt, which won The Guyana Prize For Literature 2023 Best Book of Fiction. Kamarang is available on Amazon in Kindle and paperback.

(Illustration for this excerpt by Harold Bascom)

FROM PAGE XVII

Generational Poverty and Its Disadvantages on Its ‘Heirs’

families. Unfortunately, many of them face the same or similar struggles as their parents as they become adults themselves and, as such, the generational cycle continues.

I often listen to analysts and social commentators speak on “breaking the cycle” of poverty and every other social ill that Guyana is plagued with. I, however, want to highlight that it is not always up to the impoverished to do so. It is for us, as a country, to understand where and how classism exists and how we can genuinely improve the lives of those below the poverty line with effective, measurable methods such as improved social services and safety net programmes.

I often use the analogy of a race frontline to describe this generational crisis. If you are to allow two persons to compete in a race and then put one approximately 20 metres behind the other, who do you think will most likely win? I will let you ponder a response to that question, and while there might be instances of someone else defying all the odds to win the “race”, let us not forget that he or she would have to work twice as hard to get to that finish line. As such, I

FROM PAGE XV

do believe the social services and safety nets should be means-tested and not just come in the form of money, but also access and opportunities. They should be able to assist with that “gap”, so that the impoverished have the assistance they need to come further up to the starting line to compete equally.

I believe this is a leading cause for mental health decline in low-income families. The emotional burden and stress that come with a struggle to survive can significantly impact a person’s mental health.

Generationally impoverished families can also face intergenerational health concerns and risks such as diabetes. Studies have shown that many low-income and/ or disadvantaged families have poor overall health due to the lack of finances for quality health care and healthy food.

The reality of generational poverty can be eradicated through targeted investments in the right individuals. The first step is for us to collectively acknowledge that there is a severe, systematic issue that puts people at a disadvantage with access, education, and work — even before they are born.

International Coastal Clean Up (CYEN) 2025 International Coastal Clean Up (CYEN) 2025

FROM rivers to shorelines, every cleanup counts. Guyana comes together with communities around the world to celebrate International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) Day on September 20th. A global initiative dedicated to removing trash from coastlines and waterways, ICC Day is more than just cleaning beaches; it is a national call to action to raise awareness about how human activity affects rivers, coasts, and marine ecosystems.

In Guyana, where the majority of the population lives along the coast and rivers are central to daily life, this day

household waste, which frequently enter rivers and end up on beaches. The initiative also underscores the broader benefits of clean coasts for fisheries, tourism, and biodiversity, emphasising that healthy waterways support both the environment and the economy.

Challenges Facing Guyana’s Coastlines

enforcement, and sustainable urban planning.

Progress Made: Guyana and the EPA in Action

Over the years, Guyana has made significant progress in coastal cleanup and conservation, much of it driven by the EPA’s coordinated efforts and in partnership with organisations like CYEN (Caribbean Youth Environment Network).

ICC events in areas such as Kingston, Bartica, the Essequibo Coast, Berbice, and Georgetown’s riversides have removed tonnes of marine debris, dramatically improving water quality and habitats.

emphasises the importance of protecting these resources for present and future generations.

The Significance of ICC for Guyana

The ICC is a vital platform for addressing marine pollution and promoting environmental stewardship. Each year, volunteers globally collect and record debris, providing data that guides policy and waste management strategies.

For Guyana, ICC Day highlights the sources of coastal pollution, such as plastic bottles and containers, discarded fishing gear, and improperly disposed

Despite significant efforts, Guyana faces ongoing environmental challenges. Plastic pollution remains the most visible threat, with bottles, food packaging, and other plastics accumulating along shores and in waterways.

Inadequate waste management systems, limited recycling infrastructure, and irregular collection services contribute to this problem. Illegal dumping, urban runoff, and poorly managed landfills further exacerbate pollution.

Climate change also intensifies coastal risks, as rising sea levels and stronger storms accelerate erosion and threaten critical habitats such as mangroves, which provide natural protection against storm surges.

Addressing these challenges requires both cleanup activities and long-term systemic improvements in waste management, policy

CYEN has played a key role by mobilising youth volunteers, conducting environmental education workshops, and assisting with the organisation of community cleanups, increasing local participation and awareness.

These successes are closely tied to the EPA’s initiatives, including the installation of strategic waste collection points, support for local recycling projects, and monitoring programmes that track trends in marine litter.

By combining hands-on cleanup efforts with education campaigns and policy support, the EPA and CYEN have amplified Guyana’s progress, transforming ICC participation into a sustainable, long-term impact on the country’s coastal environment.

Everyone’s Role in Coastal Protection

From families and educational institutions to local businesses and community members, all can contribute—whether by reducing use of plastics, participating in cleanup initiatives, or supporting local environmental policies.

ICC Day demonstrates the power of collective action: when communities work together, tangible improve-

ments are achieved in shorelines and waterways.

Youth involvement is particularly critical, fostering long-term environmental stewardship and ensuring future generations continue to care for Guyana’s natural resources.

Steps Toward Cleaner and Healthier Coasts

Looking ahead, Guyana can use International Coastal Cleanup Day as a springboard to implement longterm strategies that extend beyond annual cleanups.

Expanding recycling infrastructure, enforcing waste management policies, and promoting biodegradable alternatives are key steps.

Continuous education campaigns and community engagement programmes will help sustain public awareness and encourage behavioural change.

Regional collaboration with Caribbean neighbours can address transboundary marine pollution and enhance conservation efforts.

By adopting these strategies, Guyana can build cleaner, healthier, and more resilient coastal environments, preserve marine ecosystems, and support sustainable economic growth.

Celebrating ICC Day is more than an annual event; it is a demonstration of what can be achieved when communities, government agencies, and organisations like the EPA and CYEN work together.

Through these combined efforts, Guyana protects its coastal ecosystems, maintains the health of its waterways, and ensures that future generations inherit a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment. ICC Day enables citizens to take pride in

their country while actively participating in the stewardship of its natural resources.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to:

“The Environmental Protection Agency”, C/O Communications Department, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: communications@ epaguyana.org.

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In the Interest of the Arts in 2025

AGAIN, I emphasise the need for citizens who embody the creative arts in our nation to have a support medium to take their ideas and products onto the platforms where they can demonstrate the value of their creative work. We must, in our various fields, be allowed to repeat what we have done before; whatever we express must excel what we have done before.

The requirement of shelf life today must fit into the creative expectations that are in vogue. I tip my hat to artists who still embrace their talents, keeping aware of the artistic perspective and considering the following context.

The difference between Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, where dialogue and support in the common interest prevail, is that Guyana was the second country to commence the development of National Art Schools after Jamaica. They have emphasised usefulness

in areas that we have not done, and we in areas that they have not competed in, due to necessity; likewise, they have not. The essence of engagement highlighted the lack of discussions on the arts within broader society.

During my tour of duty with the ERC, I had a conversation with another commissioner who has roots in the arts.

We both agreed that in many cases, personnel designated to interact with the arts may very well have a limited interest or awareness of the arts and their hegemony in the broader realms of our human existence.

Therefore, such limitations will cause confusion here and there, not realising that the arts are incorporated in many industries and, on its own, is an industry with tremendous scope — if one can cross the bridges through seizing the interests of the “guardian trolls.”

There must be something off

that to discuss with Guyana’s mature artists, I had to use WhatsApp, because most of them are overseas. What was satisfying to me was their interest.

The fact about the arts is the reality that, when interacting with the state, the state must demonstrate flexibility, because whoever that person the state designates will have to concede that they are learning something new, or have established themselves as experienced. Because it’s a field of mental combat with new rules, rules that imply a level of creative knowledge, to be able to recognise original ideas against those that can result in litigation and embarrassment.

Thus, success in the arts relies on a broad spectrum of knowledge and relevant new ideas. That is why, in my view, people avoid intellectual and core-building discussions with the arts, unless they have a background of attention with interest in comparing the local

expression against overseas, and are convinced that the arts are by all means a platform for income earning.

Exploring facts through trade articles, both local and international, reveals an imbalance in references to the arts as an industry on any market stage.

That is why a proposal was presented in 2019 towards a secretariat managed by personnel from such companies [there are a limited number of Guyanese companies that produce creative works, that are forced to protect IPR rights registered beyond Guyana].

One of the myths in Guyana, in some areas, about the arts, is that it’s not a viable area of life-earning and respectable engagement extended into credible learning — all you have to have is some talent. That is pathetic.

Especially in this era, the fact is that not exploring the arts and their business in today’s world, and

their impact on human history, is the fault that permits that simplistic conclusion.

Few people would believe that Albert Einstein, the physicist whose revolutionary cosmic theories have captivated our consciousness, when feeling over-challenged, passionately embraced the comfort of his violin and threw himself into the therapeutic power of music, which rejuvenated his persistence.

Dr. Denis Williams, the artist, anthropologist, and writer — the founder of the Burrowes School of Art — was the first person to educate me on the fact that Leonardo da Vinci designed giant artillery machines of war, before the sophisticated engineering of warfare became a common occupation.

Thus, the arts in Guyana must be engaged through its practitioners on platforms of merit, with the necessary due respect, if we are to compete and earn the respect due.

STUDY SUCCESS

Welcome, dear reading friend. Let’s read the short story. Peruse first for pleasure and a general sense of plot and characters. Then reread slowly to make jottings of key and unfamiliar words, theme ideas, setting, and characters.

Also, annotate the point of view, recurring symbols, language use, and allusions or references to other literary works. Afterward, consider your reactions and questions about the story, discuss it

with friends, and then note how critics regard it. Writing a summary is important. Be wise.

Love you.

STUDYING POETRY

Analysing and interpreting the poem

Repeated Notes:

(A) To analyse a poem, you need to: i) Take apart all its important elements. ii) Write them down thoughtfully and clearly. iii) Ascertain how the important elements inter-

act and explain the process to yourself or your study partner. iv) Verbalise what effects the elements create on your mind - do they work together to reinforce a meaning? v) Recognise that possible meanings can come with the relationships of words, images, and other small units that make up a poem.

(B) When given instructions to analyse a poem, you must understand and follow closely what you are told to do. There are many ways you might be asked to present an analysis.

September

21, 2025

(C) Of course, you must read the whole poem at least twice to enable your deep thinking and close attachment to it:

i) What statements can you make about the title of the poem? ii) What impact does the title have on the poem? iii) Who is speaking in the poem? iv) Assess the poem’s mood and tone. v) Identify the elements of the theme. v) Paraphrase the poem.

Terms and Techniques:

Sometimes words in the field of poetry are unfamiliar to you. They can be technical, obscure, or foreign. The few we present today are not “technical or obscure,” but might make progress difficult.

1. Analysing: It is a process of deciphering asserting the many aspects of the poem which includes i) the form of the poem (its type, stanza structure, line lengths, rhyme scheme, and so on); ii) its content, and structural semiotics; iii) its history based upon your solid understanding of relevant facts and information and that of others’; and iv) your appreciation of the work.

2. Semiotics: This is the study that analyses how signs and symbols are used to create meaning and communicate the same. It accounts for the complex relationship between words, images, and the cultural context from which they are drawn. [There are many cultural differences in Guyana.]

3. Interpreting: We analyse, then we interpret. In the process of interpreting the poem, we meet expressions that give meaning (different ones: abstract, concrete, sensuous; and the reader’s informal interpretation). First, we read the poem; then, we note its sounds, imagery, clear meaning, and implied meaning, so we can explain or express understanding using relevant facts and evidence.

Instructions: Read the poem carefully to understand and respond to the questions that follow. To understand the multiple meanings of a poem, you must examine its words and phrasing from the perspective of its rhythm, sound, images, obvious meaning, and implied meaning.

“The ruling passion, be it what it will, The ruling passion conquers reason still.”

The poem: Loveliest of TreesA.E. Housman

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now

Is hung with blossom along the bough,

And stands about the woodland ride

Wearing white for Eastertide.

5. Now, of my threescore years and ten, Twenty will not come again.

And take from seventy springs a score, It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom

10. Fifty springs are little room,

About the woodlands I will go

To see the cherry hung with snow.

1a. How old is the speaker in stanza 2? b. What do lines 7-8 mean?

2a. Why does the speaker say, “Fifty springs are little room”?

b. Why does the speaker go to see the trees?

3. What is the speaker’s attitude toward nature?

4. What is meant by these three phrases: “Woodland ride”; “threescore years and ten”; “to look at things in bloom”?

5. How does the poem express delight in nature? State three pieces of evidence.

THE PASSAGE

Paraphrasing a text

To paraphrase a text is to restate it in your own words. This is also expected of you when making a summary or recapitulating a piece of literature. You are not to enhance the text, but only to say what it is about in the simplest form. The most logical way to paraphrase a line or passage is to reread

the text to clarify the writer’s meaning and ideas, and do so according to its punctuation to help you pull and assemble complete thoughts properly.

Instructions: Read the selection and then answer the questions.

Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and sitting room at the Crown Inn. They were on the upper floor, and from our window we could command a view of the avenue gate, and of the inhabited wing of Stoke and Manor House. At dusk we saw Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past … The boy had some slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard the hoarse roar of the doctor’s voice and saw the fury with which he shook his clinched fists at him.

(“The Adventures of the Speckled Band” by Sir Arthur Canon Doyle)

1. In sentence 1, which word could replace “engaging”?

(A) buying (B) marrying (C) seeing (D) getting

2. Which word could replace “command” in sentence 2?

(A) order (B) deserve (C) have (D) direct

3. Which best restates sentence 2?

(A) We saw the gate and part of the mansion.

(B) Our rooms had a good view.

(C) Views from above were best.

(D) We saw the gate, not the mansion.

4. Which is the best paraphrase of sentence 4?

(A) The doctor helped at the gates. (B) The boy left before fishing. (C) When the boy could not open the gates, Dr. Royland became angry.

(D) The boy asked for help.

Treating dental infections

I BELIEVE it is safe to state that every infection that results in a disease in any part of the body can, at least theoretically, be prevented. As I have declared many times in this column, dental diseases, including tooth decay, are mostly infections caused by bacteria.

Now, there are two basic aspects to treating and/or controlling an infection, but ideally, it is best to prevent it first. In both cases, non-pharmacologic (not using drugs) efforts are of considerable importance.

In prevention, one must be concerned with eliminating those factors that lead to infection: bacterial plaque, oral debris, decayed teeth, etc.

I can readily think of two things that my patients do that upset me, and which undoubtedly have the same effect on any medical or dental practitioner. These are when they attempt to argue with me on the aspects of dentistry, and when they try to treat themselves with antibiotics.

Now, antibiotics are only a part of the treatment for infections. The other major part is the removal of the cause of the infection. It means, therefore, that to solve the problem of dental abscess, the first step is to decide if the condition is acute or chronic. Acute abscesses must be drained and/or de-inflamed before instituting medication.

The incidence of post-surgical infections can be reduced by proper wound closure and the use of aseptic (sterile) and atraumatic (conservative) techniques. In the treatment of infections, one must provide indicated local treatment (such as scraping, incision, and drainage) and supportive care (ensuring adequate rest, nutrition, and fluid intake).

Someone who acquires a swollen face because of a decayed tooth is suffering from the first stage of periodontal abscess. Anti-inflammatory and antibiotic therapy should be prescribed for at least

five days. If an attempt is made to extract the offending tooth without first applying this treatment, two things happen.

The pus surrounding the tooth may disseminate to adjacent tissue or enter the bloodstream, thus exacerbating the situation. Secondly, due to the acidity of the swollen tissues, the anaesthetics may not work sufficiently, and so the patient would have a harrowing extraction.

The need for antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent sub-acute endocarditis in patients with rheumatic heart disease who are to undergo procedures which are likely to precipitate bacteria in the bloodstream is well known. The recommended dosage for most patients is 600,000 units of procaine penicillin G mixed with 200,000 crystalline penicillin G administered intramuscularly one hour prior to the dental procedure, and once daily for two days following that.

A second aspect of prophylactic antibiotic coverage relates to the use of antibiotics to prevent infections after any dental operation. Studies show that, apart from rheumatic heart disease, as stated above, there is no need for someone to take antibiotics before having any dental surgery, whether it is a simple extraction or periodontal surgery.

The dentist must balance the infection he prevents with antibiotics against the infections he causes with antibiotics, due to the post-operative alterations in the normal flora of the mouth.

Most bacteria that cause dental infections are within the antibacterial spectra of penicillin G, penicillin V, phenethicillin, ampicillin, erythromycin, the tetracyclines, lincomycin, clindamycin, and the cephalosporins.

Penicillin is the safest and most powerful antibiotic for severe infections. However, it should not be abused. It should only be used in severe infections,

when the body’s defences are impaired, where the drug toxicity is particularly significant, as in infants,

small children, the elderly, the debilitated, pregnant women, and those with liver and kidney disorders.