Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 19-04-2026.

Turning Uncertainty into Action

• Anjalena Beshpatty is urging parents to seek answers early, inspired by her journey raising a child with autism through “Sameir Uniquely Me.”

From baker to becoming owner of seven Tim Hortons franchises

By Frederick Halley

UNLIKE most Guyanese and Caribbean nationals, when 24-year-old Kamta Roy Singh departed his homeland, Guyana, in August 1989 for Canada, he found a home in the Province of Manitoba and not Ontario, as is considered the norm.

However, it wasn’t by accident that Singh ended up in Manitoba, which is approximately two and a half hours’ flight west of Toronto. His grandmother was a resident of that Province, hence it was a pre-planned decision.

Almost 37 years later, Singh, an amazing personality who excels in several facets of life, has weathered the storm by dint of hard work and persuasion to emerge as the proud owner of seven Tim Hortons franchises in his adopted home.

In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Pepperpot from his home in Manitoba, Singh gave a fascinating and dramatic insight into his entry into Canada. Having left Guyana with $54 (Canadian), Singh pointed out that he was required to pay $27 (Canadian) at the airport in Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) to confirm

his flight to Canada.

On his arrival in Toronto, Singh said his eyes were set on a “shiny” taxi. “Unaware of the system, I joined the cab, only to discover that a taxi fare collector machine was in place. The plan was to spend a few days at my uncle’s home before departing via bus for Manitoba.”

After realising that the total seen on the machine had already exceeded the $27, Singh revealed this to the taxi driver, who, instead of accommodating him, left him high and dry on the 401 Highway, the main thoroughfare leading to almost all

other provinces in Canada.

“I was eventually rescued by another taxi driver who took me to my uncle’s home for a cost of $77. My uncle

facilitated the overall fare with the additional $50.”

Eager to find a job on his arrival, Singh worked at a 7/11 store for five months

while also doing part-time work in between, which included cleaning and working at a community centre. In TURN TO PAGE XI

Turning Uncertainty into Action

• Anjalena Beshpatty is urging parents to seek answers early, inspired by her journey raising a child with autism through “Sameir Uniquely Me.”

WHEN Anjalena Beshpatty noticed her son was not meeting developmental milestones at just over a year old, she did not yet have the language to describe what was wrong, only a growing sense that something wasn’t right. There was no diagnosis, no clear answers, and little local understanding of autism at the time. What

followed was a years-long journey marked by uncertainty, denial, and relentless searching, from medical outreaches to late-night research in internet cafés. But out of that experience emerged something far greater than a diagnosis. Beshpatty is the founder of “Sameir Uniquely Me,” an initiative born from her son’s needs but now serving

countless families navigating similar realities. Today, she is urging other parents to trust that instinct and seek answers early, drawing from a journey that began with uncertainty and led to the creation of a support system for families navigating autism.

Speaking to the Pepperpot Magazine earlier this week, as the world observes Autism Awareness Month,

Beshpatty shared that her journey into motherhood with her second son, Sameir, was like any other. A planned pregnancy and Sameir’s healthy birth, in itself, contradicted many misconceptions that autism is caused by something that happens during pregnancy.

Recounting Sameir’s birth and early years, Beshpatty shared, “He was a planned pregnancy, so I did everything I was supposed to do—eat well, drink milk, stay healthy, attend all the check-ups,” she said.

However, when Sameir was around 18 months old, Beshpatty began to notice developmental delays. As she added, “We noticed delays, and even my father advised me to seek help. At the time, I was working, but he told me I might need to stop and focus on finding out what was happening with Sameir.”

Beshpatty began with speech therapy; however, she soon noticed developmental differences beyond speech. As she explained, Sameir also struggled with motor deficiencies and aspects of interaction such as eye contact.

While some early interventions, like physiotherapy, helped with walking, his development remained delayed in other areas. At the time, more than twenty years ago, information and medical expertise on autism in Guyana were limited. In the face of

this, Beshpatty left work and stayed home to care for her son and search for answers.

“There was no doctor at the time who could diagnose him. Physically, he looked fine, so no one could tell me what was happening,” she added. “He did not have eye contact. He did not cry. My mother said he was a very content child—he would lie in the cradle and play by himself. He did not mind not being engaged. He would smile, but not really with you. I didn’t know these were signs of autism, but I knew something wasn’t right.”

The first hint of an answer came through Beshpatty’s experience at a medical outreach, where she first heard about autism. This was the first step, she explained, as she began doing her own research at a local internet café. Here, she was able to put a name to the number of seemingly random characteristics of her son. However, while she could now identify it, Beshpatty said she was still in denial, unwilling to accept that her son could possibly be autistic.

“I stopped at an internet café in Georgetown and searched for autism. I printed out checklists and went through them repeatedly. I did that sheet about six times, erasing and redoing it, because I was in denial. It took me about two months

TURN TO PAGE VII

A mother’s journey in championing the cause for her autistic daughter

By Michel Outridge

FAITH Athena Singh is eight years old and is diagnosed at Level Two on the autism spectrum.

She was nonverbal until age 3.5 and has echolalia and functional communication; however, she bangs her head when her world becomes too loud, too crowded, or too hot as a sensory response.

According to her mother, Shelly Bacchus, a strong advocate, she is still working on conversational skills.

She reported that certain things had concerned them since Faith was an infant, including her limited eye contact and the strange sounds she would make instead of cooing. She remembered her son even likening the sounds to those of aliens.

Bacchus said early on, they had noticed she would not respond to her name and would not follow sounds. This led them to suspect early on that she had a hearing impairment, but as tests concluded, she stated that her hearing was perfect.

Bacchus added that another red flag was that she took longer to meet certain milestones. For example, she never crawled but rather climbed, then moved on to walking.

“She would also try to eat things like chalk, crayons, and chipped paint. I had started researching online because I suspected something was wrong, and even before her diagnosis, I suspected she was on the spectrum,” Bacchus said.

The mother of two told Pepperpot Magazine that, at 2 years old, she started her daughter on the “Gemini” programme, a course focused on speech development and autism.

She pointed out that after the first few months, Faith started repeating animal sounds and trying hard to form speech, which mostly sounded intelligible.

However, during this time, they faced the COVID-19 pandemic, and

Faith was unable to attend preschool but attended her first year of nursery online.

Bacchus explained that she moved between schools trying to find one that would cater to her needs, even after Faith was hurt at a private school in the city, after which they quickly unenrolled her and homeschooled her for a year and a half.

Faith is currently back in the school system at the David Rose Special School.

She has moved from being a non-verbal, hyperactive child to one who can read, write, reason, and perform mental addition—one who is independent and can do chores like washing dishes and tidying up.

Faith loves swimming, climbing, puzzles, shopping, and long drives.

Bacchus related that

while they suspected that Faith was on the spectrum, nothing truly prepared them—herself, her husband Tony Singh, and her son Timothy Singh—for such a revelation.

“I remember a therapist mentioning to us that Faith is low-functioning, and a long list of things that she would ‘never be able to do’, many of which she has already overcome. We are a very close-knit family—myself, my husband, Faith, and our sixteen-year-old son, Timothy. When we first started this journey, we realised that resources were scarce,” Bacchus said.

She noted that Faith had been receiving speech therapy at Ptolemy Reid for four years, during which she received only 22 hours of therapy, equivalent to 5.5 hours

per year.

Bacchus told the Pepperpot Magazine that this amount is deeply inadequate for any meaningful development.

She stated that private therapy sessions cost between three and six thousand dollars per hour, and these, too, were scarce.

“I had to face the truth that if nothing were to be

done, matters would have to be taken into my own hands. While bombarded with worry, I started to learn. I took many courses, such as RBT (Registered Behavioural Technician) training, ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) training, psychological disorder and treatment, and a diploma in special education,” she explained.

Bacchus said that, in ad-

dition, she participates in bi-weekly webinars with Champions for Our Children, attends several webinars and programmes for speech and occupational therapy training, and keeps up to date with autism-related newsletters.

She added that she was a teacher in the early 2000s, left in 2007 to move into the banking industry, and is TURN TO PAGE XV

LONG before tourists arrive or locals get ready to start their day, Joyce Hendricks is up at the crack of dawn to fulfil her duties as a community advocate for the environment at Saxacalli Mission, a place that is more than a home for herself and her family.

She would walk more than 20 minutes from her home to the beach after completing household chores to start cleaning and get set for the day.

Hendricks is a resident of Saxacalli Mission, Essequibo

River, Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), who has lived all her life in this scenic community. She says she doesn’t see herself ever leaving.

The mild-mannered Community Services Officer (CSO) is responsible for cleaning the beach, a task she takes pride in, and it is a place where there is simply no rush to move quickly, as a natural, tranquil atmosphere overwhelms you.

Hendricks told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is a very safe place to live and, although it is located on the mainland, they get around via boat, which is their

mode of transportation.

Saxacalli Mission is a very beautiful place with a beach that stretches for miles and overlooks the mighty Essequibo River. The village itself sits on a hill, with dwellings scattered across the land, which is overshadowed by trees and other greenery.

Hendricks reported that life in that community can be quite comfortable once you are employed, and it is a lovely place to settle with a family.

“I find this place to be nice and interesting for me because I live and work here without having to

leave the village, and at 51 years old, I do not foresee leaving this paradise at all,” she said.

She is also a farmer, growing vegetables for her kitchen. There is enough space to grow what she needs for food without spending extra—a simple yet practical way to live.

Hendricks told Pepperpot Magazine that there are 10 CSOs in the group who clean and maintain the village to an acceptable standard for themselves and visitors.

She added that when people visit the village, they have to pay a landing fee, and that money is

used to upkeep the beach and its surroundings.

Hendricks stated that she lives about a 20-minute walk away from the area where all the activities take place, especially on Easter Monday.

Saxacalli Mission has more than 150 inhabitants, mostly of mixed ethnicities, who live in harmony alongside their Amerindian neighbours.

As a first-time visitor, I was mesmerised by the natural beauty of the place, and it is an ideal getaway for family outings—to TURN TO PAGE XV

Fame, Control and Consequence in LEECH

THROUGH a gripping plot and vivid descriptions told from a number of perspectives, Psychological Thriller, LEECH, takes readers through time and across countries in a story that stays with readers long after they close the book. It is a story that methodically delves into the psyche and forces readers to confront the subtle ways in which control, dependency, and identity can intertwine.

In LEECH, Guyanese author Jasmaine Payne creates a psychological thriller that blends drama with a slowly unravelling plot. The result is a novel that tackles unsettling themes which, backed by the plot’s building tension and vibrant characters, keep readers drawn in, captivated, and motivated to finish the piece.

Published in September 2025 in the USA by JAM Services, LEECH is one of the few, more recent psychological thrillers by a Caribbean author. The book tells a story through various points of view, with each character adding not just a new perspective but a new layer of depth to the overall plot. The story largely follows the book’s protagonist, Arianne Smith, an ambitious young, Guyanese writer seeking fame, and in her pursuit, her confrontation with the book’s titular supernatural character, John Leech. More than a story of seeking and finding the unexpected, Payne explores the human condition, looking at how we define fame, how that fame can impact us, and what price we are willing to pay for it.

Payne’s debut novel explores a number of themes,

some bolder, some tucked into the undertones. Central to the story is the presence of the supernatural. While not entirely new in psychological thrillers, what sets LEECH apart is how direct and intrusive that force feels; it does not sit in the background, it actively shapes the story and the characters. John Thomas Reginald Leech is, in fact, the first character we meet, the son of a renowned doctor in the Victorian age. The book follows his slow descent into a murderous, “Jack the Ripper”-like figure, driven by a need for recognition under the guise of medical advancement.

Haunting the streets of 1800s London, Leech begins wanting to be like his father, but his fascination with the unsettling rather than the science of medicine makes him an outcast. The weight of this is reinforced when, despite his best efforts, the fame he seeks remains out of reach, earning him mockery from the medical community and the name “Half-penny Leech” up until his death. But Leech’s story does not end there.

His story continues through Arianne Smith, a character who is also seeking fame and success. Their stories collide when Leech wakes up in modern-day New York as a powerful supernatural force, and here, the story takes on a new life. As Arianne meets Leech, she is drawn in by his presence but quickly becomes more than just an observer as the two partner to write a book. Through his abilities, he forces her into his world, giving her first-hand access to his crimes, an experience she describes as, “He (Leech) must have dragged me into my mind – pushed me into some other dimension in my head.” This is where the story becomes more than just thrilling; it becomes uncomfortable. The line between witnessing and experiencing begins to blur. This connec-

tion brings Arianne the fame she is searching for, but it also ties her to Leech in a way that is difficult to escape. Both characters are chasing recognition, but Payne shows how that pursuit can take different forms, and how easily it can become something consuming. The way fame is handled in LEECH stands out. It is not just something to achieve, but something that lingers and demands more. Arianne’s breaking point shows this clearly, as success does not free her, but instead traps her further in Leech’s influence.

This continues when Arianne is admitted to a psychiatric institution named Homer’s Home For Health And Wellness, where Dr Oscar Pressum is introduced. His role starts simply but quickly becomes more significant. Pressum is tasked with treating Arianne, who tells him the story of Leech—not the version that brought her fame, but what she believes is the real one. From here, the story follows the three characters in a tense power struggle. Pressum is forced

to question his own beliefs, Arianne struggles to maintain control of her mind, and Leech continues to push into both their realities.

As Pressum is pulled further into this world, “What unnerved him most was the pull of this unnamed thing beyond his comprehension,” Payne writes. The shifting between these perspectives helps to build tension, and for the most part, the transitions feel controlled and intentional.

At its core, the novel becomes a struggle to hold onto identity in the face of outside forces. Control is constantly shifting between Leech, Arianne, and even Pressum, and that loss of control is where much of the tension sits. Payne also plays with the idea of ownership: whose story is really being told, and who is in control of it?

LEECH is strong in its pacing and suspense. It takes its time, but that works in its favour, allowing tension to build rather than rush. The movement between Victorian England and modern-day New York adds to the story’s

scale without making it feel disjointed. At the same time, there are moments where Arianne’s character could feel more developed beyond her ambition. While her role is clear, her internal depth does not always feel as strong as Leech’s, who remains the more fully realised character. There are also small touches of Caribbean identity through Arianne, though not heavily explored. Still, its presence matters, especially in a story that moves across so many spaces. LEECH stands on its own as a psychological thriller that does more than just tell a story. It pulls at ideas of control, identity, and the cost of wanting more, and it does so in a way that keeps the reader involved from beginning to end. As Leech himself puts it, “But pain is love, Dear Heart. We must accept it, bear it, and understand it all the same time.” It is unsettling, at times uncomfortable, but that is exactly where it works best and keeps readers utterly and continuously captivated.

Turning Uncertainty...

to really come to terms with what was happening and accept that the signs were there,” she added.

“When I looked it up, I saw all these examples of geniuses on the spectrum, but I didn’t see the reality of children who needed significant support. Sameir had sensory issues, eating sensitivities, motor challenges, and he was non-verbal with intellectual challenges.” Even with this information, Sameir received his official diagnosis eight years later.

Sameir’s early years in school were particularly challenging. When he was enrolled in school at 4 years old, Beshpatty spent most of the day with him, helping him navigate a new, unfamiliar environment and teaching other children how to interact with him.

“He couldn’t function in a traditional classroom environment, so the focus was just helping him interact— being around other children, going on slides, playing, and learning from the environment.”

Sameir spent two years in

preschool before transitioning to nursery school, where he, with his mother’s help, continued working on interaction, following directions, eye contact, and imitation. This made an incredible impact on Sameir, as Beshpatty explained, “Through that environment, he developed functional play—running with other children, throwing a ball, engaging more.”

The interaction and understanding from other children were also significant, says Beshpatty, not just for Sameir personally but also regarding stigma.

“I also had to guide other children on how to interact with him. Children tend to imitate so that they would mimic his non-verbal sounds. I would teach them to speak normally to him because he had receptive language, even though he couldn’t express himself. Teaching children to accept and interact with those who are different is very important. If we want to change society and reduce stigma, we have to start with young children.”

Sameir received his of-

ficial diagnosis at age eight through a connection with a clinical psychologist from Boston. By that time, Beshpatty was already deeply involved in his development and learning how to support him. This involvement, coupled with her son’s diagnosis, inspired her to found “Sameir Uniquely Me.”

Officially started in 2020, it was created in Beshpatty’s home as she sought to create a space where she could implement the skills she was teaching Sameir and provide an environment for other children who were isolated at home to receive support.

Over the years, “Sameir Uniquely Me” has grown into a foundation dedicated to supporting children with autism by providing screening, oral language development, motor skills support, school preparation, after-school assistance, classroom support, and early intervention services.

“The idea was for Sameir also to be part of that space, interacting, assisting, and growing alongside other children. As more children came

in, I began bringing in teachers and training parents,” she said. Over the last five years, “Sameir Uniquely Me” has worked with thousands of children with autism, supporting their parents in their own journey.

Today, Sameir is 23 and looking forward to his birthday in May. While today Beshpatty describes her son as a happy young man with a passion for gaming and fashion, she said that for her, one of the hardest parts of the journey has been acceptance.

For many years in Sameir’s early life, she struggled with accepting his diagnosis. She admitted that accepting that her son’s life would not be what she had envisioned, or what her siblings’ lives were like, was difficult.

“Acceptance was diffi -

cult for me because of expectations. When you have a child, you already imagine their future—school, university, career, and family. When a diagnosis comes, all of that becomes uncertain, and that uncertainty makes it hard to accept.”

But once she was able to accept his diagnosis, Beshpatty says she was able to emphasise his happiness above her ideals. It is still a continual challenge, however, as she shared, “I still have moments. I see my daughter driving and think, my son may never have that. I think about things he may never experience. Those thoughts are hard. But he is happy. He enjoys his life. It is my expectations that create that struggle.”

This is the message that Beshpatty is trying to push,

PAGE III

particularly through this year’s awareness event happening this Sunday. Beshpatty believes that parents are the most vital players in the development of a happy child with autism, not only in the areas of care or teaching, but in the often-overlooked area of awareness.

Urging parents not only to support their children in private but to raise awareness for them in public, Beshpatty emphasised that awareness works. One example of this is the recognition of invisible disabilities in policy, which was not the case before. This step has been incredibly impactful for children like Sameir. Continued investment, such as time, energy, and awareness, by parents will continue to make an impact.

A pattern in shifting tides

EVEN as the tides change and shift, there is a certain pattern they tend to follow. This pattern, in fact, had

once been a guide to cities and civilisations on how they must function and move. Over the years, we

have grown to adopt new ways to guide ourselves, but there remains a certain beauty in the tides’ unpre-

dictably predictable nature.

On any given day, we surely expend a large amount of energy and time worrying about what will happen in the future. Of course, we would not know the answers to our numerous questions until we actually experienced the moment we were so worried about.

Interestingly, the very things we worry about are often the same ones that least merit the amount of distress they precipitate. Life is strange in this manner.

As we look to the world for the right direction for our growth, we may find, time and again, that the most contented people are those who seem to have the most control over their lives. So, we believe that control is the defining element that determines whether we shall find peace and happiness.

Peace, however, is not an outcome of having control over our lives, but rather the effect of refusing life’s unpredictable nature to have control over us. It comes from the ability to step into the rain, expecting sunlight, and still smile.

Carefully, our generation has constructed a basket of expectations to carry our hopes for the future. Although the strangely generous modern world usually meets our expectations, we

do occasionally find ourselves disappointed. Perhaps it is because we have grown so used to the comfort of having our needs met, or perhaps our intolerance for injustice. Mistreatment has spilt over into other areas of our lives.

Still, it often seems that members of our generation cannot bear even the most minor inconveniences, especially if they were not expecting them. Our optimistic expectations, which are usually our strength, tend to become our downfall when we refuse to tolerate any outcome other than the one we initially hoped to achieve.

When we encounter a problem, it often seems we are more likely to step away from it so it does not harm us, rather than trying to find a way to fix it.

Unfortunately, this habit can lead to the loss of many valuable things. Although we may not realise it, turning away from a path just because we encounter a problem is the same as giving up without trying. It is the same as turning away from your destination minutes before you reach it, just because you see a small obstacle on the road.

The unexpectedness of life not only brings us surprises but also disappointments and obstacles. Real

growth stems from our ability to keep moving towards our goals and retain the parts of ourselves that define who we are, even when our plans do not play out as we expected. Perseverance is not only about working hard, but it is also about enduring some discomfort for the sake of a greater goal.

As our ancestors once realised, the ‘shifting tides’ of life, although unsettling at times, have their own strange pattern.

The ebb and flow of these tides can carry us in directions that we never expected to travel in. We may even find ourselves in destinations that we do not enjoy. However, if we are willing to endure them and make a few sacrifices in our expectations, we might find unimaginable treasures.

There are many things in our lives we make sacrifices for – some are small, and some are great. We make these sacrifices with the understanding that the things we are willing to give up are not as valuable as those which we are willing to gain, or at the very least, protect. When we approach the end of our journeys, it is not what we have lost that would matter to us, but rather what we have gained through the choices we have made.

THE BENEFITS OF WORKING

WORKING can have many benefits, including meeting your financial needs.

Most non-disabled people need to work to survive. Yet, a pay cheque is not the sole factor for those who choose to work, as there are many other benefits. Sometimes workplaces will cover medical expenses, offer sales commissions, or provide savings or pension plans.

Working can also provide a sense of purpose, offering opportunities to learn new skills, discover talents, and advance in one’s career. Many people find work to be a fulfilling part of their lives.

Work also provides many opportunities to network and to build friendships and relationships of different kinds.

Work is an essential part of life, as you will learn in this book.

1. Ability to earn

Being employed does many important things for people, such as providing the ability to earn a living. While some people may be comfortable at home because they have enough money to meet their needs, others must seek employment to support themselves financially.

1.1 What do employees do with their compensation?

There are many things that people will do with their compensation from work. As some people’s compensation is small, they will have to carefully manage whatever they receive so that they can survive until the next payday.

1.1.1 Purchase of groceries

Everyone needs to eat, no matter how healthy or spiritual they are. There are times when some religious people fast, but after they have fasted, they are required to eat and drink again. If people

have to visit a medical institution for an inspection or operation, then they may have to go without food and beverages for a specific period. Once they have completed the examination, they can continue eating and drinking as normal.

The quantity and quality of groceries people purchase will differ from those of others, even if they earn the same compensation.

Most people like to know that they have enough groceries in their house to last them until the next payday. Some people can purchase certain groceries in bulk, so they may have items that last them for several weeks.

Those who work often look forward to having their wages and salaries paid promptly. If there is a delay in their payment, then multiple unpleasant things may happen, as they may have many expenses to settle.

After their physiological needs are met, they will begin setting aside money to meet other needs. People who work for longer durations and with greater dedication will have enough money to construct their own house or purchase a vehicle.

1.1.2 Payment of rent

Many people want to live in their own homes, but not everyone can afford to do so, and some will have to settle for rented properties. Some people intend to rent only for a period, but eventually they spend most of their lives, if not all, in a rented property.

Those who do not have their own houses may be required to pay rent. Some people may be fortunate enough to live in their parents’ or family’s house and not have to pay rent, since their family wants someone to stay in the property.

Paying rent can be chal-

lenging. Most people pay their rent monthly, so they need a steady income to cover it. Those who are working will have the opportunity to earn money regularly, which is expected to cover their rent.

2. Friendship

Employees sometimes see their workplace as their second home, because they have the opportunity to establish friendships with many people. In some homes, there may be only a few family members, and conversations may keep repeating the same information.

However, when an employee chooses to establish friendships with other employees, they have many more things to discuss.

Some employees are excited to attend work regularly because they have many friends there. They may even see their workmates as a second family. Over time, workplace friends tend to look out for each other, wanting to protect them or help them do the right things.

Friendship with a former employee has no set timeline, since it can continue until death. It can even grow to the point where current employees are communicating with former employees’ companions, children, and other care providers. As people retire or age, they may be unable to do many things independently and may need a care provider.

If people have the time, they may assist their relatives who are aged and unable to help themselves. Many children often help their aged parents in whatever way they can.

With good relationships between current and former employees, current employ-

ees may visit former employees’ homes to check on them in person. There are also times when current and former employees may meet at social events or in the markets.

Friendships with former employees may provide a rich source of information for current employees. Some former employees are willing to share their professional and personal experiences with current employees.

These friendships may even extend to the former employee’s children and other family members. For example, if a former employee’s child is about to be married, wedding invitations may be sent to selected current employees.

When former employees are deceased, some current

employees may be in contact with their relatives, and their relationship may even grow after the time of bereavement.

3. Developing your skills

At home, people have the opportunity to improve their academic performance. They may also have more time to become good sportsmen or sportswomen.

However, the working environment also provides them with many opportunities to make themselves great.

Working with an organisation or a person can be challenging, but it also provides opportunities to grow. This growth may not happen overnight, but over multiple years. When some people first start working, their per-

sonal lives are nothing much to speak of. However, as they work and develop over time, they become individuals many people would like to associate with. Some employers will be involved in recruiting talented employees because they know those employees will have a significant impact on the organisation.

What people must remember is that if they develop themselves, they may earn more and not have to work as hard as they currently do, since they will be working smarter. Therefore, they have the opportunity to start developing themselves now and enjoy the benefits that will be available to them as they continue working for their employer.

THE LEARNING TREE EXPERIMENT, AN EXPERIENCE TO EXPLORE TOGETHER

I’VE WRITTEN UNDER THE Talking Culture platform, using many multiple experiences that any reader could apply to themselves, through certain engagements, careful not to say what is immediately possible, but what can open doors, legal doors, to be specific, with caution.

Recently, I had a chat with a few anxious young folks on numerous topics that can lead to ‘legal income earning’. I was careful, but careful is not a viable term in the matrix of acceptable acceptances that envelop things today. So, I narrowed the conversation to

putting together a skit on domestic violence.

More than one of those present had witnessed or knew of persons who had assumed domestic disturbances from the eager criticisms of so-called good friends, or of others who made references, for example, influenced by friends who make insightful suggestions of their own bravado and how they rose above challenges and through them.

Situations that influenced their very self-esteem, that inferred to act this way or that way and rise above the insult of the ego. I’m not a psychiatrist. But as a youth,

I was taught to be objective with the suggestions of others; some are provocative, implying severe actions that another might deem justified, that require an in-tune perceived right response, if that truly exists, and could change your life forever, and not for the good.

As men, we expect to be in charge, but that is an entire argument that rests on our evolution. There will be discussions and agreements that might help, but there will always be the realms of gender roles and rules to debate in relation to the question of right and wrong, because there is always

that, I replied. People are, in some cases, influenced by the suggestions of a perceived good friend or relative, based on a scenario of what worked for them in a similar situation.

I changed the topic of the conversation when I suggested that what we discussed was not what we should follow without consulting the inner man, and returned to the income realm.

I was their age once, and I faced the challenges of earning a living for myself. But I was born with talents that were common to older kinfolk. Though I didn’t receive

the initial training, I didn’t hesitate when the then state brought in experts. Beyond tutoring, there was an essential creed to be included. On this, I concluded our chat: to read, explore through relevant literature, whatever area you wish to explore, because the wand of copyright ownership, like the curse of plagiarism, can make the best of efforts disappear.

In whatever area of expression, your originality must prevail, in an atmosphere that will embrace, with reason and patience, the other contentions we had discussed.

From baker to becoming...

December 1989, he began working with Tim Hortons as a baker and quickly emerged as an all-rounder in the company and a great asset for his franchise owner. “I strived to learn everything necessary to help the business prosper and committed all my time and energy to increasing sales and volume, as well as staff morale within the company.”

After a few years working, “I developed an itch to have more and negotiated with the owners to purchase the franchise from them. This was my introduction to Canadian business practice and the corporate world.”

Singh quickly developed and grew his business conglomerate with acquisitions of more franchises all over Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has made them sustainable and profitable. As a minority

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(person of colour) franchise owner from the 80s to the present time, he has developed, introduced, and initiated several feasible practices and systems that Tim Hortons has adapted into everyday franchisee operations.

Over the years, he has received multiple accolades for his business practices, efforts, and enthusiasm to maintain and grow the needs and activities of Tim Hortons.

Corporate has recognised Singh’s achievements and has awarded him more than 15 milestone awards, including the 20- and 25-year Distinguished Franchisee Awards.

As a franchisee, he maintained Tim Hortons’ foundation in engaging in special charity fundraising such as the Smile Cookie, Orange Donuts, and Camp Day, and donated proceeds from prod-

uct sales to non-profit organisations.

As a Guyanese citizen, cricket runs in your veins, and Singh is a perfect example, as his love of the game has him sleeping, eating, and living for this beloved sport in Canada. As a player for more than thirty-five years with Lions Cricket Club, he has taken on roles as coach, captain, and President, which he has held for the past 25 years, and sponsors all the players’ and teams’ equipment and uniforms through Tim Hortons.

Singh is not only a prominent businessperson; he is also a staunch community member who is involved in several organisations that benefit the entire province,

country, and the world. He is an outspoken community advocate and leader, with a long history of volunteerism amongst sporting, religious, and local community organisations.

He held long-standing positions as Vice-President and President with the Guyanese Association of Manitoba for ten years and has actively continued his membership to date. In 2006, the Executive Board and organisation members awarded him the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Singh also received several awards throughout his presidency for his volunteerism, philanthropy, and efforts for the growth and management of the organisation. His purpose and contributions were to have the organisation be a gateway for everyone to access, regardless of race,

creed, colour, or religion, giving them a sense of recognition and respect.

He was very vocal and effective in his support of the arts and in fundraising for the purchasing of India School of Dance, Music, and Theatre Inc. The organisation subsequently recognised his contribution and presented him with a Humanitarian Award.

Throughout the years, his philanthropic ways were rapidly recognised and acknowledged, and in 2013, the Filipino Association of Manitoba awarded him the Businessperson of the Year award for his unwavering commitment to recruiting, employing, and supporting a vast majority of their newcomers and community members.

Prior to migrating from Guyana, Singh, who hails from Vigilance, East Coast

Demerara, attended Bladen Hall Multilateral School before starting his working career at the Guyana & Trinidad Mutual (GTM) insurance company at the age of 17.

A lover of cricket, he donned colours for his school and was soon part of the Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) First Division Case Cup setup. He also skippered the East Coast team at Bourda in 1989 before departing the same year for Canada.

“I love cricket. I have been playing cricket since I was a kid and I played for Manitoba several times,” Singh said. “It’s a pleasure to work with fellow volunteer coaches. Over the past years, we have seen dozens of youths who went on to represent Manitoba and Canada in cricket tournaments.”

A RAINY DAY IN APRIL

NIKHIL took her to her grandmother’s house in Alness on the Corentyne, opened the white picket gate for her, and helped her with her bag to the door because it was still raining.

“Thank you so much,” she expressed.

“Don’t mention it,” he brushed it off casually, and, noticing the worry on her face, he said with a little tone of concern, despite being a stranger, “Hope all goes well.”

She smiled just a little. “I hope so too.”

Her grandmother had developed a fever and had grown weak.

She called the family doctor, who told her he would do a home visit due to the bad weather. It was a deep relief when he gave his diagnosis that it was nothing serious, just the common flu. He gave her two injections and medication.

Melissa made some vegetable soup, fed her, and

stayed close, comforting her until she fell asleep.

Her mind now relaxed, Melissa settled down for the evening. She called Trevor to check on how he was doing and to give him the good news on her grandmother’s condition. He didn’t answer, but returned her call later that night.

“So how long do you have to stay?” he asked in a tone that lacked genuine concern.

“Just another day or so,”

she answered calmly. “My cousin from Suriname will be here tomorrow to stay with her.”

“Good,” he said. “I don’t like it when you stay away too long.”

Melissa sighed, a little despondent, knowing he didn’t care much about her family.

Late that night, as her eyes closed in sleep, the last

call Nikhil, taken up with straightening the house, and remembered when she was in the shower. She called after, feeling refreshed and relaxed.

“That’s good to know,” he responded. “I guess that has taken some worry off your mind.”

“Yes, it has.”

Just the sound of his voice ignited a warm feeling within her, but she didn’t

the bank wouldn’t lend them a large loan.

“The thing is,” she told him, bluntly but in a gentle tone, “you don’t work regularly, you don’t save enough, and I have a small business, so we have to look for something cheaper.”

He shook his head, sighed heavily, then said to her,

“Here’s an idea: why not ask your grandmother for some

thought on her mind was Nikhil, a stranger and his kindness. Melissa returned home two days after her cousin had arrived, and her grandmother was doing fine. Nikhil had given her his phone number to call if she needed to travel back or for any other assistance. But she didn’t have to call because she had gotten a ride home with a cousin.

“I think I should call him, though,” she thought to herself, “to tell him everything’s okay because he had offered his assistance.”

She reached home late that afternoon. Trevor was out with friends at a football game, and the house was in a mess.

“Darn!” she murmured and put down her bag, feeling somewhat exasperated.

She forgot she had to

allow her mind to dwell on it. She cooked a nice, hot dinner for Trevor and waited for him, although she was tired and sleepy. But he came home late and intoxicated.

He kissed her, drawled “Welcome home”, and collapsed into bed.

“Some things never change,” she lamented.

Trevor awoke late the next morning and didn’t go to work, whilst Melissa worked all day on some orders that had come in.

He went out that afternoon but came back early, so they had dinner together.

After dinner, he said to her, “A friend of mine has sent me some information on a house that’s up for sale in—”

“And the price?”

The price he told her was beyond what they had, and with their combined earnings,

assistance?”

Melissa looked at him, taken aback.

“What?” she exclaimed.

“My grandmother is a poor woman barely getting by.”

“Yeah, while you’re spending money on her.”

Melissa couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and in her mind, she asked, “Is this the person I gave my heart to? Who I believed in and whom I had planned a future with?”

Those red flags that she could now clearly see were starting to depress her, but when Lauren, her cousin, called to say their grandmother was doing fine, went to church, and wanted to go to the market, it lifted her spirits.

“That’s really great!” she expressed. “She has beaten

TURN TO PAGE XIX

We Create the Men We Excuse

LET me start gently, because I know how sensitive people get when we start talking about men.

Men are not confusing; they are trained and sometimes the training needs a serious refund because somewhere between “be strong” and “handle your business,” we slipped in “do not feel anything at all,” and then we all stood back, shocked, when grown men started behaving like emotional escape artists with a gym membership and a phone full of women.

I have seen both versions. I have seen the man who wakes up, goes to work, comes home, puts money on the table, and discusses groceries like it is a board meeting. There is structure there. There is predictability and a sense that life, while not perfect, is at least stable enough to rest your nervous system.

Then I have seen the other one, the one who has time, energy, charm, and somehow a rotating schedule of women, but absolutely no capacity for consistency, accountability, or basic follow-through; the one who will text you poetry at midnight and disappear by morning as he got drafted into a war nobody told you about. Interestingly, everybody already warned you. You heard it and processed it anyway. You still said, “Let me just see for myself.”

So let us talk about him, properly. He may be the villain, but he is also real because men like that are not born out of nowhere. We build and create them.

A little boy cries, and someone tells him to stop; a little boy feels hurt, and someone tells him to toughen up; he tries to express confusion, and someone laughs it off as if it were weakness wearing a small shirt, so he adjusts. He learns that emotion is embarrassing and that vulnerability is dangerous. He learns that

silence earns approval and, because he is smart, he gets very good at it.

Fast forward a few years, and now you are dealing with a man who feels everything but expresses nothing, understands very little about his own inner world, and copes the only way he knows how, by avoiding anything that might require emotional depth.

Modern life did not just put pressure on men; it gave them access. Access to attention, access to validation, access to distraction. So now, instead of sitting with discomfort, he can scroll, text, flirt, entertain, and rotate. What looks like confidence is actually avoidance with good lighting.

Gabor Maté explains that when people cannot process their emotions, they look for external ways to regulate themselves. That regulation shows up as habits that feel good in the moment but avoid the real work underneath. So, when you see a man constantly chasing stimulation, you are not always looking at confidence; you are often looking at someone who has never learned how to sit still with himself because, while he is doing all of that, women are responding.

Some women learn quickly, though, so they stop giving and start calculating. They treat the interaction like a transaction, and they walk away with their peace intact. These are the women people love to judge, but if you look closely, you will see they adapted faster than everyone else.

While others go in with heart, they listen, they support, they show up, and they give him the benefit of the doubt. They believe consistency, effort, and clarity are on the way. Then one day, they realise they have been in a relationship with themselves. Now they are tired, confused, and wondering TURN TO PAGE XVIII

A sweet life awaits you at

picnic, swim, relax, and unwind.

Hendricks related that locals earn their living by hunting, fishing, logging, and other jobs right within the community.

Saxacalli Mission has a nursery/primary school, a health centre, an ICT hub with WiFi, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, along with the Saxacalli Rainforest Centre, a protected area.

Saxacalli Mission is also a tourist destination recognised by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA).

The youths either attend secondary school

in Bartica and other villages or leave the community to look for work.

There is a boat that takes the children to and from school, and there is also a river ambulance attached to the health centre, which has a Community Health Worker.

Saxacalli Mission is without electricity, but some locals have generators and solar power. It has more than 30 houses, with a teacher’s house, a shop, and an incomplete guest house.

They also have Benabs, a multi-purpose centre, and a cricket pitch with a ground.

Hendricks said that four years ago, she became a CSO to serve her community. Prior to that, she was a cook at the school, but these days she likes her job because meeting people is what she is good at, and maintaining a clean environment is something she takes pride in.

Saxacalli Mission is a peaceful, historic Arawak indigenous community on the west bank of the Essequibo River in Guyana, known for one of the region’s best inland freshwater beaches.

Located roughly 25 miles south of Parika, the village features a church, a primary school, a health post, and a community centre. Originally, an Arawak community established in the 1800s was named “Kingfisher”.

The nearby Saxacalli Rainforest Centre is a 30-acre protected area focused on biodiversity.

The community is considered a “hidden gem,” providing a quiet, scenic getaway focused on nature and local culture.

A mother’s journey in championing the cause...

now self-employed as a cake decorator.

Bacchus reported that she decided to continue with the Gemini programme, which focused on floor play, and to treat every opportunity as a learning one.

“We allowed her to express her interests and followed her lead. My husband and I schedule our work around Faith, so she is always accompanied by at least one of us. It became a family effort—everyone helped. Her brother would help her arrange puzzles, build with her, and paint with her,” she said.

Bacchus pointed out that, as the saying goes, “it takes a village to raise a child,” and her family became that village.

She is thankful for the support, and that it is never just herself—it is her husband and her son.

Bacchus admitted that their little family had become a well-oiled machine, working to meet the demands of

daily life, work, and Faith.

“I would work on academics, independence, behaviour, and speech. My husband and our son would participate in social activities, swim, and play outdoors.

She even learnt to ride a stationary bike. This is where her father, Tony, would dominate,” she said.

Bacchus revealed that as an autism parent, she learned to survive on minimal sleep, to tolerate overscheduled days, to cook several different meals daily, clean the house every day, manage work, and make time for Faith.

She added that they became a team of three: “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Despite her diagnosis, they are dedicated to giving her the best life she can have and to helping her grow and develop into an independent adult.

Bacchus said to every parent with a child on the spectrum that she encour-

FROM PAGE IV

ages them to take steps that haven’t yet been made, to learn as much as they can about their child’s diagnosis, and to seek out the necessary services.

She reported that from her own experience, you must become your child’s biggest advocate, learn as much as you can, and seek the services necessary to help your child improve.

Bacchus said with the right support, children can grow, learn, develop, and achieve far more than we often realise.

World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on April 2 to increase understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of autistic people globally.

Designated by the UN in 2007, it marks the start of World Autism Month, focusing on advocating for neuroinclusive environments and recognising the rights of individuals on the autism spectrum.

We Create the Men We...

how they ended up emotionally invested in someone who treated commitment like an optional upgrade.

Let us bring in a little reality from Bell Hooks, who said that men are raised to disconnect from their feelings, which makes it difficult for them to love. A man who cannot access his own emotions cannot hold space for someone else’s So, when a woman shows

up with depth, he does not always reject her because he does not want her. He struggles because he does not know what to do with her. Depth feels like pressure when you have been living on

the surface.

And instead of saying that, he does what he has been trained to do: he withdraws, distracts, replaces, and avoids.

On the other side of the

equation is responsibility, and this part matters the most.

Jordan Peterson talks about responsibility as the thing that gives life structure and meaning. A man who takes responsibility becomes grounded and reliable. He becomes someone whose presence actually adds stability to another person’s life.

A man who avoids responsibility becomes excited in short bursts and exhausted in the long run. He feels good until he does not. So no, the issue is not that men are complicated.

The issue is that many men are underdeveloped emotionally and overdeveloped in avoidance strategies, and society keeps calling that normal while women keep adjusting to it.

Some adjust by hardening, some by over-giving, and some by leaving. But all of it traces back to the same starting point: a boy who was taught how to behave but never taught how to feel.

This is not about picking sides; it is telling the truth.

A man is responsible for who he becomes. A woman is responsible for what she accepts, and life has a very efficient way of matching both. So, if a man chooses to stay unexamined, he creates chaos in every space he enters.

If a woman chooses to ignore patterns, she volunteers to experience them repeatedly. Nobody is a victim of information. We see, we know, and we proceed anyway. The real shift happens when people stop pretending they do not understand what is in front of them, because once you see clearly, your standards change, your choices change, and suddenly, the same man who once confused you becomes very easy to read.

The Men We Make “They told him early, ‘Don’t

you cry, a man stands firm, a man stands dry,’ so he swallowed storms before they grew, and called that strength, like boys are taught to do. He learned that silence earns respect, that feeling much invites neglect, So piece by piece, he built a wall, and named it power, named it all.

He grew, and women came like rain, some brought warmth, some brought him pain, but none could reach what he concealed, for hearts unspoken stay well sealed.

He gave them charm, a practiced art, just enough truth, but not his heart, he kept his distance, played it smart, and left before things fell apart.

And she who met him tried her best, to soften what he had suppressed, she poured and poured, but came to see, you cannot heal what won’t be free.

So she grew sharp where once was grace, and learned to read, not just embrace, she counted effort, weighed each sign, and swore her heart would stay as mine.

And somewhere else, a boy still learns, to hide his tears, to mask his burns, and so the cycle moves again, we make the boys who make the men.

Romella Dasratt

A RAINY DAY IN...

the odds.”

But just a little over a month later, as Melissa was preparing to visit, her grandmother had a sudden relapse. By the time she reached the hospital, her grandmother had gone too low. She reached out for Melissa’s hand, uttered her name, and her eyes closed softly. Melissa sat there for a long time holding her hand, too numb to cry. It was only when she left the hospital for her grandmother’s home that she broke down, crying for all the years, the struggles, the love, and the care.

The news of her death spread, and families whom Melissa did not know showed up to give their sympathies.

“And where were they when she needed them?” she wondered.

Even Melissa’s mother, who never called or visited, came, and Melissa gave her a cold look, saying silently, “Heartless woman.”

And if that wasn’t bad enough, Trevor did not show up to give his support, just saying how sorry he was over the phone.

“I have no one,” she lamented, and just at that moment, her phone rang.

It was Nikhil!

“Hey, how are you doing? I just heard from someone at the park about your grandmother.”

“Yes,” she answered, her voice breaking, “she has left me.”

“Darn, I’m sorry,” he expressed. “I’ll be there in a short while.”

She sighed and closed her eyes, sitting on a chair on the veranda, trying for some calm in her mind, when a familiar voice called her name. Opening her eyes, she saw Nikhil standing at the bottom of the steps. She signalled him to come up, and he said, in a comforting tone, “So sorry for your loss.”

She nodded slowly, trying to stay in control of her emotions, and, touching her

shoulder lightly, he said, “Hey, you can cry if you want.”

And without thinking, she put her arms around his waist and, burying her head on his shoulder, she cried. He held her until she was finished and assisted her to sit.

“Feeling better?” he asked.

She nodded her head and tried to smile a little. “Sorry about that.”

“You don’t have to be; you needed that.”

He stayed with her a little longer, then called two of his friends to help set up the tables, chairs, and tents – it gave Melissa a sense of relief, now that she had help, and it made her better prepared mentally for the funeral.

The funeral proceedings went smoothly, and at the church, her tears flowed nonstop. Trevor had arrived that morning, and he stood by her side, but he wasn’t much of a support. She stood at the cemetery as last goodbyes were said, feeling as alone as ever.

“Go with the Lord, Grandma,” she whispered, “and thank you for all you’ve done for me.”

The rain started to drizzle, and family and friends standing around walked away one by one, but Melissa stood there, not minding the rain, until an umbrella was held over her, and Nikhil asked, “Are you okay?”

She shook her head slowly, and he said to her, “You gotta be strong, and I think she would want you to be.”

Back at the house, as drinks and snacks were served, Melissa lay down to rest because she was feeling light-headed. A long while later, she regained some composure, and Trevor, who had been chatting with her cousin Lauren, asked, “Feeling better?”

She nodded her head, not in the mood for any conver-

sation. He left for home the next day, saying he would stay in touch. She nodded and couldn’t smile, knowing he was unwilling to do more for her.

Two days later, Nikhil stopped by to see how she was doing, and it warmed her heart to see him. Somehow, that beautiful feeling that had been lost from her life was coming back.

One week later, after putting her grandmother’s house in order, Melissa returned home, but things became tense between her and Trevor. He insisted that she use the money her grandmother had left for her to make a down payment on the house he wanted.

Melissa had felt disheartened that just a week after her grandmother’s death, Trevor

was talking about money, and she knew now, without a shadow of a doubt, that she would have to walk away from him to find a new life for herself.

And that night, the rain poured down again.

One month later, she left that life with Trevor, scrapping all the plans she had with him for a good future. She went back to that place

that had been home, where beautiful, fond memories lived.

That small, neat house with its cosiness and warm intimacy was now hers, and a fair bit of money to continue her small business. And with someone new in her life, the kind stranger on a rainy day who became close, she felt happy enough to dance in the rain.

STUDY SUCCESS

Welcome, dear student! As a writer, you are responsible for the accuracy of your written communication. This skill reflects both your personal dedication and scholarly pride. To achieve excellence, eliminate mistakes and misunderstandings, which can create barriers between you and those who assess your work. By honing your proofreading abilities, you present yourself positively. Catching errors in your assignments prevents issues like misspellings, poor formatting, incorrect capitalisation, and misleading messages and meanings. Make thoughtful choices in your writing. Be wise.

Love you.

IMPROVING WRITING

Revision: Guiding purpose in composition writing

The first step in good composition writing is for the writer to decide upon a purpose. “Where am I going

in this piece of writing; what progression should my reader see of my definite idea? Look at a limited aspect of the subject, a precise topic, which can range from personal narratives to argumentative and expository essays. But first, note these writing categories:

1. Narrative and Personal Recount or Storytelling: “The Last Time I Travelled by Sea,” (Reflective and emotional); “When I Was Lost,” (Descriptive of fear, surroundings, and resolution); and “A mistake I Regret Making,” (Personal growth and lessons learned).

2. Descriptive Writing (Creating a picture): To be good at this is to be able to create vivid sensory details, (sight, sound, texture, smell, touch, taste) to describe a person, place, or object. Good description helps to establish a mood or stir an emotion. Descriptive writings are such as: “My Favourite Corner for Study at Home,” (My safe place); “A

Portrait of My Stepmother/ Stepfather,” (Description of character and physical traits); “The Busiest Business Place(s) in My Village,” (Description more of sounds and movements)

3. Argumentative and Persuasive Writing: (You take a stand here with a clear opinion supported by evidence.)

Examples are:

“Should University Education be Free for Everyone?”

“Is It Fair to Ban Phones in Examination Rooms?”

4. Expository and Informative Writing: (Explaining, presenting information):

These topics educate the reader on a specific subject area.

Examples: “What It Means to Be a Good Leader”: (Defining personal qualities)

“How to Grow Tomatoes”: (How to do it or scientific explanation)

“How to Handle Disrespect”: (Providing actionable steps)

April 19th, 2026

5. Creative and Reflective Writing: (Imagination/ Philosophy)

Examples:

“What I Know about Lost Peoples Found Deep in Dense Forests”: (A blend of fact and creative thought)

“If I Were the President of Hobby Society for a Term”: (Creative ideas for change in a group)

“Seeing the Town through the Eyes of a Street Dog”: (A perspective -shifting story).

What you should do: Look at a limited aspect of the subject, a precise topic and put it in a theme sentence as simple and compact as you can. Let the guiding purpose be in the first paragraph or somewhere near the beginning to stand on guard to guide or help when you are mind-wandering. Use this to consult on bothersome issues also.

Largely the guiding purpose will influence your choice of words, choice of vocabulary, the tone, and the mood of your writing. That is the reason for an explanatory or expository composition being different from a narrative one.

Both the former cannot be written in the same style or word choice, tone, and mood. Technical terms must be used in technical subjects accompanied by straightforward language, and the list can go on. The language used in your composition will, of course, be flavoured by your treatment of the chosen topic.

DESCRIPTIVE WRITING

Read the descriptive story, and then attend to the suggestions below it.

The rabbits were unusually spry. They kept starting

Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow: He who would search for pearls must dive below.

up and about us and dashing off, down the draw as if they were playing a game of some kind. But the little buzzing things that lived in the grass were dead all but one.

While we were lying there against the warm bank, a little insect of the palest, frailest green hopped painfully out of the buffalo grass and tried to leap up into a bunch of bluestem.

He missed it, fell back, and sat with its head sunk between his long legs, his antennae quivering, as if he were waiting for something to come and finish him.

Tony made a warm nest for him in her hands; talking to him gaily and indulgently in Bohemian. He began to sing for us – a thin rusty little chirp. She held him close to her ear and laughed, but afterward I saw tears in her eyes….

When the bank on the other side of the draw began to throw a narrow shelf of shadow, we knew we ought to be starting homeward; the chill came on quickly when the sun got low.

What were we to do with the frail little creature we had lured back to life by false pretenses? I offered my pockets, but Tony shook

her head and carefully put the green insect in her hair, tying her big handkerchief down loosely over her curls.

(Willa Carter, “My Antonia”)

1. Read the excerpt once more and examine what it is teaching young writers like you particularly.

a) See how the seasoned writer uses the two human characters to make the insect come alive in the reader’s mind.

b) Note how the rabbits were played against the buzzing things.

c) Note how Tony is moved to tears and wants to be its sole caretaker.

2. Write a descriptive composition in which you describe an animal or some other living thing in its habitat.

a) Choose either an adult or young one. Your animal can be real or imaginary.

b) Allow your nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs to work well for you.

c) Let your language flow.

d) Share the finished product within your study group and point out your achievements. Record their comments and make alterations of improvement if needed.

Vaccine against tooth decay?

CAN there be a vaccine to prevent tooth decay?

The answer is a resounding “yes”. The principle obviously is the same for all vaccination processes, since bacteria mainly cause tooth decay. This converts sugar to acid, which in turn erodes the susceptible enamel. Evidence has shown that the Cercopithecoid primates (monkeys), which are genetically closest to humans, can be vaccinated against tooth decay. It is more than two decades since research scientists confirmed, clinically, the likelihood that people would be immunised against dental caries.

Having long before proven that the bacterium Streptococcus mutans is the principal actor in tooth decay, a comprehensive effort was made to use its protein to elicit the production of antibodies (defensive substances in the blood specific to that protein).

Remember that immunisation is based on the immune system’s characteristic “memory”. So, if you introduce a weakened, inactivated, or even a partially virulent bacterium (antigen) into the body, this act can stimulate the immune system (cellular defence) to produce antibodies (chemical defence) without causing the actual disease. The body recognises the pathogen and destroys it. The same happens with measles, the flu, and chickenpox.

The concept of vaccination is simple. It is the administration of a vaccine

to a person (or animal) to induce immunity to an infectious pathogen. The term (from Latin, “cow”) originally meant immunisation against smallpox, because the procedure started in 1796 when English physician Edward Jenner discovered that milkmaids who had contracted the mild disease cowpox were immune to smallpox. The development of the cowpox vaccine has since led to the production of vaccines against a wide range of diseases.

It seems that a few predominant factors have prevented a vaccine against tooth decay from being developed yet. On one hand, the American authorities have an extremely complex system in place whereby many hurdles must be passed before a drug can be tested in humans.

Secondly, as a part of the first obstacle, the tremendous impact this would have on the dental profession has prolonged its consideration. Many see the introduction of a vaccine against tooth decay as the first step toward dentists going into virtual self-extinction.

Notwithstanding, no one can say with certainty what the real reason is as to why there is no vaccination to prevent tooth decay after so many years. We dentists speculate that the most likely reason is that millions of dentists, allied dental professionals, dental product manufacturers, laboratories, etc., would all eventually become irrelevant.