ChildrenofBaby
APowerfulportraitofGuyanesecreativity
ByShaniyaHarding
ACASTofvibrantyoung GuyanesetooktotheNationalCulturalCentrestagein whatcanonlybedescribedas amasterfuldisplayofhomegrowntalent.Underthedirectionoftalentedactorand directorNickoseLayne,the play,‘ChildrenofBaby’by exceptionalGuyaneseplaywrightMosaTelfordcame tolifewithanaddedtouch ofuniqueness,vibrancy,and rawtalent.Theproduction showcasedsomeofthenation’sgreatestactors,writers, anddramatists,withLayne atthehelm.
Viewerswerestruckby theboldcreativityfromthe verystart,withthepounding, immersivesoundsofmasquerade.‘ChildrenofBaby’was inspiredbyatraumaticpartof Guyana’spast:The‘BabyArthur’killingsinBuxtonin1994. Theplaydelveddeepintotheaftermathofthetragedy,lookingindepthatthethemeoftrauma,itslong-lastingimpact, andtherolethecommunityplaysinhealing.
Mark-LukeEdwardsalongsideTchaikoRodneyintheopeningmomentsof
TraumatisedbyherownexperienceofBaby’srampage,she becomesthecaretakerfortwochildren,alsovictimsofthe event.
ShereeseVandykewithchildactorKareemJabarasyoungDamien
themes,portrayingthephysicalrepresentationofaddictionin theformoftheenchantingwhitelady,playedby16-year-old JustineHamer.Thisroleaimstoshowjusthowmuchcontrol anaddictioncanhaveoversomeone.Theplayalsobrought someyoungactorsandactressestothestage,withnames likeMark-LukeEdwardsasMicheal,andFrederickMintyas ‘Baby’,alongsidewell-knowntalentslikeIyannaWaddeland TashandraInnissaspartoftheproductionteam.
Whatis‘ChildrenofBaby’?
Forthosewhohavenotreadtheplay,youshould;itisa fantasticpieceofliteraryworkthatinspiredthestageproduction.Oneofthebestthingsabout‘ChildrenofBaby’is itsabilitytocontinuouslycaptivatetheaudienceasitfollows acommunitystillgrapplingwiththeaftermathoftragedy.
Theplayprimarilyfollowsafamilywhosemembersare allvictimsof‘Baby’inonewayoranother.Thecharacter ‘Madalla’,playedbyShereeseVandykeinthebeginning, andthenbyKimberlySamuels-Harryas‘OldMadalla’.The
ActressLatiefaAgard,whoplayedtheroleofAngel,was Angelisraisedwiththeimpacttheexperiencehashadon thevillageofBuxton.Similarly,Damien,playedbyKevin Kellman,isalsoaproductoftheeventsof1994.LikeAngel, achild.SpeakingtothePepperpotMagazine,Agardstated, “Angelistheimpactandaftermathofthekillings.Hercharacteriscentredaroundidentitycrisis,trauma,andrelationship issueswithherparentsandlovedones.Shefocusesonhow societycanchange,andhowsomethingsodevastatingcan
ATalkwiththeDirector
Actoranddirectorofthestageadaptation,NickoseLayne, fellinlovewithMosaTelford’splayevenbeforethewritten workwascompleted.AprojectthathasbeenagoalforNickfourweekstobebroughttolife.BackedbytheMinistryof Culture,YouthandSport,itwasamajorproductionputtogetherinamonth.AsNickosestated,“Itookontheproject, andithasbeenuphillsince.My
SEEPAGEXII
GavinandChucky GuyaneseMusicianstakingFolkmusictoIreland
ByShaniyaHarding
Guyanesecreativescontinuetotakethenation’snametotheworld stage.Themostrecentof thesetrailblazersarethe award-winningduo‘Gavin andChucky’.GroupmembersGavinMendoncaand Marlon‘Chucky’Adams, bothnotablenamesand ambitiousartistsintheir ownright,haveembarked onamusicaljourneyaimed toGuyanesemusic,withthe slogan“FolkUpDePlace.”
Now,theduofacethe biggestopportunityoftheir careers-theyhavebeencialShowcasePerformersat ‘YourRootsAreShowing’ -Ireland’sFolkMusicConferencescheduledforJanuary 15-19,2025,inKillarney, Ireland.
‘YourRootsAreShowing’isanimpressiveconferencethatgathersfolk/world musicprofessionalsfrom aroundtheglobefornetworkingopportunities,workshops,seminars,showcase performances,andjamming sessions.Frommusiciansto festivaldirectors,labelsto radiohosts,it’stheultimate placeforartiststoshowcase
theirmusicalproductstokey figuresintheinternational WorldMusicindustry.
WhoareGavinand Chucky?
Thedynamicduoformed attheRupununiMusicand ArtsFestival.Sincethen, theyhaveworkedtoperfect theiruniqueblendofCreole Rocksounds.
Gavingrewupinwhat hedescribesasa“verylovingfamily”inGeorgetown. HeattendedBishopsHigh Schoolandlaterstudied ComputerScienceatthe UniversityofGuyana,graduatingwithanAssociate DegreeinChemistry.“Igrew upasanactivememberofthe St.StanislausCollegeScout Group,whichinstilledsturdy valuesandtaughtmemany lifeskills,”heshared.
Marlon‘Chucky’Adams grewupinBuxtonandhas beenanintegralpartofthe communityastheleaderof theBuxtonFusionDrummingSchool.There,Chucky teachesyouthinBuxtonand surroundingareasthehistory ofdrumminginGuyanaand theartformpasseddown directlyfromtheirAfrican ancestors.“Myfamilyruns anAfricanSpiritualChurch inBuxton,aspecialplace
wheretheentirecommunity gatherstocelebratelifeand happiness,”heexplained.
MusicalRoots
Chuckyhasbeenplayingthedjembedrumsince childhood,growingupina spiritualchurchandtaking partinKwehKwehsessions.
Heistrulyamasterofthe popularinGuyanaandthe region.
Gavingotintomusiclatguitarin2010afterstarting university.Hequicklytaught himselftoplay,joinedapunk rockband,andlaterstarted playingbasswiththelocal heavymetalband‘FeedThe Flames’.“Beinginarock bandinGuyanaforcedmeto developskillssuchasorganizingshows,marketingand promotingevents,recording andengineeringmusic,and
livesound,”Gavinexplained. Theduomotivateeach otheraswell.AsGavin shared,“Chuckyhelpedinspiremetomaintainidentity throughmusic,andtogetherwestartedtoblendour somethingthathasnever beenheardbeforeinGuyana-thewaywefusefolk songs,traditionalrhythms andtextures,withpunkrock andmorecontemporaryapproachestomusic.”
‘FolkitUp’ Afterdevelopingtheir chemistryasmusicians, GavinandChuckynaturally conceivedtheideaof‘Folkit Up’.Theirgoalwastolearn andperformasmanyfolk songsaspossible,contributingtothepreservationof Guyanesefolkmusic.
In2019,theduobegan meetingatTheCourtyard MallonRobbStreetevery Fridayatnoontojamfor hours,entertainingpassersby. Theydecidedtorecordtheir work,partneringwithKross
ByShaniyaHarding.
Waiakabracomesfroman Amerindianword,which means‘gettingtogether.’ Whetherbyaccidentor design,thiscompletelyand perfectlycapturestheessenceofthecommunity.A beautifultapestryofpeople andcultures,Waiakabrais hometoadiversemixof residents,allwithunique beginningsandstories.A fewofthecommunity’s womensatdowntotalk aboutmotherhood,communitydevelopment,and whattheyloveabouttheir home.
Becomingapartof Waiakabra.
ComingfromSantaMissiononthebanksofthe DemeraraRiver,Roxanne DefraitsisoneofWaiakinthecommunityformore thanthirtyyears.Hermove
Acommunitycelebratingunity
inSantaMission,Roxanne
Roxannehasbecomea significantpartofWaiakabra.Nowinitsfourthyear,brationcontinuestogarner greatsupport,withwomen
ferentfromSantaMissionat
tivitieswithhersignature community.
Communitydevelopmentandcreativity.
stone.However,mostofher
Waiakabrahasseen anincreaseinits continuetocometoWaiakabra.
mentofcreativityamongits
inWaiakabrawerenice.My aconstantrise.Withmore
thecommunity’strueartistic natureshineswhenthismix
nicetimeinthecommunity; Waiakabra’sheritage celebration.
Waiakabra,afarwayfrom homefortheyoungmother
inthebeginning,butover
becauseofhermother,who herebecausemymotheris
connectwiththecommunity presentattheevent,with runners.
Waiakabraisacommunitythathasmanaged tonotonlycreateapeople-centredenvironment buthaskeptitthatway. Thevillagecontinuestodevelopasmorepeoplelearn aboutthishiddengem. Asamonthofcelebrating Waiakabrateachesusthat itisimportanttocelebrate asone.
RoxanneDefraits(JaphethSavoryPhotos)
Waiakabra’sITChub andbuilding
FromRobertsBushtoWaiakabra
ByShaniyaHarding.
WaiakabraisanAmerindiancommunitythatblurs thelinesbetweenwhatis consideredindigenousin thebestwaypossible.Home toadiversemixofpeople, theAmerindiansettlement isabeautifulblendofmen andwomenfromregions onethroughten.Today, thecommunityboasts anestimatedpopulation of300men,women,and children.Originallycalled Roberts’sBush,theword “Waiakabra”means‘gettingtogether’.Asthevillage preparestocelebrateAmerindianHeritageMonthon September21st,theyare showingtherestofGuyana whatitmeanstounite,re-
AnnMohanlall,anativeofRegionOne,was bornandraisedinalittle villagecalledHosororoin theBarima-Wainiregionof Guyana.Nowatreasureofa communitymanymilesaway fromherhome,Annexplains thatherfamily,likesomany others,cametothevillage seekingnewopportunities.
Recountingherearlyexperiencesinthecommunity, shesaid,“Myparents,they werelookingforworklike 25yearsago.Becauseit’s nothowitistoday,itwas veryhardfindingworkin Region1.”
Afterachangeofluck, Ann’sfatherfoundworkasa securityguard,launchingthe beginningofthefamily’snew life.Waiakabrawasthena smallsquattingareatryingto likemostofthefamilies whonowcallthecommunity home.AsAnnstated,Waiakabrawasoncehometomore treesthanhouses.“Then,it wasahometolike35houses. Withbush,withalotofbushes.Itwasjusttracksandnot mainroads.”
Comingalongway: CommunityDevelopment Justlikeitspeople, Waiakabrahasdevelopedand carvedanewpathforitself. Foundedondiversity,with familiesfromallaroundthe country,thevillagegrappled withnumerouschallengesin itsearlyyears.Basicnecessitieswerescarce,withmost villagersgettingwaterfrom thenearbyWaiakabralake. Today,thisisnolongerthe case.Thevillagenowhas electricityanditsownwell, whicharesimplechanges thathavehadaprofound impactonthequalityoflife forWaiakabra’speople.Ann shared,“Thedevelopmentin Waiakabrahasbeengoodin wehadtofetchwater,and nowwehaveourownwell. Wehavehadelectricityfor almostsevenyearsnow.”
Oneofthebiggest achievementsforthecommunityhasbeenattainingland
leases.Annexplainsthatthis hasbeenasignificantgoal forthevillageformanyyears andhasopenedcountless opportunitiesforitspeople. “Weareregularisedexcept
anICThub,whichfacilitates classesforthecommunity’s youngpeople,andthereare planstodevelopabakery.
Aculturalmeltingpot:
ThepeopleofWaiakabra
ThepeopleofWaiakabra areundoubtedlywhatmakes thevillagestandoutamong itscounterparts.Whileit’s anAmerindiancommunity, Waiakabraisstillproudof itsvibrantdiversity.“WaiakabraisanAmerindiancommunity,butit’salsoamixed community,”Annstated. Thismeltingpotofpeople hasgiventhecommunityits ownuniqueblendofcultures, whereeveryculturalholiday iscelebratedboldlyamong themixoftraditions,and added,“Heritageiscelebratedbyeverybody.It’sby everybody,andourHeritage isthe21stofthismonth.”
foroneplot.Thatwouldbe Block80.They’renotregularisedasyet.Mostofusalreadyhaveourleases.That’s abigaccomplishment.It’sa bigaccomplishmentthatwe cangotothebanks.Wecan dothis,andwecandothat. It’ssomethingthatweown now.”Thissenseofownershipextendsbeyondland titles.Waiakabranowhouses
Thediversepopulation ofWaiakabraisnotanew occurrence,asAnnexplains. Thevillage’svibrantmixof cultureshasbeenintegralto itsformationandidentity. “Everybodyisactuallymixed fromthebeginning.Inthis community,wehaveEast Indian,Portuguese,andAmerindian.That’showweget allthemixedracestocome down.Andthenotherpersons,theygotoothervillages andthenmarry.”
Waiakabrastandsasa brightandwelcomingexamplethatshowcasesthe importanceofcommunity unity.AsAnnshared,“We loveWaiakabrabecauseit’s veryquiet.Theonlytime youhearalotofmusicis ifthereisaneventgoing on.Iwouldlovepeopleto knowaboutWaiakabra.” Indeed,thisdiverseand harmoniousvillageserves asatestamenttowhatcan beachievedwhenpeople cometogether,regardlessof theirbackgrounds.
However,thisunitygoes beyondtheboundsoftradition.Thecommunitybands togetherinchallengingtimes aswell.Annshared,“We havethatunity.Wedohave thatlove.Ifsomebodydiesor someaccidentorsomething, everybodyisthereinasecond.ThewholeWaiakabrais thereinasecond.Ifwehave something,whenwedoselfhelp,everybodycomesoutcooperatingwitheverybody.”
AnnMohanlall(Japheth SavoryPhotos)
Agroupofwomenfrom Waiakabra.
EntrepreneurshipandEmpowerment
ByShaniyaHarding.
Findingone’spathcanbe
independenceandpeace
Today,Waiakabrafits beautifullyintothecolourful Lindenlandscape;thiswas notalwaysthecase,however. Afewdecadesago,lifeinthe communityleftmuchtobe desired.Withoutelectricity andrunningwaterapartfrom thecreek,manypeopledid notseeWaiakabraasagood choiceforsettlingdown. AsAkeilaexplained,“The highwaywasverysmall, likeaone-wayatthetime. Andafterthat,thevillage developedlittlebylittle.I rememberwhenwegotour well,somanypeoplestarted comingandsquattingand squattingandsquatting.”
Thiswasthebeginningof acommunitylegacyunlike anyother.Aspeoplefrom allaroundthecountrycame toWaiakabra,theyallleft theirmarkonthevillage’s cultureandtraditions.One oftheunderlyingcharacteristicsofthecommunityis thehardworkingnatureofits people.Althoughstillgrapplingwithafewchallenges, thepeopleofWaiakabraare strivingtocreatebetterlives forthemselves.AsAkeila toldthePepperpotMagazine,“Fromthattimeto now,wehave,youknow,we haveimproved.Everybodyis strugglingheretobuildalife, tobecomfortable.”
Thisdeterminationtobe betteriswhathasfuelled Akeila’sbusinessaswell.
Afterleavingherhusband afewyearsago,shewas determinedtocraftalifefor herselfoutsideofhermarriage.This,shesaid,wasa pivotalmomentinherlife andchangedthewayshe viewedherselfasawoman. Asshestated,“Iwasmarriedbefore.Andmeandmy husbandseparated.Andthat thingusedtokeepmedown asawoman.IthoughtIwas notpreparedtogooutthere andwork.”
Herinitialfearswere overshadowedbyherneedto provideforbothherselfand
preparedtogo.Theydon’t work.Andthat’swhatkeeps theminabusiverelationships.”
Akeilaencourageswom-tionstheymayhavebecause it’salwaysforthebetterin thelongrun.Outliningher ownexperience,Akeilasays sheisproudofherselfand heraccomplishments.Sheis amazedatjusthowfarshe hascome.Asshesaid,“I haveneverregrettedleaving myhusband.Becauseaday liketoday,Ihavemyown home.Ihaveeverything.And hehastocomenowandlook atme.Andsaytohimself,all thosenegativethoughtshe wasthinkingaboutme.” fromherowninspiringjourney,Akeilasaysthekeyto movingforwardinasituaandtheunderstandingthat althoughitmaybehard,you canaccomplishanything.As shestated,“Whenyouareso Youdon’thavetosay,well, youarethebeautiful.You knowyouarebeautiful.But youarenotsayingyouare thebestorwhatever.Butyou knowyouarebeautifulwith-
positivewithinyourbrain, thatiswhat’sgoingtowork foryou.”Shefurtheradded, “I’mherethreeyearsnow. It’sbeenreallygood.Challenging,butgoodbecause I’veimprovedalot.”
Currently,Akeila’sGroceryisoneofWaiakabra’shot spotsandhasbecomeapillar ofthecommunity.Becauseof thepopulation,Akeilasays thatimprovementsintourism wouldgiveallofthevillage’s businessesabigboost.As sheexplained,“It’sasmall community.Soyouwouldn’t amorehigherlevel.Maybe ifmorepeoplecometothe communityandvisitorthey cometostayattheresort.” Therearenotmanythings thatthecommunityiswithout,saysAkeila.Butaschool orhealthcenterwouldbe greatlyappreciated.“Anice littlehealthcentrewouldbe niceinhere.Thewholeschool andeverythinginhere.Anice littleschoolforthenursery children,”shestated.
herdaughters.Sheexplained thatthisinitialfearofbeing iswhatalotofwomenfeel andwhatcankeepthemin abusiverelationships.Asshe shared,“Anotherthingwhy womenbeinabusiverelationships.Becausetheytell themselvestheycan’tmake itoutthere.Andthey’renot
Eventhreeyearsdown theroad,afterstartingabusinessandlifeofherown, Akeilasaysshestayspositive andcontinuestomakethe bestoutoflife,regardlessof thechallenges.Asshestated, “Iamlivingmylife.I’m notsayingI’mthebest,but I’mworking.Onceyou’re
Entrepreneurand motherAkeila
ByShaniyaHarding
Anewcomer’sexperienceinthecommunity
Villagesareunique,each withitsownblendofpeople,places,andcultures. It’srareforsomeoneto feelathomeinavillage hundredsofmilesfrom theirbirthplace.Yet,Weslui Jacobssayshefeelsright athomeinWaiakabra.A nativeofthepicturesque townshipofLethem,Weslui peacefulasheexpected.
IdealRoadmarksthebeginningoftheLinden-Soesdykehighwayandtheend ofTimehri.Hometoavast varietyoftreesandanimals, WaiakabraisquitedifferentfromWeslui’ssavannah homeinLethem.Ashestated,“Lethemissavannahnext totheriver.Andtheplaceis much,muchhotterthanthis.”
Atjusttwenty-fouryears old,Wesluihasspentmostof hislifeinLethemandBrazil. Hewasbornandraisedina communityjustoutsidethe township,asmallvillagethat madeforhumblebeginnings. “Igrewupinavillage.It’s notthatfarfromLethemsixhoursbydriving.The village’snameisTipuru,” Wesluishared.
TipurugaveWesluiavery ‘adventurous’childhood,but italsopresentedafewchal-
struggleshisfamilyfaced atthetime,Wesluisaidhis childhoodwasahappyone, givinghimcountlessgood experiencesandmemories. Hereflected,“Schoolwas good.Itwasmuchbetter withoutinternetandelecyourself,playwithfriends, andhaveadventures.”
Workwashardtocome byinWeslui’searlyyears.He beganseekingemployment earlierthanmost,finding worldinneighbouringBrazil. Livingsoclosetotheborder, BrazilseemedcloserandnitiestotheyoungWeslui. ArrivinginBrazilwasa explained,“InBrazil,you golookingforopportunities. Athome,inthevillage,you don’tfindopportunities.I wenttoBrazilandspentlike ayearthere.IdidconstructionworkwhenIwas16or 17.”
Buthisambitioncameat acost.LikeGuyana,Brazil hasstrictagerequirements forwork.Inadesperateattempttoprovideforhimself andhisfamilybackhome, Wesluiliedabouthisage. WorkingvariousconstructionjobsaroundthePor-
tuguese-speakingcountry, Wesluikepthistrueagehiddenforanumberofyears. “InBrazil,theyonlyallow 18andupforconstruction work,soIfakedmyage,”he admitted.Afteraboutayear, Wesluireturnedhome,now olderandonGuyana’ssoil, seeingachancetostartover.
UponreturningtoGuyana,Wesluitooktheopportunitytoreconnectwithhis familyandfaith.Hemoved backtohisgrandmother’s house,whereheworked anyjobhecouldandran errands.“WhenIcameback toLethem,Ihelpedmy grandmother.Shehada nice,bigplace,soIwould cleanupforherandrun someerrands,”heshared. Weslui’sluckchanged, however,whenhegotthe chancetomovetoWaiakabra.Theopportunitycame throughhischurchwhen hewasaskedtomanagea localresortinWaiakabra. Heexplained,“Iusedto gotochurchandhelpthe priestswithanything.They employedmeasacaretaker inthenextcompound.”
BeforecomingtoWaiakabra,Wesluiadmittedthat heknewverylittleaboutthe resortandevenlessaboutthe community.Today,hesees thecommunityasahome
awayfromhome;itstranquillityandfriendlypeople remindhimoflifeontheoutskirtsofLethem.“Waiakabra ispeaceful,unlikeLethem,
whereyouseealotofpeople. Here,it’speaceful,andIfeel athomebecausetherearea lotofAmerindianpeoplein thiscommunityaswell,”he stated.
Nowattheforefrontof thevillage’stourismsector, Wesluisaysheenjoysthe workhedoes.Helpingpeople experiencethebeautyofthe communityhasinspiredhim todosomethingsimilarwhen hereturnshometoTipuru. Fornow,however,Weslui’s mainpriorityishisfamily. Heshared,“I’mplanningto gobacktoLethem,notnow, maybeinthenexttenyears. Ihavemychildrenhere,and theyhavetogotoschool.”
Wesluisaysthathiswife andchildrenare,inmany ways,thejoyofhislife. Fatherhoodhastaughthim
responsibility,anexperiencehesaysheneeded.He oneissixyearsold,the secondistwoyears,and thelastoneisafewmonths old.Fatherhoodmakesyou moreresponsibleforthem andforyourself.I’mhappy withthem.Andmywifeis agoodwoman.”
Beforemovingto Waiakabra,Wesluihad neverheardofthecommunity;today,hecan’t imaginehislifewithoutit. Hesharedcontentedly,“I liketheworkthatIdohere. It’sagoodplaceandagood life.”Thisquietcommunity,knownbyveryfew, istheplacewhereWeslui sayshehashadcountless experiencesandaworldof opportunities.
WesluiJacobs(JaphethSavoryPhotos)
IWASinvitedandawareofthisauthor’svisit andtheeventattheTheatreGuild.However, basedonsomeadvicefromacolleaguewhoalso intendedtobeattheGuild,Iwasconfusedby andneutralised;circumstancesinterrupted, andIdidn’tmakethattremendousrendezvous. Nevertheless,IhadwitnessedanactiveYouTube presentationthepreviousevening,whichIenjoyedverymuch.I’dboughtMarjoleineKars’ book,‘BloodontheRiver’fromAustin’sBook Servicesabouttwoyearsago.
The1763Revolutionin philosophycontained‘The LegendoftheSilkCotton Tree’thatincludedaWarlockofDutchorigin.Tothis, Iwouldhavelikedtohave therewasastipulationtothe natureofreligiousconduct requiredofDutchplanters. TheNetherlandswasaplace thatfreethinkersheadedfor inthe17th&18thCenturies. Wouldacharacterlikethe Warlockhavebeenableto ownaplantationinBerbice?Becauseallthefolklore concerningthehiddenDutch wealthofpreciousmetalsI haveexploredbeganwith dreamsofDutchvisitations, perhapsthere’samoodthat invitessuchharshfantasies.I extendconsiderablethanksto theinitiativeforbringingthat author,andinitiatingsucha discussionamongouryoung people,especially.
FIRSTWorldstatusis thekindofsocietyto whichcountriesinEurope andNorthAmericahave
evolved.Insuchsocieties, theeconomicandsocial well-beingofthepopulationiswelltakencareof.
Povertyhasbeeneliminated,andtheStateprovides fortheeducational,health andothersocialamenities
requiredbythepopulation. Theeconomiesareproductive,andtheworkingpopulationareemployed.Law andOrderpervadeeverywhere,andone’slife,propertyandsafetyaresecure. Humanrightssuchasdemocracyandfreedomofspeech andassemblyarepractised andpromotedbysuchsocieties.Allundeveloped anddevelopingcountries, suchasGuyana,arestriving toachieveFirstWorld-type societies.
Havingenoughwealthto fundsuchsocietiesisaprerequisiteforachievingthem. Thedevelopmentoftheoil industryhasbeenoneofthe quickestwaysofearningthe vastsumsneededtofund theadventofsuchsocieties.Fouryearsago,Guyana suddenlyfounditselfamong theoilproducers,andunlike mostThirdWorldcountries, whichhavefoundthemselves suddenlybeingabletoenter thecorridorsofgreatwealth, therewasnowildcelebration oreuphoriaamongGuyanese. Severalforeignjournalists hadmadetheirwaytoGuyanatoreportonhowthe unsophisticatednativesweremality,andGuyanesepeople goingabouttheirbusinessin theusualway.Thisdisappointmentincensedseveral ofthesejournalists,whowere reducedtoreportingwhat abackwardandunsanitary placeGeorgetownwas,but therewasnoGuyaneseripostetothesefalseinsults.
Instead,Guyanesehave beendebatinghowbestto deploytheiroilrevenues,and advocatedtheveryattractive propositionthatthebulkof therevenuesbedistributed toeverycitizenafterputting asideasmallamountforsavings.Itwasfeltthatwealth wastherefortheunrestrained enjoymentanduseofthe population.Thereare,however,twoinhibitoryfactors thatwoulddelaysuchrapid isthatatthistime,theoil
revenuesaretoosmallfor anymeaningfulindividual distribution,andsecondly, thereareexamplesofcountriescomingintogreatwealth and,afterusingit,finding themselvesaspoorasbefore.
Suriname,whenitbecameindependent,wasgiven a“goldenhandshake”ofa billiondollarsbyaformercolonialpower,theNetherlands. Surinameusedthemoneyto buyconsumergoodsofevery kind,evenconfectionery. AndpeoplefromGuyana andotherCaribbeancountries wenttoSurinametoshop. Surinamewas,inthetimes ofthe“goldenhandshake”, apleasantplacetolive.But afterafewyears,themoney wasexhausted,andSuriname returnedtoitspoorcondition. Theadvocatesofdistribution feelthatitshouldbedoneas soonasenoughoilrevenues accumulate.
Theothersideofthedebateadvocatesthattheoil revenuesareessentiallycapitaltobeusedforeconomicandsocialdevelopment, whichthecountryhasalwaysdenied.Further,money wastobeusedtogenerate wealth,andmajorconsumpfromthewealthgenerated. Thedoctrineofthe“Resource Curse”andthe“DutchDisease”wherebynewlyoil-rich countriesneglecttheiroldindustriesandfocuswhollyon oilandenjoygreatprosperity whichmaylastforaprolongedperiod,creatingthe illusionofpermanencyuntil thedayofreckoningarrives, andforoneofmanyreasons, theillusionofpermanency isshattered.Thesereasons mayincludeadecreaseinresources,afallinworldprices, orsanctionslimitingexports causedbywarorstrained diplomaticrelations.This doctrinedovetailsintothe ofthedebate.
TheexampleofVenezuelacouldbeusedtosupport thissideofthedebate:Venezuela,beforethediscoveryof oil,livedonAgricultureand
Mining,andwasregardedas adevelopingcountry.With thediscoveryofoil,Venezuelasuddenlycameintogreat wealthandthestandardof livingofalargepartofthe populationwaselevated. SinceVenezuelahasthelargestoilreservesintheworld,it wasfeltthatVenezuelawould continuetogrowwealthier andwealthier,andboththe populationandgovernment turnedawayfromtheindustriesthatoncesupportedthe country,andfocusedcompletelyonoil.
Thesocialistgovernment ofPresidentChavezwas confidentthatVenezuela wouldalwaysbewealthy, andhenationalisedtheAmerican-owned-and-managedoil companies.Theskilledexandcorruptionbecamewidespread.This,togetherwith thegrowthofauthoritarian governanceandtheeschewingofdemocracy,caused theUnitedStatestoimpose sanctions,andVenezuela’s exportsandoilrevenueswere reducedtoafractionofwhat theyoncewere.Poverty andhungerbecamewidespread,andaquarterofthe andVenezuela,frombeing therichestcountryinSouth America,becamethepoorest. TheAmerindianpopulation, whichwasneglectedand exploitedaslabourers,especiallyinthebuildingindustry,nowbecamedesperately poor.
Guyanahasresistedthe glitzofconspicuousconsumption,andisinvestingthe revenuesinprogrammesand projectsthatwillcontinue togrowsociallyandecoFirstWorldstandards.Such programmesincludetheconstructionofroadsandbridges interconnectingthewhole country,andfacilitatingthe movementofgoods,services andpeople.Largeinvestmentsarebeingmadetogive thepopulationlandandhousSEEPAGEXV
Airisthe“ocean”webreathe,providinguswithoxygen essentialforlife.However,humanactivitiesreleasepolplants,andanimals.AccordingtotheUnitedNations,air pollutionisthebiggestenvironmentalhealthriskofour time,with99%oftheglobalpopulationbreathingpollutedair.Itexacerbatesclimatechange,causeseconomic losses,andreducesagriculturalproductivity.
Airpollution,whichmanifestsinvariousformssuchas smog,acidrain,globalwarming,andozonelayerdepletion, isresponsibleformanyoftheenvironmentalproblemswe facetoday.Theseissueshaveseriousimplicationsforhuharmfulsubstanceslikesmoke,dust,fumes,andtoxicgases entertheatmosphere.Onceairborne,thesepollutantsposea
toaddressandcontrolairpollution,ensuringthatatmospheric pollutantsremainwithinallowablelevelsthatdonotendangerthehealthofpeople,animals,ortheenvironment.
Althoughairqualityisacriticalissue,itisofteninvisirangeofhealthproblems,includingasthmaattacks,andcan atbothindividualandcollectivelevels.Simpleactionssuch
inensuringthatpollutants releasedbyhumanactivities donotexceedsafelevels.Ac-
emittingairpollutantsmust registerwiththeAgencyand Authorization.Unauthorised emissionsareprohibited, andbusinessesarerequired tosubmitalistofcontaminantstheyproduce,which environmentalandpublic exposure.
Airpollutionknowsno beings.ThatiswhytheUnitedNationsdeclaredSeptember7asthe“International DayofCleanAirforBlue Skies”toraiseawarenessand encourageactionatalllevels toimproveairquality.
playinprotectingouratmosphereandensuringhealthy corporations,andcivilsoci-
etymustcollaborateandinvestinreducingairpollution.By workingtogether,wecanachievetransformativechangeand createahealthierenvironmentforfuturegenerations.
ThisInternationalDayofCleanAirforBlueSkies,let’s allpledgeto#InvestInCleanAirNowandcontributetoasafer, cleanerworld.
Youcanshareyourideasandquestionsbysending lettersto:“OurEarth,OurEnvironment”,C/OCommunicationsDepartment,EnvironmentalProtectionAgency, GangesStreet,Sophia,GEORGETOWN,oremailusat communications@epaguyana.org.FollowusonFacebook andInstagram,andsubscribetoourYouTubechannel.
FROMPAGEII
Children of...
Inanincrediblyentertainingmanner,‘Children ofBaby’createsajourney forviewersthattakesplace overseveralyears,beginning withphenomenalactingthat bringstheintensityofthe tragedytolife.Talkingabout this,DirectorNickoseshares, “Theplaygoesthroughdecades;thetimelineoftheplay isdecadeslong.Ittalksabout howtraumaispasseddown, andhowitliveswithus. Evenifthepeoplewhohave inflictedthetraumamight havedied,itispassedon.We lookathowtraumaliveswith usandaffectspeoplewho
maynothaveexperiencedthe primarysourceoftrauma.”
Thereissomething uniqueaboutseeingwordson apagebroughttolife.Thisis exactlywhatNickoseaimed todo,withminorchanges topreserveoriginality.He interpretedcertainaspectsof theplay,stillkeepingclose totheGuyanesetheme,while addingjustabitmorevibrancytothestories.Ashestated, “Iinterpretedtheplay.Ithink wearedoingtheplayvery closetowhatMosawrote. Butwhatiswrittenisjust whatiswritten;aplayisnot aproduction.Therearealot
oflibertiesthatadirector has.OneofthethingsthatI sawintheplaythatwasnot
there,butIsawit,wasmasquerade.Itwassoclearto me;masqueradewasclearly
anelementtome.”
Thebestpartofplays like‘ChildrenofBaby’isthe
LatiefaAgard‘Angel’alongsideKevinKellmanas‘Damien’centralcharacterstotheplay
ShereeseVandykeas‘YoungMadalla’
massacre
Childrenof...
FROMPAGEXII
factthatitisGuyanese,fromitswritingtoitsproduction.It issomethingtobeproudofasapeople,andtobereminded ofhowimportantitistosupporteachother,whichiswhat ‘ChildrenofBaby’strivestodo.AsNickoseshared,“Iwant peopletoleavewiththeunderstandingthatcommunityis veryimportant,andevenwhenwefeelasthoughsomebody ourselves,andtoeachotheraswell.Ialwayssaypeopleneed people.Iwantpeopletoknowthattheyhaveaparttoplay.”
‘ChildrenofBaby’standsasatestamenttothepower ofGuyanesestorytelling.Throughitscompellingnarrative andstellarperformances,theplaynotonlyentertains, impactoftraumaandthehealingpowerofunity.
FrederickMintyisthe titlecharacterandthe play’santagonist,Baby
es;hospitalsarebeingupgraded, andnewmodernhospitalsare beingconstructedintheHinterland;schoolsandeducationalinstitutionsarebeingbuilt andupgradedineverypartofthecountry;thousandsoffree Onlinedegreeprogrammesarestimulatinghighereducation, andtheUniversityofGuyanaisupgradingitsprogrammes, andintroducingnewandrelevantones;andtheLaw-enforcingauthoritiesarebeingreequippedandstrengthenedsothat citizensandtheirpropertywouldenjoygreatersecurity.Electricityisbeingmadeavailablebythesupplyofsolarenergy, andinformationtechnology,includingcomputers,isbecoming widespreadintheHinterlandregions.
Thepresentindustriesarebeingexpandedandmademore productive.Agriculture,forexample,thecountry’sbiggest andmostwidespreadindustry,whichemploysamajorityof theworkforce,hasembarkedonarevolution.Newcropsare beingintroducedtosatisfydomesticneedsandwithexport potential,suchasmaiseandsoyaandvariousspices,and evenmilletandtropicalwheatarebeingsuccessfullygrown onanexperimentalscale.Riceproductionisincreasing,and theexportmarketisgrowing.Thesugarindustryisbeing revivedandmodernisedandisfullysatisfyinglocalneeds.
Thepoultryandlivestockindustriesarebeingupgradedby theimportofAmericanspeciesofpoultryandtheintroduction ofBarbadosBlackBellysheepandHolsteinbullsandsperm.
TheGastoEnergyproject,wherebygasfromtheoil wellswouldbeconvertedintoelectricitytobesoldathalf thepresentpriceandalsobetransformedintoliquidgasfor domesticuse.Thefoundationisbeinglaidforastrongand competitivemanufacturingsector,andseveralnewindustries areawaitingtheadventofcheappowertobelaunched,for example,glassandbottlemanufacturingindustries.
ticetotheAmerindiancommunityasthe“FirstPeople”and billionsofdollarshavebeentransferredtotheirvillagesto assistintheirdevelopmentandtopermitthemtoenjoythe samesocialamenitiesandeconomicopportunitiesasthe CoastalRegions.
Thissideofthedebatehastakenapageoutofthebookof theFirstSide,whichadvocateswholesaledistributionofoil revenuesbymakinglimiteddistributions.Othersuggestions includetransferstosocialwelfaresuchasincreasesinOld
allschoolchildrenforuniformsandequipment,provisionof schoolmeals,andgrantstoassistcitizensinmeetingtheir electricityandwaterconsumptioncosts.Thesegrantsand transfersaremeanttoimprovethequalityoflifeandstandard oflivingsteadilyandarenotasnoticeableasthewholesale distributionadvocatedbytheFirstSideofthedebate.
Thepopulationwouldeventuallyhavetodecidewhether theywishtohavetheoilrevenuesdistributedforimmediate useastheverypopularrhumbasongonceadvised:“Enjoy yourself,it’slaterthanyouthink,theyearsgobyasquickly asawink.Enjoyyourself,enjoyyourself orwhethertheywouldusethefundsasdevelopment capitalforthenon-oilsectorswhileatthesametime allocatingfundsforthesocialsectorssuchasHealth, Education,pensionsandperiodicmodestgrantstothe populationsothatthecountrykeepsdevelopingthree-dimensionally,thoughalmostimperceptiblyandwithout Standard.Thecountryhasalreadyembarkeduponthis secondcourse,andthediscerningarebeginningtosee someachievement.
THENATIVEBEAUTYANDTHEBEAST
InMemoryoftheyounggirls’liveslostintheMahdia tragedyofMay2023
NIGHTtime-darkandmysterious,thesoftwhispering ofthewindandsoundsofthejungle;natureundisturbed. Thenativegirlstandingonthefringeofthereservation closedhereyes,breathinginthecool,freshair,hermind embracingallshelovedsomuch,thenaturalbeautyand serenityofthisplaceshecalledhomeinthehinterland.
“AnnMarie.”
Herfriendswerecallingher,fortheend-of-the-week feastwasjustbeginning.Itwasanightwhenthevillagers
‘Ithadbeenadarknight,likeitwastonight,andthe
andtheToshao’ssonsignaledthathewouldtakethe shot.Heknewnotthenthatitwasaspiritofthejungle
PhotocourtesyofSouthRupununiDistrict Council
Theotherhunters,scaredofthespirit’srage,ran, spirit.NoonesawtheToshao’ssonagainandthatwas AnnMariewasjustalittlegirl,andasshegrewolder, nottogo,butshehadneverseenthiscreature.Where topsabovethenowsleepingvillage.Adarkcreature reddish-goldenlightonherlongdarkhair.Shewasso beautiful,likeanIndianGoddess,andthoughhehad
Gavin and...
FROMPAGEIII
KolorRecordstorelease ‘FolkitUpVol.1’-acollectionofGuyanesefolksongs. Itssuccessledto‘FolkitUpVol.2’in2022and‘Vol.3’, recordedliveintheIwokramaRainforestin2023,adding alayerofrainforestconservationtotheirwork.
WhatmakestheirmusicuniqueisthefusionofAfrican rhythmsandGuyanesefolkmusicwithpunkrock.“Ithas neverbeendonebefore,andwearetheonlyduowhocan doit,”Gavinexplained.“Weauthenticallyrepresentthe Guyanesevoiceandwayoflifeinourmusic,whilealso creatingsucharuckusthatanyonewouldfeelcompelled tomovetheirhipsoratleasttaptheirfeetwhentheyhear Chucky’sdrumandmyguitar.”
StandingOutontheGlobalStage GavinandChucky’sappealtointernationalaudiences isevidentthroughsongslike‘CityByDeTides’,‘The ‘EverythingGonBeAlright’.GavinbelievesthatGuyanese uniquenesstrulystandsoutintheinternationalarena.“As Guyanesemusiciansinaninternationalmarket,weare easiertostandoutthanonemightbelieve.Byremaining authenticinourpresentationanddeliveryofourmusic,we areabletocaptivateaveryspecialnicheaudienceofpeople aroundtheworldwhotrulyappreciatelearningaboutnew culturesandhearingnewsounds.”
Todate,thepairhasshowcasedtheirmusicattheRupununiMusicandArtsFestival,theGuyanaFolkFestivalin NewYork,andtheBridgetownInternationalArtsFestival 2023inBarbados.They’vealsoparticipatedinvirtualfestivalsduringthepandemic,includingFolkAllianceInternationalOnlineandBankraCaribbeanCultureFestOnline.
TheduohascollaboratedwithBurchmoreSimonat KrossKolorRecordstoproducetheir“FolkItUp”album recordingvirtualconcertsintheNorthRupununi.Gavinhas alsorepresentedtheduoatinternationaleventssuchasFolk AllianceInternationalintheUS,DubaiExpo,American MusicAbroadColombia,EthnoUSA,EthnoSweden,and
DuoGavinandChuck performingatthe CourtyardMall.
theGuyanaFolkFestivalin London.
AsGavinandChucky preparefor‘YourRootsAre Showing’inIreland,they aredeterminedtoshowcase trueGuyaneseculturetothe world.However,thejourney isn’twithoutchallenges.The duoiscurrentlyworking toraisefundsforthetrip, gainingsupportfromvarious Guyanesecorporations,but theystillhavealongwayto gobeforereachingIreland.
Withtheirunique blendoftraditionalGuyaneserhythmsandcontemporaryrock,Gavin andChuckyarenotjust musicians;theyareculturalambassadors,ready tosharetherichtapestry ofGuyanesemusicwith theworld.
THENATIVEBEAUTY...
knowabouthisexistence.Butwouldshebeabletolovea creaturelikehimtoliftthecurse?
AnnMarieopenedhereyestoawarmandbeautiful newday.Shesatup,liftingherhandtotouchthesunbeam streamingthroughthewindow,whenshesawthewhiteprisedandpickeditupgingerly.Itwasoneoftherarest butwhocouldhavebroughtit?
“AnnMarie,you’vegottoseethis.”
FromPageXVI
Sherushedoutsidewithhimandstaredatthemazeof strangetrackseverywhere.Somethingnothumanhadentered thevillagethatnight,andtherewasfearandconfusioninthe air.Sherecalledthefeelingshehadlastnight,andlooking onher.
“Ohmygosh,coulditbe?”
Hadthebeastcomehome?
Herfatherlookedathercuriouslyandwarned is.”
Ahuntingpartywentoutscouringthejunglebutfound nothing.Whateveritwas,itwaslonggone.
AnnMarietriednottosleepthatnight,butataboutmidnight,hereyesclosed,andthenextmorning,byherbedside, itforalongmoment,notsurewhattothink.Wasitthebeast, andwhatdidhewant?Shehadtoknow,andthebravesoul shewas,shewentintothejunglethatday.Shedidnotventure toofar,stoppingbyastreamandfeltthatstrangepresence inthewater,hearingthesoundasitcamecloserandgasped Itwasthebeast!
Hewasnotjustatale.Hewasreal!
Sheroseslowly,tryingnottobeafraid,notknowingin thenextmomentifshewouldbekilled.Hewassohideous, italmosttookherbreathaway,buthiseyesheldasoft,almostpleadinglook.Inhispaw-likehandswasaredrosethat heheldouttoher,butbeforeshecouldmove,voiceswere heardcoming,andwithadeepgrowl,thebeastturnedand disappearedintothejungle.
Shepickeduptheredrosehehaddroppedandatthat moment,sheknewwhatshehadtodo,forthepleadinglook inhiseyeswasmorethanwordscouldsay.Thenextmorning, reachdeepintothejungle,wheretherareorchidsgrew.It wasalongjourney,andjustbeforedusk,shereachedwhere sheknewthebeastwouldbe.
“Beast,”shecalled“I’mheretoseeyou.”
Wherewashe?
Shesensedhispresencejustbehindherandturning,she almostscreamed.Thebeastwasstandingthere,bleeding, twoarrowsprotrudingfromhisshoulderandback,andhe slumpedtotheground.Thehuntershadfoundhim,andthe voicesweredrawingcloser.Shewasn’tsurewhattodo,but sheknewifshedidn’tdosomething,hewouldbekilled.She piecesofherclothingtostopthebleeding.
Thelookinhiseyeswassogentlethatittouchedherheart andholdinghisface,shesaid knowfromthatyouhaveagoodheart.Iseeyounotasabeast butasanicepersonwhowillliveinmyheart.”
Hetouchedherfaceatthosewordsthathehadlongedto hearsolong,andhiseyesbegantoclose.
“No,no,please!”sheshookhim,“Staywithme.You can’tdie.”
Loudangryvoiceswereheardasthehuntingpartydrew closerandAnn-Mariecriedsoftly,lookingatthebeast,“What doesittaketosaveyourlife?”
whitebuckappearedinaglowinglight.Ann-Marielooked stunnedatthespectacularvision,knowingthestoryhadrelatedthatitwasaspiritualbeingthathadcastthecurseonthe Toshao’sson.Itraiseditselfonitshindlegs,andablinding
Whenshereopenedthem,thebuckhaddisappearedand lyinginherlapwasnotthebeastbutahandsomeyoungman. Shecriedinreliefjustasthehuntersburstontothescene, theirarrowsindeadlypoisebutslowlyloweredonseeing theToshao’sson.
Ann-Marielookedatthem,tearsstreamingdownherface, “Thestorywastrue.”
Shebelievedinit,andhercareandkindnesstowardsthe beasthelpedbreakthecurse.
HAVEyoueverconsideredhowyouractionscan
Now,forthoseofyouwhowatchedtheaward-winningmovie,Interstellar,you’dunderstandthatprevious rightnowaswell.IrecentlyrewatchedInterstellar,and Ihadmanyquestionsandthoughtsaboutoursurvival ashumanbeings.Ithighlightsthatoureveryactionin oursurvivalasaspecies,buthaveyoueverconsidered wherewe’reheadedashumansonthisdyingplanet?Is
Let’sconsiderclimatechangeasanexample.Every singletimewechoosetodisposeofgarbageintothe oceans,itimpactsthequalityofmarinelife.Everytime
wechoosetoburnchemicalsorreleasetoxicgasintothe atmosphere,wearemakingtheairlessbreathableforfuturegenerations.Thiscanstembeyondtheenvironmental impactsofouractions.Itcanincludeeverythingrelating tooursurvival—social,political,andeconomic.Assuch, Iwantedtousethispiecetoencourageyoualltomake moremindful,informeddecisions.
Thenexttimeyouhavetodecideoncertaintasks,try alsotoconsideralloftheconsequences.Thisisespecially importantforleadersandadministratorswhoareresponsibleformacro-leveldecision-making.Beingmindfulof certaindecisionswillmakeroomforimprovementsin throughexamplesofourpastsocieties,andhowtheir decisionsimpactedustoday.
STUDYSUCCESS
DearStudent, Welcomedearreading friend.Youcanbehelped tounderstandandevaluate informationgiveninapassagebyusingasuitableset
givenapassagetocompare itscontenttoseveralpassagesonthesamesubject, rightawayyoushouldsee yourselfrelatingtheinfor-
mationgivenintheinitialtextto thatoftheothertexts.Note-taking isessentialtotheprocessalso. RelatinginformationishighlightBewise.
Loveyou.
IMPROVINGWRITING
Explainingaprocessyouknow well typesofwritingsuchasnarrative, expository,andpersuasiveamong others.Infact,herearemore typestosetyourhorizonwider andclearer:memoir,essay,journalism,autobiography,biography, featurewriting,manual,travel guide,recipe,andacademictext. literaryworkthatisfact-based, intendedtopresenttrueevents andinformationasaccuratelyas possible.Youencounteritwhen yourefertoinstructionsonhow tousesomethinglikeapieceof equipment,say,binoculars.This formisshort,focusedexpository thatexplainsaprocess. Supposeyouweretowrite anessaytoexplainaprocessyou knowwell.
Youressay,then,wouldinclude thefollowingfeatures: afocusedtopicthatcanbefully explainedintheessay explanationsoftermsormaterialsthatmaybeunfamiliar aseriesoflogicalstepsexplainedinchronologicalorder charts,illustrations,anddiagramsasnecessarytomakecomplicatedproceduresunderstandable error-freewritingincluding correctuseofcomparativeand superlativeandotherformsof grammar.
Howdoyouchooseyourtopic? Listpeople,places,things, andactivitiesthatyouareinvolvedwithathomeorschool. Gothroughthemandmakemental orvisualconnectionstocoinyour topic.Chooseyourtopicfromthe ideasthechartgenerates.
Howdoyougatherdetails?Do thisbymakingatimelinethisway: Dividetheprocessyouhave chosenintodistinctsteps. Makeatimelinetoorganise thesequenceofstepsyourexplanationwilldescribe.
Identifythephotographs,illustrations,ordiagramsthatmight helpyouexplaintheprocess. Shapingyourwriting.Order isimportanttomakethiseffort workwell: organiseyourdetailsintoa sequencetomakecleartheorder ofsteps,eachmaybeonaseparate pieceofpaper.
Addtoorrearrangethesteps
asneededandmakeeachfulsomeinitsturn. Whentherightorderisfound,numberthesteps andusethesenotestodraft.
Howtoelaborate:Whenyouwriteeachparagraph eyeanyimportantdetailthatneedsmoreinformation–whatkind?howmuch?Howlong?Ortowhat degree?
Revisingyouroverallstructure:Hereiswhenyou addinteresttoyouressay.Thishelpsyoulookfor waystoconvincereadersthattheprojectisworth reading.Useyourpre-writingnotestoseewhatgave youtheideaforyourtopic,andbuildyourenthusiasm intoyourintroductionandconclusion.
Revisingyourparagraphs:Addmissinginformation,likemissingstepsormisinformation.Doallyou canwithaddedinformationanyreaderwouldneedto writingwheremanyimportantbitsofinstructionare oftenleftoutbecausethewriterfeelsthatthereaders arefullyacquaintedwithacertainprocedureinastep.
IMPROVINGREADING Contextclues
Note:Oneauthoritysaysthis:Whenyouare readingtounderstandcontextcluesyouneedtolook forhintsaboutaword’smeaningfoundnearby.You mightlookforcontextcluesinthesamesentence,or inthesentencesbeforeandafterit.Thesecluescan alsobesynonymsofthechallengingword,oreven
Readthefollowingpassage.Then,answerthe questions.
Themoon,Earth’sonlynaturalsatellite,changesinappearancemonthlyasitorbitsaroundour planet.Itwaxesandthenwanes,seemingtoincrease andthendecreaseinsize,fromfullmoontoquarter, tocrescent,tothenearlyinvisiblenewmoon.Before theageofmodernscience,thesephasesofthemoon inspiredmanylegends,orstories,thatattemptedto explainthechanges.Althoughtheseexplanationscientpeoplewerediligentobserversofthenightsky, carefullystudyingandaccuratelynotingchangesin theheavens.
intheselection?
(A)aplanet(B)astar(C)somethingthat orbitsaplanet
2.Whichcontextprovidesthebestcluetothe (A)changesinappearance(B)itorbitsaround ourplanet (C)increaseandtendecreaseinsize (D)fromfullmoontoquarter
(A)increases(B)decreases (C)becomesinvisible(D)growsshadowy 4.Whatdoestheword’phases’meaninthis selection?
(A)stagesinbecominganadult (B)regular,predictablechangesinappearance (C)endings(D)timesofconfusion
(A)imaginative(B)uninformed (C)careless(D)careful GRAMMAR:Punctuation
Inthefollowingsentencessupplythecorrect capitallettersandpunctuationmarks.
1.wespentagloriousweekatsylvanlakeinthe blackhillsofsouthdakota
2.itsthemensturnnotthewomenstoplanthe
MANYpeoplecomplainofproblemsopeningtheirmouth fullyormovingtheirjawfromsidetoside.Thisisarelativelycommonbutabnormalconditionthatlieswithin thescopeofdentistry,whichfrequentlygoesundiagnosed ormisdiagnosedanduntreated.Ifyouexperienceheadaches,discommodingclickingandpoppinginthejaw, orpainintheface,neckorshoulders,theproblemmay amisalignmentofthetemporomandibularjoint(TMJ), thejointthatallowsyourmouthtoopen,closeandmove fromsidetoside.
OthersymptomswhichindicatethatyoumaybesufferingfromTMJdisorderincludethewearingdownofthe mouthwhenthejawgets“stuckopen”,earacheswithoutear infection,painandchewing,yawningoropeningthemouth ringing,roaring,hissing,orbuzzingintheearsanddizziness.
FivepairsofmusclesandTMJthatconnecttheupper andlowerjawsallowyoutoopenandcloseyourmouth, andcontrolforwardandside-to-sidemovementsofthe lowerjaw.Anyproblemthatpreventsthiscomplexsystemofmuscles,ligaments,bonesandjointsfromworking togethermayresultinpainandotherproblemsknownas TMJsyndrome.
Thejawjointcanbecomeoutofalignmentformany whenthejawsareclenched.Thisconditioncouldcomeabout fromgenetics(protrudingjaw),teethgrinding,habitslikecradlingthephonebetweentheearandtheshoulder,extractions orinjurieslikewhiplashorablowtothejaw,orevennew discomfortduringstressfultimes.
Youshouldquitharmfulhabitssuchasgrinding yourteeth,cradlingthephonebetweenyourheadand shoulder,etc.Donothesitatetoconsultyourdentistif youexperiencediscomfortanywhereinyourhead,neck orshoulders.
Itisnotunusualforyourjawtobeoutofalignment,yet patientscanalleviatepainanddiscomfortwithconservative homecareonly.
Heatisamusclerelaxant.Useahotpadtoeaseaching jaw,neckandshouldermuscles.Becarefultokeepheat down,soasnottocauseburns.Ifthepainisconsideredtobe acycleofmuscletension,andpainthatneedstobebroken.I wouldrecommendrelaxationtechniques,suchasprogressive relaxation,inwhichyouconsciouslyrelaxmuscles,starting withyourheadandworkingdownyourbodytothefeet.
Youmightalsotryvisualisationexercisestoletgoof stress.Findaquiet,comfortableplacewhereyouwould notbedisturbed.Closeyoureyes,andtakeacoupleof deepbreaths.Nowimagineyourselfinoneofyourfavouriteplaces.Letyourselffeelthesightsandhearthe sounds.Feelyourselfrelaxinginthisspecialplace.There isnothingyoumustdo,nowhereyoumustgo.Afterseveralminutesofenjoyingthevisualisation,takeacoupleof feelamazinglyrelaxedandrefreshedfromthis“mental vacation”.Ifyouhavetriedthis,andithasnotworked, contactyourdentistorphysician.