Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot 01-10-2023

The art of making quality arrows and bows

Arrow and bow making is a process that requires considerable skills, knowledge, technique, and practice. As such, the elders in indigenous villages across the country are placing emphasis on passing on this form of traditional knowledge to their youths which was created many moons ago by their ancestors. The arrow and bow is especially used by men, even as some women are also skilled at using it. (Photo compliments of Toshao Apollos Isaacs)

Promoting bilingual education towards preserving the Wapishana language

BORN and raised in Aishalton in the Rupununi community, Leah Casimero is a person who believes that more can be done to preserve the Amerindian culture and maintain their language, especially the Wapishana language.

Casimero expressed the need to preserve the Indigenous language of the Wapishana people so that the younger generation will have a greater appreciation for their dialect, culture, and ethnicity.

The Wapishana are an indigenous tribe found in the southern parts of Guyana andin parts of northern Brazil.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke with Leah Casimero about her lifeandher involvement in ensuring that the language of the Wapishana is preserved. She shared that she is part of a programme that aims to achieve this goal.

“So, the name of the programme is the Organisational Bilingual Education Programmeand it is acultural bilingual programme for Wapishana children. The programme stems from two main reasons: our language is on the decline, and the academic performances have been consistently low, both at the CSEC examination as well as the National Grade Six Assessment [levels],” Casimero said.

While recognising that there is a particular way in which the Amerindians preserve and maintain certain traditional practices of the Wapishana tribe, Casimero shares the view that these traditions and practices should be maintained with accuracy and precision.

In an effort to improve the performances of children of the Wapishana tribe, Casimeroand others came up with practical solutions which would ultimately bring real results in the overall performances of students on the whole.

“They came up with this idea to have bilingual education.

In the beginning, they were actually thinking of starting with the mother town first and then going into English transition slowly, but children coming to school on different scales. Of course, these are children in the south Rupununi coming speaking Wapishana already, but if an agreement is to be reached, there must be a compromise,” Casimero concluded during her interview.

She noted that, for example, in Aishalton, there are more children who speak more English than Wapishana. The pro-

grammeis designed for the comfort of the people who live in these communities.

According to Casimero, the bilingual educational programme was really designed to bring respect for the culture of the Wapishana people and maintain their language, traditional practices, and culture.

Casimero, like any person who loves, appreciates, and cherishes their community and its people,saw the need to give back to her community, after studying and completing her university education to ensure the Wapichan language is being preserved.

“This is an opportunity for me to give back to the community is a dream come true, and I grab it with both hands. The opportunity to transform the next generation is certainly welcomed,” Casimero shared with thePepperpotMagazine.

Casimero recalled that after completing her secondary school education, there was no one to give career guidance. She is now advocating the transition from post-secondary school to the world of career and work is key in a young person’s life from someone who has walked the road.

Nevertheless, Casimero is proud of her achievements, since she is now integral in transforming pupils’ lives, even from a nursery school age, especially after overcoming the hurdles of resources needed to make the transformation.

“You need to equip yourself with the modern world. I very much need to be in touch with the skills that I have acquired over the years, as much as possible try to find the connections and self-worth,” Casimero said.

Leah Casimero

‘A Path to Travel‘

Providing the ultimate travel experience via photography/videos on social media

WHEN Candace Phillips started her digital creation

“A Path to Travel” on social media, she didn’t expect much even though she loves her job which entails a lot of travelling across the country. Still, she was overjoyed by the encouragement and positive feedbacks she received. It has inspired her to create a space for her travel and tourism through her eyes: photography capturing her travel experiences around Guyana.

A Path to Travel was a happy coincidence. It was one of those things that just happened and motivated her when people became interested in seeing Guyana through her travels since some cannot physically go to those places due to many reasons.

Phillips travels a lot because of her job, she has been the Manager, Product Development Division of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) since 2019 and she is responsible for developing newer tourism products for the sector.

Phillips grew up in Georgetown, but her home village is Santa Rosa, Moruca sub-district.

“I love the places, the connections with the people. Being able to share my travels via photos and videos is something that is so fulfilling because I give people the opportunity to be there when they physically can’t,” she reasoned.

It was when her job took her across the country, in the remotest parts,that she saw how vast a land we live and its true beauty. She realised“A Path to Travel” was

destined to happen.

Phillips is truly humbled by experiences. She told the Pepperpot Magazine that this year is going to be big in terms of newer tourism products, and so far, she is proud of the strides she made to develop the sector.

The mother of three added that she is very careful to focus solely on landscape photography and not on people which can get in the way of her current employment.

Phillips reported that “A Path to Travel” goes back to where it all started.She had travelled in the country before, but her horizons broadened even further when she gained employment at GTA. It took on a different flight, and she saw the endless possibilities.

She explained that she became a digital creator when she realised, she had the opportunity to travel widely in Guyana, to places some people can only dream of and coupled with her love for photography, it refined her

dream of showing people Guyana, outside of the city and took on the challenge of utilising her photos and videos via social media.

“I am no professional. I see myself as a student of life, always willing to learn and see things from different perspectives, I had a full gallery of photos and videos of my travels and nowhere to share it then a ‘A Path to Travel’ was conceptualised as a separate platform from my personal page on social media,” she said.

“It had reached a point where I wanted to quit

schedule it doesn’t allow me to explore the possibilities,” she related.

Phillips explained that the name “A Path to Travel” has a two-part meaning, which

know. Over time, she managed to sharpen her photography skills to a satisfactory level.

“Since my job provides the medium for me to travel

do makes me feel good inside and it manifests in my photography which I share with others,” Phillips said.

Being a mother and having a super busy job sched-

but the encouragement I received motivated me to continue because people showed me how special my photos were to them; it gave them hope and my writings are also something that is etched deep within me but with my busy

is quite personal and special with travel experience since she never imagined her life would take this path. The other part is the amount of motivation she received from random people and others she is getting to

constantly, it dawned on me that I can put my photos out there to give the people what they want of the places I visit, for them to experience the scenic landscape without being physically there,” she said

Phillips disclosed that she doesn’t benefit in any way other than taking photos of the landscape to share on her social media, but she does take personal trips with her three children as a way for them to see the country.

She reported that her main intention through this venture is to show a beautiful Guyana through photos and videos.

Phillips related that her drive comes from peoplestrangers -and she is truly inspired by the outpouring of messages and appreciation for her photography.

“I like to create something that wasn’t there before, that’s the best part about my job and I love it, what I

ule, travelling most of the time, the balance at times is overwhelming but her children and mother are her constant support system and they are fully onboard in her time management and being away from home.

Phillips explained that product development is quite intense and it is a lot of work in the background, behind the scenes and she doesn’t mind at all, but with her team, she gets the support needed to produce.

She also pointed out that in her line of work, partnership is a hallmark since it takes others, teamwork to make it happen collectively in the tourism sector which is not stagnant and is evolving.

Phillips revealed that in her department “The Travel Industry Development Division” has two sections, the training and licensing and Product Development, the latter of which she is the team leader.

Saddle Mountain, Region 9

Imbotero, Region 1

Leguan, Region 3

Candace Phillips (Candace Phillips photos)

Sweet pepper jelly anyone?

Local business specializes in extraordinary sauces and pickles

By Michel Outridge

SOMETIMES, our options are limited when it comes to selecting a jelly or sauce to pair with a snack, but here in Guyana, that is not the case because we have a wide variety of sweet pepper jelly, stew pepper sauce, sauces and exceptional pickles to choose from in the line of Jofa Products out of Sophia.

These extraordinary products derived from a bad experience when they purchased some achar from a local vendor and the taste was nothing to shout about.

It was then Fay Gilgious-Greaves and her husband, John Greaves, decided they could make a better product and decided to embark on their experimental journey of making sumptuous sweet pepper jelly as a relish, spicy pepper sauce, sauces and pickles, all from local products.

Fay, a retired educator who spent 21 years teaching at a vocational centre,envisioned earning and establishing her own small business in 2021 from her home in 121 Block E South Sophia.

The entrepreneur told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is nothing new for her to experiment in the kitchen because putting out excellent products of their brand, Jofa, a combination of both names John and Fay.

Fay, who is usually the face of their small business, related that she is the person who would meet stakeholders and companies to negotiate the sales and other things while her spouse is a ‘behind the scene kind of person’ who supports her in his own way.

The ideas were all hers, and she is very ecstatic about what she does in maintaining a standard and providing a good product on the market to compete with any other that might be available, but so far, they have had little or no competition.

Fay also manages online teaching and gets things done

in her free time to market her products and fulfill orders.

She reported that the preparation is a long, tedious one, and when there is a demand for her products, she would employ two persons from the community to assist her in taking out the seeds from the sweet peppers to make the sweet pepper jelly.

Other times, she would sit comfortably and seed 30 pounds of sweet peppers by herself.

“I am looking forward to a lot of things, seeing my small business expanding, attaining the age of 60 to qualify for my NIS pension and to finally receive my ‘Made in Guyana’ trademark label by the end of this year,” she said.

Gilgious-Greaves retired in 2021, and before that, she was always a ‘busybody’ doing things at home, such as farming and selling greens and is also a seamstress who made African clothing to retail on a small scale.

She is also a regular feature at Emancipation Day celebrations, where she cooks several dishes and takes them to the National Park to sell.

Gilgious-Greaves makes tasty Pepperpot, cassava pone, konke and other dishes.

Reflecting on how she got

their foreparents prepared it in the black and white days.

“I had stepped out, and when I got home, I was surprised at the aromatic atmosphere coming from my kitchen and I went to see what my husband was doing, making stew pepper and from then, it was no turning back after I had a taste,” she stated.

per stew, sweet pepper jelly, became a hit she had something going.

Today, she has since launched three new products – sweet pepper/pineapple sauce stir fry, garlic/cherry stir fry sauce and sweet pepper stir fry sauce. She also has Jofa mauby drink and pickles.

She related that Jofa Products are available at the Guyana Shop, Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) on Robb Street, Georgetown and other retailed supermarkets including Survival Supermarket on Sheriff Street.

started, she explained that one day they bought a bottle

Gilgious-Greaves reported that they began giving samples to friends, family and others and then it became apparent they had to make more and have it bottled for sale due to the demand.She added that she wanted the challenge and stepped up to it and have been trying to make herself marketable since she had already made her mark in arts

Gilgious-Greaves recently graduated from a successful 10-week training course among 14 persons from the Centre of Local Business.

In order to put out a quality product, Jofa Products is registered with the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) and the Guyana Manufacturing and Marketing Association Limited (GMSA) and have since participated in several

The mother of two added that she is motivated by being a ‘go-getter’ who cannot stay still for long and has always been doing new things to earn and decided to do it as a small business, having achieved retirement.

Gilgious-Greaves told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is a qualified social worker and will continue to challenge herself to be more creative to launch newer products.

She hopes to have her products available on the shelves at shops and supermarkets all over Guyana and become a household name.

The small business owner related that her products are registered with the Food and Drug Analyst Department and it is a safe, high-standard, quality product.

Gilgious-Greaves is originally from Beterverwagting, east Coast Demerara, but when her mother died, she went to live with her grandparents in Charlestown.

She later relocated to Sophia, which has been her home for 31 years.

She has five siblings, but the fate of one sister is unknown for the past 18 years. She went missing from the streets, having suffered a mental breakdown and hasn’t been seen since despite searches for her.

of local achar, but it wasn’t bad but lacked something, and her spouse told her he could do better.

It was then the stew pepper idea was birthed and it turned into a small business when he asked her to gather up all the ingredients and make the stew pepper the ‘old-school style’ like how

and craft and was starting out in food.

Gilgious-Greaves participated in several pop-up shows and first started out with pepper sauce and green seasonings, which flooded the market.

She knew she needed another option for her small business and when her pep-

business expos, Uncapped and others both locally and overseas.

Faye told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is very happy to market their products and the feedback has been encouraging so far; with that in mind, they can only get better in producing quality products.

The grandmother of one pointed out that her products have reached overseas since a lot of people bought from her at the various expos to take back and she had a healthy sale in Barbados.

Gilgious-Greaves has since constructed a small, incomplete building to house her small business from her home and is optimistic her small business swill grow.

Some of Jofa’s Products being retailed at Guyana Shop (GMC) and Survival Supermarket, Sheriff Street (Japeth Savory photos)

Entrepreneur, Fay Gilgious-Greaves

Sport Icon Shining for Guyana’s International Stage

By Dillon Goring

DOMINIC Tyrell, a weightlifter of Guyaneseparents, has been performing exceptionally well in the sport of weightlifting.

He came from humble beginnings, and the encouragement of his parents, particularly his father, who was involved in sports back in his days as a youngster.

He has exceeded people’s expectations despite the various challenges he faced when he got into this sport.

The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with the young sportsman as he shared his life, struggles, and success stories with us.

Dominic Tyrell shared that he got started in his weightlifting career in 2016, after playing or venturing into other sports fraternity prior to his involvement in powerlifting,but his interest was glued to powerlifting when he started at the gym whilst training for cricket.Like many other sports and athletes in Guyana, the issue of sustained financial support has always been the primary concern. How will athletes sustain themselves if they are to excel in their area of sports?

Dominic made it clear that his transition from cricket to weightlifting was simply because he loved training in the gym more than he loved the game of cricket and training for it.

The athlete further explained that powerlifting is not highly followed, so competing or sustaining himself in training is the biggest challenge he has faced even today.

However, he has risen above those challenges and

excelled to achieve his dream.

When speaking of his biggest fans, cheerleaders, and supporters, Dominic attributed this great support to his parents and gym family.

“My parents and my

gym family are my biggest supporters and cheerleaders, people that I see constantly sacrificing for what they love and going the extra mile in a heavier weight class definitely “, Tyrell told Pepperpot.

Despite his challenges, Dominic says that he has a bright future ahead of him. Among the things that he wants to improve his international performance this year,

“The difficulties were mainly finding information on the sport as it is not popular in this region, and getting proper coaching was also a difficulty. As a result, I had to learn on my own “, Tyrell said.

The PepperpotMagazine also spoke with Dominic’s father Dr. Fitzroy Tyrell, who shared with us that he always wanted his son to become involved in sports and strike a balance between academia and sports.

Dr Tyrell maintained that his boys must play sports but also must have a sound education. There must be a balance between the two.

Dr Tyrell himself was a great cricketer when he was a small boy, and now, he is super proud that both of his sons have excelled in their athletic areas. Dominic’s brother, Delroy, is an accomplished swimmer. Recently, Tyrell powered his way to deadlift silver, as reported by the Guyana Chronicle dated August 31, 2023. The event was held in Romania and Guyana is a nation in the powerlifting world.

Dominic Tyrell

A sense of togetherness forged by history.

Palmyra

THE village of Palmyra is nestled in Berbice’s East Canje region some 7.5 kilometres away from New Amsterdam. The village is home to Guyana’s infamous Indian Arrival Monument.

Palmyra is said to have been among the first settlements made home by indentured immigrants. This past of common struggle, strength and eventual development is perhaps why the village of Palmyra is still as close-knit and supportive as it is. Rayanna Henriques Persaud has lived most of her life in the village of Palmyra. She says that the village remained unchanged for the most part.

Even today, as someone walking through the village of Palmyra, which runs along the road with only a few smaller streets, the only noise of the neighbourhood is the passing of cars.As Rayanna stated, “This neighbourhood is very quiet. We never had much activity. We didn’t have any clubs or anything like that. Just peace and quiet.” And if anything has changed, the quiet tranquillity has remained.The village of Palmyra is, however, undergoing massive developments. The area of the village once occupied by cane fields now harbours a construction site stretching the length of the village. The village is slated to become home to a new stadium, housing scheme and hospital.

But the community, as Rayanna describes, would find ways to entertain themselves. “We had our own things. The neighbours would come over and play marbles, hopscotch, cricket

and volleyball. And all of it was played right in this front yard,” Rayanna stated. The people are a particular characterizing essence of the community. Palmyra’s population is predominantly that of Indo-Guyanese. Their ancestors are said to have shared similar past, of indentureship.

In describing the people, Rayanna painted a picture of welcoming and hospitable people. She shared that, “The neighbours are very friendly. You wouldn’t find bickering and fighting. You would walk on the road and everyone would say good afternoon. The people are very much friendly and very much welcoming.” She went on to share, “We didn’t even have to have an occasion to enjoy ourselves. Sometimes, we would just come together and have a pot. “

Today, the villagers of Palmyra have regular nineto-five jobs in places like New Amsterdam. Rayanna herself works at the New Amsterdam hospital. But she says that in the time gone, things like cattle, fishing and working at the sugar estate are how the people of Palmyra survived.

“Most of the persons had different jobs. The majority worked at the estate. The only thing in farming is people would have little kitchen gardens.” Rayanna said.

Rayanna herself grew up in a family as the youngest of three. Rayanna’s family, like many at the time, had reared cows as well as kept bees.

“We still do have cattle rearing. We had cows, and I used to enjoy that. I could remember when my brother used to

milk the cows, I would go down at the back with just a cup to get milk, and drink it just like that.” She went on to share that, “We used to have honey bees too back in the day. I can remember sucking honey from the honeycomb.”

The sense of togetherness has always burned bright in the villa of Palmyra. As Rayanna stated, there were many things that the community would do together, even simple things. “Growing up, I remember going to the pasture at the back, and we would go and catch fish.”

Certain things like the burning of the cane fields facing the village are core memories for Rayanna, and helped cement why she lovesthe village of Palmyra. “For me when I was small, I used to enjoy it when the cane burned. My mother would

lock up all the windows so the dust would go into the house. But I would come downstairs and as the cane dust came, I would jump and play with it,” she said.

The people of the neighbourhood had been in the habit of forming groups in the past. As Rayanna shared, “We used to catch fish and the women in the village came together and formed a rounders team

and we would go and play. We also had an aerobics team we used to exercise together.” She went on to express that she, without a doubt, enjoyed back then to now, saying, “Now we have a lot of new persons and a lot of people migrated. And it’s not like before,” she said. “Now everybody just gets up and goes to work. They don’t interact with each other much. They just

get up and do what they have to do and go back. By seven of eight o clock, the whole place shut down. You don’t find people going on the road and have a little game night, or anything like that.” Although the village of Palmyra has moved into a busier age, they don’t to seem to have lost their genuine love for each other and for their village.

Palmyra’s legendary monument

The welcome to Palmyra

Rayanna Henriques Persaud with her family (Shaniece Bamfeild photos)

The people of Palmyra The inspiring story of Lolita

By Shaniya Harding

SOMETIMES , certain circumstances require immense strength from the human spirit. From domestic violence to periods of poverty, many people are faced with unimaginable challenges. Palmyra resident Deokie Rookram or Lolita as she is called, is one such woman. She has survived homelessness, troubling relationships and tough times.

Lolita grew up in rural little Palmyra, when the community was made up of mostly farmers and sugar cane workers. But not every home was a happy one. As Lolita expressed, growing up for her was a Herculean task because of the constraints domestic issues placed on her and her siblings. “It was very hard because my parents had a

broken home. And that made it really hard,” she said.

Lolita admits that today’s Palmyra is nothing like the one she grew up knowing. In those days, she said, most people led simple, quiet lives, surviving and making do with what they had. The change in healthier family dynamics is also something Lolita praises. Lolita’s parents separated while she and her younger siblings were still children.

“My mother and father separate, and we lived with grandparents. I have three sisters and me. I am the oldest,” she said. “Back in the day, growing up, we used to go to school but hardly. Actually, I never went to school. That was the kind of parents we had.” As time went on, Lolita says the siblings were forced to split upand fend for themselves.

This, however, has not rendered her incapable of caring for her own children.

“My husband used to cut cane. He used to work at GUYSUCO. At the time when the kids were small, I couldn’t go out and work because I didn’t have anyone to help take care of them. But when they got big, I used to work. I used to do domestic work,” said Lolita.

Perhaps most sticking from different perspectives is the way and severity of which these situations are thought about and dealt with. Lolita says, she, like her sisters, simply moved on, saying, “After that we got big, we got married and we just used to live.”

As time went on, after her departure from her family’s home and that of various family members, Lolita took to living in a temple as a last resort. “I was staying

Deokie

Lolita says she went to live in the temple like she did, simply because it was the only place she saw as an escape at the time. “I went to live in the temple because of the situation with my parents and the punishment. We were just having a hard time in the community.” Lolita said.

The temple, which was within walking distance from Lolita’s home, was an interjection before the next period

of her life, marriage.

Rookram(Shaniece Bamfeild photos) in the Hare Krishna temple for about eight years. I was very young, just around nine or ten years at the time. So by the time I came out, I was a teenager.”

“I got married at the age of seventeen. By the time I was 20 years old, I had my first child,” she said. Contrary to what many people believed or may still believe, this was not the point in life where Lolita would say her life got better. Lolita was married and became a mother at a time when supporting one’s self was hard enough. “It wasn’t too nice; it was hard times. It’s not like when I got married, I got it good. It was like punishing again. It was still a hard life. We had to struggle to get everything: money, food and everything,” Lolita

stated. “Even growing up the children and sending them to school, everything was still hard.”

Lolita believes that today is different but certainly better than it was in the past. In drawing a comparison, she says she cannot pinpoint exactly why these days are better, but they certainly are.

Lolita came from a time where self sufficiently was vital and domestic unrest was not yet a taboo. Lolita has pushed and forged on to create a better life for her children and future generations to come.

‘Lolita’

Becoming a mother at all costs

By Shaniya Harding

DEVINA Rattan today lives in the village of Palmyra. She is not a native of the village, nor has she lived there for a very long time. But the story behind how this incredible young woman came to live in the village is quite unique.

Devina suffers from (Immune thrombocytopenic purpura) ITP. It is a rare autoimmune disorder in which a person’s blood doesn’t clot properly, because the immune system destroys the blood-clotting platelets.

The true cause of ITP is not yet known, but it is due to an immune system error that may be triggered by viral infections. Devina was a fourth-form student when she began seeing signs of being ill. After she was taken to the doctor, she was diagnosed with ITP at 15.

The diagnosis placed a halt in her life and prohibited her from doing many of the things she was used to. The reality of this was difficult for her, as she saw many of the

activities she loved become things she could no longer do. Devina remembers her life before she was diagnosed with ITP, saying, “I used togo to Apex in Georgetown. And eventually, I took in with ITP.” This came as a shock to both Devina and her family, because of sudden it seemed.

According to Devina, ITP is an entirely unpredictable illness. Devina emphasised that, although she has and is still being treated for ITP, she could have an attack at any moment. She said, “Sometimes, even when doctors treat you, it could attack you back.” The first signs that something was wrong was first spotted in the rash and red spots that plagued a young Devina. “It is the red blood cells taking over the white blood cells. And it causes plenty red spots and rash,” she said.

The effects of ITP went far beyond rashes and blisters or even feeling ill. Devina’s mother, out of fear of the unknown and love for her daughter, took Devina out of school. She shared that they were seemingly just too

many things she was told she couldn’t do. “Eventually, after the doctor told my mother I couldn’t take stress, and I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t do that. [Then] my mother said I wouldn’t be going back to school.” Devina stated.

This is the point in which she was led to the place she now calls home, the village of Palmyra. After leaving school, Devina sought to get married and found her husband, who hails from the village of Palmyra. After meeting her now husband, she was happy with the amount of support he showed in the relationship. He would often leave his Palmyra home to visit her. This, Devina says, is why she wanted to get married to him, saying, “I told my mother I wanted to get married. I met my husband on Facebook and he used to come and see me when I was sick. And so I got married and came here in Palmyra to live.”

As happily married newlyweds, the couple was set with a new challenge. Among the implications of ITP, Devina becoming

pregnant was a big risk.

Devina gives a bleak de-

more so, she is happy to call

A pregnant woman’s immune system is important for both her and a healthy baby and successful birth. But Devina’s immune system is already greatly compromised, so becoming a mother was not easy.

Devina shared that, “During the pregnancy it was really tough because I used to feel so weak. After the pregnancy, I would bleed for a couple well months.” Despite the risks and pain associated with bearing a child, Devina is today the mother of two children, Raya and Vishwani Balgobin.

scription of her symptoms. She said,”ITP is caused by a platelet damaging in my body. And I could probably start bleeding just like that. And I begin to feel weak and maybe vomit blood.” As she currently is, Devina says she is not being actively affected by ITP and refers to her sympoms as mild. “And I’m very grateful for that.”

On the matter of how, if at all, has lived in the village of Palmyra impacted her, she says yes. And in the few short years she has lived in Palmyra she says she is happy to call it home. But even

these people her family and friends. Devina says that looking around, she, like many other young people fighting against the odds, are open to more opportunities to do more.

Admittedly, Devina was scared at first of the daunting prospect of being a sufferer of TIP. And later with the challenge of becoming a mother. But she carried on with strength and faith in herself and for the future. And she made it through with the support of the good people of Palmyra.

The inspiring Devina Rattan (Shaniece Bamfeild photo)

Reflections Of A Country Girl and The Dream That Found Her

SOMETIMES you wish for something but never believe that one day it would come true.

I grew up in a Sugar Estate community and as a young girl walking home from school, I would stop by the roadside of the Estate Manager’s compound under the shade of the huge flamboyant trees. When in bloom the ground became carpeted with the fallen flowers in a fusion of astounding red, yellow and pink colours. The splendor of nature, a gift to the earth.

I would scoop them up in my hands and throw them up in the air, so they fall all over me. Some I would fill in my satchel to take home for the round glass vase on my small writing table. Flowers had become one of the loves of my life from a young age and I believed

in fairytales with a deep love for castles, manors and museums, so every time I stopped to play with the flowers I would look in awe at the classic, white Colonial house, beautiful garden and neat manicured lawns.

My young heart wished at the time that I could one day live there.

I was not sure, at the time, how that could come true when my father was a

ning bloom, but many other things of interest. I had developed a deep passion for history and a curious mind, so places and things of interest, I chronicled in my mind to later make notes in my journal.

History had documented our lives and times from Colonialism to Independence, an unforgettable era I read extensively on. Life on the sugar estates and communi-

derful feeling of bliss and happiness of being in a special place, although the colonial buildings at Blairmont and Skeldon estates were unique and beautiful.

Something from my dream was missing.

A few years later, we were transferred to Uitvlugt Estate on the West Coast of Demerara, and the moment I entered the Estate Manager’s compound, I fell in love with that place. The sprawling green landscape, astonishing

variety of flowering trees, fruit orchards, colonial gardening relics and huge flamboyant trees that bordered the expansive grounds were

SEE PAGE XXVI

labourer in the backdams. My friends would look at me bemused, never showing any interest nor wishing for such a life but I believed living with a dream could set the tone for a beautiful life.

The years went by and I moved away to High School in New Amsterdam, in pursuit of higher education. I rode a ladies Raleigh bicycle to school and along the way there were no huge flamboyant trees in stun -

ties continued to change as new opportunities continued to shape our destinies.

I never thought that the wish I had made years ago would have come true, but it did.

And the day I left my parents’ home as a bride, I embarked on a new journey in life. A dream had found me, but would it be beautiful, I wondered.

Only time would tell!

I did not get that won-

Even core values must be reviewed

--to understand the new that is imposing, commanding change

WE who have raised children have witnessed among family and friends the rise and fall of overzealous swift compromises towards promises of ‘betterment’ that were followed by harsh ricocheting realities, and sufferings.

We have come to understand, for a moment, the swift rush of the accelerated life we are enveloped in today. The fact is that parental guidance cannot be leaned upon as a concept of pre-acquired knowledge, thus failure of that instinct requires justifiable blame. It must be acknowledged that parental guidance, at least with humans, is not a reliable, instinctive tool,

or possibly never was, simply because parenthood is a biological process that can happen to even the most mental-

ly challenged of minds. Thus, a more sensible construct should be developed to express models of parenthood,

to attitudes in keeping with your traditional voiced core values. For example, inferences that contradict prov-

“Auntie ‘X’ said that deh ent got no ‘blood money’; that fuh think like duh gon humbug progress.”

entirely the managers if the conversation never happened. The fact is that this article is an indication of the nature

supported by a functional national support board of professionals possessing learned and experienced personnel.

Over the recent past years, we can identify several domestic murders that involve inputs of mothers, in one case aunts, who, from some inner motivation, thought it current wisdom to instruct a younger soul to appeal to deception, coveting what was designed (real estate) as collective interests. This was a deviating corrupt act that had the potential towards serious repercussions, that in cases did unveil, with fatal results.

I have learnt that it is necessary to evaluate the mindset of relatives before allowing your offspring to be cuddled by their sometimes hidden preferred philosophy. Family interactions do not mean agreement with your expectations; with adherence

en knowledge are common contributors to deviations that intrude, resulting in bad results, as with the following example: During the initial onslaught of narcotics, as an alternative get-rich-quick answer to hard times in Guyana, coupled with the hype of now-come local TV stations that carried suggestive HipHop music seemingly 24 hours a day, a father warned a teenage daughter to beware of the young men who approached her, imaged in the get-rich-quick profile, beware of ‘Blood Money’ if the higher percentage has bad repercussions. The child disobeyed that advice, and an incident later developed that resulted in the involvement of the father, who was able to avert escalation. In scolding his daughter, he said to his child, “Didn’t I tell you about duh blood-money excitement?” The child responded,

There are false attitudes that have always infiltrated our core values, but cultural and secular laws have always retained a certain balance, for example: “The respect of talent and skill above elitist creeds. The value of character and envisioned community uplifting purpose over questionable wealth. The values that envelope matriarchal respect; the protection for womanhood/manhood and the elderly- vice versa. Credibility of workmanship, the given word as bond, collective responsibility for the weak and vulnerable etc.” All these and more were not cast in stone, but were adhered to, enabling, as main features in the creation of the society we evolved in, despite hardships, the self-centered and marginalisation. What happened is our lack of responsibility to pay attention to what exists now and evaluate this era’s impositions. Exploring what we ignored in the process led to the current self-centred callous eclipse. Especially as what we can observe has influenced the level of our young. What have our courts, media, entertainment and the creators of the modules of our formative scholarship missed? We cannot blame

of the conversation. Let us look at a reference of what has made inroads into our culture, greeted as social media sub-cultures first, that have evolved as habits in our schools: the pornographic filming of students by students, were there investigations, charges, public statements by authorities?

I cannot remember if there were charges. The filming of intimacy has become a callous instrument of extortion among young people and may be responsible for more than one suicide. So, what has legitimised this drift into the pit? Economics, ego, whatever; it remains a twisted mental collapse of the cultural creed of relationships, worse than the twisted rapists of my youth, and we despised them, not having the scientific data, we referred to them as sicko’s and weirdo’s not allowed to hang with us ‘Alright Banna’.

Today, we have the means to counter the social orders that have been explored so far. They are spread everywhere but can be harnessed to the call if the conversation begins, the required seriousness is genuine, and the necessary freedom understood.

Patience

THIS is the first Sunday of the last quarter of 2023. It is a great time to pause and assess our year and if we are achieving what we had planned for this year. I encourage us not to be hard on ourselves if we are not satisfied with our progress. Instead, evaluate and focus on the next course of action to end the year strong. Sometimes, we have to be patient because God’s delay is not his denial. We all know the old adage: Patience is a virtue. But it’s true! Patience can help us achieve our goals, maintain a more positive outlook on life, and make us less reactive, making us less prone to bad decisions. Stress, regret, and anger don’t help anything. So, take a minute when you’re facing an uncertain future, a negative event, or something scary. Don’t do anything, and be silent. I am more patient now than a few years ago, which has been beneficial. My friend Walerine sends me daily profound content from “Bible in One Year.”

Nicky Gumbel is the pioneer Alpha and Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton in London, which he leads with his wife, Pippa. Together, they introduced the Bible in One Year Commentary in 2009 as a daily email for their congregation. Since then, it has become a successful app, book, podcast and website with a global following. I will share the one on patience and the joy of waiting with you:-

God’s Patience

Our Savior wants everyone to experience His grace, mercy, and everlasting love.

September 17, 2023

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Some people imagine God getting frustrated every time they make a mistake. As a result, many of them live in constant fear of doing something wrong. But that’s not who God is at all. Instead, He has endless patience and mercy for His children.

The Lord knows we have a fallen nature, and He completely understands our struggle against it (Heb. 4:15). Just as a toddler learns obedience, God’s children also learn to walk in His ways. Because our Father takes pleasure in watching us do what is right, He allows us time and room for mistakes.

Now, if we repeatedly reject the salvation God provides, then we’ll experience His judgment one day. That choice is real. But keep in mind that Jesus came into the world specifically to save sinners. He wants everyone to be saved—and with great patience, mercy, and grace, He generously gives everyone time to come to Him.

God is always waiting and ready for us to return to His loving embrace, just like the Father of the Prodigal Son. Is there anything you want to confess to the Lord today? Repentance will open a blocked line of communication. Remember, God is slow to anger and enjoys spending time with you.

The Joy of Waiting

As we look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises, we can rejoice in His presence today.

September 20, 2023

Zephaniah 3:14; Zephaniah 3:16-17

Zephaniah had to deliver hard news to Judah. Because of their sins—especially the sin of worshipping false idols—a day of great judgment lay ahead. “On

SEE PAGE XV

Patience...

FROM PAGE XIV

that day,” the prophet said, God would judge their enemies, but His anger would also devastate the nation He loved (Zeph. 1:4-9).

In verse 16 of chapter 3, however, Zephaniah uses the same phrase—“on that day”—to promise a time of renewal. God encourages them to rejoice, even while they wait and endure a time of suffering. As the other prophets do, Zephaniah connects the call to joy with God’s faithful presence among His people. Whatever they face, He will be with them. They have enemies and feel abandoned, but God is “a victorious warrior” who “will rejoice over [them] with shouts of joy” (v. 17).

And what about us? We also wait for a world restored, where our fellowship with God will never end. The writer of Hebrews sees Jesus as our example for joyful work while we “run with endurance” toward that goal (Heb. 12:1).

Consider Jesus, he writes, who endured the cross “for the joy set before him”—that of sitting in fellowship with the Father (Heb. 12:2). Because we look forward to that same blessing, we can set fear aside and rejoice!

Bible in One Year: Joel 1-3

“God encourages them to rejoice, even while they wait and endure a time of suffering” This sentence in the passage stood out. I imagine waiting on something you desire for so long and you are suffering. How possible it is to rejoice? What has helped me to rejoice while in the deep dark valley is believing that whatever I am going through is part of God’s plan to take me back to the mountain top. In these moments we recognised and realised many things and one such thing is accountability. We need to be accountable for our actions and be stronger than our excuses.

The Benefits of Accountability

Giving others permission to speak into our life helps us avoid common pitfalls.

September 26, 2023

Hebrews 10:23-25

Today, let’s look at the benefits of accountability: Clear direction. Honesty about your faults allows you the opportunity to hear the right counsel and encouragement. This will help you do and become all that God has in mind for you.

Increased integrity. If you have to give an account to somebody, you’re more likely

Togetherness should not only be for one day

SUNDAY last, I had the opportunity to experience something different and positively inspiring after a long time. I’m sure you’ve already guessed what it was just by looking at the time frame. If you’ve guessed the Guyana Amazon Warriors winning the Caribbean Premiere League finals, then you’re absolutely correct. It felt great to be in the stands, celebrating with random strangers by showing off our love for our country and sport. I am in awe of how many people came together to support and celebrate this incredible victory. It’s as if the country has no ongoing tension or conflict, right? Unfortunately, that win doesn’t make our racial, gender and cultural conflicts any less complex or uncommon— Although it would’ve been nice to suddenly make all of that disappear by just witnessing a home team win a championship.

I pondered the possibility of us continuously healing as a nation through these events, while genuinely being encouraged to always practice this cohesion in our everyday lives. For some people, it’s a false sense of togetherness during these times. It’s only showcased for certain events, and I despise it when it happens. As Guyanese, we should understand that our country is under a microscope due to our recent socio-economical improvements. There may be smaller countries than us who will eventually look up to us for examples on how to become a better nation. Is that the imprint we would want to leave with others? Our past almost always collides with the present and possibly the future. We have such a traumatizing past of internal conflicts of enormous categories and without realizing it—some people project some of that trauma onto others daily. That shouldn’t be.

Our unity should not be faked for the television and camera. We shouldn’t only consider what a community means or what it means to be a country of different races, talents, opinions and values at certain events. This should be an everyday occurrence. We ought to allow Guyana to reform genuinely and become the safe haven we always hoped would be. I don’t mean to rain on the parade (yet I am). I owe it to myself and to all of the Guyanese who read my column pieces to speak on this. We can celebrate as one but let the sentiments be remembered always. Not acknowledging our ongoing internal struggles is an injustice to us all. We should strive to do and be better.

A sweet victory

EXACTLY one week ago, the Guyana Amazon Warriors finally became Ca -

ribbean Premier League (CPL) champions. The taste of sweet victory elud-

ed us for a decade, and now that we are finally winners, it just feels so good.

I watched the final match, the Warriors versus the Trinbago Knight Riders, at the Giftland Mall. There were crowds around every screen. We all seemed united in our yearly belief: this is we year! And when Saim Ayube hit the winning runs, it was sheer joy (and pure ruckus). I can’t comment on the atmosphere at the Na -

player and I think he has been a great West Indian player, but I won’t ever forget that. In my head, there has been some sort of weird rivalry between the Warriors and whatever team Pollard plays for. Since that game, I haven’t missed out on the CPL matches. I’ve gone to games, whether at the Stadium or a bar, with my friends

found ways of connecting virtually- Zoom rooms and WhatsApp groups- so we could enjoy the games together. When we were able to go outside a bit, my friends and I got doubles from Curepe to devour during the night games. It was, really and truly, the bright spot in life during that very difficult period.

tional Stadium, Providence, but from all indications, it seemed just as electric, if not more. Regardless of where you were, I think once you were following the game, seriously or casually, there was a sense of pure joy when we won. Days later, I am still feeling that joy.

This win is a 10-year journey. And there must be many stories people can tell about the Warriors and our seemingly enduring faith in them. I know I have a lot of stories, and that’s why this win means so much to me.

For me, the first match I ever watched live at the Providence Stadium was a clash between the Warriors and the then-Barbados Tridents (they are now called the Barbados Royals). The current Trinbago Knight Riders, Kieron Pollard, played for the Tridents then and during that match, he ran in front of the stand I was seated in to taunt us every time there was a wicket. I appreciate him as a special

and my heart would be filled (until, you know, we lose).

In 2019, I was just so sure our Warriors would win that year. I was in Trinidad, attending the University of the West Indies, and one of my first outings was at the Queen’s Park Oval, where we met the players during a practice session.

As the tournament progressed, I would run across campus with a flag as tall as me when we won games. I also wore my ‘Guyanese’ shirts to class and/or used my smaller flag as a bandana. However, that season, we won every game but lost the final. The student association I was part of, the Guyana Students’ Association in Trinidad and Tobago (GuySATT), had a final lime/ viewing at a bar called GT Vibes (how apt), and we were just collectively gutted. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was upon us and I was stuck in lockdown in my hall of residence. Even then, we

And in 2021 and 2022, it was a readjustment to life back home. So it was CPL with new friends or catching up and clowning out with old ones.

Year after year, it would be our year. And look, now it finally is!

I love how cricket, particularly this tournament, brought joy to so many of us. I love how it demonstrated that sport is a great unifier because clearly, it is. Even if you lost faith in the Warriors somewhere along the 10-year journey or you aren’t an avid cricket fan, I’m sure this win means something and it counts for something. I don’t know if any subsequent win could ever top this. Not even the double World Cup wins in 2016 come close to this feeling for me. Next year is we year again, though.

If you would like to connect with me to discuss this column or any of my previous work, please email me at vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

The art of making quality arrows and bows

ARROW and bow making is a process that requires considerable skills, knowledge, technique, and practice. As such, the elders in indigenous villages across the country are emphasising passing on this form of traditional knowledge to their youths, which was created many moons ago by their ancestors.

One of the villages that recently held classes to teach children the art was Karaudarnau village in the Deep South, Rupununi.

Toshao of the Region Nine (Upper Takutu/Upper Essequ-

ibo) community Apollos Isaacstold Pepperpot Magazine that it is his wish forthe village youths to continue their traditional and cultural way of life that their ancestors created years ago.

“The arrow and bow are a great invention by our ancestors which has been passed on from generation to generation and will continue for hundreds of years to come. Traditional knowledge education is important in our communities, especially in these modern times, because if we don’t use it, we may lose it,” he shared.

The arrow and bow is especially used by men,even as some women are also skilled at using it. Men are considered the ‘soldiers’ in villages and the arrow and bow are a sort of weapon which they keep in their possession, and more specifically, wheneverthey go hunting or to their farms.

“We walk with our arrow and bow just in case there is a jaguar attack, wild animals encounter, wild

Children in Karaudarnau village in the Deep South, Rupununi, are being taught the art of making arrows and bows (SRCS/Chris Isaacs photo)

Young men usually own an arrow and bow from a very young age (SRCS/Chris Isaacs photo)

The art of making quality...

The arrow and bow is especially used by men, even as some women are also skilled at using it

birds or any other game (bush hogs, labba, bush deer, powis) which we can use as food and provide for our families,” Isaacs related. The weapon can also be used for fishing as well. “Some men use this while fish hunting in shallow waters using a boat or even at night. It is an essential tool for us as Amerindians since it is easier for hunting. Once released, there is no sound…if the hunter didn’t get the first shot, he could still stand a better chance for a second attempt without noise distractions.”

The Making First, there is the har-

FROM PAGE XXIV

Toshao of Karaudarnau village Apollos Isaacs

Reflections Of A Country Girl and ...

FROM PAGE XI a young girl’s dream come true.

An immediate instinct told me that there was something different about the place and as I began to settle down, I wondered, “What mystery or magic does it hold?”

What was unique about the compound was that it was separate from the main one, and surrounded by canals, like an island. I felt the bliss and happiness for the landscape lent a certain type of romance to the mind.

From dawn to dusk, each day was something interesting to do, to see, to learn in that little paradise. One of the things I learnt about the Leonora/Uitvlugt Estates, were the names of the Dutch owners of the plantations which were Ignatius Charles Bourda and Ursillya, and their initials are engraved on the factory chimney of Uitvlugt. And of course, the fabled tale of Dutch colonial masters’ burial sites in the yard, none of which I saw.

What I saw were huge snakes that were real!

One day as I was walking under the canopy of the flamboyant trees, I saw a long snake slithering down one of the trees. I ran out of fear and the gardener told me there were always snakes in the yard.

“Why is that?” I asked.

He told me that beyond the border of the grounds there were canefields, so when the cane is burnt, the snakes crawl over into the yard. That was scarier for me than stumbling on an old Dutch tomb, so I avoided that part of the grounds as best as I could. So many snakes were caught during the time I lived there, I just could not get the thought of snakes from my mind.

Then one night I was awakened by a soft hissing sound.

I was not sure where it came from because everyone was asleep. I got up and slowly pulled aside the curtains from the glass doors, leading to the veranda, I looked outside but saw nothing.

“Strange,” I thought, “Did I actually hear that or was it a dream?”

The next morning I went for a walk across the narrow waterway where a diversity of exotic lilies grew in a section of the yard that was an abandoned tennis court. The wild flowers that grew there were an amazing display of yellow across the court. Why I was there that morning, I wasn’t sure but as I stood there, looking around, a soft breeze blew, bending the soft stalks of the wild flowers and that’s when I saw the snake.

It had raised its head and was looking at me!

I dropped the basket of flowers I had in my hand that I had picked for morning prayers and ran, almost tripping over the old wooden bridge. I stopped in the middle of the lawn as the two gardeners hurried to see what was wrong with me.

“Another snake,” I said, a little out of breath.

They both smiled and said casually, “Yuh would geh accustom tuh it.”

I shook my head, somewhat in disbelief.

“How and when do I get accustomed to snakes?”

They both advised me not to walk too far out on the grounds, but the nature lover I was, I wanted to see every flowering shrub, and blooming trees, to pick fruits and look at the different birds flitting around in the garden heading to the bird bath.

That night when everyone was asleep, I went out on the veranda and looked across the lawn to the tennis court that was veiled in darkness, and I asked silently,

“Is something there from the past?”

So many stories I have heard, and all the notes I had written in my journal, maybe it’s time for me to write from my own experiences, the historical past, the mysteries of the estate grounds, tales of Dutch ghosts and tombs, and the myth of a snake dynasty.

Fiction and facts from a curious mind and living here in a world of my own, in the embrace of nature’s brilliance, the writer in me bloomed.

The art of making quality...

FROM PAGE XXV

vesting of the wild arrow (the plant stalks used). One must be very knowledgeable about when it is ready and mature enough to be used. “They would have to gather a special kind of feather which will be used as the fletching of the arrow. The points will then be made depending on its intended use,” Isaacs explained.

Some arrow points are carved out of wood- some less pointed (mostly can be used for birds and other smaller game) and some with spear-like points which are sharp and durable for bigger games.

The cordage used for tying any material in this product

is locally known as ‘crawah’, a strong, flexible fibre stripped off long sections of fibrous plant leaves, which is a specie of bromeliads (this also requires local knowledge on the correct plant and technique to get the right amount of length and quality of fibres from the leaves).

“Fibres from the cambrium layer between the wood and the outer bark of trees can be used as well but this is less common within the Wapichan tribe. The bows are twice as important as the arrow and require the right knowledge to have very strong and fully functional bow ready for any game at any time. The wood is cured and bent to perfection and polished by hand using other local raw materials and the string is also made with Crawah woven into perfection.

“We ensure that this tradition is preserved by ensuring the younger boys own an arrow and bow at a young age. We make suitable sizes for them, and as they grow, the arrow and bow length increases as well,” Isaacs shared.

The art of making arrows and bows is also taught during programmes such as the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS) traditional knowledge education and other traditional programmes within the village.

During Amerindian Heritage Month, which concluded yesterday, there is usually an archery competition where everyone is eager to participate and show off their skills.

A village elder teaching a youth the art

Making an arrow and bow requires considerable skills

Patience

FROM PAGE XV to be honest and transparent. Better stewardship. Accounting for how you use money, time, or talent makes you careful not to waste those resources.

Protection against excess. As children of God, we are free in Christ, but an accountability partner helps us stay balanced and guards us from taking liberties.

Healthy self-examination. Another person can often point out what we cannot see in ourselves.

Safeguard against unwise relationships. If you give an account of the places you go and the people you spend time with, you’ll be more likely to make wise choices.

Unbridled freedom may seem like a great blessing, but it can be a recipe for disaster. Do you give an account to anybody for the way you handle money, time, and relationships? If not, consider inviting a trustworthy Christian to fill that role. Taking this step reveals a heart that longs to please God.

Pleasing God helps us to develop that intimate relationship with God. Bible in One Year shares this info on “Barriers to Intimacy With God”

What is keeping you from the joy and peace that come from a close relationship with God?

Psalm 63:1-8

What do you want more than anything else in life? Is it a relationship? An opportunity? Most of the things we wish for involve someone else. We all want to be loved. But even our closest relationships can sometimes leave us disappointed or lonely, despite our best efforts.

Consider our relationship with the Lord. He says he loves us “with an everlasting love” (Jer. 31:3), but it can be difficult to know what true intimacy with Him looks or feels like. In Psalm 63, David compares his soul’s great hunger for God to feeling thirst “in a dry and exhausted land where there is no water” (v. 1) Have you ever felt that kind of longing for God’s company? It’s exactly the kind of closeness He wants for us.

Perhaps you struggle to feel near to the Lord. It could be pride that’s preventing you from admitting your need for Him. Maybe you feel life’s too hectic to sit in His presence. Or it’s possible you’re afraid to be transparent. That’s understandable, especially if you’ve been betrayed in the past. But remember, God will never fall short the way humans do. Whatever the case, simply start spending a few minutes with Him each day, and you’ll notice you have a bit more margin than you thought.

Pray to discover any barriers standing in the way of a deeper connection. And ask God to reveal steps you can take to experience more oneness and closeness with Him. He will answer.

A more intimate relationship with one was one of the things on my vision board this year, and I am consistently working on it. As we are given the privilege to walk daily to the corridor of life, let’s be conscious of the content we discussed in this column as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life. BEYOND THE RUNWAY

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear Student, Welcome dear friend. You may need to study characters in a literary work. Start from the standpoint that they can be described in certain ways. With a dy-

October 1, 2023

namic character, the writer spends time developing and shaping him, thus providing pointers pertaining to story events. Also, there is the static character that does not change as the story unfolds. He is used to developing conflict situations and is not usually the central figure in a story. Be wise.

Love you.

GRAMMAR Capitalisation

Capital letters make words distinctive. We capitalise certain words.

1) The first words in a sentence or a group of words used as a sentence: Example: Johnston asked whether we should cancel the meeting. Definitely! (Note the ‘definitely’ is capitalised. Although it is not a complete sentence, it is used as a sentence.)

2) First word in a direct quotation:

Example:

Johnston asked, “Will we cancel the meeting with the female bodyguard agency?” (The quotation is part of a sentence, yet the first word of the quotation is capitalised.)

3. First word in a question within a sentence:

Example: All of us are wondering, Will this equipment be delivered on schedule? (An independent question is included within the sentence, and the capital letter for the first word of that question helps set it off.)

4. First word of each entry in a list or an outline:

Example:

The first mailing will include:

1. A covering letter explaining the special offer we are making.

2. A brochure illustrating the entire product line.

3. Our credit-application form. 4. An order form.

5. A service contract form. 6. A reply envelope.

5. Names of persons are proper nouns and must be capitalised.

6. See how to capitalise place names correctly:

1. Capitalise the names of countries and major geographical areas, streets, parks, rivers, shopping centres, buildings, and so on.

2. Capitalise the word ‘city’ only when it is part of the official name of the city: Babbington City, but the city of Babbington.

3. Capitalise the word ‘the’ only when it is part of the official name: The Hague, but the city of Hague.

4. Capitalise East, West, North, and South when they are used to refer to specific sections of the

country. E.g. Our warehouse is in the South. It is about 5 km. east of Kitchener.

Something to Do

Provide capitals for the following sentences. Be sure to explain why each of your choices must be capitalised.

1. The west offers a visitor scenery unlike that in any other part of the country.

2. sherrilyn asked, “is it possible to increase this research budget by about 12 percent?”

3. please call shirley fogg to tell her about the mishap with the eggs.

4. can you deliver the entire shipment by next weekend? absolutely!

5. Most of the time we spend in the province of Saskatchewan will be in the city of saskatoon.

THE PASSAGE

Using a short passage to make logical inferences

But before you start, here is a word on making logical inferences:

In making inferences, you, the reader, need to use textual material to make logical statements about information that is not stated.

You can use given details as clues, or evidence, to infer information that is not stated. For example, directly stated events and outcomes can be used to make inferences about the message of a text.

You make inferences almost daily. Simply enjoying a short story can be caused by information that the author is not disclosing directly. As you are reading, think like a detective.

After you read the passage, go ahead to answer the questions that follow it.

My little sister Cheryl and I always bragged about our Sioux grandpa, Joe Iron Shell. Our friends … were impressed by our stories. Maybe we exaggerated and made Grandpa and the reservation sound glamorous, but when we’d returned home to Iowa after our yearly summer visit to Grandpa, we always had some exciting tale to tell.

We always had some authentic Sioux article to show our listeners. One year Cheryl has new moccasins that Grandpa had made.

(--- from “The Medicine Bag” by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve)

1. What can you infer about the narrator?

(A) He knows how to make moccasins.

(B) He is proud of his Sioux heritage.

(C) He does not like living in Iowa.

(D) He doesn’t like the reservation.

2. What is probably true about the narrator’s grandfather?

(A) He leads a glamorous life.

(B) He always wears moccasins.

(C) He carries on Sioux traditions.

(D) He makes up exaggerated stories.

3. What can you infer about the narrator’s friends?

(A) They are jealous of the narrator.

(B) They are interested in Sioux history.

(C) They are partly Sioux.

(D) They want to make moccasins.

4. Which of the following is probably not a logical inference?

(A) The narrator likes his grandfather.

(B) Grandfather teaches his heritage.

(C) The narrator resents having to visit his grandfather.

(D) The children treasure their gifts.

That England that was wont to conquer others, Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564- 1616) Richard II

Why fillings fail

THE price that one would pay to have a single filling done by nearly one hundred private dentists in Guyana is approximately 15 per cent of a month’s salary of the average worker. Therefore, the average person would undoubtedly find it grievous if the filling fails to live up to expectations after such an investment. The situation is indeed calamitous if one considers that there is no guarantee that dental work done. So I will explore two major failures of fillings.

The two most common delinquent factors encountered in restorative dentistry are the persistence of toothache after a filling has been done and the problem of a filling falling out soon after its completion. It is relatively common and, unfortunately wrong to be incited to have a simple filling done because of a toothache. Whenever a toothache drives someone to the dentist, that person starts off at a disadvantage, implying that the successful treatment outcome is not certain. This is because pain, especially severe pain, signals that the pulp (vascular nervous package) may be endangered.

Unless a patient is below 16 years of age, in which case the dental pulp exhibits a remarkable capacity to combat and overcome virtually any form of aggression, pulpitis (pulp infection) generally results in irreversible degeneration. Incidentally, root canal therapy then becomes the required treatment. This is probably the most expensive of all routine dental procedures.

Therefore, a filling should be done in a tooth before any form of pain steps in. That is why it is so important that persons should have regular dental checks so that the dental practitioner may detect a carie in its developing stage. In so doing, not only would the condition have the best chance of success, but the patient would be relatively certain to get the desired results from the treatment received.

Fillings sometimes become loose and fall out. There are basically two reasons why this happens. Firstly, the filling material was not retained in the cavity simply because the cavity was not adequately constructed to hold the material in. In other words, the cavity was expulsive instead of retentive. A retentive cavity is just like the unique aperture in a cardboard puzzle in which the correct piece (filling material) fits exactly into the aperture and cannot be longitudinally retracted when hardened. It is the dentist’s responsibility to configure (drill) the cavity into a retentive shape (wide at the bottom, narrow at the opening) so that the hardened material cannot fall out.

Secondly, on occasions, fillings fall out because the area of the tooth adjacent to the filling material becomes soft due to decay. Such decay is referred to as secondary caries, micro-leakage, seepage, or infiltration and results in the cavity effectively becoming bigger than the block of filling material inside it. Usually, these failures occur more than three days after the procedure.

Persons need to understand that the tooth/material junction is generally incapable of totally prohibiting the penetration of bacteria and saliva into what is really a deep crack. So, in theory, if one brushes a tooth’s crown with intact enamel once, then one must brush a crown with a filling 10 times as thoroughly as those without a filling. Is it not natural for a mother to care more for a sick child than one that is healthy?