Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 05-11-2023

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

Goed Fortuin Village The place of hardworking people, luck and lots of love

Bibi Shamrool is 73 years old and has lived in Goed Fortuin for more than 50 years. She recalls when the village was mostly just grass and a few houses but she said that over the years the people have worked hard to make the village what it is today (Japeth Savory photo)

Sunday, November 05, 2023

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

Boosting productivity and growth with diversification and decentralisation

COCONUT production is essential to Guyana’s booming agriculture sector, and Hope Coconut Industries Limited (HCIL)’s General Manager Ricky Roopchand has two active programmes to make coconut produc-

tion viable for all farmers nationwide.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that the coconut industry has the National Coconut Decentralisation programme, where an adequate number of seedlings are pro-

duced at a cost-effective price and are readily available.

Roopchand said that they have 10 coconut nurseries in all regions in Guyana, so a farmer from Lethem and in remote villages will not have to journey to the city or

elsewhere to get seedlings anymore.

He reported that a nursery can produce up to 206 seedlings per year, and with 10 nurseries offer sufficient

new Brazilian Green Dwarf Coconut variety, which is intended to boost the local coconut industry further.

The Brazilian Green

said to produce water with a high sucrose level, making it sweeter than others.

Plentiful coconut plants at Hope Estate

Coconut processing

uptake for farmers.

Roopchand stated that since August 2, 2020, 12 coconut nurseries have been constructed and that decentralised the availability of seed nuts from Hope Industries Limited (Hope Estate) to other parts of the country.

In addition, all farmers involved in the coconut industry will be receiving the

Dwarf variety is best known for its high-yielding properties and its high tolerance to attacks from common pests and diseases that usually affect other types of coconut.

Its most outstanding characteristic, however, is its ability to produce more water than other varieties commonly grown in Guyana. This variety is also

Guyana received some 1,000 seed nuts, and additional seed nuts boosted our local production. Guyana is also leading the way in agriculture as CARICOM aims to lessen the almost $5 billion food-import bill by 25 per cent by the year 2025.

Earlier this year, RoopSEE PAGE XXIV

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

‘The Butterfly Effect’

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Through the eyes of the creator

By Shaniya Harding TRAVON Barker describes himself as a simple person who loves and appreciates his work. But his work speaks volumes about him as a photographer, an entrepreneur and a pioneer in Guyanese photography and the creative arts. By curating ‘ The butterfly effect’, an exhibition aimed at bringing together thirty creative pieces from Guyana’s best photographers, Travon is now working on making a dream of his and many other Guyanese photographers a possibility. With pphotographs depicting everything from landscape and architecture, to fine art and fashion.

The Butterfly Effect aims to create an immersive experience by telling stories through the eyes of the photographer.

Travon grew up around the capital city, living with a single parent and his extended family. Travon successfully completed his second education at St Joseph High before moving to the University of Guyana. That is where his love for art manifested in the form of architecture.

The move from a career in architecture to the field of photography was one of necessity, luck and a specific series of events. Because of the inability to find work as an architect, Travon moved on to working with different companies. At one of these jobs, the opportunity to practice photography presented itself, and he took it.

“At that point, I was a part of the logistics staff.

We had two photographers and a videographer on staff,” Travon stated. “But there was

an event that we went to that the photographers were too tired to work. And I decided how hard it could be.” And his first shoot was a success and in many ways, changed the trajectory of his life.

Learning to Paint with Light It is said that, like beauty, art lies in the eyes of the beholder. But Travon believes that art also comes from the creator. This is why he refers to photography as ‘painting with light.’ Travon believes that the talent and intuition it takes to take a good picture, despite how natural it could be, has to honed and developed.

Today, Travon is the mind behind Keynote Productions and several other endeavours. But getting to this stage required a lot of hard work, money, time, dedication and passion. Travon told the Pepperpot Magazine, “Everything I wanted to learn, I made its duty to learn. When I first started, I needed to understand the fundamentals and basics of photography, and that was thought to me by a fellow photographer.”

Taking his next steps, Travon moved further into the field of photography, making waves, and he did.

“From then on, most of it was me putting in the time, spending hours on YouTube and practising and to learn the more advanced techniques,” Travon stated. The challenges he faced in developing his skills and gaining a clientele, coupled with the task of getting noticed pushed him to want to see better procedures regarding photography in Guyana.

This, like the implementation of copyright laws,

The curator of The Butterfly Effect Travon Braker (Photos courtesy of Keynot Productions)

among other things, Travon believes will help in the development of the photography and videography sector.

Travon himself received a creative grant from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, which played a big role in kickstarting the Butterfly Effect.

His passion and drive for photography, capturing a moment crafted with light, is what motivated Travon on his journey. And it is what has brought him thus far, as he shared that, “Being a

Effect hosted. It featured several pieces by Travon and was a success in solo art galleries.

But this year’s Butterfly Effect is taking a step forward. It aims to feature 30 pieces from an array of local photographers to exhibit the extent of Guyana’s creatives.

Being able to allow other photographers to have their work exhibited and admired is one of Travon’s biggest motivators. He explained that he fully understands the challenges photographers face. “I worked very hard to get myself to a financial position to pull off a solo gallery, and it is not that easy,” he said.

“I understand because the art form is so underpaid and uncompensated, it would be very difficult for other persons to reach that financial level. I am doing this to show that we don’t need to be billionaires to do this.

All we need is support,

collaboration and we can make this work.”

The Butterfly Effect will be hosted on November 13 at Castellani House at 16:00hrs, beginning with a cocktail hour before the 30 art pieces are unveiled. The event promises an evening of art, fine wine, music and entertainment. Virtual and physical tickets can be sourced on Potsalt Events website and from Travon himself.

As an artist or a lover of anything creative, the Butterfly Effect is the perfect chance to indulge in the arts. And to those who are art lovers, Travon encouraged them to just take a look at the art, saying, “For the non-art lovers who are just there for the entertainment, take a peek at the art to understand what we do.

I am trying to create an experience that could match art galleries that are done internationally,” Travon said. So, whether or not art and photography are not your thing, come out to experience the Butterfly Effect for all that it has to offer.

lover of the arts, it dawned on me that this is something that I could do. And since 2017, six years later, four cameras later and millions of dollars and hours invested. I am now considered one of the best photographers in the country.”

The Butterfly Effect Last year saw the first-ever Butterfly

Travon at last year’s Butterfly effect.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

The Guyanese who once headed a foreign government

IF you are a youngster, you might be wondering if the headline of my article this week is a mistake. Actually, it is not. The historic fact is that a Guyanese did, indeed, head a foreign government. The individual was Sir Edward Trenton Richards, Kt, CBE, formally of Canje, Berbice, British Guiana.

Growing up in that racially mixed community prepared him for service in a racially mixed country, Bermuda.

He created history when he became the very first non-white person to become the government leader of the popular tourist island of Bermuda.

This unique story goes back many decades, and is becoming somewhat forgotten, and really should not, especially for Guyanese.

Those who were alive in the era of a Guyanese heading a non-Guyanese government have mostly passed on with the happy knowledge that one of our own made such a great and happy achievement. The establishment of that government which Guyanese-born Sir Edward Trenton Richards headed changed forever. When Edward Richards became the government leader, his party, The United Bermuda Party, which he headed, actually broke the glass ceiling, so to speak. Previously, the non-white section of the population of the island existed in a virtual Apartheid system. There were “Whites Only” and similar signs displayed at many public places. The United Bermuda Party, which was supported mainly by the non-white citizens, finally put that disgraceful behaviour by those who considered themselves as ‘high and mighty’ to an end.

Edward Trenton Richards, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George A. Richards, was born at Adelphi, Canje, Berbice, British Guiana (GUYANA) on October 4, 1908. Growing up in that eastern region of the colony, he attended the Leeds Anglican School on the Corentyne Coast. He was also a student at the Mission Chapel and the Wesleyan schools in New Amsterdam, and finally, The Collegiate in Georgetown. At the last-named school, he served as an assistant master for a while before leaving for Bermuda in 1930. That was the time when almost all schools in the colony of British Guiana were operated by one of the Christian bodies: Roman Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Congregational etc.

As such, students who were not Christian or from denominations other than the one their families were practising were greatly influenced by the denomination that managed the school they were attending. For example, as a student of the Agricola Anglican School, which

the Atlantic Ocean some 600 miles off the eastern coast of South Carolina in the United States.

was located on the East Bank of Demerara, just one mile south of the city of Georgetown, I joined with the other students at the commencement of classes every day, saying prayers of the Anglican faith. As a Catholic, that was not in any way difficult for me since the Catholic and the Anglican (Episcopal) ways of worship are pretty similar.

History records that King Henry VIII of England established the Anglican denomination in 1534 as a political act rather than for any serious ideological reason.

Prayers such as The Lord’s Prayer are a staple in both the Catholic and Anglican denominations. Those Wednesday morning services (Mass) of my boyhood student years were and continue to be principal ways of worshipping God by both the Anglican and Catholic denominations. English history has recorded the time and reason for the Anglican Church to have been ‘born’ of the Catholic Church. Most of the ways of worship by Catholics and Anglicans are very similar. Here in Guyana, the two denominations work closely on a number of social issues, such as supporting youth activities.

Back in the 1940s, students, myself included, attended a service at the Agricola Anglican Church every Wednesday morning, which was mandatory. As such, students of another faith, or even those not Christian, were all made to attend the service. While most parents cooperated, there were some quiet objectors.

Edward Richards focused on being a good and brilliant student in that educational, social and religious environment.

He excelled in mathematics, and became an assistant master before he migrated to Bermuda, a small island located in

I have visited Bermuda on three occasions and observed first-hand the all-round high standards of life and living on the island, and the many tourists who flock there. I have also seen the Guyanese who live there united as one in their little diasporan paradise out in the Atlantic. The older ones and those who have been residing on the island for many years do speak of the legacies of the former government leader, Guyanese-born Sir Edward Trenton Richards, who, back in the day, was respectfully and endearingly, referred to as “E.T” (Edward Trenton).

Before settling permanently in Bermuda, the ambitious Edward Richards went to England, where he studied Law at the MiddleTemple. In November 1946, he was called to the Bar in London, after which he returned to Bermuda, where he commenced a long and distinguished career in the legal field. Sir Edward was appointed a magistrate in 1958, a post in which he served with dignity and decorum.

Along his life’s journey, he realised that he had a desire for politics, in which he became actively involved in 1948. That led him to serve as the political representative in the Parish of Warwick. By dint of hard work and many political successes in his adopted homeland, the Guyanese-born Bermudian citizen was appointed a member of the Executive Council (Cabinet) in 1963. Continuing his upward mobility in the political activity of the island, in 1968 he was appointed Member (Minister) for Immigration and Deputy Government Leader. His political pinnacle was then just one step away.

It was just a matter of time before the Berbician reached the top of the political mountain of Bermuda. And that he did. In December of that year, with the retirement of the then Leader, Sir Henry Tucher, Sir Edward Trenton Richards, a man from Canje, Berbice, not only became the very first Black person to head the Government of Bermuda, a country which had practised Apartheid for many long years.

Edward Richards also became a Guyanese who headed a non-Guyanese government; something extremely unique. It was and remains historically unique. My visits to the island of Bermuda were some years later, but I heard many stories about the era when Black Bermudians and Black visitors to the island used to be treated like “Children of a Lesser god”.

With Sir Edward Richards becoming government leader, and with his strong quest for justice and dignity for all citizens of the island, the Apartheid system came crashing down, and non-white Bermudian citizens found their place in the sun. In ending this article, it is appropriate to mention that Sir Edward Richards was an honoured and special guest at the Independence celebrations of Guyana in 1966.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

Local firm unveils new high-quality packaging for small businesses

LOCAL company Impressions Reignite Brand launched its new product line of packaging (pouches) for all kinds of products targeting small businesses.

The launch took place at the recently held Agri-Investment Forum and Expo at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, at their booth.

Speaking on behalf of the company, Marketing Executive Dominique Gonsalves told the Pepperpot Magazine that the company launched its own Packaging Department to market their new line of products.

Gonsalves stated that she is responsible for the Packaging Department which stocks international branding products for our local market with their pouches, cake boxes, shopping bags, different types of boxes, envelopes and more.

She added that they came up with their new product line this year but officially launched it at this year’s Agri Expo to showcase their pouches, and they will embark on campaigns with some of our local producers.

Gonsalves stated that their products are eco-friend-

The pouches and other packaging products

Dominique Gonsalves displays the new line of packaging products

ly and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved based in the US with zipper seal, tear notch, and high barrier protection that keeps the products fresh.

She noted that they will engage small businesses to promote their branded prod-

The branded eco-friendly packaging

uct line with President Alli’s mantra and vision of “One Guyana” and “Accelerating vision by 25 by 2025”.

Gonsalves told the Pepperpot Magazine that the products are of high quality and standard and it is imported from the US to cater to any size of businesses locally in terms of branding and the actual product (pouches).

“Our International Product Packaging helps local businesses to better promote and market their products not only in Guyana but regionally and internationally. This supports our President’s vision 25 by 2025, ensuring food security for our country and region,” she said.

For the Agri Expo, local products such as plantain chips, coconut biscuits, chicken foot, and chick peas, among others, were bought and packaged for the event to showcase the pouches. They are ideal for retailing non-refrigerated items, moderate moisture, freshness and odour barrier, and strong re-sealable zipper.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

Goed Fortuin Village The place of hardworking people, luck and lots of love

THE village of Goed Fortuin is said to be of name and nature. Its name is of Dutch origin and, just as it sounds, translates to the English “Good Fortune”.

The village was established sometime during the early 1800s. Beginning as a sugar plantation, the community has stood the test of time and has seen many changes over the years. But the name and its core values remain the pillar of the village and how villagers live and treat each other, being good to everyone.

The village of Goed Fortuin covers a stretch of land no more than half a mile long. It is notably divided into three main areas. The ‘Old scheme’ is the foundation of the village, having housed the original people of Goed Fortuin and houses the logies left from the village’s past. As the community developed, the population continued to grow, giving rise to the ‘New Scheme’. Goed Fortuin’s newest addition was that of the ‘Squatting area”, although its residents have had their titles for more than 10 years.

Today, the village spans between neighbouring Schoonord and Lungden Park and boasts a population of almost three thousand who call it home. In the past, most of the community’s people made a living from the Versailles Sugar Estate. As the community progressed, however, residents moved into fishing. Goed Fortuin became known as one of the biggest

Kamala Baldeo (Japheth Savory photos)

fishing communities on the West Bank of Demerara.

Goed Fortuin started off as, and still is, one of the most diverse communities in Guyana, with its rich sense of community woven into each villager after years of living as one. The picture painted by residents of the Goed Fortuin of old is a beautifully nostalgic and captivating one. Places like Ivy Cinema are the regular meeting places for men and women to gather and discuss the village’s new developments and happenings, while the

football field saw a barrage of young men and women socialising and indulging in different sporting activities.

Goed Fortuin is what some may call a forever home, as most of the community’s occupants have called it home for most of their lives, while there are entire genetrations born and bred in the village.

Kamala Baldeo is 70 years old and says she has spent half of her life in the village. Although she was born on the West Coast of Demerara, Kamala is happy

to call Goed Fortuin home with all the changes and improvements she has seen happen over the years. She stated, “It looks very different. Especially the roads, we have new roads. And today, I think we have more people living in Goed Fortuin.

And the people are still very friendly.” She went on further stating that members of Goed Fortuin live well with one another despite their differences “I am happy living here.

One of the things I like about Goed Fortuin is that we are on the roadside and we get easy transportation and everything is accessible,” Kamala shared with the Pepperpot Magazine. Goed Fortuin rests just across the Demerara River. Whether it is due to its location among fellow villages or a culture crafted by its people, the village of Goed Fortuin embodies the perfect combination of a country atmosphere with all the conveniences of the city.

Bibi Shamrool is 73 years old and has lived in various parts of Goed Fortuin for several years. She first moved into the village of

Goed Fortuin almost fifty years ago and moved around a bit before settling in the village’s ‘squatting area. “I used to live in a house in Goed Fortuin scheme and I saw some people coming here to build houses and to avoid paying rent, I came here too,” she admitted.

“I was just 16 or 17 years old when I got my first child.

I was about 15 years and my husband was 20 years old. I then came here to live in 1972, when I was about 30- something. And I have five children, three girls and two boys,” Bibi shared. The pressure of motherhood and needing to find a home for her children caused her to take up a piece of land at the far edge of Goed Fortuin.

But settling was not easy, as Bibi stated, “Here was just grass. It was a cow pasture.

It had a lot of trees. But people cut them down ana built houses. But they used to call here ‘Silver City’ because it was zinc houses.” But the people of Goed Fortuin persevered, she said. “The people here used to work hard

Bibi Shamrool

and save their money. And they would break and build until they were able to get a new house. They would just work, save and build.” Today, the community of Goed Fortuin has some of the most beautiful houses built by the villagers’ hard work.

And that hard work was not in vain. More than 10 years ago, residents of Goed Fortuin’s squatting area were given titles to the home they had worked so hard to build.

“Land and surveyors came in and measured and gave everyone their house lot number. Then they told us to go pay for our titles,” Bibi stated. “I felt nice because I owned a place, I owned a house and piece of land,” she stated.

From the old scheme to the ever-growing backlands, the residents evidently believe that Goed Fortuin is more than a nice place to live. It is a good place to call home.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

Goed Fortuin through the years

By Shaniya Harding FIFTY-TWO years is a long time for most things, but it is particularly a long time to live in a village.

But Carville Persaud has managed to call Goed Fortuin home for more than five decades. As a young teacher from the Essequibo Coast, Carville found his place among the villagers of Goed Fortuin. And even today, he, his wife and his family have no intention of going anywhere else.

Carville, who is 81 years old, comes from the village of Zorg on the Essequibo Coast. He made the move to Goed Fortuin as a young man. He said the move was due to his need for a change, something new, an adventure. “I left Essequibo because of my adventurous spirit,” he said. The adventurous spirit took him all over Guyana before settling in Goed Fortuin.

Coming to the West Bank of Demerara, Carville made friends with a few people from Goed Fortuin, many of whom were also from the Essequibo Coast, forming a bond among them. They encouraged a young and vibrant Carville to settle down in the then-small Dutch village of Goed Fortuin.

“Coast landers have a

sort of comradery,” Carville said. “Despite where you came from, once you are a coast lander, we bind ourselves together,” Carville shared. The camaraderie among friends quickly developed into love among a community.

Teaching is one of the oldest professions known to mankind and requires much patience and resolve.

Carville was a teacher for more than 39 years.

He stated that he initially joined the teaching profession because it was one of the only ways to become qualified at that time.

He stated,”The bottom line is on the Essequibo Coast, there were few opportunities. There were no secondary schools to begin with. If you wanted to be qualified, you would have had to come to Georgetown. And that called for money and so many other things.” In the late 1950’s Carville wrote the exam to become a teacher and has been educating young minds since.

In the years he has lived in Goed Fortuin, Carville stated that most aspects of the community have undergone some type of change.

Whether it is the new houses, or improved roads, some things are not what they used

Resident of Goed Fortuin Carville Persaud (Japheth Savory photo)

to be. But the people, the respect, love and co-operation they have has never and hopefully will never change, says Carville.

Goed Fortuin can hardly be talked about without mentioning sports. Sporting activities have played such a big role in the village over the course of the years that the community’s sporting past is talked about as much as the history of the community is.

“Goed Fortuin has two sports grounds,” Carville stated. “We found that people living on the main road enjoyed football, while those in the

scheme went for cricket. Most youths were very adventurous in those days.”

One of the things that made the village of Goed Fortuin stand out among its counterparts in its early years was the fact that it was one of the few communities that was ethnically diverse. Even today, the village of Goed Fortuin is home to all kinds of people from all kinds of places.

Carville shared that apart from some tensions of the past, Goed Fortuin was a safe and welcoming haven to all.

He stated, “There was a time when you could not venture in certain communities because of their ethnic makeup.”

As a teacher, however, Carville was given various opportunities to work within all regions of Guyana with all types of people and taught all kinds of children. This experience taught him plenty about people and how to treat them.

He stated, “I tried as much as humanly possible to treat ev-

eryone as a human being. And I think I succeeded. “ He further stated that how he viewed and treated people was of even more importance to his students. Carville shared “As a teacher, I can change the whole mindset of a student. So, I tried my best to treat everyone equally. And I think I did well as a teacher in that regard.”

Today the village of Goed Fortuin is not exactly as it used to be, but it is not entirely different.

Afternoons in the village can still find young men and women talking at local bars or community shops or grown men sitting with each other, sharing a story over a drink. Even with its new high-rise supermarkets, emerging businesses and increasing population, the village of Goed Fortuin is still as beautiful and welcoming as ever and it is more than a good place to live. It is the perfect place to call home.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

Community changes and Personal challenges

By Shaniya Harding Some 63 years ago, Naseer Ahmad was born into the village of Goed Fortuin on the West Bank of Demerara and, in the years he has called Goed Fortuin home, he has become a community pillar. He has played a role in community efforts that have taken place repeatedly and says regardless of the challenges he faces in his personal life, he will continue to strive as a voice for his village.

Like any long-standing member of a close-knit community, Naseer was given the name ‘Bird’. He says The name was perhaps due to the

fact that his father worked with birds, and he developed a profound love for them.

Naseer was among five siblings, having one brother and three sisters. His upbringing and boyhood days were simple, humble and built around a great sense of community.

Goed Fortuin is a culturally expressive place and is a blend of people from all places, of all races and of all walks of life. Naseer described the community as one where people cooperate and work together in the village’s best interest. Sports was among one of the things that had a great emphasis placed on it because of its

positive impact on the youth of the community.

Goed Fortuin’s sports groundwas, and still is on occasion, a community gathering place. It was built and has been repaired by the people of the village time and time again. “The centre ground did not have fences before 1992. We put up the fences, the stands and the new pavilion. It is not that I like to be in sports. I like to see young people be out of the streets.

In those days, young people used to gamble along street corners and smoke,” Naseer said.

This drive for development and progress, coupled

with his love for the arts, pushed Naseer to study architecture. He fell in love with technical drawing while attending West Demerara Secondary School. Naseer became an architect in 1978 at 18.

Although he no longer practices architecture, Naseer still loves the profession and considers it an art form in its own right. Naseer has such a profound love for architecture that he originally wanted to teach the subject to others, saying that, “My hope was to teach architecture in school. But I finished school and I saw a vacancy in the newspapers, and I went for

Naseer Ahmad (Japheth Savory photos)

The home of Naseer Ahmad

it. And that is what gave me the spinoff.”

Naseer’s love for any and everything creative was ignited in his childhood. His mother,a seamstress, and the girls she worked with taught Naseer how to sew and this knowledge and understanding of angles, cutting and putting pieces together

helped Naseer pursue fashion and design.

“I have skills in sewing.

My mother had twenty-something girls that would sew with her. And she got old and all the machines were there,”He said. “And I would be around the girls and they show me how to sew. I used my architecture skills and started to design clothes to take to Barbados.”

Today, Naseer is no longer works. He shared that a lot has changed in his life since 2017, when he was diagnosed with anxiety and depression. After suffering a heart attack, Nasser has lived with the subtle but constant fear that another may reoccur. Currently, many things make him anxious and he has lost the drive to participate in certain activities, but talking to people is always welcomed.

“I like when people come and talk to me. It takes the anxiety away from me. It takes the depression away from me,” he said. “If I have something I need to do, I get anxious about it, I have to

do it now.” This, however, has not stopped him from striving to see changes done in his community and the next generation.

As an ex-architect, Naseer would like to see better infrastructure implemented in the community. Simple things like better drainage and widened roads are just a few things he says could have a big impact on the village.

Going further, he states that one of the things he has always wanted to see is greater emphasis on art.“Once you can draw it, you can build it. I would like to see art taught in school, all the way from kindergarten up,” Naseer stated.

Building a home and life in the same village will create a love for the community and an unbreakable relationship with its people. Naseer believes that implementing a few simple principles and values from childhood is the basis for a good community and the village of Goed Fortuin stands as a testament to that.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

The Craft of Tailoring

By Shaniya Harding

The uniqueness of having something that is one of a kind

THE long hours of peddling a sewing machine, cutting and stitching pieces of fabric together to exact measurements, create a garment that leaves the wearer happy and looking good. This is what Kumar Singh says tailoring is all about.

Kumar, known locally as Danny, was born and raised in the village of Goed Fortuin. Today, at 58 years old he is one of the village’s most revered tailors. And it seems as though he is among the last, as the art is going untaught to newer generations.

But Kumar believes tailoring to be a worthwhile trade and is working to keep it alive.

Kumar was born and raised in the village of Goed Fortuin. But the Goed Fortuin of old was drastically different from that of today, with its own pastimes, fun, culture, community and challenges.

“Growing up in Goed Fortuin was plenty fun,” Kumar stated. The village boys of the time loved the activities associated with country life. They enjoyed and indulged in everything from sports and fishing to walks down the back dam.

Kumar hard at work

He went on further, stating, “We played a lot of sports.

We had a school right across the road and it was just fun.”

But just as there were highs, there were lows. And perhaps one of the biggest challenges Kumar faced was not completing school. “I didn’t have much education,” He shared. “I was the youngest, and I sacrificed my education to help my father. I have two brothers and three sisters. I hardly went to school.”

Kumar completed primary school before advancing to West Demerara Secondary School, where he left school before third form. “I left and I started to learn certain trades. I learned sewing, and I worked in the bulk factories in Guyana,” Kumar stated.

Kumar’s passion was first ignited as a child. His mother, a seamstress, and the young woman she worked with taught a young Kumar how to sew. This was the beginning of a career and lifetime of tailoring, sewing and eventually designing clothes.

I grew up and started helping my mother sew school shirts when I was just nine. My feet could barely reach the pedals, but I would peddle and sew.”

In the nearly 50 years he has called himself a tailor, Kumar

Tailor Kumar Singh (Japheth Savory photos)

was entirely self-taught up until a few months ago when he joined a free sewing class set forth by the government.

He graduated and earned a certificate.

Walking us through the process, Kumar emphasised the importance of preparation in tailoring. “Measurements is the first thing I have to do, and then I cut. With any garment, the preparation work has to be done first. Preparing the pockets, the lapels are down and then assembled,” he said.

His love of sewing and his passion for educating others has continued to encour-

age Kumar to teach children to sew at his Goed Fortuin home. With every child he takes under his care, he asks them if they are genuinely interested in sewing and often receives differing views from the young girls versus the young men.

“Six boys and a dozen girls came here to learn to sew. So, I put forward a question to them. I asked if they were interested in sewing.

All the girls said yes. But none of the boys wanted to learn to sew,” he explained, adding that he isn’t quite sure if the young men thought sewing was too difficult, but he believes that there needs to be more emphasis placed on crafts like sewing.

There is something special about an item of clothing that is handmade from start to finish from being custom-made for each individual to every button that is handsewn. Kumar believes that there is simply nothing better than something tailored to fit someone.

But tailors, seamstresses and many other people who practice the craft of sewing are facing a significant issue.

The price of material is placing a strain on people like

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Kumar. “If we don’t get material at a cheap cost we can’t continue. We can’t compete,” Kumar stated.

The price is the driving force behind people’s increasing unwillingness to buy clothes from seamstresses or tailors. Kumar explained, “We have to pay staff and we need material at a good price or else our prices will be like the boutiques.

And that is what people are running from.”

Most of the work done by most tailors and seamstresses is that of school uniforms or office attire.

But there is still space for these talented craftsmen and women to create pieces outside the generic stencil and move towards more creative and enigmatic handmade pieces. There is still the possibility to have something handmade, one of a kind, tailored to you.

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The profound folktales, myths and fairy tales of the Ancients are to be translated into context GEORGE G.M. James outlined after his research that the Khemetic Order taught its Grecian brethren the effectiveness of myth as a teaching programme for the common folk to learn the methods of the balance of life. It was not by chance that the Gods each had a sacred animal; this placed a check on hunting into extinction. With the expansion of tribesmen into other areas of Africa, the animals in those realms took this awareness with them.

Nelson Mandela did respond to modern Animal Rights activists who approached him on the subject: “When you [Europeans] came here, they [the animals] were all here, and were in good standing,” he said, adding: “If you want to go and hunt game, it should not be done in a chaotic manner, because we want to preserve the animals. So you must get permission, and the Chief would say, ‘I’m going to

have a particular period of the year when you can go hunting.’ So conservation was there long before the Whites came.”

Africa came under a poaching crisis due to Asia’s lust for ivory. In 2011, more than 25,000 elephants were slaughtered mainly for the Chinese market. African countries had to employ counter-poaching squads permitted to shoot to kill poachers to curb that excess. Again, we are seeing stuffed young caimans on our streets for sale in Georgetown. Years ago, when my children were very young, I stopped taking them to the zoo. The issue was that having spent some time in the ‘Bush’, I’ve come to learn a lot from my elders about animals and our responsibility. To return to the ancient world to explain why most of the Khemetic deities wore a specific animal-sculpted headdress no doubt explains that their populations were

aware of the need to cultivate a balance between species.

They were ahead some ten thousand years ago on the question of conservation.

During the early ’70s, I was a member of a pioneer ‘Young Settlers Group’.

This was before the CO-OP college was built. We were allowed some management freedoms; we worked along with the GDF and built the first chicken pens. We proudly placed our chickens in their pens, and were still below the initial budget. The ocelots took advantage of the low-budget mesh on the pens and had a feast. We went to ‘Skipper Gordon’ and asked for firepower to deal with this menace, which had belittled us. He invited as many of us as could hold into his log cabin, and asked how we would feel if some strange folk came into our villages and wards of Georgetown and pushed us out, then built some nice fruit gardens where we once lived.

Almost everyone responded, “We got the right fuh tek de fruits, ‘cause deh thief we

land.” Then, he expanded on the story, telling us that we were the invaders of the ocelots’ highway forest, and they were the victims. After that little talk, we no longer wanted ‘firepower’; we resorted to rebuilding the pens, using heavy mesh. This didn’t deter the cats, ‘cause they did return. We shone bright lights at them with heavy handheld torch lamps, and they abused us in their screeching, hostile cat language, but they moved on, because they couldn’t get near the chickens. The story the skipper had told us never left us. Most of us grew up with hostility towards the undomesticated creatures of our environment. I became enlightened by seeing the ocelots in the wild.

Reason would assure me that to put one of these animals in a 4’ x 4’ cage as with the zoo was to torture this creature into ‘insanity’.

Another experience came to me at Kurupung back-dam.

We were then being led by the late ‘Cash Morgan’ when, upon reaching a tacouba (a

fallen tree placed across a small tributary waterway etc), one of the crew saw a snake cuddled under the tree at the end of the tacouba and raised the alarm. ‘Cash’ turned around and coldly said to him, “Duh snake mek atemp’ fuh harm yuh? In bush yuh got fuh see t’ing and leff it alone.” With that, we proceeded in silence towards our appointed location.

Years later, I had a discussion with a friend on Laing Avenue about a caiman’s presence in the adjoining canal. I used the same explanation, saying: “Bro, dem t’ings deh heah long before we.” Hubbard looked at me, weighing this strange reasoning, and he responded, “Wuh ‘bout if deh clean de canal more regularly, yuh t’ink dem animal would move on?”

The only thing I could do was to agree, “Yeah, bro, I t’ink deh would.” And from that strange, weird moment, the caiman, camoudie and our existence seemed to coincide.

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DANCE WITH ME II AAHANA, though stunned at seeing her old boyfriend, kept a calm composure.

“This is certainly unexpected,” she said to herself, not wanting him to see her surprise, for the meeting was all about business.

There was, though, no mistake about the surprise on his face the moment he saw her and when introductions were made, he held her hand a fraction longer.

“This is quite a surprise,” he said, a pleased look in his eyes, “Didn’t expect to see you in this forum.”

is now a top engineer in a construction company.”

After the hours-long meeting was over, he walked over immediately to her and said quietly, “Can I talk with you a little- outside of business?”

“I don’t think there’s anything of interest---” “It’s really nice seeing you again after all these years,” he interrupted her.

She smiled and said nicely, “I can’t say the same.”

He nodded his head a little and smiled wryly, “I deserve that and more.”

him, excusing herself to her CEO to go to her work site, not wanting to speak anymore with Naren.

“What would saying ‘sorry’ now do?” she asked exasperated, “and why is he showing interest in me?”

That night as she laid in bed, she thought of that moment when she saw him again after all those years and though she felt no resentment nor bitterness in her heart, there was no joy.

“He took a part of my life that I may never find again.”

Her eyes were just closing

“Same for me,” she said casually and took her seat with the CEO and their management team.

The business of investing and construction of buildings began with in-depth discussions. Aahana did not look Naren’s way, but he forced her attention by asking questions directed to her.

He was impressed with her knowledge and expertise and seemed lost sometimes as he listened to her presentation.

Aahana felt a little thrilled that she had left him in such awe and she smiled with the confidence of an accomplished woman.

“He must be wondering,” she said to herself, “How a simple country girl he uncaringly dropped from his life

She didn’t respond to that, not wanting to give life to past memories she had buried, but he continued, “It’s amazing that you’re an engineer.

What happened to becoming a doctor?”

She inhaled slowly and answered, “Circumstances sometimes change people.”

“And I guess I played a role in that?”

“You played a lead role in that,” she said silently but answered casually, “It’s all in the past, and I’ve moved on.”

He looked at her for a short moment and said, “You’re just as beautiful and I’m sorry---” “No,” she interrupted him this time, “I don’t want to hear it.”

She moved away from

in sleep when her phone rang.

It was an unknown number so she didn’t answer, but she recognised his voice from a message he left.

“Hey. Sorry to call so late, knowing you probably had a long day. Just want to know how you’re doing.”

“Now you want to know how I’m doing?” she fumed quietly.

He called the next morning and days to follow with invitations to dinner, lunch or just a drink but she picked up none of his calls until her CEO spoke to her.

“I received a report from Mr. Naren Boodhoo that you have not been taking his calls.”

Aahana looked at her boss with surprise.

“What? I’m not working on that building site, so why is he calling me?”

“Maybe it’s something to do with the designs of the building you did some work on and do remember,” the CEO pointed out to her,

“Our company was given the contract to work on that billion-dollar project.”

“Yes, sir,” she answered.

That night, when he called again, she answered with a little grimace.

“Hey. Why don’t you

want to talk to me?”

“We have nothing to talk about outside of work, and since you reported me to my CEO, what do you need to talk about?”

SEE PAGE XXII

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Disinformation Vs Misinformation

OVER the years, I’ve noticed that misinformation and disinformation are being mentioned in the media during discourses. Unfortunately, they’re sometimes used interchangeably when defining two different concepts. This week’s column piece is dedicated exclusively to debunk some of the misconceptions behind these two terms and to let you know how you can make better choices related to media consumption. Misinformation is inaccurate information. It simply means that the author behind the news gets the facts wrong. Misinformation can occur when journalists don’t do their due diligence and report wrong facts. If a news report relayed that an event is expected to commence tomorrow, but the actual date is next week, that’s misinformation. It’s not necessarily lying. It pretty

much sums up getting the facts wrong.

Disinformation is not the same as misinformation. While disinformation is also false information, it is made to deliberately mislead. Most people usually forget the latter part of the definition. Disinformation can occur when the “bad actor” who creates the news intentionally alters the facts or creates fiction to fuel a particular agenda or narrative. An informed population that can effectively separate fact from fiction is needed to combat disinformation. Disinformation is also known as manipulated media and includes propaganda or hoaxes. While these terms are different, they can be very dangerous to our news consumption and the media. According to the World Health Organization, more than 70 percent of news being shared online are inaccurate news. It means that most of the

news we may see popping up on our timeline can be misleading or false information. That was very eye-opening for me.

How do we combat this? We must first engage in critical thinking at all times. You can use critical thinking to understand the information presented to you. You can come up with your own conclusions, pick out any biases and expand the news outlets you consume. One part of critical thinking that I always enjoy the most is identifying the sources to understand if they may have any motives for being biased. You should always consider who the source of this information is.

Ask yourself, how credible are they? What is their supporting evidence? Do they have a history of misinformation or disinformation? There was a time in my life when I consumed the first bit of information that popped across social media without finding out if other sites or outlets were saying the same thing or even realising that this piece of information was pure fiction. I didn’t take the time to read or thoroughly understand, and I had to end up paying the consequences.

This was before I was exposed to university teachings and understanding citations, references and the importance of source-checking. Unfortunately, not many people are deliberately exposed to this, but it doesn’t mean you can’t google the concepts and understand them better. I am pleading with you not to be gullible. There’s a reason why “Don’t believe everything you read or see online” is a popular slogan many social media users use. These combating examples don’t only relate to the media or online sites, but can also be used in your everyday life with the things you hear or see. As it relates to disinformation, I want you all to know that everyone who shares information has different reasons for doing so, and not every reason is genuine. It’s up to you to decide what is and what isn’t.

I hope you all make better and more informed choices the next time you consume news or information. The consequences of false information or deliberately false information are equally devastating to us as individuals and our country as a whole. The power to change that remains with you and how you choose to act, whether to consume or to combat.

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REVIVAL AND EXPANSION OF THE HONEY INDUSTRY

THE accession to office of the Hon Zulfikar Mustapha as Minister of Agriculture has turned out to be an inspired choice in the assembling of the new Cabinet. Minister Mustapha has been proactive in reforming, developing and strengthening the agricultural milieu he inherited and introducing new crops, technology and techniques. Sugar and rice, traditional crops, have been revived and expanded; fishing is being modernised; new crops such as tropical wheat and millet and corn and soya have been introduced and indeed, the first crops of corn and soya have been successfully reaped.

The raison d’etre of this agricultural drive is to ensure that the food security of the nation, to keep on strengthening agriculture, which had always been the backbone of the economy and not to neglect it in favour of the new and lucrative oil industry as so many oil-producing countries have done and eventually became a victim of the Dutch Disease; and to take advantage of the $6 billion CARICOM food-export market. It is only very recently that the ministry has brought honey production within its full focus and has publicly committed itself to expanding and modernising the industry.

Honey is one of the oldest foods known to mankind and has been continuously used since the New Stone Age. All the ancient civilisations, the Egyptians, Indians, Chinese and others have used honey. It has always been an element in the food of the Gods, whether

it was as ambrosia, nectar or any other. It was always regarded as a health-giving food and was also used medicinally, both internally and externally and later found its way into Western Pharmacopeia at the time western medicine entered its modern phase of development. In the Caribbean, from the time of slavery and in the Amerindian cultures, it was used as a cure for coughs and colds and as a pain reliever.

In very early times, bees were never hived or cultivated and honey was reaped or gathered from nests of wild bees. Though this is still done, today, bees are generally cultivated in hives and honey is reaped methodically. In Greek and Roman times, honey cultivation was done as a hobby and an industry. For example, the great Latin poet Virgil cultivated bees in his retirement, and he has immortalised his career as a beekeeper in poetry.

All honeys are not exactly the same. For example, in the Himalayas, because the bees feed on Lotus lilies, the honey is pink, or in parts of Africa, a green honey is produced. These rarer types of honey are far more expensive. Modern honey farmers are able to produce honey with various flavours.

A common example is orange-blossom honey, whereby the hives are moved near orange groves when they begin to flower.

In Guyana, honey has been produced from the earliest colonial times by using hives. The honey would reflect the vegetation of the locality where the hives were situated. In areas where sugarcane was grown, such as the sugar estates, the

honey produced tended to be distinctly sugary, while the honey produced by bees which lived near mangrove areas, the honey produced tended to be more “traditional.” Guyana honey, therefore, is not of a consistent standard and very little of it is exported. Indeed, much of the honey sold in supermarkets is imported.

The Ministry of Agriculture has now brought honey into focus and embarked upon a programme to modernise the local honey industry and expand its production. Cuba has proffered the necessary aid to do this.

Cuba is well-fitted to do this since it has a modern honey industry and exports more than 10,000 tons annually, mostly to Europe. The Ministry of Agriculture has been focusing on the economic advantages of expanding a modernised honey industry, such as providing more employment and developing a new export crop. There are, however, other significant benefits a modernised honey industry would bring to Guyana and these would include expanding the use of honey as a food among the population, developing laboratory facilities to accurately test the quality of honey since at the moment, there are no such facilities; and third, working out ways in which to deal with the Africanised bees, since they are believed to have overtaken the Capilano and could cause unusual problems to beekeepers.

These three areas must be considered when developing the Guyana honey industry.

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Eye-catching at Courts Optical ONE of my highlights for October was this spectacular event at Courts Optical.

The variety of eyewear presented was fantastic

as the Caribbean fashion guru, Richard Young. It was an honour to have a presentation titled, Participation from The Cloth

guest designer was the very innovative stylist/designer, Dominique La Roche, who showcased a peek of his collection for Ewa Afrika,

and fashionable for all occasions. The event was creatively directed by the renowned production designer, who is also touted

by veteran Caribbean designer Robert Young, who sampled exclusive pieces at the event.

Also on the show as a

the region’s most celebrated African fashion show.

I had the honour of being introduced by Richard Young as well, who said, “Sonia Noel Designs rounded up the designer complement at the high-calibre evening at Courts Optical Eyewear trunk show featuring pieces from her new collection, still in celebrating mode at her 25-year milestone in fashion with Afro-inspired looks fuelled by her 28 Credentials of Entrepreneur (COE) Award received in Ghana earlier this year. What a great showing of stalwart Caribbean designers paired with the eyewear, the likes of iconic brands - Perry Ellis, Dolce & Gabbana, Ray-Ban, Oakley, Silhouette, Guess, Tiffany and Co, Michael Kors - The SEE PAGE XVII

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Eye-catching at ...

Courts Optical team in Guyana outdid themselves for their first eyewear trunk-show initiative.”

Richard Simpson, Optical Chain Manager, was elated by the strong showing and the enthusiastic audience turnout for the first-ever show. He praised the production team for an excellent presentation.

Ricardo Semple, Courts Optical Brand Manager, said,

“At Courts Optical, eye health is our priority, but we also believe that you can still look fashionable while taking care of your eyes, and it is also affordable!

“This was one of the main objectives of our first-ever three-day trunk show and fashion show: To show that you can take care of your eyes and still be fashionable. We were able to display some of our new line of glasses and sunshades, and especially for those wearing glasses for the first time and those self-conscious about their appearance, we were able to show them how your eyewear can really enhance your appearance. I’d like to extend my gratitude to the representatives from international optical giants, Essilor Luxottica, Perry Ellis, and Silhouette. Their presence highlights Guyana’s growing significance in the eyecare sector. We at Courts Optical are excited for the roll-out of more of our wide selection of frames and sunglasses, and will continue to deliver quality eyecare, and bring both health and fashion to the eyecare market; value that our consumers can see.”

From the audience feedback, the selection was perfectly paired with the collection, and kudos must be given to Claudia Gravesande, Chief Optometrist. The diverse model

FROM PAGE XVI

cast, including Courts staff, did exceptionally well on the runway, walking with confidence, class and sophistication.

Raveena Mangal, Head of the Marketing and Sales Department, was such a ‘pro’ on the runway, that I recruited her for my next show.

Former Miss India Guyana Roshini Boohoo Persaud also took to the runway in her usual charismatic demeanour.

The show was produced by a new production outfit, Full

Disclosure, a style strategy and image consultancy headed by myself and Richard Young. I will amplify more about our services, including personal shopping, in another column.

Ricardo Semple, Courts Optical Brand Manager also expressed his appreciation for collaborating with this new creative-service duo to make the showcase memorable.

Also on hand to witness this remarkable kick-off merchandising feat were Raul Moran Medrano, Commercial Training Coordinator of Essilor Latin America and the Caribbean, and Alex Lal, Vice-President of Ruro Vision. Both gentlemen gave much kudos to the exceptional production quality of the display. It was truly Eye-Catching!

Remember to select your next eyewear to add confidence when you step out, as we continue to celebrate this journey called BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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Cross-regional development A FEW days ago, the Caribbean and African institutions and states again got together to find ways of deepening their ties.

This was done at the second AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum; it was organised in Guyana this year after a successful inaugural forum last year in Barbados. And I think it was such a good experience.

Guyana and other Caribbean countries need to deepen ties with states in Africa. As global south regions, there is much we can learn from each other, and much we can help each with.

Notably, both regions are among the most vulnerable to global crises, be it climate change, food insecurity, or energy insecurity. Both regions are vulnerable to these crises because of historical exploitation from developed nations- a point that was not forgotten once during the forum.

It was really interesting listening to African business leaders talking about climate change and how we should be responding to it, in particular. During a panel discussion focused on energy security and climate change, many of those business leaders outlined the stark socio-economic reality of vulnerable countries.

That is, instead of focusing on whether energy should come from diesel-fired power plants or solar panels, countries have to first focus on having any electricity at all. And instead of focusing on digitalisation, countries need to focus on getting food for their people in the first place. Those leaders also noted that the Caribbean and Africa have been among the regions that have not con-

tributed significant amounts of harmful emissions but have been hard-hit by disasters, so they shouldn’t bear the brunt of the responsibility for climate action.

And they called out developed nations for failing to provide the climate finance they committed to years ago. So, they argue that the historically disadvantaged regions should now be able to develop their resources and take care of their people.

Those comments reminded me of those by Caribbean Historian Professor Verene Shepherd some years ago. According to her, our countries faced historical exploitation and it should come as no surprise that our countries today are underdeveloped.

These are all comments I heard from Guyanese and Caribbean officials before, but hearing them again, this time from officials from the African continent, helped to underscore the challenges faced by global south countries. She also pointed out that the land degradation caused by the monocropping of sugar and mass deforestation led to the loss of valuable, protective forestry. The production of sugarcane, research Professor Shepherd referenced, has led to the loss of species and habitats.

And even worse, she stated, is the dynamic of the “Global North” and “Global South,” or the “developed world” and the “developing world” which illustrates global uneven development.

So she said climate reparations are necessary. And she isn’t the only one. Loss and damage funding, which some believe can be likened to climate reparations (though there are nuances to both) is a huge part of inter-

national climate talks now.

Back to the AfriCaribbean forum, though. The conversations didn’t only focus on the issues and injustices. They also spotlighted key ways the two regions can collaborate more to guarantee mutual development. Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali called on both regions to take ownership of their plans instead of allowing developed nations to continuously, for lack of a better word, influence their (the Caribbean’s and Africa’s development plans).

The Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Philip Pierre and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley echoed similar sentiments.

Importantly too, Prime Minister Mottley shared her belief that the two regions stand to gain a lot if they join hands to push the development of their sport and culture. She said cross-regional partnerships could help sportspersons in the Caribbean get access to the best facilities and training in Africa and vice versa. She also said regions must capitalise on their common yet unique cultures. So musicians, artists, and filmmakers in both regions must be supported.

Though I got to listen to a few of the discussions, it was great seeing people talk about the need for a stronger partnership between the two regions. Tangible business partnerships were forged, but I hope we will have a stronger connection with Africa in the months and years to come.

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

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DANCE WITH ...

“Well, I was hoping you could visit the site here in New Amsterdam. Need your expert views on a few designs, and we could also have dinner before as old friends.”

Aahana took a short moment before responding, and she did with a firm tone, “I am working on three sites here. You have top engineers of the company on-site there, and your old friend left years ago, so no dinner.”

“I know I hurt you and I want to tell you how sorry I am.”

She took a deep breath and said, “Nothing of the past matters to me anymore, so whenever you call me, it must be work-related.”

She heard nothing from him for the next three days then her CEO called and told her, “We have to go to Berbice on Thursday.”

“Damn,” she muttered, “Hope he doesn’t ask me to work on that site.”

She knew with that project, if Naren made a proposal for her work there, the CEO would consider it.

Naren and two of the investors met them, and their site tour went well. At lunch, more business was discussed then Naren stated to the CEO, “This project is a massive investment, the first of its kind in the ancient county and operations must run smoothly and on schedule. So, we would need your best engineers on the job.”

“And just as I suspected,” Aahana said to herself.

After a short moment, the CEO responded, “I will ensure you have the best the company has for the project.”

That assurance did not give Aahana a happy feeling, and after lunch, whilst the CEO was conversing with the other investors, Naren said to her, “It would be great having you on this project.”

She knew she had to stand her ground on this and asked him, “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?”

“Proposing I work on the site.”

“Because we need the best.”

“You already have the best in those senior engineers with more experience than I have.”

“I’m impressed with your innovative skills and would like to work with you.”

She looked at him, anger rising within her that he would hold the investment over the CEO’s head to have her working with him but she stayed calm and answered him firmly, “I don’t want to work with you.”

He just smiled with confidence, “Your boss may think differently.”

To be continued…

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Common Mental Health Disorders in Guyana CONSIDERING the staggering amount of diagnosed mental health illnesses in Guyana, I’m sure we have all stumbled across quite a few.

This is the beginning of a three-part series where I will briefly explain the three most commonly found diagnoses in Guyana.

These are addiction, depression and anxiety. While they may share some qualities, they are significantly different and very damaging to any afflicted individual.

I’ll start with addiction for a few reasons. It’s my tribute to Mathew Perry, whom most people remember as ‘Chandler’ from the television show “Friends,” but was actually a recovering addict who helped so many people get sober the way he claimed he wanted to be remembered.

The second reason is that I believe this one is terribly overlooked in Guyana, and most struggling people may not even know it. What we see in movies -- people on the street -- is actually very rarely what an individual who has an addiction looks like. Even though it’s so prevalent, I still think it’s very misunderstood, so I intend to explain in somewhat scientific detail what happens when we become addicted to something.

The most common people in this category are actually the functioning afflicted who live seemingly normal lives with successful jobs and functioning families and social lives.

By definition, addiction is indeed a mental health issue which affects both the brain and the body’s structure and function. A drug is defined as anything which has a physiological effect on us; this means it affects how we think, feel and act.

I’m going to use alcohol with my examples as it is the most commonly abused substance not only in Guyana, but worldwide. However, the same principles apply to any drug.

There are three major aspects to developing an active addiction: cravings, tolerance and withdrawal.

We all experience cravings, but sometimes, they are so intense that we cannot think of anything else but satisfying a particular one. When you give into a craving, fully knowledgeable of the negative consequences that follow, that’s the beginning of a serious problem.

For example, some people may have one or two drinks at an early time because they know they have certain responsibilities coming up. The individual who allows those cravings to overpower the possibility of the responsibilities being done is one in the beginning stages of addiction.

After the cravings are constantly given into, we develop a tolerance for the drug; our bodies become immune to the amount, so a larger amount is needed to have the same effect.

For example, when we first began drinking, two beers may have been able to get us drunk, but now, we have built a tolerance which requires a lot more than that. Withdrawal is the body’s process of ridding the drug. It’s where the lack of control comes in as it is extremely mentally and physically painful, and, in this stage, the use of the drug no longer seems like a choice.

It isn’t news that drugs feel good -- that’s why so many people use them. However, are we all aware of what happens in the brain when a drug is introduced to it? Before you choose to participate in something, you should probably know what it does.

Any drug enters the body straight into the bloodstream and the pleasure centres of the brain. There is an instant release of brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine -- responsible for happiness, positivity, energy and most things we are desperate to feel. This means the drug brings the feeling of euphoria to the SEE PAGE XXV brain, overwhelming it with

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Boosting productivity and growth...

FROM PAGE II

chand disclosed that the coconut fibre machines will shred the coconut husk and produce two by-products: Coconut fibre and coconut peat.

From the by-products of coconuts, a series of products can be produced after processing to make other things that can be useful in our everyday life.

Additionally, two more machines were sourced from Brazil, and have since arrived in Guyana and are in operation at Hope Coconut Industries, Plantation Hope, East Coast Demerara.

Roopchand disclosed that HCIL has remained financially viable due to government intervention with several programmes to sustain its growth and development by implementing partnership-based projects.

Roopchand added that they have an ongoing sensitisation/awareness campaign with farmers on coconut growth and production.

The HCIL General Manager added that they have an ongoing coconut project to help Barbados with 2000 and Trinidad with 5000 seedlings as part of a Caricom arrangement.

Presently HCIL has four varieties of coconuts: the Jamaican Tall, the Panama Tall, the Malaysian Dwarf, the Brazilian Green Dwarf and the Brown Dwarf (five years, three years and 18 months) suitable for water, oil

The 13,000 coconut seeds being prepared to be shipped form Brazil to Guyana

and soil conditions.

Roopchand reported that for the past five years, when he took control of HCIL, it was in a bad state financially and the place was also run-down, but with the current administration’s input and partnerships, they have managed to maintain a standard of high coconut production and growth.

He added that they work closely with farmers to maintain their role in productivity and he is happy to report that they are functioning at full capacity.

Roopchand pointed out that 13,000 coconuts are being shipped to from Brazil to Guyana to boost our local production.

HCIL has nine staffers, including Roopchand and they work with sister agencies such as the National Agricultural Research Extension Institute (NAREI), the School of Agriculture and others.

Roopchand disclosed that HCIL also produces copra and coconut fibre.

One of the newly acquired machines to process the by-products of coconuts (Ricky Roopchand photos)

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, November 05, 2023

Common Mental Health Disorders ... a release of up to 10 times the normal amount of customarily produced hormones. So, it’s a fast and reliable way of feeling good. This is what causes the repetition where your brain seeks pleasure with compulsive behaviour.

It is also believed that only certain types of people can develop an addiction, but considering the uncontrollable effects on the brain -- not to mention the social risk factors such as peer pressure, accessibility, affordability, trauma and negative events -- it is not very difficult to develop an addiction. There is also a serious genetic component involved. An individual is up to four times more likely to develop an addiction if the illness already runs in their family.

If this has opened your eyes and you may be questioning whether you or someone you know may have an issue with alcohol or other drugs, the most common symptoms you can look for are a preoccupation with the drug. Assess whether it’s about obtaining or using it; a lack of interest in other activities that may not involve drug use; changes in eating and sleeping patterns that revolve around the drug use; irritability when not able to use the drug; increased arguments with loved ones, lying about the amount of use and one of the most important: difficulty stopping, even though all the above issues may be occurring.

There will also be issues in all other important life avenues, such as learning and memory, rational decision making and the ability to deal with life’s stresses healthily.

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A question I often get is, “Why did I become addicted and others haven’t?”. This is an important question with many layers. My best guess and advice to those who ask this question- putting aside what was already mentioned of genetics, environment and trauma is how and why the drug is used. I’ll paint a little scenario. There are two people about to take a drink. One has had a bad day and feels it will get better with a drink, which temporarily does. The other has had a good day, wants to catch up with a friend and believes a drink will make it better and it does. Can you guess which I think would become addicted faster? If you look for a solution to a problem and finds it -- allowing you to feel better even for a short while -- you will choose the same solution repeatedly.

Pay attention to how and why you are using substances, as the use of the substances is not the root of the problem; why you are using them is.

Of course, it is important to acknowledge an addiction because it can bring many other issues, such as family fallout, financial issues, mental and physical illnesses, legal issues and, very often, suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

When you are ready, remember that this is not a flaw in your character; it is an illness that can be treated and managed with the commitment to change, and so many people are available for that support.

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November 05 2023

THOUGHT FOR

TODAY

For look where Bea trice, like a lapwin g, runs Close by the ground WILLIAM SHAK , to hear our counsel.

ESPEA Much Ado about NRE (1564-1616) othing

STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome dear friend.

Today we get close-up with recognising statements of main ideas and major details in a written or dramatic work.

You yourself have produced summaries using guidelines.

Newspapers and magazines carry summaries of reliable profiles of important person-

alities, commentaries, and reviews on current significant events and activities. The Encyclopedia of literature contains detailed summaries of important books and other literary works. The ‘abstract’ of scientific research is a summary of the research findings. Please take note.

Love you.

IMPROVING STORY WRITING Setting the story Note: A well-written short story can take readers to places with aspects of life they might not have considered. These settings do not have to be in any far-flung area outside of your seasons, traditions, or generally acceptable norms. They can be the unexpected use of an overlooked place.

“Place” in writing refers to the physical and geographical setting of a story, and the way its external description encompasses the lives of all the characters. If you can capture a strong and distinct sense of place of story, you will automatically make the story feel more real to your readers.

Think clearly. Do you have a place where your readers might not have thought would appear in a short story? What about a forest floating through the clouds with unfamiliar small-sized people, or maybe a civilization of sentient beings that have existed for centuries in granite mountains. Have a real purpose for any setting. No one can dictate the purpose you choose. No one can pin you down to specifics.

Of course, in building your setting you can capture any of these types: physical, social, historical, and psychological; also, the physical and social elements of time, place, and environment. Anyway, enough has been said. Now follow the steps outlined below to produce your own short story.

Something to Do: Write a short story with characters that surpass believability in an astounding setting.

Examine your short story to see how cleverly you managed to interweave the prescribed characteristics. Let your study group comment on your effort.

What to include: To be effective your short story should have the following characteristics: ֎ one or more characters, developed throughout the story. ֎ a clear setting, a time and place in which story action occurs. ֎ a conflict or problem faced by a main character. ֎ a plot that develops the conflict and leads to a climax, or turning point, and a resolution of the conflict. ֎ a theme – an idea or question about life or human nature - that is reflected in the story’s plot. ֎ dialogue that reveals character

and moves the plot forward.

THE PASSAGE 1) Reading for author’s purpose Read the passage. Then, answer the questions.

It is difficult to escape the influence of television. If you fit the statistical averages, by the age of 20 you will have been exposed to at least 20,000 hours of television. You can add 10,000 hours for each decade you have lived after the age of 20. The only things Americans do more than watching television are work and sleep.

(From Robert MacNeil’s “The Trouble with Television”) 1. You can predict the author’s purpose is (A) to explain the benefits of watching television.

(B) to show that Americans watch too much television.

(C) to show that Americans work too many hours.

(D) to show how hard it is to produce a television show.

2. To achieve his purpose, the author cites (A) the opinions of television critics.

(B) other experts’ opinions.

(C) statics about television watching.

(D) statistics about television ownership.

3. According to the author, which statement is true?

(A) Older Americans watch more television than younger ones.

(B) Americans watch about 10,000 hours in a decade.

(C) Americans work fewer hours than they spend watching television.

(D) Americans watch 20,000 hours of television in a lifetime.

4. What is the tone of the rest of the essay most likely to be?

(A) inspirational (B) annoying (C) humorous (D) serious 2) Reading to decide upon type of passage organisation represented Passages can be organised in various ways such as ‘down to up,’ ‘up to down,’ ‘outside to inside,’ ‘inside to outside,’ ‘details to general impression,’ ‘general impression to details.’ A proper understanding of text organisation helps with your description, short story, and other forms of writing.

Read the passages.

(1) The house itself was long and low, as if a London house holidaying in the country had flung itself asprawl; it had two disconnected and roomy staircases, and when it had exhausted itself completely as a house, it turned to the right and began again as rambling, empty tables, coach house, cart sheds, men’s bedrooms up ladders, and outhouses of the most various kinds. On one hand was a neglected orchard, in the front of the house was a bald, worried-looking lawn area capable of simultaneous tennis and croquet, and at the other side a copious and confused vegetable and flower garden.

(From H. G. Wells: “Marriage”) (2) I entered. It was a very small room, overcrowded with furniture of the style which the French know as Louis Philippe. There was a large wooden bedstead on which was a large billowing red eiderdown, and there was a large wardrobe, a round table, a very small washstand, and two stuffed chairs covered with red rep.

Everything was dirty and shabby. There was no sign of the abandoned luxury that colonel MacAndrew had so confidently described.

(From W. Somerset Maughan: “The Moon and Sixpence”)

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New Dentures What will new dentures feel like?

NEW dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. The dentures may feel loose while your cheek and tongue muscles learn to keep them in place. It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness. You may find that saliva flow temporarily increases.

As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, these problems should diminish. One or more follow-up appointments with the dentist are generally needed after a denture is inserted. If any problem persists, particularly irritation or soreness, consult your dentist.

Will dentures make me look different?

Dentures can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that little change in appearance will be noticeable.

Dentures may even improve the look of your smile and help fill out the appearance of your face and profile.

Will I be able to eat with my dentures?

Eating will take a little practice. Start with soft foods cut into small pieces. Chew slowly, using both sides of your mouth simultaneously to prevent the dentures from tipping.

Add other foods as you become accustomed to chewing until you return to your normal diet.

Continue to chew food using both sides of the mouth simultaneously. Be cautious with hot or hard foods and sharpedged bones or shells.

Will dentures change how I speak?

Pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating troublesome words will help. If your dentures “click” while you’re talking, speak more slowly/ You may find that your dentures occasionally slip when you laugh, cough or smile. Reposition the dentures by gently biting down and swallowing. If a speaking problem persists, consult your dentist.

How long should I wear my dentures?

Your dentist will instruct you how long dentures should be kept in place. During the first few days, you may be advised to wear them most of the time, including while you sleep. After the initial adjustment period, you will be instructed to remove the dentures before going to bed. This allows gum tissue to rest and promotes oral heath. Generally, it is not desirable that the tissues be constantly covered by denture material.

Should I use a denture adhesive?

Denture adhesive can provide additional retention for well-fitting dentures. A poorly fitting denture, which causes constant irritation over a long time, may contribute to the development of sores. These dentures may need a reline or need to be replaced. If your dentures begin to feel loose or cause pronounced discomfort, consult our dentist immediately.

How do I take care of my dentures?

Dentures are very delicate and may break if dropped even a few inches. Send over a folded towel or a basin of water when handling dentures. Store your dentures away from children and pets when you are not wearing them.

Like natural teeth, dentures must be brushed daily to remove food deposits and plaque. Brushing helps to prevent dentures from becoming permanently stained and helps your mouth stay healthy. It’s best to use a brush designed for cleaning dentures. toothbrush with soft bristles can also be used.

Avoid using hard-bristled brushes that can damage dentures.

Some denture wearers use hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid, which are both acceptable for cleaning dentures. Avoid using other powdered household cleaners, which may be too abrasive. Also, avoid using bleach, as this may whiten the pink portion of the denture.

Your dentist can recommend a denture cleanser. The first step in cleaning dentures is to rinse away loose food particles thoroughly. Moisten the brush and apply denture

cleanser. Brush every surface, scrubbing gently to avoid damage.

Dentures may lose their shape if they are allowed

to dry out. When not worn, dentures should be placed in a cleansing soaking solution or in water.

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