Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 10-20-2024

Cancer

Fighting cancer with courage

A survivor’s 17-year journey

Sunday, October 20, 2024

survivor and inspiration, Nandranie Rita Singh (Samuel Maughn Photo)

Plant-based products for hair and beard debuts at Favour’s Hair Therapy

Local Agro-Processor delights tea lovers with herbal teas and powders

WHEN Falana Fraser established Favour’s Hair Therapy, it was out of love due to her son’s hair condition. Today, it has become a thriving small business empowering her to realise her true potential with her own haircare and beard products.

M&I BUSINESS Enter -

prise, a small agro-processing company from Berbice, has brought joy to tea lovers with its value-added herbal teas and powders.

Owners Isabeth and Michael Sinclair have created local bush teas with significant health benefits, offering a nutritious and flavourful way to enjoy tea.

The products include hair oil, hair pomade, beard oil, beard wash and conditioner, edge balm, shampoo and conditioner, hair mist, beard and hair tools.

According to her selfnamed business, Favour’s Hair Therapy, “promote(s) healthy and strong growth for all hair types”. It is a small business that started in the kitchen, and it had a trial period before the products were launched.

Fraser is originally from Uitvlugt but resides at Anna Catherina, West Coast Demerara. She is married and has a three-year-old son.

Isabeth Sinclair, an agro-processor, told the Pepperpot Magazine that they operate from Ankerville, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice, and they have been in the business of producing 10 flavours of teas and two powders since June 2016. She related that they have a small operation, and it is a growing venture. In time, they plan to expand in products and operations, but for now, they are focusing on the 13 products they have on the market, which are available

the birth of her child, she noticed that he had issues with hair growth, and parts of his head were very patchy with no hair, and she wanted to change that.

detailed research, and af ter gaining knowledge, she experimented with some ingredients and made a hair oil from aloe, coconut oil and onion.

the home-made oil into her son’s hair/scalp, and within a short time, she noticed a difference: his bald spots were replaced with new hair growth, and soon he had a full head of hair which could be held in a ponytail.

her son’s once-patchy hair was replaced by full hair growth within three to four months, and today, his hair remains healthy and full.

Magazine that the positive results in her child’s hair process motivated her to make more of the plantbased hair oil and she began sharing it among family members.

within her family tree, and one day, her father encour aged her to utilise her new found skill to establish a small business to bring in an income to her home.

countrywide.

with rosemary oil became the best seller. She branded her products and went about to become a registered business.

Sinclair stated that they provide permanent employment for two people, and when there is a need for more workers, they employ others on a temporary basis. She revealed that the teas come in 10 flavours: mixed tea, sweet sage, soursop leaf, moringa sunrise, teazam, Tulsi/holy basil, corilla bitters, guava leaves, lemongrass, and curefor-all. The powders include moringa, a superfood for ailments like diabetes and high blood pressure, and ground orange peel, which is used for adding flavour to cakes and pastries.

Sinclair stated that in 2016, when they were closing their small computer maintenance and café shop, they realised they had to start a new business and ventured into making shredded coconuts, among other products, which later developed

is used in the production of the products, including essential oils.

Fraser added that as a

into powders and teas. The 27-year-old pointed out that M&I Business Enterprise is a budding local agro-processing company established to research, develop, test, and manufacture local products that are 100% natural and healthy.

The products can be found at the Guyana Shop on Robb and Alexander Street, Georgetown; Poonai’s Pharmacy, Public Road, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice; Medi-Care Pharmacy in the Bristol Mall, New Amsterdam; Massy Store, Providence, Guyana; Spready’s Supermarket, Port Mourant, Corentyne, Berbice.

Falana Fraser, entrepreneur.

“M&I Business Enterprise is all about discovering nature’s harmony in every sip through our products. Our teas and powders of premium herbal teabags, crafted with care and commitment to quality, offer a delightful fusion of

small business, she operates

launched her products in which the hair oil infused

flavours and holistic well-being,” Sinclair said. She disclosed that their brand of teabags and powders provides health benefits and adds nutritional value to

ing, and they may expand soon.

registered with the author ities is an avenue for net working and marketing the products, and it is beneficial to have all your prod -

The effervescent businesswoman, who is fully supported by her spouse, told Pepperpot Magazine that

dedication, and support from several agencies, including the Small Business Bureau, which financed the capital to

effective products and she would like to become num-

the diet. It is a modernised form of bush tea, readily available at a pocket-friendly cost across the country. Sinclair, a mother of one, wanted to become a teacher but went into agro-processing after their home-based business closed years ago. She does not regret making that move and is loving the experience. Alongside her husband, Michael Sinclair, their small business is grow-

when they first started, they produced packaged fruit mix, natural coconut shreds, moringa-based powdered seasoning mix, moringa teabags, packaged moringa seeds, and ground orange peel. As they became more experienced in their operations, they expanded to other flavours of teabags and ceased producing shredded coconuts.

Sinclair credits their success thus far to hard work,

and even encouraged her to produce more. She was also complimented on her attractive packaging.

get the small agro-processing business off the ground, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which provided funding.

Fraser stated that although all the manufacturing takes place at her home, she would someday like to have a separate facility for that purpose, along with a store to sell and display her products.

It is the hope of the Sinclairs, the agro-processors behind M&I Business Enterprise, to have their own processing plant one day to expand their business with newer products and provide stable employment for young people.

ucts certified, labelled, and well-packaged.

ed that she is constantly inspired by customers and their reviews and testimo nials of the products, and being a small business isn’t ‘all bed of roses’. It requires hard work, dedication, consistency and money to stay

ing as a motivating factor to keep going,” she said.

“I advertise my small business via social media, that is, Facebook and Tik Tok, and I often have to produce daily content to promote my products and I can say I have a few loyal display.

Falana Fraser and her products.

Michael and Isabeth Sinclair

Fighting cancer with courage

A survivor’s 17-year journey

WHEN Nandranie “Rita” Singh received her cancer diagnosis in 2007, she felt like her world was crumbling. “I believed, at that time, it was a death sentence,” she recalls. Yet, in the face of fear, great financial strain, and immense physical exhaustion, Rita made a choice: to fight. Over the course of 17 years, she endured numerous surgeries, biopsies, and rounds of chemotherapy, emerging each time with renewed strength and an unshakeable will to survive.

The beginning of a long journey

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues, Pepperpot Magazine sat down with another inspiring cancer survivor. Sixty-five-year-old Rita has been fighting cancer for more than seventeen years. Recounting her initial diagnosis, she shared, “I started my journey as a cancer patient in 2007. I went to a private institution, and the doctor there took a biopsy. When it came back three months later, it was positive. The area looked like an orange peel with dimples all around it. The doctor told me my options, but the cost was overwhelming. Right there and then, I broke down,” she said.

Finding strength through treatment

Battling cancer often requires multiple types of treatment, taking a financial, physical, and emotional toll. Rita’s courage and drive to live for her family pushed her through these difficult times. After transferring to a new institution, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and having a life-saving surgery, Rita began a new part of her journey: recovery. “I asked my doctor to transfer me to Georgetown Hospital. I was admitted to the surgical clinic in December 2007 and given a mastectomy. It healed throughout December into January 2008, and in April, I started chemotherapy at Georgetown Hospital. Every session was very difficult, but I persevered because I wanted to get better. It takes a lot of courage to survive.”

Support systems and setbacks

Rita found crucial support through the Periwinkle Foundation, one of Guyana’s oldest and largest NGOs and support groups for cancer survivors. “After chemotherapy, I was sent to do tests, and they showed that I became cancer-free. I was introduced to the Periwinkle Cancer Survivors Club, which was a great support. At the time of going to the Periwinkle Club, I was also doing chemotherapy. I averaged five to six cycles and finished radiation,” she said. However, her fight wasn’t over. “In 2016, I found another lump. They did another biopsy, but it wasn’t cancerous. From 2016 to 2020, I continued to do checkups, but in 2020, I found another mass. They did a biopsy, and this time, it came back positive. I had to do chemotherapy again, but it cleared,” she said.

The latest battle

this time in her lung and chest region. “In 2024, it came back again—the same side, near the chest wall and lungs. I couldn’t wait with that diagnosis. I went privately and paid for a biopsy. It came back positive again. This was my second time doing chemotherapy. They transferred me to the Cancer Institute to begin radiation treatment. The cost was huge. I had to seek funding, but I was able to secure some from NIS. They covered 80% of the cost.”

Today, Rita continues to do well, crediting her family, friends at the Periwinkle Foundation, and the team at the Cancer Institute of Guyana for their vital support. “In July, I finished radiation. After that, I did a CT scan, and it cleared, but my doctor was a little worried because he saw something. He told me to do an ultrasound, and it was completely cleared. I was transferred back to the oncology clinic and started hormone therapy because a test showed a hormone problem. So now I’m on hormone medication,” she said.

Expert insights on breast cancer

Dr. Shahrad Hafezi, Clinical Radiation Oncologist at the Cancer Institute of Guyana, has seen hundreds of cancer cases. He emphasises that breast cancer patients have very high rates of survival and remission when detected early. “For breast cancer, early detection can lead to a complete cure, a 100% response. For many types of cancer, we have no chance of getting a complete remission, but for breast cancer, we can.”

The oncologist identifies several risk factors to watch for: “Increasing age, obesity, high exposure to female sexual hormones like estrogen and progesterone, early menopause, late menopause, having never been pregnant, or having the first child at an older age can increase the risk for breast cancer,” he shared.

Breaking misconceptions

Dr. Hafezi addresses common misconceptions about cancer, noting that “Familial history is a highrisk factor for breast cancer. Five to ten percent of all breast cancer patients may have the familial type, which involves very aggressive tumors.” He adds, “Ten to twenty percent of patients usually have excessive emotional stress, especially in the workplace, as part of their history.”

Both Rita and Dr. Hafezi emphasise that cancer is not a death sentence. As Dr. Hafezi concludes, “For stage 1 cancer, the patient will have a chance for a complete cure. For stage 2, the survival rate is between 85-90%. Stage 3 is 60-70%, and for stage 4, the five-year survival rate drops significantly to 20-30%.”

Most recently, Rita fought and beat cancer once again,

Clinical Radiation Oncologist at the Cancer Institute of Guyana (Samuel Maughn Photo)

Cancer survivor and inspiration, Nandranie Rita Singh (Samuel Maughn Photo)

New brand of extra virgin coconut oil has taken the market by storm

By Michel Outridge

LOIS Hamilton-Rickford

had a vision which materialised into a business that has grown over the years. The local agro-processor has 17 products on the supermarket shelves and is working on introducing newer products.

Her company, South American Coco Company, has been in the business of producing and marketing its own brand of extra virgin coconut oil, crab oil, and other gluten-free products in the form of flours and a coconut-based cassareep for the past 10 years. The products have two processing facilities: one on the East Coast Demerara and another in

Region Five. The products are of the finest quality, and “Lois Extra Virgin Coconut Oil”, in particular, is becoming increasingly popular locally, which is noted for its quality and the competitive price that it offers.

Hamilton-Rickford told Pepperpot Magazine that she has been an agro-processor for 12 years. It started from a vision she had after learning of the significant benefits of coconut oil from her father, a retired educator, Humberto Hamilton. Intrigued, she began using coconut oil but did not like the rancid smell and wanted to make it better, so she began exploring the possibilities.

With guidance from her father, she decided to re -

search the uses of coconut oil, which developed into a small business from her home. Her dad made a small batch of extra virgin coconut oil, a skill he acquired from his own father growing up, and from then, they began producing and marketing extra virgin coconut oil and its products.

Hamilton-Rickford added that it was her father, a health enthusiast, who motivated her to start such a business, and today, she credits her success to him for inspiring her to take that leap of faith in becoming an agro-processor. “One day, I was watching this show on television

related that the finest nuts for their production process involve no heating or boiling to ensure the oil produced maintains its full nutritional properties for the benefit of their customers. The nuts are sourced locally from farmers on a large scale.

Hamilton-Rickford reported that she has also ven-

to get up, dust off, and keep going, reflecting on the progress I have made so far, with full support from my very own father every step of the way,” she said.

Hamilton-Rickford added that it has not been easy since she lost her husband one year and four months ago, and she is

where a woman who was over 70 years old and was wrinkle-free was asked what she used as her skincare routine, and she revealed that it was pure coconut oil. From then, I began getting familiar with the health benefits of coconut oil, and my small business took off,” she said.

The agro-processor stated that extra virgin coconut oil is part of her everyday skincare, and basically, coconut oil is an all-purpose oil that can be used both for internal and external health benefits.

Hamilton-Rickford told Pepperpot Magazine that the by-product of coconuts, called ‘meat’, is sold to local farmers to feed animals. She

tured into making gluten-free flours from eddoes, plantain, sweet potato, cassava, banana, breadfruit, and Sijan (moringa) powder, as well as coconut cassareep. The mother of three pointed out that she also has her version of crab oil, one dietary coconut oil, and five types of extra virgin coconut oils for hair and skincare.

“As a single parent of three children, including a special needs child who is totally dependent on me, it is challenging to be a full-time mother and also an agro-processor because I am always tired, but I get the inspiration

still adjusting to being a single mother. With her Lois-branded products that are of high quality and standards, she revealed that she is currently working on introducing a new product to the local market very soon but has had setbacks due to illness. The 44-year-old stated that she is willing to continue to work hard to see the fruits of her labour, and she has learned a lot in becoming an entrepreneur. Along the way, a few companies have pitched in to assist her in moving forward with her small business.

Lois Hamilton-Rickford

The five types of extra virgin coconut oils

Some of the six flours

Coconut cassareep

Sijan powder

A talk with the Queen and her team

Arian Dahlia Richmond shares her experience after winning the Miss Global International title

By Shaniya Harding

ARIAN Dahlia Richmond

has made waves in the pageantry world and has put Guyana on the map, having won the Miss Global International title in the Cayman Islands on October 13. The vibrant 25-year-old from Bartica captured not just the crown, but also an unprecedented seven out of 10 prizes. However, behind the glamour and accolades stands a passionate entrepreneur and youth advocate who sees her crown as more than just a symbol of beauty.

Celebrating Guyana’s diversity globally

Sitting down with Pepperpot Magazine after returning to Guyana, Arian shared that she is happy to be back in the country that not only supported her, but also shaped her during the competition. “The Guyanese experience shaped my pageantry journey and even my entrepreneurship journey. We have six different races, and each race has something special. A lot of us are mixed-race, so we have family from Indian backgrounds [sic] and African backgrounds[sic]. Finding different things about dif -

ferent races and having this multicultural experience creates a melting pot of a person where you can be funny, quirky, and intelli -

gent,” she said.

Miss Global International is one of the most coveted crowns, and it remains one of the most challenging. Recounting one of her challenges, Arian shared, “My internal challenge was knowing that I had what it takes to stand against Poland, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, the USA, Trinidad, Jamaica, and to be myself, knowing that, that would be enough to be crowned. You’re your own worst enemy. I think if you can face your fears, there’s nothing you can’t accomplish,” she said.

Beyond the crown

Now, with a crown and massive influence, Arian hopes to continue the impressive work she began, particularly with Youth Development Guyana. “In 2018, Youth Development in Guyana was born. We’ve done projects in Linden, Albouystown, multiple projects in Bartica, and multiple projects in the National Park in Georgetown. We focus not only on children; we focus

Miss Global International Winner Guyana’s Arian Dahlia Richmond. Her national costume designed by duo Roberto Teekah and Quinton Pearson, was inspired by Guyana’s beauty and natural diversity (Sourced photo)

Arian’s winning lilac gown designed by Quinton Pearson of the House of Pearson (Sourced photo)

Arian alongside National Director, Reneé Chester and Official Designer Quinton Pearson (Samuel Maughn photo)

A taste of adventure and agriculture At Singh’s Farm and Agro Tours

By Shaniya Harding.

IT is very easy to get lost in the captivating beauty of the Singh family’s farm on the West Bank of Demerara. The 100-year-old farm is home to a variety of trees, some of which are older than the farm itself. Just a year ago, however, the Singhs embarked on an interesting journey to blend agriculture with the growing field of tourism. Now, just a year later, they have crafted a unique tourist destination. With 10 acres of fruit trees, greenery, and history, the farm has garnered attention from all around Guyana, giving visitors an authentic Guyanese tourism expe -

rience.

A legacy of agriculture and family

It may be easier to list what isn’t on the Singh family’s farm than what is—at least according to the farm’s owner, Jeyaram “Jai” Singh, who has been in agriculture all his life. Born and raised on the family farm, Jai has seen the once small plot of land blossom into a vast, diverse farm spanning more than a mile. “I am presently 64 years plus. I have been farming for over 60 years since I was young… I was born on this farm. My parents farmed this land,” he said.

Most farms are simply large farmlands with a few crops across hundreds of

acres, but Singh’s farm aims for diversity. Over the years, it has become known as a place where people can visit, pick their own fruits, and have an authentic agricultural experience—an experience Jai says began with his grandparents. “My grandparents farmed this land. So, this farm has been in the Singh family for more than 100 years. We have four trees on this farm that are more than 100 years old,” he said. He added, “We have oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, mami, star apple, monkey apple, sedium, papaya, guavas, cashew, and much more. We also do cane juice.”

The farm has a cozy atmosphere—more than a farm, it is also the Singh

family’s home. Over the years, Jai has dabbled in various agricultural endeavours. “I used to supply sugar cane to the real sugar factory, more than 500 tons per year. And since the closure of that sugar factory, we have moved on to processing cane juice,” he said. Now, the family has shifted gears, taking a tourism-based approach. As Jai explains, he and his wife are the duo that keeps the farm running. “I do the production, so I like to say I am the production manager. She does marketing, purchasing, procurement— everything else that makes this farm run,” he said.

Jai’s farm also emphasises the importance of organic foods. Although some crops have been grown with fertilisers, Jai tells visitors which are organic and which are not. A visit to the farm is educational, with Jai explaining everything visitors need to know about the numerous trees, always emphasising that some organic fruits may not be the prettiest. “We need organic food. We are trying to use as few chemicals as possible on this farm. And I tell visitors which crops are grown organically and which are not,” he said.

New to Agro-Tourism

of experience in the sales aspect of agriculture. “I started going to the market to sell about 20 years ago. Before that, I used to assist my husband a little. Then I felt he was handling marketing and everything else,” she stated.

Groups of family and friends can visit the farm for a full day of exploration and fun, learning about the challenges and changes in agriculture while Dianne takes them on an adventure. “We used to take family and friends on farm tours. The feedback they gave us was that they enjoyed it so much. They felt they could pay for this tour because it made them feel so relaxed,” she said.

The farm has garnered great support from major tourism bodies as well as everyday Guyanese. Although the couple had fears about starting something so new later in life, Dianne says she is happy they took the leap and that she is now a trained tour guide. “The support they gave us was overwhelming. They checked it out, gave us advice, and I had to do the training with them as a tour

The other half of the

Singh farm is his wife and tour guide, Dhanwantie “Dianne” Singh. Although new to tourism, Dianne has plenty

guide and tour operator and get licensed,” she said.

People from around the

Farmer Jeyaram ‘Jai’ Singh (Samuel Maughn photo)

Tour guide Dhanwantie ‘Dianne’ Singh (Samuel Maughn photo)

The hustle, bustle and buzz of bees

By Shaniya Harding

Looking at the relationship between bees and agriculture

The buzz of bees is something we are all familiar with. But for Aubrey Roberts, the hum of bees has been the soundtrack of his life for over three decades. What began as a curious

Now, with a thriving family-owned beekeeping business and years of experience under his belt, Aubrey stands as one of Guyana’s guardians of nature’s most vital creatures—pollinators that quietly sustain ecosystems and put food on our tables.

them, adapt to a changing world? As we observe Agriculture Month, Aubrey sheds light on a few of these topics.

The hustle and bustle of bees

More than 35 years ago, a young and curious Aubrey

extracurricular activity at President’s College in 1989 quickly blossomed into a lifelong passion for the intricate, organised world of bees.

But as the climate shifts and the industry evolves, various challenges and questions present themselves: how do these tireless workers, and the people who care for

came across the activity of beekeeping. What began as a simple pastime during his years at President’s College soon blossomed into a fascination with the meticulous

organisation and brilliance of bees. Reflecting on his journey, Aubrey recalled, “I started beekeeping as a student of President’s College in 1989. Beekeeping was an extracurricular activity, and a number of us were exposed to beekeeping at a small apiary, where we learned to take care of bees.”

Aubrey was initially captivated by the productivity and orderliness of bees, describing them as “advanced social insects, in that they live in colonies, are managed by a queen, and work together to build a hive from scratch. Then they protect it, maintain it, store honey, and produce several premium

products.” But for Aubrey, there’s more to bees and beekeeping than meets the eye.

Beekeepers in Guyana

Over the years, Aubrey has seen the industry grow, particularly in the number of beekeepers. Although still a

Aubrey Roberts, along with his two sons, at their LongCreek Apiary

Kingdom Apiary at LongCreek, with more than 20 hives, produces some four gallons of honey per hive per year

Financial abuse needs more awareness The Power of Collective Action and Smaller Community Groups

WHEN you are defining the term “abuse”, do you ever consider financial abuse in those definitions? Often, when I listen to people discuss abuse, I rarely ever hear them mention the category of financial abuse. That can be for a lot of different reasons. Perhaps people are unfamiliar that a person can be financially abused, or they simply do not accept this as a type of abuse. Whatever the reason may be, there are many studies and statistics to prove that people all across the world are being financially abused. For me, the first thing that comes to mind is when the elderly have their money or assets taken away from them without their consent. As with most cases of abuse, financial abuse also entails a struggle or imbalance of power.

Financial abuse can be overt or very unnoticeable. It is a form of family violence. Universally, I do not think enough people speak about the damaging effects financial abuse has on the victims. This is quite a powerful method that is used to “trap” victims by making them stay in an abusive relationship. Studies have shown that in 99% of the domestic violence cases that occur, financial abuse is also present. Contrary to the belief that only impoverished people can be victims of financial abuse, this form of abuse does not only affect a specific target population. In most cases, financial abuse occurs in romantic relationships where an abusive partner restricts and limits their partner’s access or ability to spend money. The “allowances” will be fewer and fewer as months go by, and the victim is often forbidden from being employed.

The abuser may use manipulation, fear tactics or even physical abuse to force these ideologies onto the victim if they do not comply. Some cases are often so extreme that even access to purchase food or visit a doctor is affected. Most times, victims are unable to leave these abusive relationships because of their lack of finances, assets or even education on financial independence and literacy. Most times, when victims leave their homes they’re either forced into a shelter or they return to their abusive partner where homelessness is not a concern. This is a key issue that needs further attention on all levels. Money gives one a sense of security and stability. Abusers use it as a tactic to control victims. If victims don’t abide by or obey them, they lose that sense of security or stability by receiving limited or no money.

This creates an unhealthy dependency. Financial abuse may also come in the form of leaving people in debt unknowingly, stealing the victim’s property, false insurance claims, evading child support or refusing to pay bills. It is not black and white. There are many ways that people can become victims of financial abuse. As such, I am pleading with you all to consider spreading awareness of what financial abuse is and let victims realise that they are indeed victims. Money is used as a powerful tool of control and oppression, and I hope that financial abuse in all of its forms is addressed effectively and efficiently at all levels.

DID you know that most community development work is not highlighted in media broadcasts or given recognition? This is not necessarily a consequence of poor marketing or a lack of awareness. This is simply because most community-level projects and work are done by “the ordinary man or group.” Most of the time, established, large groups or even governmental entities showcase their community development initiatives, but it’s important to note that these large groups are not the only ones engaged in this type of work. In my experience with community development over the years, it is often the small groups that are driving local transformation, breaking cultural barriers, and even inspiring social movements. This is the power of collective action

Take, for example, the small Hindu Dharmic group of 12 youths who choose to clean up their community beach. With limited resources and support, their efforts will create a clean and safe beach for all members to enjoy. It may sound

simple, but it tackles the deep-rooted issue of environmental degradation due to littering and pollution. This can ultimately raise awareness of climate change and even promote tourism in their small community. I originally began my community-level work in small social groups such as this one. I once believed that I needed a large, organised community group to reflect “real” change. I was terribly mistaken.

Usually, small local groups have a deep passion for the cause in question. Their actions are often very personal, and that drives their motivation even more. I also love the “freedom” that often comes with smaller groups. Sometimes, certain structures that exist in large groups can also pose as red tape against action. I remember in my church’s youth group how purposeful it felt to be a part of it. Every member had a say in decision-making, and the group was small enough for us all to understand how impactful our individual roles and responsibilities were. That fostered intimacy and trust like no other, and we thrived on it.

I often compare the importance of smaller groups to how teachers use “breakout rooms” or smaller groups to discuss and tackle different aspects of a topic. It gives everyone an opportunity to discuss and learn. The topic remains the same, but each group focuses on a particular aspect of the issue.

As my teachers would say, “it

The Power of Collective Action and Smaller...

FROM PAGE VIII

makes the work lighter.” Similarly, in community work, we may all have the same overall goal of improving our community. However, we simply have different ways of achieving it, and that’s okay. The social issues we currently face in Guyana need all hands on deck. As such, I don’t believe in “monopolising” the relief efforts for these issues. Sometimes, certain solutions or actions have “cracks,” and some people who are in need of help may fall through those cracks. This is why smaller groups are essential: they can pinpoint such gaps in communities due to their proximity to the issues and the target audience, and they can help instead.

Sometimes, community action can easily become “textbook”-based. Larger groups might not always have the drive and passion that smaller groups do. Like every group that exists, smaller groups will have their own set of challenges. Limited funding or additional responsibilities can sometimes be frustrating. However, the overall collective action for community change most often triumphs over these challenges. This grassroots-level work is also vital because, oftentimes, smaller groups live in the community, interact with affected populations, and are knowledgeable about what the actual solutions to social issues can be. They don’t just quote the numbers of the statistics; they know the faces behind the numbers.

Whether you’re cleaning up the beaches, serving food at a local shelter or orphanage, or distributing hampers to the destitute, we should all understand that our actions have an impact. I hope you understand that you do not have to be part of a large movement or even a famous NGO or entity to create the impact you believe is necessary in your community. Sometimes, all it takes is a small group of people with passion and commitment to what they believe in. Your impact should not be measured by its reach. Your impact should be measured by how meaningful, effective, and relevant your action was.

The commemoration of the MAAFA-2024

--and the worlds of learning attached to it’s necessary awareness

THE voyage into chattel slavery was the beginning of an age of change for the Africans who were brought to the Americas, and eventually for their descendants, as well as for those who remained in Africa as witnesses.

What is necessary is the understanding that the concepts of Christianity were first embraced by Africans.

“When the pagan Romans came into North Africa in 332 B.C., the Romans persecuted the Africans for their Christian beliefs.

Coupled with that, the drying up of the areas that became the Sahara Desert was long in process. Now, combined with the Roman presence, many of the Afro-populations that were once Carthaginians moved further into inner Africa” – see The Arab Invasion of Egypt by Alfred Butler.

pean anthropologists have concluded, in support of Diop’s theories, some even before his time. This is an area of study that was distorted to fit political and false idealisms, but is much clearer now, as advanced scientific and historical methods are available.

I cannot conclude without reference to our own George Granville Monah James, whose Stolen Legacy may have caused his sudden death after the publication of his incredible book in 1954, which is still a masterpiece. Then, the late Dr. Ivan Van Sertima, whose volumes continue to intrigue our minds to explore.

The age of slavery began after the fall of the Moors. And with the products that the Moors had introduced into Europe, generated the idea of possessing tropical lands to grow such products and to plunder. Thus, with Moorish maps and tales of trade to unknown lands, the then new nations of Europe began using African seafarers, like the record of Al Omari – see Introduction to African Civilizations, pg. 232, John G. Jackson for an extended narrative. The quest for colonies began.

The conflict that lay with the new Christian world of Crusaders and the forced conversions or genocide, first with the pagan Europeans, was accompanied by invented religious bigotry for the justification of African slavery.

The Rabbis, along with the Church fathers of Christendom, concocted a doctrine using ‘Ham & Noah’ to devise their right to African slavery. (This has been based on ethnic bigotry and religion.) However, this is not the only time such a plot was used. Thus, the reader must realise that the MAAFA embodies multiple streams of studies to grasp and understand the myriad psychological confrontations that must be triumphed over. Ironically, the first scholar to experience the censorship of an Afro-history presentation was a noted European, Count Constantine De Volney, following his visit to Khemet (Egypt) between 1783 and 1785. He had described the appearance of the Sphinx as “typically Negro in all its features”. He further wrote, “There are a people now forgotten who discovered, while others were yet barbarians, the elements of the arts and sciences. A race of men, now ejected from society for their sable skin and frizzled

hair, founded on the study of the laws of nature, those civil and religious systems which still govern the universe.” (Volney discovered the glaring omissions of the above in his work, published in English, only after he had mastered the English language. And he then forbade the future sale of his work until it could be published in its entirety.)

The arguments of Ancient Africa’s greatest gift, Khemet, have been indisputably presented by scholars to diminish both religious and historical misrepresentations. Because this article cannot carry the volume of that content, I can refer to scholars like the Senegalese Cheikh Anta Diop, historian, physicist, and philosopher, whose responses to eventual critics are through a principal source. See Chapter XII of The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality. Also, The Peopling of Ancient Egypt & The Deciphering of the Meroitic Script and Precolonial Black Africa by Diop.

In closing, many Euro-

BLACK CROWS FLYING

A FISHERMAN’S TALE

SHE stood at the water’s edge, her torn dress swirling around her legs, a lone figure shrouded in the shadows of the night. A foreboding silence hung over the beach as the tamed wind gently lifted the dark tresses of hair falling over her face. A pretty face it was, streaked with sand and dry tears.

God.

How, then, did evil interrupt her life?

No one had an answer.

THE morning was biting cold, and dawn was still some hours away, as the northeastern wind blew in from the sea. The fishermen on the jetty, sleep long gone from their eyes, prepared to head out to sea—shouting, swearing, mumbling, moods mingling, drifting. The air smelled of tobacco smoke, and above the din was the mellow voice of a radio broadcaster on someone’s little radio as the day began.

ly grieving family, who just couldn’t process the fact that she was no more in their lives.

Rajiv, a young boy with his father and small crew, cast off to sea, his heart pounding with excitement, for today was his initiation. Today, he had come of age to join a long line of ancestors as fishermen, a family legacy.

A young girl in pain, alone, at the beach in the dead of the night.

What happened to her?

All the media houses carried the story, and shock rippled through her community and the nation. The boys who had given her a ride home were held for questioning, but they all stated that they knew nothing.

The boat cut through the waves, and as the cold wind stung his face, it gave his life a new experience. Over the years, he had heard so many intriguing tales about pirates, killer sharks, and mysterious ghostly ships, but the tale that mesmerised him—fable, some claimed, real, said others—was of the silver flying fish, with scales that glittered like diamonds in the night.

The deep, haunting look in her eyes, the ashen face and colourless lips told a story of something cold.

Their story was that she had received a phone call on the

It was said that whoever caught the silverfish would have his wishes come true, but for so many decades, no one ever did. Rajiv had one wish in his heart, neither for riches nor fine things, even though his family was poor, but for something with much greater worth.

Hushed were the wind and water as something bad unfolded the night before on the sandy beach. No one heard her cries, her pleas on the deserted beach and when they were gone, a young body was left on the sand, helpless and broken.

She turned and walked back to the mangrove trees, no footprints in the sand, for late that night the pain had ebbed away like the tide, and one last tear trickled from her eyes as she took her last breath.

“How did this happen?” she cried, “They were my friends, whom I trusted to take me home.”

Her heart beat no more, and the coal-black eyes shed no more tears, but she was not going into the light, not now. It was not her time. She did not have to die, not that way. Not for someone who revered God and had good values. She was a classical dancer and a teacher, recognised for her talent and as an educator, it was all wrong, her death.

She was supposed to have ridden home with her two friends, Aruna and Preity, that night after the cultural programme, but a late change of plans by them to go out with their boyfriends caused her to ride home instead with two male friends she knew very well. The other two boys she had met only once at a wedding reception, but they seemed like nice guys. On the way home, she had a bottle of fruit drink, and a slight drowsiness overcame her, which she thought was tiredness, but it must have been something else. She became dazed and did not notice the detour on the lonely road to the beach that would be deserted at that hour.

Betrayed by those who masqueraded as friends.

“Why? Where is my wrong?” were her soundless, agonising cries.

She looked up at the heavens and continued to cry, “You are my God. I believed in you. Where were you when I cried for help?”

The beach was silent as the lone figure sat with her head bent. There was no place in the world for her anymore.

“I died,” she moaned, “My mother and father have lost their little girl.”

A fisherman had discovered her body lying on the sand early the next morning. She stood there, unseen in her spiritual form, watching as the police cordoned off the area and canvassed the scene for clues. Word spread, and a crowd gathered, shocked and angry that such a horrible thing had happened to a decent young girl.

She had watched helplessly as her father, shocked beyond words, sank to his knees and broke down, crying as he looked at her lifeless body.

He had looked up at the heavens, his hands clasped, his voice breaking, “Why…why God? Why, my little girl?”

When the hours had gotten late last night, and she hadn’t yet come home, her phone turned off, and her mother experienced a deep feeling of dread, her father, brother and cousins had begun searching until daylight.

No one could console her father. What should she tell her mother, who was waiting at home battling her fears?

Even the heavens trembled that day at the mother’s cries for the child she had brought into this world, a blessing from

way home and asked them to stop for someone else to pick her up.

She raised her head slowly and stood up, looking at the heavens, a burning passion of pain and anger in her voice, “I will not come home, not until I have destroyed the monsters who took my honour and my life.”

She stretched her arms out, and from the abyss of death and darkness, she screamed, unleashing fury and agony.

“I call on dark forces to lend me the evil power to destroy those spawned from evil, and for that, I will give you my soul.”

The sky rumbled, the water became restless, and the wind howled as she waited under the mangrove trees.

One night, two nights passed, then on the third morning, just before the break of dawn, as the high tide rushed across the sand and the wind whistled shrilly, four black crows appeared from the far horizon. She stood up, her coal-black eyes watching as the crows drew closer and closer and alighted on the mangrove trees. Her wait was over.

The dark abyss had answered her call to fight evil with evil.

“For each new day, now,” she vowed, “stones will bleed.”

A wake had been going on at her home, and friends, family and people from everywhere had been attending to express their sympathies. There was no comfort, though, to her deep-

That first morning at sea was good, with their haul of fish, and he saw two sharks, but no ghostly ship or silver flying fish. His father told him there would be many more mornings and nights when he headed out to sea, and every outing always brought something new, be it bad or good.

On the day of her funeral, she went back home in her spiritual form to comfort her family and to confront her killers. They would be in attendance, she knew, amongst the huge turnout of mourners.

All her friends were there, those who were true, who had regrets. She saw their tears, heard their shocked whispers as prayers and songs eulogized her life. She stood amongst her family, holding her mother’s and father’s hands, hugging her brother and sister, wiping their tears.

But they were not aware of her presence. Her mother, though, seemed to sense something and whispered, “Aryana?”

For the young boy, it was a life of adventure to look forward to, and with a smile on his face and a spring in his step, he ran home to tell his mother and sister about his first day at sea. His mother had cooked him a special meal, but he could eat nothing until he saw his sister. She was sitting in the garden, under the shade of a mango tree, reading stories to two little children. She looked so pretty and younger, her long hair in two plaits. A pang of regret touched his heart, knowing that as a boy, his ambition to continue a family legacy had

The family turned to look at her mother, and she broke down crying, “She’s here with us. My baby is here.”

upon her emissaries of the dark world, “It’s time.”

fluttering wings, created a frightening scene as they flew cir cles around her coffin, then among the mourners who scattered to avoid the vicious birds. The birds were gone as fast as they came, but left in their wake were fear and shock. Never had anything of that nature happened at a funeral service. What could have triggered something so ominous was the burning question.

Aryana watched her killers hurriedly leave and smiled, cold fury in her eyes, “It’s just the beginning.”

been fulfilled, but a cruel twist of fate had snatched from her her dream. It had been two years since that horrible accident that paralysed her legs, an accident that had cut the family’s purse strings. Poor they were, but all their money spent could not her walk again.

To be continued…

He touched her shoulder, and she turned and smiled, hugging him, wanting to know everything about his first fishing trip.

He could not understand how she could still smile, knowing her dream to be a dancer and to travel the world had been shattered, leaving her in a wheelchair. He had vowed in his heart to help his sister walk again, no matter what. It was the reason he wanted to believe in the silver flying fish, so he could make a wish for her.

Days rolled into weeks, weeks into months, until one late night, when the tempestuous sea was wild and the wind wailed, rocking the boat like a toy, the silver flying fish broke through the water like a vision in the dark night, riding the high waves, and disappearing into the raging sea. Rajiv, with water streaming over his face, almost obscuring his vision, caught a glimpse of the fabled fish and gasped in wonder.

It was such an extraordinary sight.

It stayed in his mind every day he went out to sea, wondering how he could catch such a fish, for he was just a boy, and it had eluded grown men over the decades. To try to catch that fish, his father had warned, was flirting with danger. But Rajiv had a vow in his heart he had to fulfill, and he hoped and prayed that something, somewhere, somehow would help him.

Months rolled into a new year, and his body had grown a little taller, a little stronger. The night before his sister’s nineteenth birthday, he had kissed her ‘goodnight,’ hoping that in the morning, he could give her a gift of something very special.

That night, the sea was once again wild and restless, and the

REVISITING THE TOPIC OF MANGROVES

THIS column will again touch on Mangroves because of its importance historically, socially and economically.

Coconut industry now playing greater role in Guyana’s economic transformation

When the Dutch colonisers first visited Guyana in the 17th century, they observed that Mangroves were growing along the entire coast, in some parts so thick that they could be considered mangrove forests.

THE coconut palm has always been found in Guyana, especially on the coasts. The various peoples who settled here over the centuries used its fruit as food, and cultivated it in small patches throughout the coastlands.

The Freedmen who established villages after Emancipation grew coconut palms in their yards, and in the backdams, using them in ingenious ways. For example, they used coconuts widely in cooking dishes like metem-gee, or as a health drink, and coconuts were always present in every sickroom.

The Dutch first settled on the coast and utilised the mangrove as a convenient and easy source of wood for house building, fires for cooking, and even for making boats and rafts. Only when they had cut down large stretches of mangrove and the sea had begun to come up on the land did they understand the importance of mangroves as an effective defence against the sea and flooding. They held up to their mangrove depletion, and to avoid the threat of constant flood-

Its branches were used to make mats and brooms, its fibre was turned into pot scrubbers and used to fill mattresses, and even its shells were used in plant nurseries.

After Indentureship, many Indians became subsistence farmers, and coconuts became a necessary part of the household diet. A few of the more enterprising individuals founded small plantations where coconuts were produced commercially. They also added other uses of coconut to the local repertoire, such as the production of coconut oil, new recipes like “coconut choka”, and various confections. By the beginning of the 20th Century, coconuts were used by all, irrespective of their cultural background, and coconut oil became the main cooking oil in Guyana.

The main industrial producer of coconut oil was Wieting and Richter, a company founded by German immigrants, which enjoyed a monopoly for many decades. Small quantities of coconuts were also exported.

The coconut estates were all family-owned, and when the families died off or otherwise decided to quit their estates, the land was sold or leased to small farmers. The industry was, therefore, never able to manifest its full potential, but despite this, it was always the most important agricultural crop after sugar and rice.

Towards the end of the 20th Century, the reputation of coconut as a nutritious food and a medication grew exponentially in developed countries. It was sold as oil and in other forms, first in health shops and then in general supermarkets.

Coconut oil is now placed in the same category as olive oil, and is believed to help fend off Alzheimer’s Disease. This growing demand in developed countries presents Guyana with the opportunity for a profitable coconut export market.

The knowledge that coconut is a profitable crop, both in Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean, and has the potential for a rich export market has stimulated the expansion of acreage under coconut cultivation, and improvements in the quality of the nuts.

The Ministry of Agriculture, under the leadership of its proactive Minister, Hon. Zulfikar Mustapha, has been at the forefront of this development. The Ministry has been able to expand coconut acreage by several thousand acres, especially in the Pomeroon and on the East Coast Demerara, and is exploring export markets.

In this effort, Guyana has imported tens of thousands of Brazilian green dwarf coconuts, as well as the Costa Rican variety for distribution to farmers, which will revolutionise production.

In the words of Minister Mustapha, “Coconuts have tremendous value around the world; these coconuts we are importing have the potential to give 700 to 750 millilitres of water, which is about 400 millilitres more than the coconuts we presently produce.

It is a multi-variety, multi-purpose coconut that produces approximately 260 nuts per tree per year, compared to about 160 nuts per tree per year from the ones we currently have.”

ing, they began to move their settlements to the river banks towards the end of the 18th century. In 1815, when Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice finally ceded to Britain, they were united in 1831 to form the colony of British Guiana.

The British developed their colony much faster than the Dutch. Like the Dutch, they empoldered their agricultural land and built sea defences, but it was only in the 20th century, with the growth of Ecological Studies and a deeper understanding of the environment, that the full importance of mangroves came to be grasped.

The United Nations recognised the importance of mangroves by declaring a Mangrove Day each year with a relevant motto. In this year 2024, the motto is “Mangroves matter. Safeguarding our Coastal Guardians for tomorrow”.

This policy of developing the coconut industry as a profitable entity in itself dovetails with the policy of fending off the Dutch Disease, whereby countries allow the glitter of the oil industry and oil revenues to cause them to neglect other industries.

Though this motto identifies the most important function of mangroves, that is to guard against the flooding by the sea and tidal waves and make the soil less fertile when it would have been impregnated with salt; other positives emanate from mangroves.

Mangroves provide a home for bees as well as feeding grounds since a large number of flowering plants grow among the mangroves. When hives are established in the vicinity, they provide bountiful honey supplies. Consumers much value mangrove honey.

Mangroves are a carbon sink and enhance Guyana’s efforts against climate change. They provide a livelihood for many coastal communities, one food resource being the varieties of fish that live among the mangroves. They are an ecotourism attraction with the rich biodiversity that mangrove forests offer, and the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture are cooperating in this development. Mangrove restoration and preservation support several sustainable development goals (SDGs), to the degree that Guyana is seriously committed to achieving them.

At the recent function of unveiling the plaque at the Kingston Seawall Esplanade in commemoration of International Mangrove Day 2024, the Minister of Agriculture summarised the importance and impact of Mangroves: “Mangroves are our coastal guardians, vital to Guyana’s environmental and economic health”, he said, “they act as natural barriers against coastal erosion and surges, protecting our communities and infrastructure. With over 23,000 hectares of Mangroves, they support fisheries, livelihoods, and food security and provide habitats for diverse wildlife… Mangroves are important in sequestering carbon, enhancing efforts against climate change as outlined in Guyana’s Low Carbon Development Strategy 2030”.

The State has developed a 10-year National Mangrove Action Plan and an Inter-Agency Committee dedicated to promoting sustainable Mangrove management, and over 500 hectares of mangrove have been restored. Since 2010, over $1.9 billion has been invested in mangrove preservation and restoration, and regular injections of money are expected to be made as required. For example, $275 million has been allocated this year to rehabilitation initiatives in Regions Two and Five.

What the sky tells us

THE sky is a mirror. A glance at the sky can tell us a lot about the people who live beneath it. During the Industrial Revolution, our skies were dark grey. The cold greyness promised a new world where steel and glass would melt and grow into cities with skyscrapers and giant bridges.

More subtly, the greyness also foretold a future where human beings would be separated from each other by their desires and well-concealed greed. It foretold a world that did not mind its skies becoming black with smoke if it meant that a lucky few could enjoy wealth and profits.

Today, our skies are no longer tainted with soot to the extent they once were. This tells us that the world beneath the clearing skies is capable of change.

The sky does not only mirror humanity as a whole, but also the very dreams and thoughts in our eyes. Every cloud that takes the form of a lion, every star that transforms into a diamond, and every rainbow that becomes a fairytale — they all mirror human dreams. The things we see around us take different forms, depending on who we are as people. Regardless of how meticulously we design and engineer our world, it becomes something completely different the moment an individual glances at it.

Nevertheless, we must not fool ourselves into believing that our perspectives are stable enough to paint the world in a permanently transformative manner. In simpler words, the world shapes us just as much as we shape it.

During this strange journey of youth, where we are simultaneously changing the world and allowing the world to change us, there are a few precious belongings we must guard from harm.

Among these belongings is our mind. The mind is the sky to our soul. In the same way that the sky reflects human nature, our mind reflects the quality of our souls.

Mental health is one of the most heavily debated topics as it relates to young people. It seems as if there are more and more mental health issues arising among young people every single day. Floating through a sea of hurt and anger, the future recipients of this planet are fighting a battle that is, in a strange way, as personal as it is prevalent. Issues concerning mental health cannot be fixed with words of advice or discussions, but they can be brought to the surface, where those who are struggling can at least begin to recognise what it is they are fighting. Perhaps, in this aspect, young people’s minds are extremely similar to the skies of the Industrial Revolution.

Pollution and climate change are terms well-known by the younger generation for the vast impact they will have on our future quality of life. These issues, however, took ages to recognise and even longer to address. It took us decades, if not more than a century after we first began polluting the air during the Industrial Revolution, to understand that no level of profit is worth the harm being caused to our planet. Although our skies were black for a long time, we eventually began to make conscious efforts to clear them, and convince people that changes needed to be made to their behaviours.

Our mental health is quite similar. We can speculate that the quality of mental health has not necessarily worsened in the younger generation. Rather, we have simply begun to make conscious efforts to screen people for illnesses and encourage open discussions about mental health struggles. Those who would have suffered silently in the past are now provided with the opportunity to heal and grow openly. The minds of human beings, like the skies, have been shrouded

A FISHERMAN’S...

FROM PAGE XII

fishermen struggled to pull in their catches. A storm was brewing, and as the waves lashed against the boat, the silver fish flew out from the water, flying over Rajiv’s boat and disappearing into the sea.

Rajiv, so excited at seeing that amazing spectacle, heeded not his father’s warning as a huge wave bore down on them, and he was knocked into the raging sea. He went down, then surfaced, but was pulled down again, and that was when he saw the silver fish, trapped in the net of another boat.

Rajiv struggled with all the strength in his young body to get back to his boat and grabbing his knife, he dived back into the water, much to his father’s dismay. He swam toward the boat that was already pulling up its net, and Rajiv knew if he couldn’t get there in time to cut the fish free, his chances of a wish for his sister to walk again would be gone.

The sea would not let him, the strength draining from his arms, and as he started to sink, his sister’s beautiful face and the smile that was always on her lips flashed before his eyes, putting new strength in his arms. Kicking to the surface, he breathed in deeply before diving again. The boat’s net was just a few inches from being pulled up when Rajiv, with every little ounce of strength left in him, reached and, grabbing the net, cut the fish loose. He made his wish with the little air that was left in his body before slowly sinking to the bottom.

There was the sound of music coming from somewhere far as his eyes opened. He lay still for a moment, not sure where he was, not knowing if he was alive. The music was now closer, and he stood up, a little unsteady, wondering what was happening. No one was around, and he walked slowly down the steps to an open door, where from within came the soft sounds of music.

What he saw hit him like a storm on the high seas, but it was a storm that filled his heart with happiness, bringing tears to his eyes. His sister was standing in the middle of the room in a baby pink dress, her hair tied with a ribbon as she practised little dance steps.

“Priyanka,” he called her name.

She turned and ran to him, hugging him as their mother and father entered, and they all embraced a family whose hearts were now filled with joy. A brother had risked his life to make a dream come true for his sister, for he had allowed his heart to believe in the magic of the silver flying fish.

In the darkest of nights, when the sea is at its wildest, the silver flying fish can still be seen—a vision to behold.

What the sky tells...

FROM PAGE XIV

in darkness for quite some time. It is just that now, we are starting to notice. It took forums, discussions, and a plethora of agreements for climate change to be taken as seriously as it is now. Similarly, there has been a collective effort to make mental health a widely discussed topic.

Our minds are pieces of us that help us see the world more beautifully. Our minds help us to be ourselves. Gen Z enjoys the extraordinary ability to be open about mental health and to heal together. Thus, we have the unique responsibility of ensuring that this opportunity is used to its full extent.

The hustle, bustle and buzz...

FROM PAGE VII small community of just a few hundred people, the group continues to expand, with pioneers like Aubrey leading the way. As he explained, “Some 20 years ago, we were the only people offering removal services. Now, there are several service providers.”

Many people may not know much about the apiculture industry in Guyana, but according to Aubrey, beekeeping is certainly a good way to make a living. His business, Kingdom Apiary, has several locations and many beehives around Guyana, with one of the most popular being in Long Creek, along the Linden-Soesdyke Highway.

His business offers more than honey, selling various apiary products and supplies, which he runs with his wife. The duo, along with their other partners, provide honey, hives, gear, and beekeeping equipment. “Most of the equipment is manufactured locally,” Aubrey added, sharing that the grills, smokers, and frames are produced in Guyana.

Bees and the climate

After more than three and a half decades, Aubrey has paid close attention and learned plenty about the symbiotic relationship between bees and nature. He explained, “Bees depend on the trees, and the trees depend on the bees.” This connection is vital for ecosystems, especially in agricultural settings. “Beekeeping is an important subsector of agriculture,” he remarked. “About 25% of all the food, the grasses, and the trees—even those that don’t bear fruit—require pollination for propagation.”

However, beekeeping faces challenges, particularly with climate change. “Climate change is affecting us in terms of the changes in weather patterns,” Aubrey shared. He explained that these massive shifts have a profound impact on bee production and, moreover, honey yield. This has made the profession unpredictable, with the usual timing of honey production disrupted and honey season changing from year to year.

Having problems with bees?

Aubrey isn’t just a beekeeper—he is also a bee remover, with people from all around Guyana reaching out to him. Throughout the years, he has seen more people venture into the field.

Despite the difficulties, Aubrey’s fascination with beekeeping has never waned. When asked about the largest hive he has encountered, he recalled, “I’ve seen a hive about four feet wide and four or five feet long, inside a wall.” He explained that bees are drawn to “cool, dark places,” like roofs or the spaces between walls, which is why they often settle in people’s homes.

For those who find bees in their homes or are attacked by bees, Aubrey shares some do’s and don’ts: “What you should not do is jump into water, because if you do that, bees will follow you.” Instead, he recommends securing yourself in a room with locked windows, preventing the bees from getting inside.

Looking at beehives, it’s easy to see what captivated a young Aubrey. With their intricate systems and the way they depend on each other, they are a great reminder of the codependency and cooperation needed in the world. The relationship between nature’s stakeholders, like bees and agriculture, is far more complex than most of us know. And although they are small, bees make a big difference.

A taste of adventure...

world have visited the family farm. As Dianne shares, “We had guests from Germany, Australia, Africa, the United States, and Canada. They kept coming back for months.” Throughout the last year, Dianne and her husband have shown many newcomers what farm-to-table really means, showcasing the process from planting to the produce arriving in their homes. “We had people who didn’t know

how pineapple or cassava is grown. They were very surprised,” she said.

Facing modern challenges

Like many farmers across Guyana and the world, the Singhs are facing challenges with increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. “As a farmer, you need a lot of patience and determination. Sometimes, it can be challenging when you can’t make that determination,” Dianne said. “Sometimes it rains, sometimes you have flooding or drought. Farmers have to deal with all that. And if they decide to give up because the crop didn’t come out well, it would be very discouraging,” she added.

The next generation

Despite the many challenges, the Singhs are determined to keep the farm in the family, finding new ways to get people interested in agriculture and its beauty and significance. “You have to keep planting, and you have to have faith and be positive that, yes, this crop didn’t turn out well, but the next one will. You have to have that determination,” Dianne said.

The Singh children have also taken an interest in agriculture, with the youngest, Devina Singh, developing a deep appreciation for the farm she grew up on and hoping to keep it running as she studies law. As her mother shared, “I have two sons and a daughter. From a young age, they started helping on the farm—watering the plants, picking produce. My youngest daughter, Devina, helps a lot on the farm and with visitors,”

The Singh Family on their farm (Samuel Maughn photo)

A talk with the Queen...

PAGE V

on the volunteers that [sic] come with us. We have 20 solid volunteers who have been with us over the years,” she shared.

Guyanese across the globe have rallied around Arian. However, there are some misconceptions surrounding pageantry. Addressing these misconceptions, Arian says the

world has changed, and so has pageantry. “Beauty pageants have, for most of their history, been about physical beauty. Things have evolved, and pageantry has too. We have queens who have taken intellect and implemented it in ways that advance the community around them. Yes, we have a crown, but we champion causes that address societal ills,” she said.

Words of Wisdom for Young Women

Arian has emerged as an inspiration for young women all around Guyana. Speaking to young women, she shared, “If you never start reading to speak a certain way, to learn more; if you never start saying no to things that make you feel uncomfortable or make you feel diminished within yourself, then you don’t get better. The more love, forgiveness, and grace you show yourself, the more you open up mentally and in your physical life for things to change,” she said.

The Director’s Perspective: Reneé Chester

Reneé Chester, the woman behind BROMELIAD.rnc and now the National Director of Miss Global International Guyana, highlighted her role in the pageant and the team behind Arian. “My involvement in the pageant community is very new in terms of the leadership role I took on, not as a contestant, not as a past queen or anything like that, but as a franchise holder and a national director, where I’m expected to lead, guide, set examples, and make the best choices for my team and for my queen,” she said.

Reneé also commended the Miss Global team for going the extra mile and celebrated the historic win of seven out of the pageant’s 10 prizes. “Seven prizes out of 10, that is something to proudly boast about because I want our future beauty queens to have this motivation of what you can achieve and the importance of making history in a positive manner for yourself, for your country,” she said.

Reneé further added that the support of the country has been phenomenal and played a major role in Arian’s win. “The way Guyana rallied around the Miss Global International Guyana Organisation and cheered, motivated, supported, helped, and contributed to Arian’s journey was truly amazing. I will never forget the tears that came to my eyes the night she was announced as the winner for the international leg,” she said.

Behind the Winning Look: The Designer’s Vision Arian’s lilac dress was the subject of one of her prizes, winning the Best Gown Award. Designer Quinton Pearson said that both the gown and the custom design required plenty of collaborative effort, with the gown’s design being a year in the making. “Last year in Jamaica, we decided what the colour of the gown would be this year. We also decided on the detailing, and I came back home all pumped, excited, and inspired to create something that is still aesthetically pleasing from House of Pearson, but at the same time, reaching the international standards we understood were needed.”

A great track record

Guyana also stole the show with the national costume, winning the best in that category. The custom piece was a partnership between the House of Pearson and Roberto Teekah. Other prizes included Best Interview, Best Talent, the People’s Choice Award, Best Smile, and Miss Community Service.

Guyana’s participation in the Miss Global International Pageant has consistently resulted in excellence. As per a press release from the Miss Global International Guyana organisation, “In 2017, under previous franchise holders Hashim Alli and his wife, Melicia Partab-Alli, Guyana’s Cynthia Dookie won the international title in Jamaica. In 2016, Poonam Singh earned First Runner-Up and secured the Best Talent award.

In 2023, the Miss Global International Guyana Pageant came under the leadership of Award-Winning Makeup Artist Reneé Chester, who assumed the role of National Director. Chester’s first year at the helm resulted in outstanding achievements, with Guyana’s representative, Lateefah Ford, securing a Top 5 spot, while winning the Best Interview and Body Beautiful awards. Chester herself was awarded the Best Director award that same year.”

A taste of adventure...

FROM PAGE XVIII

she said.

As the most recent generation of Singhs born on the farm, Devina is a passionate advocate for getting young people involved in agriculture. “Growing up on a farm was not strange for me. I remember coming down to the

farm with my mother and studying and reading in the trees,” she said. She added, “If you have a chance to visit a farm, you definitely should. It’s an amazing experience, and if you’ve eaten today, you should thank a farmer.”

The Singh’s farm has a vibrant mix of more than 20 types of trees (Samuel Maughn photo)

Youngest of the Singh family, Devina Singh (Samuel Maughn photo)

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as they that starve with nothing.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (1564-1616)

The Merchant of Venice

STUDY SUCCESS

Dear Student, Welcome dear reading friend. To help you understand and evaluate the information given in a passage, you can be asked to compare it with several passages on the same subject. So, while reading, make mental comparisons between what you already know and the amount of information the new text brings as well as its differ-

OCTOBER 20, 2024

ent views and contradictions. This strategy is only a way of organising what really takes place in our minds when we read. Be wise.

Love you.

READING THE PASSSAGE

A.. Reading comprehension

Note: Here we lean heavily on what the CXC English A authorities say about reading comprehension: The reading comprehension examination questions test the student’s ability to read with understanding.

Understanding of what is read is brought out by various question types or forms:

Test your ability to identify directly stated facts in the passage.

Test your ability to recognise the implications of directly stated facts.

Test your ability to recognise inferences and underlying statements or arguments in the passage.

Test your ability to recognise the implications of inferred statements or arguments.

Then, there are six types of Reading Comprehension questions. These types are:

1. Main idea questions: Main idea questions ask the candidate to identify the passage’s overall theme, as opposed to supporting facts and arguments. The goal is to find the main idea, thesis or primary purpose of the passage.

2. Factual questions: These questions ask for information, examples or supporting details stated directly in the passage.

3. Inference questions: These questions do not ask about directly stated facts. They require you to infer or draw conclusions from opinions or ideas implied or suggested by the author. These questions are usually the most difficult questions for test takers.

4. Application questions: These questions ask about possible applications of the author’s ideas to other situations, including the identification of situations or processes like those described in the passage.

5. Author’s style questions: These questions ask about the author’s logic, reasoning, writing style or persuasive techniques. To answer these types of questions you must be familiar with literary devices so that you can identify any that the writer uses.

6. Tone questions: Tone questions often ask for you to describe the passage’s tone or mood. The tone or mood of the passage gives information on the author’s attitude. This is revealed in the type of language he uses.

B.. Read the following information based on one topic and pick

out particular details to answer all questions set at the end.

Airports are reporting heavy business as thousands of people set off on their Easter holidays. A number of airlines say there’s been a big last-minute rush and British Airways are expecting record bookings with more than twenty thousand passengers flying to the Continent today. But holiday-makers may not find the sun they’re seeking. Reports from European resorts are not encouraging. In most places the temperature is only in the middle fifties. Even so, that’s better than in Britain. The forecasters here say it’s going to be cold and windy today, with wintry showers at times. But there will be some sunny intervals.

1. What’s the weather going to be like in Britain?

2. What’s the weather like on the Continent?

3. How many people will fly to the Continent today?

4. What time of year is it?

5. Give the meaning of each term used in the text: heavy business, record bookings, holiday-makers, European resorts, forecasters, wintry showers, sunny intervals.

C.. Navigating the spoken language

Even when written down, spoken language does not change its way of communicating. It depends on tone and pitch to improve understanding. It will be generally less formal, less adhering to the rules of the English language, and will contain slang and tags which are more often used when speaking.

[Slang, an informal language easily understood only by certain groups, is acceptable in spoken language but not in written language].

Here is something to do. Read the text and then answer questions following.

Jessie, when you come out of the house, turn left and go down to the junction. Turn right, go past the swimming-pool and you’ll come to Main Street. There you turn left and go along the street, over the bridge. On the other side of the bridge there’s a crossroads; if you go straight across it, you’ll find the shopping centre on your left. Go in there and buy the things on my list. When you come out again, look for Turton Road, and go along it to the end. You’ll see a football ground ahead of you. Go in there and buy two tickets for the match this afternoon. From the football ground, turn left towards the river, and go on until you come to Riversdale Road. There you turn left and then immediately right again over the bridge. On the other side of the bridge, you’ll find a park on your right and then a little further along there’s a cinema on a corner at your left. Please go in there and get their programme of forthcoming films. Then you can come home along School Road – go all the way along it until you get to Main Street again, which you cross, and you’ll find a little path behind the swimming-pool; it’s a short cut home.

1. Explain each of these terms: turn left, a crossroads, shopping centre, park, cinema, programme of forthcoming films.

2. One function of language is to give particular instructions. Can you find any other function(s) in the passage? Write what they are for.

3. Does the language sound like spoken language? Support your answer from the passage.

4. Does the person doing the errands know her way around? Do support this thought.

5. What make(s) you think that Jessie was given a map to go by? Support your thought(s).

Natural teeth for life

UNLIKE what most people believe, the elderly do not lose their teeth because they have grown old. A person loses them because of diseases. For example, my maternal grandmother died at the age of 85 without losing a single adult tooth. Often, oral diseases reflect general ones. Remember, the risk of disease increases with age. So, there is no such thing as natural tooth loss in adults. No adult must lose a normal tooth if they do not want to.

General research on the human aging process has demonstrated that it is the effects of a disease, not ageing itself, that is most significant for our perception of ourselves and others as either ‘youthful’ or ‘elderly’ in the later years of life. We often become bashful about our age as we grow older. We are so influenced by today’s youth culture that youthfulness remains an ideal for us even when we have reached a considerable age. It is not surprising that the chronological aging process is a traumatic experience for many.

It’s unfortunate that I see many patients where there is no alternative but to extract all their existing teeth because they had to be condemned due to gum disease and rot. Fortunately, dental restoration has evolved tremendously over the years. For instance, roundhouse dentures are only artificial teeth held onto the jaw by six or eight mini-implants. Placing those mini-implants is done in about half an hour, and the procedure is painless.

Dental diseases and alterations in saliva and mucous membranes may be early symptoms of a decrease in the general health status of elderly people. These may indicate a weakening of the tissues’ biological defence thresholds against different stresses. Few tissues in the human body must withstand what the oral tissues endure, not only in terms of possible dryness but also mechanically, thermally, microbially, chemically, and galvanically (electrically).

We should therefore not be afraid of age and carry the belief that our teeth will be lost because of it. Instead, we should be aware of health hazards that tend to exaggerate our actual age, making us appear and behave much older than we are.

As one of the dentists designated to treat National Insurance Scheme pensioners, I tell them that they should observe the following principles regarding oral health:

1. Do not have your teeth extracted unless the dentist deems it necessary. The presence of even a few teeth in your mouth is vital for denture satisfaction.

2. If you still have a few teeth, be sure to take extra care of them. Their preservation can mitigate much of the unfortunate loss of the rest.

3. While dentures can never substitute natural teeth, they may provide physical, psychological, and social compensation. The state of a person’s mouth tells a lot about them.

4. Consult a dentist early if you ever experience or observe anything in and/or around your mouth that you consider to be unusual.