Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 22-10-2023 by Guyana Chronicle

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

The happiest time is in your youth

A mother chronicles her life, its changes and challenges

Sheila Ramchan is a resident of Dakara Village, Timehri and has been living there for more than 45 years. The mother of 18 children advises young people to enjoy their youth as she reflected on her own time as a child and various struggles growing up (Samuel Maughn photo)

Sunday, October 22, 2023

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

Facing challenges to bring home a good catch

IN Guyana, fishermen play a vital role in ensuring food security by risking it all to confront many challenges and bring in a good catch as often as possible. Antonio Persaud is a fisherman who works solo with his own small wooden boat powered by a 20-horsepower (HP) engine. He would set off from the landing under Canje Bridge in Berbice to the mouth of the Berbice River, about seven miles out. Persaud, better known as “Lilman” told the Pepperpot Magazine that for the past 15 years, fishing has been his sole source of income after he quit his full-time job as a soldier. The 36-year-old added that he operates the ‘Chinese seine’ fishing method, where he would go and set his seine in the fish pens and when the tide rises, he pulls the seine out to reveal his catch. Persaud, a father of one, stated that it is best to fish when the tide is high, and it brings in fish in the seine and the fish pens. He explained that he would pull up the tail end of the seine to offload the fish into the plastic tubs he has in his boat and repeat the process a few times until the catch is enough to sell for a small profit. Persaud reported that fishing these days is not like before. Three years ago, fish was plentiful, but now, due to the ever-changing weather and other things, fishing has become difficult. The fisherman noted that the rainy weather is the ideal time to fish and freshwater brings in a good catch of saltwater fish, including trout, snapper, banga, butterfish, catfish, kurass and a variety of shrimps. Persaud stated that fishing is a process and entails long hours on the water manning the seine until there is enough fish to sell to vendors who sell at the markets or in the villages. The fisherman added that he went on a fishing trip three days ago, and his catch wasn’t much, and because he has a small boat, he cannot go far due to the rough waters. Persaud told

t h e Pepperpot Magazine that two to three years ago, they were not safe due to numerous piracy attacks on fishermen in that area, but lately they haven’t had any such incident. He stated that vendors would come and buy the fish right at the landing under the Canje Bridge, so it is convenient for the fisherfolk operating there. “Being a fisherman is a choice. It is a job, a full-time one that I depend on to feed my family and even though I take a lot of chances, I must earn since my options are limited in terms of getting a steady job, and I prefer not to work for other people but myself,” he said. Persaud added that as a fisherman, he encounters many challenges with the tide and the dry season is not good for fishing. He reported that the best time to fish is when the spring tide is six to seven days, and he would make the most of it. “Even though fishing isn’t an everyday job, I still have to be patient and fish when the time is right to earn,” he reasoned. Persaud noted that when he was in the army, his pay was small and he had his parents to take care of, and he had no choice but to turn to alternative means to earn. “Things are looking bleak for fishing because soon, with oil and gas operations in Berbice River, the area we fish will no longer Antonio Persaud, the fisherman of Sheet Anchor Village, East be available SEE PAGE XXIII Canje, Berbice for fishing

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

Life After Cancer

By Shaniya Harding

SOME 19 years ago, Celeste Belgrave was the happiest woman on earth when she gave birth to her daughter Mekyla. The young mother was still in the early phase of motherhood and was still learning to care for a child, when the mother and daughter’s life were taken on a rollercoaster. At just seven months old, Mekyla was diagnosed with cancer. “While I was breastfeeding her, I looked into her eyes and I observed. I expected her eyes to follow me, which it never did. But her eyes looked like they had contacts on them. They had a glossy look. At three of four months, we noticed it. And before five or six months, we took her to several doctors, about three different doctors,” Celeste stated. And after a few other tests, Mekyla’s parents were told she had bilateral retino blastoma, one of the rarest cancers there is. To save her daughter’s sight, Celeste and Mekyla went to Trinidad. This would mark the beginning of a yearlong stay in Trinidad and Tobago. Celeste recounted that upon reaching Trinidad, they were told of the bleak situation. “The right eye was already at 60 per cent of cancer. It made no sense keeping the eye. It was already over the 50 per cent mark of saving.” All through the journey, Celeste says that both she and Mekyla were lucky to have the support of Mekyla’s father and a few other people in Trinidad. Mekyla’s parents made the difficult decision to carry out the operation on both of her eyes. In those

moments, all Celeste was considering the life of her daughter, saying, “After we did the right eye, the doctor said that they got all the cancer. But now all we had to do was chemotherapy.” Millions of men and women fight against the debilitating battle of chemo daily, while Mekyla was undergoing chemo at just ten months old. “She didn’t understand anything. It didn’t impact her in any bad way,” Celeste stated. During this time, neither Mekyla or her mother had returned to Guyana, and Mekyla had seldom left the hospital. But on her daughter’s first birthday, Celeste requested for Mekyla to have her birthday outside of the hospital. After six rounds of chemo and a dozen follow-up visits, Celeste and Mekyla returned to Guyana a year later. Upon their return and in the years that followed, Celeste had begun taking steps into how and what it meant to raise a blind child. “I was living in East Ruimveldt at the time, and I heard about a lady that had a blind child that was living not too far from me. And when I met her, she gave me a book called, ‘How to raise a blind child’. She began telling me what to do and I got support from other parents,” Celeste stated. When Mekyla was the age of two, Celeste enrolled her in a school. Mekyla began attending classes on just Fridays before she was fully integrated into going to school every day. After completing her secondary education, Mekyla moved on to primary school. It was during these years that schooling proved

its difficulties. Celeste stated that Mekyla faced bullying from some of her classmates, she shared that, “As the parent of a special needs child, it used to frustrate me.” Mekyla spent seven years in primary school, but the extra year was worth it Celeste stated, “She ended up spending seven years in primary school. Because she didn’t want to write it that year. But it was worth it because when she wrote common entrance, she topped her class. So, it was worth it.” Mekyla progressed further and went on to attend North Georgetown High School. High school was a new and difficult step for both Mekyla and Celeste. But with the help of a few exceptional teachers, Mekyla completed her secondary education with stellar grades. The family received support from friends, teachers and institutions like the unit for the visually impaired and cancer associations like The Giving Hope Foundation. Today Mekyla is a student at the University of Guyana and is working on gaining a degree in psychology. Celest shared: “Mekyla is onto university now. She is doing social work, and then she will be pursuing a degree in psychology.” Celeste is exceedingly proud of her daughter, stating that she is happy that Mekyla is alive. “The doctors say that remission begins at five years. After five years you can say ‘I am cancer free’. So, when Mekyla was six years old, I kept a big party.” Celeste, as a mother with firsthand experience

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Celeste and Mekyla Belgrave (Delano Williams photo)

with cancer, and a lesser known one at that, thinks that it is important to discuss and represent all types of cancers. She stated, “As we know, everything surrounds breast cancer in

October. You don’t get to see other types of cancers coming out and being seen. There are all types of cancers and children suffering from all types of cancers, and people don’t know.”

To all parents and persons struggling with cancer, whether that of a family member or oneself, Celeste urges resilience and to never give up because there is life after cancer.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

Diversifying farming skills

By Michel Outridge FARMERS have a wealth of knowledge. Despite challenges, they love what they do and continue to work the

ty Street, La Grange home. The 44-year-old told Pepperpot Magazine that he was a cane cutter and a rice farmer, but he was fed up with working for people and

Magazine that on his farm, he employs six men from the village to assist in harvesting and planting crops on his 40-acre plot and he would sell his produce to wholesale

A section of the farm

Some of the poultry at his home

land to produce fresh fruits, vegetables, and ground provisions, among other foods, so our diet can be colourful and healthy. Raymond Wong is a cattle and poultry farmer and he also cultivates pineapples, sweet potatoes, cassava and plantain at his farms at La Grange, his home and Canal #1 Polder, respectively. He has been farming for the past 24 years, and he has a collection of cattle, turkeys, ducks, and meat birds between his farms at Wales Backdam and his Uni-

decided to become self-employed. Wong explained that he came from a family where the men - his great-grandfather, grandfather and father - were all cattle farmers. They reared cows on a large scale, so growing up, he got familiar with cattle rearing. One day, he decided he had enough of working for other people and started out small with a few cows, acquired a plot of land to farm, and began his journey of becoming a selfstyled farmer. Wong told Pepperpot

buyers. The farmer related that he cultivates pine and cassava on a large scale and needs the extra hands at harvesting time. He disclosed that recently, unknown persons have been setting his farmlands alight; as such, several beds of pines were destroyed in the malicious fire and in this dry season, he is worried about the safety of his crops. Wong stated that being a farmer is all about taking risks, and often, he doesn’t see any profits due to the rising cost of agricultural prodRaymond Wong On his way to the farm Farmlands

ucts and equipment. In addition, he has 17 hunting dogs and is licensed to hunt. It is a pastime on the weekends and he would sell some of the wild meat he hunts just to offset expenses and maintain his dogs. Wong added that he often gave away the wild meats to family and friends. The farmer noted that his day starts early in the morning and usually ends late at night because there is so much to be done to ensure a good harvest for his crops. “I would try to return home for lunch, take a nap and go back to the farm, which is practically routine during the week but on weekends it is my time to relax, and I go hunting with my dogs,” he said. Wong reported that farming is an everyday job and that is why he had to employ people to assist him two to three times per week and he SEE PAGE XVIII

Raymond Wong at his farm in canal #1 Polder

Raymond Wong with some of his cows

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

The rise of podcasts in Guyana

PODCASTS are becoming very popular these days, particularly among journalists, business entrepreneurs, and individual personnel in Guyana. In Guyana, one expert believes there is the need to provoke this interest in varying topics of various personalities through podcasts. All mediums are exhausted, and with this new intervention, a host of new information can be made accessible. It is against this background that Regal Consultancy Services, the first consultancy in Guyana with a robust socio-economic development and project management background, used film production to deliver a project that will gal-

vanise young professionals, civil servants, leaders, and key stakeholders around projects that foster sustainable socio-economic development and, effect policy reform. These are the thoughts expressed by Sidney Nelson, the proprietor of Regal Consultancy Services and the Pepperpot Magazine spoke with him to get a sense of the usage of this technological advancement in Guyana. Nelson spoke about the establishment of his company moving in that direction. “The Development Space Podcast packages conversations regarding social issues, financial literacy, evidence-based practices, and sustainable development for the purpose of informing our community, influencing policy, and inducing project implementation,” Nelson told Pepperpot Magazine. According to Nelson, the podcast is aimed at offering solutions to social issues and financial literacy in communities like the Sophia community, which has made and seen tremendous progress over the years. Nelson further added that he wants to equip individuals with the tools to advance the nation’s socio-economic development agenda sustainably. He shared that he also wants to create informative and entertaining content that expands the knowledge base and enhances the skill set of our audience; to create a platform where intellectuals, civil servants, leaders, and key stakeholders can interrogate social issues, discuss best practices, and share knowledge; to galvanise young professionals, civil servants, leaders, and key stakeholders around projects that foster sustainable socio-economic development and, effect policy reform or drafting. Nelson shared that businesses cannot survive in societies that fail. As the director, he is pleased to offer companies an opportunity to honour their corporate social responsibility and encourage sustainable socio-economic development by becoming a sponsor of the Development Space Podcast. Nelson noted during our interview that podcasting has grown expeditiously in the second-value developing world and its projections are staggering. According to him, “the Global Podcasting Market size is expected to reach $41.8 billion by 2026, rising at a market growth of 24.6% CAGR during the forecast period.”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

The role of a psychotherapist

By Dillon Goring

WITH so many issues and challenges that life throws at you, you need guidance to navigate them. Pepperpot Magazine spoke with Psychotherapist Lotoya Griffith-Andrews, who discussed the role of psychotherapists. “A psychotherapist is a mental health professional who uses talk therapy to help people with emotional problems and mental illnesses,” she stated. Andrews explained that there is a difference between a psychotherapist and a therapist in that the former is a

broader term that includes every mental health professional who manages mental health or emotional issues, while a therapist is a professional who provides solutions for both physical and mental health. She also noted that a psychotherapist can help a person navigate challenging life events, like mental illnesses and emotional problems. According to Andrews, the therapist can help people develop coping mechanisms to live healthier lives. Andrews believes that one should make it a top priority to seek therapy after they have gone through

trauma. “Yes, it should be a top priority to seek therapy after a traumatic event. It is as important as seeing a medical doctor,” Andrews told Pepperpot. Andrews said anyone can go to a psychotherapist as long as they may be having challenges with their emotional and mental health. The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke with Deborah London, another psychotherapist. “Just like seeing medical professionals like doctors and dentists regularly, one would need to see a psychotherapist regularly as well,” London noted.

Latoya Griffith Andrews

According to her, what a psychotherapist does for people is give them a chance to open up about aspects of their life that they would not share with anyone else and when they finish sharing, it remains between the two persons and confidentiality is intact. She also added that seeing a psychotherapist clarifies some issues that you would have been unclear of, but as you speak about it, it becomes clearer. Lastly, she noted that seeing a psychotherapist brings closure to a difficult situation. Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony had noted that mental health is one of the challenges in the country and that there is a certain shame and stigma attached to persons with mental health issues. According to the minister, more mental health training is needed for healthcare providers. He pointed out that sometimes doctors and nurses cannot detect the signs of mental health from patients.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

You Have Left Something

A short story by Francis Quamina Farrier

WE all had a wonderful day visiting with the good people at the Amerindian village of Sand Creek, located in the South Rupununi, and were ready to leave. It was a time when the country was still known as British Guiana, and the principal tour organiser was Miss Marge Rockliffe, a school teacher and Guides Leader. The community of Sand Creek is located over 300 miles south of the city of Georgetown on Guyana’s northern coast. Sand Creek is poised at the base of the majestic Kanuku Mountain Range, which stretches over 100 miles from Suriname in the east to Brazil in the west. It is the home of the endangered giant harpy eagle. The group of 25, included 21 Guyanese, two Canadians and two Americans. We had first made the onehour flight by a British Guiana Airways aircraft from Atkinson Field - now known as Timehri airport - to Lethem, a small town of about two thousand inhabitants at that time. Lethem, which is named after a British colonial governor of the country, is the capital of the Rupununi, the southern savannah region of Guyana. It is located on the eastern bank of the Takutu River, which forms the boundary between Guyana and Brazil. In more recent times, a bridge has been constructed, linking the two countries and making it possible for vehicles to cross at all times. We were on an Easter weekend tour of the Rupununi Savannahs - cattle country, with a population of mainly Indigenous peoples. The region is also over 80 percent catholic. On this visit to Sand Creek village, we found out that about a thousand Wapishana Indigenous Guyanese inhabit it; a strong and resolute people. We also found out that almost everyone at Sand Creek is Catholic. At the centre of the village was a small thatched-roof church with dirt floors and rough wooden benches. The resident priest at that time was an English Jesuit, Fr. McKinnon; tall, lean, with long grey shaggy hair and a beard which hung down to his waist. Our journey from Lethem around the western end of the Kanuku Mountain Range was by truck. This mountain range divides the

and they could hardly see the vehicle. A moment later, the sight of Fr. McKinnon at full gallop on his horse made the boys dash to either side of the dusty road. Fr. McKinnon, with hair blowing in the wind, beard dancing from side to side of his slim body, was shouting at the top of his lungs. “You have left something!” “You have left something!” The head of the group shouted over the sound of the truck. “Anybody forgot something in the village?” We were all checking to see if we had all our belongings: cameras, lunch baskets, backpacks, items purchased, whatever, as Fr. McKinnon

Fr. McKinnon and his horse in the Rupununi

Rupununi savannahs into North and South. The old Bedford truck took a little over two hours to complete the journey along the bumpy unpaved trail across the savannahs. Immediately upon arriving at Sand Creek, we paid a courtesy call on Fr. McKinnon and the Toshao of the village. Both were awaiting our arrival at the Presbytery building adjacent to the small church. They both warmly welcomed us and wished us an enjoyable stay in their village. During our two-hour stay at Sand Creek, we were treated with the hospitality of which the people of the Rupununi are well known. We in turn supported their cottage industries by purchasing their art and craft, including their popular handmade cotton hammocks. We also purchased cashew nuts, cassava bread, casareep and their very potent brew, Parakari; generally referred to as “kari”. Two young men of our group could not wait until our return to Lethem to imbibe. The “kari”, they said, was too tempting. “It went down well.” They chuckled after every gulp, which was done with a measure of decorum. Fortunately, Parakari, though very potent, takes a little while to give what usually is a knockout punch, and so our two imbibers were not the worst for their indiscretion at the very beginning. Many of the villagers surrounded the truck to say a fond farewell as we climbed into the tray of the vehicle. The two young imbibers, young though they were, found it much more difficult to climb in than the older men and women in the

group. It was already over an hour since they had taken gulp after gulp of the drink. Some villagers, especially the children who had observed them, were giggling at their condition. The driver was already comfortably seated behind the wheel in the cab of the old Bedford truck, ready for the journey around the Kanuku Mountain Range, back to Lethem. “Everybody on board?” he shouted. The reply came in a chorus. “Yeeees”. The sound of the engine of the old Bedford truck, followed. Then the shouts of the villagers filled the air. “Bye! Come again. We love you!” and an equally loud response from a happy group of holiday-makers, “Bye. We love you too. See you next time!” Then the somber voice of a male elder as he raised his right hand. “Thanks for coming. Have a safe trip back to Lethem.” Then, making the sign of the cross with his out-stretched arm, “And may the good Lord bless you in abundance.” The head of the touring party, with a broad smile said. “And may the good Lord bless you and everyone here at Sand Creek.” “Hold tight”, the driver shouted as he put the vehicle into gear. It shook a little as it began its two-hour-plus journey out of Sand Creek, back to Lethem. Everyone was waving to the villagers, and all the villagers were waving back. About a dozen pre-teen and young teenage boys ran behind the truck for about a minute but gave up after the heavy dust churned up from the truck as the wheels picked up speed, began to choke them,

was getting closer on his horse. “You have left something!” “You have left something!” he continued to shout. Someone gave three loud thumps on the roof of the truck’s cab. The driver brought it to a quick stop. Fr. McKinnon, still at full gallop, continued his shouts. “You have left something!” “You have left something!” No one could find any missing item. Then, circling the vehicle, still at full gallop, and with his long white hair blowing in the breeze and a long wake of dust behind him, the priest

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began heading back into the village. “You have left something!” we heard him shout yet again. Then, with his head slightly turned towards us, and shouting even louder, “You have left something! A GOOD IMPRESSION!” as the dust churned up from the horse’s hoofs, masking him from our view. (Copyright July 2010)

Dakara

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

THE village of Dakara is located just a few miles away from the Timehri airport. It lies between the village of Circuitville and the well-known Jubilee resort. According to villagers, Dakara stretches the length of a road no more than three miles long. The village begins with a turn off from the main road and ends at a loam mining pit behind the village. Dakara, sometimes re-

Errol Williams lives among the hills and valleys of Dakara’s loam pit. The 74-year-old has lived on the same plot of land on the far side of Dakara for almost 14 years. Errol was born and raised in Essequibo, in the Pomeroon. He spent most of his life on the Essequibo Coast. During his time there, he was involved in logging. “I was a chainsaw operator. I worked with the same company for 15 years. But I used

The Dakara Creek

vember 1950. At that time, Guyana was drastically different from the one seen today. Errol emphasised that yes, money was difficult to come by in the past, but food, shelter and family were always around and you could count on it. “That time was a beautiful time. That time was wonderful,” he stated. “The money was small, but you would eat good and be strong.” In his youth, which Errol described as a time in which Guyana was still grappling with newfound independence, he joined the army. The training he underwent during his three-year stint in the army, coupled with the values taught to him by his family, shaped Errol as a person. He shared that although he wasn’t too fond of the army, the vigorous training left a mark on him. “The training that we got then, we had to go into the forest. And we jumped with parachutes, ended up in trees and all sorts of things. We were on

Errol Williams (Samuel Maughn photos)

Errol and his Dakara home.

ferred to as Dakara Creek, is home to less than 100 people and an estimated 15 homes throughout the community. The village is home to a creek that was once a breathtaking getaway for many tourists. The creek once gained visitors from places as far as Georgetown, Linden and Parika. Today, however, the village looks very different than it did some 20, 30 or 40 years ago.

to do other things. I used to farm and so,” he said. Being raised in Essequibo was a unique experience for Errol. He stated that although it wasn’t where he was born, it is where he came to know as home. “I was born in Leonora and then my mother and father bought land and went to live in Essequibo when I was very small,” he said. Errol was born in No-

gorilla training. In the case of a war, we had to face the battle first.” After his years in the army, farming and logging on the Essequibo Coast, Errol left the Pomeroon at 58 to pursue other endeavours. Among the things he did in the following years was fathering 21 children, spread out among five wives. Errol lived in surrounding villages like Circuitville before settling in Dakara. Errol has no other reason for choosing to live in Dakara except for the fact that it was available. But he did The loam pits in Dakara

state that he has come to love and appreciate living among the plants and animals in the village. Dakara is known for two things: its once vibrant Creek and its now busy loam pit. The digging and mining of the red material gives the village a red hue when trucks drive through the community, kicking up dust as they do. “They dig the loam and the red mud. And they take it to build roads in places like Diamond and Mocha,” Errol stated. As Errol describes it, the village has very few people and thus very few crimes and problems to worry about. Most villagers work outside the village, and a few work at the nearby airport. As Errol explained, “Most of the people go out and work. Some people have chicken farms, some work on the highway, some at sawmills and some digging for gold. Some of people, if they get a chance to work at the airport, work there. But you have to have the qualifications.” Errol loves his community, without a doubt. However, looking around and seeing the changes from what it once was, Errol would like to see his home regain its former beauty. “I visited this place first in 2002. There was a resort at the Creek, and the place was bright then. It was the first resort then on the East Bank,” Errol recalled. Although it is not a bustling resort paradise like it once was, Dakara is still a beautiful and captivating community; and a place worth a visit.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

Dakara’s wildlife

And how villagers say climate change is making an impact By Shaniya Harding THE village of Dakara is home to charming people, red sand, creeks and a beautiful assortment of various wildlife species. Whereas jobs and career paths like farming and mining are expected and are popular, some have taken a different route in providing for their families. Anthony Persaud works in the field of wildlife. He focuses on certain species of monkeys and birds, specifically parrots. Because trapping had to be done seasonally, it is not the most sustainable form of income. But there seems to be a different, bigger threat facing the wildlife in areas like Dakara. With the days longer and hotter coupled with the influx of

his family. But his connection with nature is more than a job. Anthony describes it as a tradition, something passed down and learned from his father. “It was my father’s tradition. I learnt it from him. I started learning like around the age of 12 or 13 years old. When my father would go to catch birds, I would watch what he did and do the same thing. And that’s how I started my life from that,” Anthony shared. The practices, baiting, trapping and caring for the wild animals were taught to Anthony from generations before him. But the older he got and the more involved he became in wildlife trapping, Anthony developed his own techniques. His father, for example, would catch birds using tree gum, placing

Anthony Persaud (Samuel Maughn photos)

mining in the village, climate change is being blamed for the dwindling presence of wildlife in Dakara. Anthony Persaud lives at the entrance to Dakara village. His home rests in a valley between two hills surrounded by trees. Wildlife trapping is one of Anthony’s primary forms of income for

the thick, sticky substance among the trees and having the birds fly into it get caught. But the issue with this, Anthony stated, was that birds would be caught one at a time. So Anthony has worked to develop new tricks and practices. His most successful trap was that of captur-

ing birds via nets. Anthony would scale the huge trees of Dakara to attach nets among them. Anthony explained the process and reasoning, stating, “When I chase the birds from the trees they fly and end up in the net. The net is between the bamboo, because a bird can’t fly straight up, they have to fly down first and that is how I catch them.” “I catch mostly monkeys and parrots. And a few wild animals like anteaters. There are deer here, too.” Anthony stated. Whereas acquiring a flock of parrots is a walk in the park of Anthony, monkeys and anteaters prove to be a bit of a challenge. Bigger animals like the fascinating anteater have been proven to be dangerous. “Sometimes anteaters pass across and I would catch them. I hold them, I run behind them and hold on to their tail. But they are dangerous. They use their front claws.” Anthony and other wildlife trappers alike are required to work within particular constraints. Trapping particular species of animals during certain times of the year is prohibited. Anthony has, however, noticed a shift in the climate and its effect on the animals. The larger animals are being spotted less frequently; the troops of monkeys have moved to new locations further away. And even the birds, it seems, don’t flock like they used to. Anthony has some theories as to why this is happening, but his prominent is climate change. As a man who follows the animals for a livelihood, this has had an immense impact on his life and that of his family. Anthony disclosed that this has never happened before, but it is putting a strain on the father of one. He stated: “This has never happened before. I think it’s the climate and the weather; the heat. Sometimes we used to get a lot of birds. But now, we only getting a couple of birds to sell to have my family’s ends meet,” he said. “This season that is happening right now, the birds aren’t landing to be caught. At first, when it would rain in and out, the birds would land.” In the face of changes and challenges, Anthony has turned to new avenues of providing for his family. He is still very involved with farming. He plants whatever he can grow on the land, mostly that of

Anthony Persaud with one of his traps

celery, provision and crops of the like. He is, however, looking forward to getting back into the field of trapping if the animals and situations permit. And Anthony

believes that the possibility exists that he could. As a ‘nature man’ at heart, he firmly believes in preserving and treating nature with respect. The animals,

he believes, exist as beautifully and as abundantly as they do because of the trees and plants in the country. And perhaps that is just the way Guyana was made.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

Farming in Dakara The problem with living off the land

By Shaniya Harding NESTLED among a winding red road with an ever-mysterious black water lake running alongside it is the village of Dakara. It is home to a diverse assortment of villagers. Upon first glance, the village seems not very different from its surrounding counterparts. Dakara and its famed creek are located just a few miles away from Timehri. But the village is unique in its

appearance and the people that live there. Home to just a few families and workers seeking employment in the village, Dakara is unapologetically an authentic rustic little village. But the village is different in one simple way. The neighbouring communities house small farms and plots of kitchen gardens running up and down the hillside. But there is little to no farming of any kind done in the village. A few residents attempt farming in

the village, but they state their attempts have been largely unsuccessful. The villagers say that they are struggling to reap what they sow. Richard LaCruz has called the village of Dakara home for more than 33 years. The 56-year-old spent a large part of his life in neighbouring Timehri. But Richard considers himself a tourist, having moved quite a lot before finally settling in the village of Dakara. “I was small and I moved a lot. Wherever my

Richard LaCruz and his wife Rachael Mars

family went, I went. And because of schooling, we came to Timehri. I finished school and I decided to get a place to call my own, and I came here.” After completing school, a young and enthusiastic Richard settled in Dakara. Seeking to make a living and provide for himself, Richard turned to farming and it was a good and sustainable lifestyle, Richard stated, but only for a while. “We used to do farming. We had eddoes and plantains and things

like that.” Both Richard and his wife, Rachael Mars, call themselves farmers. And they both express a love for plants and nature. Looking at Richard’s home today, the couple’s passion for farming is evident. With their home beautifully decorated with flowering plants. But cash crops and provisions no longer grow on the land. “You can’t plant anything on the land. From the moment you step onto the land, it starts shaking,” he said. Dakara is a village built

on hills of loam and has thus been a hotspot for mining the red material. And while the clay-like soil is mined to the far end of the village, residents say that they feel its effects everywhere. Citing the mining as the reason why the land has become unstable and barren. “Nothing can grow here anymore. It’s just fish, snakes and alligators now,” Richard stated. The land behind his home, which was once used SEE PAGE XXII

The streets of Dakara (Samuel Maughn photos)

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

The happiest time is in your youth A mother chronicles her life, its changes and challenges By Shaniya Harding IT is said that there is no love like that of a mother. There is also the Guyanese saying, ‘This time nah like long time’. These are two sentiments that Sheila Ramchan embodies. Sheila is a villager of Dakara, and has been a villager for more than 45 years. “I was born in Criag. But my parents moved and took me over the river to the West Bank.” Sheila grew up in a family considered small by the decade’s standards. She was the eldest of four sisters and one brother and described her childhood as a happy one. She stated that her days were filled with fishing, fun and taking walks along the canals and down back dams. This time Sheila stated, was among the very few times in her life when she felt happy. As she explained, her life took a turn when she was married at just 16. “My husband saw me one day while I was riding my bike. And he came home to ask my parents for me,” Sheila stated. “I was around 16 at the time. And he, if I remember, he was 30-something.” Sheila remembers her conversation with her mother after she found out that they indeed wanted her to marry a man twice her age. She told her mother that she just wasn’t ready to become a wife. “I told my mother that I was not ready to get married as yet,” she said. Sheila went on further, stating that at 16, she doesn’t believe that any young girl, herself included, is ready for marriage. She shared that, “That was too young. They, girls that age, don’t have the knowledge.” Nevertheless, Sheila got

Being a mother has been the focal point of Sheila’s life. Having given birth to as many children as she had under the circumstances is truly a unique story of endurance and strength. And most of her story takes place in the village of Dakara, even having a few of her children born among the grass in Dakara, with just her husband at her side. Sheila recounted many events from her life, emphasising that throughout her life, she has endured her fair share of struggle. And the village of Dakara is where

Sheila Ramchan (Samuel Maughn photo)

married. But the couple’s time together was cut short. “I got married but I didn’t have any children with my husband. We weren’t married too long. We were only married for one year,” she said. Delving into exactly why their relationship was so short-lived, Sheila explained that instances of domestic violence are what ended the marriage while still in its honeymoon stage. “One time, he slapped me,” Sheila stated, “And I picked up a marmite bottle and threw it at him, and it burst his face. At the time, I was just 17.” Some years later, Sheila got married to her second of three husbands and gave birth to her first daughter. She explained that this was the period of her life when things became financially difficult, with the birth of a baby, the loss of several of

her family members and a husband that was out of a job for most of the time. “I was around 18 or 19 when I got my first daughter. I used to catch fish. I would go in the canals and on the dams. My mother died and then my father died. And my big brother died,” she recalled. In the years that followed Sheila gave birth to a total of 18 children. However, only eight of them are alive today. Sheila explained that throughout the many childbirths she has endured, there were always complications during her pregnancies. “When I am pregnant, I does get very sick,” Sheila stated. “One child I remember was a boy. He was around three years old when he passed away. He had a severe cold in his stomach, and he coughed plenty. And he took in and he died.”

many memories of her past still live. “I have worked very hard in Dakara. I had to work to send them to school because their father wasn’t working. I had to work to make the ends meet,” she said. This, she says, is one of the stark contrasts between today’s generation and hers. Sheila believes that although her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have to persevere, she hopes that today’s circumstances are different and they would not have to undergo the same

challenges as she did. Sheila sees a better future for the next generation. Her advice to people, especially young people, is to enjoy their youth. Because as Sheila puts it, there is little happiness in adulthood and even less in old age, stating, “I can’t tell you about any easy time I had. The only easy time was with my mother and my father. That was the only time that I could never complain about. It was the only time I was happy.”

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

Culture and Philosophy have always wrestled with the Principles of Logic AS INDIVIDUALS, we are born and raised by cultures and adjoining philosophies, or what we can interpret as influences on how we think and engage in relationships. Time and time again, we are challenged by the confusing state of whether we must pretend or remain honest with an engagement, with even a relative, friend or more so a stranger. We can’t consolidate the ‘logic of trust’, thus, regardless of assumed cultural sameness, an innate presumption will propel a digression towards extreme caution. Here is where the lessons of logic interrupt: “Once bitten, twice shy”. We may not have experienced this ourselves, but it is difficult not to have read or have been read through newscasts of severed deceptions. Logic seems to be the invisible guardian on our right shoulder, influencing caution where culture and philosophy may make us vulnerable. Then, it would be safe to presume that “culture and philosophy” must be wrestled by the principles of logic until proven true at individual levels. One of the ideas we must explore in our quiet moments of struggling to understand the world we live in is that the major aphrodisiac whose influence is ingrained with the marriage of culture and its agreed philosophy is religion. Religion, indeed, has proven its usefulness, and is not without

blame. But religion has also warned us about its “Generation of Vipers” imploring as a guide to be guarded by the ability of reasoning and not the feelings to be group comforted. Re-

ligion can also be transferred into a Man-made ‘Proposing Utopia’ with new gods that may take you too long and too late to see through. In his simple ‘Fables’, the ancient Ethiopian philosopher, Aesop, warned us of the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ and, in its conclusion, that deception is all-consuming. However, it is better to be safe; not sorry and damaged beyond lengthy repair. We live in several worlds that challenge our resolve, but a world where ‘God or/and Nature’ has not left us without the faculties to unwind from labyrinths of consuming dogmas. If we pay attention and explore, then we will find that we have not been left completely void of the seeker’s journey to clarity. Culture has taught us the symbolic language of rites and rituals, and the creative expressions to define its language. Likewise, philosophy has argued towards its truths at all levels, creating values on matters that can become absorbed into a mindset, and even a belief system; a parallel religion based on added propositions, whether based on truth or influenced by manipulating myths. The embrace of ‘Logic’ is rooted in observation and ‘time travel’. The latter is a task of the exploration of the origins of peoples that determined why some are greedy, deceitful, and conceive myths to justify such tendencies. The other in the conquest of the invader will not exterminate but allow his settlement and survival. For example, Ramses III treated the defeated sea peoples by enslaving them, incorporating them, their women and children into Khemetic citizenry, and their warriors into the army of Khemet rather than executing them all. Their attack was so filled with the certainty of victory, that they bought their women and children. Though most of these invaders were not Africans, as the population of Khemetic were, they were allowed to live and gain continuity of life. This is the context of the openness of the civilisation of Ancient Khemet, but this was based on the fact that they had mastered irrigation, food silos, and contained no apartheid philosophy in their dogmas. Nor were the people of Khemet a nomadic humanity seeking sustenance through conquest; they could afford to be generous to enemies. This paragraph is a ‘logical’ assessment based on exploring the logic behind cultural and philosophical belief systems, unlike the desperation of the sea peoples who seemed to have had no desire to return to their former lands, and thus had thrown all in towards their defeat of Khemet. What were the Sea peoples’ beliefs, how did they live, who were their Gods, and what culture nurtured their evident temerity? Such is the path of our exploration to better understand what is hidden behind the temerity of offensive concepts wrapped up in cultures and their supporting philosophies. Most likely, we will better understand through ‘logical evidence’ what to expect in the world we dwell in, rather than assuming that everyone shares what we may find accommodating.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

THE HAUNTING DARKNESS on silent wings shrouded the small village, hush whispers and stealthy shadows crisscrossed the night for not everyone was asleep past the midnight hour. She stood deep in the shadows, the little girl with head bent, her long black hair partially covering her face. Her shoulders shuddered as though she was crying, then slowly, she raised her head and pushed back the hair from her face. Her coal-black eyes held a deep sadness as she looked at the small white house further down the street. Light glowed through the window, meaning someone was still awake, and slowly, she walked to her home, an unseen being leaving behind invisible footprints. Max, her pet terrier sensing her, jumped up, barking and wagging his tail wildly. She put a dirt-stained finger to her lips and he eased to a low whimpering. He could see her spiritual form and she bent down and hugged him, “I’m sorry, boy,” she said sadly, “I can’t be with you now.” She walked up the short stairs into the house and she whispered, “Mom? Dad?” The couple sitting on the chair, sleepless in grief, couldn’t see or hear her, their little daughter missing for two days. “Where more can we look?” her mother asked, her voice weak and trembling. “I’m here, mom,” the little girl said, tears she couldn’t feel rolling down her cheeks.

“We have to wait on the police,” her father responded, his voice broken. The little girl felt helpless to see such deep pain and not being able to comfort them. She went to her sister’s room. She, too, wasn’t sleeping, staring at the blank TV screen, hugging her little sister’s teddy bear. “Please come home, Sonia,” she whispered. “I’m home,” the little girl said. She went to her room and lay down on her bed. “What do I do?” she wondered, “They have to know what happened to find me before it’s too late.” A loud screech of brakes on the road startled her and she sat up, sudden realisation in her eyes, for she knew now what she had to do. She had been such a happy little girl, always a song in her heart with a deep love for dancing and drama. She rode her bike to and from school with her two best friends and each day, coming home, they would stop on a lonely stretch of the road where huge trees on its border formed a canopy. There in the shade, they would rest a little and marvel at the colourful birds that lived in the trees. But that fateful day when neither friend was with her and she was riding home alone, tragedy struck. She had stopped to rest, enthralled at a mother bird feeding her chicks, when a loud revving sound scared her and the birds. A red car came around the bend at a breakneck speed, losing control on the turn and hit her, tossing her high in the air. She screamed and fell on the hard earth and in those deadly seconds, her world turned dark. The car had braked a distance away and the two boys running back had looked at her in shock. They had argued about whose fault it was, about what would happen, how their lives

would now be over. It was a lonely road, no one had seen what happened, so they decided to cover the accident scene and hid her lifeless body. Neither of them noticed the shallow breathing as they carried her deep in the brushes, covering her with dirt and shrubs and drove away, dumping her bike in another overgrown area. In the dark night, she stopped breathing and found herself in a strange place. She couldn’t understand what had happened and what she was doing there, she had to go home. She tried to find a way out, then a sudden pull took her back, for the breathing had restarted and life had returned to the little broken body lying under the shrubs. The breathing stopped again hours later and the little girl suddenly understood. She had to find a way out, for someone to find her. She found her way home but there wasn’t much time and she began her search for the two reckless, guilty boys so they could confess their crime so the police could find her body. She searched until she found them at a car show, which was now her show time. The first time they saw her was in the rearview mirror of the deadly car. That spooked them so much that they almost caused another accident on the road and she followed them everywhere as the body recalled her soul less because the heartbeats had slowed. She haunted their lives to a breaking point, for she could not be left in that dark place. She had to be found. The haunting broke them down and they confessed, leading the police to where they had hidden the body. The paramedics applied oxygen to the limp body recovered with just one heartbeat. The little girl faintly heard baby birds chirping as she was brought out of the brushes and a tiny smile touched her lips. Beautiful life returned.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

ALBOUYSTOWN PROPERTIES ARE THE MOST ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT IN GEORGETOWN WHEN one peruses the newspaper business columns, one sees very few Albouystown properties are offered for sale. This is because one or two property developers are quietly buying up any properties that may come on the market. Still, more importantly, property owners realise that real estate prices are increasing, and there is no need to sell in a hurry. This trend has been confirmed recently by Vice-President, Dr Jagdeo, when at the opening of Independence Boulevard in Albouystown, he advised that property owners along the street should not precipitately sell off their properties since their values would be increasing; one important reason being that the Boulevard would soon be developing into a business centre such as Regent Street. Albouystown today has the reputation of being the slum area of the city. This has not always been so. Until the 1960s it was regarded as a clean suburban village with owners living on their properties and it had the largest Indian, Portuguese and Chinese settlements in the city. In the 1960s, there were racio-political riots and the Portuguese and Chinese populations emigrated to North America, while Indians moved to other parts of the city with smaller numbers also emigrating. “Creoles,” mainly from the East Coast, then moved into the ward, and the absentee owners collected little rent and neglected their properties, which deteriorated into slummy conditions. Albouystown has embarked upon a revolutionary renaissance in the last two or three years. The state has invested $2 billion in infrastructural development: the streets have all been renewed, including the centrepiece Independence Boulevard; the drainage has been fully rectified, and there is no more flooding; the lighting of the ward has greatly improved; garbage collection is regular; violent crime has almost disappeared, and several owners and stable tenants are gradually beginning to move back into the ward. Houses are being repaired and repainted, and the older shops appear to be doing more business. Indeed, a few imaginative young businessmen and women have even opened new shops. The main attractiveness of the ward is its centrality. It is within walking distance of the Law Courts, the markets and the main shopping areas, and within easy reach of the main government administrative ministries and offices. It is on its way to the Cheddi Jagan Airport and the Ogle Airport. Further, it is quite close to the on-shore developments which are being created to service the oil industry, in particular those on the East Bank of Demerara and West Coast of Demerara, and this closeness is attracting workers to contemplate moving into the area once new flats are built, or the older houses are refurbished and made more comfortable in Albouystown. One great attraction would be the cheaper rents. Albouystown is on the threshold of the most fundamental developments of the wards of the city and the imaginative investor who manages to purchase real estate there would certainly profit from the increased property values which the oil economy brings.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

More breast cancer awareness THERE’S a lot of pink during October since many people, thankfully so, hope to raise support and greater awareness of breast cancer. For the month so far, I have engaged a few women who have been battling breast cancer. I also read stories of other fighters and survivors. It isn’t uncommon to see many stories featuring these women during October. And it remains imperative to talk about breast cancer. Based on reports, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Guyana. Though some men are affected, most cases are among women. As is a key message now with increased awareness of breast cancer, most people can survive breast cancer if it is detected early and treated as soon as possible. The World Health Organization (WHO) says breast cancers may spread to other areas of the body and trigger other symptoms; the cancerous cells may spread to the lungs, liver, brain and bones. Naturally, that comes with its own set of complications. So many have been on the crusade to increase awareness of breast cancer. Government bodies, companies and other organisations embrace the ‘pink wave’ by allowing people to wear pink and post signs in their physical and virtual spaces. We’ve seen large crowds gathered for walks, and at least at the organisations I’ve worked at, breast cancer talks have been an annual feature during this month. Many want people to know what to look for and what to do. The most common sign people have been advised to look out for is a breast lump. Changes in size, shape of appearance of the breast and changes in the nipples are also signs to look out for. The WHO also noted that abnormal body fluid discharges from the nipples should warrant attention. What I also learned this year is that there is no specific factor that contributes to breast cancer. Increasing age, obesity, and the use of harmful substances such as alcohol may be contributing factors. Genetics are also a factor. The WHO also noted that “inherited high penetrance gene mutations greatly increase breast cancer risk, the most dominant being mutations in the genes BRCA1, BRCA2 and PALB-2.” And it was noted that women found to have mutations in these major genes may consider risk reduction strategies such as surgical removal of both breasts. This information might be easily accessed through a quick Google search, but what I think is interesting is that some of the breast cancer survivors I spoke to this month said they were taking stock of their health and able to recognise that they were grappling with breast cancer, because of the increased awareness they had about the ailment. One survivor told me that she had a mammogram once every year for at least a decade and didn’t show any of these signs for a long time. She did that because she knew she was getting older and people should have checked regularly. Another woman I interviewed for the News Room said her daughter felt a lump in her breast, and without even thinking twice or second guessing what that might be, they immediately opted to get her (the woman who found the lump) tested. That’s a positive sign and shows that we shouldn’t let up talking about breast cancer and sharing stories and information. This may be just another space in the newspaper talking about breast cancer, but many more women out there still need this information. I hope that the awareness activities being organised yearly help more people get help as soon as possible. If you would like to discuss this column, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

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Did you know that October is also Global Diversity Awareness Month? THE month of October is known for many things, from its celebrations of Halloween to the observance of breast cancer and many other occasions. Without undermining these other observations, we can also start to acknowledge the importance of global diversity and try to make it as celebrated as every other observation this month. Global Diversity Awareness Month has its roots in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the United Nations General Assembly launched at the Palais de Chaillot in Paris. According to National Today, “The Declaration represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled”. That inspired the observation of Global Diversity Month or Diversity Month. I believe it should be celebrated in Guyana because it highlights each culture’s importance and how their contributions are equally positive in society. I couldn’t find many traces of its observation and pondered a bit because aren’t we one of the Caribbean’s largest multicultural societies? Guyana has such a diverse demographic with a richness of differences through our six different races, religions, beliefs and traditions. It is only fitting that a melting pot such as our country appreciates the importance of diversity and showcases it by observing such a pivotal occasion. Globalisation threatens some of the world’s most important aspects of culture—Guyana’s included. As such, I hope that we in Guyana do not become generalised and adopt a “monocultural” approach, whether it be how we’re seen internationally or how we perceive our local Guyanese people. To say, “We’re Guyanese” means we all live in the same country and share similarities with our experiences by living in the same country. However, we must also recognise the many groups of people within our country. We should celebrate our differences and not try to merge into one. We don’t need to host grand parties or forums to celebrate Global Diversity and our role in it. We can create safe spaces that foster connections amongst Guyanese of varying backgrounds. We can try to promote and educate others about the different cultural beliefs—whether on a local, regional or international scale. We can empathise and encourage awareness for other communities around Guyana and the world that are discriminated against. We can use this as an opportunity to help others. All social groups should be appreciated, represented and supported alike. Diversity Month can allow us to explore other cultures around the world and expand our knowledge about them. We can pull examples and explore new perspectives about togetherness in multicultural societies that we can eventually indigenise and utilise in our communities. We can also share our cultural identities with others and promote who we are to the world. I know you’ll probably say that many of us do these things every day, so a specific month shouldn’t matter. You’re probably correct, but it doesn’t hurt to include even more celebratory events and educational experiences. We ought to use every opportunity to ensure that togetherness is at the forefront of everything we do as a nation—Diversity Month and its observation included.

XVIII Raymond Wong poses with his plantains

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023 Some of the cows on their way to graze

Diversifying farming... FROM PAGE IV

would pay them for the days they work. He explained that when pine is in season and when it is ripe, he has to sell it off within two weeks because it would go bad.

Some of his hunting dogs

Being a large-scale pine farmer, Wong pointed out that picking pines and selling them is a tall task it but must be done to earn. “Farming is a commitment. It takes up a lot of your time, but if you do it for yourself, it becomes easy and if something comes up you must deal with it quickly. But farming is my life and it is what I do,” he explained. Wong stated that he also manages the farm aback his home in La Grange, West Bank Demerara and does it single-handedly, so there is no time for leisure, but he would make time to go hunting, a hobby he developed years ago. Apart from farming, he would enjoy caring for his 17 dogs, a mix of German Shepherds and Greyhounds, and spend time with them as often as he could. Wong pointed out that farming has been in his family for generations, and it is not something he can walk away from. It is part of his identity and his life. Photos saved in a folder in Graphics as Raymond Wong in October 19, 2023. Captions: Raymond Wong tending to his poultry , Poultry, Poultry 1 -

Baby chicks

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Farming in ... FROM PAGE X

for farming, is now unable to support any vegetation except grass and weeds. Some other residents explained that with the mining being done so close to the village, the constant digging of the soil in some parts of the community has weakened the soil in other areas. The residents believe that this, coupled with farming being done for several years in Dakara, has left the land lacking nutrients capable of supporting plant life. The village not being suitable for farming has probably contributed to the decline in the population. Richard recounted that 20 or 30 years ago, the village of Dakara was home to twice as many people as it sees today. He reminisced on the early years when the community housed a resort. He described it as when the village had many more people traversing the streets, and with more visitors came more jobs. With the prospects of continued farming dwindling, Richard has taken up construction inside and outside the village to survive. “I now do outside construction. Because we can’t do the farming like we used to,” he stated. Similarly, many villagers seem to have taken to looking beyond Dakara for employment. But if the opportunity does ever present itself once more, Richard is happy to return to farming. Despite the challenges faced in the village, he is still proud to call Dakara home. In talking about the community, he described it as a quiet place; a place where the only noise to speak of is the sound of planes taking flight and howler monkeys in the morning. “This is a place where you do your work and come home to relax. There isn’t anybody to tell you anything,” he said. Dakara is a village that has a natural beauty and captivating wildlife. When asked about the importance and significance of farming, Richard said that farming is a way of life. “When you farm, you are never hungry.”

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

Facing challenges to bring... FROM PAGE II

and we would have to quit,” he said. Persaud also disclosed that fishes are not available as before and they have to go farther to get a good catch, which is also time-consuming and costly. He related that during the pandemic, they were given a one-off cash grant of $150,000, but things are still tough. Persaud is however thankful for the cash grant but feels fisherfolk should have more benefits because in their area, when the grass is cut from the Canje Creek, they

Antonio Persaud’s catch from a recent fishing expedition in the Berbice River

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THOUGHT FOR

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023

TODAY

Tell me where is fa ncy Or in the heart or in bred. the head? WILLIAM SHAK ESPEARE (15641616) The Merch ant of Venice

October 22, 2023 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, \ Welcome dear friend. Today we recognise details indicating the author’s pur-

pose – which is general and specific - for writing a particular text. There are three main forms of specific purpose: if to amuse or entertain, he uses jokes and anecdotes; but he can also persuade or inform the reader. Look for clues or evidence in his title, preface, and background. Also consider the main idea, thought pattern, and tone of his writing by asking yourself questions. Be wise. Love you. GRAMMAR The Comma - Set off by commas The term “set off by commas” means, depending upon the sentence being dealt with, that sentence element in question, is 1) followed by a comma, 2) preceded by a comma, or 3) both preceded and followed by a comma. 1. Use a comma or commas to set off words or phrases of direct address; and abbreviations Jr., Sr. Richard, please take out the kitchen waste now. What can I do for you, young woman? Did Cassius Haynes, Sr., send you to this address? 2. When you punctuate an address, use a comma after its various parts. J. S. Johnstone’s new address is Garrison’s New Road, St. John’s, Anguilla. Keith said that a letter addressed to him at 1452 Calvin Lane, Cleveland 14, Ohio, would reach him. 3. Use commas after the various parts of a date. (The month and the day form a single part.) On Thursday, October 8, 2015, our new home was dedicated to good endeavors. My grandson was married in January, 2021, on his parents anniversary. 4. Use a comma to set off contrasted expressions. His elder sister, not his mother, is the person to talk with. 5. Use commas to set off such expressions as: however, of course, on the other hand, in fact, for example, that is, by the way, after all, perhaps, indeed, also, too, nevertheless. Janet, on the other hand, is the domineering type. John’s idea, nevertheless, may have merit. They might suggest your home, for example, as a logical choice of meeting venue. 6. Use a comma to set off a short clause that changes a statement into a question or an exclamatory sentence. Kenneth was here at lunch hour, wasn’t he? He really tries, doesn’t he! Something to Do Insert all missing punctuation marks in the given sentences. 1. They do not however antici-

pate a defeat. 2. Perhaps John’s mother did not know that you were coming. 3. Joanne you plan to come home for dinner tonight don’t you? 4. The middle building in spite of its age is still in good condition. 5. In May 1948 my grandfather moved into his new home on Esplanade Road New Amsterdam Berbice. 6. Farm life although it entails hard work is gratifying. IMPROVING READING Reading for author’s purpose Read the selection. Then, answer the question. A turning leaf stays partly green at first, then reveals splotches of yellow and red as the chlorophyll gradually breaks down. Dark green seems to stay longest in the veins, outlining and defining them. During the summer, chlorophyll dissolves in the heat and light, but it is also being steadily replaced. In the fall, on the other hand, no new pigment is produced, and so we notice the other colours that were also there, right in the leaf, although chlorophyll’s shocking green hid them from view. - “Why Leaves Turn Colour in the Fall” by Diane Ackerman) 1. What is the author’s general purpose? (A) to entertain (B) to persuade (C) to take aback (D) to inform 2. Which statement expresses the point of the passage? (A) Heat puts stress on leaves. (B) When chlorophyll dissolves, we notice colours that were always present in the leaf. (C) Chlorophyll gives leaves a shocking green appearance. (D) Dark green lasts longest. 3. Which sentence best describes the author’s specific purpose? (A) She is describing chlorophyll’s role in photosynthesis. (B) She is comparing both weather of summer and fall. (C) She is describing various shades of green. (D) She is explaining why leaves change colour. THE PASSAGE A long time ago there was a village here, so they say, but no one knows who exactly inhabited it. When my great-great-grandfather come here with the other settlers, there were only ruins, and it looked like they had been standing here for a long time. Anyhow, my great-great-grandfather and the others came here and built a big town – and it stood here on this very spot until forty years ago, when the whole area was taken over by the National Parks Organisation. They didn’t want this ugly great town in the middle of their park, so they paid the inhabitants compensation and razed the whole thing to the ground with bulldozers. You’d never know today there was once a town here. Would you? Something to Do 1. How long ago could it have been when a village existed here? 2. Who is a settler? Describe who those settlers could have been like. (Let them be suited to doing what they did.) 3. What could have caused the first settlers to vacate their village? 4. What could the ugly great town look like 40 years ago? 5. Give the meaning of the terms: ruins, great-great-grandfather, compensation, razed the whole thing. 6. Describe the kind of park that the National Parks Organisation built.

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Permanent stains in smokers

I remember a colleague once told me that every time he polishes the teeth of a male smoker over 60, he almost expects the patient’s visit to be the last one. He feels that such a patient may very well die from cancer sooner rather than later. The distressing news for inveterate smokers is that, in many respects, they are no different from cocaine or marijuana users since it has been established that this practice is not a habit as has been formerly believed, but really an addiction complete with the inherent physical and psychological dependence. Among numerous hazards are oral cancer, rampant caries, gingivitis, stomatitis, (infection of the lining of the mouth) and the staining of the teeth. These stains are invariably permanent since the nicotine penetrates the pores on the surface of the teeth, eventually becoming part of its structure. Statistics show that only three per cent of all mouth cancers occur in persons who have never smoked, while those who chew tobacco have the highest chance of dying from the disease. The tongue is by far the most common area affected. Most often, oral cancer appears as a chronic, painful sore or ulcer which had developed from a white patch. The deeper in the mouth it is found, the faster it may kill the victim. In other words, a cancer on the soft palate is far more dangerous than one located on the lip. The prevalence of mouth cancers increases with age, with 98% of cases being over 40 years old. Of particular interest is that combined with alcohol, there is a significant increase in the incidence. In fact, recent studies indicate that even beer and wine could cause oral cancer, especially when consumed by inveterate cigarette smokers. Can oral cancer be prevented? To a great extent, yes. Regular mouth and throat examinations can detect the condition at its earliest, most curable stage. Survival rates are around 75% if detected then. On the other hand, without periodic examinations and tests by your dentist, risks increase and survival rates decrease. A diet rich in vitamins A and C, and moderation or abstention from tobacco and alcohol constitute modes of prevention. Progressively decreasing the number of cigarettes smoked daily is the reommended method to eliminate the addiction. In addition to over 300 other poisons, the smoke from the cigarette contains nicotine and condensate (tar), which deposit on the tooth’s surface, leaving a dark brown to black over some time. Because the enamel has tiny pores, the nicotine eventually penetrates into the tooth’s body, thus virtually incorporating itself in the dentin structure. Polishing cannot even remove it and the teeth become permanently stained. Destabilisation of the integrity of the various tissues in the mouth as a result of the constantly pervading heat and chemical-laden tobacco smoke leads to many local and systemic inflammatory conditions. The destruction of the cilia, which function by sweeping dust particles down the gullet from the nasal lining and throat, result in the chronic smokers’ cough. Healthcare workers’ awareness of tobacco issues may vary from just mentioning to their patients that smoking cessation will contribute to the general state of good health to routine offers of advice and written material on quitting the tobacco habit. More formal assistance may include delivery of cessation programmes in small groups or on a one-to-one basis in a clinical setting. It is important to note that even less intensive interventions may have an important impact on public health.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 22, 2023