Guyana Chronicle Pepperpot E-Paper 29-10-2023

Fishing is a noble Profession

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

Sticking to an authentic lifestyle in Vriesland

Mooniram Budhua is a resident of Vriesland Village on the West Bank of Demerara. He came from a line of fishermen and learned the art of fishing from the tender age of 12. Like many other fishermen in his village, fishing is a way of life and something he enjoys immensely (Yaphet Savory photo)

Sunday, October 29, 2023

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

Whitewater Village agroprocessing facility encourages locals to produce more

THE livelihood of 16 locals of the Mabaruma sub-region, Whitewater, Region One (Barima-Waini) has significantly increased due to the government’s intervention of a spanking new $25M agro-processing facility, which opened about five months ago.

Whitewater is a remote village located in Region One and is accessible by land, air and sea. It comprises eight satellite villages with a population of 3,000 and 400 households, mostly Amerindians.

Deon Adams, Toshao of Whitewater Village, said they are versed in processing cassava cassareep, tuma water and passion fruit juices. He told the Pepperpot Magazine that their products are being marketed and sold right in the community presently, but they have plans to expand and have them shipped to

Noreen Oselma (right), Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, Camille Hope

Toshao of Whitewater, Deon Adams

other parts of the country for sale.

Adams stated that the government, via the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) assisted them in getting started to ensure they were approved of all standards, including licence, labelling, packaging and certi-

the community on a small scale.

Adams told the Pepperpot Magazine that the agro-processing facility is located in Central Whitewater and is the brainchild of residents to earn and produce quality local products.

“The people of White-

the way to make a start, and that would really be good if they can benefit from loans or grants just for farming purposes,” he reasoned.

With the establishment of agro-processing facilities across the country, Guyanese are being encouraged to grow and produce what they

Inside the processing facility

fied as wholesome products.

With the operation of the agro-processing facility, 16 residents are utilising the plant to process their produce to make local products to retail, thus providing stable income to their homes.

The Toshao explained that the main source of income for the locals is farming, and they depend heavily on a good harvest to earn, as many other jobs are not available in the community. Among the crops farmed there are sweet and bitter cassava, ginger, yam, potatoes and various cash crops. Most of the produce is being sold at Kumaka Market, strategically located at the waterfront area or in

water are talented and possess many skills, including making things and with their produce, they can finally put their skills to use to make cassareep, cassava bread, tuma water and passion fruit juices to earn right in the community at the agro-processing plant,” Adams said.

Toshao Adams explained that the people would like a bit more assistance in boosting their capabilities to farm with seeds, drugs, equipment and grants. He explained that most people are farming on a small scale, and, at times, it is mostly seasonal crops and getting a good harvest isn’t always possible due to many challenges.

“The people have what it takes to produce, but they need a little bit of help along

consume daily. This prompted the establishment of the food-processing facility.

When it is operationalised, farmers can advance their operations to a more commercialised value-added production and achieve sustainable economic growth through agro-processing.

This will ensure that products, including cassava bread, farine, and cassareep, will have easier access to markets.

Due to the large expenditures made in these sectors, the export revenue from agriculture-processed goods brought in $897 million for the nation, with a 61 per cent rise in export volume from 1,071 metric tonnes in 2021 to 1,724 metric tonnes in 2022.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

The Open Doors Centre

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Working to change people and perception

By Shaniya Harding IN September of this year, Erica Verwayne and various other instructors and facilitators of the ‘Open Doors Centre’ hosted another graduating batch of students. The centre, formally called The national Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities, opened in May of 2001.

Erica Verwayne has been a part of Open Doors for over seven years and holds the position of Acting Manager of the institution. The Open Doors Centre has a total of eight instructors who work to help train individuals from

the ages of 16-45.

The aim of the institution, Erica stated, was simply to help people living with disabilities become an important aspect of society. She stated that, “Our focus is to train young adults with disabilities in Guyana to have a skill; to make them marketable and independent and contributing members to society.”

Open Doors and the work done at the institution is incredibly unique. The skills being taught and training for persons with disabilities are not being done anywhere else in Guyana. Erica expressed, “It is also important because we are the only institution in

Guyana that provides skills training for adults with disabilities between a specific age group.”

More often than not, greater emphasis is placed on the theoretical and intellectual aspects of education, which leaves very little space and consideration for more practical skills. This is what the Open Doors project is all about. Erica explained, “We offer four skill areas: garment craft, beauty care, information technology and carpentry. And before the year’s end, our plan is to implement block-making and agriculture.”

The belief and sentiment Erica Verwayne (Shaniece Bamfield photos)

The teachers at the Open Doors Centre

The 2023 graduating class of the Open Doors Centre

that every child is different is emphasised at Open Doors.

The institution also provides housing for persons with disabilities. After an in-depth screening process, students enter the training centre.

From this point onward, the trainees are constantly being assessed to ensure they are given the best help required.

“All of our courses are two years. If we realise that a trainee is not 60 to 70 percent capable of going out there and being independent in the skill that they are taught, we keep them back so that they can grasp more,” Erica stated.

This commitment to achieving the highest quality of education possible is perhaps

why the institution has such good reviews backed by high levels of graduating students.

Because Open Doors is an umbrella training centre, they accept several people with varying disabilities. Erica explained that, “We have persons with physical disabilities - whether they are a wheelchair user or they have some problem with a limb.

[We house] persons with intellectual disabilities as well. We also have a few persons with Down Syndrome.”

The main objective of work done at Open Doors is to focus on skills training. However, this does not mean that other avenues are not taught. Erica explained, “Apart from the core courses, each trainee has to do something we call remedial education. This is where they are taught a little bit of mathematics and calculations. Although they will have a skill, they still need to know how to utilise the skill.”

Regarding the challenges faced by the Open Doors trainers, Erica stated that both she and her teachers find what they do easy. “I don’t think we have any challenges because we gear ourselves to working with persons with disabilities. It is just that one of the things that we say to people is [there must be a] willingness to learn. We are going to take them in and work with them to the best of our abilities so that they can grasp something to make themselves independent.”

Creating a welcoming atmosphere is also important at Open Doors. Erica explained, “Although trainees may see some people just like

themselves, the teachers at open doors work to alleviate all doubt and fear for their students.

Erica stated that, “Sometimes we might crack a joke to make them feel comfortable, especially because they are starting at an institution where they may see persons like themselves who have disabilities, but still, we have to make sure the teachers are welcoming because we have to lead by example.”

And lead by example they do. At the end of every course at every graduation, Erica says she is happy to know they have accomplished their goal. “Seeing the children graduate makes me feel ecstatic and amazing; like the objective has been fulfilled. Our reason and purpose have been made.”

For their future endeavours, the Open Doors Centre is working on expanding.

“One of our plans is to roll out a few new areas and we are also looking to start a course in caring for the elderly. We are trying to make sure we have courses that are of today’s use,” Erica said.

Apart from teaching those inside Open Doors, Erica says they are also working on shifting the opinions and stigma about people with disabilities.

“What we have to start doing is looking at the person’s ability and not their disability because not all disabilities are recognisable.” Erica further stated that, “Once we get away from that stigma and we open up to knowing the person, instead of looking at the person’s disability, we are good to go.”

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

Exploring Guyana, ‘trail by trail’

By Michel Outridge TRAIL Masters Adventure Tours headed by Klaus Christopher Chin, focuses more on the health aspect

hiking trip with some friends five years ago.

“I changed my lifestyle five years ago by becoming a vegetarian, and I came off all dairy products completely,

great service and prices as a licensed tour guide.

They have packages for camping, hiking, bird watching, fishing expeditions, day tours, safari trips, city tours, forest bathing and even a party bus service.

“I have a passion for nature. Being in the hinterland was really eye-opening for me and being a scout also helped me to understand the need to promote Guyana via my tour company.

Sharing the experience is what this tour is all about,” he added.

Chin explained that starting a tour company was an easy fit based on experiences and adapting to a healthier lifestyle. He saw the need to promote sports and adventure tourism via Trail Masters Adventure Tours.

He pointed out that his tour also promotes hiking and he has customised packages available as well as fixed tours, which include a tour to Lake Capoey, the tri-island tour of Leguan, Wakenaam and Hogg Island, and Yarrowkabra Hiking Expedition.

Chin is a licensed tour guide and he received training with the Guyana

With his background in mining and logging, which he did for years, he was aware of the beauty Guyana has to offer. Moreover, when he was running on the ridges,

Klaus Chin on a tour in North Rupununi

of tourism, promoting hiking and adventure tours and offers a holistic approach to an ideal adventure in a raw nature setting.

The local tour company’s motto is “Come let us take you on an adventure”. Trail Masters Adventure Tours provides tours throughout Guyana, neighbouring countries and the Caribbean.

Chin told the Pepperpot Magazine that the inspiration was conceptualised from a

and I have a group of friends we usually go to a different place to run.

One day, we went to a sandpit area on the Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, and it was so breathtakingly beautiful running on the ridges and felt so good. One of the guys said it out aloud, and I picked up on that: why not bring people to see this and experience nature at its best?

So the idea of my tour company was birthed,” he said.

it was so good that he wanted to share it with other people, especially after encountering such vibrant and scenic views.

He related that the goal of Trail Masters Adventure Tours is to be the highest-rated tour company in Guyana, collaborating with indigenous communities and keeping our rich culture and heritage alive while preserving our environment.

Chin added that they offer

Klaus Chin after being licensed at GTA

Klaus Chin at Kopinang, Region 8

SEE PAGE XVIII

The launch of Trail Masters Adventure Tours last October

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

Young Dermatologist passionate about promoting skin health and care in Guyana D E R M ATO L O G Y a n d skin health are of great importance to Dr. Nikita McKenzie, whose deep passion for skin health and skincare led her to become a dermatologist.

Dr. Mckenize’s passion for science and medicine began during her formative years at St. Rose’s High School.

The Pepperpot Magazine sat down with Dr. McKenize as she shared her journey.

After she left school, she continued her academic pursuits at Havanna University in Cuba, which resulted in her achieving a medical degree that laid the foundation for her future achievements.

The dermatologist told us that during her fifth year in medical school, her interest in dermatology was piqued, and she was placed at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) on rotation.

“This experience brought me face-to-face with the local dermatology landscape, and my involvement with the Lions Club’s outreach programmes connected me with

a distinguished dermatologist who saw my potential,” Mckenize told Pepperpot

Magazine.

Volunteerism She began volunteering

at the Palms Skin Clinic during her free time, gaining hands-on training and invaluable exposure to dermatology.

“My journey in dermatology took a significant turn when I became the acting Director of the Leprosy Control Programme at the Palms Skin Clinic,” McKenzie said.

Working as a full-time physician allowed her to provide compassionate care to patients while championing the importance of skin health, she explained.

Dr. McKenzie’s commitment to learning led her back to Cuba, where she pursued a specialisation in Clinical and Surgical Dermatology and graduated with honours.

She enrolled in a master’s programme in Public Health and Health Promotion, positioning herself as a well-rounded medical professional.

“When I returned to Guyana in December 2021, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for me. I began at the Better Hope Health Centre, and later, I joined

the team at GPHC in June 2022. I assumed the role of one of the two dermatologists at the skin clinic. This saw my vision for raising skin health awareness and promoting local dermatology research came alive,” the dermatologist told the Pepperpot Magazine.

Dr. Mckenize explained that since there aren’t a lot of trained dermatologists in the country, she is hoping that with her expertise and training, more emphasis will be placed on research and programmes and that Guyana can be represented on the world stage for the preservation of skin health and care.

“The thing is that there are not many of us certified dermatologists. There is a lot of opportunity here in our country. What I want to do as a professional is to promote skin care and skin health and to provide research papers because we haven’t been doing any research when it comes to skin, hair and nail diseases since we are more exposed to sunlight,

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so for me [there is need for] more research,” McKenzie expressed.

With a firm belief in seeking professional assistance for skin conditions, Dr. Nikita McKenzie discourages self-diagnosis and the use of non-prescribed over-the-counter drugs. Her advocacy extends beyond her clinical work; she takes pride in training healthcare workers as part of Guyana’s decentralised Leprosy Control Programme.

Beyond medicine, Dr. McKenzie finds solace in art and a love for animals. Her multifaceted interests enrich her life and contribute to her holistic approach to patient care.

McKenzie added that she feels a sense of fulfillment, particularly when her patients have improved in their condition and betterment. She feels satisfaction when a patient gets better, and being treated is priceless.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

Fishing is a noble Profession Sticking to an authentic lifestyle in Vriesland

DRIVING for about 30 minutes down the West Bank of the Demerara River, past Goed Intent, Patentia and Wales would take you to the village of Vriesland. Vriesland, which is said to be a Dutch word, is among the oldest villages on the West Bank. The community covers a stretch of land half a mile long and has a population of no

raised in the village. Mooniram learnt the art of fishing at a tender age. At the time, he began fishing as a way of feeding himself rather than that of a job. “I began fishing small, since I was 12 years old,” Mooniram stated.

Mooniram grew up in a family of 12 siblings with a father who was also a fisherman and he stated that although his father worked and tried to teach his older brothers to fish, the family struggled financially. Fishing, a simple pastime to many, became a livelihood, a means of survival and a way of providing for himself and his family.

When asked why he chose fishing above many other trades he could have learnt, Mooniram stated simply, “I had no education to work anywhere else, so I chose the work.”

Mooniram explained that the job was far more complex and interesting than most people give it credit for.

Mooniram recalls the days when he would go fishing as a boy out on the river with just a hook or net and a paddle in a boat.”Paddling is hard. But as I would paddle Mooniram Budhua (Japheth Savory photos) and catch one and two fish, it would more than five hundred work every day, but many of encourage me to do better,” residents. them still work self-sustain- he said. And he did do better, The community was said ing jobs like fishing. going from paddle boats to to have once been a Dutch Mooniram Budhua is 62 small boats with a simple plantation, and, in the years years old and is among the engine. Today, Mooniram following, the village was a fishermen left living in the captains a boat 35 feet in major part of Wales Sugar village of Vriesland. Like length. Mooniram simply Estate. Most of the village, most of Vriesland’s villag- loves fishing, and he can’t in fact, was covered in cane ers, Mooniram was born and see himself doing anything fields. Some 50 years ago, the village of Vriesland was more sugar cane and farmlands than it was homes and people.

Over time, the village developed with the integration of more people. However, what did not seem to change very much was the way of life for the people of the village. The village is still home to people who commute to

The Vriesland Koker that marks the beginning of the village.

else. But the job does have its challenges.

Like any other field, fishing and its practices change over time. And like any other expert, Mooniram has noticed these changes. He cited the fact that fishing is becoming more difficult, and finding fish is becoming more of a challenge. “Fish work has gotten a bit tough. I can’t predict why, but the fish are not like they used to be,” Mooniram stated. He further explained that for the last three to four years, he and other fishermen have noted a decrease in their catch as they pull in far more empty nets.

Fishing is not often thought of as a particularly exciting job, but Mooniram describes his profession as more technical than may be given credit for. From knowing the moon, waves and tide to sailing so far out into the Atlantic where land is no lon-

ger visible, fishing is truly a noble profession. Mooniram stated that “I do fish all over, from the Atlantic to right in this river.”

Mooniram and his fellow fishermen sometimes spend nights on the boats in the ocean. He said, “I sail far out, a couple miles out. Sometimes, I don’t really see land.

When nighttime comes in we just see the lights.” Despite the daunting idea of being at sea at night, Mooniram says that he is never fearful. “I was born and grew up in this.

I can’t say fishing is dangerous because nothing bad ever happened to me,” he said.

Interestingly, the difference in water from the Atlantic to the Demerara River is noted in the fish living and caught in the different waters. “Out in the Atlantic, we catch things like banga-mary, trout and snapper and things like that. In here, you would

get skinned fish like basha, como-coma and high water,” he said.

Mooniram and his wife have two children, and the couple opened a shop in the village several years ago.

Mooniram says he can’t see himself ever giving up fishing.”From my generation, I will pass it onto my son,” he said.

A constant running theme among the residents of Vriesland seems to be that of change. Mooniram himself says that in the same way he has seen changes in the tide, Vriesland has seen a multitude of changes, going from a community that housed more trees than homes to the thriving neighbourhood it is today. Among all the changes, however, the people’s honest, modest and hardworking nature remains the same.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

Making Peace

By Shaniya Harding

LOSING a loved one is immensely difficult and it can have a lasting impact on the lives of family members of loved ones. And in

provide for themselves and each other, many of Aklime’s siblings began searching for jobs and those who didn’t were left at home to care for the younger children, and this responsibility fell on Aklime

All they knew as children was that they didn’t have a father and now they didn’t have a mother either.

“Our mother took someone else and moved away and left us,” Aklime stated,

Aklime Dudwah (Japheth Savory photos)

some cases, the loss can tear a family apart, especially when a life is lost under troubling circumstances like that of suicide. Living in the village of Vriesland is a woman who has felt and dealt with the challenges death can bring.

Aklime Dudwah is 64 years old and was born and bred in the village of Vriesland. She came from humble beginnings and was among eight siblings. Like many at the time, her family depended on farming. “My father used to plant a garden.

He had cows and goats. We grew up in an old house not too far from here. My father died when we were small,” Aklime stated. After the death of her father, the family’s breadwinner, the family was placed under pressure to provide for themselves.

With the new need to

most of the time. Having these responsibilities placed on her at the age of 13 was enough to grapple with. But it also hampered her and her siblings’ accessibility to an education. “I was 13when my father died, I didn’t get to go to school. My sisters went and looked for jobs because my brothers were the smallest,” Aklime shared.

“We tried to hustle, but we didn’t get to go to school too far. My sister began to go to work, those who were older than me. And I stayed at home to ‘mine’ the younger ones.”

As time went on, the Aklime’s family found circumstances increasingly difficult.

And sometime after her father’s death, Aklime’s mother decided to leave the family.

Aklime, her sisters and brothers didn’t know exactly why their made the choice she did.

“She took a man and moved on with her life. There were seven of us: four sisters and three brothers. I was the third sister.” This left the siblings in a precarious position, and as Aklime described it, they were children learning to be adults.

Four years after the death of her father, Aklime met her husband. The young couple saved enough money to have a modest wedding among themselves. The pair had their first child not long after.

They moved to a new home just a few lots from where Aklime grew up, never leaving the village of Vriesland.

“I had my first child at 17; I got married at 17. We got married. We saved some money and got married at home,” she stated. The couple’s marriage life was just like any other. Aklime’s husband worked at the Wales

Sugar Estate and she did various jobs to provide for the fast-growing family.

Over a period of years, the couple gave birth to 10 children. And for a number of years the couple lived a relatively normal life. Of course, they had a few ups and downs, but Aklime says they were happy, but then tragedy struck again when her husband took his own life. “My husband drank poison 25 years ago,” she stated. This incident shook the family and impacted relationships. The family is still working, in many ways,

to recover from the loss of a father and husband.

The day it happened, Aklime stated, was like any other. She remembered how her husband had begun to quarrel and she simply left to give him some space. But when she returned to the calls of her daughter, she had already lost her husband. “He started to quarrel, and I walked out onto the road. My daughter called and by the time I got back, he had already drunk it,” she said. Although this was two decades ago, the emotional wounds caused by it are just as fresh as the day

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it happened.

While Aklime and her children will never truly know why their husband and father took his life, they have their beliefs and theories about his reason.

But whatever the reason might be for his act, the family is still finding their way around dealing with the loss and Aklime’s life and experiences have taught her much. But above all else, she says she has learnt that with each passing day, it is best to make peace with the ones around you.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

More than what you can bear

By Shaniya Harding WHEN Rosaline Seepersaud was just 17 years old, she fell in love with her husband who was just a few years her senior. The young couple got married and moved into the village of Vriesland. They sought to have a place to raise a family and call home. It has been almost 50 years since she has called the community home and Rosaline says she has seen the community evolve while her life, as life often does, went through major shifts, ups and downs.

Rosaline says that she has seen the village of Vriesland go from a historical Dutch plantation to a thriving sugar estate to becoming the beautiful, captivating suburban neighbourhood it is today. Vriesland is among the oldest villages on the west bank of the Demerara River and is considerably small compared to some of its neighbouring communities. Vriesland covers a stretch of land half a mile long, and no more than 500 residents call the village home.

But as modest as it is today, the village has come a long way. According to Rosaline, the village of Vriesland was once a few homes surrounded by trees and had vast cane fields to the west of the village. “Vriesland had very few houses,” Rosaline stated. “Then gradually, people began to take up land and a few families moved in,” she shared. And Rosaline and her husband were among the first to call Vriesland home.

Vriesland was once a part of the Wales Sugar Estate which provided jobs for many men at that time. Rosaline explained that, “My husband was working at Wales Estate; he worked there for a long time. Then he came off and he became a security guard.” She further stated, “ This was a plantation. And there was an airport where the estate planes used to land to spray the fields.” Rosaline described her early years living in Vriesland as more simple, peaceful and serene, despite its challenges.

But Rosaline did face her fair share of challenges. Rosaline gave birth to five children, three of whom are girls and the remaining siblings are boys. Raising one child is a task difficult enough, but five, with the resources she had, was a new challenge entirely. And the abuse she said she suffered at the hands of her husband made it almost impossible. “It wasn’t a big family,

Rosaline Seepersaud (Japheth Savory photos)

but still,” Rosaline stated. “I used to have it hard. But worked hard to mind my children, to make them happy.” Rosaline committed to several jobs throughout her life to provide for her family.

Rosaline described her husband as having an abusive streak. She told of how, on occasions too numerous to recall, he would physically abuse her. “ One Friday, he said he wanted a pair of boots. I told him he couldn’t get it. One lash, he gave me and broke my hand. Right in the scheme here,” she recalled.

Rosaline’s way of dealing with it and her outlook on the situation was largely influenced by her mother and perhaps the traditions and overall norms of the time. “I never left him,” Rosaline said.”My mother would tell me that I shouldn’t leave him and take him back. She would tell me to bear it.”

On several occasions, Rosaline would leave her husband and her home in Vriesland to go to Good Intent where her mother lives, and where she was born. She shared that, “I used to just go away. I would move out, but I wouldn’t leave my children.” Rosaline would leave her husband for a short while, only to return some time later. “At that time, we had donkey carts. Me and my five children would jump on a donkey cart and go to my mother’s house in Good Intent.”

Rosaline’s husband died some years ago, and today, she lives a peaceful life, one in which she spends most of her time with her friends and family while reminiscing on her past. As a mother and woman who went through what she did, she said that despite having survived what she has, she never ran. When asked about her motivation and what inspired her to persevere, she stated that come what may, she fought and faced the trials life threw at her. “God wouldn’t give you more than what you can bear,” she said.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

The role the family plays Vriesland woman explains the importance of loved ones

By Shaniya Harding A FAMILY is said to be the first, best, biggest supporters and the last thing anyone has left if they have nothing else. And often, family members care for the young, old and the sick.

For Alexandra Ramdhan, caring for family is something she knows a lot about.

Alexandra has called Vriesland home for almost 40 years but is originally from the East Bank of Demerara.

“I belong to Coverden on the East Bank. Alexandra gives a bleak description of her children. She explained that most of her youth was spent living in fear of the abuse her mother suffered at the hands of her father.

“My childhood was chaotic because my father was abusive to my mother,” Alexandra said, “And most of the time I was living in fear. The amount of time he would tell her he would kill her and put her out.”

This impacted Alexandra greatly and her mother even more so. Around 21 years old however, Alexandra came to live in Vriesland. Her husband sparked her decision to move to Vriesland. Alexandra eventually gave birth to six children. Raising them, she explained, was not easy, but she made light of her situation.

“I have six children, and most of the time, it was me alone because my husband used to work in the interior.

I never really found it hard unless I ran out of things.

But I used to make much with whatever I had.” Alexandra’s ability to care for those around her has been evident since her youth when she would try to protect her mother from suffering at the hands of her father. This is perhaps why she became the caretaker of her sister who lives with special needs and her mother after she suffered what Alexandra calls a mental breakdown.

Some years ago, Alexandra’s older sister, a person living with special needs, was in the care of her mother. The pair was admitted to the Palms, unbeknownst to

Alexandra. When she learned about where they were, she visited them a few times before deciding to take them home with her. The choice she made meant undertaking the responsibility of caring for the pair. Many people warned against her decision, but nevertheless, she decided to care for the two and has been doing so for almost 20 years.

Alexandra admitted that initially, she was fearful of the decision she made.

She states that she undertook the responsibility with no clear way of exactly how she would care for them, just that she had to. “I know my mother sacrificed a lot. I can’t have a heart and have her in there, so I brought both of them out, and ever since, they are with me,” she explained.

“I was even warned of the situation and what I may have to go through and what may become of all of us. I was really warned about it, but I brought them anyway.”

The most difficult aspect of caring for both of them is communication, says Alexandra. She explained that understanding both her mother and her sister and having them understand each other is the complex part, with Alexandra playing caretaker, supporter and mediator all at once.

Alexandra’s sister was diagnosed with polio, but her mother was never given a conclusive reason for her mental issues. Alexandra firmly believes that the abuse her mother suffered at the hands of her father caused the problems she is facing today.

“She went through a lot of hardships. She went through real abuse and all kinds that you could think about,” she said.

Although caring for the pair is time-consuming, Alexandra has still found time to run a small business in the village of Vriesland. “I have had the shop for about four years. It was my daughter’s idea to open the shop and start selling the greens and so on.” Alexandra said. Even with the responsibilities she

has, Alexandra still makes the time to talk to her fellow villagers. She described the people of Vriesland as friendly and partially the reason why she loves the community.

Despite the challenges caring for her family presents, Alexandra is ready to care for them as long as it takes. She explained that in many cases, struggles are meant to teach people particular things in life.

And in many instances, perhaps it is often best to take some time. She said, “When you find that you are struggling, pray about it. Try not to think about it, go slow and whatever you want to achieve, or if there is a problem, go for a walk or listen to some music.”

Photos Date; October 29 Photographer: Japheth Savory Folder name: Vriesland focus in the village File name: DSC_3912

Alexandra Ramdhan (Japheth Savory photos)

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

That the cultural story of Guyana will be told is a pleasing observation THE Arts in every major civilisation have played their part, whether through the portrayal of gods, kings, queens, demons or great events, even of the propaganda of leaders recording fictitious victories.

The Arts have contributed to frescoes, sacred and secular drama have been crafted in tattoos and on the natural walls of caves

and the giant columns of temples. As humans, and especially artists, we share this awareness inheritance, even if we find ourselves entrapped in the upside-down world where the artless are presiding over the interests of the artistic. This, however, would not be the first time in our long history.

Two days ago, I visited

Castellani House to view ‘Musings, Guyanese Folklore, & Figures of the Ramlila’. The diversity of technique and expression was assuring.

I’m not making a comparison of this should-be-seen collection with other exhibitions, because I’ve missed many. A senior artist that I must have a conversation with on some ideas he would have answers or perspectives on, as the sub-

ject of interest leaned more on his area of the discipline, was tour-guiding a youthful audience at the moment. I greeted the brother; we had our musthave conversation on the health of the local Arts, but I shelved the intended conversation, and I also forgot to ask Winslow for his phone number. This exhibition carried its weight of justification. The ideal secret element that rests with the precious preserving ingredient of creativity; that of the independent thinker, is evident.

However, it would be unfair and naïve not to include that the Arts have also found themselves useful as instruments of tyranny, propaganda and dangerous fiction. With the advent of movies, supported by illustrated storytelling, the friendly heroes of good against bad developed in the early ages of ‘The folk heroes’ were taken beyond the initial concepts to represent the Demi-Gods of colonisation. A classic example was ‘Tarzan’ and ‘The Phantom, the Ghost who Walks’. Such texts were needed to impose into the imagination of colonised African and African descendants in the Americas and other colonised peoples who innocently enjoyed these areas of illustrated literature that they, the friendly colonisers, were needed to instruct the colonised in every area of ‘our’ elementary existence.

Coupled with this were the religious ‘Artworks’ that occupied yearly calendars, statues and art prints in religious houses. People even prayed to these well-executed art works. Outside of and beyond colonisation, we humans have always expressed areas of our belief systems through sculpture and illustrations.

The presence of the ‘Business of the Arts’ is not evident in the collective ‘local art world’ because the Arts are not managed by its practitioners. Those of us who have registered businesses with the development of our practising fields in mind have learned the hard way that we speak a different language. Rarely do we engage an authority that is mature in the field enough to understand what we’re talking about and thus willing to read a prospectus honouring its privacy. I’ve so far encountered two such persons. Such persons need to be convinced that the foundation of numerous trillion-dollar businesses is rooted and depends on the Global Art worlds for substance.

The thought of money usually excites them; however, building the landscape takes them away from the simple typical and seems to intimidate them. It is the only area that has not scheduled a period for serious development outside of ‘pot boilers’ towards solid

content that can compete in the developed markets because such an exploration will require creative input with legal protection.

Most of the talented themselves are accustomed to meagre handouts for their trade, especially the now-comes in the music/entertainment arts.

They just want to be liked, which comes from years of exploitation from promoters and the like. The dramatic arts have not expanded to exploit their potential because, like the published arts, which this writer is rooted in, they cannot expand without adequate funds.

The question is: with whom will the conversation begin? The consoling factor is that what can be done here has to be done, but for engagements beyond Guyana, the business of the Arts must be understood. The reality is that there will be visitors to this country who are aware.

Thus it is necessary to explore international laws so one may have some awareness of self-value to survive.

Recently, I spoke with Morag Williams and her husband on a short visit here. We broached a lot of ideas and explored the reality of those ideas, possibly if, in real terms, any of those projections can simply materialise on equal balance, then a way forward could light a path.

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DANCE WITH ME AAHANA closed the computer she had been working on for hours on designs of buildings. She leaned back in her chair and sighed deeply, tired but satisfied with her studies of solving technical problems that enable construction.

As a civil engineer, she often put in long hours on worksites, directing operations with a strict efficiency principle. It was a challenge on every project for something new and innovative, but the real challenge for her was

the cool breeze and the distant sounds of water, washing up against the seawalls. She looked out onto the quiet night and sighed again, but this time from the loneliness that sometimes overwhelmed her, living alone in the city, away from family.

She sat there for a while, then went back inside and took a leisurely bath to wash away some of the tiredness.

She felt refreshed and a little rejuvenated, and pouring a glass of wine, she sat in front of the television. Her friends

began showing interest in her.

They had a very good chemistry in dancing, and it was that that brought them close. It was a beautiful thing, that friendship, a hushed love story, for they were still young.

But after graduating high school, Naren had left to pursue a degree in business management in the UK. Saying goodbye wasn’t easy for her, and he had told her, “Don’t be sad, you’ll always be on my mind, in my thoughts.”

That was when he kissed her for the first time, a moment

working as a young woman in a male-dominated field. The comments and doubts about her capability and knowledge were unapologetically numerous, but she held her own, staying strong and assertive, and with that strong will and determination, she gained the respect and recognition she deserved for her work.

She had walked the rough roads and came through without a fall.

“It’s amazing, really,” she often told herself.

If someone had told her eight years ago she would be working as an engineer, she would have doubted it.

But circumstances in life sometimes help one discover one’s true potential.

She got up and went out on the verandah, soothed by

had invited her for drinks at a club, but she had declined, just wanting to relax at home after a long day.

“There’s someone I wanted to introduce you to,” Kamla, her best friend, had told her.

“Oh,” Aahana had laughed a little, “Guess I missed that.”

She sipped her wine and said with a contented smile, “Cheers to me for the woman I have become.”

She had been a simple country girl with a quiet disposition, a farmer’s daughter who loved dancing and wanted to be a doctor. She had joined the Indian Cultural Dance group and that’s how she had met Naren. He was also a dancer, son of a rich businessman and quite a popular guy. Girls were always vying for his attention, and it surprised her when he

of exhilaration that filled her being and with every dance number she did from then on, she danced for him. They had stayed connected through phone calls and messages, but after one year, she began hearing less from him. It hadn’t worried her because she knew he was studying but not long after, she received a message from him that he had met a French girl at the university.

He did not say anything more, but she knew what had happened, which devastated her.

“How could he have forgotten me so easily?” she had cried to herself.

She had had to take a break from her studies to deal with that unexpected heartache, not saying anything to anyone except her family, but it wasn’t long before those who knew

of their close friendship got word of their breakup.

There were those who felt sorry for her and those who weren’t. The spark from her life dimmed, she could hardly smile anymore, and eventually, she lost the desire to dance. It was then she realised she had to leave that place, leave behind that life and find something else, be somebody else. So, she moved to the city, found a

job and transferred to the engineering programme at the University of Guyana. She didn’t want to be that simple, soft-spoken girl anymore, but a brave and strong-willed woman.

“I am now my own woman,” she stated as she finished the third glass of wine, “I don’t cry and I don’t have to smile for anyone.”

Her parents had been dismayed at the change in her,

sad they had lost their little girl, but they supported her new career and today were proud of her accomplishments. Her mother would still ask, though, with some hopes, “Met anyone, special?”

“Nope,” Aahana would answer casually.

“You do know, though, at some point, you would need SEE PAGE XXII

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Sticker shock phenomenon I CAME across the term “sticker shock” which is widely used in the United States of America. I wasn’t aware of it before first listening to an online video on inflation, but it made perfect sense after being enlightened on what it is. It is usually used to describe the surprise at the high price tag of a product or item in stores. There’s also the term “bill shock” which is usually used to describe the exclamation of surprise seen on increased bills. I realised that this topic is one of utmost importance to us here in Guyana because many of us experience “sticker shock” without even knowing it. Over the years, the increasingly high cost of consumer goods has led to many people experiencing “sticker shocks” across Guyana and the world.

The term “sticker shock” is believed to have originated in the 1970s. This was a time when automobiles or cars were costly due to increasing policy changes and regulations.

Many car dealers placed very large stickers on their cars when selling them so that passing people can easily read. It was done as a marketing strategy to get people’s attention in the United States. When the prices increased, the stickers on those cards seemed “shocking” to most people at the time because of the inflation. Like those passersby during the 1970s with the car prices, I’m sure many of us can relate to that feeling every time we make a trip to the market, supermarket or general stores.

The “sticker shock” feeling can become critical to what consumers purchase and why. It can eventually be dangerous to many suppliers or businesses because of the concern they may have for the item of a product. Have you noticed that many of the products that are fast sellers are inferior in quality? Many people will turn to the cheapest supplier, and in return, most times, that means purchasing a cheaper version of the product. It’s why we import certain things instead of buying the same or similar things that Guyanese produce right here—for a better price and quality.

Most of us may not be versed enough in Economics and how related systems work.

Nonetheless, the more we experience sticker shock when we’re purchasing, the more likely problems will develop with our country’s current economic state. Unfortunately, necessities like food have remained at an all-time high in prices since the pandemic. When wages rise or the cost of production supplies increase—the customers like you and I will feel the pressure of having to pay the cost of increased items in store because the suppliers have to make up for their additional production costs.

Whenever supply decreases, and demand remains constant—the prices will increase for items. With that in mind, families worldwide must pay for these seldom regulated market fluctuations on their already strained income. Take cars out of the equation. It’s more of a luxury to have in most cases. What about food or shelter? It becomes a social problem as much as it is economical when we’re talking about things such as food, something we simply cannot live without.

The “sticker shock” phenomenon will be experienced differently by everyone based on their income and expectations of prices. Nonetheless, it’s still worrying at the end of the day to think about how much a significant sum of money you have to spend weekly just to purchase basic human necessities. That certainly affects the overall quality of life of persons living in Guyana.

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GUYANA, WITH ITS OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION, REMAINS A NET ZERO CARBON CONTRIBUTOR!

SINCE oil and gas were discovered in Guyana, a lobby, both in Guyana and abroad, has emerged critical of the exploitation of this resource, claiming it will poison the environment and, more particularly, would be releasing greenhouse gases which would quicken the onslaught of Climate Change.

Climate Change has very deleterious effects on the planet, causing destructive flooding in many parts of the world, desertification in other parts, and destruction of low island states like the Maldives or low-lying coastal regions like Guyana.

Agriculture and planting cycles become disrupted resulting in food shortages and increased prices for agricultural products. Guyana has already experienced some of the destructive effects of Climate Change and International Lawyer, Melinda Janki, part of the anti-oil lobby, has filed legal actions in the courts against the Government of Guyana and the oil companies to try to prevent further oil exploration and exploitation.

As against this lobby are those who posit that Guyana is a poor country mired in poverty without any hope and possibility of accessing enough developmental capital to develop its non-oil resources and help its population to emerge out of poverty. The exploitation of oil and gas resources is the only way Guyana could acquire enough capital to move out of poverty and to invest in present industries to expand them and make them more competitive and birth new ones. In this way, Guyana’s economic prosperity would be secured well into the future.

These two positions are antithetical, but the majority opinion has come down on the side of the necessity of developing the Oil and Gas industry.

The Government of the country, the opposition, the private sector and public opinion in general support the oil industry. They also point out that the oil-producing countries, especially those in the developed world, have no intention of ending or scaling back their oil industries and, whenever it is in their interest, pay scant regard to climate change. Yet these same countries are the ones that lecture countries like Guyana.

In a recent newspaper interview, Dr. Hyginus Leon, President of the Caribbean Development Bank and the Bank’s Director of Projects Dr. Daniel Best stated the dilemma between preserving and protecting the environment and exploiting the oil resources diminishing poverty and raising the standard of living.

Dr. Leon remarked that “Guyana finds itself with a constraint internationally which says we need to reduce fossil fuels because of what it is doing to the planet. . . With over 11 billion barrels of oil discovered so far offshore, Guyana, over the past few years, has faced questions over its aggressive Oil production against the backdrop of being a champion of Environmental preservation. . .” Dr. Leon’s advice is however very clear: “Where Guyana needs to go is very simple, it is to a point where the people of Guyana will have more prosperity than they had yesterday”. Dr. Best reinforces Dr. Leon’s advice: Oil will create wealth in Guyana. Now, how can we turn that into a sustainable livelihood and form an alliance on renewable energy and Climate Change? That is the crux of the matter.”

The Government of Guyana is very environment-conscious and committed to environmental protection. The lead Minister responsible for dealing with the oil and gas industry is Vice-President Dr. Bharat Jagdeo, a respected and honoured environmentalist, earning many accolades, among them being ‘Champion of the Earth’. They have accepted the challenge of successfully coalescing Environmental concerns with Oil and Gas production to make SEE PAGE XXII Guyana the only Oil-produc-

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Sustainable Agricultural Practices

SUSTAINABLE agricultural practices in the dry season in Guyana are crucial for maintaining food security, conserving water resources, and mitigating the effects of climate change. The dry season in Guyana typically oc-

curs from September to November and sometimes extends into December. This is the case of Guyana’s prolonged dry season, increasing the rise of numerous wildfires across the land. In this article, some sustainable agricultural practices are proposed and, if implemented, can mitigate the effect of the dry season: 1. Drip Irrigation: Drip irrigation systems are efficient in conserving water and can be particularly useful during the dry season. They provide a controlled and precise water to

the crops’ root zones, reducing water wastage.

2. Mulching: Mulching helps to retain soil moisture, reduce evaporation, and suppress weed growth. Organic mulch, such as straw or compost, can be applied around the base of plants to conserve moisture.

3. Rainwater Harvesting: Collecting and storing rainwater during the wet season SEE PAGE XVII for later use in the dry season can effectively ensure a stable

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Sustainable Agricultural ...

FROM PAGE XVI

water supply for agriculture.

4. Crop Rotation: Implement crop rotation to maintain soil health and fertility. Some crops may be more drought-tolerant than others, and alternating crops can help manage water usage.

5. Drought-Resistant Crop Varieties: Choose drought-resistant crop varieties that can thrive in dry conditions. These crops are better adapted to limited water availability. These may include varieties of legumes or grains.

6. Soil Management: Proper soil management practices, such as organic matter incorporation and reduced tillage, can improve soil structure and water-holding capacity, helping crops survive dry periods.

7. Agronomic Practices: Implement good agronomic practices, such as appropriately spacing crops and optimising planting times to maximise available water resources.

8. Compost and Organic Fertilisers: Use compost and organic fertilisers to improve soil fertility. Healthy soils can retain more moisture and support better crop growth.

9. Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Employ IPM techniques to manage pests and diseases. Healthy, well-maintained crops are more resilient to stressors like drought.

10. Agroforestry: Incorporate trees into your agricultural system, which can provide shade and improve water retention. Some tree species can also be valuable crops themselves.

11. Education and Training: Promote education and training for farmers on sustainable agricultural practices during the dry season. Knowledge-sharing and awareness can lead to more widespread adoption of these methods.

12. Government Support: Encourage government support and policies that promote sustainable agriculture, including financial incentives for adopting water-saving technologies and practices.

13. Optimal Planting Timing: Aligning planting according to seasons. Farmers should understand their local climate and the typical timing and duration of rainy and dry periods to make informed decisions about when to plant specific crops.

This knowledge helps maximise crop yields and minimise the risk of water stress.

14. Monitoring weather forecasts: Farmers can make informed decisions about when to plant their crops. They can delay planting if forecasts indicate extended dry spells or erratic rainfall and accelerate planting if favourable weather conditions are predicted.

By implementing these sustainable agricultural practices during the dry season, Guyana can enhance its agricultural resilience, reduce water waste, and ensure food security while also contributing to environmental conservation and climate change adaptation.

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Exploring Guyana...

FROM PAGE IV

Tourism Authority (GTA). They assisted him in getting started with tour packages and licensing his business, as well.

Chin explained that Guyana has a lot to offer in terms of tourism due to our unique raw nature, wildlife, flora and fauna and some untouched rainforest. His tour company adds value by promoting eco-friendly sustainability by working with the

Klaus Christopher Chin of Trail Masters Adventure Tours

indigenous peoples in remote communities.

His tour includes meals, transportation, entry fees to Amerindian villages and a tour guide. One of his favourite places in Guyana is Rupununi, where an altogether scenic adventure awaits, he says.

For World Tourism Day, Trail Masters Adventure Tours partnered with GTA and Stride592 to host a tour of the Botanical Gardens titled “Explore the Hidden Gems of the Botanical Gardens” where 14 persons participated, including some foreigners.

Chin disclosed that, in a collaborative effort with Stride592, they will host a full and half marathon to promote a healthy lifestyle movement, which he touted as the essence of Trail Masters Adventure Tours.

Turtle Mountain with a group of UG students at Iwokrama Forest Conservation Area

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Technology and data in agriculture

AGRICULTURE continues to enjoy much attention in Guyana and the Caribbean, with many more people cognisant of the need to produce more food here instead of depending on our costly, vulnerable, extra-regional supply chains.

The attention to agriculture in Guyana was apparent at the recently concluded Agri-Investment Forum, and Expo held last weekend at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre at Liliendaal, Georgetown. Though not as extravagant as the year before, which was the first year it was held, the event helped

producers market their products and spotlight some of the new technologies and partnerships in the sector.

The latter, for me, is of great importance. New technologies and partnerships are crucial as we grapple with an increased need to produce more food amid a volatile external environment where we are grappling with one of if not the biggest threats: Climate change.

It has been said that more investments are needed in the agricultural sector, but many agree that investing in new technologies and solutions is a better way of spending money. In Guyana and other parts of the region, hydroponics projects are growing in relevance and being embraced more. These farms use less land area, and allow farmers to grow crops in a nutrient-based solution. Shadehouses, cage fishing, and the use of drone technology to apply pesticides or fertilisers are also newer technologies being embraced. With these, it is envisioned that food production can become more efficient even if fewer traditional resources (such as land or manpower) are used.

It isn’t a bad bet. The focus on new technologies comes when there are concerns about the region’s farming population. Officials from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have lamented ad nauseam that the region’s farming population is ageing. Further, a 2020 report from the Caribbean Development Bank (CBD) noted that an ageing population is consistent across nearly all Caribbean states. An increased focus has been on getting more youth interested and involved in agriculture. Guyana’s ‘One Guyana’ farming project is a good example of this, but technology is also increasingly important.

Now, there is something else decision-makers in the region are paying attention to. That is data for agriculture.

At the opening ceremony of this year’s Agri-Investment Forum, Guyana’s President, Dr. Irfaan Ali, announced several new initiatives that will allow the region to leverage data to improve farming. He said the Guyana School of Agriculture will be transformed into a Centre of Excellence for the region. It is worth mentioning that President Ali is the lead Head of State for agriculture and nutrition in CARICOM’s quasi-cabinet; he is tasked with driving regional efforts to guarantee our food security and achieve the regional goal of reducing expensive extra-regional food imports by 24 per cent by 2025.

He also announced that a ‘situation room’ will be developed to allow Guyanese farmers to access key data needed, including weather or soil data, which, if analysed properly, should allow them to tailor their planting strategies in response. Additional details on this venture are not yet available, but I figure there will be room for real-time engagement with farmers so that they can employ data-driven strategies instead of responding more ad hoc to any changes that would affect their production. At that ceremony, the President also announced that new “technological” jobs will be created.

Later, he launched the US$4.5 million hydroponics project for youth in Region Two, Five, and 10.

To date, there remains a need for huge investments so that the region can become more food secure. However, interest and political will seem to be high, so there is some optimism that food security isn’t just a lofty goal.

Perhaps with greater emphasis on technology and data in agriculture, the region may be better positioned to satisfy its food needs.

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

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A moment of reflection

THE first month of the last quarter has been great to me, and we have a couple of days remaining that can make it even greater. After the pandemic, it was awesome to connect with the team and exhibitors from the Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo. It brought back fond memories of when I encouraged some of the exhibitors from the Women in Business Expo to participate in FITCE. I am looking forward to our participation again next year, God willing, and connecting with friends like Megan and Wilma, and clients while setting that foundation for next-level elevation.

Attending church with my friend Lidca wearing one of my versatile outfits that was converted in a few minutes to

go to brunch with my friend Janice reminded me of why my designs are unique and special, and have received people’s positive reactions after all these years. Coming back on the flight was memorable, because of the youngster sitting next to me. Allistair Parks and I had a profound conversation that manifested in value-adding to many lives. He shared his journey from St. Joseph High School and navigating studies in the United States, trying to identify his purpose. I was so impressed with his story that I encouraged him to go back to

his old school and share it with the students.

I made contact with the headteacher, Nathram Raghubansi, who was excited for him to visit his alma mater. He shared with the students his desire to be a pilot, and how he became an engineer in the oil-and-gas industry. I am proud of him, and it was an honour to introduce him to the students, who were very interactive and curious to know more about the industry.

My friend Richard Young returning to Guyana after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus was a blessing, because we hosted several programmes in collaboration with Tower Suites that added value to many lives. The Other Side of Fear was a phenomenal event, featuring breast cancer survivors, doctors and others on the panel. Nayrini Seepersaud is an accomplished legal professional holding dual diplomas in law and accounting. This young lady wore many hats, and was one of the competent panellists. She shared her feedback below:

“I recently had the honour of partaking in a panel discussion centred on the theme of ‘Exploring the Other Side of Fear’. This enriching experience reinforced the significance of perceiving fear as a catalyst for personal evolution and well-being. It underscored the importance of embracing life’s challenges as stepping stones for growth and empowerment.

“In my contribution, I emphasised the transformative power of leveraging one’s voice to interpret fear as a signal for heightened awareness and an impetus to conquer obstacles.

I stressed the importance of taking ownership of our fears and channelling them proactively to aid ourselves and others.

Techniques such as meditation, fostering a strong support network, and cultivating resilience and adaptability were highlighted as effective tools for personal development and communal encouragement.

SEE PAGE XXIII “I am deeply grateful for

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DANCE WITH...

FROM PAGE XIII

someone---” “I know, mother,” she had interrupted her gently, not wanting her to feel hurt, “maybe one day.”

Aahana had gone on many dates over the years but only casual, nothing special. She never allowed that thought in her mind, except on a few quiet moments.

“Maybe one day, I will find someone to dance with me.”

In the course of her job, she networked with foreign and local investors, government officials and attended company dinners and cocktails so there was a possibility she might meet someone of her liking. But her job had become her life and she worked with a passion and commitment, knowing that designs and building of projects influence daily life through development.

Life, though, could bring unexpected changes that are mind-blowing.

The company she worked for was contracted to build a mall in her old home town of New Amsterdam. She felt that that was great for the Ancient County needing an attractive economic boost.

But she wasn’t one of the engineers on the project for she was working on three other sites at that time. She still had to look at the designs and make a presentation to the investors on behalf of the company.

A meeting was scheduled for later that week and she worked late every night on the designs. On the morning of the presentation and discussions, as she walked into the room with her boss, she was stunned to see one of the investors.

It was Naren!

To be continued…

GUYANA, WITH ITS OIL AND ...

FROM PAGE XV

ing country where pollution of the environment is negated by several effective actions: First, the oil companies are required by Law and agreements to take measures to protect the environment in their production process as far as is feasible. For example, polluted water must be treated before release into the ocean or indiscriminate flaring must be avoided.

Then there is the gas-to-shore project, which will come into a stream in two years. This project will cut down pollution by replacing the use of heavy fossil fuels with gas. The burning of heavy fossil fuel is a major pollutant; gas will produce cheaper electricity and its use would be more environmentally friendly than oil fuel.

The commitment to replacing fossil fuels with green power is a serious one, and work in this direction has already started with the use of Water Power, Solar Power, and Wind Power.

Several small generators in the Interior utilise the rivers to generate electricity, but the centrepiece of the Water Power programme is the Amaila Falls scheme. The completion of the Amaila Falls scheme was delayed for several years by negative political action but it is now back again on stream.

Not only the Government but the Private sector as well have been investing in Solar and Wind power. Several homes have been using solar power as well as businesses. Demerara Bank, for example, uses solar power, which is more economical than fossil power. Manufacturing businesses have also been using solar power, an example being Nand Persaud’s rice milling complex in Berbice, Successful experiments have been conducted in the use of household and industrial waste to generate power and foreign specialist consultants have been engaged in developing this source of green power.

Last, and most importantly, the Guyana Forests counterbalance the pollution from Oil and Gas. In the words of Dr. Leon, President of the Caribbean Development Bank: “The fact is that Guyana is a huge net carbon sink given that its forests store 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon; even with the development of its Oil and Gas industry, the country remains a net zero contributor”.

The world must become aware of this fact since it will mute criticism that Guyana is a polluter of the planet and preclude it from being bracketed with other oil producing developing countries which unfortunately are indeed polluters.

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A moment of... the opportunity to contribute to such a profound discussion; one that bolsters courage and amplifies voices within our community. Such platforms serve as crucial instruments for nurturing a culture of empowerment and growth, and I eagerly anticipate further engagements aimed at fostering collective resilience, empathy, and empowerment.”

Clemencio Goddette shared how it made a difference to her diagnosis the way Dr. Gooding (we are both Berbicians), who was also on the panel, broke the news to her about her status. I must commend Dr. Gooding as not only an Ontologist but also someone who cares about her patients. My aunt Corin is her patient, and she echoes the same sentiments.

“I am very happy that we attended the event, which was very inspirational, motivating hope and encouraging people to find the other side of fear,” said the beautiful daughter.

Dr. Leroy Hendricks, who recently completed his studies, is a young man I admire from the indigenous community and a mentor to many. I was happy when he accepted the ‘invite’ to join us, and he shared takeaways.

“Being a part of ‘the other side of fear’ was such an enlightening experience for me. It allowed me to really examine and appreciate the steps that I have taken to overcome some of my own insecurities, low self-esteem and lack of confidence.

Too many times we keep ourselves from going forward because we’re afraid of what others might say. Nonetheless, they will have a say whether it’s negative or positive. We’ve got to find our own positivity in everything we do.

Listening to the stories of the others as well as an enriching moment as the biggest question I have is, “How are you still here?” The medical field can only provide some answers; faith and divinity do the rest. There’s so much to living an intentional life.”

Three-time breast cancer survivor Anna D Morias, who is also a patient of Dr. Gooding, shared her journey and had us in tears. October is the month with more awareness, but we have to be more intentional for this to be through the year because it affects us all.

My gratitude goes out to everyone who made this possible, and a big thank you to our moderator, Richard Young, who was exceptional.

“Moderating a dynamic panel of eclectic, proactive persons was quite enriching to my soul, and I am sure it was absolutely invigorating for those in attendance.

The panellists themselves spoke of its empowering nature and the capacity to transform lives through its relevant and engaging ethos. Deciding to take risks is part of our human condition, which arouses fear in its myriad of permutations.

The win is in addressing the fear head-on, overcoming its prohibitive stranglehold and unleashing a liberating spirit that fosters sustainable action, responsible life choice and true, unadulterated human freedom.

This is evidently the way we rise above debilitating occasions to seize opportunities and distill processes to set us apart from instinctual animal life. Human life and fulfilling life chance begins on the other side of despair, for he who is not every day conquering fear has not learned the secret of life!”

I did declare October as a growth month, but I am extending that to the entire last quarter as we continue to celebrate this beautiful journey called life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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THOUGHT FOR

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

TODAY

Study is like the he aven That will not be de ’s glorious sun, ep-searched with saucy looks.

WILLIAM SHAK ESPEARE (15641616) Love’s Lab our Lost

October 28, 2023 STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Welcome dear friend.

Today we get into analysing and interpreting a passage.

This done often will vastly

improve your ability to read and respond to short and longer nonfiction passages. Practice involves the following skills and more: being able to identify and convey key arguments and supporting structures efficiently, by finding the main ideas quickly; finding purpose in and drawing conclusions from passages; and digesting information to restate and summarise critical information in your own words. Be wise.

Love you.

IMPROVING STORY WRITING Shaping the story When writing a story, carefully put a shape to whatever you are saying and guide it toward its end.

Write a clear exposition at the beginning. This helps your reader understand the situation. Develop the story conflict, event by event – here a little, there a little - until it reaches its turning point or climax. This is where its highest tension reaches and turns toward a logical conclusion.

Use dialogue for more variety and interest in your story – the characters’ own peculiar vocabulary. The various speech patterns and mannerisms help each stand out from the other as each comes alive in his various roles. Dialogue helps characters interact crisply and display a wide range of emotions while forwarding the story action.

Read quickly through your story as you write.

STUDYING POETRY Analysing and interpreting the poem Literary term: Stanza – a stanza is a group of lines forming a unit in a poem. A stanza can have a fixed pattern or rhyme scheme.

Our House in Hadong Our best house where we were happy, was our brick house on Ha Van Street with its two hectares of land lichee and mangosteen and starfruit in the back, the two Hao Moc trees white as snow in the front.

We’d put the petals in our tea to sweeten our breath.

From far down the road I could smell the heavy jackfruit.

Father never allowed us to eat them said they were too rich for the climate.

He’d give them to the soldiers outside the walls.

When he was away, we ate until we got fevers.

My younger sister climbed the apple trees And shook the apples down.

Questions for Study and Discussion 1. In these two of the five-stanza poem, the poet is remembering her home in which she was happy as a

child. What are we told so far that was special about the house and made her happy?

2. What images reveal that the house was isolated from the outside world?

3. To which senses does the poem appeal?

4. Can you give one reason for soldiers to be “outside the walls”?

THE PASSAGE Reading a selection and answering questions that follow 1) Main idea - The main idea is the central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or passage. It states the purpose and sets the direction of the paragraph or passage. The main idea may be stated, or it may be implied.

Often, the stated main idea is found in a topic sentence which, maybe, is the first sentence, but sometimes you will find it in the middle or at the end of the passage.

(2) A rhetorical question – A rhetorical question is a question that creates a dramatic or striking effect, or to emphasise a point rather than to get an answer.

Passage to read: They told a tale of woe which was then altogether beyond my feeble comprehension; they were tones loud, long, and deep; they breathed the prayer and complaint of souls boiling over with the bitterest anguish. Every tone was a testimony against slavery, and a prayer to God for deliverance from chains. The hearing of those wild notes always depressed my spirit, and filled me with ineffable sadness. I have frequently found myself in tears while hearing them. The mere recurrence to those songs, even now, afflicts me; and while I am writing these lines, an expression of feeling has already found its way down my cheek.

(Frederick Douglass’ “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, An American Slave”) 1. This passage is probably taken from a(n) (A) newspaper (B) magazine (C) autobiography (D) short story 2. Which of the following best describes the main idea of the passage?

(A) The narrator has a deep emotional attachment to the slave songs.

(B) The narrator misses singing the songs that he sang as a child.

(C) The narrator doesn’t understand the meaning of the slave songs.

(D) The narrator is unmoved by the slave songs but tries to understand them.

3. The author’s claim that the songs “breathed the prayer and complaint of souls” cannot be called a fact because (A) songs cannot be facts. (B) the narrator never heard the songs.

(C) It is an expression of his feelings. (D) it can be proved.

4. The statement “every tone was a testimony against slavery” suggests that (A) the songs were more for amusement than anything else.

(B) the songs frequently made act out against slavery.

(C) the slaves testified against slavery in court.

(D) The songs reflected a strong opposition to the institution of slavery.

5. In the phrase “ineffable sadness,” ineffable means (A) powerful (B) indescribable (C) unbelievable (D) slight 6. Beginning the selection with a rhetorical question would (A) confuse the reader. (B) introduce a new character to the reader.

(C) set up the expectation that the author will discuss the question.

(D) require the author to include dialogue.

CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023

XXXIX

The satisfaction of dentures IT is well-established and even confirmed by numerous international reports that there is global trend of increased longevity among older adults, especially in developed and developing countries. It therefore seems logical to assume that dentists will go on enriching the quality of the patients’ lives via traditional techniques of prosthetic rehabilitation. However, population groups exist who simply cannot benefit from current treatment techniques.

Many elderly patients are already without natural teeth and wear complete dentures with different degrees of success. Many elderly patients are edentulous (missing teeth) and may be unable to avail themselves of methods for retaining their remaining teeth. Clinical wisdom would suggest immediate denture therapy for such patients mainly if advanced gum disease is present.

For persons who have lost most of their teeth to obtain this satisfaction with dentures, it is important that the remaining teeth be preserved no matter in what condition the crown may be. If strategically located, these teeth may be

retained and prepared for abutment service as adjunctive means of support under partial or complete overdentures.

When correctly applied, the mechanical principles of partial or complete denture treatment are purported to virtually guarantee a happy coexistence between dentures and their host tissues. As a result, dentists have been remarkably successful in convincing themselves, if not always their patients, that technically well-made removable dentures can be worn satisfactorily and perhaps even indefinitely.

According to reports, evidence reveals that while it is difficult to define denture satisfaction, many patients in all age groups are dissatisfied with their dentures. Furthermore, many elderly patients experience difficulty in attaining comfortable and efficient oral function with removable dentures.

The important relationship between adequate oral function and proper digestion and nutrition is well documented.

Since the greater the life expectancy of toothless patients is likely to increase, the risk of denture dissatisfaction and its functional implications can only be prolonged. This risk is particularly compelling in the context of denture-supporting tissues’ vulnerability to adverse changes as a result of longterm denture wear.

There seems to be a tendency for the all-or-none rule where retaining teeth are concerned. It is commonly believed that it is better to extract all one’s teeth and wear total dentures rather than keeping a few and wearing a partial one; well, that belief may have been justified twenty years ago, but today, dentists utilise any few remaining the potential the satisfaction for the patient.

Modern dentistry has made sure that elderly patients with no teeth are by no means in an irreparable situation, no matter how hopeless their condition might appear.

Various techniques, albeit somewhat inaccessible to the average person, exist that can significantly take care of seemingly impossible circumstances.

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CHRONICLE PEPPERPOT ― Sunday, October 29, 2023