Pepperpot 01 31 2016

► Page XVI

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

Is there a peoblem about holding a national conversation about who really were the first guyanese?

One is astonished in the study of history at the recurrence of the idea that evil must be forgotton, distorted skimmed over. We must not remember that Daniel Webster got drunk but only that he was a splendid constitutional lawyer. We must forget that George Washington was a slave owner...and simply remember the things we regard as creditable and inspiring. The difficulty of course, with this philosophy is that history loses its value as an incentive and example; it paints perfect man and noble nations, but it does not tell the truth.

– W.E.B. Dubois

Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.

The history of a movement, the history of a nation, the history of a race is the guide-post of that movement’s destiny, that race’s destiny.

– Marcus Garvey For Africa to me...is more than a glamorous fact. It is a historical truth. No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present.

– Maya Angelou There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm (indifferent, uninterested) defenders in those who may do well under the new.

– Niccolo Machiavelli.

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’m devoting this week’s Letters from Yukuriba, Before the Road to Brazil column, not just to some continuing fiction inspired by my rainforest experience in the saga Free As A Bird, but to some simple unadulterated facts about the African Presence in the Americas. Therefore, I’ve begun by sharing some thoughts, still as fresh as when they were minted from the minds of thinkers I respect. The quotations above are intended to give context to a national dialogue that should be engaging the entire Guyanese nation; especially at this historic moment - Guyana’s Independence Jubillee Year in this United Nations designated ‘Decade For People Of African Descent’ However, it seems that those institutions that should be leading the discourse, introducing a “new order” of things, are reluctant to pursue this dialectic. I’m talking about our leading social and cultural institutions such as the Ministry of Education and Culture, Guyana Cultural Association New York - always professing concern about ‘WHO ARE WE’ - our Afrocentric Organisations including Cuffy 250, ACDA, all. I’m talking about the claim, supported by some fascinating documented evidence, that the African presence in the Americas, in Guyana, predates by centuries that of any other group including Amerindians.

I’m asking right here, now, this question addressed primarily to Guyanese historians especially our President Brigadier David Granger, an historian himself: IS THERE A PEOBLEM ABOUT HOLDING A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO REALLY WERE THE FIRST GUYANESE? IF SO WHY? An abundance of facts to support this claim can be found in David Imhotep’s study entitled: “The First Amricans Were Black, Documented Evidence.” I want to thank that consummate researcher M’lilwana Osanku for leading me to Dr Imhotep’s findings. The research in “The First Amricans Were Black,” gathered in an era in which DNA exists, was able to validate skulls, skeletons, footprints and other genetic M174 material; also ancient tools and carvings found on campsites. Earlier work by scholars such as our own Dr Ivan Van Sertima, a foremost herald of our awakening to this significant history, with his momentous book: “They Came Before Columbus,” unlike Imhotep, did not have the benefit of the DNA technology. ► Continued on page VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

III

Shadow of doubt

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udrey knew her coeval cousin Mikey well.

Better than anyone else. They were like twins…welded by their intrinsic nature and like-mindedness.

The mini-bus stopped at the convent on Camp and Church Streets and six persons alighted. As was the age-old custom, she kissed everyone else and then walked up to Mikey, their eyes locked together in warmth and assuredness. No tension, no edginess. Not a word; just a bumping of fists saying it all. They had already gone through the gamut of ifs and buts. There was no turning back.

An immaculately dressed nun impatiently shuffled her feet and stretched a hand to take Audrey’s capacious suitcase.

With a confident wave and the blowing of a kiss Audrey disappeared into the shadows beyond.

The parochial and less sophisticated aspects of rural upbringing hung heavy in the air as the family gave vent to their despair of losing “a lovely child.” They all kept looking at the door that stood between them and her.

Mikey struggled to move and somehow he did, ushering the tearful posse into the bus and away to Parika for a river crossing.

Audrey was drowning in a whirlpool of murky waters, the sound of a nearby waterfall shutting out her screams for help. On the far shore, a demon commanded the turbulence to welcome her into its vortex. She had swallowed what seemed like a gallon of water, and her lungs were stretched to the max.

She slipped below the surface once, twice…then surrendered to the depths. Highlights of her life flashed before her. Then the camera shut with decisive finality and harp-playing angels joined in song.

“Wake up Sister Audrey, wake up,” an ethereal voice said through a fog of clouds.

But she was already in heaven. Would she have to wait for a long time at the Pearly Gates? How would she be judged?

Godfrey Wray She shouted and struggled against pressure on her arms and body.

“Sister, Sister, you’re having another nightmare. Wake up.”

The tone signaled a growing impatience with Lizzie continuous heaven-earth battles, and the nun slapped her into consciousness.

“Where…where am I? she asked groggily.

“Don’t you remember? You’re in the convent.”

Her face was drained of colour, her now ashen countenance frozen in uncertainty.

Clearly concerned, an elderly nun, who resembled Mother Theresa, cautiously interjected, “You came with a letter from the priest in your district. Are you having a change of heart?”

It took her only seconds to utter “no.” A beatific smile seemed to enhance the translucent halo around her pretty face, and the Sisters knew that the worse had passed.

Audrey had made a sudden dramatic decision to enter the Catholic convent in Georgetown to undergo training as a lay nun. She was advised that she would have to go through a mentally rigorous three-month period of training to “test the commitment of the applicant.”

A week after Audrey entered the convent she began to have serious misgivings and, every night afterwards was tormented by questions and doubts.

One night into her third week, she stood at a top floor window, her mind a cyclone of fractured thoughts and emotions.

She gazed into the distance, absently noting the upper sections of St. George’s Cathedral, the beautiful Gothic building, reputedly the tallest wooden structure in the world. Just beyond that lay Stabroek Market, built by the Dutch, with its huge four-faced clock, and looking like they were almost touching were City Hall and the Magistrates’ Court.

Below, traffic flowed non-stop on streets that had parapets alive with a profusion of flowering plants and imposing trees.

During her short stay, she had keenly observed the eager Sisters bustling here and there in their lusterless raiment, all bound by their oath of poverty, obedience and chastity. She had knelt with them for hours on end, gripping rosary beads and silently reciting familiar prayers. And she had taken her turn serving lunch and dinner to the destitute people who daily thronged the outdoor canteen.

Yet she kept asking herself over and over again. Is this the life you want to embrace the rest of your days? Are those the deeds you want to perform forever?

Audrey paced the room past midnight, sorting through the dust and debris of doubts and uncertainty, dashed hopes and dreams, disaster and lies. When the alarm clock in her head went off at six in the morning, one thing had become clear and obvious – she lacked the optimal commitment to become a nun.

She would prefer to help others in a different way. She wanted to seek new avenues to assist the countless unfortunate women who were abused every day. In fact, she was going to engineer a gale force to hasten a kind of feminist movement, teaching women to fight back mentally and physically.

She had to be able to operate in an unfettered manner, crisscrossing delicate boundaries and making value judgments that might not stand the scrutiny of the squeamish.

She was packed and ready when the Mother Superior emerged from her quarters. Without a word, Audrey handed her an envelope that contained a letter of withdrawal and a check – a donation of some significance.

An hour later Audrey was at peace with herself, still full of love for the Almighty.

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

World Wetlands Day 2016

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orld Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on the 2nd of February, marking the adoption of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands on February 02, 1971, in the Iranian City of Ramsar. This year’s theme,“Wetlands for our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods”demonstrates the vital role of Wetlands for the future of humanity and specifically their relevance towards achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals.

marshes, wetgrasslands and mangroves forests.

Wetlandsare indispensable for the countless benefits or “ecosystem services”they provide humanity.Wetland ser-

to people.

About Wetlands Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is near or at the surface of the soil, all year, or for varying periods of time, during the year. Wetlands include, lakes, rivers, swamps,

vices range from freshwater supply, food and building materials, and biodiversity, to flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate change mitigation. More than a billion people make a living from Wetlands from fishing, farming and even travel and tourism.

The plight of Wetlands Wetlands continue to decline globally, both in area and in quality. The global extent of Wetlands is now estimated to have declined between 64-71% in the 20th century, and losses and degradation continue worldwide.As a result, the ecosystem services that Wetlands provide to society are diminished. Adverse changes to wetlands, including coral reefs, are estimated to result in more than US$20 trillion in losses of ecosystem services annually.

World Wetlands Day is intended to highlight the plight of Wetlands and to encourage policymakers to take actions to stop and reverse their loss and degradation and loss of services to people. As Wetlands decline so does the biodiversity they support. Scientificinformationalready exists tounderstandthe urgent need to take appropriate actions to conserve wetlands and their services

Wetlands in Guyana Here in Guyana, the Rupununi Wetland plays a very important role in the lives of thousands of indigenous people.The Wetland feedsrivers and waterways that are a source of drinking water and a main transportation route for the people living in the area.Also, the vegetation found in the Rupununi Wetlands is used by indigenous people for craft, traditional medicine, houses and food.

On the Coast our country, Mangrove Wetlands have the important functions of sea-defence and nurseries for fish and various crustaceans e.g. shrimp and crab. Mangroves are also a source of livelihood e.g. from honey-bee farms. These Wetlands face threats from extraction of trees for different reasons and from alteration due to human related Coastal activities. However, the Mangrove Rehabilitation Project (Implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture) has sought to raise awareness, among other activities, of the importance of Mangrove ecosystems in an effort promote their sustainable use.

All is not lost we can still protect our wetlands?

This World Wetlands Day,it is important for us to recognize that Wetland sare not wastelands as our sustainability depends on them being vibrant.Let’s start by doing our part diligently to avoid further damage or to even reverse some of the damage caused to Wetlands. Here’s what you can do; * Dispose of your waste properly. * Reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides and harmful chemicals. * Do not use endangered or threatened species as food or souvenirs * Support conservation. * Do not move wild plants or animals from one location to another. * Encourage Wetland Protection in your community * Lobby for Wetland Protection policies.

Share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@ gmail.com or you can contact the Agency on 225-5467-9.

Sources: http://www.ramsar.org/activity/world-wetlands-day-2016

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

V

Professional Art Practices What you should already have (Pt. 1)

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By Dominique Hunter fter last week’s article about making introductions as a creative practitioner, it slowly dawned on me that I probably should’ve listed the most important things every artist should have before making that introduction.

But we all know what they say about hindsight. Nevertheless, I’ve compiled a list of seven items that, in my opinion, should be in everyone’s starter kit.

Chances are that if you have completed any level of art education in Guyana, you probably would not have been given all the tools you need to get your art career started. The reality of art education here is that students are never adequately prepared for the business of art. For whatever reason they are not taught that art is structured in much the same way as any business model.

While most art institutions focus on mastering a skill, it is unlikely that they will teach you how to use that skill to create a sustainable long-term creative practice.

Very often, students are left to figure out how to navigate the art world on their own, with the vast majority falling through the cracks and giving up on art altogether. Whether you’re still in school, recently graduated or haven’t received any formal art training at all, pay keen attention to the following items you will need to help you along the way.

Please note that while these may not be earth-shattering tips for some, there are persons who have requested this information and I am simply making it available to everyone.

ster’s online dictionary, the literal translation of the two Latin words is “course of (one’s) life.” This means that you are presenting your reader with a complete list of your professional accomplishments and experiences in reverse chronological order (most recent accomplishment listed first). Reverse chronological order is used for every section except those sections without dates, in which case they would be listed in alphabetical order.

It is important to note that there are several ways to structure your CV and more than likely the structure will be determined by its purpose.

For example, if you are applying for a job that relates more to business than it does art but you have experience in both fields, then the focus of your CV should be your business-related accomplishments and experiences. So although you will have one master copy of your CV with everything listed, you may

CURRICULUM VITAE Your first order of business as a creative practitioner should be to work on your Curriculum Vitae (CV).

According to Merriam-Web-

Sample: Biography

be required to omit unrelated sections resulting in multiple versions of the same document in some cases.

Your CV should be simple and easy to read. Pick a standard font and be consistent with it. Avoid the use of fancy flourishes, images and coloured or scented paper.

The most common mistake young creatives make is to “fluff” their CV. It might not seem noticeable to you, but for the person who has reviewed hundreds of CVs stretching out sections unnecessarily is the oldest and most tired trick. Another common mistake is incorrectly or inappropriately naming the document before sending it online. When emailing copies of your CV ensure that the file is saved as your full name and that you send the PDF version, unless otherwise specified.

Also keep in mind that your CV, like all the other documents in your portfolio, is not a finished document.

Sample: Artist Statement Remember to make the necessary adjustments after each new undertaking in your career.

BIOGRAPHY It is important to note that a biography is not the same as a CV or resume, although it contains a lot of the same information. In addition to your education, training and experience, your biography should include your family history (only if you come from a family of creative practitioners and it is relevant to your decision to pursue art), influences, a summary of your concept(s), insights about your technique and medium, your exhibition history, reviews and publications about your work, and where you live and work. A good biography is basically a narrative version of your CV with additional information that can range anywhere from 100 to 300 words in length. However, it should be noted that the length of the biography varies according to application specifications so pay close attention to what is being asked of you.

There are also a few things you should avoid when working on your bi-

ography including divulging personal information that isn’t related to your artistic practice, writing in the first person, and listing every single accomplishment. Instead, select only your biggest moments in your career and let those be your selling points.

ARTIST STATEMENT This is perhaps the hardest thing you will ever have to write in your entire life.

And the fantastic news is that you will never stop rewriting it for as long as you’re actively producing and exhibiting work. At this point I will accept my failure to inspire enthusiasm. Personally, I don’t look forward to writing artist statements any more than the next reluctant artist. But it’s a necessary evil that is impossible to out-maneuver.

A few persons may argue that it’s not important for a successful practice, and even cite themselves as success stories. In fact, I’ve had “veterans” in the art scene tell me that “the art should speak for itself.” This attitude will get you at the top of the pile of unsuccessful residency applications in a flash. The idea that the work should

speak for itself reinforces the stereotype that artists are brainless robots who churn out work factory-style and are unable to articulate the theories that inform their work. These people fail to understand that their reluctance to write this document limits their own understanding of their work as well as the public’s reading of it.

It’s not enough to just make the work and put it out there for persons to view. Every art professional will ask you to submit a statement about your work, and you would be smart to have an updated version handy at all times.

It makes you relatable as an individual and goes a long way to destroy the public’s perception of artists as “crazy, tormented souls” (unless you are a crazy, tormented soul, in which case you should carry on).

But more importantly, you should have one for the sake of your own progress.

Writing a statement helps to establish the parameters of your work and iron out the uncertainties of your concepts. This can also be very helpful for John Public who has no idea how to interpret a work of art.

Dominique Hunter is an independent visual artist who recently graduated from the Barbados Community College with a Bachelor of Fine Art (First Class Honours).

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

Where to go for help L

Hello Everyone, ast week I spoke about the signs, symptoms and causes of mental illness such as depression. This week, I’m writing about where to go when you’ve accepted that you have a problem and are willing to seek help.

I recognise how difficult it is for a depressed individual to do this as there are so many barriers. Low motivation and unwillingness to get out of bed are major symptoms which need to be overcome. Secondly, there is still, unrightfully so, serious stigma attached to mental illness in Guyana. People are ashamed to seek help or even worse, they feel that there is no help available to them. I’m here this week to tell you that not only are there places to go but there are many professionals who dedicate their lives every day for people like you who are brave and strong enough to ask for help.

If you find it difficult to get out of bed but still would like someone to speak to, then please utilize the Suicide Prevention Helpline Numbers which are at the bottom of the page.

When you feel mentally ready to get out of bed, it’s then time to physically force yourself.

This can be done with a simple self- motivational talk from yourself or loved ones. Remind yourself why it’s important to take the next step.

I feel that way almost every day when it’s time to go to the gym. I very rarely want to go and always have to force myself. Even when I get there, I’m a little hesitant to walk in- as I walk in, I’m hesitant to start. However 10 minutes in I get into it, start to like it and by the end of it, it’s the best I’ve felt all day.

Now, where to go for help?

If you feel as though you are suffering from depression, you can go to your nearest health centre. If a location is not equipped to handle a specific case, that individual is usually referred to Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.

GPHC has a fantastic team who works at the Psychiatric Department daily. If you’re feeling depressed, you can simply walk in through the Accident and Emergency entrance on New Market Street come and see us. There, you can speak to psychiatrists, psychologists, general medical officers, social workers, nurses and so on who can help in any situation.

Although there are adult clinic days- Monday, Wednesday and Thursday- I do recommend that anyone can show up on any day if it’s an emergency. The person is usually assessed by a social worker or psychologist and then referred to a general medical officer or psychiatrist if the problem is very serious and requires medical intervention. So many people get involved as each individual is different, with a different situation and therefore may require different types of counselling. For example, a person who is suffering from depression due to substance abuse will require a different counselling technique that the individual suffering from depression due to domestic violence.

I asked a friend and co-worker, Dr. Indhira Harry, a GMO who wishes to specialise in psychiatry, what advice she has for people who are afraid to seek help. She said, “You shouldn’t be afraid to come; we aren’t here to judge, only to listen, help and ensure that you get to live happy and functioning lives. If you feel like you have nowhere to go or no one to understand you, don’t. Come and we will do the best we can to help.

“Many of you fear people will call you ‘mad’ if you seek help but you need to help us change that. The mental health unit or psychiatric department is for everyone – we see cases of depression, anxiety and even children every day. So please, don’t let the name stop you from coming to get help.”

There are also new group therapy meetings specifically for individuals suffering from depression/anxiety.

Wednesday’s: 4:30- 5:30pm – Woodlands Hospital (at the outpatient department) Fridays: 10-11am – Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (at the Psychiatric department) It helps to share your feelings among a group of people who feel the same way and are willing to help themselves and others. Please attend.

If the group therapy is not for you, there are also private counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists in both those hospitals.

What can you do at home to overcome depression?

First thing to do is set realistic goals and write them down. People who are depressed feel as though they do not accomplish anything and even the smallest errands are difficult to do.

Make a list, however big or small, of the things you have to do and tick them off one by one.

It always helps to clearly see your progress. Also, increase exercise (I always recommend swimming), eat healthier, introduce new hobbies into your weekly routine (both social and anti-social ones) and go to bed earlier.

Finally, and most important, negative thoughts need to be challenged. A depressed individual will always see the glass half empty. When thinking something that’s negative or makes you feel worse, ask yourself- is there real evidence that supports this?

I just want to say thank to you those who have been writing in. Please keep doing so and to everyone else- what would you like to talk about?

Next week I’m going to talk about Suicide (a suggestion from a reader) –signs, symptoms, causes, prevention strategies,where to go for help and how to deal with the loss of someone you love.

Say yes to life and no to drugs! Always!

Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896 ****************************** Keep writing in at caitlinvieira@gmail.com or drop it off in the box at Chronicle Head office on Lama Avenue.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

VII

Improper valuation of evidence - Trial judge’s decision set aside

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N 2002, the Guyana Court of Appeal presided over by Justice of Appeal C. Singh ruled that the decision of a trial judge was set aside because of improper valuation of the evidence.

That Court was constituted by Justices of Appeal C. Singh & I. Chang & additional Judge C. La Bennett.

The facts of the case were that the Appellant, Liloutie, Jamna Persaud and others entered into a written Agreement of Sale with his nephew in respect of 20 acres of land.

Just over one month later, the appellant sold a portion of the land to his tenant .

A trial judge granted the Respondent specific performance of the agreement.

The decision was appealed. He contended that he had agreed to sell the respondent 10 out of the 20 acres but that the respondent requested him to sign a document which falsely represented that the sale was in relation to 10 acres of land.

The Court of Appeal held that the trial judge failed to consider whether the written agreement accurately reflected the earlier made oral agreement .

The appeal was allowed and the decision of the trial judge was set aside.

Mr. O. Valz, SC appeared for the appellants and Mr. Fitz Peters appeared for the respondents.

Delivering the judgment of the Appellate Court, Justice of Appeal Singh said, “Abhiman Singh (deceased), substituted by his widow Liloutie Singh, was the owner of Transports numbers 1023/98 and 1024/78 in relation to 20 acres of land.

“On 17th day of September, 1993 Abhiman Singh entered into a written agreement of sale with his nephew Jamna Persaud in relation to the lands as evidenced by the said Transports.

The written agreement stated the purchase price as $120, 000.

“It is important to mention that on 22nd October , 1993 Abhiman Singh sold 10 acres of the said lands to his tenant Mohabir for the sum of $300, 000. As a consequence Jamna Persaud filed an action claiming specific performance of the agreement of sale in relation to the 20 acres of land against Abhiman Singh and sought a declaration , injunction and damages against Mohabir.

“In his defence Abhiman Singh contended that Jamna Persaud was his nephew and that around September, 1993 at his nephew’s request he agreed to sell him 10 out of the 20 acres of the land for the sum of $300, 000. He further stated that the evening of 17th September,1993, his nephew the defendant visited him and requested him to sign a document which falsely represented that the sale was in relation to ten acres of land.

“The trial judge decided in favour of the Respondent thereby granting him specific performance of the agreement of sale. It is from this decision that the appeal emanated. Among the grounds of appeal were: (a) The learned trial judge was wrong to find that the deceased Abhiman Singh signed the agreement of sale with full knowledge of the contents thereof; and (b) The learned trial judge made no reference to, and did not evaluate , the discrepancies in the evidence of the Respondents and their witnesses.

At page 121 of the record the learned trial Judge stated the facts of the case as follows: “On the 17th day of October , 1993 Abhiman Singh entered into a written agreement of Sale and Purchase with the Plaintiffs for properties situated at Hyde Park, Mahaicony Creek for $120, 000 which sum was paid in full on the signing of the agreement.”

At page 122 His Honour quoted from the agreement of sale : “It is recorded in the Agreement of Sale ‘Purchase Price’ $120, 000 which is now fully paid by the purchasers to the vendor on the signing of this agreement , receipt whereof the vendor acknowledged.”

The learned judge then went on to make a finding in relation to the agreement of sale: “I understand that paragraph to mean (i) the sum was fully paid: (ii) the agreement of sale acknowledges receipt . the said sum was paid prior to the signing of the agreement of sale.

“It is obvious that the learned trial judge begged the essential issue by accepting that the agreement signed on 17th September, 1993 reflected the true intentions of the parties when it was incumbent on him to make a finding as to whether the agreement was for the sale of ten acres or the whole of the twenty acres. The fact that the purchase price was paid prior to the signing of the agreement ought to have put the learned trial judge on notice that there might have been a prior agreement.

At page 108 of the record, Jamna Persaud admitted under cross-examination that he entered the agreement of sale about one week before the 17th .

George Barclay

“This bit of evidence clearly establishes that there was an oral agreement prior to the 17th … Adhiman Singh from his defence did not deny the existence of an agreement of sale but contended that the agreement did not truly reflect the oral agreement. This was the crux of the case and the question which the learned trial judge had to decide but did not do so.

“At page 85 of the record James Persaud testified: ‘I paid $120, 000 to Liloutie Singh the wife of Abhiman. I wrote the cheques on the 10th September.’

“At page 147 of the record is a photocopy of the cheque dated 10th September , 1993 for the payment of the said sum. On the face of that very cheque the term ‘Land Transport’ is written as well as the word ‘payment.’ It is crystal clear that a word was erased before the word ‘payment.’”

At page 107 of the record Jamna Persaud admitted under cross-examination that the word “Land Transport” on Ex. D, the cheque for $120, 000, was written by him .

“As regards the three cheques G1-G3 which were exhibited , Jamna Persaud at page 108 of the record admitted that they were not additional payments for the purchase of the land but were issued for the payments of rates and taxes and compliance. The question then arose for the trial judge to consider how could he have made a payment for rates and taxes when he had testified: “I did not find out from the District Council how much rates and taxes were owed.

“I did not find out from the District Council how much rates and taxes were owed. I did not find out if he paid rates and taxes.

“It is obvious to this Court that had the learned trial judge made a proper evaluation of the evidence his decision might have been different. Mr. Peters contended that the affidavits of Abhiman Singh ought not to have been used without prior permission of the Court but this objection was not taken in the Court below and as such cannot now be considered.

“For all the reasons stated Appeal No 36 of 2002 is allowed and the decision of the learned trial judge is set aside. Appeal No. 63 of 2002 is accordingly dismissed. Costs in the sum of $100, 000.” (georgebarclay@Guyana Chronicle.com)

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

Is there a peoblem about holding ... ► From page II According to Dr Imhotep, specimen “going back forty thousand years...as far back as two thousand six hundred to three thousand years B.C.” have been discovered and dated. Imhotep asserts:“there was no other race in the Americas before Africans...the people who came here were still speaking ancient Egyptian language...the words they wrote down were in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.”

Isn’t it logical then, to assume that given all this new information available at this time of reflection – which to my mind should be all about retrospection and introspection that leads to the projection of a future based on national unity grounded in respect and peaceful co-existence – that common sense would lead us to seize this current historic moment of focus on the true meaning of Guyana’s Independence after 50 years, to inspire a national conversation aimed at settling any questions regarding our origins?

Rather than burying the truth about who came to Guyana first, (if we would honestly claim to be concerned about stimulating national consciousness) shouldn’t our nation be assembling all its creative, intellectual resources – scholars, student researchers, artists for fact finding and interpretations of this sifnificant feature of Guyana’s history?

I could go on to offer my own interpretations about this, but don’t want to be preachy.

However, it must be stated before closing, that my people, African people, have been history’s docile victims for far too long. The fault of this victimization lies not only in Western historians, or the extraordinary job our colonisers have done to enslave our minds but to a great extent we should blame our silence; the unwillingness to collectively serve an injunction on history and to confront the centuries of repetitive, blatant revisionism that has ravaged and distorted our true identity.

The New York based cultural organisation Shanto Productions, led by Menes de Griot, has proposed to tell this story of our true origins creatively, in a production entitled “Guyana Land Of Many Waters And Drums.”

The response to this proposal, from the organisers of Guyana’s Official 50th Anniversary Celebrations, will be instructive.

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.’

– Coco Chanel

HIV resistance to favored treatment not uncommon (Reuters Health) - Resistance to a key HIV drug is common worldwide and could mean trouble for treating and preventing the virus that causes AIDS, according to a new study.

In some parts of the world, more than half of people who continued to have uncontrolled HIV despite treatment turned out to have a form of the virus that is resistant to the drug tenofovir, researchers report in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

The new study suggests treatment and monitoring of HIV patients around the world needs to be improved, and surveillance also needs to be increased, said senior author Dr. Ravi Gupta, of University College London.

Tenofovir is the drug of choice when it comes to treating and preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The drug can also be used to treat hepatitis B. "If you develop resistance to that, it’s a very large loss," said study author Dr. Robert Shafer, of Stanford University in California.

"The availability of second-line drugs is increasing, but they're quite a bit more expensive and have more side effects associated with them," Gupta told Reuters Health.

People acquire HIV resistance to tenofovir in one of two ways, he said. Either they don't take the drug as intended and the virus mutates, or they are infected by someone with a resistant form of the virus.

For the new study, the researchers used data from 1,926 people in 36 countries who continued to have uncontrolled HIV despite simultaneous treatment with an assortment of drugs that included tenofovir.

The proportion of people with tenofovir-resistant HIV ranged from 20 percent in Europe to over 50 percent in sub-Saharan Africa.

While the study can't say what causes tenofovir-resistant HIV, the researchers found the health of the immune system when treatment begins, and the other drugs in the treatment

regimen, are linked to the risk of resistance.

People who started treatment with a low CD4-cell count, which is a measure of the immune system's health, were about 50 percent more likely to have resistance than people with healthier immune systems.

"We think that part of the reason is that the immune system helps the drugs," said Gupta.

In addition, people taking a drug called lamivudine were also about 50 percent more likely to have resistance than those taking a similar drug known as emtricitabine.

Also, treatment with the drug nevirapine, rather than a similarly acting drug called efavirenz, was also tied to higher odds of tenofovir-resistant HIV. Unlike previous studies, Gupta said, the new research found tenofovir-resistant HIV reproduces itself just as much as non-resistant HIV does, which means that resistance can be passed on to other individuals.

"I think that if these trends continued . . . and you found a lot of HIV infections had resistance, then you would find the efficacy of PrEP is compromised," said Gupta, referring to pre-exposure prophylaxis, which is the practice of having uninfected people take anti-HIV drugs to try to avoid getting the virus.

The researchers say they can't predict how many people with HIV will have resistance, because their study only included people who failed treatment.

However, their estimates suggest that under current circumstances, about 8 percent to 18 percent of patients in sub-Saharan Africa who receive tenofovir plus efavirenz will develop resistance in the first year of treatment.

The findings highlight the need for better surveillance of drug resistance in patients with HIV, they write.

"We need these early warning systems and to act on what we find," Gupta said.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

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Knowing all the angles: Ancient Babylonians used tricky geometry (Reuters) Ancient Babylonian astronomers were way ahead of their time, using sophisticated geometric techniques that until now had been considered an achievement of medieval European scholars.

That is the finding of a study published on Thursday that analyzed four clay tablets dating from 350 to 50 BC featuring the wedge-shaped ancient Babylonian cuneiform script describing how to track the planet Jupiter's path across the sky.

A clay tablet dating from 350 to 50 BC. (REUTERS/ Tr u s t e e s o f t h e B r i t i s h M u s e u m / M a t h i e u Ossendrijver) "No one expected this," said Mathieu Ossendrijver, a professor of history of ancient science at Humboldt University in Berlin, noting that the methods delineated in the tablets were so advanced that they foreshadowed the development of calculus.

"This kind of understanding of the connection between velocity, time and distance was thought to have emerged only around 1350 AD," Ossendrijver added.

The methods were similar to those employed by 14th century scholars at University of Oxford's Merton College, he said.

Babylon was an important city in ancient Mesopotamia, located in Iraq about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Baghdad. Jupiter was associated with Marduk, the city's patron god.

Babylonian astronomers produced tables with computed positions of the planets, Ossendrijver said.

"They provided positions needed for making horoscopes ordered by clients, and they also held the view that everything on Earth - from river levels to market prices, for example grain, and weather - is connected to the motion of the planets. So by predicting the latter they hoped to be able to predict things on Earth," Ossendrijver added.

He noted that the tablets themselves do not

mention anything about these astrological applications.

The four tablets, excavated around 1880, were stored at the British Museum in London.

The cuneiform characters were impressed in soft clay with a reed stylus and the tablets may have been stored in the scientific library of an astronomer or a temple building, Ossendrijver said.

The tablets contain geometrical calculations

based on a trapezoid's area, and its long and short sides. It had been thought that Babylonian astronomers relied only on arithmetical concepts, not geometric ones.

The ancient Greeks also were known for using geometry, but the Babylonian tablets employ it in a more complex, abstract manner.

The research was published in the journal Science.

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

‘By the sweat of thy brow, and not piracy, thou shall eat bread’

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- A Kreole Day Proverb

he Commissioning of the Commercial and Land Registries on January 15 was a profound step in Guyana’s entrance into, first, the CARICOM group of nations not as the Tortuga [of the famous Buccaneers] of the 21st century, but as a reliable, principled and creative contender. Surely, the accommodation of Intellectual Property Law [Copyright] with an adjustment of court awards parallel to our Caribbean neighbours is a glowing feather in the Cacique crown of President Granger’s administration. When Davy Simmons Worldwide Entertainment brought Buju Banton to Guyana in 1993-4, for an April 30th concert, we took him to some of the places that were selling tickets. At one Record Bar. I sensed some hesitancy, so I asked the videographer what the problem was. He explained to me that they couldn’t go into a facility that was stacked with pirate copies of Buju’s and other artistes covered by the same label he was signed to. I think it was SONY Records. I did explain that the record Bar could not exist if it did otherwise. Fast-forward to now. The rude facts of life and the principles of law will wrestle like Jacob and the angel, but the latter is essentially the sinews that will hold the body of society together. I can recall “Young warriors,” a Guyanese duet I supervised for Davie Simmons.

They had produced a popular single named Them Warriors. We were walking down Church Road when a car came up blasting the song. A young man on recognising them leaned out of the car and congratulated them on the song. Up to then, all the money they had received were the stipends Davie had sent. The song was played on the radio, for TV greetings and ads, as if it was a public legacy; they remained poor. Creative piracy persists worldwide but so must the legal alternative as we witnessed with Robin Thicke and the Marvin Gaye family recently.

May 5, 2012, marked the 200th anniversary of Georgetown, and it was obvious the then administration was going to ignore it as they were ignoring mostly everything about the wellbeing of the city. I initiated an idea to the steering committee of ACDA and it was well received. That was how Kreole Day was born. It was intended as a tribute to the survival of industries that evolved, sustaining our forefather in the township over the past 200 years that were still relevant today. We did a TV space with the Mayor Mr. Hamilton Green who contributed much regarding the history of the city, and he visited us on Kreole Day. The day went well. The location was the Parade ground, a significant historical site itself that once also included the Promenade Gardens.

It was our first effort, and we had no budget for promotional and advertising stuff.

We were however pleased at the turn out; there was kreole food, snacks, crafts, hand painted clothing, dolls and some paintings. Most of the posters and paintings were displays and not for sale to the disappointment of those who came. What were significant were the displays of craft. The source of inspiration was seldom drawn from imagery Guyanese enough to inspire a visitor to this country to purchase as a souvenir or for a collection. Though well done, the inspiration was international, which means, part vintage 40s with a touch of 70s. While Sister’s Marshall and Pindar kept the mood and local music on stream, I sat with my fellow Coordinator Elton Mcrae and discussed my observations and how best to go about improving it. We decided that a three day workshop with adequate graphics packaged with take home data would be a good orientation launch.

Sis Clementine Marshall did take down the names of almost every one there for the follow-up workshop that never happened. It would have cost us nearly $150, 000 and with no state interest and corporate indifference, that went on Ice. the Chronicle did come and gave us an impressive spread; so did Stabroek and Capitol News. The craft and food producers were encouraging.

There was one contention with the craft people that when they took their time to develop new ideas others stole it at random, so they had concluded, “Why bother?”

With the current advent of realistic copyright practices ahead, much of that will change.

Where the potential for business growth exists it must legally be allowed to grow. The City Council did try their hand at the gist of Kreole Day some months ago, but our agenda remains intact. We will attempt it for 2017, as we are gathering the pieces together now.

A friend some time ago outlined how he had given a few designs to a popular fashion

person now residing abroad to peruse. The fashion person left the country long before the said schedule. He subsequently saw his Jewellery designs on a Facebook picture of the same person who has since not returned his calls or emails.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

The Wonder Food:

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The Coconut

Coconut Oil: Brain Food and More

his wonder food can be a fruit, a nut and a seed! Coconut has many uses.

It’s used for everything from flavoring food and moisturizing your to fueling cars. Oils come from organic substances, such as plants, etc. They can be eaten at moderate temperatures and of course applied topically to the body. Coconut or copra oil is produced from the meat or kernel of matured

coconuts.

Coconut oil contains six omega fatty acids. Omega fatty acids are vital for cell development and maintenance as well as brain and nerve function. Most importantly, coconut oil contains harmless, saturated fat.

It is a naturally rich source of saturated fat because of the MCTs or medium chain triglycerides. Medium length fatty acids process differently than long-chain fatty acids – fatty acids which can be found in meat, dairy products, and hydrogenated vegetable oils, known to cause life threatening diseases. During the metabolism process, the MCTs are transferred from the digestive tract to the liver instantly and converted into ketones – a quick source of energy or cellular fuel.

Health benefits include: • Inhibits certain brain diseases (Dementia, Alzheimer’s) • Improves insulin use and function • Enhances good cholesterol, skin and hair health • Boosts thyroid production thereby increases energy levels • Acts as a natural antioxidant and antibiotics due to high lauric acid content Of course raw is always better. Make salad dressings or try it in granola.

What is the suggested intake? 20 grams or slightly more than two (2) tablespoons/day provides the recommended MCTs’ amount. Apart from Guyana, which produces coconut oil on a small-scale, coconut oil suppliers are throughout the world, especially tropical countries such as the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India. Coconut oil is popular in Ayurveda – the traditional Indian medicinal system. Oil pulling is an Ayurveda medicinal procedure which involves swishing oil in the mouth to obtain oral and systematic health benefits.

There are a variety of ways to include coconut oil in your diet. It is an excellent substitute for margarine or vegetable oil when baking desserts. Add it to your hot drinks, smoothies, or shakes. The smoke or burning point for dry, unrefined expelled pressed coconut oil is high (177°C or 350°F) which makes it great for cooking. Of course raw is always better. Make salad dressings or try it in granola.

The Alternative Re-hydration and Energy Drink

Keeping the body hydrated with fluids, especially water, is essential. Did you know that losing small amounts of water and fluids impairs bodily functions? Ten cups of water per day is lost due to breathing, eliminating waste and sweating. We’ve heard it time and time again that the human body is composed of 75% water. When the body becomes dehydrated it rations water which in turn becomes detrimental.

There are many re-hydration solutions with salt and sugar as the base ingredients combined with a citrus. Tomato juice is another one. The latest craze or discovery is coconut water.

That’s right coconut water! A clear liquid, it’s a tapped from the core of young, green coconuts.

In addition to being excellent hydrator, other benefits include cholesterol free, naturally fat, and high in potassium.

As a matter of fact, coconut water contains more potassium than four bananas and has natural sugars and sodium. An essential energy source for the body is carbohydrates. In coconut water, the carbohydrates are readily digestible via electrolytes and natural sugars present. Five electrolytes can be found in coconut water – calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium and sodium. Most importantly, the sugar and sodium content is compatible or isotonic to the human blood plasma in that it is similar to the sugar/sodium make-up in the cells and blood.

Not only is coconut water skyrocketing as a popular rehydration drink but has become Mother Nature’s perfect, alternative sports and/or energy drink. Many famous athletes swear by it. It supersedes popular sugary, energy drinks on the market today even Gatorade – a long time staple in the sports industry.

Other important facts include: • • • •

Blood pressure reducer Aids in weight loss Excellent Skin Toner Assist digestion

Whether you need to be hydrated, on your way to the gym or some exercise programme – don’t forget a bottle of coconut water!

Noshavyah King (Certified Personal Trainer, aerobics instructor, Sports and Conditioning Coach and Zumba Instructor) Owner of Genesis Fitness Express Located at Transport Sports Club

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BRINGING THE POWER OF THE DRUMS

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By Shirley Thomas aster drummer, herbalist and natural lifestyle consultant Menes De Griot made a brief visit to Guyana last week to highlight the power of the drums.

A celebrated cultural icon, De Griot is a phenomenal master drummer and Kweh Kweh specialist who continues to maintain the African tradition of Guyana, the Caribbean and America, bringing credit to his people.

He is also President of the Guyana Masquerade Association in North America where he also teaches the masquerade dance.

De Griot has taken Guyana’s culture throughout the Caribbean and North America, something he has been doing for almost forty years.

His performance name is Menes, the first Paroh to unite upper and lower Egypt. And Griot is one who is responsible for maintaining the African tradition.

Mission De Griot arrived in Guyana two Thursdays ago, on a mission to put systems in place to bring a contingent of about 15 to 20 Guyanese drummers from New York, to see how best they could be incorporated into Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary celebrations.

“Drumming is a message from the ancestors, so basically, I am fulfilling my ancestral obligation,” he said.

Having had discussions with some key stakeholders, including Minister of Tourism Cathy Hughes while she was in New York and other government officials since arriving here, and having received words of encouragement, De Griot is optimistic that this venture can be realized.

De Griot has been playing drums for almost 60 years and performing professional-

ly, for more than 45 years. The ancestral drums which he plays were made in South Africa by the Venda People. One of those drums is very unique—it is played on 3 sides. It is called the “Trinity Ngoma”.

He has followed in the footsteps of his father, the late great Art Sebastian Broomes, Master Musician, one of Guyana’s premier drummers and Jazz Musicians, who also taught music in the Guyana Defence Force for more than 20 years.

Reflections He now reflects with pride on his early association with his mentor, the late great Tom Charles, one of Guyana’s legendary Big Band Leaders and Recording Artiste who was the creator of “bhoom beat and kreolic” a fusion of jazz and shanto. Tom Charles created the ‘bhoom beat’ for Guyana’s Independence.

Twenty five years later, Griot wrote a song called “Guyana nice.”

He reflected on the impact of music created by great Guyanese artistes in the likes of Tom Charles, Bill Rogers, Mighty Canary and Al Seales and the Wash Board Orchestra which was already fusing Jazz with Shanto music to come up with great musical innovations. He spoke of Rudolph Bunbar, a Guyanese who Menes De Griot went to the United States of America in the early sixties. He made his name and stamped his fame as being the first person of African descent to conduct a philoharmonic orchestra.

Bring on our early musicians “With that level of achievement, Guyana’s rich music culture needs to be placed on a platform, as part of this 50th anniversary celebration,” De Griot surmised Captivating presence Known as the Shanto Man or the Shanto King, Menes is a captivating presence in the community. His outstanding performances have been recorded on the prestigious stages of New York's Lincoln Center, Central Park “Ecofest”, Prospect Park”, Celebrate Brooklyn, the Grand Army Plaza Library “Celebrate Brooklyn International Drum Festival,” Prospect Park “Drummers Grove,” Congo Square, and the celebrated Halls of the Kennedy Center.

He has also engaged audiences with his dynamic performance at the Monument Mall in Washington DC; Million Woman March in Philadelphia; Jo’Burg Stadium South Africa for their 2002 “Peace Concert”; Trinidad National Stadium; Guyana National Park; Carifesta 2008 at the Guyana Cultural Center.

He’s also performed at various events in Canada and Jamaica, and has been invited to perform at numerous colleges and universities.

For the past 18 years, he has been performing for the “Tribute to the Ancestors” at Coney Island Boardwalk, sponsored by Medgar Evers College and the People of the Sun Collective. These are just a few of the performances to display his commitment as a performer and educator within the community and a global scale as a community leader.

Teach young people One of his passions is to teach young people the importance of love, respect and cooperation through the dynamics of playing the drums. He also teaches them the healing aspect that the drum unfolds when it is played correctly.

Menes De Griot’s group Shanto is one of the few in existence that has children included to play drums at a professional level. Menes’ performances are considered edutainment for all ages. He has performed for many of the Presidents in Guyana. He has had the honour and privilege to perform at very historic events such as Yankees vs. Mets World Series. He has received numerous proclamations from the Guyana Consulate, Medgar Evers College, Senator Sampson and the Guyana Folk Festival, just to name a few.

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

The Book of Night Women – Marlon James

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By Subraj Singh a r l o n James, the Caribbean’s newest superstar writer, wrote, in 2009,

The Book of Night Women.

However, it is worrying to think that Night Women might be eclipsed by James’ newer novel, A Brief History of Seven Killings, which won the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 2015.

Readers will undoubtedly flock to Seven Killings now and if, because of this, Night Women is eclipsed then it is only the readers who will lose out since this earlier James novel is also a truly remarkable piece of literature.

The Book of Night Women focuses on a slave-girl in late 1700s Jamaica named Lilith. The plot of the novel concerns her relationships with the many other characters in the novel, including the Night Women – slave women who meet secretly at night to plot a rebellion against the white masters.

There is violence – rape, beatings, murders – and yet there is also beauty in this novel. James’ narrative voice, with all the cadences and rhythms of a thick Jamaican dialect, his keen ear for real dialogue and his sumptuous use of imagery make the darkest scenes in the novel exquisite and the reader is, in a sense, seduced by the writing into reading things that would have turned one away if they had come from the pen of another writer.

His writing is not only pretty but it is also filled, to the point of bursting, with ideologies that are important for those of us who belong to the West Indies. The novel

is feminist in its particular presentation of the female characters – their plight and their strengths, as it is the women who take matters into their own hands and try to fight back against the oppression within their society.

The work lends itself well to postcolonial critique too, offering nuanced and realistic presentations of slave-societies, the people who existed in those societies, the ideologies everyone conformed to or sought to rebel against.

Lilith, the protagonist, is witty, sassy, and sexual, but the most interesting aspect of James’ presentation of her is the fact that she is portrayed as an unwilling heroine. She

XIII refuses to become embroiled in the plot and, because of her mixed heritage, considers herself to be superior to the other slaves. Her hubris – excessive pride, among other things – makes Lilith one of those characters you love and hate at the same time. This ambiguity of the main character may bother those readers who tend to like their heroes/heroines to be the pinnacle of goodness, but Lilith’s lack of conformity makes her a character that represents the pinnacle of what it means to be truly human, in a novel that deals excessively with humanity.

In the hope that people become interested in reading

what is truly a wonderful and valuable novel before it becomes overshadowed

by Seven Killings, I quote the opening lines of Night Women: People think blood red, but blood don’t got no colour. Not when blood wash the floor she lying on as she scream for that son of a bitch to come, the lone baby of 1785. Not when the baby wash in crimson and squealing like it just depart heaven to come to hell, another place of red…

(To share your comments with Subraj Singh, write to him via email: subrajsingh92@gmail.com)

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The Zika babies

Geovane Silva holds his son Gustavo Henrique, who has microcephaly, at the Oswaldo Cruz Hospital in Recife, Brazil, January 26, 2016. In studies of the current outbreak in Brazil, genetic material from the Zika virus has been identified in studies of brain tissue, placenta and amniotic fluid from several infants with microcephaly and from miscarried fetuses from women infected with the virus. (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino)

Gleyse Kelly holds her daughter Maria Geovana, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil, January 25, 2016. Health authorities in the Brazilian state at the center of a rapidly spreading Zika outbreak have been overwhelmed by the alarming surge in cases of babies born with microcephaly, a neurological disorder associated with the mosquito-borne virus. (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino)

The Zika virus, linked to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil, is "spreading explosively" and could infect as many as 4 million people in the Americas, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

There is no vaccine or treatment for Zika, which is like dengue and causes mild fever, rash and red eyes. An estimated 80 percent of people infected have no symptoms. Much of the effort against the illness focuses on protecting people from mosquitoes and reducing mosquito populations.

Hilda Venancio bathes her son Matheus, who has microcephaly, in Recife, Brazil, January 27, 2016. (REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelino)

Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

Texts, Internet, social networks are ‘gift of God’ if used wisely: Pope Francis (Reuters) Pope Francis, who has acknowledged being “a disaster” when it comes to technology, said on Friday that the Internet, social networks and text messages were “a gift of God” if used wisely.

“Emails, text messages, social networks and chats can also be fully human forms of communication,” the pope said in his message for the Roman Catholic Church’s World Day of Communications.

“It is not technology which determines whether or not communication is authentic, but rather the human heart and our capacity to use wisely the means at our disposal,” said.

Last year, the 79-year-old Francis told a young girl he was embarrassed to admit that he did not know how to use computers and was an overall “disaster” with technology. He has also said smartphones should be banned from the family dinner and children should not have computers in their rooms.

Whether by divine providence or human coincidence, Francis’ message was released as he was meeting with the head of a company whose brand is synonymous with those products – Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook.

In his message, the pope appeared to take a more conciliatory stand toward modern technology than in the past, saying “the Internet could be used to build a society which is healthy and open to sharing”.

“Social networks can facilitate relationships and promote the good of society, but they can also lead to further polarization and division between individuals and groups,” he said.

Modern communications were “a gift of God which involves a great responsibility,” he said.

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Compton Spar

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- Guyana’s longest serving

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By Telesha Ramnarine HEN Compton Anthony Sparman first went into the Guyana Fire Service (GFS), on recommendation from a family friend, the officer he stood before said to him: “Thief! Thief! Bandit! Bandit! We don’t want you; sheep in wolf clothing.”

Such a response came because Sparman said he was born and raised in Albouystown, the Georgetown suburb which bears a sketchy reputation associated with its tag of being “the ghetto.” But little did that officer know that the very office he occupied would eventually be the one that Sparman would sit in as Divisional Officer in charge of the entire fire service operations.

Now fourth-in-command, Sparman is the longest serving member of the GFS, owing to the fact that all of his “squad mates” have retired. And it is for this reason that he said he at times feels lonely with no one to talk old time stories with.

Sparman, 52, was just 18 years old when he applied for work at the GFS. His application was rejected initially because as he puts it, “you had to know somebody before you get in.”

Jobs were hard to come by and so Sparman decided that he would take up temporary work that was available.

At age 16, he worked as an Office Assistant at the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Survey, a job that included dropping off mails. He “I was investigating the fire then went to the Guyana Nationand when I saw the children, al Trading Corporation (GNTC) as a tally clerk in the cement it sent a shiver down my section. spine. I was perturbed, I was At around age 18, he decided mad, I was devastated. I can’t that he wanted to be employed express the feelings I had.” on a fulltime basis. His brother – Sparman on the Timheri knew a firefighter by the name fire in which three children, of Walter Thorne; Thorne tunred out to be the one who would hugging each other, perished eventually put in “a good word” in a fire after they were left for him. home alone.

After the experienced described at the outset, Thorne vouched for Sparman’s reputation. Sparman was then sent to the Training Officer, McElroy Small, who told him he needed to write an application. This was in 1982.

“He eventually trained me. He had a likeness for me somehow. I then had an exam at TSU Hall and when I went there, over 300 people were there to write that exam.”

Intimidation set in at first; he didn’t think he would be chosen from that large a pool. But he wrote the exam and two weeks later, he received a slip from the GFS, advising him hat he was successful at the exam and he should report for an interview.

He aced the interviewed and was then enlisted in the GFS. Along with the 80 others who were recruited, Sparman had to engage in rigorous training for four months at Timehri.

“The training was hard and I only had 95 pounds. Some of my squad mates had to drop out but I held on and continued.”

Sparman, a former member of the Caribbean Association of Firefighters, eventually attended the University of Guyana where he studied Language and Communications. He had attended Sister Cannings Nursery School in Albouystown, St. Stephen’s Primary and South Georgetown Secondary.

During his 33 years on the job so far, he visited some 12 countries in order to complete training courses in fire prevention, search and rescue, fire investigation,

Compton Anthony Sparman firefighting techniques, aircraft firefighting, among many others. He also did a “drill instructor” course in the Army and a prosecutor’s course in Guyana Police Force.

He was promoted to leading fireman, then section leader, sub officer, station officer, and now divisional officer, primarily responsible for firefighting.

FIRST FIRE The first fire Sparman attended to could have also been his last had he not listen to instructions coming from his seniors. It happened on Robb Street in Georgetown where a fire was raging at two buildings by the time the fire service crew got on the scene.

“Because of my inexperience, me and a guy name Ramroop went between both buildings trying to save one. I felt heat to my bones. All my eyelashes burn off my face and his glasses melted on his face.

“Those days we only had calabash helmets so your whole face was exposed. The hose was burnt and we were in between there with no water. I can never forget that.”

When a senior officer came on the scene, he shouted to Sparman and his col-

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Chronicle Pepperpot January 31, 2016

fireman

league: “What y’all doing inside there? Come out!”

Less than 30 seconds after they heeded that instruction, the two buildings collapsed. “If we had spent another 30 seconds, we would have been covered there and died.”

Another unforgettable fire for Sparman was the one that occurred at the Textile Mill. He and another man, Jerome Sankar, were trapped at the center of the building. It was a cotton bond which produced clothes and so the fire was raging. “It was a Sunday night we got the call. Sankar suffered more than me. The fire circled us and the hose we were fighting with burst so the water stopped flowing. We were calling for help but no one could hear because of the confusion.

“The smoke got down into my lungs; I told Sankar it’s either we jump or stay and burn. We jumped and rolled where there was water. Sankar had to be hospi-

talised but I suffered minor injuries.”

Sparman recalled saving a woman’s life in Eping Avenue. She was trapped and the team had to break a wall to pull her through.

The most heartrending fire that Sparman experienced was the one at Timehri where three children died together. “The mother went out to sport and left the children.

They were hungry and one of them climbed up on a chair to take down the matches to light the stove to make tea. The stove fell down and a fire was started. The door was locked and burnt all three of them, hugged together.

“I was investigating the fire and when I saw the children, it sent a shiver down my spine. I was perturbed, I was mad, I was devastated. I can’t express the feelings I had.”

Apart from these, Sparman has a lot of fires under his belt, so to speak, including those on Regent Street, at the Rice Board, Muneshwars, and the GPC factory. In the 1980s, he also worked on the Norton Street fires which claimed 13 buildings in one instance and then another 19. The Guyana Timbers Fire lasted for more than two years before it was eventually quelled.

XVII plined and committed, and would be interested in learning new firefighting strategies, including technology that could be employed.

“You must always be focused on what you’re doing because you have people’s lives in your hands. You must be disciplined because if a man says, ‘Stop, it’s stop!’ If you ignore those orders, it can be detrimental to you. That is what I live with. I always maintain discipline and preach discipline to my juniors. I also take instructions from my seniors once the instruction is legitimate. There is no substitute to discipline. It’s either you’re disciplined or undisciplined.”

Sparman believes that the Strategic Plan of the GFS should be implemented and made a priority. “My biggest problem is that most officers lack the experience and training that I was exposed to. We have civilians trained to do firefighting only in Kwakwani, Mahdia, Lethem, Port Kaituma and Mabaruma. We only cover the coastland. Our travel distance to the East Coast is tremendous. If there is a fire in Buxton, the vehicle comes from town; likewise on the East Bank.

We have to ensure we have our resources spread more in terms of coverage. I would like to see that happen because I know people depend on us tremendously.”

This June, Sparman will complete 34 years of service to the GFS and with the time remaining before he retires, he said he plans to continue giving his best and full support to the Service.

“You must always be focused on what you’re doing because you have people’s lives in your hands.”

GFS STRATEGIC PLAN Sparman said a good firefighter should be disci-

With some of his colleagues at the GFS Water Street office

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Women who snore

By Dr. BERTRAND R. STUART DDS.

Dr. BERTRAND R. STUART, DDS.

Snoring, like all other sounds is caused by vibrations that cause particles in the air to form sound waves. For example, when we speak, our vocal cords vibrate to form our voice. When our stomach growls (borboygymus), our stomach and intestines vibrate as air and food move

through them. While we sleep, turbulent airflow can cause the tissues of the nose and throat to vibrate and give rise to snoring.

The Journal of the American College of Chest Physicians recently reported that snoring in women is a sign of pregnancy-induced hypertension and a risk for growth retardation of the fetus. Hypertension disorders during

pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal death in the United States and Great Britain and are important causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The cause of these disorders is unknown.

Because snoring is common in pregnancy, investigators in Sweden studied â–ş Contiuned on page XXIII

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Women ... ◄ From page XXII

more than 500 pregnant women to see what effect snoring had on their health, but according to Karl Franklin, MD, and colleagues at the Umea University Hospital in Sweden, no one has investigated whether snoring is associated with hypersensitive disorders of pregnancy. Snoring can be a sign of increased upper airway resistance and obstructive sleep apnea (temporary pause in breathing) and known to be associated with arterial hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Investigators looked into the snoring-related occurrence of pre-emclampsia, a toxemia of pregnancy characterized by hypertension, proteinuria (excessive serum proteins), and edema (a buildup of fluids in body tissues), as well as daytime sleepiness, and infant outcome. The study included a questionnaire that women completed on the day of their delivery with the involvement of their husband or partner. It also included analyzing Apagar scores that reflected the infant’s heart rate, respiratory effect, muscle tone, reflex irritability, and colour-all measured shortly after birth. Snoring increased during pregnancy. By the third trimester, 24 percent of the women reported that they had begun snoring or increased their level of snoring.

Twenty-three percent said that their snoring had become habitual during the last week before delivery. Habitual snoring was described as snoring every night or almost every night. Sleep apnea was observed in 11 percent of habitual snorers compared with 2 percent of the nonfrequent snorers. The habitual snorers also had a more pronounced weight increase during pregnancy. Fourteen percent of the women who snored habitually had pregnancy –induced hypertension as compared with 6 percent of the nonfrequent snorers.

Ten percent of the women who habitually snored met the definition of pre-eclampsia with hypertension and proteinuria compared with 4 percent of the nonfrequent snorers.

Daytime sleepiness increasingly grew among all women during pregnancy, and no marked differences were observed between the habitual snorers and nonfrequent snorers.

Daytime sleepiness started earlier in pregnancy than did snoring. Edema (swelling) of the face, hands, legs or feet occurred in 52 percent of the habitual snorers compared with 30 percent for others.

Infants born to mothers who were habitual snorers more frequently had lower birth weight and lower Apgar scores, a finding researchers described as “novel.” More than seven percent of mothers who were habitual snorers delivered an infant with growth retardation at birth compared with 2.6 percent among nonhabitual snorers. After adjusting for weight, age, and smoking habits, snoring remained a significant predictor of growth retardation. In addition to snoring, smoking is also found to be an independent predictor of growth retardation. An Apgar score of less than seven was more common in infants born to habitual snorers as compared with infants born to occasional or nonsnorers.

For example, 12.4 percent of infants of habitual snorers were given an Apgar test at one minute after delivery had scores of less than seven compared with 3.6 percent of the infants of nonfrequent snorers who were given the Apgar test one minute after delivery. Statistically, the percentage differences were even greater when the test was administered five minutes after delivery, but less frequent for both habitual snorers and infrequent snorers.

All the subjects who snored habitually and had pre-eclampsia started to snore before any sign of hypertension or proteinuria was present and the habitual snoring was related to sleep apneas and this includes that nocturnal upper airway obstruction may contribute top the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension and pre-emclampsia.

The experiment concludes that it is possible that pregnant women are especially vulnerable to increases in upper airway resistance, as breathing may also be restricted by an increase in the abdominal pressure affecting the diaphragm. Respiratory sleep studies, including the treatment of sleep apnea in women with pre-eclampsia, are desirable and may answer the question of whether there is an etiologic link between increased upper airway resistance and pre-eclampsia.

Though dentists are in a position to identify and treat patients with obstructive sleep apnea, the above study may not have much impact on a typical daily practice as many women avoid dental treatment during pregnancy or do not comprehend the relationship between dental care and sleep apnea.

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English

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Le Freak C’est Chic!

S

o what’s the right color for your skin tone? Well, it depends on the look you’re going for that day!

Newsflash: there is no “right” color for your skin tone especially when it comes to eye makeup.

There are right ways of applying makeup and appropriate colours for different events and occasions. There are correct ways of doing things. Civil Laws for example, were created to alleviate chaos and confusion, ensuring order in a community.

There are laws applicable to makeup as well, and practically everything we do in life.

But at the end of the day choice supersedes laws and even logic at “The most courageous times. act is still to think for Women especially yourself. Aloud.” have the right to ex– Coco Chanel press themselves however they feel, wearing calm your nerves!” whatever they want.

It’s restricting and stiIf women decide to choose to follow the safer fling to give yourself too path and choose the dull many boundaries, sayand boring neutral colours ing “I can’t wear this or to wear every day because can’t do that” or “this can’t they are afraid of being work, this can’t suit me.” judged, who am I to say That’s too many “can’ts!” “no, that’s boring! Why It leaves one stuck in a wear tan, when you can rut and restricts progress.

What can you do? The wear the rainbow?”

On the contrary, if same thing you did yeswomen choose to follow terday? Now that won’t every trend or take ex- exactly turn heads will it?

I’m a decipherer on treme measures in standsophisticated makeup, the ing out, by wearing every single colour in their type that begs the quesmakeup kit, and always tions “so you’re only donning on heavy make- wearing eye makeup?” or up, that’s her prerogative. “how did you do that, are Who am I to say “sweedie those you real lashes?”

“Where did you get you’re trying too hard,

that lipstick color, it’s not too red or too dark?”

You see only what I want you to see. It keeps onlookers guessing. It’s a conversation starter.

It’s not too much or too little, it’s just enough, and a happy medium that tickles the fancy. A tight fix! No loose screws, but still problematic and enigmatic.

I believe the world is becoming more and more au fait with social norms and tired of the old traditional ways of doing things. As a makeup artist, I’m often asked “do you do airbrushing?” not because airbrushing gives a better finish, but just because it’s a fairly new method of applying makeup.

In lieu of the new year, new me attitude, I’d like to challenge my audience to think of everyday as a new time to express their inner being. Dig deep and choose wisely how they want to wear their makeup.

Think “new day, new me” and wear green eyeshadow if you want to, even if it doesn’t match your clothing. Leave people wondering what is he going to do tomorrow, if that’s what she did today, though the next day you decide to not wear any makeup at all. As the Chic 70s hit goes “Le Freak, C’est Chic,” choose to be a subtly freakish! People want to see you, not your makeup. Be empowered to wear whatever colours you’d like, but come to my workshops to learn how to apply it first!

Dare to be yourself.

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Bollywood Movie Review: (Reuters) The sight of the tricolor unfurling before the victorious hero is one that has characterised many a Bollywood movie. And yet, very few manage to evoke genuine emotion even after resorting to lofty dialogue and (ear-shattering) patriotic background music.

But in Raja Krishna Menon’s “Airlift”, that moment is beautifully captured.

Our hero, bedraggled and exhausted after a dangerous journey, emerges into the dappled sunlight, spots his country’s flag, and feels a sense of relief that is beyond words. Menon and his lead actor Akshay Kumar resist the temptation to embellish the moment.

That restraint characterises the film, based mostly on true events leading up to the largest civil evacuation in history. Around 170,000 Indians were airlifted out of Kuwait days after Iraq attacked the country in 1990. Kumar plays fictional character Ranjit Katyal, an Indian businessman who made his fortune in Kuwait and adopted it as his home country. Within the first five minutes, the film has established his contempt for India, and his ruthlessness when it comes to dealing with business adversaries. This sets him up perfectly for the redemption that comes in the end, Oskar Schindler style.

Much like the sentiment of Air Supply’s hit “Making love out of nothing at all”, Raja Krishna Menon’s “Airlift” is an attempt to make a compelling movie out of nothing much in terms of action or drama as the real events during the Gulf War essentially involved weeks of negotiations and international diplomacy.

But “Airlift” manages to hold your attention throughout its two-hour runtime.

Menon inserts the right dose of wry humour and a few shocks along the way to build his film up gradually, hitting the right buttons for most of the time. But “Airlift” has its own set of flaws. Menon glosses over a lot of technicalities, like how Indian bureaucracy works, for instance. There is the mandatory and outof-place Akshay Kumar fight sequence, and a couple of predictable story lines.

Inaamulhaq plays an evil Iraqi general and looks as if he walked in straight from the sets of Borat. Nimrat Kaur as Katyal’s wife is sporadically effective, while Prakash Belawadi as a cantankerous fellow camper stands out.

But the film belongs to Akshay Kumar. He is in almost every scene and this is an author-backed role that he obviously relishes. Even if you aren’t the patriotic sort, his performance is reason enough to watch the film.

Airlift

A picture shows actual evacuation of Indian citizens from Kuwait A still from Airlift

Black or White? Actor Fiennes cast to play singer Michael Jackson (Reuters) British actor Joseph Fiennes has been cast as iconic Afri- and people of color into their ranks. can-American pop star Michael Jackson in an upcoming TV comedy, Stereo Williams, an entertainment writer for The Daily Beast, said the castprovoking scorn on social media on Wednesday and fueling a controversy ing of Fiennes was a "symptom of Hollywood's deep-seated race problem." in the entertainment industry over opportunities for black artists.

"They seriously couldn't find a black actor to play Michael Jackson?" tweetFiennes, who is white, will play the late "King of Pop" in an apparently ed U.S. civil rights activist DeRay Mckesson, a member of the Black Lives real-life story for Britain's satellite TV Matter movement. channel Sky Arts about a road trip across the "So Joseph Fiennes (A WHITE United States the singer is said to have taken DUDE!) is gunna play Michael in 2001 with movie stars Elizabeth Taylor Jackson... I say Denzel Washington and Marlon Brando. plays Elvis in the next movie just Sky Arts said in a statement on Wednesto be fair," said @nicomadden on day that the 30-minute comedy, called Twitter.

"Elizabeth, Michael & Marlon," is "part of So-called "whitewashing" has a series of comedies about unlikely stories become a contentious issue in the from arts and cultural history. Sky Arts movie and TV industry, highlighted gives producers the creative freedom to by the casting of Emma Stone as cast roles as they wish, within the diversity a character of Hawaiian and Asian framework which we have set." heritage in the 2015 film "Aloha," Jackson, who had the medical condition and the choice of white British vitiligo that lightened the color of his skin, actor Charlie Hunnam to play a died in June 2009 at the age of 50 after an Mexican-American drug lord in an overdose of the sedative propofol. upcoming Hollywood movie.

News of the casting decision came two "Elizabeth, Michael & Marweeks after the omission of any actors of lon," will also star Stockard Chancolor from the 2016 Oscar nominations for ning as Jackson's late, close friend a second year that led Will Smith and Spike Michael Jackson and Joseph Fiennes in a combination image Taylor, and Brian Cox as Brando.

Lee to shun the Oscar ceremony in February It is expected to be broadcast and Oscar organizers to bring more women sometime in 2016.