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Produced and Edited by C. Naipaul | Graphic and Layout Design by D. Prince

II

“I’m yours, Shanti”

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

– (The Conclusion)

he deep look in his eyes, the passion left her almost breathless, and softly, she spoke, “Raj…” He put a finger to her lips, gently and he said just as softly, “Just listen to my heartbeats, what it’s saying, I’m your Shanti.”

The moon seemed to smile and the stars twinkled even brighter as their love story, turned a new page. An endless night of passion and bliss, in a world where they were all alone, where she had waited for him, a beautiful world.

The magic of their love in the days and nights after could not be broken, not by the many disguised obstacles, strewn in Raj’s path or the poison arrows aimed at Shanti by Raj’s aristocratic family.

This poor girl was not supposed to win their son’s heart; he could not belong to her but to a rich girl of their choice with the class and sophistication of a princess. So blinded they were by their obsession with status and wealth they could not see the poor girl’s richness, that made her the real princess.

Raj’s love for her-the passion of their closeness was something he wanted in his life forever and he knew he had to find a way to make that dream, a reality. But his regular business trips overseas, imposed on him by his father left her alone, unprotected and a lethal arrow found it’s mark, before the designs of his plans for their lives together was completed.

Shanti woke up one Sunday morning, two days after he had left on another trip, feeling dizzy and nauseous. She couldn’t understand what caused the illness that persisted all day until her mother, who had been watching her closely, voiced her suspicion.

“You may want to see a doctor.”

“Why?” Shanti felt like crying, “Why am I feeling so sick?”

“Because you might be pregnant.”

Shanti looked at her, shocked, speechless for a long moment.

“Oh my God!” she exclaimed, her hand instinctively

touching her abdomen and she relaxed as a blessed feeling flowed through her body, a smile touching her lips.

“I can’t believe this has happened so soon,” she said to herself, thrilled after the doctor had confirmed the news. “I wonder what Raj would say.”

She tried her best when at work to control the sick feelings, not wanting it to arouse anyone’s suspicion.

She sent no message to Raj on the wonderful news, wanting to wait for a special moment when they were alone.

He would be back soon, she knew, but as the days passed, unknowing to her, her mother and step-father were plotting how to benefit from this new turn of events.

Two weeks and three days later, as she continued to battle with the increasing morning sickness, Shanti was summoned

by Raj’s mother and father. Fear entered her heart and she prayed as she walked to the study, “Please, God, don’t let them know about this.”

But it was too late for God’s intervention.

The cold anger in Raj’sparents faces was enough to tell Shanti, they knew.

The mother spoke first: “How often have I not reminded you of your position as a maid, of your low status, unworthy of my son? You thought it would benefit you greatly to let something like this happen?”

The fear in Shanti’s heart worsened and she felt scared in their presence, of their anger, not sure how they knew.

“Your mother and step-father were here yesterday,” Raj’s father informed her and they felt we could be saved the embarrassment of an illegitimate child, if we are willing to pay a price, so it can be aborted.

“What?” the shock and dismay Shanti felt was like a dagger through her heart, “No I don’t know anything of what you’re saying.”

“We don’t care what you know or how you feel,” he continued heartlessly, “You have no status.You’re like the dust

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com we walk on, so in the best interest of our family we do not want that baby to be born.”

He put a few packets of money on the table, in front of her and said: “This is half of a million dollars, you take that and leave. You do not return and you have nothing more to do with my son.”

Shanti looked at the money, unable to hold back the tears, her lips trembling, feeling as though the earth had fallen away beneath her feet. She wiped the tears from her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to summon courage

Continued on page V

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

III

By Petamber Persaud

In Tribute to Victor Ramraj (Extract of an interview with Prof. Victor Ramraj, Georgetown, Guyana, 2011. Ramraj was born in British Guiana where he exhibited a leaning towards literature before migrating to North America. In the late 1950s, his short stories were published in the Chronicle Christmas Annual. One of his stories, ‘The Dead Son’ was performed at the Theatre Guild, Guyana, earning him the Playwright of the Year Award. In the 1950s and 1960s, he taught English at St. Stanislaus and at Queen’s College. This foundation was extended on with a B. A. in English from the University of London, and a M. A. & Ph. D. from the University of New Brunswick. At the time of his passing, Ramraj was Professor of English at the University of Calgary. On his final trip to Guyana, the land of his birth, Ramraj delivered a sterling presentation on Alice Munroe of Canada, Ramraj’s adopted home.)

PP: There is good literature and there is bad literature. But what appeals to me may not appeal to you and vice-versa. How then do we know what is good literature and what is bad literature?

VR: Good literature and bad literature – that has varied over the years. We are in a post-modern period (of literature). This post-modern criticism has caused us to revalue a great many things. I’ll give you an example.

Timothy Mo, a Hong Kong/British writer, his father is Chinese, his mother British. He has written two or three traditional novels including ‘The Monkey King’ which was very much influenced by Naipaul’s ‘A House for Mr. Biswas’. It was about a Chinese figure in Hong Kong who tries to establish himself as an independent figure from his in-laws. Now that is a very traditional 19th century novel with a flowing narrative, cause and effect. Later, Timothy Mo wrote ‘An Insular Possession’ which was a fictional history of Hong Kong and he adopted the Chinese romance structure which doesn’t follow a linear chronological pattern, it rambled all over the place, it would have a laundry list, newspaper reports, it would have photographs. It doesn’t follow the linear pattern. Now that novel would not be considered a novel in the 19th century – it didn’t have that clear linear chronological pattern.

PP: Is that good or bad? Or it is not cut-and-dried?

VR: Let me put it this way. post-modernism now questions cause and effect. They feel there are multiple reasons for a character being what a character is.

The mimetic novel is the type of novel which attempts to imitate life, which tends to simplify life. Of course, there is the question of mimetic – what is a novel imitating? Is Naipaul’s ‘A House for Mr. Biswas’ an accurate portrayal of an Indian family in the 1940s and 1950s. post-modernist will question this - what we are getting is a Naipaul locked up in this attic writing about his experience. If you compare that with Ismay Khan or Sam Selvon other Indo-Trinidadian writers, whose is the truth – Naipaul’s, Khan’s, Selvon’s.

PP: I noticed that you jumped straight to the post-modern period of criticism. Of course we did not always look at literature through those lenses; there were periods of the historical/biographical period, the philosophical period, formalism, new criticism, psychological, feminism, then the post-modernist period.

So there was a continual change in the way we look at literature down the ages?

VR: Yes. English as a discipline started, as taught in colleges and universities, English as a discipline started as rhetoric. Let me introduce a book: ‘Masks of Conquest: Literary Study and British Rule in India’

by Professor Gauri Viswanathan. This book will shed some light on the issue. She showed that English as it is currently thought of until post-modernism, she showed that English as a discipline started in India. Macaulay wanted to make a group of Indians into English men who would be the liaison between the English and the millions they had to rule. So they wanted to educate a group of Indians to be virtual English men. Salman Rushdie called them Macaulay’s Minute Men. English was found to be very useful for doing that, it implanted the right moral fibre in these young men. English as a subject taught morality …this is the origin of English Literature. And when we judge a work, we judge it according to that. Other criteria came along including Mathew Arnold’s touchstone. He had a line of poetry

Victor Ramraj which was a touchstone for judging poetry. Now little or no attention is paid to that.

Post-modernism is revolutionary. Not only in Literature but it could be found in Mathematics, Architecture, etc. But there are two basic tenets of post-modernism.

One, truth is relative. Now that is a beautiful abstraction. But if I ask you to write your autobiography, explaining why you are what you are, you will give your version. If your teacher wrote about you, your parents, if your friends wrote an account of your life, they will all vary. And we will have to ask the question which is the truth…Post-modernism suggest there are multiple truths, there is no master narrative which is what we had before. Cause and effect narrative is questionable. What made you what you are?

PP: Should we accept totally what the writer says

about his or her own work? Further, should we look at literature through Western eyes only?

VR: No, we shouldn’t but then we shouldn’t look at it the way the author wants us to look at it because his version is one of many….

PP: So it is important to have the literary criticism alongside of the literature that is being created every minute of the day. Here are some basic reasons. It helps us resolve the difficulty in reading certain texts. It helps us to choose between conflicting opinions of the work.

And it helps to form a judgement or to better appreciate that literature.

Good literature, bad literature. Could criticism make a writer?

VR: Very likely. Wilson Harris was made, I think, by the Belgian scholar, Hena Maes-Jelinek who explicated Harris’ work well. I think writers are lucky to have someone like that but it doesn’t happen too often.

In explaining criticism, you said that the critic talks to the reader and that I think is a basic function. We are not talking to the writer. If I write criticism on Shakespeare, he is dead and gone, he’s not, will not be concern with what is said. Mordecai Richler said he reads critical reviews as market reports as in this one will sell 100 books and that one will sell ten books.

Yes, our function is really with the reader and you are right there are different interpretations. But way back when, F. R. Leavis – Frank Leavis who was a formalist….

PP: We mentioned formalism earlier VR: But we didn’t have the time to go into details.

Leavis said it is a common pursuit. I give my interpretation, you give yours and yours may open my eye to certain things I may have overlooked. So, good criticism can complement the writing.

PP: That is a good note on which to adjourn this session, thank you very much.

(Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com) What’s Happening * The Caribbean Press has commissioned Petamber Persaud to produce as Editor a Volume 2 of contemporary poetry, and a Volume 1 of contemporary prose by local Guyanese writers. Please contact me for further information.

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

DR. CHEDDI JAGAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SPEECHES VOLUME 1 The Fourth Legislative Council December 1947 - December 1951 PREFACE Dr. Roger Luncheon Head of the Presidential Secretariat

Dr. Jagan was first elected to the Legislature of British Guiana in 1947 and served until 1992, a span of almost fifty years in elected public office. Dur ing his period as a Legislator/Member of Parliament 1947 – 1953, Dr. Jagan served as an elected member; as a Head of Government 1957 – 1964 in the pre Independence period; and as a Leader of the Opposition Party in Par- liament 1964 – 1992, until the PPP was returned to power in 1992. In 1997, he died in Office as Head of State and Head of the PPP/Civic Government.

Compiled in chronological order, these volumes contain Dr. Jagan’s speeches made in Legislative Assembly/ Parliament during his long career there. These speeches reflect his consummate attention to events that developed during the important periods in Guyana, the Caribbean region and the world.

Dr. Jagan was elected and entered the Legislative Assembly in the colonial era. The inequities and inhumanity of that period (the post-World War II period) was the arena in which he started his life and career as a politician. With universal suffrage and the political party of his creation, the PPP, he entered the legislature and piloted the PPP that was poised to take British Guiana to Independence.

Betrayed by the Western powers, the PPP was removed from office in 1964, and stayed in Parliament as the Opposition Party for twenty-eight years.

In 1992 his party regained power, removing the PNC after a free and fair election. Dr. Jagan’s speeches illustrate

his humanism, his dedication to the working people, the poor and the powerless. He spoke as an Internationalist, joining his and Guyana’s voice in the struggle for national liberation, independence and development. During the Cold War years, he argued for peaceful co-existence and non-alignment. His major contributions dealt with national issues impacting on socio-economic development in Guyana. He proposed initiatives that were well thought-out

Dr CHEDDI JAGAN

Dr ROGER LUNCHEON

and carefully crafted, and which enjoyed the support of Guyanese.

He emphasised good governance, economic planning and a tripartite economy. He exposed excesses and wrong-doings during the colonial regime and under the PNC Government and fought tirelessly in Parliament to succour the victims of colonialism and PNC misrule. For

him, democratic Government needed to address issues of economic justice, for the sake of global security. The unnecessary and cruel wastage of human talent was his major concern. As he once declared: “Democracy can only prosper in an environment of economic, so- cial and ecological development. Poverty atrophies the vigour and initiative of the individual and deprives the society of incalculable human resources. If left unattended, the expansion of poverty with hunger and the hopelessness it engenders will undermine the fabric of our civilisation and the security of the democratic state, thus threatening world peace.”

He was equally passionate in the cause of environmental protection, recognising an intimate linkage with human economic development but also the human spiritual hunger for beauty. He put it memorably thus : “... the natural resources of our planet must be utilised for the benefit of mankind in such a way that they remain available for future generations, and that in the process of utilisation, fullest measures are taken to prevent environmental degradation.

Sustainable development is an all-embracing process which is centred on human development. There are two major needs which have to be satisfied. One is to use natural resources for the material and spiritual upliftment of all people. The other is to maintain the delicate balance in nature reflected in the various eco systems adorning our planet.”

Cheddi Jagan was, and is, the adornment of our country. His record of service is unsurpassable and the history of the party he led is intimately inter-woven into the essence of things Guyanese.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

“I’m yours, Shanti” From page IV to speak for herself and her unborn child.

“Do you think that’s enough for a life?” she asked.

“How much do you want?” the mother asked, icy hatred in her eyes.

“You don’t have enough money to pay me.” Shanti said bravely: “A life is a blessing from God, it’s priceless.”

She turned and walked away, knowing she would never return here, ending one chapter of her life story. She knew Raj would be happy for the baby but deep down, she was fearful he could fold under pressure from his dictatorial family. She felt unhappy, scared and betrayed.

“How could my own mother do this to me?” she questioned herself.

On reaching home, Shanti looked at the woman who was willing to sell her own children for money and she told her: “I can’t hate you, I just pity you because you’re lost. I hope you find your way back for the sake of your sons.”

Three days later, Shanti awoke in the night, thirsty and went downstairs for a glass of water when she heard low voices outside.

She went closer to the window and stood by the curtains, listening, wondering who could be there so late.

A strange voice was saying: “The boss has sent a message to you, not to cross him if you value your life and your family. You must do the job for the money you and your wife took. Your step-daughter has to lose the baby before Raj returns.”

Shanti put her hand over her mouth to stop the shocked gasp.

Her stepfather and mother had taken payment to kill her

baby!

She couldn’t sleep for the rest of the night wondering what to do and fearful now for her life and Raj’s return had become delayed by another week. By dawn an idea occurred to her and searching through a box under her bed, she found an old card with a doctor’s name and address. For her plan to work she asked her mother to accompany her to the doctor’s clinic but once there, Shanti requested her to wait outside. The doctor was a woman whom Shanti had once worked for and in the clinic, she relayed to her, her problems and fears.

Her desire was to keep the baby but she wanted it to be known the baby was no more. The doctor, who was indebted to the young girl for her kind act two years ago, complied with her request.

It meant Shanti couldn’t stay at her home or in the neighbourhood anymore.

She had to leave but go where? The doctor advised her to go far away and gave her the name and address of someone who could help her.

It broke her heart to leave her two brothers alone but they promised her, they would take good care of themselves until she returned. The lust for money had caused the separation of a sister from her brothers. It hurt even more that she had to leave to save an innocent life and the father of her baby knew nothing. She couldn’t leave a message for him with anyone, to say where she was going, not sure who she could trust. She just hoped he could come looking for her and find her.

The address the doctor had given her was a Help & Shelter institution, across

three rivers-a far way from home.

Not one day passed without her thinking of Raj as the baby grew, not one night passed without her crying before she fell asleep. That wonderful period of her life came closer for the baby to be born.He was not there to share that joy with her. The labour pains came when the stars were bright in the sky, just like that first night when the passion of their love had taken them beyond the world to a most beautiful place. But tonight, as the pains gripped her he was not there with her.

She was all alone, just his name on her lips.

It has been three years now since that night her son was born.

The alarm clock at her bedside awoke her at three in the morning and Shanti sat up, sighing deeply, the tiredness not gone from her body. She began her day, early every day to finish the food preparations in time for the market, to say her prayers and give Arun his bath and breakfast. She was brushing his hair one morning when he asked in his sweet, childish voice, “Momma, when is dada coming?”

Her hand froze, a pained look flickering in her eyes and she hugged him so he couldn’t see how that innocent question had hurt her.

“Sometime soon,” she answered, not sure herself of the answer.

“Did he love you, momma?”

She looked at her son, tears misting in her eyes, for this time her answer was true.

“Yes, he did.”

He held her face between his little hands, lovingly and he said: “Because you’re pretty.”

She laughed and hugged

FACEBOOK STORY: Add as friend-Approve-> Write something on walls-Intro-everyday chatting-ask number phone-messaging-calling-meeting-express love-make relationship status-hangout-misunderstanding-fight-break upunfriend-block THE END ************************ ****************** Husband: Honey, do you smell that?

Wife: No Husband: Yeah, me neither. Start cooking. ****************************************** Imagine if your fridge did what you do to it every day. Every half hour it goes in to your room opens the door, and stares at you for 5 minutes then leaves. ****************************************** Dad-Son, you better pass this exam or rather forget that I’m your father!

Son-Sure dad, whatever! ~5 hours later~ Dad-How’s your exam?

Son-Who the hell are you?! ****************************************** A woman walks into a drugstore and asks the pharmacist if he sells seize extra large condoms. He replies, “yes we do. Would you like to buy some?” She responds, “No sir, but do you mind if I wait around here until someone does?”

him, “You’re so adorable.”

H e r s o n ’s q u e s t i o n played in her mind, every day and she wished she knew the answer so she wouldn’t have to give him false hopes.

“I miss you so much Raj.” She whispered.

Raj stood in the balcony of his bedroom, looking at nothing. He felt so empty inside, his heart like a barren dessert, no spring water or fragrant roses.

He had returned with great plans for their future but the shocking news of what happened and the fact that she was gone had hit him like a freak storm. It was hard to believe his father that Shanti took payment to abort the child. That wasn’t his Shanti. He knew she would be happy as much as he was to have their baby but then her mother told him about Shanti’s visit to the doctor’s clinic, he was left puzzled.

Something wasn’t right; something was wrong somewhere and he knew in his heart he had to find her.

The doctor refused to disclose any information but that did not deter him. He hired a few private detectives and gave them her picture, “This is a job, only you and I know of. I want you to find her at any cost.”

He demoted himself from the managing director position in his father’s company, so he wouldn’t have to travel overseas on business meetings.

“I want to be here,” he told himself, “for when she is found.”

Three torturous years went by for him, nights when he couldn’t sleep, days where he sat lost in thoughts, thinking about her.

“I miss you so much, Shanti,” he said quietly, “Where are you?”

A rap on the door interrupted his thoughts and the elderly maid announced.

“A detective from the city is here to see you, Sir.” “Oh dear Lord,” Raj prayed as he hurried downstairs, “Please let this be good news.”

The detective handed Raj Shanti’s picture, an expressionless look on his face.

“Tell me you have good news,” Raj said, almost pleading.

The detective didn’t answer for a moment then he smiled, clapping Raj on the shoulder, “I found her.”

Shanti sat in the Mandir, Arun in her lap, listening to the divine songs and prayers but somehow she couldn’t concentrate. Something was different today, she didn’t know what but since morning she had been feeling a strange thrill in her heart. She lifted Arun in her arms, at the end of the service and walked home, slowly, not noticing the white Allion parked in the street nor the person who stepped out until he called her name.

“Shanti.”

Shanti froze at the gate, a voice she hadn’t heard in three years, a voice that she missed so much and was waiting with each passing day to hear again. She turned around slowly, her son in her arms, joy overflowing in her heart, tears in her eyes.

“Raj!” She called his

V name.

Happiness, like a rushing stream through her being on seeing him.

He looked at her and their son, tears rolling down his face.

“I was searching for you, so long, Shanti.”

He hugged her and their son, he did not know of: “I knew you would keep our baby,” he said, his voice breaking with overpowering emotion, “I knew it in my heart.”

“I’ve been waiting with the hope you would find me,” she said through her tears.

They were both crying and Arun, not quite understanding what was happening, put his little arms around them both, hugging them.

Later that night, they put their son to bed, looking at his sleeping, angelic face, the symbol of their love. “ H e ’s s u c h a s w e e t child,” Raj said, “He would know what a special child he is when he grows up and understands the sacrifices his mother made to bring him into this world.”

He took Shanti’s hands and kissed them, “If I never told you how much I love you then I’ll say it to you every day from now.”

He slipped a diamond ring on her finger and said to her softly, words he had waited three years to say, “I want you to be my wife, to share my life.”

She looked at her baby’s father, her prayers answered, a beautiful moment from life, touching her, reuniting her with her happiness and with her lips close to his she whispered, “I love you, so much.”

He lifted her in his arms, their love story to continue, page after page.

VI

You should not be rushed into root canal therapy

T

eeth with new fillings or crowns frequently are sensitive to cold and hot temperatures. This is not unusual and the discomfort is generally mild and disappears in a few weeks at most. But if it persists and is severe, it may be necessary to remove the restoration and place a temporary sedative filling or crown that provides immediate relief, though it may take weeks or months before all symptoms disappear. Then the permanent restoration can be replaced. The important point to remember is that a healthy nerve responds to both hot and cold temperatures, with the sensitivity disappearing a few seconds afterward.

The point being made is that you should not be rushed into root canal therapy without giving the nerve a chance to recuperate under a sedative material such as zinc oxide and eugenol or IRM. On the other hand, if heat is applied to the tooth and the pain intensifies, but is then relieved by swishing with cold water, nerve damage is irreversible and root canal therapy will be necessary to avoid losing the tooth.

Another cause of sensitive teeth following fillings are high spots. If the filling or crown is not carved properly to the natural contours of the tooth so that the opposing tooth hits it on closure before the other teeth come into contact, the nerve becomes irritated. You may then experience slight pain on chewing or tapping your teeth together, or the tooth may become sensitive to thermal changes. It may also loosen. This condition, called hyperocclusion, is easily corrected by returning to the dentist, who will grind down the high spot.

Occasionally, following a new amalgam filling, patients experience a tiny electrical shock whenever the jaws are opened and closed. This shock is due to a galvanic current between fillings in the upper and lower jaws as they make and break contact, especially if the tooth opposite the amalgam filling has a gold inlay or crown. The condition is almost always corrected by polishing the amalgam filling. In the USA some dentists recommend replacement of all amalgam fillings with gold to keep the same type of metal throughout the mouth. However, there is no scientific basis for avoiding dissimilar metals in the same or the opposite jaw or for replacing functional fillings.

Fillings should be smooth and carved to the contours of the natural tooth surfaces. Polishing fillings to a high luster is not necessary except in the rare occurrence of galvanic shock. Examination of fillings under an electron microscope reveals that even the most highly polished surfaces are not totally smooth. Sufficient smoothness can be obtained by burnishing amalgam fillings just after placement in the tooth. Composite fillings are more likely to require trimming and polishing to remove excess material at their margins.

Over the years amalgam fillings may darken, likewise causing a slight darkening of enamel. Amalgam fillings also become a little uneven at the edges, often forming a small crevice at the junction with the tooth surface that can be detected by a needle-tip dental explorer. At the same time, corrosion of the metal fills in the crevice and actually improves the seal of amalgam against bacterial penetration. If the seal is good enough and the explorer does not actually stick between the filling and the tooth, the filling should not be replaced. Some dentists recommend polishing amalgam periodically to smooth the edges. The procedure is called remargination.

I usually do this. If the defect is slight, as described above, nothing is gained. If it is large, polishing will not solve the problem, and the filling should be replaced. For any further clarifications you can e-mail me at: bertrandstuart@gol.net.gy

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

Kicking Herself Residual Burn

G

uys, if you can kindly offer a word or two, I'm grateful. You see, I can't get my ex out of my head. I think about him every waking moment, but they're not pleasant thoughts. They're memories that leave me with an explosion of anger and anxiety...every time.

And I so badly want to stop thinking and feeling this way. Just don't know how.

It's been two years since I walked away from our one-and-a-half year marriage, a year since the divorce and six months since the emails to and fro stopped cold turkey.

Getting through to him was always like raking at a concrete wall barehanded. When we were married, I kept quiet because I feared his reaction. He wasn't physically abusive but the smallest disagreement brought on days of sulking and nights of him turning his back.

Listening wasn't his thing. Talking.

Yes. The day I talked back was the day I said, "Blank you! I want a divorce!"

I could've given him my life without hesitation at one point. Now I really don't care if he gets run over by a train because that's how much love he showed me. I hope to stay away from him for the rest of our lives.

I know I can't erase the past, but this anger, I pray it will go away. Advice for me?

Thank you kindly.

Debra Debra, the standard advice is time will solve a lot of your anger and anxiety, and getting good things in your life will take care of the rest. True enough, but in your case it doesn't seem to be working.

One thing you didn't mention is that you are mad at yourself. "He had no love for me, and I didn't see that and wound up married to him." But that can't be undone.

Whether he was your first and that's what caused you to turn a blind eye, whether he was a consummate liar and you weren't skilled enough to deal with that, whether you loved the idea of his potential and didn't know it was a potential he had no interest in, or whether it was something else, doesn't matter.

This is a lost investment of your time and your life. Keep the only good thing: the experience you gained which will prevent this from happening again. So history doesn't repeat itself, you must keep the knowledge without reliving the history.

Not seeing him, not coming in contact with him, thoughts of him will become fewer and fewer. And the pain will get better. Filling your life with positives, there will be less and less time for him.

But we hear you protesting, "That hasn't been enough."

Okay, there is another way to get where you want to be.

Let us suggest one book: Coherence by Alan Watkins. Alan Watkins is a British cardiologist, and this book is for senior executives. That probably doesn't describe you, so you will want to focus only on one aspect of the book.

In Coherence Alan Watkins describes a simple way of focusing on the breath and putting it in tune with the heart. Because the heart is by far the most energetic organ in the body, it is capable of putting all other organs, including the brain, in synch with it.

Mistreatment of any sort creates lasting mental problems. We can't get it out of our thoughts. Taking attention from the mind and centering it on the heart has a powerful effect. It's like taking a car that's stuck in third gear and shifting it into neutral.

Watkins also explains how to replace negative emotions, like anger and anxiety, with positive ones like confidence, serenity and optimism. This step frees the mind to do what it was intended to do.

If this approach sounds intriguing, skip the pages which don't concern you. Focus on the method Watkins outlines in Figure 1.11 of the book.

Wayne & Tamara

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

Judge usurps functions of jury

I

N 1984, the Guyana Court of Appeal found that a High Court judge usurped the functions of the jury in a murder trial when instead of sending the matter to them he found murder accused Alvin Mitchell, not guilty of the murder of 32-year-old waitress, Nastawantee Persaud on the defence’s no-case submissions.

He then directed the jury to return a formal verdict of not guilty in favour of the accused, whom he subsequently discharged.

The then Director of Public Prosecutions believing that the circumstances of the case required the judge to send the case to the jury for a verdict utilised the power of the DPP under the law to request the Appellate Court to review the matter.

In sequel to this, the Guyana Court of Appeal, constituted by Chancellor Keith Massiah and Justices of Appeal Mr. Charles Fung-A-Fat and Mr. Frank Vieira, who carried out the review, was critical of the judge’s action, as being irregular.

It was pointed out by the Appellate Court that where the defendant in a criminal proceeding submits a plea of no-case to answer at (or before) the end of the prosecution case the trial judge ought to send the case to the jury if, in his opinion, there is sufficient evidence on which a reasonable jury (properly directed) might (in the judge’s view) convict. If, however, the evidence is so unsatisfactory, or unsound that no reasonable jury could convict on it, or if the evidence, (even if all of it is believed)is so weak, tenuous or insufficient that it cannot yield a lawful conviction, the trial judge should withdraw the case and direct the acquittal of the defendant.

Chancellor Massiah who noted that the evidence in the court supported the view that the jury should have been asked to decide the fate of the accused referred to 35 cases in support of the Appellate Court’s judgment, including that of R. V. Hookoomchand and Sagur (1897) LRBG 12.

At the review, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Ian Chang, S.C with Mr. Albert Baldeo, represented the DPP while Mr. David Wray appeared for Mitchell.

Under the heading: ‘Reference by Director of Public Prosecutions,’ it was said that Alvin Mitchell was indicted with murder. At the close of the prosecution’s case he submitted that there was no case to answer. The trial judge upheld the submission and directed the jury to return a verdict of: “Not Guilty.”

The Director of Public Prosecutions of Guyana referred the following question to the Court of Appeal: “Was the trial judge correct in law on the evidence led by the prosecution in this case jn ruling that a case had not been established requiring the accused person to lead a defence?

Setting out the facts in his judgment, Chancellor Massiah said: “At about 8. 30 a m on Sunday 7th February 1982, a party of policemen attached to the Bartica Police Station made a macabre discovery at 2 Miles, Bartica-Potaro-Road.

There in a clump of bushes about ten feet from the road where they discovered the dead body of 33-year-old Nastawantee Persaud. The body, clothed in a blouse that was unbuttoned, face upwards, and was exposed from the waist down as the skirt was raised and the under garment was missing. The legs were spread apart, and there oozed from the vagina what appeared to be blood. There was grass in the pubic area. Several injuries were seen.

Shortly, before they made the discovery, the police party, about a half mile away, at one and a half miles , Bartica –Potaro Road (a point nearer to Bartica than 2 Miles), had come across a number of articles which were identified as the property of the deceased by Lilapattie Romohan, the niece of the deceased.

Among the articles found was a shoulder-bag which was

lying on the road. On the bag there were what appeared to be drops of blood. About five feet away, in a clump of bushes, a pair of yellow panties was found. Attached to it was a sanitary napkin. What appeared to be blood was seen both on the panties and the napkin. Nearby was a girdle.

The police party which Lilapattie Romohan accompanied to the Bartica-Potoro road had been galvanised into action when Romohan reported to the police station on the morning of February 7, 1982 that her aunt was missing from home .

At about 3 o’clock that morning, Romohan, one Waveney Gill and the deceased, together left the Nest Discotheque in Fifth Avenue, Bartica, where they worked as waitresses. (The word “discotheque” is popularly contracted into “disco” without any connotative loss, and that variant will be used in this judgment). Romohan and her companions had worked the night shift and were on their way to the deceased’s home in Fourth Avenue where they all lived.

On their way home they met Alvin Mitchell who was driving a Land Rover. Three other men were in the vehicle.

Mitchell was a regular patron of the Nest, and the night before

he was seen there at a dance.

Mitchell offered to take them home in the vehicle. Gill and Ramohan declined the offer.

After some apparent hesitation the deceased accepted, declaring to her companions that she would reach home faster than they.

Her expectations never materialised, for when Gill and Romohan reached home on foot they discovered to their consternation that the house was securely locked and that the deceased had not arrived there. Overcome by tiredness they soon fell asleep.

When Romohan awoke that morning at about 7 ‘clock the deceased was still not there. Naturally Romohan became alarmed. She then went to her uncle’s home and inquired about the deceased but she learnt nothing there.

She next went to the Bartica Police Station and reported the matter. It was then about 8 a.m. The police left soon after for 1 ½ Miles, for

VII

Finds murder accused not guilty on no-case submissions Bartica-Potaro road, on the strength of what one Benjamin had told them, and they

By George Barclay found the articles already mentioned about; shortly afterwards they discovered the body of the deceased.

The cumulative circumstance led the police to conclude that the deceased had been murdered. Suspicion fell on Alvin Mitchell the person last known to have been with her) who by then had hastily fled to Georgetown. He was arrested there on February 8, 1982 and taken to Bartica Police Station on February 11 where he was duly charged with murder.

Mitchell was subsequently indicted with murder and faced his trial at the criminal assizes in Georgetown in January 1984.

The evidence against him was almost wholly circumstantial.

At the close of the prosecution’s case the counsel for Mitchell submitted that there was no case to answer. The prosecution vigorously contended that there was. The trial judge upheld the submissions and formally directed the jury to return a verdict of “Not Guilty.” Mitchell was accordingly discharged.

The Appellate Court in reviewing the case as requested by the DPP concluded that: “When regard is paid to all those events and evidentiary circumstances it seems to the Court clear beyond peradventure that there is sufficient evidence on which a reasonable jury properly directed might have convicted Mitchell.”

According to Chancellor Massiah: “That satisfies the test in Hookkoomchand’s, and all the other kindred cases which explain the relevant common law position, including of course the local cases that gave benediction to Hookoomchand. Whether the jury would have convicted Mitchell is not a consideration that properly comes within my purview. The evidence is sufficient on which they might have done so and that is enough for present purposes.”

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

A SHORT STORY BY PARVATI PERSAUD-EDWARDS

JUMBIE JUSTICE

Rufus weaved his drunken way home after the party, peering in the gloom of the unlit road.

Walking through this silent backstreet always made him nervous, and this time it was almost midnight – the witching hour, and he was now nearing the Rose Hall cemetery.

His thoughts ran back to the jumbie stories the boys had been telling over their drinks. He had enjoyed listening as much as everyone else, even throwing in a tale or two of his own; but now they came back to haunt him with spine-tingling horror – especially as the cemetery he was approaching was where that girl… what was her name now – Jane Ellis, had been buried a few days ago. “… boy, hear dis wan nuh… Sam bin driving home nearly twelve o’clock near Rose Hall graveyard when he hear a baby cryin’… He stap he truck and look fuh dis chile and fine am unda de silk-cotton tree…

“He pick up de baby and put am in de passenger seat, thinkin’ he gon drap am at de hospital. Well, when he start to drive he feel he skin start crawling and something mek he look at de baby… you know dat baby was growing right in front he eyes till he turn wan man who look at Sam with sheer evil in he eyes…. Look, Sam fly out de truck door and lef’ de truck to go lang e way. When he reach home de truck de park by he door. Sam nevah drive dah truck again. He sell am out.”

It was just about here, Rufus remembered, that he met Jane Ellis. He had not seen her face because then it had been almost pitch dark, except for the girl’s torchlight, unlike tonight now

that the moon was peering through the clouds and illuminating the street with a faint glow, although the eerie shadows cast by swaying branches created fearsome imageries in his mind, startling him several times.

He had been returning home after having drinks with the boys, just like now, and she had been hurrying to the factory with a meal for her husband, who was working double-shift because his relief did not turn up for work.

Of course Rufus did not know all of this, nor her name; that is, until the news of her rape and strangulation – in this same vicinity, had circulated around Canje the next day. “… and you mus’ hear dis wan… Vishnu had been going home wan night when rain de pourin’, shelterin’ unda he big black umbrella… When he reach pass de graveyaad he hear somebody seh… ‘tanks fuh de shelta man, ah goin’ home now. When he look around he en see anybody. Man Vishnu tek off like a locomotive, wid so much speed he even run pass he own house.”

Recalling these stories was scaring Rufus spitless, when suddenly “eeeeeeee……….eeeeee………….ooooo…………. eeeee’ sent Rufus’ hair standing on end in spine-chilling terror, until he realized it was the midnight factory siren.

He laughed shakily and soliloquized “Rufus boy, behave yoself. Like ole age ketchin’ up wid you. Heh! Heh! Heh!” A figure in white materialized out of the gloom in front of him, startling him. Then, as he looked closer, he discerned the outline of a seductively-swaying figure of a young woman.

“Hi gyal”, he called out, “Wait fuh me. We gon keep each odda company.”

She did not answer, but glanced over her shoulder and beckoned him forward.

Her sensuous gait sent hot flames shooting up his blood, making him remember that night he had met Jane Ellis, just somewhere nearby.

His sensual excitement had been as acute then as it was now, but when he had accosted her she had resisted, forcing him to give her a cuff to subdue her; whereupon her struggles ceased as she fell senseless to the ground – which suited him fine, for he was able to sate himself without any trouble before hurrying along home.

It was not until the next day that he learnt that she had died – having hit her head on a stone when she fell.

He shrugged off the memories and quickened his pace to shorten and close the distance between himself and the seductively-swaying, sense-drugging figure gliding in the shadowy pathway before – unconscious of the direction in which he was being led – conscious only of the fevered burning of his blood.

In his drunken haze he did not question why, but only responded to his lust.

She came to a stop and lay on a mound of freshly-sprouting grass, then beckoned invitingly.

He ran his tongue over passion-parched lips and lowered himself into her embrace – which she tightened, and continued tightening.

“Not so tight, darlin’” he croaked, “you stranglin’ me.”

She smiled enigmatically and increased the pressure of her embrace which, try as he would, he could not break.

He could not breathe… his world was growing dark. The constricting band in his chest was suffocating him.

As his head arched back in agony his eyes became riveted to the inscription on the tombstone before him: “Here lies Jane Ellis.

Beloved wife of Stephen Ellis.

1951 – 1980. RIP.”

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

IX

Do Fo Do Na Obeah

I

By Neil Primus

t was a classic case of young love. Mortimer met Cindy and they fell in love. The only problem with this was that she was one in a long list of lovers.

Mortimer had been moving from one girl to the next. He had no intention of stopping.

His mother had tried to reason with him.

“Remember you have sisters. You won’t want any man to use them then go.”

He pretended to listen but her warning went into one ear and immediately out the next. His mom even used extreme means.

“Boy that girl could be dangerous. People say she and she family are bloodsuckers.”

Mortimer grinned. Not even that story would deter him.

He had made up his mind.

Mortimer was twenty four. He was handsome, smart and smooth talking. Even the girls he had abandoned still tried to rekindle old fires. He would have none of that.

Cindy lived with her mother, grandmother and great aunt at the back of the village. She was beautiful, smart and full of life. She liked Mortimer the moment they met. She too had made up her mind. She would have this man.

Mortimer spent many evenings out with Cindy. They went to cinema, limed on the seawalls or sat on some benches in a small park in the centre of their small village.

Their village was small but beautiful. The environment was clean and litter free. People lived in harmony with each other. One thing that affected the small community of White Lilly was the fear of old Haigue. A number of residents had shown signs of being sucked. There was some amount to tension that accompanied the fear.

The two lovers sat on the bench in the dark secluded park.

It was a popular retreat for couples who wished to have some privacy. They were locked in each other’s embrace and enjoying the quiet nature of the evening.

Mortimer looked at her and remembered the warning his

mother had issued earlier that week. He could not picture her hurting anyone. That was his department. He had broken a number of hearts. She smiled and kissed him tenderly.

Again his mother’s words came to him. He tried to shrug it off but they kept coming back until they obscured his plan for the evening which was not carefully thought out.

Tonight he wanted to make his move. As the words kept eating away at him he decided to use some simple diplomacy he hoped would put the question to rest.

“Cindy I got a confession to mek.”

She looked intently at him with a slightly puzzled expression.

“What!”

“Please don’t get mad at me. I feel ashamed to tell you about it.”

She hugged him warmly pulling him closer to her.

“Don’t worry I won’t.”

Mortimer paused for effect then looked her straight in the eyes.

“All my family does suck blood. I is a blood sucker too.”

He expected her to spring up in fright and run home screaming. To his shock she remained calm squeezing him even tighter. Just then the moon pushed its way from behind a cloud and the small park was transformed from opaque black to transparent silver. Cindy too seemed to change. For one thing she had gotten stronger and was holding him in a vice grip. Her face also looked different. The silvery moonbeams seemed to peel off years and she looked older than usual. She smiled and her eyes made cold shivers traverse

A theory must be tempered with reality.

He was about to divulge his nightmare when she uttered some words that almost caused him to blackout.

“What is dat mark pon yo neck? Like she give you hickie last night.”

Mortimer’s mind was in a daze. Was it a dream or did something really happen. He rubbed his neck and felt slight pain. He headed for the mirror in the next room.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“Somebody at de door a going an see is who.”

His mother walked to the front door and opened it.

“Mortimer, look Cindy come to you!””

No answer.

“Mortimer!” Silence.

She headed inside and noticed the backdoor flapping in the breeze. The house empty, Mortimer had fled.

Facts are facts and will not disappear on account of your likes.

Action itself, so long as I am convinced that it is right action, gives me satisfaction.]

Action to be effective must be directed to clearly conceived ends.

Failure comes only when we forget our ideals and objectives and principles.

Crises and deadlocks when they occur have at least this advantage, that they force us to think.

Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.

Every little thing counts in a crisis.

his spine.

“Don’t worry Mortimer. Me family is blood suckers too. It pass down from generation to generation. I is the youngest.”

Mortimer could have died in fright. He wanted to bite his tongue for uttering the stupid thing he had just said.

Cindy leaned towards him smiling. For the first time he noticed her pronounced teeth. His body trembled in terror but he was held immobile. Her kiss on his neck became a sharp painful, then soothing sensation. Suddenly he felt liquid trickle down his neck. Blood! He screamed at the top of his lungs.

When he opened his eyes he was soaking in sweat. His mother rushed into the room.

“What’s the matter Mortimer?”

Great causes and little men go ill together.

Jawaharlal Nehru

It is only too easy to make

suggestions and later try to escape the consequences of what we say.

X

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)

SAT THROUGH CINEMA SHOW NEXT TO HER DEAD FRIEND

(The Citizen August 12, 1977) A young woman sat through a cinema show in the city last night not realising that a friend sitting next to her was dead.

At the end of the movie as she shook her companion, she found that the girl 22-year -old Ingrid McKennon of the Guyana Defence Force was dead.

“She slumped down in her seat during the film but I thought she was asleep and I decided not to disturb her,” the young woman said, tangibly shaken by the bizarre experience.

Later at the Georgetown Hospital Ingrid McKennon who lived at Buxton East Coast Demerara was officially pronounced dead and there is to be a post mortem.

MAN CUTS OFF HIS FINGER TO SAVE HIS LIFE

(The Citizen August 16, 1977) A young timber grant worker on the Corentyne yesterday cut off the index finger of his left hand after he was bitten by a labaria.

Acting on the advice of an experienced “bush man” 29-year-old Patrick Gordon lopped off the finger when the poisonous snake bit his left hand while he was cutting a path in the forest some 14 miles up the Corentyne River.

The amputation did keep Gordon alive and later at the Georgetown Hospital doctors went to work on him.

He is expected to survive the attack.

FIGHTING GOATS STOP NA TRAFFIC (The Citizen September 13, 1977)

The busy shopping centre at Strand New Amsterdam almost came to a standstill when two goats with

curved horns were engaged in fierce fighting.

During the battle for supremacy the animals butted each other violently. They leapt into the air and then rushed at each other, clashing their heads together and using their horns as spears.

During the grim struggle blood oozed from the foreheads of both animals.

By this time a large crowd gathered enthralled by the display of the goats.

An aged man who was surprised at the agility of the animals mused aloud: “Why on earth are they fighting?”

A teenage lad quickly replied:”If mankind what get reasoning ah fight, wha do them?

As they became tired the goats ceased fighting and after hovering around for a few seconds walked down Charlotte Street among the street folks.

CANJE BRIDGE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE (The Citizen September 13, 1977)

Work on the Canje River Bridge is progressing satisfactorily with the beams on the Sheet Anchor side of the river already laid and those on the New Amsterdam side now being set up.

The bridge is being built by Corporation Raymond a firm of United States bridge building contractors who have built several bridges across rivers in South America.

It is hoped that although not fully completed the bridge will be in use by Christmas early January if the work continues to progress as it is now doing.

Work on the bridge began earlier this year with a deadline of eighteen months being set by Contractor Raymond but it is expected that the bridge will be completed long before schedule.

Project Manager of Corporation Raymond is Harry Armstrong , while Project Manager for the Consulting Engineers Frederic Harris Corporation is Julius Silchenstedt .

THE MONKEY AND THE PEPPER (The Citizen July 22,

1977) A pet monkey went berserk after eating a hot red pepper yesterday and bit its owner three times.

Twenty-four-year old Te r r e n c e L e e b e c a m e alarmed when the monkey jumped at his throat and bit him.

He is now a patient at the Georgetown Hospital.

Lee told this newspaper that he had placed a bowl of hot pepper close to the monkey and as he turned away to do something else the monkey reached out grabbed one and ate it.

Some minutes later he picked up the monkey to give it a bath and the monkey bit him.

It bit him a second time and as he chased it around the animal scurried into the yard.

Lee said: “The monkey seemed to be waiting for me around the building and he jumped out and rushed to

my neck and bit my neck again.”

Lee knocked the animal unconscious and it is still at large.

CAUGHT SKINNING A DONKEY (The Citizen August 18, 1977)

A 30-year-old man who was held by detectives in the early hours of the morning skinning a donkey to sell the meat as beef was sentenced to three months imprisonment by Magistrate Desmond Christian at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.

Compton Singh of 4, Cummings Lodge Georgetown was caught with the dead donkey about three o’clock this morning and was taken to court later in the day.

He pleaded guilty to the offence and told the Magistrate he was sorry.

The owner of the donkey Budhram Mangalram of Railway Line Kitty had tethered the animal in his yard on Wednesday night and retired to bed.

He was not aware that the animal was missing until the Police called him at his home.

BETTER FACILITIES FOR THE LOWER POTARO REST-HOUSES (The Citizen September 23, 1977)

Rest houses in Lower Potaro are to be equipped with additional modern furniture utensils and other articles designed for use by the caretakers and by visitors to the sub-region.

District Administration Officer Sherlock Isaacs said in his 1977 first quarterly report the items were needed for the rest house service in the area.

Isaacs said that the volume of visits to Potaro increased considerably from January to April this year.

Ninety five per cent were tourists to Kaieteur with the remainder being visiting Government Officers.

The visitors usually stayed at rest houses at Mahdia, Kangaruma and Tukeit and that was why it was essential for the requested items to be supplied to the rest houses as early as possible, the District Administration Officer added.

FIRST BATCH OF MALE NURSES ENTER MIDWIFERY SCHOOL (The Citizen October 4, 1977) The first set of male nurses to be trained as “midwives” is likely to enter the Schools of Nurses in Georgetown and Berbice next month.

During the anniversary celebrations of the Guyana Nurses’ Association recently Officials said that male nurses desirous of becoming obstetric nurses must be allowed to receive training in the field.

The Official encouraged male nurses interested in being trained as midwives to apply for such training.

The course will last for one year during which time the male students will be prepared to take the Midwifery Examination provided by the General Nursing Council of Guyana.

If successful they will be eligible for registration as midwives.

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043)

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

XI

XII

What is Abhishek Bachchan doing in Rome?

Find out!

The Happy New Year actor has been invited to be part

of an interreligious match for peace Abhishek Bachchan, whose kabaddi team, Jaipur Pink Panthers, recently won the Pro Kabaddi League Championship couldn’t spend much time celebrating with his teammates. The Paa actor had to leave for Rome on Tuesday to be a part of an interreligious peace match, a brain child of Pope Francis.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s hubby whose passion for sports is well known was invited by former Inter Milan and Argentina captain Javier Zanetti. Interestingly, Abhi is the only Indian actor invited for this special match.

The football match will be held at Rome’s Olympic stadium and will have celebrity players participate from all over the world, the intention being to promote the Pope’s message of world peace. Jr Bachchan will represent his Chennai Titans (ISL) team in the Italian capital.

While it’s a moment of pride for the Bachchan family, we are sure the Dostana actor is gonna have a rocking time in ‘The Eternal City’ indulging in his favourite sport, hai na?

Lisa Haydon: I’m not dating Randeep Hooda

The actress opens up about her link up with Randeep A few months ago reports of Lisa Haydon dating actor Randeep Hooda were doing the rounds after the two were were snapped having dinner at a restaurant. We caught up with the Queen actress to confirm our doubts and here’s what she had to say…

“We just walked out together and some pap clicked us.

I had never met him before that night. The dating rumour was a lie. Maybe, somebody tipped off the photographer. I was at a work dinner with Atul Kaskebar and somebody else from Bling. Randeep had just signed up and I had just come back from somewhere outside. I said let’s go somewhere for dinner to celebrate the success of Queen. I was meeting Randeep for the first time, it were just the four of us having dinner and the next thing I hear – we are dating! I was like I don’t even have this guy’s phone number, we are not even friends. It was just so random. It affects me when it hurts someone close to me which the Randeep story may have done at that time in my life with what I had just been through. I am more concerned for my family and loved ones. I do enough bad shit (laughs) without people making up more bad shit about me. If I am in a relationship, I will be honest enough to talk about it.”

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

OMG! Makdee star Shweta Basu Prasad caught in the prostitution scandal!

Shweta Basu Prasad was caught in a high profile prostitution racket in Hyderabad This is not the first time when an actress has been linked to flesh trade. Find out more…

The tinsel town has always attracted many dreamers across the world with its glittering world of fame,stardom and luxury. But underneath all the hoopla and all the razzle dazzle, lies an ugly underbelly which shows its vicious face time and again. We are talking about the flesh trade prevalent

to find work.

In her confession, the red faced star said,”I have made wrong choices in my career and I was out of money. I had to support my family and some other good causes. All the doors were closed and some people encouraged me to get into prostitution to earn money. I was helpless and with no option left to choose, I got involved in this act. I’m not the only one who faced this problem and there are several other heroines who have gone through this phase.”

But this is not the first time that an actress has been arrested for prostitution. Tollywood might be one of the biggest industries in the country, churning out some of the highest grossing flicks, but it is hard to ignore the fact that a lot of Telugu actresses have been involved in flesh trade in the past.

Bhuvaneswari B grade bombshell, Bhuvaneswari, has been arrested twice in the past for running a prostitution racket in Chennai. Having worked with some notable names like Siddharth and Allari Naresh, it came as an eye opener for the industrywallah’s on the state of affairs of the struggling actresses.

Aish Ansari Yet another B grade cinema star, Aish Ansari, was nabbed for being involved in flesh trade in 2011. During the interrogation, police officials have found out that Aish Ansari offered her services in all prime cities across India. She was even arranging foreign models on demand of customers.

Yamuna Kannada actress Yamuna was arrested by the Bangalore police for her alleged involvement in a prostitution racket in the ITC Royal Gardenia, a five star hotel, situated on Vittal Mallya road in Bangalore in January, 2011.

in our film industries which lures young starlets in search of money, fame and stardom.

The nation woke up to a shocker today, as it was reported that, the actress from films like Makdeeand Iqbal has been caught in a high profile prostitution racket at Banjara Hills in Hyderabad. Shweta, who started as child artist in films and television soaps, made her Tollywood debut with Kotha Bangaru Lokam. But since then, the actress has been struggling

Bang Bang song Meherban: Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif’s romantic number is refreshing!

After the first hit, Tu Meri the makers of Bang Bang have come up with a soulful romantic track…

Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif were seen dancing their shoes off last in Bang Bang‘s Tu Meri. While that party number has already become a hit with the listeners, we have yet another song from the film that will make its way to your hearts pretty soon!

Meherban is composed by the rocking musical duo Vishal and Shekhar and has been crooned by Ash King, Shilpa Rao and Shekhar Ravijiani. The lyrics are by Anvita Dutt. The romantic number is shot at the scenic locations of Greece and Katrina looks nothing short of an ethereal beauty in the song. The Greek God of Bollywood, Hrithik Roshan flaunts his chiselled body in the video and proves to be the hottest match for Kat in the song!

We can’t have enough of Hrithik and Katrina’s sexy chemistry onscreen and we want you to give a listen to Meherban here and tell us if the Bang Bang couple has you swooning too…

Saira Banu Tollywood small timer, Saira Banu was also caught during a police raid at Spring Heaven Apartments in Begumpet, Hyderabad in 2010.

By now we get a clear picture of how these actresses are lured into prostitution due to financial issues and never ending struggle for fame. Rather demeaning these actresses, wethinks it is the collective failure of the filmy world, which forces the young strugglers to take such drasticmeasures.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

XIII

First Photos & Winners from the 2014 Nigeria Entertainment Awards in NYC!

Funke Akindele is now engaged to wed umorous actress and movie producer, Funke Akindele has found love again and is reportedly close to going down the aisle with her UK-based lover.

The pretty actress, who recently marked her birthday, is now engaged to wed and has concluded plans to have a secret introduction ceremony next month.

A reliable source disclosed that Akindele, who has been in a blossoming romantic affair with her new heartthrob for quite some time now, has finally accepted his proposal to take the union to the next level.

Reports say that Funke decided to keep the affair a top secret considering the bitter experience she had with her much-publicized celebrity marriage that packed up a few months after.

The newly- found lover boy sources told Global Village Extra, has been reportedly spoiling the delectable screen diva with goodies in recent months, such that she comfortably moved into a new apartment in Lekki recently global village extras

Tiwa Savage, Cuppy, Funke Akindele & More For the 9th year the Nigeria Entertainment Awards (NEA) celebrated and honoured members of the Nigeria entertainment industry at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts in New York.

The award show was filled with lots of amazing performances – Wande Coal, Praiz, Oritsefemi, the ‘Sekem’ master MC Galaxy, and the crowd pleaser ShattaWale. Also on stage were Patoranking who performed his popular song “Girlie O”, Skales with his new single “Shake Body”.

Hosts for the night Bovi and Funke Akindele kept the audience entertained with rib-cracking jokes, while Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi worked the audience by interacting and asking audience members questions to keep them engaged and even more involved in the show than in years past. Red carpet coverage was powered by both US and Nigeria/Africa based media houses – Channel O, Sound City, BellaNaija, OkayAfrica, Inside Africa, Bubbles Magazine, Black Enterprise, Luxxe Living and UDRradio just to mention a few.

The hottest single of the year category had a tie with Pull Over – Kcee ft. Wizkid and Aye by Davido both emerging winners. Some of the other winners of the night include Olamide for Album of the Year, DJ Spinall for World DJ, Desmond Elliot for Best Director, and Mavin’s First Lady Tiwa Savage took home R&B Artiste of the Year and Female Artist of the year awards. In her acceptance speech Tiwa Savage encouraged fans and the entire industry to continue to support the NEAs, mentioning that International awards such as BET and MTV started off similar to the NEAs, and have been able to grow thanks to the support received.

The organizers would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has in one way or another helped in

Omotola Jolade’s Hidden Secrets Exposed!

Movie star mother of four, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, having recorded an unprecedented success in all these years of her selfless service in Nollywood, is poised to open up onsome of her best kept secrets in a new and exciting reality TV show dubbed: Omotola: The Real Me. And this December, DStv audience on AfricaMagic Entertainment will get an up close and exclusive look at Omosexy’s personal life in the new reality series that will definitely enthrall her teeming fans and followers.

In the forthcoming show, viewers will join the famous actress as she launches her latest movies, ex-

pands her business interests and takes on all the challenges of being a ground-breaking celebrity with fans across the continent. At the same time she remains devoted to her marriage and family,working to maintain a balance between her professional and personal responsibilities.

Filmed on location in Lagos, London, Ghana, Miami and Kingston (Jamaica), the reality show will be screened on AfricaMagic Entertainment, starting from December 6 and premiering a new episode every Thursday, for 13 weeks.

Talking about the series, Omotola says nothing was off limits to the team

filming her.

“You will get to see everything.

What we are doing is very real. It’s basically my whole life. The parts where I’m taking care of the kids, the parts where I’m taking care of the home, the parts when I am working, the parts where I’m yelling. It’s crazy. My life is crazy!”

But she reassures fans that the show was designed for a wide audience. “Yes my image is ‘omosexy’ but this show is for the whole family. It’s good content for everyone.”

Nigeria Films - See more at: http:// www.gistplanet.net/2012/11/omotola-jolades-hidden-secrets-exposed. html#sthash.7A8hGJ00.dpuf

making this year’s awards a success. In an official press release, the NEA Team had this to say – “To all the sponsors, media partners, nominees, members of the entertainment industry, and the amazing fans, we appreciate you. To the members of the NEA team, and the volunteers who tirelessly work behind the scenes to make it all come to life, we truly are thankful.“

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

SAMSUNG SMART NECKLACE

W

hile rumours are heating up that Apple may debut the long-rumoured iWatch at a big event (that it finally officially announced) on Sept. 9, the maker of iEverything is late to the wearable party.

Samsung has just released its latest high-tech timepiece. And there's an odd-looking, Bluetooth-enabled necklace thing to go with it.

The South Korean tech giant unveiled the Samsung Gear S smartwatch last Thursday. The device features a curved screen. Curves are quick-

ly becoming a hallmark of Samsung products as it is touting the feature for its TVs as well.

Samsung's new watch also features the now ubiquitous set of health and fitness tracking features, including a running app from Nike.

But perhaps the biggest advancement with the Gear S is the fact that it has 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity that allows a wearer of the watch to make and receive calls even if the user's

phone is not in close proximity.

There are pros and cons to this. On the one hand, you don't have to spend time worrying about where your phone is all the time when you want to use the watch to make a call. But you also are now a step closer to dork-dom that is, using a watch to make a call. This is a case of literally talking to the hand.

But Samsung also introduced another wearable device that sets it apart from the crowd: earbuds that feature a magnet you can clasp around your neck called the Gear Circle. Unlike the Gear S watch, though, you need a phone to pair with the Circle. Both products will officially go on sale in October.

Samsung said the Gear Circle will let users receive calls, listen to music and make voice commands "in style:" There's even a vibrate function to let you know when calls are coming in.

The Circle may appeal to tech diehards who crave everything new and shiny. But it does seem like yet another device that has questionable utility for the masses.

Fuji Xerox printer 'comes to your desk' with documents

When the robot printer receives a print job, it will begin to move towards the person who ordered the printout Fuji Xerox has developed a new robotic printer that can move around a lounge or office to bring documents to the person who printed them.

The printer is designed to be used primarily in public places as a way to keep sensitive docu-

ments secure.

Sensors on the machine prevent it from bumping into people on the way. There are several mobile printing solutions available today that users can submit the print job online through their mobile devices or laptops and they are given a secured password to collect their printouts.

Fuji Xerox - a joint venture between the two firms - has been testing the printer this month at a business lounge in Tokyo.

Each desk in the lounge is given a unique web address from which to print. Users access the address and upload documents to be printed.

Once the printer receives the job, it moves to the intended recipient who then has to display a smart card to activate printing.The battery in the printer lasts for up to a day.

MSN Messenger to end after 15 years

Windows Live Messenger was switched off in most of the world in 2013 and will be moved off in China in October, marking a final end to the 15-year-old service.

Originally known as MSN Messenger, it was launched in 1999 but was switched off for most users in 2013, after Microsoft bought rival Skype.

Users in China continued to use the old service but will now be transferred to Skype by 31 October.

Windows Live still had as many as 330 million users as recently as 2009.

But those numbers later declined, while users of Skype rose to nearly 300 million by 2012.

The service came to China in 2005, but later faced stiff competition from domestic rivals such as QQ messenger, built by Chinese firm Tencent.

MSN Messenger began as a simple text chat service in 1999, a rival to AOL's AIM service and ICQ. It later added features such as photo delivery, video calls and games as the technology developed.

But Microsoft's purchase of Skype for $8.5 billion in 2012 spelled the beginning of the end for the service.

Bekim Fehmiu

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

B

ekim Fehmiu (1 June 1936 – 15 June 2010) was a Yugoslavian theater and film actor of Albanian ethnicity.[1][2][3] He was the first Eastern European actor to star in Hollywood during the Cold War.[4]

film The Last Snows of Spring in 1973, and the role of a Palestinian terrorist in John Frankenheimer's 1977 masterpiece Black Sunday. Despite his Hollywood films achieving little critical success, he excelled in European art house cinema as well as in the theatre, which was his natural medium.[4] By

Early life Fehmiu was born in Sarajevo, Kingdom of Yugoslavia to Albanian parents. His family descends from a merchant family of Imer Halili from the town of Gjakova in Kosovo; his father Ibrahim took his high-school nickname Fehmiu as a surname.

[5] [6] In 1941, his family permanently moved to Prizren in Kosovo, where Bekim spent his childhood. He was part of the acting club at his high school in Prizren, and after graduation he became a member of County popular theatre in Pristina, the only professional Albanian language theatre in Yugoslavia.

[4][6] He graduated from the Faculty of Drama Arts (FDU) in Belgrade in 1960.[6]

Acting In 1960, Fehmiu became a member of the Yugoslav Drama Theatre in Belgrade, which he left in 1967, citing bad treatment, to became a free artist.[6] Fehmiu's big break was the 1967 film I Even Met Happy Gypsies, a subtle portrayal of Roma life which won two awards in Cannes and was nominated for an Oscar.

Known for his macho appearance and mild manner, Fehmiu was then wooed by Western filmmakers and signed a contract with the Academy Award winning producer Dino De Laurentiis.

It was De Laurentiis who, in 1968, cast him as Odysseus in the acclaimed mini-series of The Odyssey. It was the first blockbuster of Italian television and made Fehmiu an icon in Europe.

Fehmiu seemed poised for stardom in Hollywood as well, but his first American film, The Adventurers, was a critical and financial disaster which "ruined any chances for Fehmiu to achieve similar stardom in Hollywood".[7] He played the role of the busy father in Raimondo Del Balzo's heartbreaking

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In 1987, in protest at the Yugoslavian government's treatment of Kosovan Albanians, he walked off the stage at the Yugoslav Drama Theatre in Belgrade, during the play Madame Kollontai by Agneta Pleijel. He left the stage, and soon after, films.[6] Legacy The New York Times dubbed him the "Yugoslav heartthrob" for his youthful conquests and acquaintances with the likes of Brigitte Bardot and Ava Gardner. Decades after his last appearance on the screen, readers of a leading Italian women's magazine voted him one of the ten most attractive men of the 20th century.[4] Bekim Fehmiu appeared in 41 films between 1953 and 1998. Fehmiu was the first Albanian theater and film actor who acted in theaters and movies all over Yugoslavia, and he acted in a whole series of roles that changed the history of the Cinema of Yugoslavia and left a mark in the artistic developments abroad.

Personal life He was married to Serbian actress Branka Petri?. The couple had two sons, Hedon and Uliks (b. 1968), and resided in the Zvezdara area of Belgrade.[8] Uliks Fehmiu is also an actor.

Autobiography In 2001, Samizdat B92 published a book of Bekim Fehmiu's memoirs, entitled Blistavo i straĹĄno (Brilliant and Terrifying), which describes his life until 1955, the year he became an actor.[5]

Bekim Fehmiu the end of his career he had acted in nine languages, including French, Spanish and Italian.[4]

Death Fehmiu was found dead on 15 June 2010 in his apartment in Belgrade. Initial reports stated he committed suicide.[9][10] Interior Minister Ivica Da?i? said Fehmiu was found shot in his apartment and the gun was registered in Fehmiu's name.

[11] He was 74 years old.

His body was cremated and the ashes were scattered in a river in Prizren where his family from his native Sarajevo was moved by turning a second home.[12]

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

Guyanese Women in History: Victoria “VickyVybez” Gunraj: T-Shirt Designer/ Fashion Entrepreneur at Deported TEES Victoria Marianna Gunraj is the owner of Miami-based Caribbean clothing line and T-shirt Company “DeportedTEES.” Born in Miami, Florida on December 17, 1989, Victoria’s parents hail from the villages of Wales and Vreed-en-Hoop in West Demerara, Guyana.

A graduate of the University of Florida, this 24- year-old business woman earned a B.S. Degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition. Victoria’s passion for fashion and design led her to start her own fashion company in 2011 from her college apartment in Florida.

DeportedTEES was inspired by Victoria’s love for the rich Caribbean culture and lifestyle; music, dance, language, and overall rhythms of the islands. Over the years, DeportedTEES has evolved from producing a single custom t-shirt to offering a full recognisable signature line. Customers have the choice of shopping two collections: Caribbean and Urban, and also have the option of creating their own custom designs online.

Since the launch of DeportedTEES, Victoria has been recognised as one of the top 25 Entrepreneurs under 25 in the Caribbean Community. She was also featured on the Travel Channel during a Carnival Episode, as well as in many local community and West Indian newspapers and magazines.

Victoria prides herself on providing the latest and hottest Caribbean inspired wear via the DeportedTEES online store.

She actively works to improve the quality and designs offered by her company and center the business on great and personal customer service. Victoria’s goal is to bring more strength and awareness to the Caribbean culture through fashion, as well as to evolve that image into the modern age.

Victoria is currently working on a social media awareness campaign called #guyanaisbeautiful to show pride for Guyanese women. To learn Designer/Fashion Entrepreneur, Victoria more about Victoria and DeportedTees, follow her on Instagram and “VickyVybez” Gunraj Twitter @deportedtees and @vickyvybez, or at facebook.com/deportedtees.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

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Understanding…from a teen’s point of view!

By Vishani Ragobeer Friends and acquaintances Hola! Hello! Bonjour! How are you this week? How was school? Well, this week I’ll be talking about friends and acquaintances.

Well, you’re back at school, you’ve met your friends and probably learnt about some new gossip, haven’t you? Now this just fits perfectly with my topic this week.

Friends and acquaintances, the people you see all the time at school and extra lessons (well besides the teachers!). Having a friend to talk to is priceless and beneficial, but also quite distracting, how so? Let me explain……

These friends and acquaintances can be good, because some friends may guide you to do the right things and focus.

Also, these people can have a good impact in your life, especially older students, who come to “look out” for you. And, it’s always good to have a friend to share anything with, even the crazy, silly stuff.

Now in contrast to what I’ve stated before, some friends and acquaintances are distracting because most of us probably have to upkeep a reputation as the funny person, bad egg, etc.!

And in so trying to upkeep this reputation, you become easily distracted from your work. Now I ask you, is this really worth it?

Do you really care about your reputation more than you care about improving at school? So guys think about your priorities.

School life is not easy; you have to juggle trying to do your best, along with keeping your records clean and trying not to be picked on and being an outcast. However, while the last stated is not relatively important, it does not exactly boost our self-esteem when we don’t “fit in”, so honestly speaking, we all should have friends because it helps to build our social skills

and help with our development, but instead of barring us away from friends just ensure that the friends and acquaintances we have leave a positive impact.

Try considering what I’ve said and answer these questions: Are my friends (or my child’s friends) leaving a good impact?

Do you think that you are a good friend/acquaintance?

As we observe Education Month under the theme: “LITERATE BY GRADE FOUR THROUGH CONSISTENT HOME, SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT” and Amerindian Heritage Month – “TRADITIONAL EMBODIMENT FOR AMERINDIAN DEVELOPMENT” let’s all celebrate for a better future.

Well, it’s time for me to go now, hoped you enjoy this week’s column! * Quote for the week: (by Nelson Mandela) “We must use time wisely and forever realise that the time is always ripe to do right.”

See you again next week, right here in the best newspaper in Guyana

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Seafield - Peaceful and basking in an aura of calm and joyful countryside pleasures

I

By Alex Wayne

t’s always such a pleasure to be exploring the very far off villages on the lower coastal plain of Guyana, and my reason for saying so is that these villages come with a certain refreshing solitude and pleasantry that is far more entertaining that the customary bustle, and fuss one may find in the city of Georgetown.

While one may be drawn to the city and its environs for its extensive commercial and economic opportunities, the quieter at heart will be lured to the countryside with the assurance that they can bask in the exciting atmosphere of the tropics, as they enjoy the jovial banter, rich camaraderie, and of course the abundant avenues for pleasant recreation that are in many cases associated with the countryside.

Well here I was yet in this very pretty village called Seafield (#42 Village) on the West Coast of Berbice and judging from the visible stream of activity here, I just knew that the experience would be worth reliving anytime.

Let me be honest about the pleasant and vibrant awakening I received when I visited this small but very impressive village.

I was well stirred up by the almost mesmerising manner in which the houses were all clustered together, beautifully accentuated by abundant fruit trees, and ‘flower plants’ blooming in picturesque glory in many yards.

In some yards, small kitchen gardens thrived under the lusty sunlight as plants welcomed precious water filtering to their roots through the rich, black ‘country soil’, as mothers happily saturated them with the life-saving liquid from water cans.

Youths dashed after each other noisily through the alleyways, while others were more contented to engage themselves in highly competitive games of hop-scotch or marbles.

In the few yards that featured makeshift stalls, mothers and even husbands busied themselves with setting out groceries, vegetables and ground provisions, intent on making a quick honest dollar.

As is customary with these villages, cows grazed lazily in wide open fields and young lambs chased after their mothers, bleating noisily in their special ‘sheep language’ as they jostled the moms roughly, trying to get their fill of warm breast milk.

Seafield falls under the administrative division of Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice), in with an average elevation of one metre above sea level.

As history would suggest, Seafield can have low impact earthquakes (on average one every 50 years), with occurrences at 5 on the Richter scale. When an earthquake occurs, it may be felt indoors by many people, outdoors by a few people during the day. At night, some people may be awakened. There is a low occurrence of periods with extreme drought. Flooding risk in this village is said to be low.

The landscape is mostly covered with closed to open broad-leaved evergreen or semi-deciduous forest. The climate is classified as a tropical wet (no dry season) with a tropical moist forest bio-zone. The soil in some areas is said to be high in acrisols, alisols, plinthosols, acid soil with clay-enriched lower horizon and low saturation of bases.

With a population of close to one thousand residents this village is located at just over 68 miles from Georgetown.

be even mirrored in the flashing eyes, and mischievous smiles of every villager I met and spoke with.

Upon my approach and a brief explanation on the reason for visiting an elderly woman (though camera shy) gurgled excitedly: “I does read the Chronicle every Sunday and ah de wandering when yall coming tuh Seafield. Eh eh like ya, all de fuget we or wha sir?” As she led me to a village elder, 75 year-old Esther Fredericks, she was gleefully shouting to friends and associates the reason for my visit and the news spread like wild fire.

So at ‘every nook and cranny’ in the village I was greeted with deep respect and persons went out of their way to help in one way or another. The food vendors were falling over themselves to ensure I sampled their black and white pudding, still steaming sugar cakes and insisted that I devour a heaping plate of well made ‘country poulori.’

There were a few persons sitting by the roadside or enjoying some ‘swank’ (drink made from limes) while others on their front steps or verandahs seemed so content with life that I truly envied their seemingly solace and natural comfort.

Seafield is nestled cosily between the attractive villages of Rising Sun to the east and # 41 Village to the west.

Seafield, like many other villages in Berbice, has rich historical connections and as history would dictate was actually one of the portioned lands or settlements sold to Africans after slavery was abolished.

Interacting with villagers Among the many persons who were more than ready to interact with the Chronicle Carol Smith, a teacher who teaches at a secondary school some three villages away.

The very jovial woman indicated that unemployment was a major setback for the village, since some students who would have written the CXC examinations remain at home, or wandered in the streets as they desperately await responses from places to which they had applied for jobs. She noted that it was

Touching down….

I was expecting the customary hustle and bustle of inhabitants, noisy streets, screaming children and raucous males ‘taking a tupps’ in the rum shops and was in no way prepared for the intensely pleasant calm and tranquillity that seemed to engulf me the moment I stepped out of the minibus and into the dusty but very tidy main road.

As the cool and refreshing wind blew in from the Atlantic Ocean I marvelled at the soft swaying of coconut palms which almost seemed to move with a strangely sweet, rhythmic grace that gave me a strange tingle. Such a riveting picture of Mother Nature at work and this dazzling spectacle seemed to

Welcome to Seafeild Village

just a few that were actually able to relocate to the city and obtain good jobs since they often cannot afford the expenses of housing, and other city responsibilities, once they relocate.

Ms. Smith noted that because of this reason there are several intelligent youths remaining in the village, deeply frustrated by the problem of unemployment. She added that all the schools would have been already filled with teachers thus making it impossible for some qualified school leavers to access jobs there.

Inadequate recreational opportunities were also another issue that really peeved Ms. Smith. “Seafield is in dire need of adequate recreational facilities for the youths, and though a gentleman here is upgrading our playfield, we would certainly welcome more sporting facilities from other donors. We also definitely need variety where our recreational opportunities are concerned.”

She declared that there is need for corporate and government intervention, emphasising that their village over the years has been champions in the circle tennis arena.

She said over the years this game has disappeared almost entirely from the village due to lack of funds to provide gears, or unavailability of incentives for players.

Housewife, Princess Walters had a much horrifying tale to tell. She related that the village is targeted by outsiders who come in the quiet of the night to throw garbage in sections of the village.

“These people are just terrible and heartless. Persons who operate businesses and other individuals come in the still of the night when we are sleeping and sometimes dump garbage on our street corners or in open fields. Just last week the boys chased a truck driver, who attempted to dump a whole truck load of garbage in a vacant lot.”

Several villagers are calling for their own Health Centre since they have to travel to the nearby Bushlot Health Centre or Fort Wellington Hospital which also has to accommodate villagers from Hopetown and Bushlot itself and other areas.

Continued on page XX

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Seafield Sharon Thomas who spoke to us from an open window on the bottom flat of her two-storeyed home explained that she was home alone with her 15-year-old daughter while her common-law husband ‘Brandon’ was out plying his trade as a bus driver in and outside the village.

She noted however that while his profession can be tedious and very competitive at times, it however brings in a sizeable daily dollar that somehow manages to take care of their needs in the home.

“Everybady does do either wan jab or anotha in Seafield.

Because everybody have to survive somehow or the otha. Me husband does go out deh everyday fuh mek ends meet, and some days he does comeback with almost nothing because is plenty bus wukking all ovah. But we does be thankful and try fuh mek ends meet regardless ah de situation”.

According to Ms. Thomas, who has been residing in the village for over 25 years, it was indeed a very beautiful and peaceful location where residents live in harmony and great love for each other.

Villagers are also requesting street lights for safety while farmers cultivating rice and cash crops in the back lands are complaining that the dams are intolerable during the rainy season, making it almost impossible to transport their cultivated crops when its harvest time.

But in some sections of the village residents are lauding the fact that the relevant authorities have begun work on a few dams. Presently works are still continuing on the playfield in the village by a public spirited resident who has recently began making great strides in the areas of sports and entertainment.

Some persons complained that they are unable to garner proper prices for their poultry products when they sell to wholesale buyers, who many times attempt to give them ‘next to nothing’ for their produce. They said that the constraints of transporting such items to the city to net better sales are too expensive and would require proper storage containers (refrigerators etc.)

Some persons living close to the back land areas related that when there are torrential downpours, their yards would flood and snakes and alligators would crawl in.

Villagers are requesting that a bridge be built on the sea dam to grant proper access to the sea beach which is divided from the village by waterways.

Seafield seems lacking in terms of apparent business potential as can be judged from its distinct infrastructure, but villagers are certainly not missing out on anything in particular since they can simply take a bus to the not so distant Bushlot which serves as an ‘economic hub’ that can ultimately satisfy their entertainment, relaxation, social and of course economic needs at any one time. They can also grab a few supplies at the Maj & Family Grocery Store whenever they seem please.

Seafield of Today Today Seafield is quite a quaint and impressive village that is still trying its best to run parallel with the changes associated with modernisation.

New and in many case posh houses have been built and the village is now a starling combination of somewhat classic buildings, sprawling majestic pastures that projects a refreshing spectacle as cattle, goats and sheep grazed contently, munching noisily on the juicy looking grass and shrubs.

The sight of men on horses chasing cows down a few dams brought a vivid reminder that this was a location where poultry farming and cattle rearing at one time brought in vibrant incomes for many residents.

The main road is in perfect shape and the canals are reasonably maintained. Residents raved that there is hardly any challenge in the village, save for the a few dams which become intolerable during inclement weather.

Residents enjoy continuous electricity, a constant supply of potable water, and they ensure their village is kept clean through self-help initiatives and burning of garbage and refuse.

Farming would have dwindled in its intensity and this is so because of the ‘salty content’ that is now present in the soil and damages crops instead of causing them to flourish as expected.

A group of men folks lauded the efforts of Minister Jajraj who they said is intervening in the area of them acquiring land plots.

Entertainment The village is seized in the clutches of an ‘entertainment shutdown’ as dictated by some residents, and as such folks are forced to remain in the confines of their homes and watch television, or enjoy drinks with friends and neighbours.

In times gone by Seafield was one of the more popular ‘entertainment hubs’ on the West Coast of Demerara since it was home to the very popular ‘Leg Trap Disco’. In that era massive masses congregated there on weekends for wild revelling as they enjoyed the many concept parties hosted there.

With the hotspot now gone villagers either anticipates

birthday or wedding celebrations, while some may venture to other villages like Belladrum and Rosignol for exclusive entertainment.

Religion Most of the residents in this village are Christians and would normally worship at three major churches in the village.

These are the Seventh Day Adventist, the Christ Lutheran and the New Apostolic Churches. That aside, a few would keep church sessions under their houses, while the mere sprinkling of Muslims would normally worship outside the village. `The Seafeild awakening The village awakes to the golden streams of sunlight, which soon after sees children tumbling out in their yards, sleepily rubbing their eyes, or grumbling under their breaths as mothers loudly admonishes them to have their morning chores done.

By the time the sun is fully up children begin to spill into the streets some with parents in supervision as they make their way to the primary school, or to other schools outside of the village. The few small shops are open by now, desperately trying to net morning sales, as some mothers thread into their kitchen gardens for fresh vegetables, or seasonings for their meat kind.

Vehicles begin to traverse the streets even as pedestrians began to trek along the many alleyways and side streets, intent on getting busy errands completed.

The few larger shops soon open their doors and windows to get garner daily sales and a few snack vendors put out their trays of biscuits and confectionaries, as they ready to ‘bellow’ their prices and bargain arrangements.

As the sunlight creeps over fully over the gold crusted morning crowds, the village burst into a tingling fusion of merry laughter, happy voices and the rumbling of vehicles as they chug their way along the main road.

By now the golden sun is rising steadily above the horizon casting a jewelled dazzle on rooftops and the metal frame of steel fences. Soon after, the many small groceries that have sprung up are opened as vendors attempt to attract the eyes of early buyers.

With streets now filled with pedestrians, riders and drivers, conversations with a few grown men revealed that while the village can be sometimes described as ‘a hub of bustling activity’, there is still room for the introduction of some more ‘glitz and glamour’.

During the midway, the street is mostly dismal, it comes alive in the afternoons and early mornings with the boisterous chatters of students as they hurry to and from school.

Seafeild Village in days of old According to village elder Clarence Adams this village in days gone by was just a cluster of somewhat shabby houses several years after the abolition of slavery. He said that in many cases the houses were far apart so the present camaraderie and jovial interaction of residents was not present then because of the distance each house stood apart.

Streets were not paved and residents depended on the few stand pipes in the village for their water supply. Some persons in those days used trench water which they boiled before drinking.

He reminisced on the days when there would be fiery disagreements at the pipes over whose turn it was to dip water and in some cases there would be pulling of hair and scratching of faces to obtain the precious liquid.

“It was always a pleasure to draw water when the ladies of the village came out. They would gather around with dresses hugging their hips, with hands on their waists, feet tapping impatiently if someone was wasting the water or taking too long to fill their containers. Many times heated arguments broke out and in some cases the ladies were locked in battle much to the delight of those standing by. Often it was a good tussle and wallowing in the mud before they were separated by men folks who would secretly enjoy the fights to a point before separating them.”

In those days, agriculture was the main source of support for some families and many persons farmed in the back land or maintained a kitchen garden at home. The dams leading to the back land were okay during suns shine but became almost impassable during the rainy weather.

Ms. Small said that entertainment in those days would include beating drums around large bond fires, and engaging in wild dancing abandon as villagers south to maintain their African culture. She said that villagers eagerly anticipated the coming of weddings or birthdays since this heralded great festivity and celebration. Most villagers loved the ‘Que Que’ sessions before weddings since they could gyrate and unleashed their ‘forbidden sides’ as they consumed alcohol, metagee, cow face souse, black pudding and other delicacies.

Drainage was not as good as it is today and some areas experienced flooding according to Ms. Small.

Many spent their hard earned dollars and did work on the swampy lands, building it to perfection to accommodate houses, shops and other structures.

Man-made streets and pathways soon began to appear and families could be seen toiling acidulously in the broiling sun to build their paths and alleyways leading to their respective homes.

Employment This village it seemed was not affected by unemployment since its inhabitants were either working in other areas or gainfully employed as shop owners, farmers, or mini-bus drivers.

It was a pleasurable sight to watch mothers watering young vegetable plants as they kids trailed after them, trying to be of some assistance in one way or the other. In some homes, mothers were busy cooking up a spree and the succulent aroma of polouri, egg balls, dhal puri, and fried chicken wafted into the air. These items will be displayed in tidy looking little glass cases later in the afternoon for sale to villagers and school children as they trekked home to their various houses.

And some seemed to be making quite a fortune on the sale of custard blocks, icicles, cubed ice, and cool down (local fruit juice in plastic bags). I almost giggled out loud at the amusing sight of little boys attempting to lick the apparently delicious trails that ran down their wrists and even elbows as the custard block melted in the sun.

This village is simply adorable, and the way in which resident attempt to meet their needs through self-orchestrated means is truly amazing.

However a few youths complained that they are unable to obtain jobs inside the village since there is actually no scope for ‘qualified employment’ there. Some said positions in administrative office close by were already filled, forcing them to seek work in the city where the constraints of accommodation and bills poses a major problem.

Conclusion Despite its apparent lack of economic opportunities, Seafeild however boasts a rare ‘yester-year allure’ that is certainly stirring and refreshing to the soul.

Its beauty lies in the rich, lush greenery, its sandy dams, bubbling waterways and jolly banter of its seemingly happy people. Take a trip there and soak up the relaxing ambience of the countryside...

Clarence Adams was very eager to shed light on the makings of Seafeild in the olden days

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

It is a custom to sell crabs for a living in the countryside

Repairs have started on some dams leading to the back land area

Lush coconut palms and ‘plantain suckers’ add even more lustre to the village

Two of the places of worship in the village The May Flower Parlour Grocery Shop ensures villagers are supplied with kitchen necessities

There is a kitchen garden in many homes

Getting the laundry done country style (

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Some residents sell their home-grown bread fruits by the road side to rake in extra income

Poultry farmer Otis Fraser tries to make ends meet by selling snack items and groceries in his roadside stall during his spare time

Trucks arrive with gas for household purposes

These residents living in the outskirts of the back lands said they are endangered by snakes and alligators when heavy rain falls

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

Two old chums catch up on current affairs via the newspaper

Taking advantage of lush, refreshing greenery and shady trees...

Enjoying the cool of the tropics

The Seafeild Primary School

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

S O F I A K O VA L E VSKAYA-Was destined to become a woman of great strengths, and the contributions she made to mathematics promised to be enduring ones "The meaning of these concepts I naturally could not yet grasp, but they acted on my imagination, instilling in me a reverence for mathematics as an exalted and mysterious science which opens up to its initiates a new world of wonders, inaccessible to ordinary mortals."

Sofia Kovalevskaya (1850-1891) was destined to become a woman of great strengths, and the contributions she made to mathematics promise to be enduring ones. Sofia was attracted to mathematics at a very young age.

When Sonya was 11, the walls of her nursery were papered with pages of lecture notes on differential and integral analysis. Studying the wallpaper was her introduction to calculus.

Sofia wrote in her autobiography: "The meaning of these concepts I naturally could not yet grasp, but they acted on my imagination, instilling in me a reverence for mathematics as an exalted and mysterious science which opens up to its initiates a new world of wonders, inaccessible to ordinary mortals."

Sofia was forced to marry differential equations, Abeso that she could go abroad lian integrals and Saturn's to study. Her father would Rings. not allow her to leave home In 1882 she began work to study at a university, and on the refraction of light. She women in Russia could not began to lecture there in early live apart from their families 1884, was appointed to a five without the written permis- year extraordinary professorsion of their father or hus- ship in June of that year, and band. At the age of eighteen, in June 1889 became the first she entered a nominal mar- woman since the physicist riage with Vladimir Kovalev- Laura Bassi and Maria Gaetski, a young palaeontologist. ana Agnesi to hold a chair at In 1869 Sofia travelled a European university. to Heidelberg to study mathAlthough the Tsarist ematics and the natural sci- government had repeatedly ences, only to discover that women could not matriculate at the university. Eventually she persuaded the university authorities to allow her to attend lectures unofficially, provided that she obtain the permission of each of her lecturers. Professors considered her a gifted student and Sofia Kovalevskaya spoke about her as an extraordinary phenomenon . refused her a university poBy the spring of 1874, sition in her own country, the Kovalevskaya had completed rules at the Imperial Acadethree papers, each of these my were changed to allow the worthy of a doctorate. The election of a woman. three papers were on Partial Sonya Kovalevsky has

been described as the brightest star among all female mathematicians analysis is a permanent monument to her greatness. The Cauchy-Kovalevsky Theorem is at the foundation of most graduate

courses in partial differential equations.

Her novel The Sisters Rajevski (based upon her own childhood) is a superb account of life among the intellectuals at a crucial period

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in Russian history.

In early 1891, at the height of her mathematical powers and reputation, Kovalevskaya died of influenza complicated by pneumonia.

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SPONGE CAKE BEDS: SOME REMINDERS

Whenever practicable it is best to dig beds by hand.

Digging beds with a machine can destroy the earthworms and other earth creatures that help to make your soil fertile.

A raised bed, well aerated bed should not be so wide that the middle can’t be reached from both sides.

Paths should be as narrow as is comfortably possible so that the growing space is maximised.

Before starting a new bed, put in stakes to mark each corner and connect them with a string then measure them.

The bed length can be whatever length desired however if they are too long you can spend a lot of energy walking around the beds.

A reasonably sized bed can be a maximum of twelve feet to eighteen feet long and three to four feet wide.

If the soil is dry and hard, water it well; thoroughly soak the bed to a depth of 2 feet . Set up a line to trace the edges of the bed to be dug.

wait until the soil becomes moist enough for digging two days after watering. The soil should not be sticky and muddy nor should it be so dry that it won’t form a ball when squeezed in the hand.

Depending on the condition of your soil, you may also need to do one or more of the following things:

1. Use the material obtained from cleaning /weeding the area to make a compost pile.

2. If water is not available, waiting for the rain is advisable or one can try dry digging after the bed is soaked. It’s best to

3. Loosen the soil 12 inches deep.

4. Water lightly for a day or two (5 minutes or so per 100 square feet), or even longer if the clods are particularly large.

5. Let the soil rest for one day

6. Spread a layer of compost or manure on the area to be dug one to three inches in depth depending on how fertile the soil is. Sift it into the top.

Avoid re-compacting the soil

One of the reasons for digging deep (double digging) is to put air in the soil Once the bed has been dug, avoid walking on it since this will re-compact the soil and destroy its structure.

It is recommended to put compost on your bed and plant your seedlings as soon as possible after double digging.

If you cannot transplant your seedlings immediately keep the soil evenly moist to keep micro-organisms alive.

It’s useful to note that earthworms help make your soil fertile.

Culture earthworms:

The culturing of earthworms to benefit from their ability to transform all agriculture, animal and human waste products into organic fertiliser, is known as vermin-culture.

Worm reproduction is the key and most important part of the production of this natural type of fertiliser also known as humus.

More worms mean that more waste products can be transformed by the worms into soil enriching humus.

Vermin-culture is an art and science by itself and it has been stated that red worms are best for this endeavour.

(Gardening Tips)

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An area of a rainforest the size of a football field is being destroyed each second.

Giant bamboo plants can grow up to 9 inches a day.

The trees of a tropical rainforest are so densely packed that rain falling on the canopy can take as long as 10 minutes to reach the ground.

In the moist rainforests of South America, sloths move so slowly that algae are able to grow in their fur.

Some rainforest monkeys are omnivores, eating both animals and plants.

More than 2,000 different species of butterflies are found in the rainforests of South America.

Bats are essential for the pollination of many tropical foodstuffs such as bananas and mangoes.

The forests of Central Africa are home to more than 8,000 different species of plants.

1 out of 4 ingredients in our medicine is from rainforest plants.

Flying animals of Asian rainforests include frogs, squirrels and snakes.

80% of the flowers in the Australian rainforests are not found anywhere else in the world.

About 2,000 trees per minute are cut down in the rainforests.

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Some of the children that are involved in Simone Dowding’s annual Children’s Drama Workshop Award winning actress Simone Dowding

Simone Dowding’s ‘Purple Hearts Productions…

The perfect avenue for young theatrical talent

E

By Alex Wayne

ver so often we wonder about selective and correct avenues where our children can be educated and be able to discover and develop their theatrical skills and we are at loss as to where to send them.

In many cases we end up giving up in frustration and thus allowing excellent young talent to go wasted.

Ponder no more my good parents, because talented award winning local actress, Simone Dowding has come to the rescue with an initiative specially designed to unleash the theatrical skills of your young ones and to take them certainly to the next level in their aspirations.

Each year Dowding conducts her annual Children’s Drama Workshop for participants of ages 6 to 19. This initiative is used as a forum to search, discover and develop the natural drama skills of students to prepare them for bigger and even international stages.

It also serves as a positive space created where children can be taught the basic disciplines of drama which includes Acting, Directing, Play Writing, Costume and Stage Management, Choreography Techniques, amongst other related concepts.

At this venture students are made to create their own story line which is later scripted into a play for workshop production.

Her exploits have seen the making of ‘Emerged 3’ which is an award winning children’s’ group that won Best Theatre Production this year at the Theatre Guild Awards Ceremony.

At the workshop students are also involved in poetry, dance and short plays.

This year the workshop has created five short plays with the centerpiece being, ‘Sliding Floors’ directed by Dequan Allen (guided by Dowding) the assistant director of this piece is Hannah Walters.

The annual workshop has been supported by Guyana’s First Lady, Madamme Deolatchmie Ramotar, Habitat for Continued on page XXVIII

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The perfect avenue for young ...

From page XXVII Humanity, Car Care Plus, Lambert’s Electrical, Capital News, NALICO/NAFICO, and Guyenterprise.

Dowding however welcome the support of other corporate entities or individuals as she sets about to further enhance the initiative.

Ms. Dowding can be contacted on telephone number 685-0743.

Simone Dowding during rehearsals with actor Henry Rodney

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

Meet Renuka‌

What matters to her is being of assistance to others

By Telesha Ramnarine

GROWING up, she entertained the idea of being a lawyer as she always wanted to be of assistance to others, but after doing a course in psychology in Sixth Form, she found she was more interested in public health and social justice issues.

This new-found interest, though, also facilitated her original desire to help others. It led to her being the current Programme’s Director of the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA).

Meet 26-year-old Renuka Naina Anandjit, who was born and raised

at Annandale, on the East Coast Demerara, a village she described as very close to her heart. Born to parents Davteerth and Indira, Continued on page XXX

Miss Renuka Naina Anandjit

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Meet Renuka…

Chronicle Pepperpot September 7, 2014

From page XXIX

Renuka completed her nursery, primary and secondary education in Annandale.

She did Sixth Form studies at Bishops’ High and then pressed on to the University of Guyana (UG) where she secured a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work.

She took up her post at GRPA last July but previously, worked at the Society against Sexual Orientation and Discrimination (SASOD), Merundoi Incorporated as a Reinforcement Officer and at the US Peace Corp as a Training Coordinator. Renuka also volunteered with Youth Challenge Guyana as a peer educator and is a member of the Guyana Sex Worker Coalition.

At GRPA, Renuka manages the Programme’s Department where she coordinates many community out-

reaches and sensitisation work. As part of a team, she also goes out into various communities to work along with youth groups and several others. “We find ways in creatively reaching those groups,” she told the Chronicle in an interview.

The Switch Recalling how her original interest was in becoming a lawyer, Renuka said: “I really enjoyed the idea of being a lawyer and helping persons. But when I did Sixth Form, I did a course in psychology and I really enjoyed it and I thought this was going to be a good field to get into. UG doesn’t offer psychology so social work was the closest

Renuka enjoys being of assistance to others thing to it and so I did it.”

During her time at UG, Renuka joined Youth Challenge Guyana as a peer educator.

“Just going out and working with people in the communities made an impact on me. So that’s where I got interested in public health and social justice issues.

That’s how I landed here. It was a bit of a switch but

Renuka enjoys life and appreciates a sense of humour I was still working with people and helping them in a different sense,” she expressed.

“I don’t look at it as me helping people and saving the world; I just look at it as trying to improve the situation and improve the environment for persons to really grow and develop,” she continued.

Renuka finds great satisfaction in her work presently and expressed how much she loves and enjoys her job. “Knowing at the end of the day that you are still making some kind of impact, whether small or large, definitely does make an impact and fuels your drive and fuse the passion to know that you can empower persons.”

Asked where she sees herself in the years to come, Renuka said she would still very much be working in the social justice area. “I really like to work with the population that is disenfranchised and marginalised. So I think I will stay in this area but I really want to do some more focused work with women.”

Renuka enjoys a fun-filled life and deeply appreciates a sense of humour. She is also very open-minded.

“Being open gives you an opportunity to understand persons and helps you look at things from different perspectives. I try to think outside the box and not confine myself to spaces or draw lines where thinking is concerned,” she said.

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Aries - You’re about to begin mingling with all kinds of interesting and unusual people, and you’ll love every minute of it. There’s at least one new acquaintance en route who’ll be around for a while, too, thanks to an astrological setup that will keep that parade of people you’d otherwise never have met going strong. Whether they turn out to be friends or partners is up for grabs, but who cares? Think of this as a social buffet.

Treat yourself to just a little taste of everything.

Taurus - That new -- and quite authoritative -- person you’ve met is probably quite well outfitted at this point, from head to toe. They’ll enjoy spending money, but if you want to keep up, better check the balance on your credit cards -- and balance your cheque book. If you can’t quite keep up, don’t try. There are better ways to impress them, but even if you end up doing some serious damage to your plastic, think of it as a lesson.

Gemini - Whether it feels comfortable to you or not -- and initially, at least, it probably won’t -- you’re going to be at centre stage for a couple of days, and maybe longer. Better accept it, and try to get your sweetheart used to the idea, too, because if they’re in the vicinity, they may also find the spotlight trained on them. Of course, there are definitely worse things than being worshipped by a crowd of admirers. Looks like you’ll both just have to buck up and smile pretty.

Cancer - Your way with words is famous. It’s so famous, in fact, that you can keep company with just about anyone you want to, whenever you want to. That fact will go double right now, so do yourself a favour. Don’t waste this energy. Gabbing with just about everyone is what you’re famous for, but save the best for that certain someone who actually responds to your wit with some pretty keen comments of their own.

Leo - If anyone is usually quite sure of what, how and when they want to do what they want to do, it’s you. At the moment, however, you’re torn between being good (preparing yourself for tomorrow and going to bed early) and being bad -- which would basically entail staying up as late as you like and forgetting about anything but tonight. The final decision, of course, rests with your conscience, but with the right two-legged companion, the right movie and a big bowl of popcorn, there won’t be a contest.

Virgo - It’s indisputable that you have a way with words -- a gift for presenting logical, practical arguments that are awfully hard to disagree with. That talent will come through for you beautifully now, as always, especially at work, and especially if you add just a touch of charm to the mix when you’re chatting with coworkers. After all, you know what they say about bees and honey. Buzz...

Libra - If you’re still thinking about travel, today’s astrological line up will make it just about impossible for you to resist any longer. Make the decision. You don’t even have to decide exactly where you’re going -- not just yet. All you really have to do, at this point, is to inform the powers that be that you’ll need some time off. Once that’s done, it will make the situation real and put you in the mood to choose your destination. Oh, go ahead.

Scorpio - You’ve been thinking about letting a certain person know just how much you care -- in fact, you’ve been thinking about doing that for some time now. You’re right on the verge of having a ‘state of the relationship’ meeting to tell them how you feel. Well, what’s the holdup?

You know they feel the same and you know they’ll be delighted to hear it. You’ve even got the perfect heavenly envoy on duty, right now: The lovely lady Venus is on your side. What could be better?

Sagittarius - It’s over -- temporarily, at least. That work binge you were on has finally come to an end. That’s not to say that you won’t be putting in your time and continuing to do what’s necessary to keep your head above water and your reputation on the job intact -- but you may also suddenly find that you need to make time for your siblings and neighbours. Reintroduce yourself to them, and rest assured that you’ll receive an extremely warm reception.

Capricorn - You’re busy, as usual -- that, of course, is nothing new; it’s something you’ve become used to. Just for the moment, though, why not devote some time to pure, unadulterated fun? That’s after you’re done with your work for the day, and this includes not just your usual chores, but also something your darling has managed to either forget to do or put off until later.

Aquarius - You’ve always been the objective type, far more prone toward facts and figures than anything that even remotely resembles nostalgia. At the moment, however, you’re feeling like a regular tissue commercial -- and not at all shy about spouting phrases you would have made fun of not too long ago. It all comes down to just one thing: That love is, indeed, grand, and that you’re not afraid to express it.

Pisces - The universe has officially granted you ‘off duty’ status. Your compassion knows no bounds, but you’ve done absolutely everything you can for the ones you love. It’s time now for them to take care of themselves -- and for you to stop feeling guilty about not being able to do more. Besides, there’s someone out there who could do with a bit more of your time and attention -- not to mention your company, in private.

How about it?

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Pepperpot’s Weekly Health Digest...

We start this week with 8 simple ways to reduce belly fat It is difficult to get rid of belly fat but we found ways to eliminate belly fat forever.

1. Start your day with lemon juice This is one of the best therapies to eliminate belly fat. Pinch some yellow juice into a glass of warm water and add some salt to it. Continue drinking this every morning to boost your metabolism and to get rid of that paunch.

2. Stay off from white rice Replace white rice with various wheat products. Include brown rice, brown bread, whole grains, oats and quinoa in your diet.

3. Avoid sugary substances Stay away from sweets, sweetened drinks and foods rich in oil. Consuming these foods can increase body fat around various areas of your body like abdomen and thighs.

toxins from your body.

4. Drink plenty of water If you want to get rid of your belly, then drink sufficient amount of water every day.

Drinking water, after regular intervals will help to boost your metabolism and remove

5. Eat raw garlic Chew two to three cloves of garlic every morning, and drink a glass of lemon water after that. This treatment will double up your weight loss process and make your blood circulation smooth in your body.

6. Avoid non-veg food To eliminate belly fat, it is recommended that one should avoid non-vegetarian food as far as possible.

7. Load up on fruits and vegetables Eat a bowl of fruits daily in the morning and evening. This will fill you up with many antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

8. Spice up your cooking Use spices like cinnamon, ginger and black pepper in your cooking. These spices are loaded with health benefits. They help to improve your insulin resistance and reduce levels of sugar in your blood. (Information gathered and extracted from ideadigezt.com) Join us again next week where we will be telling you about the nutritional facts about our very own Guyanese vegetable Eddo (Colocasia esculenta)and the various benefits you can gain from it.

Cameron Diaz: 'Don't Compare My Film To Celebrity Leaks' By: WENN.com Cameron Diaz has moved to distance her movie Sex Tape from the nude pictures scandal which has engulfed Hollywood, insisting the film is "totally different" to the headline-grabbing story.

In her comedy, Diaz and her co-star Jason Segel play a couple whose sex tape is accidentally sent to their cloud account and they embark on a mission to stop their friends and family seeing it. The iCloud accounts of a number of female celebrities, including Jennifer Lawrence and Kirsten Dunst, were hacked and intimate snaps were leaked on the Internet, but Diaz insists the two scenarios are not the same.

In an interview on BBC Radio One, presenter Nick Grimshaw remarks on the similarities, but the actress interrupts him, saying, "Actually not, because it's two different things. Our characters accidentally upload it into the cloud and the celebrities actually have had it stolen, violated, illegally out of theirs. It's totally different."

Diaz's movie was released in the U.K. just days after the hacking scandal story broke.

Agents of America's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are looking into the incident.

Kevin Smith’s “Tusk”: Ten Films to look forward to in September Believe it or not, we’re now into the month of September, which is insane if you ask me. I’ll be updating my Oscar predictions later on this week, but right now, I’m going to preview the films of the month ahead. There’s no shortage of interesting flicks hitting screens, so we’re entering the start of the very best season for cinema.

Tis the season for high quality movies, with the upcoming New York Film Festival really kicking off Oscar season for me. That’s not to say that the next week or two won’t have plenty to talk about, but once we’re in October it’s really the heat of the moment then, as it were. Even so, the whole month of September has plenty to be excited about, I assure you of that much.

There’s no shortage of quality coming our way, so be excited folks.

Below you’ll see a total of ten titles (plus a pair of honorable mentions) that I feel represent the best of the month. I’ve seen a handful of the films to be discussed, so I can vouch for those personally. The rest? Well, I’ll be reporting in on them real soon.

In the meantime, here you go: 10. The Guest – A throwback thriller, I saw this film from up and coming genre filmmaker Adam Wingard (who blew me away with You’re Next last year) recently and liked it a lot. It feels like a B movie from the 1980?s, a slow burn through and through. If you like the sort of thing where you laugh and cringe in equal measure, this one will be for you. It hits on the 17th.

9. The Zero Theorem – Any new work from filmmaker Terry Gilliam is worth taking note of.

Even if this isn’t my favorite one of his (I’m currently embargoed from saying too much more),

it’s far from boring and has a top notch cast (led

by Christoph Waltz). This one comes out on the 19th and likely will divide audiences. Something tells me that Gilliam wouldn’t have it any other way though…

8. Two Night Stand – Another movie I’ve already seen, this romantic comedy is actually a lot better than the ads would lead you to believe.

The flick is really charming, with winning turns from Miles Teller and Analeigh Tipton. Ignore the mediocre trailer and trust me here when I say this is rather good. It begins its run on the 26th and expands wider from there.

7. The Equalizer – The early word on this Denzel Washington action flick is very strong, which is kind of surprising, considering this is a big screen remake of a TV show mostly known now for being

mentioned in last year’s The Wolf of Wall Street.

A top notch studio thrill ride doesn’t come our way too often, so if this film is as satisfying as it supposedly is, count me in. Look for this one on the 26th as well.

6. Tracks – A film that began screening a full year ago at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival, it’s now finally coming our way. It was once thought to be an awards player, and while I think it might have been lost in the shuffle at this point, it’s still a coming of age story worth checking out (apparently with notable work from supporting player Adam Driver and star Mia Wasikowska). Starting on the 19th, you can do just that!

5. The Drop – James Gandolfini’s final performance is contained within this drama, which once upon a time was called Animal Rescue. Tom Hardy costars and not much has been said about this one, so it’s a bit of an X factor for me. I see it next week, and you all can do so on the 12th, so soon enough we’ll know what to make of this one, both in terms of Oscar viability and just overall quality.

4. This Is Where I Leave You – I’m a huge fan of the book by Jonathan Tropper, so my expectations are perhaps higher than most with this dramedy. Tropper writing the screenplay himself has me cautiously optimistic. If handled properly, this should be both heartbreaking and hilarious.

I’m certainly hopeful about this one, which has a huge cast led by Jason Bateman and Tina Fey, though it won’t be until the week of the 19th that we find out if everyone involved has successfully adapted the book.

3. The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby – I’ve seen all three versions of this movie, though I be-

Sofia Vergara is highest paid TV actress at $37 million: Forbes (Reuters) - For the third consecutive year, Colombian actress Sofia Vergara, one of the stars of the hit ABC comedy "Modern Family," is the highest paid actress on U.S. television, with estimated earnings of $37 million, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday.

Like last year, Vergara, who earns $325,000 for each episode of "Modern Family," outpaced Mariska Hargitay, the Emmy-winning star of NBC's "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," who came in second with $13 million. Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, 28, of CBS's "The Big Bang Theory," came in third, with $11 million.

"At 42, the 'Modern Family' star continues her streak in large part due to her business savvy," said Forbes.

In addition to her TV work, Vergara has endorsement deals with beverage, cosmetic, clothing and other companies. She also

co-founded Latin World Entertainment, a talent, management and entertainment marketing firm.

Hargitay, the 50-year-old star of the longest-running drama series currently on TV, earns $450,000 per episode and bulks up her earning through syndication profits.

Emmy winner Julianna Margulies, 48, of the CBS legal drama "The Good Wife," was in a three-way tie for fourth place with Ellen Pompeo, 44, of the ABC drama "Grey's Anatomy," and 32-year-old Cobie Smulders, of the CBS sitcom "How I Met Your Mother." Each actress earned an estimated $10 million.

Forbes's list is determined by estimating pre-tax earnings between June 2013 and June 2014 from the actresses' TV work, endorsements, residuals and advertising work, and by talking to agents, managers and lawyers. The estimate does not include management fees and other expenses.

Actress Mindy Kaling, 35, the writer, producer and star of "The Mindy Project," on the Fox network, clinched the No. 7 spot with $6.5 million. Lena Dunham, the 28-year-old creator and star of the HBO series "Girls," made it into the top 10 with earnings of $3.5 million.

The top 10 actresses on the 2014 list made a combined $140 million. That compares with the $214 million combined earnings of the 10 leading TV actors.

(Editing by Eric Kelsey and Leslie Adler)

lieve just the combined “Them” version is what’s out this month. The Her and Him versions are superior, but Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy are terrific here, making it a must see just for that alone. The romantic drama announces Ned Benson as a filmmaker to watch as well. When it hits on the 12th, you shouldn’t miss this one, nor the other two versions when they drop in October. Trust me there on this one…

2. Tusk – I’m a huge Kevin Smith fan, so I’m always excited for anything he puts out, but his first foray into full on horror (and body horror at that) has me particularly amped up. Also, really any chance to see Michael Parks put on an acting clinic (seriously, go watch Smith’s last one Red State…Parks is aces) is good enough for me, but this appears to be incredibly unique. I’m hopefully seeing it very shortly (after it debuts at the Toronto Film Festival), but you all will get the chance to see Justin Long turned into a walrus on the 19th of this month.

1. The Skeleton Twins – One of the best flicks I’ve seen this year, this is an indie dramedy that kind of blew me away. Both Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig are top notch comedians and Saturday Night Live veterans (I haven’t watched SNL in years, but apparently they were reasons to still tune in from what I’ve heard), but here they turn in fantastic performances that seamlessly blend comedy and drama. Wiig has been veering in this direction for a year or two, but Hader shocked me with how terrific he is. I’ll be talking about this one a whole lot more very soon, basically between now and the release date of September 12th, but until then…sit tight!

Taylor Swift Still Shaking At The Top Of The U.S. Pop Charts

Taylor Swift has scored a second week at the top of the U.S. pop charts.

Her latest hit Shake It Off debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 countdown last week (27Aug14) and Swift has fought off challenges from Meghan Trainor, Jessie J, Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj to stay on top of the girl-powered top five.

Trainer's All About That Bass rises to two, changing places with Minaj's Anaconda, while the hip-hop superstar's Bang Bang collaboration with Ariana Grande and Jessie J crashes into the top five at four.

Sam Smith is the only guy in the top five - his Stay With Me drops to five on the new chart.