Pepperpot 12 27 2015

â–ş Page XVIII

Natasha Dash - From a refurbished house to running water and electricity for the first time in 12 years, security guard Natasha Dash is now preparing to host her relatives for Christmas at her newly refurbished house, thanks to the generosity of neighbours. Her incredible story, as told by Derwayne Wills, on Page XII

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

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by Joan Cambridge y maroon mentality was inculcated through the very process of marronage - an essentially intellectual journey I’d already begun when introducing myself to a Washington D.C. Area Teachers’ Writing Project as a 20th Century maroon escaping a 21st Century plantation. (See last Sunday’s column: Yukuriba Background Story).

In any era in which the plantation system dictates one’s quality of life – even if not physically possible – the yearning to be free is bound to release ideas of marronage…the genesis of a maroon mentality. Informed by a militant consciousness, the maroon mentality is the purview of revolutionary spirits anywhere. I’m talking about people who are unwilling… unable to docilely settle into a culture of acceptance of the lot of enslaved humanity – whatever may be the contemporary definition of that state. It’s the process of shedding the restricting weight of chains on the mind while watching one’s back to ensure the stalker’s not catching up; figuratively fleeing through forest sirihis (shortcuts) such as my maroon ancestors cut centuries before me, while escaping injustice on the plantation...is the experience (still) of flight to a place to

View From ‘Yukuriba Heights’ “…far from the noise of language…” settle and “reimagine freedom at the borders of democracy.”

It is noteworthy, that Guyana’s rainforest happens to be the only pristine (unspoiled) tropical forest left in the world. We have much to celebrate in this fact and even more to safeguard.

The fact that the last PPPC Guyana government through a succession of in camera deals with foreign interests has been disposing of our national patrimony gives serious cause for alarm. The troubling question is – Will There Be Anything Left For Guyanese?

A group of young and not so young people right here in Guyana, aptly naming themselves Tutashinda Collective, (tutashinda meaning “we will win” in Swahili), have now pledged their energies and support to the building of a Creative Farming Community at Yukuriba Heights. Many of them are not old enough to bear witness to Yukuriba’s dramatic history, but are acutely aware of the need to claim a space in Guyana’s rainforest, a quilombo within which they will find encouragement to pursue their dreams of freedom and community.

The very real phenomenon of a collective consciousness among people of African descent is a constant source of wonder and inspiration to me. Though many of our youth may not be aware of the Maroon experience, there’s a ‘psychohistory’ they cannot escape in the fact that it runs through their veins in ways we will never fully understand.

The Tutashinda Collective, like I, yearn “to escape the 21st century plantation”. Just like the Maroons before them, they are “at the borders reimagining freedom through flight”. They know that it is vital to construct a future with foundations grounded in values that are new, yet old, durable and sustainable; because the old order must change and is crumbling not only here in Guyana, but globally. The demise of that cruel and unjust order, soaked in the blood and tears of our ancestors, is inevitable…we must begin here…everywhere, the awesome task of creating the new. We’ll need all the help and encouragement we can get not only from our APNU+AFC Coalition ► Continued on page VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

III

A Christmas to forget

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By Godfrey Wray

N Christmas Day 2014, Dennis Farley awoke at quarter to nine.

The first thing he did, after saying prayers and thanking the Lord for allowing him to see another day, was to check his wallet. In it was one dollar and next to it three quarters. On a nearby table was a stack of bills, growing at an alarming rate.

There was absolutely nothing in the house to remind him of Christmas, except two cards – one from his brother-in-law and the other from his long-time friend now living in California.

He scrambled a breakfast of one egg and two strips of bacon (mildew removed) and ate them with some broken biscuits. In his mind’s eye he quietly likened the sparse fare to the traditional delectable Guyanese preparation of pepperpot and garlic pork.

He had been able to replicate cards on the Internet and send to his children. But both house phone and cell had long been disconnected, so he had to venture out to call a few loved ones.

Fortunately he had keys to the office where he did freelance (emphasis on free) work for a Caribbean newspaper and fortuitously he had a phone card with some minutes left on it.

The B8 bus was empty, and the driver seemed pleased to see another human being on the ultra quiet family day. Banking on the spirit of the season, Dennis stuck his expired metro card into the slot and feigned surprise when the expected rejection was recorded.

The driver must have been a good Christian.

“Come on in. It’s Christmas. Good to see you, brother.

How are your holidays shaping up?”

Dennis groaned inwardly. The driver really didn’t want to know. His tour of duty would be finished and he would still be listening.

The bus stopped at a traffic light and as he glanced to his right, he saw a short line outside a soup kitchen.

He made a mental note to check it out on his way back, but even as he thought of it, he wondered if his

West Indian pride would let him.

A worm of indecision wriggled in his stomach.

Why was he thinking of eating at a soup kitchen when he had a slew of relatives?

Before he could find an answer, another question interposed. How much more could he abuse familial loyalties?

Every holiday, and many weekends, he paid unscheduled visits to his nonagenarian aunt and cousins on King’s Highway. They were all aware of his ignorance of things culinary. They thought of him as a disaster waiting to happen in the kitchen, and implored him to stop over whenever he wanted.

He felt it was his duty not to disappoint them.

Dennis made his calls and had only two disappointments. His buddy friend was visiting his son in another state and his cell phone was in message mode.

And despite repeated attempts, a call to Guyana could not be completed.

He checked his email and voice mail; neither revealed any emergencies.

Now back home, he surveyed the refrigerator.

His belly grumbled at the thought of home-cooked food. But all he had was some leftovers from a serving of curried chicken and rice he had bought from Linda’s on Church Avenue two days before.

He had just one alternative – the lonely tin of corned beef on the top shelf of a cupboard that was

built to accommodate far more items than it was now accustomed to hoarding. But although curried corned beef was his favourite quick cook, he was not inspired.

The heat in his usually chilly basement was noticeable. He silently thanked the landlord’s son for visiting. He wished the boy would extend his stay long into January. But that was wishful thinking. The kid would soon be gone and it would be back to the Artic climes.

Dennis looked around his drab surroundings as KISS FM dished out a pleasing diet of holiday music.

However, not even the eye-popping Caribbean Swimsuit calendar on the wall could enliven his somber mood.

He never liked to drink alone, but that day would be an exception. He found an opened bottle of XM 10-year rum, sprinkled a few drams on the floor for absent friends then poured a liberal dose for him.

It was a long, varied and exceptional journey, he mused, growing philosophical after the third shot - poor boy, good school, university education, journalistic career, extensive travel, representing country in official capacities, more than enough offspring.

“Anybody home?”

Dennis wasn’t going to answer. He didn’t need a reminder from the landlord that he was behind in rent. It was common knowledge among the barber shop regulars.

As the footsteps retreated Dennis poured another shot. He made himself comfortable on the second-hand recliner, ignoring the pervading smell of dirty laundry.

It was time to closely examine the precarious present that, ironically, was beginning to look so much like the indigent childhood past.

This was definitely the last Christmas he would spend in the ‘Big Apple.’ It wasn’t so sweet any more.

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

The Singing Lords of Christmas

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hrist is Lord of Christmas.

And this is celebrated in various ways and in various genres of writing all over the world. Perhaps the most significant acknowledgments can be found in the world of literature – poetry, song, dramatic and cinematographic arts.

In Guyana, we have long enjoyed and continue to appreciation the artistic offerings originating from outside. Then there was a period of criticism and awakening when many Guyanese scoffed at White Christmas, Blue Christmas, Chestnuts roasting on an open fire/The Christmas Song, Twelve Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Let it snow, ‘Rudolph, the red-nosed Reindeer, etc.

Later around the 1950s, a cultural juncture of our history, there was a climate conducive to music, leading to a musical revolution as it were where persons were composing due to the fact that the top recording studio in the Caribbean was located in Robb Street, Georgetown, Guyana.

From that recording studio (Al Seales’ GEMS) came a number of evergreen and popular Christmas songs. And some of us were inspired to write our own poetry and songs celebrating the Lord of Christmas. Although they are many outstanding pieces, I will concentrate on two evergreen local favourite songs because they tie in with the above title.

The first piece of music is ‘Happy Holiday’

by Lord Melody and The Four Lords. Here is a sample: Church bells are ringing, Santa Claus on his way, Happy Christmas to you dear, Happy Holiday.

My darling, wishing you the best.

You know that my love for you did last and will last for many more Christmases.

Happy Holiday According to Vibert Cambridge, “A confident bass, a wailing saxophone, and a sensitive piano introduce “Happy Holiday.” When that quintessential Christmas song is heard, Guyanese at home and abroad feel the spirit of the season.”

The other bit of music is ‘Christmas is with us again’ by Lord Canary.

Here is a sample: Christmas is with us again Children with their sweet refrain Merrily hear how they rhyme Melodiously while church bells chime Choirs sweet carols they sing

Oh what great tidings they bring Hatred and fighting must cease It’s now time for love and peace Form the opening bar, one is immediately drawn into the festive realm of a good Guyanese Christmas with all the concomitants of breaking house and redecorating, shopping for special groceries and new curtains, cleaning old floral arrangements and adding new sprays, shopping for greeting cards – this usually takes a long time, baking goodies and preparing for the pepperpot and black cake, selecting that proper outfit for in church and out of church celebration and the list of things to do goes on and on.

Christmas is with us again’ is pregnant in connotation especially for the children of yesteryear who are now parents trying to recapture the real spirit of Christmas.

After inviting us, one and all, into the song, the composer goes to the crux of the matter with the second line which is very important, “Children with their sweet refrain.” A refrain from a child covers a range of concerns for the season which parents and guardians would do well to adhere to if the season is to go well and if there is to be joy and goodwill.

This simple poem, eight rhyming lines with measured meters, performed with a soothingly melodious voice is a powerful evocation of Christmas.

All of these issues reinforce my resolve for next Christmas to put plans into motion to encourage more writings on such a season in which we all participate. Another competition perhaps! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

(Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)

Prairie Hotel

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

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– where nature mingles with enterprise

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By Shauna Jemmott ERENELY and exquisitely tucked amidst a semi-forested bucolic residential plot along the East Bank Demerara corridor, ‘Prairie International Hotel’ is the image of a perfect boutique inn and nature resort for anyone who deserves a magical moment with self or that special other, or a family desiring a sweet home away from home.

Officially opening its doors in June, 1996, the immaculate goodness of Prairie is a preserved character just under twenty years after. Nature has always been a good accessory to residency at the blue-grey mansion, lined with the color of purity.

Prairie is the entrepreneurial product of sisters Joyce and Cornellie Muy-Thuk-Shung who have been described as two dynamic Guyanese women, when they returned from overseas in the early 1990’s and established the 18-room hotel with a touch of panache, where guests who desire a quiet space can overflow with satisfaction. While Cornellie for some years now re-migrated to the USA, Joyce and husband Winston Harding have been administrators in a business environment

which had become a sure challenge in recent years. It is until this day named a “prosperous enterprise”, and though it has been plagued with financial drawbacks over the past years, the status of the hotel has been maintained, with physical development evident.

Sitting on 2.5 acres of land, Prairie has the resemblance of a nature resort, with vast open spaces within the building which houses the hotel, and a uniquely designed bar resting a few steps away from the exotic two-tiered dining deck which extends into the deep of Demerara River.

It is a one-of-a-kind dining area pleated gracefully into the riverine setting and has seating accommodation for about 50. The rustic-brown bamboo furniture designed by Joslyn Dow, blends with the pure wood flooring as pastel ceramic lampshades hung covering electric bulbs, which accentuates the aura of adventure and passion.

Friends who hunger for undisturbed good conversations over drinks, having good laughter or planning a corporate event in a relaxed mode, or parents who feel like exploring tranquility with their kids, church groups who feel like having a retreat, or just about anyone who understands a decent hang

can take advantage of Prairie.

A lovers’ seclusion, with an upper level for a cozy private-dining encounter, the Prairie diner, with an extended dock, accommodates all of nature’s compliments - sunshine and rain, wind and water, and a hint of wildlife. Whether ships, tugs and boats travel by in the stillness or sounds of the Demerara waves dancing to the rhythm of winds, crashing upon the wooden structure beneath your seat, the mood is always right. It offers a perfect setting for a wedding proposal, a honey-mooners’ vacation, and distance is never an excuse for any who desire memorable moments in time.

In a natural environment where peace reigns and birds are drawn in the midst of trees, red and white herons maneuver in fine choreography beneath the golden sunset confirming the evening call, Polly the friendly macaw dancing in the verdure of an almond tree.

This place is a sure okay for those who love nature, a fine example of the green space we hear about and read about, that President David Granger campaigns about, but ► Continued on page VI

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Prairie Hotel ► From page V

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

with a sure twist of inclusion of a romantic fine dining deck.

Dinner includes a unique creation of barbequed and grilled meat - fillet, steaks, pork-chops, prawns, fish – and a wide variety of beverages, including some of the finest array of imported and local wines.

The family had advertised in 2014 that the hotel establishment was up for sale but the duo had a change of heart and they are imbued with high hopes of success.

With Guyana preparing to host over twenty thousand persons from across the world for its year-long 50th Independence anniversary celebrations, the hotel industry is poised to reap bountifully as the Ministry of Tourism and the Independence anniversary committee work assiduously to ensure visitors are comfortable throughout their stay.

The hotel, located 15 minutes away from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Timehri, is a perfect getaway from city pollution and a nearby stop-over for those who prefer resting closer to the international port of entry. In the past, it catered mostly for flight crews and individuals whose flights had been cancelled or delayed, but proprietor Joyce Moy-ThukShung said they decided to open doors to the public for dining and an overnight-stay, keeping in mind the hotel’s original standard.

Additionally, Prairie is equipped with 18 self-contained rooms, inclusive of two executive rooms; three family rooms, single and double occupancy; rooms with balconies; and an interior breakfast area.

Taking a walk around the picturesque exterior is a pleasant botanic adventure. A white iron gate complementing the contour of the outstanding blue-grey building resting perfectly amid the garden of red, yellow, and coral ixora, baby-pink roses, new bromeliads, aloes and a few other kinds, harmonized the welcoming atmosphere.

A polite security guard at the gate directs guests to easily locate the hotel’s office where a warm smile is accompanied by a greeting that goes with the time of day, before an introduction and a “How may I help you?”

A tour of the hotel takes you into a warmer space. Chief House-keeper Shivon does an excellent job at it, as she coordinates warm and cool colours and mild accessories with excellence in rooms, some catering for families with single and double beds, while others offer spaces just for two, or a single individual. The rooms and interior design reflect beauty and simplicity.

Tucked behind the building in the compound extending to the Demerara River, is an uniquely designed bar which featured a rough brick finish and the dining area extending into the Demerara waterways. Exceptional red palms, coconut trees and a few other plants carefully line the compound, while a red macaw nestles amidst a plush almond tree. Prairie International Hotel, Restaurant and Bar is a unique bit of creation, a natural paradise for lovers and all.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

VII

Marshal’s delayed service…

Appeal Court: Writ served after a year is still valid

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N 2005, the Guyana Court of Appeal led by Chancellor Desiree Bernard held that a High Court judge was wrong when he held that service of the writ on the respondents by a marshal outside of 12 months was ineffective.

Representing the Appellant was Mr. Richard Fields, S.C. Mr. Saphier Hussain for the respondents.

According to the facts of the case, a marshal did not serve a writ filed in the Registry of the Supreme Court until some 12 months after the writ was filed.

The respondents challenged the validity of the service of the writ and claimed that the action was abandoned and incapable of being revived. The High Court judge upheld the submission. The Appellant filed a Notice of Appeal challenging the decision of the High Court judge.

Delivering the judgment was Justice of Appeal Mr. Ian Chang. The other judges were Chancellor Bernard and Justice of Appeal Claudette Singh.

On April 11, 2000, the appellant/plaintiff filed in the Registry of the Supreme Court a writ endorsed with a Statement of Claim along with an affidavit verifying claim. The Appellant claimed against the respondents/ defendants, jointly and severally a sum of money loaned to the first and second-named respondents and guaranteed by the thirdnamed respondent.

The usual filing fees and fees for service of copies of the writ with affidavit verifying claim on the respondents were paid.

The marshal’s return of service made on July

9, 2001 disclosed that service of copies of the writ along with copies of the affidavit verifying claim was effected on the first and second-named respondents on the July 5, 2001, that is, more than 12 months of their filing.

Chang said in the ruling that it is of no moment for the purpose of this appeal that there was no evidence of the service of the writ on the third-named respondent.

When the matter came

twelve months of the filing .

After referring to several aspects of the case Justice of Appeal in his judgment said “In England, if the Writ is not served within 12 months of its issue or any later renewal period but service is effected outside of that period , the service is ineffective as an irregularity but not as a nullity.

“Such an irregular service can be cured by an entry of unconditional ap-

up for hearing in the Bail Court , Counsel for the respondents challenged the validity of the service of the writ on the ground that such service was not effected within 12 months of the filing of the writ. Counsel for the respondents submitted that on that account or for that reason, the action was abandoned altogether and incapable of being revived on the application of Order 32, rule 91 (1) (a) of the Rules of the Supreme Court.

The Bail Court Judge upheld that submission and ruled that the action was deemed abandoned and incapable of being revived under Order 32 Rule 9 (1) (a) of the Rules of the Supreme Court since no document was filed and no step in the proceeding was taken within the

pearance by the defendant.

If it were a nullity, it could not be cured.

“Such an irregular service can be cured by an entry of unconditional appearance by the defendant.

It seems obvious to this Court that in Guyana, a plaintiff who is not in default of any rule of Court cannot be penalized under the Rules of Court.

As such, a named defendant cannot apply to the court to strike out a writ on the ground of non-service within 12 months of its filing. Similarly, he cannot apply to the court to strike out the service of the writ on the ground that service has been effected outside of 12 months of its filing.

Therefore in Guyana ,where service of a writ is effected under the rules of the Supreme Court, not

by the plaintiff but by a marshal or person authorised by the Registrar, over whom the exercises no legal control, whom the plaintiff exercises no legal control, the English Order 6 Rule 8 cannot apply Mutatis mutandis.

For those reasons, the Court held that service of the writ on the respondents outside of 12 months was not ineffective, nor was

George Barclay

the writ itself invalidated by non-service within 12 months of its issue.

As a result the order made by the High Court Judge is set aside.

President of the Court,

Chancellor Desiree Bernard declared “I have had the benefit of reading beforehand the judgment of Justice of Appeal, Chang and I agree with the conclusion.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

Reflections On ... ► From page II

Government in this era of national unity they’ve ushered in by claiming victory in our last general elections, but from like minds who recognize the need for unified action.

Of course there are those who (to borrow from the poet Gwendolyn Brooks), “…obsessed self-honeying and self-crowned in the seduced area”, are either oblivious of the need for change, or paying only lip service to that necessity. The latter include many institutions, sponsors and practitioners engaged in, or claiming support for “the business of the arts.” To all of them – they know themselves – I declare here, that The Yukuriba Creative Community (YCFC) will not genuflect; we’ll not carry around a begging bowl hoping to be considered for some of the crumbs of your largesse; no longer will we solicit collaboration nor await responses to our communications.

In the global scheme of things, we are acutely aware of our own value and the role we must play in the space we occupy on Yukuriba Heights, in the Guyana Rain Forest. This is how I’ve previously described this “Dream Deferred” –

‘The vision is for YCFC an Agro/Cultural Tourism environment, organically cultivating agricultural crops and fresh, creative, ideas to be the exemplar for those involved in the Arts and the Humanities of what the Iwokrama International Centre for Rain Forest Conservation and Development www.iwokrama.org means to the global scientific community. Apart from the symbolic conscience of the Guyana Rainforest environment, YCFC has aspired over the years to become the ideal for all under-funded and marginalized communities throughout Guyana, demonstrating that desirable levels of progress and development can be achieved when people are motivated to recognize the value of pooled resources – to believe, organize and centralize – proving that a cultural agro-community can tap into the energy of its own strengths to battle problems that stalk development.’

We’ll not allow ourselves or the ideas that shaped our vision for all these years to be diminished by any cabal or institution whose paramount interests are self-serving. In the spirit and freedom of this new chapter of our lives that history is writing in “a happier alphabet”, we’ve charted our course…projected our destination among a constellation of creative revolutionary ideas.

We’ll not claim to be “a resort.” I don’t even know if Yukuriba is still on the list of locations earmarked for the launching of a Literary Festival as part of the 50th Independence Anniversary Celebrations next year; haven’t heard a word since (surprisingly) the Guyana Cultural Association suggested the idea after previously informing me that they will be “too busy for the next two years” to treat with our agenda.

We are getting Yukuriba Heights ready, making preparations for lift-off in 2016 – raw, rough and real!

IT IS TIME! By way of acknowledging the support we’ve begun to receive for the idea of establishing a Creative Farming Community at Yukuriba Falls since the change of administration in Guyana, praise and thanks are due here to the Ministry of Infrastructure. They will make Yukuriba Heights accessible again after carrying out repairs to the trail leading to the location; it was destroyed by the squatter occupation. This could not have been possible without the committed support of the Ministry’s Hinterland Engineer Naeem Mohammed.

Mr Mohammed was all at once pleasant, accommodating and encouraging; most of all, he was honest in his forthrightness about what, in the interest of transparency, his ministry would or could not do. I never got the feeling from Naeem Mohammed that he was being evasive, avoiding me, or unwilling to assist in my mission; when he didn’t return my calls immediately, he explained his reasons. That recent refreshing encounter with this government official, gives hope for the future.

The Yukuriba Creative Farming Community is sponsored by the Julian Mayfield Foundation. Julian Mayfield was a Senior Special Political Advisor to President Forbes Burnham. He was also my husband. The Julian Mayfield Papers are housed in the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; New York Public Library, Archives & Manuscripts; archives.nypl.org/scm/20734.

Next Sunday: My Guyana Rainforest Muse As Part of The Creative Process.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

IX

What are calories? do they really matter?

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hen I tell my clients about calorie intake I am frequently asked this question. So here it is, a calorie is a unit for measurement for energy content. By formal definition, a calorie is the amount of heat energy required to raise one gram of water from 14.5 to 15.5 degrees Celsius at atmosphere pressure.

One thousand calories are equal to 1 kilocalorie or 1kcal for short. Here’s where it gets a bit tricky: most people use the terms “kilocalorie” and “calorie” interchangeably so when someone says “a gram of fat has 9 calories” they actually mean 9kcals.

The important thing to remember is that a calorie (or kcal) tells you how much energy you get by burning the food. In the “old days” this is how folks figured out the energy content of food using a device called a calorimeter. In fact, to this day this is how caloric content is measured when doing very precise measurements of food intake for rigorous scientific studies.

As a general rule, carbohydrates contain between 3 and 4 kcal per gram, proteins contain approximately 9 kcal per gram.

Let’s go back to the question I’m sure you really need to know the answer to. Do calories “matter” and should you be counting them?

Energy density (calories) of food does matter for sure but what matters much more is what that food does in and to our bodies. Will the calories we consume create an environment in our bodies where we want to consume more energy than we expand?

Will the calories we consume create and environment in which our bodies prefer to store excess nutrients as fat rather than mobilise fat? These are the choices we make every time we put something into out mouth.

Our bodies are complex and dynamic systems with more feedback loops than even the most elaborate Tianhe-1A computer. This means that two people can eat the exact same things and do the exact same amount of exercise and yet store different amounts of fat.

Similarly, genetically identical twins can eat different macronutrient diets (different amounts of fat, protein, carbohydrates) of the same number of calories, while doing a constant amount of exercise and accumulate different amounts of fat.

What you eat (along with other factors, like your genetic makeup of course) impacts how your body partitions and stores fat. Insulin, while not the only factor involved in this process is probably at the top of the list. When you eat foods that have a double whammy of increasing insulin levels and increasing your cells resistance to insulin, your body prioritizes fat storage over fat utilization. Insulin is the most singularly important hormone for causing fat cells to accumulate fat.

For someone trying to lose weight and be successful, knowing and understanding this information is vital. It is very important to learn how to reduce calorie intake without starving yourself. Daily calorie intake for weight loss is based or your individual gender, age, height and weight. For the average person having a 1200-1500 calorie intake daily along with exercise will allow you to lose an average of 2lbs weekly.

Because 3,500 calories equals about 1 pound (0.45 kilogram) of fat, you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you take in to lose 1 pound. So, in general, if you cut 500 calories from your typical diet each day, you'd lose about 1 pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3,500calories)

(Even though some experts will dispute this formula since there is no actual way to calculate this precisely). All calories are not created equally.

The energy content of food (calories) matters, but it is less important than the metabolic effect of food on our body. (Noshavyah King (Certified Personal Trainer, aerobics instructor, Sports and Conditioning Coach and Zumba Instructor) Owner of Genesis Fitness Express Located at Transport Sports Club)

Always read the Nutritional facts at the back of packages before you decide to purchase.

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

Bolivian feels a ‘sense of belonging’ in Guyana

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By Alva Soloman AV E Y O U ever met someone who feels more Guyanese than you are? Have you ever felt like a stranger in the country of your birth?

Marisoli Flores-Joseph has the answers to those questions and while many persons are home for the holidays, she has established Guyana as her home, hundreds of miles away from the place of her birth, La Paz , the capital city of Bolivia.

Marisoli came to Guyana

a boat service”, she recalls.

At the time she was barely out of her teenage years and with no tertiary qualifications, she knew making an adjustment would have been a tough road. She also had her daughter, Shakira , to think of and she was also studying communications studies at the time in La Paz and just into her second year of university life. Soon Marisoli made a decision to leave the country of her birth .She said that it took her six months to learn and speak the English Language, a feat she felt proud of since she knew very little English.

Marisoli Flores-Joseph

some 15 years ago; more precisely in August of 1999 and settled at Santa Rosa, Moruca , in the North West District.

The bilingual teacher, smiled happily during a recent interview as she recounted her journey to these shores.

She said “love” brought her to Guyana, soon after she met her Guyanese partner who was eager to bring her further north of South America. “We met in Bolivia and after some time we travelled to Brazil and then ended up in Moruca where he operated

“In 1999 Guyana was completely different “, Marisoli said, speaking with a slight Latin American accent. She recalled that the language barrier was one she was determined to cross, and soon after she settled in at Santa Rosa, she started teaching Spanish to persons there, at no cost. She said that the food was also different from what she was accustomed to, noting that even though she grew up in rural La Paz, the foods there were more fresh and meaty.

She said that since her partner operated a boat which plied the Moruca-Charity route, it assisted her in her adjustment, including learning basic phrases in English.

In 2003, her relationship ended unfortunately and she moved to the city with her two children; she now had a son to take care of and being a single mother, with limited knowledge of English crowned the task list for Marisoli.

“I used to be very shy and very quiet and I didn’t have a good book to read and we had no electricity at Moruca.

So after moving to the city it was even more difficult”, she recalled.

She said that she visited the Language Services Institute, which was in Carmichael Street at the time and she was offered a job to teach Spanish there. The following year, she gained admission to the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and it was the beginning of one of the most challenging experiences, she recalled.

At CPCE she majored in Spanish while she minored in English studies.

She said that she would leave home at 8 am and return until 10 pm or later at nights and as a single mother, she was tasked with managing her home, her children and concentrate on her studies. In the evenings, she would teach at the Language Services Institute.

She said that midway during her studies at CPCE, she decided to return to Bolivia with her children, on what was expected to be a short vacation. In the end she spent five months there and she was at the brink of making another decision of her lifetime. “When I went back in 2006, I went back with the intention of not coming back to Guyana”, she recalled.

But something strange happened while in Bolivia.

“I felt like I was a stranger in my own country… all my friends were gone and my family moved to a new city where I didn’t know ► Continued on page XXVII

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

XI

Terra Mare S

Restaurant

eason’s greetings! It is time for some healthy options. Terra Mare Restaurant nestled in the Guyana Marriott Hotel Georgetown has what you are looking for. The international culinary team has created the most delicious and health conscious options you can imagine. Popular dishes on the menu are: The Terra Mare Sampler, Seafood Risotto, Fish Mignon and Grilled Snapper served with Tartar sauce. All of its seafood is locally sourced and comes with a wide variety of fresh vegetables.

Dining at Terra Mare Restaurant is always a marvelous experience because you can watch your meals being prepared right before your eyes at the Terra Mare’s Goji (open) style kitchen. Whether you want a luxurious private dining room, a cozy booth or high top tables, you perfect seat is waiting for you.

Pepperpot

(serves about 8 generous servings) Ingredients 1.5 lbs Beef (I used a chuck roast, then cut it into 1 inch cubes) 2 lbs Oxtail 3lbs Cow Heel (may also be called cow feet in some supermarket) 1 cup cassareep (divided into 2) 1/2 cup brown sugar + about 1/4 cup for the end.

1 large yellow onions diced 6 large cloves of garlic finely chopped 1 tsp cayenne powder 5 cinnamon sticks 1 tbsp granulated garlic 3 wiri wiri peppers 1 tbsp whole cloves 2 tbsp salt 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper 2 tbsp dried Guyanese thyme About 4 tbsp oil Preparation First, season the oxtail using 1/3 of the sugar and all the other ingredients, except the cinnamon, cloves and wiri wiri pepper. Use 1/3 of 1/2 of the cassareep and reserve the other 1/2 to use later. Do not add the onion and garlic.

Mix everything together and let sit for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Follow the same steps to marinade the beef and cow heel. In a large stock pot, saute 1/3 of the onion and garlic on high heat in about 2 tbsp of oil. Then add seasoned beef, cinnamon, cloves and wiri wiri pepper. Saute beef until all pieces are brown all over.

Once the meat is nice and brown, add about 6 cups of water to the beef, bring to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat to low and let simmer.

Warm about 1 tbsp oil in a pressure cooker on high heat, then add oxtail and 1/3 of onion and garlic. Saute oxtail until brown then add 5 cups of water to the pressure cooker. Cover and pressure cook until oxtail is tender but not completely falling off the bone. Follow the same steps to pressure cook the cow heel, as you did with the oxtail. Now add the oxtail to the beef and mix together. Then add the cow heel to the oxtail and beef combination and mix together. After you have combined all the meat add about 2 to 3 cups more water, just enough to cover the meat. Then add the 1/2 cup of cassareep we reserved in the beginning. Increase the heat to high and bring pot to a roaring boiling. Let boil for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, reduce heat to low and simmer until all the meat is falling off the bone tender, about 2.5 hrs. Taste pepperpot and added about 1/4 cup brown sugar and a pinch of salt, if needed. Cut open the wiri wiri peppers for additional heat. Serve and Enjoy.

Did you know?

One serving of oxtail also contains 233 milligrams of sodium and no carbohydrates whatsoever. In a 100-gram serving of oxtail, there are 30.93 grams of protein. This amount makes oxtail a very good source of protein, as this is almost two-thirds of the daily protein requirement for a 2,000-calorie diet. Protein is an important element for muscle development and body growth, as well as being a good source of energy.

Other Nutrients - Oxtail contains trace amounts of calcium, with 10 milligrams of calcium present in 100 grams of oxtail. However, oxtail is a very good source of iron, as it contains 3.6 milligrams of iron per serving. This amount is 20 percent of the daily requirement for a 2,000-calorie diet.

GARLIC PORK Ingredients 2 pints vinegar 1/2lb garlic 1 bunch fine thyme 6-8 wirri-wirri peppers 4-6 cloves 4 teaspoon salt Preparation Cut pork into bite size pieces and place in solution of 1/4 pint vinegar and water. Remove pork pieces and put in large jar or bottle. Pound garlic, thyme and pepper and add the rest of vinegar with the salt and clove. Pour this mixture over pork, making sure there is enough liquid to cover completely. Leave to soak for 3 to 4 days or longer if possible.

In a pan, put pork with very little of vinegar liquid and leave to boil until liquid evaporates. Fry pork in fat that was melted during boiling, until brown. Serve hot with homemade Guyana Bread. Note for those who do not eat pork, use beef.

Natasha Dash

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

- From a refurbished house to running water and electricity for the first time in 12 years, security guard Natasha Dash is now preparing to host her relatives for Christmas at her newly refurbished house, thanks to the generosity of neighbours. She told Derwayne Wills her story…

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OR 38-Year-Old Natasha Dash, a single mother of five children earning a modest income, battling the twin evils of stagnant wages and a rising cost of living means self comes second to the comfort of her children.

Natasha’s entire life revolved around the modest Stevedore Housing Scheme house she lived in from age three. In her early years, she first lived with her Great Aunt, and her Aunt’s husband. There was no mention of her parents.

After the untimely passing of her Great Aunt’s husband, who had been the breadwinner of the family, an 11-yearold Natasha, then a third form pupil at the North Ruimveldt Secondary School, dropped out of school. Her Great Aunt died some 12 years ago.

She inherited her Great Aunt’s property but after losing both the water and electricity connections, conditions became unfavourable at the residence. To put things into perspective, Natasha’s youngest children, age 11 and four, would have never known a life with electricity or running water in their home, and the same could be said for her 13-year-old, who would have been two years old when the water and lights went.

All through this time, Natasha was adamant that she would never go down the road of stealing water nor electricity. For her school-aged children, candles were the order of the day, with water provided by generous neigbours some distance from

Natasha Dash speaks with Chronicle reporter Derwayne Wills outside of her newly refurbished home.

her residence.

That generosity eventually ran low, and Natasha found herself moving among neighbours to gather water for their bathing, washing, and cooking needs. When both state and private actors from her community pitched in to re-

furbished her home, now with electricity and running water, Natasha saw this as an act of God rewarding her honesty.

Natasha sees this as a life lesson for her children that there is reward for living an honest life.

She hopes that this will settle the years of ridicule they endured for being the only home without electricity in the area.

When the Guyana Chronicle first visited the

home, Natasha was nowhere in sight. Even in her absence, there was still work afoot in fine Guyanese Christmas style. Her chairs spread across the front yard for some “sunning out.”

There was the “weeder-man” tending to her front parapet, but was not loud enough to cover her children’s playtime screams inside the home they could now Natasha be proud of.

Dash The Chronicle team at last caught up with Natasha on Tuesday as she stumbled down her street, juggling bags of kitchen items on her day-off. In this interview, hopefully the last, Natasha recounted how happy she was for the new lease on life.

Natasha was relieved that her new home gave her and her children a sense of security that they did not enjoy previously. She recalled that just after Christmas shopping last year, her house was burglarised and a number of items taken.

With her sunny disposition, Natasha said she made no fuss about the things that were taken, because they were just material things and fretting could not bring them back.

Deeply rooted in her Christian beliefs, Natasha tries to instil those values in her children, who are still trying to navigate their lives around the publicity that resulted from the generous act of neighbours. Even though her work demands much from her, she still makes time to take care of her children. Her daily routine starts at 4:30am when she would get up to make breakfast and lunch for her children before leaving for her job as a security guard for 7:00am. She returns at 9:00pm or later.

“My son said he would like to be a manager for a bank [and that] he would like to go into accounts.

And the next one, he wants to be a rugby player; and the girl she wants to be a pilot. She didn’t ask for a doll this year, but she asked for a plane, so I get her a plane for Christmas,” Natasha said while laughing.

Christmas holidays are usually spent at her daughter’s grandmother in Agricola on the East Bank of Demerara, but this time around, Natasha is prepared to host her granddaughter’s family in her new home.

Natasha did not buy a Christmas tree, but that will not stop her from draping fairy lights and all the other accoutrements that define a Guyanese Christmas. Whatever plans she and her family make this year, for Dash the most dynamic change is that this time around Christmas has come home.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

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Art - Nurturing the imagination of science

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ecently, there has been much said on the necessity for the intense introduction of the teaching of Science to young Guyana and to seek methods to inculcate scientific appreciation through influences that would lead to an awakening of interests and ambitions towards the sciences.

Basically, inspiring teachers in the sciences remains a hurdle for politicians and the technocrats to ascend. The other crucial factor that can easily be ignored is the methodology that will nurture the subconscious world, through which it seems that inspiration travels, to harbour a constant mental relationship with the sciences. The stimuli can only be nurtured within a balanced current of inspiration that indulges in the discourse of things scientific with the “all else.”

After all, the target is young Guyana. This is where the flexible perceptions and forces of the artist become the significant ally. Dr. Denis Williams once explained to me that the petroglyphs designed by the first people were done by tribal artists in many cases these were outlines of fish traps, skilfully done. He complimented this ancient artwork by telling me that the designers of such traps could design an engine. The most significant example I wish to briefly draw upon is the past world of Alchemy that emerged in Ancient Khemet [Egypt] but soon was shared throughout the ancient world.

The primitive den of the first Alchemist illustrated the dawn of chemistry in their search for the composites that could give them gold - that famous theory they described as the Philosopher’s stone.

Chinese Alchemists unintentionally invented gunpowder. To explore the language of Alchemy, we will find it rooted in the active imagination of artists, philosophers and dreamers who ventured into the arcane world’s belief systems and symbolisms, and in their radical quest to create gold unlocked many of nature’s secrets. No wonder Albert Einstein read all he could on Alchemy, as well as Isaac Newton before him [who practised Alchemy].

The most prominently recorded of that ancient brotherhood of artists is Leonardo Da ► Continued on page XIV

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

Art - Nurturing ...

Vinci. This meticulous artist/scientific Illustrator expanded the “Kingdom of Heaven within.” His art morphed from murals and compositions of interpretive and romantic religious scenery to engineering art, designing weapons, airplanes and other sprocket drawn machinery and he was not

the first, only the most recorded. With these simple references, we can proceed to evaluate the inspiring framework suited for introducing the discourse and imagery for the modern scientific class of Guyanese.

It would be much easier to reintroduce the appreciation for the industrial arts using skilful

wood embellishments based on local designs - designs carefully researched and crafted to extract a niche of things Guyanese, wood craft, especially with kitchen items, is not where it should be, as there are no real interaction between any existing body to overlook standards and pilot even local markets, much less export.

A simple wood “in and out” desk tray would have to be imported, much less to get a Berbice Chair or Drawing table made (the latter I experienced a few years ago, and had to import one). My first standard drawing table in the 80’s was built at GTI. I couldn’t get it done in 2009. But with some creative management essential wood and metal crafts could be creatively enhanced. The hard ball lies in the higher sciences, and one of the observations that can be easily looked at to verify where our common heads are at, is with the popular “Drug Mule” who despite what their handlers say, should have from even the community school where the basic rudiments of science is taught, be able to understand that X-Ray Surveillance Software is not science fiction.

Therefore you most likely will go to prison here or over there. The quick fix lies in the flashback of the adult in education today, recognising that it was the visuals from the illustrated children’s encyclopaedia or the comic book hidden neatly among our school books that spiralled our understanding of things not necessarily in our everyday environment outside of the school class.

The Learning Channel does contribute, but it cannot stimulate interest from the point of view of those who stand outside of the sciences.

The majority require subliminal messages.

When NASA experienced the tragedy of the shuttle Columbia in 2003 (it had exploded killing, all of its crew), I had bought the memorial copy and read the bios on the astronauts, as I do have a keen scifi interest and follow what I can understand in the worlds of physics and space exploration.

Columbia had some unique firsts about its astronaut composite; however relative to this article was the admission of one of the crew who had admitted to being a fan of Star Trek and Lost in Space.

Before Star Wars, young America were digesting Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon and a variety of science fiction edutainment, enabling a scientific mental dimension. Many of us in Guyana also did follow those comics and movies, though our education atmosphere revolved outside of the trappings of having aeronautic museums and simulation models of space.

We w e re i n s t e a d glued to those ‘Frog” brand model planes that came with a blue-

► From page

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print for putting them together; our scientific exposure lay mainly in what movies and comics stimulated, and school trips to places of Industry.

Again it was the fellows from the tech school at Linden whose models of the operations there, that took our breath away at those exhibitions.

It cannot be argued that the arts, like the TV series CSI hasn’t encouraged attention towards forensics among students in North America, with its real people cast and crime drama, placed in incredible sets.

That CSI is beyond our financial means cannot be disputed but Guyana cannot not act with what we have.

The arts community in Guyana can work with education in constructing the parallel inspirational influences.

The secret is not to import science stream edutainment verbatim, but to cultivate scenarios from within our experience.

Didn’t Mr. Joe and Percy the Chick, from those old reading books, not influence a generation of youth to embrace through the GYC and the GNS, agriculture in a new light?

The big challenge is when our students excel, then, will Guyana set the platform to envelop them?

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

XV

THE BIGGEST TECH STORIES OF THE YEAR 2015…My Review

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ife is a progression of normal and unconstrained changes. This New Year try not to oppose them; for that just causes distress!

Accept the reality. Let things stream actually forward in whatever way they like. May your mirror reflection charm you, may what others see in you enchant them, may somebody cherish you enough to forget your shortcomings, may be oblivious to your flaws and flaunt your virtues.

Keep in mind the past so as to gain from it pearls of wisdom as you make a fresh new beginning this New Year.

May your New Year be filled with adoration, happiness, warmth, and cheer; and may you pass on these to those around you too.

Time is similar to a streaming waterway, no water goes underneath your feet twice, much like the stream and minutes never pass you by again, so love each minute that life gives you. This New Year may you rediscover yourself and emerge as a more confident and contented soul. Happy 2016 Guyana! Now let’s look back at what took place during the past twelve months…

for the future of aerial vehicles -I am definitely getting one of these in 2016!

Apple Watch released with a whimper One of the most anticipated products of the year was announced with a bang but received with a whimper. There aren't any official figures on how many Apple Watch wearables have been sold -that's because Apple relegated them to a category of "other" mish-mash accessories and iPods it sells. But things aren't looking good for the wearable category. With the second version of the watch released in the mid-year period, Apple isn't giving up on its new product.

But until customers can figure out exactly what to do with it, the watch may just be another product ahead of its time.

Rise of the drones.

It was bound to happen eventually. Drones, or unmanned aircraft, can target or even be used by terrorists, sneak a peek into places where most aren't allowed to go, fly overhead, or help broadcast the news. The next big bet? Aerial delivery!

Drones remain controversial, and owning one can be legally problematic. The skies remain a jumbled mess, with manned aircraft fighting for space-over their unmanned counterparts.

What's for sure is that 2016 is going to be an interesting time

Google self-driving car What happens to car design when humans don’t need to drive them anymore? Google’s self-driving car gives us a clue. It has a bubbly, Beetle-like exterior, while the interior ditches the suddenly unnecessary steering wheel. Google has no plans to bring this particular model to market; it’s merely a testbed for the company’s autonomous driving technology.

Microsoft HoloLens While much of the technology world is gaga over virtual reality, Microsoft is making a big bet in a similar-sounding but very different direction: Mixed reality.

Wear the HoloLens, and holographic images will suddenly appear around your physical environment. The headset is potentially useful for professionals from surgeons to space astronauts.

Windows 10 says hello, but not without controversy Windows 10 couldn't have come as more of a breath of fresh air for those who were stuck on a widely-unpopular Windows 8. But there was still a good portion of people left on Windows 7, put off from upgrading-not just because of the problems with Windows 8, but the subsequent allegations of data tracking and privacy invasions by Windows 10.

Troubles only got worse when Microsoft tried to foist the operating system on existing users with mandatory upgrades.

HP splits up with itself, and thousands of its own workers This year was when HP went from one, to two. It spun out its enterprise unit into its own publicly-traded Fortune 50 company with chief executive Meg Whitman taking the helm. The other half provides consumers and businesses with PCs and printers. The decision to split also led to a necessary but bitter pill to swallow: mass layoffs. As many as 33,000 workers would lose their jobs related to the split-up.

Let's hope that the hybrid cloud is the right thing to bet on.

Samsung 16TB SSD It might sound silly to get excited over something as simple as a hard drive, but Samsung gives us good reason here.

This new drive is among the biggest SSD hard drives ever made-in terms of storage space, not physical dimensions.

The drive can hold up to 16 terabytes of data; an entry-level iPhone stores less than 2% of that.

Internet of Things makes its mainstream debut The internet is full of things, more so now than ever.

Not just routers and computers, tablets and devices, but now there's set to be around six billion smart home gadgets -from toy dolls to Wi-Fi-connected plant feeders-connecting kids and homes, cars and you-name-it-what-else to the wider world. With that comes security issues. Most people have yet to take the Internet of Things (IoT) seriously, not least the feds, but that changed when millions of kids' and their parents' data was stolen earlier this year in a massive hack on Hong Kong toy maker VTech.

Dell Buys EMC for $67B in Largest Deal in Tech History…but!

In the largest tech deal in history by far, Dell and partners MSD Partners and Silver Lake agreed to buy EMC for $67 billion or $33.15 a share. But Michael Dell’s ambitious $67 billion plan to take over storage giant EMC may face a big tax burden that could complicate or derail the deal entirely. Could the biggest tech deal in history take a ‘U’ turn?

3D Printed Body Parts Go Mainstream 3D printing technology has been around for two decades, but the price has come down in recent years and more people have been able to make use of it. Consequently, we've started to be able to really tap into its vast potential. 3D printed products are being spewed out left, right and centre; from the building blocks of houses to replica shark skin. It almost seems as though the capabilities are endless, and the technology is not anticipated to slow down any time soon.

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

In 2016…

Be kind and uplift those around you

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his is my last piece for 2015 and I’m sure we are all excited to find out what the New Year has in store for us. My own New Year’s Resolution is to be kinder and more loving to those around me – to always allow them to know their worth and just how much they bring into my life. I like to think I already do, but there is always room for improvement.

What will your resolutions be?

Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be beneficial to not only you, but to those around you.

I do wish that everyone could have the same resolution as I do, because I don’t think most people realise how important it is to be kind and to uplift those around you.

I have been fortunate enough to live in over three different continents in my (what I like to think is short) lifetime. I have found that Guyanese (myself included at times) have an unusually crude and occasionally cruel way of speaking to each other, even in jest. Basically, we are too rough with each other and often forget the severe effect it can have on us.

I actually don’t think we even know the effect it has on us.

I’ve watched how insecure and afraid my own friends and family become before coming home. Some even felt the (warranted) need to put Facebook statuses admitting that they have gained weight and would appreciate no one commenting on it. I think that’s the most common one “lord- you get fat” or if you’ve lost weight “lord- you look pull down.” I am well aware of this being common place, but when did it become okay?

Emotional abuse is quite common in Guyana and, in this case, everyone has multiple examples of their own. Comments like this may seem innocent to a few but emotional abuse is just as bad as physical abuse (which I will get into in a minute) and it contributes to low mood, depression in those who are already vulnerable to it, excessive drinking/drug use, eating disorders and in some cases, suicide.

It is so important that we allow people to be confident and content with themselves. Why? These behaviours – both physical and emotional abuse – are passed on to our children.

There is currently a controversial topic being presented in Parliament and it is closely related to what

I’m saying. Corporal (physical) punishment has also been common place in Guyana and it really shouldn’t be. Furthermore, my understanding of the situation is that Guyanese became legally bound to protect our children against abuse, desertion and exploitation when we signed on to the Rights of the Child Convention in 1991.

Why is this important? Studies conducted in the United States determined that young boys who are beaten are more than likely to become abusers in their own homes. Further-

more, 70% of women who are abused by their husbands also abuse their children.

It is crucial that this law is also passed in schools. Teachers, counsellors, social workers, and even police are not supposed to be disciplinarians. We are mentors and are there to provide additional education, support and coping skills outside of the home.

Think of the child who gets abused in the home and naturally lashes out for attention as he/she was not taught sufficient coping skills from their parent/s. Instead of support, the teacher becomes frustrated and then beats the child in school. This child is now afraid and angry of both the parents and teachers- her major influences. Where is there to turn? Chances are to drug abuse, home runaways, school dropout and again even suicide.

Now, there are many other effective ways of disciplining a child. Both positive (giving a reward) and negative (taking something away) reinforcement have been proven to work wonders. Redirection is also effective in more difficult children. It is also important for parents to be clear about rules. If your rules are vague and only discussed when one has been “broken” in your mind, it is difficult for a child to follow. Additionally, one we are all guilty of is allowing certain things when we are in a good mood and then exploding (about the same thing) when we are not. That is really confusing for an adult, let alone a child. Be consistent about your rules. Finally and most importantly, be a good role model for children as they observe and mimic everything. I know families who curse non-stop in front of their children but become upset when the children follow suit. How much sense does that make?

Be the change you want to see.

I would like to thank everyone who has been writing in.

It means so much to me to see that many of you know how important this topic is and are reaching out for help. Please continue to do so.

One question I received was –“What is my best plan of action for help-where do I go and what is the first step”. I believe many of you will be asking this question, especially in the New Year and I will answer that and more next week.

Say yes to life and no to drugs! Always.

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

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

From street corners to art galleries

Michael Griffith: Guyana’s self-made icon

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By Ravin Singh

IS HANDS and fingers are just as anyone’s. And while his simplicity is captivating, his talent is rare but astonishing. At 30 Michael Griffith is perhaps Guyana’s most impressive visual artist who hails from a non-academic, self-taught background.

His story is synonymous with that of a street kid with a “hustler” mentality. He relates that while he was the eldest of four children for his parents who were trapped in the cycle of poverty, he was unlucky in evading those experiences through academic installation.

“I attended North Ruimveldt Secondary but I dropped out in 4th form, because for us, education was not seen as a priority. What was important for us was coming out of school and getting a job” he says, adding that “money was the main man, so the fastest way to get money was to get a job” Having lacked academic qualifications, Griffith was unsuccessful in securing a well-paying job. And after several attempts, he eventually became a watch-seller in the heart of the Capital city.

But like everyone, Griffith had a calling which he had not yet realized.

While toiling to support a family on the pittance he earned from selling and repairing watches, this gifted icon was also dedicatedly engaged in still-life drawings, particularly portraits which he proudly displayed on his small wooden stand.

And although he was told “boy you could draw” on countless occasions, he had recognized from early that his talent for this form of the arts was natural, which caused him to ignore the flattery.

What may have stood out more for him was the fact that this was being done entirely from a self-taught background with no formal training.

But then the recognition of his talent was no

JILTED: The piece that won Michael the 2014 National Visual Arts Competition last year.

longer limited to word-of-mouth compliments. In a country where appreciation for all forms of art has struggled tremendously, people had become so fascinated with his pieces that they were willing to compensate him financially for them.

This was perhaps his positive “wake-up call” since it forced him in 2009 to register as an applicant to attend E. R. Burrowes School of Arts - an undergraduate art institution accredited by the University of Guyana (UG).

He revealed though, that he had wanted to attend the school even before 2009, but financial constraints, yet again, had prevented him from elevating himself. Nevertheless, he had successfully gained entry into the institution which, he said, empowered him with the confidence and realization to recognize that his ability could be further exploited if he was willing to pursue it.

And so he did. With the support of his wife Karen who was his greatest motivator, Griffith secured a place at the University of Guyana (UG) having successfully completed an adult’s education programme. He is currently in his third year at the highest ranked tertiary institution in the country where he is majoring in Fine Arts.

This opportunity which provides formal training for him has exposed him to other forms of visual art, including sculpting, craft, pottery and mix media, which presently engages his attention. And while, to him, he is not as strong in those areas as he is in drawing, the feedback from art critics has been encouraging.

Flashback to 2012 however, when he was still not exposed to any form of formal training, the local artist copped ► Contiuned on page XX

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

Michael Griffith ... ► From page XVIII

first place in the drawing category of the National Visual Arts competition with his piece “Through the Canvas”, and was recognized by then President Donald Ramotar. No stranger to consistency though, Griffith repeated this in 2014 when the biannual event was held again, and secured first place in the same category for his piece “Jilted.”

And although he has not been provided with many opportunities, both locally and regionally, to aid in the recognition of his work, he has been able to etch his name into the wall-of-fame of local artists, having some of his works featured at Castellani House and the annual Wedding Expo. Some of his works were also featured at Republic Bank’s 2013 drawing competition and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry’s (GBTI’s) art exhibition.

His only regional exposure was earlier this year, when he was selected as one of two visual artists to represent Guyana at the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) which was held in Haiti.

But the lack of opportunities locally, is perhaps not to be blamed entirely on the absence of appreciation for art. Griffith reveals that in terms of promotion through the local art institutions, there are specific

people, strategically placed in positions, and, “if you don’t play ball with them,” you could be victimized.

"If your art does not coincide with their idea of art, despite knowing the fact that art is a relative expression, it tends to be overlooked.

And this could be one of the major challenges for young budding artists in Guyana,” he disclosed.

Coupled with the fact of having limited opportunities however, is the lack of resources and art supplies locally, which hinders the development of any artist.

Griffith explains that if the work of internationallyrecognized artists are c o m pared, o n e would realise that the quality of pap e r, p e n c i l a n d other tools are critical to producing exceptional pieces. And in Guyana, where not much emphasis is placed on art, particularly visual arts, he reasons that, “Artists might have the perfect idea but the materials might be the only thing standing between them and producing that piece.”

BALLERINA: He continues that another major chalMichael's experiment with sculpting. lenge is the lack of appreciation for art in Guyana. “People might see your pieces and fall in love with them; but when it comes to compensating you, they are hesitant. And this could be very discouraging” the artist said.

Nevertheless, while he continues to support the local industry, this Guyanese icon is preparing to contribute to Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary, through a collaborative effort with other local artists. And although he did not divulge much into what can be expected, his exceptional ability which is matched by his extraordinary talent will hint at the possibility of something monumental.

But despite facing all of these challenges, one would question why Griffith still chooses a career in visual arts. The answer to this, he says, lies in the fact that he has to live to prove to his eldest daughter, who constantly says “my dad is the best,” that he does indeed belong among the best.

“I want to make that statement true… I want to be among the best for her” he says, adding that “Art is my therapy, if I’m not doing it, I think I’d trip.”

He recalled recently that his wife had asked him if someone was to offer him US$100M to stop producing art if he would, and he responded in the negative, reasoning that the world is too stressful and art is a form of medicine which de-stresses a person. “It’s not just a business for me, its therapy” he adds.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

Re-print of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' unleashes row in Germany

(REUTERS) FOR the first time since Hitler's death, Germany is publishing the Nazi leader's political treatise "Mein Kampf", unleashing a highly charged row over whether the text is an inflammatory racist diatribe or a useful educational tool.

The 70-year copyright on the text, written by Hitler between 1924-1926 and banned by the Allies at the end of World War Two, expires at the end of the year, opening the way for a critical edition with explanatory sections and some 3,500 annotations.

In January the 2,000 page, two-volume work will go on sale after about three years of labor by scholars at Munich's Institute for Contemporary History.

Hitler wrote most of the first, highly autobiographical, volume while incarcerated in Landsberg prison after his failed Munich coup attempt in 1923. After his release, he wrote much of the second volume at his mountain retreat near Berchtesgaden.

In the book, a mix of personal experience and political ideology, he outlined his strategy. A bestseller after he became chancellor in 1933, it had by 1945 sold 12 million copies and been translated into 18 languages.

The publication is a big step for Germany, which is still struggling with the legacy of the Nazi era and the Holocaust.

Polls show deeply divided public opinion. A YouGov survey last month said 51 percent of Germans oppose a continuation of the ban. The state of Bavaria has until now repeatedly used the copyright transferred to it by the Allies to prevent a reprint.

Hitler biographer Peter Longerich told Reuters Germans have reached a stage where taboos are being broken.

"We are probably entering a phase in which you can

do more with Hitler and texts about him than you did 10 or 20 years ago. In the age of mass media, taboos are constantly broken and texts cannot be locked away," he told Reuters.

Other watersheds include the 2004 film "Downfall" which explored the last days of Hitler's life to this year's hit film "Look Who's Back", an adaptation of a satirical novel about the reappearance of Hitler in modern times and becoming a celebrity.

DECONSTRUCT NAZI LIES Keenly aware of the controversy surrounding "Mein Kampf", the Munich institute has stressed that the aim is to deconstruct propaganda and undermine any symbolic power the book still has.

"The aim ... is to present 'Mein Kampf' as a salient source document for contemporary history, to describe the context of the genesis of Hitler's world view," it said.

To prevent any commercial exploitation of the sensitive text, the Institute is self-publishing. The first print run is expected to be up to about 4,000 copies.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany has reservations, arguing the text, described by some community leaders as an "anti-Semitic diatribe", should remain banned.

"After the expiry of the copyright, there is a very big risk that this sorry effort of a work will be more widely available," Council President Josef Schuster said in a statement.

Yet Schuster acknowledged that understanding it is important in explaining Nazism and the Holocaust.

"So there is nothing to object to if an academic edition with commentary is available for research and teaching," he added.

German authorities have

made clear anyone reprinting an unedited version will be subject to incitement laws.

But Germany's teachers association wants it used in schools.

"A professional treatment of excerpts in lessons can help immunize against political extremism," association head Josef Kraus told Handelsblatt.

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A copy of Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" (My Struggle) from 1940 is pictured in Berlin, Germany, in this picture taken December 16, 2015. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

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Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

No Christmas for stabbed teenager’s family

F

or the family members of the late Allisia M c P h e rson, this year no one is going to be in a festive mood. Indeed it has been difficult to cope.

It has been eight months since the young woman was brutally murdered and to date the family is still seeking justice for their loved one.

The suspect is still at large even though reports of his sighting in several areas including the Interior have been reported. It is believed that the suspect, 19-year-old Shivnarine

Roopnarine aka Shiv fled the scene on the evening of April 19, 2015 after he reportedly knifed the teen 41 times to the body.

They were seeing each other and went to a party at Cappy’s Place in ‘B’ Field Sophia and it was there he is said to have committed the act during a heated argument near the washroom area.

The mother of the deceased, Denise McPherson told the Guyana Chronicle the incident was still fresh in her mind like it happened yesterday and it is one that is etched forever.

The grieving wom-

an said that although she knows her daughter is no more, she wishes she can return in her life to fill the empty feeling of losing a loved one and that particular daughter will be forever missed.

Mrs. McPherson stated that her daughter was killed in the cruelest manner and to date even though she still visits the various police stations to get an update on the matter she is yet to receive news that the suspect has been apprehended to face the full force of the law.

She said the holidays are not the same without Allisia who was such a

Allisia and Shiv in happier times. warm, delightful, quiet personality who was at the prime of her youth and was taken away so suddenly and viciously.

A wanted bulletin was never issued for the suspect, who is said to have gone into hiding in the interior.

The young Allisia had been a victim of abuse at the hands of Roopnarine, her construction worker boy-

friend, for months prior to the incident but she bore it all alone. He has a violent and jealous streak.

Then Divisional Detective Hugh Jessemy told this publication that the GPF had received some information on Roopnarine’s whereabouts, and they were in the process of authenticating it in an effort to locate and detain him for

questioning in regard to Mc Pherson’s murder.

A section of the print media had reported that the suspect had fled the scene in panic after the murder, and had denied having anything to do with that tragedy; but the police, questioning ► Contiuned

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No Christmas for stabbed ... ► Contiuned on page XXII why he was running if he had not committed the crime, are optimistic of locating him soon.

The teen’s mother, in an earlier interview said she had once observed a bite mark on her daughter’s hand and had asked her about it, but she said she had injured her hand.

Mrs. Mc Pherson described Allisia as the kind of girl who kept her troubles to herself, even though she had questioned the teen several times whether she was being abused. She said Allisia had refused to talk about it.

She stated that Allisia and Shiv had been together for two years, during which he had been a regular visitor to her home. She said he had approached her and had told her of his interest in her daughter, and she had reasoned that, before they have to reach up on the road, she would give him permission to visit Allisia at home.

Mrs. McPherson said Shiv had been respectful, with a quiet demeanor, and her daughter had

seemed happy with him; but deep down in her mind she knew all was not well. But whenever she brought up the subject, the girl would refuse to talk about it.

The mother of four told the Guyana Chronicle that, the day before, her daughter had announced that she was going to a party at Cappy’s Place, and she would reach her boyfriend at the location. She had left home in company of a male neighbour.

It is believed that the move angered the jealous Shiv, who met her at the gate of the venue; and upon seeing her with the young man with whom she had grown up, started to have a row with her. Persons at the party had observed him slapping her.

Allisia’s bloodied body was found at about 04:00hrs on April 18, 2015 aback the property where the party was held. Her body was found in the washroom area by a patron who had gone to use the toilet. That patron alerted others to the tragedy.

The mortally injured teen was placed in a taxi and taken to the GPHC, where she succumbed.

A post-mortem revealed that the teen’s body bore 41 stab wounds, and gave the cause of death as hemorrhage and shock due to multiple stab wounds and punctured lungs, relatives said.

Mrs. McPherson said that when she reached the hospital, after getting a telephone call alerting her that her daughter had been stabbed, she was unable to see her until after an hour, but her daughter was unresponsive and was covered in blood.

Allisia had met Shiv through a friend when she was not working. They began going out regularly, but Mrs. Mc Pherson had noticed that Shiv was a jealous person who policed Allisia’s movements via cellphone on a daily basis.

Following the murder, Shiv was observed in a minibus heading to Mahdia. It was also reported that, after the stabbing incident, Shiv had told the disc jockey to stop the music because somebody ‘get stab up’. This had happened before he fled the scene.

Thursday Allisia would have celebrated her 19th birthday.

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here are lots of reasons I look forward to this time of year, baking, quality time with family, but I’m not going to lie, one of the main reasons I look forward to the holiday season is the fashion. New Year’s Eve is pretty much the one night of the year that you get to pull out all your glits and glam.

It’s literally your time to shine! So to get you in the New Year’s Eve spirit, I put together six different looks you may consider wearing this year. No matter what your plans are, I think you’ll find something from Sonia Noel Designs @ makin styke boutique on the ground floor of Giftland Mall.

Tel 6098388.

Kareem Holland looks dapper in black and white rayon and cotton shirt, which is perfect for our climate. Black and white makes a statement for any occasion.

Melessa Payne is wearing a wildly sexy red mini dress with natural undertones this little number can shut down any party and transform 'lace', a once favorite amongst the world's more consecutives woman into the must-have item.

Oranda Glasgow is stunning in one of the most glamorous pieces, this lime and olive green off the shoulder two piece suit reveals the ultimate symbol of decadence, femininity and romance.

Anasha Dutchin chooses Royal and baby blue half-moon effect, crystal beaded mermaid bottom evening gown. If you want to wear a holiday party dress that is elegant, festive, stunning and outright gorgeous this is perfect.

Kareem Holland wears a tailored grey three piece suit. This exclusive piece is ideal for cocktails to formal wear and will be sure to make you stand out.

Kristal Williams is in a grey cotton shift dress by Shonta Noel. The Girl Wonder collection is geared for the hyped, confident young woman. If you don’t know what to pair it with just easily add a funky pair of shoes.

Juanita Welch Add a serious hit of sexiness to your New Year Eve’s party or wardrobe with a versatile black lace bodice gown with beaded lattice embellishment. It’s the ultimate go-to item to deck the halls in or while you sing Santa Baby to that special someone.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 27, 2015

Bolivian feels ...

anyone”, she said.

“I feel like I am more Guyanese than many Guyanese “ , she said , adding that whenever she hears the national anthem and or sees the Golden Arrowhead being hoisted, she feels a sense of “ belonging”. She even argues strongly with persons who say “bad things “about Guyana.

Marisoli explained that she feels “very Guyanese “because most of her achievements occurred in Guyana. In addition, she said that she came here at a very young age, noting that she finished high school in 1995, taught for a few years , then moved to these shores .

In 2008, after completing studies at CPCE, she was appointed to teach at the Bishop’s High School, however, since there were no vacancies at the time, she applied at Queen’s College where she was offered a position to teach Spanish. “I had the interview on Tuesday and by Thursday I started teaching,” she recalled smilingly. However, her stay at QC was truncated to one year, since the Mexican Embassy was in search of her.

“The Mexican embassy in 2009 contacted me and they were searching for a bilingual secretary but they couldn’t find one and somebody contacted me to help them out”, she said. She recalled assisting the embassy voluntarily and soon after the Mexican ambassador offered her a job.

She said the salary was better than that of her teaching job, and being a single mother at the time, she grabbed the opportunity. Until August 2014.

Last year, she was informed that the Georgetown International College (known to some as the American School) had an opening for a Spanish teacher and she applied and was accepted.

Marisoli had a sad look when she was asked to compare the end of year activities in Guyana to those in Bolivia. She said that Christmas in her country of birth is “more traditional “and involves the children part –taking in joyous activities. She said that it is focused more on “dressing up the community and most people go to church and sing in the choir or “vilancicos.” Most homes also have a small manger set-up in a corner of the house and

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the children would sing and dance around the structure.

While Guyanese eat pepper-pot , the Bolivians eat “La picana “. She said it is a “kind of soup ...similar to your pepper- pot, some people put chicken, pork, some put duck, corn, it something like a soup which also includes carrot and it’s very tasty”.

The business environment there is similar to what happens in Guyana at Christmas, with the difference being the timing, since La Paz is usually in a mood in November, she said.

Marisoli was almost in tears when she recalled the New Year’s celebration, noting that it is one of the more special occasions in her country. Unlike the hotel parties and nightclub scenes which occur here, New Year’s Eve is more family-oriented whereby persons sing at church or in groups and move from house to house, where food and drinks are served . The movement ends at a particular home where there is a grand celebration that runs into the daytime. “It is very nice in my country “, she said, with a slight tear in her eyes.

Marisoli plans to travel home to Bolivia with her family next year when school closes for the August holidays but those plans rest on her ability to raise the sums of money for air fare. She said that she would have to take her husband, Ian, her daughter Shakira, and her son Fernando and baby Milan.

“I am longing to go and see my mom because she is not well ,she is diabetic and she has been on and off for the longest while”, she said adding that it would cost some US$900 with COPA Airlines for her alone to travel and return to Guyana . She is hoping she can save enough to travel, but she said laughingly, “I’m just a teacher”. She communicates daily with her family members in Bolivia via the internet.

In the meantime, Marisoli is reading for a degree in psychology through online studies at an American university. She said she would not stop pursuing her goals as long as she can see the light of the new day.

Marisoli Flores-Joseph and her family.

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Junta leader writes new song, leaving Thais to face the music (Reuters) Thailand's junta leader released the lyrics to a new patriotic ballad on Tuesday, the second song he has written since seizing power in 2014.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who as army chief led the May 2014 coup, first wrote the song "Return Happiness to Thailand", which is played constantly on television and radio stations as part of a public relations

campaign by the junta to win over Thais.

The tune has racked up more than one million views on YouTube but has been mocked by critics of the junta.

His second song, "Because You Are Thailand", includes lyrics like "If we join hands ... the day we hope for is not far away" and "Because you are Thailand, you will not let anyone de-

stroy you."

Prayuth told reporters the song was his New Year present to the Thai people.

The junta, or National Council for Peace and Order, overthrew an elected government, putting an end to months of protests in Bangkok led by the middle class and elite who wanted to get rid of the civilian government of populist Prime Minister

Yingluck Shinawatra.

A military government installed after the coup has largely stifled dissent and has gone hard after critics of the junta and monarchy by using a harsh royal insult law to detain dozens of people, prompting stern criticism from rights groups, the U.N. and some Western governments.

The junta has repeatedly delayed planned elections,

THAILAND'S Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha attends an agreement signing ceremony with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at the Government House in Bangkok, Thailand, December 19, 2015. claiming the country is not yet stable enough to hold a poll.

Prayuth comes from a

musical family. His daughters enjoyed brief fame in Thailand as a pop duo called BADZ.

Purified marijuana compound may reduce stubborn epileptic seizures

(REUTERS HEALTH) - A purified compound derived from marijuana may help reduce seizures in children and young adults with severe forms of epilepsy that resist other treatments, a new study suggests.

Patients who added a 99 percent-cannabidiol (CBD) oil to their current treatments went from an average of 30 seizures a month to fewer than 16 - representing a 37 percent reduction over 12 weeks, researchers report in Lancet Neurology.

"In this group that has been extremely treatment resistant, this was an incredibly positive finding with the caveat that we didn’t have a comparison group," said lead author Dr. Orrin Devinsky, of NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City.

CBD is a compound found naturally in marijuana and known to affect the brain. But it's important to note that CBD does not produce a high, Devinsky said, and the new findings have no bearing on use of medical marijuana or other compounds from the plant.

The form of CBD used in the new study was a solution of the extract in oil called Epidiolex from GW Pharmaceuticals, which partly funded the new study. The drug is currently being evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Previous research into the effects of CBD and medical marijuana on various types of epilepsy has been limited and produced mixed results with some people having fewer sei-

zures and others having more.

For the new study, the researchers enrolled 214 patients between 2014 and 2015 from 11 U.S. epilepsy treatment centers. They included people with different forms of epilepsy like Dravet and Lennox-Gastaut syndromes. The participants were typically among the centers' most resistant to existing epilepsy treatments.

The goal of the study was to inform future research by tracking doses, side effects and whether or not the patients improved.

Participants were started on 2 milligrams (mg) to 5 mg of the solution, broken into two daily doses. The dosage slowly increased to 25 mg or 50 mg daily over the 12 weeks. Patients continued taking their existing medications.

Of those who started the study, 52 patients were lost to follow up and 11 stopped taking CBD before the study ended. Others were excluded from part of the analysis due to age, other health conditions or not experiencing seizures.

About 37 percent of patients had their seizures reduced by at least half. The researchers point out that 22 percent of patients had seizures reduced by at least 70 percent and 8 percent had their seizures reduced by at least 90 percent.

Overall, 20 patients had severe side effects possibly relat-

ed to CBD. The most common was a severe bout of seizures known as status epilepticus. Only five participants stopped taking the solution due to side effects, however.

Less severe side effects included drowsiness, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue and convulsions.

Devinsky said ongoing double-blind randomized controlled trials, which are considered the gold standard of medical research, will be able to shine more light on CBD's effectiveness and which side effects are caused by the drug.

Dr. Kevin Chapman, of Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora, said he'll be interested to see the results of those trials.

"From my standpoint, I don’t think it’s going to quite be the panacea we’re hoping it to be," said Chapman, who studies CBD for epilepsy but wasn't involved in the new study.

For example, he said, the side effects found in the new study suggest CBD's safety is similar to that of current drugs.

Also, the study suggests there may be better outcomes among people taking CBD and another popular epilepsy drug known as clobazam.

"I think it raises some questions about the utility for CBD, but it lays the groundwork for future studies," Chapman said.

Devinsky said his team's ongoing clinical trials of CBD should be completed around February.

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Movie Review: Bajirao Mastani

By Shilpa Jamkhandikar

(REUTERS) Is embellishing historical events with a heightened sense of drama and cinematic liberty equivalent to mutilating it? Or is it ok when it’s meant for entertainment? If you watch Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s historical epic “Bajirao Mastani” as a student of history, these questions are sure to come up. The film is already under fire from historians and experts who say the portrayal of the Maratha warrior Bajirao Peshwa is inaccurate.

But Bhansali himself doesn’t seem take his history too seriously. A disclaimer at the beginning of the film states categorically that it doesn’t claim to be historically accurate.

And even though it is based on N S Inamdar’s Marathi novel, “Rau”, the film doesn’t stay faithful to its source material, veering away many a time from Inamdar’s much more nuanced retelling of Bajirao’s life.

History, then, is merely a vehicle for Bhansali to mount his story on. This time, the scale is even bigger than his earlier films and slightly reminiscent of Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Jodhaa Akbar”. There are bloody battles, opulent palaces, grandeur and beautifully choreographed songs, but not all of them are historically accurate.

Ranveer Singh plays Bajirao, the dynamic Maratha warrior who leads the king’s armies and captures lands far and wide.

He meets Mastani, the daughter of the king of Bundelkhand, when she comes to ask him for help in rescuing her kingdom from a Mughal conqueror. The two fall in love in true Bhansali style amid swinging chandeliers, falling curtains, clanging background music, and what is meant to be poetic dialogue.

But Mastani’s part-Muslim lineage and the fact that Ba-

jirao is already married to Kashibai (Priyanka Chopra) come in the way of our lovers. Bhansali’s narrative style is in full flow here. Everything is larger than life, including the size of Mastani’s nose rings, some of which look like they could be the rings around Saturn. Bajirao and Mastani speak to each other as if they are in a poetry competition, and the dialogue (by Prakash Kapadia) is clunky and heavy-handed.

The narrative is linear and predictable, but the film comes alive when Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra are in the frame. For Singh, it is possibly the role of a lifetime and he plays Bajirao with an ease and confidence that radiates on screen. His Marathi nasal twang, his swagger, his confrontations with his mother and brother, all point to a pitch-perfect performance that is the biggest highlight of the film.

Matching him scene for scene is Priyanka Chopra, who brings so much dignity to the role of a wife who has to watch her husband fall in love and marry another woman. She is

by turns playful and serious, a far cry from the Kashibai that Inamdar describes in his book (Kashibai is said to have been arthritic and had a limp).

The weak link is Deepika Padukone, which is surprising given the golden run she’s had lately. Padukone is so busy trying to be the ethereal beauty and mouthing dialogue like “Ishq ibadat hai” (love is worship) that she forgets to emote.

She sports a permanent martyred expression throughout the film and fails to give us a sense of Mastani.

At 158 minutes, Bhansali’s film feels a tad too long and overwrought. The battle scenes seem to be more of a distraction, and the film-maker spent too much time and energy on making Bajirao and Mastani’s tale into this spiritual, other-worldly love story.

Despite all its faults, “Bajirao Mastani” is propped up by the performances of Singh and Chopra; and for that alone, it’s worth a watch. Just forget your history lessons inside the theatre.

Script for Tupac Shakur biopic peddled in celebrity hacking case: studio (Reuters) A production company behind an upcoming biopic about hip hop artist Tupac Shakur acknowledged on Wednesday that the film's script was among those allegedly peddled by a Bahamian man who was arrested for hacking celebrities' email accounts.

Alonzo Knowles, 23, is being held without bail after a Tuesday appearance in Manhattan federal court on criminal copyright infringement and identity theft charges.

Among the information that Knowles allegedly hacked was a recently finished script for "All Eyez On Me," a biopic of Shakur, who died in a 1996 shooting, according to Greg Mielcarz, executive vice president of marketing and publicity at Los Angeles-based Morgan Creek Productions, the studio making the biopic.

The film stars Demetrius Shipp Jr as Shakur.

Earlier this month, Knowles offered to sell a popular radio host "a script for an upcoming hip hop artist biopic movie…once it is completed at the end of the month,” according to a criminal complaint filed against Knowles on Tuesday.

Knowles later tried to sell the script to an undercover agent, according to the complaint, which said Knowles showed the script to the undercover agent but did not actually give it to him.

The undercover agent struck a deal with Knowles to buy scripts and other information, ultimately leading to Knowles' arrest.

Prosecutors, in the complaint, did not identify the celebrities, movies or scripts involved in the case.

Mielcarz confirmed the identity of the Shakur biopic script in response to an inquiry

by Reuters.

A spokeswoman for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara declined to comment. A lawyer for Knowles could not be immediately reached for comment.

Knowles kept at least 130 celebrities' emails and phone numbers and noted that his victims included movie and TV actors, a casting director, a popular singer-songwriter and a hip-hop artist, the complaint said.

Johnny Depp named 'most overpaid actor' of 2015 (Reuters) Johnny Depp has been named the most overpaid Hollywood actor of 2015 by Forbes magazine.

The list, based on the last three films in which those included starred before June, revealed Depp returned only $1.20 (81p) for every $1 (67p) he was paid.

Depp's comedy Mortdecai flopped in cinemas, only making back Chris Evans was named the Best value actor of 2015

The list was compiled before the release of Depp's latest film, gangster movie Black Mass $47.4m (£32m) of its $60m (£40.5m) production budget.

The actor's 2014 sci-fi thriller Transcendence, meanwhile, only just made back its costs.

Denzel Washington is ranked second on the list, returning $6.50 (£4.39) on every dollar.

Wi l l F e r r e l l , w h o topped the list in 2009 and 2010, is third this time after only bringing in $6.80 (£4.59) for every $1 spent on him on Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues and The Campaign.

That was just ahead

of Liam Neeson, whose fourth place is down to the success of Taken 3 cancelling out Run All Night.

According to Forbes, the latter thriller cost $50m (£33.7m) and made $71.6m (£48.3m) back.

How do the rankings work?

Each of an actor's three major films up to June 2015 are counted in the list.

The only films which are not used for the basis of the survey are animated releases, ones where the actor only appeared

in a minor role, or those which were released on fewer than 2,000 screens.

Forbes then take the estimated production budget away from the global box office returns for each film to work out each one's operating income.

That figure is then added to the estimated total fee for each star across their three films to discover the final figure for return on investment.

Four actresses fill the next four places in the best value list.

Mila Kunis comes

second with an $87.30 (£59) return on every d o l l a r, w h i l e S c a r lett Johansson, whose last three major films grossed a combined $2.58 bn (£1.742 bn), is third.

G w y n e t h P a l t r o w, whose appearance in Iron Man 3 more than made up for her contribution to Mortdecai, is ranked fourth.

Last year's winner, Emma Stone, comes fifth, with the disappointing performance of Aloha balanced out by 2014's The Amazing Spider-Man 2.