Pepperpot 14 06 14

Page XII

Page XIV

Centre

Some of Sonia Noel’s trademark fashion selectives

Page LII

II

Angel of Mercy

S

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

(Conclusion)

alima closed her eyes to pray.Her sincere words from a devout heart borne, always on silent wings to the Heavens but now, her words were staying grounded for she seemed to have lost her focus.

“Why am I so distracted, Oh Allah?” she asked, “I’ve never been distracted before.”

She knew not, a journey planned by fate which shehad already begun and her thoughts were beginning to be filled with something more than work and prayers, something beautiful and divine.

Since that day at the orphanage she couldn’t stop thinking about Rahim and his conflicting emotions of pain, hate and intolerance. But there was a soft side of him she had seen that could show love and care and with his image in her mind, a new feeling, like a bud planted in her heart, grew each day.

“Salima,” her mother’s voice broke into her thoughts, “Let’s go, your father is waiting on us.”

She had visited the mosque with her mother that afternoon and as they were leaving, her father said to her.

“Look across the street.”

She turned to look and saw Rahim, dressed in street casual clothes astride his bike with a few of his biker friends.

“What is he doing?” she asked, not believing he would be exhibiting his rebellious lifestyle so close to the mosque.

“That’s one of his ways,” her father answered, “of showing dissent to his father.”

“His father is here?” Salima asked, perturbed.

“Look at the other exit, that’s his father and two sisters, just leaving.”

“This is so sad,” she said quietly, seeing the unhappy look on their faces.

The next moment was a live drama of daring versus fear as the bikes revved loudly and blazed across the road, swerving dangerously to avoid collision with other vehicles and sped away disappearing around the bend along the road. Salima felt her heart racing, his daredevil antics giving her a bad scare and looking at his father from where she stood saw the grieved look on his face. She had a restless night when sleep played games with her as he played games with death. The next day after a busy morning, she entered her office and saw a note on her desk, ‘Stopped by to say Hello – Rahim’ “That’s nice.” She thought but got taken up with work and had no further thought about it. Late the next afternoon, she saw another note.“Can’t see you to talk Dr. – Rahim”.

There was no number on the card to send an answer and

she wondered why he wanted to talk to her. No more notes were left during the following days but she saw him on Sunday at a colleague’s sister’s wedding on the West Coast. He was not there as the person she liked and appreciated but as the rebel, drinking with friends and in the embrace of girls.

She tried not to let it bother her but she felt somewhat hurt and when she looked at him she did not realise that feeling was reflected on her face. She couldn’t sleep that night and watched a movie, not wanting to think of him, when her phone rang.

It was Rahim calling.

She wondered why he would be calling her if he was with friends and she answered, “Hello.”

“Did I wake you, doctor?”

“No, why are you calling?”

“I just wanted you to know that I’m home, I didn’t go out with any girl.”

“Why do I need to know that?”

“Because you did not look pleased when you saw me at the wedding today. Why were you so disturbed?”

“I was not.”

“I know you were Doctor Salima and one day, soon I hope, you’ll tell me why. Good night.”

She sat lost in thoughts for a long time, not sure herself what her heart was telling her.

A couple days later, early in the morning, she was surprised to see him waiting by her office door.

“What are you doing here so early?”

He handed her a fresh red rose he had hidden behind his back and said: “Just in case I don’t see you during the day.

Can we have lunch?”

She couldn’t help smiling, “You know you could be nice when you want to, but I’m not sure I can go out with you.”

“Why?” “From what I’ve been seeing, I’m not your type.”

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com He looked at her for a moment, his eyes reflecting a deep feeling and moving a little closer to her, he said: “You’re different, in a special way and your smile had a kind of magic.”

He walked pass her, close enough without touching her but his words did, sending a close message to her heart. She looked at the rose in her hand and said to herself: “You’re now finding you have a heart.”

He was waiting for her outside the hospital, his semi-formal attire accentuating his good looks and she couldn’t help smiling appreciatively. He took her to a cozy, little Arabian style restaurant and she said impressed, “This is a nice place, I like it.”

“I knew you would because of your traditional beliefs and simple tastes.”

“Do you have that belief too?” she asked quietly, careful not to trigger his anger.

He took a little while to answer, “I lost that years ago, when my mother fell ill and died.”

“Is that the reason you hate the wearing of the hijab?”

He looked away and said nothing for a while and when he looked back at her, she saw the pained expression on his face, she had seen at the girl’s orphanage.

“When it’s used as a symbol of oppression against a woman and from a child when you grow up seeing your mother’s pain and suffering because of obsessive religious beliefs and principles, how can you like it?”

She had known there was a reason for his hate and to hear him talk about his mother’s pain and suffering, the horror that was her life, it touched her heart, arousing a deep sympathy for him.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she said, touching his hand, instinctively.

He looked a little surprised and managed a faint smile.

“Thank you for your understanding and tolerance” It eased the tension ignited by his troubled memories

Please turn to page XI

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

III

By Petamber Persaud

Guyana Honours Its Women Writers FIRST glance at the exhibition in honour of Guyanese women writers was perfunctory. But by the time the official opening was completed, I was immersed in a magnanimous display depicting thoughtfulness, research and efficacy, all of which triggered the recall of opinions written by three women writers in solidarity of women writers. The recall was easy for me who has, time and again, focused on women writing.

There was a time when women writers were treated as ‘peripheral creatures’ (Beryl Gilroy). There was a time when, according to Virginia Woolf, who contended that while the men made great strides, the women were constrained to mince. This is no longer the case. The voice of our women writers is now being recognised and respected. And there are many reasons for this outpouring and response. But one example will suffice for now: according to Merle Collins, women writers are better able to ‘tease out the truth’ as they explore themes like man-woman relationship, sexism, human happiness, religious bigotry, moral values and social injustice.

That exhibition was opened on May 28, 2014 and mounted in the National Library. It was a collaborative effort beBeryl Gilroy tween the Ministry of hu-

Paloma Mohamed

Elly Niland

man Services & Social Security and the Library. The Ministry continues to find innovative ways to empower women and the library continues to explore avenues of taking literature to the nation.

There is a nexus between the time and the reason for mounting the exhibition. That nexus could be found in the word ‘independence’. The exhibition was mounted to celebrate the country’s 48th Independence Anniversary and to celebrate the independent voice of the country’s women writers.

On display was information on some 50 women writers in photographs, books and biographies. That number was not the full corpus of such writers, according to Ms. Yvonne Stephenson, Manager of the Resource and Documentation Centre of the Ministry of Human Services & Social Security.

Ms Stevenson hinted that more would be done and in greater details in recognition of our women writers. Both the Chairman of the National Library, Mr Petamber Persaud, and Chief Librarian (ag), Mrs. Emiley King declared their willingness to take such an exhibition to the next level.

Some of the writers highlighted came from different parts of the country, form border to border, from as far as Corriverton, Berbice, to as far as Linden, Demerara, and the Pomeroon, Essequibo. Those selected for the exhibition were representative of varied generations of Guyanese including Beryl Gilroy, Elly Niland, Janice Shinebourne, Stephanie Bowry, Ryhaan Shah, Grace Nichols, Karen King-Aribisala, Oonya Kempadoo, Mahadai Das, Paloma Mohamed, Julia Theresa Kanhai, Sherene Nobel, Mosa Telford, Pauline Mel-

Pauline Melville

Mosa Telford

Ryaan Shah

Julia Theresa Kanhai

ville, and Cassia Alphonso. Significantly, on display were some little-known and less-established writers. And various genres of writing were presented including poetry, short fiction, novel, drama and creative non-fiction.

At the opening of the exhibition, a message from the Minister of Human Services &Social Security, the Hon. Jennifer Webster, was read by Deputy Permanent Secretary, Reverend Patrick Findlay, summing up the whole effort: ‘The environment created by the display of the skill, talent and creativity of some of our Guyanese women speaks to the fact that our development as a society goes beyond economics , technology and those very important facets of nation building. No doubt, we need our engineers, economists, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs and so on, but equally, we need these creative writers who will produce a core of writing, a body of literature we could call our own. This exhibition has presented us with some of the most talented writers who have profoundly impacted on the way we see ourselves and in some instances, have helped us to understand the society in which we live.

They have created a Guyanese literary consciousness – an awareness of who we are. Let us all remember that creative writing, as produced by our women writers, is important to the true advancement of our society.’

Such an exhibition was another way of preserving our literary heritage and ought to go on tour of the country and further afield even at regional events like Inter-Guianas Cultural Festival, and Carifesta.

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

Stephanie Bowry

Sherene Noble

Janice Shinebourne

Cassia Alphonso

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Mercy Ward

By Ian McDonald Introduction by Edward Baugh University of the West Indies, Mona

I

n 1987, the year before Mercy Ward was first published, Ian McDonald said: "In the last two or three years I've written more poems than I wrote for the first fifty years of my life." This burst of creativity was to produce Mercy Ward, which, he explained, was set off by one of its most memorable pieces, 'God's Work': It's about an old man who worked for me as my gardener and handyman but became after ten, fifteen years much more a part of the family and friend, and he took ill - a very strong man - and he died, after a very agonising illness; and he was in this hospital for some time and I used to visit him often.I began to recognise the people in the ward with him, and talk to some of the doctors, some of the nurses, and I wrote (that) poem about him when he died, and (the other poems) really flooded from that.

The result is a moving Ian McDonald picture of life and dying in a Georgetown hospital. The representation of life in the ward is a particularised depiction of the drama of hospital wards. The collection had in effect been heralded by a much earlier poem, 'On An Evening Turned to Rain', which had first appeared in Bim, No.54 (1972). It is an elegy for an old man who had died, destitute, in "the seaman's ward" of a Georgetown Hospital. That earlier poem could have fitted seamlessly into Mercy Ward.

The collection is also a microcosm of human life, in its variety of characters as well as inter-personal and social relationships. The focus on individuals and their concentration on their particular situations is complemented by scenes of communal activity, uncomfortable at times, whether in the exhilaration of 'Test Match' day, or the once in a lifetime

Edward Baugh

bustle of the 'Royal Visit', or the ward turned schoolroom in 'The Last Classroom of Hubertus Jones'. The ward also offers a wide spectrum of the racial types that make up the Guyanese people: black African, Indian, Amerindian, Chinese and Portuguese. And although the geographical setting of nostalgic hankerings of the “Amerindian,” far removed from the forests and “great rivers” which were his life, and of “old Oudit Ram,” dreaming of his “Blue Potaro hills of young days long ago” (‘Blue Potaro Hills’). The lure

of the interior was to pervade McDonalds’s next collection, Essequibo (1992), which also allowed him to extend his range of distinctive character portraits.

In Mercy Ward the particulars of human character and behavior are all the more heightened in the context of extreme circumstance. It is a drama of loneliness, fear, withdrawal into self, assertion of self, cantankerousness, quarrel, defiance, and compensatory, sometimes surprising, shows of care and affection, the dramatic interplay of strength and weakness of character. “Nurse Guyadeen and the Preacher’ provides a striking illustration.

On the one hand, there is Sati Guyadeen, the “best nurse” on the ward, “Bright, loving, strict, humorous,…clean,” brisk and hard-working. On the other hand, there is Herman Forrester, a “pavement-preacher” admitted as a patient, who, imposing his hell-fire-and brimstone preaching on the ward, offends Nurse Guyadeen’s patience and sense of discipline.

She tries in vain to muzzle him, and a sniping-match of words is played out between them before the audience of the ward.

The salty picong and he regularly end-stopped four-stress

lines with a preponderance of rhyming couplets lend a calypso-like quality to the narrative. Within a fortnight, Forrester began to weaken and, sign of the wonderfully strange ways of the heart, Nurse Guyadeen “weakened too.” When he died, she “claimed” “Good riddance!” and briskly set about preparing his bed for a new patient. However, having “made sure

the night-lamps all were lit,” “she cried a little bit.” The lowkey irony brings the poem to a quiet, affecting close which confirms Nurse Guyadeen’s “loving” nature indicated at the outset and reassures our trust in loving-kindness.

The inescapable, mysterious, disturbing bond between life and death, which is a central reality of the collection, is announced with sharp finality in the nine words (or ten syllables) of the epigrammatic opening poem, ‘Life/ Death’. The slash mark is a graphic representation of the ironic nexus and thin line between the two. Elsewhere in the book are one or two short lyrics that turn telling

Please see page V

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

From page IV variations on this reality. In ‘Ward Weather’ the changes of weather outside are inconsequential. Ward weather is unchanging: “What a day to die on / is any day.” In “Hawk-wing or Stong’ the “bustle” of dailiness outside the hospital is “about nothing.” In the ward we are brought down to essentials:

No more lies.

Nothing, everything?

Clean down to bone.

Will I rise or fall Like hawk-wing Or stone?

The two contrasting images strikingly contain the idea and feeling of the poem.

The sick and dying old man in “Stealing Buxton Spice” are all the more disgruntled at their condition as they watch laughing boys stealing mangoes from trees that shade the veranda of the ward. At the same time, their memories of happy young days of mango feasting enliven the poem with the joy of life, as the sweet smell of the ripe fruit counters the normal, unappealing ward smell. At ‘Test Match’ time, cricket “fever” gets the better even of the inmates, “Their minds diverted and released”:

For a little while at least Those broken on the wheel of life Feel at their throats a different knife.

Then there was the one magical night when the city experienced an electricity outage and hundreds of candle-flies flew into the ward (‘Candle –light’).

Ultimately though, in Mercy Ward it is the pain and grief of the doomed struggle againat death that leave the deepest impression. There is the courage of Mister Edwards, who fights to the end but still cruelly cut down. In contrast there is “’Fast-finish’ Kowlessar, famous cyclist, / And later, rum-shop raconteur,” who was mortally afraid of darkness, and “cried with fear and loneliness at night” (‘Night Fear’); and there is the “solitary, silent” young man who one night discharged himself by slashing his wrists (‘Discharged’).

There is much to admire by way of technique, not least the instances of incisive, resonant imagery. In ‘Caged’, for instance, the unbearable mind-pain of a man “stunned” by a stroke, inwardly raging at the futile effort to speak, screaming soundlessly, is caught in the image of a bird frantically trying to break out of a bolted cage, battering itself to exhaustion, its “wings nailed right through to bone.” Terrifying too the eyes of the young girl, belly swollen by “the giant worm of hunger,” which “has wound itself upwards / And stares out the sockets / Of her emptied eyes.” In ‘ A Leopard in the Sky’, the feelings of and about old Gopaul Singh, his exile from Calcutta, his long voyage across oceans “in the terrible boat” to “the sweet green plantations,” are hauntingly evoked in the image which is the last memory he retains, that of the leopard constellation, the “leopard burn(ing) and leap(ing) among October stars.”

There are also lapses that might have been evoked. Sometimes the verse becomes rhythmically uncomfortable, when, for instance, the plain, flat, conversational rhythm, at which McDondald is good, slips into a more mechanical, heavily stressed rhythm. For instance, in the first six line of ‘Last Breath, Still Life with Fan’, the hint of the iambic is just that, a hint, and works to

good effect:

On the brown, iron bedside table She’s dropped an old fan delicate as fern.

Ivory stems pinned with silver pins: Torn yellow silk opening in between Show red plums in a tree with birds.

Lace gone black tatters on the spray of bone.

However, in the next four lines that subtlety is lot in the rather insidious pull of a more metronomic iambic stress:

Sweetheart’s gift now nearly all used up, It lies abandoned, heirloom at its end.

Framed beyond all further composition She’ll never pick it up again it seems.

The fact that this metrical regularity is drawing the poem after it is all the more evident when we realise that those four lines could have said what they have to say in fewer words. The second half of line 7, where the iambic begins to call attention to itself most noticeably, is unnecessary. “Sweetheart’s gift, it lies abandoned” would have been sharper, more final. Besides, the last two lines elaborate unnecessarily what has already been said.

Sometimes an otherwise forceful poem is weakened by a tendency to editorialize, somewhat sententiously, a feature which may also limit the poem’s potential for suggestiveness. The poet too earnestly seeks to point the lesson of the story or situation. This happens at the end of some poems, as, for example, ‘Last Breath’, ‘Night Fear’ and ‘Runtee’. Sometimes there is the single line of unnecessary explanatory comment, as at the opening of ‘Fuss-pot’:

The old woman never stopped complaining: It seemed her sign of life, her signature.

The food was bad or salt or made her sick…

The second line is hardly necessary.

As regards versification, the overall mode is free verse, which often becomes more patterned by way of a largely four-stress, largely iambic beat, this sometimes varied with iambic pentameter, and also sometimes resorting to varying proportions of irregular rhyme. Throughout the collection, there is persistent use of the end-stopped lines, a feature which may seem largely habit. Now and again a more regularly patterned rhyme is introduced into a poem to pointed effect, as in the second stanza of ‘Walking in the Stars’, which brings the poem to a radiant, transcendent close.

We noticed earlier the brief, short-line lyric-imagistic mode, in pieces such as ‘Life / Death’, ‘Not Here’, ‘Candle-light’, ‘Monster’, ‘Dark Angel’, ‘Bird-song’, ‘Hawk-wing or Stone’. ‘Request for Softer Spoons’ has something of a ballad-calypso quality, somewhat like ‘Nurse Guyadeen and the Preacher’, what with the easy musicality of its four-beat lines and strong, if occasional, rhyming. Not unlike these in sounding-quality and tone are “Sweet Pepper Sunday’ and “recipe for the Bitter Cut’, with their short, two-stress lines and rhyme.

Much of the appeal of the collection is in the variety of characters that it brings to life, characters such as: Hubertus Jones (and note the Latinate gravity of his first name), schoolmaster “to the bone,” who turns the ward into his personal classroom-kingdom (‘The Last Classroom of Hubertus Jones’); “Old Mangru, not known for being

V

difficult,” who spoils the visit of the British princess to the ward by refusing to be impressed by her, and firing after her “the loudest fart you ever, ever heard” (‘Royal Visit’); “Hook-nosed Amoroso,” who “demanded…better food,” and “Lifted up his fist / In triumph / To the Lord,” when, one Sunday, he was “Served, on special china, / red sweet peppers / Stuffed with garlic crab” (‘Sweet Pepper Sunday’); and “Big Bull” Cousins, strong, able-bodied womaniser, cursing God and circumstance for having struck him down with a terminal illness.

In contrast with these, we have, in addition to Kowlessar, cowering with fear at “the coming on of night,” “Runtee” Tang-Choon, a runt of dried-out street huckster, homeless, friendless, “trapped animal” (Runtee’); Betty Kumar, the “tough and stringy” ward attendant, who spent a lifetime of drudgery, “Clean(ing) out the urine, spit, and vomit, / Swilling disinfectant, scrap(ing) out shit” (Betty Kumar’); and the unnamed, beautiful, pathetically thin girl, hopelessly, desperately in love with the stylish, self-centered man who has no more use for her now (‘White grip’).

Whether the claim their personhood or are abject victims of circumstance, McDonald persuaded us that all are persons, all are worthy of attention, not just as a generality, but as individuals in their own right: the poor, the lowly, peasants of street people, rejects of society, eccentrics. The fact that the Mercy Ward poems are set ina hospital for “the poorest of the poor” (‘The Cancer’) is apposite to the poet’s imagination and compassion. His strong social conscience has been memorably expressed in his earlier poems about folk characters, such as ‘Yusman Ali, Charcoal Seller’, ‘Railwaymen’, ‘Jaffo the Calypsonian’, ‘The Stickfighters’. In ‘On an Evening Turned to Rain’ he had turned the nexus between the Georgetown weather and topography into a telling statement on behalf of the poor: In rainy times the trenches swamp the burial places of the poor: The rich man’s bones keep dry on higher ground.

(Selected Poems)

In its own way, Mercy Ward pursues the motive which has guided McDonald’s poetry, in both content and form, a motive that had been signaled in the early ‘Statement to God’ (Selected Poems): Only to find a bare love come by a plain way, And take such love to be eternal habit, ornamentless, mild, Direct as a peasant’s drinking cup of clay, A woman’s hand that daily feeds a child,

VI

One healthy tooth is not of much use

A wise man once said: “The less you know, the more everything seems normal.” This is very true, especially when it comes to the bite. For over a quarter of a century, I looked at teeth as thirty-two individual entities lined up in the upper and lower arches of the mouth, half next to each other and the other half opposing each other.

The teeth obviously had to come together a certain way in order to allow chewing, swallowing and talking.

As a dentist, the designated saviour of teeth, I felt that each tooth was sacred and had to be saved at any cost. If I saw a cavity, I knew it needed a filling. If I saw a broken tooth, I knew it needed a reconstruction or a crown, or an extraction or an implant. To a large degree, my colleagues and I have all practiced dentistry in a piecemeal fashion.

Sometimes, even when we see issues in adjacent teeth, our patients limit us by wanting to get only that one broken tooth fixed. People say things like: “Let us just do the one that is worst,” or ask to have fixed the tooth that hurts the most.

Dentists listen to patients because we want to get patients out of pain and make them happy. However, the fact is that one healthy, painless, and strong tooth is not of much use without teeth on either side to support it or without any opposing it. A bowler in a cricket team depends heavily on the wicket-keeper and the slip fielders. Your teeth are one organ, part of the craniomandibular system. This system includes not only the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, but the muscles, the jaws, the skull, and the nerves that innervate all these structures; all are part of the craniomandibular system and work together.

If any part of that system is in dysfunction in a patient, the dentist should evaluate the entire system before reaching a diagnosis. Dentists look for certain indicators and signs that may not be causing problems to patients at the moment, but which can eventually lead to serious health issues. Dentists need to take preventive health measures before patients are faced with the related issues.

Overall, single-tooth dentistry really does not provide a reliable prognosis (calculated result of the problem). For dentists to come to an accurate diagnosis and treat the mouth as a whole, it is necessary they have a more comprehensive approach to examination. In fact, dentists are taught not to treat a diseased mouth, but people with diseased mouths.

At times the questions could seem bizarre. For example, a woman came to my office complaining of a sore mouth which she had for nearly a year. She said she had consulted several dentists but none provided any relief. I examined her mouth and asked her if she had any problem with her eyes. Obviously she was somewhat surprised at the question but answered in the affirmative. She was even more surprised at the next question. I asked her if she had any reason to visit a gynaecologist for a “burning” complaint. With reticence she again answered in the affirmative. I immediately prescribed medication for Behcet’s Syndrome. A burning mouth is one of the mentioned three classic signs and symptoms of that systemic disease.

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Guilty Mind M

y wife worked for her previous employer for 10 years and became friendly with her male boss. Three years ago when the company was being sold, a series of meetings was held out of town with the merging business. During one of these trips she and her boss were alone for three days.

Business travel was nothing new for my wife. Each evening while she was away she would call me and the kids around the dinner hour. Late each night she would call me again to say goodnight. This was a standard you could bet on. During this particular trip she did not call for 30 hours.

Upon her arrival home the kids and I were glad to see her. I casually said, "Gee, no call to me or the kids?" I was dumfounded when she snapped back, "I was sleeping." She does not sleep well when away, even on family vacations, and she never ever sleeps the entire night. I got a terrible gut feeling.

That night a strange thing occurred. Normally she would unpack the next morning.

However, this time as I was laying in bed about midnight she decided to unpack. She opened her suitcase, pulled out only her underwear, and placed them in the laundry basket in the bathroom.

When I got up to go to work, they weren't on top of the clothes basket. Thinking it odd, I looked among the dirty clothes until I saw them all tucked tight in the middle of the basket.

From that trip forward she was extremely cold to me. She did not want me to see her nude while dressing or preparing for a shower. She rolled away from me each evening in bed, and her body jumped when the male character on a television show shared the same name as her boss.

This was also the first year I did not get an anniversary card from her. Certainly emotional infidelity took place, and if I were a betting man, I'd say something physical happened as well.

KIERAN Kieran, sometimes behavior falls so cleanly into an archetypal pattern it makes us want to scream. When your wife came home late at night and removed her underwear from her luggage, what could we think of except Shakespeare's "Macbeth."

In that play Lady Macbeth urges her husband to kill Duncan, the previous king, and then in her sleep tries to wash imaginary blood off her hands. "Out damned spot! out, I say." All your wife had to do was go to bed and deal with the laundry in the morning. But her guilty mind would not leave her alone.

Most people with guilty secrets have a problem. They don't know how to act to conceal what they've done. If you watch true crime shows, you often see the same pattern.

The person who killed a spouse can't convincingly behave like someone whose spouse was taken from them by a violent act. This is true even when the murderer is a highly intelligent person like a rabbi or a surgeon.

People cannot resist telling you who they are. Even in spite of themselves they cannot resist telling you who they are. You will never know the truth from your wife, except by inference, but inference is a powerful way of knowing and your betting instincts are correct.

Aristotle grouped adultery with deserting a comrade in battle. From a religious standpoint, two of the ten commandments forbid adultery. One says don't do it, and the other says don't even think about it. Our own emotion, jealousy, tells us we can never be satisfied except with someone who loves us exclusively.

It makes sense that your wife didn't want you to see her naked. Aside from possibly hiding physical evidence, she was separating herself from you to be faithful to her new man. Cheaters want fidelity even in their infidelity.

WAYNE & TAMARA

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

VII

Magistrate, Full Court misdirected on mental element

‘Fatty’ found guilty on “bush rum” (illegal spirit) charge – Appellate Court says ‘Not guilty’

I

By George Barclay

N 1975 Doolarie, called ‘Fatty,’ attempted to conceal a bottle of Bush Rum in a blue bucket in a bathroom.

After being charged by the police she was convicted by a magistrate for being in unlawful possession of Spirits, and later had her conviction and sentence affirmed by the Full Court.

Fatty appealed to the Guyana Court of Appeal, constituted

by Chancellor J.O. F. Haynes and Justices of Appeal, R. H. Luckhoo and Keith Massiah. After two days of hearing the Court allowed the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence.

According to the facts of the case the appellant was charged with unlawful possession of spirits contrary to Section 89 (1) of the Spirits Act, Ch. 82:24 after the police found two bottles of “bush rum” on premises occupied by the Appellant and her husband. One bottle was found in the yard, while the other was found in a bathroom in the yard. The Appellant was convicted of the offence and fined a sum of $750 by a Magistrate.

The Full Court affirmed the conviction and sentence by the magistrate On appeal to the Guyana Court of Appeal that Appellate Court held: The Full Court failed to consider the circumstances surrounding the actual finding of the bottle in the bathroom. As such, the finding on the mental element of possession by the Full Court was based on an erroneous view of the evidence and on a misconception of the facts adduced in evidence by the Respondent.

APPEAL ALLOWED Two important cases were referred to by the Court of Appeal: DDP v Brooks [1974]2 All E.R. 840. Warner v.

Metropolitan Police [1968] 2 All E.R. 356 S.E. Brotherson represented the Appellant, while D.J.Christian, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions appeared for the Respondent.

Justice of Appeal, Ronald Luckhoo who delivered the judgment said in a search executed by the police under a search warrant on premises occupied by the Appellant and her husband, the latter not being present at the time, three bottles containing liquid were found. In two of the bottles was bush rum. The search took place at Doorn Haag, Leguan on May 2, 1975 at two o’ clock in the afternoon. As a result of the finding of bush rum the Appellant alone was charged with, and convicted of, the offence of the unlawful possession of spirits contrary to Section 89 (1) of the Spirits Act, Chapter 82: 24 of the Laws of Guyana,

and was fined the sum of $750.

The premises comprised a house, bathroom and yard. The yard was enclosed by a barbed wire fence three feet in height attached to wallaba posts. The bathroom was a rod and a half away from the house and it was without a door.

The neighbour to the west was, at the material time, not on terms with the Appellant. The police party began their search in the yard. Sometime after, there was no evidence how long after, the Appellant excused herself saying that she wanted to urinate, and then went into the bathroom. Police Constable English said he became suspicious and hurried behind the Appellant. His evidence continued: “I saw her

in the bathroom fumbling with a blue plastic bucket. I then upturned the bucket and found a large Eldorado rum bottle corked and containing a clear liquid.

As the search continued, in a clump of grass in the yard another bottle was found corked and containing liquid, and a third bottle with liquid was found under the kitchen portion of the house. The bottles were tendered and admitted in evidence as exhibits “A”, “B” and “C”. The bottles found in the bathroom and in a clump of grass in the yard contained bush rum. The remaining bottle had no bush rum. The Appellant denied at the time of finding and at her trial all knowledge of any of the three bottles found. A search was made of the house but nothing was found.

The Respondent admitted under cross-examination that anyone could have thrown the bottles which were found in the yard. The Full Court held that so far as the evidence was concerned, with respect to the bottle with bush rum which was found in a clump of grass , it was equivocal and that had the charge been confined to that bottle only, to use the word of that Court “it may well be the Appellant would

have been dismissed.”

The appeal really centred

By George Barclay on the finding of the bottle in the bathroom and the mental element necessary to be proved before a case could be said to be established against the Appellant for the offence charged.

The substantial question posed was this: Was it proved that the Appellant had knowledge that there was bush rum in the bathroom?

It does appear to us that the Full Court misdirected itself on this vital part of the case. Its finding on the mental element was based on an erroneous view of the evidence, on a misconception of the facts adduced in evidence by the Respondent.

Where the evidence that the Appellant was was caught red-handed, ”attempting to cover up the bottle?” Where, again, was the evidence that this attempt to cover up the bottle was “by placing a plastic bucket over it?” All that English (the Respondent) said was that when he followed the Appellant into the bathroom he saw her fumbling with a blue plastic bucket, “under which, when he upturned it, he found the bottle exhibit “A”.

English’s evidence was equivocal. It was evidence in the context of what went before, from which guilty knowledge might be inferred. It was also evidence, in the context of the reason given by the Appellant; for going into the bathroom, from which a court might draw an inference in her favour.

Having regard to the situation of the bathroom, it does not follow that, because the Appellant used the bathroom which was a structure in the yard separate and apart from the house itself, and which bathroom was also used by at least one other person, namely her husband, she was necessarily in possession of the bottle containing bush rum found there.

These were premises which were also in the occupation of the husband. It was possible for him to have put the prohibited article under the bucket. It was possible for anyone who was not well-disposed towards the Appellant to have gained access to the premises and to have “planted” the bottle where it was found. This was a distinct possibility where, as in this case, the bathroom was situated in a way which made it easily accessible to other persons in the absence of the Appellant and without her knowledge or permission. The evidence also disclosed that one of the neighbours was not on terms with the Appellant.

All the above-mentioned possibilities and the circumstances giving rise to them were not considered by the Full Court because that Court had through its error of the facts surrounding the actual finding of the bottle misdirected itself on the issue of the mental element .

For these reasons we find that it would be unsafe to uphold the conviction. The appeal is, therefore allowed, and the order of conviction and sentence set aside.

Chancellor Haynes and Justice of Appeal Messiah as he then was, concurred.

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

SOAKED WITH SUSPICION

T

by Neil Primus he group of men pitched camp, cooked and then sat down and chatted. They had hiked many miles and would do the same the following day. The six were part of an advance party scouting the claim of their employer-Genuine Gold and Diamond Mining Company.

Their present expedition would last for three weeks.

There were two surveyors, two geologists, a trained timber expert and the most important member of their small team, Ignatius their guide. The native man lived nearby and had a comprehensive knowledge of the surrounding territory. He located clean, drinking water and fruits. He caught fish and wild meat for the group. His most important role however was cutting line. He guided them so they could locate and mark

the boundaries of the huge claim. He was quiet, friendly and invaluable to them. All this changed when he stopped at his village and introduced his team to everyone.

Floyd began taking long lasting looks at the beautiful but shy girls of the tiny village. His worst mistake was showing too much interest in the prettiest girl who happened to be Ignatius’ sister. A hopeless womanizer, he immediately set about charming the attractive girl. She saw this handsome youth and did not have the experience or the tools to resist him.

As soon as Ignatius noticed this development he decided to move them from the village. When he had relocated them some distance away, he asked them to respect his village by leaving the females alone. All of the men accepted except Floyd. After dark, he would slip out of camp to meet his new love. There was one big problem with this, Floyd was already married.

The work continued but the relationship between the Amerindian guide and the ‘Coastlanders’ began to drift rapidly apart. No amount of persuasion by the others had any effect on Floyd. The team felt sure that very soon things would go really bad. They were right about that.

In the following days the group moved further away from the village and deeper into the jungle. Work was challenging and brutal at times. At night they would eat and sleep. Not much conversation took place. Ignatius kept to himself and the crew tried not to aggravate the situation. Floyd however was unapologetic. He stated candidly his affair with the village lass and declared that he was going back to GT and his family in one week.

Two days before they were scheduled to return to town, Floyd had a life threatening and highly unusual encounter.

After eating a hearty meal that night, Floyd was compelled to head into the bush to relief himself. A short time after, Ignatius headed into the jungle. No one took any notice.

Floyd was halfway through his bowel movement when he heard a deep growl coming from the bushes to his right.

Grrrrrrrrr!

He looked and saw a huge dark figure.

It was a big cat. It was a moonlight night and even though visibility through the canopy was limited, he could clearly distinguish the animal. Floyd started to tremble.

He did not want to be killed and eaten here in the interior. Abandoning his cause, he dashed off in the opposite direction. Luckily for him there was a river nearby and he plunged headlong into it. This move served two purposes; escape with his life and washing of his dirty linen.

Floyd was an excellent swimmer and began heading for the opposite bank a short distance away. As he emerged from the water soaked and cold, he barely had time to react before the tiger cat was upon him. Screaming at the top of his lungs, he tried to protect his face and neck. The animal clawed viciously at him and bit him savagely on the forearm. Blood flowed freely. In desperation Floyd took the only route he felt would give him a chance to live; Water.

Bloosh!

When he surfaced a few yards away he looked to see where the animal was.

Bloosh!

Oh no. this was not quite what he expected.

The incensed cat had followed him overboard.

He swam strongly for deep water. The cat came towards him swimming confidently. Only when it hit deep water did it slow its pace. Then in the distance Floyd heard his friends shouting his name. He bellowed his appeal for help. Quick as a flash the cat headed back to shore and disappeared into the dense jungle.

Floyd swam for shore. When he was nearly there he felt sharp pain at different points of his aching body. Something was biting him. Then the horror of his present situation hit him. He was splashing around in a river and bleeding from several wounds. Piranha! Fortunately for him there was only one and he made it out of the water with only four bites.

His friends found him sitting at the foot of a tree on the bank of the river bloody, soaked and cringing in pain. They hurried back to camp knowing that the next morning they would have to head for the city and proper medical attention for Floyd.

When the group entered camp a nasty surprise awaited them. Ignatius appeared to be fast asleep but that was not the creepy part. On some branches nearby were his clothes. These were still dripping with river water and spots of blood could be detected on them.

It was a silent, suspicious and terrified group that waited the night out. Next morning everyone hurriedly prepared for immediate departure. They explained to a reluctant guide that Floyd had been badly injured and they had done all they could to stop the bleeding. They needed to get him to a hospital fast. Ignatius accepted this and made ready showing no sympathy for the injured man.

Everyone had their suspicion about Kanima but none of them dared to voice it. Ignatius was the only one capable of taking them to safety; only he knew the way. They began a long, uncomfortable walk back to the safety of the city.

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Introducing the National Dance Company TODAY we begin a series of pen-pictures on members of the National Dance Company. The Company has been doing very well, and we thought those who love to see them onstage would like to know a bit about them. So here is our first offering about those who constitute the company of which we are so very proud.

Meet Clifford Douglas For him, dance is the thing.

“With the dance I can express all that is inside of me. Things I feel, that I can’t tell everyone. It makes me feel that I’m in a different place, meeting different people. And when I dance I hope that it does the same for my audience, that I am able to lift them from their circumstances into a better place.

Douglas is an account operator at Sambora Communication, and he has been dancing ever since he can remember.

He joined the National Dance Company just in time to perform at the opening ceremony for Carifesta at the National Stadium in 2008.

At the moment he is busy with rehearsals for the company’s Enchanted Caribbean to be staged at the National Cultural Centre on July 5.

Douglas is one of the main dancers in the company, with a strong technique.

A grandmother’s Pride quently what his mother means to him in verses that could not have been bettered by me. He opens doors for his grandma (and I suppose other females) and helps old people fetch their bags etc. In other words, he is a thorough gentleman. He is a teenager so he is not perfect and has his odd moments, but he is a grandson to make any grandma proud.

He saved his money and joined with his mom to buy me a very expensive camera for my birthday (which unfortunately got stolen before I could use it). He stays up until all hours to finish school assignments while many others of his age are out partying.

Following is my grandson’s Mother’s Day gift to his mom, written entirely by him, a pleasant surprise for both his mom and I, and the best gift he could give to both of us is to continue to be such an exceptional human being. Ryan decorated the following and created a beautiful Mother’s Day card, which he presented to his mother. – Parvati Persaud-Edwards

A Poem for Mother's Day I have not anything to cherish more

IX Clifford Douglas in performance

By Raschid Osman

My 14-year-old grandson, Ryan Anthony Benschop, currently ending Form 3 prior to starting Form 4 at Queen’s College, started reading at age three, counting as soon as he could lisp the words. His grasp of language and the dynamics of semantics is amazing, because he manages the most difficult of feats – out-argues his mother and I into silence.

I get on his case for not reading enough until I realize that he is reading on the internet. He reads Shakespeare, the Bible and very difficult books that test one's brain. He likes Shakespeare in the original form because he is fascinated with the language. Currently he is reading the “Game of Thrones” series – a collection of huge tomes in fine print.

Like his mom he has been writing his own poetry since before age six (Paulette Paul used to feature her on radio programmes - no television then) and she shared stages with two Presidents, reciting her own poem – “Guyana is my Country”. Similarly, at age seven Ryan brought the house down at the Upscale Restaurant while reciting his own poem.

Last Mother's Day he wrote so elo-

Than the heartfelt love you give You are truly someone I will adore For as long as I should live When my mind is plagued with some ill fret, Your honeyed care you do provide That worry, you make me forget And bring out the happiness that's inside You give up many things to see me succeed In this life you've seen me through Which proves not only the weight you bear But the fact that you love me dear And I believe this pleasant affection is due A formidable reciprocal So with a heart of gratitude and true feelings I say, My Dear Mother, I love you.

Thank you, mom, for all the effort you put in to raising me; for all the sacrifices you make just so I could be happy; for all the happy moments we share; and most of all, thank you for being a loving mother. Happy Mother's Day! From Ryan

X

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

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

“NOAH’S ARK” FLYING OUT TODAY WITH RARE B.G. ANIMALS FOR U.S. ZOO: (The Daily Argosy April 14, 1960)

A four man U.S. expedition will leave B.G. this morning after spending over one month in the interior, hunting for rare animals and for the black jaguar which is said to be found here.

The expedition was sponsored by the “Blade” a daily newspaper in Toledo , Ohio, U.S.A. and the Toledo Zoo, one of the best zoos in the U.S.A. Dr. Larry Tatzlaff , the leader of the expedition was accompanied by Messrs. Phil C. Skeldon , Director of the Zoo, Dan Danford Curator of Mammals at the Zoo and outdoor Editor of the Blade Lou Klewer.

Dr. Tatzlaff said yesterday that they had caught 35 different types of animals, fish, reptiles and birds.

The expedition caught about 10,000 pounds of rare animals and a specially chartered plane arrived in B.G. yesterday to transport the flying Noah’s Ark to the U.S.A. Mr. Danford said that the animals will enhance the Zoo’s collection which is already one of the most outstanding in the U.S. The Toledo Zoo is visited by about 80,000 persons each year. …………………………………………………..

C.H.S. TOURING PARTY OFF TO KAIETEUR (The Daily Argosy April 6, 1960)

President of the touring club at the Central High School , Mr. J.R.S. Luck and 20 students left the City yesterday morning for a trip to Kaieteur Falls.

This is the first time that the students will go there.

They are accompanied by three teachers on the ten day outing.

It is the aim of the Touring Club to arrange each year , trips to various parts of B.G. The Kaieteur party is accompanied by Mr. Dennis New, a zoologist of the University College of the West Indies , who came to B.G. specially for the trip. ……………………………………………….

BERBICE CHAMBER HOLDS ITS FIRST LUNCHEON: (The Daily Argosy April 6, 1960)

The Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association (BCDA) made history on Saturday morning when it held its luncheon in the New Amsterdam Town Hall.

It was the first time since its establishment in February 1931.

The President of the Chamber Mr. H.C. Spence presided at the luncheon and there was a very large attendance of members of the Chamber.

The invitees included the President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Eric. S. Stoby, the President of the Junior Chamber, Mr. Majeed, Messrs. Carrol Woods, Consul and Nelson. C. Ledsky , Vice-Consul of the U.S.A,

the Hon. Justice Bollers , the Acting Mayor of New Amsterdam, Mr. F. J. July M.B.E and the District Commissioner East Berbice, Mr. W.A.Angoy, the Vice -President of the Berbice Chamber Mr. S.G Wiltshire and Mr. C.C Bristol Secretary.

Mr. Spence proposed the toast to “Our Guests” and Mr. Stoby replied.

Mr. Spence referred to the activities of the Chamber, the help received from the Government and the co-operation of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Stoby acknowledged the co-operation of the Berbice Chamber and its hospitality. ………………………………………………..

FINED $10 FOR REFUSING TO SELL MILK: (The Daily Argosy April 6, 1960)

Mohan of Palmyra, East Canje was fined $10 or one month imprisonment by His Worship Mr. Frank Vieira for refusing to sell one pint of milk for analysis when requested to do so by Senior Health Inspector A. Khursatee of the Municipal Health Department on January 19.

Mr. C.E. Clarke prosecuted. ………………………………………………….

UITVLUGT MURDER ACCUSED TO DIE: (The Daily Argosy April 9, 1960)

Cyril Boodhoo , a 33-year old cane cutter also called Paltoo who on Sunday November 29, 1959 battered to death his 72 year old father –in-law Samaroo also known as :”Gun” with an axe handle at Uitvlugt Estate sideline dam was yesterday found guilty of murder by a Jury at the Demerara Assizes.

The Jury deliberated for nearly three hours.

His Lordship Chief Justice Luckhoo acting sentenced the accused to death.

The case for the Crown was that there was a family dispute between the accused and the deceased whose stepdaughter Doris was the wife of the accused.

They all lived in the same house.

On the day in question, the accused returned home with some friends and the deceased protested about their behaviour.

A quarrel ensued and the deceased left for the house of a neighbor named Girlo with Doris accompanying him.

Around 4 p.m. the deceased returned to his home and after an exchange of words the accused struck the old man several blows with an axe handle.

Death resulted in about 15 minutes and the Police at Le-

onora Police Station were notified.

Crown Prosecutor was Mr. G.L.B. Persaud and the accused was represented by Mr. C.E.R Debidin associated with Mr. S. Sukhan. ………………………………………………….

WHOSE SPECTACLES?: (The Daily Argosy April 13, 1960)

Two pupils of Queenstown Moravian School: Verna Clarke and Claudia Solomon have lodges at the Editorial Office of this newspaper, a pair of spectacles (gent’s) which they found on their way to school yesterday morning at the corner of Peter Rose and Anira Streets.

The owner may recover them on identification.

Also lying here unclaimed for some time is a pair of lady’s spectacles. ……………………………………………….

FINED $50 FOR CRUELTY TO DOG (The Daily Argosy April 20, 1960)

His Worship Mr. Frank Vieira at New Amsterdam Magistrate Court on Monday fined Gaspar a fisherman, $50, costs $6 or two months imprisonment after he had pleaded guilty to a charge of cruelty to a dog in the New Amsterdam market on Tuesday April 19.

R.C. Joseph Best, R.S.P.C.A Inspector told the Court that the defendant struck the dog with a rope on the eye. ………………………………………………….

TOMORROW IS CENSUS DAY (The Daily Argosy April 6, 1960)

Tomorrow is Census Day. This is the day on which the census enumerators who have been visiting every home in B.G. will return to each household to make a final check on the figures they have gathered.

Householders are asked to make a special effort to be at home on Thursday in order that the final population count may proceed smoothly and efficiently.

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

Angel of Mercy

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

From page II

and they have a nice lunch, talking about other things of mutual interest.

He stopped by her office sometimes and though she was not always there, she knew he had come by from the rose and the note on her desk. He sent short text messages to her phone and invited her to visit the girl’s orphanage whenever she had the time. A beautiful relationship was developing, slowly as he tried to bring his life under control. But the differences with his father were still unresolved and one afternoon as she left the mosque, someone called her name.

“Dr. Mohammed.”

“Yes?” she answered, turning around and saw it was Rahim’s two sisters who wanted to talk with her.

“We want to talk with you, doctor.” One of the sisters said.

“For what?”Salima asked.

“For the change that is happening to our brother, we had almost lost hope.”

They paused and looked at her, appreciatively, “You’re as beautiful as he says.”

Salima smiled warmly, saying ‘Thank you’ and they spoke a while longer.

But the journey was not yet over.

It was almost a week after Rahim’s sister had spoken to her and two days ago since she had spoken to him, when her phone rang, late in the night.

It was Rahim’s brother-in-law, telling her in a shaky voice, “Doctor, there’s been a bad accident, can you come to the hospital?”

Salima got there in no time, a dreadful feeling in her heart, praying over and over in her mind, “Oh Allah, please don’t let anything bad happen to him.”

Her fears were confirmed when she saw the many family members there, confused and crying. She rushed into the ICU and she stood there for a few moments, numb with fear as she

looked at his unconscious state.

“What is his prognosis?” She finally managed to ask the doctors in attendance, her voice trembling.

“He has severe head injuries, it doesn’t look good.” one of the doctors said.

“What have you done to yourself?” she whispered to him, trying to stay calm and not break down for she was a doctor and had to stay strong for the family.

“What we need now,” she said to the family after the attending doctors had informed them of his condition, “are prayers and hopes so he can pull through.”

His father’s face was ashen and his sisters couldn’t stop crying.

“How did this happen?” Salima asked.

No one could answer, too distressed to speak then his father said quietly: “Today’s his mother’s death anniversary and we had an argument about a memorial site I want to erect in her name. He got angry with me and rode away on his bike.”

The father broke down crying uncontrollably like a child.

“Why does he hate me so much? I’ve begged him over and over for forgiveness, what more can I do?”

Salima felt tears streaming down her face and she sat next to the father, trying to comfort him. It took all her expertise as a doctor to talk to the family members to help them pull themselves together, to pray and hope for Rahim’s recovery.

She herself was aching so badly inside and her friends gave her the moral support she needed, especially Dr. Laurel.

Two days and nights passed and his condition did not change, lying in a comatose state. On the third night as she sat by his bedside, one of the doctors told her it would take a miracle for him to recover. She sat there looking at him, deeply distraught and then broke down and cried. “How can you leave me now when you made me fall in love with you? What do I do now?”

She held his hand, speaking softly to him, “You said my

XI

smile was like magic, if you don’t open your eyes how can I smile again?”

The ache in her heart was so deep that she had been sleeping so little and crying so much, tiredness overcame her.

“Forgive me for this tonight Allah but I can’t let him die.”

She was sitting there with him, in a private enclosure and taking off her hijab, she let her hair down and taking his hand in hers, she said, “I’ve taken off the headwear you didn’t like, please open your eyes now and look at me.”

She continued to talk to him and she drifted off to sleep.

Rahim’s soul had already left but the machine breathing for him was holding him from crossing to the beyond. He wanted to go because he knew his mother would be waiting for him but a soft voice was talking to him, a voice he loved to hear, wanting him to come back. “What do I have to come back for?” he asked without turning back.

“You have me,” she said.

He turned around and saw her standing there, her hair falling softly down her shoulders and her smile, the magic that helped him find his way out of the darkness, where he had been lost. She held out her hand and walking slowly towards her, he took her hand.

“Why do you want me to come back with you?” he asked.

“Because I love you,” she whispered.

Rahim opened his eyes, not sure where he was, everything seemed to be in a daze. His heartbeat increased and as his eyes cleared, he saw her leaning back on the chair, sleeping peacefully, a beautiful picture.

“Salima!” He called her name, weakly, trying to squeeze her hand.

Salima felt the pressure of his fingers and opened her eyes, sitting up with a start.

“Rahim!”

She got up and laid her head on his shoulder, crying with deep relief.“Thank you, Allah!”

“I should’ve had this accident earlier.” he said trying to smile.

She raised her head and looked at him. “You almost died and you’re joking?” smiling through her tears.

“I can’t die when you’re with me, when I have your love.”

Her journey was over and a new one would now begin for the bud had bloomed into a beautiful flower, pure and fragranced with God’s blessing.

XII

BLOSSOM LILY DUBLIN

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

- Budding Corporate Lawyer; Diaper Tower Queen on the side

T

By Telesha Ramnarine

HANKS to her mother’s advice to take education seriously from a tender age, Blossom Lily Dublin, at just 18 years old, is well on her way to becoming one of Guyana’s top corporate lawyers.

Born and raised in Georgetown, she is currently an upper sixth form student at The Bishops’ High School pursuing law at the CAPE level. Previously, she attended Queen’s College for five years where she did business studies at the CSEC level.

“I don't consider how I have done so far as excellent due to the fact that I most certainly could've done better,” she modestly acknowledged in an interview with the Chronicle a few days ago.

But as a child, she took her mother seriously who instilled in her that it was not only about obtaining an education, but equally important was striving to produce above average grades. She added: “I have an inner drive that propels me to do the best I can as well as the expectations of others encourages me to do well. I mean, it’s not easy coming from a family where your sisters are smarter than you on paper. I feel like I'm in some sort of competition!”

Blossom always had a knack for debating and impromptu speaking and so she decided that this was one way in which she can foster her abilities and make a career out of it. “Moreover, the law serves to protect citizens and I have this innate desire to protect others and be a voice for the voiceless,” she expressed.

She said her decision to become a corporate lawyer, in part, is due to the fact that this type of practice would allow her to have a clean conscience and not have to be constantly worried about whether or not she made the right decisions.

“After years of fighting internal battles, I have decided that the only way to set my conscience free is to specialise in corporate law. With this choice, I would not have to compromise my belief system or war with my conscience when it comes to accepting cases.

It would also be less demanding on my schedule and I get more time for myself.”

A DIAPER TOWEL/CAKE Apart from her academic life, Blossom enjoys creating diaper towers, also known as diaper cakes. It is perfect for gifting a friend who is expecting and can be very versatile to suit the needs of the baby.

“If it’s a gift for a shower, of course, it may be made to suit a new born or very young baby. All the materials used in the construction of the tower, is completely usable. It can range from as little as two feet all the way to ten. It can either be made of diapers or baby clothes.”

In fact, materials vary according to the customer. She can use blankets, ‘onesies,’ hats, rags, burp cloths, bottles, teddy bears, hair bows (for girls), toys, washing cloths and any other baby products. “In other words, the diaper is considered the backbone of the tower. Everything is optional and completely left to the needs and requirements of the customer,” Blossom explained.

According to her, the concept of it initially, is hard to grasp but seeing is believing. “Whenever, I would explain it to

someone I would get a raised eyebrow but when I show pictures, they are always left in awe!

Blossom’s business is fairly new. “I’ve done this due to the fact that there’s been a substantial increase in the amount of pregnant women in Guyana. And frankly, pregnancy isn’t seasonal and never gets old! Additionally, I think my idea is moderately fresh; it’s a brilliant gift idea.

“I guess that’s where you can credit my entrepreneurial approach of thinking. This ultimate goal, however, behind doing this type of job is to serve people. I really do enjoy putting smiles on people’s faces and giving them a product of impeccable quality which they genuinely appreciate and view as helpful,” remarked Blossom.

The initial stage of acquiring capital wasn’t as tedious since her mother, Dionne, helped out financially. “She saw potential in me as well as my idea so it was an easy buy-in, so to speak. The business is only part-time for me, so I basically work whenever I want to; have a deadline or someone makes an order. I do have a Facebook page, which is my ultimate marketing strategy.”

“I’m extremely enthusiastic about the growth of my trade, because it’s definitely a simple yet creative gift for someone. In two years, I see myself expanding and having to maybe hire help, two employees the most.”

The price for the diaper tower ranges depending on the brand of diaper, clothes and ornaments placed on the tower. Blossom requires a downpayment for each diaper tower. She can be reached on telephone number 226 0144 or by email blossom. dublin@gmail.com.

A Diaper Cake for a baby girl

Blossom Lily Dublin

A ‘Pooh’ Diaper Cake.

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Quick Fixes to Make Around Your House

By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally

Squeaky Door Hinges Spray a little WD-40 onto the hinges, moving the door back and forth to work in the lubricant. Or try rubbing the hinges with petroleum jelly.

Squeaky Floor For a temporary fix, sprinkle talcum powder over the noisy area and sweep it into the cracks. Be sure to remove any traces of powder if you’re ever going to refinish the floor.

Peeling Wallpaper With a knife, smear wallpaper paste onto a piece of writing paper. Rub the paper against the underside of the peeling section.

Press the wallpaper against the wall. Slide the writing paper out and smooth away bubbles with a clean cloth.

Dusty Chandelier Allow the fixture to cool. Wear a pair of white cotton gloves?one dry, one dampened with glass cleaner. (For crystal, use one part rubbing alcohol to three parts distilled water.)

Wipe each prism with the damp glove, then the dry one.

Stained Tub Combine equal amounts of cream of tartar and baking soda with enough lemon juice to make a paste.

Rub the mixture into the stain with your fingers or a soft cloth. Let sit for a half hour, then rinse well with water.

Stuck Sliding Windows A little silicone spray lubricant (sold at hardware stores) will grease the skids. Spray it onto a rag, then wipe along the tracks, whether they’re metal, wood, or plastic.

Slamming Door Soften the slam of a

door by affixing a few pieces of peel-and-stick foam weather stripping around the doorstop. Or get a wide rubber band and wrap it around the doorknobs on both sides, stretching it across the edge of the door.

Don’t cover the latch.

Continued on page XL

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XIV

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

SALMAN PLAYS THE GOOD SAMARITAN The actor bought warm clothes for the crew of Kick in Poland. Reams have been written on Salman Khan’s generosity and here’s some more.

Recently, while shooting in Poland for Kick, the actor once again proved that he has a heart of gold. It was freezing cold and he realised that most of the crew members didn’t have adequate warm clothing. And buying stuff from there would have meant a deep hole in their pockets. So, Salman bought winter wear for the entire crew. Everyone was delighted. Naturally!

IS SHAH RUKH KHAN GOING TO HOLLYWOOD? If the recent grapevine is to be believed, SRK might go the Hollywood way. Gossip mills have been churning out rumours about Shah Rukh Khan working with the directors from the West. And these rumours have left people wondering if the King Khan is doing a Hollywood film.

However, let us tell you that he is not. But the Chennai Express actor has surely got some foreign imports for his next film. From what we hear, Aditya Chopra, who is producing SRK‘s upcoming film has added a South Korean action director O se-Young to the crew of the film, which is being directed

by Maneesh Sharma.

O se-Young, who has several Korean hits like King And The Clown, Running Turtle and Blades Of Blood to his credit will direct the stunts in Shah Rukh‘s film. We are sure that the King Khan is looking forward to working with this talented director.

KANGANA AND SAIF TO WORK TOGETHER? Apparently the actress has signed director Reema Kagti’s next film opposite Saif Ali Khan. After the success of Queen, Kangana Ranaut has become the toast of B-town. The actress has been getting plumb offers.

A few weeks ago, she was offered Sujoy Ghosh’s Durga Rani Singh but Kangana declined the project for reasons best known to the star. However, news is that Reema Kagti (director of Talaash and Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd.) has approached Kangna for her next venture.

The film will be produced by Excel Entertainment and will star Saif Ali Khan. Sources say that Kangana likes the script but she will only finalise it after she returns from New York. If she signs the project, this will be the first time we will see Kangana and Saif together.

THE PLOT OF RANI MUKERJI’S MARDAANI Here’s all you need to know about the Chopra bahu’s next film. Rani Mukerji is all set to make a smashing come back in her action film Mardaani where she plays a cop. Ever since the first look of the film was unveiled there has been a sense of excitement to figure out what the film is all about? While some believe the film is based on a real cop, others speculated it’s a gritty drama about a cop gone rouge.

After speaking to some sources on the film we discovered that Mardaani is a story about human trafficking.

The creative team, along with Rani. spent time doing research and reading about real incidents that involve human trafficking.

Pradeep Sarkar who worked with Rani in Lagaa Chunari Mein Daag tried to make the film as realistic as possible and taken the liberty to incorporate some real life stories in the script. We hope Mardaani lives up to its expectations when it comes out.

IMRAN KHAN BLESSED WITH A BABY GIRL Imran Khan is a dad now. His wife, Avantika delivered a baby girl this morning.

From the time he discovered his wife was pregnant, the actor has been taking care of her. He also took her for a small vacation to keep her happy. We congratulate the couple for their bundle of joy.

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

I Owe my Ex-Keturah Hamilton A Debt I Can Never Pay For Life says Jim Iyke Nollywood actor, Jim Iyke has disclosed that his ex-American fiancée of six years, Keturah Hamilton, was an amazing woman that he can never get upset with her. The actor explained this during an interview session with Emmer Emerson of Golden Icons, that sometimes people allow their emotions to over shadow them and as such, are bound to say something’s which they never meant.

It would be recalled that when Jim Iyke broke up with Keturah Hamilton, she bashed him publicly saying his show was fake, and promised to reveal his secrets. Jimmy further explained that he decided to keep silent because he and Keturah did not part well but lived well and as such, would not have people to sit and say things into his ear.

“Whatever comes out of my mouth I take responsibil-

Gospel Singer, Kefee Is Dead Despite all prayers rendered to save the life of popular Nigerian gospel singer, Kefee, death still struck and decided to take her away, leaving her teeming fans mourning the sudden loss. The singer has been in coma for some days after she collapsed onboard a US flight.

Meanwhile, some celebrities have continued to send in their condolence messages to the’ Kokoroko’ crooner’s family.

Davido Confesses Love To Unidentified Lady

ity because I sat about it, tailored it and thought about it and said it. I can afford to forgive you if you are emotionally charged and you feel wronged. You are going to say stuff you don’t mean.”

The actor further noted that some people are not just meant to come into your life, but rather, they come to help make a change and you definitely owe them a debt you will never be able to pay for the rest of your life.

“That is what I owe that woman. I’ve offered her friendship and she is taking that. I’m glad we can look at our stupid mistakes and laugh about it. When you are in that place, there is nothing more beautiful than that.”

Sensational music artiste, Davido, has sent a birthday message to the lady he claims to love. But it is not clear if the said lady is the person that makes his heart to skip a second faster, but the singer disclosed that the girl makes his happy.

Davido took to his Instagram page to post the above picture and wrote, “happy birthday boobee!! Ur a great person with such a beautiful heart!! U make me happy!!! Have a great day!! Love you!!.”

The rich artiste has really not been linked with a specific lady as his girlfriend, just like his rumoured rival, Wizkid, who had a relationship with one Tania Omotayo, even though he got a child from another young lady.

Taiwo Aromokun’s Twin Sister Engaged Twin sister of popular Yoruba actress, Taiwo Aromokun, Kehinde, better known as Kenny, is now engaged. The pretty young lady held her marriage introduction at their family house in Lagos over the weekend.

It was gathered that her actress sister, Taiwo, was present at the occasion as well as other family members.

Kenny’s handsome husband, as we also learnt, was full

of joy at the marriage introduction ceremony that was also attended by his key family members and his friends too.

Recall that Taiwo got married to her Netherlands-based husband known as Ogunre in 2012 and later travelled to the United Kingdom to deliver her twins. She recently returned to the country and held her babies’ dedication few weeks ago at a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos.

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Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

World Cup 2014-the most hi-tech football event ever

W

hat if the linesman had said that Geoff Hurst's second goal for England in the 1966 World Cup final hadn't actually crossed the line?

Would West Germany have won instead, depriving England of its only trophy? What If Frank Lampard’s disallowed goal against Germany in 2010 had stood? Would England have gone on to win the match?

Goal-line incidents like these have left exasperated fans and officials - crying out for technology to come to the rescue.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will be the 20th FIFA World Cup, an international men's football tournament that is scheduled to take place in Brazil from June 12to July13, 2014. It

shaped objects and tracks the ball's position to within a few millimetres.

When the ball crosses the goal line, the system - which has been thoroughly tested by governing body FIFA - sends a vibration to the referee's watch and the word "GOAL" appears on his screen, all in less than a second.

Meanwhile, technology company Sony, which is supporting official FIFA broadcaster HBS, has installed more than 224 high-definition (HD) cameras which will capture more than 2,500 hours of sport during the tournament - more than ever before.

And this will also be the first time some World Cup matches are captured in the ultra-high-definition (UHD) 4K format, which is roughly four times the resolution of current HD TV. This requires a satellite network capable of handling 100 megabits per second. WOW! The Ball Adidas effort, the Brazuca(a term used by Brazilians to express “emotion, pride and goodwill to all”) is designed to avoid that by having a much rougher surface than the ul-

cop-style” facial recognition glasses that can scan 400 faces per second in the hunt for wrongdoers; plus flame-resistant street-battle suits, two Israeli drones and 30 £4.3m battle-tested anti-terrorist iRobot bomb-detecting robots from the US. Fans About three million football lovers attending the games and possibly four billion watching on TV - will be viewing, chatting, voting and betting simultaneously on a variety of digital devices, making it a truly multi-screen World Cup. Brazilian backbone Brazilian telecoms company Oi, an official FIFA partner, has been furiously gearing up for the tournament.

The implementation and expansion of theirwi-fi network has been rapidly accelerated in the last few months they've grown from 78,000 hotspots in April to more than 700,000 now - the largest network in Brazil.

It has also increased the coverage and capacity of its 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks at key points throughout the tournament cities.That will be welcome news for visiting fans wanting uninterrupted, high-speed access to their content.

9:15

will be the second time that Brazil has hosted the competition, the previous being in 1950. Brazil was elected unchallenged as host nation in 2007 after the international football federation, FIFA, decreed that the tournament would be staged in South America for the first time since 1978 in Argentina, and the fifth time overall.

The national teams of 31 countries advanced through qualification competitions that began in June 2011 to participate with the host nation Brazil in the final tournament. A total of 64 matches are to be played in twelve cities across Brazil in either new or redeveloped stadiums, with the tournament beginning with a group stage. For the first time at a World Cup Finals, the matches will use goal-line technology.It is just one example of how this World Cup promises to be the most hitech and interactive yet.

Cameras galore German company Goal-Control has fitted 14 high-speed cameras seven per goalmouth - to the roof of each of the 12 stadiums in Brazil.These are connected to an image-processing computer that filters out non-ball-

tra-smooth Jabulani, reducing the size of the wake as it moves through the air.

Adidas say the technology provides improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics. In the spirit of the tournament, the balls are made in a factory in Pakistan by minimum-wage workers earning 30,000 a month!

The Police Also in the spirit of the tournament: Brazil’s police rolling out “Robo-

In Brazil, referees will use water-based, shaving creamlike foam in front of a defensive wall at a free kick to ensure the 10-yard distance to the ball is respected. A circle also will be sprayed next to the ball to keep attackers from rolling it forward. The foam takes between 45 seconds and two minutes to disappear.

Its official name is 9:15, which expresses the 10-yard distance in meters.

Social Networks-in the works!

The World Cup will play out on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and messaging apps like WhatsApp just as it progresses in stadiums from Sao Paulo to Rio De Janeiro.

Nearly 40 percent of Facebook’s 1.28 billion users are fans of football. On Tuesday, the world’s biggest online social network is adding new features to help fans follow the World Cup — the world’s most widely viewed sporting event!

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

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LOUIS PASTEUR

Doctor, Inventor, Chemist, Scientist (1822–1895) Scientist Louis Pasteur came up with the food preparing process known as pasteurization; he also developed a vaccination for anthrax and rabies.

Born on December 27, 1822, in Dole, France, Dr. Louis Pasteur discovered that microbes were responsible for souring alcohol and came up with the process of pasteurisation, where bacteria is destroyed by heating beverages and then allowing them to cool. His work in germ theory also led him and his team to create vaccinations for anthrax and rabies.

Early Life French chemist and microbiologist Louis Pasteur was born on December 27, 1822, in Dole, located in the Jura region of France. He grew up in the town of Arbois and his father, Jean-Joseph Pasteur, was a tanner and a sergeant major decorated with the Legion of Honour during the Napoleonic Wars. An average student, Pasteur was skilled at drawing and painting. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree (1840), Bachelor of Science degree (1842) and a doctorate (1847) at the École Normale in Paris.

Pasteur then spent several years researching and teaching at Dijon Lycée. In 1848, he became a professor of chemistry at the University of Strasbourg, where he met Marie Laurent, the daughter of the university's rector.

They wed on May 29, 1849, and had five children, though only two survived childhood.

Commercial Success In 1854, Pasteur was appointed professor of chemistry and dean of the science faculty at the University of Lille. Here, he worked on finding solutions to the problems with the manufacture of alcoholic drinks. Working Louis Pateur with the germ theory, which Pasteur did not invent, but further developed through experiments and eventually convinced most of Europe of its truth, he demonstrated that organisms such as bacteria were responsible for souring wine, beer and even milk. He then invented a process where bacteria could be removed by boiling and then cooling liquid. He completed the first test on April 20, 1862.

Today the process is known as pasteurization.

In 1865, Pasteur helped save the silk industry. He proved that microbes were attacking healthy silkworm eggs, causing the disease and that the disease would be eliminated if the microbes were eliminated.

Pasteur's first vaccine discovery was in 1879, with a disease called chicken cholera.

After accidentally exposing chickens to the attenuated form of a culture, he demonstrated that they became resistant to the actual virus. Pasteur went on to extend his germ theory to develop causes and vaccinations for diseases such as anthrax, cholera, TB and smallpox.

In 1873, Pasteur was elected as an associate member of the Académie de Médecine. In 1882, the year of his acceptance into the Académie Franaise, he decided to focus his efforts on the problem of rabies. On July 6, 1885, Pasteur vaccinated Joseph Meister, a 9-year-old boy who had been bitten by a rabid dog. The success of Pasteur's vaccine brought him immediate

fame. This began an international fundraising campaign to build the Pasteur Institute in Paris, which was inaugurated on November 14, 1888.

Personal Life Pasteur had been partially paralysed since 1868, due to a severe brain stroke, but he was able to continue his research. He celebrated his 70th birthday at the Sorbonne, which was attended by several prominent scientists, including British surgeon Joseph Lister. At that time, his paralysis worsened, and he died on September 28, 1895. Pasteur's remains were transferred to a Neo-Byzantine crypt at the Pasteur Institute in 1896.

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Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Wedding Traditions Around The World

By Michelle Gonsalves

Weddings may be a universal celebration, but traditions vary depending on culture and country. Why are traditions important? According to Encyclopaedia Britannica:“The rituals and ceremonies surrounding marriage in most cultures are associated primarily with fecundity and validate the importance of marriage for the continuation of a clan, people, or society. They also assert a familial or communal sanction of the mutual choice and an understanding of the difficulties and sacrifices involved in making what is considered, in most cases, to be a lifelong commitment to and responsibility for the welfare of spouse and children”.

Wedding traditions vary a lot, depending on which part of the globe you go. While throwing the bouquet and cutting the cake may seem like a wedding staple in most Western places, other cultures have drastically different ways to go about celebrating the big day. These are some of the fascinating customs from around the world.

Brazil The names of single friends are written inside the dress to help them find a partner.

Chile Female guests pull strings out of the wedding cake to reveal little charms. Whoever gets the wedding band will be the next to marry. (Also found this tradition being observed in Peru).

China Shooting the bride In China's Yugur culture, grooms shoot their future brides with a bow and arrow — albeit minus the arrowheads — three times. The groom then breaks the arrows to ensure the couple stays in love forever.

Crying for the groom Brides of the Tujia people in China are required to cry for an hour a day, every day, for the month preceding their wedding. Ten days into this ritual her mother begins to join her, then her grandmother. This is thought to be an expression of joy as the women cry in different tones.

Germany Taking the bride out to drink Friends of the groom ‘steal’ the bride and take her to a bar to drink. Once the groom finds them, he has to pay the bill.

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Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Guyanese Women in History:

Jill Gomez

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ill Gomez, Countess of Northesk was born in Guyana to a Hispano-Trinidadian father and British mother and was raised in Trinidad and Tobago.

After studying briefly at St Joseph’s Convent (Port of Spain) in Trinidad and dominating at the islands’ biennial Music Festival, she moved to England at 13, where she studied at London’s Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has made her career primarily in the United Kingdom.

She made her stage debut as Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore with the Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1968. She then created the role of Flora in The Knot Garden at the Royal Opera, London in 1970 and that of the Countess in Thea Musgrave’s The Voice of Ariadne at the Aldeburgh Festival in 1973. She also appeared in productions by the English National Opera (Governess), Scottish Opera (Elisabeth, Pamina, Anne Truelove, Leïla), Oper Frankfurt (Cleopatra), Kent Opera (Tatyana, Violetta, Aminta, Donna Anna), Glyndebourne (Mélisande, La Calisto), Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux (Fiordiligi), Wexford (Thaïs and Rosaura) and Teresa at the Berlioz Festival in Lyon.

She worked closely with Jonathan Miller in La traviata for Kent Opera (Edinburgh Festival and UK tour), and Eugene Onegin and The Turn of the Screw (with ENO). She also played the Governess with the English Opera Group with the composer, Benjamin Britten, present.

Gomez was outspoken about the “international opera circus” and had no ambition to sing at the largest houses, preferring smaller venues such as Zürich where there is sufficient rehearsal time. She appeared in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s production of Lucio Silla there, conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She also sang Arne cantatas with Jaap Schröder Concerto Amsterdam. She took part in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Israel Philharmonic under Solti. As well as recording of Ravel, with Boulez she performed the Webern Opp. 13 and 14 song cycles.

In 1995, Gomez created the lead role of the Duchess of Argyll in Powder Her Face. Her recording of the latter role was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2,000, and in Allmusic Erik Eriksson wrote: “Gomez’s portrayal is a tour de force, alternately opulent and unhinged.

She achieves the difficult task of making a figure of ridicule into a person who evokes sympaJill Gomez in La Calisto, Glyndenbourne 1970

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Soprano Singer – Countess of Northesk, England Jill Gomez

thy from the listener.” Alongside The Knot Garden and The Voice of Ariadne, she was also in the premieres of Miss Julie (William Alwyn, 1979) and Maddalena (Prokofiev, radio, 1980).

Her TV debut was in the series Music Now produced by John Drummond in 1968-69, and other TV and film credits include the French film Une Femme française, and television programmes A Ladies Knight!

(1987), Rattle on Britten (1985) and a BBC programme Opera in Rehearsal: The Marriage of Figaro Act 2 with Anthony Besch (1973).

In an interview with caribbeanbeat.com, Jill shared: “When people see my passport, they give me very odd looks because it says Guyana – New Amsterdam – British. I was virtually born in the bush, on a sugar estate in what was then called British Guiana, where my father was working.

Gomez lives in Cambridgeshire, England with her husband, music critic Patrick Carnegy, 15th Earl of Northesk.

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Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Paul Newman

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-The man with the most famous blue eyes in movie history

creen legend, superstar, and the man with the most famous blue eyes in movie history, Paul Leonard Newman was born in January 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, the second son of Theresa (Fetsko) and Arthur Sigmund Newman. Paul's father was Jewish, the son of immigrants from Poland and Hungary; he owned a successful sporting goods store. Paul's mother, a practicing Christian Scientist of Slovak decent, and his uncle Joe, had an interest in creative arts, and it rubbed off on him. He acted in grade school and high school plays. The Newmans were a well-to-do family, and Paul grew up in a nice home in Shaker Heights.

By 1950, the 25 year-old Newman had been kicked out of Ohio University for unruly behaviour, served three years in the Navy during World War II as a radio operator, graduated

from Ohio's Kenyon College, married his first wife, Jackie, and had his first child, Scott. 1950 was also the year that Paul's father died. When he became successful in later years, Newman said if he had any regrets it would be that his father wasn't around to see it.

He brought Jackie back to Shaker Heights and he ran his father's store for a short period.

Then, knowing that wasn't the career path he wanted to take, he moved Jackie and Scott to New Haven, Connecticut, where he attended Yale University's School of Drama. While doing a play there, Paul was spotted by two agents, who invited him to come to New York City to pursue a career as a professional actor. After moving to New York, Paul acted in guest spots for various television shows and in 1953 came a big break.

He got the part of understudy of the lead role in the successful Broadway play Picnic.

Through this play, he met actress Joanne Woodward, who was also an understudy in the play. While they got on very well and there was a strong attraction, Paul was married and his second child, Susan, was born that year. During this time, Newman was also accepted into the much admired and popular New York Actors Studio, although he wasn't technically auditioning.

In 1954, a film Paul was very reluctant to do was released, The Silver Chalice (1954). He considered his performance in this costume epic to be so bad that he took out a full-page ad in a trade paper apologising for it to anyone who might have seen it. He had always been embarrassed about the film and revelled in making fun of it. He immediately wanted to return to the stage, and performed in The Desperate Hours. In 1956, Newman got the chance to redeem himself in the film world by portraying boxer Rocky Graziano in Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), and critics praised his performance.

In 1957, with a handful of films to his credit, he was cast in The Long, Hot Summer (1958), co-starring none other than Joanne Woodward. During the shooting of this film, they realised they were meant to be together and by now, so did Paul's wife Jackie. After Jackie gave Paul a divorce, he and Joanne married in Las Vegas in January of 1958. They went on to have three daughters together and raised them in Westport, Connecticut.

In 1959, Paul received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor, in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958). The 1960s would bring Paul Newman into superstar status, as he became one of the most popular actors of the decade, and garnered three more Best Actor Oscar nominations, for The Hustler (1961), Hud (1963) and Cool Hand Luke (1967).

In 1968, his debut directorial effort Rachel, Rachel (1968) was given good marks, and although the film and Joanne Woodward were nominated for Oscars, Newman was not nominated for Best Director. He did, however, win a Golden Globe for his direction. 1969 brought the popular screen duo Paul Newman and Robert Redford together for the first time when Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) was released. It was a box office smash.

Throughout the 1970s, Newman had hits and misses from such popular films as The Sting (1973) and The Towering Inferno (1974) to lesser known films as The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972) to a now cult classic Slap Shot (1977).

After the death of his only son, Scott, in 1978, Newman's personal life and film choices moved in a different direction. His acting work in the 1980s and on is what is often most praised by critics today. He became more at ease with himself and it was evident in The Verdict (1982) for which he received his 6th Best Actor Oscar nomination and in 1987 finally received his first Oscar for The Colour of Money (1986).

Friend and director of Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956), Robert Wise accepted the award on Newman's behalf as he did not attend the ceremony. Films were not the only thing on his mind during this period. A passionate race car driver since the early 1970s, Newman became co-owner of Newman-Haas racing in 1982, and also founded "Newman's Own", a successful line of food products that has earned in excess of $100 million, every penny of which Newman donated to charity.

He also started The Hole in the Wall Gang Camps, an organisation for terminally ill children. He was as well known for his philanthropic ways and highly successful business ventures as he was for his legendary actor status. Newman enjoyed a 50-year marriage to Joanne in Connecticut, their main residence since moving away from the bright lights of Hollywood in 1960. Renowned for his sense of humour, in 1998 he quipped that he was a little embarrassed to see his salad dressing grossing more than his movies.

During his later years, he still attended races, was much involved in his charitable organisations, and in 2006, he opened a restaurant called Dressing Room, which helps out the Westport Country Playhouse, a place that Paul took great pride in. In 2007, he made some headlines when he said that he was losing his invention and confidence in his acting abilities and that acting is "pretty much a closed book for me." He died the next year. Whether he was on the screen or not, Paul Newman remained synonymous with the anti-heroism of the 1960s and 1970s cinema and with the rebellious nature his characters so often embodied.

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

The speed of light is generally rounded down to 186,000 miles per second. In exact terms it is 99,792,458 m/s (equal to 186,287.49 miles per second).

It takes 8 minutes 17 seconds for light to travel from the Sun’s surface to the Earth.

10 percent of all human beings ever born are alive at this very moment.

The Earth spins at 1,000 mph but it travels through space at an incredible 67,000 mph.

Every year, over one million earthquakes shake the Earth.

When Krakatoa erupted in 1883, its force was so great it could be heard 4,800 kilometers away in Australia.

Every second around 100 lightning bolts strike the Earth.

Every year lightning kills 1000 people.

In October 1999 an Iceberg the size of London broke free from the Antarctic ice shelf.

1f you could drive your car straight up you would arrive in space in just over an hour.

Human tapeworms can grow up to 22.9m.

The Earth is 4.56 billion years old‌the same age as the Moon and the Sun.

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Wedding Traditions ...

From page XIX

Italy Breaking glass At the reception a glass is broken, the number of pieces of glass symbolis es the number of happy years the couple will have.

Mauritania Fat farms In Mauritania, girls aged between five and 15 are sent to "fat farms" before their wedding to pile on the pounds. If a bride had stomach rolls, stretch marks and overlapping thighs, it

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

signalled her husband was wealthy enough to keep her satisfied.

Scotland Blackening of the bride Scottish brides-to-be are taken by surprise by their friends ahead of the big day, and pelted with all sorts of rubbish such as curdled milk, dead fish, spoiled food, tar and feathers. She is then tied to a tree and afterwards taken for a night of drinking. The belief is that if she can withstand this kind of treatment, she can handle anything that comes her way in her marriage.

Korea Beating the groom's feet Korean tradition dictates that the groom has his feet beaten with fish or a cane before his first night as a married man — to test his true strength and character.

India Marrying a tree In parts of India women born as Mangliks (an astrological combination when Mars and Saturn are both under the 7th house), are apparently "cursed" and thought to be likely to cause their husband an early death. In order to counter this, they must first be married to a tree and the tree cut down to break the curse.

Please see page XXIX

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Guyana’s Sonia Noel lands gig as feature designer in Boston

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uyanese fashion icon Sonia Noel, fresh off the runways of the annual Hot Couture Fashion Show in St. Lucia, has launched her blazing First Resort collection as feature designer in Boston, USA at the Some ‘Ting Nice Caribbean Restaurant’.

The collection boasted the chic polka-dot and signature lattice work, blending bold contrasts of black, white and red and various colour hues. Sonia arrived in the USA for a photo shoot for the Boston Ballet ballerinas followed by the runway showing the next day for the restaurant, as part of the Memorial Day observances. Noticing

Some of the signature pieces that are expected to create fashion shockwaves

the uniqueness of the designs was one of Boston’s prestigious magazines, and has featured Sonia and her work.

Sonia is now preparing for the events leading up the Style Mission fashion show, this year focusing on bringing awareness and education to Sickle Cell on June 21, 2014. The Chairperson of the Sonia Noel Foundation for the Creative Arts (SNFCA), Sonia Noel, has been appointed official ‘Patron’ of the Guyana Sickle Cell Association, and through that office has undertaken the use of the SNFCA as a channel to increase the public’s awareness on the causes and prevention of this disease.

The international observance day for Sickle Cell is June 19, 2014, so they are undertaking an entire week of awareness and educational activities, such as appearances on various TV/Radio shows, a Logo/Slogan competition, and a walk through the city on the morning of June 21, 2014, all culminating at the Style Mission Fashion Show that is slated to take place later that afternoon. This event will take place at the prestigious Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana. The show will feature the exquisite designs

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of Sonia Noel, Nelsion Nurse, Andy Cummings, Amanda Burgess, and Deborah Mattias. This event is also slated to be replicated at the Mariott in Suriname under the host and collaboration of the Rotaract Club of Suriname.

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Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Windsor Forest

A village filled with refreshing solitude as residents thrive with varying means of livelihood

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By Alex Wayne was dreamily enjoying the blur of the trees and lush green foliage as the bus I had boarded rolled towards the somewhat secluded village of Windsor Forest on the West Coast of Demerara.

Cattle and sheep grazed lazily by the road shoulders, enjoying grass made fresh and juicy by recent torrential downpours. Roadside drains were overflowing with crystal clear rain water, and nearby rice fields were all chipped and ready for the cultivation of a new rice crop with recent rainfall.

Windsor Forest is located snugly between the villages of Ruimzeigt and La Jalousie, both of which always seem to be bursting with activity. Windsor Forest often expects sunrise at 05:37 hours and sunset at 18:07 hours, with latitude and longitude readings of 6.8500° and 58.2333° respectively.

The village today is said to have a population of over 2,000 residents, most of whom are East Indians, with a small percentage of mixed races.

As we travelled to Windsor Forest, a somewhat exciting hand seemed to be moulding an aura of excitement around us as the lush, green rice fields rushed by; and horses and cattle, paying no mind to moving vehicles, grazed lazily by the roadside.

Arriving in this village at around 10:00hours, one is quite surprised to find that the atmosphere is almost quiet, with just a few residents fussing around beneath their houses, or a small number hurrying about to get the daily chores done.

Some could be seen trying to sell rather large fishes by their makeshift roadside stalls, and this would mostly be the famous ‘curass’ and extra large ‘butter fish’, which are often caught with large baited hooks just by the koker or culvert in the village.

As we went further into the very picturesque village, we found that residents were more receptive and warmed to our presence instantly.

ponds outside the home and pray tuh the heavens that de black wata ain’t stain up dem white clothes.”

This cheery elder explained that, in those days, farming was the order of the day, and that villagers survived mainly on the sale of fish caught in ponds and the Atlantic Ocean; selling their paddy to outsiders, and selling cash crops in and around the village.

He informed that, as time went by, rice farmers saved their earnings and bought plots of land, and soon began making bigger and better houses, and even businesses in some cases.

With government’s intervention, the area was soon blessed with the luxuries of potable water, electricity, and even paved roads in several areas.

Today, Windsor Forest is the very epitome of development, with the village taking on a certain modern appearance and holding its own with many other established locations around Guyana.

FARMING Most of the residents in the area are involved in either large- or small-scale rice farming, while others are engaged in cash crop farming and livestock rearing. However, rice is the main crop cultivated there on a very large scale.

Large expanses of land are under rice cultivation, and one has to agree that it’s a very beautiful sight to watch the movement of the lush, green rice plants as they seem to float

WINDSOR FOREST IN TIMES GONE BY Ever so often, our readers wonder what our villages were like before they would have transformed into the lush little settlements they are today. And to tell the tale of the Windsor Forest transformation was 82-year-old ‘Daltoo’, who had lived there all his his life.

“This village whayuh ah see hea today is quite different from what it was when I was a lil bai. In me time, when me bin ah run around with bare brief and mud all ovah me skin, the village was a very bushy place…. It was almost like a dense forest with a few houses scattered here and there. And it was a very breezy place…. De wind used to bash in from de nearby Atlantic Ocean, and I want tuh believe that is how de village was named ‘Windsor Forest’.

“In dem time, there was no electricity and we use to use bottle lamps tuh do everything. We used to cook pon firesides or even pon bricks outside in de open yard. We had to fetch water from stand pipes a long distance from we house, and a large crowd was always there, fighting and pulling at times.

“Tuh wash awe clothes, we had tuh use water frum dem

These men marketing a fresh catch of butter fish by the roadside

Welcome to Windsor Forest

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

One of the many places of worship in the village hazily when the refreshing wind rushes through their blades.

Windsor Forest can certainly hold its own amongst the ‘agricultural elites’ like Bush Lot Village, Black Bush Polder, and a few other areas. This village still produces a reasonable amount of rice, vegetables, and even ground provision for both local consumption and export purposes.

But even as this was so, farmers had the time of their lives netting maximum produce and getting it to the city for sale and export, because some said a few dams tend to go bad during unrelenting rainy weather.

REFRESHING HOSPITALITY On our arrival at Windsor Forest, we were engulfed win the refreshing hospitality of its people.

Car and minibus drivers sported flashing smiles as they directed us around the village. Mothers rushing around on their busy errands never failed to gave us a smile and welcoming salutations. This was very stirring, and what surprised us most was the well mannered school children, who never passed us without a “Good afternoon sir” coming from their

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Some residents feel that the Windsor Forest Primary School definitely needs a facelift. smiling lips. They however blushed shyly at any attempt to make conversation, and seemed more concerned about getting home, maybe for the tasty refreshment awaiting them.

The chatter of a few roadside vendors was very welcoming, and the delicious taste of ‘kooldown’ (drink in plastic bags) and polouri took me back to the years when I ran around as a little boy, saving my dimes to purchase the same in my village.

Since it was in the afternoon, we were greeted with the gleeful laughter of a few young girls playing hop-scotch on a dam leading to the cluster of houses just a short distance ahead.

Somewhat surprised at our entrance, the little lasses looked up sharply. Sweeping us up and down, their eyes locked onto my pen, writing pad, camera and media identification card. This I believe prompted the soft, pleasant greetings of “Good afternoon sir’, before they went back to their games, glancing at us every now and then in childish curiosity.

The level of harmony amongst residents is quite stirring

THE SERENITY OF WINDSOR FOREST

The Windsor Forest Health Centre serves the community well

Things are looking up for the village as can be seen with these GWI workers laying new pipelines to improve potable water supply.

Village Elder, ‘Daltoo’ pleasantly filled us in on vital information surrounding the village.

If you are a quiet person who loves the outdoors and the wind in your hair, then Windsor Forest is the place for you.

Hop on a muddied tractor……It’s quite a thrill as you bump and rattle your way to the backlands. The fresh, pure wind will do wonders for your lungs, and the many beautiful butterflies fluttering around will remind you of the Creator’s creativity when he moulded Mother Nature.

Oh my… Such beautiful, colourful pond flies make crazy patterns in the air, making that lovely sound as their translucent wings clash together. It’s the sight of the dark green young rice plants swaying in the wind that will leave you spellbound. Every now and then, a mongoose or some

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Windsor Forest From centre pages

other creature will rush out of the rice fields and look you in the eye before dashing off into the bushes.

You can tie your hammock in a tree, and enjoy a good novel, or simply soak up the natural beauty of this village with great contentment. From its rapidly developing roads, lush rice fields, thick vegetation, and many appealing water ways, Windsor Forest does not only have a few ideal tourist attractions, but for certain can hold its own among our calendar of most serene and arresting villages.

INTERACTING WITH RESIDENTS From all accounts, life seems to be good in this village, save for a few minor issues pointed out by rice farmer Ruben Kong.

He said that while everyone adopts the ‘get up and get’ attitude in this village, there is certainly a need for the government to build an industrial factory in the village to ensure constant employment for villagers.

“Yes, life is indeed okay in the village, and I personally would like to thank the present government for all they have done and are doing. But one issue that is really bothering me is the amount of persons left without jobs when the rice harvesting season is over. You see, sir, Please turn to page XXXVII

While some residents prefer to burn their refuse, it’s the Cevons Waste Management Inc. that ensures the village is not overcome with garbage.

The well maintained alleyways and houses in Windsor Forest

Some residents are angry at the persons who entirely blocked this road with this hefty load of white sand, preventing free passage into the village.

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Wedding Traditions ...

Drinking from the toilet

From page XXIV

Newlyweds in France were forced to drink leftovers from their wedding out of a toilet bowl. Nowadays, chocolate and champagne are used as a substitute, but still served out of a toilet. The idea was to give the bride and groom strength before their wedding night.

Ireland Feet on the ground In Ireland, the bride's feet must stay on the floor at all times when she and the groom are dancing. This is due to the belief that if they don't, evil fairies will come and sweep her away.

Germany Smashing plates Guests to traditional German weddings bring the happy couple any type of porcelain except glass, and then smash them in the belief that this will ward off evil spirits. The couple are then expected to clean up the mess together, learning that married life will not be easy, but by working together, they can overcome any challenge.

Mexico During the ceremony, the groom would give his bride 13 gold coins, called arras, which

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symbolised Christ and his apostles. Following the vows, the priest would wrap a lazo, or lasso (a large rosary, rope or a band of flowers), in a figure eight around the couple's necks to represent their eternal unity.

Sweden In some regions, brides and bridesmaids carried bouquets of weeds that stunk to high heaven in order to ward off trolls (don't knock it -- trolls haven't crashed anyone's wedding so far!).

Added Perk: A Swedish bride received three gold rings from her future husband. One was for her engagement, and on her wedding day, she'd receive two more: one for marriage and one for pregnancy.

Widespread wedding traditions Some wedding traditions are more widespread than other, being found across countries and culture. These include:

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Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

In defence of the fabulous Reishi Mushroom

By Michelle Gonsalves Ever since Adam and Eve got kicked out of paradise, mankind has been fight-

ing the good fight against old age. Many people all over the world during different periods of history have made it their life’s

obsession. Ponce the Leon searched for years for the mysterious fountain of youth. In 1808, Goethe wrote of a 14th century alchemist Faust, who sold his soul to the devil for a youth restoring potion. In

1890, Oscar Wilde wrote the Picture of Dorian Gray a novel about a man with a picture of himself in his attic that grew old while he remained young.

Every now and then, a superstar will emerge: think Noni, think Acai, think Green Coffee, Cayenne Pepper – the examples are

endless. However, it seems like these never last too long.

Negative press surrounded the Ganoderma

Lucidum, or Reishi Mushroom earlier this year when a network company offered Please see page XXXI

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014 From page XXX Guyanese a chance to market the product and was accused of being a pyramid scheme, despite claim of being a multi-level marketing system. This is not about recruitment of brand marketing. This article seeks to tell about a prod-

uct that has been a hallmark of Chinese medicine, for around 2,000 years.

Ganoderma coffee is brewed using coffee beans that are infused with the fungi. Its caffeine content, at 9 milligrams per cup, is lower than the traditional coffee which normally contains

150 to 200 milligrammes of caffeine in a similarly sized serving. Ganoderma coffee is not only tasty, but research on cells and animals suggests it also possesses several other health benefits such as treating insomnia and fatigue.

HOW DOES THE REISHI MUSHROOMÂ WORK? The Reishi mushroom has chemicals that have been proven to be very effective in treating a wide variety of health problems. It's rich in antioxidants, making it the perfect herb for detoxifying the body and removing any harmful agents that com-

promise the immune system. Ganoderma is also an adaptogen, a type of herbal remedy that helps balance the adrenal system and improves the body's response to daily stress.

CANCER Drinking a cup of Ganoderma coffee may suppress the development of can-

XXXI cer cells. As reported in the 2004 issue of "Nutrition and Cancer", scientists at Cancer Research Laboratory of the Methodist Research Institute found Ganoderma lucidum prevents the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Besides strengthening your immune system, Ganoderma lucidum also kills cancer cells in the Please see page XXXII

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In defence of ...

From page XXXI

lab by triggering apoptosis, which is programmed cell death.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS Normally caused by bacteria, urinary tract infections produce uncomfortable symptoms such as painful urination, cramps in the lower abdomen and fever. According to University of Maryland Medical Centre, taking 150 to 300 milligrammes of Ganoderma lucidum extract two to three times per day may relieve urinary tract infections. However, if you are taking blood thinning medication, avoid drinking large amounts of Ganoderma coffee as high doses can thin blood.

PREVENTS PARKINSON’S DISEASE

A condition that affects mostly older people, Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that makes it difficult for you to walk, balance and coordinate your body easily, leading to tremors. It is caused by the inflammation of the nervous system. A study by Chinese scientists published in the June 2011 issue of the “Evidence-Based Complementary and Please see page XXXIII

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From page XXXII Alternative Medicine” found that the inflammatory properties of Ganoderma lucidum may help fight Parkinson’s disease. It does so by preventing the gradual degeneration of nerve cells.

Drinking Ganoderma coffee may also protect against other degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

INSOMNIA AND FATIGUE If you suffer from insomnia, drinking Ganoderma coffee may help you sleep longer and better. A study by scientists at Peking University in China published in February 2012 in the “Journal of Ethno pharmacology” found that Ganoderma

lucidum extract induced sleep in rats that moved around freely in the test environment. Drinking Ganoderma coffee can also help alleviate chronic fatigue disease, a condition that makes you feel exhausted most of the time.

CONDITIONS LINKED TO HEART DISEASE It is also used to treat people with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, along with other conditions that are linked with heart disease. The mushroom can also be given to people who are suffering from insomnia, or even at the other end of the scale, chronic fatigue syndrome.

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WEIGHT LOSS It has even been proven that the mushroom is very effective at helping people lose weight. This is because it increases a person’s metabolic rate to such an extent that it helps people burn off fat, and as a result lose weight.

DESCRIPTION The mushroom itself is traditionally soft and flat with a red cap. The cap stands out quite clearly as it almost has a varnished visual effect. Depending on the age of the mushroom, there might be brown pores underneath the cap. It lacks Please see page XXXIV

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In defence of ...

From page XXXIII any gills, and as a result has to releases its spores through its very small pores.

They can be found worldwide as they can survive and thrive in almost any kind of open environment. They tend to grow as parasites on the sides of trees; however they only grow on around two or three of every 10,000 trees. This makes it one of the rarest mushrooms.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS? While side effects are rather rare it is possible to suffer from them, so it is always best to keep a look out for any signs that the mushroom is not doing what it is supposed to do. Most common side effects that you can experience are: 1. Diarrhoea: There are many cases of patients experiencing gastrointestinal problems after ingesting ganoderma. For

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014 some people, stomach problems can be prolonged or severe and can lead to diarrhoea, blood in the stool, or chronic constipation. Ganoderma can also cause pre-existing ulcers to become more painful.

2. Breathing problems: Some patients claim they feel tightness in the chest after ingesting ganoderma. Dry nasal passages or sinuses may also make breathing difficult after taking the extract.

3. Skin rash: Ganoderma extract may cause your skin to Please see page XXXV

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In defence of ...

difficulty breathing are symptomatic of an allergic reaction.

If you experience either of these symptoms, you should stop taking ganoderma and become scaly and itchy, especially if you have naturally dry skin. You may also note the appearance of acne-like red spots consult with a health care professional.

SHOULD YOU USE GANODERMA? or raised bumps on the skin.

While a wide variety of side effects are associated with ganoderma, there are thousands of people who believe it has 4. Bleeding: Ganoderma acts as a type of blood thinner by inhibiting platelets from forming in the blood. As a result, it becomes harder for blood to clot properly once ganoderma is ingested. The extract can cause bleeding, usually in the form of mild nose bleeds. In severe cases, ganoderma can also cause gastric bleeding.

5. Fluctuations in blood pressure: Using ganoderma may cause your blood pressure to fluctuate. Both exceedingly high and exceedingly low blood pressures have been reported in patients after using the extract. Ganoderma may also negatively affect blood sugar, particularly in people with diabetes.

These fluctuations may lead to extreme dizziness or even fainting spells.

6. Hepatotoxicity: Hepatotoxicity refers to serious, chemically-induced damage to the liver. Ganoderma is typically used to treat liver disorders, not cause them, but there have been a few reported cases of hepatotoxicity resulting from ganoderma ingestion, including a patient who developed liver hepatitis from taking the extract.

7. Allergic reaction: It's also possible to experience an allergic reaction after taking ganoderma. Chest pains and

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helped drastically to improve their health. In fact, many users of ganoderma report feeling no side effects at all.

Decisions about ganoderma should be made on an individual basis, in consultation with a trusted doctor or alternative medicine expert. Whether you're using the extract to treat general fatigue, or a more serious disorder, you should carefully monitor any side effects that occur. Fortunately, many side effects of ganoderma, even those that are particularly severe, are often temporary and will dissipate over time.

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Wedding Traditions ...

From page XXIV

BRIDAL DRESS * Wearing a new dress to be used only for a wedding ceremony is a tradition that is only about 150 years old. Before that, few women could afford a dress they would wear only once.

White traditionally symbolises youth and innocence while red and orange are popular in Asia and the Middle East,

where they are considered joyful and festive colors.

Cake * Using wheat’s and grains in the making of wedding cakes is an ancient symbol of fertility.

Tiered wedding cakes originated in old England, where the bride and groom kissed over a stack of little cakes.

Flowers

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014 * Ancient Roman brides wore bunches of herbs under their veils as symbols of fidelity. * Orange blossoms are symbols of happiness and fertility because the orange tree blooms and bears fruit at the same time. * Roses are the flowers of love, making June, the month of roses, the most popular wedding month.

* The early Greeks believed ivy to be the sign of everlasting love. It is still used to trim wedding bouquets.

RICE THROWING * Rice is a symbol of fertility and long life. Guests throw it at the bride and groom as a wish for children and a good life.

Other good luck charms are confetti, orange blossoms, corn, barley, chickpeas, and dates and figs to sweeten the marriage.

RINGS * Engagement rings originated from the custom of exchanging rings to seal an important agreement. * Rings are circular and without end to symbolise eternal love. * A wedding ring is worn on the third finger of the left hand because it was believed that a vein or nerve ran directly from this finger to the heart.

VEILS * Roman brides wore veils 2,000 years ago. Veils were worn as a sign of modesty and secrecy and were removed only by the husband after the wedding ceremony. * The first American woman to wear a wedding veil was Nelly Custis, Martha Washington's daughter. She wore the veil to please her husband-to-be, who had complimented her on how pretty she looked when seen through a lace-curtained window. * In some Eastern countries a veil is placed between the man and woman throughout the wedding ceremony.

This ensures that they cannot see or touch one another until after the marriage.

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

Windsor ...

From page XXVIII during such a period, there is an abundance of work for young villagers; but when it ends, everything comes to a standstill for them. Of course they would run around and find odd jobs in the village to survive, but if there is a factory of some kind here, villagers will be gainfully employed always.

“Another issue of great concern to me is the state of the sluice here. At present it is blocked up with mud, and this can hamper drainage if we get really heavy downpours. While work is being done presently to make it a top-notch structure, measures should be taken to ensure that there is no flooding when the ‘real rain’, comes….”

There is quite a tussle going on in the village, and many residents are greatly peeved over the inconsiderate actions of a resident whom they claimed is now using a sizable plot of land that was designated for burial purposes to rear pigs and poultry.

Some persons said the land was rightfully owned by Ruben Kong, who was allowing villagers to bury their dead there free of cost. Villagers are protesting the action of this resident, describing it as being selfish, crude and inconsiderate.

Mr. Kong himself said he is grown of age and is unfit to battle with the man who has taken over his land and is referred to as a ‘village bully’.

Speaking for a group of young men liming in the streets, 22-year-old Rajesh Sukraj noted that there is no scope for academically qualified youths in the village. He said several individuals would normally excel at the CSEC examinations, but would remain in the village unemployed, or are forced to engage in farming like their parents and grandparents.

Some housewives are calling for the relevant authorities to build a proper playfield in the village, as the small one that is there is said to be in a poor physical state, and floods immensely when it rains. As a result, the very many sports-oriented youths there are deprived of their sporting joys, or have to travel to distant villages where the facilities are much better.

Villagers are however pleased with the government’s intervention to have the GWI putting down new water lines in the area to upgrade their potable water supply. While there seems not to be a threatening drainage problem in the village, residents are calling on the authorities to have a few trenches leading into the village cleared of weeds and other vegetation.

While the village has its own health centre and nursery and primary schools, some villagers feel there is need for a hospital within their environs to avoid them having to travel great distances to be treated in cases of very serious injuries.

A PROMINENT RESIDENT (VISHNU BANDHU) Vishnu Bandhu (born on December 4, 1951 at Windsor Forest) attended the St. Anthony Anglican School. After school, he worked as a counter clerk in Georgetown. He is a member of the Windsor Forest Arya Samaj (Hindu religious movement) and is the West Demerara Regional Arya Samaj organising secretary. He got married in 1971 and joined the Guyana Transport Vishnu Bandhu a prominent Services Ltd on the figure who originated from West Coast Demerara Windsor Forest. as a bus driver in the year 1974.

In 1975, he organised the first Centenary Foundation Celebration of the Arya Samaj of the West Demerara region, and it has grown today to be one of the largest celebrations of the Arya Samaj, not only in Guyana, but also in the United States of America and Canada.

He migrated to Toronto, Canada in October 1975, and became one of the founder members of the Toronto Arya Samaj. He joined Oscar’s Surplus Company in Toronto as a salesman, and his boss gave him the nickname “JOHN”. After one year of hard work, he was promoted as General Manager for Oscar’s Carpet Company in Toronto.

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Windsor Forest From page XXVII

Some residents have chosen ‘joinery’ as a profession to bring in a fast and honest dollar.

Two years later, he started his own carpet business, called “JOHN’S CARPET” on Queens Street in West, Toronto. The following year, he opened “JOHN”S INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPORT” and “JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL RECORDS COMPANY”. He was the president for all these businesses.

Then, in the year 1978, he produced the first long playing Arya Samaj Record (LP)-“ATMA SHANTI”, meaning “Peace for the Soul”, with eight devotional songs.

In 1980 he returned to Guyana and became a member of the Central Demerara Lions’ Club. In 1981, he migrated to the United States of America and became a founding member

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014

and the first president of the Arya Samaj U.S.A. He later joined a Manufacturing Picture Company in Long Island City, Queens, New York, and became one of the first wholesale outdoor salesmen. Six months later, he bought over one of the huge furniture stores he used to supply pictures to in Broadway, Brooklyn, N.Y. He then renamed the store “EXPO DISTRIBUTOR”, and sold furniture, carpet and pictures, and organised shipping to Guyana. Then, in the year 1983, he started the first West Indian cultural newspaper -“CARRIBBEAN AWAKE”.

After a few months, the newspaper turned into a political mouthpiece for Guyana. That same year, he opened one of the first West Indian night clubs in Hillside, Queens, New York, called “CARRIBBEAN CONNECTION”. He then started a half-hour radio programme, and later opened a second furniture store in Jamaica, Queens, N.Y. In the year 1985, after continuing to hear the cries of the Guyanese people in then President Burnham’s (PNC) days, Vishnu Bandhu led a team of people to form a political party in March 1985, called “UNITED REPUBLICAN PARTY OF GUYANA”.

In May 1986, in the

There are still some structures left that reflect the reign of the colonial era.

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‘Uncle Davo’ brings a fresh serving of fish and shrimp to the doorsteps of residents for sale everyday.

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Windsor Forest

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From page XXVIII

name of the “UNITED REPUBLICAN PARTY OF GUYANA”, he organised the first Guyana Beauty Pageant Cultural Evening at Brooklyn College in New York, and also took the party to the first India Day Parade in 1987 in Manhattan, N.Y., where the party had its own “UNITED REPUBLICAN PARTY OF GUYANA” float.

From 1985 to 1987, he and his party executives organized many groups across the United States of America and Toronto, Canada to conduct tremendous ground work, travelling to Washington to meet with members of the US Congress to lobby for restoration of democracy in Guyana.

Vishnu Bandhu sold his business, left his kids in the U.S.A and Canada, and returned to Guyana to take up residence in Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara.

He lived there for nine years, while engaged in political life. In those nine years, he spent all his money, worked tirelessly day in day out, did voluntary work in the political field, and was locked up many times for political reasons.

He was shot at his residence in Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara. In 1989, a military vehicle ran into his vehicle on the West Bank Demerara, causing severe injuries to his body. His pelvis slipped out of place, his ankle was broken, and he was walking with crutches for approximately nine months.

In 1990, he opened a business called “EXPO MARKETING” in Georgetown, Guyana, where he started importing MOLSON BEERS from the United States, sneakers from China, and mattresses and food items from Trinidad. In 1993, he opened a wholesale/retail business called “PEOPLE’S GENERAL STORE” at Vreed-en-Hoop on the West Coast of Demerara.

He currently has a construction company.

the pleasurable appearance of a ‘yesteryear haven’ dying to unleash its potential beauty.

It surely can become yet another ‘tourist masterpiece’ if the correct masterminds are made to discover its ‘hidden mysteries.’

Works are ongoing at the Windsor Forest sluice

CONCLUSION With its vast, majestic pastures, lush rice fields, numerous fish ponds, and sandy streets, Windsor Forest takes on

The bicycle is still the major forms of transport used to get the little ones home from school.

The grandmothers brave the heat to grab the groceries while other relatives are out on the farms

XL From page XIII Flattened Down Cushions Put them outside in the sun for a few hours, flipping them halfway through. (Be careful. Leaving them out too long may fade the fabric.) The sun will help evaporate the moisture that gets into the filling over time, and the cushions should plump up nicely.

Dirty Decanter Fill the decanter halfway with hot water, a few drops of liquid dishwashing soap, two tablespoons of white vinegar,

and a cup of uncooked rice. Swirl the rice around for a few minutes to remove the residue, rinse with hot water and air-dry.

Tangled Extension Cords Cowgirls and sailors alike know the benefits of storing ropes neatly coiled.

Follow their lead and keep extension cords tangle-free and contained inside a large plastic bucket when they’re not in use.

Chronicle Pepperpot June 15, 2014 KIDS CRAFT Painted Sneakers Give sneakers a one-of-a-kind look with this charming craft.

MATERIALS Newspaper Clean canvas sneakers Fabric or acrylic craft paint Artist paintbrushes Fabric paint pens STEPS STEP 1 Cover a work surface with newspaper.

STEP 2 Using fabric paints and paint pens, decorate sneakers.

STEP 3 Let paint dry for 24 hours before painting another shade on top of the original color.

Nature Walk Bracelet With treasures picked up during outdoor walks and hikes, your child can make a fashionable bracelet. As she finds interesting objects, she attaches them to tape (the sticky side is on the outside) that's been tied around her w r i s t . A f t e rward, plastic wrap will protect her new finery, which doubles as a summer keepsake.

MATERIALS Wide masking or colourful electrical tape Plastic wrap Hole punch or needle String STEPS STEP 1 Cut a piece of wide masking or colorful electrical tape to fit around the wrist, plus 1/2 inch more.

STEP 2 Wrap tape around child's wrist, tacky side up, overlapping ends to secure. Press collected items onto tape.

STEP 3 Later, with sticky side up, fold both ends under a few times.

STEP 4 Lay plastic wrap over sticky part of bracelet, and trim excess.

STEP 5 With a small hole-punch or needle, make a hole through ends; tie a 5-inch piece of string through each hole.

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ARIES - You’ve been agonizing over whether to take your current relationship one giant step further, especially since your heart is telling you that it’s time to do just that. Your mind is holding out -- for someone who’s a bit more available.

If work is keeping you apart, be patient. That can always change. Personal constraints can change, too, but they’d better do it in a hurry.

TAURUS - Still thinking about school or adding to your resume? Well, that’s great -- but be sure whatever courses you sign up for will benefit not just your credentials, but also your heart, soul and mind. What about taking a class on a subject you’ve always been fascinated with? Even if it’s not a supposedly ‘marketable’ subject -- at least, according to your current path -- it could turn out to be invaluable. Everyone needs to follow their bliss. Don’t lose sight of yours.

GEMINI - Oh, here it comes -- that woozy, dreamy feeling. You’ve had it before, so you’re perfectly familiar with it. But this? This is over the top. Fortunately it’s Friday, so once you get through the day, you’ll be able to devote as much time as you like to sighing and staring out the window. That is, until the object of your affection finally makes their long-awaited appearance, and your dreams can become reality.

CANCER - You have a new playmate, and you can’t wait to get down to business and have some fun with them. Well, not to worry. They’re just as excited and just as eager to get started. If you haven’t already done it, polish up your home. You’ll want to make a good impression -- and you may be spending most of your time there for awhile.

LEO - Feeling like you’ve been so happy lately that you’d better buckle down and get some work done? Well, don’t. Everyone who knows you is happy for you and hoping that you’ll give yourself a break before you burden yourself with responsibilities -- of any kind -- again. Enjoy this break. You’ve earned it, in more ways than one.

VIRGO - You can relax now. It’s all over: the spouting off, the shocking comments (that your friends are still talking about) and the emotional highs and lows. You’ve decided, after all that, you want to give yourself a treat. It started last night when you allowed yourself to have some fun. Let the good times and the relaxation continue. And don’t spoil it by feeling guilty, either.

LIBRA - You weren’t prepared for this. You never thought for one second all that spouting off you were doing last week would actually earn you the admiring attention of someone new. But it did, and they want to spend some time with you. So, what to do? If they’re expecting you to go off again, they’ll be disappointed, right? Not at all. Multifaceted people are the only truly interesting ones. Accept the invitation.

SCORPIO - You are still on top of the world and breaking through the atmosphere. And if you think you’re happy now, just you wait. You’ll have a preview of coming attractions tonight, thanks to a pal who’ll let you in on some plans they’ve cooked up for the two of you.

SAGITTARIUS - A while back, you overspent to the point you were afraid you wouldn’t be able to make your monthly bills. Ever since, you’ve been good -- relatively speaking -- and you’ve actually managed to put some emergency cash aside. You may need to pull that out of hiding now, because as much as it will gall you, that’s what it’s for. It’s time to buy a new piggybank.

CAPRICORN - It hasn’t gone anywhere -- that undeniable urge to let the world know exactly what you think about anything and everything. Of course, why you’d even try is a mystery. Your judgment is sounder and more practical than any other dozen people combined, so why keep it a secret? It can only do everyone around you good to hear your opinions, as solid and unbiased as they are. So start talking!

AQUARIUS - You’ve ceased to be amused with watching the rest of the world try to speak their minds. At this point, you’re only looking for a vacation from it all -- so take it. Assemble the people around you who are worth your time and call a temporary retreat. You’ll be over this tomorrow, and by then, everyone else will be back to normal -- or at least more normal in your opinion.

PISCES - When other people finish a big goal like you just have, do you know what they do? They take a step back, look at the big picture and enjoy it. They don’t immediately dive into yet another big goal, like you are wont to do. So instead of burying your success in the trials of your next accomplishment, today is the day that you should truly celebrate it. Be present with what you’ve just achieved: You deserve it.

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COMPOSTING OR FARMING OF MICROBES

By Clifford Stanley

WHAT DOES MY COMPOST PILE NEED? Composting is sometimes called “Microbe Farming” because microorganisms turn organic materials into compost.

Just like any living organisms microorganisms need food, water and oxygen. The following are the preferred conditions for composting: oxygen greater than five percent, moisture content of 50 to 60%, particle size of half-inch to two inches and a carbon to nitrogen ratio of 25:1 to 30:1.

The organic materials that can be composted are commonly characterised as “browns” and “greens.”

The browns are sugar rich carbon sources that provide energy to micro-organisms, absorb excess moisture and provide structure to the pile. They also keep the pile porous, facilitate airflow and prevent compaction. “Browns” or carbonaceous materials include brown leaves, newspaper, straw, sawdust, cardboards and twigs.

The “greens” or nitrogenous materials , provide protein-rich nitrogen and moisture to microorganisms and include grass clippings, vegetables and fruits, coffee grounds, teas leaves and livestock manures.

HOW TO BUILD A COMPOST FILE? Build your pile four to six feet high and more than three feet in diameter so that it can become self-insulating to retain heat.

Larger piles will hold heat longer, regulate moisture and work more efficiently. Begin with four inches of tangled branches on the bottom of the pile for aeration. Add four or five inches of carbonaceous materials then two or three inches of nitrogenous materials and keep alternating the layers. Be sure to water each layer thoroughly to ensure moisture is

evenly distributed. Toss in a handful of soil on each layer to introduce more microorganisms.

Top the pile with four or five inches of carbonaceous

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cubic yard compost pile: 20 lbs goat, dog, rabbit or poultry feed; or 10lbs soya bean or dusting small amounts of alfalfa, bone on top of nitrogenous materials.

Spread a layer of this nitrogenous material every six inches in the pile and water it well. Add grass clippings or aged animal manure with the nitrogenous material to make the nitrogen last longer.

It also helps to activate your compost pile by adding four parts of urine to one part water or a pure mixture of water and molasses, sugar, syrups or flat soft drinks.

DO I NEED A BIN? You do not need a bin to compost. Some choose a bin to keep the pile neat, help retain heat and moisture or because they live in a neighborhood where a bin would be more appropriate than an open pile.

Many people choose to make their own compost bin using concrete blocks, wooden pallets, wire mesh or garbage cans.

PARTICLE SIZE AND SHAPE:

materials to keep out flies and other pests and provide a filter for odors.

SIMPLE COMPOST RECIPE Most household will combine leaves, grass, food scraps and coffee grounds in their compost piles at a ratio of 2 or 3-to-1 mix of “browns” and “greens” . Some people choose to use nitrogenous “activators” to help get their composts piles hot.

The following such “activators” can be added to a one

Decomposition happens on the surface of the materials so the particle size and shape are very important to the composting process. A large particle has less total surface area than the same article chopped into small pieces.

By chopping materials into smaller particles you create more surface area and decomposition happens faster. Use a cutlass or put the materials in a bucket and use a square end shovel to chop them into pieces smaller than two inches. Don’t get carried away because very fine particles will prevent air flowing into your compost pile. Rigid particles provide structure to your pile so it is good to layer in small branches. (To be continued).

KELLY ROWLAND PREGNANT

LIL' KIM GIVES BIRTH

Lil' Kim is a proud new mama! The rapper welcomed her baby girl on Monday around 10:00 am in New Jersey. The brunette beauty's little girl weighed in at 6 lbs and 5 oz, and she named her Royal Reign.

Kim first debut her baby bump (after taking a few months off from the public eye) in a skin-tight dress on the red carpet for The Blonds' New York Fashion Week.

The hip-hop star also gushed about her pregnancy to Us Weekly. "I'm so excited," she said earlier this year. "I'm a few months along; I can't wait to be a mom."

"I'm still going to be hardcore," she added. "The baby has made me even more of a beast!"

GABRIELLE UNION, 41, SHOWS OFF INCREDIBLE BIKINI BODY Gabrielle Union is showing off that fabulously fit body! The "Think Like a Man Too" star was spotted in a tiny black bikini as she hung out by the pool at Wynn's Encore Beach Club in Las Vegas this week. She completed her look with blue-tinted aviator sunglasses and kicked back with an ice cold drink.

Gabrielle said that she eats a well-balanced diet and has somewhat of a sweet tooth, so she allows herself occasional treats. Moderation and portion size are her "secret" weapons to staying slim. "With her body, she's a natural athlete," Union's trainer, Ahmad Baari, told Us Weekly. "Depending on her schedule we'll do about three or four months that I will see her regularly. She'll leave and then come back and we work to get her back to where she wants to be. She tells me exactly what she needs."

The brunette bombshell is engaged to Dwyane Wade. The happy couple has been dating since 2009, and the Miami Heat star hasn't been shy about expressing his love for the stunning star. "She makes my eyes sparkle," he told Oprah Winfrey last summer. "The biggest time she makes my eyes sparkle is when Zaire (his 11-year-old son from a previous marriage) comes home and homework is a little hard that day, so he's stressing and she goes to the table with him and she sits down until he gets it."

"And at that time my heart is smiling a little bigger that day because I know her love is deeper than just me," he said.

Kelly Rowland is bringing new meaning to Destiny's Child. The singer is reportedly pregnant with her first baby and hinted at the news in a big way on her Instagram page on Tuesday.

"I'll be stuntin like my daddy," she wrote with the photo above, which shows two pairs of Jordans ... one of them adorably tiny.

While she didn't explicitly say she's expecting, sources close to the star confirmed the news to Us Weekly. The kid will be the first for Kelly and new husband Tim Witherspoon, who tied the knot during a secret ceremony in Costa Rica last month.

Rowland stepped out last night for the big premiere of "Think Like a Man Too," where she was one of many stars to show some major cleavage on the red carpet. And do we spy a baby bump there too?