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II

THE GOLDEN FROG PRINCESS K

By Maureen Rampertab

upuno, the young native boy, his bow and arrow slung across his shoulders, a glint of excitement in his eyes ran lithely through the forest, his bare feet barely touching the foliage floor as though he bore wings. His love for adventure and his wild imagination rewarded him with many discoveries- the splendour and the breathtaking spectacle of the forest, chasing rain bows, dancing with fairies and being a little hero of his animal friends. He reached the majestic falls and stared in awe as the cascading water fell hundreds of feet below in smoothandpowerfull rhythm. He always came there to marvel at one of nature’s wonders and to search for unusual shaped pebbles for his collection. The ones he liked the best he put in a little satchel across his shoulder and as his little hands searched deftly, he heard a soft crying.

Kupuno looked around but saw no one, then a small voice said in between sobs: “Ooh I’m so doomed” Kupuno was worried that one of his fairy friends was hurt and his eagle sharp eyes continued to search until he came upon a tiny golden frog sitting on the leaf of a huge lily. He wasn’t sure the crying he heard had been that of the little frog for it was the voice of a girl until it said “Are you not Kupuno?”

He nodded.

“Friend of the fairies?”

“Yes” “Have you ever seen the evil Wizard who lives in the dark caves behind the falls?”

“No” The little frog started to cry again and Kupuno, touched by its sadness said, “Can you tell me why you are so sad?”

The little frog sighed and hopping onto another leaf, closer to the boy, related a sad tale.

“I’m a water fairy of the falls, rivers and streams, my wing is decorated with gold dust and my garden adored with precious gems where hidden beneath the falls, that’s my home, is a precious stone with great powers – so great that it cannot fall into evil hands for all that’s good and beautiful will become bad and ugly. It was wonderful and peaceful until one day the evil Wizard appeared, his anger was black and his voice shook the leaves of the trees as he said “ I wear a crown that has powers but the one stone that is missing, that will give me greater powers to rule the forest and beyond will be mine for I now know where it’s hidden” The little frog trembled as it continued and Kupuno listened truly intrigued.

“I was the Guardian of the Stone, I could not let it fall in the Wizard’s hand so I created a distraction whilst the other fairies moved the stone but when the Wizard realised what had

happened, he had turned to me in great anger and unleashed a wicked spell. “You little fairy princess whose wings glittered with gold, I will turn you into a frog until you bring to me the precious stone!”

He had laughed wickedly and disappeared, leaving me and my sister scared and hopeless.”

Kupuno was silent for a while then he said “How can the spell be broken?”

“I’ve been wandering the forest to find someone to help me” said the princess frog “but no one can.”

Kupuno feeling really sorry for her took her back to her home and promised her to find a way to break the spell. He spoke to all his friends with magical powers but the Wizard was too strong because of the dark forces of evil he possessed.

It was as though the fairy princess was doomed to leave as a frog forever.

But Kupuno did not give up. He had promised to help her and he searched the forest ever day until one day he was sent to a river inlet where lived an old pale skinned woman of an older tribe who brew potions to ward off evil spirits.

But because of the Wizard’s power the only way to break the spell was to steal the crown and destroy it thus weakening his power. It would not be wise Kupuno knew, brave-hearted as he was to descend in the Wizard’s cave because evil creatures

lived within and danger would be lurking at every corner. It was wiser to wait until dusk when the Wizard came out to the foot of the falls, a ritual, the old woman had said and when he takes off the crown to lie in the rejuvenating water of the pool that would be the only chance Kupuno had at snatching it. He spoke to the fairies of his plan and that day as the sun set and dusk silently crept in, Kupuno waited near to the foot of the falls, secluding himself in the thick shrubs and watched

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com enthralled and the Wizard descended from his cave. Kupuno waited for the right moment and in one swift, flawless movement he grabbed the crown and ran like he had never done before. It was one of the bravest actions of his adventurous little life and as he ran he heard the Wizard shout of rage and the crashing tree limbs as the evil pursued him. The fairies impeded the Wizard’s flight as best as they could to allow Kupuno time to get to the falls where the frog princess waited.

He reached and put the crown at her feet.

“This, little princess, will have to be destroyed to transfer you back to yourself.”

The Wizard appeared but too late for the fairies had gathered and with the power of each wand, the crown was set into flames and the stones burnt to ashes.

The Wizard flew into a black rage and screamed vengeance before disappearing. Kupuno turned to the frog princess and saw in its place a very beautiful fairy, her wings glinting with gold dust and he felt pleased in his heart for he had kept his promise to help her. She touched him with her magic wand, thanking him for helping to break the spell and told him she would always be there for him whenever he needed her. Kupuno had found another wonderful friend with magical powers as his adventures continues.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

III

By Petamber Persaud

‘Anthology of Contemporary Guyanese Verse’ Ed. Petamber Persaud Published by The Caribbean Press

O

n Friday August 15, 2014, an ‘Anthology of Contemporary Guyanese Verse’ (along with other books) was launched by Prof.

David Dabydeen, one of the founders of The Caribbean Press.

The occasion was witnessed by scores of writers and lovers of literature. And what an event it was, igniting the evening with performances of prose and poetry by their authors, endowing the moment with authenticity and a sense of great achievement, many of the authors, some published for the first time, acknowledging the role of the press in affording them the opportunity to be published, thereby affording them the opportunity to share their work with a wider audience.

Anthologies play a major role in the assessment of a country’s literature, recording the achievement of the people and so serve to build a sense of national pride. Based on this concept, an anthology is a very important mechanism in literature, and the work of the anthologist is vital to a nation in that the anthologist becomes the bookkeeper of the nation’s invaluable literary heritage. Anthologies ought to bring out the best on offer at a particular time, bring attention to the best on offer during that time, have a reasonable representation of the literary landscape, and provide writers with a wider audience.

Sometimes, all these criteria are not fulfilled leading to the fact that many anthologies begin with apologies, citing the lack of space for omissions, lack of knowledge of existing works, and lack of access to certain works leading to exclusions.

This anthology focuses on contemporary writers of poetry, many of whom have explored and exploded the frontiers of poetry, challenging canonical notions of poetry. Of course, there are others who are contented to conform to convention yet bringing fresh perspective to the typical theme by enriching their writing with local flavours and nuances.

One of the features this anthology brings to our attention is that ‘many writers from Guyana still use poetry as their medium of choice’ while poetry is declining in other parts of the world. By sticking with this genre, the writers are saying that ‘poetry matters’ and that poetry has the power ‘to move, inspire and motivate both its writers and readers alike.’

And there is more to this anthology. Of the twenty-one writers, nine are women – almost half of the book. Of the seventy poems in this book, about one third dwells on the subject ‘woman’ including ‘Adore’, ‘4 Women’, ‘Home’, ‘Goose on the loose’, ‘Black Coffee’, ‘Vishma Diana’, ‘The altar’, ‘Black lost girl’, ‘Hindu Woman’ and ‘I apologise’.

The introduction by Dr Lynn Macedo, Yesu Persaud Centre for Caribbean Studies, University of Warwick, sums up the range of this anthology. Macedo wrote, ‘[t]he work of the twenty-one poets in this anthology provides the reader with a new look at Guyanese identity from a twenty-first

century perspective, as well as examining more universal themes such as the complexities of human relationships or the exploration of race and ethnicity. Guyanese writing has long been characterised with a close engagement Dr DAVID DABYDEEN Dr Lynn Macedo in politics and social issues, and many of the poems in this collection continue that tradition mances were awesome, bringing the work alive, never before of questioning and challenging facets of society that are per- has poetry sounded so good. Why? The reason is found in the ceived as being ambivalent towards the suffering of the poor introduction: ‘Contemporary society surrounds us with many and the dispossessed. art forms that are highly poetic in nature – from rap music to ‘Unsurprisingly, the violent history of the Caribbean advertising ‘jingle’s, or football chants to political slogans. By continues to provide material with which several of the poets working with such frameworks and stretching them into new engage as does, in complete contrast, the natural beauty of the poetic dimensions, the writers in this anthology are able to region’s landscape, flora and fauna.’ speak directly to today’s reader in a format that can be easily And there is more: the writers are from varying back- recognised and related to.’ grounds, lawyer, youth advocate, transformational leader, playwright, actors, performance poet, photographer, film Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or maker, sports journalist, television producer, fiction writer, email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com bringing all those experiences to bear on the art.

And there is more: at the launch of the book, the perfor-

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

A LOVE OF POETRY

BY IAN McDONALD

The book contains a selection of essays chosen from hundreds written by Ian McDonald over the past 25 years, mostly in his ‘Ian on Sunday’ column in Stabroek News.

They signify a little of the enduring love of poetry which he feels fortunate to have inherited and which has lit up all of what is now a long life.

Introduction by Ian McDonald

There is a poetry gene which skips generations but endures. My many times great-grandfather, Edward Dacres Baynes born in 1790, among other things was a poet. Among the other things he was a soldier, a stipendiary magistrate in Jamaica and a Colonial Civil Servant in the Lesser Antilles whose appointments included the Presidency of Montserrat. In his ardent youth he met a young Italian girl who was a novice in a convent, courted and married her and with her had eight children who survived infancy. He retired in Antigua with his wife and family and dies there in 1863. Long before he had translated the Epistles of Ovid in two volumes and in 1819 he published a long and ambitious poem in two cantos and seventy-four stanzas entitles ‘Childe Harold in the Shades’.

An Infernal Romaunt.

My great-uncle, Donald McDonald, Antiguan businessman and legislator and father of World War 1 air ace Ian McDonald after whom I was named, in 1917 published a booklet of poems entitled Songs of an Islander. And my Grandmother, Hilda McDonald, first woman member of the Antiguan legislative Assembly, corresponded with famous West Indian editors Frank Collymore (BIM) and Arthur Seymour (KYK_OVER_AL) and published a booklet of poems entitled Sunflakes and Stardust which contains a poem I especially loved when I was a young boy and still do:

‘EVENSONG’ Sunset had called in her colours, But not yet was it dark, The pool lay a mirror of silver.

Without spot or mark.

When out from the green mirrored mangroves Came a wonder of white, A great heron wandering homewards, Before it was night

The moon and the reeds and the heron, And the first white star, Shone clear in the pool’s bright mirror, As I watched from afar The spell of that moment still holds me, The mirror, the star, and the bird, The beauty beyond all imagining, The silence where no whisper stirred And my heart sings aloud to its Maker, In thanks and delight, Who gave me the moment of beauty, Before it was night.

I inherited the gene. And when I was very small poems in the form of nursery rhymes were read to me nightly. The first lines I got by heart – nearly eighty years later I find myself holding the palms of my hands together as we say the prayer to keep and save me:

“Gentle Jesus, meek and mild

Look upon this little child

Pity my simplicity,

Suffer me to come to Thee”

My parents’ bookshelves held English classics and I was reading Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Coleridge, Tennyson and Browning in my boyhood at home in Trinidad. At school, Queens Royal College in Port-of-Spain, we blessed with teachers who loved the written word and valued poetic genius far beyond gold. There was Achilles Daunt who taught Latin.

“He loved to roll around his tongue the sonorous metre/Of Virgil’s mighty tale of adventure and survival.” And above all for me there was John Hodge who stands before me vividly now. I wrote about him in my poem “College’.

‘HODGE’ Imagine! Such an ordinary Englishman, John Hodge, thousand year oldish name: Good earth tilled for Saxon centuries Under open skies and slow rain.

Plaster patches on his ill-shaved throat, He taught Literature for the Scholarship.

One day without any reason: Hopkins!

Hopkins wasn’t on the syllabus.

‘I caught this morning morning’s minion, kingdom Of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-dawn falcon…’

The words flashed and sung and silvered The grey sky of school-imprisoned boys Waiting for picnic and the weekend girls **** That Sunday on the beach at Blanchisseuse, Watching the high waves leap and shine, The gleaming, marvelous words came back And back and back again and back Suddenly took flame and flight.

The double-dawning of the Jesuit priest Could not get out of my head at all Words sang as birds sing striding in the air And the high waves arched and shone.

My eyes dazzled in the white noon blaze Off the sea of heaven and the heavenly sea **** Monday the dusty room was new The old Englishman with the spectacles, The stolid agricultural name we knew, Had changed the angle of how the world is seen.

Talk once was meant for only living, To get through ordinary days, Perform the basic chores of time: Plain statements telling truth and lies – Not conversations with the Gods Explaining how one views Their work.

Ill-shaven, homley Englishman, John Hodge, I praise you down the years.

The complex value of the word was born, Roots began to branch and sing: At Balanchisseue waves curled and shone And language took ecstatic wing.

Thus were my sails set for voyaging in life. And for all these years Derek Walcott’s great lines accompany me – from his poem written for Joseph Brodsky, “Forest of Europe’: “what’s poetry; if it is worth its salt, But a phrase man can pass from hand to mouth.

From hand to mouth, across the centries, The bread that lasts when systems have decayed” As for writing poems, I have been doing so for more than sixty years. They have been appearing in literary magazines in the Caribbean and elsewhere since the 1950s.

IAN McDonald In 1975 Faber and Faber published 11 poems along with the poems of eight other poets in Poetry Introduction 3. In 1983 a little booklet of twenty-five poems was published in Guyana by the Labour Advocate. Since then I have published five collections of poems: Mercy Ward (Peterloo Poets, 1988). Essequibo (Peterloo Poets, 1992), Jaffo the Calypsonian (Peepal Tree, 1994), between Silence and Silence (Peepal Tree, 2003) and The Comfort of All Things (Moray House Trust, 2012). Selected Poems was published

by Macmillans in 2008.

Over the decades the muse had visited intermittently. A few times, for instance when Mercy Ward poems were being written virtually at her dictation, she settled on my shoulder and insisted that I listen. For long periods, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, she may have ventured near but was pushed aside by rougher gods and goddesses. Lately, growing old, I despite what must increasingly seem weary and unlikely looking habitation. Blessed be such kindness.

All in all, I have been writing, trying to write, poems since I was a teenager. I have found the process mysterious. Occasionally a poem emerges in the consciousness fully formed and can be dislodged from there onto paper with a shake of the pen. Mostly what occurs is a sense of something needing to be said, a couple of lines in the head, perhaps just a phase, and the accumulation of a poem begins and goes on with many fits and starts and adjustments, abandonments and reformulations. Lines collect in my mind and gradually the poem as it is written emerges. Any poem emerging from a process like this has generally been through many drafts. Very often such beginnings never become whole poems and rest forever on discarded work sheets. Long effort yields nothing worthy of being said.

Since my experience is that poems which emerge full blown are suspect because they come too easily and since my experience also is that accumulation poems must inevitably be improvable with a little more work, it follows that no poem is ever completed. Martin Carter said that he never finished a poem, only released it for other to have a look. I understand that. Unfinished versions. Flickerings in Plato’s cave.

I do not think in my life many days pass without me reading poetry – in some magazine, in a book I have been gifted or bought, in one of the nearly 800 books of poetry I have in my library and take down from the shelves to savour, old favourites or new astonishing delights. Perhaps this is why by routine disposition poetry finds a place in my writing to illustrate and explain in the way only the best poetry can. These essays have been chosen from a mixed bag of hundreds I have written over 25 years, mostly in my ‘Ian on Sunday’ column in Stabroek News. They signify a little of the enduring love of poetry which he feels fortunate to have inherited and which has lit up all of what is now a long life.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

V

JENNIFER LAWRENCE A - The youngest person ever to be nominated for two Academy Awards

cademy Award-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence, best-known for playing Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games (2012), was born in Louisville, Kentucky on August 15, 1990, to Karen (Koch), who manages a children's camp, and Gary Lawrence, who works in construction. She has two older brothers, Ben and Blaine, and has English, as well as some German, Irish and Scottish ancestry.

Before Jennifer became an actress, she was involved in cheer-leading, field hockey, softball, and modelling, none of which she held a passion for. Her career began when she travelled to Manhattan at the age of 14. After conducting her first cold read, agents told her mother that "it was the best cold read by a 14-year-old they had ever heard" and tried to convince her mother that she needed to spend the summer in Manhattan.

After leaving the agency, Jen was spotted by an agent in the midst of shooting an H&M ad and asked to take her picture.

The next day, that agent followed up with her and invited her

to the studio for a cold read audition. Again, the agents were highly impressed and strongly urged her mother to allow her to spend the summer in New York City. As fate would have it, she did, and subsequently appeared in commercials such as MTV's "My Super Sweet 16" and played a role in the movie, The Devil You Know (2013).

Shortly thereafter, her career forced her and her family to move to Los Angeles, where she was cast in the TBS sitcom The Bill Engvall Show (2007), and in smaller movies like The Poker House (2008) and The Burning Plain (2008).

Her big break came when she played Ree in Winter's Bone (2010), which landed her Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Shortly thereafter, she secured the role of Mystique in franchise reboot X-Men: First Class (2011), which went on to be a hit in Summer 2011. Around this time, Lawrence scored the role of a lifetime when she was cast as Katniss Everdeen in the big-screen adaptation of literary sensation The Hunger Games (2012). That went on to become one of the highest-grossing movies ever with over $407 million at the domestic box office, and instantly propelled Lawrence to the A-list among young actors/actresses. Three Hunger Games sequels are scheduled for release in November 2013, 2014, and 2015, with Lawrence reprising her role at least for the first one (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)). In 2012 the romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook earned her the Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Satellite Award and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Actress, amongst other accolades, making her the youngest person ever to be nominated for two Academy Awards for

Best Actress and the second-youngest Best Actress winner Lawrence can also be seen in The Beaver (2011), Like Crazy (2011), House at the End of the Street (2012), and American Hustle (2013).

For her role in Winter's Bone (2010), Lawrence learned to skin squirrels, chop wood, and fight.

Plays guitar.

Lawrence graduated from high school two years early in order to begin acting.

Lawrence was discovered by a photographer while visiting New York with her mom in 2005, which led to her landing an agent.

Is the 3rd youngest Oscar nominee for best actress in a leading role, at the age of 20 years 163 days. Only QuvenzhanĂŠ Wallis in Beasts of the Southern Wild (2012), at the age of 9 years 135 days, and Keisha Castle-Hughes for Whale Rider (2002), at the age of 13 years 309 days, were younger, at the date of nominations announcement.

She is fan of Jeff Bridges, and got the chance to meet him at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con. Lawrence approached him, not realising he was in the middle of an interview with Entertainment Tonight, and hurried away. Bridges noticed and immediately called her back. The reporter then handed a star-struck Lawrence the microphone and invited her to take over the interview.

Appeared in two Sundance Grand Jury Prize winners in a row: Winter's Bone (2010) and Like Crazy (2011).

One of People magazine's Most Beautiful People in the World 2011.

One of Variety magazine's Top Ten Actors to Watch 2010.

Voted No. 10 on the 2011 Maxim list "Hot 100" women.

Some of her favourite actresses/acting inspirations are Meryl Streep, Marion Cotillard, Cate Blanchett and Laura Linney.

VI

With proper dental care, few people should lose all their teeth It would appear to dental professionals that it is strange for many people to expect to lose their teeth eventually because their parents ended up with dentures. They think all their dental problems will be over with false teeth – also called a plate. Such is not the case. My maternal grandmother died at age 85 and never had a tooth extracted.

Among the big sales items in drugstores are denture adhesives and do-it-yourself reliners, and better yet, the dental “quacks” have a field day providing dentures for these people under delusion.

Although I do not have statistical data at hand I know that the number of edentulous (toothless) persons in Guyana is decreasing. Among the reasons are the reduction of tooth decay and consequent tooth loss and the increasing availability of dental facilities and personnel provided by the government. In addition, the National Insurance Scheme’s traditional programme as well as the one this author introduced for pensioners in 1991 mitigate the need for expensive restorative treatment rather than extractions. With proper dental care, few people should lose all their teeth. Nevertheless, by age 65, one of three people (33 percent, down from 46 percent 20 years ago) of the population is edentulous.

When all the permanent teeth are lost in the same arch (upper or lower), a full denture is necessary to restore function and appearance.

Some patients ask for dentures as a deliverance from their fear of dental treatment.

Good dentists should be able to assuage their irrational anxieties. They will persuade their patients to keep at least a few strategic teeth that can be clasped for support of a removable partial denture. They will not extract sound teeth. Extracting healthy teeth at the request of a patient is essentially mutilation by consensus. In any case, dentists were taught that for a tooth to be extracted it has to present at least one of five criteria. None has to do with toothache or a request by the patient.

If the anterior teeth cannot be saved, it is sometimes customary to have an immediate denture placed at the same time that these teeth are extracted. The back molars and bicuspids will have been removed at least a month earlier to allow healing and better control over the construction of the new denture. Since the underlying bone and gums continue to shrink following extractions, an immediate denture gradually loosens and may have to be relined.

The permanent relining should be delayed for at least six months to allow complete ridge healing. During the interim, the denture can be tightened with a soft, gel-like lining material called tissue conditioner. Tissue conditioner can last several months and may also be used as a semi- permanent reliner by a denture wearer who otherwise never gets a satisfactory fit.

Dentures have a way of breaking on Saturday night just before you are going out to dinner or when one is about to leave for work. Do-it-yourself emergency denture repair kits are available. But if you can afford it, there are immediate dentures which should be replaced by a new one and the immediate denture kept as a spare. A completely new denture allows improvement of the bite, of the overall fit of the denture base, and of the appearance of the artificial teeth.

An immediate denture does not have to be replaced if the fit is satisfactory after the gums have healed and the base has been relined. In fact, the great majority of the patients whom I have made immediate dentures for never bother to replace them because the need for such is seldom evident. Often, a duplicate denture can be made by the dental laboratory at a fraction of the cost of a new denture. It can be worn for a short time while the regular denture is being repaired. When not in use, the duplicate denture should be stored in soapy water or a dilute denture cleaner to prevent the plastic base from drying out and losing its fit.

When a tooth is extracted, the top part of the bone that surrounded the root is resorbed while the lower part of the tooth socket fills in with new bone. In other words, there is a levelling process that reduces the crest or height of the alveolar ridge. When many teeth are extracted because of advanced periodontal bone loss, the entire ridge flattens out, making denture retention and stability very difficult. This is more likely to occur in lower jaw where the entire alveolar ridge is resorbed, leaving a thin horseshoe or U shaped jawbone termed atrophied mandible. The only way to achieve any degree of stability on an atrophied mandible is to build up the ridge artificially with a graft or by inserting an implant with posts to support the denture base. Of course, the cheapest way to solve the problem is to use denture adhesive paste, powder or wafer.

As long as roots are present, resorption of the alveolar bone is slowed if not completely prevented. Even where teeth are too weak to support a denture, it is sometimes possible to save a few roots, ideally of the cuspids. The top parts of the roots may be left above the gum for direct support of the denture – now called an overdenture – or they may be cut off to the level of the bone and covered over by the gum. Either way, the roots remain, giving support not only to the denture above but also to the alveolar ridge bone. Although this principle applies to both arches, it is particularly relevant to the lower arch, or mandible since that is the location of most denture problems.

More positive retention is obtained by inserting special attachments (connectors) into these roots. The connectors stick out above the gum and snap into the overdenture base. The attachments should be designed to allow minor movement of the base caused by chewing without torquing and loosening the roots. Another concern is decay of the exposed roots. All surfaces must be kept clean and free of plaque to prevent root decay.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

Should He Walk Out on His Family?

Lifting The Fog I have a problem that is probably all my own doing though I think it is largely caused by my family.

I have a stable job, a good income, no major debts, and my wife looks after the house. I am unhappy, even resentful,my wife has made no effort to find even a part-time job. If I were to leave my family now, how would my wife support herself?

My relationship with my nearly adult children is difficult. My daughter was a moody teenager who rebuffed my efforts at communicating with her. Now in her last year at university, she has become tolerable. My son has struggled academically. I have been frustrated at my failure to help him.

In the early stages, I tried hard, really I did.

I do not feel any burning passion for my wife and children. We hardly ever do things as a family. After dinner they get up and leave the room or watch TV. They choose the channel. I am never asked if there is something I would like to watch.

I am saddened, perhaps even disbelieving or envious, when I read or hear of men who live for their family.

A year or two ago it all became too much for me and I retreated into my study. Initially I watched movies on my computer, then for social interaction I started writing online pen pals.

I became friendly with a lady in Asia. After several months we met briefly. We are culturally different. She speaks little English. I only speak English. Yet we have a nice time and I feel warmth when I am with her physically and online.

I admire her optimistic philosophy, and she accepts my current situation, though she hopes it will change. Sometimes I have moments thinking it might be a fun challenge to learn another language and this relationship just might work. Stranger things have happened.

The reality is my wife has done little wrong; she does not deserve this. Then I say to myself, is this the life I must endure? Almost every night I go to bed to escape into some novel, and in the morning I wake up sad.

Ed Ed, you are talking to a woman you can hardly communicate with. At zero right now, a .0001 attracts you. But that doesn't make it right. That you are thinking about a woman whose language you can't speak tells us how bad your circumstances are.

Take the other woman out of the equation. No plans can be made based on her. Sitting in your study, clandestinely communicating with someone, she is an option. If you were not married, she probably would not be an option. You would never have opened lines of communication with her.

You have things to decide, assessments to do, conclusions to reach.

Did you love your wife in the beginning, or was your marriage simply the next thing to do? Did you mistake like for love? Was that also your wife's mistake? Did she marry because it was the next thing to do or because she wanted someone to support her?

Once she had children did she lose interest in you? If you feel disconnected from your wife, maybe that led to disconnection from your children as well.

Love deepens over time... I love my wife more because she is the mother of my children... I love my wife more now that we have been together so long. That's what love is like. Do you love your wife?

You have every right to look for love. People are allowed to make these decisions.

Make yourself available for a life that gives you meaning. Now you are imagining.

What you need are facts. Weigh the legal, financial, social and emotional facts of divorce.

Doing that will clarify your thinking and the next steps will begin to appear.

Wayne & Tamara

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

VII

Fake Hindu wedding…

Court cancels registration of marriage

R

AMLAKHAN of the Brahmin caste, the highest of the Hindu castes proceeded to marry Ramdai a Chamar, which is a low caste, because the relatives of the applicant would not agree to the wedding.

But after the secret ceremony, which really was a sham, got shattered when a relative of the Chamar reneging from the promise of a gift of land and house to the Brahmin applicant, the latter applied to the Court for an order that the registration of an immigrant of the Hindu religion on February 12, 1962, between the applicant and the respondent Ramdai under the provisions of the aforesaid Ordinance be cancelled and that the Immigration Agent General be directed to cancel the said registration.

The facts disclosed that the parties, who were both Indian immigrants of the Hindu religion, signed a document before a Pandit with the object of thereby contracting a marriage.

No ceremony was however performed and no marriage vows exchanged.

Chief Justice J. A. Luckhoo who heard the motion by the applicant in 1962, held that: “(i) It is sufficient to constitute a valid marriage ceremony according to Hindu personal and religious law if marriage vows are exchanged before a Pandit in the presence of two witnesses, (ii) There was no valid marriage in this case and the registration would accordingly be cancelled.”

Mr. J. O. F. Haynes, Q. C, appeared for the applicant while Mr. R. N. Trim represented the respondent.

According to Chief Justice Luckhoo: ”This is a motion on the part of the applicant also known as Ramlakhan Seepersaud under Section161 of the Indian Labour Ordinance , Cap. 104, for an order that the registration of a marriage made by the Immigration Agent General on the 12th of February 1962 between the applicant and the respondent Ramdai, under the provisions of the aforesaid Ordinance be cancelled and that the Immigration Agent General be directed to cancel the said registration.”

“The grounds upon which the applicant seeks the order for cancellation are: (a)That no marriage ceremony was performed in accordance with the religious and personal law (the Hindu Law) of the parties as required by the provisions of Section 142 of the Indian Labour Ordinance Cap. 104 on February 12, 1962, or on any other date. (b) No witness was present or signed any document in the presence of the applicant.

“The applicant and the respondent both profess the Hindu religion and are subject to the same personal law. They had known each other for about four or five years prior to November 1961, when the applicant asked the respondent to marry him . He explained to her that his parents would not agree to their marrying and suggested that they should marry secretly. The applicant and his family are of the Brahmin caste, the highest of Hindu castes. “His brother, S.S. Tiwari, is a Hindu priest. The respondent is a Chamar, that is to say she is of low caste. So it is not difficult to appreciate why the applicant suggested a secret wedding. The applicant was then residing with his mother and his brother Pandit S.S Tiwari at Albion Front, Corentyne. The respondent agreed to a secret marriage being performed.

“Pandit Ramsaywack Sharma, a Hindu priest, was approached by the parties to marry them according to Hindu rites. There is a conflict in the evidence as to how the approach came to be made to Pandit Sharma.”

“According to the applicant it was the respondent’s brother-in-law Basil who suggested that they should take their

birth certificates to Pandit Sharma and arrange with him to have the marriage performed.”

“The applicant also stated that Basil promised to give him a house and rice lands and early in January 1962 he (applicant) and the respondent took their birth certificates to Pandit Sharma. On the 25th January, 1962, they returned to the Pandit’s home where they signed a document which he and the respondent considered to be the performance of the marriage.”

“On that night he slept with the respondent at Basil’s home and had sexual intercourse with her.”

“The next day he returned to his mother’s home and has never lived again with the respondent.”

“About two weeks after the 25th January, 1962, he realised that Basil would not give him a house and rice lands.

The applicant has stated that had Basil given him house and rice lands he would have lived together with the respondent and would not have brought these proceedings.”

“He has also sworn that his brother Pandit S.S Tiwari told

him to bring these proceedings. The applicant has also sworn that on the 12th February, 1962, he did not go with the respondent to Pandit Sharma and that no ceremony was performed on that day nor on any other day.”

“The respondent has sworn that after the applicant had proposed marriage to her he arranged that they should travel to New Amsterdam on the following day and be married at the Immigration Office.”

“They travelled to New Amsterdam as arranged but on arrival there, found the Immigration Office closed.”

“They returned to Rose Hall and went to the cinema. After the cinema was over the applicant took her to Pandit Sharma and arranged for their marriage.” “They left their birth certificates with Pandit Sharma who told them to return in 14 days.”

“They did so on the 12th February, 1962, and were married by the Pandit according to Hindu religion in the presence of the Pandit’s wife and another woman.”

“A certified copy of the notification of marriage later sent by the Pandit to the Immigration Agent General for registration of the marriage of the parties bears the signatures of the parties and of two other persons as witnesses.”

“The Immigration Agent General entered the marriage in the Register of Marriages of Immigrants on the 23rd February, 1962.”

“The evidence supports the applicant’s story that they returned to the Pandit on the 25th January, 1962 where the notification was signed by the parties and I so find. In arriving at that conclusion I have been influenced by the conflicts in the testimony of the respondent and of the Pandit as to who was present at the time of the marriage and by the sorry figure cut by the Pandit when cross-examined as to his conversation with Pandit Tiwari at a Shraad held after 12th February. I

have formed the view that the evidence of Pandit Sharma cannot be relied on in any By George Barclay matter which conflicts with that of the applicant.”

“I think that what he said were lies he had told to Pandit Tiwari was in fact the truth and that it was a true confession that he had not performed a ceremony of marriage between the parties.”

“From Pandit Ramsaywack Sharma’s own evidence it is apparent what little regard he has for the solemnity of the occasion of a marriage ceremony. The manner in which he said he performed the ceremony seems more in the nature of a purveyor of goods than of a priest carrying out a solemn duty.”

“His evidence from the witness box shows what little regard he has for the sanctity of an oath.”

“One cannot but wonder whether he is fit for priestly duties.” “The respondent is entitled to much sympathy but in fact she was never lawfully married to the applicant.”

“In the result the applicant is entitled to have an order for the cancellation of the registration of the marriage with a direction to the Immigration Agent General to cancel the said registration.” “In the circumstances of the case each party will bear his/her own costs of these proceedings.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

FAST FLY

A

By Neil Primus

ll the people living in Green Grove were afraid of Dorothy. It was not because she was warrish and aggressive. It was not because she would cuss at the drop of a pin. Everybody was afraid because they believed she was working Obeah.

When Dorothy and Ruby were at war and Ruby’s cow ups and died suddenly, people nodded their heads in confirmation.

She wuk pon de woman cow. The time when Albert cuss she up and threaten to give she two hot boxes in she face and next day he right hand break in two places, heads were nodding again.

Dorothy couldn’t care less what others were saying. The fact was she did work Obeah. Many of the same people now doing all the gossiping had been forced to go to her for help in fixing their problems.

She was not ashamed of who she was. For a woman of 68, she looked no older than 45. She had two sons who were grownups now.

They had stopped coming to visit her because she refused to give up the skill and knowledge passed down in her family.

People came to her for all sorts of reasons. When they were sick, when they suspected that someone was trying to harm them, when they wanted protection from evil and when they wanted to be successful at something: Riches, job promotion and marriage were among the most popular. She never turned anyone away.

It had become a very lucrative business.

Twice a year she disappeared from Green Grove for one month on each occasion. When she returned she was always full of energy and life. Then something went wrong. This time when she returned she was angry and quarrelsome.

Cliff lived next door and was always on very good terms with Dorothy. He did not believe all the rumours he had heard. As far as he was concerned she was a Spiritualist. He respected her religion. After her return and the change in her behaviour he decided to go and cheer her up. Ruby stopped by and told him that her cousin-a customs officer at Molson Creek-saw her go and return from Suriname. According to Ruby while in the Dutch

Republic she met and consulted with some very powerful spiritual figures. Cliff decided to give her space.

Dorothy had visited Paramaribo and gone to her regular Gurus. The trip was a success as usual and she crossed back into Guyana happy with the things she had been able to accomplish. After clearing customs at Molson Creek crossing, she stopped at a cousin living in Berbice. Needing to do some business in New Amsterdam she left her baggage at her cousin and headed into the nearby township.

Dorothy’s cousin was notorious for minding other people’s

business. Dorothy’s locked suitcase was like a magnet for her. While her visiting cousin was in NA Hazel was in her baggage.

After a few hours running around Dorothy went back to her cousin. She was about to ask for her baggage when she was greeted with distressing news. Her cousin’s home had suddenly descended into chaos. Glass wares were smashed, furniture upturned, food thrown everywhere, bricks on the roof and broken windows. Nobody seemed to know where it was coming from or who was causing all the trouble.

Dorothy however, knew immediately what had taken place.

“Did you open my suitcase?”

“No!” “Are you sure?”

“Of course! I would never do dat.”

IX

Dorothy knew she was lying. She was sure that all the things now happening in the house were the result of someone opening her luggage. Serves them right.

Crash! Bang! Pow! Smash!

Drinking glasses, spoons, bricks, books and bottles were aerial heading in all directions. Dorothy tried again.

“Hazel tell me de truth. Did anybody open my suitcase?”

“A tell yo NO! Don’t ask me no dam stupidness again!”

Dorothy asked for her luggage and when it was brought she checked it. Even though the smallest padlock was closed, as soon as she opened the suitcase she knew that it had been tampered with.

Her well packed bag was like the house; in total confusion. That did not bother Dorothy much. What held her attention was the three small bottles that lay at the top. Two of them were open.

Crash! Bang!

More confusion ensued. Calling her cousin aside she gave her the bad news.

“I think you got Baccoo in yo house.”

Hazel looked guiltily at her. She knew she could not admit that she had opened the luggage and the two bottles. She realised that her own actions were the cause of her present misery. Still she refused to admit her culpability.

“What I gat fo do fo get rid of it?”

“Feed it well. You can’t get rid of it.”

Hazel glared angrily at her. She knew the Baccoo had belonged to Dorothy but she could not say so to her face.

“If yo open more dan one bottle, den is more dan one Baccoo hold on pon yu.”

“Yo gat fo help me Dorothy!”

“Not me! I not getting between no spirit an de person who open he bottle an let he out. Yu think I want buss head?”

Hazel became desperate and started shouting at Dorothy.

“Look lady I don’t want no *#**#** Baccoo!”

From inside the ransacked house a voice thundered.

“WELL WHY YO OPEN ME!!”

The loudness and evil in the voice rattled the small wooden structure and made both women jump in surprise. Hazel headed into the house to see who had shouted. Of course, nobody was there. When she returned to the front door Dorothy was gone.

“O Gad! Is wat Dorothy put me in today!”

Dorothy was a few yards down the road and heard her cousin’s accusation. Her reply rang in Hazel’s ear as Dorothy disappeared around the corner.

“Is good fo yo. Is jus dat does happen to fast fly!”

X

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

XI

Meet Asif Nawaz…

Enjoying showbiz in Guyana for almost two decades

M

By Telesha Ramnarine EET Asif Nawaz Samad, an easy-going and simple individual, who believes in remaining humble in everything he does.

He has been in the local entertainment industry for almost two decades and is known for hosting ‘Music Fantasia’ on Channel 69 and more recently, ‘Music Inferno’ on 89.1 fm.

For promotional purposes, he prefers to use his two first names only, he told us in an interview recently.

Asif, 43, was born and raised in Eccles on the East Bank Demerara and resides there to this day. It is a village he loves dearly and so cannot picture himself living elsewhere. His interest in music was developed as a child when one of his sisters often sent him to a shop with a coin to punch music. As he punched away, the family would listen from home.

He attended the Eccles Primary School and then secured a place at Brickdam Secondary. After graduating in the late 1980`s, he gained employment with a reputable accounting firm where he learned to prepare income tax returns.

Despite this, his interest in the music and entertainment world remained.

“I always enjoyed dancing and acting and clubbing so I decided to take up showbiz at a very early age,” he related.

In fact, in the early 1990’s, he attended all of the Diwali Pageants that were held at the National Park and can recall Asif Nawaz Samad telling his friends that someday, he will be able to do those same pageants.

“I felt I could have done much better so I decided to take my interest to higher grounds.”

Asif believes that if he was born in India, he would have been definitely be a star today. “This is Guyana. You can only expect so much out of so much. But there is still a lot you can do. I do this (his shows) as a hobby and not as a money making something.”

He went to Diamond on the East Bank Demerara with his first pageant, using the little money that he had. He explained that in those days obtaining sponsorship was tough.

“I did it though and the show was sold out and without much advertising.”

He then decided to do a pageant at ‘Starlight Drive In’ in 2001 and again this show was sold out. And from here, his career in entertainment took shape and he began coordinating

With Prime Minister Samuel Hinds at the crowning of Miss India Guyana in 2005

other shows and pageants, while also getting his programme on television started.

During those days he met Bollywood stars Jetendra, Madikini and Rahul Roy who starred in the movie Aashique. He also met two famous dancers from the Indian Cultural Centre namely Taruna Singh and Nalini Pyneandy. Together, they choreographed dances for events in Guyana in the 1990’s.

Some 16 years ago, Asif launched his television programme which was at the time called ‘Swaar Sangeet’ which was later renamed ‘Music Fantasia.’ He did the first ever Miss India Guyana Pageant in 2001 with the famous and late Laxmi Kalicharan as the MC and in 2002, decided to do the Miss Guyana Phagwah Pageant.

“During those days, the Indian culture was fading and I was the only promoter to keep it alive on the international stage with all the big bands like Shakti Strings, Caribbean Hot Shots, El Sadiek , Dax New Generation, New melody Makers and the Rangeela Band. I did the last pageant in 2007 and then I decided to do lots of Chutney events since I realised Guyana was looking for hot stuff,” Asif said.

do enjoy showbiz. There is always something new coming on the table. You have to be smart because there is always someone waiting to snatch your ideas from you but I was never afraid of competition and I will never be,” he said.

Persons abroad can log on to www.ntntv-radio.com and listen to Asif every Thursday from 15:00 hours to16:00 hours.

His television show is also on every Wednesday evening at prime time. Asif strives to keep his music “clean” as he prefers to promote music that even children can enjoy.

Asif is still single, he told us with a smile.

With now Presidential Adviser Gail Teixeira at a ‘Miss Guyana Sari Pageant’ “I did events as far as Essequibo and Berbice so if I should one day quit, I can safely say I have been there and done that. But then again, winners never quit and quitters never win,” he continued.

Throughout the years, Asif said Banks DIH has been supporting all of his events. From time to time, he said he would assist other promoters who might be in need of assistance as to how to make an event happen. “There are so many promoters trying to do things. So I let them go forward. I like to see what they are putting on the table. Some of them come bigger than me but they don’t last.”

Asif has big plans to make a comeback in the industry though as he has held back from organising events for quite some time now. He even plans to work on the international stage. “I’m 100% sure it will be a success because I'm blessed and have endless fans. Of course I have haters too but at the end of the day, I love everyone. I'm also planning to make a comeback in showbiz in Guyana in 2015.

“As one of Guyana’s prominent promoters, I

Asif with Bollywood Actress Mandikini

Asif has been hosting ‘Music Fantasia’ for some 16 years

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

Is Shah Rukh Khan banking on Salman Khan’s shirtless formula?

After Dabangg Khan, it seems King Khan has decided to cash in on the shirtless formula The latest song Manwa laage from Farah Khan’s much-awaited film Happy New Year is an absolute delight to the ears. But the romantic number is a visual treat as well courtesy Shah Rukh Khan’s shirtless act. Yes, his chiseled body got us drooling too. But isn’t going the shirtless way Salman Khan’s style? It is indeed. The Being Human superstar was the one who started this trend. He got all the gals hooting for him when he went shirtless dancing to the upbeat track O O Jane Jana in Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya way back in 1998. Since then a lot of actors have flaunted their well built body in films and songs. From Aamir Khan in Ghajini to Hrithik Roshan in Dhoom 2. But none have managed to create the same magic as Salman and SRK do, right peeps?

In 2007, Shah Rukh had grabbed headlines when he went shirtless for Dard-E-Disco song which featured in Om Shanti Om. Back then the superstar sported six pack-abs but for HNY the talented actor has gone one step further and has built eight pack-abs. Well, we aren’t complaining a bit coz SRK nails the shirtless look every time, hai na?

As for going the Salman Khan way, the Happy New Year actor recently told us in an interview that Salman leads the path and rest try to follow it. Guess its the same with the shirtless act. Not only SRK but a lot of B-town hunks have walked the same path and got phenomenal response.

But Bollywoodlifers tell us what you think – Is Shah Rukh Khan copying Salman Khan by going shirtless? Vote now and give your verdict!

Will Deepika Padukone’s Finding Fanny play a spoil sport for Bipasha Basu’s Creature 3D? Trade buzz!

This week two completely different films – Finding Fanny and Creature 3D – will hit the theatres. While both the films have created good buzz, the question is – will Deepika continue to rule at the box office or will Ms Basu race ahead in the numbers game? Read on to know…

Homi Adajania’s directorial venture Finding Fanny starring Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Pankaj Kapur and Naseeruddin Shah will be releasing this Friday alongside Bipasha Basu and Pakistani actor Imran Abbas Naqvi’s Creature 3D. While the former has created great buzz despite being not-so-typical Bollywood film, the latter has also managed grabbed attention since its India’s first creature film which has been made using good visual effects and technology.

But we all know when two films clash at the box office, only one of them walks with the bigger money pie. So will Finding Fanny overshadow Creature 3D at the ticket windows? Or will both the films rake in equally good money?

Exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi told us, “Both the films cater to different audiences. People who will enjoy Finding Fanny won’t stand Creature 3D and people who will enjoy Creature 3D won’t stand Finding Fanny. So these two films won’t bite into each other’s business. Bipasha starrer will predominantly work in single screens whereas Deepika and Arjun’s film in the multiplexes. Creature 3D is India’s first creature film so to make it audience friendly the makers have incorporated mythology angle to it along with visual effects and technology which will engage the typical Bollywood audience. As for Finding Fanny, its genuinely a crossover film and has been made purely out of love for cinema. The advantage is that the film is in English which cuts out the language barrier internationally. And it also has face value courtesy stars like Deepika and Arjun.”

He further points out, “Finding Fanny will have a decent release in India but I am pretty sure the oversees collections would be double than India.”

While both the films are poised well, only time will tell which one will actually impress the audience and get cash registers jingling.

Why did Priyanka Chopra send a handwritten note to Arjun Kapoor?

Actress Priyanka Chopra has sent a handwritten note to her Gunday costar Arjun Kapoor. But why? Well, just to wish him luck for his upcoming English/Hindi satire Finding Fanny.

Arjun, 29, is elated to receive the letter from the Mary Kom star. “That’s

why Priyanka Chopra is one of the coolest people around… A hand written note in the time of SMS and emails,” Arjun posted on Twitter. In the note, Priyanka wrote, “To Fubu aka Arjun. Happy Happy Ingliss Friday! Fanny looks amazing.

Love. Priyanka Chopra.”

Isn’t that sweet? In the film, which will hit theatres this Friday, Arjun is playing a Konkani mechanic Savio Da Gama. It also stars Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Kapur, Naseeruddin Shah and Dimple Kapadia in pivotal roles

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

XIII

I am expecting N200 million from Being Mrs. Elliot’ – OMONI OBOLI – As film hit cinemas September 5

BEING Mrs. Elliot, by actress Omoni Oboli, has started showing in cinemas across Nigeria from Friday September 5, 2014. A week before the release, however, a premiere held with stars that featured in the movie and others in attendance, at the Silverbird Galleria, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a night of fun, networking with those who watched the premiere applauding the effort put into the flick.

ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke to some of the cast around at the premiere.

It is full of homour’ - OMONI OBOLI, producer and director ACTRESS Omoni Oboli who produced and directed the movie, Being Mrs. Elliot, has said she is targeting N200 million from the film which will start showing in cinemas on September 5, 2014.

What are the challenges of directing this movie and at the same time playing the lead role?

It was very challenging, I directed, produced and acted in the movie. Sometimes, I get back very late and instead of going to bed, I have to do some other things for the next shooting. I got an average of three to four hours sleep every day. As an actor I have to get enough sleep so that I won’t look funny. Things eventually worked out for good, I don’t regret any part.

You have scaled the hurdle, seen the pain and now you are promoting. How do you feel?

I feel great. I am very excited. I think I am a little drunk with excitement actually.

What informs the choice of the cast?

I have a brilliant cast and crew, they were brilliant. My director of photography is the same director of photography for the movie, Fat Girls that starred Monique. I have people like Pat Nebo, my editor, Steve Sodiya is the best in the industry. We put together very exciting crew, the cast were A-listers – Majid Michel, AY, Lepacious Bose, there is a lot of humour in the film.

How are you expecting the movie to do in cinemas?

I am praying and hoping with all of my heart and soul that this movie do well, because we have to make our money back. Nigerians should come out and watch so that I can pay my children’s school fees.

Africa’s Sexiest Actor?

This Might Convince You! Ramsey Nouah covers the New Issue of Glitz Africa The new issue of Ghana-based Magazine Glitz Africa features Nollywood legend Ramsey Nouah. The actor who has been in the business for almost 2 decades, opens up as he shares his thoughts on a variety of topics from Nollywood to his home life with the magazine.

As the byline says “Better and Finer with Age“, Ramsey looks great in a mix of looks for the cover shoot. From a blue velvet tux to a salmon-hued shirt which he rocks on the cover.

Check on it.

Look out for more from this issue of Glitz on BN. Pick up your copy of Glitz Africa Magazine from major vendors in Ghana today.

Nollywood Actress, Funke Akindele Upset, Exposes Instagram Angered by an impersonator's attempt to fraudulently coax money out of her teeming fans and friends on Instagram, Nollywood actress and brand ambassador, Funke Akindele has dedicated a bit of time to reveal the identity of the impersonator and also gave him/her a piece of her mind. "#impersonatoroflife #copyandpastemaster #nawho pls kindly report ASAP. This is just too bad.

Heard there is also a fake manager of mine asking peeps to pay for the delivery of gifts they won! Pls beware! It aint me or my management.

Thanks," Akindele said.

For the records, the authentic account, @funkejenifaakindele has got over 750 posts, has over 113, 000 followers and follows 761 accounts while the fake account @funkeakindele was opened two years ago and currently follows 19 accounts, has 25 posts and 10, 000 followers.

Our investigation revealed that between January through June 2014, celebrities like Uti Nwachukwu (March), Doris Simeon (January), Chika Ike (March) and Klint Da Drunk (May) have all had impersonators financially exploiting their fans and friends.

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

WILL EVERYONE HAVE A FLYING CAR?

The idea of having a part car, part plane, part drone parked outside your home may not be as far-fetched as it seems. There really aren’t any technological hurdles to this.

We are going to have personal air vehicles that are both cars and planes at least that’s Missy Cummings’s

vision of the future. It’s basically the intersection of a drone with a robotic car, so that your plane is also your car, but the big leap in technology is that you are actually driving neither.

Drones have a negative bias in the media, because they are essentially seen as spy cameras. But most people don’t realise that when they are on a plane they are effectively travelling on a drone. The fly-bywire technology that exists on all Airbus and many Boeing crafts is the exact same technology that exists on drones.

The reason why drones are the answer to the future is that the truth is we are terrible drivers. Humans inherently have a half-second lag in almost any quick response that they need to have, like a ball rolling out in a street or seeing an aircraft in the sky and you have to take evasive action. Even a half-second delay can mean the difference between life and death, and computers and automated systems don’t have that – they have microseconds.

So, our transportation network of the future, both on the ground and in the air, will actually be safer when we turn it over to computers.

There really aren’t any technological hurdles to this idea.

The biggest hurdles we have are psychological and cultural, in terms of giving up the car. But no new tech needs to be de-

veloped to have your own personal flying car. What we have to do is improve production and reduce manufacturing costs, and what that means is that we need more robots. So this is almost a self-circular process, where we need robots to build robots to make them cheaper.

Should we worry about the machines rising up and taking over? No, what we should be worried about is hackers and terrorists who want to do wrong. One of the things is to work on technology that allows any flying robot to be able to fend off any attack and be able to navigate itself without any GPS or any other external signal.

There are lots of different possibilities for what your personal air vehicle could look like. You could own your own in your driveway or garage, and you could jump in it. Or we could have a shared network like the plane version of Zip-car.

People should be excited about this: It promises much in terms

of safer travel and in parts of the world where the road and air networks are poor, people will be able to get the goods and services they need.

So, when we look at globalizing this concept of personal air vehicles, it means we will see the quality of life improve dramatically for everyone around the world.

6 reasons to be excited about Windows 9

Microsoft is expected to begin showing off Windows 9's features later this month. Here are the expected changes you should be thrilled about.

Return of the Start menu Perhaps the most lamented feature of Windows 8 was Microsoft's callous removal of the Start menu. The Start button kinda-sorta came back in the Windows 8.1 update-but it just led you back to the dreaded Start screen with its sea of tiles and apps.

In Windows 9, Microsoft is rumoured to be making a full reversal by bringing the Start menu all the way back to its rightful place on the bottom left of your screen.

Bye, bye Charms In Windows 8, accessing search, settings, sharing and con-

nected devices is just a thumb-swipe away -unless you don't have a touch screen. If you're using a mouse and keyboard, you have to move your mouse to the upper-right-hand corner,

making it too easy to launch the charms-bar by mistake if you're scrolling or trying to close a window.

Windows 9 is expected to do away with the charms bar, replacing it with a settings tab next to the minimize button at the top right of each window.

Interactive live tiles Live tiles in Windows 8 are a great way to get a snapshot of information without ever opening the app. They offer quick glances at weather, stocks, social media posts and emails. But if you want to dig deeper, you have to open the app.

In Windows 9, rumours are you'll be able to click or swipe through information without opening the app. For example, you might be able to scroll through calendar appointments or delete emails right from the tile.

Better power management Windows 8 doesn't take up too much space on your hard drive, and it starts up in seconds. But it can be a power suck on your battery.Windows 9 is expected to fix that, waking up the computer's processor just once every few seconds in some cases -- instead of hundreds of time per second. If true, that could vastly improve battery life.

Cloud-based OS Rumours suggest that Windows 9 might transfer some Windows capabilities to the cloud. The core operating system functions would still live on your computer, but some of the lesser-used features would run over the Internet.

That could translate into more free space on your hard drive, fewer Windows updates and potentially cheaper computers.

Notification centre On the lock screen, Windows 8 notifies you how many emails you have and what your next calendar appointment is. But there's no easy way to see that information when your computer isn't locked. Let’s see if Microsoft can win back its supremacy in the software world.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

XV

Understanding…from a teen’s point of view!

By Vishani Ragobeer.

Self-Esteem: Hello! How was this week at school? Did you all celebrate World Literacy Day on Monday? Hmm, this week I will be talking about self-esteem. So I hope by the time I’m done I would have given you reasons to raise YOUR self-esteem.

Self-esteem - that thing or rather that feeling you have that has the power to either significantly raise or lower your confidence. We all have our moments in which we feel ‘sky high’ or ‘rock bottom’ and this human mind was created with lots of feelings, each with its

own way of being set off so these feelings come and go so quickly.

It is my very strong opinion that the most contributing factors to our self-esteem are our parents and our peers.

I’m saying this because we all know that their opinions of us really do matter. If your parents congratulate/reward you for something you’ve done, doesn’t it raise your self- esteem and make you feel that you really are capable of making them proud?

What about the times when

they compare you to others, doesn’t that lower your self-esteem? What about your friends- at times don’t they say or do things to make you feel really good, while others are just completely oblivious to your feelings and really lower your selfesteem?

Now let’s focus on the aspect of your self- esteem being lowered, because frankly, it is this lowered self-esteem that causes us to be depressed and unfocused.

Let me outline some ar-

eas in which our self- esteems are lowered: * Bad test grades * Parents comparing you * Friends making you feel ‘left out’ * Not being able to please people * Not being as good at something as another person * Parents not appreciating your efforts * People making rude comments about you or the things you attempt to do ….. and my list could go on and on

XVI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

Pepperpot’s weekly Health Digest…

Nutritional facts and benefits of eddo

E

ddo is a root vegetable native to Southeast Asia, South India and South America. It is also popular in Polynesia. It is used to make the popular Guyanese dish metemgee (metem). Eddo nutrition facts give you an idea if you should include it in your weight-loss plan. It is a starchy vegetable often used in place of rice or potatoes. It has a bland flavour that takes well to seasonings. It can be baked, boiled, grilled, or fried. It is even made into chips in some countries.

Calories A serving size is 2/3 cup. One serving contains 80 calories. It gives you 4 percent of your daily caloric intake. Seventy-six of its calories are carbohydrates. It is a pure source of energy.

Enjoy it with a protein to keep it balanced.

Protein Eddo is not used for its protein. One serving only has 1 gramme of protein. You can eat taro alone as a dessert. However, it is best served when cooked in a meat soup with other vegetables such as celery or carrots. You can eat it in place of potatoes in a lean pot roast. You can even slice it up, bake it, and enjoy it as you would French fries.

Carbohydrates Eddo has 20 grammes of carbohydrates per serving. If you are on a low-carb weight-loss induction phase, you can only have one serving of taro root for the entire day. Its carbohydrates come from starches and fibre. The good news is you can eat a serving of Eddo before a workout to get some energy. You can also boil it, mash it in a food processor and mix it with milk to make a Eddo milkshake. It is both filling and nutritious.

Vitamins Eddo has 5 percent of your daily recommended intake of Vitamin C. It also has 1 percent of your daily-recommended intake for Vitamin A. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant. It also helps to boost your immune system, especially when you are fighting off flu. Vitamin A helps to produce your retina’s pigmentation.

Additionally, it promotes growth of your cell linings in your respiratory and digestive tracts.

Minerals Eddo contains small amounts of calcium, iron, and sodium. Iron helps to keep your red blood cells healthy. Calcium gives you strong teeth and bones. Sodium helps to regulate your body’s fluids. They are all lower than 5 percent of your daily-recommended amount. Eating taro with low-fat dairy can boost your calcium intake.

Eddo grows in fields where water is plentiful. Water needs to come through abundant rainfall or irrigation. It thrives in climates where the annual rainfall exceeds 98 inches. It takes between six to 12 months to gain maturity. You should not eat Eddo raw. It is considered toxic when uncooked due to calcium oxalate. Soaking the root overnight, in addition to cooking, helps to minimise the toxicity levels. (Information gathered and extracted from healthdigezt.com) Join us again next week where we will be telling you about various foods that you can eat to boost your brain power.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

ALEXANDER POPOV - Inventor of the Radio

Russian people will always remember their great scientist Alexander Popov (1859-1905) who invented the radio.

In 1895 he developed the first radio-receiver that could register thunderstorm electricity discharge from considerable distances.

On 12th of March 1896 Popov together with Ribkin demonstrated wireless transmission of Morse signals from one university building to another that was 200 meters far from the first one. It was the first sensible transmission of text in the world. In spring of 1897 Popov conducted some experiments on the ships and was able to transmit information to a Alexander Popov ship that was as far as 640 meters from Popov. He was increasing the distance of transmission day by day.

The first receiving set invented by Popov In 1897 he also discovered that all metal objects in the way of a radio wave could change the wave direction, or in other words could reflect it. It was the start of another useful invention called later radio-location. Imperfection of equipment at that time did not allow to put the observation into use until 40 years later when the first radio-radar was built. Others have laid claims that they discovered this phenomena of wave reflection, but it should be remembered that the invention was actually made by Popov.

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

FACEBOOK STORY: Add as friend-Approve-> Write something on walls-Intro-everyday chatting-ask number phone-messaging-calling-meeting-express love-make relationship status-hangout-misunderstanding-fight-break up-unfriend-block THE END …………………………………………………… …………………………………………………… ………………….

Husband: Honey, do you smell that?

Wife: No Husband: Yeah, me neither. Start cooking. …………………………………………………… …………………………………………………… ……………………………

……………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………… …………………………………………..

Dad-Son, you better pass this exam or rather forget that I’m your father!

Son-Sure dad, whatever! ~5 hours later~ Imagine if your fridge did what you do to it every Dad-How’s your exam? day. Every half hour it goes in to your room opens Son-Who the hell are you?! the door, and stares at you for 5 minutes then leaves. …………………………………………………… …………………………………………………… ………………………………..

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

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

Film review:

Fault In Our Stars

By Shivanie Sugrim

Most films are derived from books; John Green’s “Fault InOur Stars” holds no disparity. The film’s initial release was on June 2nd this present year and has managed to win the hearts of every cancer patient that would have given up on ‘living’. The director Josh Boone set the curtains high by finding near-perfect antagonists like the stunning Shaliene Woodley (Hazel

Grace) alongside AnselElgott (Augustus Waters). The bewildering author has penned this novel in January 2012 which has met with wide critical praises that made his career an unmatched one!

Now we get why there was a film created!

The film seeks to tell the story of 17 year old Hazel Grace who is diagnosed with cancer. Like every cancer patient that faces hurdles on a daily basis, Hazel’s life is dependent on tagging along

an oxygen bag pack. Though she was reluctant to join a social group to build her self-esteem, she laid eyes on Augustus Waters who has lost a leg due to cancer.

The film proceeds to hover around the genesis of two idealistic teenagers who initially fell in love despite their health issues with a major twist that dragged the audience into tears.

It embodies the theme of surviving in the midst of embracing love and pain

simultaneously and it is far from a ‘fun’ film since it targeted reality. It is evident that the plot is somewhat basic but it was portrayed in such a surreal way by indirectly conveying the message that although life is short for some persons, there is still room for living. The film was quite transparent in its philosophies and in its ethical theories where math and metaphors indirectly lends a hand in depicting the lessons the film wishes to convey to its audience.

Moreover, with making

the best of the bestseller (Green) critics noted that Green’s portrayal of his brutal honest notes that strike at regular intervals in the movie, has ideally saved him from being “mawkishly exploitative”. Another commendable factor that led this film to have over 80% ratings from entities, was although the film hovered around cancer related incidents such as Hazel’s few visits to the emergency room and the revelation of Augustus ‘demise due to tumor overshadowing his body, Green managed to let his audience saw beyond those aspects by including overindulging in video games as well as other teen-like activities.

The movie gives the au-

dience a different outlook in life. It managed to hit every emotional point whilst making one appreciate life as well as the people around them. It was heartening as the characters accepted death and how they in actuality dealt with it. It is quite a relatable film where everyone instantly smiles at his/her phone because of a message from a crush and melts inside when you’re praised by him/ her. Everyone seems to be a fan of the movie by just its title thus; those of you who haven’t seem beyond the story-line of the movie, I’d like to recommend a re-watch with a box of tissues!

“Pain demands to be felt”-John Green

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

Hague

I

By Alex Wayne

have got to admit my dear readers that this week around I had quite a fulfilling experience as I journeyed the to the length and breadth of a serene and very breath-taking village nestled in the humble nook of the ‘westside,’ oozing great pristine beauty infused with a certainly sparkling tropical aura, accentuated by its rich tranquility and simplicity.

Here I was in the middle of Hague, West Coast Demerara totally enthralled by its arresting ambience, appealing picturesque infrastructure and the lush and almost delicious greenery that beckoned the feeding fantasies of the well fattened cattle, sheep, and other animals I found there.

Hague is a small West Coast Demerara village located about 12 km from Vreed-en-Hoop. As history would suggest, it was once a Dutch plantation and took its name from the capital of the Netherlands. Nowadays it is home to over 1,300 residents, many of whom are Hindus, and is flanked by Den Amstel to the east and Cornelia Ida to the west.

This somewhat small village is actually divided into two areas being Hague Front and Hague Back according to residents. Hague Front seems to be the busier side of the village and is occupied by a fusion of East Indian and Negroes. There are also some people of mixed race there that help to give the village its popularity for having distinct harmony amongst its people.

Hague Back on the other hand is predominantly taken up

by East Indians and is also the ‘agricultural alcove’ and is occupied by farmers who cultivate rice and cash crops on a large scale for home use, wholesale and even export purposes.

This area is quiet and carries a certain pleasant and breezy atmosphere that seems to tease and intoxicate the senses.

a private firm outside the village.

Shyly admitting that he had just consumed a few shots of Ivanoff Vodka he sat down with me in the cool of a bus shed in the village and we began to chat like old pals. He opined that Hague was one of the most beautiful villages on the westside, boasting that it was inhabited by races that lived in perfect love and harmony.

“Bai this village musbe de best wan in dis Guyana hea…

Abidese does live like wan he wid nuff, nuff love fuh wan an atha. In dis village we nah get racial difference or nobady nah fight an quarrel between wan anatha. Everybady does live like brothas and sistas… Like wan big happy family….. In dis village nah get black, and white, and coolie and potaghee.

Is wan people, wan nayshan, wan destiny…”.

Deoki Ramesh who operated a small food stall alongside the public road shared the same sentiments but voiced her concern of being turned down by the embassy five times as she attempted to secure a two-week vacation with her children who reside in the USA. “Bai, me totally agree with everything da man ah tell yuh,

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A Serene Village Reeking of Tranquility and Simplicity

get up from her bed from around 03:00 hours and would prepare her mauby, egg balls, poulouri, channa and other snack items and would trudge out to her stall on the public road about 07:00 hours. She stays there marketing her items until 16:00 hours before retiring for her night rest to take up duties by the roadside the following day.

Taxi driver Ganesh Persaud bestowed high praises on Government for ensuring that they enjoyed good electricity and proper water supply. He also said that most of the village enjoys excellent drainage, except for some areas in the Hague backlands. He noted that a main canal allowing water to several large rice fields in the area was clogged and overgrown with weeds and grass in many areas, hampering much needed flow of water to young rice plants.

The village almost boiled over with the praises of residents for the present Government which they said has allowed them to enjoy paved roads, an effective telephone system and other necessities of life.

However at the Hague Front area some residents shared different stories and highlighted several challenges they said

My arrival and interacting with residents I arrived and stopped out on the outskirts of the village, marvelling at the rumble and crash of the waves as they rolled in on a stretch of narrow beach just outside the village. Not being able to resist the pull I strolled over to the somewhat yester-year looking seawall and gulped in deep breaths of fresh air, lost in a ‘nature world’ where muddy waves crashed against rocks with a deafening roar, sending salty sprays in every direction.

Turning away reluctantly from this mesmerising spectacle my heart was almost jolted from my chest when I realised that I was just a few rods from the spot where the famed ‘Hague Haunted House’ stood many years ago.

Immediately I was taken back to years as a student in secondary school when icy fingers would creep up my spine every time I passed this old and eerie looking house on my way to Parika or other villages.

As I stared at the spot now taken over by thick foliage my wild imagination took over and I could barely restrain the urge to sprint from the area. As I raised my camera to take a few shots, the warnings of my grandmother never to point a finger or snap photos of haunted houses came to life and my throat became dry with fear and panic. Stifling my fears I took a few shots and hurried from that area as fast as my legs could carry me.

I managed to muster my composure as I entered the village and came face to face with the merry and ever-smiling 59-year-old Mohan Persaud a security guard who worked with

Welcome to Hague Village but me get want thing wha ah really batha meh. Me is a poor woman and all me does duh is sell by de roadside fuh mek ah extra dallah. Dem pickney deh outside fuh years now and nah mattah how me try fuh just guh spend wan lil vacation wid dem, me ah evah get through. Five times… Five times mistah!!! Five time me approach de embassy and dem turn meh down!!! Imagine dah eh… Me can’t tell when last me see dem pickney and me does cry bittah tears night time fuh dem.

Dem embassy people ah behave as if me ah wan thief, or like if me nah gon come back… Me ah wan ole, ole woman… All me want fuh duh is guh see me pickney dem, yet dem people dis ah behave like ah beast and ah turn me down every time…”

That aside the woman explained that she would normally

they were facing.

Shopkeeper, Clarence Mc Donald opined that while the village has a proper playfield, youths are unable to enjoy it since what he called ‘spiteful neighbours’ would lodge complaints at the police station, with claims that the youths were too noisy.

“I don’t know why Government has even bothered to allow a playfield there. We have several talented footballers and cricketers in the village but they are unable to enhance their skills, since every time they turn up to play some very spiteful persons living around the playfield Continued on page XXII

Hague XXII

complain of ‘noise nuisance.’ I mean with those games, people shout and make a little noise but not the amount they are claiming. These people are just exaggerating and our youths are very frustrated.”

Some housewives fear for the safety of their children who are attending the nursery school at Hague Front. Many complained of the state of the bridge that allows access to the institution over a main canal. The structure when examined was found to rotted in several areas and had large holes in almost every corner.

The Haunted House of Hague (Folklore) The tales of the haunted house in Hague must have sent chills up the spines of many who are prone to listen to tales of goblins, jumbies, bacchoos, demons and beings from the unnatural dimension.

On my visit there villagers seemed not to be able to shed light on the actual origin of such tales, but some did mention over hearing fables of the home having a discreet ‘inner wall’ from which demons howled and made ghoulish noises during the night time.

Some said that persons who actually resided in the house had reported of hearing footsteps and conversations in foreign language from that inner wall, hearing horse galloping, blood curling screams and even shocking commotions of human struggle, and mocking eerie laughter that rented the night skies.

However, the legendary musician, Dave Martins, who resided in the village, in his narrative tale of this house noted that Guyanese are fascinated by the notion of spirits. He also noted that Guyanese particularly seemed interested in in tales of spirits or demons that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The kind that has youngsters on bicycles wordlessly shooting past the supposedly haunted house (the Coghlan house near Pouderoyen) The kind that had Mrs. Vieira, a resident in Vreed-en-Hoop, tying stuff under her bed to ward off spirits.

In reference to the haunted house at the entrance to Hague village, Martins in a narrated story said he was amazed to find how many people had bought into this canard. He noted that his family was somewhat connected to the very house, and in his own words this is what he wrote.

“I was born at Hague in the Barcellos house, at the Middle Walk junction. In fact, my mother, Zepherina Barcellos, and her four sisters and two brothers, were also born in that house.

This, mind you, is not the infamous “haunted house,” but it pertains. My uncle Joe, my mother’s brother (he was married to a lady named Betty) had a general store halfway up the village, and a lovely upstairs house, where we later lived for a while. This is not the “haunted house” either – just hold on.

Farther up the village, Louis deSouza (he owned the Kaiser store on Lombard Street in Georgetown), in the late 1930s, had built one of the most beautiful upstairs houses on the west coast. It was on that corner where Hague turns to Den Amstel, on a wide curving piece of land on the waterside, with a clear view of the sea and constant sea breeze. At the time, the thing was practically a mansion. Now my uncle’s wife Betty was the daughter of Louis deSouza, so she naturally spent time there, and here’s how the whole “haunted house” story came about.

One afternoon, around 1940, with her six-week-old baby in her arms, Betty visited her father’s house, as she often did. She was standing by the window looking out to sea, and she suddenly collapsed. She was rushed to Dr. Cozier down the coast, and then to the Georgetown hospital, but in a few hours she was gone; autopsy later revealed she had died of a blood clot.”

“A very sentimental man, my uncle Joe was devastated by the loss of his young wife. In short order, he handed over the running of the Hague store to my mother and bolted to Trinidad to start a new life. However, the suddenness of this tragic incident was disturbing to Hague folks, and in the months that followed (remember, the village had few distractions in those days) speculation about ‘spirit tekkin she’ arose.”

The explanation that Betty had suffered an aneurysm

didn’t take hold; such things were little understood in those times. Furthermore, the notion of young Joe Barcellos, respected in the village, falling apart and bolting to Trinidad, suggested other forces at play, and before long the rumour was that the deSouza house was haunted by a lady – supposedly the reason for Betty’s collapse.”

The interesting thing is that in the 20 years or so I lived in or visited Hague (my aunts never moved), although I heard a number of juicy tales about a range of things, not once did I hear even a hint of anything odd about the deSouza home. No haunted-house talk reached my ears, but it must have started, because in later years, when three other people died in that same house, one of them a pastor, the speculation became fact – “da house haunted, buddy” – and now it seems to have become part of our folklore.

It is the way of such things that logic is often out the window. Apparently, nobody stopped to consider that, for example, there were several houses in the village where several people had died, including the very Barcellos family house by the Middle Walk.”

“Also, inherently – and this is where I started out – we are a people inclined to this view of the spirit world. It is part of our culture; it defines us; if we spot an opening for it, we go there, and moving back to Guyana I can see it in action.”

“Ironically, just two months after I returned here to live, a Guyanese fan of my music, telephoned me from London to enquire about my plans. In the course of a long conversation, he mentioned that his father had bought the deSouza house at Hague, had done some remodeling, and then had sold it to someone else.”

“He referred to the “haunted-house” rumours as nonsense, and we had a good a laugh over it.

And that, in a nutshell, is the straight ganga about the Hague house.”

However, I’m not kidding myself. I know enough about this culture to know that whatever I have to say on this matter will not make an iota of difference to the haunted-house adherents. Although the Hague corner house is considerably changed from how I knew it in the 1950s, people will persist in their belief that the “jumbie deh deh”; ask about it and you will be told so.”

“At best, it is actually a cultural expression, and no talk from anyone will change that – so it go.”

Who is Dave Martins?

It is said that the songwriting skills of Dave Martins would set the pace for the popular Tradewinds and set them aside apart from the many of the talented groups in the Caribbean.

A naturally gifted writer, able to achieve the difficult task of writing in many forms (calypso, ballad, folk, pop). As suggested by information taken from the www.google.com

The legendary Dave Martins was a resident of Hague

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

website Dave Martins has caught the flavour of life in the Southern Caribbean in a unique way.

Winner of the 1970 CBC-TV Cross Canada Song Competition (from over 1,800 entrants) and awarded the prestigious Golden Arrow of Achievement award by Guyana in 1977, Martins feels his migration to North America played an important role in his development as an artist.

He moved to Canada which gave him even more appreciation for Caribbean life that allowed him to pen song subjects that others may have overlooked. 'Copycat', for example, 'West Indian Suitcase,' 'Where Are Your Heroes,' 'It's Traditional' -those songs could only come from someone who has lived in both cultures. On the other hand, Creations such as 'You Can't Get', 'Play De Ting', 'Not A Blade of Grass,' 'Mr.Rooster,' etc., are rooted in the Guyana/Caribbean experience. As a writer, Martins has to his credit a Caribbean musical, Raise Up-Is We, commissioned by Guyana for the 1988 celebration of full emancipation and staged by Ron Robinson in the Caribbean and the U.S.A. He also writes an annual comedy review on the Cayman Islands that plays to full houses in that country's Harquail Theatre. What's left to do? There is a fantastic musical in the story of the Caribbean migration to North America from the 1950's on.

Dave Martins even unto present day continues to be a musical icon both locally and on the international front that never fails to leave a lasting impression.

The glorious beauty of Hague Back I have to agree my dear readers that Hague Front is very appealing and soothing to the senses. But it was my journey to Hauge Back in a taxi that rolled at a leisurely pace that took my very breath away as they driver engaged me in cheerful conversation.

As we left the slightly busier Hague Front, a certain calm seemed to take over as quite refreshing and super-cool wind floated though the car window casting ruffled waves through the hair of my driver.

As we drove down a winding, well asphalted road, lush green rice fields took over on both side, floating by in a hazy green that caused by jaws to drop open. As if flaunting their beauty for all to see, the young rice plants seemed to dance in ‘rhythmic glory’ as the wind caressed them hazily.

Healthy looking coconut palms, took up their ‘nature dance’ waving their sultry branches in a ‘swan like plant waltz’ that truly depicted the intense beauty of the tropics. And in the midst of fields and on well levelled dams, young boys were either casting nets in ponds, yelping in delight as their nets brought home glossy looking patwah, hurri or sun fish all wet and slippery with scales glistening.

Farmers rode by chatting cheerily on bicycles, their calves and bulging biceps all caked with mud from their toils in the rice fields.

There were these mesmerising patches or ‘natural groves’ that sported a fusion of guavas, mangoes, genips, dunks and cashew trees all laden with fruits, the very juice almost dripping from the insides. Trenches and canals gurgled almost dreamily, the black water made a glistening ‘marble like’ spectacle by the hot rays of the afternoon sun.

The noisy chatter of students filled the air as they made their way from school, broken occasionally by their reluctant goodbyes as parents and elders arrived to whisk them away from friends in cars, trucks and bicycles.

Colourful houses rolled by on both sides sporting kitchen gardens and a beautiful array of ‘flower plant species’ that

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Places of worship in the village

The beauty of the Atlantic Ocean can be enjoyed just outside the village

There is a farm or garden of some sort in every nook and cranny of the village Hague Nursery School

Posh houses and floral beauty are the order of the day in sections of the village added classic beauty to homes and lended an enthralling ‘countryside allure.’

I was greeted with endearing smiles and sincere salutations which made it difficult to leave as the driver almost pried me apart in impatience from the hugs of a merry grandmother he pleaded with me to return at the earliest possible opportunity.

Hague in times gone by Just in case you are wondering what Hague looked like in years gone by you will be thrilled to know that the village has always held a maintained ‘classic appeal.’

And to shed light on this issue was the cheerful elder Loomattie Tulchand who just would not allow the cameras despite the earnest pleading of her giggling granddaughters.

Being a teacher in her days she was surprisingly well spoken and active for a seventy-five-year old.

“In my time as a young girl this village was not as developed as it is today. There were not so many houses and the land was low and watery in many areas. But we always had

wide open fields and beautiful pastures, and lots of avenues for farming. Even before Government intervened and gave us the proper water, electricity, and the many luxuries we are enjoying today, this village always had potentials of becoming one of the ‘standout villages’ in Guyana. And I know with a little more work put into it, Hague can be made a distinct tourist attraction. Hague is the perfect place to rest and relax, away from the troubles of the world…”

Entertainment Hague does not have any ‘big time’ nightclubs or discos to offer entertainment but villagers are amazing not missing out on anything it appears.

According to residents they are quite contented to wait for wedding and birthday celebrations which can last for up to two weeks if allowed. Villagers at such times would engage in great festivity as they dance and revel the night away, consuming alcohol and enjoying delicacies made from beef, pork, mutton and sometimes fish.

Those that desire the joys of night life would journey to Parika, Vreed-en-Hoop and other areas to do so.

Worship and Education The residents of this village are highly religious and would worship at places like the Hague Front Sarawati Devi Mandir, the Old Lady of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church.

While these two houses of worship can be found at Hague Front, there is also another mandir at Hague Back also.

The village also houses Hague Nursery School which is not far from the public road Conclusion I am too bowled over by the beauty of this village, and I am afraid my choice of words would not give it the deserved credit.

So I urge you to hurry down there and enjoy the ‘Hague Experience.

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Rushing home to tasty snacks after school

The Hague Primary School

The home in which the legendary Dave Martins once resided The area where the presumed ‘Haunted House’ of Hague once stood

Enjoying a 'little tupps' by a roadside rum shop

Taking shelter from the stinging rays of the midday sun

Residents at Hague Back are peeved over the state of this trench that irrigates the rice fields

Mohan Persaud was very elated to shed light on the rich camaraderie that exists amongst residents

Deoki Ramesh is bitter at the fact that she was turned down by the embassy five times as she seeks to visit her children in the USA

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

MORE OUTPUT, LESS DRUDGERY IN NEW COCONUT GRATER (The Citizen January 11, 1978)

A quick and efficient way of extracting coconut meat from the shell to replace the arduous and knuckle grazing traditional methods of grating will be a boon to Guyanese where coconut oil is a vital staple.

A foot operated coconut grater is simple in design easy to use and produces far better results than others currently available.

With local consumption of fresh coconuts accounting for more than 50% of total production there is general need for stepping up the output so the new grater will be particularly welcome.

The grater’s rotary action and six bladed cutting head have been designed to produce fine lump free gratings from which the maximum amount of emulsion can be extracted.

Its treadle action achieves high speeds so that the meat from an average coconut can be grated in 40 seconds.

Motive power is by leather stirrups hung over a wooden shaft. The operator simply places his feet in the two stirrups and pushes down with alternate treads on either side of the shaft.

The grater has been designed in such a way that it is easy to construct from local materials.

All that is needed are two pieces of flat iron for the blades, a wooden shaft and a length of rawhide for the stirrups and some thick hardwood for the frame.

MORE FOREIGN $$ (The Citizen January 13,1978)

Continued on page XXVI

The Coopers of Guyana Distilleries Limited have sent another large shipment of barrel furniture overseas as the demand for this unique commodity continues to rise.

This shipment made on Wednesday last at the Guyana Distilleries Wharf, was destined for Barbados .It included living room chairs, coffee tables, plant pots and telephone stands.

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

From page XXV

LETTER TO EMPLOYMENT OFFICER WAS…A SNAKE (The Citizen January 23, 1978)

An employment officer at a state owned entity in Berbice, opened an envelope delivered to his office last week and out popped a deadly labaria snake.

“It was a hell of an experience,” he told friends afterwards.

In fact the official was left in such a state of shock that he had to take two days sick leave from work.

It all happened as he and another employee of the company were having a discussion in his office.

A large envelope was among his mail and as two men continued their conversation, the employment officer ripped open the packet.

The man on the other side of the desk spotted the snake head and shouted “snake.”

His colleague dropped the envelope and immediately after, the snake began jumping and snapping at everything in sight causing the two men to scamper out of the office.

They raised an alarm and there was a wild scramble in the confusion before the snake was killed.

The official told colleagues at his office that there had been threats against him because of his post but he had never taken them seriously.

“The last thing I expected was a snake in an envelope,” he declared.

2nd SEX CHANGE OPERATION SOON (The Citizen January 24, 1978)

A young man who had been taking hormone treatment for some time, is to be operated on shortly and is likely to become the country’s second transsexual in just over one year.

The handsome 24-year-old man wants to become a woman.

The brown skinned man who weighs 144 pounds and is five feet seven inches tall said that most of his life he wanted to become a woman and it seems as if his dreams are soon to become a reality.

According to the young man the operation is expected to be performed within seventy-two hours.

He said that he is from a family of nine children, four of whom are boys.

Continued on He said that since he was attending private school he wanted to join page XXVII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 14, 2014

From page XXVI

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

the girls as they went about their needlework and wanted to do all the other things girls did.

On many occasions he practiced the things he saw the girls doing and for some time he has been a competent “seamstress and hairdresser.”

A leading gynaecologist who was involved in the first sex change operation and a team of surgeons are expected to carry out the operation this week.

“SNAKE” SCIENTISTS DUE (The Citizen January 25, 1978)

Two American research scientists are scheduled to arrive here tomorrow to look into the possibility of capturing snake venom for scientific experiments in their laboratory in the USA. They are particularly interested in Guyana’s rattlesnakes and their coming here is the result of increasing problems in securing supplies of venom from other countries.

One of the two scientists Jack Kellman was here last year when he came with an antidote for a rattlesnake bite inflicted on Guyanese Lawrence Van Sertima.

The two scientists will work in close collaboration with Van Sertima and it is believed that they will make efforts to boost facilities at Van Sertima’s mini laboratory where snake venom is extracted.

The American scientists are expected to make excursions into the Guyana jungle to have a look at snakes in their natural habitat and they will speak at two public lectures on snakes and the uses of their venom in medicine.

SEX OPERATION SUCCESSFUL-DREAM COME TRUE (The Citizen January 26,1978)

Guyana’s second transsexual in 13 months is now resting at the Georgetown Hospital after what was described as a successful operation.

The 24-year-old described as a competent seamstress was wheeled into the theatre a man and came out some ninety minutes later with all the physical attributes of a woman thanks to the surgeon’s sharp knives.

“At last my dream has come true,” the 24-year-old said yesterday a few hours after the sex change operation.

“And I have informed all the nursing staff here that I will now be known as Sabrina,” the patient said.

The patient wore blue pyjamas in the theatre, a special concession granted, as it was to be the last time ever. Later the patient donned a pink nightie and was hustled into a private room, safe from the prying eyes of curious persons.

Sabrina has been asked for a list of persons who will be allowed to visit and no one else will be sent into the room.

Sabrina will spend one week in hospital and intends to carry on with the job of a seamstress and hairdresser after being discharged.

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 694 0913)

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A theory must be tempered with reality.

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

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

Jawaharlal Nehru

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

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

Every little thing counts in a crisis.

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

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

Great causes and little men go ill together.

It is only too easy to make suggestions and later try to escape the consequences of what we say.

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

Treat yourself to just a little taste of everything.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How about it?

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Charming Mixed Gardens

By Clifford Stanley Many of us recall the old-fashioned gardens of our grandparents or other relatives and neighbours.

These were usually a hodge-podge of flower and foliage plants.

It seemed that gardens, rather than being planned, more or less "happened" or more likely evolved.

As the gardener fancied something new or was given a plant by a friend, it was inserted into an available blank spot. Where yards were small and space was limited, these mixed gardens combined whatever was at hand. The end result often had an individual charm that was undeniable and delightful.

There's no reason, of course, why we can't create a similarly informal effect in a modern garden. For those with limited garden space, a mixed garden makes especially good sense.

It allows us to have some of our personal favorites, rather than limiting us to only a few kinds of plants-as is the case of massed garden designs.

Uniquely charming mixed gardens are possible.

A mixed garden is a very personal one that truly reflects the individual taste of the homeowners. Rather than being a garden for show, it's a garden designed for the pleasure of those who own it. If others who visit it also find it enjoyable so much the better.

Fruit trees can supply partial shade to flower beds filled with combinations of different-coloured annuals and perennials.

Clumps of favourite vegetables can also be placed among these flowering plants.

Create a shade garden without trees by planting under a vine-covered arbor. Shade gardens can feature serene blends of ferns plus a few dazzling bloomers such as azaleas and rhododendrons.

Although these plants usually grow amid trees and shrubs, they can thrive in shadows cast by other structures-walls, fences, houses, or a vine-covered arbor.

The advantage of an arbor shade garden is that fewer roots are competing for moisture and nutrients.

And unlike planting close to a wall or building, the arbor shade garden has plenty of fresh air circulation. In addition, an arbor looks great when clad in flowers and handsome foliage.

Reduce the volume of strong winds by planting a layered assortment of plants as a windbreak. Wind can knock down and dry out plants, generally making it harder to get the garden to grow well. Layered plants-taller trees with shade-tolerant shrubs planted under them create an irregular barrier that gently stops wind. Solid fences, in contrast, allow wind to slip up and over and swirl back in on the other side.

Don't forget to place a bench in the garden. You can sit and admire your handiwork, which always looks best up close. Your bench, even a rugged one, can double as a garden sculpture If you don't want to be limited to only a few kinds and colours of flowers in your garden, consider planting a mixed garden.

Note, sunlight, soil and water are the big three essentials when it comes to gardening. Every plant needs adequate light, moisture and nutrients from the soil to thrive. Learn how to assess your garden conditions.

(Derived from TLC –A Discovery Company)

Miranda Lambert Flaunts Sexy Body During ‘Fashion Rocks’ Performance

Miranda Lambert is at the top of the world these days! The country superstar took ‘Fashion Rocks’ by storm with a stunning performance of ‘Little Red Wagon’ at the annual star-studded concert.

We can’t decide what’s more impressive — Miranda Lambert‘s incredible voice or her insane body. The singer, 30, showed off her svelte, slimed-down body on the stage at Barclays Center in front of many more A-list performers for the New York Fashion Week celebration.

Miranda Lambert’s ‘Fashion Rocks’ Performance Miranda rocked the house at Fashion Rocks with her fabulous “Little Red Wagon” performance!

The “Somethin’ Bad” singer stunned

in front of Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Rita Ora, Pitbull, Usher, KISS, Afrojack and more stars who performed at the Fashion Week fest, which was hosted by Ryan Seacrest.

Miranda isn’t just a country commodity — she’s also one half of country’s golden couple! Her hubby Blake Shelton probably loved her Fashion Rocks performance, but unfortunately, the Lambert-Shelton clan isn’t expanding anytime soon.

On Monday, Sept. 8, Blake sat down on Ellen with his coaches from The Voice and revealed that Miranda is not expecting anytime soon. The world is definitely anxiously awaiting Miranda’s future pregnancy, but for now, we’re just fine watching her

Jennifer Lopez Disses Nicki Minaj During ‘Anaconda’ Performance

Nicki may have given a hot performance at ‘Fashion Rocks’ on Sept. 9, but J.Lo was not having any of it! The ‘Booty’ singer kept her arms crossed and refused to dance like the rest of the audience. Is it all because of Casper Smart?

Jennifer Lopez appeared to throw some MAJOR shade toward Nicki Minaj during Fashion Rocks on Sept. 9. While Nicki performed her hit single “Anaconda,” J.Lo looked to be grinding her teeth — she was not amused at all! So what gives?

Jennifer Lopez Disses Nicki Minaj — J.Lo Throws Shade At ‘Fashion Rocks’ Well, it’s important to note that Casper Smart, Jennifer Lopez’s hot young ex, choreographed Nicki’s “Anaconda” video. He also helped prepare Nicki for her performance at the event, which was held at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

In fact, Casper and Nicki have been spending quite a bit of time together lately. He also helped prepare Nicki for her performance the MTV VMAs on Aug. 24.

Jennifer Lopez Hot Sex Scene 'The Boy Next Door' Jennifer Lopez strips down in a hot sex scene in her 'The Boy Next Door' with Pretty Little Liars star Ryan Guzman.

Of course, there’s no evidence to this theory, but J.Lo definitely looked unhappy during Nicki’s sexy performance. Carmen Electra was spotted shaking her groove thing to “Anaconda,” and Jennifer just crossed her arms and sat there. It could have also been that JLo had just given a butt-shaking performance, too!

‘Fashion Rocks': Nicki Minaj, Usher & More Other performers of the night included Luke Bryan, The Band Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Rita Ora, Pitbull, Usher, KISS and Afrojack. The Fashion Week fest was hosted by Ryan Seacrest, and the concert, which was televised on CBS, celebrates the relationship between music and fashion.

stellar performances! Way to go, Miranda!

HollywoodLifers, do you love Miranda Lambert? Let us know if you thought she

had the best country performance at Fashion Rocks or if you preferred Luke Bryan or The Band Perry!

Nicki Minaj Changes From Black Mini To Embellished Bra At ‘Fashion Rocks’

Nicki Minaj was all legs on the red carpet for ‘Fashion Rocks,’ on Sept 9, and we are not complaining. She posed for pictures in a short black dress and had on a pair of killer heels. However, for her performance she took that off — and didn’t put much else on!

Nicki Minaj, 31, is not shy about showing off her toned body — that’s for sure! Before she took the stage at Fashion Rocks at Barclays Centre, the singer went braless on the red carpet wearing a black mini. It was actually a much more conservative look for Nicki . . . until it was time for the performance, that is!

Nicki Minaj’s ‘Fashion Rocks’ Dress Nicki has become quite the style icon and stayed true to her style when she showed up in a teeny-weeny black dress that flaunted her physique.

The singer had a body hugging belt that situated around her tiny ribcage and left the top part of her dress wide open. But the best part about the “Anaconda” singers outfit — her gorgeous black and gold ankle wrapped heels.

However, when it came time to take the stage, Nicki made quite the transformation. She traded in that black mini for a sparkling, crystal push up bra! She paired it with a high-waisted blue skirt that also had embellishments and was rather short. Of course, for her “Anaconda” dance, it had to be! It was definitely quite the look! She even traded in her gorgeous black and gold heels for white booties.

So, which look do you like, HollywoodLifers? The classy black mini rom the red carpet or the super sexy bra and skirt that Nicki rocked.

Harry Styles & Taylor Swift: Is He Upset Over Her New Disses – The Truth After Taylor Swift opened up about Harry Styles in a revealing new interview, we couldn’t help but wonder what the 1D hottie thought about Tay’s confessions. HollywoodLife.com can tell you EXCLUSIVELY if the British singer is hurt over Tay’s disses!

Taylor Swift, 24, has never been shy about dishing the dirt on her former flames, including One Direction‘s Harry Styles,

20. The songstress even has a song called ‘Style’ on her new album! HollywoodLife.com has learned EXCLUSIVELY how the 1D singer really feels about Taylor’s new confessions.

Harry Styles: How He Feels About Taylor Swift’s New Disses Taylor opened up to Rolling Stone about all-things music and relationships. She said she hasn’t dated since her relationship with Harry! After Tay got very candid about Harry in

the magazine, we dug deep to find out how the One Direction singer feels about Tay’s remarks.

Harry is actually surprised he’s still a topic of conversation for Taylor. He never realized how much he hurt her, and if singing about her heartbreak makes her feel better, than that’s cool. But he thinks it’s more of a gimmick to sell records,” an insider tells HollywoodLife.com EXCLUSIVELY.