Pepperpot 15 02 15

Mohabir Peter Phagoo Page XI

a truly self-made man

Mr. Mohabir Peter Phagoo

Mysterious Interesting &

Page XII

Places on Earth

PORT MOURANT Page XXIV

WOMAN BORN WITH 2 VAGINAS gives birth after 14

years of miscarriages and depression

CROCODILE

TEARS

Page VI

Page XVI

BACKTRACKING - an illegal but lucrative enterprise in the 1970s and 80s Produced and Edited by Mark Ramotar | Graphic and Layout Design by Duane Prince

Page V

‘Red Roses for Sonia’ (Conclusion) Would he come back to me?

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By Maureen Rampertab

his is a question that lingered in her mind each day since he kissed her ‘goodbye’. She couldn’t cry that day, the feeling in her heart tied in knots as she watched him walk away.

“Why is this happening to me, again?” was her silent question.

He had come into her life like a storm wave, capsizing the calmness in her mind she had battled so hard the last four years to find. The turbulent waters had tossed her into his arms for she was working at his home, seeing him every day, having to talk to him, his interest in her that spoke more than words could.

She had left when her aunt returned to her job and she began her studies, hoping that short encounter with him could be the end but he continued to see her, wanting to take her to lunches and dinners or just spending private time some place quiet.

The fact that she was four years older than him, from a lower middle class family and had already shared her life with someone else, didn’t matter to him.

“None of that matters to me,” he told her, “I see a beautiful girl I like, in whose eyes there is pain and sadness.”

“Why would you want to share my unhappy life?” she had asked him, “When you can have the world in your hands.”

He hadn’t answered, passing his finger over her lips, a deep look in his eyes, passion unclothing itself and when he spoke, his voice was just a whisper against her cheek, “I want to see your smile, to relight the passion in your eyes.”

For someone so young, he understood the language of love, just the way it had been for her at sixteen, walking along paths of a perfumed garden, the signature of love, igniting a wildfire of passion and bliss.

From the depths of heartache, her soul had become reborn, but a nagging little fear that it would not last stayed with her for all the days and nights of their love life – secret lovers - he had wanted it to be so his family could not intrude to separate them.

But the separation happened when Arun’s father decided to send him overseas to study. The young man he was, he could not go against his father’s wishes so he consented to continue the legacy of the family business.

It had stunned her but it was not as devastating as the first time for she had not believed, heart and soul, it would last.

Saying ‘Goodbye’ again was so hard and wiping the tears from her eyes, he had said, “I will come back to you, Sonia, I…” She had put a finger to his lips, silencing him, “Don’t make a promise you may not be able to fulfill.”

“I want you to believe I will.”

Once again, love had walked away from her life but he did not close the door behind, his phone calls and texting keeping it open. She did not often answer his calls or reply to his messages, her heart not truly believing he would return, focusing on her studies and to graduate top of her class with a diploma in cosmetology. She had felt such a deep sense of elation in achieving her goal, her spirits free to fly high in the sky.

“Now I can design my life,” she had said, “To become my own woman.”

She had returned home and opened her own beauty salon, her work becoming her life, a success story that impressed those who had known of her broken marriage. Her business grew as she became recognised as an expert makeup artist and she embraced work, leaving little room for anyone in her thoughts. But she just couldn’t stop thinking of Arun, for all the time they had spent together and the two years he had been gone.

On Valentine’s day for each year, he had sent a bouquet of red roses for her and in her mind, the question of the century lingered: “Would he come back for me?”

Sonia slept a little late, snuggled in the soft, fragranced comfort of her bed, for it was Sunday, the only day she got some rest, when there were no wedding appointments. Her mother looked at her a bit expectant as she sat down for a late breakfast.

“So, anything new?” She asked.

Sonia looked at her with a patient little smile, “Nothing mom.”

She knew that expectant look, she knew how much her mother wished she could find someone new in her life so she could be that happy, free spirited girl, again.

But the hurt and the loss were like stones in Sonia’s heart, the colour of grey.

What would it take to turn those stones into precious gems to put glitz in her life?

“Don’t worry mom,” she assured her mother, “I’m doing fine.”

Her mother sighed and said nothing more on the topic, talking instead about other issues in society. But her motherly heart worried about her daughter’s loneliness and she hoped and prayed something good could happen for her.

Sonia was sitting on the porch in the afternoon, browsing through a fashion magazine when her cellphone rang. It was an old friend she hadn’t heard from in a while.

“You wouldn’t believe who’s back,” she told Sonia after talking for a little while.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Ryan, your ex-husband.”

“Oh,” Sonia exclaimed, feeling a little stab of pain on hearing his name after six years, so deeply, he had hurt her.

“He was asking for you,” her friend told her.

“He shouldn’t.” Sonia said, anger rising in her heart, “I have nothing to say to him.”

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com

II

She laid in bed sleepless that night, wondering why he would ask for her, after all this time, not one phone call, no care or concern for her, knowing she had been so young and had given up everything for him. Her friend had told her he was married so there was nothing left between them, all gone, only the memories of the two years they had spent together. Those memories had become blurred when she met Arun and now, the time spent with him was what stayed fresh in her mind.

The next morning she opened her beauty salon, putting her mind on work and business for the day. She felt proud to know that after her break-up she hadn’t grovel in the dust of self- pity but risen instead to face the challenges of life. Today she was standing strong through her hard work and merit recognized in the world of beauty and fashion.

As the day progressed, several of Sonia’s customers who knew of her past relationship with Ryan mentioned that he was back, how tall he had gotten and how more handsome.

She listened, not responding much, her emotions displaying no interest, except for the tamed anger she was feeling within.

When he had told her things have changed, to move on with her life, she hadn’t quite understood then but now she did for he had found someone else, forgetting the love they had shared.

That night as she laid in bed, she wondered, “If deep love is so easy to forget, would Arun forget too?”

He had wanted her to believe that he would return but she was too scared to embrace that thought for the past still haunted her. The text messages sent to her phone, now, awoke a fear in her that it was Arun, telling her ‘It’s over’. Valentine’s day drew closer and she hadn’t heard from Arun in a couple of weeks, her short message to him, unanswered.

“How many more lonely nights?” she asked, standing on the porch, looking at the stars in the sky.

Her first love was lost somewhere in the marsh lands of no return as she waited for another.

On Valentine’s day the rush for makeovers and hairstyles were so overwhelming, she and her two assistants worked nonstop until late in the afternoon. She was alone, packing a few beauty products, when a voice she knew so well said, “Do you always work this late?”

Sonia’s hand froze in what she was doing and turning slowly, she saw him standing by the half closed doors with a bunch of red roses in his hand.

“Happy Valentine’s day, Sonia.”

Tears misted her eyes and she laughed, a sensation of happiness rushing through her body.

“Arun.”

He had changed so much, taller with chiseled good looks, his muscled body, toned and perfected, such a man.

“Don’t I get a hug?” he asked, smiling at her awed and happy expression.

He opened his arms and she ran to him, not tossed by the waves now but by herself and hugged him, crying, for all the days and night she had waited to feel the comfort of his embrace and invigorating masculine scent. He held her close and against her hair, he said in a low tone, “I told you I was coming back for you, why didn’t you believe me?”

“I was too scared,” she said, her lips trembling.

He wiped the tears from her face, “How can I forget when your fragrance is still with me, your passion and love.”

She looked at him, holding the red roses close to her heart, the love in his eyes, changing the stones of hurt and loss into precious gems. Broken now, were the wings of loneliness for he had kept his promise and she whispered, her heart and soul, unburdened from fear, “Arun, I love you.”

A Valentine’s night to celebrate their love, unforgettable memories.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

III

Love in the Time of Bondage

W

E are still unearthing material (printed and otherwise) in respect to some of the evils that transpired during the days of slavery/indenture, episodes that were better left unwritten by the first chroniclers of our history.

While hard facts on and about those two periods are slow in surfacing, many of our imaginative writers have taken liberty to reconstruct, oftentimes romanticising the past.

Here are two examples by writers that speak to the humanity of people in bondage. The first is a novel, ‘Lutchmee and Dilloo: A Study of West Indian Life’ by Edward Jenkins and the second is a long poem by Norman Cameron titled ‘The African Prince’ with a subtitle ‘a slave romance’. * ‘Lutchmee and Dilloo: A Study of West Indian Life’ by Norman Cameron Edward Jenkins The novel, ‘Lutchme and Dilloo’, by Jenkins, published in 1877, traces indentureship from India to Guyana mainly through three characters, all born in India, later transported to Guyana. It is a tragic love triangle story among Dilloo, his wife Lutchmee and Hunoomaun played out against the planning of an armed rebellion by the indentured labourers. In the end, Dilloo thrashed Hanoomaun in a stick fight where the latter succumbed to his injuries. Later Dilloo also died, in the arms of Lutchmee.

‘Lutchmee and Dilloo’ is the earliest novel on Indo-Guyanese life and it was the first time that ‘the coolie was a subject worthy of literature’. * ‘The African Prince - a slave romance’ by Norman Cameron The long poem, ‘The African Prince’, was written by Cameron between 1926 and 1934.

This is first verse of the poem runs: This tale goes back to far off days Which none would wish to see,

But that there were some sunny rays Let this a sample be:And the story goes like this: Peter was a prince in his land of birth, Africa, and the pride of his ‘parents’ boast’ until he was transported to Jamaica ‘a slave - yet not a slave…bent on being free’.

There were many reasons for Peter to flee but ‘Twas pretty blue-eyed Missy Rose/Who bound him to the estate’. Rose was the daughter of the estate owner. It happened that Rose took to teaching Peter to read and in turn he taught her ‘the Arabs written speech’. Eventually they took a liking to each other but realized that such a position was untenable. Peter in his magnanimity decided to run away, leaving Rose to a normal life. Rose did not buy his reason so they eloped.

The poem then describes their flight and the pursuit by the girl’s father leading a pack of blood hounds – the fiercest pack in the land. But Missy Rose who knew the lead hound was able to subdue the pack and to talk to her father, defending her action and to defend Peter.

The upshot was the father accepted the situation, offering his blessing to the union of the enslaved Peter and his daughter Rose. And thus ended ‘a sample’ of one of the ‘sunny rays’ of slavery.

The history of slavery/indenture is replete with stories, good, bad and indifferent.

And our scholars and creative writers will reconstruct those stories for us as time goes by and sooner rather than later as more leads become evident.

But for now, the above stories must be read as love in the time of bondage.

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

Dr. Parveen Chopra honored with

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

PRESIDENTIAL PHILANTHROPY AWARD

D

- by Martin Luther King Committee

r. Parveen Chopra was recently honored with the Presidential Philanthropy Award by the Martin Luther King birthday Celebration Committee at its thirtieth Awards ceremony held at the Marriott Hotel in Uniondale, New York.

Dr. Chopra was bestowed this award for his significant philanthropic contributions to the Martin Luther King Scholarships which are awarded to high school students of merit and need who aim to attend college.

Reverend Dr. Reginald Tuggle in his introduction said “Dr. Chopra has lead a life of community service and because of his heart – he looks to help those less fortunate. He is a wonderful role model to the next generation and our community.”

Julius Pearce, President of the Martin Luther King birthday Celebration Community said, “Dr. Chopra is a generous man who has worked hard his entire life…when he served as Chairperson of Finance of this organisation he was honest, trustworthy and lead with integrity. He is my friend and it’s our privilege to bestow the Presidential Philanthropy award for his major financial contributions and for the uplifting of individuals in need.”

Dr. Parveen Chopra was honored with the Congressional Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The New York State Bar Associations Haywood Burns Memorial Award, the Nassau County Bar Associations Liberty bell Award and has served with distinction in political life for over 25 years.

Dr. Parveen Chopra is the first Indian American honored by the New York State Bar Association in the history of the organisation to receive the Haywood Burnes Memorial Award for his commitment to the struggle for justice and the qualities that made him an outstanding advocate for civil rights and the empowerment of the powerless.

He also was the first Indian American to ever receive the Liberty Bell award for the promotion of Justice from the Nassau County Bar Association, where he served on the Judiciary screening committee of Housing court judges to prevent discrimination in housing. He currently serves as President of the Asian American Coalition with 14 member countries representing the needs of the broader Asian communities.

Standing from left, at Award ceremony, are: Dr. Kenneth Saunders; Reverend Dr. Reginald Tuggle; Usha Chopra (Past president – India Association of Long Island); Kailash & Mina Sharma ( Past President - Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation); Julius Pierce ( President /Founder MLK Birthday Celebration Committee) Dr. Parveen Chopra ( Presidential Philanthropy Award Honoree); Honorable Judge Peter Skelos; Honorable Judge Ruth Balkin; Honorable Judge Anthony Paradisio; Henry Holley (Hempstead Housing Authority) Lieutenant Commander Gary Shapiro – Nassau County Police Department; and Samir Chopra.

BACKTRACKING

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

V

- an illegal but lucrative enterprise in the 1970s and 80s

- US-based Guyanese relates experience of paying ‘big money’, getting caught, thrown in jail, all in pursuit of his ‘American Dream’

I

By Tajeram Mohabir T was an elaborate scheme, steeped in corruption both high and low, and a lure too tempting to resist for those who can garner the money to illegally fund their journey to the proverbial “greener pasture.”

Backtracking was a multi-million-dollar enterprise that turned a roadside vendor, who became an operator, into a multi-millionaire almost overnight.

And of course, backtrackers back in the days earned more money than some of the country’s top legitimate businessmen, since by virtue of their illegal operations, they were automatic tax-evaders.

For those hoping for a better life, it was a risky path through the backdoor but once successful, prestige became instant, merely of being referred to as an “American from New York.”

Now a US citizen, a Guyanese who was once caught and deported to Guyana, and for security and other reasons gives his name only as ‘Ramesh’, said because of the “hopeless” state of the country in the 1970s, stretching to the early 1990s, many Guyanese, particularly Indo-Guyanese were looking to escape the oppression and economic hardship.

And persons with connections, recognising the huge demand, schemed to take those willing to take the risk, to the ‘Land of Dreams’, the United States of America, but at a hefty price --US$10,000.

For those extremely desperate, an extra US$5,000 had to be forked out to buy their way ahead of those on the backtracker’s list.

Ramesh, who was recently on vacation in Guyana, related that in 1989, the first time he left Guyana for the United States, he was caught but got through on his second attempt in the same year.

Elaborating on his first attempt, the one-time East Coast Demerara resident related that the journey was fraught with danger and punctuated with errors and even though he held his nerves, he was eventually caught.

Ramesh related that backtracking was a “big” scheme as the organisers had strong contacts in the Police Force for certain, and probably agents in the US Embassy and the airports in Guyana and the Caribbean.

PREPARATION He related that before embarking on the journey, the persons being backtracked were ‘schooled’ for two weeks by the person taking them.

The schooling, he said, included the persons going backtrack being taught how to walk, talk and appear when they reached the local airport and the airports in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) and Suriname, when to switch their passports and who to look out for when they landed safely in the US. All of this, he said, was done through role play, which was repeated over and over again to attain perfection.

This, he related, was the key aspect of the plan.

He said cosmetic makeover was also an integral part of the business, as most persons going backtrack were first given TT passports, and they had to look like the person on the passport.

When asked how the passports were acquired, he said they were provided by the backtracker, noting that to the best he could recall, one was to go to T&T and the other to the US. When the persons being taken backtrack reached T&T, he said they would usually go into the washroom and insert their passport-sized photo into the US visa after passing immigration on checking-in.

According to him, on his first attempt, he was one of 17 persons being taken via the backtrack route, and all went well before they approached the immigration counter at the T&T airport.

One guy, whom he said was from Enterprise, East Coast

Demerara, when he reached the counter, presented his US backtrack visa instead of the one from TT. This, he recalled, raised an alarm with immigration officials and what made matters worse, was when he was asked his profession, he did not know what the word “profession” means.

‘I IS A CANE CUTTA’ According to Ramesh, the former Enterprise resident reportedly asked: “Wha? Wha a da?”. And when the inquiry

on the Island.

He related that in the first place, he never expected to be on the Island as the flight from T&T was supposed to take him to the US, noting that he least expected the question.

According to him, he was jailed for four days in a self-contained cell and was served three square meals per day with snacks. This treatment, he said, was better than when he was a free man in Guyana.

The father of two said on his return to Guyana, he was not jailed and was told that the 16 who had been deported from T&T were also not placed in solitary confinement.

Instead, he said, some members who had been deported from T&T advised the rest to report the matter to the Police Criminal Investigation Department at Eve Leary, after the backtracker had failed to give them a refund. They did report the matter as advised.

SOUND THRASHING Ramesh related that the backtracker, who was a Trinidadian, was taken by police officers into a “dark room” at Police Headquarters and given a sound thrashing.

He said they never got back their monies, but also never

was simplified to “What kind of work you do?”, he blurted out: “Cane Cutta!”

But on his passport, his profession was listed as Engineer, and even though the question was repeated to him several times, he strongly maintained he is a “Cane Cutta”. He also stressed, in the creole twang: “I does not lie.”

Ramesh said the problem got deeper when the immigration officials asked him whom he came with, in a menacing and demanding tone.

The now US citizen said he was behind the guy, and he saw him take a long pause and looked back, with all attention turned to the persons in the line.

He said he managed to maintain his composure, and then to his disbelief, the guy pointed him out, and almost immediately after an Immigration officer screamed at him (the Cane Harvester) “Who else?”

Due to the “hopeless” state of the country in the 1970s, 1980s and stretching to the early 1990s, many Guyanese, particularly Indo-Guyanese were looking to escape the oppression and economic hardship. And persons with connections, recognising the huge demand, schemed to take those willing to take the risk, to the ‘Land of Dreams’, the United States of America, but at a hefty price - US$10,000.

And filled with fear, he panicked and began pointing out the others, one by one, with some loudly claiming ignorance to avoid embarrassment.

Nevertheless, he said the others were caught but he managed to escape, as he hid his passport in his brief (underwear), relating that the T&T police at the time were not permitted to strip- search passengers.

He recalled that all of his 16 comrades were deported to Guyana the next day, and he boarded a flight to Barbados, then to Antigua, but was caught there when he panicked after he was asked where or with whom he would have been staying

According to reliable sources, during the period 1975 to 1990, thousands of Guyanese were ‘backtracked’ to the United States saw the Trinidadian backtracker again.

In 1989, US$1 was equivalent to G$33, so a backtracker was making some G$330,000 per person, the price for a decent low-income house in Guyana at the time.

Ramesh also related that the backtrackers, whom he knew, on average used to transport at least 150 persons per year.

This is a whopping G$49.5 million annually, which was more than the profits earned by some large corporations back in those days.

A backtracker operating for five years, taking 150 persons to the US consistently every year would have earned G$247.5 million, the equivalent of G$1.6 billion, tax free, today.

According to reliable sources, during the period 1975 to 1990, thousands of Guyanese were backtracked to the US. When asked where he got the US$10,000 from, Ramesh said his family sold their jewellery and received assistance from a relative in the US. Guyanese back then, he said, used to sell their lands and “commoditise” their daughters through arranged marriages to get to the US. He disclosed that this was done in the hope that “once the girl gets married to a US boy,” she would send for her family in Guyana, so that they could enjoy a better life than the one they had in Guyana. He said too that back then, when Guyanese back home know you are an “American,” it was instant respect and prestige as “they believe you’re a man with a lot of money.”

Ramesh said learning from his first experience, he consulted a different backtracker, by the alias “Yellowman” from Enterprise and sought the advice of a priest at a Kali Temple.

He said after various readings, the priest told him that he would succeed on his second attempt, but will have to perform a number of pujas, and he complied.

Ramesh, who said his family was not middle-class, forked out another US$10,000, and this time going by himself, he succeeded.

The now computer technician and father of two said he took a flight at the Timehri International Airport (now the Cheddi Jagan International Airport) to Suriname and on switching his passport there, he got through, and was picked up by a relative at a US airport.

Six months after, he said he got married and became a US citizen.

VI

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

CROCODILE

TEARS

By Neil Primus

O

ld people say, if you cry at a funeral and your tears fall on the dead, you will rot when they rot. I am not sure where this originated and I don’t intend to find out if there is any truth in it. Neither did Millicent. All she wanted to do was mourn the sudden death of her great aunt and get on with the next thing to follow; any other business.

You see, the day before, Millie got news of the demise of her great aunt Maude. This was of no significance to her until someone mentioned that the ‘old girl’ was rich and had left some things for her two great nieces. Millicent took instant interest. She would pay her last respects in the traditional way with a heart rending mourning performance.

Now, Millie did not know her relative personally. She had been told of her once or twice but never took any notice, not even when the lonely old lady had requested a visit from her.

This happened when Millie was younger and she had kept her distance.

After she got the ‘bad news,’ the now eager niece began to make enquiries about the funeral. It seemed that the old girl had requested to be buried in the village where she grew up.

This community was in a remote seaside village miles away from the city. There was one thing Millie hated and it was the ‘backwards’ countryside. But under these unique circumstances she was compelled to make the sacrifice. After all, the means would justify the end.

Millicent travelled three hours by bus to Sand Hills. When she arrived she hurried to the church. Sure enough there was the funeral service taking place. Before entering the church, she got ready for the performance of her life. Looking distraught and dainty, she stepped into the church whimpering.

This graduated to crying and loud moans. These soon gave way to lawless screaming and bawling.

The simple, quiet service had just begun when a crying, hysterical woman charged in. this took the old pastor by surprise and he stopped, lost for words. Now it’s quite a feat causing any pastor to be short on words. Hesitantly and a bit puzzled the preacher continued.

All heads in the small gathering swiveled to look at this new and rather interesting scene. Without a glance in the casket at the front of the church, the crying woman deposited her plump and supple frame on the floor at the foot of the dead.

The howl rang through the small, cold building. She repeatedly blew her nose noisily into a large red handkerchief with which she managed to keep most of her face hidden.

The surprise and puzzlement of all the other attendees was understandable. You see, no one was mourning because none present liked the deceased, who in life hated everyone of them. The deceased was a miserable, crotchety old man who got pleasure out of making others unhappy. When he died there was a huge collective sigh of relief. He died a pauper so people cared even less.

Millicent sobbed and bawled but kept a furtive eye on proceedings. It was a very small group that had gathered. This did not surprise her. Maude was ninety three and had outlived all of her close friends. According to the grapevine, she did not have too many acquaintances. The turnout at the funeral was proof of this. The pastor concluded the short service.

“Let us pray for the soul of our brother Stanislaus. May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace, Amen.”

Although Millie had little serious interest in the actual proceedings, the man’s words was like an electric shock. Her face contorted in disbelief at what she had just heard. Brother!

Stanislaus! This must be some kind of nightmare. Struggling to her feet Millie looked into the casket. She found herself staring into the face of an old Chinese man. The unexpected change of events caused her to scream at the top of her voice.

The mourning niece ignored the critical eyes. She had enough on her mind at the moment. Somehow she had managed to attend and mourn at the wrong funeral. How humiliating. What a waste of resources. But, where was Aunt Maude being buried?

As soon as the pall bearers carried the body from the church the now genuinely worried mourner approached the bemused pastor.

“Excuse me pastor.”

“Yes? How may I help you?”

“Can you tell me where Maude Bamfield is being buried?”

“My dear you are much too late.”

Millie’s heart sank. She was late for such an important funeral.

“What time was the funeral?”

“Three O’Clock. YESTERDAY!!

“Yesterday! Oh Lawd!”

Molly started to cry. She could see her inheritance swiftly slipping away. What a mess she had made of everything.

She had managed to get all the vital things wrong. It was the wrong funeral, the deceased was the wrong gender, and she had arrived on the wrong day. Then the good pastor dropped the bombshell.

“I was at the reading of the will just before this service.

Because her two great nieces did not show up for the funeral, the church was given all her properties. Millicent began to bawl in earnest. Tears poured down her distressed face.

Pastor Creavalle was totally dumbfounded by the antics of this strange woman. She had rudely interrupted his service earlier. She had mourned the wrong dead and now she was crying a whole day after the funeral of her great aunt whom she did not even know. But boy was he wrong.

She was not crying for great aunt Maude. She was in full mourning for lost opportunities.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

VII

In 1961 at Criminal Assizes…

Withdrawal of charge, substitution of another

- leads to accused successfully pleading autrefois acquit

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By George Barclay HE accused Ivan Benson was charged summarily with the offence of unlawful wounding, and he pleaded not guilty thereto.

The hearing was then postponed, and an indictable charge of felonious wounding was later instituted against Benson with respect to the same facts. He was thereafter committed to stand trial on the indictable charge of felonious wounding, and the summary charge was thereafter withdrawn.

The accused was subsequently indicted for wounding with intent and unlawful wounding. At his trial, he pleaded ‘autrefois acquit’.

The plea of autrefois acquit, which means the accused was contending that he had already been tried for the same offence, was successful because the magistrate had, at the

complaint is dismissed on the merits, the defendant shall be entitled to a certificate of dismissal which, “upon production, shall be without further proof, a bar to any subsequent complaint for the same matter against the defendant.”

Justice Persaud held: (i) a dismissal on the merits, but not a dismissal for some technical informality, whether obtained in summary or indictable proceedings, is a bar to a subsequent indictment for the same offence or any offence for which the defendant could have been properly convicted on the trial of the first charge. (ii) Under Section 34 (i) of Chapter 13, the magistrate could only convict or dismiss, and the withdrawal fell to be treated as a dismissal. Further, such dismissal, having resulted from the offering of no evidence amounted to a dismissal

The plea of autrefois acquit, which means the accused was contending that he had already been tried for the same offence, was successful because the magistrate had, at the summary trial, indicated on the case jacket that the matter had been withdrawn, which the trial judge at the Assizes found tantamount to a dismissal on the merits of the summary charge. summary trial, indicated on the case jacket that the matter had been withdrawn, which the trial judge at the Assizes found tantamount to a dismissal on the merits of the summary charge.

At the Criminal Assizes, presiding Judge Mr. Guya Persaud upheld the plea of autrefois acquit and freed the accused.

According to Justice Guya Persaud, Section 34 (1) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Procedure) Ordinance, Chapter 15, provides that the court shall give its decision “either by dismissing the complaint or by making such order against the defendant as the justice of the case requires.”

Section 34 (3) of the said Ordinance provides that if a

on the merits. (iii) An accused person who can prove a previous acquittal or conviction by legally admitted evidence other than by a certificate of dismissal will not be debarred from availing himself of the plea of autrefois acquit or autrefois convict respectively.

The plea of autrefois acquit was upheld.

Mr. E. A. Romao, Senior Crown Counsel and David Singh, Crown Counsel, appeared for the Crown.

Mr. J. O. F. Haynes, Q.C., with him Mr. P. Persaud appeared for the defence.

Justice Persaud, delivering the judgment, said: “The accused Ivan Benson was charged before a summary

George Barclay

court on the 17th July, 1961 with the offence of unlawful wounding, contrary to Section 30 (b) of the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Ordinance, Chapter 14, alleged to have been committed on the 14th July.

“He appeared in answer to the said charge on the 17th July before the Magistrate, when the charge was read to him and he entered a plea of not guilty.

“The hearing of this matter was then postponed to the 26th of July, on which day the police instituted an indictable charge for felonious wounding, contrary to Section 57 (a) of the Criminal Law (Offences) Ordinance, Chapter 10.

“The accused was not required to plead to the new charge. While the summary charge was still pending, the preliminary [inquiry] into the indictable charge was heard, and the accused was committed for trial, on the 6th September, 1961.

“He was subsequently indicted by the Director of Public Prosecutions for wounding with intent and unlawful wounding, contrary to Sections 57 (a) and 50 respectively of Chapter 10, and it is upon this indictment that he has now raised the plea of autrefois acquit.

“After the accused had been committed for trial by the magistrate on the same day, the latter wrote under the heading ‘Judgment’ on that case jacket “WDN,” meaning to indicate that the summary charge had been withdrawn.

“It is accepted on all sides that both charges related to the same set of facts.

“From the magistrate’s minute in the summary case, it is apparent that the accused was committed on the indictable charge before the summary charge was withdrawn,” the judgment disclosed.

The following submissions have been made in support of the plea of autrefois acquit: (1) That our laws do not contemplate such a procedure as a withdrawal of a charge in the magistrate’s court; that a magistrate may do one of two things - he may either convict or he may dismiss.

(2) That even if the magistrate has power to permit a case to be withdrawn, and the case is withdrawn on the failure to lead evidence, that withdrawal is tantamount to a dismissal on the merits; and (3) Assuming that the summary charge was in fact a dismissal on the merits, the accused may still avail himself of the plea, even if a subsequent charge is instituted in which an intent is alleged.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

WRITINGS, PUBLICATIONS & GUYANA (X1V)…

Rejecting the simple-minded snobbery of Michael Swan - in his book ‘British Guiana: The Land Of Six Peoples’

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By Terence Roberts HE importance of Michael Swan's book: ‘British Guiana: The Land Of Six Peoples’, lies in its overall description of a society largely created since its mid-19th century British succession, for the primary purpose of profitable manual and administrative labour.

AN UNINTENDED NATIONALITY Because all the practical problems mentioned by Swan involving labour, wages, trade, commerce, raw materials, political parties, and colonial governance, stem from this imposed purpose of colonial profit, there is little in his published report that recognises the possibility, indeed the necessity, of an actual Guyanese Independent nation emerging with its specific evolving identity and culture.

Such a recognition would involve acknowledging and heeding the entire cosmopolitan history and culture of Guyana, going all the way back to its Amerindian, Dutch, and French foundation of over two hundred years, prior to British succession. In fact, if Swan's interpretations and definitions of the society, and citizens he encountered in British Guiana, are intended to be heeded or followed by Guyanese today, no national culture would EVER emerge there; only the preserved repetitive cultures of six separate ethnicities, who perhaps could easily be stimulated towards various forms of overt and covert bigotry, divided loyalties, and ethnic favouritism, when the need is perceived to arise.

sense about two of Guyana’s greatest artists, the abstract painter Aubrey Williams, and the outstanding novelist Edgar Mittelholzer. He says, in relation to Williams' obvious early talent, that such a painter would have to “come to England to be trained”, before becoming a “good' painter; totally denying the numerous valid Native Indian influential creative antecedents already in Guyana, and the South American continent it

Swan’s ignorance, or deliberate denial of Guyana’s inherent South American geographic, indigenous, continental European and multi-ethnic African and East Indian cultural evolution, prompts him to write shallow, paternalistic nonsense about two of Guyana’s greatest artists, the abstract painter Aubrey Williams, and the outstanding novelist Edgar Mittelholzer.

THE MITTELHOLZER EXAMPLE is related to, where an early contemporary modernist painting tradition, steeped in a continental geographic, indigenous, and non-Anglo European tradition, (that is the birthright of all Guyanese), which can be cultivated from relevant forerunners, such as the Uruguayan, Torres-Garcia; the Chilean, Roberto Matta; the Peruvian, De Syzlo; the Columbian, Alejandro Obregon,; the Venezuelan, Armando Reveron; the Brazilian, Roberto Burle Marx, or the Mexican, Rufino Tamayo.

SWAN’S CULTURAL CHAPTER Swan, however, was no idiot; and the most interesting chapter in his book is titled: ‘Culture’; in which, by heeding the intellectual and artistic talents of Guyana’s great poets and writers, such as A.J. Seymour, Martin Carter, Edgar Mittelholzer, and Wilson Harris, he wishes their benign creative ideas and intellectual honesty could have more influence, tempering the earnest competitive political ideologies, doctrines, and one-up-man-ship of political adversaries.

Yet Swan cannot heed the broad cosmopolitan qualities he recognises in these local writers; perhaps because such an inherent Guyanese quality would contradict the British colonial writing project he has been assigned, which is interested above all in specifically emphasising ‘British Guiana’, not a far broader and more accurate ‘Guyana’, in which Britain is only a part, an ingredient, like every other ethnicity, rather than a definitive player, despite its largest sustained contribution of the English language, which, in any case, is of cosmopolitan linguistic sources, thus fitting perfectly into Guyana’s true, theoretically unified cultural identity.

SWAN'S CULTURAL DEFINITIONS Swan’s ignorance, or deliberate denial of Guyana’s inherent South American geographic, indigenous, continental European and multi-ethnic African and East Indian cultural evolution, prompts him to write shallow, paternalistic non-

Terence Roberts

Swan, like numerous commentators on Edgar Mittelholzer’s creative writing, totally denies that Mittelholzer’s brilliant interrogation of the pros and cons of interracial intimacy, and resulting miscegenation, is a vital and major concern relevant to generations of Guyanese, past, present, and future, because of their everyday social reality. Swan defines ‘West Indian writing’ (yes, but not Guyanese writing), as "untroubled" by the "problems" of "mixed heredity", and classifies Mittelholzer’s exploration of this topic in many of his novels, as "the unconscious, inborn tradition of Europe".

Well, not at all. This topic is a huge part of the social tradition of REAL life in the New World of the Americas, and even other evolving nations involved yesterday, today, or tomorrow, in waves of immigration. Mittelholzer's creative honesty relies on the fact that whether 'pure' ethnic Guyanese individuals choose to mix racially or not, they will have an OPINION, and a REACTION, whether negative or positive towards this simmering reality. This is what Mittelholzer’s characters brilliantly ponder, discuss, and react emotionally to, thus making his works firmly relevant to a Guyana in which mixing is not confined to past "colonists and slave girls", which Swan and other writers of his kind like to abhor, but between many OTHER different ethnicities in Guyana (or elsewhere), today.

A COLLECTIVE CROSS-CULTURE DENIED

Aubrey Williams

Edgar Mittelholzer

THE AUBREY WILLIAMS EXAMPLE Aubrey Williams, of mixed Guyanese Amerindian and African descent, would of course achieve deserved recognition in Europe, even though painting under the influence of many vital return visits to Guyana's wild hinterland and its Amerindian cultural environments, then returning to his metropolitan studio. At Canada's famous EXPO 67 in Montreal, an entire pavilion of Williams' abstract paintings exposed and proved Guyana’s cosmopolitan talent in the arts, and was praised.

Michael Swan’s writing in ‘British Guiana’, cleverly wants to segregate a ‘coloured’ Guyanese segment of the ‘colony’ as "bourgeoisie" who want to remain like "European colonials"; in doing this he totally ignores that it is from such family backgrounds, as well as from every other ethnic group, whether in the 1957 British colony, or after, that if he wanted, he could find and name countless intellectuals, and artists, and even politicians, who reject such simple-minded snobbery, and adhere to collective cross-cultural cosmopolitan Guyanese values. It is such a segment of Guyana's population that continues to be denied a voice in most writings and publications on Guyana today.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Mohabir Peter Phagoo

XI

a truly self-made man

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By Telesha Ramnarine ODAY, he is the proud owner of two prominent businesses on bustling Regent Street, in the capital city Georgetown. Back in the days, he swept floors and pushed grocery carts to aid the then business people who wanted to stock their stalls in the markets.

Meet the pleasant and down-to-earth Mohabir Peter Phagoo, 71, who is the Managing Director of M. Phagoo and Sons, located at Lots 95 and 139 Regent Street, Lacytown.

He was born to James and Chandrapattie Phagoo at Plantation Versailles, West Bank Demerara. They were living at the ‘Estate Range’ at the time.

He and his six siblings were, however, raised in neighbouring Goed Fortuin, also on the West Bank of Demerara.

Mr. Phagoo attended the church-owned St. Mary’s Anglican School, where he won a scholarship to attend Chatham High on Regent Street. He spent three months at Chatham High and did not further his education due to lack of finance.

“I was a little wayward too,” he said with a laugh.

He eventually married Lena (now deceased) and fathered four children, namely Christopher, Karen, Sharon and Shannon. Today, he is the proud grandfather of five.

on his own, he became the company’s secretary.

“The old man Beepat was very nice. I learned from him.

That’s who I learned business from. I learnt business in its true form; its true sense. We still have a good relationship until now,” he recalled.

NO SIGNATURES “I met some nice people along the way. When I was about to open the first business, I didn’t have finance and people lent me money, like Mr. Gobind and Shaheed Mohammed, called ‘Rex’. They never allowed me to sign any papers because they knew my reputation. They just loaned me the money like that. I’m still grateful to them,”

“Today, I’m happy because I did what I wanted to do. I never believe that I own anything; I believe I am a caretaker. Everything you think you own, you are going to leave. When you die, no matter who you want to give it to, if it’s not for them, the man up there would make sure it goes back to the right person.”

- Mohabir Peter Phagoo

BUSINESS IN ITS TRUE FORM Growing up, Mr. Phagoo said he wanted to become an accountant or businessman. “Businesses need to have a certain amount of discipline. Maybe it was in my blood,” he told the Chronicle in an interview a few days ago at his office on Regent Street.

After school, he worked with NM Gajraj, a firm that used to be on Water Street, Georgetown. When customers went to make purchases, he would transport their groceries to the market and help them load up the stocks. He left this job and went on to N. Kawall, also on Water Street, where he worked until the riots that resulted in the building being burnt down.

Mr. Phagoo’s big break would eventually come with his employment with Beepat’s, still on Regent Street, where he worked for over 20 years. He started as a “sales boy” who occasionally had to sweep floors. Just before he branched off

The Lot 139 Regent Street building before Mr. Phagoo rebuilt

Mr. Mohabir Peter Phagoo Contunued on page XX

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Mysterious & Interesting

Contunued on page XIII

Places on Earth

Eye of Africa, Mauritania

The ‘Eye of Africa’ (also known as the Eye of the Sahara) lies within the large east-African country of Mauritania, out in the Sahara Desert. Properly known as the Richat Structure, it is easy to see where its nickname comes from.

Looking at it from above, it looks a lot like a big blue eye staring out of the ground.

Ship Rock, New Mexico

Ship rock is a monadnock rising nearly 1,583 feet (482.5 m) above the high-desert plain on the Navajo Nation in San Juan County, New Mexico, USA. It has a peak elevation of 7,177 feet (2,187.5 m) above sea level. It lies about 10.7 5 miles (17.30 km) southwest of the town of Ship rock, which is named for the peak.

Ship rock is composed of fractured volcanic breccia and black dikes of igneous rock called "minette".

The Skeleton Lake of Roopkund, Uttarakhand, India

Roopkund is a high altitude glacial lake in Uttarakhand state of India, lies in the lap of Trishul massif and famous due to hundreds of human skeletons found at the edge of the lake.

The lake, known as ‘Skeleton Lake’, is situated at an altitude of 5,029 meters, in the Himalayas. Every year, when the snow melts, one can see hundreds of scattered skulls. The skeletons were first found by a British forest guard in 1942. Initially, it was believed that the skeletons were those of Japanese soldiers who had died while crossing that route during World War II. But scientists have now found out that the skeletons were of pilgrims and locals as the bodies dated to around 850 AD.

Sailing Stones of death valley, California

Sailing stones, sliding rocks, and moving rocks all refer to a geological phenomenon where rocks move in long tracks along a smooth valley floor without human or animal intervention. They have been recorded and studied in a number of places around Racetrack Playa, Death Valley, where the number and length of travel grooves are notable. The force behind their movement is not confirmed and is the subject of research.Some stones make linear turns others make oval turns while others create a wavy shape on their tracks. No one has ever seen them move and nobody knows the speed they move with. The mysterious sailing stones of Death Valley turn while they are sliding through the flat leveled valley and this leaves different tracks behind them. Some stones move further than others over two to five years.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

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Iron pillar of Delhi, India

Mummy of Sangha Tenzin, Himachal Pradesh, India A MUMMY of a Tibetan Buddhist monk, believed to be about 500 years old, has been found in India’s northern Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. The mummy, identified as that of monk Sangha Tenzin, was found inside a tomb at Ghuen village in the cold and remote Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, about 6000 meters above sea level.

In 1975 an earthquake in northern India opened an old tomb containing the mummified body of monk Sangha Tenzin. In 2004, the local police excavated the tomb and removed the mummy. The mummy is remarkably well preserved, with skin intact and hair on his head. He died in the seated position, with a rope around the neck and thighs (an esoteric practice recorded in few Buddhist documents). Victor Mair, a consulting scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, was quoted as saying the mummy was at least 500 years old. According to the report, the mummy is remarkably well preserved for its age. Its skin is unbroken and there is hair on the head.

The mummy of Sangha Tenzin is now on display in a temple in Gue, two miles from where he was excavated, in the Himachal Pradesh region of India, bordering Tibet. Controlled by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and isolated in the Himalayas, the town is very difficult to reach. The temple where the mummy rests is open to the public.

An ancient iron pillar in Delhi which seems to be rust proof, the Iron Pillar located in Delhi, India, is a 7 m (23 ft.) column in the Qutub complex, notable for the rust-resistant composition of the metals used in its construction.

The pillar has attracted the attention of archaeologists and metallurgists as it has withstood corrosion for the last 1600 years, despite harsh weather and has been called "a testament to the skill of ancient Indian blacksmiths" because of its high resistance to corrosion. The iron pillar is one of the world's foremost metallurgical curiosities. The pillar, almost seven meters high and weighing more than six tonnes, was erected by Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (375-414 CE).

The pillar bears an inscription which states that it was erected as a flagstaff in honour of the Hindu god, Vishnu, and in the memory of the Gupta King Chandragupta II (375-413). Made up of 98% wrought iron of pure quality, it is 23 feet 8 inches (7.21 m) high and has a diameter of 16 inches (0.4 1 m). Also, it was confirmed that the temperatures required

Hotel del Salto in Columbia (The Haunted Hotel at Tequendama Falls) The Hotel Del Salto is located near Tequendama Falls on the Bogota River in Colombia. It was opened in 1927 and shut its doors on the 1990s. Some say the hotel is haunted and no one wanted to stay there, others state that the adjoining river was extremely polluted and they had to close. Either way, it has an ghostly feel which makes it a big tourist attraction in the area.

The hotel’s Gothic design is perfectly enhanced by a river and waterfall.

In 1923, the building was constructed as a mansion by the architect Carlos Arturo Tapias, as a symbol of the joy and elegance of the elite citizens of the 20s.

‘The Manison of Tequendama Falls’, as the house was called, was built during the presidency of Pedro Nel Ospina (1922 - 1926). Its exterior features French architecture.

The hotel can be reached by train from Bogota for those who want to go and pay it a visit, even though the chance to stay overnight and experience the ghosts for yourself is no longer possible.

Hotel del Salto in Columbia has trees growing through its once-grand rooms. It opened in 1928 to welcome wealthy travelers visiting Tequendama Falls but it closed down in the early nineties.

The Tequendama Falls Museum of Biodiversity and Culture is a museum and mansion in San Antonio del Tequendama, Colombia. The museum overlooks Tequendama Falls on the Bogota? River. (Source: hitfull.com)

to form such kind of pillars cannot be achieved by combustion of coal. The pillar is a testament to the high level of skill achieved by ancient Indian iron smiths in the extraction and processing of iron.

Pulpit Rock in Norway Preikestolen or Pulpit Rock is a mountain formed like a huge pulpit towering over the Lysefjord in Rogaland, Fjord Norway. Preikestolen is a massive cliff 604 metres (1982 feet) above Lysefjorden, opposite the Kjerag plateau, in Forsand, Ryfylke, Norway. The top of the cliff is approximately 25 by 25 metres (82 by 82 feet), almost flat, and is a famous tourist attraction in Norway. The Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen), the most famous tourist attraction in Ryfylke, towers an impressive 604 metres over the Lysefjord.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Can Online Social Networks Replace Real Socialising?

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HY is it that when you go to a conference or business gathering, everyone else seems to know each other already?

There is a statement by famous sociologist, Emile Durkheim, that “Man cannot live without attachment to some object which transcends and survives him”. Man needs a social networking life. He needs a network where he can share his thoughts, feelings, etc.

Today’s life is so busy that people even don’t get time to

say ‘hello’ to their neighbours. Everybody is busy with their own lifestyle. Today, social networking has become online rather than offline. People are more interested to communicate online rather than visiting their places. People feel happy to receive an email rather than hearing a human voice or meeting face to face. It feels as if real relationships are under threat.

Google+, the new social network from the search giant, is only a few months old, but it’s already been declared a big success. So far there have been more than 20 million unique visitors, sharing nearly one billion items every day. Analysts have dubbed it a potential ‘Facebook killer’.

Why do we need yet another social network? The main selling point of Google+ is the way it attempts to mirror the reality of our offline social life. Unlike previous social networks, which have been created from primitive digital platforms-such as list-serves, message boards, blogs and even the Harvard Facebook-Google wants to start from scratch. It wants Google+ to be the first online space that’s based on the

enduring habits of human nature.

The design of Google+ reflects this lofty ambition. While Facebook lumps together all of our “friends” in a single feed, Google+ makes it easy to sort contacts into discrete circles, so that colleagues at work and buddies from college get different updates.

The new social network also makes it easier for groups to interact. The Hangout feature, for instance, allows users to communicate in video chats, as if they were sharing an actual physical space. Google+ even requires people to use their real names, instead of the pseudonyms that are so prevalent online.

The hope is that these software tweaks will make the site feel more realistic, more like a dinner party and less like a Listserv.

It’s far too early to say whether or not Google+ will stick around. Personally, I’ve enjoyed my time on the site, largely because the lack of anonymity encourages a less caustic conversation.

But there is good reason to question whether any new technology—even one as well designed as Google+—can effectively imitate our face-to-face interactions. There’s a long history of such claims, and none of them has panned out.

First there was the telephone, which was supposed to reduce demand for communication in person. The same was said of faxes and then email. In the late 1990s, when dot-com fever was at its peak, many technology enthusiasts predicted that cities would soon become obsolete, since we no longer needed to share sidewalks and cafes. Cheap bandwidth would mean the end of expensive office space.

But the data shows that the opposite has occurred: Cities and face-to-face interactions have become even more valuable.

After analysing more than 35,000 different peer-reviewed papers and mapping the location of every co-author, researchers found that scientists located closer together produced papers of significantly higher quality, at least as measured by the number of subsequent citations. In fact, the best research

was consistently done when scientists were working within roughly 30 feet of each other—that is, when they didn’t need to interact via screens.

This doesn’t mean that we should stop socialising on the web. But it does suggest that we reconsider the purpose of our online networks. For too long, we’ve imagined technology as a potential substitute for our analog life, as if the phone or Google+ might let us avoid the hassle of getting together in person.

These limitations suggest that the winner of the social network wars won’t be the network that feels the most realistic.

Instead of being a substitute for old-fashioned socialising, this network will focus on becoming a better supplement, amplifying the advantages of talking in person.

For years now, we’ve been searching for a technological cure for the inefficiencies of offline interaction. It would be so convenient, after all, if we didn’t have to travel to conferences or commute to the office or meet up with friends. But those inefficiencies are necessary. We can’t fix them because they aren’t broken.

There are many advantages and disadvantages of these social networking sites. The advantage of these networking sites is – people get connected with their friends easily even if they are far away from them. We can stay in touch with our friends and dear ones. We can even share our pictures, videos, etc, with our friends easily. The main drawback of these social networking sites isspending so much time in front of the system can make one’s world internalised, where people like to stick to the chairs rather than going out. This can result in serious health related problems. In a survey it is found that 60% of the people find social networking sites a waste of time…including myself!

The online network is so large that people get absorbed in the virtual world. There is no doubt that social networking sites are replacing real life socialising, but people should always remember that real life is always true and it is safe to have friends and well-wishers in real life rather than in virtual world. Let’s go play some cricket at the sea side…ease up the WhatsApp-ing and get cracking!

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

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Food For The Poor celebrates 33 years of…

LOVINGLY SERVING THE POOR T HANKS to loyal support from a diverse group of donors, Food For The Poor celebrated 33 years of devoted service to the poor on Thursday last (February 12, 2015).

Committed to helping one person at a time, one family at a time, Food For The Poor’s core life-transforming strategies are food, housing, water and education. With its offices in Jamaica, Haiti, and Guyana, the organisation is helping people in 17 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America to break the cycle of poverty.

“It’s very hard for many poor families to think about the

gramme in Jamaica in 1982 and is now ranked by ‘The Chronicle of Philanthropy’ as the largest international charity in the United States. Through its dedicated donors, the charity has built more than 98,000 housing units, shipped more than 70,000 tractor-trailer loads filled with essential goods, completed more than 1,943 water projects, and has delivered nearly US$11 billion in aid since its inception.

Food For The Poor is also committed to helping the victims of the Haiti earthquake, which devastated the Caribbean country in January 2010. Since the tragedy in Haiti, the ministry has built 5,015 permanent two-room concrete block homes with water and sanitation components, drilled 372 water wells, which provide more than 1.1 million people with clean water each day and built or restored 35 schools in the Port-au-Prince area.

Food For The Poor is also building villages, community centers, and clinics for people in need. Click www.

FoodForThePoor.org/tour to see how Food For The Poor is fulfilling its mission to save and to transform lives, while renewing hope.

GENESIS In 1982, Ferdinand Mahfood received a Christmas present from his wife. It was a book called ‘Something More’, written

by Catherine Marshall.

In 2014, Food For The Poor contracted to build 33 schools. This little girl in Honduras is using one of the many computers donated to the organisation. Since its inception, Food For The Poor has shipped more than 70,000 tractor-trailer loads of essential goods.

As he turned the pages of the book, while on a flight to Chicago, Ferdy (as he is properly known) was moved by the writer’s call to serve God in a more intimate and committed way. He wanted to have a closer relationship with God and to experience the fullness of his love.

A Jamaican by birth, Mr. Mahfood had inherited a successful import business from his father and had eventually moved the business to Miami. Since boyhood, he had given donations to the poor and continued to do so as his business flourished.

In 1982, after rededicating his life to God, he decided to use his business expertise to serve the poor. He has already seen the gut wrenching poverty in the slums of Jamaica, and he increased his donations to the poor in that country.

But Business expertise alone could not alleviate the suffering and poverty of millions in Haiti, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. So Ferdinand Mahfood became a beggar for the poor, combining his business expertise with the donations he received, to start a chain of giving that today results in relief projects and programmes in more than two dozen countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Guyana.

Food For The Poor (Guyana) headquarters

Robin Mahfood, President/CEO of Food For The Poor future, when their primary focus is finding food, water and a safe place to sleep for the night. For more than three decades, this ministry has met many of those basic needs, but the goal of this organisation is to provide families with an opportunity to become self-sustaining,” said Robin Mahfood, President/ CEO of Food For The Poor. “With the help of our donors, Food For The Poor has implemented animal husbandry, agricultural and aquaculture projects, and provides technical training that is helping families to generate income and to care for their own.”

Food For The Poor started out as a feeding pro-

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

‘ALWAYS HAVE FAITH’:

WOMAN BORN WITH 2 VAGINAS gives birth after 14 years of miscarriages and depression

By Ian Hughes

A

WOMAN born with two wombs and two vaginas has defied medical odds and given birth to a miracle baby - after suffering four miscarriages in the past.

Gary and Leona Doherty began trying for children when Leona was 21 but after difficulties conceiving they consulted a medic.

The couple, from Derry, welcomed Hugh Joseph on December 9 last year - after 14 years of heartache that included bouts of depression and Leona being given 24 hours to live.

The couple from Derry, Northern Ireland, began trying for children when Leona was 21 but after difficulties conceiving they consulted a medic.

It was then Leona got the devastating news that she was born with two wombs and this slashed her fertility rate by 50%, reports the Irish Mirror.

Leona, 35, explained: “I always said I wanted a big family; at least six children, and Gary and I had the discussion about children very early on in our relationship.

"We were trying to fall pregnant from when I was 21. They told me I had a rare condition that meant my womb had split in two while I was in my mother’s womb.

“As a result I now have two wombs, two cervixes and two vaginas. But I never had any idea. It was devastating.

"All I could think about was if I would ever have a family.”

In 2006 Leona suffered a mini-stroke in May, she miscarried in August and was diagnosed with epilepsy in October.

She says: “That first miscarriage happened very early, I was only about six weeks pregnant.

"We hadn’t even the time to get excited or be happy.”

The couple kept trying and began IVF treatment in 2009.

Leona remembers: “It constantly took over. I started to feel like a robot.

“That was how we operated, right up until 2011, when we had our fourth miscarriage.”

Gary and Leona Doherty began trying for children when Leona was 21 but after difficulties conceiving they consulted a medic - who delivered devastating news

Gary and Leona got involved with the Chernobyl Project, housing two children every summer.

Everything took its toll on Gary, he said: “My mother had passed away just before we lost the baby and I fell into a depression. I was off work for three months. It was hard.”

In May 2013 they began to foster a seven-yearold boy.

Leona had followed a gluten-free diet but was told after being diagnosed as coeliac she would have to begin eating normally.

After three months, her health deteriorated, she says: “On the 12th September I was having cold sweats and started hallucinating.

"Gary phoned my parents, who took one look at me and rang our doctors. My temperature was down to 35.1C and I was hypothermic.”

The doctors did not know if she would survive, they diagnosed her with organ failure and she was flown to King’s Hospital in London.

Leona had ischemic hepatitis - acute liver failure, which can be caused by low blood

Baby Hugh Doherty pictured with his proud parents, Gary and Leona (UK Daily Mirror photo)

pressure or dehydration.

Battling for her life she forgot about conceiving and was told it would take a year to recover.

Miraculously, six months later she fell pregnant.

She was monitored closely by the doctors, she had a stitch put in her cervix at 20 weeks and injected anti-clotting medicine every day.

Hugh was delivered by c-section, weighing just 5lbs 9oz.

Leona says: “I never thought my dad would get to see my children but on Saturday we christened Hugh and the priest who baptised him was the same priest who married my parents 37 years ago.”

She adds: “Always have faith and hope.

Despite everything I honestly believe that there’s always something good at the end of it.

"Of course, I had my fights with God; I struggled with prayer but I never gave up hope.”

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

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

MURDERER PRAYS AS JUDGE SUMS UP (The Daily Chronicle April 5th, 1934)

JULIAN, 22, also known as Azimullah, youthful slayer of George Perreira, rice and cattle farmer of Whim Corentyne, Berbice, expiated his crime on the scaffold of the Georgetown jail at 8 o’clock yesterday morning.

Meanwhile, retiring for only a brief ten minutes, the jury yesterday returned a verdict of guilty of murder against Hookam Singh, the man who brutally butchered to death Mahadia after a quarrel over a fowl that had messed his bed.

Throughout Justice Stewart’s summing up, Hookam Singh stood in the docks with his hand clasped, his eyes downcast, while his lips moved in silent prayer.

The Judge summed up for exactly fifty minutes.

The Jury retired at 10:35 a.m. and at 10:45 a.m. returned with their verdict.

Asked whether he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed on him, Hookam Singh - his hands still clasped - said: “I’ve left it entirely in your hands.

You’re my mother and my father.”

The Judge then passed sentence of death and the condemned man was led away from the dock.

The Jury in this case were Messrs.

J.R. Shuffler, E. McD. Jones, F.A. Lewis, F.A. Tyrell, J. DeCastro; J. Rodrigues, P.A. Ross; H. King; S.D.C. Benjamin; J.G. Stephens; W.C. Daniels and J. Williams.

Mr. Kenneth Stoby represented Hookam Singh and Mr. C. Humphreys prosecuted for the Crown.

40 HELD IN ‘SPEAK EASY’ BETTING SHOP RAID (Guyana Chronicle May 3, 1980)

A SQUAD of detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters on Labour Day raided two clandestine bookmakers’ shops in Georgetown and arrested more than 40 punters and those responsible for the operations.

The two shops, one on Regent Street, Lacytown and Lombard Street, Werk-en-Rust were raided shortly before noon as betting on horses in the English racing season was in full swing.

Those arrested were placed in a Tata Bus and taken to Police headquarters for questioning but were released after three hours and charges are expected to follow after officials of the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecution have had a look at the statements.

The Police have been concerned recently about the “mushrooming” of bookie shops in Georgetown and recently one man who operated such an establishment was ordered to pay more than $62,000 as part of the licence for operating a betting booth.

BERBICE RADIO RAMBLINGS (The Daily Chronicle March 21st 1934)

WIRELESS receiving sets are becoming very popular in ‘Sleepy Hollow’ judging by the outpourings one hears while walking through the Main Street at night.

I have been told that several new sets have been acquired during the last two months, chiefly as a result of the activities of agents from Georgetown. There is hardly any well-known make not represented in New Amsterdam .

It seems that you only have to make a silent wish of owning a set some day when by some mysterious means your wish gets on the air to Georgetown and you are bombarded by sales talks from various manufacturers’ representatives, each one quite positive that the other man’s make is not in a class with his.

HAVE A BODY TO SPARE? (Guyana Chronicle April 23, 1980)

THE Health Ministry has called for public cooperation and support for a proposal to make cadavers (dead bodies) available for medical scientific research.

The Ministry said in a statement issued through the Information Ministry that it envisaged that bodies would be available through donations.

Such donations could be made through wills, by agreement of relatives or through unclaimed bodies.

The support of several organisations is being asked in this venture and the Ministry will be grateful if individuals would express their opinions and ideas on the matter, the statement said.

The statement added that for some time now the Health Ministry had been seeking ways and means of improving medical research in the Caribbean region.

It said that an important aspect of preparing medical students for effective service is for medical schools to have cadavers for teaching and demonstrating purposes.

The Ministry explained that the use of cadavers in medical schools is absolutely necessary in the learning of anatomy and medical students are required to dissect them in order to become totally familiar with the make-up and functioning of the human body.

“All over the world people are encouraged to will their bodies after death to medical schools for this purpose as well as for scientific research.”

“There are too many large hospitals eye banks, heart banks, kidney banks. Here instead of donating the entire body, the person stipulates which organ or organs are to be removed. These banks exist to provide those specific organs when necessary such as after accidents or to replace diseased organs, the Ministry said.

In addition, if Guyanese are to benefit from modern medical scientific research, this is still the most effective way for students to learn so that problems suffered by mankind can be avoided.

Medical Department keeping close watch on…

VAMPIRE BATS SITUATION IN NORTH WEST (Daily Argosy July 27, 1960) THE Medical Department is keeping a close watch on the reported outbreak of paralytic rabies caused by vampire bats which has so far taken the lives of three children with the death of a fourth suspected in the Aruka area in the North West District.

The first threat of the disease for this year occurred in May when an adult in the North West died under conditions which pointed to (although not verified) infection by vampire bat bite.

Since this occurrence, two children from the Aruka

area died at the Georgetown Hospital from paralytic rabies.

About eleven days ago, another child from the North West was brought to the City and succumbed through the bites of vampire bats.

The Medical Department, a spokesman said yesterday, had already taken steps to combat the outbreak of the disease and serum and vaccine have been provided by the Department for treatment in the North West.

Residents of Aruka have been alerted by Medical officials to avoid being bitten by bats of any type.

In 1953 there was an outbreak of Paralytic Rabies in the Kurupung creek.

Last year Mr. Greenhall attached to the Ministry of Agriculture in Trinidad visited British Guiana and carried out a survey of the bat population in various parts of the country.

As a result of Mr. Greenhall’s visit, two young Guianese were sent to Trinidad during the early part of this year to undergo training in the identification and destruction of bats.

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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I

'm a woman, 36, and I think I'm having an early midlife romantic crisis. It started last August when I broke up with my boyfriend. It suddenly became clear he had no intention of getting married.

So I cut my losses.

Growing up an only child with not much family, marriage and family have always been important to me. After the breakup, I started feeling life was passing me by. I had this burning desire to accomplish all the things on my bucket list.

So, I went to Ireland to explore my family heritage. I learned to tango. I took courses and became an expert in wine.

I found a personal trainer and got into great shape. I even got a boob job - no regrets there, I did it for the right reasons. I invested time and effort into improving relationships with my family and close friends.

But these things left me feeling empty, like life was devoid of meaning. The truth is, all I've ever wanted is to find love, have a family and a place to belong. I thought if I did those things, maybe love would find me. I thought everything would work out.

It hasn't. Now I'm honestly afraid of spending the rest of my life alone.

Everyone my age with a decent head on their shoulders has already found a partner and built a life. Meanwhile I've spent the last 10 years in therapy, working on self-improvement, rehashing childhood trauma and overcoming intimacy issues.

My therapist thinks I'm healthy emotionally and my only problem is "meeting the right one." I've dated a ton and made every mistake in the book. I've had an interesting life and built a lot of character on the way.

I'm smart, funny, thoughtful, attractive, affectionate, loyal,

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the bond of mother and child, or the willingness of a man to risk his life to save the life of someone he doesn't even know."

You have to let go. What might 10 years of therapy prove?

You can't talk, calculate or reason this into existence. Not everyone gets what they wish for, though lots of people get what they settle for. grounded, compassionate, well-educated, successful, adventurous, supportive, a good listener and an altogether awesome girlfriend.

There's no reason why I shouldn't be able to find a life partner. So what gives?

People say love will find you when you aren't looking.

But how do I stop looking when that's all I ever wanted?

The only solution I can come up with is spiritual. Seriously, I could use a month in India working on meditation, living in the now and releasing myself from this sadness.

Obviously I'm at the apex of frustration, ranting to a random advice columnist at 2 a.m., but I could use some good advice.

VANESSA ******

OUR ADVISE: Vanessa, what is it? You are doing all these things to find something that comes when it comes if it comes.

Many years ago we wrote that the love of two people who belong together is "a force from another dimension, like the migration of animals, the connection between friends,

You have to live in today. Are you okay today? Family isn't a guarantee. The love of your life isn't a given, as life and health aren't givens. People lose them every day. You have to find a way to accept what you have.

It's true that love will find you when you are not looking, but you are still looking out of the corner of your eye. Some people don't have what you have, and all you can think of is what you don't have. The list of adjectives you use to describe yourself - how many people will never have that?

Get out, as you have been, and keep living. Because it looks like you are having a pretty wonderful life. What you wish for seems to be stopping you from being happy.

WAYNE & TAMARA

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I

around two years old. Some of the last baby teeth to emerge are baby molars that have wrinkled biting surfaces perfect for chewing and grinding food. There are natural pits and crevices in the biting surfaces where bacteria can quickly become entrenched.

If harmful bacteria aggressively populate these areas, any sugar in the diet will feed them. With energy from the sugar, the bacteria reproduce

- use it for a great start to dental health

F you’re about eighteen years old (or when all their permanent teeth have erupted), and your dentist tells you that your teeth are in “perfect” condition, then you are more likely than others to have perfect teeth for life.

Parents have the power to give their children a lifetime of cavity-free teeth. However, there are some critical times to take action. The window of opportunity is small.

Parents and guardians must be aware of the sequence and timing when teeth erupt and will want to allow sufficient time to change the quality of mouth bacteria before new teeth come into the mouth during childhood and adolescence.

Many people do not know that for many years the Ministry of Health has a programme existing whereby prenatal mothers have, within their maternity clinics, access to information and relevant dental service designed to enhance oral health of their newborn infants.

In a stunning research project a significant benefit for children was seen when mothers ate a few grams of xylitol each day. Starting before birth of her child, researchers found that children had healthier teeth and beneficial effects continued for years, even after the preventative programme stopped. If a new mother will consume some xylitol each day during the first year of her baby’s life, she will have the opportunity to improve her baby’s dental health by up to 80% compared with control groups.

Now, many will ask,

“What is xylitol? Xylitol is a synthetic compound sold in xylitol toothpaste. Xylitol mouth spray, moisturising mouth spray, spray whitening, xylitol gum, xylitol candy, xylitol sweetener (for diabetics), etc.

Recently, the wife of a friend of mine was about to have a baby, and I described the details of this study to him. I ordered xylitol-containing chewing gum from the same company that made chewing gum for this research project twenty-five years previously. I gave some of the gum to the expectant couples in the hope that they would start a preventative programme.

The young man talked with the mother, who in turn talked with her OB/GYN. The doctor told them he had never heard of this method of dental disease prevention and advised her not to use the product. Anyone can guess the result.

Studies show that the greatest reduction in harmful bacteria comes from eating products sweetened with 100 percent xylitol.

Parents who chew xylitol gum or eat xylitol mints each day from the time the baby is born will gradually clean away unhealthy bacteria from their mouths before the eruption of the baby’s first tooth. With a little effort, parents can give their baby a great start to dental health.

Friendly germs and cavity germs fight to live on your child’s tooth, and the first one on the tooth wins! If friendly germs are first to reach a new tooth, they will take over, and the child’s chance of future cavities can be re-

duced. For added protection and to ensure your baby’s mouth is healthy before teeth begin to erupt, wipe his or her gums with a 100 percent xylitol wipe such as Spiffies, or let your baby enjoy xylitol-sweetened water between feedings.

Baby teeth first erupt at around six or seven months of age and continue, a few at a time, until the child is

and form acids that cause tooth damage in the depths of the pits and crevices.

The enamel of new molars takes almost a year to become strong enough to resist attacks. Pediatric dentists often need to fill cavities in the biting surfaces of new molars before a child’s third birthday, before the teeth have even had time to fully mature and harden. Whether a mother is breast-feeding, using formula, or feeding her child solid food, she should worry about the kind of bacteria in these molar crevices and also try to control the acidity and sugar content of drinks and foods, especially when her child has a dry mouth while napping or sleeping.

Because proper cleaning of your baby’s teeth is often difficult, make sure your baby is protected at all times by encouraging the growth of healthy bacteria in the mouth both before and during the time that molars erupt.

For babies, toothpaste is not

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necessary. In fact, many children’s toothpastes are bad for teeth, because they contain sugar or sorbitol. Use of a soft toothbrush dipped in a solution made from an individual packet of granular xylitol dissolved in warm water or a xylitol-containing toothpaste or spread a xylitol gel on the teeth and gums.

Baby wipes containing xylitol can also be useful.

The art of breast-feeding can be difficult, and the last thing a new mother needs to hear are unfounded concerns that she may be inducing cavities in her baby’s teeth. A 2011 – 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey provided data that were used by the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry to evaluate more than 1,500 children between the ages of two and five. They found that neither breast-feeding nor its duration is associated with increased risk of early tooth decay in children.

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Mohabir Peter Phagoo

Mr. Phagoo was married to Lena (now deceased) From page XII Mr. Phagoo recalled.

No bank wanted to loan him money because he wanted to specify the terms on which to borrow.

He decided to try a last one though, the Royal Bank. “The manager, Mr. Jim Bryce, looked at me and told me I can’t tell the bank how I wanted the money; that I had to satisfy the bank. I told him that the money I had was what I worked hard for and that I didn’t want to lose it and that if I took it the bank’s way, I would lose it but if I took it my way, I would be able to pay it back. He said he was sorry that he couldn’t grant the money. While I was walking out, he clapped his hand and called Mr. Phagoo spoke to the Chronicle in his office recently me back and said he would take a chance with me.

The funny thing about it is that they never let me sign anything.

“Eventually, he granted me more money every time I called. He was a Scotsman. I can never forget him. A negotiator took over the bank and because of the information he put in my file, I had no problems with the bank after he went back to his home country.”

In the 1980s when he was setting up his first business, located more towards Regent and Camp Streets, everyone wanted to know why he would do this in light of the country’s political climate. “But I always lived by one philosophy: Country don’t dead; leaders does dead. So in no time are two persons the same persons. There must be a variation and I proved it right.”

Some 20 years after opening his business, Mr. Phagoo opened his second, this time more towards Regent and King Streets. “I started off with three of this, four of that, six of that.

I had my big son who used to go to Queen’s. When he came off in the afternoon, he took his bicycle and see whatever he got to buy; two or three of something and came and put it on the shelf to sell.

“When I bought here (Regent and King Streets), I didn’t have money. I got it on credit without a cent and I got transport and the transport only had the value of what the person wanted me to pay. Could you believe it?”

Throughout it all, though, Mr. Phagoo had to work reHe is still very much involved in the business today ally hard. “I used to work from 7:30 am until 3 am the next

Mr. Phagoo in his young days morning for seven years. Due to my work, it caused strains on my family. It never occurred to people in the home that I was doing this for them,” he said.

TO LEAVE A MARK “Today, I’m happy because I did what I wanted to do. I never believe that I own anything; I believe I am a caretaker. Everything you think you own, you are going to leave. When you die, no matter who you want to give it to, if it’s not for them, the man up there would make sure it goes back to the right person.”

The most important thing, Mr. Phagoo said, is to be able to leave a mark. “I have come here and I would like to leave a mark when I am gone.

That’s why I build every building with love and strength. You have to have a gift to be successful in business. It’s not just buy and sell,” he offered.

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Entertainment Shakti Kapoor’s daughter, Shraddha, to star in Rock On 2!

Rock On is all set to make a comeback with a sequel.

And thankfully, we still have the same three boys playing their bit. That is, Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal and Purab Kohli. And this time, the female lead is none other than…No it’s not Alia Bhatt but Shraddha Kapoor!

The film is a cult that really was enjoyed by the youth and gained instant popularity, from the songs, to the actors, to the entire feel of the film. (Bollywood. com) Shraddha Kapoor

'Fifty Shades of Grey' premiere marred by protesters THE London premiere of raunchy movie ‘Fifty Shades Of Grey’ was marred by protest groups campaigning against domestic violence on Thursday night (February 12th, 2015).

Members of a Domestic Violence campaign group descended on Leicester Square in the British capital armed with placards, balloons, T-shirts and a large banner to protest against the film's portrayal of a kinky relationship while the stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan walked the grey carpet.

Other individuals held up placards to condemn the film for allegedly glamorising domestic violence, with one sign reading, "BlueAboutGrey - because some Ana's don't survive their Christian's (sic)".

Director Sam Taylor-Johnson addressed the calls of domestic violence to U.K. TV show Good Morning Britain, saying, "We took a very definite approach towards empowering Anastasia and she goes on a sexual exploration, but it's one she goes on willingly and she consents throughout."

Stars including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, author E.L. James, former Pussycat Doll Ashley Roberts and singer Jamelia also attended the premiere.

Katrina finds Ranbir's dressing too serious!

And thus, this sweet, sweet girlfriend of Jr. Kapoor has been shopping for him! Besides cooking for him, she is also managing his wardrobe and adding some colour to it.

Now, we know Kat’s style – cheerful and perky! It would be interesting to see Ranbir Kapoor’s dressing in the next few months! He might just surprise you with his new stylist’s decisions.

Last time Kat went to London, which was for New Years, she wasn’t just shopping for herself, but also for Ranbir. She picked up lots of new jackets and denims for him, for a more casual, relaxed look.

We have no idea if Ranbir is okay with that. But then, does he have a choice? (bollywood.com)

Jim Iyke, Sammie Okposo, lends Support to Nigerian Troops STAR actor Jim Iyke and Gospel singer Sammie Okposo visited the famous Nigerian troops at Mogadishu Cantonment in Abuja earlier this week to show their support and encourage their acts of bravery. They did this in partnership with ‘Support Our Troops’ group. The Nigerian soldiers are still trying to battle insurgents, Boko Haram and what they need is encouragement. (Nollywood. com)

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PORT MOURANT - a thriving community where humble residents appreciate Gov’t efforts - also the birth place of Guyana’s late iconic leader Dr. Cheddi Jagan

- and famous cricketers like Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Alvin Kallicharran, Randolph Ramnarace, Ivan Madray and John Trim

I

By Alex Wayne WAS greatly anticipating my visit to this village, and folks, I certainly had good reason to do so. You see, I have always been told stories of what a wonderful location it is with its almost pristine beauty, oldworld charm and the almost liquid rivulets of cheer and festivity that are present amongst its people.

So naturally when the opportunity came I was up and ready quite early, preening my face and selecting the best attire, since I certainly wanted to make an impression.

Still, I was in no way prepared for the whirlpool of laughter that engulfed me, coupled with the merry smiles and twinkling eyes that welcomed me on my arrival. There was such a high degree of welcoming warmth and hospitality that exuded from the people that in no time I was caught up in the heady tentacles of pleasant conversation, hearty giggles and even brotherly hugs in some cases.

This was certainly the place I wanted to be and I instantly decided to take every advantage of the occasion.

I was in the breathtaking village of Port Mourant in Corentyne, Berbice.

west of its border is located Guyana's smallest town, Rose Hall, and to the east lies Bloomfield. To the north and south the village is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and sugar cane fields respectively.

It is a very large village made up of about 15 settlements including Free Yard, Bound Yard, Portuguese Quarter, Bangladesh, Ankerville, Clifton, Tain, Miss Phoebe and John’s, and it is nestled between Guyana’s smallest town of Rose Hall to the west and Bloomfield Village to the east. Bound Yard got its name from the indentured labourers who lived there. After they had served their contracts they moved to another location, suitably called Free Yard. ** CRICKET GREATS Census report figures from the Guyana Bureau of Statistics

** A LITTLE HISTORY Port Mourant is a village located in Region 6 (East Berbice/ Corentyne), in Guyana. This agriculturally sustained village is famous for producing one of the country's most influential and iconic political figures, Dr. Cheddi Famous cricketers: Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran, Basil Butcher Jagan.

Dr. Jagan and many of his contemporaries from Port Mourant who later excelled, were indicate that the settlement's population in 2002 was 7,570. fortunate to attend the first and very successful secondary As history would dictate, many international “cricket greats” school established in the village by the academic - Pandit RN such as Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Randolph Persaud. This village has also produced a number of famous Ramnarace, Ivan Madray, the Etwaroo brothers and brothers cricketers, for example, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Alvin Kallicharran & Derek Kallicharran, have earned their Solomon, Alvin Kallicharran, Randolph Ramnarace, Ivan cricketing berth here in Miss Phoebe.

Madray and John Trim.

In addition, one of the world famous attorneys Sir Lionel Luckhoo was born in Port Mourant. There are a number of ** EDUCATION FROM ‘NURSERY TO UNIVERSITY’ families who have migrated from Port Mourant to the United States and Canada and have become very successful and Port Mourant was also described as the only village that outstanding citizens, such as the Mohans, Persauds, Narines, offers education from “Nursery to University.” This communiTiwaris, Bahadurs, Deepoos, Babolaals, Chesters, Drepauls, ty has quite rightfully attained fame as being a location that is Deonarines, Etwarus, Mangrus, Prasads, Awatars, Ramrattans, rich in diversified educative talent and certainly creates a posBurchells, Rostums and Ramtejs, and the list goes on and on. itive forum where youths can come to grips with the evolving At latitude 6.2500 longitude - 57.3333, Port Mourant hands of time and of course be assured of educative fulfilment. stands on average about three feet above sea level. To the And it’s quite refreshing to know that our youths are

allowed choices in this arena with the availability of intellectual institutions like Tain, Ankerville and Port Mourant Nursery, Tain Primary School, Joseph Chamberlain Chandisingh Secondary School (formerly Corentyne High School, Est.1938), Port Mourant Primary School and Secondary Schools, and of course there is also the Corentyne Comprehensive High School.

One would also want to mention the Guyana Business School (Private) - closed as of 2013, the GuySuCo Apprentice Training Centre, and certainly The GBTI commercia the University of Guyana - Tain inconvenience of travel Campus.

To bring tertiary education to rural areas in Guyana, an extension of the university's Georgetown campus was erected in Tain, Berbice. This branch of the institution was opened to the public in November 2000.

But even though there are so many schools in the village, there are also cases of children not attending. Some are also said to be involved in drugs and alcohol abuse, and engage in petty theft and fights as stated by some villagers. ** GBTI The Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Limited (GBTI) Port Mourant branch offers Berbicians a drive-in facility for large deposits and Saturday openings to coincide with market shopping.

The branch, which is housed in the lower flat of a privately owned building was transformed at a cost of some $50 million.

It was found that renovating and renting were better options than spending over $200 million on a new building.

It was the second to be launched in East Berbice and the 12th in the country. It also offers adequate parking and a distinctive style of banking and convenience to customers.

Customers can also access their accounts from the comfort of their homes or offices. GBTI has also upgraded its core banking software. ** ALLURING SIMPLICITY I was quite awed by the beauty of Port Mourant with its rolling landscapes, colourful houses all mystically infused in an impressive array of commercial business, quaint little shops and quite a few historical structures that took me to the days of colonial rule.

Wondering what it was like in years gone by, I was di-

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015 rected to the elderly Pulmattie Sookdeo who painted a vivid picture of thatched-roof houses, gurgling drains, open fields and rich, agricultural prospects.

In her distinct ‘creole’ dialect, she said: “In me time as wan lil gal we used tuh runabout naked skin all ovah de place without a care in the world. De place nah bin suh nice like nowadays but it was always pleasant and breezy as usual. Every wan was in a jab. Nuff ah dem bin a wuk ah suga estate while some would sell them cash crops from de farms in the backlands. De market place was always busy with dem vendas shouting ah de tap ah dem vice fuh people come buy dem items. Dis place bin always nice and really pleasant, and today it even nicah.

We get nuff schools, banks and business, and we glad how Govament ah develop de place.”

Today this location is being transformed into a social landscape incorporating people from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

I truly enjoyed trekking through the sandy dams, well managed access roads that entwined together various sections of the village. And it was a distinct pleasure to mingle with the people and listen to their many colourful tales. I truly admired that enticing manner in which the little colourful houses were nestled close to each other and the striking manner in which commercial business transformed the area into a thriving economic hub. ** CHATTING WITH THE PEOPLE

course the hospital, and other amenities.

“We have our own market, commercial banks, schools, and a training centre for youths, gas station; we even have our own hospital. I am indeed grateful that the Government has looked into these areas of our welfare.”

We stopped to chat briefly with a mason, Philip Trotman, and he was happy for the transformation the village has taken on over the years.

“In years gone by, this village was showing great signs of economic growth and I am glad that Government has taken strides in earmarking and developing this area. With all the development that has occurred here now, we are looking quite nice and development is moving ahead rapidly.”

School teacher Sharmilah Thakur was certainly proud of her hometown and did not “mince matters” in applauding efforts by Government to develop and upgrade the location.

“I have been living here for over 15 years and during that time I have seen quite a lot done in terms of development by the Government in many sectors. Yes, indeed it will take a while for the Government to tackle all the problems in every sector of this beautiful Guyana, but if one chooses to be honest they would shed light on the facts that many villages are benefiting in the areas of new roads, potable water, electricity, recreational facilities, upgraded education and so much more.

In our village too this is very evident and we are very happy that the present Government is doing all in its power to take Guyana a notch higher. It will not all happen overnight, since everything takes time. But we are moving ahead at a steady pace and I would definitely like to applaud the present Government for their efforts and commitment to develop this country…” ** SALUTING TWO GREATS Many of our most influential citizens have originated from this village and it will be certainly insulting if we do not shed light, albeit briefly, on the likes, aspirations and exploits of two of the greats sons from Port Mourant.

•

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their tireless efforts, the small country of Guyana experienced a wealth of benefits, social advancement and economic prosperity.

As international figures they are well known for their fight for peace and freedom around the globe. Dr. Jagan's ideas on debt relief, as well as his proposals for a New Global Human Order, were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 14, 2002. As such, he deserves credit as a major figure in modern history. * Sir Lionel Luckhoo Port Mourant has been home to many scholars and elites of society and amongst them is Sir Lionel Alfred Luckhoo, whose name still remains on the tongues of many natives.

Sir Lionel Alfred Luckhoo, KCMG, CBE, Q.C. (March 2, 1914 – December 12, 1997) was a Guyana-born politician, diplomat, and well-known lawyer, famed for his 245 consecutive successful defences in murder cases.

Luckhoo's grandfather, Moses Luckhoo, was one of many Indians brought to Guyana as indentured labourers in the sugar industry in the mid-19th century. In 1899, Sir Lionel's father, Edward Alfred Luckhoo, became the first Indian solicitor of Guyana.

Luckhoo was born in New Amsterdam, British Guiana, and was one of three sons and two daughters born into a prominent family of lawyers. His mother was Evelyn Maude Mungal-Singh, and his sisters were Ena Luckhoo The great Sir Lionel Luckhoo originated from Port Mourant

Dr. Cheddi Jagan

The year was 1918, when on March 22, in the rural village of Port Mourant in Guyana, the remarkable life of an ordinary sugar worker's son began. His name was Cheddi Jagan, and before his time was over he would change the course of his

al bank at Port Mourant spares residents the lling long distances to do money transactions Sheila Ramsaroop, describing Port Mourant as a very productive and developing area, was high in praise of the fact that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Government had made possible employment opportunities and many avenues for meaningful earning.

She was also high in praise of the fact that the village has now acquired a new and spacious market, banks have been erected, a training centre from which youth can benefit and of

Dr. Cheddi Jagan during his dental surgery practice

Dr. Cheddi and Mrs. Janet Jagan in happier times

country's history by first struggling to liberate it from British colonial domination, then by waging a 28 year long struggle for the restoration of freedom and democracy, and finally by ascending to the Presidency as Guyana's first democratically elected Head of State.

Alongside Dr. Jagan in all these struggles was his American born wife, lifelong friend and political partner, Janet, who left the USA for life in Guyana where she remained until her death on March 28, 2009. She was a woman of a number of firsts in her long history of involvement in her adopted country's politics. She was to reach the pinnacle as first woman Head of State in December 1997, following the death in office of her husband on March 6, after first serving as Prime Minister.

They were the founders of the country's first mass political movement and unquestionably the leading political figures in the history of Guyana for over the last 66 years. Through

and Renee Luckhoo. His two brothers, Edward Victor Luckhoo and Claude Lloyd Luckhoo, became Queen's Counsels.

He was educated at Queen's College, Georgetown. Then he began studying medicine at St. Thomas' Hospital in England, but quickly felt squeamish about surgical procedures. He shifted over to legal studies and was called to the English Bar in the Middle Temple in 1940. At the same time that Allied troops were evacuating Dunkirk in World War II, Luckhoo left England for his homeland. He entered into a solicitor's practice with one of his brothers in the firm, Luckhoo and Luckhoo.

He maintained his private legal practice spanning most of the years from 1940 to 1985, and became a Queen's Counsel in 1954. His reputation earned him an entry in the Guinness Book of Records (1990) in which he is dubbed the world's “most successful lawyer”. The record is for obtaining, as a defence trial lawyer, 245 successive murder acquittals. In a few instances, his clients were found guilty in jury trials, but were acquitted in appeal cases. He also practised as a barrister in England and later served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana.

He also came to notoriety as the legal personal representative of the Reverend Jim Jones. Jones was the founder and leader of the People's Temple Church, and had left California in the 1970s to establish a commune in Guyana known as ‘Jonestown’. ** HEALTH CARE With focus on the welfare and health of residents, Government has made possible the still impressive Port Mourant Hospital - A 53-bed facility located in Ankerville, with primary health care, paediatrics, and minor surgical services are provided to patients, cost- free.

The National OphContinued on page XXVI thalmology Centre was

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PORT MOURANT

From page XXV

launched on July 25, 2009, providing services for Guyana and neighbouring country Suriname. That aside, there is the Guysuco Dispensary at Side Line Dam, and the Port Mourant Community Centre, famous for being the home of the Port Mourant Cricket Club. ** PORT MOURANT & TAIN MARKETS

off to their respective vehicles to grab several sacks of green vegetables and stack them in a corner where wholesalers are eagerly waiting to buy off the supplies.

Dubbed the largest marketplace in the country, the Port Mourant Market has afforded many parents the opportunity of sending their children to school, with some even studying abroad before returning to serve their homeland.

** RELIGION The primary religions in this area of Guyana as with most of Guyana are, Hinduism, Christianity and Islam.

And such persons worship at Miss Phoebe North Kali Temple, Free Yard Hindu Mandir, Shri Krishna Mandir (Miss Phoebe north), Vishnu Saanaatan Mandir, Maha Kali Mandir (Portuguese quarter north), and the God of the Change International Church Haswell.

On the platter also are the Miss Phoebe Hindu Mandir, Sideline Shiva Mandir, Tain Bible Church, Tain Living Water Assembly, Tain Seven Day Adventist, Tain Hindu Mandir, St. Joseph Anglican Church and St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church ** CINEMA Roopmahal Cinema in Miss Phoebe is one of the oldest cinemas in the Berbice area.

The cinema has been closed for over five years, because people in the area are buying TVs, and not patronising the theatre. Also, many stayed away from the cinema at night due to safety concerns as some Continued on page XXVII villagers indicated. The

The Port Mourant National Ophthalmology Centre

These two locations bustle with activity and serve as a rich melting pot of possibilities, where residents and outsiders can obtain practically any kitchen or household supplies.

At Port Mourant, a seven-day-a-week market which has become one of the largest market places in the country on Saturdays, attracting both buyers and sellers from many parts of the country. This is primarily a farmers’ market but a wide variety of groceries and clothing goods could also be purchased here.

On the other hand at Tain, the market serves primarily Tain, Johns, Clifton and Miss Phoebe settlements. Tain market allows local farmers a site to market their produce. However, due to the dwindling number of farmers in these areas, the popularity of the market has, over the years, diminished somewhat, according to residents.

As early as 02:00hrs on any day, vendors put on a few layers of clothing to keep their bodies warm as they hustle

What seems to be popular in this market location is the ‘Bend Down Boutique’ which offers used clothing and other items (normally acquired from overseas) to residents at great discount prices or on special bargain arrangements.

The ‘Bend Down Boutique’, as it is commonly called, is an open area where vendors, drawn from as far as Georgetown and Suriname, take various used items to sell, ranging from clothing, bed sheets, curtains and shoes, along with canned foodstuff, among other items. The items, which are sold off cheaply, attract persons from all strata of the society.

Some vendors amidst sheepish giggles shared that while some are seen going through the various bundles of clothing just after daybreak, others prefer to do their shopping when it is still dark, not wanting persons to see what they are purchasing.

One must certainly mention the Babu John Cemetery, famous as being the location of the cremation of Dr. Cheddi Jagan and his wife Janet Jagan.

Places of worship in the village

Residents are thankful for the new market that makes life much easier

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

PORT MOURANT

From page XXVI

cinema was eventually torn down and a huge mall was built in its place on October 9, 2013. ** NATIONAL OPHTHALMOLOGY HOSPITAL Villagers during my visit to this lovely village rained praises on the Government for making possible the National Ophthalmology Hospital, which has been meeting their health needs and taking healthcare a notch higher in the area.

Since the hospital began screening on February 9 for various eye ailments including cataract and pterygium,

over 4000 screenings have been done, according to reports.

According to reports, when the institution was opened, there was a shortlist generated from screening done at the other health institutions; over 352 persons have been identified for surgeries; 94 for cataract, 252 for pterygium and six for laser surgery. The Ministry of Health had also introduced the low-cost spectacle programme at the Ophthalmology Hospital and over 200 spectacles were distributed.

Other Guyanese are also benefiting from this programme, as it has been made available at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, and the West Demer-

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Large crowds gather annually at the Babu John Memorial in remembrance of icon leader Dr. Cheddi Jagan

ara, Diamond and Linden Hospitals.

The National Ophthalmology hospital will be providing an entire range of services. This institution is expected to conduct 10,000 eye surgeries per year and will even cater for persons from neighbouring countries. * AMENITIES Residents of Port Mourant continue to praise the present Government for ensuring a reliable supply of potable water supply, electricity, a telephone service and good roads in the community.

Persons can relax and unwind at several popular Continued on page XXVIII

The Babu John Memorial Monument

The beautiful Port Mourant Chanell Outlet

Residents were high in praise for the Berbice Bridge, which connects them to the rest of Guyana

The Port Mourant/Rosehall Arch Road

Horse-racing is a major form of entertainment for villagers

The Port Mourant Main Road is in splendid condition

So many youths benefit positively from the offerings of the training centre at Port Mourant

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PORT MOURANT From page XXVIII

hangout spots, and get their kitchen supplies from Spready’s and Paul Singh’s Bakeries.

That aside, there are fast-food outlets, a supermarket, small restaurants, rum shops, a gas station, travel service, a barber’s shop, lumber yard, Skye Communication, E-Networks and various other businesses. The village also has a turf club which attracts a lot of fans to horse-racing events, which is one of the major forms of entertainment. ** SHELTERS

‘FLASHBACK’: President Donald Ramotar enjoyed a horse-race meet in the village with residents

The Canaan Home for homeless children can also be found in the village. The Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission has established an empowerment centre, where vulnerable persons could be trained, as well as a shelter for homeless persons. Nearby, the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha has also constructed a children’s shelter.

Most of the residents are self-employed, while some have jobs in and out of the area, including at the Albion Estate as labourers and cane-harvesters. ** CONCLUSION This village is quite a bellyful of pleasant suprises coupled with jolly people of all races. And I must say folks, as I left the location and headed for the city of Georgetown, it dawned upon me that a part of me was definitely left behind.

I will return there instantly at the beckoning of practically anyone…This was quite an experience!

Flashback: Former President Dr Bharrat Jagdeo lays a wreath at the Babu John Memorial

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SALVAGE AND CREATE

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V E RY O N E , hopefully, had a g o o d Va l entine’s Day, with or without a ‘bae’. The next big thing we have to prepare

– DIYs, Beauty and Fashion Tips with Raveena

for is…Mash! This week we’ll look at some easy ways to ensure your makeup stays on as the temperature starts to rise.

Luckily, there are a few steps you can take to ensure

that your makeup won’t cake and your mascara won’t run even in the hot-and-stickiest of weather.

1. Prep with primer: For a fresh and dewy complexion

that truly lasts all day, always prep with primer before applying foundation. Look for a primer that contains silicone (the key ingredient in most long-wearing formulas).

2. Choose a silicone-based foundation: As with primers, silicone-based foundations are truly the longest wearing and the very best option when met with moisture.

3. Choose Cream: Play off the heat and use a cream shadow and cream-based blush instead of powder versions. Cream products give you a nice, natural looking glow and they won’t get cakey.

4. Fake it or waterproof it: Mind your lashes. For lush lashes and liner that won’t run, use a waterproof liquid liner and waterproof mascara. Or play it safe with falsies.

Bonus!Shine on your face is a common problem in hot

weather, a fantastic way of getting oil off your skin without messing up or removing your makeup is ‘blotting’.

However, blotting paper is a bit expensive here so if you don’t wish to invest in them, try making your own.

By using…tissue paper!

The ones you wrap gifts in..?

Yea those. They won’t work exactly like the expensive stuff but they will take away a lot of oil and sweat without vastly removing your makeup. But remember to blot, not wipe. Cut about one sheet of the paper into 3 inch square and keep them in a pretty box or envelope to use throughout the day.

DIY: Crop Top Most of you will feel like showing some skin on Mash Day. A knot crop top gives you the versatility of deciding just how much. All you need is a loose, slightly over sized, tee or a tight one, (but it has

to be long enough to give enough length to knot the front) and a pair of scissors.

Start by getting-rid of the thick neckline right along the hem! (optional). Then cut off the bottom of the back of your tee-shirt at the correct length.

Make a V shape with the front by cutting off two triangular pieces on each side.

Cut the V shape in half and tie. That’s it!You can leave the sleeves or chop them off, it’s all up to you.

If you’re unsure of how short you want your top to be, start by looping off 2-3 inches at a time and remember the tee hems curl up once cut, creating a natural hem. Once altered, you can leave a garment unhemmed although it makes the top about 1 inch shorter.

(Source: Laurenconrad. com, vogue.com, chicfactorgazette.com)

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

He’s Adam AND Eve: Man discovers he has a womb

- and could even get PREGNANT

A

37-year-old British man was told he could have a BABY by medics - who discovered he had a womb.

According to an article published earlier this week in the UK Mirror newspaper, the unidentified 37-year-old man, has a rare condition that gives him a full set of internal reproductive organs A scan revealed the man had a working set of female reproductive organs, giving him periods, PMT and the possibility of pregnancy.

The UK Mirror report said his condition was unveiled when he was sent for an MRI scan after noticing blood in his urine.

Medics believe he has persistent Müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS), a rare condition where the man has external male genitalia and internal female reproductive organs.

Doctors have now urged him to have the organs removed.

He reportedly told the UK Sun newspaper: “The diagnosis came as a bombshell. I’m just a regular, red-blooded guy.”

The man, who is from Lancashire and in a relationship with a woman, added: “I’ve never seen myself as anything but an ordinary

RARE: An unnamed man in the UK was told he has a full set of female reproductive organs by doctors bloke who has a normal sex life. I was shocked when the consultant said I had a fully functioning set of women’s reproductive organs, and I was even having periods.”

He added that as a child he went through puberty normally, but in his teens and 20s he suffered an ache after sex and noticed blood in his urine.

Tests for bladder cancer came back negative, so he was given an MRI scan.

His condition may explain the blood, potentially a result of his periods, as well as the post-sex ache being caused by PMT. He even revealed that his

ache after sex was caused by PMT. One of the reasons he spoke out is that he aims to help others with the condition, adding: “I can't believe I'm the only person with this.

And I hope any other man with similar symptoms will get checked out.”

An upcoming DNA test will reveal his full gender balance, but whatever happens he says he will continue to live as a man - even if he is mostly woman.

Around 120 babies a year are born in Britain with the same condition as Rob. The condition has also been reported in dogs.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Mysterious case of ‘twin fetuses’ found inside newborn

A

TEAM of Hong Kong doctors has described an extremely rare medical occurrence: what appeared to be a pair of fetuses inside the body of a newborn girl.

They were both joined to a placenta-like mass by umbilical cords. Each one had four limbs, skin, a ribcage, intestines and primitive brain tissue, according to a study published this month in the Hong Kong Medical Journal.

It was "one of those very rare things that make the world stand still," said Dr. Nicholas Chao, one of the surgeons who operated on the baby. He said he'd never seen anything like it before during his career in pediatric medicine.

According to a CNN report, the unusual condition,

known as "fetus-in-fetu," is estimated to happen once in every half-million births but has been reported fewer than 200 times worldwide, according to the study published by Chao and his colleagues.

MEDICAL UNCERTAINTY

The baby, weighing about 9 pounds, was born in November 2010 to a woman from mainland China. The little girl recovered well from the operation to remove the mass of tissue, Chao said earlier this week.

But uncertainty remains over how the two unusual entities ended up inside her and whether they can even be classed as fetuses.

"There are controversies over what these things really are," Chao said, explaining

that they might be considered as other fetuses that had been in gestation or as a very mature type of tumor, known as a teratoma.

In the case of teratomas, the cells divide and acquire the maturity of the different tissues.

"Both theories are sound," Chao said, and there's "not enough hard scientific data to prove either one because of the limited cases."

SPINES, GENITALIA BUT NO SKULLS

The case that he and his colleagues encountered appears to add some weight to the fetus argument, though.

Twin fetuses-in-fetu are particularly rare, he said.

The two forms had somewhat different weights but identical levels of organ de-

velopment, consistent with about 10 weeks of gestation.

They had spines and "ambiguous external genitalia" but no skulls.

The mother of the girl had reportedly had a normal ultrasound early in the pregnancy, suggesting that the other two fetuses "might have been tiny parasitic fetuses that had grown slowly" with the girl, according to the study.

That contrasts with the more popular theory of additional fetuses that develop normally early on and then

get absorbed by the main fetus and stop growing.

PARENTS SURPRISED AT FIRST

Because most of the mother's care during pregnancy took place in mainland China, the Hong Kong doctors said there were no scans showing what happened during the second trimester.

The mass of tissue was spotted in a scan at 37 weeks.

Further scans after the baby girl was born showed the mass between her spleen and

XXXI

- in Hong Kong left kidney, measuring nearly 2 inches across.

Her parents showed "some initial surprise" about the diagnosis, Chao said. But the condition wasn't seen as life-threatening, and the operation went smoothly.

Doctors, meanwhile, face a long wait before they get a clearer idea of how the mysterious "fetuses" are formed.

"You need a big series of these cases and lots of observations to get a more scientific understanding," Chao said.

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Pest Management Tips

P

By Clifford Stanley EST management involves three steps: firstly, Pest Identification; secondly, Monitoring; and then Management.

Identification means knowing the insect and the damage it causes. Monitoring involves catching the problem early. Management involves using preventative measures or a mix of biological, cultural, physical/ mechanical and (as a last resort) chemical tools.

KNOW THE ENEMY Know who you are fighting. A large part of this is to be able to identify what pests you have on crops in the shade house or the garden.

You need to make sure that you know what they look like.

The four main insect pests for gardens are whiteflies, aphids, leaf miners and caterpillars.

There are also thrips and mites.

Some of these pests are usually so small that you may have difficulty in seeing them with the naked eye.

A magnifying glass is a useful tool but the best approach is to know what the damage they cause look like; know what damage belongs to white flies, or aphids or leafminers or caterpillars.

Caterpillars defoliate mostly everything that has leaves.

White flies attack tomatoes, eggplants, pepper, hibiscus and other flowers.

Aphids attack lettuce, parsley, celery, egg plants, pepper, cole crops such as broccoli and cauliflower.

Leaf miners attack lettuce, tomatoes and onions.

MANAGEMENT Biological control is the use of natural enemies—predators, parasites, pathogens, and competitors - to control pests and their damage.

Cultural controls are practices that reduce pest establishment, reproduction, dispersal, and survival. Physical/ Mechanical controls kill a pest directly or make the enviContinued on page XXXVIII

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Lent begins on Wednesday, Feb 18

By Raymond Cummings THE beginning of the Christian season of Lent starts on Wednesday February 18.

This day is commonly known as ‘Ash Wednesday’, and it derived its name from the liturgical practice of applying ash on the forehead of worshippers during the service.

A holy day on the Christian calendar, the day will be marked by persons attending service in many traditional Christian churches in Guyana. The highlight of the service will be the imposition of ash on the foreheads of the worshippers.

In Georgetown, services will be held at the Roman Catholic and Anglican Cathedrals on Brickdam and Company Path respectively, while similar services will be held in the other churches across Guyana.

Mostly practicing Christians from all denominations customarily attend these services.

The ash used is derived from the blessed palms distributed on Palm Sunday of the preceding year. Palm Sunday comes five Sundays after Ash Wednesday. Parishioners return the palms that they would have kept in their homes all the preceding year, and the ash derived from their burning is collected and blessed.

There is a special liturgy for the service, which emphasizes the need for penance, self-denial, and alms giving.

Ash Wednesday comes 46 days before Easter Sunday, and commences the 40-day period of penance, self-denial, and alms giving known as Lent.

Forty day are observed as Lent as the Sundays are excluded from the celebration.

The origin of Ash Wednesday is rooted in the holy scriptures of the Christian faith, the Holy Bible and ancient custom and practice. Ashes were applied to the head of individuals as a sign of their grief or repentance. Christians adopted this practice, as a number of references in their scripture point to the practice.

It is also seen to have been observed by persons practicing the Christian Faith. Several writings on the practice of the Christian Faith in the first century encouraged the practice as an outward sign of repentance; and by the end of the 10th century, the observance of the forty-day Lenten fast was already established, with imposition of ashes on the forehead on the first day of the fast becoming a symbol of the start of the fast.

Practicing Christians observe Ash Wednesday by fasting and prayers, which are continued daily for the next 46 days, excluding Sundays. The proceeds of the money saved from whatever indulgence they would have denied themselves are usually presented as an offering to the church.

Traditionally, persons engaged in fasting, eating only one meal daily, usually after sundown; in recent times, some persons have engaged in self-denial by giving up some comfort for the duration of the Lenten season.

While this is traditionally a Christian observance practiced by members of the traditional denominations, it is quite normal in Guyana for persons who practice other faiths, and members of other denominations, to engage in this observance. The period of Lent ends at the beginning of Easter week. The last week is known as Holy Week, when other special observances are held.

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

URGENT HEALTH ADVISORY:

Have regular medical check-ups and watch your diet - budding professional devastated by news of renal failure

A

By Shirley Thomas BUDDING 4 3 - y e a r- o l d professional, a dynamic sports enthusiast who some time ago got married and became the father of two promising young sons, was recently

devastated by the news -- broken to him by his doctors -- that he had suffered renal (kidney) failure, and that his condition was so bad that he needed to go on dialysis within days.

Kidneys are the organs that purify the body by removing waste and excess fluids from the blood. They are also involved in regulating blood pressure, electrolyte balance, and red blood cell production. Once the kidneys fail, or a person develops end stage renal disease (ESRD), there is no hope of the kidneys being repaired.

The function of the kidneys would now have to be performed by dialysis until that person is able to have a kidney transplant done. Dialysis is the artificial process of eliminating waste (diffusion) and unwanted water (ultrafiltration) from the blood.

What shocked the man even more was that the prognosis was not just that he had ‘kidney disease’ with the hope of being able to manage it, but that the damage was much worse - it was in the advanced stage. It meant that the kidney was no longer able to effectively perform the function of filtering waste products from the blood.

For the next few days, the patient, as well as his relatives and co-workers, remained in deep shock and indeed denial, since he was never known to suffer from any kidney-related illnesses.

He was initially reluctant to take the dialysis, especially after realising that it could be a life-time commitment until a kidney transplant is done.

As far as he could remember, he had never had any symptom of kidney disease. Symptoms of kidney failure are due to the build-up of waste products in the body, and initially, kidney failure may cause no symptoms.

However, this build-up of waste products in the body may cause weakness, shortness of breath, lethargy, and confusion; and as the condition progresses, inability to remove potassium from the bloodstream may lead to abnormal heart rhythms

and sudden death (Medicine Net.com) But while pondering whether to commence the dialysis procedure, it was observed that the patient had begun swelling. Then doctors revealed that his blood pressure had soared way above normal range. Likewise, his BUN and creatinine levels were astronomical.

The diagnosis of kidney failure is usually made by blood tests measuring BUN, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). If the kidneys fail completely, the only treatment options available may be dialysis or transplant.

(Medicine.Net.com) Creatinine is a chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism. It is transported from the muscles through the blood stream to the kidney for filtering. Proper functioning kidneys filter most of the creatinine and dispose of it in the form of urine, while maintaining the blood creatinine in a normal range.

Creatinine has been found to be a fairly reliable indicator of kidney function.

An elevated creatinine level signifies impaired kidney function or kidney disease.

Therefore, as the kidneys become impaired for any reason, the creatinine level in the blood will rise, due to poor clearance of creatinine by the kidneys.

Abnormally high levels of creatinine thus warn of possible malfunction or failure of the kidney. (MedicineNet.com) Our patient’s blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level and potassium levels, reliable indicators of kidney failure, were found to be extremely high. Likerwise, urea is another by-product which can build up if kidney function is impaired.

When food is consumed, it is metabolized in the muscles for energy, and after that process is complete, the waste is discarded in the form of urea.

Potassium in the blood is controlled by the kidneys, but when the kidneys are malfunctioning, potassium levels can build up to Continued on page XXXVII

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

Have regular medical ...

From page XXXVI dangerous levels, adversely affecting the heart.

Foods high in potassium include oranges, bananas, avocados, squash, potatoes, pumpkin, lentils and raisins.

The patient could not initially come to terms with the fact that he had indeed suffered a kidney failure; he kept holding on to the fact that he is not a diabetic nor does he consume alcohol. And moreover, he is very active and does not lead a sedentary lifestyle.

What, in effect, he was overlooking was the fact that one’s diet is a great contributing factor to one’s state of health; and invariably, non-communicable diseases which continue to claim lives exponentially thrive on poor or unhealthy eating habits.

Additionally, like so many others, he might have been overlooking the fact that the ‘fast food’ we love and use in abundance can cause an abundance of problems for our health. Unhealthy eating has led to an upsurge of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as: heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes, and not least kidney in our midst.

As the number of kidney cases continues to rise, hundreds are reportedly on the waiting list at the Georgetown Public Hospital for removal of kidney stones and

to commence dialysis.

With the ‘fast food’ craze sweeping across frontiers, our young and not-so-young seem to be helplessly hooked on tasty and attractively served high protein; high-potassium, high carbohydrate, high calorie, high sodium, potassium and trans-fat foods which are all potentially dangerous to good health.

Eating too much fat may increase your risk of contracting obesity; diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, high blood cholesterol and cancer of the breast and colon. Foods made using trans-fats include vegetable shortenings, commercially baked goods, crackers, cakes, pastries, cookies, snack foods, candies and some fast foods.

A new World Health Organization report has warned that urgent government action is needed to meet global targets to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and prevent the annual toll of 16 million people dying prematurely — before the age of 70 – from heart and lung diseases, stroke, cancer and diabetes.

Noting that most premature NCD deaths are preventable, the report made the stark revelation that, of the 38 million lives lost to NCDs in 2012, 16 million, or 42%, were premature and avoidable – up from 14.6 million in 2000! It said almost three-quarters of all NCD deaths (28 million), and

82% of the 16 million premature deaths, occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Stressing that the global community has the chance to change the course of the NCD epidemic, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan has warned that, in 2015, every country needs to set national targets and implement cost-effective actions. She added, “If they do not, millions of lives will continue to be lost too soon.”

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Pest Management Tips From page XXXIII ronment unsuitable for it.

Physical controls include mulches for weed management, solarisation or cooking or baking of the soil for disease/pest management, or barriers such as screens to keep insects out.

Chemical control is the use of pesticides.

Pesticides are used only when needed and in combination with other approaches for more effective, long-term control.

Monitoring and timing of sprays are key.

USE OF NATURAL PESTICIDES Some natural pesticides are pepper, garlic and neem extracts. The reason why the neem is important is that the neem is an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) ; it stops the insect from

being able to grow to the next stage of its life cycle.

Soapy water can also help because soapy water will wash a waxy coating off the insect pests and their skins become dry and they become more vulnerable and often die.

These treatments must be done late afternoon, not in the heat of the day nor in the morning.

CHEMICAL CONTROL The idea is to use less chemical control because when you use chemicals you kill not only pests but the beneficial wasps and the predators as well.

The concern about chemicals is not only about health and the environment but about encouraging resistance which is using the chemicals so many times that the pest does not die from it anymore.

The thing you have to do is to rotate the chemicals. Do not use the same chemical over and over again.

When you use chemicals too often you are creating a bug that is no longer susceptible to that chemical and that means you are wasting hard earned cash.( Courtesy of Local Chapter Partners of America Farmer to Farmer program)

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Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015

English

Chronicle Pepperpot February 15, 2015 Guyanese born American author, Christopher H.K. Persaud is flanked by these two lovely ladies at the award ceremony

Guyanese writer honored at international award ceremony

- for his book ‘The Da Vinci Code Revisited: A Conclusive Refutation of the Widespread, Sinister Lie’

G

uyanese born American author, Christopher H.K. Persaud, was recently honored in Miami, Florida at the 2014 Readers’ Favourite International Book Award ceremony. The award was the author’s fifth international award.

Persaud’s book, ‘The Da Vinci Code Revisited: A Conclusive Refutation of the Widespread, Sinister Lie’ (Xlibris Corporation, USA, 2013, Revised) earned top marks in the Non Fiction – Inspirational category of the 2014 READERS’ FAVORITE INTERNATIONAL BOOK COMPETITION and was awarded a Silver medal.

The Da Vinci Code Revisited also received a five-star rating via an official Readers’ Favourite organisation book-reviewing process The Readers’ Favourite International Book Competition is an annual worldwide event that accommodates publications dealing with various genres. There were more than 3,000 entries in the recently concluded 2014 contest.

Persaud and other prize-winning authors from around the world were honored at the Regency Hotel in Miami, Florida, USA. The award-winning books of the various authors were displayed at the Miami Book Fair International, which ran for a full week during late November 2014.

Persaud has written seven full-length books to date. His other books are God in Our Midst: Making the Most Important Decision of Your Life (Xlibris Corporation, USA, 2003); Famous People Speak About Jesus: A Compendium of Expressions of Praise & Reverence (Xlibris Corporation, USA, 2004); Transformed Lives: 50 Stories of the Miracle of Christian Conversion (Xlibris Corporation, USA, 2005); Evolution: Beyond the Realm of Real Science (Xulon Press, USA, 2007, 2013); Contending for the Faith: 22 Methodical Arguments for Biblical Truth (Xlibris Corporation, USA, 2013) and Blessings, Miracles & Supernatural Experiences: A Biblical Perspective – A Christian’s Story (Xlibris Corporation, USA, 2014).

Christopher is also a published poet whose work appears in a number of international poetry anthologies. The author lives in New Milford, New Jersey, USA.

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T

he Lion and the Jewel, written in London, was one of the first of Soyinka’s plays to be performed in Africa. It was performed at the Ibadan Arts Theatre in 1959, where it was well received. The Lion and the Jewel was the first major play to draw on traditional Yoruba poetry, music, and dance to tell a Nigerian story in English. The play enabled Nigerian drama to become part of world theater.

The Lion and the Jewel is a comedy set in the small remote village of Ilujinle. There are three central characters: Lakunle, an eager but naïve schoolteacher who accepts Western ideas and modernity without really understanding them; Baroka, the village chief, who sees modern ideas as a threat to his power; and Sidi, the jewel of the village, a beautiful woman who will choose one of the men for a husband. The characters are exaggerated: Lakunle is arrogant and talks too much, and Baroka is cunning, but they are ultimately likable. Unlike many of Soyinka’s later plays, there is no evil in this play, and the author pokes only gentle fun at his characters. In the end, the men will have to deal with each other. As Baroka says, “the old must flow into the new.”

The play focuses on several conflicts that Soyinka presents but does not attempt to resolve. Lakunle and Baroka embody the contrary urges toward modernity and tradition. They personify the two sides of the major social and political issue in Africa during the last half of the 20th century.

The play is now on the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) list of drama texts for its CSEC examination. This fairly straightforward but somewhat alien drama, alien to students of this part of the world, is dramatised by Godfrey Naughton and a brilliant cast. The book like all others being chosen by CXC for Literature were written to be performed to bring out its nuances and traditions of its host playwrights. The conundrum this created was somewhat alleviated when Naughton chose to dramatise these texts all across Guyana for schools and general audiences.

From February 21st to March 5th, the play can be viewed at the Theatre Guild Playhouse in the finest traditions of great stagings by that venerable institution. The cast boasts leading artists like Guyana Prize winner Mosa Telford, Clinton Duncan, Kim Fernandes, Candacy Baveghens and introducing singer/dancer/actor Kefa Smith. They are backed up by twenty other dancers, singers and actors who introduce Guyana to the “total” nature of African Theatre. Tickets are $1,000. and are available from Theatre Guild Playhouse, Nigels Supermarket and Schools, who pay half price; that is $500 valid only on school days.

The annual collaboration with the Ministry of Education is indeed timely and of great benefit to students of literature, theatre arts and no doubt, the teachers of these subjects. No effort should be spared to view THE LION AND THE JEWEL.