Pepperpot 2015 09 27

Lone yachtswoman in rally to re-visit Guyana ► Page XXVI

Jean Penny poses for the camera at Hurakabra River Resort

- yachtsman sees need for marina here

Meet Chris Elliman Fish Pond on Dhari’s farm

… After President’s College, returns home to serve the Arecunas Mission ► Page XII

Farming is both challenging and frustrating ► Page XXIV

Robin Ridley – an independent and working 45-yr-old mother of 7 Farmer Dhanuk Dhari

- just ask Dhanuk Dhari, a 56-year-old farmer

Azzaruddin Laljie

A Guyanese ‘diamond in the rough’ headed for ultimate stardom ► Page XXXVI

► Page V

Feeling ► VIII unmotivated or depressed?

Page

Here's how to move forward

Abusive Women

- force some men to seek hope and refuge in God ► Page XXIII

II

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Bullets and Blood n – Continuatio

Someone new and glimpses of a rainbow

T

By Maureen Rampertab

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com

hree days passed, days dressed in normalcy to deceive, as Tanya tried to stay calm in her mind, telling herself nothing was wrong, that when Mark returned, everything would be fine.

The detectives did not return to question anyone and Tanya enquired from the food vendors nearby.

“Have they found any of the suspects?”

“Not sure.” was the indifferent answer, “Dem men must ‘ave left de country already.”

The vendors continued attending to their business, chatting about little things of interest and during a lull after the lunch period, Aunt Stephanie asked Tanya quietly, “Did you call him?”

“Who?” “De detective man, who gave you his card.”

“Oh,” Tanya looked at her mildly surprised that she had expected her to do so and saw the mischievous glint in her eyes.

“You do know that’s courting trouble,” she expressed with a little serious look.

“Ah know girl” the older woman said with regrets “But he’s so good looking.”

“I didn’t notice,” Tanya stated untruthfully.

“Sure you do,” Aunt Stephanie teased her.

The day progressed, slowly and Tanya listened with close interest as people in the community and those passing through spoke about the robberies.

“Is like something from a movie, man, high tech weapons and fast cars.”

“De police following their trail though, leaving no stones unturned.”

Late that afternoon, the team of detectives came back as the investigation continued.

She had hoped that the one Aunt Stephanie admired wouldn’t approach the food court to speak to her, but he did, a look of steely determination on his face.

“So, miss…what’s your name?”

“Tanya.”

“Is there anything you can now, tell me, a little clue maybe?”

“No,” she answered candidly He nodded his head slowly, knowing how people in depressed communities supported their own for good or bad and he told her, “From intelligence gathered so far, we knew someone is planning these heists, someone with ties to this community.

She said nothing because she honestly knew nothing and he changed the topic. His expression relaxed a little, noticing her lips had almost healed. ► Continued on page III

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015 ► From page II “How are you doing otherwise?”

“Okay.”

“That’s good,” he said, a little spark of interest in his eyes that had nothing to do with investigating crime. “Remember you can call me anytime you need help.”

She nodded and as he left, Aunt Stephanie remarked an appreciative expression on her face, “Getting more interesting!”

“He’s just doing his job.” Tanya quietly pointed out to her.

She wanted it to be nothing more than that for her troubled mind was already burdened with the fact, she was sharing her life with someone whose deceit and abusive attitude had betrayed her love and everything she stood for.

Mark came home that same night, just after midnight awakening her from bed so she could celebrate with him.

“What are we celebrating?” she asked as he poured two glasses of an expensive whiskey.

“To my new life.” He cheered, raising his glass, “and the success of a clever mind.”

She had never seen him so confident and enthusiastic and because of the deep worry in her mind, she pleaded, “I don’t understand, please talk to me.”

“I can’t” he told her, pulling her close to him and kissing her lightly on the lips, “Not just yet, your innocence will be like a shield for me.”

She shook her head, not liking the sharp turn his life was taking and she told him “The detectives believed that the mastermind of the recent robberies has ties to this community.”

Mark did not say anything as he took another drink, then he smiled, “They are just bluffing, they have nothing.”

Those words gave her no comfort, but she did not push for answers, knowing it would anger him. He stayed for the next few days, going to the boxing gym for training, taking her out in the evenings to the movies or just hanging out with friends. So in the eyes of society or the law, they were a young couple living a normal life, then one night he got a call and left, telling her to continue just the way things were the past few days until he returned.

Two days later, the breaking news was another robbery heist executed with such smooth precision, it left investigators stunned.

Tanya did not go out to the food court to sell that day nor the other, too fearful, the calmness she was battling to hold on to would desert her in the face of intense questioning.

But that afternoon late in the second day, detectives came to her home and she was asked to accompany them to the police station.

“Why?” she asked, looking somewhat perplexed.

“We need to ask you about your boyfriend, Mark

Moore.”

Raj was not with them, but he arrived about twenty minutes after, they had placed her in a private room for questioning. She felt a sense of relief when she saw him and asked, trying not to be scared, but deceived by the slight tremor in her voice.

“Why am I here?”

He took out four pictures of suspects from a folder and placed them in front of her, watching her closely as she spoke,

“They are known as the ‘fearless five’.”

“Who’s the fifth?”

“That we don’t know yet but your boyfriend’s name came up because of his step brother’s criminal record. Now we need answers, everything you can tell us about your boyfriend.”

“We live normal lives,” she said, “working towards achieving our dreams, he’s amateur boxer and I’m a food vendor.”

“There must be something that’s out of the ordinary, something that changed about him.” Raj stressed.

She did not answer and quietly he advised her, “If another detective has to question you, it won’t be easy.”

She thought for a while, fighting an inner battle to speak of what she knew of Mark or be detained and looking at Raj, tears in her eyes, she told him, “He had changed a lot from when I first met him, but he would not speak to me on his absence or what he was doing. Whenever I insisted on answers, he always got angry and hit me.”

III “Have you ever seen him with any of these men?”

She shook her head, “No strangers have come to our home in the day, but in the nights he would have friends over in his training room downstairs that he never spoke of.”

There was nothing in her voice or eyes that indicated she was not telling the truth and her innocence could indeed be his shield. After a longer period of questioning, it was clear to Raj, she did not know much so on his advice, they let her go.

What now?” she asked him “I’ll take you home to ensure your safety.”

On the way, he stopped and looked at her, noting how tense she was.

“Would you like to go home now, or I can take you somewhere for a drink so you can relax.”

She shook her head, “ I don’t think it would be a good idea being seen with a detective.”

“I know, a quiet little place.”

She did not say, ‘yes’ or ‘no’ but he took her there anyway to a cozy, little bar outside of the city. The owner was a friendly, East Indian woman who knew Raj well, so did most of the customers who were ordinary working class people, chatting and laughing, as though they had no worries in the world.

Soft Indian music played in the background and sipping a light drink, Tanya said with some relief, “Nice,” but after a while she observed something.

“Why is everyone looking at us?”

“It’s to be expected.” Raj said, smiling.

“Why is that?”

“Well we’re of different races and you’re beautiful.”

She blushed a little and looked away, not wanting him to see her expression.

“I kinda like the dimples too.” He said in a low tone, but she did not look at him, smiling to herself.

The hours drifted by unnoticed as they talked, ate some spicy Indian finger foods and he taught her a few dance steps to the classic music of Suhani Raat. The troubles in her mind had stolen from her, the cheerfulness to laugh but tonight it returned and it was the first time she had such fun with something so different, the atmosphere, the music and Raj. He took her home and at the door, she said, “Thank you, it was a wonderful evening.”

“You needed it.” He said and kissed her lightly on the cheek, “Good night.”

She fell into blissful sleep, a little smile on her lips, for something new, she liked was now in her life.

She did not know that Mark came home, a little while later and stood looking at her as she slept, the gun in his hand.

To be continued…

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Championing the Cause of Indigenous

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By Petamber Persaud HERE was a time when the Indigenous could not speak in English, making known his problems and challenges. That was a long, long time ago.

Much has changed since then.

I live in the path of change In my old and carefree way Confused and bewildered I strive to understand I’m a merry Indian no more (From ‘A Merry Indian No More’ - Basil Rodrigues)

There was a time when the Indigenous spoke about their grievances, but no one listened, because the language used was not understood by the others. That was a long time ago. Much has changed since then.

A carefree life I’ve lived Hunting the forest land, the river bed A new light shines today Which threatens my traditional way.

(From ‘A Merry Indian No More’ - Basil Rodrigues) There was a time when the Indigenous were heard by translators interested only in the academic study of the language. That was the time the Indigenous spoke many languages yet their concerns were not heard.

There was a time when the Indigenous acquired and was able to use the lingua franca of the country yet their voice was not heard.

I see the light of a new day It is coming my way To my timid mind I dread the changes it brings I’m a merry Indian no more (From ‘A Merry Indian No More’ - Basil Rodrigues) There was a time when the voice of the Indigenous was beginning to be heard and their cause attracted many sympathisers. One such person was William Hilhouse who was ‘one of the most versatile, interesting, and controversial figures in the early history of British Guiana’. Hilhouse became an ‘unfailing advocate’ of the Indigenous.

And his book, ‘Indian Notices’ was an ‘Expose – the fruit of nine years’ observation and acquisition of information concerning the abuses perpetrated against the Amerindians.

The book, ‘Indian Notices’, was first published in 1825. In 2011, the book was re-issued by The Caribbean Press which was birthed to reprint rare and out-of-print books on and about Guyana. The series

preface written by the then President of Guyana, Bharrat Jagdeo, is instructive and informative. This preface declared that ‘The Guyana Classics Library will republish out-of-print poetry, novels and travelogues so as to remind us of our literary heritage, and it will also remind us of our reputation for scholarship in the fields of history, anthropology, sociology and politics, through the reprinting of seminal works in these subjects. The Series builds upon previous Guyanese endeavours, like the institution of CARIFESTA, and the Guyana Prize… so that all Guyanese can appreciate our monumental achievement in moving from Exploitation to Expression…’ (my italics) ‘Indian Notices’ is subtitled ‘sketches of the habits, characters, languages, superstitions, soil, and climate of the several nations; with remarks on their capacity for colonisation, present government and suggestions for future improvement and civilization. Also the ichthyology of the fresh waters of the interior’.

That lengthy subtitle forms part of the table of contents which include an Introduction by M. N. Menezes, Key to References, an Advice to Readers, a Postscript, Supplementary Notes and Selected Bibliography. ‘Indian Notices’ is a slim volume, amounting to ninety seven pages but it hurled many potent poison darts to abusers of the Indigenous.

The darts hit home in such a manner that Hilhouse invited the wrath of all in authority. Menezes, in her introduction, writes, ‘this “Las Casas” of British Guiana did not hesitate to condemn the abuses of the system of government over the Indians, and his outspoken and unwelcome candour won for him the hearty dislike of Governors, Members of the Courts, Protectors of Indians, and Postholders. He became a thorn in the flesh of Governors D’Urban, Carmichael Smyth, and to a lesser extent, Light.’ He was labelled ‘a mischievous meddler’ and ‘a visionary and eccentric person of unsettled and wandering habits’.

Labels did not deter Hilhouse whose goals seem to be to champion the cause of the Indians and to gain knowledge of the interior. It is just as well that Hilhouse continued in his quest, because ‘Indian Notices’ was foundation to ‘enable abler hands to advocate the cause thus brought forward’.

In his postscript, Hilhouse gave advice on how to go about the advocacy, ‘There is one avenue to the heart of the Indian that is always closed to the stranger, and to the European in authority over him.

Time and unremitting kindness alone opens this door of his affections, as he makes it a point of honour to lie to all the world, but be true to his friend’.

To read ‘Indian Notices’ is to get in touch with Amerindians as living human beings with a right to all the inalienable rights due to human beings.

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

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

V

Robin Ridley – an independent and working 45-yr-old mother of 7

By Neil Primus TREKKING through dangerous jungle paths or walking desolate trails and travelling for hours and hours; sounds like the life of a hard working Bushman or Porkknocker who traverses the interior in search of that valuable but often elusive mineral. Well think again. This is just a snippet from the life and experiences of a simple but remarkable woman.

Robin Ridley is 45, and a mother of seven.

She grew up in the Bartica/Mazaruni area. This resourceful owner of a small street-side business is proud to be independent. “I am always working. Never out of a job. I am either working for someone or working for myself.

I am fiercely independent.”

This hardworking woman is an excellent cook and plies her trade on Wellington Street in Georgetown. She is always cheerful and generous. During the course of my short interview with her, she gave freely to two people in need. Her customers are treated like family.

Robin loves music and does a lot of reading whenever she gets the chance. “Even though I love music I never party. My favourite dish is fried rice and baked chicken. I have worked as cleaner, cook and security guard. No honest job is below me.”

She fondly recalls her years growing up in the interior be-

Robin Ridley

fore moving to the city at 19. “Back then I lived at 72 Miles Potaro. This area has one of the longest wooden bridges in Guyana. My mother taught me to make cassava bread, starch, tuma pot and cassareep. I also learned how to make bashwar and casserie with red potato.

She remembers fishing with ‘IRI’, a plant that you can crush or pound the stem then place it in the water. The fishes become immediately intoxicated and fishing is made easy. You have to move quickly because the effects of ‘IRI’ do not last very long.

The fish is then used to make all sorts of dishes, including the delicious tuma pot. According to Robin, one of the sweetest dishes she has ever cooked is owaro or kuru cook-up-rice.

Caution has to be taken when using kuru, because it is a very oily fruit and can result in oily cook-up rice and plenty ‘runnings’ later on.

“I remember walking for many miles in the bush. I walked from home to Amatuk then to Waratuk and on to Tokite. One time I climbed to the top of Kaieteur Mountain. Back then it felt like nothing. Don’t think I would attempt that today.”

Ripe pear and cassava bread was another of her favourite meals. She explained that when she lived in the interior she spent far less than when she moved to Georgetown.

Bush life was challenging and often filled with tension and thrills. “Me and my sister would walk 17 miles and pass Tumatumari to sell. We would make crab Oil and walk this long distance to do business. I was fourteen or fifteen at that time. If we noticed anyone approaching on the trail we would hide in the bush until they were gone. We did this because most of the people on the trail were men, so we learned to be cautious.

Robin has done some work in a mining camp as a cook. She found this job to be very tough but a good experience. “I had to cook for 15 hungry men. They ate in bowls, not plates. When you saw the bowls you had to fill, you knew right away that it would not be easy. I woke up at 4 am every morning. The work after then was virtually non-stop. First it was preparation for breakfast then cook breakfast. This could range from float and saltfish to roti and curry.

Whenever I made roti, I had a strict rule. ‘One and back-off, two and knock-off.’ Most of them settled for one.

“After breakfast, it was time for the real work; lunch. Lunch was the biggest meal of the day and the heaviest work. Preparation was just as hard as cooking and sometimes harder if you were preparing provisions. After filling the bowls I would relax for a short while then begin making snacks. When this was completed I would start preparation for dinner. The same process applied. When it was you alone in the kitchen, it turned out to be quite tiring. As a result, I would be sound asleep at 6 pm. In the bush, six in the evening was as black as pitch. I have never encountered a snake while there because our camp had a serious rule: NO FOOD IS DISPOSED NEAR THE CAMP.”

VI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Young mom raped at gunpoint

Guyana Women Miners Organisation president, Urica Primus

… then roughed up in quest for justice - I asked him (the police doctor) for an injection to protect me from STDs, and he turned and said: ‘That is white people stupidness!’

A

By Shauna Jemmott FTER being aroused out of sleep to be robbed and brutally raped at gunpoint by two men, a young mother is left to wonder if she has been singled out for punishment, encountering embarrassing ordeals and rejection at the hands of two different police offices, and being stalked by an unfamiliar group of young men.

She fears for her life, having suspicions that three male stalkers who turned up in front of her home and appeared to capture her on video camera are accomplices of her assailants.

The 26-year-old was in bed with her two children when a gun-toting duo entered her Diamond, East Bank Demerara home, after removing panes from a louvre window. They robbed her of cash, jewellery, a computer and a cell phone, and then took turns at raping her. Seemingly in their early twenties, the men were unmasked, and used no contraceptive; and the young woman is now left with haunting questions concerning her health.

It happened at about 04:00 hrs, when she was awakened from sleep by the feel of something cold on her forehead.

Believing that it was an insect, she tried to brush it away. But soon realising something was amiss, she opened her eyes -only to discover two men standing by her bed, one holding a gun to her head.

Speechless with fear, the woman recalled being ordered to get off the bed and pass over jewellery, cash and a cell phone.

She handed over approximately $50,000 cash, five gold rings, three gold bands, a Dell laptop computer and a cellular phone, all valued at over $500,000. Her children, aged nine and five respectively, were at the time asleep on the same bed.

The woman recalled that, after handing over the cash and jewellery, the men asked her to screw out a flat screen television from the table; and while she attempted to unscrew the television set, one of the robbers ordered her to quit because he had a “better” idea.

“He said ‘go and screw the TV off the TV stand’, and I couldn’t screw it off. Then he looked down at me.” The visibly traumatised woman said the man made a pejorative remark which suggested that they should rape her instead. She was then ordered at gunpoint to take off her underwear and lie on the bed, and the men took turns at raping her. The woman recalled that she started screaming, and her landlord called out to ask her if she was alright. She said one of the gunmen ordered her to “say something good”.

“I told him, ‘Yes, I am alright’, because at the time the gun was in my back and I couldn’t tell him anything else…

He asked what happened to the window, and I told him I took it out.”

The young woman said she thought the landlord would have observed that something was wrong and call for help, but the man quietly returned upstairs. For about an hour, the helpless woman endured the fearful torment in stillness and tears, but made a final alarm at dawn as the predators made good their escape over the back fence.

ATTEMPTED CHASE The young woman said her landlord attempted to chase the predators with his car, but the men vanished.

The police were contacted, and officers from the Criminal Investigation Department who were on patrol responded quickly. The young woman said she asked the officers to accompany her to the doctor, but was told that they were tired because they had worked all night. The police left without taking a statement, or even inviting her to the station to make a formal report.

Her landlord eventually drove her to the Brickdam Police Station in Georgetown, and requested the rape kit. When one of the policewomen responded that they all were tired, she was taken to a police doctor stationed in an office within the very compound.

The young woman said the male doctor, to whom she was taken by one of the policewomen, handled her in a rough manner, even pulling her hair during a physical examination.

“He was swabbing me, and when I cried because I was feeling pain, he said in a rough manner: “Is not a penis I swabbing you with!” The young woman said she felt embarrassed because the two female officers never objected to his remark, and they were also called to view the bruises she had sustained while being raped.

“I asked him (the police doctor) for an injection to protect me from STDs (sexually transmitted diseases), and he turned and said, “That is white-people stupidness”, the distraught woman complained.

A drive back to the Golden Grove Police Station ran her into verbal abuse by an officer there, whose name was given to her. After relating to the officer what had happened back home earlier, the young woman said, “He asked me how I open my foot, and I told him the man opened it, and he telling me that I had enough strength to close my foot,” the woman lamented.

ID PARADE She was told to report at the station last Monday morning at about 07:00hrs for an identification parade, but was greeted by another officer who was quarrelsome towards her at the time. He asked her to wait until the investigating rank had reported, and after that police had turned up at about 09:00hrs, she was only told that the ID parade had been rescheduled for 16:00hrs. A time was eventually fixed for later that evening because she had to do routine parental duties around that time.

At about 19:00hrs, she pointed out one of her assailants to the police, but the policeman informed her that he would be able to charge the man only for “break and enter and larceny”.

He said the rape charge would be prepared at Brickdam Police Station instead. She never left the station until after 21:00hrs.

Meanwhile, The woman said that on Sunday last, while she was doing the laundry in her yard, she observed three men on bicycles pointing a video camera at her for a while.

She said she called out to her mother and fainted, hurting her hand and leg, and was later told that the men had ridden away.

She later reported that incident to the police; and after seeking help from an aunt, she was directed to the Guyana Women Miners Organisation (GWMO), which has since moved to help her seek justice.

GWMO President Urica Primus said her organisation, which originally assisted women trapped in various forms of exploitation in hinterland areas and mining districts in Guyana, is challenged with dealing with women even on the coastal plain and in other regions. She said several women and girls who are victims of abuse and exploitation have complained that they are given little or no needed assistance when they approach the relevant authorities, and even suffer further abuse and rejection.

“We cannot turn women away when they are faced with such calamity,” Primus has stated. (First printed in last Wednesday’s edition of the Chronicle; reprinted here for our Sunday readers)

IT HAPPENED IN 1961

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Federal Supreme Court rules ability to plead is not sufficient proof of fitness to stand trial

I

N 1961, Chief Justice Sir Eric Hallinan and Justices A.M. Lewis & Marnan castigated a High Court judge for giving the wrong impression that the ability to plead to an indictment constituted sufficient proof of a defendant’s fitness to stand trial.

Sir Eric added: “Looking at both the evidence and the summing up in the trial of the first preliminary issue as a whole, this court has reached the conclusion that the question to be determined was not clearly explained to the jury, and may have been misunderstood by the learned judge himself.

“The verdict on the preliminary issue must therefore be set aside, This conclusion necessarily vitiates the subsequent proceedings, so that the findings and sentence on the second preliminary issue and on the general issue must also be set aside.

“Since the appeal has been decided on a matter affecting a preliminary issue only, this is a proper case to send back to the Supreme Court for re-trial, and we so order. Appeal allowed; new trial ordered”.

According to the Federal Supreme Court (FCC), at the beginning of the judge’s summing-up, he said, “Is the accused, James Reid, now suffering from disease of the mind which rendered him unfit to stand trial, and therefore unable to plead to the indictment? That is the question which is before you for consideration.”

Delivering the FCC Judgment, Chief Justice Hallinan said, “In this case, there can be no doubt that

the appellant killed the boy Geoffrey Dover, aged seven, on 10th November l960. The child went for a walk with the appellant, who strangled him, cut off the scalp with a trowel, and buried the body.

“Two preliminary issues were tried before the general issue. First, the appellant was tried on the issue of whether he was sane and fit to take his trial. When that was de-

sworn to inquire whether the prisoner was able to plead to the indictment. It was proven that the prisoner was able to read and write, he having been taught in the deaf and dumb asylum in London.

The indictment was given to him, which he read, and he made a sign that he was not guilty.

“The jury then found that he was able to plead.

cided in the affirmative, the accused remained mute, and the issue as to whether he was mute of malice was then tried.

“The jury decided he was. It was never seriously in issue whether the appellant was deaf or dumb.

If he did not talk, this was due either to malice or to a disordered or deficient mind. The first preliminary issue therefore was the more important.

“The leading case on the trial of such an issue as this is R.vs. Pritchard, 7C &P. 303. The case is important in the determination of the present appeal, and it is necessary to cite from the report at some length.

“The jury found that Pritchard was mute by the visitation of God. The report then proceeds: The jury was

They were then sworn to determine whether the prisoner was now sane or not.

Evidence was given with a view to shewing that, on the examination before the magistrates, he had understood the charge and had answered in writing. It was, however, sworn by several witnesses that the prisoner was merely an idiot, and had no proper understanding; and that though he might be able to be made to comprehend some matters, he could not understand the proceedings on the trial”.

Alderson, B., the trial judge in Pritchard’s case, told the jury: “The question is whether the prisoner has sufficient understanding to comprehend the nature of this trial so as to make a proper defence to the charge… whether he is of

sufficient intellect to comprehend the course of proceedings on the trial so as to make a proper defence -- to know that he might challenge any of you to whom he may object, and to comprehend the details of the evidence which, in a case of this nature, must constitute a minute investigation.

“Upon this issue, therefore, if you think that there is no certain mode of communicating the details of the trial to the prisoner so that he can clearly understand them and be properly able to make his defence to the charge, you ought to find that he is not of sane mind.

It is not enough that he may have a general capacity of

VII

George Barclay

communicating on ordinary matters”.

Continuing, Sir Eric added: “In the present case, the preliminary issue was correctly stated thus: “whether the appellant is or is not insane and unfit to take his trial.” The issue is very different from the issue of insanity when the general issue is being tried. The question is not whether the appellant knew at the time of the killing what he was doing or whether he was doing wrong, but whether he is fit to take his trial. That is not merely to comprehend the indictment, but also the course of proceedings in the trial”.

Sir Eric Hallinan noted that the killing of the

small boy in this case was a shocking act that was likely to rouse the anger and indignation of the public.

It was therefore of especial importance that the case for the appellant be properly presented; that such medical evidence as was available should be called, and the doctors asked the right questions; and that the summing up should include all aspects of the evidence that were favourable to the appellant, and that there was a clear and correct direction on the question which the jury had to determine.

The Federal Supreme Court allowed the appeal and returned the matter to the Supreme Court for re-trial.

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Feeling unmotivated or depressed?

Here's how to move forward

For IT leaders and other self-directed workers, getting stuck in a spiral of distraction and non-productivity can be crippling. Here are tips on reversing the process.

I

By Patrick Gray T can get lonely being a leader, despite a flurry of activity and dozens of people seeking your advice and assistance. Conflicting and vague objectives, opportunities that never seem to pan out, and significant time invested in activities that don't generate tangible results can contribute to a feeling of being stuck.

In some cases, a simple walk or break from the task at hand may clear your head and provide much-needed focus, while other cases can border on depression, panic, or a general malaise that lasts for months. Here's how to identify when you're stuck, and how to begin the process to recovery.

TURN THE BEAT AROUND The first step is recognising the problem and changing your circumstances to begin to mitigate it. Being stuck is insidious in that you're often still able to perform your job and personal duties, but you may just be going through the motions and doing the bare minimum to keep afloat, which only deepens the sense of being stuck as work and personal obligations mount.

Learn your personal cues that indicate you've become stuck. For me it's often difficulty sleeping and a lack of motivation to do anything long-term. For others, it might be a feeling of low-grade dread when getting out of bed in the morning, or a lack of excitement at facing the day ahead.

In some cases, we might not even realise we're stuck until we notice a pattern of colleagues, friends, and our spouse asking if we're tired or OK. Take a few moments of

personal time away from computers, phones, and devices, and evaluate how you're feeling and if you've become stuck; identification is the key to mitigation.

THE GREAT WORK/LIFE BALANCE LIE One of the greatest frauds ever perpetrated on the workforce by presumably well-meaning HR departments is the concept of a work/life balance. Supposedly, we can readily compartmentalise our work activities and our personal activities, and carefully allocate time between the two as we might allocate our monthly budget. However, there is only one life each of us lives, and rather than the happy yin and yang described by HR types, it's a muddled mess that blends work and life in constantly shifting quantities.

Being stuck at work might be a result of a nagging concern completely unrelated to work, and vice versa.

Or, the cure for being stuck at work might be a change in personal behaviour completely unrelated to work. Examine your life holistically, and seek holistic interventions as you strive to become unstuck.

BEST CURE FOR MOVING SIDEWAYS One of the best cures for breaking free is to clear your mind and physical space, and make a discernable step forward on a task or project that's been left outstanding.

Like most leaders, I have a massive list of tasks and projects, but I try to create a sub-list only of activities I want to complete that day. When stuck, I'll winnow that list down further, and whether it's taking a tiny, discrete step on a long-term project, or stopping the litany of excuses and spending 30 minutes working out, merely moving

forward can often shift your mental state. Simply taking a half day and cleaning your desk and office can reinvigorate productivity, just as a 15-minute walk or a chat with a loved one can begin clearing the mental detritus that keeps us firmly stuck in place.

If you're unable to push yourself forward, there's no shame in seeking outside help. I'll often speak with my wife, who works in a completely unrelated field but usually provides pointed advice and suggestions; she's also not afraid to tell me to stop moping and get on with things when necessary. If you suspect you're struggling with depression, and you're unable to identify and mitigate the cause, seek professional help. Most of us have no hesitation going to a doctor for a broken bone, but apply an unreasonably stigma to going to a doctor for a wounded psyche.

MONITOR YOUR ‘STICKINESS’ I tend to do a good job monitoring my mental state and avoiding getting stuck; that is, until I don't.

It's easy to slip into a funk unwittingly, so try to take care to monitor your productivity, mental state, and interpersonal relationships. There are dozens of helpful techniques to keep tabs on your mental state and to keep from becoming stuck in the first place, from meditation to a good vacation.

Whatever helps you track your forward momentum and reinvigorate you, schedule it as an ongoing part of your life. With planning and diligence, you can lessen the times you get stuck, and quickly give yourself a push in the right direction when it happens. (TechRepublic.com)

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

IX

Kissing Refugee Couple: The kissing couple at the camp

Hungarian photographer reveals story behind touching picture

T

By Jack Sommers

HE sight of this kissing refugee couple made an amateur photographer take what must be one of most humanising photos of the migration crisis.

Istvan Zsiros, 30, a former IT worker who recently quit his job to focus on photography, went to the camp next to Keleti Railway Station in Budapest, Hungary on August 30, saying he wanted to photograph refugees after reading so much in the press about them.

"Love is the only thing that transcends space and time," he told The Huffington Post UK. He was at the camp for around 20 minutes, watching to see what shot he could take.

"This was the first time to take photos of refugees.

Some kind of divination 'told' me to watch the refugees, and this heavenly help give me this lucky moment to take this image."

The camp grew as thousands of migrants and refugees came through Hungary, trying to move on to Austria and Germany where they were more likely to receive warm welcomes.

Less than a week after Mr Zsoris visited, Hungary arranged for fleets of buses to take many thousands of them to the Austrian border, claiming it could not deal with the numbers.

Hungary has been reluctant to welcome or host refugees. It has built a fence along the length of its border with Serbia to keep them out and

police have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse them from the border.

Mr Zsoris added: "I'm not a journalist, so I haven't got any experience in it. Photography is my love/ passion for 10 years. I love catching moments, which can touch the soul.

"I saw the couple, and it was very touching especially in that environment.

So I took the shot."

The image circulated on social media after it was uploaded to a Facebook page hosting a competition. Two weeks later it was shared by professional photographer Yannis Androulidakis, to whom it was briefly misattributed.

It was described as "beautiful" and showing the couple's love "amidst despair, hope�. (Huffington Post UK)

X

Aishwarya’s security beefed up

A

FTER an encounter with overzealous fans, makers of Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s next film have tightened the security ring

around her.

As the actress gears up for the city promotions of her comeback film ‘Jazbaa’, the makers are said to have beefed up the actress' security. Sources say the decision was taken after Ash was

hounded by fans at the film's wrap-up party at a Mumbai night club recently.

A source says, “Aishwarya entered the party quite late and was accompanied by two of her personal security officers. As soon as news

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

spread about her presence at the night club, a huge crowd gathered outside to catch a glimpse of her. The club's bouncers and her security officers were no match for the surging crowd and had a tough time getting Ash out of the club. Now that the city tours are about to begin, the makers have decided to strengthen the security cover around the actress, considering her fan following.”

A source working on the project states: “Recently, there have been a few cases of actors being manhandled by fans and so, we don't want to take any chances with Ash. She will be surrounded by 1520 bodyguards during the promotional city tours.” (santabanta.com)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Salman Khan’s upcoming film ‘Prem Ratan Dhan Payo’ sets record - even before its release

Salman Khan’s upcoming and one of the most awaited films of all times 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' firstly marks the coming back of director Sooraj Barjatiya and after the bumper success of Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman will be back on silver screen with this film.

The film marks the reunion of Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya after 16 long years.

With this duo coming back after a while, news is that the music of the film has gotten sold for an extraordinary number, running into millions of dollars, making it the biggest music deal till date in the industry of Bollywood! Never before has any film sold its music to such a number.

As we all have witnessed in the past, this duo has always delivered a hit album loved by all age groups! The two have previously worked upon films like ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’ and ‘Hum Apke Hain Kaun’ which were massive hits with the audience, with the songs being evergreen and are heard to till date!

This time yet again, the music in the film has already been sold at an extraordinary price!

The film has already created a great amount of buzz amongst audiences and fans who are keenly waiting for the film to open. (santabanta.com)

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

XI

REPAIRING SHOES Popular City Cobbler Dereck Ramcharitar takes pride in his work!

C

By Telesha Ramnarine ITY Cobbler Dereck Ramcharitar makes it his duty to travel to the United States of America at least once a year in order to bring back to Guyana the best materials available to repair all kinds of footwear.

But recently, it seems his efforts are going in vain as people apparently prefer the inferior materials that they can pick up at a cheaper price. “So business is practically dead,” he told the Chronicle in an interview last Thursday.

Dereck was quick to point out, though, that these individuals are in actuality opting for the more expensive choice as sooner, rather than later, their shoes are again in need of repair because of choosing poor quality of materials.

Nevertheless, Dereck is optimistic that that business will

Dereck Ramcharitar pick up again, even as it has been about three months since he has been experiencing a drop. Now 26 years in the shoe business, he has spent 20 of those years stationed inside the Guyana Post Office Building.

Dereck, 50, is a resident of Better Hope, East Coast Demerara. Fixing shoes has become like second nature to him, he said.

He originally wanted to enlist in the military, but that didn’t work out; so he sought other jobs. However, he still found it difficult to care for his wife, Janet.

Things got better for them, though, when Janet helped him find a job with a city cobbler who worked in the Fogarty’s Building at the time. When Dereck started out, he knew little about the art of repairing shoes, but underwent some training by the city cobbler. Eventually, he mastered the trade, and started loving what he was doing.

The cobbler eventually migrated, so Dereck was left with the business, which he took over some ten years ago. He moved from Fogarty’s Supermarket to the Guyana Stores Building across the road, and having stayed there for some time, he moved again to the Guyana Post Office building, where he presently operates and can be found once the search-

er makes two right turns upon entering the post office from North Road.

Explaining some of the services he provides, Dereck said: “I do ladies’ shoe heel…mek yo shoes look back new. We do the half-sole, whole sole with imported stuff. People buy pumps, and within two weeks the bottom break up…we will replace the bottom, and it usually lasts real long. We do gents’ shoes with imported gents’ heels, and could replace the heel with imported ones. We do gents’ soles too. So, everything about shoes we do.

“The material I use is very strong. It doesn’t break, and it doesn’t grind down easily, so you can mash the pumps properly. The heel I use for the ladies’ shoes is the best quality in the world. I used to use other materials, but people complained, so I got better stuff.”

Unlike some cobblers, who fail to deliver quality work, Dereck believes that satisfying the customer is first priority.

“My business is all about quality and giving people advice. I tell you what type of shoes to buy on the market. I think about satisfying the customer first, and then about getting paid.”

Dereck was modest enough to admit that he was not always this kind of person. “I was no good in character.

Only until I started to do this job, everybody knows ‘Mr. Nice Guy’. Twenty-two years ago, you wouldn’t want to know me. My wife and kids (Dereck jnr. and Lisa) had a good effect on me. When you get responsibilities, you change. Everybody can change.”

- travels yearly to U.S. just to ensure quality materials TIGHT SHOES Never wear tight shoes; and when washing, wipe those shoes thoroughly with a little soap powder or sweet smelling liquid soap, not bleach; and put them out in the sun for a bit.

Be careful not to leave them out too long, lest they become damaged. And let air do the rest, once they are taken out of the sun. Take it from Dereck that this is the correct way to clean your shoes!

He said the best type of shoes women should wear are the ones that carry an open front. Why? He explained that this helps with blood circulation in the body. Only men, Dereck said, may wear shoes that are closed up in front. However, those shoes should be a little slack to allow for circulation.

In fact, he recommends that people should always wear shoes that are soft and comfortable.

Offering some advice to other cobblers, Dereck said: “If something (shoes) cannot be done, don’t take it and do it.

First thing you should do is to advise people. Don’t work for the money alone, give people advice. You get more customers that way. It’s best you tell people the truth. You have to love what you do before you can get it right. Put your heart into it and everything falls into place.”

Dereck works from Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, and from 8.00 am to 11.00 am on Saturdays. He also works at home sometimes.

XII

Meet Chris Elliman

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015 During a heritage celebration in his village

… After President’s College, returns home to serve the Arecunas Mission

By Shauna Jemmott “Mi colega Arecunas perdio a su partido de anoche, pero hicieron su mejor esfuerzo.

Nos sentimos orgullosos de ustedes PARUIMA.” This is the Arecuna upon a Facebook page at 10 am on September 21.

The English interpretation: “My colleague Arecunas lost his party (football match) last night, but they did their best. We are proud of you Paruima”.

The strong statement of support even after the loss

of a major football league is intriguing and tells a story of a community in the distant jungles of Guyana, but this is a story of a single young man living in the midst of it all – the man who made that statement.

Quite an intelligent speaker, far from what one would expect from someone living in where would seem like ‘a lost world’, this young indigenous man who benefitted from a hinterland scholarship programme has quite a story to tell, and great hopes for Arecuna, the outstanding

tribe and community of his origin.

Chris Elliman is 27, and a former student of the renowned President’s College, a boarding school at Golden Grove on the East Coast Demerara. He attended the college when the dormitory

was consumed by fire and though, coupled with financial constraints, his studies was affected, he successfully wrote Caribbean Secondary Examinations Certificate (CSEC) examinations in 1999 and worked in the city for a while before returning home.

Handsome and a little taller than expected, he is Mazaruni born and bred, and never left his community until he was selected for scholarship.

He describes himself back then as a shy home-boy who feared strangers.

“I was more a community boy… I was a shy person. I remember I was afraid of the Chris Elliman

coast-landers (because) we weren’t accustomed to seeing people from the coast, and they were very serious.”

But the opportunity to move away has made him over into a more confident youngster well versed in the English language and a true representative of and for Arecunas.

He knew little English and though learning was a challenge, his fellow students taught him well enough to pass the subject and gain a receptionist job at a popular international city hotel. He has however returned home permanently.

“When I came out, I was afraid of my English in

school”. English was made easy by fellow students at President’s College.

He expressed disappointment in the fact that there was no teacher specifically assigned to assist hinterland students in learning English, which was fairly new to him.

He said there were also times when he remained confused about pronunciations of words since some teachers articulate differently.

“It would be a good idea to have somebody out there to teach you,” he expressed.

He said while he was ► Continued

on page XIII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

XIII

Chris (center) poses with his choir “The west side voices”

Meet Chris Elliman working at the Regency Hotel, he tried his best to pronounce the words properly but people would sometimes ask him if he is from another country. He would have them say where they think he’s from just to try to figure out whom he sounds like.

“I wanted to know where I am with my pronunciation, how am I sounding, where am I with my language… some tourists said I sounded like I am from Malaysia or Aruba.”

With high expectations, returning to serve the Peruima Mission and Arecuna tribe, is dearest to his heart. And from observations, he is a man who believes in working not with himself, but in being aligned with what he believes God expects of him. He is dedicated enough to volunteer for the past four years on the governing body of the village.

The youngest of eleven Councilors governing the Mission; a worshipper in the Peruima Seventh Day Adventist Church; Secretary of Roraima Sports Club and Volleyball player; Photographer: and big brother are all part of his portfolio, and from touring his Facebook page, he is indeed all the way with “his people”.

As worshipper in the Peruima Seventh Day Adventist Church, he travels in a group to participate in the Thrill Blazers Convention, usually held in Georgetown; as a Councillor on the Peruima Mission Council, his duties are mainly secretarial and overseeing the general development of the community, and he is also required to tour and support the sports groups in his club and community.

In his own words, he describes the community foreigners call ‘heaven’: “The Village is situated between the mountains, which place the village in a valley… there is the Kamarang river that runs through the village… The Arecunas are very cooperative and mannerly (which) makes the community very respectable by other communities and we try as much as we can to show leadership qualities.”

But even though “you get to live in a very well descent community and also be able to read the Bible and learn about God… the disadvantage is that we are way behind modern technology and living very far off the coast,” he said.

Though he hopes that serving on the council would allow him the opportunity to “develop the community by beautifying

the area and thus starting tourism”, morality has taught him unselfishness.

“But we don’t want to be better than anyone, we rather be equal,” he stated suggesting that whatever benefits his Mission receives must also be given to all other missions.

He also is praying for telecommunications and the internet service so that people can be able to do researches and keep in touch with general society.

The young man is a little disappointed however that after sacrificing years away from home to study, and being back home for over four years, there is still no paid employment

► Continued on page XII

for someone like him with interests other than teaching or working in health.

“You come to be educated and to serve back in your community. They have teachers, health workers and no job to fulfill my interest. I want to stay in my community and enjoy the freedom of where I was born, and nature. I have interest in Photography and Information Technology.”

He said though returning home felt different, “I was able to go home with an experience of what life is like out here (and) though you may have your failures, it is nice to teach the young ones what is expected in life.”

XIV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Apple targeting 2019 for launch of Electric Car

A

pple's electric driving car is moving full speed ahead. The Cupertino tech giant is reportedly "accelerating" its electric car efforts after spending more than a year investigating whether it could actually make the project, known internally as ‘Titan’, a reality.

Apple has given its project leaders the go-ahead to triple Cupertino's 600-person electric vehicle team. That team includes self-driving car experts, but Apple doesn't plan to make its first electric vehicle fully autonomous.

So does this mean we should expect to see Apple Cars on the roads before the end of the decade? Once Apple completes its designs and prototypes, a vehicle would still need to undergo a litany of tests before it could clear regulatory hurdles.

The rumors of Apple’s electric car heated up a few months ago when word spread that Apple hired Doug Betts, former head of global quality at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. So, can we look forward for the “i-car” soon?

MUST-HAVE NEW TECH RELEASES

T

his year’s Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, device makers were battling to show off what they hope will be the tech winners of 2015. We are yet to know the outcome.

The showcase has already been used by Samsung to unveil its latest smartphones - the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge - in the hope of fighting back against U.S. rival Apple. And it's not just phones at this year's event – companies were showing off lots of gadgets and devices including smart watches, bicycles, even pet wearables and furniture…the few below, are the ones that captivate the crowd.

PEEL SMART REMOTE - U.S. start-up Peel has created an app that lets you control your whole home via your smartphone. Rather than using one app to turn off the light, one to control the heating and one to check the water sprinklers, this product lets users control all the different home appliances that are connected. The firm - which was founded in 2009 and last year received $50 million of funding from Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba - hopes its app can become the remote control for the home.

HUAWEI WATCH - Chinese electronics giant Huawei has unveiled a stainless steel smart-watch, jumping into the hot market for wearable technology just weeks before Apple is expected to bring its own version to consumers. The Huawei Watch, the Chinese company's first entry into the “wearables” market, runs on Google's Android wear and has a 1.4 inch round touchscreen face. The device has a scratch-proof sapphire crystal lens, a heart rate monitor, and can detect the type of activity in which a user is engaged, such as running or cycling.

FORD E-BIKE - Some of the world's auto giants couldn't resist getting on the technology bandwagon this year, and U.S. carmaker Ford was no exception. It moved from four wheels to two with its connected bicycle - or "e-bike" - which has a 200-watt motor and a battery that helps propel cyclists along to speeds of up to 25 kilometers per hour. This kicks in when

M

Microsoft Office 2016 officially launched

icrosoft began the worldwide roll-out of Office 2016, the latest addition to its cloud-based subscription service Office 365, last Tuesday.

Office 2016 brings new versions of desktop apps for Windows including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and Access and allows people to collaborate and work together.

These latest innovations take another big step forward in transforming Office from a familiar set of individual productivity apps to a connected set of apps and services designed for modern working, collaboration and teamwork.

Microsoft launched its much-awaited Windows 10 operating system in July, designed to work across laptops, desktop and smartphones, as part of steps taken of winning back lost ground in the tablets and mobile arena.

The new Office 2016 apps are available in 40 languages and require Windows 7 or later versions.

a users' heart rate goes above a certain level – that way you won't arrive at your destination in a sweaty mess.

SAMSUNG GALAXY S6 - Samsung unveiled two flagship phones last Sunday, the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, as it looked to reverse its fortunes after a tough year.

The South Korean electronics giant lost its dominant position in both India and China, and lost major ground elsewhere to Apple. In response, Samsung showed off its metal-framed Galaxy S6 which I think was a much-improved device from the heavily-criticised Galaxy S5.

IKEA WIRELESS CHARGING FURNITURE - Ikea has released a range of furniture that wirelessly charges your smartphones and tablets. The technology will be built into bedside tables, lamps and desks made by the Swedish company.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Jim Iyke sires son with Lithuanian lover

CONGRATULATIONS are in order for Nollywood ‘bad-boy’, Jim Iyke, who has the distinction of being among Naija’s latest ‘celeb’ daddies.

He welcomed his first baby, a boy, with his 23-yearold Lithuanian girlfriend, Dana Kinduryte. The child, who was born on September 1, 2015 at the Grady Hospital iun Atlanta, has been named Harvis Chidubem Iyke.

Word is that the two met last year in London, and that Dana, who is a Law graduate, did not even know she was dating a Nollywood star until three months into the affair.

Then, five months after

the couple found out they were expecting a child, Jim reportedly moved Dana into his apartment in Atlanta where he cared for her throughout the last few months of pregnancy.

He was even said to be present and assisted in the delivery of his first child.

Jim Iyke was keen to keep his relationship from the press this time around; that's why this news comes as much of a surprise to everyone.

As he was quoted as saying in a recent social media post: “My son. After trying a few relationships in the industry at home, I didn’t

Jim and Dana want the circus and misconceptions that came from close scrutiny, so I spared no expense and resources to protect this relationship and my baby.

“This time last year, I was in depression over my mom’s death. This time around, I’m in tears of joy.”

XV J i m I y k e w a s f o rmerly dating Ghanaian actress Nadia Buari. The relationship, which some

suggested was a publicity stunt, came to an abrupt end when Nadia gave birth to twins in March.

Jim and Harvis

XVI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

JUMBIE JUMP UP R

By Neil Primus

UMOUR spread like a forest fire. Nuff Jumbie dea bout.

Even though Bamboo Valley had a number of supernatural encounters, there was never a time when so many were rumoured to be about.

The villagers obeyed their self-imposed curfew. Nothing moving about after 6pm and before 6am.

An old lady say she see all kinda spirit. According to she, there was Dutchman riding a white horse. The horse had no eyes. He wore a Bughouse hat and wielded a whip. There was Fire Rass flying about like mad and Baccoo molesting people wid bricks and stones. Wata Muma was smiling at all de young men and fooling plenty a dem. Dry Bones turn baby and was bawling down de place. All dem fass people he trapping. Moon Gazer stood big and bad in the sharp silvery moonlight.

But was when she see Sukante and Charile dancing dat she panic and take off for home. Only problem is she is 91 and nearly blind.

Another old man wid one eye swear he see a dog wid no head chasing he tail. He see a golden pig wid plenty piglets walking all over de place.

Wen he claim he see Bush Dai Dai we chase he because we know he either drunk or crazy.

A lil girl see a Masakura Man chatting with Moon Gazer. She say how Charile, Sukunti and Old Higue form a conga line and start some ‘dutty whining’.

De music was supplied by an old man wid a guitar without strings. All you could see was cobwebs. Dem had two bald head drummers beating music pon each other heads. In de middle of all dis a group a Bush Devils were enjoying dem selves. Was noise like Mash bands. Baccoo, glad fo meet he match at last join them an was more confusion. Den everything get quiet, quiet.

Pling!

Pling!

Savanna Ghost arrive an nearly spoil de whole party. They say it sound like church bells an you know Jumbie hate dat. Den a loud nasal out of tune voice start up a tune. Was Yakoob stepping into de party. Dat break di ice an music strike up again. Den Lord Kitchener start singing a sweet melody. ► Continued on page XVII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

JUMBIE JUMP UP ► From page

XVI

“Yo talk about run, a nearly buss me head.

Run, de living running from d dead.

A ghost say don’t run me lad.

Lea we play a game a cards.

Well is now a running fuh truth.

Me foot stick in a mango root.

A fall down inside a tomb.

A get up wid a Zoom! Zoom! Zoom!”

Everybody break away. Some ‘fine whining’,

some back-balling and some doing de dollar whine. Big fete. Party in full swing. Den sudden so things start fo happen. De tune suddenly change to de wedding march. Rice start to fly through de air. Old Higue, Sukunte and Charile dive for cover. Big cussing start up. Den was wata flying through de air. Somebody bawl out, “Holy wata oh me Lawd!”

Poof!

Party empty. All body missing in action.

Jumbie Bride and Broom look disappointed dat

XVII party done as soon as they arrive. But not fo long.

Loud voices came from down the road. A group of people were heading for the party spot. People were laughing, chatting and shouting to be heard.

People drunk, high pon drugs and others just exhausted. Big show jus finish an all man Jack heading home. All dem jumbie re-appear looking excited and hungry. Nice. A cold breeze moved along the road. A deep grating voice declared: “Is every jumbie or creature for itself.”

“Charge!”

A mob of mysterious shapes headed for the oncoming youths. The group stopped in their tracks and gazed in awe and terror at the destructive forces charging towards them.

That would be a night many of them will remember for the rest of their lives.

Vaginal Candidiasis or Yeast Infection XVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

- every woman’s recurring nightmare!

By Shauna Jemmott

W

EARING tight-fitt i n g clothes, keeping on a wet swimsuit for too long or using deodorant tampons, feminine sprays and douches can result in miserable days for women and girls, resulting in them possibly having to take a vaginal therapy.

This was disclosed by medical practitioner Dr. Saska Sertimer this past week in a talk with the Sunday Chronicle about Vaginal Candidiasis commonly called Yeast Infection, which is common among females of all ages.

Vaginal Candidiasis or Yeast Infection, as it is popularly known, is a “fungal infection which causes irritation, discharge and intense itchiness of the vagina and the vulva”.

Dr. Saska Sertimer

CAUSE According to the Dr. Sertimer, most fungal vaginitis is caused by the organism ‘Candida albicans’.

“It should be noted that a healthy vagina has many bacteria

and a small number of yeast cells. The most common bacteria Lactobacillus Acidophilus, help keep other organisms like yeast under control. However when something happens to change the balance of these organisms, there can be an overgrowth of yeast which can result in symptoms.”

She explained that Risk Factors include diabetes, use of broad spectrum antibiotics, steroid medications, high estrogen levels caused by pregnancy or hormone replacement therapy, wearing constrictive undergarments, stress, lack of sleep, hermonal changes related to menstrual cycle, and certain immune-compromised ► Continued

on page XIX

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015 â–ş From page XVIII illnesses such as HIV and cancer.

The doctor notes some three out of four women will have a vaginal infection at some point, and someone infected once is highly likely to have a repeat infection.

mitted, a man having naked sexual contact with an infected woman can experience mild irritation and itching of the penis but do not need treatment unless symptomatic.

TYPICAL SYMPTOMS

Although most vaginal yeast infections can be treated with overthe-counter medications, a woman should confirm diagnosis with her doctor to ensure correct and proper treatment.

This is because other conditions may produce similar symptoms, and some yeast infections may have a more serious disease as an underlying

Typical symptoms include itching; burning; a vaginal discharge of a thick, white cottagecheese-like substance; soreness, redness and swelling of vagina; and pain during urination or sexual intercourse.

Though the condition is not sexually trans-

TREATMENT

cause.

If someone has recurring episodes of four or more proven episodes per year, she should seek professional medical help.

Treatment comes in various forms including oral medications, vaginal pessaries and creams, and for mild to moderate symptoms and infrequent episodes, doctors may even recommend short-course vaginal therapy, single-dose oral medication, or over-thecounter drugs.

However, when infections are recurrent, a longer course of treatment may be needed.

Prevention includes eating a balanced diet; control of blood sugar

level if one is diabetic; and avoiding unnecessary use of anti-biotics.

According to Dr. Sertimer, practicing good genital hygiene plays a major role in preventing such infection. These include avoiding tight-fitting clothes, such as tight-fitting jeans and panty hose since these increase body heat and moisture in the genital area; changing a wet swimsuit immediate-

XIX ly; avoiding the use of douches, deodorant tampons or feminine sprays since these can change the normal balance of organisms in the vagina; wearing underwear which helps keep the genital area dry and doesn’t hold in warmth and moisture (eg., Cotton underwear); after using the toilet, wipe from front to back with tissue to avoid spreading yeast or bacteria from anus to

vagina; keep your vaginal area clean. Wash with mild, unscented soap and water; and change pads and tampons often.

Dr. Saska Sertimer is the Primary Care Physician at Industry Health Centre, a branch of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) and is the holder of an MBBS as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine.

XX

Cheating ‘grandpa’ and the lessons we teach

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Dear Wayne & Tamara, I am 31. My father has been married to my stepmother for 24 years. For 15 years I've known my dad has had many relationships outside his marriage. My husband and I turned a blind eye until now, but we have children, his grandchildren.

My father is in an affair of seven years standing. We refused to allow them together around my children, for I find it way too confusing. I would rather not rip their innocence away by telling them their papa is a cheating dog and their poor honey has no idea.

This is getting old. I have no idea how to handle it, and I am exhausted from hiding and lying to everyone, especially my children. This is not a lesson I want them to learn.

Jillian

***** Dear Jillian, With cheaters, the answer is usually a matter of Occam's razor.

The simplest answer is best.

First, end the pretense of ignorance by your stepmother. Put it on the table. "Mom, dad is cheating on you again, and he wants to bring the woman he cheats with into my house to visit my children."

Then simply tell the three of them, your mom, your dad and his girlfriend, that you â–ş Continued on page XXI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Cheating ‘grandpa’ ... ► From page XX don't want this threesome modelled as a relationship to your children.

Who do children model? The people closest to them.

Modeling is not about simply telling your children not to smoke. Modeling is about behaviour in every situation: behind the wheel, table manners, cheating, saying please and thank you, not slamming doors, this is what marriage is.

You don't want your son growing up and saying, Grandpa had a lover while married, why can't I? You don't want your daughter growing up thinking she is not worthy of a faithful husband.

Your father has gotten away with this so long he thinks he is entitled to it, but he is bringing uncertainty, confusion and ethically dubious behaviour into your children's lives.

Allowing him to bring his girlfriend into your world would say you think it's okay.

You have to confront both of your parents. You couldn't do it as a child. But you can do it now as your children's mom.

This situation can only be resolved at its source. Its source is not your children.

Wayne & Tamara

XXI

AGE OF MATURITY

Dear Wayne & Tamara,

My boyfriend and I have an 11-year age gap. He is 38, I am 27. My parents have a problem with this. They are in their 40s and had me when they were teenagers.

It was a surprise.

My dad actually told me he wouldn't accept it if we ever got married. We aren't at that point in our relationship yet, but I feel I am shortchanging my boyfriend because I am holding back due to my parents.

We were hesitant to start dating because of our age difference, then we realised it doesn't matter. We have a lot in common and our maturity level is compatible. How do I get my parents to open up to him and give him a chance?

Wendi

*** Dear Wendi, You are an adult woman, not your parents' 17-year-old daughter. If you had done what they did, you would now be married with a 10-year-old child.

What is the main criterion for marriage? Love, or being the same age? If you love him, you move forward. If you don't, then stop dating him. But at 27 your parents are not part of this decision.

Start acting like the adult

woman you are. Your parents got to decide where you went to school, what clothes you wore and what time you had to come home. Those times are over.

If they did a good job parenting, they should

trust you to make an adult decision. If they didn't do a good job parenting, why should you listen to them now?

Wayne & Tamara

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

XXIII

Abusive Women - force some men to seek hope and refuge in God

I

By Tajeram Mohabir t is not often highlighted, but men are also victims of domestic violence and not strange at all, they are generally accused of all manner of things.

This matter was highlighted when the Guyana Business Coalition for Health Awareness (GBCHA) hosted a peer educator workshop on Tuesday last on domestic violence.

The lively interaction held at the Edward Beharry office on Charlotte Street, Georgetown attracted participation from a number of private sector entities, with all the participants sharing their views on the subject.

The forum which was made up of mostly women, heard that men are also at the receiving end when it comes

to physical abuse. The most of it comes in slaps.

And when it is not slaps, it is a sound tongue-lashing, or a combination of both, sometimes based purely on accusation.

It has been a long held belief that women are the chief instigators of domestic violence and men tend to explode violently when pushed repeatedly by their partners.

The latter reportedly happens because men are usually in the habit of ‘storing-up’ their anger to the point where it becomes difficult for them to manage.

Many men who do not react violently keep close to God, constantly seeking divine intervention.

University of Guyana (UG) lecturer in the Women’s Study Unit, Audrey Benn, speaking at a recent violence against women symposium, said “We can-

not bury our heads in the sand and appear as if we don’t have a problem,” while pointing out that men are also victims of domestic violence.

THE EVIDENCE According to Benn, in 2010, the number of reported cases from males was 1,673; in 2011, it increased with 2,887 reports; i n 2012, there was a slight decrease of 2,761.

But in 2013 and

2014, abused men somewhat breathe a sigh of relief. There was a dramatic decrease with 749 reports which continued in 2014 with 603 reported cases of domestic abuse.

According to Benn, the abuse of men takes many of the same forms as it does against women - physical violence, intimidation and threats; sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal and financial abuse; property damage and social iso-

Participants strategising on how to counter domestic violence and build strong, healthy relationships (Samuel Maughn photo)

lation.

Many men experience multiple forms of abuse.

Men, more so than women, can also experience legal and administrative abuse - the use of institutions to inflict further abuse on a victim, for example, taking out false restraining orders or not allowing the victim access to his children.

According to Benn, male victims can be falsely arrested and removed from their homes because of the assumption that because he is a male, he must be a perpetrator and not a victim. When this happens, children can be l e f t un-

protected from the perpetrator of the violence, leading many men to suffer the abuse in silence in an attempt to protect their children.

During the discussion, it was also brought out that the action of men could be misinterpreted. Using a specific example, one of the participants pointed out that the woman carrying the groceries to the counter but the man paying is an abuse. The man is seen as exercising tight control over the money to the extent that he sees only himself as competent to use it.

GOOD SEEN AS BAD

Participants in a lively ‘role play’ on the discomforts caused by domestic violence (Samuel Maughn photo)

Some of the participants contended that this is not necessarily so as the man is merely playing a complementary role. It could also be a case where the man keeps the money since he is the most capable partner to fend off a robber.

This is not the only misinterpretation of men. Some of the participants were of the view that a man looking at a woman constitutes an abuse. Not so, said some others, who stressed that if the man is ogling the wom-

an, then yes, but like any other person, a man has a right to look at everything in his presence.

One participant was more sharp and to the point, stressing that “nothing is wrong in looking at the beautiful furniture in the stores”. It was also noted that some women can be a bit bias in the sense that if a man looks at a woman, there are those who will say it is an abuse. “But what do you call it when women look at men in the same way?” one male participant asked.

WHY SULK The forum was also told that persons should not greave too much at the loss of a partner who walks out of a relationship, since the loss is really with the partner who is leaving unjustly.

And because of the advancement and independence of women in society, it has forced some men to check themselves before they wreck themselves.

It was noted that men today cannot threaten to leave their partners and seek out others because “the women will exercise their equal rights”.

With these varying situations in mind, all at the forum emphasised the importance of love, tolerance, respect and strong communication to build healthy relationships.

Domestic violence is not healthy for the family, society and country as a whole.

The vast majority of victims of domestic violence are women. Many have died as a result of domestic violence.

The forum also heard that apart from kicks, punches and slaps, abusers also bite, pinch and head-butt their victims.

The workshop which featured discussions and role play sought to increase participants’ knowledge of domestic violence; their ability to be advocates against domestic violence; and to equip them with the necessary tools to conduct domestic violence education sessions within their workplaces.

Farming is both challenging and frustrating XXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

- just ask Dhanuk Dhari, a 56-year-old farmer

I

by Neil Primus F you told someone you were born in Louisiana, they would immediately assume that you are an American citizen. They would be quite wrong. You could be a Guyanese citizen, lucky to be born on the island of Leguan on the Essequibo River.

This is the story of Dhanuk Dhari, a 56-year-old father of one. He was born in Leguan into a rice-growing, cattle-rearing family. As a young boy, he worked the rice fields and looked after the cows. At 15, he left the Essequibo island and headed for the lights of the capital city. He began working with the Transport and Harbours Department at 17. His first job was that of porter. Later he learned to operate the forklift and became a forklift operator.

His life goal was to become a successful businessman. After a few years with the T&HD, he bought a car and started working as a taxi driver. On that day he became self-employed. The taxi was slow business so he invested in a one ton van - an open back Morris.

During this period there was a food shortage in

Bunches of bananas can be seen on these affected trees

Guyana, so he embarked on a unique little business. He would drive to Enmore on the East Coast of Demerara and buy coconut oil from a number of people. He then sold this oil to the Grove community on the East Bank of Demerara on Saturdays and Canal No#1 and Canal No#2 on the West Bank Demerara on Sundays.

With this business doing well, he bought a stall in the Kitty Market. Following on this, he purchased a Canter. Business was good and he was soon able to buy a truck. He began to invest heavily in grocery shops. He soon acquired one and rented another.

His famous ‘Blue Shop’ was known for its fabulous bargains. The death of his wife saw the closure of the grocery business. The stall in the market closed too, due to the rapidly deteriorating condition of the building.

Cows were his next choice for investment. He bought a few heads and started to rear them. The Mayor and City Council was very vigilant at that time and he was forced to move these animals away from the city. He got a piece of land on the East Bank of Demerara and moved his small herd there. Before long he received a plot of land at Perseverance, also on the East Bank of Demerara.

Dhanuk remembers countless acts of sacrifice to ensure that his small business stayed afloat. His truck would move sugar or flour to different locations. There were many times when he had to overnight in the vehicle waiting to collect a load.

“Business is a serious challenge in Guyana, especially small business. You become too engrossed in it and find yourself staying away from family and home for long periods. All you seem to be thinking about is work and money. This results in problems in your home.”

His 15 acre farm consists of a small herd of cows, chickens, fish, horses, provision and an assortment of fruits. This small farm has been operating at a loss for some time now. “It’s not paying anymore. Prices are low and goods often flood the market during this period. If you have to pay someone to pick greens, you soon realise that it has to be sold at a loss. “ Thieves have also taken a heavy toll on his small business. He disclosed that apart from people entering the farm and stealing, his staff is often guilty of this dishonest practice. As a result, he has had to change staff over and over. He has lost 60 goats, a number of cows and about 100 ducks. Reports to the police have brought

Chickens over fish pond on the farm

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

XXV

Farmer Dhanuk Dhari Dhanuk Dhari says coconuts are falling prematurely on his farm

Fish Pond on Dhari’s farm

zero results.

“There is no electricity on my farm as yet. This makes it quite hard to attract and keep workers. After a hard day’s work, they cannot relax and enjoy TV or other such devices. As soon as they realise no light, they vanish after a brief stay. I have had my fair share of running around over the last two years trying to get electricity supplied to my farm. My efforts have proven futile.”

Dhanuk said all he needs at the moment is a simple document from Lands and Surveys showing that he has occupied the 15 acres since 1994. “I was told that ‘the papers are in process.’ This was after going in a circle from Ministry of Housing to GPL then to Lands and Surveys.”

Dhanuk said he has become quite frustrated. “Because there are no lights, farm workers are terrified to venture into the dark to investigate suspicious noises. With no firearms at my disposal, thieves take advantage. I applied for a firearm but an obscene figure was quoted to me. I refused and have suffered dearly because of this. I ended up losing more than a million dollars in the end. Even my dogs come in for cruel treatment. One of my more aggressive dogs was chopped to pieces.”

Dhanuk recalled an instance where three of his best young cows disappeared. “We searched all over with no result. This was immediately reported to the police.

Three weeks later one of them escaped and came back home wearing a strange brand. I locked him up. A month later a man approached me claiming the animal. The police were notified. They instructed that the animal must not be handed over. It would be collected the next day by the police to assist in their investigations. The police officers from Mocha Outpost/Station came and collected the calf next day. When I checked with them a few days later the animal had vanished. Such are the struggles of small farmers.”

Dhanuk said he also paid a visit to GMC to find out how this body serves the needs of the farming community. Apart from disseminating marketing and business information for farmers and those in the Agriculture trade, GMC promotes the use of local produce. It helps to co-ordinate the exportation of agricultural products and helps to network local ► Continued on page XXVIII

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Lone yachtswoman in rally to re-visit Guyana

Jean Penny poses for the camera at Hurakabra River Resort

- yachtsman sees need for marina here

J

By Michel Outridge EAN Petty is the lone woman who recently sailed from Trinidad and Tobago to

Guyana for the third Nereid’s Yacht Rally 2015 at Hurakabra River Resort, joining a group of other yachters who are anchored in the Essequibo River.

The 53-year-old told

the Chronicle that she is between jobs presently and was staying in Trinidad and Tobago with friends, who told her she â–ş Continued

on page XXVII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Donald Stollmeyer at the wheel of his yacht during a tour at Hurakabra River Resort, earlier this month (Samuel Maughn photos)

Lone yachtswoman in rally ... ► From page XXVI must come to Guyana and when she learnt of the yachting rally she knew she had to.

Petty added that she made a good choice because with the hurricane season, here is the best place to be right now.

She noted that it is not easy to sail alone and as a woman it’s not the safest thing to do, but she shed all her fears and made the expedition. And having lived on a boat for 29 years she is more than capable of handling herself well.

Petty has worked in the yachting industry for many years and she spoke of the long hours of work which she endured to finally be able to set sail in her own yacht but in the end it was all worth it.

She recalled how hard she worked in her younger days and to be able to sail to a location of her choice today is quite an achievement since it is very expensive to maintain a yacht, yet alone sail.

SAILING SINCE 2003 This yachtswoman disclosed that she left the United Kingdom, her homeland, in 2003 and has been sailing since from one country to another.

Her yacht, N’Oubliez Jamais, is registered in the UK and it means “Never Forget” and it is her pride and joy.

She readily acknowledged that she has been quite captivated by Guyana and the Guyanese people, so much so that she has arranged with a friend to re-visit Guyana where she plans to go on nature tours of Kaieteur National Park, among other places.

She said Guyana is a place that needs exploring and she will spend days doing just that since she saw ► Continued on page XXXII

Jean Penny on her yacht

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Farming is both challenging ... ► From

page XXV farmers and exporters of agricultural products with overseas buyers and stakeholders. They also have an innovative information system. TEXT 1010 is a messaging service that farmers can access at any time to ascertain the prices of some

forty agro products. This service assists the farmer to sell his produce at an informed price.

Another feature of the GMC is the Guyana Shop which stocks and sells only local produce. Other services available are the Packaging Facility, the Field Crate Rental – for transporting produce and the Cold Storage facilities.

Market Advisory information, Brokerage Services and Agricultural Business Development are all part of the operations of this agency.

The National Agriculture Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) ► Continued

on page XXIX

Fungus destroys this Soursop in Dhari’s farm

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

XXIX

Farming is both challenging ... â–ş From page XXVIII is responsible for the Research and Development, Crop Protection and Extension Training. New research is conducted from time to time and this new knowledge is used to develop better technology in the agricultural trade. Farmers and other stakeholders are informed, trained and supported in ensuring that their crop or business benefit from the research.

Crop Protection helps to halt the spread of plant disease into Guyana. Products are inspected before they depart and enter Guyana to ensure that there is no risk to our agricultural sector or our overseas market. Detection of key diseases such as Pink Mealy Bug and the Mediterranean Fruit Fly helps to keep plant disease in check. Plant Protection law enforcement, Pest Risk Assessment and Farm Certification are all part of the Crop Protection Programme.

Extension and Training are of great benefit to farmers. Farms are regularly visited and new technologies and techniques are introduced via demonstrations. The media, fairs, exhibitions and farmers clinics are the many ways that information is extended. The staff who carry out these crucial duties are regularly trained so that they can adequately attend to the needs of the agro sector in Guyana.

This writer visited NAREI and met the CEO Dr. Oudho Homenauth. After hearing

about the farmer’s plight, Homenauth immediately instructed his staff to visit the farm and try to remedy the situation. I subsequently contacted the farmer who informed me that a NAREI officer had contacted him and would visit his farm the next day.

In a follow-up conversation with the NAREI field officer I was briefed on their visit. First the team inspected the farm. After the inspection they were able to discern that the farmer had been guilty of using herbicides incorrectly which caused some of his woes. On the site, training was conducted which helped the farmer to correct some of his practices. A new Data Base was also opened so that all farmers in that area would now benefit.

XXX

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Dental care in the community

By Dr. Bertrand R. Stuart, DDS Dr. BERTRAND R. STUART, DDS.

MODERN dentistry provides many challenges for the dental practitioner. Some of these

involve the acquisition of technical skills, such as the ability to use new materials and provide new treatment options.

While such skills form the foundation of

dental care, technical expertise is always provided in a social context. Not only is there the â–ş Continued on page XXXI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

â–ş From page XXX relationship between the dentist and patient, but also the interface between the dentist and the community.

There are both opportunities and barriers to the achievement of oral health. First, there are changing trends in levels of oral disease. Overall, there has been a substantial improvement in the oral health of young people in the industrialised countries of the world. However, one important challenge involves the maintenance of these improvements into adulthood.

General improvement can, however, mask variations due to geographic region and social class background. Not everyone has benefited to the same extent and some people from particular cultural backgrounds can be at particular risk.

For example, do our indigenous brothers and sisters who reside in the Rupununi Savannahs have equal or acceptable opportunities of oral care as we on the coastland?

The challenge of worsening levels of oral disease in parts of relatively non-developed areas of our country has to be faced. Can the dental profession help to improve the oral health of all members of all communities or even societies?

As the demographic profile of industrialised countries changes to reflect the growing number of older people, new demands for different types of expertise in dentistry are being created. Will the need for the care of the common oral diseases by dentists diminish in some parts of the world? And could dentists be replaced by dental auxiliaries in many instances?

The extent to which improvements in oral health are due to clinical practice is debatable. Some argue that oral health is improving because of changes in society, rather than being due to improved professional care. Perhaps a reduction in the number of trained dentists will have relatively little impact on oral health. There are also debates as to whether the provision of information to patients about the prevention of dental disease can be effective in helping them to change their behaviour. Those involved in health promotion recognise that providing clinical services is only one part of a more broad based exercise which will include working with schools, community groups, industry and supermarkets.

Health promotion will involve arguing policies that involve preventative measures for achieving oral health, such as water fluoridation. These obviously take place beyond the surgery. Does the dentist have a part in these activities and if so, what should it be? So, there are many interpersonal challenges. To treat disease successfully requires the development of special communication skills, such as an ability to provide reassurance, personal care and comfort. One does not have to be a dentist or dental practitioner to impart dental health knowledge. For many years I have been advocating that all allied health workers in the public service should be trained to, and be required to educate their patients in the generalities of health care, especially in countries like Guyana. Successful dental care offers an opportunity to improve the quality of life of individuals using current methods and high-quality restorative materials. In all of these instances, patient satisfaction with treatment is a crucial aspect of care.

The public is being encouraged to have a voice in the planning of local services and to make its views known as consumers of health care. The need to overcome barriers to the receipt of dental care and to reduce anxiety and discomfort to an acceptable level remains.

Making a realistic response to these different challenges means that the members of a dental team need to develop a wide range of knowledge, skills and ways of thinking. But equally important is that policy makers and those responsible for the dental health of a nation must be thoroughly convinced of how vital it is within the realm of chronic diseases.

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Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Lone yachtswoman in rally ... ► From page XXVII birds and animals on television but has never been able to wake up to the chirping of birds and other sounds of nature but here she has such a privilege.

YACHT TOUR While at Hurakabra River Resort earlier this month, the local media team was given an opportunity to go on board one of the yachts. The media team went aboard ‘Ballerina Girl’ and met Donald Stollmeyer, who is the part-owner and manager of a boatyard called Power Boats in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).

He told reporters that in T&T they have about 470 local power boats, all up on racks and trailers. Stollmeyer added that in 1991 they started putting up yachts as well and they have 250 foreign boats as well as small power boats.

He said it takes a lot of time and effort to make such a venture work but it does work since they also have a fuel facility, grocery, restaurant and a shop that sells boating items.

Stollmeyer described Guyana as “very nice with a lot of potential.” However, he noted that one doesn’t want a country to remain with potential forever and Guyanese must unleash it and bring it up if they want yachts to come to Guyana as it is important to have a focal point for them to come to.

He stated that in 1991 after they built their facility, yachts then started to come to T&T and now they have about 1,500 boats at any given time.

Stollmeyer said, “You must have a place to go to - a place needs to be built to accommodate yachts like a marina and a boatyard where people can come and leave their boats and go away, then return for it. Guyana is very safe as it relates to hurricane, more than all the other Caribbean islands that are in the hurricane belt and people will ultimately leave their boats out of danger, then fly back up north.”

BUILDING YACHTS He would recommend that if anyone wants a yacht, it is advisable they buy one because it takes a lot of time and work to build a yacht. Stollmeyer added he has built three yachts so far and the ‘Ballerina Girl’ is his pride, which took him seven years to build, and he worked on it a lot with the employment of two others on a fulltime basis.

The yachter told reporters it is a lot of work, since everything has to be precise in construction because the boat has to be functional and capable of handling strong winds and big waves.

He added that the mere joy of constructing a yacht has to be appreciated but it costs about US$260,000 to build, not counting labour and time. Stollmeyer disclosed that it would cost more to buy one - in the vicinity of about US$150,000 to US$500,000. His yacht is not fancy because it is homebuilt but nice in many respects.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

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XXXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

Pressure mounts on Ini Edo to remarry

S

ULTRY Nollywood star, Ini Edo, is reportedly under immense pressure to give marriage another chance.

It would be recalled that last year, the actress announced the official dissolution of her union with Philip Ehiagwina, a US-based Edo State-born businessman.

Shortly after that, there were speculations that she had found love again in an up-and-coming actor a few years her junior named Mike Godson, but both parties denied the rumour.

Ini Ido This rumour came after pictures of she and Goodman in a compromising position in bed hit the Internet.

There were many cases of extra-marital affairs against Ini Edo, while her marriage lasted. It was even speculated then that she was secretly seeing a former governor, who is now a Senator. It was then reported that the wife of the then governor warned the actress to stay away from her husband.

The latest information reaching Nigeriafilms.com is that Ini is expected to get married again. More of the pressure, we learnt, is coming from her fans, who want her to settle down with another man as wife, since age is catching up with her.

Nigeriafilms.com has, however, gathered that the actress doesn’t seem perturbed by any such pressure, especially from her fans, though she does worry that some are taking things too far.

She has expressed this frustration on her responses to some of them on her social media platforms.

Just last week, a fan wrote her saying: “Lounge owner!

Only irresponsible female run such business. Go trace your steps, or you will continue failing in all marriages you get into. Menopause is now 40; just saying,” Ini’s response to that was: “One can’t help but feel sorry for you. Until your opinion can pay bills, stuff it.

Sad woman.”

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

‘Poko Queen’ does the unthinkable

C

ONTROVERSIAL actress, Tonto Dikeh is at again. The about-to-be-wed-movie star has announced one of her male friends as her chief bridesmaid, against the tradition of choosing a female for such.

The Ikwere, River State-born thespian Tonto, who recently held her engagement and traditional wedding, took many by surprise when she announced her stylist, Jeremiah Ogbodo, fondly called ‘Swanky Jerry’, as her bridesmaid for her forthcoming white wedding.

She defended her move with proof of the research that indeed spurred her daring move, backing up the fact that a man is allowed to serve as her chief attendant for her wedding.

She further bolstered her argument saying that her pick was also influenced by the need to appreciate her very good friend in her own little way.

It’s no longer news that ‘Swanky Jerry’ has always been in defence of Tonto Dikeh. Few weeks ago, he lashed out at Gideon Okeke over his Tonto Dikeh diss after news of her wedding went viral.

He also defended her when she had issues with a female shopper that led to the burning of an expensive travelling bag. (NigeriaFilms.com)

‘Omosexy’ puts family first NOLLYWOOD actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, has explained why she has been reluctant to relocate abroad despite having many opportunities to do so.

According to the superstar actress, she is scared such a move might destroy her family, which she does not want.

As she told Olisa Adibua on his 'The Truth' programme, relocating abroad might render her husband jobless, because there are very good pilots in the US. “I have gotten a few calls, and it’s been a very difficult decision to make in my career,” she said. “I keep hearing this all the time, and it’s almost like the elephant in the room.

“Twice I have had the opportunity to relocate; I would say the reason why I haven’t relocated is because it would break my family.

“Again, my husband doesn’t want to relocate; he doesn’t want to live abroad. He doesn’t like to live abroad; it will be very difficult for him to get a very good job abroad, because there are so many pilots in America, most of them don’t even have work. So it will mean me moving, and him staying here... And that will be an issue for the family.”

Omosexy and her hubby, who’s a pilot by profession

XXXV

XXXVI

Azzaruddin Laljie

E

By Alex Wayne

ver so often we miss out or happen to pass by exceptionally excellent vocal talent without knowing, simply because such talent is being stifled because of financial constraints and other issues.

Being the host and promoter of the just recently concluded ‘Princess 2015 Karaoke Star’ event has certainly taught me a new lesson in respecting people qualities. This event has also affirmed that soul and reggae music is not only associated with people of African descent as some seem to think. Azzaruddin Laljie tells us otherwise.

When this competition began on June 20, 2015, none would have imagined it would have attracted so many talented young and fresh faces like it did. Those auditioning numbered over forty and consisted of singers of every ethnicity in Guyana.

After much elimination on a weekly basis, promoters were faced with the situation where seasoned karaoke contenders dropped out in the face of the resounding energy and astounding

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

A Guyanese ‘diamond in the rough’ headed for ultimate stardom

vocals coming from several relatively young singers.

When this occurred, the promoters were forced to bring in six persons who were on standby after audition and in the midst was 19-year-old Azzaruddin Laljie from the East Coast of Demerara.

When he sang at the third round in front of a panel of very distinguished judges, Ruff Kut Studio’s ‘DJ Cody’ dubbed him a Guyanese ‘diamond in the rough’ that will sparkle exceptionally under the right leadership.

What really amazed me about this singer was his rich melody which flowed like honey amongst tender rose petals, yet with a certain reverberating quality that seemed to mesmerise the very soul of listeners. And this boy certainly created havoc attacking hip-hop songs, soul, reggae and much more, which many thought could only be attempted by seasoned campaigners.

There was a time when many thought that hard core reggae ► Continued on page XXXVII

With the right grooming and proper management, this dude can certainly makes a difference in the world of music

Azzaruddin Laljie

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015

► From

page XXXVI

ballads, stirring love songs, pulsating pop selections and riveting dancehall hits were reserved only for the raunchy singers of Afro-descent; but many now know that it is not really so.

This very dashing East Indian lad silenced tongues and had heads wagging in shame and dismay as they were forced to eat up their words and learn from the best as he filled Princess Hotel’s ‘ Club Next’ with his rich, melodious and stirring voice that melted hearts.

He was then just the plain and simple Azzaruddin Laljie, and he was attempting to make a name for himself as the very first local East Indian boy to make it at such a debut karaoke competition.

Growing up as a young boy, Azzaruddin possessed a melodious voice, and many could sense the energy that was inside dying to be released. But like every young and nervous singer, he was a bit timid, and certainly needed the healing hands of time to blossom nicely, like he has done today.

When he left the stage after his first showing at the Princess Star competition there were many hushed whispers of “This East Indian boy is definitely talented.” while others dubbed him “The Indian boy who has invaded our karaoke arena” Judges at the event continuously dubbed him the most consistent contender since he kept surprising week after week, sometimes with a few of his own original compositions.

He is not yet popular like the many household faces around, but his groovy vocals, when combined with some The elated Azzaruddin Laljie just minutes after raking in the ‘Most Promising Artiste’ award at the Princess Star 2015 Karaoke finals.

deep romantic, gut-wrenching lyrics, command you to stop and listen, and wish that you were wrapped up in the arms of the one you love.

XXXVII JOURNEY TO FAME Fuelled by his love for music and a desire to be famous, Azzaruddin has been singing from a very tender age, causing villagers and school mates to flock around as he mimiced some of the popular stars around.

Though he wanted to quit many times from lack of support from some persons, he nevertheless persevered with encouragement from his present girlfriend, his parents and many relatives.

“I love to sing and my dreams are set on obtaining a successful musical career. Many times I have been discouraged by many friends, but I knew what I wanted so I continued despite the barriers… Not so long ago I met some young friends who shared the same dream and when we read about the Princess Karaoke Star Competition in the Guyana Chronicle, we decided to enter just for the fun of it… We were greatly delighted when we ► Continued on page XXXVIII

Azzaruddin Laljie

XXXVIII

► From

page XXXVII

realised that the promoter made room for all types of songs and not just those that are normally associated to karaoke” None was so excited as Azzaruddin was to perform

Chronicle Pepperpot September 27, 2015 at this event, and each week he brought supporters in large groups and it was quite a stirring sight to see them give him thunderous support.

His relentless exploits saw him winning a recording contract, compliments Vizion Sound Studio (Anira Street, Queenstown, Georgetown), and he literally fell to his knees when he was named the recipient of this golden opportunity at the quarter-finals of the Princess Star competition.

He moved to the semi-finals and his father was so excited that he had too much to drink and slept away in the mini-bus (downstairs in the Princess Hotel compound) and was not even fully awake when Azzaruddin was sent forwards into the finals. Nonetheless he had the support of his hubby, who is always by his side, and friends and other supporters who travelled long distances to watch him perform.

Being an East Indian boy and getting that far in such a contest is certainly worth mentioning… “Like my grandmother would say… All things are possible… Just put your mind to it and work relentlessly towards achieving your goals…”

He will soon start grooming for recording with Vision Sound Records, and has already penned, ‘Somebody Wanna Know’, ‘Life Line’, ‘True Love’ and ‘My Girls’, all being upbeat, but very soothing love songs.

Azzararuddin Laljie can be contacted on telephone number 592 613 5816.

This lad best describes himself as ‘cool and laid back’ but he is ready to rumble musically

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Mahendra Ramkellawan ► From page XLVIII deep meaning.

Mahendra has to his belt of accolades a Mashramani Road March Competition title, among many others. He explained that accomplishing such a feat meant a lot to him since his genre of music has never before been able to rake in this coveted title.

He also informed that Chutney is deeply rooted in tradition, noting that it is always wise to capture some section of society with ‘real life issues’ experienced by citizens. This indeed has influenced songs like “Dem Ah Watch Meh”, “Lamata”, “Dab de Bottom House”, “ De Milk Man”, “De

This son of the soil is the proud recipient of many musical accolades Milk Man”, and so many others.

This dude has been in the chutney showcase for many years now but noted that before that he was once Sports Chairman for Region 9, which explains his craving for sports and athletics.

His journey actually began some years ago when that very region was required to send a representative to the Annual Chutney Competition. With everyone refusing to go, Mahendra reluctantly agreed to what he thought was the impossible and that was where his new career began. However, he had a positive on his side in that he was already a secluded but talented song writer.

Ramkellawan has been on the Chutney scene for about seven years now. Before he made a career out of Chutney, Ramkellawan told The Scene, he was the sports chairman for Region 9. One year, he recounted, the region needed to send a representative to a Chutney competition.

The hit single “Dem Ah Watch Meh” started off as a piece of poetry, and this is how many of his songs originated. “I like to write in quiet and in tranquillity and always begin my songs with a poetic flair to them. I will then allow the ‘poetic flavour’ to soak into my soul and then decide in which direction the song will follow” He noted that ‘Dem Ah Watch Meh’ was actually a song he used to tell critics and haters to ‘mind their own business’ He explained that the song was born as a reaction to being

watched almost everywhere he ventured, and the ‘not so nice fabricatios’ that would emit from the lips of the watchers.

He accentuates his songs by using creole words which have faded somewhat from our vocabulary.

“Dem Ah Watch Meh” was listed number one in the Caribbean by 101 Radio Station in Trinidad and Tobago. This song is quite a hit in the Caribbean and North America as well.

The song was officially launched on March 12 at the Guyana National Stadium during the Chutney show ‘Clash of the Titans’.

Mahendra is presently the Managing Director of the ever thriving Fire Fest Productions. He notes that he is quite elated to have been able to place Guyana on the map with his chutney pieces.

Mahendra feels that it was his true fate to be able to enter

the music industry and now be the driving force behind the biggest chutney stage production in Guyana. His company, Fire Fest Productions, produces the annual ‘Clash of The Titans’ event where the top Chutney artistes from all over the world come together on one stage to perform for thousands of chutney lovers.

This versatile singer was among the two Guyanese who made it to the semi-finals of Trinidad's International Chutney Competition.

You can certainly soak up some of his chutney talent by attending his Guyana Night event, come October 31, at the Better Hope Community Centre Ground, East Coast Demerara.

Mahendra Ramkellawan continues to break musical barriers

By Alex Wayne

… despite intense critique

IT’S quite customary in Guyana and around the globe for fast developing entertainers to become the object of intense ridicule and negative critique the minute they begin rising to fame.

Many sometimes buckle beneath the burden of negativity, while a few rise above such barriers, and brave the odds on their journey to stardom.

Our very talented and creative chutney sensation, Mahendra Ramkellwan, despite his rapid rise to fame, is no exception, and has braved the fiery tongue of many haters, to become one of the most sought after chutney entertainers in Guyana and further afield.

This entertainer is honest to admit that he has had a few mishaps during his years of promoting and entertaining, but has used such experiences as stepping stones to perfection.

“In life, disappointments and unpleasant surprises always come your way… but it will be a saddening situation if victims buckle under the pressure and succumb to defeat. My journey as a celebrated singer and entertainer has been one riddled with disappointments and a few mishaps, but I have learnt over

time to use my disappointments as tools to become stronger and less prone to defeat… In the long run it has made me what I am today…. I am a simple man who does not fuss about anything, with my ultimate goal being able to satisfy my many fans…”

If we can just reflect for a bit on a few years ago when Mahendra first made his appearance on the entertainment arena we will remember the somewhat shy lad who had a surprising voice and pulsating lyrics that tore their way into the heart of chutney lovers.

At first, one would have noted that he was a bit shy and would not prance about on stage like other performers. But despite that fact, this dude enthralled spectators with resounding vocals and a stage presence that just seemed to connect and weave its way into the minds of many.

As time went by, his fan base grew remarkably, and he soon added theatrics to his performances, causing him to become a household name faster than many other chutney stalwarts who are still still struggling to place their faces on the map as phenomenal artistes.

And this guy is surely smart

and creative, because as he became more popular, he added to his belt his saucy ‘Firefest Dancers’ who added much glitz and sizzle to his presentations.

Quite in the ‘nick of time’, Mahendra has moved from a solo performing chutney singer to one of the most rated and recognised chutney artiste and promoter in Guyana. Yes, indeed things have not worked out as he expected a few times in his promotions, but name me one promoter or singer in Guyana who has no endured his share of disappointments along the way.

When disappointments rear their ugly faces, some promoters just pack up shop and retreat in the dark.

And for sure a few times Mahendra almost buckled under the pressure, but being the persistent person he is, he soon rose again much sharper and forceful than he was before.

It is because of this positive quality that he has been able to host the prestigious ‘Clash of the Titans’ events around Guyana, which allowed many of our local faces and even international celebrities to shine.

And he is not ‘shine-eyed’ or ‘foreign minded’ like some promoters, and today is poised

Mahendra Ramkellawan never fails to make an impact with his dashing fashion ideas to bring to the local shore the first ever ‘Guyana Night’ event on October 31, 2015, which features almost entirely local acts from the land of many waters.

This dude, despite the rigours of promoting, has been known to demolish all the ‘promoting competition’ in Guyana.

And citizens all around Guyana have certainly received an ample serving of

Mahendra performs to jubilant masses at one of his ‘Clash of the Titan’ concerts

the ‘chutney fire’ that Mahendra brings to the table.

According to the famed ‘Dem Ah Watch Meh’ singer, lyrics should tell a story, have meaning and the ability to teach people a valuable life lesson. He further informed that Chutney comprises quality pieces, good entertainment and, perhaps above everything else, a piece of art and history. Chutney songs, he stressed, should not be all about vulgarity and rum drinking.

This son of the soil refuses to sing anything promoting rum drinking or which contains vulgarity. He believes a Chutney piece does not have to contain these two distasteful ingredients to be a hit.

Words which make up a song, he stressed, must be poetic, clean, clear and true.

If there is no story in a song, Ramkellawan opined, then there really is no point to that song. Many songwriters/singers, he noted, get carried away with the whole ‘writing to rhyme trend’ and are fooled into believing that once it rhymes, then there is no need for the words to have ► Continued

on page XLVII