Pepperpot 2015 8 23

Aliann Pompey – a star on and off the track ► Page XL

► Page XXX

Mahaica River being offeenretsd by resid Birding Tour every day ► Page XXIX

Little boy lost finds his mother using Google Earth - lost his mother in 1986 and found her 25 years later with the help of satellite images

Naya Zamana celebrates 20 years with

“WHEN ► FATES XXVIII COLLIDE” Page

► Page XX

FIRST BORN

Magic moment: Mr Brierley pictured with his mother, Fatima Munshi, when they met for the first time in 25 years

► Page XIV

Reggae ambassadors who make an absolute difference

Produced and Edited by Mark Ramotar | Graphic and Layout Design by Duane Prince

First Born, Guyana’s reggae musical icons

II

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

The Silent Cry A hidden suicide note, a long time ago

HERE is a story drifting with time -- decades ago told and retold -- of a young man’s sudden death.

“It was a night like this,” his eldest sister related to the family gathering.

They had all come home from abroad for a vacation, and always, when they were together, they would talk about him.

“No one was home that day,” she continued, “for there was a wedding a few villages away.”

The younger generation of nieces and nephews, who could not remember him or had known him at all, listened intently.

“Why didn’t he go to the wedding?” a young niece asked.

“He had some unfinished work on the farm.”

“And no one noticed anything strange about his behaviour?”

“No, for he was always a quiet person.”

A short silence descended on the family as memories of a loved one, a good son who had ended his life twenty-two years ago, became refreshed in their minds.

Unforgettable, that tragedy.

On the wall hung a framed, black and white picture of

a handsome, pleasant looking young man in whose eyes the world seemed to shine; but on a Sunday night, as the farmland lay silent and the waves touched the foreshore in hushed tones, he ended his life.

His shocked family had stared, on their return, at the lifeless figure hanging from a rope on the mango tree.

To this day, no one knew why he had taken his own life.

Anarkali, one of the young nieces, intrigued by the story of her uncle, whom she could not remember, looked at her grandmother sitting quietly in a corner.

She touched her hand in a comforting gesture and asked, “Grandma, are you okay?”

The old lady looked at her and tried to smile; but, over the decades, sadness had not drifted away with the waves of time, and her lips trembled.

“Nothing was ever the same again, my dear.”

Anarkali squeezed her hand affectionately and said, “It was an unexpected tragedy, and such shock and pain sometimes last a lifetime.”

The old lady nodded and said softly, “He was my first son, and I still don’t know why he left me that way.”

Anarkali lay in bed that night, thinking, unable to sleep.

“How could no one know?” she questioned. “Why

would a good, hard-working young man who was not a drinker or victim of abuse end his life so quietly, with not a word, not a message left behind?”

maureen.rampertab@gmail.com

T

By Maureen Rampertab

She got up and, opening the back door on the upper flat, quietly stepped out on the verandah. From there she could see across the farmlands to the No.55 foreshore.

“There must be something,” she thought, “some little detail that was missed.”

Finding the truth was a personal interest for her, and as ► Continued on page III

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

III

Wither Thy Bloom? ► From page II a law student, her analytical knowledge in unsolved cases was a great asset. She did not know much of her birth home and its culture, because her parents had migrated when she was just five, but there was a connection here that bonded her, giving her a sense of belonging. She had heard this tragic tale several times before from family members, but it had never aroused her interest like it did hearing it here, where it actually happened. The mango tree was still in the yard, and from where she was standing, she could see it in the shadows.

She closed her eyes and tried to visualize her uncle, standing there with the rope in his hands, looking at the tree limb, tying the knot and his flirt with death, his last breath, the look in his eyes.

“What was he thinking?

Were there regrets?”

“Anarkali,” a voice behind her said.

Startled, she opened her eyes and turned around.

Her father was standing at the doorway, looking a little worried.

“What are you doing out here so late?”

“I couldn’t sleep,” she answered.

He joined her on the verandah, not looking at the mango tree, but eventually his eyes were drawn, and he sighed deeply.

“How old were you when it happened?” she asked him.

He did not answer for a while, looking up at the starless sky, and when he spoke, there was a slight tremor in his voice.

“I was ten years old, and I couldn’t quite understand at the time what had really happened. But many nights I came out on this verandah hoping to see him, so he could tell me something.”

Anarkali, held her father ’s hand, touched by his deep sentiments, never knowing how much his

brother’s death had affected him.

A cold gust of wind blew in from the river, and father and daughter went back into the house without saying anything further.

The family’s vacation commenced with a religious function organised to give thanks to God, and there were visits and donations to several charities, entertaining family get-togethers, and tours to beautiful places.

Coming home was always wonderful, and as the days went by, Anarkali continued asking questions about her uncle’s suicide, so her grandmother could find closure.

She had heard many stories of suicides, and had often wondered how no one had ever heard the silent cries of the victims. It was something that seemed normal in this rural farming area, for there was no centre for professional counselling.

“Maybe I should study psychology and move back here,” she mused, “to help people understand the value of life.”

It was drawing close to the end of the vacation but she had discovered nothing new that could have thawed the cold case.

“Why, Uncle Raj?” she asked, as she looked at his picture on the wall. “Why didn’t you leave a note so your family could have understood?”

She had excused herself from an outing that day, to stay at home so she could think undisturbed. Searching for answers, she found a few old family albums, and looking through them, she noticed the picture of a strange pretty young girl in several of her uncle’s pictures. This girl was always standing in the background looking at him with an admiring smile.

“She seems pretty young,” Anarkali observed.

“She couldn’t be his girl-

friend.”

No one had ever mentioned a girlfriend.

She showed the pictures to her grandmother, whose eyesight was not so good, but an older aunt, looking at the picture, recognized the girl. “It’s the doctor’s daughter,” she said, “The family had come from the city on a medical outreach program in the village.”

“Was she here when the tragedy occurred?”

The aunt thought for a moment. “I don’t think so, she had left…” she paused, deep in thought, then a flash of recollection lit her eyes.

“Come to think of it, Raj had not been himself for a while then.”

“How?” Anarkali asked, her excitement building, sure she was onto something.

“He was moody and worried.”

“Did anyone ask him what was worrying him?”

She shook her head slowly. “It’s normal for people to not be in a good mood sometimes.”

“Always the mistake,” Anarkali said, “not paying close interest to a person’s change in behaviour.”

She held up one of the pictures with the young girl and declared, “This girl most likely holds the key to this tragedy.”

The two older women looked uncertain, and saying no more, Anarkali went up to the room her Uncle Raj once shared with his three brothers. She walked around slowly, looking at small places where something little could be hidden.

“There must be something here everyone missed,” she thought; and climbing on a chair, she passed her hand along the window ledges, encountering dust and a large but harmless spider. She searched all the ledges in the room, finding some old coins and two mini toy cars, but nothing else.

She stood there on the chair, a bit deflated but re-

luctant to give up because she had felt she was getting somewhere. “Now what?” she thought. She looked up at the inner framework of the roof, and her eyes caught a piece of blue thread stuck between the rafter and zinc on the roof. Being a girl of average height, it was a difficult task reaching the thread, but she tried, and standing precariously on the upraised back of the chair, her fingers barely touching the thread, she pulled it slowly, knowing it could snap.

At the end of the thread was a piece of paper, discoloured by time. Anarkali gasped, and in her excitement, she missed her footing and fell hard on the floor.

She lay there for a while, the breath knocked out of her, but slowly she got up, groaning in pain as her aunt ran upstairs to see what had happened.

She held up the paper, laughing a little. “I found

something,” she said.

It was a little note, written with shaky fingers – a suicide note. Anarkali read what her uncle had written twenty-two years ago, before he took his life: “I made a mistake, she was too young. How do I undo this?

What do I say? The love in her eyes, the temptation was too strong, and I got her in trouble. Her father, the doctor, would be unforgiving, and the deep disappointment in my mother’s eyes I would not be able to see.

What do I do? There’s only one thing…one thing would save both of us. Tonight I will go far away. Sorry mother. I love you.”

The old lady sat on the sofa shocked, tears streaming down her face. “He could have told me,” she said. “I would have helped him.”

Two decades ago, strict traditional rules, once broken, was like committing

a crime; and in most cases, families were unrepentant, punishment for the guilty was severe. The caste system also played a great part in those rules, and in Raj’s case, a farmer boy falling in love with a girl from an upper class family was unacceptable.

“Where is she now?”

Anarkali asked.

“No one knows.” Her older aunt answered. “She left and never returned.”

After twenty-two years, the truth of a loved one’s sudden death was found, hidden for so long. Now the family’s mind would be at peace when they think of him, a good son whose silent cry they did not hear.

At the end of the vacation, as Anarkali bid her birth home ‘farewell’ for now, she made a promise in her mind: “I will find this girl whom he loved, so she can know why her lover took his life.”

He died to save her.

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

opyright and you (Part 6)

(Extract of a conversation with the late Victor Ramraj (1941-2014) and musician John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul. Ramraj was attached to the University of Calgary, Canada, as Professor of English, and ‘Slingshot’ is based in the USA. Georgetown, Guyana, 2009)

PP: COPYRIGHT is a complex and also a delicate subject; sometimes so delicate and so complex it becomes an enigma and it moves into that phase where sometimes you see it and sometimes you don’t; sometimes it’s alive, sometimes dead. And because of all that, most of us take little interest in copyright. What does copyright mean to you, to the layman and to the country?

JD: If I break and enter a man’s home, I’ll be arrested. I’ll be put through the legal system and incarcerated, admitting my guilt. When someone breaks and enters my home, the situation is the same. I call my creation, my creativity, my home.

I compose – that is my livelihood. If someone robs me of that livelihood, to quote the Bard, ‘robs me of that which not enriches him’ but leaves me poorer in the end.

VR: Well, it is considered a felony in some countries; it is stealing. In the university, it is called plagiarism, and students could be expelled for (plagiarizing essays). It is, as you said, a complex issue; the blanket term is intellectual property (IP) and it covers copyright, patents, trademarks and so forth. But indeed it is a complex issue. Do you know that ‘happy birthday’ is copyrighted? If you sing it in the public and making money from it, you should pay royalty. If you do it privately at home, that’s another matter. Do you know that the yellow smiley face, the symbol, is copyrighted?

In fact, right now there is a big case on: The chap who created it didn’t copyright it in the USA, and a merchandising giant wanted to use it as their logo… It’s a big issue.

Here’s a situation: Umpteen years ago, while I was teaching at Queen’s College, I published a ghost story in St Stanislaus College magazine, and one of my students reproduced that story en toto. To this day, I don’t know if he was flattering me or hoping that I wouldn’t recognize my own story.

PP: What was the upshot?

VR: It was plagiarism, and I spoke with him about stealing intellectual property.

PP: In that instance, you could have spoken to

John ‘Slingshot’ Drepaul

Victor Ramraj

that student on a one-on-one basis. What happens in the wider society?

JD: A few years ago, we were at Rosignol Stelling, that was after my accident, so that would be 2006, the year on Mashramani we portrayed ‘Pirates’, and the driver said, ‘Slingshot, look at this!’ There was this vendor on a three-wheel cart selling music (CDs), and the driver called him across and asked if he had anything on ‘Slingshot’ and the guy replied in the affirmative and pulled out his copies. When asked how much, he replied, $300, so the driver asked him if he knows me, pointing to me, and the guy turned away, using words unbecoming, adding ‘yuh know ah gat to mek a living’. Here’s the irony, I said ‘man, carry on!’ and that is the curse.

yuh please see eye to eye wid we. Allyuh silence breading more piracy….

(singing) Opposition and Government come together in parliament and put an end to this piracy. Alyuh bury the coffin quickly. It’s a crying shame, oh Lord, don’t point the blame, stop yakking yuh jaws, pass stiff-stiff laws, ah begging

PP: The laws are there JD: But are not being enforced PP: What do we do about it? Why must you work and then turn around and work again, as it were, to ensure that you have a right to be recompensed for your work? Why must you have to work again to claim that right to be recompensed?

JD: What we should not do is to decide not to write, because there is no money in it; you would not sleep…

PP: That’s the raison d’etre for copyright – to encourage creativity, to encourage excellence…

VR: One of the things you [Slingshot] should do is not to romanticize it by calling it piracy…

They are felons, no ifs and buts about that…

► Continued on page V

opyright and you

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

V

► Continued on page V

Copyright protects the creator, but there is more to it. For instance, the novel is not only the printed product; it’s the writer who creates it and the reader who reads it. You have to have both.

Like you [Slingshot], you write your songs and you need someone to listen to (them). So copyright protects the creator, but there is something called ‘fair usage’ in United States and ‘fair dealing’ in Canada, where we are allowed to quote a

JD: Earlier this morning, I had a conversation with young Bill Rogers, and I said to him: For a long time, I have mulled over this idea, and I dare not voice it because sometimes you say things and they are misinterpreted, misrepresented, misquoted, taken out of context …and then you are pilloried.

Here is what I said: All artistes, whether with the pen or voice or whatever, should register with an organization sanctioned by the government and that gives the artiste some modicum of recognition.

few lines from a poem, sometimes an entire poem if it is short, but we have to acknowledge we have done that in an article or so…So we should allow some fair use.

But as you asked ‘Slingshot’, how do you enforce it where people are pirating because they say they cannot afford to buy? How do you enforce it? Throw them in jail? Make them pay a fine?

In Canada, there is a blanket compensation for authors who have books in libraries. Maybe the States should have something like that…

JD: Thank you VR: Now if your work is played on the radio, you can be compensated. But I don’t know how you could do it with piracy. The government perhaps can keep an eye on that; how many copies are pirated. We adhere to the Berne Convention, but you have to pay people to do the enforcement.

Perhaps this money could go to the creators…

PP: Also affording the artist some space and time to continue to produce….

JD: Look at this example. I am holding it [a copy of The Guyana Annual 2009 issue dedicated to Edgar Mittelholzer, edited by Petamber Persaud and published by Guyenterprise Ltd.] this is Mittelholzer, his wife sits in England, but you dare not use his work, you have to go through the proper channel, and I am sitting here as a living witness to exactly that, because there is a project on to produce a movie on ‘Corentyne Thunder’, and I wouldn’t say more because I am not at liberty to reveal what was discussed.

PP: More living witness [holding up the same magazine], I asked his wife Jacqueline Ward for permission to reproduce these images which she supplied.

I also asked Jacqueline deWeever for permission to reproduce Seymour’s writings on Mittel-

holzer…

JD: That’s the professional thing to do. I must congratulate you.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 2260065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: * The Guyana Annual Magazine 2014-2015 issue in now available at Guyenterprise Ltd., Lance Gibbs and Irving Streets, Tel # 226-9874, the National Library and from yours truly.

VI

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

God is Love, and Love is God (Part 2) Rev. Gideon Cecil

Mother Theresa

by Rev. Gideon Cecil

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (I John 4:7-8) If Love is God, then through love, God surrenders Himself to us; through love, He lets us use His Wisdom, His Power, His Bounty, and nothing can stop God, nothing can defeat God, nothing can bankrupt God, nothing can confound God. And yet if Love is God, and if God is Love, then true love is the path to true surrender, because through love we follow God's Will totally by willing it ("Love is God") and allowing it ("God is Saint. Paul Love").In loving, God and man we truly surrender to each other.

It’s impossible for us to love humans if we don’t love God and we must first learn to love ourselves, if we hate ourselves we will hate others because of human bitterness we have so much wars, killings, domestic violence and perpetual disasters in our country and the world today.

Saint Paul wrote: Romans 8:35-39 New International Version (NIV) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a] 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[ b ] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We have a passage here written by the great Apostle Paul that encourages and comforts us by pointing out that no matter what situations we face, none of them can separate us from the love that God has towards us. Also, no one, including people and evil spirits, can take us away from the love of God. This is very important for us to know and believe, especially when things seem to be difficult or impossible for us to manage, when the way ahead appears to be totally dark, when we do not know which way to turn ► Continued on page VII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015 ► From page VI or to whom to turn to. We need to remember at such times that even though God has allowed us to face such situations, His love for us has not changed a bit. He has permitted such things to happen to us because He knows that we should be able to bear them with the help of His grace (1Co.10:13). If we love God and are among those whom He has chosen, God will also cause all these things to work together for our good (Romans: 8:28).

Why bad things sometimes happen to good people? Or bad things happen to some very rich and decent people? It’s because God wants to locate our faith to trust and rely on him though we encounter every human disaster like Job would have suffered, God will make a way for us in the end just like Moses when he was chased by Pharaoh’s vicious army God created a miracle by bursting the red sea in two by creating at dam in the middle for his chosen people to cross over and God Himself eventually killed their enemies.

God loves us, because we are his children and he is Our Father. His love is unconditional (Agape love) like a parent to his child. Which means no matter what happens; God will still have love for that person. Here are a few examples from the Bible that God loves us: John 3:16... ‘‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life.’’ In that verse God loves us so much he gave his son to die for our sins. John 13:34... “A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you. John 14:21... He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” This verse is stating that if we keep loving Him he will love us and not stop loving us. Ephesians 2:4,5 ... But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins. Even when we are in sin and not obeying Him his love is there and will always be there because there is room for repentance and forgiveness.

The Incredible Love of Mother Theresa Clad in a white, blue-bordered sari, she along with her

sisters of the Missionaries of Charity became a symbol of love, care and compassion for the world. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, known the world over as Mother Teresa, was an Albanian-born Indian citizen who abided by her religious faith of Roman Catholicism to serve the unwanted, unloved and uncared people of the world. One of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century, she led all her life serving the poorest of the poor. She was a ray of hope for many, including the aged, the destitute, the unemployed, the diseased, the terminally ill, and those abandoned by their families. Blessed with profound empathy, unwavering commitment and unshakable faith since young,

she turned her back to the worldly pleasures and focused on serving mankind ever since she was 18. After years of service as a teacher and mentor, Mother Teresa experienced a call within her religious call, which changed her course of life completely, making her what she is known as today. Founder of the Missionaries of Charity, with her fervent commitment and incredible organizational and managerial skills, she developed an international organization that aimed towards helping the impoverished. For her service to humanity she was honoured with Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.

Teresa wrote in her diary that her first year was fraught with difficulties. She had no income and had to resort to begging for food and supplies. Teresa experienced doubt, loneliness and the temptation to return to the comfort of convent life during these early months. She wrote in her diary: "Our Lord wants me to be a free nun covered with the poverty of the cross. Today, I learned a good lesson. The poverty of the poor must be so hard for them. While looking

for a home I walked and walked till my arms and legs ached.

I thought how much they must ache in body and soul, looking for a home, food and health.

Then, the comfort of Loreto [her former congregation] came to tempt me. 'You have only to say the word and all that will be yours again,' the Tempter kept on saying ... Of free choice, my God, and out of love for you, I desire to remain and do whatever be your Holy will in my regard. I did not let a single tear come."

Mother Theresa left all she had to serve the needs of the poor and needy in the slums of Calcutta; many times she will boil empty pots of water to feed thousands and God will send trucks of food supplies for her to feed the hungry, destitute and dying just like Jesus feeding 5000 people with a few loaves of bread and fishes.

Jesus said: And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

(Matthew: 25:40) We must not only quote

VII the Bible and preach but we must practice what we preach, the churches and religious organizations failed in our nation to eradicate poverty from our society. We have many debates now in the recent budget that is a natural political phenomenon in our nation. Our greatest debate should be how to ‘get rid’ of poverty and begging from our nation. When I walked around Georgetown just around the Guyana Post Office building I see lots of beggars sleeping around that building on card board boxes. It’s about time our new administration established a new ‘Ministry of Poverty’ can we have a vision like Mother Theresa? Yes we can jump out of our fancy houses and elegant vehicles and humble ourselves to help the poor and needy in our country.

I am ridiculed several times for riding an old bicycle to church and in my community where I visit the poor and needy.

I will tell my critics that Jesus rode a donkey into Jerusalem and I can’t afford to buy and drive a Hummer or a Mercedes Benz I prefer I use that money to help and serve the needy. The modern church to me looks more like a big commercial money making business rather than helping the poor and needy.

It’s time many of our so called: Prophets, Bishops, Apostles, Pastors and some get rich quick television Evangelists live the words of Jesus and not using his name to exploit the poor and needy to get rich.

If we can live and demonstrate the true essence of the Agape Love of God then we will have lasting peace in our homes, marriages, families, our jobs and even in parliament.

I end this discourse by a few verses from Buddha: “Hatred does not cease through hatred at any time. Hatred ceases through love. This is an unalterable law” - Buddha “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves” - Buddha Let the love of God shape our thoughts and we will have lasting peace and eternal happiness.

RESOURCES: Biography of Mother Theresa from Wikipedia and The King James Bible.

(Persons wishing to respond to Rev. Gideon Cecil can call Tel#220-7008, Cell# 690-4755 or email: gcecil2010@ hotmail.com)

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

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

MUSICAL SHOWBOAT FOR BERBICE REGATTA

6 HOURS OF AGONY: 300 SLEEP IN “HELL TRAIN” (Guiana Graphic November 2, 1959) Three hundred passengers, tormented by mosquitoes and sand flies, were forced to sleep in a train on Sunday night.

Hungry and tired, they bedded down after the train which was bringing them to Georgetown from Rosignol broke down.

TO MOST OF THEM THE NIGHT WAS SHEER HELL, AS MOSQUITOES AND SANDFLIES ATTACKED THROUGHOUT. THE NEXT MORNING THEIR SKINS WERE ALL BUMPS AND BLOTCHES. They reached Georgetown yesterday morning.

ENGINE TROUBLE The 16-ton locomotive developed engine trouble as it was about to leave Rosignol at 3:05 pm. After an hour’s delay, the defect was remedied. But the engine broke down again aback of Fort Wellington. It was then 6:30pm, and the 300 passengers should have been in Georgetown by then.

An engineer tried in vain to find the fault. An SOS was sent to a locomotive which was at Mahaica, order-

ing it to immediately go to Fort Wellington and tow the stricken train to Georgetown. And a locomotive was sent from Georgetown to bring down the passengers on the Mahaica train.

The Mahaica train did not reach Fort Wellington until 8:30pm.

Passengers said they were in total darkness. Some of them became angry. One told the conductor the train personnel were not making enough effort to get them to their destination.

The chubby conductor reportedly replied: “Maybe if we were in a plane, you might have asked me to go out and crank the engine, eh?”

When the train being towed by the Mahaica train arrived at the Georgetown Railway Station, the time was 12:40am.

A top official from the Transport and Harbours Department said yesterday that he regretted the incident, which was brought about by mechanical troubles. He promised that the matter would be fully investigated to ascertain the real cause.

GUIANESE ACTORS IN “SAPPHIRE” (Guiana Graphic November 6, 1959)

Two Guianese have strong roles in this weekend’s film at the PLAZA -- “SAPPHIRE” -- which opens tomorrow.

Barrister-at-Law ROBERT ADAMS plays the role of night club owner “Harry Big Cigar”, and Harry Baird (plays the role of) one of the club’s regular members.

They both became involved with the police in what has been called “one of the most perfect murder films Britain has turned out”.

On Tuesday, Bob Adams and Baird sent a cablegram to the management of the Plaza cinema, which reads: “Two BG boys working in Britain welcome you to Sapphire. We enjoyed making it… You’ll enjoying watching it.”

But what of the film?

One bleak winter’s day, a body is found on Hampstead Heath. It is a young, beautiful girl who has been stabbed violently in the heart.

The only clue is her bloodstained kerchief – initialled S. Her dress, woollen stockings, flat pumps and duffle coat are typical student garb. Not so typical is her flame red chiffon petticoat.

The investigation is put in the hands of Scotland Yard, to Detective Superintendent Hazard and Detective Inspector Learoyd.

Their searches start in London’s colleges and academies; the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, the Slade school, the Regent Street Polytechnic, University College Hospital.

At last, at the Royal Academy of Music, they find that a student named Sapphire Robbins is missing.

Her Doctor brother comes from Birmingham to identify the body.

The murder hunt is on.

Clues lead among London’s coloured population, an African lawyer, the Tulip Club where Sapphire used to dance.

But overall is the enigma Sapphire, the young student who generated such violent hate. (END)

(Guiana Graphic November 4th 1959)

A musical showboat will highlight attractions at this year’s Regatta on the Berbice River off Stanleytown Stelling.

There will be daring exhibitions of water skiing.

Sponsored by the New Amsterdam Community Council, the Regatta begins at 8:30 am on Monday.

It is part of the holiday weekend Harvest Festival celebration, which promises to be the biggest show ever staged in New Amsterdam.

Valuable trophies have been offered for competition in the hydroplane and utility boat classes.

The regatta has attracted such big names as Allan Chung; John Wreford-Davies; Kelvin Fiedtkou; Bill Burns; Patrick Lindee; Errol Alphonso; Percy Einhart, the ace driver from Nickerie; and Koyle.

A MENACE PUT AWAY: HIS TEARS CAME FREELY (Guiana Graphic November 5th 1959)

William Santos could not restrain the tears in a Demerara Assizes Court yesterday when answering a charge of stealing a bicycle.

Despite his tears, he was put away for four years. The Judge called him a menace to society.

But to the last, Santos, also called “Beast” and a string of other names, kept repeating: “I am innocent.”

The case against him was that a few hours after Edmund Goppie had missed his bicycle outside a house in Regent Street on June 14, Santos was held by two policemen on patrol for riding the unlighted bicycle.

After he was convicted, two other policemen told the Court that Santos had committed the offence after previous convictions for similar acts.

36 TIMES As Mr Justice Gordon read out his previous convictions -- 36 in all -- Santos dried his tears, and with a sardonic grin, said: “It’s OK sir, don’t worry with the rest.”

His Lordship, remarking that the majority of people in Georgetown used bicycles, told Santos: “When you are free and at large, you are a menace to those people using bicycles. It is my duty to keep you away from society.”

GOVERNMENT SHOULD SPONSOR RICE CROP INSURANCE (Guiana Graphic November 4, 1959).

The unexpected rains in the middle of the harvesting season are causing one big headache to rice farmers. Losses are said to be tremendous.

The situation is at such a stage that they propose to ask Government to sponsor a crop insurance, whereby those who legitimately suffered could obtain assistance to (the value of) at least 50% of their anticipated crop.

Rice farmer J H Sukhdeo said that farmers in the Mahaica/Berbice area are going to lose thousands of bags of paddy, valued at over $1M. Because of the sodden condition of the ground, the paddy cannot be harvested by tractor-drawn combines.

Mr Sukhdeo said that Government should sponsor a crop insurance, as is done in most agricultural countries. With this, they will be able to replant and avoid bankruptcy. The 60-year-old farmer lamented: “It is an unfortunate fact in this country that rice farmers are called upon to do their utmost to produce more. And they do so without hesitation, some even disposing of their cattle to obtain machinery and increase their acreage.”

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

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

IX

Young criminals want to make a fearsome name for themselves - says CID criminal profiler Michel Outridge SERGEANT Gregory Brusche, a detective for the past 25 years, possesses a wealth of knowledge in the area of crime.

He is attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Brickdam Police Station.

Brusche serves as a criminal profiler for the GPF, and his talent is unmatched in that field. He spoke with this publication and gave his take on the thinking of some criminals (bandits) who have perpetrated brutal crimes within recent times.

Those criminals, on several occasions, have meted out savage beatings on their victims during home invasions, even though the victims had submitted themselves to the control of those bandits and had handed over money and valuables to them.

Brusche explained that some of these young career criminals are overzealous; and sometimes, in the heat of an armed robbery, they do things they did not plan to do; as in the case of the Land Court Judge and her husband at their home.

Brusche said those bandits are often under the influence of marijuana (cannabis sativa) and sometimes something a bit stronger, like cocaine. He said the bandits would usually ‘fuel up’ before committing a crime, but sometimes they do not.

He added that when these young bandits are caught by the police and questioned, and when asked what motivated them to do such things, like beating a woman unconscious, they would say they did not go there to do that, but in the heat of the crime they acted out.

Brusche said some bandits have revealed that it is also about excitement; and, for example, if four or five men go to do an armed robbery and during the crime one of the men decides to rape a female and the rest of the group gets upset and objects, saying, “We did not come here for that, what are you doing?” In that instant, he may become upset and do something outrageous; because he has seen an attractive woman and has already decided in his mind that he wants to

rape her, but his colleagues are outraged when he attempts to rape the woman, since it is their understanding they went on a job to rob but not to rape.

Brusche disclosed that it is also the modus operandi of some criminals -- especially the young ones – to do outrageous things because they need to drive fear into people for their total submission, or simply to be in control of them.

He said: “For example, after a robbery, the young bandit will tell his friends ‘I had to kick her up in the face!’ In so doing, he will make his name among his colleagues in the criminal world, where they will say: ‘You see that one there, he cruel, he does beat people bad’; and they boast among themselves to earn that kind of recognition.”

Brusche pointed out that, on the other hand, the older criminals operate differently, in that they would go to commit an armed robbery, and even though they have guns, they would not discharge any rounds, but just commit the robbery and leave.

Brusche said that older bandits operate in a professional manner, with little or no violence, and quickly retreat from their quarry. The younger ones look to build a reputation and make their names by being cruel and violent with people.

Gregory Brusche has been a detective for the past 25 years.

Although blind in both eyes for the past 12 years, he still takes immense pride in his job.

During the brutal crime wave of 2002, a lone gunman on a bicycle ambushed Brusche a few metres from the Brickdam Police Station. He was shot in the head at point blank range, but survived at a time when many of his colleagues who were being targeted by criminal elements were killed.

On December 9, 2009, the then Commissioner of Police, Henry Greene, promoted Brusche on the spot for his unwavering commitment to the job during the Force’s Christmas Luncheon at the Brickdam Police Station.

Brusche was also awarded for his sterling performance

and dedication.

BRUTAL CRIMES On August 7, 2015, at about 03:00 hrs, the owner of Jade Stone Chinese Restaurant on Mandela Avenue, Georgetown was brutally hacked to death after he had endured a severe beating at the hands of bandits who had invaded his home.

Zhenjz Su was gagged, bound and chopped to death in the kitchen area of his restaurant. His wife, 32-year-old Fei Su, was beaten unconsciousness, with the attackers knocking out some of her teeth.

In July 2015, businessman Mohamed Chand, 50, and his wife, Land Court Judge Nicola Pierre, 43, were battered and robbed in their Felicity, East Coast Demerara home. Mr. Chand lost an eye, while Ms. Pierre suffered a broken jaw.

The couple woke up to a brutal beating administered to their heads by a group of men who had overpowered a female Special Constable and gained entry to the house via a window.

The bandits assaulted the couple until they were both unconscious.

On August 16, 2015, a family had its members beaten and chopped when three masked men entered their home at Number Two Village, West Coast Berbice at about 3:00 hrs whilst they were preparing to go to the Rosignol Stelling to sell fish.

Neeranie Kadir, 46, was gun-butted; had a gun forced into her mouth, causing her to lose a tooth; and was chopped multiple times to the body. One of her limbs was so badly chopped that the contusion affected the bone.

Her husband, fish vendor Abdool Kadir, 47, received head injuries and was chopped several times to the body as well.

On August 1, 2015 surveillance cameras captured a young man clubbing, kicking and stomping 77-year-old Carmen Ganesh to death in her home at Montrose, East Coast Demerara.

As the elderly woman lay bleeding profusely, the man continued to beat her savagely.

Trinchloro Sure Cash promo winners receive cash prizes

WINNERS in the third drawing of the TRINCHLORO Clean & White Sure Cash Promotion 2015 yesterday collected their prize money of US$100 each at ANSA McAL Trading Ltd Head Office, Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.

The third drawing was held at Jaigobin’s Supermarket at Anna Regina, Essequibo, and resulted in Gloria Bourne of Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; Parbatie of Robb Street Bourda; Shailendra Arjune of Bush Lot, West Coast Berbice; Janet Singh of Grove, East Bank Demerara; and Savitrie Persaud of North Cummingsburg, Georgetown becoming winners.

Brand Coordinator, Nigel Dodson, congratulated the winners and assured that ANSA McAL will not only ensure that they receive a great product, but will continue to reward its loyal customers through promotions such as the TRINCHLORO Sure Cash.

This promotion will give 20 Trinchloro customers the chance to win $2M in cash, with the first place winner receiving US$5,000, second place US$3,000, third place US$1000 and fourth and fifth places US$500 each. Additionally, 15 persons will win US$100 in the three consolation drawings.

To enter the promotion, a person is required to enter a Trinchloro Clean & White label along with their name, address and telephone number in entry boxes provided at all leading supermarkets countrywide.

Promotion ends on August 28th. (Michel Outridge)

From right are: ANSA McAL’s Brands Coordinator Mr. Nigel Dodson, and the winners - Parbatie, Janet Singh and Savitrie Persaud

X

It happened in 1966…

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Fourteen-year-old girl raped - convicted rapist Dubar freed by Appellate Court

I

By George Barclay N 1966, the Appellate Court of Guyana freed convicted rape accused Samuel Dubar because the trial judge had given the jury an unrealistic picture of the defence as it relates to uncorroborated evidence, among other things.

As a consequence, Dubar, who had been convicted and sentenced to 4 years’ imprisonment for rape, appealed and had his conviction and sentence quashed by the Appellate Court, constituted by Justices of Appeal Edward Luckhoo, Guya Persaud and P.A. Cummings.

The facts of the case disclosed that on May 21, 1966, a girl, who gave her age as being “now in 14 years” was dipping water from a trench when the appellant suddenly came up behind her, held her hand and threw her down on the ground.

He then choked her, removed her panty, and had sexual intercourse with her.

There were no external signs of injury, and the medical examination revealed rupture of the hymen in two or three places, but the doctor gave evidence that they were consistent with sexual intercourse at least 2 weeks before or longer.

The girl alleged that the appellant was the first man who ever had sexual intercourse with her, and that it took place that very day.

The appellant gave a written statement to the police on May 23, 1966 -- which he adopted from the dock at his trial -- to the effect that they were friends and had had sexual intercourse some time before. He alleged that he had asked her for sex that day but she had declined, saying that he was to be engaged to another girl in a few days’ time.

He vehemently denied the allegation of rape.

ruling.

At the hearing of the appeal, the appellant was represented

by Senior Counsel Mr. Fred Wills.

Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. J. Gonsalves-Sabola, appeared for the respondent.

Justice of Appeal Luckhoo, who delivered the judgment of the court, noted that the appellant was convicted of having carnal knowledge of the girl without her consent on the 21st May, 1966, contrary to Section 76 of the Criminal Law (Offences) Ordinance, Chapter 10, and was sentenced to be imprisoned for four years.

According to him, the girl was then under the care of her cousin, Susan Gibbons, with whom she resided, and who gave her age at the trial in November 1966 as being “now in 14 years”. The little girl was medically examined by Dr. Hardutt Singh, the Government Medical Officer of the district, on the very day – 21st May. He found the hymen had been ruptured in two or three places, but not recently. Those ruptures, he said, were consistent with intercourse at least two weeks before, or longer.

In her evidence, the girl said, “The accused was the first man with whom I ever had sexual intercourse, and it was on that day”.

Continuing, Justice Luckhoo said the trial judge directed the jury that there was no corroboration to be found in the case, and that in view of the medical evidence, they should find that the girl was not speaking the truth when she said the incident of the 21st May 1966 was her first experience.

George Barclay

this girl passing. Myself and her were gaffing whilst going to the pond for water, and I ask her foh leh we sex. She say no because ah got a girl already and ah getting engage Sunday coming (29/5/66).

“We only spend five minutes at the pond gaffing, and in that five minutes, ah dumb woman (Raj) saw us. That is all wha happen that day. When she go home ah ent know what she tell she grandmother, and she grandmother come to me house and ask for me, and she say me do this girl so and so (that ah hold down the girl) and she grandmother said ah should not ah hold down the girl, ah should ah hold down me mother; and she started to curse.

“I told her I never hold down the girl. The same day , 21/5/66, ah went back there at the girl’s home and she said that ah hold she hand but I never choke she neck.

“I sex she before, but not on that Saturday; and me and she were close friends for past two years”.

At the trial, the appellant said from the dock: “I rely on my statement which I gave to the police. That statement is true.

On appeal against his conviction and sentence, the Appellate Court held that: (i) Although there was ‘opportunity’ and ‘desire’ on part of the appellant to have sexual intercourse with the girl, those aspects could not be considered in isolation, since they were wedded to other elements in the statement which sought to explain how the desire arose, why nothing came of the opportunity, and a possible motive for the allegation.

The trial judge, in referring to this ‘opportunity’ and ‘desire’, gave an unrealistic picture of the defence, since there were only two circumstances in the context of other related and germaine answers: (ii) further, when those ‘bits’ and ‘pieces’ of evidence were placed before the jury, they were in effect being invited to treat it as corroboration after they had been clearly told no corroboration existed. (iii) Although the sworn evidence of a child need not be corroborated as a matter of law, the jury should be warned, not that they must find corroboration, but there is a risk in acting on the uncorroborated evidence of young boys or girls, though they may do so if convinced that the witness is telling the truth. (iv) A girl in her fourteenth year should fall within the category of a young girl, and (v) the requirement of warning the jury of the danger of acting on the uncorroborated evidence of a young child is no longer a matter of discretion for the trial judge, but a peremptory prerequisite.

(Dictum of Lord Goddard, L.C.J., in R. v. Campbell (2) (infra) approved) Appeal allowed, Conviction and sentence quashed.

The Appellate Court referred to 3 cases in support of its

He said: “It seems the doctor’s evidence gives the lie to that, but it does not mean that you have to reject all of her evidence”.

Justice Luckhoo went on to say it would be apparent, therefore, that because of the age of the girl, the absence of corroboration, and the probability that she had lied on the question of not having sexual experience before, the necessity for a very careful summing-up throughout was essential.

The girl’s story was that when she was dipping water from a trench, the appellant suddenly came up behind her, held her hand and threw her down. She did not expect him to come up (on her); she ‘fought’ up but he kept choking her for about ten minutes – pressing her throat hard. During that time, he removed her panties and had intercourse with her.

There was no evidence of any external injuries.

On May 23rd, the appellant, in a written statement to the police, told his story, which was consistent with his earlier denials of the allegation of rape and was as follows: “Myself and Sahadat and a girl name Data were sitting at my bottom house the same Saturday (21/5/66) when I saw

Nothing more”.

The grounds of appeal which merited consideration, put shortly, were: 1. That the learned trial judge had erred in law in his direction to the jury on the question of the probative value of the appellant’s statement to the police, which (a) Tended to remove from them the issue of whether the accused could be found ‘not guilty’ on the indictment. (b)Conveyed to them that the girl‘s evidence was so strengthened by parts of that statement that they would have no choice but to find him guilty, if they accepted those parts.

Allowing the appeal, Justice of Appeal Luckhoo added, “In this case we find that certain directions invited the jury to give a probative value to portions of the appellant’s statement beyond their capacity. That may have made all the difference to the jury’s verdict, and so we were constrained to allow the appeal”.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

XI

$38M Skills Training and Counselling Centre opens in Berbice - aims at empowering the vulnerable in society

A

By Jeune Bailey Vankeric two-storey concrete edifice aimed at empowering the vulnerable in Berbice was recently commissioned with much fanfare, as Minister of Social Protection, Ms Volda Lawrence, and U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Mr Bryan Hunt committed to breaking the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment.

Measuring 60 feet x 32 feet, the $38M New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir (NJASM) Humanitarian Mission Skills Training and Counselling Centre is centrally located at Ankerville, Port Mourant in Corentyne, and will empower over thirty persons every quarter through training sessions in welding, joinery, sewing, computerised embroidery, and carpentry.

The new initiatives are expected to create jobs and empower people.

Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission, Pandit Suresh Sugrim, in his review, noted that the NJASM, which is registered locally, has been working in Guyana since 2005, breaking the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment.

Large sums of money have since been spent to build houses and distribute various items to individuals and vulnerable groups; but, in 2011, it was realised that handouts were not the solution to the problems.

“We were giving people a fish, instead of teaching them to fish. Therefore, we redesigned our projects aimed at empowering, which will eventually change lives. With this concept in mind, the empowering centre was birthed”, he disclosed.

However, he noted that NGOs and Government cannot

The first Phase of the Humanitarian Mission Village

fix the many social ills, but it takes a community to bring restoration.

“We need to go back to the golden rule: ‘Do unto others what you would have others do unto you’, as we try to take back the region, which is plagued with a multiplicity of social ills’, he said.

Social Protection Minister, Ms Volda Lawrence, commended the Non-Governmental Organisation for its initiative

aimed at alleviating poverty through the provision of social services and the promotion of education, and empowering vulnerable groups.

However, she noted that the Ministry of Social Protection is aware of the difficulties faced by the citizenry, and partner► Continued on page XII

Minister of Social Protection, Ms Volda Lawrence

U.S. Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt addressing the recent commissioning of the Skills Training and Counselling Centre at Port Mourant, East Berbice

Pandit Suresh Sugrim, the Head of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission

XII

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

$38M Skills Training and Counselling ... ► From page XI

The symbolic cutting of the ribbon by U.S. Charge d’Affaires Bryan Hunt and Minister of Social Protection Volda Lawrence

ship is important in addressing those challenges.

“I urge you to continue your work of reaching out to those who are less fortunate; those who have been overcome by social ills, tragedy or ill health…We need your help to restore families, to sensitize and educate our men about the way to treat women, and about the need to embrace woman’s changing roles,” the minister said.

She noted that the provision of social services is a great challenge, because often the results are not quantifiable, and it requires diligence, committed and consistent efforts in order to ensure success.

“As a Government, we will continue to strive for the improvement in the quality of social services and greater social protection. I wish to extend a hand to all those who are willing to partner with us for human development, and to take this opportunity to remind us all that everyone has a role to play in achieving the desirable society we wish to see”, she concluded.

Speaking also at the mid-afternoon affair, which was held a short distance from the final resting place of former Presidents Cheddi Jagan and his United States born wife Janet, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt committed his country‘s support towards the efforts being made to break the cycle of poverty through empowerment and education.

The diplomat also noted that Governments cannot do it alone, but civil society has a critical role to play in addressing social ills plaguing our society.

“We support the outstanding work by organisations, in trying to bring about grass roots involvement by citizens in the United States and in Guyana, in order to make a difference at the community level,” Hunt said.

He highlighted the importance of investing in education, which is the driving force of all social and economic development.

Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, highlighted several challenges encountered by the local chapter of the New Jersey Humanitarian Mission, including opposition from a nearby NGO with similar goals, which had advised the former Government not to lease the land to the New Jersey Humanitarian Mission.

Armogan told the special invitees, who were earlier entertained by several cultural renditions, that, in Guyana today, there are many social and environmental problems that face us, and even though we have more organisations established to deal with these problems, the problems still seem to be going unabated.

“I believe this is because many more organisations are involved in looking at the problem rather than putting resources to find solutions to the problem…” Armogan said. “If one looks at the amount of studies that have been done, and the amount of papers that have been presented in terms of social problems, and compare it with programmes where money is involved to empower persons by training them and giving them life skills to provide alternative employment, one would find that we are lacking,” he opined.

“And that is why today I am extremely happy that the Humanitarian Mission of New Jersey has taken this initiative to do exactly that which is not so prevalent in our community; that is, empowering our people.”

Also speaking briefly at the official opening, dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first building in the Humanitarian Mission Village Project were Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Mr Jaipaul Sharma; Chairperson of the Teaching Service Commission, Ms Leila Ramson; Former Chairman of Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL), Mr Yesu Persaud; and Mr Kevin Pilgrim, Superintendent of the Guyana Prison Service.

a i n o S Noel

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015 Sonia Noel receiving a warm birthday hug from one of her many supporters

XIII

celebrates birthday by paying tribute to senior citizens

T

By Alex Wayne HE beautiful setting at Herdmanston Lodge became the quintessential backdrop for a spectacular event, dubbed ‘Toast and Tribute’, hosted last Saturday

by Guyanese veteran fashion designer Sonia Noel through the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts.

The name Sonia Noel instantly evokes thoughts of glamorous fashion, and this was absolutely the case on this occasion, only, this time, it was a parade of fashions by the senior citizens of the Love and Faith Ministry; and what a splendid showcase it was!

Designers Pat Coates, Natasha Caldera, Andrea Braithwaite, Nelsion Nurse, Mwanza Glenn, Jason Shurland, Sydney Francois, Anita Daniels, Tracy Douglas, Wynetta Jones, Gem Fraser and Sonia Noel herself joined forces in paying tribute to the senior citizens of our nation, for their paving the way to the benefit of today's society.

This fashion story was part of a make-over treat for 24 members of Ms Noel’s church. Sonia Noel has always had a preoccupation with the older folks, so much so that, for over a decade now, she has been one of the sponsors of the senior citizens’ Christmas party in her hometown of Bartica, as well as being a main contributor to the Archer Senior Citizens’ Home. It is certainly one of her ways of giving back to her community for the blessings she is convinced have been granted to her in life.

"When I told my group what Miss Noel was planning for us seniors, the excitement was great, and we all were anticipating a fantastic day. The event exceeded our expectations, and we pray Miss Noel will continue to make a difference, and (that) God’s blessings (will) always be with her," Sister Beverley Sam noted.

This tribute was indeed a demonstration of Ms Noel’s philan- Sonia was the recipient of many smiles and thropy; but it could not be played out on a finer day, for last Saturday good wishes from her fans and supporters

One of the feisty senior ladies strutting her stuff in a Sonia Noel design was Sonia's birthday. So, instead of simply staging a toast to her life and accomplishments -- so many for which she is eternally grateful -- she chose to spend an afternoon lunching with the seniors. And so was borne Toast and Tribute with Sonia at Herdmanston's.

Sonia noted, "(There are) not enough words to describe how I feel on this special day in the presence of such extraordinary people. The seniors expressed how grateful they are to my gesture, and (that) I am a blessing to their lives. I feel so blessed to spend this special day with people who would have contributed to our society and (who are) close friends of mine," Sonia said.

As always, Sonia delivered with style. So, after rounding ► Continued on page XV

FIRST BORN

XIV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Reggae ambassadors who make an absolute difference

By Alex Wayne OUT of Guyana, the proverbial ‘Land of Many Waters’, comes First Born, a musical group which began with eight young Guyanese men, gradually became five members, and is now down to three.

Guyanese by birth, Rastafarians by choice, they are grounded in the roots-reggae culture of Jamaica; thus they deliver a strain of reggae music that exudes spirituality, culture, tremendous brotherly love, and originality.

Being first formed as an acappella group in the 1990s, they achieved a breakthrough in 1997 with a live showcase at the Freddy McGregor Concert held at the Guyana National Park by promoter Walter ‘Wally’ Fraser’s Vizion Sounds Records. First Born’s performance at that

event so impressed Vizion Sounds’ Walter Fraser and the late great Dennis Emmanuel Brown with its unique originality that Wally immediately signed them to his Vizion Sounds Recording Company, while Dennis Brown offered his special vocals on their debut single, ‘Repatriation Time’.

‘Repatriation Time’ featured prominently on their acclaimed debut album ‘Exodus Chapter XIII Verse 2’, which was recorded at Leggo’s Studio in Kingston, Jamaica with saxophone contribution and musical direction from musician extraordinaire Dean Fraser. The album earned the group two Guyana National Awards for Best New Artistes and Best New Group.

Since joining the Guyana and Jamaica-based Vizion Sounds Records family, the

group has produced five albums, namely Exodus, Exodus Remix, Wake Up Call, Confident, and Iritis. First Born’s talent, craftsmanship and presence — both in studio and on stage — have blossomed and matured almost beyond belief. In September 2002, they travelled and opened for international reggae dancehall artiste Shaggy, in Suriname.

In November 2002, they were invited to Jamaica to participate in celebrating the coronation of His Imperial Majesty, Haile Selassie I, which was attended by His Majesty’s grandson.

The group was deeply honoured when asked to perform the National Anthem at the Guyana Miss Universe Pageant and the annual Boxing Day Boxing Championships of 2002.

First Born, Guyana’s reggae musical icons They culminated that year’s home front engagements with

ing into Sizzla’s ‘Rise to the Occasion’ birthday celebration in 2004 at Caymanas Park, Jamaica, where they shared stage with Coco Tea, Beres Hammond, Sizzla, Marcia Griffiths, Richie Stephens, Chezidek and many others.

Since hitting the streets, First Born has indeed been making some serious strides, with its members not letting up on their goal to make a name for themselves as a prominent reggae band. And with their hardworking manager Walter ‘Wally’ Fraser, they have been making Lambert Semple from the First serious inroads.

Their 2005 Born group has gone solo single, ‘Irits’, has been getting good several performances at the airplay on the airwaves. It flag-raising ceremony com- peaked at number 4 on the memorating the anniversary Mega Jamz Reggae Chart. of Guyana’s Independence.

The singles ‘How Are In March 2003, they We Gonna Survive’, with opened for Sizzla at the Buju Banton, and ‘Muzik is Block Party concert lead- the Rock’, done with Greg-

ory Isaacs, are also in heavy rotation. Also released in 2005, the singles ‘Early in the Morning’ (remix) ‘Love Trap’ and ‘War I See’ are growing in popularity.

Making the rounds on the music video channels from the group are the video for ‘Irits’ and the single ‘Bounce Them Head’ (both directed

by Steven Ventura), and ‘Way of Life’ with label mate LMJ (directed by Ras Kasa). The group has now release the new single, “Help Someone”.

In 2013, group member Lambert Semple decided to go solo, and that surely must have placed a dent in First Born’s plans Lambert Bruce Semple, affectionately called ‘Lambi’, was once the main voice that propelled the group to local, regional and international fame. The group toured many parts of the Caribbean and the world, blazing hit songs such as “Repatriation Time” and “How Are We Gonna Survive”, making them Guyana’s most successful and well-known reggae music group to date.

Lambert’s musical triumph continues today, and he’s now forging his own in-

► Continued on page XVIII

Sonia Noel

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

► From page XIII

up an impressive line-up of designers, who all donated to the cause, she enlisted Clemencio Goddette and Karen Rhodius for hair and make-up by Flori Roberts.

The talented Russell Lancaster serenaded the seniors, Jennifer Thomas dramatized, Shawn English belted out melodi-

ous songs, Melessa Payne's models performed, Ras Camo entertained, Merrano Isaacs hosted, and the very renowned Richard Young himself flew in from Trinidad to direct the afternoon's proceedings, which went off without a hitch.

After a busy backstage scenario, styling the looks of the senior folks, Mr Young was overwhelmed while delivering his stirring tribute to his best friend, his confidante, and his fellow fashion icon.

Also present at the proceedings was Sonia’s other daughter, Marisca Fiedtkou-Jordan, and her grandson Jayden, who made her afternoon extraordinary; and there was Raquel Caesar, Maisa Da Silva, her pastor Claude Brooks, and Wendy Hermonstine, who closed off with a reminder that the most important thing in life is "in the giving back" Sonia Noel would like to express sincerest thanks to Herdmanston Lodge, Mohammed's Enterprise, Nigel's Super-

XV market, N&S Mattai Company, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), ANSA McAL Trading (Guyana) Limited, DM Sales Beauty World, Oasis Cafe, Star Party Rental, Cosmetic Beauty World, Healing Water Spa, Milady's Hair Salon, Home and Beauty Supplies’ Ken Phillips, Daddy’s Enterprise, James Bovell; Ken Thomas, Patrick Triumph, Shi Dindyal and Glenmore Wolseley.

Indeed, it was more than a memorable afternoon, it was an unforgettable experience. The inimitable John Denver's lyrics were captured in Russell Lancaster's rendition of 'Perhaps Love', and certainly resonated through 'The memory of love will see you through'.

The Herdmanston occasion was such a success that Ms Noel’s pastor -– Claude Brooks -- invited Russel Lancaster to perform the following day at the Love and Faith Ministry service, where he continued the Toast and Tribute, allowing the seniors to parade their new garb to the congregation and congratulating Sonia Noel on such a magnanimous gesture.

The pastor said he hoped it would serve to change perspective regarding the senior citizens.

Ms Noel is also grateful to Mr. Terry Sawh for his contribution towards the event’s success.

Each senior departed with a gift bag of beauty products, and some left with gift certificates for a spa treatment, lunch and dinners.

XVI

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

XVII

XVIII ► From page XIII imitable path as a solo artiste based in Trinidad and Tobago.

Lambert Bruce Semple grew up in West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme in a musically-inclined extended family. At just five (5) years old, he made his debut performance with his aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings as they participated in an annual music festival organised in their community by a close family friend, well known as “Teacher Georgie.”

While attending West Ruimveldt Primary, Lambert continued to develop his talent there, often writing and performing his own songs at school functions. This trend continued into secondary school, until, in 1994, when he entered and won a national singing competition, beating out 34 other talented Guyanese performers. That marked the official launch of his music career, initially starting as a solo artiste.

In 1997 he met the already existing First Born group at the Freddie McGregor show in Jamaica, and the connection was instant. Reggae music was booming in Jamaica in 1998 when the group recorded its first album with Vizion Sounds’ Wally Fraser. The first two singles of the album – “Repatriation Time” and ” How Are We Gonna Survive” -- made Lambi a household name with his impressive lead vocals.

First Born went on to record eight (8) albums with Vizion Sounds, five (5) of which were released.

In 2009, Lambert went back to his solo career, working on a solo album in Jamaica with Bobby Digital and Dean Fraser. He later moved to Trinidad & Tobago to establish his own record label – Lion B Records -- and work along with well-known producers like Lion King and Back Yard Studio.

There he completed his first solo album, “Brighter Side of things,” featuring songs like “Flat Foot Hustla,” “Truth” and “World of Jealousy”. The album is going to be officially launched this summer, but these singles are already enjoying regular airplay on radio stations from Germany to Guyana.

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

FIRST BORN

They have never failed to chart since bursting onto the entertainment scene

RIVERVIEW

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

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RAISES THEM STRONG AND HEALTHY

By Neil Primus THE wind picks up and grows into an angry whistling mass. The sea responds with heavy swells that would make seasoned seamen shiver. The small boat creaks, shudders, then convulses in resistance to the enormous pressure of the water. The waves swat the boat any which way. Life, at times like this, seems somewhat like walking on a knife’s edge; the slightest wrong move or panic could result in tragedy.

This sounds like a good introduction to Moby Dick or Adventures at Sea. But this is only the simple life of a Guyanese fisherman who braves the dangerous waters in order to provide for his family. Some succeed, while many have died trying.

John Majramootoo is a 58-year-old great-grandfather who knows nothing else but the sea. His love for fishing was bequeathed to him by his father. His dad had owned four boats, and at an early age, John was already going out onto the rough waters of the mighty Atlantic. By his early teens, he was allowed to captain each vessel in turn.

School suffered as a result, but such was the life of a fisherman’s son.

“I learned everything from my father. Now I own two boats -- a 20-footer and a 26-footer. The latter is under minor repairs. I have had to slow down myself because of injury. I slipped and fell, hitting my back on an anchor. This causes me constant pain and restricts my trips to sea. But I never give up.

I am still working in the fishing trade.

“My father was a very strong man. At age 85, he would grab a paddle and go for a ‘walk’, paddling to friends along the bank of the river. He refused to use an engine on those outings. When he was not in a boat, he could be seen bursting wood for the fireside. He swung a mean axe.

“Dad hated iced fish. He only used fresh fish; fresh from the sea straight into the pot, and down empty bellies. Mom would make her famous Fish Pot. It comprised of fish, provisions, duff, onions, garlic, black pepper, butter and a few other ingredients I don’t recall now. When you ate this brew you,

could feel the power coursing through your body. None of us ever had to be running to the doctor. Neither did dad. Good food and fresh sea breeze worked wonders for us.

“Work at sea is not always successful. There are times when the catch is very small and you lose on the trip. Other times the haul is great and you make up for that loss. Then there is the added risk of damage to your equipment. Garbage in the sea is a serious health risk and an environmental hazard.

It is also a fisherman’s nightmare.

“At high tide, the powerful sea moves tons of garbage around. These sometimes become entangled in your hooks or net, and cause expensive damage. Take the case of a simple rice or flour bag (crocus). These are a terror to small fishermen. They collect mud and sand and become deadweights.

These then get entangled in your lines or nets. Many times the nets are badly damaged and the lines lost. One line can hold 2000 hooks.

“Whenever these get caught in the propeller, they result in engine failure and damage, a serious problem when you are at sea in a small craft.

“Weather changes at sea are very challenging times for small fishermen. The small boats roll, toss and pitch like matchboxes. Despite this, you still have to fish. Working a ‘Six Hour Drag’ means that every six hours you must work your nets. Sometimes the boat dips dangerously in bad weather, causing you to have water way above your head.

“Some souls have been lost at sea. Once a wooden craft was hit by a humongous wave. The marauding water ripped off the Ice Box. It then smashed the cabin like matchsticks and proceeded to tear the craft to pieces. Luckily for the hapless crew, a trawler was nearby and came to their rescue. No one went down that day.

“In situations where waves are over 20 feet high, small vessels are often in serious peril. If the craft is not properly built and maintained, (the situation) could end in catastrophe.

“Another danger to small boats are large ocean-going ships. These are put on auto-pilot at night. Sometimes the crew of small fishing boats are resting after a tiring day’s work. Bang! Their craft is so small that it is not seen in the dark. Add rough seas to that, and you get a recipe for disaster,” John detailed.

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Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Little boy lost finds his mother using Google Earth

- lost his mother in 1986 and found her 25 years later with the help of satellite images

By Robin Banerji, BBC World Service

A

N Indian boy who lost his mother in 1986 has found her 25 years later from his new home in Tasmania - using satellite images.

Saroo was only five years old when he got lost. He was travelling with his older

brother, working as a sweeper on India's trains. "It was late at night. We got off the train, and I was so tired that I just took a seat at a train station, and I ended up falling asleep."

That fateful nap would determine the rest of his life.

"I thought my brother would come back and wake me up but when I awoke he was nowhere to be seen. I saw a train in front of me and

thought he must be on that train. So I decided to get on it and hoped that I would meet my brother."

Saroo did not meet his brother on the train. Instead, he fell asleep and had a shock when he woke up 14 hours later. Though he did not realise it at first, he had arrived in Calcutta, India's third biggest city and notorious for its slums.

"I was absolutely scared.

Magic moment: Mr Brierley pictured with his mother, Fatima Munshi, when they met for the first time in 25 years

Saroo before he went missing: In a new book he tells the story of how he got lost a thousand miles from home, then found his way back 25 years later

Mr Brierley's book, A Long Way Home, was published by Penguin Australia

I didn't know where I was. I just started to look for people and ask them questions."

Soon he was sleeping rough. "It was a very scary place to be. I don't think any mother or father would like to have their five-year-old wandering alone in the slums and

train stations of Calcutta."

The little boy learned to fend for himself. He became a beggar, one of the many children begging on the streets of the city. "I had to be quite careful. You could not trust anyone."

Once he was approached

by a man who promised him food and shelter and a way back home. But Saroo was suspicious. "Ultimately I think he was going to do â–ş Continued

on page XXV

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

CONSUMER CONCERNS:

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Cigarette and other Tobacco use‌

DANGEROUS TO HEALTH

F

By Pat Dial

or many years now the dangers of tobacco use have been propagated worldwide, especially in the Western World where the main tobacco companies are based. International Organisations such as the World Health Organisation (WH0) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) have done a great deal of valuable work in educating people all over the world as to the dangers to their health from tobacco usage.

In Europe and North America the populations are well informed of the detailed dangers to health they face from the use of cigarettes and this knowledge is buttressed by very stringent anti-tobacco legislation which almost all Western States have now enacted.

The tobacco industry has had powerful ripostes against these measures and they counter-attack with massive and skilled propaganda campaigns, suborning members of the medical and scientific communities to prove that tobacco is safe and distribute gifts, cut prices and give other inducements to the young to have them begin using cigarettes. They also fiercely and methodically resist legal actions brought by consumers against them for impairment of health.

In Europe and North America tobacco and particularly cigarette usage is on the downward spiral and doctors and health workers and indeed, most people hope it will be eliminated in the forseeable future. The tobacco companies have therefore most aggressively turned their attention to Third World countries and there is now, proportionally more tobacco, and particularly cig-

The Western States realise that though tobacco is a very lucrative taxation source, this is more than counter-balanced by the costs the Public Health Systems have to bear by treatment of tobacco-caused ailments and the shortened working life of the labour force as well as inefficient labour.

arette consumption there than in Western Countries.

In Guyana, a Third World country, tobacco and particularly cigarette consumption has been increasing, judging by the continuous and growing profits the tobacco company has been reaping.

Dr Leslie Ramsammy,

as Minister of Health, was a person who was emotionally and intellectually committed to the eradication of tobacco, and particularly cigarette usage in Guyana in the interest of the nation's health. Under his tenure, modern tobacco legislation was drafted, the Tuberculosis Society as well

Pat Dial as other NGO's involved in education of the population of the dangers of tobacco were stimulated, and he did inspire the making of a new tobacco standard by the National Bureau of Standards.

Unfortunately, when he left the Ministry to take up the portfolio of the Ministry of Agriculture, all these efforts were left in abeyance.

The time has now come for the Health Authorities, the Consumer Advocates as well as other NGO's and the

Ministry of Education to comprehensively accelerate the education of the population against the dangers of tobacco, on the acceptance of the new tobacco standard and the urgency of enacting tobacco legislation. We will return to these issues in a further article, but in the meantime, we should like to mention the main diseases caused by tobacco and cigarette use. By the compulsion of space, we

cannot detail how cigarettes cause these diseases which are due to the poisons in them. We will however list some of these diseases: Cataracts of the eyes; hearing loss; tooth-decay; swelling of the air tracts in the lungs, thus affecting the inflow of oxygen and the expulsion of carbon dioxide (Emphysema); osteoporosis caused by not enough oxygen going into the blood; stomach ulcers caused by reduction of

resistance to bacteria which cause stomach ulcers; deformed sperm causing children to be born with physical deformities; and of course, Heart Disease and Cancers of various types.

In a future article, we will outline action being taken by the Guyana Consumers Association and others in striving to protect the safety of the population, especially the youths against the dangers of cigarettes.

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Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

DARK FANTASIES Dear Wayne & Tamara,

My best friend of 20 years and I, and our wives, went to a bar last weekend. As the night went on my friend's wife flirted with me, nothing out of the ordinary. The thing is, at the end of the night she kissed me passionately and I liked it.

I've had a crush on her longer than I've known my wife. I can't stop thinking about it, but I don't want to mess up our lives.

PATRICK ******************************************* Dear Patrick, Perhaps you can't stop thinking about robbing a bank either. But if you are, what would we suggest? Stop thinking about it! Instead think about prison and all the nice people you'll meet.

If you love your wife and love the life you have and things are good, that's what's real.

When you play with what's in your mind, all that disappears.

It's a double bad. Try replacing your fantasy with how your wife and your friend will react when they find out you betrayed them.

WAYNE & TAMARA

An Idealist Dear Wayne & Tamara, I met an amazing girl. We are seniors in high school. She is very loyal and loving, and all our values line up. The only problem is she did something in her past that violates both our values. She had sex with an old boyfriend.

It’s been driving me crazy because I occasionally see this guy. When she broke up with him, I guess he told everyone everything that happened, so she has a bad reputation at her school. I really love this girl, but her past is haunting both of us.

How do I get past this?

Marty ********************** ******************** Dear Marty, Tamara says she is neither an optimist nor a pessimist. She is a realist. The glass is not half full. The glass is not half empty. It is simply half a glass of water. That’s all.

How do you get past this?

You don’t. It doesn’t matter if you were actually betrayed. You feel as if you were. Your feelings of betrayal and jealousy outweigh your feelings of love.

Often when people write us they want us to give them a magic bullet or a magic bean.

There is no magic bean. A realist would say you can’t get past an inborn biological reaction. A realist would say high school doesn’t last forever. A realist would say next year this girl will have the chance to escape her past.

Wayne

Run Faster Dear Wayne & Tamara, I love your raw direct style. My boyfriend is divorced with two daughters. He chased me a year, then we immediately lived together.

I am never married. I left my old and sick parents, my work and my house to live with him. I needed attention and this was not good for him.

We h a d many challenges. Within a month his father died, my mother died and his daughter from a previous marriage tried suicide.

He got custody, so this hurt teen came to live with us but it didn't go well.

I should admit the shadow of him leaving was always on our relationship. After two years of incredible joys and huge drama he decided to leave. The last thing he said was: I love you.

After four months and almost no contact, he declared his love for me again and I thought the dream was coming true. It lasted only months before he started doubting again. Now unless I look for him he simply vanishes, though he is always ready to chat, see me and make love if I initiate contact.

That keeps me hoping that if I trust, things one day will change. I love him.

Lillian ****************************************** Dear Lillian, If he came back, it would not be because he loved you. It would be because he couldn't find anyone better. That's hard for us to say and hard for you to accept.

But when someone breaks up with you because they are not sure you are the one, that’s what they think.

Love is not gamesmanship. Nor is it a trick, a compromise, a ploy or a tease.

He chased you. What do we normally hear from the one chased? "He (or she) chased me until I was worn down.” Coming around for sex when you contact him should not give you hope. It should tell you who he is.

Chasers give the one chased a false sense that "he must really, really love me that he would chase me like this." But a chaser loves the pursuit and what is going on within their own mind. How do we know this? Because when the pursuer succeeds, they act as if, "Oh, you aren't what I thought you are."

For a while they may be happy with their success and bask in your love. For a while they may try to change you into what they fantasized. Finally, they realize you aren't what they thought, leading to the inevitable, "I can do better."

Wayne & Tamara

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

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Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Little boy lost ...

something not nice to me, so I ran away." ► From But in the end, he did get off the streets. He was taken in by an orphanage, which page XX "I put him up for adoption. He was adopted by the Brierleys, a couple from Tasmania. accepted that I was lost and that I could not find my way back home, so I thought it was great that I was going to Australia."

Saroo settled down well in his new home. But as he got older the desire to find his birth family became increasingly strong. The problem was that as an illiterate fiveyear-old he had not known the name of the town he had come from. All he had to go on were his vivid memories. So he began using Google Earth to search for where he might have been born.

"It was just like being Superman. You are able to go over and take a photo mentally and ask, 'Does this match?' And when you say, 'No', you keep on going and going and going."

Eventually Saroo hit on a more effective strategy. "I multiplied the time I was on the train, about 14 hours, with the speed of Indian trains and I came up with a rough distance, about 1,200km."

He drew a circle on a map with its centre in Calcutta, with its radius about the distance he thought he had travelled.

Incredibly, he soon discovered what he was looking for: Khandwa. "When I found it, I zoomed down and bang, it just came up. I navigated it all the way from the waterfall where I used to play."

EMOTIONAL: Saroo’s reunion with his mother, 25 Soon he made his way to years after he got lost riding the train with his older Khandwa, the town he had dis- brother

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covered online. He found his way around the town with his childhood memories. Eventually he found his own home in the neighbourhood of Ganesh Talai. But it was not what he had hoped for. "When I got to the door I saw a lock on it. It look old and battered, as if no-one had lived there for quite a long time."

Saroo had a photograph of himself as a child and he still remembered the names of his family. A neighbour said that his family had moved.

"Another person came and then a third person turned up, and that is when I struck gold.

He said, 'Just wait here for a second and I shall be back.' And when he did come back after a couple of minutes he said, 'Now I will be taking you to your mother.'"

"I just felt numb and thought, 'Am I hearing what I think I am hearing?'"

Saroo was taken to meet his mother who was nearby. At first he did not recognise her.

"The last time I saw her she was 34 years old and a pretty lady, I had forgotten that age would get the better of her. But the facial structure was still there and I recognised her and I said, 'Yes, you are my mother.'

"She grabbed my hand and took me to her house. She could not say anything to me.

I think she was as numb as I was. She had a bit of trouble grasping that her son, after 25 years, had just reappeared like a ghost."

Although she had long feared he was dead, a fortune teller had told Saroo's mother that one day she would see her son again. "I think the fortune teller gave her a bit of ► Continued on page XXVI

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Little boy lost ...

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

â–ş From page

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energy to live on and to wait for that day to come."

And what of the brother with whom Saroo had originally gone travelling? Unfortunately, the news was not good. "A month after I had disappeared my brother was found in two pieces on a railway track." His mother had never known whether foul play was involved or whether the boy had simply slipped and fallen under a train.

"We were extremely close and when I walked out of India the tearing thing for me was knowing that my older brother had passed away."

For years Saroo Brierley went to sleep wishing he could see his mother again and his birth family. Now that he has, he feels incredibly grateful. He has kept in touch with his newly found family.

"It has taken the weight off my shoulders. I sleep a lot better now."

And there is something to make him sleep better - with memories of Slumdog Millionaire still relatively fresh, publishers and film producers are getting interested in his incredible story. (This incredible and inspiration story was taken from the Outlook on the BBC World Service with whom Saroo Brierley spoke)

Google Earth image that helped Saroo find his way home

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

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THE JAMZONE 2015 SHOWCASE…

W

HEN the Miss Jamzone 2015 Pageant kicked off two Saturdays ago at HJTV’s spanking new WATER World location, patrons certainly got their money’s worth of rich, intoxicating entertainment.

While it was the pulsating Miss Trinidad and Tobago who won the top honours in the show, one has to agree that all the girls shone like diamonds. Taking the second spot was Miss St. Kitts, while Miss USA raked in the third position. Let the pictures tell their story.

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Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Naya Zamana celebrates 20 years with

“WHEN FATES COLLIDE”

T

HE Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha’s 20th edition of its popular production, Naya Zamana, will be held at the National Cultural Centre on Saturday, August 29th, from 8pm.

Presented under the theme “When Fates Collide”, Naya Zamana 20 promises to be a rollercoaster trip filled with hilarity, a touch of mystery, fairytale romance, cutting edge choreography, and grandeur. The audience is encouraged to grab their life jackets, luggage, cameras and that box of tissue, because one cannot predict where fate will take them!

Boasting a diverse star cast of Dr. Indhira Harry, Aryan Masi, Farzaana Khan, Travez Piaralall, Nazim Hussain and Ananda Latchman, along with some 60 talented dancers of the Dharmic Nritya Sangh, Naya Zamana 20 is not to be missed. It will be magical from the very first moment.

Over the years, Naya Zamana has transitioned from a successful dance production to a theatrical presentation, seamlessly blending dance, drama, music and song. As its name predicted, successive generations of artistes kept the production growing in numerous ways -- new faces, new styles of dance, additional skills on stage; but what remains as the constant formula which makes this production incomparable with any other in Guyana is the team work which exists between Dr. Vindhya Persaud and her sister Trishala Persaud.

Dr. Persaud’s choreography, scenes and moments are complimented by Trishala’s signature sets and costumes, crafted with meticulous attention to detail and perfectly exuding the glamour and spellbinding magic that this production is known for.

This is further augmented this year by spectacular lighting from Cloud Nine Inc. Tickets for the production are on sale at the National Cultural Centre, Red Mango on Robb Street, Bhagwans on Water Street, E-Networks on Camp Street, and the Dharmic Kendra in Prashad Nagar; or the interested can call 227-6181 for more information. Tickets cost a mere $3500, $3000 and $2000.

Patrons are encouraged to get their tickets early, so as not to miss this milestone production. The Sabha would like to thank Digicel, I-CEE, Maggi, Hand-in-Hand, ENetworks and Cloud Nine Lighting for generously supporting the production.

Another year, an overwhelming milestone, and a gift from the heart, coming from us to you is how to best describe NayaZamana 20.

Mahaica River Birding Tour Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

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being offered by residents every day

V

ISITORS to Guyana now have one more activity to occupy their time here, with the Mahaica River Birding Tour being offered by Mahaica area residents seven days a week.

After a 20-minute drive from Georgetown, the tour originates from Unity Village, located at the mouth of the Mahaica River. On a boat captained by one of the many local fishermen, visitors motor up the serene Mahaica river, bordered on either side by intact mangrove forests that are home to crabs, racoons, monkeys and 150 species of birds.

Most sighted species include the Gray-breasted Crakes, Rufous Crab-Hawks, Silver Antbirds, Black-capped Donacobius, Wing-barred Seedeater, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Moriche Oriole, Black Hawk-Eagle, Boat-billed Heron, Pied Water-Tyrant, Tropical Kingbird, Silver-backed Antbird, Green-rumped Parrotlet and Great Black-Hawk, to name a few.

A highlight of the trip is the frequent sighting of the iconic Hoatzin, Guyana’s national bird, known locally as the Canje Pheasant. They are extremely social and live in groups of 40.

They can be seen making their spinning and curtseying antics on the branches of the mangrove trees. Supposedly linked to the first-known bird, the prehistoric Archaeoppteryx, their elongated necks, tiny heads with blood-red eyes ringed by blue skin and long tail feathers inspired one travel writer to aptly describe them as seemingly designed by Dr. Seuss.

Another iconic species is the Blood-coloured Woodpecker, which is restricted to the narrow coastal plain and is consid-

With Market Day on Saturdays, the river tour stops at the famous Mahaica Market to allow for purchase of fresh fruits and produce, or to just enjoy a chat with the friendly local vendors On its three-hour journey up the river, the boat passes under the 150-year-old Mahaica cast-iron bridge, now retired

A highlight of the trip is the frequent sighting of the iconic Hoatzin, Guyana’s national bird, known locally as the Canje Pheasant ered a ‘Guianan Shield’ endemic species.

In addition to birds and other wildlife, wild manatees call this river home, and visitors are often given the extra treat of seeing them surfacing from beneath the coffee-coloured waters as boats pass.

On its three-hour journey up the river, the boat passes under the 150-year-old Mahaica cast-iron bridge, now retired. In its heyday, this bridge allowed South America’s first railway service to cross the river, playing an invaluable role in the development of the coastal economy during colonial times.

This service transported passengers, cargo and livestock to the capital city of Georgetown. The boat continues to the halfway point, known as ‘Mango Landing’ because of the prolifically bearing mango tree which also doubles up as a tie-up spot. During mango season, the captain drives the boat under the overhanging branches of this tree to give visitors opportunity to pick their own ripe mangoes.

As the landing is on the perimeter of a rice field, visitors can take a short walking tour through the fields to learn about the rice industry.

With Market Day on Saturdays, the river tour stops ► Continued on page XXX

On a boat captained by one of the many local fishermen, visitors motor up the serene Mahaica river, bordered on either side by intact mangrove forests that are home to crabs, racoons, monkeys and 150 species of birds

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Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Mahaica River ...

Birding Tour billboard at Ogle Airport

► From page

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at the famous Mahaica Market to allow for purchase of fresh fruits and produce, or to just enjoy a chat with the friendly local vendors.

Kavita Ram said: “The mission is to offer our visitors an unparalleled river-birding experience. This tour is community owned and managed, and operates seven days a week at a price of Gy$7,000 per person, with a minimum group of four persons.

The individuals involved include a group of young people with strong social and environmental interests, who are linked to the conservation and management of mangrove forests, which are an integral element of Guyana’s sea defence.

The initiative was supported by the Caribbean Aqua Terrestrial Solutions (CATS) programme and by the New Zealand High Commission. CATS National Project Officer, Mrs Annette Arjoon-Martins, said: “The vision is to generate sustainable livelihoods, through eco-tourism and birding opportunities, for coastal communities who live in or near mangrove forests. We’re looking to expand on the eco-tourism possibilities for the community, which will include persons in agriculture and artisans, who will have a ready market through the tourists for their local products.

“It is also envisioned that, as local communities derive economic benefits from conservation and management of their mangrove forests, they will become long-term guardians of this natural resource.”

A “tassa drumming” cultural presentation can also be booked as an extra event at the end of the river journey. A stop by Ingrid’s Creole Food Stand to enjoy a cold Demerara Gold cane juice and local fare is optional on the return to Georgetown.

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English

Chronicle Pepperpot August 23, 2015

Aliann Pompey ► From page XL Magazine and also in the ‘Uptown’ section of New York Daily News while her athletic accomplishments and volunteer work were also highlighted on Bronx News 12. During the same year, she also gave the Commencement Speech at Validus Prep Academy’s graduation and was part of Petro-Canada national campaign advertisement for the Summer Olympic Games in London.

Another of her proud accolades happened in 2009 when she was inducted into Manhattan College’s Athletic Hall of Fame and featured in print advertisement for Seven Seas Joint Care supplements In 2007, Pompey’s photos were used for a Disney/ESPN online advertisement for summer athletic programme for children and she was again in the limelight in advertisement for Centennial Olympic Museum at Atlanta History Centre.

Prior to that, she also stole the spotlight in the Equinox Gym summer newsletters in 2006 while in 2000, she was part of the Body-double for Australian Olympic Champion Cathy Freeman in a Nike commercial Between September 2012 – June 2014, Pompey served as Director of Operations at Armory College Prep where she was required to direct the college’s prep programme, which in turn provided support services to students from New York City’s ‘high-need’ public high schools, including and not limited to SAT prep classes, financial aid counseling and college tours.

Pompey was also tasked with developing and overseeing college preparatory curriculum for high school students; managing a full time staff of two, part-time staff of four as well as seasonal employees, interns and volunteers; Her other duties included securing funding from donors and foundations to ensure the programme remains at no cost to participants and working with the executive staff to ensure one hundred per cent Board support of the programme.

During the period, she was also able to achieve one hundred per cent HS graduation rate and 95 per cent matriculation rate while also being in liaison with service providers, parents, admissions and financial aid officers, coaches and parents As a Development Associate at Harlem Renaissance High School, from one year (2007-2008), Pompey’s main responsibilities included fundraising events which generated 60 per cent of funding needed for building of new school library; managing partnership network with corporations and community-based organisation; assembling and serve as liaison for 11-member Advisory Board; organising a variety of multi-cultural student support events, including American Express resume writing workshop and De La Vega mural painting event.

Between 2006 – 2007, she was Teacher/Development Associate at the same institution where she identified and wrote several grants including: Columbia University Community and the Child and Adult Care Food Programme (CACFP) grants which were successfully funded; worked with the Director of Development to document fundraising activities and compile reports to present to senior leadership and created and implemented nine unit Spanish curriculum and six unit Sport Physical Education curriculum for first and second grades.

BACKGROUND Named Aliann Tabitha Omalara Pompey by her Guyanese parents Leon Eric and Deborah Pompey, the 37-year-old, who

was born on March 9, 1978, left her homeland at the age of 14.

She has represented Guyana at the Summer Olympics on four separate occasions (2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012) and has competed at the World Championships in Athletics on five occasions.

Pompey still holds the South American indoor record for the 400 metres while her personal best time is 50.71 seconds, achieved in August 2009 at the World Championships in Berlin.

Pompey confessed that initially she was uninterested in track and field, but began to take running seriously in 1995, quickly reducing her 400 metres best time to 53 seconds and winning the state championships. She won the 400 metres at the 2000 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship, becoming the Manhattan Jaspers' first-ever female national champion.

As for the future, Pompey pointed out that she would like to see the athletic landscape of Guyana change so drastically for the better, that it is unrecognisable from when she first started.

“We have the talent, we can get the resources, we just need a

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clear vision and commitment to the said vision.”

One of seven siblings, the others being Alison, Delon, Timothy, Gilbertine, Tyler and Joshua, Pompey posted on her website that she left Guyana as a teenager “and visited every chance I got. At the moment, I live, work and play in New York. I am unmarried, and plan to be until I get married.”

Aliann Pompey – a star on and off the track

By Frederick Halley TORONTO, Canada -- In 2002, Aliann Pompey created quite a stir by winning a gold medal in the women’s 400 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. She also captured a Silver at the 2010 games in New Delhi, India and a bronze at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.

Few Guyanese are however unaware of the versatility of this outstanding athlete and four-time Olympian who continues to place her beloved country on the map not only in the field of athletics, albeit in an administrative capacity, but also as an academic and in the field of modeling.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Sunday Chronicle, Pompey, who was recently elected to the Pan American Sports Organization (PASO) Athlete Commission, disclosed how honoured she was to be part of that august body, among other things.

“More than anything it says that my peers in the Region trust my judgment and believe that I will act in their best interest. That’s a sobering thought and I am up to the task.”

An Adjunct Professor at Manhattan College, Pompey is currently the sprints and hurdles coach and recruiting coordinator at St. John's University in New York City. She boasted that “this year one of my athletes ran on the Puerto Rican national team at the Toronto Pan Am Games in the 4x400 metres and the team placed sixth. Another competed for Canada, also at Pan Am in the 100 metres and 4x100 metres relay. She was also the manager/coach of Guyana’s three-man athletic squad and served in the same capacity for the junior team at the Pan Am Juniors in Edmonton, Canada.

Touching on her stint at St John’s University, Pompey declared that she absolutely loves working there – “it never feels like work. There's a supportive environment, and I find myself being encouraged to chase my dreams. I wasn’t sure after competing for so long that I'd go into coaching. But here we are, and

I love it!”

Before taking up her post at St John’s, Pompey worked as Assistant Director of Armory College Prep and was then promoted to Director during her five-year attachment. She brings a worldclass athletic resume to the PASO Athlete Commission following her nomination, and subsequent election, by the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).

According to Pompey, while she was competing, she used her time to explore several career paths until she found her passion - a mix of youth, sports and education. “My educational and work background has provided me with a unique perspective, and a versatility that allows me to be successful in the fields on non-profit management, education, and coaching.

However, it hasn’t been all running for the lanky athlete who obtained her Bachelor of Science (BS), Finance, General in 1999 and her Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance, four years later, both while attending Manhattan College. While there, Pompey was also captain of the track and field team, served as president of the African, Caribbean and American Club and a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

An Adjunct Professor at Manhattan College - Kinesiology Department, Riverdale, New York for the past two years, Pompey has been teaching track and field classes and her tasks include organising and presenting instructional material at scheduled times and places in accordance with the College Catalog descriptions, course syllabi and outlines, and class schedules; ensuring students have the opportunity to practice what they learn in real-life settings (coaching, participating in clinics or track meets and maintaining records of student attendance, student progress, and grade distributions.

In 2012, Pompey was featured on the front page of GEM ► Continued on page XXXIX