Pepperpot 29 12 13 by Guyana Chronicle

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

Christmas, Caribbean Style --And a new take on sorrel

By Nigel Spence, CJ Contributor AS CHRISTMAS ( or “The Holidays” to some) arrives, I find myself transported into a state of nostalgia. Memories of my youth flash to mind, taking me back to a time when life was simple and certain; a time when traditions meant everything. I recall with glee the happiness and anticipation that filled the air (no pun intended) when the “Christmas Breeze” started blowing. This is a strong Trade Wind that typically came from the Gulf of Mexico across the Greater Antilles every year during the Season; hence its nickname. Like magic, that “Breeze” seemed to cast a spirit of joy and general wellbeing over the land; anybody you had differences with during the year, turn fren’ again in the Season. On almost every street corner, you could see a small gathering of people, dancing to the sounds of Christmas music blaring from a lone speaker that appeared out of nowhere, and with no visible signs of an owner. Hardwa r e st o r e s we r e packed with people ordering supplies to “dress up” their homes for Christmas. New

paint, new curtains, new linen — tradition demanded that every home had to look spanking new for the holidays, or else face strong criticism and embarrassment. Not to mention, the flurry of activity at the wharf when “barrel come”. In those days, the chosen few who managed to escape to a so-called better life abroad would never live it down if they omitted to pack a barrel loaded with “foreign stuff”, and ship it down to the family for the Christmas. Our home was no exception. Every year, our Gran-uncle, who resided in Rochester, NY at the time, would never fail to send the family a barrel or two for the Christmas. This was always a highlight for us, but not for the reasons you would imagine. You see, Uncle G’s heart was always in the right place, but his sense of style and taste somehow took one heck of a detour! I know plaid was typical for the season, and looked really dynamic on our dining room table; but not so much in pants; especially not with the large squares that more resembled a quilt than any pants I had ever seen. Let me not even mention the wild printed shirts and roach-killer patent shoes.

To be fair to Uncle G, maybe these were the latest fashions in Rochester…or in his town…Well, maybe for HIS era. But I guarantee you, if we stepped one foot outside our gate in THAT getup, we would surely have been stoned (And I don’t mean drunk… Well, that too!). Now, as tradition would have it, the big problem we faced every year is that the barrels actually preceded Uncle G’s visit. That meant having to wear the masquerade costumes he sent, and show our appreciation. I wonder if in all

those years, Uncle G ever figured out how strange it was that all the clothes he sent were never the right size for us? Those were surely good times, though: Lots of fun, laughter, music, and, of course, good food. Friends and neighbours continuously showed up at our gate, and would be greeted warmly. Mom would serve up slices of her signature fruit cake on beautifully decorated cake dishes, accompanied with

a glass of freshly brewed Sorrel. Yes, Christmastime was really the best time for me, back then. So, in my efforts to keep some of those traditions and fond memories alive, I’ve successfully re-created an adult version of Mom’s special blend of Sorrel drink, in preparation for the upcoming season, but the only barrel I woulda welcome here right now, is a likkle barrel full a rum … RIP Uncle G.

Sorrel Sangria 6 cups water 1 cup dried Sorrel leaves 4 Lemon Zinger tea bags 4 tablespoons brown sugar (or to taste) 2 cups dry red wine 1 green apple, cored and thinly sliced, lengthwise 1 orange, thinly sliced 1 lemon, thinly sliced 1 lime, thinly sliced Bring water to boil in a medium saucepan; add sorrel leaves and brown sugar. Boil for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and strain. Discard sorrel leaves. Add the tea bags and let steep for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the tea bags and pour liquid into a large pitcher, and refrigerate for 2 hours. Add the wine and fruit to the pitcher. Fill glasses with ice and serve. (Nigel Spence, a Culinary Institute of America alumnus, was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Nigel freelanced at the Television Food Network for three years, where he worked with culinary luminaries such as Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse. Chef Spence has appeared twice on Throwdown with Bobby Flay, where he emerged the victor in cookoffs against the the Food Network star, and was featured on CBS when he appeared on Tony’s Table, as well as ABC’s Neighborhood Eats, NBC’s The Today Show, Sirius’ Everyday Living with Martha Stewart, and TVFN’s Chopped. The acclaimed and New York Times-reviewed Ripe Kitchen and Bar is Mr Spence’s first entrepreneurial endeavour. (Reprinted from Caribbean Journal)

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

III

By Petamber Persaud

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature...

Arthur James Seymour (January 12, 1914 – December 25, 1989)

HIS love for literature provided him with the love of his life, and many of his favourites things in life. Arthur James Seymour had become interested in Elma Bryce because, as he once declared, “I had realised that she had in her memory more line of Milton’s Lycidas than I had at the time, and this knowledge first prompted my curiosity in her.” The marriage, on July 31, 1937, of Arthur and Elma lasted more than fifty years, with only death physically separating them; a union that issued six children, brought up an adopted child, and directly produced at least two books, ‘My Lovely Native Land’ and ‘Dictionary of Guyanese Biography’ (the latter a landmark work in Guyanese literature). Seymour immortalised that love and marriage in some of the most delicate romantic verses ever penned by a Guyanese in a little-known collection entitled, ‘Love Songs’, 1975. Seymour’s love for literature and reading started much further back. When he was approaching seven, something happened, which he described as his “second vivid recollection…” One day, a box of books was delivered to the gallery of the house and was opened to reveal 20 volumes of a series edited by Arthur Mee, called The Books of Knowledge. This led to his confessing, “...Before I became eleven, I was reading everything I could put my hands upon.” This avid reading constrained him to express himself, leading to the other level of literacy: Writing. Seymour was a prolific writer, who started keeping a diary at age 22, because “biography and autobiography have not been the strong suits in Anglo-Caribbean bibliography,” and because he had the urge “to write, primarily as a means of self-discovery.” This desire to write also stemmed from his discovery of “the element of creativity in myself, and was intent on protecting and developing that gift;” and he wanted “a fuller, deeper understanding of the workings” of his mind. Forthwith, he borrowed books from Guy de Weever on short-story writing. But after only winning a few local competitions, he realised, from measuring his efforts against the models of Maupassant and

O. Henry, that he wasn’t making the breakthrough that was necessary. So he gave up writing short fiction, and turned to poetry instead. In August 1936, he wrote his first poem, going on to perfect his craft by reading everything available on poetry in the library, sometimes spending three to four hours reading such books on the seawall. His early efforts at writing were kindly endorsed by Walter McArthur Lawrence. Then in 1937, when he was only 23 years of age, he published his first book of poems, ‘Verse’.

‘More Poems’ came out in 1940, followed by ‘Over Guiana Clouds’, 1944, and ‘Sun’s in my Blood’, 1945. Since then, his poetry has been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Russian, Chinese and Hindi. In Australia, one of his poems is taught in Braille. At least ten were put to music, and placed into the national repertoire. Seymour’s other books of poetry include ‘Six Songs’; ‘Selected Poems’, which he published in 1965 to mark his 50th birthday; ‘Monologue’, and ‘Images of Majority’ among others. His poetry, essays, autobiographies and other genres of writing effectively mapped the course of his life, and the history of the development of a Guyanese literature. Such a map includes gems like Introduction to Guyanese Writing, and The Making of Guyanese Literature, and all his autobiographical books: Growing up in Guyana, Pilgrim Memories, Family Impromptu, Thirty Years a Civil Servant and The Years in Puerto Rico and Mackenzie. His books of literary criticism, like A Survey of West Indian Literature and Studies in West Indian Poetry helped define Caribbean literature. A bibliography of his writing, compiled by the National Library, was 100 pages long! That was in 1974, almost forty years ago! A matter of immense interest, is that almost all his books were published locally. Poet, literary critic, radio programmer/broadcaster, anthologist, ‘nativist publisher’ and cultural historian, A. J. Seymour was born on January 12, 1914, grew up in Georgetown, but spent many delightful August school holidays in New Amsterdam, in the neighbourhood of N. E. Cameron, Jan Carew, Wilson Harris, the Abbensetts and Edgar Mittelholzer. He started his education at Blackman’s School on Regent Street, just across the road from home, and then moved to St. Phillip’s School, on Smythe Street, before going across to the Collegiate High School, on Camp and Bent Streets. At the Guianese Academy, headed by N. E. Cameron, he won a Government Junior Scholarship to enter Queen’s College. Apart from his academic pursuit, he played halfback in the football team, a position that suited his stocky nature, a characteristic inherent from birth where he weighed a whopping 14 pounds. Seymour entered the world of work at the General Post Office in the Mails Branch, where he was known as a Man of Letters, writing and publishing his poetry. This working experience came at a time when there was rank class discrimination, but social and political changes were at hand, from See page IV

Arthur James ... III

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which he eventually benefitted. One such change was when the Colonial Office implemented one of the more important recommendations of the West India Royal Commission Report, that governments of the region “...should adopt a much more positive policy of bringing their points of view before the mass of the people, and of explanation in sufficiently plain terms the reasons which lie behind their decisions...” This led to the formation of the Bureau of Public Information in 1942, of which Seymour was an integral part until 1962, moving from volunteer status to Chief Information Officer. The 40s was a fertile period of Seymour’s life. This new appointment with the Bureau led him to research the history and folklore of Guyana, and disseminate his findings through a radio programme called, ‘Uncle Jim and his niece, Maggie’. A book, ‘Dictionary of Guyanese Folklore’ was a direct result of that study. The project also provided him with additional material for his poetic development and other literary involvement. In 1943, when the British Guiana Union of Cultural Clubs was organised, Seymour was named Honorary Secretary. This group was headed by N. E. Cameron, who was the first person to publish a collection of Guyanese poems. The name of that landmark work is ‘Guianese Poetry’ published in 1931. Seymour was also part of, and main mover of, a number of other literary groupings, including the British Guiana Writers Association, which came into being on December 28, 1944; the Diogenes Club, discussing essays; and The Library Committee, of which the late Cheddi Jagan was a member. He also played a vital role in a number of organisations dealing with national development, such as, just to name a few: Chairman of the Standing Committee for Preservation and Protection of Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites; Acting Chairman of the Board of Film Censors; Vice-Chairman of the British Guiana Tourism Committee; Acting Chairman, Public Free Library Committee; and Chairman, Guyana Textbook Committee. In 1946, he started editing Kykoveral, an important journal in the fine literary tradition of its counterparts in the Caribbean, namely, Bim, of Barbados, and Focus, of Jamaica. Wherever he went or lived, he found himself in the environment of a literary nature. In Puerto Rico, as a cultural promoter with the Caribbean Organisation, he discovered there was much more to Caribbean writing than Anglophone Caribbean literature, as he came into contact with Dutch,

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

French and Spanish writings. During a 30-day sea trip on the ‘Marine Marlin’, he formed a cultural group and started a magazine! He was never at sea (pardon the pun) when it comes to literature. In the U.K., he met with T.S. Elliot and C.S. Lewis. While living in Mackenzie, he was visited by Andrew Salkey, John LaRose and Beryl McBurnie (this is recorded by Salkey in his Georgetown Journal). Seymour was an able cultural organiser, as evidenced by the success of expansive and elaborate events like The History and Culture Week, 1954, to Carifesta, 1972. Despite his active public life, he spent quality time with his family, largely due to the fact that it was a highly religious family, as described by his wife, Elma, in her autobiography, A Goodly Heritage. It could be said that religion was like literature to him, , and vice versa; Seymour’s life was a personification of those two disciplines. In public and private, he was generous. The many anthologies he produced attested to his concern for the development of other writers, ensuring that their work reached the public. Such collections as Treasury of Guyanese Poetry, The Miniature Poets, and Independence Ten – Guyanese Writing were stepping stones to many emerging writers, who eventually became big names in local and world literature. In 1970, he was honoured by his country with the Golden Arrow of Achievement. In 1983, he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree by the University of the West Indies. In 1984, Dr Ian McDonald compiled an extensive bibliography on Seymour, titled AJS at 70, in tribute to Seymour on his 70th birthday. In 2000, McDonald teamed up with Dr Jacqueline de Weever to produce an elaborate work, A. J. Seymour, Collected Poems 1937 – 1989. For Seymour’s birth centenary, the National Library has planned a number of activities to mark the occasion. Guyana and the Caribbean owe him a great debt of gratitude for his pioneering work in the field of literature, well defined by McDonald: “...He began when everything was still to be done…the work done at the beginning is the least seen but the most important part!” Arthur James Seymour died on December 25, 1989, knowing that ‘tomorrow belongs to the people’. (To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)

WHAT’S HAPPENING

• ‘An Introduction to Guyanese Literature’ is now available at the National Library, and Austin’s Book Service. This book is an up-to-date guide, featuring significant literary landmarks, from the 16th Century to the new millennium. This 150-page book, including over 100 photographs, is an attempt at bringing to the fore little known facts about lesser known aspects of our literature. The big books, the big authors and the big success stories in Guyanese Literature are also featured. • Coming soon: Hall of Fame for the Literary Arts.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

‘West-Side’ Santa spreads Christmas cheer --at Aracari Resort’s ‘give-back’ party

By Alex Wayne THE Aracari Resort at Versailles, West Bank Demerara came alive with festive jubilation on Boxing Day as scores of young children, accompanied by their mothers, converged at the venue to meet and greet the West Side Santa. They were all treated to free gifts and refreshments delivered with loving attention and courteous service by the many pretty Santa Helpers, and families were allowed photo opportunities with Santa. Speaking briefly at the function, Aracari Resort’s Hotel Manager, Naiomi Naglen, said this year’s initiative was actually orchestrated by the CEO, Mr Sase Shewnarain, who was actually the mystery Westside Santa that brought holiday cheer to so many families in the West Demerara District. Naglen added that the event served as a forum to facilitate Aracari Resort’s giving back to its many supporters and well-wishers. He emphasised that families were very appreciative of the thoughtful gesture. While hundreds of children were served exciting bundles of Christmas cheer, a quantity of bagged gifts was also distributed to the inmates of the ‘Save R Children’s Orphanage’. Of course the orphans there were elated for the surprise ‘Christmas gesture’, but folks at the resort expressed great disappointment that the Chico Mascot failed to show up, leaving scores of children disappointed upon learning that they were cheated out of their promised ‘Chico goodies’. According to Aracari Resort’s Sales Representative Kevin Gordon, officials managing the Chico Mascot entity had assured them down to the last minute that they would have been present, thus he has been left bewildered at the mascot’s sudden ‘no show’. Nevertheless, families attending the Aracari occasion all had a splendid time, and left the venue some time after 18:00 hours very satisfied with what they had experienced as they swung

Even the little babies joined in the Christmas fun at the Aracari Resort little gift bags which were Aracari tokens for the festive season. Aracari staff members also received gifts for their hard work throughout the year, and the resort will again be abuzz

with celebration as staff members congregate for their annual staff party, customarily held at the beautiful Poolside Auditorium.

The West Side children certainly had fun at the Aracari Resort Christmas occasion Mothers were certainly not going to deprive themselves of partaking in the festivity.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

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

Medical Department keeping close watch on vampire bats situation in North West

(Daily Argosy: July 27, 1960)

THE Medical Department is keeping a close watch on the reported outbreak of paralytic rabies caused by vampire bats, which has so far taken the lives of three children, with the death of a fourth suspected in the Aruka area in the North West District. The first threat of the disease for this year occurred in May, when an adult in the North West died under conditions which pointed to (although not verified) infection by vampire bat bite. Since this occurrence, two children from the Aruka area died at the Georgetown Hospital from paralytic rabies. About eleven days ago, another child from the North West was brought to the City, and succumbed through the bites of vampire bats. The Medical Department, a spokesman said yesterday, had already taken steps to combat the outbreak of the disease, and serum and vaccine have been provided by the Department for treatment in the North West. Residents of Aruka have been alerted by medical officials to avoid being bitten by bats of any type. In 1953, there was an outbreak of Paralytic Rabies in the Kurupung Creek. Last year, Mr. Greenhall, attached to the Ministry of Agriculture in Trinidad, visited B.G. and carried out a survey of the bat population in various parts of the country. As a result of Mr. Greenhall’s visit, two young Guianese were sent to Trinidad during the early part of this year to undergo training in the identification and destruction of bats.

First shipment of manganese off

West Berbice policemen receive awards

(The Daily Argosy: January 10, 1960)

(Daily Argosy: August 11, 1960) THE first ship to carry manganese ore left Port Kaituma on August 5 with cargo of more than 2,000 tons. The vessel, the “M.V. Ambrosio”, navigated the Kaituma River and the canal leading to Port Kaituma without difficulty. Ore was loaded overnight, at the rate of 400 tons per hour. The “M.V. Ambrosio” will be carrying ore to the Chaguaramas stockpile in Trinidad, from which larger quantities will be drawn off, from time to time, for ocean-going vessels.

Your Mattress? (Daily Argosy: September 1, 1960) A NEW, striped, bluegreen mattress was found in front of the gate of Mrs. Cuff’s residence at 217 Lamaha Street. Apparently, the mattress was dropped there by a cartman. The owner is invited to call at Mrs. Cuff’s residence.

Grave robbers steal a skull

(Guyana Graphic: September 4, 1960)

RUIMVELD Police were yesterday searching for ghouls who dug up a three- year-old grave at Le Repentir Cemetery within the past 48 hours, and stole a skull from it. The policemen were called out around 9:25am yesterday, ten minutes after Cemetery Ranger, Mohamed Ali, and Special Constable, Samuel Peters had discovered the freshly opened grave in the allotment consigned to Muslim burials in the eastern section of Le Repentir . After a search by a Municipal gravedigger, the head of a skeleton was discovered missing. On the headboard, which had been removed from the grave, was written, “M.A Jabbar Khan, died on July 21, 1965, at the age of 59”. A short distance from the open grave were some shovels and spades, which the grave digger said had been stolen from a shed in the cemetery since Friday last.

We have rocks 2.5 billion years old, says booklet (Guyana Graphic: September 6, 1968) A NEW booklet, written by former expatriate staff members of the Geological Surveys Department, has disclosed that radiometric tests in the Barama-Mazaruni area show that some of the rocks there are over 2,500 million years old. Others in the Roraima area, believed to be the source of riverbed deposits and diamonds, have been dated as originating 2000 million years ago, before the period when the sea invaded Guyana, and reached as far as the foot of the Pakaraimas. These disclosures are contained in the booklet, ”The folded Precambrian of northern Guyana related to the Guiana Shield”, written by Dr. E. Williams, Dr. R.T. Cannon, and Dr. R.B. McConnell, who were formerly attached to the Geological Survey Department, but are now in various parts of the world. The booklet, which contains a series of geological studies, and was recently published, is available at the Ministry of Information, which said that it was written as a

follow-up to the Provisional Geological Map, published in 1962. The Ministry said that it was intended to set out the facts on which the authors based their conclusions concerning their interpretations of the Guiana Shield area. (Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell-phone # 657 2043)

SGT. 4441 James Robertson, Detective Cpl. 5184 Carlton Augustus, and Detective Constable 5289 James Allen of Fort Wellington Police Station, Western Berbice, at Police Headquarters, New Amsterdam, on Wednesday afternoon received commendation and monetary awards, presented by Senior Supt. James Phoenix, Officer in Charge of “B” Division of the Police Force, on behalf of the former Commissioner of Police, Mr. D. Matheson. It was stated in the citation by the Commissioner that the awards were granted for commendable action during the investigation of a murder. The case referred to was that of Joseph Williams (39) of Rosignol Village, West Berbice, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Marie Williams, of Rosignol on April 5, 1958. He was found guilty at the Criminal Sessions on June 24, 1959, and sentenced to be hanged by His Lordship, Justice Phillips.

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

Convicted rapist freed by judge’s misdirection --Unsworn child allowed to corroborate sworn evidence

CONVICTED burglar and rapist, Boodram Lall, who, in 1967, was found guilty on the unsworn evidence of a child that corroborated sworn testimony of the mother, appealed and was freed by the Guyana Court of Appeal. That court constituted by Chancellor Kenneth Stoby and Justices of Appeal P. A. Cummings and Victor Crane, found that the trial judge had erroneously told the jury at the trial that the child’s unsworn testimony was capable of corroborating the mother ’s evidence. As a result, the appeal was allowed and the convictions and sentences were quashed. The facts of the case disclosed that the appellant was indicted on two counts, firstly, for ‘burglary with intent to commit rape’ on K. , the mother of K.R. , a nine year old girl. The trial judge questioned the child and recorded the opinion that she was of sufficient competent understanding to give evidence but he did not permit her to be sworn as he did not think she understood the nature of an oath and, as a result she gave unsworn evidence. Her testimony , If admissible and if believed , afforded strong corroboration of her mother’s evidence. The jury were directed that the rule of practice was to look for corroboration of the mother’s evidence. Quite properly he told them that they could

convict on the uncorroborated evidenced of the mother but he also told them over and over again that K. R.’s unsworn evidence corroborated the mother’s testimony. That court held (i) the unsworn evidence of a child could not be used to corroborate the sworn testimony of another person; (ii) the directions were of such a nature that it was impossible to say whether the jury relied for their verdict of “Guilty” on the uncorroborated evidence of the mother alone coupled with the warning that they were entitled to do, or, on the evidence of the child as corroborative of the mother’s testimony. That court which allowed the appeal – quashing the convictions and sentences – had made reference to nine cases. Queen’s Counsel Mr. J. O. F. Haynes had represented the appellant while Mr. N.A. Graham, Senior Crown Counsel appeared for the respondent. Delivering the judgment of the Court, Chancellor Stoby said that the Jury trial took place in April,1967 at the Demerara Assizes. After a trial which lasted 2 days the accused was convicted on both counts and sentenced to concurrent terms of imprisonment of seven years. According to him, at the trial, a nine-year-old-girl, K.R. was called by the Crown, as a witness.

The judge questioned the child and at the conclusion of the questioning recorded that in his opinion she was of sufficient competent understanding to give evidence. The judge did not permit her to be sworn as he did not think she understood the nature of the oath, and in the result she gave unsworn evidence . Her evidence if admissible, and if believed , afforded strong corroboration of her mother’s evidence. The main ground of appeal, said the Chancellor, is whether the trial judge was correct in directing the jury that the unsworn evidence of a child could corroborate sworn evidence. The Chancellor explained, “The manner in which the law developed to permit the unsworn testimony of witnesses is not without interest. In early times all evidence had to be given on oath and on the Gospel; no one but a Christian could testify. Competency to testify depended upon acceptance of the witness’ belief in the Gospel . Non-Christians and children of tender years were deemed to be ignorant of the nature and obligations of an oath, they were not allowed to be sworn and so could not testify; Such was the state of the law until the celebrated case of Omychand v. Barker, (1744) 1 Atk 22 in which the depositions of Indian witnesses of the

Gentoo religion taken by Order of Court according to the local ceremonies on commissions in the East Indies were admitted and read in evidence after being objected to. In the report of this case at page 29, LORD CHIEF JUSTICE LEE remarked that it was determined at the Old Bailey upon mature consideration, that a child should not be admitted to give evidence without oath; and LORD CHIEF BARON PARKER in the same case said that it was so ruled at Kingston Assizes before LORD RAYMOND, where, upon an indictment for rape, he refused the evidence of a child without oath . The old cases of R. v. Powell (1775) 1 Leach 110 and R. v. Braster, (1779) 1 Leach 199, both emphasize the

fact that though there was no precise or fixed rule as to the time within which infants are excluded from giving evidence, the testimony of an infant was not receivable under any circumstance except under oath. After reviewing a number of cases, and perusing the directions of the trial judge, the Chancellor declared, “It is impossible for us to say which of these two alternative situations the jury accepted - whether they relied for their verdict of “Guilty” on the uncorroborated evidence alone coupled with the warning as they were entitled to do, or on the evidence of the child as corroborative of the mother’s. Indeed, the jury having been told that it would be dangerous for them to act on the uncorroborative evidence of K. alone may very well, it is contemplated, have heeded the judge’s warning and convicted

VII

By George Barclay with the help of the evidence of the child which was repeatedly suggested to them as being capable of corroborating the mother’s. “It seems to us that the likelihood of a verdict of “Guilty” returned in such circumstances without the proviso (14) being explained to them is unsafe, and founded as it is on a non-direction which amounted to a misdirection in law ought to be set aside in the interests of justice. “The appeal is allowed and convictions and sentences quashed”. Justices of Appeal Cummings and Crane concurred.

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

:A double blast of entertainment firestorm

ONE can only imagine the wonders that occur in the cosmic realm when two dynamic forces come together. And when two superbly talented Guyanese musicians fused their vocal talents and entertainment finesse to form the inimitable ‘X2’, the results were inevitably astounding, much to the delight of their adoring fanbase, which has since been experiencing exponential growth. When Adrian Dutchin and Jomo Primo came together as one under the name ‘X2’, Guyanese witnessed the dawn of riveting Guyanese music, with a refreshing new style and charisma. People often ask, “Why the name X2?” Simply put, “Times Two” is twice everything! And Adrian Dutchin and Jumo Primo bring new meaning to the phrase, “What you see is what you get”. Both performers come from a school that says the ladies come first, and their focus is on pleasing their thronging hordes of members of the ‘fairer sex’. Adrian, born September 4, 1981, and Jumo, born July 25, 1976, came together through being signed to Kross Kolor Records in an association that has borne fruit in extraordinary ways. Adrian started out as one of the lead singers of the now defunct R&B group, ‘Seven’, and was instrumental in giving the group its unique sound, which he has successfully managed to maintain and embody as a solo performer. Jumo garnered his skills from being a member of several bands, both locally and in the Caribbean. His most notable signing was with the Jamaican powerhouse band, ‘Byron Lee and the Dragonaires’, now called ‘Byronlee’s Dragonaires’, with which he toured more than thirty countries per year. Adrian has collaborated with performers such as ‘Osca B’ and Roger George of ‘Xtatic’, and both artistes have worked closely with producer, Burchmore Simon and arranger Mark Walcott, both of the Riddim-a-ton Krew attached to Kross Kolor Records. Jumo’s hobbies are: Riding fast bikes and meeting people. He, like Adrian, is an accomplished songwriter, and both have written all the songs on their first albums, “Storm” and “No Limits” respectively. Adrian enjoys writing, reading and listening to music. The duo’s first single, ‘Krazy’, took the Guyanese public by storm. The first public performance of the song got a standing ovation at the National Sports Hall, here in Guyana, and left the audience calling for more. The video for the song was directed by longstanding video producer,

X2 entertainers, Adrian Dutchin and Jumo Primo Bonny Alves. On Saturday, October 9, 2004, Guyana enjoyed the first syndicated launch of a music video on seven television channels, and the response was overwhelming. In May, 2006, ‘X2’ had its biggest performance at the Crystal Palace Stadium in England, when Guyana celebrated its 40th Independence anniversary, and X2 performed for over 10,000 fans. The duo has had a number of hits in Suriname, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, Barbados, the Cayman Islands and Antigua. Their music is played extensively in the USA, Barbados, England, Suriname, and throughout Latin America. ‘X2’ has an extremely large fanbase in the Guyanese Diaspora in the Caribbean and further afield. The pair has performed in Barbados, the USA, Canada, England, St. Lucia, and Antigua. Adrian had performed with the Krossfyah band for two years; and for Crop Over 2007, under Krossfyah, he released the single entitled, ‘Impossible’, which received rave reviews across the Caribbean and in North America. Adrian has been a nominee for the Best New Soca Artiste at the 2007 soca music awards. ‘X2’, Adrian and Jumo won a total of six awards at the first ever Guyana Music Awards held in November 2008. Their awards include Song of the Year, Artiste of the Year, and Best Soca Single of the Year for the song ‘Tick Tack’. They both have a soft side for Soca, but possess tremendous potential in other areas of music. The duo released its first album, ‘Krossroads’, in 2009. It features songs of the crossover genre, and shows how versatile the duo can be. Together, these young men are an irresistible force to be reckoned with. Individually, Jumo is the reigning Groovy and Carib Soca king of Guyana (2010-2011 and 20122013), and Adrian is the current reigning Road March king – a title he has won six times, and has also won the Carib Soca Monarch competition three times, taking the 2nd runner-up position in 2012. Adrian and Jumo are a rare find for Kross Kolor Records, and both of these young men display the right attitude to enable registration of an indelible mark in the annals of entertainment, not only in Guyana, but worldwide. For this duo, the sky is inevitably the limit.

E092 gets major facelift

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

THE HJ team is expanding E092, with the addition of two cast members. E092 is the only local show that provides the latest scoop in entertainment, fashion and celebrity updates presented in a chic, cool style. One year ago, HJTV’s most exciting entertainment television show saw major changes when popular News Presenter Christine Gooding, known by most as “Chrissy”, was made the face of E092. Not only was a new hostess introduced, but the entire production was transformed with a fresh set and a new camera crew, plus an innovative Producer was brought to the team. Apart from all these major factors, which made the show a success over the past year, E092 had, for the first time, a glam squad that kept Chrissy’s look up-to-date with the most recent fashion trends and celebrity looks and make-up always on point. Now, one year later, E092 will once again undergo some changes, with popular dancer out of the Classique group, Leslyn Fraser, joining the cast, as well as a young brunette character who would be referred to only as “Misty”. These new additions will create a panel which will pass opinions on stories presented by Hostess Chrissy. Together, they will partake in group discussions, interactive games and reviews. Viewers will also benefit from monthly giveaways through creative methods that will be integrated into the show. E092 will be premiered every Monday, and will be rebroadcasted throughout the week. Look out for the new and improved E092 starting December 23, 2013!

Green tips for 2014 IN A flash, the year 2013 has come to an end. As the New Year approaches, it is customary for us to begin thinking about ways in which we can become better individuals. To be successful in 2014, endeavour to keep things simple instead of making huge, unrealistic resolutions. Here are some simple actions we can adopt that will make us better individuals, while protecting the environment. 1. Reduce and Reuse • Make a list before you go shopping so that you will always buy exactly what you need and nothing more. This helps to reduce waste. • Virtually every week we all have items that we get rid of that can be used again for a different purpose. Seeing that solid waste

Tessanne to start recording in early 2014 THE Voice season-five winner, Jamaican songbird Tessanne Chin, says she will begin recording with Universal Music group in early 2014. Speaking with reporters at the Jamaica Observer’s Beechwood Avenue headquarters on Monday morning, Tessanne said recording should begin in January or February next year, depending on the decisions of the record label. Tessanne says she wants her album to be different from what she has done in the past, adding however that it will have a reggae vibe, because that is who she is. “My first album will most likely take a different direction, but it will have a reggae feel; that is who I am,” she said. She also hopes to bring the producers of Universal Music to Jamaica. “I would love for them to come down and experience GeeJam recording studios; that would be awesome,” the songstress said. Tessanne walked away with US $100,000 and a Universal recording contract upon winning the coveted “The Voice” title on Tuesday, December 17.

management is a critical issue, seek out ways and means by which you can reuse some of your trash, especially items such as plastic bottles, plastic bags and cardboard boxes. The internet is a wonderful resource that can be used to generate ideas on how to reuse items that are thrown away every day. • Every time you go shopping, whether it’s to the neighbourhood grocery shop, the market or supermarket, carry your own bag. Plastics take a very long to break down in the environment, and when disposed of in an improper way, causes a lot of damage, especially to animals, so the less of these that we use, the better it is for the environment. • Take your own lunch to work/school in a reusable container. 2. Adopt an active lifestyle Instead of using the minibus or driving, ride or walk to travel short distances. Not only are you keeping fit, but you contribute to less carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere. 3. Buy Local When going to the market or supermarket, look for products that were produced right here in Guyana. While this is easy for vegetables, there are also other products such as peanut butter, jams and jellies, seasonings and beverages that are produced locally. Buying local helps to reduce the carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere since foreign products have to be shipped from across the world to get here. Also, local produce is usually fresher, having fewer chemicals meaning that they are healthier to use. We at the EPA extend best wishes to all our readers for a productive and rewarding 2014 as we all strive together for a clean and healthy Guyana. HAPPY NEW YEAR! You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

Give your trash a--burning decent burial it might just raise hell By Clifford Stanley IN their quest to have a clean and green environment, householders should know that they must NEVER ever burn waste. Apart from recycling, there are two safe ways; and only two safe ways: To dispose of solid waste, bury it, or have it taken to the landfill. Don’t ever burn waste, especially the modern-day waste. This is the very conscientious advice of Mr. Rufus Lewis, a local Waste Management (WM) expert attached to the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill (HBSL). Mr. Lewis is the Recycling Manager at the HBSL, and he is attached to the Contractor, B.K. International Inc. Backyard burning refers to the burning of household trash by residents on their own property. Trash typically burned can include paper, cardboard, food scraps, plastics that would otherwise be recycled or sent to a landfill. S o , l o c a l l y, b a c k y a r d burning of waste is common in many areas of the country. People do it for various reasons: either because it is easier than hauling it to the local disposal site, or because there may be no disposal site nearby. In rural areas, it is in most cases the only way that people can get rid of their waste. Burning usually occurs in a barrel or open pit. But air emissions from backyard

burning are released directly into the atmosphere without being treated or filtered. Mr. Lewis says current research indicates that backyard burning is far more harmful to people’s health than had previously been thought. He said most people who do backyard burning of waste, such as tins and Styrofoam and plastics, do not realize how harmful this practice is to their health and to the environment, particularly plants. “It has been scientifically proven that burning modern day waste, or backyard burning, is a major health hazard. It can increase the risk of heart disease; aggravate respiratory ailments such as asthma and emphysema; and cause rashes, nausea, or headaches,” he said during a recent interview. Backyard burning also generates gases which can cause cancer, he said. “Backyard burning produces harmful quantities of dioxins, a group of highly toxic chemicals that settle on crops and waterways, where they can eventually wind up in food and affect people’s health,” he said. He disclosed that, typically, dioxins do not exist in materials before they are incinerated, but are produced when waste is burned. Significantly higher levels of dioxins are created by burning trash in burn barrels. This is so because household burn barrels receive limited oxygen, and thus burn at fairly low temperatures, producing not only dioxins, but a great deal of smoke and other pollutants. Backyard burning of modern day waste in the open air is particularly dangerous, because it releases pollutants at ground level, where they are more readily inhaled or incorporated into the food chain. (To be continued)

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How to make and keep your New Year’s resolutions

By Michelle Gonsalves

AT THE start of each year, the ancient Babylonians made promises to their gods that they would return borrowed objects, and pay their debts. In today’s world, at midnight services and parties worldwide, people still prepare for the year ahead by praying and making resolutions. But why do people make New Year’s resolutions? To begin with, resolutions can serve as a personal roadmap for the next 12 months. Religious traditions also parallel these resolutions. For example, during Judaism’s New Year, Rosh Hashanah, culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), persons reflect upon their wrongdoings over the year, and both seek and offer forgiveness. People may do similarly during the Catholic fasting period of Lent. In fact, the practise of New Year’s resolutions partially came from the Lenten sacrifices. The concept, then, is to reflect upon self-improvement annually, regardless of creed. The nature of New Year’s resolutions has changed over the last decades, with many resolutions being more superficial and appearance-oriented than had obtained in previous times. As Wikipedia, the Online encyclopaedia states: “At the end of the 19th Century, a typical teenage girl’s New Year’s resolution was focused on good works: She resolved to become less self-centred, more helpful, a more diligent worker, and to improve her internal character. Body image, health, diet, and desired possessions were rarely mentioned. “At the end of the 20th Century, the typical teenage girl’s resolution is focused on good looks: She wants to improve her body, hairstyle, makeup, and clothing.” But why are New Year’s resolutions so easy to break? One-third of us who make New Year’s resolutions break them by the end of January. And only 23 per cent of everyone who makes a resolution will see it through to completion, says the statistics on howstuffworks.com. Are you part of the 77 per cent who make resolutions, only to find you’ve given up before you ever really got started? Let’s break down how that happens: One of the most common reasons we break our New Year’s resolutions is that we get a little overzealous when we make them, and we over-commit. And as a result, 40 per cent of us blame our busy schedules for our lack of follow-through. It’s easier to keep just one resolution, rather than several. Another part of the problem is that we often make the wrong resolution (s). The key to successful goal-making is not to be hasty when you do it. Make resolutions you’ve thought through, and are willing to dedicate your time and energy to fulfilling. Don’t make a resolution on the spot after too many drinks at a New Year’s party. If you’re not 100 per cent committed to your goal, **the odds of staying motivated are not in your favour. It can be difficult to stay motivated even when you’ve chosen one well-reasoned goal. Many of us lack motivation and accountability, despite our best intentions. Remove an easy way out by sharing your plans with friends and family members; the more people who know your goal, the less likely you’ll talk yourself out of sticking with your new habits. Sharing your goals with those close to you

not only adds accountability -- which many of us need to motivate ourselves -- but it also gives you a support system. Tips for keeping New See page XX

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Don’t spend your hardearned money on ‘knockoffs’

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013

--Spot the fakes and avoid them like the plague

By Michelle Gonsalves MY companion and I exchanged horrified glances recently as we walked into a popular Water Street store in Georgetown and discovered a sports sneaker we had purchased for Gy$12,000 (US$60) at a store on the West Side being sold for Gy$32,500 (US$162.50) at that store. It was identical in appearance, down to the somewhat roughly-glued soles. In a market that is flooded with knockoffs (both locally and internationally), how can consumers effectively protect themselves? Granted, there is no sure way; as Murphy, another good friend, says: “There are good fakes and there are bad fakes.” With Online shopping growing in popularity among the young urban Guyanese, it’s easy to get cheated on Online sites. They have professional sounding names, and pictures that look like the real thing (those photos may even violate Copyright rules). And they price merchandise so it looks like they’re discounting the real thing, rather than overcharging for a counterfeit product. And though you might want to believe that something fell off a truck, or went out the back door of the factory at night, those instances are rare. Don’t be fooled by the presence of a hang-tag, either; anyone who can counterfeit a handbag can fake that, too. As with any Online vendor, you’ll want to consider how long they’ve been in business; how many previous customers there are; and you’d be suspicious if the seller has plenty of stock in an item that’s sold-out everywhere else. If a fake is good, it can be hard for even the manufacturing company to distinguish it from the real thing, though there are covert and overt ways of doing that. For example, the number of stitches per inch in a seam may be a trade secret; and with items like Coach Bags that have serial numbers, they can easily tell if it’s for real. What’s the consumer to do? Train your eye to spot a counterfeit by looking at the real thing in person at a reputable boutique or an authorized dealer. How to spot a fake handbag CHECK THE MATERIAL: Feel the quality of the leather. A designer bag will always be made of good quality leather. It will be fine, soft to the touch, and have a distinct smell. Over-processed leather is often shiny, hard and stiff. CHECK THE WORKMANSHIP: The stitching should be perfectly even, with no loose threads or back-and-forth stitching at the end of a seam -– that’s a sign of sloppy construction. Check the seams for a match -– whether of the quilting on a Chanel bag, or the pattern on a Louis Vuitton. Sloppy, slanted, and uneven stitching is a sign of an item having been poorly made, and therefore a fake bag. Designer bags will always have quality stitching, because it is part of the designer’s reputation to produce a quality item. OBSERVE THE LOGO: The logo on the genuine item will never be printed unevenly, or cut off anywhere. Logos are also placed in many areas on an authentic handbag. Look for them in and out of the purse, on the zipper pulley, even engraved into the metal pieces. Brand names value their logo, and wouldn’t divide the letters in a seam. And where the pattern appears on either side of the seam, it should match precisely. EXAMINE THE LINING: Examine the fabric liner. Not only will the fabric be good, but it will be very carefully placed, so that designs in the fabric will not overlap, or even be sewn into the seams. The liner fabric in designer bags always goes along with the overall design of the bag, and should be neat and aesthetically pleasing. Counterfeiters sometimes work from photographs, which tend to distort colour. So if you have gone to a boutique and seen the colour of your desired item in person, you immediately have an advantage. The colour of the item being sold you should be precisely the same shade as the real thing you had observed; not a close approximation. CHECK THE POCKETS: Here, too, it’s easy for counterfeiters, who are working off photographs rather than copying the real thing, to get it wrong. One journalist writing for Forbes.com has a fake Chanel tote on which copyists omitted the pocket on the back, and a Coach on which they included the back pocket, but added a zipper. MISSPELLINGS: Counterfeiters at times make egregious errors, such as was made when

Fake Air Jordans left and real product at right

Goyard counterfeiters spelt the company’s name, “Gooyar”, on both the printed canvas of the bag and its dust cover. That’s a dead giveaway. EXAMINE THE HARDWARE: Look closely at the hardware of the handbag. It should be heavy, not hollow. If it’s supposed to be imprinted with the designer’s name, make sure that it is. The metal should be a good quality metal, and should somewhat match the colour of the purse. Look closely at the zipper. The zipper pull usually has the logo on it. DEALER AND PRICING: If you must shop Online, don’t go to ANY site that isn’t the actual manufacturer’s site. Know what price to expect, and what price is too good to be true. How to spot a fake shoe Many of the same handbag rules apply to shoes. Examine the real version of the shoe on the official website, and compare it with the shoe in the store. Look carefully at every part of the shoe, including the sole, the colour mix, and the bottom. Feel the sole of each shoe: It should feel like rubber. The soles of fake shoes feel more like plastic, or just slippery. INSIST ON SEEING THE BOX: Reputable brands have distinctive boxes. Do not accept shoes in a plastic bag. Some fakes do appear in shoe boxes; nonetheless, those boxes are typically somewhat flimsy. But an original Nike shoe, for example, comes in a sturdy box that should not fall apart easily. Look for the SKU number on the box to see if it matches the inside label of each shoe. TAKE ALONG A FRIEND: Most people have a friend who is knowledgeable in shopping in at least one area. There is ‘phone guy’, ‘weave girl’, ‘jewellery man’ and so on. So, if you have a friend who is into brand-name shoes, take him or her along. EXAMINE COLOUR CONFIGURATIONS, also referred to as colourways: Websites such as Air-jordan.com give a thorough listing of every last Air Jordan ever released. It can be doable to glimpse up designs and colour combinations, together with other minute particulars of astounding Nike footwear, and examine the one you desire to buy with those particulars put up by the Nike Company. OBSERVE THE STITCHING: Artificial boots (like the Nike Airmax we bought) can have sloppy stitching or glue work, and stitching that may well be uneven or just not straight. Genuine Nikes have stitching that is close to perfect, if not excellent. SEARCH FOR BLEEDING OR FADED COLOURS: The boots we bought also had a slight dab of extra paint near the sole of one sneaker, like someone painting their nails and missing with the brush. Material hues to the shoe could also appear faded on fakes. A dependable shoe won’t have faded or bleeding hues. WEARABILITY: If it starts to show undue stress after gentle wear, you know you bought a fake! You may not get a refund in Guyana, but you may hopefully report it, and make your voice heard. Do not spend your hard-earned money on fake products. Happy shopping for the perfect shoes, sneakers and bags for the New Year!

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The tradition of celebrating New Year’s Day

By Michelle Gonsalves “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” is the greeting that will be said and heard for at least the first couple of weeks as a new year gets underway. New Year’s Day is the oldest of all holidays, but the day celebrated was not always January 1. The celebration of the New Year was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. The Babylonian New Year began with the first visible crescent after the first day of spring. January 1 has neither astronomical nor agricultural significance, and is purely arbitrary. The beginning of spring, however, is a logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, of planting new crops, and of blossoming. Babylonian New Year celebration lasted eleven days, and each day had its own particular mode of celebration; so, it is safe to say that modern New Year’s Eve festivities pale in comparison to Babylonian New Year celebrations. The Romans continued to observe the New Year in late March, but their calendar was continually altered by various emperors, so that the calendar soon became out of ‘sync’ with the sun. In order to set the calendar right, the Roman Senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. But changes continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar, which again established January 1 as the beginning of the New Year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.

The Church’s view of New Year’s celebrations Although in the first century AD, the Romans continued celebrating the New Year, the early Catholic Church condemned the festivities as paganism. But as Christianity became more widespread, the early Church began having its own religious observances concurrently with many of the pagan celebrations, and New Year’s Day was no different. New Year’s is still observed as the Feast of Christ’s Circumcision by some denominations. During the Middle Ages, the Church remained opposed to celebrating New Year’s. January 1 has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for only about the past 400 years. New Year Traditions The early Babylonians’ most popular resolution was to return borrowed farm equipment. Popular modern resolutions might include the promise to lose weight or quit smoking. The ‘baby’ The tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was begun in Greece at around 600 BC. It was their tradition at that time to celebrate their god of wine, Dionysus, by parading a baby in a basket, representing the annual rebirth of that god as the spirit of fertility. Early Egyptians also used a baby as a symbol of rebirth.

Although the early Christians denounced the practise as pagan, the popularity of the baby as a symbol of rebirth forced the Church to re-evaluate its position. The Church finally allowed its members to celebrate the New Year with a baby, which was to symbolize the birth of the Baby Jesus. The use of an image of a baby with a New Year’s banner as a symbolic representation of the New Year was brought to early America by the Germans. They had used the effigy since the 14th Century. For luck in the New Year Traditionally, it was thought that one could affect the luck one would have throughout the coming year by what one did or ate on the first day of the year. For that reason, it has become common for folks to celebrate the first few minutes of a brand new year in the company of family and friends. Parties often last into the morning, after the ringing in of a new year. It was once believed that the first visitor on New Year’s Day would bring either good or bad luck for the rest of the year. It was particularly lucky if that visitor happened to be a tall, darkhaired man. Traditional New Year foods are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle”, completing a year’s cycle. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating doughnuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the New Year by consuming black-eyed peas. In Guyana, we consume “cook-up” , a dish made of rice; meat; coconut milk; and black-eyed peas, red-peas or split peas. Toasting One of the most venerable New Year’s traditions is the champagne toast at midnight to ring in the New Year. Toasting can be traced back to the ancient Romans and Greeks, who would pour from a common pitcher wine to be shared among those attending a religious function. The host would drink first, to assure his guests that the wine was not poisoned. Poisoning the wine was a fairly common practise in ancient times, and it

was designed to do away with one’s enemies. In those days, the wine was not as refined as it is today; so a square of burned bread (toast) would be floated in the wine bowl, and then eaten by the last person to drink. The bread was put there to absorb the extra acidity of the wine in order to make it more palatable. Eventually, the act of drinking in unison came to be called a toast, from the act of “toasting” or putting toast into the wine. Auld Lang Syne The song, “Auld Lang Syne”, is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world. The intent is to bring in the New Year. At least partially written by Robert Burns in the 1700s, it was first published in 1796 after Burns’s death. Early variations of the song were sung prior to 1700, and inspired Burns to produce the modern rendition. An old Scottish tune, “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “Old Long Ago,” or simply, “The Good Old Days.” Source: http://wilstar.com/holidays/newyear.htm

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How to make ... From page XV

Year’s resolutions: 1. Be specific: Vague goals won’t work, so map out your strategy before the New Year arrives. For example, if you want to lose weight, target a precise number of pounds to shed, and then set concrete mini-goals and the dates on which you aim to accomplish each of them. Want to save money? Determine the amount you will put aside each month, and identify explicit changes in behaviour that you’ll make to get there. 2. Make your goal public: Share your decision to change with friends and family, who can offer support when you’re wavering, and encouragement when you’re doing well at sticking to your resolution. 3. Substitute good behaviours for “bad behaviours”: Build in a healthy behaviour that’s incompatible with the one you want to change. So, if eating your usual midafternoon treat runs contrary to your goal of dropping a few pounds, put together a small like-minded group, and commit to taking a quick, brisk walk at your normal snack time. Each time you put the brakes on “bad” behaviour, you’ll increase your confidence in your ability to make the change. 4. Track your progress: Record or chart your changed behaviour. Popular goals: Popular goals include resolutions to: (a) Improve physical well-being: Eat healthy food, lose weight, exercise more, eat better, drink less alcohol, quit smoking, stop biting nails, get rid of old bad habits. (b) Improve mental wellbeing: Think positive, laugh more often, enjoy life. (c) Improve finances: Get out of debt, save money, make small investments. (d) Improve your career: Perform better at current job; get a better job; establish your own business. (e) Improve your education: Improve grades, get a better education, learn something new (such as a foreign language or music), study often, read more books, improve talents. (f) Improve yourself: Become more organized, reduce stress, be less grumpy, manage time, be more independent, perhaps watch less television, play fewer sitting-down video games. (g) Take a trip. (h) Volunteer to help others: Practise life skills, use civic virtue, give to charity, volunteer to work part-time in a charity organization (NGO) (i) Get along better with people: Improve social skills, enhance social intelligence (j) Make new friends. (k) Spend quality time with family members. (l) Settle down: Get engaged/get married, have kids. (m) Try foreign foods; discover new cultures. (n) Pray more, get closer to God, be more spiritual. Yes, New Year’s resolutions are all about hopefulness. And it’s always been that way. Sources: www.realsimple.htm, www.time.htm, www. howstuffworks.com, www.worldofpsychology.htm

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A r i e s A certain higher-up has been on your case pretty hard lately, so you’ve been toeing the line, doing everything just right, and forcing yourself to even work a bit of overtime. Without even being asked. Basically, you’ve been very, very good -- and now it’s time to relax. Yes, relax. Even you need some downtime. Give yourself a break tonight. Chill out.

Taurus It doesn’t matter who delivers the offer or how reputable they seem to be. You still need to remember one thing: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. That goes double, especially if your antennae are twitching, which they probably are. Don’t ignore your instincts. When in doubt, ask for help. ‘Buyer beware’ isn’t just a funny old saying, you know.

G e m i ni This is the perfect astrological weather for being you. And you know just how to celebrate, don’t you? Throw an impromptu gathering of chatty, interesting friends. Okay, so maybe it’s a school night. So what? When was anyone ever capable of saying no to you? Especially when you’re offering up the chance to try something, new different and exciting -- which, of course, is always what an evening with you turns out to involve. C a n c e r The stars are in charge of your emotions right now, and they’re currently persuading you to hibernate. So it won’t be surprising to find you in the mood for nothing more than staying in. Fine -- but no one says you have to do it alone. You can invite someone equally home-loving but still interesting, to join you for a terrific dinner and one of those yummy desserts.

L e o In the mood for some last-minute change? Well, when aren’t you? Your fiery, impulsive personality makes an eleventh-hour turnaround the most irresistible thing on the planet. Just try not to sound too excited about it when you call off your current plans. Remember, whomever you’re cancelling with is bound to be disappointed. If you’re feeling generous, you might also mention a rain check. It’s only fair.

Virgo You can already feel the change starting. The stars are getting antsy, and the pace of your life has picked up considerably -- and there’s no end in sight. Fortunately, it’s exactly the kind of change you’ve been hoping for, and you’re ready to throw a huge fete to celebrate it. You may feel guilty if you stay up too late tonight, but go ahead and risk it.

Libra Suddenly in the mood to see a distant shore or faraway lands? Not having any luck finding someone who’s brave enough just to drop everything and go along with you? Then go alone. You know you won’t have any trouble finding appropriate company once you get there. When was the last time you ever sat by yourself, no matter where you were? See? Be brave. You certainly won’t be lonely.

Scorpio If you’re having financial problems, there may be one solution you hadn’t yet thought of yet. What about consulting with a family member? At least one person is out there you’ve bailed out in the past. Why not give them a call now? Every now and then, even tough, resilient, independent types like yourself get to ask for help. Think of this as simply your turn, and take it!

Sagittarius You’ve never been short on creativity, have you? Or been shy about bringing up a new idea? You’ll be even bolder about it now. The good news is that what you come up with over the next few days will border on genius. Don’t go anywhere without paper and pencil -- and no matter how outrageous the idea seems, jot it down. You never know. This could be bigger than the Pet Rock.

C a p r i c o r n Ready for the pace of life to change? To pick up considerably? Good, because that’s what’s happening. Don’t worry -- it will be fun, mostly because it’s going to be your doing, and also because you’ve really been itching for a change for a long time. So if a higher-up comes to you with what seems like a totally unexpected schedule shift, think for a second. Weren’t you really begging for this? Aquarius Long-distance friends and lovers will be on your mind and in your heart, and you may even be moved to get dressed and hit the road. That goes double if you have something to celebrate! Just don’t forget that someone or perhaps even a couple of someones would like to join you. Call them, make some plans and get ready to party.

PiecesYou’re in the mood to sit and talk, to break bread with dear ones and have some serious fun. That’s a good thing, because they’ll be in a similar frame of mind. It might also be time to let a certain secret slide, especially if you know it’s the best thing to do. Don’t worry. Every now and then, it’s absolutely necessary to clear the air. This is one of those times.

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English

Chronicle Pepperpot December 29, 2013 Happy Birthday to Karlo Jamaludeen of Line Path, Skeldon who turns 56 tomorrow. These greetings are coming from his parents, Mr and Mrs Jimmy Jamaludeen ; brothers (Nizamudeen of St Kitts, Dizal of New York, Rayman of Canada, and Hazin of Skeldon); and only sister, Saudia of New York who all join in wishing he lives to celebrate many more birthdays in the years to come.

Many happy returns to Saudia Jamaludeen of New York, who celebrated her birthday on December 11, 2013. Remembering her on this special occasion are her parents, Mr and Mrs Jimmy Jamaludeen , of Skeldon; her brothers (Nizamudeen of St Kitts, Dizal of New York, Rayman of Canada, and Hazin and Karlo of Skeldon) and close friends and neighbours who all join in wishing her Allahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Richest Blessings in the years ahead.

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