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Finding a balance between work and motherhood Passion for nursing

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► Page VI

A double portion of love ► Page

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Administrator of Joshua House, Gladys Accra combs the hair of one of her many children; an act that she happily participates in daily (Samuel Maughn photo)

Gladys Accra and her journey as a ‘mother of many’

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By Gibron Rahim “TO describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colours of a rainbow.”

The words above, as uttered by Maya Angelou, testify to the strength and resilience of women and of mothers. Those qualities are evident in mothers who also have formal careers or run their own businesses. Working mothers ever strive to maintain the delicate balance between profession and motherhood.

Leisa Gibson related to the Pepperpot Magazine that learning to find that balance is essential for mothers. She explained that children are keen observers of their parents’ actions. “Remember [that] they need your Leisa Gibson time just as the job needs your time so you have to balance it,” she said. The mother of two and a cosmetologist with 18 years of experience under her belt, who runs her own salon and now has a line of natural products she manufactures herself, noted she accomplishes balance by putting God first, followed by her family and then her business.

Maintaining balance is not without its challenges. Leisa pointed out that mothers are the last members of the household to go to bed. Completing remaining household chores and ensuring that the home is secure are familiar tasks on a mother’s checklist before retiring for the night. Leisa also recalled that she would take afternoon classes when her children were younger so that she could see her children off to school and complete her household chores. That strategy allowed her to obtain the training that put her on the path to success she is still on today at the same time she was effectively parenting.

STRIKING A BALANCE The love she has for her three children and her job enables Paula Stevens to balance both. The strength she told this publication comes from wanting to give her children a better life than she and her husband had.

She conceded that keeping both in harmony is sometimes a bit challenging. However, Paula noted that she has strived to create an environment where she can be a work-

Paula Stevens (Photo courtesy of Paula Stevens)

ing mother and wife. Having her salon and boutique located at her house allows her to do just that. She explained that she cooks in the morning before going down to the salon while returning upstairs to take care of household chores between attending customers. “I wanted to be home when my children leave for school in the morning when they come home in the afternoon they must see me.”

Like Leisa, Paula acknowledged that maintaining balance is not without its challenges. She related that, though she always wants to be present for her children, sometimes the demands of work mean that she spends extended periods of time downstairs attending customers. And Paula’s work does not end once the salon closes. She still has to complete the remaining household chores and help with homework. “And sometimes when you get upstairs the children are sleeping,” she said. She recalled that her daughter would often do her homework in the salon when she was younger and often fell asleep there.

Cobena Paula ensures that she King (Photo effectively mothers, recourtesy of Cobena King) gardless of how busy she is. “You still need to keep them [well] grounded,” she noted. She ensures that her two eldest children, who both attend university, are home after classes. Though she conceded that sometimes being a working mother gets tiring, Paula declared, “I was fortunate to be home and still provide.” She added, “They’re getting older now so the load is lightening.”

Paula has been able to give her children a better life while also being there for them.

She related that she did not have to worry that her children were left by themselves or with a babysitter. “I could watch them grow,” she said.

IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY Anna Mohase Fox has always wanted a family and for that reason, balancing work and motherhood is very important. “I try my best in terms of getting a balance between my work life and my family life,” the mother of three said. “For me, my children are my greatest achievement.” She explained that it took her seven years before she was able to conceive, almost an impossibility as a result of injuries she had sustained in an accident. “It is my main priority to make sure that my family or my children come first,” Anna affirmed. She added that it was also important to her to show her daughters that a woman can achieve both career and motherhood in her life.

Anna prioritises her time in order to manage both her roles. She explained that she sets aside individual time for each of her children, in addition to family time. They call it “mommy-and-me time” and it allows Anna to nurture each child’s individual personality and interests. Having two jobs, including a career at the Guyana Forestry Commission for the last 14 years, makes managing her time more difficult but Anna has made it a rule to not work more than three extra days per week. “My weekends are always set aside for my children,” she said. “I ensure that I have time for them through time management and making them my main priority.”

Trying to provide her children with stability is Anna’s main challenge. She noted that, while her jobs ensure that her

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Anna Mohase Fox with her daughters (Photo by Robert Henry)

children’s basic needs are always met, her biggest challenge is filling both parental roles. She has been a single parent since losing her husband about three years ago so ensuring a well-rounded family life is one of her priorities. “Of course, they miss that father figure so I fill both roles of mother and father,” Anna related. Additionally, “setting a good example has also been always challenging because we are humans and we falter at times.” She always tries her best to set a quality example so that her children learn to be kind, caring and giving.

Maintaining the balance between work and family, Anna related, has made her a better person. “I’ve been able to view life from multiple perspectives,” she said. “I see my own importance in their growth and development and I try to play my part.” She added, “Personally I think it has shown me that life has more to it than job and career, you can have a fulfilling life on every level and aspect.”

INDEPENDENCE Mother of one, Cobena King, noted that, though it is important to be financially independent, it is also important to maintain a balance between the two roles. She explained that it is vital to give one’s child enough attention in spite of the challenge it may present to a working mother. “It’s your responsibility,” she said. “A job is important but it’s not the biggest responsibility.” She opined that, for her, the child was the greatest responsibility. Cobena related that if she needs to stay at home for a day, or even a week, to take care of her child she would not mind.

Cobena’s son was ill just a few months ago and had to be admitted to the hospital. She and her husband took turns staying in the hospital with him. Since she is self-employed, making her own fruit juices to sell, Cobena was able to explain to her customers and take some days off. “It was more important to me,” the mother said of staying with her child.

Cobena is already noting benefits from putting her son first – a little over two years old and attending playschool her son has already learned a lot due to the time she has spent teaching him. A better life and bright future for her child, and for any child that she can help, is Cobena’s hope.

There is no “right” way to mother. As the mothers above have shown, there are multiple ways to balance work and motherhood and be an amazing mother, as all these women surely are.

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

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A double portion of love Gladys Accra and her journey as a ‘mother of many’

By Shirley Thomas IT’S Mother’s Day and once again the children at Joshua House, Thomas Street, North Cummingsburg, are raising their voices to jointly wish their mothers and the Managing Director of Joshua House, Gladys Accra, a Happy Mother’s Day. Accra, who hails from the Dominican Republic and is married to a Guyanese, apart from being the proud biological mother of five, has over the last 25 years, literally mothered hundreds of Guyanese children with whom she’s developed a close mother/child relationship.

The couple arrived in Guyana in 1992, after spending some time in the Dominican Republic, Italy, Puerto Ricco and other countries.

And while today is Mother’s Day, it is also the 25th Year or Silver Jubilee of Gladys Accra being Aunty Gladys also participates in at the helm of ‘Joshua House’ the doing the children’s laundry facility she has served with distinc- (Samuel Maughn Photos) tion, molding and nurturing children between the ages of four to 18, seeing them me,” Accra said.

Once they had settled in, everything grow to maturity and taking up responsible went well, with herself and husband being positions in society. like mother and father of the home. “The inBut modest as she is, Aunty Gladys, as tention was for us to live like a family. We she is fondly called, does not look to them conditioned them to be open to discussing to bestow her with gifts of flowers. On the any problems they had with us; speak the other hand, she proposes an amazing gift truth and essentially have a relationship that from her to them, and that is: “A double was built on mutual love and respect,” Accra portion of love”, ever conscious of the need said, conceding: “Children do have probfor love as a stabilising force in their lives. lems and we, as a family can help them.”

In fact, as Accra admits, during last year However, she said, it is important that she received one of the most recognised wherever possible the child’s biological gifts she has ever received since being on the job. That gift was the Medal of Service parents visit the institution and establish a award conferred on her for commendable relationship with the administration. The service at Joshua House, presented by none children at the home, Accra says, usually other than His Excellency, President David come through the Ministry of Social Protection’s ‘Child Protection Agency’ so that Granger. the Ministry will easily be able to trace them should the need arise. They are also HOW IT BEGAN Soon after their arrival here, as members assigned Welfare Officers or Case Workers of the ‘Church of the Unification’, Accra from the Ministry who monitor them. assumed responsibility for the care of children at Joshua House. Doing it with passion and fervour she ministered to their spiritual, educational, psycho-social and other basic needs such as the need for food, safety, love, and self–esteem.

“They were asleep when I walked in, and the minute I saw the children my heart went out to them and I thought there must be something I could do for them, so I discussed it with my husband.” Soon after, she was asked to be an administrator of the programme, to which she readily agreed.

At that time the Accras were residing at the high-end Lamaha Gardens, but this new responsibility necessitated a change, their taking up residence at the Thomas Street facility on Thomas Street (though in their own quarters) – which of course her children did not like. “But I had to do as God inspired

POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP In retrospect, the Administrator recalls, it was not very long before her children developed a positive relationship with the children at Joshua House. Her five biological children were very caring and supportive of the orphans. “You should see them. My daughters helped comb their hair and helped them with grooming; helped them with their homework whilst my eldest son would take them swimming. Then some nights my husband would have movie night here on the premises and serve them popcorn and the like. But all in all, there was time for sports and social activities which made them well rounded,” she said.

At the centre, there has never been a dull moment, and while it seems that it was only yesterday, the time has certainly flown.

The administrator cited a few cases of which she was particularly proud: one being a young man who attended and graduated from the University of Guyana, got himself a good job at a media house and soon after became married and is now living a stable life. Another went on to pursue a period of training at the Young Women’s Christian Association, whilst another is now trained and working as a staff at Joshua House itself.

Gladys participates in many motherly duties in overseeing the children

The children have all grown - those in the programme as well as Accra’s children.

“From little children attending St. Margaret’s Primary; St. Agnes Primary and Play Schools, they have moved on; attended the University of Guyana and graduated, making us proud. One is now a medical doctor; another a pharmacist; a theatre nurse; an architect and another still – in the field of Public Communications,” Accra said, with an air of satisfaction.

Likewise, it is always a joy when the children at the centre do well with their school work and move on to get decent jobs, or return to their homes where they can be of help to their parents, she said, noting that they do not live at the centre forever.

LOVING LESSONS Expressing love for the job and having developed a close affinity for the children, Accra said, “At Joshua House, there is never a dull moment.

Being here teaches you to be more patient, to get an open heart and to love more, because the children come from different backgrounds and you have to deal with them individually. I always say to the children, ‘If you have problems come to me and let’s talk. We all are human beings – none is inferior to the other.

Do not curse; do not be abusive. We are a family. Let’s find a solution, not fight’.”

But essentially, it is a rule of thumb that the children should be respectful to staff as well their peers.

In offering a word of advice in relation to parenting, she affirms: “If you need to help a child, you have to be a friend to that child -not hostile. You have to set a limit. There are so many ways to demonstrate values to children,” she said. “At the same time, be aware of any negative examples you might be setting. You have to respect that child and demand that that child respects you. Even though you love that child, a line must be drawn somewhere.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Memories of growing up in a ‘Logie’ – Daughter of indentured labourer talks of the days of old

By Indrawattie Natram LAST week, Guyana observed the 180th Anniversary of the Arrival of Indians, and as this time comes around, more than ever, there remains several Guyanese who can clearly recall the experiences of their fore parents, having lived to hear some of them tell the stories themselves. One such person is 88-yearold Rajkumarie Prashad aka ‘Aunty Baby’ of Perseverance Village on the Essequibo Coast.

‘Aunty Baby’ is one of the oldest women in her village. The Pepperpot Magazine conducted an interview with her and her story was quite interesting as she traced back with vivid memories that her father- who was an immigrant- left with her. ‘Aunty Baby’s’ father Pansham (only name given) was among the thousands of Indians who were brought to Guyana for indentured labour between 1838-1917.

She stated that Pansham came to Guyana with his parents in the early 1900s.

Her father later got married to her mother, Bhagpat, and started his life in Guyana after he opted not to

Rajkumarie Prashad along with her husband Kamta Persaud, and her children when they were young

return to Calcutta, India.

Unveiling her story, she said that she can vividly recall growing up in a Logiea house that accommodates several families and was constructed by the Indians when they came to Guyana.

LIVING IN A ‘LOGIE’ “In those days they call it range houses or Logie.

Different families lived in different compartments.

Everyone had their privacy… [and] the unity and love was there,” ‘Aunty Baby’ related.

She said that for over 16 years she had lived in a Logie and still remembers those golden ages when

no one locked their doors and persons were living in comfort and trust. The only daughter of her parents, ‘Aunty Baby’ said that she enjoyed life long ago much better than in the modern age.

“Growing up in the 40s was peaceful. We enjoyed cooking on we fireside. We [use to] wash we clothes in a trench and after my mother [would] bathe we and then send we home.

The life was so good and children were honouring their parents,” she recalled.

After marrying at the age of 16 on May 10, 1947 to Kamta Prashad, ‘Aunty Baby’ said her life contin-

ued to prosper. She lived 70 years with her husband happily before he passed away in 2016. During her lifetime, she had many different jobs, including manually planting rice, selling vegetables and planting in her own farm.

From rice planting, she began selling at the Bourda, Suddie and Anna Regina markets to fend for her children. During her marriage with the now deceased Kamta, she gave birth to eight children, all of whom are still alive except for one of her sons- a lawyer- who passed away while he was still young.

‘Aunty Baby’ said that although today’s life is much more comfortable because of the many technological advances, she enjoyed the bond families shared in the simpler days.

Rajkumarie Prashad aka ‘Aunty Baby’ of Perseverance Village on the Essequibo Coast reading a poem

“Long ago not only your parents can scold you, but anyone from the village can pull you up whenever you erred and no one get upset. These days you can’t discipline nobody children.

Long ago was strict and loyal days,” ‘Aunty Baby’ further reminisced.

She also recalled the poor infrastructure that she grew up under especially the inability to access potable water and electricity.

Thanking God every day for living to see such a golden age, she related that she continues to keep herself happy with ancient memories. At the age of 88, she spends most of her time reading, writing poems and also singing bhajans (Hin-

Rajkumarie Prashad celebrating her 88th birthday at the Golden Fleece mandir

du religious songs).

Almost every Sunday, she spends her time at the Temple where she engages in congregational worship.

She related that she always keeps God close and although her life has become a lonely one she is occupied with the essence of God. In her spare time, she washes, cooks and tidies her yard. She is a lover of fresh roses and flower plants and has her own flower garden.

Her children, who reside in the United States of America, often encourage her to go live with them, but the country-minded ‘Aunty Baby’ said she love

Guyana. She enjoys the fresh air and the comfort of the green scenery she inherited in her backyard.

The woman visited her daughters and son in the USA in the year 1995 but said she loves her birthland Guyana more than any other country.

She is, however, comforted by the love of her children and her countless grandchildren. When asked what she would attribute to her long life, she said healthy eating and serving God. Her advice to young people is to stay truthful to themselves and to aspire to the righteous life.

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Being a mother

By Wendella Davidson

TODAY, Mother’s Day is a day for all women.

It’s no longer linked to a particular set of values and a particular view of the role of women Mother’s Day should be one of the most important holidays on earth. I cannot think of a more thankless and rewarding job as being a mother.

In today’s world, being a mother can be a real task. Of course, there are all the typical motherly duties like bathing, feeding, nurturing and loving. Most times these attributes come naturally to a mother and she will find great joy in those precious moments A mother typically fulfills the primary role in the raising of children. She is the female parent of her offspring. In humans, a mother goes through a period from conception until the foetus is well-developed to be born. She goes into labour and gives birth to a boy or girl. In a natural progression to lactation, the mother produces milk to feed and bond with the child.

The term ‘mother’ can also refer to a person with the typical traits of a mother, such as nurturing and unselfishly caring for others.

‘Other mothers’ are those women other than the biological parent, who fulfill a nurturing role. An ‘other mother’ may be an adoptive mother or a stepmother. Advances in reproductive technologies allow the function of biological motherhood to be split between the genetic mother, who provides the egg, and the gestational mother, who carries the pregnancy to term. In this situation, neither the genetic nor gestational mother might be the social mother who brings up the child.

A mother will also protect her child with her own life. It is a natural instinct that comes to the fore when a child is threatened in any way. Sometimes a mother doesn’t even know she had such courage in her until it is her baby she is defending. It is remarkable to see a usually mild-mannered woman turn into a roaring lion when her child is in danger.

However, aside from “normal” everyday duties of a mother, there are other very important roles she must play. Rearing a child who is capable of becoming a solid citizen in today’s world means that mothers must sometimes be willing to overcome the prejudices and hate she was taught while growing up.

This is so much more difficult than it sounds. When a woman has been taught her entire life that women are no more than punching bags and house slaves, she is likely to accept that role and teach it to both her sons and her daughters.

This means her daughter will also accept the ridiculous notion that she deserves a beating if she doesn’t have dinner ready when the man gets home. And her son will feel he

somehow has a right to hit “his” woman if she does not have dinner ready for him when he wants it.

Likewise, if a woman is taught to be suspicious of other races or to consider her race to be superior to another, she is likely to teach that same racial hate to her children.

Why is it that in some places of the world those with gender identities other than what is considered status quo – like homosexuals – are embraced and accepted and in other parts of the world they are treated with contempt and even murdered for something they cannot change any more than they can change the eye colour of their eye? It is because of what we are taught as children.

War, violence, animal cruelty, rape and so much more are actually socially acceptable in this modern world! How did the human race become so despicable? How did we reach such low standards? We have created a frightening karmic cycle that has to be stopped and women are the ones who can do it.

It is time for mothers to teach our children a better way of life. It is time to stop all the hate that permeates our world. We have the power to make this happen. We are the ones who teach our children from day one of their lives on earth. We are the ones who build the foundation upon which they will live their lives.

Being a mother is so much more than teaching a child to brush her/his teeth. We teach them to make good decisions, like how to eat right and how important it is to get a good education so they can go as far as possible as adults. We give them the tools they need to be the best possible humans they can be.

Yet with all the nurturing and care we take to raise our children, there are still too many mothers teaching violence (by using violence against the children), teaching racial hate and teaching homophobia.

There are too many mothers teaching our daughters – whether by words or by actions -that they are never good enough and must try to be some unreal and unattainable image from a magazine. Too many daughters are still taught to feel guilty about their natural sex drive while the sons are taught that it is healthy.

As mothers, we must do better. We know deep down that these teachings are wrong.

We know they are counterproductive to the good of humanity. We know firsthand what sexism, racism and violence do to those around us – and to us. The only way we can make it all stop is for us to start teaching our children a better way.

This means we have to be open to change. We have to be ready to reject racial hate in all its forms. We have to be ready to challenge sexism. We have to find better ways of communicating with our children by embracing non-violent communication

methods and these new methods must be implemented in all other relationships in our lives.

There will always be those who choose violence and hatred over a higher road, but those types of people should be very few and should be rejected by right-thinking people who desire a better world. The hateful and violent should not be the majority in our world.

They should be the detestable exceptions.

It will not be easy to make the changes

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that need to be made, first in us and then in our children, but we must do this. For the sake of our children and their children, we must find a way to change the violent course that has been charted for humanity. We do not have to accept this way of life as normal when we know it is actually very, very abnormal.

As you celebrate Mother’s Day today, contemplate on the many ways you can help chart a better way in our world.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Passion for nursing Retired nurse decries change in attitude towards the profession today

By Navendra Seoraj AS people often say, if you do what you love, you would not work a single day in your life and living proof of this is a 76-year-old retired nurse, Jean Souvenir who said, “If there is reincarnation I would want to be a nurse again.”

Although she loves the profession dearly, it was not her first choice. While growing up, Souvenir, like most young females, wanted to be a teacher but during one of her visits to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), she was persuaded to consider being a caregiver.

“In 1960 when school closed off for August I went to the hospital, a nurse there who I knew asked ‘what do you want to do ‘and I said ‘Be a teacher’ but she said I should consider nursing because of how I showed care and concern for babies,” said the retired nurse during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine.

Luckily for her, a batch of nurses was being recruited to train in October of that year so she applied and was accepted to be a part of the batch.

“I live in South Ruimveldt now but back then I used to live on the West Bank of Demerara and

Retired Nurse, Jean Souvenir (Adrian Narine photos)

when I had to go to the interview, I did not know which bus I had to take to reach GPHC but I walked and found out… eventually, I reached and there was a white woman there who interviewed me so I observed all protocols and was accepted,” she said.

The next day, decked in her white uniform which her mother had bought, she left to start her first day as a nurse-in-training.

Years later, the now retired nurse said she does not regret becoming a nurse because her experience in the profession was “incredible”.

Some of those incredible and even trying experiences included working through the riots in the 1960s when the hospital beds would be filled with patients waiting to be attended to.

Although she was afraid of the conditions outside the hospital, Souvenir maintained her focus in the institution and helped to save the lives of many people, some of whom even remember her to this day.

“I wasn’t doing shifts anymore during that time, I was going to save lives. One day we were sitting, thinking that it’s over and all we hear someone say Turn to page VII ►►►

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page VI

‘another one coming’; they brought a man who was out cold but we did all we could and saved his life,” said Souvenir.

Her heroics did not end there. When she was nine months pregnant with her last son, Souvenir was called out by her neighbours around midnight because one of the neighbours was pregnant and practically ready to give birth but her husband was not home.

“The baby’s head was almost out and I just went and I had gloves and everything; although I was struggling with my own pain I managed to keep myself together and told the woman to stay calm and just follow my instructions. Before we knew it the baby was out, crying,” she told the Pepperpot Magazine.

“I put a holler on the husband because he know his wife was due to get baby soon and he out doing taxi work,” Souvenir said, as she laughed and remembered some of her wonderful days in the profession. One week after that incident, Souvenir gave birth to her son as well.

The retired nurse believes that it is a wonderful profession but also decried the behaviour of some young people in the profession today.

CHANGE IN ATTITUDE Souvenir said judging from her observation, some of the young nurses neither respect the profession nor the patients they attend to.

“You have to love nursing because if you do not love it, it’ll just be a job… although some may have their reasons to work for the GPHC and private hospitals at the same time, it is not fair to John Public because when they are tired they’ll

A trip down memory lane to when she was ready to perform her duty as a caregiver

be miserable and not give the patients the attention they deserve,” the retired nurse lamented.

The actions of the nurses today have also resulted in the public losing respect for the profession, she said, noting that in her time they were highly respected.

Even at her age, Souvenir, who is very mobile and capable, said she is ready to share advice with young nurses and even some doctors who request it.

VII “Nursing is a wonderful profession and you are always a nurse even after you retired. If there is reincarnation I would love to be a nurse again it would give me the opportunity to make so many people lives happy,” she said.

Her advice to persons who want to be nurses was to be sure that they actually want to be in the profession because if the love for caring is not there you would never give of your best and be a good nurse.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

‘German’s Soup’ now available in New York

By Francis Quamina Farrier

decades, including Guyanese from all walks of life. The demand for German’s Soup became so great at the Tiger Bay location, that a branch was established on Robb Street, Georgetown.

After his father died in 1999, the younger Urling focused primarily on the Tiger Bay location. The Robb location was closed in 2005 and a new and attractive structure was constructed that very year at the Tiger Bay location.

However, Clinton ensured that there was a proper photograph of that founding building, which he has displayed at both the Tiger Bay and Brooklyn locations.

That, in itself, was not the reason for its popularity; it was the quality of the soup which attracted customers in

LAST Saturday, I was in Brooklyn, New York, and one of the special sights for me was the quantum leap of an iconic Guyanese business enterprise, German’s Soup Restaurant. The doors were not opened to the public as yet, but this weekend the official opening eventswhich included celebrations advanced with Prayers and Thanksgiving- was held.

There, at the corner of Utica Avenue and Linden Boulevard, in the heart of Brooklyn, New York, is this brand new “GERMAN’S SOUP” Restaurant, a branch of the popular “GERMAN’S” which is located in Tiger Bay, Georgetown.

GERMAN’S SOUP RESTAURANT is a story of two German’s Soup in Brooklyn, New York, a week before the official opening. (Photos by Francis Quamina Farrier)

German’s Soup Restaurant at the corner of Urquart and New Market Streets in Tiger Bay, Georgetown

generations of Guyanese - Hubert Urling and his second son, Clinton Urling. The story of the famous Soup Restaurant began in the 20th Century and is now continuing to develop in the 21st Century from one continent (South America) to another (North America).

The story of German’s Soup commenced in 1960, when Hubert established the first restaurant in Georgetown. The story behind the name “German’s” is somewhat uncertain.

It could even be classified as “folklore”. Hubert was known

to have had a deep liking for the powerful and popular German trucks which were famous (or rather, infamous) for their regular crashes when they ruled the roads of British Guiana in the early 1960s. There was hardly a week when a German truck did not crash and, in some instances, involved a loss of life.

There is another story about the name “German’s”: it has been established that Hubert loved the war movies, especially those which showed the Germans being beaten by the Allied Forces; something which Hubert found an exciting topic for regular discussion.

It must be recalled that many persons from British Guiana served in the two World Wars. Whatever might have been the real reason, Hubert Urling gave the name “German’s” to his soup restaurant, which has in no way been defeated. In fact, “German’s” became a household name in Guyana over the decades. The soup, which gained iconic status, was regarded by many soup lovers as being “simply delicious and mouth-watering”.

Of course, the name of the restaurant was not the real reason for its success over the decades. It was the quality of the soup, as well as the quality of the service. Whatever the ingredients used over the years, German’s Soup became very popular with both Guyanese and visitors alike.

In an interview with the 38-year-old Clinton in Brooklyn last week, he told me that his father had set that high standard of the soup and that the customers over the

Clinton Urling in the New York German’s Soup Restaurant, with photographs of the two earlier German’s in Georgetown, on the wall

their numbers. “The standard of service has also played a part in keeping customers coming back again and again,” said Clinton. With a love of history and a passion for design, the walls of the restaurant in Tiger Bay are decorated with photographs of the previous building and large portraits of celebrities. However, Clinton ensures that those in dire need in the Tiger Bay area in Georgetown, and beyond, especially the children, receive some complementary German’s soup daily.

Hubert Urling passed on the baton of “German’s Soup” to his young son after running a great lap of a race around the German’s Soup Restaurant. His son, who recently graduated with a Master’s Degree in Sports Management from the prestigious Columbia University in New York, is so far, running a great “German Soup” race.

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

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Mother’s Dayand its origin MOTHER’S DAY is a celebration of honouring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May. For instance, Mother’s Day this year was celebrated in the United Kingdom on March 31, while for some 40 plus other countries including Guyana, the United States and the Caribbean, the observance is today.

Mother’s Day is a much Anna Marie Jarvis awaited day for children as they look forward to surprising their mom by giving her gifts, cards, flowers, a basket of goodies while others may enjoy breakfast in bed or a lunch out.

The most popular Mother’s Day flowers include roses, orchids, lilies, tulip, daffodil and zaleas.

HOW WAS THIS DAY CONCEPTUALISED? The celebration of mothers and motherhood can be traced back to the ancient Greeks and Romans, who held festivals in honour of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele, but the clearest modern precedent for Mother’s Day is the early Christian festival known as “Mothering Sunday.”

Mothering Sunday is a holiday celebrated by Catholics and some Protestant Christians in some parts of Europe on the fourth Sunday of Lent. Traditionally, it was a day when children, mainly daughters, who had gone to work as domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother and family.

The founder of the Mother’s Day holiday in the United States is on record as Anna Marie Jarvis who subsequently became resentful of the commercialisation of the holiday.

Wikipedia also states that in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson, the 28th U.S. president who served in office from 1913 to 1921 and led America through World War I (19141918) and was also an advocate for democracy and world peace, signed a proclamation designating that Mother’s Day be observed on the second Sunday in May, as a national holiday to honor mothers. In 1934, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt approved and personally designed a stamp commemorating the holiday.

Reports are that years after Jarvis founded Mother’s Day, she was dining in a tea room at Wanamaker’s department store in Philadelphia when she observed that they were offering a “Mother’s Day Salad.” Jarvis is said to have ordered the salad and when it was served, she stood up, dumped it on the floor, left the money to pay for it and walked out in a huff. For Jarvis, she felt that she had lost control of the holiday she helped create and was crushed by her belief that commercialism was destroying Mother’s Day. During the Civil War, Anna’s mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis had cared for the wounded on both sides of the conflict. She also tried to orchestrate peace between Union and Confederate moms by forming a Mother’s Friendship Day. When the elder Jarvis passed away in 1905, her daughter was devastated. She would read the sympathy cards and letters over and over, taking the time to underline all the words that praised and complimented her mother. By so doing, Jarvis had found an outlet to memorialise her mother and she began working to promote a day that would honour all mothers.

On May 10, 1908, Mother’s Day events were held at the church where her mother taught Sunday School in Grafton, West Virginia, and at the Wanamaker’s department store auditorium in Philadelphia. Jarvis did not attend the event in Grafton, but she sent 500 white carnations, her mother’s favourite flower. The carnations were to be worn by sons and daughters in honour of their own mothers and to represent the purity of a mother’s love.

SPREADING THE WORD Mother’s Day quickly caught on because of Jarvis’s zealous letter writing and promotional campaigns across the coun-

ed States Postal Service issued a stamp honouring Mother’s Day. They used a painting colloquially known as Whistler’s Mother for the image, by artist James Whistler.

Jarvis was livid after she saw the resulting stamp because she believed the addition of the vase of carnations was an advertisement for the floral industry.

Jarvis’s ideal observance of Mother’s Day though would be a visit home or writing a long President Franklin Delano Roosevelt President Thomas Woodrow Wilson letter to your mother. She couldn’t stand those who sold and used greeting try and the world. She was assisted by well-heeled cards: “A maudlin, insincere printed card or ready-made backers like John Wanamaker and H.J. Heinz and she soon telegram means nothing, except that you’re too lazy to write devoted herself full-time to the promotion of Mother’s Day. to the woman who has done more for you than anyone else in In 1909, several senators mocked the very idea of a the world.”

She also said, “Any mother would rather have a Mother’s Day holiday. Senator Henry Moore Teller (D-CO) line of the worst scribble from her son or daughter than any scorned the resolution as “puerile,” “absolutely absurd,” and fancy greeting card.” “trifling.” He announced, “Every day with me is a mother’s day.” Senator Jacob Gallinger (R-NH) judged the very idea of Mother’s Day to be an insult, as though his memory of his late mother “could only be kept green by some outward demonstration on Sunday, May 10.”

This, however, didn’t deter Jarvis. She enlisted the help of organisations like the World’s Sunday School Association, and the holiday sailed through Congress with little opposition in 1914.

The floral industry wisely supported Jarvis’s Mother’s Day movement. She accepted their donations and spoke at their conventions. With each subsequent Mother’s Day, the wearing of carnations became a trend. Florists across the country were quickly sold out of white carnations around Mother’s Day— newspapers told stories of hoarding and profiteering. The floral industry later came up with an idea to diversify sales by promoting the practice of wearing red or bright flowers in honour of living mothers and white flowers for deceased moms.

TOO COMMERCIAL Jarvis soon soured on the commercial interests associated with the day. She wanted Mother’s Day “to be a day of sentiment, not profit.”

Beginning around 1920, she urged people to stop buying flowers and other gifts for their mothers and she turned against her former commercial supporters. She referred to the Popular Mother’s florists, greeting card manufacturers Day gift and the confectionery industry as “charlatans, bandits, pirates, racketeers, kidnappers and termites that would undermine with their greed one of the finest, noblest and truest movements and celebrations.”

In response to the floral industry, she had thousands of celluloid buttons made featuring the white carnation, which she sent free of charge to women’s school and church groups.

She attempted to stop the floral industry by threatening to file lawsuits and by applying to trademark the carnation together with the words “Mother’s Day” though she was denied the trademark. In response to her legal threats, the Florist Telegraph Delivery (FTD) association offered her a commission on the sales of Mother’s Day carnations, but this only enraged her further.

Jarvis’s attempts to stop the florists’ promotion of Mother’s Day with carnations continued. In 1934, the Unit-

GOING ROGUE Jarvis fought against charities that used Mother’s Day for fundraising. She was dragged screaming out of a meeting of the American War Mothers by police and was arrested for disturbing the peace in her attempts to stop the

sale of carnations. She even wrote screeds against Eleanor Roosevelt for using Mother’s Day to raise money (for charities that worked to combat high maternal and infant mortality rates, the very type of work Jarvis’s mother did during her lifetime).

In one of her last appearances in public, Jarvis was seen going door-to-door in Philadelphia, asking for signatures on a petition to rescind Mother’s Day. In her twilight years, she became a recluse and a hoarder.

Jarvis spent her last days deeply in debt and living in the Marshall Square Sanitarium, a now-closed mental asylum in West Chester, Pennsylvania. She died on November 24, 1948. Jarvis was never told that her bill for her time at the asylum was partly paid for by a group of grateful florists.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Culture Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

and

Rhythm

Dayvishanie Naipaul dances to her own tune

By Indrawattie Natram FOR decades the artistic forms of classical dances were performed intensively by trained artists in India. Years ago, dance performances were restricted mainly to royal courts, temples and the houses of wealthy people in India, however, Indian dance is now practised around the world and millions of people now have the chance to enjoy and learn more about classical dance and music.

Fortunately, although the Indians arrived 180 years ago in Guyana, the Indian culture is kept alive and is expressed in many ways through various stories and exhibitions outlining the life and labourious work of the Indian ancestors.

For years 18-year-old Dayvishanie Naipaul of Reliance Village on the Essequibo Coast has been performing Kathak, semi-classical, classical and ‘filmy’ songs, as her way of keeping the Indian tradition alive. She is no stranger to ‘Essequibians’ as she has performed at many cultural events in the Region. The leading local dancer and choreographer has mastered the art form through her exposure to dancing at the tender age of five. Interestingly, her skill has developed over the years through self-taught practices rather than formal training.

“I will say I am just blessed with dancing. Everything is just natural, from the emotions to the expressions, I love dancing and won’t trade it for anything,” Naipaul said.

The young dancer, who is currently employed at Massy Distribution and Trading, also invests the time to not only

dance but also to share her skills through teachings.

This beautiful teenager said that whenever she performs on stage, she is often asked by the audience who trained her and whenever she responds that she is self-taught, most persons would be amazed.

“Nobody ever trained me, people ask me many times if I look at videos and take ideas, but no, I listen to my songs and learn the meaning of the lyrics and let my heart do the rest,” the dancer said.

Her interesting dance outfits are designed by her based on the song she would be performing. Naipaul said that she feels good being part of something that was inherited by her ancestors.

When asked what’s her future in dancing she said, she has a vision of forming her own dance group and although she loves dancing alone she would love to impart her knowledge to others who have a passion for dancing.

“I enjoy dancing alone because I can express my feelings more through my dance, and I’m recognised more,” Naipaul said.

The dancer believes in the adage: “ The purer our motives, the greater the courage and faith we will have to accomplish things way beyond the horizon of our imagination.”

For those who have a passion for dancing, she advises them not to be afraid and to live their dreams.

“Dance your heart out, you don’t have to dance to impress anyone, but dance to express

yourself, dance for yourself and don’t be afraid to be who you are, don’t be afraid to show the world your talent,” the y o u n g dancer said.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

The crowning and honouring of our mothers

By M Margaret Burke MOTHERS all over Guyana were remembered at a ceremony titled the ‘The crowning of mothers’ sponsored by the People’s National Congress (PNC) Georgetown group in D’Urban Street on Tuesday.

In a special pre-mother’s day ceremony, Monica Thomas, who chaired the event stated that so as not to get in the way of bigger events planned for Mother’s Day, which is being observed today, the group decided to have their event of placing a crown on each mother present. The ceremony took place on May 8, to honour all mothers in the whole of Guyana, even though only those who were present could have received the crown.

“We know that mothers are very special and so we want

to honour all of you throughout this beautiful country – Guyana- by way of this simple ceremony being held here,” Thomas said. After inviting one of the participants to offer a word of prayer to officially open the ceremony, she then invited the Hon. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence to give the feature address.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT Minister Lawrence had only words of encouragement to present to the many women and a number of men who were in attendance at the ‘crowning’ event. “I want to pray that God will continue to shower His blessings and most of all His grace and favour upon you; that you will be not only good mothers but strong mothers because that is what we want,” the Minister said. “I want to remind you also that

Hon. Minister Volda Lawrence was presented a token of appreciation by one of the participants

The oldest female participant, Sarah Johnson, crowns the Hon. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence

it’s not only your children that you mothered but all the children in the world who were mothered. You can’t look to a man and call him ‘mother’, you have to call him ‘father’; you can only look to a woman and call her ‘mother’.”

She said that there is that something inside of the woman; that something that God has put inside of the woman that is so unique – that love inside of each woman that cannot be taken out and put on a shelf because it is deep within.

CRUEL PRACTICES OF WOMEN Minister Lawrence told the participants, who sat listening carefully, that cruelty is not a natural part of a woman. She said, “When you see women being cruel to their children and doing bad things to them, it cannot be of the natural because that is not what God mad made women for; it cannot be.”

She made reference to a matter of extreme cruelty by a mother to her children, which was in the news recently; speaking of how so many people condemned her on Facebook in particular and said, “I want to say that it is always good to look at somebody’s shoes and think that you can wear it, but when you put it on you recognise that it is not your fit,” she said, urging that women be good women so that they can then be good mothers – to every child.

Meanwhile, following the Minister’s address to the Turn to page XIX ►►►

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Different types of solar dryers mode solar dryer are the additional cost and complexity involved in construction. Like direct mode dryers, the capacity can range from a few kilograms to several metric tons.

In some instances, a solar dryer uses a combination of direct and indirect modes known as a mixed mode solar dryer. In this type of solar dryer, the crop temperature is raised by both direct absorption

LAST week NAREI in Focus explained to readers what is solar drying; and the advantages and benefits of using this technology. As a recap, solar drying is a low-cost drying method that is used for preservation, quality improvement and processing purposes. It removes moisture from both organic and inorganic materials restricting the growth of microorganisms and thereby restricting food spoilage.

This week NAREI in Focus will look at some solar dryers.

Open sun drying is one of the oldest methods used for drying food products. This technique exposes the food materials to sunlight by spreading it inland or on exposed surfaces. Moisture from the food products will be removed by the solar radiation. Even though this method has been in use for a long time, it has some disadvantages like dust contamination and insect and bird attacks among others.

However, advancements in technology have offered hygienic solutions for these disadvantages. One technique is by drying foods in a closed chamber and supplying hot air to the drying chamber. The required air is heated either using fossil fuels or by electric heaters which will directly add up to the climatic problems happening in our planet.

There are many different types of solar dryers but they can all be conveniently clas-

sified into three distinct categories depending on the mode of heat transfer from the sun to the product. This has led to the following definitions.

In a direct mode solar dryer, the crop is directly exposed to solar radiation. For this to occur, the structure containing the crop must be covered with a transparent material. The solar radiation passes through the glazing and is absorbed by the crop and its immediate surroundings. Most of the solar radiation is converted into heat, thus raising the temperature of the crop and its surroundings.

The direct absorption of solar radiation by the crop is the most effective way of converting solar radiation into useful heat for drying. The final dried quality of some crops is also enhanced by direct exposure to solar radiation.

The indirect mode solar dryer does not fully expose the crop to solar radiation. The incident solar radiation is absorbed by some other surface - usually a solar collector where it is converted into heat. The air for drying flows over this absorber and is heated.

The warmed air is then used to transfer the heat to the crop located within an opaque structure.

High and controllable temperatures can be achieved in this type of dryer if a fan is used to move the air through the solar collector. The main disadvantages of an indirect

of solar radiation and heat transferred from another solar absorber. While mixed mode solar dryers probably have superior performance to direct or indirect mode solar dryers, in practice the additional cost and complexity of these systems tend to make them uneconomical and less popular in practice than the other two modes of dryers.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

SUPPORT LOCAL INDUSTRY

THE caption of this offering appears to be nationalistic, but it’s not. It is very much a consumer position. Consumer advocates have always enjoined that consumers must never depart from the rule of having “the best value for their money.” That injunction simply means that they should purchase goods and services of the best quality at the best price when compared with similar goods and services, irrespective of their origin. If therefore, a foreign

product offers a better price and quality than a local one, the foreign product should be purchased since this is of better value than the local one.

The obverse of this position is however difficult to convey to Guyanese and Caribbean consumers since there is a deep prejudice that products from abroad are superior to the locally produced. Social historians have traced this prejudice to a variety of factors: During the period of slavery and indenture-

ship, all goods were imported from abroad.

For example, the wood to build the logies for the slaves and indenturers were imported from America and so were the other building materials. Much of the food to feed the slaves, such as salted fish were imported. And so were the clothes to the extent where cloth more suited for the temperate zone rather than the tropics had become the norm.

In addition, the planter class felt that food from abroad was superior and necessary.

Thus during the American War of Independence when food imports were cut off, the planter class bitterly complained of food shortages though there was an abundance of local foods available. Another reason proffered was that attitude was due to cultural imperialism.

It is not surprising, therefore, that Guyanese and West Indians after 200 years of indoctrination could not easily exorcise this deep prejudice. Of recent years, however, much progress has been made in getting Guyanese to be more realistic in their purchases.

With the advent of Independence, Guyana and most West Indian territories have become more nationalistic and the leaders have clearly seen the value of supporting and encouraging local industry for nation-building and development but their campaigns have not met with the expected success. Thus, there is still room to educate the consumer.

We think it is appropriate at this point to bring to readers attention a number of illogical ways in which consumers have ignored the consumer injunction “value for your money”.

We do this in some detail as we think it could be more educative: If we visit the bigger supermarkets and look in their freezers, we are almost certain to see a number of local fruits and vegetables which are imported from abroad. These fruits and vegetables are the same which can be obtained at the municipal markets or elsewhere.

The only difference is that the local product is fresher and cheaper. The better value for money would be to buy the local product.

The rums and other alcoholic products, as well as the types of beers produced by Banks DIH, can compare with the best produced in other parts of the Caribbean and Porto Rico.

And its crackers are world-class and sold at cheaper prices when compared with foreign imports. Indeed, if one travels over the developed world and tries their crackers, none is superior to Banks DIH’s. This is a clear case of value for money.

Demerara Distillers Ltd (DDL) produces

the best rums in the world and this is known worldwide. And their liqueurs, especially their cream liqueurs are equally good. DDL rums are served in many of the top or exclusive bars in the developed countries and could be found at all the major international airports. Yet, in Guyana, one is sometimes served inferior imported rums and Guyanese buy more expensive lower quality rums abroad and bring them here. Rum is a clear case where buying local is in the consumer’s interest.

In confections, spices, pasta and curry powders E.B. Beharry produces products which are world-class. Their sweets, for example, have been formulated by the best European expertise and their wrappings are the highest class available. And yet consumers buy less wholesome Colombian and other foreign sweets, though, for quality and price, the local product is far superior.

Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation (GPC) succeeded Bookers which was one of the main pharmaceutical companies in the Caribbean and has maintained their high traditions. GPC’s products are of the highest international quality and are so recognised in the pharmaceutical industry worldwide. Flagship products such as, Limacol and Ferrol, are household names throughout the Caribbean and gives Guyana a good image. GPC is the biggest pharmaceutical company in the Caribbean and gives Guyana a drug-security not enjoyed by most countries. There are many new products which GPC intends to produce such as antibiotics but cannot do so as yet until the hospital system commits itself to buying the local products.

In Engineering, also, Guyana has gone further afield than many are aware. On the East Bank Demerara, for example, there are a few companies that could fabricate any machine part or set up factories and in the Construction Industry, there are companies that could build most of the buildings required in Guyana and maintain and build sea-defences.

In the recent past, such works were done by foreign companies.

Almost all the companies mentioned have achieved ISO-International Standards Organisation ratings which is an imprimatur of quality.

When consumers go shopping, therefore, they should buy local goods and services of equal or better quality and price than the foreign both for their own benefit and for the benefit of their country.

FILES E S A C COURT

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

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Convicted cop appeals and loses

Assailant shoots man to death - gets three years for manslaughter ON the night of August 1, 1976, policeman Guy Simmons walked into a gas station and claimed that if he was not sold two cold beers he would blow out the brains of the barman with his .38 revolver.

Bystander, Jerome Calder, who questioned the cop’ s ability to commit any such offence with a toy gun, was shown the live bullets of the revolver and like doubting Thomas of biblical fame was still doubting, when his head was blasted from a revolver bullet.

Following police investigations, P.C. Simmons was charged with murder but a mixed jury at the Demerara Assizes found him guilty of manslaughter and he was sentenced to three years imprisonment by the trial judge.

Dissatisfied with the sentence, Simmons appealed the conviction and sentence, but the Court of Criminal Appeal, constituted

by Chancellor Victor Crane and Justices of Appeal R. H. Luckhoo and Dhan Jhappan, dismissed the appeal and affirmed the conviction and sentence.

The accused was charged with the murder of the deceased, but he was convicted of manslaughter, the jury having rejected his defence of accident, viz, that he took out his revolver to get some money to pay for the beers and as he was putting it back, the gun accidentally went off.

At the trial, the jury were correctly directed on the degree of negligence which the prosecution had to discharge in order to bring home a conviction of manslaughter, but were not told that when dealing with the issue of accident that the onus was on the prosecution to negative the defence accident.

The Court of Appeal held (I) that notwithstanding there was a lapse on the judge’s part , the circumstances recounted by the prosecution witnesses were compatible and reconcilable with the evidence of a ballistic expert as to the pressure needed to cock and discharge the gun , and also with the pathologist evidence as to the position of the bullet wound on the deceased. (ii) that the proviso will be applied because the post mortem evidence negative the defence of accident, and was so over overwhelming as inevitably to lead a reasonable jury properly directed, to the same conclusion of guilt.

The Appeal was dismissed and the conviction and sentence affirmed.

Representing the appellant at the appeal was Attorney-at-law, Mr. J. A. Patterson.

Mr. Loris Ganpatsingh, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Acting, represented the State.

Delivering the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Justice of Appeal R. H. Luckhoo said that on the appellant’s behalf a number of grounds were argued, but the only one which qualified for, and merited consideration was ground 3 (a) of his amended grounds of appeal in which he complained that the learned trial judge “failed to tell the jury that the onus

of disproving the defence of accident rests on the prosecution”. That the trial judge did not in any part of his summing-up use the words, “The onus of disproving the defence of accident rests on the prosecution” cannot be disputed. Let us therefore examine, examine the setting of the facts of the case and relate, as we must, the directions given to that setting.

Only in this way can we determine whether or not this ground is to succeed. In doing so we gave recognition to the fact that no two judges have the same style, manner and arrangement of a summing-up before a jury. Indeed very often the same judge must, by virtue of the way in which particular cases are presented, vary the style and arrangement of the summing-up in those cases, in order effectively to assist the jury in appreciating the issues set before them.

What was the State’s case against the appellant? It rested on the evidence of persons present at the scene of the discharge of a .38 police service revolver. On the evidence of Eustace Kendall, an expert in the use and functioning of firearms, including the type of revolver in question, and on the evidence of Edward Simon, a senior Government Bacteriologist and Pathologist. Undisputed were the following facts, that the discharge at the gas station on Vlissengen Road, Georgetown, at a bar, where beer and other drinks were sold, and to which the public had access, that at the bar and within close proximity were several persons, including the deceased Calder and the appellant. There was also no dispute that the appellant had the revolver in his possession at the time of its discharge and that Calder died from a bullet wound through the right temple inflicted by a bullet discharged from the same revolver.

Winston Oudkirk’s version of how the incident took place was in substance this: he said that the accused came up to the bar and in a normal tone of voice said to the barman: “Bring two beers or I blow your f….. brains out. “With that he took out a small gun from his pocket. Calder said to him that it was a toy gun, whereupon the accused took out bullet from the magazine of the gun and said to the deceased that, “This is a real f… bullet.

“The accused then replaced the bullet into the magazine and back into the gun.

Calder insisted it was a toy gun. The witness then heard a loud explosion. The deceased slumped forward, spun around and fell on his back. Before the explosion the deceased was bending forward at the back of two men and he was facing the accused. He did not see the deceased leaning against or touching the accused. Calder, he said, was a tall man, and was bending slightly forward. He could not say whether Calder was looking into the barrel of the gun. There was no hostility in the conversation between the deceased and the accused. The deceased was tipsy and was swaying as he stood up having his beer. After the explosion the accused put the gun back

into his pocket, and in a normal tone of voice said to the witness, “You must leave, you ‘ent see anything.”

Lennox Nestor’s version was that the accused came up to the bar and requested two cold beers, and on the barman saying that there were no cold beers, he said, “Well, if I can’t get a cold beer I’ll shoot one of you.”

Calder asked, “What you gon shoot with, your mouth?” The accused then took a revolver from his pocket and showed it around and said “With this,” as he held it up. He placed the revolver back into his pocket and Calder then said “It is a toy pistol,” whereupon the accused took out the revolver again, opened it, took out a bullet held it up in the air and said

By George Barclay

“Is this still a toy pistol”. The accused then put the bullet back into the revolver and replaced it into his pocket. Calder insisted it was a toy pistol. The witness then saw the revolver in the hand of the accused for a third time and this was followed by an explosion. He did not see the deceased bending down before the explosion. After the explosion he saw the accused lying on the ground.

The accused asked the witness Nestor what he was doing at the gas station and on being told that he was waiting for change, accused told him, “Collect it fast and split the joint”.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed the conviction and sentence.

folklore

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UP THE RIVER CYRIL had lived most of his life in the hinterland. He got married and lived with his family there until his father died in the city and left all his property to his only child, Cyril. The man and his family moved to the city. The life there was hectic and soon

it began to tell on his family. As a consequence, he sent them back home and they saw each other on regular visits.

Then Cyril died and, as was his request in his will, his body had to return to the hinterland to be buried. Arrangements were made

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

By Neil Primus

and the journey commenced. A hearse from Welcome Funeral Home drove the corpse the 60 miles to the Sandy Banks River. From there, it was transferred to a boat with a dense engine (2 hp) that slowly chugged up the long and lonely river. This journey would take more than three days.

At the first pit stop, the captain purchased ice and packed it on the body which lay in the bow of the craft. It was a medium-sized vessel with a shed. The casket was covered with

blue tarpaulin. The captain and his assistant went to get a few drinks before retiring for the night. They would resume their journey the following day Malcom had been drinking all day. He was higher than a satellite and felt better each passing sip. When he had enough for that night he bought a half for his company on the river and staggered towards his boat. When Malcom moved his boat, the tide was very low, this Turn to page XXII â–şâ–şâ–ş

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018 ◄◄◄ From page XIV

mothers and some fathers who attended the event, the floor was then open for remarks, and many of the mothers took the opportunity.

The general trend of the conversation and comments made by many of the mothers were centered on encouraging all mothers to be strong and courageous in the face of the

various challenges of motherhood.

Some of the sentiments were as follows: “Mothers must be fighters for the good of our children – battling with the intention of winning”; “We are humans and sometimes we make mistakes, but if we desire to change for the better we have to seek forgiveness and strive to do better”; “ I thank God that he allowed me to become a mother and I realise that I have to be a mother not only to my child but also to

XIX many other children all over Guyana and where ever I go.”

The chairperson, in her closing remarks especially thanked the Minister for her role in the evening’s proceedings; she also thanked all those who were present for their attendance and participation. The ceremony ended with a lot of edibles and drinks as those in attendance continued to socialise. mercilinburke2017@ gmail.com

The crowned women include Hon. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence (seated centre), along with many of the mothers who attended the ceremony

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

#SupportCreativity

By Subraj Singh

Imam Baksh Wins a Second Burt Award for Caribbean Literature (PART II) WE continue this week with discussing the work of Guyanese writer, Imam Baksh, who won the Burt Award for Caribbean Literature, which recognises excellence in writing for children and young adults. Baksh won the award for his manuscript, The Dark of the Sea, which focuses

on a boy from the Essequibo coast who has an encounter with a mermaid.

The writer, having won the award before for his Children of the Spider 2015, describes the feeling of this second win as “better”, crediting this emotional response to a realisation of the fact that opportunities are indeed rare and are, by extension, quite important.

He received the award at this year’s Bocas Lit Fest in Trinidad. On the subject of the festival itself, Baksh says that one thing that stood out, in particular, this year, was the way in which pulling together creative people into a single space was in itself an initiative that results in further creativity. He points out that because of the festival he was able to engage in conversations that “resulted in expanded possibilities for areas I could research for further stories.” He says that he also attended workshops which helped him to challenge his own approach to writing, and even from a mental perspective, Baksh points out that he was able to feel rejuvenated to return to writing after engaging with artists who may not even necessarily be writers – artists such as poets, painters, photographers.

When asked about how his win at the Bocas Lit Fest will contribute to the work he does with young writers back home in Guyana, Baksh highlights the fact that he has long been the director of the ‘Imam Bacchus Library’ which promotes reading on the Essequibo Coast, and it is through the library that he has been able to conduct workshops, short story competitions and the like. He acknowledges the help of education officials in Region Two in making these events a possibility, even if parents and students themselves are hesitant in their support for literacy and writing programmes. Baksh hopes that others seeing him win the Burt Award would engender more of a value in writing for “personal satisfaction and development.”

The writer also says that

he is currently working with a group who call themselves Voice, who recruited him for help with a dramatic speech competition. Baksh wants to continue to use his current visibility to “increase student participation in writing camps, story competitions, etc.”

He says that he is willing to come in and help anyone working in the writing/literacy fields in Guyana by running a student workshop, giving talks on writing, answering questions from Imam Baksh students, and assisting teachers to be better writers and so on – keeping in mind that he would have to travel from Essequibo On the matter of the differences between the literary scenes in Trinidad and Guyana, Baksh comments that “there is no substitute for time and money” and while the twin islands have “petrodollars,” they have also had it for a long enough time that they now have a tradition of literature that enables them to capitalise on this and enrich initiatives such as the Bocas Lit Fest. In his own words, Baksh says that “there has been time for enclaves of cultural endeavor to spring up, such as ‘extempo’ calypso, online poetry magazines, writers’ support groups, cultural archives, etc. and Bocas acts as a central assembly point for the output while keeping themselves narrowly focused on running the festival itself.” He also urges people to be cognisant of the time needed to develop the professional administration skills that a project as big as the Bocas Lit Fest demands – which requires much in terms of everything from legal and rights issues, contract negotiations, sponsor and PR support, along with budgeting, accounting, and many other facets that need to be taken into consideration when planning, conducting and organising something like the Bocas Lit Fest. Baksh also reminds us that the festival has indeed taken time to establish itself and its own unique identity, as it has only made it to its eighth edition after learning from the past seven years.

Baksh’s next book is tentatively titled, City of Monuments, and he describes it as being about a second generation Guyanese girl from Washington D.C. who returns to Guyana and discovers that she possesses a hidden power within herself, that she must use in a war between the forces of good and evil.

Baksh’s win is an important milestone not only for himself, but also for Guyana as his award enables the country to have some sort of literary recognition from within one of the most important literary events in the Caribbean, and his work should definitely be read by the young people of Guyana. Baksh’s first novel, Children of the Spider can be bought at Austin’s Book Services and he currently has a contest running on his Facebook page: facebook.com/imambaksh.writer

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

XXI

XXII ◄◄◄ From page XVIII

meant that his craft had shifted position. He saw the blue side of the boat in front of him and scrambled clumsily aboard. After making his way to the back of the boat, he started the small engine and steered for home. He would get there by morning.

Sputter, sputter, put, put The engine died and the boat drifted slowly with the tide.

Malcom opened his eyes and looked around him. The rum had sunk in well. He raised himself into a sitting position and broke the seal of the half high wine. He took a sip and closed the bottle. He put it into his pocket and tried to focus.

Something was up, oh yes, the engine. He reached the engine and tried to restart it. It was dead. He checked the gasoline, empty. He cursed silently to himself. How did he forget this?

He was sure he had at least half tank. He reached for the extra

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018 gas bottle, none.

As he stared around him, he began to realise that everything about the craft seemed unfamiliar. The engine had a four hp. His boat had exterior blue and interior green. This craft had exterior blue (dark) and interior blue (sky). Although it was night, he could see clearly because of the moonlight. It was then he noticed a painted sign of the boat “Welcome Home Funeral Parlour” Malcom was beside himself with anger. He had drunk so much that he had driven away with the wrong boat. What an embarrassing thing. His alcohol dulled brain tried to understand the problems this could cause. He gave up. The effort was causing him to get a splitting headache. He took another drink.

Out of the corner of his bloodshot eyes, he detected movement in the bow. Someone else was there. What would he tell them? He must have been asleep when Malcom took off. What to do? He would just have to tell them the truth. He made his way to the front of the boat cracking his ankle against the seat when he tried to step over. He howled and cursed in pain. He sat on the seat for a moment and rubbed his throbbing foot.

There was a strange rustle like bricks then the movement again. He tried to focus.

“Excuse me. Hello,” He offered No response.

“Sir! Hello!

Silence “Wake up and listen please,” Malcom implored “Wake up fowat?”

The voice was flat and low - almost a growl.

“Sorry to disturb you friend.” Malcom tried again “You gon sorry fo true,” the reply sounded ravenous.

“I mek a mistake and pick up the wrong boat” From the front of the craft came the sound of a deep rasping laugh Malcom became uneasy. This was not going well. He was too drunk to make any complicated calculations so he continued with uncertainty.

“I would turn back but the engine run out of gas.”

“Turn back.”

Now there was anger and threat in the stranger’s voice.

“A … a… mean take this boat and get gwine” “ Yo done start moving me. No turning back!”

Malcom began to sweat.

“Moving you?” he stuttered.

“Yes! I going home to rest. A not turning back yo hear!”

The figure had now moved the tarpaulin and had begun tossing out pieces of ice. Malcom watched this mild shock.

As the man emerged from the box the full significance hit him. It was a casket! The boat belonged to a funeral home that could only mean that the man sitting up in the bow was... he could not complete the thought. It was too terrifying even for his drunken mind. He looked wildly around for escape. There was only one, the river. Malcom slowly retreated to the back of the boat and sat there trying to stay still.

Start paddling! The voice rang with authority, Malcom did not budge.

“Yo hear me?”

Silence “Ok! I gon teach you a lesson before they bury me!”

Malcom’s trembling body could not move even if he wanted to obey. The man rose from the casket and moonlight struck his body. His face was set in an evil snarl and his eyes were locked onto Malcom.

I gon bruck yo neck!

The corpse began a slow menacing advance. Malcom looked at the river and contemplated but only for a second. He was not sure where he was and which direction was on land but that did not stop his next move as the cadaver closed in on him. He rose on trembling knees, made a swift sign of the cross and jumped overboard. As he surfaced some distance from the drifting vessel he could hear the corpse, haunting laughter as if taunting him.

“He! He! He! He! Yo lucky yo jump. We gon catch up again sometime.”

Malcom started to swim hard. He wanted to make sure that that ‘sometime’ would be later, much later rather than sooner. Last thing I heard of Malcom was that he was heading for the river mouth doing his famous dog paddle.

Occasionally, he would turn over onto his back, float for a while and take a sip of high wine. Viva DDL (Banks)

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

XXIII

“Caribbean Mothers: A Different Breed”

JUST a few weeks ago, one faithful Sunday (literally), I scored two feats in one day. The first was that I was up and about on a Sunday by 09:00hrs and the second, perhaps more noteworthy, was that my friend had convinced me to attend a church service.

Maybe it was the universe sending me a signal, but this service was incredibly interesting. An infant was baptised, there were candy and balloons (though I cannot recall why) and it was also ‘Mothering Sunday’.

Mothering Sunday, observed on March 11 this year is a precedent for the Mother’s Day I have grown up knowing. Grounded in Christian beliefs, the day sought to revere and celebrate mothers for all that they do. For me though, what it managed to do was put the role of mothers into perspective, particularly in the local and regional context.

At the church, women had established themselves as senior members of the congregation- effectively solidifying themselves as dominant characters in the church. At the same time, they functioned in other capacities; as mothers tending to their children, as teachers for the Sunday school and as cleaners ensuring the aisles were ready for the service.

Each Mother’s Day, I would read all the spectacular stories of incredible mothers doing incredible things in Guyana.

Mothers would be hailed for their unmatched contributions and sacrifices and that is all great, but would you believe me if I told you that there is something especially different about Caribbean mothers?

Let me introduce another experience. As a prerequisite for the subject, all Communication Studies students were required to conduct a research on any topic of their choice. A colleague chose ‘Caribbean Mothers’ and structured his exposition around the theme: “Caribbean Mothers: A Different Breed”. It was quite a provocative theme and coupled with just a bit of sociological studies, it proved to be profound as well.

G.P. Murdok (1949) posited that the nuclear family type was the ideal family structure since it was able to fulfill the functions of reproduction, satisfaction, economic cooperation and socialisation- all necessary for the group to remain functional in society.

While Murdok based his claim on research done in parts of the developed world, this ideology was subjective against the developing world. But due to the historical events that would have shaped our society, there was the emergence of another family type. This was the matrifocal, or ‘female-headed’ household which became ingrained in the very fabric of Caribbean culture.

This family type emerged amidst a harsh social life which encompassed a rigorous work regime that enabled male absenteeism, causing the husband/father to be marginal to the family.

Mothers, therefore, have historically held the dual role, known quite well in Guyana, the role of mother and father, breadwinner and nurturer.

Pathological studies conducted by Frank Fraziers on the lower class African family highlights another dimension that the matrifocal had to contend with: Poverty. This was reflective of the race-class atmosphere that confronted the people,

particularly the Africans.

This led to a breakdown of the functional structure that Murdok advanced and has been labelled as dysfunctional by many sociologists.Yet,the matrifocal family structure became the mechanism for women and children to survive in the face of male absenteeism and poverty that spurred from the plantation system.

Even in the face of lower access to jobs and the pervasiveness of limited education, Caribbean mothers have always strived to ensure their children would have a better life than them. They worked twice, maybe thrice as hard to ensure that education was afforded to their children because education is seen as the tool for social mobility.

The best illustration of this would be Guyanese poet, David Dabydeen’s poem: “Coolie Mother”. Though he makes specific reference to East Indian women, Jasmatie’s endeavours to ensure that her son went to school is undoubtedly a common trait among Caribbean and Guyanese mothers.

And by no means, has this pattern of dominant mothers due to matrifocality been left in the past, instead, they have only developed and further cemented their fortitude and independence as they penetrate the working field and rise above the glass ceiling.

Be it the Mother’s Day we are familiar with, or Mothering Sunday, Caribbean mothers have been made from an entirely different set of circumstances and ought to be celebrated every day of the year.

Doing it for the love

FINDING a male nurse in a hospital, health centre or even a clinic is a rarity because the average man would say it is not a “macho” job but, 19-year-old Joshua Ibbott thinks otherwise and is pursuing a career in nursing.

“Do it for the love and not the likes,” as said by popular Jamaican Reggae singer, Chronixx, is one of Ibbott’s life mottos and that is exactly what he intends to do when he completes his training.

The nursing student got his inspiration to be a nurse at an early age after he observed how nurses performed in their working environment.

“I was so amazed to see how they would care for their patients, listen sincerely and do all that is necessary to attend to the patient no matter how tired they seemed,” he said.

Although the profession is mostly dominated by females, Ibbott said being in a classroom filled with ladies is an unforgettable experience but his main focus is on caring for

Joshua Ibbott

and being able to assist and advocate for patients.

He believes that the great Mahatma Gandhi said it best when he remarked: “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

“Nursing is my calling! Being a nurse is an opportunity of a lifetime. After applying and being accepted on my first attempt I was overwhelmed and grateful. I will continue to work to the best of my ability by being caring, compassionate and confidential, the three Cs that are necessary for nursing,” said the young nursing student.

In light of some of the negative comments that would often be mentioned about nurses, he contended that becoming a nurse is one of the most selfless acts a person can undertake.

In a society of so many different races, cultures, customs and beliefs, nurses are a “universal gift” to all and the dedicated work that they do and kindness they deliver on a

daily basis should serve as a reminder of the fundamental humanity inside of everyone.

“Like any tertiary institution, nursing school isn’t any different. It takes hard work and determination to really achieve what you want i.e. nursing; I assure you it is so worth it… nursing has various fields so you don’t have to be a bedside nurse. You could become a nurse administrator or an anesthesiologist among other things,” he explained.

As a nurse, you are never out of a job because you could always lend care once you have the necessary training and knowledge.

For persons, especially men who might want to become a nurse, he encouraged them to follow their dream and brace themselves for an experience of a lifetime.

Ibbott, despite being a nursing student, has managed to be an active member of his church which he has also started to call his home.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

‘What she likes, what she needs and what she appreciates’

Thoughtful Mother’s Day gift ideas

By Gibron Rahim PICKING out a Mother’s Day gift can be tricky. There often does not appear to be a present or card that can encompass all that our mothers are to us. But there are gift ideas that closely approach that purpose, whether we choose to purchase or create them ourselves.

Everything Makes Craft recently reopened its doors at its new location on the second floor of the Kei-Shar’s building on Hadfield Street and there has been no slowing down since. Owner Christine DeCambra related that at the beginning of the process, she took a step back to re-evaluate. As many mothers who work or own their own businesses can attest, balance is essential. In the future, DeCambra hopes to speak more about her experiences during the process. In the meantime, she is not without the support of collaborators.

Yogita Persaud began working along with DeCambra part-time late last year when they met at one of Everything Makes Craft’s Card-Makers Brunches. Persaud initially helped out with events and then, when DeCambra decided to reopen a storefront, she approached Persaud to work along with her in the store. She has been working full-time at the new storefront since March this year.

Persaud told the Pepperpot Magazine that work is still ongoing at the new location. She noted there was not much focus on promotion in March since they spent the time unpacking and sorting. Additionally, the construction work in the store had not been fully completed. “But for last month we had a very good y turnout,” Persaud said. She noted that An assortment of Mother’s Day of es urt co s DeCambra has related to her that the gift ideas (All photo aft) new location still has a way to go in Everything Makes Cr terms of customer turnout. “It’s still picking up,” she said, “and we’re back to advertising and promoting.” She added that they have been using Everything Makes Craft’s Facebook page as the main avenue of promotion.

The business received a lot of support during the days leading up to Valentine’s Day as Persaud noted.

“Valentine’s was amazing for us,” she said emphatically. Their pop-up shop at Giftland Mall did not initially receive much support on the penultimate weekend leading up to Valentine’s Day. However, the tide turned the weekend before Valentine’s with many women making purchases. The decision was made to set up shop again on the day before the holiday. The turnout, especially from men, that Tuesday eclipsed that past

Everything Makes Craft’s handmade Mother’s Day cards

Owner Christine DeCambra with a banner for her upcycling project that was given a grant last year

weekend’s turnout.

Everything Makes Craft’s annual Bunny Fun Day was also among its events for this year so far. “It was the store and the Bunny Fun Day happening in March,” related Persaud. “March was quite a busy month,” she laughingly added. The business has also had numerous smaller events this year as well. They were also part of the Department of Social Cohesion, Ministry of the Presidency’s Harmony Village held this past April on Main Street, to celebrate Guyana’s diversity.

For Mother’s Day, Everything Makes Craft was at Giftland Mall the weekend before the celebration with plans to return this past Saturday. Persaud noted that they have also been offering their usual décor services for events such as weddings and birthdays. Notable too is that regular pop-up shops at Giftland Mall include a craft station for kids, in addition to the handmade items on sale.

There were multiple gift options to choose from for Mother’s Day in store. Among them were picture frames, note packs, handmade jewellery and locally made scented candles. Among the items available were pieces created by graduates of DeCambra’s upcycling class. There were also “treat cups”, handmade and decorated paper containers filled with goodies. Persaud explained that the cups can be put to other uses afterwards. They can be used as containers for pens or other items on a desk or for jewellery on a vanity. The jewellery available for purchase included pieces made from upcycled materials. “Other than the jewellery we have purses, all handmade” Persaud said displaying some of the crotchet and straw purses. There were also framed pieces of art made from buttons and other upcycled materials.

For those who might have been feeling crafty, for Mother’s Day and beyond, Persaud noted that they also stock materials to be used in creating handmade cards, including cardstocks and stamps to be used for embellishment of craft pieces.

The key to a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift, regardless of whether it is made or purchased, Persaud explained is knowing your mother. “You can’t just go buy something and give it to her,” she pointed out. “You need to know what she likes, you need to know what she would appreciate and you need to know what she needs. Those are the three important elements – what she likes, what she needs and what she appreciates.”

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

XXV

Bolo’s Variety

A household name in Linden BOLO’S Variety Store is one of the household names in the Linden business community.

Located on Sunflower Street, Wismar, Bolo’s began as a bottom-house shop selling groceries and haberdasheries in the late 1980s.

Its owner, the late Albert Joseph, who went by the alias ‘Bolo’s Lighting System’, was very popular in Linden, a popularity which grew with the expansion of the business to include selling electronics and hardware. Then, upon acquiring a plot of land in the late 1990s, Joseph not only centralised the business but gave Linden its own indigenous furniture and electronics store.

As while Court’s Guyana had a branch in Linden, residents, especially those living on the Wismar shore, believed they needed to support their own. And, given the overwhelming support, Bolo’s kept growing, as a plethora of services were made available under one roof and for prices and payment packages that suited the pocket of Lindeners.

Then, in January 2011, tragedy struck. A lone bandit walked into the store, held the owner at gunpoint, and demanded that he hand over the cash.

And because Joseph refused to give in to his demands, the bandit shot him. He died a few days after, plunging the community of Linden into a state of mourning for losing a dynamic figure who provided employment for many, honoured his corporate responsibility, and showed the rest of Guyana that a business of such magnitude can succeed in Linden.

CARRYING ON THE LEGACY With her father gone, daughter, Lauren decided that his legacy must not be buried with him, and so, even though she was very young and had dreams of her own, she took over the reins of the business and put all her energies into keeping it alive.

Today, almost eight years on, the business has done nothing but flourish and expand even more.

“After my father passed, it wasn’t too difficult for me to take up the baton and move on, because from a tender age my siblings and I worked in the store,” Lauren said.

“I remember when my Common Entrance results came out, I was working. Even my CXC results I got whilst working; I was attending university and was working.

“My father instilled in us to work for what we wanted, and even though he wasn’t a man of many words, his actions taught us a lot of things we carry with us today.”

But even the best of plans can sometimes go awry, so when Bolo’s no longer held the monopoly in the hardware and furniture business, Lauren had to find innovative ways of keeping her loyal customers but still attract new ones.

“I think people still trusted the name,” she said. “That is

Lauren Joseph Simon

why even after his passing, it didn’t take a toll on the business.

“However, a few years into it, it became difficult after a lot of other businesses were opening in Linden, offering most of the products we do.

“So I had to come up with plans and strategies to draw back customers, and to keep them; we even went to new lines of products and services.”

didn’t know, however, was that Lauren was just as strongwilled as her father, and was out to prove that Bolo’s Variety was here to stay.

With grit and determination, coupled with the support of siblings and other family members, Lauren continues to press on, ensuring that her father keeps smiling in his grave.

Said Lauren: “Men in business most times don’t even give you the recognition you deserve, and you would even find at times where the business is overshadowed because of my gender…

“I intend to keep my father’s legacy alive as long as I am able and capable, or until I pass the baton on to one of my younger siblings.”

Meanwhile, somewhere deep inside her, she still yearns to one day pursue her dream.

“I have dreams of my own, and I want to continue my studies and achieve my dream profession of being a journalist,” Lauren said, adding: “I do believe in the biblical saying, ‘Blessed is the child that has his own’.”

Bolo’s Variety provides everything a house needs, from foundation to finish. These include cement, steel, stone, plywood, paint, windows and doors, electronics such as fridges, televisions, freezers, locally made furniture and lighting.

The store also offers vehicle rental for weddings, and party services.

Maintaining its corporate responsibility, Bolo’s mostly gives back to the arts and sports. Its motto is: ‘We make your house a home’.

Inside Bolo’s Variety Store

HERE TO STAY But the one mistake the competition made was to underestimate her, believing as they did that a woman was no match for them. What they

Linden teens take role play seriously – as they vie to become Junior Mayor for a year NEW Linden Mayor, Waneka Arindell has rolled out her signature programme which has seen a group of students from the various secondary schools in Linden vying for the post of junior mayor.

The programme is geared towards equipping the youths of Linden with the requisite skills and knowledge needed in the local government arena.

One of the challenges the present councillors face, Arindell says, is the lack of knowledge relating to local governance, since most of them have never functioned in a political capacity before.

“The main aim of the programme,” the mayor says, “is having continuity in leadership at the local level. It was birthed out of the struggles the councillors faced following Local Government Election, entering without any prior training.”

The programme was launched two weeks ago, and the students, all fourth formers, were each furnished with a booklet on local gover-

nance which they will study.

When done, they will then be tasked with completing an essay which will be judged by councillors. The students will also participate in a debate competition. The overall winner will be His or Her Junior Worship of Linden.

The student will shadow Mayor Arindell and have a first-hand opportunity of experiencing the day-to-day life of Her Worship for a one-year tenure. Arrindell will be making representation to the Council for the junior mayor to be given a stipend as a form of incentive.

“They have to go back to their schools and hold discussions with other students,” she said, adding: “They have to help establish a system of student governance, following which they will debate each other, and one of them will become Junior Mayor for one year. And they’re going to be entitled to walk with the mayor, and to also help us strengthen local democracy in our schools.”

youths have always been her passion.

“My passion has always been working with children, and the importance of each child being able to read and write according to their age for an educated population is a population that will survive,” Mayor Arindell said.

Some of the students that will be vying for the Junior “If we cannot train from the Mayor post. Speaking at the podium is Mayor of Linden, cradle, then we will lose them Ms Waneka Arindell in their youthful stage, and we will continue to have a stagnated The programme also makes provision for all of the Councillors to hold discussions relative population. With the rise in oil find, if we do to local governance in schools in their various not have an educated population, then we will continue to have overseas investors and workers constituencies.

This programme is also intended to raise taking all our finances away from our country awareness on the need for youths to be a part of and town,” she added, The Linden Mayor will be seeking the local governance, and the build their enthusiasm blessings of the Council to establish literacy for wanting to do so.

In addition to this programme, Arindell hubs all across Linden, and in the future to noted that she will be prioritising youth devel- establish a literacy school in an effort to help opment through academia, since working with slow learners.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Taking the risk of entrepreneurship

Saran Nurse and her legacy of ‘pet pampering’

By M Margaret Burke

SINCE migrating from Guyana several years ago, Saran Nurse has remained actively engaged with causes related to the development of the country of her birth. She has been a driving force in the Queen’s College of Guyana Alumni Association’s New York chapter, co-chairing the association’s annual student conference that engages hundreds of high school students.

In her capacity as co-chair she has also spearheaded the social innovation portion of the conference where students are tasked with developing a sustainable solution to an issue in their local school environment. She is motivated by the promotion of entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic advancement and also as a means of empowering, disadvantaged groups and marginalised populations.

Saran Nurse is a New York-based Guyanese entrepreneur and philanthropist who is passionate about entrepreneurship education and has led workshops and classes on entrepreneurship. She strongly believes that entrepreneurs are not necessarily born; rather they can be taught and developed.

PURSUING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE As an only child she states that her mother has been her best friend and biggest motivator. She credits her interest in the pursuit of economic and social justice for disadvantaged and marginalised populations, in large part, to the influence of her mother, Hyacinth Massay-Thomas who works with, and advocates for persons living with disabilities. Massay-Thomas is currently the Administrative Director of the Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Centre at Carmichael and Church Streets, Georgetown.

own business was informing her parents that she was giving up a secure corporate career to, not only take the risk of opening up her own business, but to open up a business that would focus on pampering pets.

“While the relationship local Guyanese have with their pets has changed over the years, at that time the idea of making a living off of pampering pets was completely alien to most Guyanese. The rest, as they say, is history,” Saran said.

The lovely young lady is now in her 15th year of being in the pet business. During this time she has opened, closed, sold and consolidated a total of seven stores.

Saran with her mother Hyacinth Massay-Thomas in loving embrace

BECOMING A BUSINESS OWNER Kiki’s Pet Spa & Boutique offers pet grooming, doggy daycare overnight boarding, dog-walking and cat-sitting. She said that being a business owner has helped her develop a passion for entrepreneurship, a passion which she happily shares with others. She has helped and coached some of her employees, as well as others to open up businesses of their own.

Saran has recently extended her interest, experience and

with a double major in Marketing and International studies within three years.”

ONE OF THE YOUNGEST EXECUTIVES She told the Pepperpot Magazine that she became one of the youngest executives of the Burdines Department Stores upon graduating from the FIU. She noted that this was despite the prodding from several of her college professors who recommended that she pursue a doctoral degree. However, she was determined to apply her business education to practical use and so she accepted a position as an Associate Buyer within the stores.

Saran said that in the quest to make herself more marketable as a business executive, as well as to deepen her understanding of business, a few years later, she decided to pursue a Graduate Degree in Business and accepted a scholarship to attend Georgetown University where she received a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1998.

She was recruited by American Express and moved to New York upon completing graduate school in Washington DC. She worked in a variety of marketing roles in American Express’ Consumer Card Services Group and Small Business Services division.

A LOVER OF PETS Saran says, “Ironically, growing up I never had any desire to be an entrepreneur but like many people in corporate America, I grew restless and yearned for a career with greater creative independence, autonomy and most of all I wanted to do something I was passionate about.

“I have always been a pet lover – as an only child, Saran (middle of first row) with a group of Queen’s College my dog was my surrogate sibling. Realising that there students who participated in a visual arts literacy was a huge pet population in my local neighbourhood that was programme she helped implement at the school not being catered to, I looked into the feasibility of opening up a pet store there,” Saran said.

Saran’s path to a career in business and entrepreneurship is She said that she did some research, determined that there somewhat circuitous. She attended Queen’s College through was potential for a pet store, left her job at American Express, to Fifth Form where she focused on the sciences. “While not attended the New York School of Dog Grooming and shortly at all passionate about sciences, I felt that entering the science thereafter opened up the first Kiki’s Pet Spa & Boutique store. ‘stream’ was what was expected of me. However, after completShe states, “Kiki was the name of my childhood dog; she ing CXC in Fifth I knew that I had no desire to continue with taught me the true meaning of compassion and unconditional science education so I enrolled in the accounting programme at love. My business bears her name as a tribute to her.” the University of Guyana,” she said. “I attended the University of Guyana for a year and, at the age of 17, left Guyana to attend INFORMING HER PARENTS Florida International University (FIU) from where I graduated She states that the most difficult part of deciding to start her

Saran teaching entrepreneurship to a group of high school students at a Brooklyn, NY school

passion for entrepreneurship into an intellectual endeavor, and, last year, after having not attended school for almost 20 years, she returned to school to pursue a doctoral degree. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Public and Urban Policy Programme at the Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School.

FURTHER STUDIES She explained that the doctoral programme at The New School places heavy emphasis on activist scholarship, social justice, issues of race and the effects of current and historical discrimintation and oppression on people of colour. She further states that her research focuses on inclusive entrepreneurship as she is interested in understanding how entrepreneurship can be effectively utilised to reduce racial inequality and the disparate impact government policies have had on black entrepreneurs versus entrepreneurs of other racial and ethnic groups in the United States as well as in Guyana.

“My advice to young women is to follow your passion regardless of what others say, but also make sure your passion is coupled with a plan, and, that the plan is a feasible one.”

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

XXVII

The ‘black sheep’ had a white streak

By Abdool A. Aziz

BOYSIE was labelled a ‘thief man’. He loved to steal his neighbours’ fruits and vegetables, now and then a few fowls or ducks. He could not find a paying job so he turned to stealing to support his impoverished family. His father died by accident when he was eight. His modus operandi was that he stole from the rich to help the poor, like Robin Hood.

He was often caught, beaten and even jailed. But this did not stop his criminal behaviour. The magistrate deemed him a kleptomaniac (someone addicted to stealing) and sentenced him to do time.

The time in the rehabilitation facility did him good. He learned to farm.

On his release, as a teenager, he leased his neighbour’s back-yard and began a farm. But the police was always ‘on his back’. Stealing was still going on. But he was innocent. He was a known thief and

now he was made a scapegoat. The frequent lock-ups and police brutality forced him to take matters into his own hands. He must find the culprit. So he went undercover.

Each night he staked out the rich man’s poultry run. He got lucky. He caught the thief and to his shock, it was the owner’s son. The bandit tried to bribe his captor but Boysie didn’t fall for it. He tried to fight off Boysie but to no avail. He had had enough of this criminal. No one could believe Mr Singh’s own flesh and blood would do this heinous act. He was stealing from his father and selling to illegal butchers and wasting the money on drinks and women. He ended up in jail and the stealing stopped.

The very community that castigated him now praised him as a hero. They all bought his garden products and the lessor scrapped the lease. Boysie could now plant and reap freely. Even the police made this youngster an ‘Honourable Constable’. But the best was yet to come. Mr Singh presented

Boysie with a pair of mating sheep. That ram and ewe multiplied and a flock grew.

Now Boysie was a shepherd.

No one is born a criminal. Sometimes circumstances dictate acts inimical to a good life but people can change from bad to good. Give them a chance. They deemed him a black sheep but he possessed a hidden white shriek that came to light. There

is good in all of us. The boys’ school of 1959 brought out the good side of Boysie.

Though he paid his debt to society he compensated those he stole from to feed the poor. ‘Label me bad. But I know I’m good.’

Help to bring out the good in others.

Boysie, my neighbour and former tenant.

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Golden Jubilee and special Mother’s Day celebration IT WAS an honour to celebrate with the David Rose School for Handicapped Children for their 50th anniversary, the headteacher, Mrs McKenzie and her team need

to be commended for their diligence and commitment to that institution. I’ve had the privilege in the last decade to have collaborated on a number of projects with this school.

Beyond the Runway with Dr. Sonia Noel

... Inspiring lives through fashion I was asked to give brief remarks at the anniversary celebration and I encouraged people to let the next 50 years of this school make a significant mark. There is so much more we can do for people living with special needs and we need to stop talking and act. My vision for the David Rose School is for children, especially in the beauty and creative sector, to be employed by designers like myself, salons, barbershops and other entities.

One of the touching moments that day for me was when one of the students of the school named Margaret came up to me with a big hug. She told me that she saw me in the papers with a beautiful blue dress and that her mom said every time she sees me in the newspaper she cuts it out.

These kids will always have a special place in my heart, the love and the hugs and kisses I’ve experienced through the years makes me energised to do more. I left that celebration to see some other people that are dear to me when I visited the New Amsterdam Women’s Prison for International Women’s Day. I had promised the mothers that I would give them a special treat for Mother’s Day and for anyone that knows me knows that my word is my bond.

I must thank the Director of Prisons and the prison officers, especially Mrs George, who was very enthusiastic about making this event a success and for giving us the opportunity to make the women look and feel beautiful inside and out even if it’s just for one day. Denielle John who is my sister and assistant and Alana De Souza who manages Makin’ Style Boutique had a wonderful makeup session with the ladies and boy did they look stunning.

The makeup was provided by Lisa’s Beauty Shop and I must commend Mrs. Bibi Ramlall for answering the call, the ladies were very excited to do their fittings from selected outfits from my collection. I was chatting with a young lady from Canada who is in there on narcotics charges who told me that her mom sent her this beautiful dress that she probably won’t get to wear, so I told her I will give you an opportunity today because you will be the MC of the show. She started sobbing uncontrollably saying you have no idea what you will be doing for me, so I told her to go into the makeup chair, get her makeup done and put on the dress that means so much to her. Then it was showtime, we started with a song by one of the ladies then the distribution of Mother’s Day cards that I personally signed, then it came time for the fashion show. The ladies all looked like they were walking the catwalk at Guyana Fashion Week with exceptional style, and the loud applause from their colleagues gave them more confidence.

Some lucky mothers won prizes that were provided by Integrated Security Services. The prizes were for the youngest mother, the oldest mother and the mother with the most kids. The mothers were then serenaded by one of the inmates and her song of choice was ‘Flying without wings’. Another memorable moment was when one of the mothers came to me and told me that my book, Living With Intention has taken her out of a major depression. It feels good to know that your story is inspiring other lives.

They even surprised me with a gift and one of the ladies sang a special song for me and it was so emotional.

She mentioned that they can’t repay me for all I’ve done for them over the years and this is their way of showing appreciation. We closed off in prayers and encouraged each other to keep keeping on and to continue to build our faith. Best wishes to all the mothers who are celebrating Mother’s Day. May we think of every day as Mother’s Day as we continue this journey called Life BEYOND THE RUNWAY.

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FUNCTIONAL ORTHODONTICS THE professors who taught me orthodontics at university emphasised that you cannot change the shape of your mouth without affecting the rest of your head.

I believe many a keen eye can spot someone who has had traditional orthodontic from a mile away. There is a typical braces look – almost as though something is awry in the structural composition of the face and jaw.

Often people look as though their mouth is “bashed in” instead of in balance with the rest of their face and head.

That is because some orthodontists move teeth around without considering the relationship of the jaw to the surrounding cranial system.

Unfortunately, not all orthodontists are trained to think this way. A lot of orthodontic treatment is done without regard to the rest of the head and face, with terrible results.

For example, it is common practice to move “buck” teeth, (what is commonly referred to as “riders”), back to correct the bite. But the problem with buck teeth is usually not that they stick out too far – it is the problem that the jaw does not extend out far enough. Proper whole body dental treatment calls for the jaw to be brought forward into balance with the whole structure of the head.

Usually, extraction of the bicuspids is done to give room to allow the upper front teeth to be drawn back. The bicuspids are the teeth just behind the eye teeth. When I began seeing a lot of patients who complain of pain in their jaw sockets, I noticed that many of them had their bicuspids removed at an early age. There are numerous disadvantages and problems associated with this: the first and foremost is a functional change in the temporomandibular joint apparatus (TMD). I firmly believe that orthodontics and bicuspid removal greatly contribute to the onset of TMD. Furthermore, the aesthetic result is usually less than desirable.

Few orthodontists are aware of the many implications involved in moving teeth. It is not enough to have the teeth line up nicely and look right. Their positioning has to be in harmony with the musculature and the temporomandibular joint. Often teeth are moved without consideration for the muscle balance, cranial alignment and the temporomandibular joint. This is a dangerous practice since all joints of the head must be in harmonious relationship with one another for optimal health. The entire craniosacral system can be tremendously impacted by even a slight alteration in the positioning of the teeth.

I began studying functional orthodontics because I wanted my patients to have a higher standard of care that was available with traditional orthodontics. At a seminar I attended in Texas, USA, Dr. John Witzig presented a remarkable case study dramatically illustrating the disruptive effects of orthodontia. He showed us pictures of identical twins born in England. When they were teenagers, the parents took the twins to a public dentist under the socialised medical system, who recommended extracting the first bicuspids and fitting appliances for both children. They proceeded with one twin, but then had reservations and took the second twin to a private dentist who fitted appliances without extractions.

Dr Witzig then displayed pictures of the sisters as adults several years after the procedures had been completed.

When those photos went up, the audience literally gasped.

The two sisters were no longer identical. The difference in their facial structure was striking. One sister had a beautiful broad smile and full balanced facial development. The other sister had a very narrow face and tight, unpleasant smile. Of course, you can guess that the sister with the unattractive facial features was the unfortunate twin who had her bicuspids removed.

I cannot overstate the importance of the teeth in terms of proper bone development in the face and jaw. With traditional orthodontics, frequently teeth are extracted to make more room and then pressure is applied to move the

remaining teeth around until they created proper bite and look straight. Unfortunately, very little attention is given to the effect of the procedure on the overall bone structure and musculature, and often the appearance.

However, there are some orthodontists who practice what is now being termed “functional orthodontics”.

In the above example, a functional orthodontist would evaluate the entire structure of the head, the relation-

ship of the teeth to the jaw and other facial bones, and then fit an appliance that would stimulate growth and encourage teeth to realign themselves in proper relationship to the rest of the head and muscles. The entire mode of treatment, including the physical structure of the actual appliances, is different. Because a harmony is achieved between the muscles, and lip and tongue pressure, the chance of a relapse is greatly diminished.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Domestic Abuse and Mental Health SINCE we have been on the topic of harassment and assault over the past few weeks, I thought I should continue with a specific kind that we sadly see or hear about every day within our community. I see as many as 15 people per week because of trauma due to domestic abuse.

It’s so commonplace and shows no discrimination to age, gender, ethnicity or socio-economic status. Although so common, it seems that people are still uncomfortable talking about it which allows its prevalence to remain or even increase.

The first thing to know is - what exactly is domestic

abuse? It is any type (physical, verbal, emotional, financial or sexual) abuse that is committed within the home- usually by a partner or spouse. Each type is equally as painful as the other, lowering the victim’s feelings of self-worth, hope, happiness and sense of safety in their own home.

This leads to the second thing to know. Are you being abused? Some situations are obvious but others are sadly so used to a certain type of treatment, that they are not even aware that they are being abused. Noticing the signs of whether you (or a friend/family member) are in an abusive relationship is the first step to ending it.

I’m going to ask a few questions. If your answer is yes to more than half of them, you may be in an abusive relationship and should reach out for help.

ARE YOU: - Afraid of your partner?

- Always walking on eggshells around them to avoid a blowout?

- Lying often to avoid fights?

- Not allowed to have access to phone, car or money?

- Being constantly checked on?

- Wondering if you are the one who has a problem?

- Feeling sad and alone even when he/she is around?

- Feeling criticised, humiliated or even ignored when he/she is around?

- Embarrassed often around other people?

- Being physically hurt or threatened?

- Constantly having to replace valuables that are being broken?

- Being isolated from your friends/family?

- Feeling like you deserved to be mistreated?

If you have just determined that you are in an abusive relationship, there are things that you can do. You can learn exactly what it is doing to you, whether you notice it or not, and you can learn where to go seek help.

There is a particular cycle/ pattern that occurs in domestic abuse.

There is the abuse, guilt, excuses, normal behaviour, and finally set up. This means there is the abuse itself- whichever kind. The guilt that subsequently surfaces is not over the abuse but encompasses more a worry of getting caught, facing consequences or losing the partner etc. Excuses happen when the abuser tries to justify what he/she has done- abusers rarely ever take responsibility. Normal behaviour means the abuser will go back to being kind as he/she was many times before- allowing the victim to feel that change can happen. Set up occurs when the abuse happens again- again with a justification for what the victim ‘has done’. While taking cycles into consideration, it is important to note that anyone who abuses any substance is more likely to abuse their partner. A partner who is being abused is more likely to abuse their children.

Those children are subsequently more likely to grow up and become abusers themselves, especially males. This is a cycle that must be stopped now.

During and/or after abuse, the victim feels afraid, alone, hopeless, helpless and typically becomes withdrawn. It’s not common that they reach out to anyone for help which means their support circles automatically decrease. They are typically not able to perform duties as they once did with the abuse affecting their day to day life- even if the abuse is not happening daily. Domestic abuse also greatly increases the chances of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, self-harm and suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

WHAT CAN WE DO? FOR BOTH OTHERS AND OURSELVES? If you suspect abuse, ALWAYS confront it- express concern. Sometimes, victims blame themselves for their abuse and are ashamed to reach out for help. If they open up, listen and don’t judge. Understand that it is indeed difficult to leave an Turn to page XXXI ►►►

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Empowering staff through training!

AS A key government agency serving the valuable public, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continually seeks to motivate and empower staff to be efficient and effective. The EPA as much as possible ceases every opportunity to enhance the development of its staff through relevant training.

Staff development is viewed as a critical component needed to equip staff to respond to the demanding and evolving work portfolio of the agency. It also helps staff members learn about responsibilities, develop required skills and competencies necessary to accomplish institutional and divisional goals and purposes, and grow personally and professionally to prepare themselves for advancement in the institution or beyond.

A number of training opportunities were granted to staff of the EPA during the first quarter of the year. Officers from various programme areas were privileged to attend training on various topics and made representation for the agency both locally and internationally. The training programmes which the agency participated in during the first quarter of the year targeted both technical and administrative staff.

In the technical category,

two representatives from the agency attended the 2018 Australasian Environmental Law Enforcement and Regulation Conference in Sydney, Australia, for one week. This conference brought together more than 250 environmental law enforcers and regulators from around the world.

With the Agency taking a more proactive approach to boosting its enforcement and compliance capabilities the opportunity was taken to gain valuable knowledge and experience about modern methods used to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Similarly, on the international arena, a representative from the agency was able to benefit from a five-day Fellowship in Trieste, Italy, Europe focusing on Genetically Modify Organisms (GMOs).

Locally, officers attended an incident command training in Guyana facilitated by the Civil Defense Commission (CDC). This training sought to equip attendees with the ability to better respond to emergencies such as oil spills, fires and other chemical and biological incidents. A number of other staff were able to benefit

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abusive situation. Offer support and whatever help possible.

To all our women and men who are being abused, you deserve to feel appreciated, respected and safe. You are not alone and there are places to go for help.

HELP AND SHELTER If you are being abused (physically, sexually, financially or emotionally) by your partner, you can head to their walkin centre for counselling. In extreme cases, they provide shelter in a safe, undisclosed location. This is for women and children only.

Walk-in centre address: Homestretch Avenue, Durban Park, Georgetown.

Phone – 225-4731/ 227-8353 Ministry of Social Protection (Probation and Welfare Department) Provides a wide range of counselling, dealing with a wide variety of issues including domestic abuse/violence.

Address: 22 Lamaha and East Street, Georgetown Phone: 231 6556 Corriverton Domestic Violence Counselling Centre Provides counselling for domestic violence. Call or walk in.

Address: 24 Rahaman Park, Springlands Phone: 333-3887 If you feel like just talking to someone, please call the Suicide Prevention Helpline.

223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896.

It is open 24 hours a day.

Please remember to keep writing to caitlinvieira@gmail. com. Let me know what you want to talk about!

Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always

over this period on areas relating to radiation, waste management and land resource management.

Administratively, a number of staff benefitted from Module 1 of the ‘Principals

of Secretarial Practices and Personnel Practices and Policy’ facilitated by the Department of the Public Service.

This training is continuous and other staff will be able to benefit from other modules

developed by the department to better serve the public.

Undoubtedly, staff development is vital for the future of the EPA. An effective staff development policy is linked to the EPA having a robust improvement plan to include all staff – both technical and administrative staff. Most certainly, the profile of staff development has been raised in recent years, so next time you meet one of the highly skilled and trained staff of the EPA remember that the agency places high emphasis

on developing its staff complement to better serve you, the public while at the same time protecting and safeguarding our environment.

You can share your ideas and questions by sending letters to: “Our Earth, Our Environment”, C/O ECEA Programme, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email us at: eit.epaguyana@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

‘Jump rope’: The craze that’s all the rage in Linden

Linden students taking part in the LTW 2018 Skip to My Lou competition

IT is no longer about holding a skipping rope and jumping aimlessly as just a pasttime activity or exercise routine.

In Linden, ‘jump rope’, as the activity is now called, has evolved, and making this possible for the scores of youngsters who are now referred to as “Jump-rope Athletes” is the “Show-Steppers Skip-to-My-Lou Club” which is located at the Mackenzie High School.

Children belonging to this club are trained to do individual, free-style, pairing, double dutch, and last-man-standing among other forms of skipping. With music, they are trained to synchronise their moves, using various routines and choreography.

Youngsters from primary and secondary schools across Linden flock the MHS auditorium on Sundays to perfect their skills at “jump rope”, the new and exciting sport in Linden that is fast overshadowing traditional sports.

The Guyana Skip-to-My-Lou Association has ensured that since the Sports Association of Trinidad introduced the sport to Guyana in 2010 through the ‘Jump Rope for Heart’ programme, it is now being practised here all across the country.

Linden, however, has been making significant headway, with “jump-rope athletes” bringing back to the mining town several of the winning trophies at nationally held competitions. The last time they did was back in February at the Mashramani Skip-to-My-Lou Competition.

Then just recently for Linden Town Week, there was a Skip-to-My-Lou Competition in which schools from all across Guyana participated.

As “jump rope” trainer, Shavin Greene explained to this publication, the sport has seen overwhelming growth in Linden since its 2014 introduction, and while only primary schools were initially involved, now there are both primary and secondary jumpers.

Since the holding of the first national competition in 2017, Greene said, there are now regional camps all across Guyana, which sees him visiting them all to assist with training.

In another few days, on the 17th May, another national competition will be held under the theme “Skip be Fit.” They are currently preparing for a World Championship which will be held in Orlando Florida U.S.A from the 1st to the 10th July.

Representing Guyana will be 12 jumpers and three officials.

The Show Steppers Club is currently burning the midnight oil preparing for the competition so as to ensure that the Golden Arrow Head is flown high. Last year a small team visited the world jump rope camp and one of the main jumpers was able to get a first-hand experience of what international jump rope standard is all about. Greene said that he is optimistic that the team will make Guyana proud since the club has a lot of strong jumpers. “Last year we went to view the competition and also take part in the camp, this year, world’s would have sent out an invitation, they see the work that we are doing, hosting national competitions, hosting training camps and spreading the sport, so they are encouraged by that, so they sent out another invitation for us this year to compete in the competition. We are very optimistic about it because looking at where they are at now, over the years they have been progressing fast, so there are not far from what we would have Turn to page XXXIV ►►►

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“A Treat for My Mother Part 3” for NCC tonight ‘A TREAT For My Mother 3’ will be hosted at the National Cultural Centre this evening from 20:00hrs and promises to be just as the name suggests!

The event is a musical variety show with songs of the 60s and 70s featuring: Colin ‘Love child’ Ambrose, Donald Wallerson, Bonny Alves, Ronald Green Windfield James, Sheron Cadogan-Taylor, Barbara Lee, and others colliding with contemporary fashion of 2018 and portraying the works of local designers Meleesa Payne-Bishop and NieLSON nURSE Director of the event, Simone Dowding said “This event can be used to bring families closer together, also the music will take mothers down memory lane. It’s clean fun for all of the family, so come and bask in the glow of love!!”

Tickets cost $2,000 and $1,500

Sonia Noel hosts Book Launch at University of Guyana

Fashion designer, activist and author, Sonia Noel, on Thursday evening presented a collection of her books to the University of Guyana Library and the National Library at a special ceremony and book launch held at the University’s Education Lecture Theatre, Turkeyen Campus.

Noel, in a short interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, expressed that she was extremely honoured to have been hosted by the University of Guyana and given the chance to make a donation to the libraries. “It really made me feel special that a University that I did not even attend would have this event in my honour. I must thank the Vice Chancellor,” she said.

The event was attended by several well-known public figures including United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mikiko Tanaka; UG Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr Paloma Mohamed, Ruel Johnson, Francis Quamina Farrier, representatives from Ministries and the Diplomatic Corps and several others.

Excerpts from Noel’s books Women Across Borders, Living with Intention and Beyond the Runway Compilation were also read before the attentive audience. Noel, in her acknowledgements thanked all those who attended the event as well as others who provided support on her journey. She gave honourable mention to persons such as Compton Babb who painted the cover for the Women across Borders publication. ◄◄◄ From page XXXIII

seen at the world championships,” he said.

Several fund raising activities as well as sponsorship from corporate Guyana as well as the National Sports Commission are making the trip possible. Donations are however still appreciated, to meet all expenses of the team.

Greene reiterated that this is a perfect opportunity for the students and they are looking forward to being there. He explained that Skip to my Lou, as any sport, contributes to creating rounded students who are also encouraged to perform well in academics. In fact, for the Show Steppers Club, it is a must that the students keep their grades up to continue jumping. “In order for you to be a part of the jump rope camp, your grades must be at a certain level, we force education with the jump rope, if my jumpers are not up to scratch with their reports and classes, they would have to sit out of competitions and sit out training until they get their work in order.” Greene posited that it is also a perfect opportunity to keep the youths meaningfully occupied.

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Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

English STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, Good prose writing considers the sounds as well as the meaning of words. When you write, select and arrange words to produce a smooth, melodious effect.

Avoid the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of accented syllables in succeeding words; it is likely to be awkward and irritating. Avoid disagreeable combinations of sounds; they also are likely to distract the reader’s attention. Reading your writing aloud helps you detect irritating sounds and their combinations. Be wise.

Love you.

THE PASSAGE One morning in July when I was walking across a clover field to a sweet-apple tree, I almost stepped on him. There he lay coiled like heavy strands of black rope. He was a big bull blacksnake. We looked at each other a minute and I stuck the toe of my shoe up to his mouth.

He drew his head back in a friendly way. He didn’t want trouble. Had he shown the least fight I would have soon finished him. My father had always told me there was only one good snake – a dead one.

When the big fellow didn’t show any fight, I reached down and picked him up by the neck. When I lifted him, he was as long as I was tall. That was six feet. I stated calling him Old Ben as I held him by the neck and rubbed his back.…

The more I petted him, the more affectionate he became…. He was so friendly I decided to trust him.

I wrapped him around my neck a couple of times and let him loose. He crawled down one arm and went back to my neck, around and down the other arm and back again. He struck out his forked tongue to the sound of my voice as I talked to him.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

“I wouldn’t kill you at all,” I said. “You’re a friendly snake. I’m taking you home with me.”

I headed home with Old Ben wrapped around my neck and shoulders. When I started over the hill by the pine grove, I met my cousin Wayne, who stopped and started backing down the hill.

“He’s a pet, Wayne,” I said. “Don’t be afraid of Old Ben.” “What are you going to do with him? Wayne asked. “Uncle Mack won’t let you keep hm!”

“Put him in the corn crib, “I said. “He’ll have plenty of delightful food in there. The cats we keep at the barn have grown fat and lazy.”

I opened the crib door and took Old Ben from around my neck because he was beginning to get warm and a little heavy.

“This will be your home,” I said. “You’d better hide under the corn.”

(From Jesse Stuart’s “Old Ben”) About the Passage This structure is narrative. It contains the beginnings of the short story “Old Ben.” Narrative structure is the form or pattern a story follows.

Remember that a narrative may not always follow a straight line. Authors play with time sequence. When they do, they use two common narrative devices that affect the way readers get important information and understand key elements of a story.

Look at the following narrative devices: ■ Flashback, which is s scene relating an event that happened in the past; maybe something important about a character’s past.

■ Foreshadowing by which the author provides clues that hint at events to come. Readers are kept guessing about future events.

What to Do

Children begin by loving their parents; after a time, they judge them; rarely, if ever, do they forgive them.

OSCAR WILDE (1854-1900) 1. View critically what would be your response if you almost stepped on a snake.

2. When and how is it possible for you personally to call a snake affectionate?

3. Examine the narrative structure and pinpoint the author’s decisions that keep the narrative about Old Ben moving forward so far.

4. Write a short story about an animal you found in the wild which became your pet. You can try to use the beginning steps of Jesse’s story, “Old Ben.” Proof read your effort.

GRAMMAR Modifiers defined: Modifiers are the subordinate (not main) elements of a sentence. Any word, phrase, or clause which qualifies or limits the meaning of some other part of the sentence in which it stands is a modifier.

An ill-constructed sentence, displaying the error of the misplaced modifier has a modifier standing away from the word it modifies. This fault may result in confusion or absurdity.

WRONG: A garden attendant was replanting a variegated thick-leaf thyme bed in long boots and cowboy hat. (case of misplaced modifying phrase) RIGHT: A garden attendant, in long boots and cowboy hat, was replanting a variegated thick-leaf thyme bed.

Explanation: The phrase, in long boots and cowboy hat, modifies garden attendant and must be placed near it to avoid an absurdity.

Such words as only, ever, almost, are frequently misplaced.

Further: In the sentence, I only need some water with three drops of lemon juice, the word only is separated from water, the noun which it modifies, and it seems to modify the intervening verb, need. (case of misplaced modifying single word) The sentence should read: I need only some water with three drops of lemon juice.

Something to Do 1. State what differences of meaning are brought about by the placing of the modifiers in the groups of sentences given below. a. (i) The birthday presents are coming from Liverpool by airplane. (ii) The birthday presents from Liverpool are coming by airplane. b. (i) I drink cold black tea without milk only on workdays. (ii) On workdays, I only drink cold black tea without milk. (iii) Only I drink cold black tea without milk on workdays. c. (i) The teacher trainer advised Harry Johnson not to return to classes without seeing a doctor. (ii) Without seeing a doctor, the teacher trainer advised Harry Johnson not to return to classes. d. (i) To be forthright, the move does not at all seem valid. (ii) The move does not at all seem valid to be forthright.

Chronicle Pepperpot May 13, 2018

Entertainment Spotify removes R. Kelly's music from playlists after boycott campaign American R&B singer R. Kelly’s music was removed from playlists and recommendations on Spotify, the streaming service said on Thursday, after a campaign to boycott the singer who has been accused of sexual misconduct.

Kelly, 51, one of the most successful R&B singers of the past 20 years, has been the object of an online #MuteRKelly boycott campaign that gained momentum last week when it was adopted by the Time’s Up movement against sexual harassment.

The action will affect Spotify-owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations, the company said. Kelly’s music will still be available on the service but the decision to remove it from playlists means it will no longer be promoted.

Kelly’s manager John Holder did not reply to Reuters requests for comment.

Spotify Technologies SA (SPOT.N) said in a statement, “We don’t censor content because of an artist’s or creator’s behavior, but we want our editorial decisions - what we choose to program - to reflect our values.”

“When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator,” it said.

Spotify is the world’s largest music streaming service, with 75 million paid subscribers.

Last July Kelly, whose given name is Robert, denied accusations in an article by U.S. media outlet BuzzFeed News that he was keeping a household of young women in a “cult” atmosphere.

His attorney, Linda Mensch, said at the time, “Mr. Robert Kelly is both alarmed and disturbed at the recent revelations attributed to him. Mr. Kelly unequivocally denies such allegations and will work diligently and forcibly to pursue his accusers and clear his name.” Kelly has not been charged with any crime.

In May, the Washington Post reported that six women once connected with Kelly said they were in abusive relationships with him. Kelly has denied the accusations.

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Chocolate Fudge

Ingredients: 2 to 3 tbsp Cocoa powder 1 1/2 lbs Sugar 1 oz Margarine 1 tin Condensed milk diluted with the same amount of water 1 tsp Vanilla essense Method for preparing: First sift the cocoa powder and it to the sugar.

Melt the margarine in a non-enamel pot.

Now add the sugar and cocoa mixture, and milk in the pot.

Place on moderate heat.

Then constantly stir until sugar is melted.

Important! Do not allow the mixture to boil before the sugar melts.

Allow to boil for about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Test the mixture by dropping a little into cold water, at this stage it should form a soft ball.

Now add essence, and remove from heat and beat well until the mixture thickens and begins to leave the side of the pan.

Pour into a greased Swiss roll tin.

Lastly, when cool, but not hard, cut into squares.