Pepperpot epaper 09 11 2016

II

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Private farmer displays confidence in local agriculture sector “Farming is in my blood…I’m very passionate about it and simply cannot see myself involved in any other business,” says Forbes McGarrell, a second generation farmer.

Mc Garrell has been engaged in farming for the past 24 years, gaining vast experience in the rice and cash crop sectors.

Years ago, while residing in Barbados McGarrell did farming on a subsistence level.

Considering his success at farming, Mc Garrell decided to return home (Guyana) to take up large scale farming. Being ambitious and forward thinking, he was able to achieve certain aspects of his dream.

Today, he is the proud owner of McGarrell’s Farm and Plant Nursery, situated at Acme Housing Scheme, Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequbio.

The company has distribution sites in Georgetown, Mon Repos and Linden. Confident ► Continued on page III

CEO of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth and Mr. Forbes Mc Garrell looking at celery seedlings

Pamela Gossai and Bibi Yassin in the seedling nursery

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016 Cabbage being grown on a large scale

► From page II in the local agriculture sector, Mc Garrell will be opening a distribution site in Charity, Region Two. This is being done in partnership with the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI).

McGarrell is the General Manager for his company and is actively involved in every aspect, particularly the germination of seeds. Of the fifteen persons employed with the company, 80 percent are women. The male employees operate machinery, maintenance and do the heavy lifting while the women work to produce healthy seedlings. The plant nursery supplies a variety of seedlings including tomato, lettuce, celery and cabbage to home gardeners and commercial farmers across Guyana.

When the Chief Executive Officer of NAREI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth and team visited the company’s operations base at Tuschen back dam, East Bank Essequbio, on Wednesday, two women were potting. Sitting under a breezy shed Pamela Gossai and Bibi Yassin were busy. On a daily basis, the duo pots about 200 seedling trays with ease. After potting, the seedlings are placed in shaded conditions, where they stay for about three to four weeks (depending on the crop) before being transported to the distribution sites. Mc Garrell’s seedlings are sold from as low as $8.

Seedlings produced are also utilized on the company’s farm. For the past 15 years, McGarrell has been engaged in commercial farming. Major plans are in the pipeline for the development of the 42 acres of land at Tuschen. The farm is equipped with a tractor, an excavator, and a small engine boat. He has expressed an interest in having NAREI set up demonstration plots on his farm.

About 15 acres of the farmland is currently being utilized with the cultivation of cabbages and plantains, and nearby there is a hassar pond.

McGarrell’s farm is one to boast about. Even with the large land space, the farm beds are clean. There is no visible sign of pest destruction to the crops. Of course, having a farm of this high sanitation standard comes with a lot of work.

Work on the farm begins promptly at 06:30 hrs and concludes at 18:00hrs. The workers are entitled to breaks. Some of them relax in or under the small cottage on the farm while the others use hammocks.

The simple lifestyle the farm offers workers could be an intriguing and/or learning experience for persons, especially those accustomed to a hectic lifestyle or want to get involved in farming. As such, McGarrell wants to get involved in agriculture tourism. He believes that the serenity, nature, and the rural lifestyle could be an exciting package.

According to Dr. Homenauth, NAREI is pleased whenever farmers are engaged in such progressive ventures since they improve the livelihoods of communities. The Institute will continue to support such initiatives since help to realize President David Granger’s vision of reviving village economies.

III

IV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

By Subraj Singh

G

Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart

uyana has an obvious direct and important connection to the African continent. Our history is linked to the continent and, as a result, much of our culture – our folklore, our rituals and various traditions, even our proverbs – have their origins in Africa. African history itself, in dealing with a colonialism that was also experienced by Guyana, lends itself to the similarities that exist between our country and the continent. Yet, strangely, it seems as though African literature has not been wholly embraced by Guyanese readers in the way that American literature, English literature and even literature from India has been. This is made all the more interesting when we consider that Africa has produced some of the most diverse and important writers to emerge on the global literary scene and their work needs to be accepted by societies who can glean and understand the wealth of necessary information being offered in such works. Chinua Achebe is one of these great African writers and his magnum opus, Things Fall Apart, definitely needs to be appreciated by more Guyanese.

First published since 1958, the novel is set in Nigeria, in an Ibo village, where we meet our protagonist, Okonkwo, a former wrestler and a strong and upstanding figure in his village. He has several wives and many children and does seem to exhibit traits of the tragic hero. The novel chronicles Okonkwo’s life in his village – his rise to power and to a position of influence, his relationships with his wives, his children, and the other villagers, his failings and flaws as a man, and the advent of colonialism and the arrival of Christian missionaries to the village.

One of the remarkable things that Achebe does in his work that can be emulated

by Guyanese writers is his use of traditional folk forms in his writing. He uses, for example, a Nigerian folktale as a mechanism with which to approach the themes of masculinity and femininity which plays an important part in the novel. Achebe’s use of ritualistic dancing, the use of masks and costumes, and other forms of Ibo culture in the initial portions of the novel stand blatantly against the colonials who appear later in the book and serves to remind the reader of some of what is lost with the arrival of the Christian missionaries.

Of course, the novel definitely lends itself to postcolonial criticism. The title itself may refer to the destruction or disassembling of the village, of the life of Okonkwo, of the culture of the Ibo, or even of Nigeria or Africa itself, due to colonialism. One of the interesting aspects of the representation of colonials in this novel is the way in which Achebe shows an insidious and more subtle form of colonialism – through religion – and reminds us of the important lesson which states that not all forms of colonialism entail the use of guns and the slaughter of men. One of the most famous quotes in the book highlights this idea when it says, “The white man is very clever.

He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart.” The falling apart of a society, the loss of traditional culture and customs, and the role of colonialism in all this should definitely show us how similar African histo-

ry and African societies are to our own and it is for this reason that African literature should be more widely read and celebrated in Guyana.

(Penguin Books, 2006)

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

V

Preventing Suicides Hello Everyone, I hope this week has treated you well.

Yesterday, September 10th was World Suicide Prevention Day so I’ve decided to pay tribute to it today. I’ve spoken about suicide a few times before but this article is for those who are unaware of the seriousness of this issue or where to get help.

I also believe that so many people started to get involved and were spreading awareness but over time, like with many other things, people have started to lose interest. I’m hoping to permanently change that.

World Suicide Prevention Day was created in 2003 by an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The efforts were made shortly after the discovery that over 800,000 people commit suicide around the world every year.

It is so unfortunate that Guyana has the highest rate in the world. I don’t think many of us have actually stopped to think about what that means for us as a nation.

The world average is 11 people per 100,000 while Guyana has 44. This means that if you take 100,000 people from any other country and put them in one room, 11 (on average) will commit suicide. In Guyana, 44 will. That is a huge lead.

I feel like everyone already knows this. We know it’s a problem but do we know why? Do we know the individuals who are more likely to attempt, do we know all the causal factors, the warning signs? More importantly, do we know the solutions?

Here are some facts about Guyana.

- - - - - - -

Younger people between the ages of 12- 18 are more likely to attempt suicide People in the age range of 19-40 have more successful attempts Females are more likely to attempt suicide than males Males are more successful in their attempt Suicide is more common among Indo- Guyanese The most commonly used means is pesticides Suicides are most common in Regions 2, 5 and 6

WHAT ARE SOME CAUSAL FACTORS OF SUICIDE? People who experience mental illness such as depression and substance abuse are much more likely to attempt suicide. Depression is a prolonged period of sadness which results isolation, loss of interest in activities etc. Substance abuse has very similar symptoms but also think about what an abuser would go through that the (lucky) average individual wouldn’t, such as loss of job, family, friends, prostitution, legal issues and so on.

Health issues are another reason why people might want to take their own lives. I once did an outreach in Berbice where a man had a piece of glass stuck in his eye for a week as there were no doctors to take it out. He also did not have the money to come into Georgetown, making poverty another risk factor.

Any kind of abuse – sexual, physical, emotional and financial- are common risk factors for suicide. Low education is another one that can be tied with that. I cannot even count the amount of abused, illiterate women who come in to GPHC for help as they feel they have no skills to make it on their own.

Abuse also applies to children. Many young people in Guyana commit suicide. I believe this abuse has a lot to do with it. For example, I did an outreach in Berbice with 30-40 adolescents. I asked them if they felt they could go to their parents if they were in trouble. Every one of them said no. Now, imagine a scenario where a 14 year old is pregnant and terrified of her parents because of their usual abuse, what options are there for her?

Of course, much like how the amount of rum shops contribute to the high alcohol use in Guyana, easy access to pesticides is another reason for the high rate of suicide in Guyana.

Now, what are some warning signs? How can we tell if someone might be considering suicide? I’m not going to lie- sometimes you can’t tell or the signs slide right past you. However, there are some universal signs that if both partners are lucky will be caught in time.

First of all, the best predictor of a suicide attempt is a previous one. If someone has attempted before, they are likely to attempt again.

Otherwise, individuals with suicidal thoughts are usually withdrawn and preferably isolated, sad or depressed and have lost interest in activities they once loved.

They tend to be very negative, have low self-esteem and have a hopeless outlook on life.

This typically results in physical changes such as neglect of appearance, weight loss or gain, substance abuse, visual tiredness, insomnia etc.

If the individual is older, they might show signs by rushing to get all their affairs in order, saying elaborate goodbyes, giving away prised possessions, stockpiling medications etc.

Now, we all know the problem – what’s the solution?

It’s important to know what help is available. No matter where you are, go to your nearest health centre if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts. There will always be someone there to help or at least refer you to somewhere else.

Since lack of motivation is also a serious symptom of suicidal thoughts/ tendencies, you do not even have to leave your home. Call the Guyana Suicide Prevention Helpline numbers.

The centre is open 24 hours so you can call at any time. It’s free to call and you can remain as anonymous as you like which means you do not have to give any personal information about yourself. The numbers are: 223-0001, 223-0009, 623-4444, 600-7896 Please do not be afraid to seek help!

The helpline is not only there so one can speak about their problems. We do everything we can to actually come up with a solution to it.

I also urge newspapers to start posting these numbers on their front page instead of details of the last person who committed suicide.

Thank you for reading and please send in any topics to caitlinvieira@ gmail.com. Also please remember when you can come see me.

Georgetown Public Hospital :Monday- Friday – 8am- 12pm Woodlands Hospital: Outpatient Department Drug and Alcohol group meetings - Mondays 4:15 Good mental health group meetings- Wednesdays 4:15 Say Yes to Life and No to Drugs! Always!

VI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Sustained effort CONSUMER needed to lessen CONCERNS: traffic accidents

T

raffic accidents account as one of the leading causes of death in Guyana.

At the beginning of World War II and until the end of the 1960s, traffic accident deaths were comparatively rare.

Well-to-do citizens went

about in horse-drawn cabs, goods were transported by horse or donkey carts and the majority of the population, including children, rode bicycles.

Motor cycles, cars and lorries were used by a fairly small number of people and taxis were

comparatively few.

After the 1970s, motor vehicles, despite the shortage of foreign exchange, came into the country in an increasing crescendo resulting in our road systems, especially in the larger towns and villages, becoming inadequate to accommo-

date this great influx of vehicles. Road accidents became more common as well as deaths.

A few weeks ago, there was a serious accident involving a minibus in Regent Street, one of Georgetown's busiest streets. One passenger died and several others were hospitalized with their injuries. Luckily, no pedestrians, who are always in large numbers in the street, were hurt.

After such accidents, there is almost a ritual of the Police saying their part and the public be-

PAT DIAL moaning such accidents, usually blaming the drivers. Most of what is said tends to recommend punitive action against the parties concerned.

A comprehensive and

sustained nation-wide activity, however, needs to be mounted to deal with the problem subsuming whatever positive suggestions had been made in the past.

This activity has to be a shared responsibility between the State, motor-vehicle drivers/owners and pedestrians.

The Guyana Consumers Association (GCA) has been putting forward the following suggestions over the years: Firstly, in both the primary and secondary schools, children should

â–ş Continued on page VII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016 â–ş From page VI be taught the basic traffic laws and how to use the roads, and on the walls of every class-room the traffic rules and regulations should be posted up. Traffic films should be used at the Social Studies classes.

Children could be given some practical experience by having them direct traffic in the school street during the midday and end-of-day session. They should wear the traffic director's sash and jacket and the exposure should be done in rotation. The responsibility for this activity lies with the Ministry of Education.

Secondly, the Police must actively enforce the Laws against having recorded music in the minibuses. The music played is quite loud and when the conductors and drivers listen to this loud music continuously all day, their hearing becomes impaired - a

driver who is deaf to whatever degree is a danger on the roads.

Thirdly, the Police must enforce the Law against vehicles using tyres with worn out tracts. Though minibuses rarely have tyres with worn-out tracts, they often use imported used tyres where the defects are concealed. One very common defect of these used imported tyres is that the tyre walls are very weak and could suddenly and easily give way, with disastrous results. Though Government has banned the importation of used tyres, they are still seen in the market.

Fourthly, in granting vehicle-fitness, the Police should have a doctor or medex do basic vision and hearing tests of applicants since poor vision or poor hearing could result in accidents.

VII Fifthly, minibuses and other public transport should not be allowed to have televisions on their dashboards since even a momentary distraction by the TV could result in an accident. Also the rule against using a cell phone and driving should be rigidly enforced.

Motor-cyclists need to be kept under surveillance since they often go above the speed limit not only on the highways but in populated areas.

Pedestrians have to be taught or reminded of the rules of using the roads safely such as on which side of the road to walk, when to wait and when to cross streets, the meaning of traffic lights and the danger and illegality of jay-walking. The Police should advise pedestrians and such advice could also be carried on television.

VIII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Antiobiotic treatment

A

n t i b i o t i c s a re used to fight bacterial infections. They may be taken in pill or liquid form, or used as a mouthwash and then swallowed. Antibiotics are also given by injection. Produced by bacteria, moulds and fungi, antibiotics have the power to destroy or inhibit the multiplication

of other types of organisms, especially bacteria.

Some antibiotics are effective against fungi and a few viruses as well.

Penicillin, erythromycin, and tetracycline are the most commonly prescribed antibiotics in dentistry.

Usually taken for gum infections and abscesses, antibiotics are com-

monly prescribed after extractions of infected teeth and during root canal therapy. If certain medical conditions such as a heart murmur are present, antibiotics are prescribed before any treatment to prevent infection. So, tell your dentist if you have any heart ailment before having and extraction or other oral surgery done.

Once an antibiotic is ingested, it may be toxic to intestinal bacteria.

Desirable (“friendly”) bacteria as well as undesirable ones will, therefore, be poisoned and destroyed. This leaves the intestinal walls unprotected against irritating or unabsorbed foods, causing inflammation of the tissues. Similarly,

Dr. BERTRAND R. STUART, DDS. if an antibiotic is taken for a long period of time, the particular strain of bacteria it is meant to

► Continued on page IX

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016 ► From

page VIII

destroy may eventually become resistant. As a result, mutant strains of bacteria are produced.

Another side effect to long-term intake of a particular antibiotic is that by destroying bacteria, it produces an imbalance in the microorganism population. For example Candida, which is a yeast organism, proliferates with long-term antibiotic use because much of the bacterial population is destroyed Antibiotics may produce an assortment of gastrointestinal complaints and a variety of allergic reactions that range in seriousness from mild rash to shock and even death. In addition, most antibiotics interfere with the estrogen in birth control pills, rendering the pills inactive.

Blood cholesterol levels are raised by some antibiotics, since bacteria that help rid the body of cholesterol are destroyed by the drug. Since its discovery in 1941, penicillin has been the antibiotic used for the majority of dental infections. The occurrence of side effects depends on how well an individual tolerates the drug. A person allergic to penicillin will usually experience

a reaction with half an hour of taking the drug.

In some allergic reactions the muscles in the throat become constricted, causing breathing difficulty. In more serious reactions, the capillaries dilate, causing shock, which, if not treated immediately, can lead to death.

Other side effects of penicillin use reveal themselves from two hours to three or more days after taking the medication.

These include fever, mental changes, edema (abnormal accumulation of fluid in tissues), abnormal heartbeat, inflammation of the kidneys and renal failure, swollen tongue, many types of skin rashes, and inflammation of any or all parts of the mouth.

Because penicillin crosses the placental barrier and is

excreted in the mother’s milk, its use should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation.

The antibiotic choice for individuals allergic to penicillin is erythromycin, which was first used in 1952. Although food reduces erythromycin absorption, it may be necessary to take this drug with meals because of its adverse effect on the gastrointestinal tract.

Erythromycin is distributed to most body tissues and excreted via the liver in the bile, and in urine and feces. Side effects associated with erythromycin include gastrointestinal irritation, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

All the side effects disappear when the drug is discontinued. Individuals

taking digoxin, warfarin, or carbamazepine, and those taking theophylline for asthma or bronchitis, may experience adverse reactions to erythromycin and should, therefore, avoid taking it.

Discovered in 1948, tetracylcline is a broad-spectrum antibi-

IX otic that affects a wide range of microorganisms.

It concentrates in the liver and is excreted into the intestines via the bile. This drug should not be taken by pregnant or lactating women or by children between the ages of two months and eight years because of its side effects.

Tetracycline is secreted in the saliva and the milk of lactating women, and is stored in unerupted teeth of nursing babies. When the teeth erupt they have permanent stains, which darken with age and exposure to light. A decreased growth rate in bones has also been demonstrated in infants and fetuses who have ingested and/or been exposed to tetracycline.

Although tetracycline is prescribed for severe gum disease, it should be taken with caution

because of its many side effects. Some of these side effects include lightheadedness, dizziness, and vertigo. People taking this drug should not drive or perform any hazardous jobs. In addition, tetracycline reacts negatively with antacids, iron, oral contraceptives, barbiturates, and warfarin. With long-term ingestion of tetracycline, the targeted organisms may become resistant to the medication. Because the resistant strain of bacteria cannot be destroyed by any antibiotic, the condition is called a “superinfection.”There are other antibiotics prescribed in dentistry, but like the above-antibiotics, they should be taken with caution and only when absolutely necessary.

X

Indian Legends Spectacular billed for Oct. 15 A company calling itself Indian Culture International (ICI) is preparing to stage an awards ceremony and concert featuring of the “Indian legends” in Caribbean music.

The event is billed for the National Cultural Centre October 15.

Executive Director of ICI, Sri Yoogeandra, who has dabbled in the entertainment industry before, said the event will be staged to honor several Caribbean artistes who have made major contributions to the preservation, promotion and development of the Indian culture through music.

Among the eleven artistes selected are Terry Gajraj, Anand Yankarran, Rakesh Yankaran, Kris Ramkhelawan, Mohan Nandu, Chate Singh, Tageman, Devindra Pooran, Ramkissoon Singh and Sookranie Boodhoo, who made “outstanding, dedicated and distinguished service as national and international singers and for their invaluable contribution to the protection, preservation and promotion of Indian Culture.”

Yoogeandra said the awards will be presented during a red-carpet concert dubbed “Indian Legends Spectacular.”

The awards show would feature performances by all of the legends, with the addition of four dance troupes, with music

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Devindra Pooran

KI

provided by the new sensation KI and his band.

Plaques of significance would be presented to all of the awardees; but in addition, the performing international recording artistes and the music director would each receive a Guyana gold medallion, which would be specially manufactured with official logos, Yoogendra said.

An after-awards bazaar featuring an international bar with a wide assortment of Indian and Chinese food will also be available at the show.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XI

Ten at one go!

- Quite a feat indeed for Kuru Kururu Primary

Kuru Kururu Primary’s top performers at this year’s NGSA examinations. They are, from left: Cassandra Rebeiro, Shunice Price, Kelman Baptiste (immediately behind Shunice), David Vickerie, Reuben Cush (immediately behind David), Esron Joseph, Ajala Murray, Joel Patterson, and Milton Williams. Missing is Shania Lewis

T

By Linda Rutherford HEY’VE gotten top schools before, but not Queen’s College. And certainly not that many at one go.

Indeed, 10 passes at the National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) examinations, four of them for senior secondary schools, is quite a feat for Kuru Kururu Primary.

According to Deputy Head, Mr Burton Simon, “We’ve gotten senior secondary every year, but most of the time it’s just one.”

He’s only been there five years, but Mr Ian Cush, who doesn’t look a day over 35, has been around much longer, so he was able to corroborate what Mr Simon said. As a matter of fact, he’s been teaching Grade Six for going on 20 years now, including the class from which all 10 top performers came this year.

Asked how he did it, all he said was, “We just switched things around a bit; strategising I call it.” We let that suffice. He did say, however, that much as he was excited that the school did well, as was expected, he was somewhat surprised at the overall results.

As he hastened to explain, “I was expecting that they’d do well, of course, but in some senses, I’d expected even better from the entire class, because they were the cream of the crop. And that’s what surprised me...”

WORK EVEN HARDER But that’s all water under the bridge now, as he has big plans for the new crop of children he’d be sending up to the examination come next year. “I plan to work even harder; I will also try to improve on my strategy,” Sir Cush said, adding: “As a teacher, you tend to assess your strengths and weaknesses, so I plan to work on that, and have them do even more mental exercises.”

As to how the children themselves felt when they learnt the good news, REUBEN CUSH, who’s always wanted to go to QC and has finally gotten his heart’s desire, said his first reaction was to cry: “I was so overcome by emotion, I just broke down and cried,” he said. “Actually, it was tears of joy.”

Now, he’s all excited about the prospect of going to the school of his choice. “I’m looking forward to making

new friends,” he said, adding that he’ll be joining his older brother, who attends St Rose’s, for the daily commute to and from the city. What’s more, his sister after him is so eaten up with jealousy, now she, too, wants to go to Queen’s.

HEART SPECIALIST He’s particularly interested in going deeper into Biology, ‘cause he wants to be a doctor; a cardiologist to be precise. He knew what he wanted to become since in Grade 5, as he’d become fascinated with the heart from doing Integrated Science.

MILTON WILLIAMS, on the other hand, didn’t expect Bishops’; he thought he’d done just enough to get him into St Rose’s or St Joseph.

But according to Sir Cush, Milton has always had his sights set on going to Bishops’. The toughest subject for him was English, particularly Composition. His favourite, however, is Maths.

The eldest of three, he wants to become an inventor or a scientist. If he does become an inventor, however, it will have be something to do with outer space. He wouldn’t mind working with NASA, the US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or Arianespace for that matter.

He’s looking forward to getting into the science stream when he goes to Bishops’.

THE NEUROSURGEON DAVID VICKERIE got St Stanislaus College, but it was somewhat of a disappointment for him. “I didn’t expect that,” he said. “I always wanted to go to Queen’s or Bishops’,” he said. He, too, cried when he learnt what school he’d gotten, but he’s now over it.

Like Reuben, he wants to become a doctor, but his preference is neurosurgery. And no, he didn’t come up with the idea from watching too much TV; it’s just that the brain just fascinates him. He’d come to the decision since he was in Grade 4; seems he caught the bug from his father, who, though an electrical engineer himself, is always going on and on about the fascinating life of a neurosurgeon.

And it’s not likely that he’ll have a change of heart later down the road; his mind is already made up. His favourite subject, by the way, is Maths.

UNDECIDED CASSANDRA REBEIRO had badly wanted to go to Queen’s, but when she learnt she’d gotten a place at St Rose’s, she was over the moon.

“I was surprised, because I thought I’d gotten Diamond Secondary,” she said, adding that her father was just as ecstatic as she.

She’s not much of a talker, but she did open up enough to say she wants to become a doctor. She doesn’t know as yet what aspect of medicine she’ll gravitate to, but she’s already made up her mind that it’s medicine and nothing else.

SHUNICE PRICE got Diamond; it’s what she wanted.

She’s always done well at Maths. She’s looking at a career in aviation; she rather fancies becoming a flight engineer.

She knows what the job entails, and has made up her mind to work as hard as she can to get there.

A FIGHTER It was fascinating talking to AJALA MURRAY. He, too, got Diamond, but from the look on his face, one could tell he’s not happy. Turns out he had his mind set on Queen’s.

But he’s not giving up; he still has an opportunity to make it, he said, and he’s made up his mind to work hard.

He’s into neurosurgery. His favourite subjects are the sciences; Biology in particular.

KELMAN BAPTISTE wants to be an accountant. He wants to go into business someday, but he doesn’t know what as yet. He’s off to Diamond; he’s always wanted to go there, as it’s just as good a school as any other. In fact, it’s the best on the East Bank, he said. “I was kinda shocked when I learnt I’d gotten a place there, as I thought I’d gotten Friendship,” Kellman said.

ESRON JOSEPH got Diamond as well; it’s what he’d wanted all along. He found the exam deceptively tough, particularly the science. “It was tricky,” he said.

His favourite is Maths, and he did well at it. He wants to become a mechanical engineer; he likes to build things.

Kuru Kururu Primary is located in what is officially known as Newtown Settlement just off the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, some 24 miles south of the capital, Georgetown.

It was opened for school on January 7, 1974 with an enrollment of 100 pupils. At the last count in 2013, the school had some 761 children on roll.

Its present headmistress is Mrs Linda Paul.

XII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Emerging Artist Odessa Carmichael

I

n an attempt to highlight some of Guyana’s emerging talent, particularly from our premier art institution the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, I decided to extend my platform so that the public could be better acquainted with future Guyanese art practitioners. This week’s feature highlights Odessa Carmichael, a young artist whose works are predominantly textile designs and paintings.

Dominique Hunter: Tell me a little bit about what led to your decision to join the art school.

Odessa Carmichael: I was influenced by my secondary school teacher Mr. William Wilson [also a graduate of the E.R. Burrowes School of Art]. He was one of the greatest sign artists I’ve ever met. After looking at my work, he thought I was qualified to go to the E.R. Burrowes School of Art and so he took me himself. At first, I didn’t want to go since I didn’t think I was good enough. We wrote the application one year before I actually went there but I just stayed home with it.

During that year (2008) I was working as a typist at the Union/ Naarstigheid NDC in Bushlot on the West Coast of Berbice.

I was there every day, drawing and getting frustrated because I didn’t really want to be a typist. Although I was qualified to be a typist/clerk, I didn’t want to do that. Eventually I realized who I really was and where I should be. So the next year I looked for the application. I went to Mr. Wilson and told him that I was ready. That’s how I started Burrowes.

DH: Describe your experience at Burrowes OC: When I got to Burrowes, I realized that I needed to work harder if I wanted to be an artist. It was really a challenge at first. Once I grooved in and understood exactly how to balance the workload, I was able to get through to the end.

First I applied for a certificate. I completed that and graduated in 2011 with a major in textile design and a minor in graphics.

After that, I started teaching at Beladrum Primary School from May 2012 to September 2014. Just before school reopened in 2014 I realized that it was time for me to go get my diploma. I was too good to be at a certificate level. So I went back to Burrowes to get my diploma. But in my final semester (January 2015) I had an emergency surgery done the morning before school opened. I was ill for a year so I took that year off. Then I went back in January 2016 to complete my final semester.

DH: Tell me about the work you chose to produce. Why textile designing and painting?

OC: I liked designing but I didn’t want to be a fashion designer. I love fabric and I like the flow that you get from fabric.

It’s really an amazing thing to see that you can transform a white piece of fabric into something beautiful. I was also influenced by my mother, who is a seamstress. I like to see unique clothing so that’s why I decided to choose textile designing.

When I started Burrowes I really wanted to do painting and graphics but I didn’t get to do graphics. So when I went back

Odessa Carmichael stands in front of some of her textile work to Burrowes I ventured on to painting. As a painter you get to show everything emotionally within your work. I love nature and so my theme [for this exhibition] is “Country life.” A lot of my work is about nature, its beauty and the relationship between [self] and nature.

DH: Describe some of the techniques you’ve used in your art.

OC: As a painter I’ve worked with techniques including the palette knife technique. I also did some studies of light and I’ve used cubism as an abstract technique. I’m not much of an abstract painter so that was the closest I got to [abstraction].

All of my drawings are still life drawings. I’ve looked at areas in the National Park [as well as] mounted set ups. My figure drawings are of the [school’s] models. I’m a realistic person so I don’t like to imagine too much. I just like to bring out the beauty in nature. For my textiles, I explored techniques in-

This bottle was repurposed and embellished using various techniques including macramé and beading

O

dessa Carmichael along with eight other students (all female) exhibited their art works at the recently concluded examination exhibition at the Umana Yana, as part of the requirements for graduation from the E.R. Burrowes School of Art. The graduation ceremony for the budding artists will be held later in the year. ► Continued on page XIII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XIII

Two of Guyana’s most recognizable birds (the Canje Pheasant and the Cock of the Rock) were painted onto the backs and seats of these chairs Carmichael’s major task features a unique combination of textile and painting techniques which she used in the construction of a hanging lounge chair

► From page XII cluding tie-dye, batik, block printing, dry brush, nozzle painting, multi-colour dyeing, multi-colour batik, stenciling and superimposition. I also used [textile construction] techniques such as macramé, tapestry, card weaving and knitting.

DH: Did you encounter any challenges during your time at Burrowes?

OC: The first time I went to Burrowes was financially challenging since I was traveling from Berbice every day until a certain period when I started to get really sick.

Then I stayed at different places and had to move often because I wasn’t comfortable or couldn’t get to work late.

So I would stay in Burrowes until 11/12 o’clock at night.

I’m a dedicated person and when I want to get something done then I would work really hard to get it finished. But this final semester was not difficult. I started to think of ways to get through it since I was financially drained after being sick for so long.

I went to the Public Service Ministry and they gave me

A section of Carmichael’s display of paintings at the Umana Yana a scholarship that enabled me to complete my final semester without any financial difficulties. I feel like the hard work has now started because getting your work sold is difficult. Getting yourself known is another thing.

DH: What do you envision for your future now that you’re done with the art school?

OC: I plan to go back to teaching after I’m done here because I love to work with children and I also like to share what I’ve

learned. I will teach the youths of tomorrow some of what I’ve learned because I don’t want to go back to the Creator with all of this knowledge. I will also be showcasing some of my work in Berbice by having some exhibitions. I already have two venues available for this. I also plan to start my own business producing personalized artworks and decorating for events.

I want to start exporting once my business expands.

I’ve already been getting offers to have persons sell my work online.

A male figured is pictured standing in a field and drinking from a coconut in this textile-weaving piece done by Carmichael. On the left is a section of fabric designed by her as well

XIV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XV

XVI

The ’61 legal battle against Resouvenir Estates

T

HE Appellant, Somerset, was employed in the Respondents’ factory at a certain rate of payment per hour.

He agreed to have his wages computed according to the time shown on a card which he used for

recording, by machine, his hours of attendance in the factory.

He failed to record his hour of departure from the factory in the afternoon of a certain day and was not paid for that afternoon’s work.

He was unsuccessful in an action which he brought to recover pay-

ment.

On appeal, he contended (a) that non-payment of the amount sued for was a deduction from wages not authorised by the Labour Ordinance, Chapter 108 [BG] and was therefore illegal; (b) that the contract had been repudiated by the Respondent and in cir-

cumstances giving only the right to a claim for damages.

It was held that (i) the wages earned had been calculated in accordance with the contract and there had been no deduction from wages; (ii) there had been no repudiation of the contract but payment according to the terms of contract.

It was an appeal from the decision of the Full Court of the Supreme Court of British Guiana, dated April 29, 1960, set-

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

By George Barclay ting aside an order for payment of wages made by a magistrate in favour of the appellant.

F. R. Wills appeared for the Appellant and J. H. S. Elliot, Q.C., and A. Sankar for the Respondents.

Justice of the Federal Supreme Court C.V. H. Archer delivered the judgment.

He said the appeal concerned the proper interpretation to be placed upon a term in a contract of employment. The sum at stake was small, but the principle involved is of some importance.

The appellant was a workman employed in ► Continued

on page XVII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016 ► From

page XVI the factory of the Respondent.

He was under an oral contract and his wages were computed on an hourly basis, but were paid weekly.

In 1953, the company instituted a system of time recording by machine but on individual cards; workmen manipulated the machine to record the time of their arrival at, and departure from, the factory and wages were calculated in accordance with the hours of attendance in the factory which these cards showed .

The system proved, however, not to be entirely satisfactory for claims were sometimes made in respect of work done during hours of attendance not shown on time cards, and, in 1955 , the company published a notice from which the

Appellant admitted the term of his contract of employment, which was the subject of dispute in the appeal, was to be extracted.

Justice Archer concluded: “I consider, therefore, that the authorities on substantial performances of a contract on which counsel for the Appellant relied, are not in point.

In my judgment, the Full Court came to the right conclusion and I would dismiss the appeal with costs.

Rennie, J. said: “I agree that the appeal should be dismissed with costs and as Archer, J., has dealt fully with the matter, I need only indicate briefly the reason for my concurrence.

“In my view, when the Appellant agreed to work in accordance in the terms of the notice, he not only agreed to continue to work as he had been accustomed to do, but he also agreed

to clock in and out of t h e f a c t o r y, a n d h e further agreed that he must fully perform his part of the agreement – he must work and clock in and clock out – before he can become entitled to the payment of wages.

“In other words, he made the entire performance of his part a condition precedent to the payment of wages.

He did not clock out on the day in question and, accordingly, was not entitled to any wages.

“Now, this is not such

a case where it could be said that the respondents, by taking the benefit of the work, waived the condition.

“In Hoenig v. Isaacs (1) it was held that even entire performance was a condition precedent to payment under the contract, in taking the benefit of the work by using the defective furniture, the defendant had waived the condition and must pay the contract price, subject to the appropriate deductions.

“No waiver can arrive in the instant case for the

XVII simple reason that there is nothing to show that the respondents could have, but did not return any product of the appellant’s labour to him.”

Wylie, J. said: “I also agree that this appeal should be dismissed for the reasons given in the judgment of Rennie,J. “I only wish to add that this appeal was argued before the court on behalf of both appellant and respondents on the

basis that the terms introduced by the publication of the notice of March 21, 1955, did form part of the contract of employment of the appellant who had accepted them by continuing in the respondents’ employment.

“It was not argued on this appeal either that these terms did not form part of the contract, or that they were, for any reason, unenforceable.”

XVIII

Youth Challenge Guyana trains Region Two teachers

Y

outh Challenge Guyana, with financial support from ExxonMobil, has continued its programme of training teachers to better deliver Science subjects to Grade 5 students. The programme provides training and science kits to participating schools for teachers to be able to have greater participation of pupils. In photo, a teacher, left, receives one of the kits. The training, which was developed by the Ministry of Education’s National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), provides a practical guide to using the science kits and tools for effective participation in science in the classroom. The training was recently held in Region two at the CV Nunes Primary School and involved participation from schools such as CV Nunes, Taymouth Manor, Charity, Suddie, Good Hope and Lake Mainstay Primary Schools. This initiative first started in 2012 and has continued after promising results in the schools that benefited in Regions Three, Four, and Six.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XIX

Parika woman, 78, back in school to be a trained mechanic - Fed up of being fooled by mechanics, Yvonne Trim decided she had to learn how to fix her own vehicle

By Neil Marks The production of the first Morris Oxford cars began in 1913, and as time passed by, different models were developed.

Yvonne Trim, 78, who lives on the way to Hubu backdam in Parika, East Bank Essequibo, has two of them in her backyard.

We are not quite sure of the year they were manufactured, but one of them, PC 210, was registered in 1955.

Her dream is to get them in working order, and take them for a sweet drive. She can’t wait.

“Just for the joy of it,” she tells the Sunday Chronicle, bearing a broad smile as if she is already in the moment.

And why else would she be knocking away at these decades-old engines, sometimes even way into the evening?

Her daughter, who she lives with, would have to be the constant human alarm: “Mommy, 10 O’clock gone!”

She’d reluctantly agree to retire to bed, but those old engines would be on her mind.

“I does dream about this work in the night; in the morning soon as a I wake I gone again. I love it, I love it!

“I had to turn my own little nuts and so to get by.”

But there was only so much she could do. She now owns a small minibus, and whenever there was a problem, she’d have to call in the mechanics, but often found that she was being fleeced.

“I was fooled by many, many mechanics. They would say that they do this and do that and then charge you.

“But they didn’t do anything, because I have proof for that!”

Before we could ask to back up her claim of being conned, she pointed to one of the Morris Oxfords, presumably a Mosquito, as the Morris Minor series first released in 1948 was called.

“One day I brought the mechanics here to work on this very engine.

“I see how they take out the engine, do something, and it went ‘vrrom, vroom.’

“But when they left it never started back. I called them back, but they never came.”

It was decision time for Ms Trim.

“This is wrong, get on the track,” she remembers telling herself.

FLEECED

BACK TO SCHOOL

Ms Trim was born at Paradise, East Coast Demerara, but when her parents bought a piece of farmland, they all moved to Roden Rust along the Parika road heading to Hubu.

She got into farming herself when she got older, and helped in caring for her ten children.

Of course, the farm produce had to be taken to the market. Her boys would mostly get that done and they were the ones who knew about vehicles.

With her boys all grown and out of the house, Ms Trim still had to get the produce to the market and tried to fix whatever little issues would arise with the vehicle.

Just about two years ago, she noticed a neighbour’s son, dressed in uniform, heading off.

She was curious to know where he was going and headed over to find out from the boy’s mother.

She learnt he was heading to the Leonora Technical Institute, West Coast Demerara to be trained as a mechanic.

Her curiosity was heightened.

“You never too big to learn,” she remembers thinking at the time.

Sure enough, she found her way to the Institute and learnt that she was not too old to enroll.

She went home, bought material for her uniform, took it to get sewn, and she was off to the institute a few days

after she signed up to study motor mechanics.

“The instructor is very nice to me; he explains things in a very simple way.

“From what I gather, I can handle myself much better.”

The Institute allows Ms Trim to learn at her own pace.

But she is trying to be ahead of the game.

That explains why she acquired the two Morris Oxfords and an old Wolseley – she wants to practice and use the instruction she is receiving.

“I bought the old cars because with a new car you can’t go in and trouble anything on it. But with the old cars, nobody is there to stop me from doing anything.”

When she can’t wrap her head around a problem, Ms Trim would call up one of the school instructors or she would go in and tell them.

“I love the job, I really love the job. It keeps me healthy, it keeps me fit,” she says.

Ms Trim enjoys the classes so much that she has been encouraging other women to go, including a neighbour, whose husband works as a security guard.

“I will bug them to go; they have to go,” she insists.

“I am trying to tell them not to sit down and depend on somebody. When you have to depend on people you bring a lot of eyepass on yourself, but if you can help yourself, well that’s a different story.”

One of the women she is trying to encourage is all the way on the West Bank of Demerara, many, many miles away from where she lives.

“As women, let us feel proud and be proud people.

Don’t sit and depend on anyone. Don’t depend on your husband, because it is when he brings a dollar you will get to spend, but if you have your own dollar, you will get to spend anytime you want.

“I was trained that way…don’t depend on nobody; get up and get what you want.”

Before we end, would it be too obvious to state that Ms Trim can drive “anything”?

Yvonne Trim poses with one of the Morris Oxfords, a the Wolseley, she has been working on to test what she is being taught at the Leonora Technical Institute. (Samuel Maughn photo)

XX

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Young and in business…

Zari Dyer loves children and gets paid taking care of them

By Zena Henry The call for young people to develop their own businesses and rely on themselves for an income has been taken up by many who have sought to devise ways of becoming self-employed or seeking ways to make an extra dollar to add to their regular pay.

More importantly, however, young people are looking forward to doing something they love and getting paid well for it.

Take Zari Dyer of East Ruimveldt, Georgetown, for example, who decided to open Little Sprouts Daycare just over a year ago. The young woman, a trained professional in the area of child care services, was just not earning enough to take care of all her needs, and so she figured that she should invest in doing something she loved.

“First of all I love kids,” Dyer told the Guyana Chronicle, and so she landed a job in child care services. However, the pay was just not good enough, and she knew that if she opened her own daycare centre and run it efficiently, she would be better off.

Today, with the help of two other young women, Little Sprouts is growing and the feeling of accomplishment is a boost for the young businesswoman. Even more than that, the backbone of Little Sprouts is another young woman, 27-year-old Jowella Crawford, who is just as passionate as Dyer about child care services.

Crawford is the senior teacher at Little Sprouts and has been with school since its inception.

Coincidentally, Dyer’s mother, a teacher, had taught Crawford in primary school and taught 18-year-old Juanacia Hinds, one of the newer teachers who just completed the child care course, in high school, bringing familial warmth to the business.

“I saved up the money to rent and pretty soon I was able to have a location for my upcoming daycare,” Dyer had stated, continuing with details as to how it all started.

Although the lower flat which she now rents at 338 East Street, North Cummingsburg belongs to her dad, Dyer was not keen on handouts, stressing on her ability to raise the money to make her property payment as any normal tenant.

While Dyer provides management services to her business, Crawford is trusted to ensure the day to day running of the school. Being a mother herself, Crawford said her love for children has seen her being employed mainly in the child care field, so it was not her first time caring for small children.

When the school first opened, she said, they were managing only six children, but after two months, the number slowly increased, standing at 14 pupils today. This is however nothing compared to what the young professionals can handle.

“We currently have 14 students but we have the capacity for 30 to 40 pupils,” Crawford said. The well laid out daycare consists of three rooms, one of which is a playroom, with toys and learning material; the other two rooms provide sleeping facilities. Smaller children are kept within sight.

Crawford said that there are many daycares in the city but Little Sprouts stands out because of the service they provide.

“Our kids are given a bath before they leave for home and they are potty trained and we conduct educational activities.” Crawford said that the centre follows childcare guidelines and they believe in educating their students.

Crawford said that Little Sprouts also encourages parents to feed their children healthy foods. The teacher, who is a mother herself said, “Some daycares accept aerated drinks, sweets, chocolate and those things but we ask our parents to give their kids real fruit, homemade juices and meals.

We promote healthy foods to support healthy growth.”

Crawford is of the belief that no one should go into a business if they have no love for it.

“For me, owning a daycare is not just about owning a business; you have to be educated about it, you have to love it, be passionate about what you do or else it will make no sense. It will be just like working for someone else.”

Dyer is also of the belief that being passionate about something helps to make you a good business owner. She advises other young people seeking to own their own business to be patient and strategic in the way they go after what they want.

She said she has noticed that several young persons are going into business and, “I believe that is great.” The young woman said it is a wonderful feeling being independent and working hard, earning money while doing something one appreciates.

The benefits are plentiful, Crawford said, “especially when the profits start rolling in.”

Little Sprouts Daycare is seeking to raise the bar in child care services, to offer 24 hour service on weekdays, Saturday service and babysitting. Currently the centre offers child care services from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30p.m. They provide afterschool care services for school children.

They are taught and helped with their homework.

Contact could be made with Zari Dyer on cell phone numbers 669-6663 or 6643690.

Tourism industry workers get First Aid Training

The Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with the Guyana Red Cross, last week held a First Aid/ Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) programme for workers in the tourism industry.

The participants, about 30 in number, included staff drawn from the Guyana Tourism Authority; the Ministry of Business; the Department of Tourism, as well as from hotels (the vast majority), tour guides and tour operators.

Declaring the workshop open was Chairman of the GTA Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh and Mr. Devaughn Lewis, First Aid and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Coordinator of the Red Cross. The instructor for the programme was Mr. Erwin Enmore.

Mr. Haralsingh said that the GTA is very committed to training and capacity development and building within the tourism industry. He said the Authority has regulations which govern the operation of hotels, interior resorts and lodges. There are also regulations for tour operators and tour guides.

He outlined that the regulations require that all persons operating within the above-named settings should have a valid First Aid and CPR Certificate. “In the business of tourism, if you are a tour guide and are going out into remote parts of Guyana this life saving skill is very important.

“This is because in the hinterland areas, there is hardly communication, evacuation or transportation to access med-

Instructor Erwin Enmore oversees participants carrying out a CPR Assimilation

ical care in the event of emergencies. So, being equipped with this life saving skill of First Aid/CPR is essential… especially for our tour guides,” said the GTA Director.

Haralsingh said the skills are also important for hotels and other places of accommodation, because they can be of help to fellow employees, visitors or customers.

“And how grateful and thankful persons would be, knowing that their lives were saved by an individual just because they were certified in First Aid/CPR.” Mentioning some of the possible cases requiring first aid or CPR, Haralsingh cited risk of drowning, choking and many other types of accidents and injuries.

Meanwhile, for interior lodges and resorts, located in the hinterland areas, it is mandatory for each facility to have at least one person trained in rendering CPR, since they can save lives.

Haralsingh said that First Aid/CPR is also good for Occupational Health and Safety - for almost every work place, and all workplaces, “be it at schools, at the rodeo, at the Berbice Expo.”

The workshop, the Tourism Director said, is an investment not only from the GTA in collaboration with the Guyana Red Cross, but an investment from their employers and employees, with the employees become an asset once they are certified. Being awarded with a certificate is subject to successful completion of an examination at the close of the workshop. The certification is valid for three years.

The training corresponds with the Tourism Authority’s Jubilee Anniversary progarmme of activities and more such training will be rolled out across the country, the GTA Director said.

He said the Authority would have trained hundreds of people so far. The next training is scheduled for Lethem and would be for staff of resorts and tour guides in the Rupununi area. This would be followed by training for those in Berbice, Linden and Essequibo.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Technical institutes not for ‘back benchers’

XXI

The Leonora Technical Institute offers certification in several disciplines - But high transportation cost, lack of accommodation force some out

By Neil Marks Technical institutes have a not so glamorous reputation.

They are often considered “trade school” for school dropouts, slow learners, and backbenchers.

It’s the baggage that Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has carried for too long, says Eon Nicholson, the principal of the Leonora Technical Institute, located at West Coast Demerara.

He has been the principal since the Institute opened back in 2012. Before that, he was at the Linden Technical Institute for two decades.

He can tell you of the student from Linden who eventually went on to study robotics overseas, and countless other examples to show that TVET is not for dunces.

“Could I ask a doctor or a professor in psychology to build a cell phone? Who services the equipment the doctor has to use?”

That is not to say that the Institute does not cater for school dropouts and those whom teachers put in the “slow learners” bracket.

“TVET produces the brightest persons, but we start off being called the dumb ones.

“But who keeps the plane flying?”

Mr Nicholson believes that those who are dismissed as backbenchers are being failed by the system and it is not that they are not willing to learn.

“The system is not finding the best way to get to these people. I have learnt that people learn at different rates using different methodologies.

“Some can learn in abstract. The education system is designed for learning in the extract system, but not everyone can transfer that knowledge.”

With TVET, he says while the abstract method is taught, the focus is on the “concrete” method.

“For some people, if they can touch it, feel it and manipulate it, then there is nothing that can stop them.

“They can think and come up with creative ways of solving problems.”

The Leonora Technical Institute was designed to accommodate 200 students, but at the moment has 180 students, because there is no masonry class because of a lack of instructors.

Mr Nicholson says the Institute has found it difficult to attract qualified instructors.

“A lot of persons are masons, but they are without certification,” he says. The Institute is trying to meet this deficiency by offering “prior learning” for those who practice.

It’s a competency based programme where those experienced in a particular field can attend the institute and get certification.

“They can come into the institute, do an assessment and we feel the gaps that need to be filled.” For example, a mason

cannot afford to come. They may come for the first term, and when we follow up, they say they can’t afford to.”

Sometimes, Mr Nicholson says, some students and staff members have assisted children with transportation and meals.

“They sometimes don’t say anything to you, but when you see them you know something is wrong, because they are just not performing as they usually would.

“It’s either they didn’t eat in the morning or don’t have lunch.”

Another the problem the Institute faces is accommodation for children from the islands and from other far flung areas.

The past government, through Minister of Education Priya Manickchand, had sought to secure a place to accommodate students, but the building owner raised the rent three times within one month, and he also wanted to stipulate who should stay at the place.

“They didn’t want this kind of person and that kind of person,” he noted, and so the idea was abandoned.

Eon Nicholson, principal of the Leonora Technical “You can’t go into an arrangement like that; we are caterInstitute reacts during an interview earlier this week. ing for students, we are not catering for a race.”

(Samuel Maughn photo) As such, Mr Nicholson is petitioning the government for a dormitory to house students. He said that sometimes stumay know to do plastering, but may not be able to do over- dents find accommodation at relatives, but in some cases, the head plastering or how to apply troweltex. The Institute will arrangement collapses. fill those gaps.

The Police, along with the business community and reliThe Institute caters for those who work during the day, gious leaders have been seeking to help. and so the 5-9 evening classes can lead them to certification.

Through a programme called Police Education and Train“In any society, it is important to have certification, no ing Project, the Institute hosts a short training programme matter what skill you have. during the July-August school holidays.

“You will get employment, but a person with a certificate Students who attend the programme from the islands and will be promoted faster that a person without a certificate in other far flung areas have their accommodation and expenses any environment. catered for and they have the option of joining the institute on “Demonstration a skill is good, but having certification their own after. is better.

Last year 94 persons took the programme and 50% stayed “Having the skill and the certification makes you the man, on at the institute. or the woman.”

This year, 71 persons graduated from the programme.

The certificate offered by the Institute is the National Vo- Some of the students use what they learn as a way of preparing cation Qualification, but Mr Nicholson says the Ministry of for the CXC examinations.

Education is moving in the direction of Caribbean Vocational “For me, this is giving them a second chance; it may be Qualification, which would enable graduates to land a job in the best and only chance some have and out of it we may have any Caribbean country. engineers and all sorts of high-skilled and qualified persons.”

Nigel Sumbir, 18, dropped out of school when his parents CHALLENGES moved from the Essequibo Coast to Hogg Island.

Until recently, he was working at a sawmill but the Students who attend the institute come from the Essequibo head-teacher of the school told him of the summer programme.

Islands – Hogg Island, Leguan, Wakenaam – and as far as And so he signed up.

Wales on the West Bank Demerara.

Sumbir is one of the students who has continued at the But one of the main problems that leads to dropout is the institute, doing the programme in Metal Work engineering, cost of transportation. and is being accommodated by relatives.

The Ministry of Education has promised the institute a Currently, the Leonora Institute offers Data Operabus to assist in the transportation of persons coming from tions (Computer Science), Office Administration, Welding, far-flung areas.

Electrical Installation, Motor Mechanics 1&2, Carpentry “There are a lot of students who drop out because they and Joinery, and Metal Work Engineering.

Nigel Sumbir, from Hogg Island, is seen being guided by the Metal Work Engineering instructor Daren Jordan. (Samuel Maughn photo)

Tamara and Tia Williams, from Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara are enrolled in the Data Operations programme

Love of labour:

XXII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

For the Knights, the sky is the limit

- Guyanese couple hailed for renovating 110-year-old house in Atlanta Elisabeth grew up with her single-parent mother, Cecily Jackman, in Georgetown, Guyana, in a wood frame house — “similar to a cabin” — sitting on a concrete slab covered with a vinyl floor.

(Rockdale Citizen, Atlanta) Renovating a 110-year-old house on Smyrna Road in Conyers, Elisabeth and Colin Knights have converted inside doorways to arches, built laundry and pantry niches in the kitchen, added a bathroom by inserting a wall in the dining room, hung drywall and painted walls. They redid the wiring and plumbing.

“The crawl space under the house is about 12 inches,” Colin said of the plumbing ordeal. That is down-and-dirty work, no doubt about it.

They subcontract when necessary, but the Knights claim they do 75 percent of the labor performed by their Conyers company, Aklipse Asset Management Inc. “There was a barn back there we had to take down. We hired a guy to do it,” Elisabeth said, pointing to the back end of the Smyrna Road lot, which includes a sightly wooded area. They also contracted out the new roofing, but everything else is being done by the industrious couple.

They work long days — 10, 12 hours or longer.

“We’re coming to the end, so we’ll push even harder,” Colin said.

Neighbors have stopped and expressed gratitude that they are renovating the house, Elisabeth noted. In fact a brother and sister, Julian Anderson and Jan Kirkpatrick, showed up one day, said the house was their grandparents’ home and pointed out where they played as children and which room their dad occupied as a child.

“They both started crying — they were so happy to see we were giving the house new life,” Elisabeth said.

“I was so afraid that it would just be torn down as so many older homes are,” Kirkpatrick said. “You are giving it new life, and to me that is a precious thing.”

“It’s nice when someone comes by like that and gives the history of the house. Each house has a story,” Elisabeth said.

“I got their phone numbers and told them when we finished I’d call them and have them come back to see it.”

The Knights have built Aklipse Asset Management from

scratch to a company valued at $4.1 million. They have purchased more than 40 houses in metro Atlanta and Florida for renovation and sale or lease, including two houses in Covington and several in Conyers, including their own.

“We’re revitalizing neighborhoods, one house at a time,” Colin said.

“We’ve given ourselves the education to do everything in-house,” Elisabeth said. That includes the construction, real estate and administration parts of the business.

However, initially they did all of the work themselves.

That was the toughest part of the journey from humble beginnings to success.

Elisabeth grew up with her single-parent mother, Cecily Jackman, in Georgetown, Guyana, in a wood frame house — “similar to a cabin” — sitting on a concrete slab covered with a vinyl floor. Guyana is perched on the northeast coast of South America, north of Brazil and sandwiched between Venezuela on the west and Suriname to the east.

Dreaming that one day she would rise above her destitute living conditions by owning a shop, Elisabeth managed to get into a local college with financial assistance from her godmother, Donna Fraser, a teacher in New York City. She worked as a cashier in a jewelry store to meet expenses.

She credits her mother for setting a good example for work ethic. Jackman worked for a construction company and made extra money with little businesses on the side, such as preparing lunches for sale to coworkers.

Colin spent his early childhood in Georgetown, but his family moved to Washington, D.C., when he was 12 years old. There, the family lived in a triplex, with a separate family on each of the three floors of the house.

Joining his older brothers in construction work at age 14, Colin found his niche.

“Building things became my passion,” he said. He also worked as a cashier.

Elisabeth and Colin Knights proudly show off a house they renovated and have for sale at Decatur. With hard work and perseverance, the Conyers couple rose from humble beginnings to build a thriving home sale and rental business. (Wade Marbaugh photo)

Demonstrating their daily grind, Colin and Elisabeth work in the living room of an old house. (Wade Marbaugh photo) “The more we worked the more we ate,” he said. His parents, Charles and Margaret Knights, set the example of how hard work is necessary to make ends meet.

Colin’s entrepreneurial spirit led to success as a construction contractor, and he moved to Miami to pursue his business.

In April 2005, while in Guyana visiting grandparents, friends and family, Colin found himself at a barbecue party that he initially didn’t want to attend. While he sat around with others, someone coming through the front gate caught his eye.

“I watched her every move as she was weaving through the crowd,” he recalled.

Elisabeth also had not wanted to attend the party.

“A friend of mine invited me, and I thought I’d go quick, say hi and leave early. But when I saw Colin, it was like the world stopped.”

“It was a magical feeling on both sides,” Colin agreed.

They ended up talking past midnight.

Colin returned to Miami, established a second construction business and, determined to get Elisabeth close by, set up an apartment for her in Nassau, Bahamas, while he worked to get her a visa to come to the U.S. During a year’s delay with the visa process, Colin visited Elisabeth every weekend in Nassau, where they married.

They exchanged vows at a courthouse, had a spaghetti dinner and walked on the beach.

“When I was 14 I had my big wedding all planned out for when I met Mr. Right,” Elisabeth said. “This was beautifully simple, and it didn’t matter. What mattered was it was the right guy.”

Since Elisabeth couldn’t attend college in Nassau, Colin brought her a laptop and books, and she engaged in intense self-study.

When the visa was approved, Elisabeth came to the U.S. for the first time in her life. The airplane arrived in Miami at night and the seemingly endless lights of the Florida coastal megalopolis dazzled her.

“It was like a science fiction movie. It was like I was transported to another planet,” she said.

In 2009 the couple moved to Conyers and started the work that eventually became Aklipse Asset Management.

When Elisabeth got off after working two jobs, she and Colin spent several hours slipping flyers under doors to promote the business.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XXIII

XXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XXV

XXVI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Paradise lost: study documents big decline in Earth's wilderness (Reuters) Unspoiled lands are disappearing from the face of the Earth at an alarming pace, with about 10 percent of wilderness regions - an area double the size of Alaska - lost in the past two decades amid unrelenting human development, researchers said on Thursday.

South America, which lost 30 percent of its wilderness during that period, and Africa, which lost 14 percent, were the continents hardest hit, they said.

The main driver of the global losses was destruction of wilderness for agriculture, logging and mining.

The researchers' study, published in the journal Current Biology, was the latest to document the impact of human activities on a global scale, affecting Earth's climate, landscape, oceans, natural resources and wildlife.

The researchers mapped the world's wilderness areas, excluding Antarctica, and compared the results with a 1993 map that used the same methods.

They found that 11.6 million square miles (30.1 million square km) remain worldwide as wilderness, defined as biologically and ecologically intact regions without notable human disturbance. Since the 1993 estimation, 1.3 million square miles (3.3 million square km) of wilderness disappeared, they determined.

"This is incredibly sad because we can't offset or restore these places. Once they are gone, they are gone, and this has shocking implications for biodiversity, for climate change and for the most imperiled biodiversity on the planet," said conservationist James Watson of the University of Queensland in Australia and the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York.

The wilderness losses in the past two decades comprised a combined area about half the size of South America's vast Amazon region.

Watson, who led the study, said about a quarter of the planet's land surface remains wilderness, particularly in central Africa, the Amazon region, northern Australia, the United States, Canada and Russia. The losses in the past two decades were most acute in the Amazon region and central Africa.

"We need to focus on quality of habitat and keeping some places on Earth that are largely untouched by us," Watson said. "We are running out of time and we are running out of space. If society asked the question - 'What does Nature need?' these places would become a global priority for environmental action."

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

International Ozone Day 2016

Ozone Day The 2016 theme for International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is ‘Ozone and climate: Restored by a world united, with the tagline: Working towards reducing global-warming HFCs under the Montreal Protocol.

This year’s theme focuses on the efforts of all parties to the Vienna Convention and Montreal Protocol towards the restoration of the Ozone Layer for the past three decades.

It has been observed that the Ozone layer has been healing itself and should recover by middle of this 21st century. Because of the phasing out of some Ozone Depleting substances climate change has been greatly reduced.

On September 16, 1987, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was signed and from that date to now, countries have used September 16 to celebrate the signing of the Montreal Protocol, and the significant environmental and health benefits that this amazing treaty has yielded.

XXVII

and land dwelling plants. This in turn affects species populations since plants are the producers at the beginning of the food chain. Further, an increase in exposure to UV-B rays reduces immunity in humans and other living things, causing them to be more susceptible to disease.

Actions to protect the Ozone Layer Understanding the importance of the Ozone Layer, the world decided to do something about it. Countries signed the Montreal Protocol, in 1987, agreeing to reduce their emissions of CFCs to a half by 2000. This effort has been successful, since it has been observed that the Ozone Layer is healing itself.

Guyana is among the countries that agreed to reduce its CFC emissions. As such, Guyana has taken several actions to achieve this goal. Among them are promoting of and training for retrofitting of refrigerators to convert to non-CFC coolants. Under the National Ozone Action Unit, efforts have been made to restrict the importation of CFCs, and to educate the public on recommended substitutes for CFCs. The NOAU which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture, Hydrometerological Service, is the National Focal Point for the Montreal Protocol. Guyana, can boast of having successfully phased out CFCs in 2008, two years before the January 2010 Protocol phaseout date. It is expected that Hydro-chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) will be reduced by 97.5% of current consumption by 2030. All national efforts have gone a far way in contributing to the global restoration of the Ozone Layer.

Tips to be Ozone Friendly •

Buy Ozone friendly products.

The Ozone and Ozone Layer

•

Avoid the use of pesticides containing methyl-bromide

Ozone is a molecule made of three oxygen atoms (O3) it is a gas. In the atmosphere, these Ozone molecules are made by the breaking apart of common oxygen (O2) molecules by the sun’s energy. This split forms two single oxygen atoms. A single oxygen atom then combines with an oxygen molecule (O2) to form the ozone molecule (O3).

•

Handle equipment with Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) carefully to reduce release into the atmosphere.

•

Wear protective clothing to cover your skin when you are out during the day.

•

Use tested or UV sunglasses

•

Use umbrellas or try to be in the shade.

Activity – WORD MATCH

The Ozone Layer is very thin - just about 3mm in thickness – about a $10 coin stacked on top another!! Yet it protects the Earth and Us from the Sun’s harmful rays. The Ozone Layer is part of the stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere located at a distance of about 15–50 km above the Earth.

We need to protect the Ozone Layer In the upper atmosphere the Ozone molecules form a layer that blocks most of the dangerous Ultraviolet (UV-B) rays of the sun from reaching us – a kind of natural umbrella.

About 30 years ago, it was noticed that our Ozone shield was thinning – or having “holes.” Scientists say that this thinning is due to the release of a group of man-made chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), nitrogen oxides and a few others. CFCs are gases commonly used in refrigeration systems, air conditioners, aerosols, solvents and in the production of some types of packaging. Nitrogen oxides are released as a by-product of fuel burning, for example, aircraft and car exhausts.

Ozone depletion exposes humans and other living things to harmful UV-B rays. This increases the risk of sunburn, skin cancer and cataract of the eye.

An increase in UV-B rays also cause a decrease in the productivity of microscopic

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

XXVIII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Fun holiday activities for the kids Short Story‌

On The Way To The Sun

By W. K. Clifford

He had journeyed a long way, and was very tired.

It seemed like a dream when he stood up after a sleep in the field, and looked over the wall, and saw the garden, and the flowers, and the children playing all about. He looked at the long road behind him, at the dark wood and the barren hills; it was the world to which he belonged. He looked at the garden before him, at the big house,

and the terrace, and the steps that led down to the smooth lawn: It was the world which belonged to the children.

"Poor boy," said the elder child, "I will get you something to eat."

"But where did he come from?" the gardener asked.

"We do not know," the child answered, "but he is very hungry, and mother says we may give him some food."

"I will take him some milk," said the little one. In one hand she carried a mug, and with the other she pulled along her little broken cart.

"But what is he called?" asked the gardener.

"We do not know," the little one answered, "but he is very thirsty, and mother says we may give him some milk."

"Where is he going?" asked the gardener.

"We do not know," the children said, "but he is very tired."

When the boy had rested well, he got up saying, "I must not stay any longer," and turned to go on his way.

"What have you to do?" the children asked.

"I am one of the crew, and must help to make the world go round," he answered.

"Why do we not help too?"

"You are the passengers."

"How far have you to go?" they asked.

"Oh, a long way!" he answered. "On and on until I can touch the sun."

"Will you really touch it?" they said, awestruck.

"I dare say I shall tire long before I get there," he answered sadly. "Perhaps without knowing it, though, I shall reach it in my sleep," he added.

But they hardly heard the last words, for he was already far off.

"Why did you talk to him?" the gardener said. "He is just a working boy."

"And we do nothing! It was very good of him to notice us," they said, humbly.

"Good!" said the gardener in despair. "Why, between you and him there is a great difference."

"There was only a wall," they answered. "Who set it up?" they asked curiously.

"Why, the builders, of course. Men set it up."

"And who will pull it down?"

"It will not want any pulling down," the man answered grimly. "Time will do that."

As the children went back to their play, they looked up at the light towards which the boy was journeying.

"Perhaps we too shall reach it some day," they said.

THE END. (kidsgen.com)

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Dyeing for some colour

XXIX

XXX

Ultimate liner tricks - Choosing the right eyeliner

Over the past nine years, I’ve been often asked: Which is better Kohl, Pencil, Powder, Cake, Mechanical, Gel or Liquid?

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

It truly is a matter of perspective and is determined by the type of look the wearer is trying to achieve. I have all of the above in my kit, and they're often all black!

Blue, Purple, Brown and often White eyeliners all come in handy for creating illusions. However, black eyeliners play a pivotal role in achieving the perfect contrast, and serves the main and intended purpose of outlining the eyes drawing attention, reshaping, and adding more allure to the eye shape.

And what I've learnt from both research and experience is that the Black Eyeliner not only functions for beauty purposes, it also helps to prevent too much light from entering the iris.

As much as white eyeliner helps to create a larger eye shape, especially when applied on the lower waterline of the eye, it may affect sight, especially during the day or when exposed to bright lights at night, such as when driving.

Which eyeliner has the better consistency?

The viscosity of a product determines how long it will last, how easy it applies, and how opaque the product will appear. When choosing and using eyeliners always test its viscosity.

Have you ever noticed makeup artists drawing black lines on their arms right before applying to a client’s face?

No? Then you need to get out more. Because any makeup artist worth hiring will measure their liner’s viscosity before applying to the face. It helps to garner control over the product and reassures a perfect outcome.

LASTING POWER No matter the reason or shade of liner you use, you'll want it to last, yet remove easily with your makeup removers. In order to achieve lasting power, ensure you use a product that's non-waterproof, and with a thick gel consistency Caking, baking and sand-bagging are ways to avoid smudging eyeliner. Try the sand-bagging effect, where you apply powder against the waterline of the eye, and gently press upwards as a way to block moisture from seeping through. Matte skin helps to hold and absorb the oils in any eyeliner formula.

The biggest and most common mistake is swiping eyeliner on dewy or sweaty skin. Applying liner to bare, unprepared face is a set up for smudging and messiness.

Since we're so blessed to live in tropical weather, being constantly caressed by the sun, its heat scorching on our gorgeous skin, it's imperative to take the extra step and use as much powder necessary to help hold eyeliners in place.

Please allow me to be redundant, reiterate, and repeat: There's no way that eyeliner will stay put if your skin is not prepped!

Even if it's waterproof and you're going for a swim, follow the steps; then wet your face.

How to apply Eyeliners are best applied in a sketchy manner, meaning that you'll have to use your right brain. It isn't drag a line across and hope you have smooth consistency and steady hands - its small stimulated dashes of success.

Avoid rubbing eyeliner on, since that motion can cause irritation to delicate skin of the eye area.

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XXXI

XXXII

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XXXIII

XXXIV

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XXXV

XXXVI

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

XXXVII

XXXVIII

CXC

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

English

Chronicle Pepperpot September 11, 2016

Bollywood Interview: Nitya Mehra on 'Baar Baar Dekho'

(Reuters) For a debutant director, Nitya Mehra has an impressive resume. The Amritsar-born filmmaker has assisted Mira Nair in “The Namesake” and Ang Lee in his Oscar-winning “Life of Pi”. She also worked on the Indian version of the TV series “24” and assisted Farhan Akhtar on the crime thriller “Don 2”.

Akhtar and his Excel Entertainment are one of the producers of Mehra’s “Baar Baar Dekho” (Watch Again and Again), a romantic tale involving time travel and has Sidharth Malhotra and Katrina Kaif in lead roles.

The film releases in theatres on Friday.

In the middle of a hectic promotion schedule and hours before the first cast and crew screening of her film, Mehra spoke to Reuters about her influences and what a "high-concept" love story means.

Q: Karan Johar, one of the producers of your film, said it is a high-concept love story.

What does that mean?

A: I think it’s a high-fiction film. The beauty of this kind of art form is that you don’t have a barrier in terms of the kind of narration one has to follow.

Actually it’s a very simple sweet story about - honestly in Karan’s words - loving your family, about cherishing your relationship. But we have packaged it in a little bit of an extraordinary narrative and in an extraordinary world. And that is where the high concept comes in. The definition probably is that we are not following a very linear story-telling type of narrative. But at its heart, the kind of love story it talks about is very simple and sweet and it’s packaged in a very fantastical, extraordinary world.

Q: You said you are not limited by the narrative style, but does the audience limit you?

A: Well, I don’t think so.

I think we are constantly underestimating our audience. Even they are looking for fresh ideas, fresh films.

Honestly, if we believe - my producers, me, our actors, if we come together and believe in the product, we can only hope that it finds a place in people’s heart.

The audience today is looking for something different. I am a new film-maker and I would like to do something that is little out there, the first of its kind. I know that there is a huge risk involved. But then there is a risk involved in making all films. And if I am not going take those steps, then I’m just following the herd. David Lynch once said that when it

comes to creativity you have to sometimes just put the outcome aside and just enjoy the doing. And in this case, we have really enjoyed the doing.

Q: Did you also shoot differently? Was it shot in a linear format?

A: The film is shot by Ravi K Chandran, who according to me is a maestro and we have shot it so classically.

All films get shot in terms of what is convenient and cost-productive, so it was not a linear format. Everyone is thinking that we are making some high-concept film and we would have really done something out there. In fact we have gone back to our roots and shot it very classically.

Q: But you are still selling this concept to a market used to more conventional audience. How do you marry the two? What do you think is outdated in the Indian love story that we need to do away with?

A: I have grown up on a nice dose of Indian love stories. I did not go out there thinking, “Oh I need to break away from the mould”. That’s what my upbringing has been and I am very inspired by world cinema. I don’t think there is anything wrong in clichés. Clichés exist because they connect with people. So I actually enjoy the clichés.

Certain things like love and family, these are all universal and they are not going to be dated with time.

The script is your Bible, you lift everything from there and then you obviously bring your aesthetic in, and once you see the film you can think whether you like my aesthetic.

Q: You have assisted so many filmmakers - from Mira Nair to Farhan Akhtar. So what is your aesthetic? What are your influences?

A: I think my big influence in life is my background.

I was born in Amritsar. I am a Punjabi. I think my family is a big influencer in my life.

My mother used to be and has been a big influencer in my life. She used to make traditional clothes as a designer and that’s a huge influence in my life. I think one of the other huge influencer in my life has been my country - the vibrancy of colours, food, different kind of languages…

I am Indian and I am Punjabi so there are going to be Punjabi songs.

I think in terms of films, the names you have mentioned - that was my film school. I didn’t go to actual film school. I was so far away from the film industry that I needed to spend a solid number of years assisting someone

and that is what I did.

Q: It’s the night before your film’s release. What are you thinking now?

A: I think I am telling myself that I am very calm.

I think I am a bundle of nerves. But every now and then, I have a voice that tells me all of us have put our best effort. And I think that is more than what you can ever ask for.

XXXIX

Meg Ryan uses 'fierce' maternal instincts in her directorial debut (Reuters) Hollywood actress Meg Ryan goes behind the camera for her directorial debut "Ithaca", a World War II drama for which she said she used her maternal instincts in telling the story.

The movie, based on William Saroyan's novel "The Human Comedy", follows a teenager who wants to help his widowed mother financially by getting a job as a messenger. He soon gets some tough lessons in life as he delivers messages to families who have lost loved ones in the war.

"I felt like it really is, in its deepest part of DNA, a story that I felt should be told from a maternal point of view," Ryan said in an interview.

"And I felt like it was simple ... it's a simple narrative about complicated things."

The "When Harry Met Sally" actress, who also stars in the film, said she was surprised how much she liked directing.

"The intimacy you end up having with every single thing in a movie when you're directing it ... makes you love it," she said.

"The most fierce I ever am is as a mum and, it turns out, as a director, trying to protect the artists who've come to help me out."

Tom Hanks, with whom Ryan starred in "Sleepless in Seattle" and "You've Got Mail", has a small role in the movie. "He doesn't need much directing," she said.

"Ithaca" was released in the United States on Friday.

Tom Hanks explores the drama and trauma of being a hero in 'Sully' (Reuters) When a US Airways pilot landed a damaged plane in the Hudson River in the middle of winter, saving all 155 people on board, he was immediately hailed a hero - but even heroes can be crumbling on the inside.

"Sully," directed by Clint Eastwood and out in theaters on Friday, follows the immediate aftermath of the extraordinary events on Jan. 15, 2009 that saw Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger land the plane on the Hudson after the Airbus A320-214's two engines were destroyed by a flock of birds.

Following the landing, Sully, played by Tom Hanks, and his co-pilot Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) faced a lengthy National Transportation Safety Board investigation, which tried to determine whether Sully and Skiles had made an error and thus, put both their long-standing reputations at risk.

The film spotlights the post-traumatic stress disorder that Sully faces as the world around him hails him as a hero. He struggles through vivid nightmares reliving different versions of the event where the plane crashes into New York buildings, an image that brings to mind the tragedy of 9/11.

While Sullenberger's actions were extraordinary, Hanks told Reuters that the captain's mental anguish throughout the hearing was "a human experience that a lot of people find relatable, because all of us at some point have been woken up by a dream that has bothered us."

Sullenberger in turn praised Hanks' portrayal, saying "it's amazing how good he is at his craft and how he's able to in very subtle ways, to do things, say things, behave in

Actor Aaron Eckhart (L), Captain Chesley 'Sully' Sullenberger (2nd L), director Clint Eastwood (2nd R), and actor Tom Hanks (R) attend the New York premiere of the film 'Sully' in Manhattan, New York, U.S., September 6, 2016. (REUTERS/Darren Ornitz) such a way that it seems like me."

The film examines the sequence of events that led Sully and Skiles to land the plane on the Hudson with numerous variations, each one allowing the audience to "learn something new" about the flight, Hanks said.

"What you get from the recreations we did is how many people were involved in the aftermath, but also how specific it did come down to those two guys in the cockpit," the Oscar winner said.

Eckhart said Eastwood, a famed actor and Academy Award-winning director, brought a level of experience to the film that echoed both Sully's experience as a pilot and Hanks' experience as an actor - a tale of a hero told by seasoned veterans in the industry.

"Everybody looks at Clint throughout his movie career as this hero. He's this man to us and that's what Sully (is)," Eckhart said. "He's a born leader; he has that aura about him."