Pepperpot epaper 11 19 2016

Adventure up the

Mahaica River

â–ş Centre

Hiding: 6 Year old Chad looks on at our group (Daniel Haynes photo)

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By Daniel Haynes If you had told her that she would come to love poetry so much when she first began writing it, she would have never believed you. After all how could she? Poetry had only been an outlet, something to do when she was feeling extremely emotional.

Now at the age of 19, poetry has become more than a voice for aspiring biochemist Shannon Beaton, in fact it has become an integral part of her life.

Shannon was born on May 17, 1997, and is the eldest of three children, having a younger sister and brother. Being from Berbice and living close to a river, she spent most of her childhood in the countryside either climbing trees and swimming or playing on a farm and being connected to nature. Her childhood adventures with her close knit family played a major role in developing her emotional side.

From a young age, Shannon was always the most empathetic of her family- an extended family that is quite large.

“I was a bit of a tomboy but not the tom-

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

boy in the traditional sense; I wasn’t that rough,” she said in an interview recently. “I was always in some tree or playing with farm animals but I was always emotionally connected to everything around me,” she stated.

“I appreciated the little moments and I felt everything that went on around me.”

It was this heightened sense of awareness that would lead her to poetry in her later years. She would begin to outgrow the tomboyish nature as she transitioned from primary to secondary school. It started with her developing a love for reading and a love for expressing herself through the arts and as she entered secondary school at Queen’s College, she traded the trees and rivers for her notebook and pen.

FINDING POETRY Like all art forms, poetry is born in moments of intense emotional pain, and in Shannon’s case this was no different. “… when I first started writing poetry in my head it wasn’t even poetry; I was just writing down how I felt.”

“That time,” as she calls it, was when she was in third form at the age of 15 and she was experiencing a dark period in her young life.

“I was feeling overwhelmed, I was battling with a lot of demons throughout that time and that’s when it started. I just put pen to paper and let it all out.”

The way poetry helped her and shaped who she became was summed up in one sentence: “Poetry for me was an avenue where if you had issues it was a way to vent and release emotions.”

From that point, she never looked back and to this date has written more poems than she could remember. She admitted that when she first realized that it was poetry as well as it was good when she started getting responses from those close to her.

“In my head I thought that what it wasn’t that good but I would hear that it is good and I started to write more.”

Since that starting point four years ago, she has continued to write and poetry has helped her to not only voice the thoughts in her head but to be a voice for others.

THE POETRY PROCESS Since becoming a more confident writer over the years, her writing process has evolved. First she was limited to only being able to write based on an emotional experience or an event she witnessed, but now Shannon can write poetry on the spot using words or phrases given to her.

I was witness to this when I gave her a word, and on the spot she did it, taking only

a few minute to sort her thoughts. The word was “Wanderlust,” a strong desire to travel.

She wrote this within minutes and it was quite interesting to see her mind work, to see her eyes sparkle and her pen flow as she wrote another line.

“It moves and I follow, the way the streams run from me, the way the songs of creatures so different can harmonize into a beautiful symphony that's never the same.”

“Oh to listen to it forever, but oh to never hear it again. Oh to lose the wondrous mountaintop views, or the deep-water horizons.”

“So I must, before it's lost to me, travel to the dark depths and experience the early morning glory of the rebirthed day.”

“So I'll travel, doesn't matter where I start, my mind is open to see it all” “This wanderlust oozes over me, this wanderlust seeps out, this wanderlust pushes me on.”

Future Plans Education has always been important to the former Queen’s College Student, who scored good grades when she wrote both CSEC and CAPE. For her, becoming a Biochemist was an easy decision. “I can’t see myself as a doctor, my heart is too big and when giving a family bad news I’d probably cry with them,” she said with a laugh.

Shannon also plans to continue writing poetry and secretly dreams of the day when her poems become published. The 19 year old with the beautiful soul and inspired pen is set to accomplish her dreams.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Last week the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) shared a coconut factsheet highlighting pertinent information such as soil type suitable for palm growth, germination and flowering.

This week, the Institute wishes to educate farmers about the selection of proper mother palms for seednut production. Success of a viable coconut plantation starts with the utilization of high quality planting materials.

Consequently, extreme care should be taken in choosing seedlings to start a plantation.

150 g per nut and an oil content of 65 – 70 %. ● Varieties for coconut water production should have at least 10 - 15 nuts per bunch with more than 400 ml water per nut. ● Palms should have a stout, sturdy, straight and robust stem with closely-spaced leaf scars. ● The petioles (stalk) should have a wide leaf base firmly attached to the stem. ● Each leaf axil should have one inflorescence with a large number of spikes and at least one or two flowers per spike. The

This is especially so since poor planting material will produce low yields and result in a failed enterprise.

For production of quality planting materials it is essential to select good quality mother palms of the desired varieties.

Screened germplasm can provide a good head start to sustain the coconut palms’ productive and economic lifespan of 60 years for Tall varieties and 35 – 40 years for Dwarfs. In order to obtain quality seednuts to fulfil the seedling requirements, mother palms have to be selected with optimum genetic potential.

inflorescence stalk should be short and stout with bunches preferably resting on the leaf petioles of the lower whorl; the spadix should have 25 or more female flowers. ● There should be a high rate of leaf (more than 30 fully opened leaves) and spathe production (12 inflorescences per year). ● The age of the palm chosen should preferably be from 15 - 40 years for Tall varieties and 12 - 30 years for Dwarf varieties. ● Trees should be vigorously growing and be free from pests and diseases. ● The superior mother palms which are selected should be marked and mapped.

The important features of superior mother palms are as follow: ● Palms should be regular bearers with an annual yield of more than 100 nuts per tree per year. A good regular bearing mother palm produces on an average one leaf and an inflorescence in its axil every month i.e.

12 bunches per year at varying stages of maturity. ● Yields should be no less than 100 nuts per annum under irrigated conditions and 70-80 nuts per annum under rain-fed conditions.

Varieties for copra production should have medium sized nuts with a round or oblong shape. ● The husked nut should be large with thick kernels; having a copra content of at least

Palms which have the following characteristics should be avoided: ● Palms showing unusual morphological features such as bent, twisted stems. ● Palms with long, thin and pendulous inflorescence stalks and those with alternate bearing tendency. ● Palms producing long, narrow, small-sized or barren nuts. ● Palms shedding immature nuts in large numbers. ● Palms that are grown under unfavorable environmental conditions e.g. flooded areas. ● Palms of Tall varieties that are above 60 years and above 30 years for Dwarfs. ● Palms showing symptoms of attack by pests and diseases as those shown.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

ANTIBIOTIC Awareness Week

Antibiotics are 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 commonly 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.

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 unab-

sorbed foods, causing inflammation of the tissues. Similarly, if an antibiotic is taken for a long period of time, the particular strain of bacteria it is meant to 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.

Dr. BERTRAND R. STUART, DDS. 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 antibiotic 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. More importantly, always let a dentist or physician prescribe your medications.

The drama continues @ NCC

NOW that the Preliminaries are over, here are the plays you can look forward to in the final round of the ongoing National Drama Festival: Debutante Category -"The Healing"(Fanatical Fantasies) - “Garden of BitterWeeds"(Queen of D’Arts) - “ Market Sesh" (Sophia Theatre Company) -“Liz & Linda"(Kuru Kuru Training Centre)

-“Tenement Yard” (One Life Productions) -“Counterfeit Love" (The Conquerors) Junior Category -"Who Wears The Mask" (Uso Telford Fry Yiy) -“Faithful Are the Wounds of a Friend" (Notorious Productions) -“Jack & Jill” (The Modern Epilogue (Lloyd N De Arts) -“Tales of a Tortured Woman" (Lash Out Theatre) -“Sue’s Side" (Sophia Theatre

Company) Open Short Category -"Final Chapter" (Premier Integrated Experience) -“Dot Com” (Clinton Duncan) -“Masque" (Muse Theatre) -“Obeah Koxen" (Queen of D’Arts) -“Choti Backoo” (Dramatic Arts Academy) -"The Ex" (H&T Theatre Arts Company) -“Purge" (Queen of D’Arts)

Open Full-Length Category "Baraka’s Revenge", Melinda PrimoSoloman (Premiere Integrated Experience) -“Coma" (Queen of D’Arts) -“Miriamy", Frank Pilgrim (Primetime Theatre Company) -“Till Ah find A Place" (H&T Theatre Arts Company) -“Legend of the Silk Cotton Tree" (Queen of D’Arts)

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

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'Tis the Season to Sparkle We all know the story of Jesus Christ's birth, and the way he humbly graced this earth, a king, born in a manger.

Jesus is full of contradictions, or misconstrued understanding. It's as if Jesus were blonde, like, no one really gets it. How can this man be a king? Kings aren't humble!

But au contraire, the king of kings, ruler of all, the way the truth and the life, is the humblest of kings and one I hope to aspire to be, but never will.

There's nothing more humble than doing the work you are destined to, despite the naysayers, the ridicule, and the dilettante criticisms of pseudo-intellectuals, who really need to have two seats in the affairs of all things creative.

Please stand clear of the closing doors, and stay on the untalented side of the platform...this train is a holy train.

It's best to take notes from the articles of the truly ordained, anointed and appointed people of God, the ones who know that Gura Nanak must have blessed them. One can only find wisdom from a guru, the anointed ones.

Some of you are afraid to embrace your true inner beauty and avoid listening to the voice within, telling you to take your inner diva and run with her. Because we're concerned about the thoughts and views of the non-blessed, confused,

and uneducated.

Christ did not come for us to walk around looking like we have no saviour! He came to seek and save the world...to give us hope.

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.� - Luke 19: 9-10, Holy Bible.

We are blessed and our biggest fear is that we are great... God said let there be light, and what reflects light better than glitter?

Sparkles on the face is a beautiful way a woman can ward off the naysayers without speaking a word. Glitter has the right balance and packs enough punch to deliver the right blow.

Which is why having the license to destroy is a serious responsibility. To whom much is given much is required. Be careful when handling glitter.

Sparkles can spark too much fire so please take all necessary cautions when applying glitter.

First, you must look for glitter that is cosmetic-grade, meaning that it finer in size and quality, unlike craft store glitters, the ones for children shouldn't be anywhere near the eyes and is too abrasive.

Another fun fact is that cosmetic grade glitter is rounded on the edges and won't irritate if it gets into the tear ducts and on the

skin of the eye. The eye already has 99 problems and environmental elements it's exposed to daily; glitter shouldn't be one of them.

Also, when applying glitter, use your fingers and a water based mixing medium.

It helps as an adhesive and prevents glitter from spreading and dispersing all over the eye. I like to use my Mary Kay eye primer as an adhesive, when I'm not using the Two Faced glitter glue.

Sparkle on, and live fabulously.

For more holiday looks visit my page on Facebook www. facebook.com/eye.like. by.kerry for LIVE videos every Monday night at 7:30pm.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Politics, Core Beliefs and Mental Health

Hello Everyone,

I hope this week has treated you well.

Today I would like to talk about factors associated with the recent United States’ Presidential election which was won by a Republican Party.

I have never been particularly interested in Politics and I’m still not. I do not think the face of the political party matters as much as the core values that they represent. That is where everyone’s focus should be. This is not a political piece and I’m going to remain as impartial as possible. Basically, a Republican won so I’m going to briefly examine some Republican views and how they can affect one’s overall mental health and well- being. I would have done the same if the Democratic Party had won.

So, really quickly. What are some core beliefs of the American Republican Political Party?

Their basic overall view is the idea that each

individual is responsible for their own place in society. The strength of the nation lies within the individual and while the government and its people should be exceptionally close, governmental intervention should be a last resort.

Republicans, as we know, have fixed views on many controversial issues. This party believes that every individual, those unborn included, has human rights that cannot be infringed on by others. This means that they do not support abortion. Again, I’m not here to say whether this is wrong or right but I will mention the health effects that come with not being able to have control over your own body. This is especially true when we realise that the politicians responsible for these decisions are mostly men.

Why is this important to us Guyanese as well?

While they are not illegal in Guyana, thousands of women still cannot undergo abortions for reasons such as religion, limited access to health care, family pressure and so on. I recently worked with a pregnant 15 year old from Bar-

tica. She did not want to keep her baby but was being forced to by her parents. It was not in my right to tell her parents they were wrong but it was in my right to tell them what to expect.

Unintended pregnancy, is an overall very difficult and stressful life event, especially for the younger generation. Unplanned pregnancy and delivery, more often than not, results in high stress levels, and lower levels of income and education as pregnancy is a high risk factor for school drop- out. It causes many women to stay in abusive relationships, homelessness, drug abuse, high anxiety, and sadness, post-partum depression- all of which may lead to long term depression or suicidal behaviours.

It is also not safe for the child. The possibility of child abuse highly increases with an ‘unwanted child’.

Unplanned pregnancies are also often due to sexual abuse. Should these women be forced to carry out this pregnancy which encourages re-living the experience? This is only one of the reasons why there are millions of children around the world in the foster care system and waiting for adoption. A few years ago, The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated that there are over 210 million of these children all over the world. Maybe if the money, time and energy that go into anti-abortion campaigns went to these children instead, one might actually believe that their genuine motive is the well-being and rights of children.

I want to make it clear that I’m aware there are individual exceptions. I’m sure there are many women who experienced both physical and psychological complications due to abortion. I am definitely not minimizing their experiences but a large body of evidence allows for the belief that not having control over what happens to your body and life, is much more damaging. Much like drug use, laws against abortion do not stop abortion; they simply make it less safe. Thousands of women die every year from unsafe abortions. Not to mention that over 300,000 women die giving birth annually around the world.

Always remember that prevention is better than cure. I’m definitely not encouraging sex but it would be important to know (to avoid the situation) that the Ministry of Health and your nearest health clinic provides free contraception for your community.

Republicans seem to also have firm views on immigration and minorities. It may not be

their intention but this makes them seem prejudiced and entitled. I felt for the American people recently as I cannot imagine what it must be like to know that the majority of your own people support your oppression.

Let’s quickly talk about this and its possible effects on our overall well-being.

Firstly, what is a minority? Being a minority simply means that you belong to a category of people who are distinguished from the majority.

It can depend on multiple factors such as ethnicity, religion, gender, socio-economic status and so on.

Minorities are known to have lower incomes, minimal access to healthcare services, more likely to be stigmatized and most importantly an unequal access to opportunities. It’s no surprise that this creates low self -esteem and worth. It can cause high social anxiety and depression and even feelings of suicide. It may even feel like everyone is underestimating you.

Everyone makes mistakes but it might feel like yours are on display. I would like to think that if the oppressors knew how their victims felt, things would be different. Sadly, I know deep down that that is not the case. There is one important advantage. Struggles such as oppression provides resilience, which means an individual is able to bounce back quickly from adversity.

Never underestimate the power that comes with that.

A final core value of the Republican Party is the belief that marriage is traditional sanctity between a man and a woman. I would like to talk about this separately next week as I believe the LGBT community is still wrongfully oppressed in Guyana. We tend to fear or dislike things we cannot relate to or understand. I’m going to try and change that next week.

Thanking you for reading. Please keep sending any topics you’d like to talk about to caitlinvieira@gmail.com Or come in to see me at: Georgetown Public Hospital: Psychiatric Department: 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!

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

being able to handle the shifting of the play nicely.

The Preliminaries of this year’s National Drama Festival (NDF) are over, and the finalists have been chosen. Going into the final phase of the competition are a number of worthy productions and it is impossible to go into the merits of each one here.

Therefore, continuing with last week’s trend of highlighting only the positives of the productions seen in the Preliminaries in order to celebrate theatre and to recognize that each work of are, due to the effort and heart put into it, is special, we shall be taking a brief look at three more plays that entered the NDF this year: The Perfect Man, Baraka's Revenge, Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend.

The Perfect Man – written

by Ato Vaughn; directed

by Tristana Roberts

Although the play did not make it into the Finals of the competition, it is certainly one of those that will be remembered by the audience for a long time. Focusing on a young man who is attempting to use magical powers, murder and human sacrifice in order to build, from a combination of male body parts, the perfect and resuscitate her dead lover to life, the already sets itself apart from what is the norm.

The production was carried by the lead performance of Ruqayyah Boyer who performed capably and brought a warm sort of sexual ap(Tristana Roberts, director) peal, manifested through BDSM, sex toys and the lingerie on the stage. It is a performance that calls for extreme courage and Ms. Boyer must be commended for taking on a role that most other Guyanese actresses would not even contemplate doing. The ideas in the plot of the story were quite good and, if revised and developed more, can really morph itself into a very excellent play.

This play is in the Open Full-Length category and tells the story of three friends who open a mysterious bottle and unleashes an ancient backoo.

Perhaps the best thing about this production has to be use of dance. The dancers, led by Nathaya Whaul, really make a strong impact and the African moves and music really go well with the theme of the play.

They used the stage well and the dances themselves were well choreographed. The lead actress, Kimberly Fernandes was also quite good and despite everything was able to make a lasting impression on the audience by

(Nickose Layne, director)

Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend – written by Ackeeni Bentick; directed by Kevon Henry

(Part II)

National Drama Festival2016

By Subraj Singh

Baraka’s Revenge – written

by Melinda Primo-Solomon; directed by Nickose Layne

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This play has advanced to the Finals in the Junior category and most of the members in the cast and production team come from the newest batch of graduates from the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama.

Friendship is, of course, the main theme of the play which focuses on a group of female friends – each distinct and uniquely represented by the individual actresses who play them.

The script also addresses themes such as love, betrayal and revenge.

The play has a nice multitude of characters and several situations that are ripe for dramatic tension.

Moreover, even though it has strong themes and is literary, the play is a lot of fun. It provides entertainment and characters for the audience to hate and characters for the audience to cheer on. It is balanced in almost every way necessary.

Overall, it is obvious that the Finals of the National Drama Festival will be quite the event to look forward. With strong competition and some excellent work being done in the Festival, there is no doubt that this year’s NDF will be (Kevon Henry, director) one to remember.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Making the holidays safe

A few days ago, a journalist from one of the respected daily newspapers wrote with a touch of glee, “Guyana is in the throes of another crime wave and like most waves, it's building up slowly as it moves towards the Christmas Season...to crush with fury on a hapless population."

The scenario imagined by that journalist did not factor in the realities of the Police Force and the population quietly taking their own protective measures.

The Police Force has quietly been doing the necessary training and business people who may have to handle large sums of cash have tightened their security and surveillance. The bandits and robbers are beginning to feel and realize that the downtown business areas are becoming off-limits. Most of the crime now occurs in fairly isolated residences or smaller business places.

On Monday 14th August, Assistant Commissioner Ramnarine had called a meeting at the Officers Mess which would involve various organizations and a wide spread of individuals to allow a much wider cross-section of citizens to participate in the Christmas protection of life and property.

Citizens are cooperating and there is more commitment than before. Indeed, there seems to be a growing enthusiasm in people feeling they are helping to protect society.

What are some of the ways in which the Police are preparing themselves for the coming holiday season and beyond? In the first place, keener study is being made of

the techniques of the bandits. Such may allow the Police to forestall the bandits and may lead to the bandits being outwitted. Such training should be able to seep down to the Community Policing groups countrywide.

Then there is the more ubiquitous presence of the Police. When the Police are seen visibly patrolling the streets or in the villages, this acts as a deterrent to crime. As we

approach the Christmas season, there is already building up a greater Police presence in the business areas.

The Police are also beginning to use modern technology with satisfactory results. Some of these, we understand, have helped in the apprehension of criminals.

And lastly, there is the issue of intelligence gathering.

This area of activity is absolutely vital and needs continuous development. If there is vibrant and reliable intelligence, the Police Force would be much more impacting.

At the moment, the Police Force has had a bad press and there has been some quite high-profile crimes, mostly break-and-enter and invasion of homes by gunmen, to the extent where President Granger himself has had to make a statement on Thursday 10th August.

In his statement, President Granger was wide-ranging. He mentioned that there were some very unsuitable elements in the Force who needed to be purged. Such elements, at some time or other, may have had some involvement in criminality.

He also touched on tiffs and quarrels in the Force which were projected into the public domain.

Some of these did not help the image of the Force and in some ways weakened it. In reality, such tiffs were not of much importance and many of them were storms in a teapot and certainly not insoluble. It was, of course, much more constructive if such were settled within the portals of the Force.

The President has also been thinking much more in the long term and he feels that the Force has to be reformed. We hope that those persons who are concerned with such matters take their cue from the path President Granger pointed and begin to act.

We are quite confident, however, that the Police Force with the help and cooperation of the citizens who have been mobilized, will make the Christmas season a happy and safer one.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

THIS WEEK’S PREVIEW: Nov.21-27, 2016 Every bush a man night time. Should Devine be scared?

Monica attended the Indaba in Victoria Village and is filled with ideas to form a Merundoi Restoration Committee. Who will she approach and will she be successful in this new venture?

Ryan and Devine visit Lawrence and Monica. Monica suspects Ryan is not treating his young wife as he should. Is she right?

June visits Lucille and finds the house in darkness. Where is Lucille? What has she done?

Ignatius is upset that he may be losing money in his Better Harvest Housing Project. What is his next move? Can Ryan help? How does Sonny fit into his new scheme?

Don’t miss this week’s episode.

You can also listen on www.merundoi.org

Merundoi Street Theatre performs “Voices” an intervention for The Prevention of Suicide, in collaboration with PAHO/WHO. It was part of the Health Outreach at the Linden Bus Park last Saturday.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

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Two blind students excel at UG GANESH Singh chose not to “waste” any sleep time studying for his exams, but Oddessa Blair, who graduated with him at the University of Guyana (UG) last week would stay up as late as 04:00 h to get her studying done. Although their methods differed, the two are proud of their achievements.

“I was really impressed with myself,” says Oddessa in an interview with Chronicle at the Guyana Society for the Blind on High Street, adding, “I made a great effort and it paid off.”

Ganesh, who completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and graduated with a distinction, did not attend the UG ceremony with Oddessa because he felt a bit disappointed that he was unable to immediately afterwards pursue his Master’s Degree.

“I feel accomplished to an extent because acquiring my degree was always a goal of my mine and to finally get it, I am somewhat satisfied. But I am a far away from where I want to be regarding my academic pursuits and hopefully, within the next few years, I can get to where I want to be.”

TWO DAYS BEFORE During his high school days, Ganesh wanted to become an accountant but at age 17 when he became blind, he shifted his attention to social work. “The fields of social work and education are now my passion, and the interesting thing is that my teaching is related to my social work; both tie in well.

Ganesh always had a desire to obtain tertiary education qualifications. “I don’t wanna be stagnant at one level so I am hoping to move forward. I’m heading in to my Master’s and if the road Odessa Blair

leads me, to a PhD; that is my overarching aim. I have a knack for always getting what I want, but not necessarily when I want it.

Once I put my mind to something, I always get it, just not always within the timeframe that I outline for myself,” he expressed.

A government scholarship helped Ganesh to obtain his Bachelor’s Degree and to move ahead. Ganesh can foresee that finances will pose a challenge. “It is very costly for a Masters and a PhD, so if I am afforded a scholarship to pursue both, I would very much appreciate it.”

Explaining his study methods, Ganesh said: “I never wasted sleep on studying. If I want to sleep, I go to sleep. I think the latest I ever stayed up studying for UG was 11 pm. Those who know me – assignments, exams never were a bother to me. I study for an exam two days before. I would remove myself from most of my work and I’ll dedicate myself to studying during the day.”

Oddessa, though, who was the first person from the Blind Society to graduate at a tertiary level, said she would usually stay up late at nights studying for her exams. “At times, I stayed up until 4 am to study. I studied with friends on Skype and at other times when they were unavailable, I had to do it alone. But when I was alone I got bored and sleepy.”

Oddessa, a mother of two who had also received a government scholarship, recalled some of the challenges she faced, in addition to having to travel from the West Coast Demerara each day.

“Reading with JAWS is challenging. You have to listen, interpret and then ensure it sticks. Sometimes I had to go it over and over to make that happen. Life was real hectic coming closer to the exams. To fit everything into my schedule was not easy.”

MOTIVATED Oddessa was the only blind person who was present at the UG graduation, but this did not diminish her confidence even for a bit. She will never forget the crowd’s response as her name was called and she made her way to the stage.

“While I was on my way to the stage, the crowd was just shouting my name, even those who did not know me. I felt really motivated with this response and think that motivated me to do even better with my Bachelor’s Degree.”

Ganesh Singh

Both Ganesh and Oddessa took the same exams as everyone else at UG, only electronically.

“We would have our handouts scanned and then converted and some lecturers would provide the information electronically.

As for the exams, the lecturer just brought a copy of the exams electronically and we would put it on a system that we would take for their verification and then we would do our exams,” explained Ganesh.

He added: “I never used a scribe at UG because the people there have a lot of very interesting ways that they deal with persons with disabilities on campus. Nothing is organized. They don’t have a disability policy; everything is done in an ad-hoc way.

“The lecturers in the social sciences department have been very, very supportive. Without their assistance and support, I don’t think I would have gotten the opportunity to graduate.”

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Self-care tips for creatives With all that has been happening locally and abroad it’s hard not to be drawn into the circus of political debates unfolding every day. We go online hoping to find escape in cat memes and trends like the “you name it challenge,” and we do for all of what seems like five seconds. It doesn’t take long until we find ourselves shaking our heads in disbelief at the level of bigotry exhibited by people on their various social media platforms. Most of us have spent our entire lives convincing ourselves that human intelligence has evolved to match our advances in technology. But we’re always shocked when technology is revealed for what it really is, a mask that covers the features of the human personality we wished didn’t exist.

For those in creative disciplines it’s usually more than enough fodder than we sometimes know what to do with. In fact, very often it can be quite overwhelming to shoulder that burden of disappointment. The key to making our process work is finding the right balance of peace and turmoil. If we’re constantly bombarded with negativity it becomes difficult to work through the muck and come out with all of our faculties in order. So how do we cultivate and nurture a mental space that is conducive to productivity when everything seems to be falling apart around us? How do we take care of ourselves in the midst of the chaos? I’ve gathered some tips for self-care every creative or even non-creative individual should consider whenever they feel the dreaded “saturation point” approaching.

I think it’s important to first understand that self-care isn’t an act of selfishness. I’ve always held fast to the saying “You cannot serve from an empty vessel.” There’s a reason why flight attendants tell you to put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to help anyone else in the event of any trouble on the plane. You cannot help anyone if

your own health has been compromised and this is applicable to every area of your life.

The act of creation is rewarding and equally exhausting so making time to recover is crucial to maintaining sound mental health.

1. It’s okay to say no. Learning to say no

ranks highest on my list of self care tips for creative practitioners.

A lot of t i m e s we tend to confuse “I can do anything” with “I can do everything.”

The fastest way to a burn out is by saying yes when we really should say no.

Instead we smile and commit to running our bodies into the ground trying to meet impossible deadlines. For many of us, saying no is difficult because we either need the extra money; feel guilty for turning persons away or a combination of the two.

Whatever the reason, we often say yes at great expense to our physical and mental health. Be realistic about your schedule and listen to what your body is telling you.

Know when to draw the line. It’s okay to say no to some projects if it means you’ll be in a better mental space.

2. Make healthier choices about your body.

Every day our bodies constantly remind us that we’re getting up in age. A crack here,

a pop there, it feels like betrayal but how good have we been to our bodies? We know the foods and drinks we should stay away from because, very often, our bodies rebel in the form of aches and pains. Find healthy alternatives to the things you like and your body will reward you for it. Let’s not forget that we depend on our bodies to conceptualize and materialize narratives and that kind of work takes a toll over time. It’s important that we nourish our bodies so that we can continue to produce great work. An artist never stops creating so with that in mind, work towards making

smarter food and drink choices. Future you will be glad you did.

3. Do something different. We get up every day, have breakfast, take a shower, go to work, come home, have dinner, take another shower and then sleep. We repeat this routine almost every day, going through the same motions over and over again. It’s very easy to slip into a kind of depression about the rut we think we’re in. Creative practitioners are especially susceptible to feelings of dissatisfaction and so it becomes crucial

that we find ways to inject spontaneity into our daily routine. It doesn’t have to be as outlandish as a trip to a different country but small adjustments to our schedule can make a significant difference in our outlook. Start taking the scenic route home (where possible of course), learn to play an instrument, spend some time volunteering or visiting the elderly homes. There are so many things that could be done to shift our focus from the difficulties we’re experiencing. Life is not all doom and gloom if we take time to appreciate the people and things around us.

4. And finally, don’t read the “Comments” section. Just don’t. If you ever find curiosity getting the best of you, do yourself a favor and turn off your computer. I once read somewhere that “People ruin things” and I don’t think I’ve ever come across a more accurate summation of my feelings in general. November has been an eventful month to say the least and everyone has taken to their various social media accounts to voice their opinions, sound or otherwise. That is normal and perfectly acceptable. Everyone should be allowed that basic freedom. However, a quick perusal of any comment thread about a “hot” topic and you would realize that everyone doesn’t share that same understanding. Very often you would come across some of the most offensive and truly disturbing remarks being hurled at persons of a different opinion. Somehow we’ve lost the capacity to have healthy and respectful conversations without descending into the pits of filth. So the next time you observe a heated online discussion, do not engage. Don’t be the person who becomes enraged and continues the rampage days after everyone else has given up. It’s not worth the damage it will do to your mental space. Just keep scrolling. It’s that simple.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

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Nirmala Narine readies for

‘Masque’ and ‘Obeah Koksen’

By Telesha Ramnarine NIRMALA Delilah Narine, the local actress who says acting is what she’s all about, is set to perform in “Masque” during the National Drama Festival that is slated to begin from today and that will continue until November 27 at the National Cultural Center.

Written and directed by Subraj Singh, “Masque” is the second part of the Rebellion Trilogy, which is a single story divided into three postcolonial, experimental one-act plays that each focus on the post-colonial experience of the three main ethnic groups from Guyana.

Masque is both a sequel to last year’s “Laugh of the Marble Queen” which focused much on the African post-colonial experience.

Providing a sneak peek into the play, Narine told this newspaper that the show will highlight the effects of colonization on a tribe of indigenous people and will present other important themes like feminism, identity, the environment, religion and the supernatural, power and authority, reality and the unreal, love, blindness, family and the past versus the present.

“Set over 500 years ago in the interior regions of Guyana, during the time when the country was still being overtaken by European Colonization, the play opens with a white woman being abducted by a tribe of indigenous people.

“Kita, daughter of the Chief, is bitter and wants the white woman dead as retribution for all the travesties committed on their village by the white man. Kai, her brother, has recently escaped from European bondage, and yet, is intent on spearing the white woman’s life. Thus begins a mighty power struggle between two opposing people with two opposing ideologies.

“Things get more complicated with the arrival of the ghost of their dead, vengeful mother and the interventions of their blind, aging father. As the Europeans begin to march on the village once more, Kai, Kita, their entire village, and the white woman who stands in the center of it, all must make decisions to save themselves from an oncoming destruction that exists both outside the village and within.”

Nirmala will also be performing in “Obeah Koxsen,” a play that experiments with Guyanese tradition of the use of obeah as a means of keeping a woman out of a man’s life.

Nirmala, 28, who hails from Leonora, West Coast Demerara, began in the acting field by taking part in the annual drama competitions between the ‘houses’ at school. “Since age two, I've known that I wanted to become an actress. I re-

member this instance when our teacher was asking each of us what we wanted to become when we got older and I was too embarrassed to say an actress for fear of being laughed at.”

Today, with just a relatively short time in the acting fraternity, Nirmala has already starred in some major plays and movies and won herself several awards.

The young actress, who speaks fluent Spanish, particiNirmala during rehearsals for “Masque”

pated in a Carifesta drama workshop and performed her first play, "Moon on a Rainbow Shawl," at the National Cultural Centre. From here on, she’s been acting in numerous plays and movies including “Watch The Ride,” “Virtue,” and “The Colour of Race 2.”

Nirmala’s inspiration comes from the veterans of theatre in Guyana including Habeeb Khan (now deceased), Henry Rodney and Ron Robinson. It was Rodney and Robinson who facilitated her training at the Carifesta workshop, and ever since then, she’s been fond of them.

She has already won the Best Supporting Actress award for "A New Beginning" in 2011; and the Best Actress Award

for "Virtue" in 2012 at the Theatre Guild Guyana Awards ceremony. She came in as the 3rd place winner for the first play she wrote called "Imprisoned" at the National Drama Festival Awards in 2012, and was the Best Graduating Student in Production from the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama. She has also won 2nd place for her short story "The Dare" in the Jubilee Writing Competition.

Nirmala, an entrepreneur in the retail business who does television ads and voice overs, is also a member of the Theatre Guild of Guyana, an associate member of The Re-Actors, and a member of the National Drama Company.

AN ACTOR’S UNION Nirmala says that the acting fraternity in Guyana would be enhanced if producers ensure that actors Nirmala Delilah Narine are paid adequately and timely for their work.

Furthermore, the government can help by creating initiatives that could help to utilize the skills of actors while providing them with more opportunities. “An actors' union is something that is necessary so that actors' rights can be better represented and interests protected.”

Nirmala said the National School of Theatre Arts and Drama (NSTAD) helps greatly with the training of actors.

In a scene from “Obeah Koksen”

end Zika

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

WHO declares of emergency but still needs action (Reuters) The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Friday that the Zika virus and related neurological complications no longer constitute an international emergency but said it would continue to work on

the outbreak through a "robust" program.

The WHO's Emergency Committee, which declared an international public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in February, said the virus still represents "a

A woman stands near a poster explaining about the Zika virus at the Ministry of Health office in Jakarta, Indonesia September 2, 2016.

REUTERS/Iqro Rinaldi/File Photo

highly significant and a long-term problem".

"The Zika virus and associated consequences remain a significant enduring public health challenge requiring intense action but no longer represent a PHEIC," the WHO panel composed of independent experts said in a statement after meeting.

Carried by mosquitoes, the Zika virus can cause the rare birth defect microcephaly and other neurological disorders in infants and adults. It has spread to more than 60 countries and territories since the current outbreak was identified last year in Brazil.

"The Committee agreed that Zika must now be managed within the World Health Organization as are other very important infectious diseases and other threats," Dr. David Heymann, chair of the Zika Emergency Committee, told a news conference.

WHO director-general Dr. Margaret Chan accepted the committee's recommendations and declared an end to the emergency. But the U.N. health agency maintained recommendations including that people exposed to the Zika virus should take preventive measures for six months to avoid sexual transmission.

"It remains crucially important that pregnant women avoid traveling to areas with local transmission of Zika, because of the devastating complications that can occur in fetuses that become infected during pregnancy," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said in a statement.

"We are not downgrading the importance of Zika. In fact by placing this as a longer program of work, we are sending the message that Zika is here to stay and WHO's response is here to stay in a very robust manner," said Dr. Peter Salama, Executive Director of WHO's Health Emergencies Programme.

There have been some 2,300 confirmed cases worldwide of babies born with microcephaly, most in Brazil, but the figure is most likely a "significant under-estimate", he said.

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

On November 20, nations around the world will be celebrating Universal children’s Day. This day is celebrated in remembrance of the adoption of the most widely ratified international human rights treaty- the Convention on the Rights of the child. The convention sets out a number of children’s rights and this celebration promotes the need to continuously build up a living-friendly environment for ALL children.

Article 24 of the convention highlight that parties to the convention must recognize the rights of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.

Further, parties should pursue efforts to combat disease and malnutrition while taking into consideration the dangers and risks of environmental pollution.

There are numerous health effects in children which have been linked to the quality of the environment, including respiratory illnesses, cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders, obesity and adverse birth outcomes.

Poor planning, pollution from human activities, often disrupts many systems within the environment resulting in a loss of water and air quality, loss of green spaces, obstruction of natural processes, and depletion of resources necessary for health and sustainability.

Unfortunately, children subsequently share a large portion of the burden of environmental degradation.

Here are some WHO facts on Children’s environmental Health: ♦ Asthma prevalence is rising rapidly in children.

-most common chronic non-communicable disease among children and occurs in all countries especially lowand lower-middle income countries where triggers are common and asthma medication is scarce. ♦ More than 50% of the 1 million annual child deaths from acute respiratory infections are attributable to indoor air pollution. ♦ Indoor air pollution often is caused by the burning of solid fuel to cook. Acute respiratory infections – in particular pneumonia – are the leading killer of young children. Second-hand tobacco smoke is another major risk factor. Children in developing countries are especially at risk due to poor housing conditions. ♦ Environmental factors

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A Living friendly Environment for All Children are responsible for 88% of the 1.5 million annual child deaths year due to diarrhea. ♦ Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of death among children under 5 years old (760 000 annually). A large majority of these deaths are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene. Treating and safely storing drinking water can prevent diarrhoeal disease. ♦ In some developing regions of the world, more than 33% of all children are exposed to high levels of lead which can result in neurological disorders. ♦ Lead poisoning can alter children's brain development, increase the risk of learning problems, and cardiovascular diseases later in life.

Childhood lead exposure is estimated to contribute to about 600 000 new cases of developmental disabilities, annually. ♦ Acute poisoning from pesticides can be life-threatening to children ♦ Unsafe use, storage and disposal of pesticides are the main causes of acute poisoning. Chronic pesticide exposure is linked to neurological, developmental, and reproductive problem in children. Sources of exposure include gardens, homes, schools, agricultural drift, and contaminated food and drinking water. ♦ Mercury is toxic to the nervous system particularly during early development ♦ Exposure to mercury, even in small amounts, may cause serious health problems. The fetus, newborns and children are especially susceptible to mercury exposure because of the sensitivity of their developing nervous systems.

Large predatory, non-fatty fish (such as shark) can have high levels of mercury.

Mercury in the environment is mainly caused by human activity, e.g. mining. ♦ Hundreds of thousands of children under the age of 15 unintentionally ingest poisonous substances. ♦ Poisoning most commonly involves fuel, pesticides, medicines, and toxic household products. Storing these items away from children’s sight and reach, and using child-resistant packaging can save children's lives. ♦ Environmental factors play a role in childhood cancers. ♦ While much about the origin of childhood cancers remains unknown, environmental agents such as radiation, tobacco and sec-

ond-hand smoke, aflatoxins, ultraviolet light, and some pesticides play a role. Cancers attributed to environmental factors result in 1.3 million deaths each year. ♦ Climate change increases the risk of disease especially for children in developing countries ♦ The burden of disease of climate change is dispropor-

tionately borne by children in developing countries. Not only are children the most vulnerable to the immediate effects, they will also face long term health consequences. Children face risks of injuries and death from floods and extreme temperatures, asthma and respiratory diseases that increase in frequency with air pollution,

and diarrhoeal diseases, malaria, and malnutrition related to climate change.

Now with these facts in mind, contemplate on your actions with regard to the environment. Have you been a good environmental steward?

Remember, every child has a right to good health including a healthy environment.

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 http://www.who.int/features/factfiles/children_environmental_health/facts/en/ index9.html

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Centuries-old Ten Commandments tablet goes under hammer for $850,000 (Reuters) A 1,500-year-old stone tablet with the earliest known chiseled inscription of the Ten Commandments was sold at a U.S. auction on Wednesday

for $850,000.

The two-foot (61 cm) square slab of white marble that weighs about 115 pounds (50 kg) was sold in Beverly

A stone tablet thought to be about 1,500 years old with a, worn-down chiseled inscription of the Ten Commandments is seen in this photo released in Dallas, Texas, U.S., October 21, 2016. Courtesy Heritage Auctions/Handout via REUTERS

Hills, California, by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions to a buyer who not to be immediately identified.

The tablet was put up for sale by Rabbi Shaul Deutsch, founder of the Living Torah Museum, in Brooklyn, New York, with the stipulation that the buyer must put it on public display, the auction house said.

The tablet is chiseled with 20 lines of Samaritan script with principles that are fundamental to Judaism and Christianity. The inscription lists nine of the 10 commandments in the Book of Exodus, omitting "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" and replacing it with a rule for Samaritan worshippers, the auction house said.

It was probably chiseled during the late Roman or Byzantine era, between 300 and 500 A.D., and marked the entrance of an ancient synagogue that was likely destroyed by the Romans, according to the auction house.

The tablet was discovered in 1913 during excavation for a railroad line near the modern city of Yavneh in Western Israel. Someone, possibly a construction worker, acquired it and set it in a courtyard where it remained until 1943 when it was acquired by an archeologist, who owned it until his death in 2000.

Deutsch acquired the tablet for temporary display through an agreement with the Israel Antiquities Authority and then bought it outright after a legal settlement, Heritage officials said.

Deutsch said he wished to sell the tablet and other artifacts from his collection chronicling Jewish life and history back to antiquity to raise money for a makeover of his museum. He said he plans to transform the museum with more hands-on exhibits to attract younger visitors. “The new owner is under obligation to display the tablet for the benefit of the public,� David Michaels, director of antiquities for Heritage Auctions, said in a statement.

Two phone bidders pushed the sale price up from an opening live bid of $300,000, Heritage officials said.

folklore

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

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By Neil Primus

WHO GOES THERE! BUDDY Pooran was a sensible man; he never liked too much adventure.

Whenever there was trouble, he avoided it. He never got into a fight; did most of his heavy drinking at home, and he avoided all places known to be haunted. He had never seen a ‘jumbie’, and he intended to keep it that way.

Late one night Buddy was walking home; this happened while he was visiting relatives in the countryside.

The place was black, black, black, and he was unfamiliar with his surroundings. He kept to the ‘side-line’, which led straight to the village.

Half-way down the bushy dam, Buddy had an urgent call of nature; one he just could not ignore.

Looking around, he spied a large clump of bushes close to a tree. He dived into the concealing foliage, dropped his pants, and got down to business.

OUT OF NOWHERE Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a shrill voice rang out: “Ah who you!”

Buddy froze! But his bowels kept right on going in response to his sudden rush of fear.

“Ah who you!” the voice insisted.

Buddy began to tremble.

What could he possibly say to this angry person. He started to rise, but froze once more when the voice again rang out, this time much too close for comfort.

“Ah who you!”

“Ah...ah...ah…” Try as he might, Buddy’s voice just would not cooperate. He tried to stand up to see who his accoster was, but, alas!

There was no one there!

Who could it be that was disturbing him at such a sensitive time? He again hunkered down and proceeded to complete the business at hand.

Crack!

Someone, or something, was moving around in the

bushes nearby. Then things went crazy. It seemed like voices were coming from every which way, shouting; demanding. And even threatening!

“Ah who you!”

“Ah who you!”

“Ah who you!”

“Ah who you!”

NO HESITATION Well, this was getting to be a bit too much for the mild-mannered Buddy, and, without his pants up and ran for dear life. This did not work out so well. Buddy tripped and fell, stunned.

“Ah who you!”

This thing was following him! With a yelp, Buddy took off again, pants around his knees.

“Ah who you!”

In total desperation, he tried to pacify the annoying entity.

“Ah who you!”

“Is m…m…me!”

“Ah who you!”

“Is me Buddy!”

“Ah who you!”

“Is yuh boy Buddy!”

By now, Buddy had gotten his pants up, and made a dash for it. By the time he reached his relative’s house, he was not only exhausted, but petrified. After relating his ordeal to the very concerned household, everyone burst into uncontrollable laughter. Their reaction so shocked Buddy, that he redoubled his efforts to convince them that he was not lying. On seeing his dilemma, his relatives reassured him that honesty was not the issue here; they then the broke the news to him.

The ‘entity’ he had an encounter with was neither a ‘jumbie’ nor a ‘spirit’, but a bird: A night-owl! This particular bird, they explained to poor Buddy, had a strange call that sounded like, “Ah who you!”

Buddy smiled in embarrassment; he secretly wished he had known this beforehand. Now, he had a lot of extra washing to do.

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

China websites block searches for 'Fatty Kim the Third'

(Reuters) Chinese websites have again blocked searches for "Fatty Kim the Third", as many Chinese mockingly call North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with China's foreign ministry saying it did not approve of ridiculing foreign leaders.

Chinese internet users began reporting last week that searches on the Twitter-like microblogging site Weibo and search engine Baidu for the expression returned no results, the normal sign that something is being blocked despite its wide usage.

The term - which refers to the weight of Kim, his father and grandfather - was last blocked in September after neighboring North Korea's latest nuclear test.

Kim is unpopular in China because of his country's repeated nuclear and missile tests.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said reports the government had banned the search term "did not accord with the facts".

"What I want to stress is that China has always dedicated itself to constructing a rational, cultured and healthy environment for public opinion," Geng told a daily news briefing.

China "does not approve of insulting or ridiculing language to address any country's leader", he added, without elaborating.

Both Baidu Inc and Sina Corp, which owns Weibo, declined to comment.

China's internet regulator did not respond to a request for comment.

Many Chinese, however, took to Weibo to suggest multiple other terms which sound similar to "Fatty Kim the Third" and which are not blocked.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves to the crowd as he presides over a mass rally and parade in the capital's main ceremonial square, in Pyongyang, North Korea, May 10, 2016. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj/File Photo

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Cake Mix Christmas Cookies This is quick and easy! Chilling makes handling these easier. Option for a lemon glazed cookie--all you have to do is in place of the water use the frozen lemon concentrate for a real tart cookie and/or use lemon cake mix. Then mix a bunch of powdered sugar with the frozen lemon contentrate thats at room temperature for a nice tart icing!

INGREDIENTS (Yield 36-48 cookies) • 1 (18 ounce) package cake mix (chocolate, cherry, spice, banana, lemon of your choice) • 2large eggs • 1⁄2cup shortening • 1tablespoon water • 1⁄2cup chopped nuts or 1⁄2 cupcoconut or 1⁄2 cup dried cranberries or 1⁄2 cup raisins

DIRECTIONS 1. Mix all together.

2. Shape in 1" balls and roll in powdered sugar (optional).

3. You may want to chill dough before rolling. Place on parchment lined baking sheet.

4. Bake 10-12 minutes at 375°F.

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XX

On trial:

(BBC) Eric Aniva was arrested in July on presidential orders after he admitted having unprotected sex with girls as young as 12 - and keeping quiet about his HIV-positive status.

Aniva says he was hired by the girls' relatives to take part in a sexual initiation ceremony which they believe "shakes off" the girl's childhood "dust" so that she can enter adulthood.

When Malawi's president, Peter Mutharika, ordered the arrest, he wanted Aniva tried for defiling young girls, but no girls came

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

The man with HIV who says he had sex with 104 women and girls

forward to testify against him.

So instead Aniva is being tried for another ritual defined as a "harmful cultural practice" under section five of Malawi's Gender Equality Act, in which he had sex with newly bereaved widows.

On this charge, two women have come forward to give evidence against Aniva, though one says he had sex with her before the practice was banned, and the other says she managed to escape before the sexual act took place.

"Widow cleansing is a highly regarded

Eric Aniva was arrested in July on presidential orders after he admitted having unprotected sex with girls as young as 12 - and keeping quiet about his HIV-positive status

practice among us," said a social worker from Nsanje, the remote south-western district where Aniva lives.

"We believe that if a widow or widower is not sexually cleansed, then bad luck, sudden death or illness will come to some, or all, of the clan. We are obliged to do this custom by our ancestors," he added. He asked to remain anonymous, because government employees

are not allowed to talk to the media without permission.

Until a few years ago, it was common practice in the district for a bereaved widow to have sex with a man three times a night for three to four nights. Often the man would be the deceased's brother, but in some cases Turn to page XXI â–şâ–şâ–ş

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016 ◄◄◄ From page XX

someone from outside the immediate family, such as Aniva, would be hired to perform the act.

If the bereaved was a man, a woman would be found to have sex with him.

The ritual was modified, however, in the light of the HIV epidemic, and these days a married couple are supposed to act as surrogates, having sex on behalf of the bereaved. As before, they utter an oath at the point of ejaculation to prevent ill fortune arising from the death.

What horrifies Malawians about Aniva, who claimed in his BBC interview to have had sex with 104 women and girls, is that he did not stop his sexual practices after finding out he was HIV-positive.

"HIV is a killer. How can someone with this status, do what he did? I think this man is the devil. Greedy and selfish.

If I could judge him, I would give him a murder sentence and life imprisonment," a pastor, Paul Mzimu, said outside Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, where HIV rates on some wards reach 70%.

A young mother, Memory Lakson was also angry, "He was HIV-positive and he has now given HIV to innocent women.

He should die in jail."

She, like many Malawians in Blantyre, the commercial capital of the country, expressed her sadness and frustration that after 15 years of HIV/Aids programmes, including campaigns specifically designed to prevent or change such rituals, they have not gone away.

"I had heard of these practices before. Some girls from Nsanje told me it was their culture, that it was not a bad thing, that it's what they do," she said.

"I told them it was wrong, but they said it was just what they were brought up to do."

Sitting beside her, Mesi Salira thought others should be charged too, not only Aniva.

"The main problem lies with the culture, it is still his Turn to page XXV ►►►

Until a few years ago, it was common practice in the district for a bereaved widow to have sex with a man three times a night for three to four nights in Nsanje district

Glossary Kusasa fumbi - the sexual "cleansing" of pubescent girls, shortly after their first period Kulowa kufa - the sexual "cleansing" of a widow or widower, after the death of a spouse Fisi, or "Hyena" - A man who visits at night to take the place of the husband when a couple are having difficulty conceiving a child. In recent years the term has become more generally applied to any man carrying out a sexual ritual.

XXI Eric Aniva outside court in Nsanje in August

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016

Adventure up the

Mahaica River Story and photos by Daniel Haynes When you’re in the Mahaica River, the only sounds you hear are the steady thrum of a speedboat engine, the chattering of monkeys and calls of birds. But as you progress up the river, and the chattering is replaced by silence, the world suddenly feels like a smaller more peaceful space where only you and your thoughts exist.

I had no idea that this was what I would experience when I was part of the Guyana Tourism Authority’s (GTA) Reconnaissance trip to St. Cuthbert’s Mission by way of the Mahaica River a week ago.

The Journey We started in Georgetown at the Ministry of Business, with a group of about 15 persons inclusive of media personnel and different tour operators.

The trip was a reconnaissance trip, and the tour operators were there to see if there was any opportunity for the trip to St. Cuthbert through the Mahaica River to be arranged as a

Enrique and Raymond fishing on the river

Kamrul Baksh and “Hamesh”

packaged tour.

“The purpose of this reconnaissance trip is for you the tour guides to check out the region and see if there is any possibility for tourism and a tour package to be offered from the area,” said GTA’s Senior Product Development Officer Kamrul Baksh.

For me it was going to be an adventure, one I could relish.

What I didn’t know, however, was that it would be a trip of self-discovery and one where I would be teased by my tour group.

There were many Caribbean territories and some parts of Guyana I had the pleasure of visiting- Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad, St. Maarteen- to name a few. However the last time I did any exploring in Guyana was years ago in my early teenage years. I’d travelled to Orinduik falls, spent a day on the Potaro, and a few days visiting the forts.

Now I was going to travel the Mahaica River. Not as fancy as Kaieteur Falls but the truth remains that not many Guyanese in their life will travel any of Guyana’s rivers and that is saddening.

We arrived in Mahaica and drove down to the drop off point where we would begin our tour. I think for me that’s when the excitement started.

On the river After treated to a short tassa drumming rendition by three of the community’s residents, we pushed off, and what would make a river trip more exciting? A little engine trouble to start. But soon enough we were off, and the excitement

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XXIII One of the group boats

As the flock disappeared, we were truly left alone on the river, with nothing but the boats’ engines. But soon enough that sound drifted away and I could take in the scenery. It was in those moments that I truly felt at peace. I could sort my thoughts on what plagued me during the week, and as the refreshing breeze hit my face and the river flowed on underneath me, I felt disconnected from time. There wasn’t the constant unlocking of my cell phone but the unlocking of my mind and for the first time in a while I felt free.

You might think I’m being a bit dramatic but there truly was something magical about being there and I wasn’t the only one who thought so. As I looked at the other boats and could make out faces, everyone seemed lost in thought and content with the moment.

St Cuthbert’s Mission We knew we were almost at St. Cuthbert’s Mission when we met Enrique and Raymond- two friends fishing 5 miles from their village. The pair couldn’t have been more than seven years old but they looked as at home in their canoe as I did in the driver’s seat of my car.

It wasn’t more than half an hour before we got into the Mission (which is 53 miles up the Mahaica River) and began the trek up to the village centre- a journey which took us another 30 mins. By then it was lunch and after we met some of the village children who performed two dances for us. Apparently the group was formed three years ago (frankly some of the children looked like four) and were dancing together for some time.

My teasing would soon come after the dance, I got separated from the group and the moment I discovered that the group disappeared I sent out an S.O.S. It was the worst decision I could make. The group returned and from there the teasing began. I heard it all - from being lost in the washroom, to panicking and calling the Guyana Defence Dance troupe from St. Cuthbert’s Mission Force (GDF). Had I been sensitive I would not have survived the rest of the day.

As my teasing continued, our tour of St. Cuthbert’s jumping from branch to branch once he knew he was being Mission continued; we saw the community and learned a watched. After the howler monkey was a flock of heron bit about the mission. The mission is 242 square miles with which seemed to be leading us to St Cuthbert’s Mission.

A rest shed away from civilization

bubbling in my chest grew as there was no trace of the city life I was accustomed to. It was when the mobile phone signal cut off I knew we had truly begun the journey.

As we travelled, the first animal we saw was the kingfisher, darting in and out of the trees to pluck fish out the river.

The next bird I saw was our national bird the Canje Pheasant tucked in between the trees.

According to our tour guide Hamesh, “This region is actually a bird watching region and if you guys had come earlier we would have seen more birds and even a spectacled caiman.”

We also saw a howler monkey, who put on a show for us

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Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016 ◄◄◄ From page XXI

40 families. Once again the silence that surrounded us was the first thing I noticed. Most of us unwind with beers after work, or with music, but there is never a moment of absolute silence. St Cuthbert’s Mission had that silence.

Trip Drama Of course no trip could be without some amount of drama and ours came when the tour bus got stuck coming through the sand to get us. Yet again I was the target of the jokes and in a spirited manner I was teased about being the cause of the incident.

“IS YOU the bus come to rescue make it get stick?” was all I heard until we were finally on our way again, this time to the Linden/Soesdyke Highway. Once again, if I were sensitive I would have pulled into a corner. But it was all good natured fun.

We were supposed to go to Linden but with all the time that elapsed we had to abandon the idea.

No trip could be complete without food and before coming back to town we stopped along the highway for food, drinks and all round laughter. This time I wasn’t the target since I found my voice and launched a comeback at my teasers- no one was safe. Not bad for the victim of almost the entire afternoon. However almost too quickly it was time to head back to town.

The day had been a long one, yet I didn’t feel it and as we pulled back up at the Ministry of Business and I left the bus to head home, I couldn’t help feel that I had made new friends and had one of the best days in a long time.

Before leaving we all spoke about the next trip which would be to Linden so as to finally finish the full tour. If I’m asked I’d definitely be there, since it could certainly be made into a tour package. This time however, I won’t be the one to get separated and teased, I’ll be the one leading the charge. ◄◄◄ From page XXI

crime and he must not be let off, but it would be good if other members of the community were arrested, as they were also doing wrong."

Her point was echoed by Victor Mhango, head of Malawi's Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance. "Why is it just Aniva in the dock?" he asked. "He was employed by the parents to have sex with their daughters.

Where are the charges against the parents?"

Senior Chief Malemia of Nsanje, who knows Aniva and is a voice of authority in the district, insists that the "sexual cleansing" of young girls has never been practised in Nsanje.

But at the same time, he said the trial was an opportunity to find out whether what Aniva told the BBC was true, and if so whether he was describing things that happened years ago, or today.

"If he really was doing what he described, we need to move to protect the girls. As a chief, all I want to know is if these practices are really going on, to find his accomplices and work with them."

He added: "Maybe Aniva should get a suspended sentence and return as a champion against harmful practices?"

The Nsanje social worker said most people in the district were against the trial.

"It feels we're being singled out - like it's selective justice," he said.

If convicted, Aniva faces a possible five-year jail term.

One of the many sad things about the case is that for all the local and international attention Aniva's story has attracted, there has been no significant new effort to stop sexual "cleansing" rituals.

Could the publicity have had some effect in areas where these "harmful practices" continue?

"If anything good has come out of this case," one woman said, "it is that some young women may now know more about their rights."

Her tone of voice, however, suggested she was far from convinced.

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Short Story…

Little boy in the rain (Part II)

By Margaret M Burke

Last week, we ended just at the point where Franco’s mother was having second thoughts about whether she’d done the right thing by sending him out in the pouring rain to buy bread. Now, find out if he made it back home safely.

“If Franco was near, I would have called him back,” Franco’s Mom muttered.

Mumbling to herself, she went on, “I don’t like this heavy wind with rain, but I am sure he would walk quickly and be back in a hurry. This is more like a terrible storm,” she concluded as she braced her face against the window as the rain poured down outside.

Dyeing for some colour

However, he arrived at the shop safely, and was able to purchase the bread his mother had sent him for. Franco thanked the shopkeeper, placed his bread securely in his bag, threw the bag over his shoulder, put the change left over from the money his mother had given him into his pocket, and picked up his cycle to start his journey back home. By this time, his mother was almost in tears, but she continued praying for his safe return home.

The rain was not stopping; and even the wind was still blowing heavily. By now, he was trembling and shivering in the stormy weather, but he kept pressing on.

As he rode along, a feeling of sadness and regret started to overcome him; Franco felt like crying out loud. He felt that it was because he had disobeyed his mother, who had told him to ‘walk’ to the shop.

He was so lost in thought, that he didn’t even realise that he’d picked up speed and

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ridden past the corner to turn into his street. It was not until he had reached the other corner that he became conscious of what had happened.

With some amount of disgust, Franco turned around and headed back towards the street where he lived. He did not have very far to go, but he was getting more and more anxious. As he arrived at the right corner to turn into his street, he turned so hard that he fell to the ground, experiencing some slight bruises to his knees and hands. But, thankfully, his bread did not get wet.

This pained for a while and so he stopped for a few minutes to catch himself. Again he wanted to cry, but he did not.

He jumped on his cycle once more and started to press on.

The little boy felt really determined, so with his head down, he started to peddle with all his might yet again. His anxiety and hard work had him in trouble once again. It was difficult to believe it, but he rode past his home yet again, and this time, it was only when he was in the process of approaching the end of the street, way past his home, that he realised it.

By this time, his father had awoken from his short nap, and Franco’s mother was telling him that she had sent out their son to get some bread and he wasn’t back as yet.

But just when his dad was beginning to get ready to go for him, they heard the gate bell, indicating that someone had just opened the gate and entered the yard. It was none other than Franco. He had arrived home safely, and was now smiling with them.

However, Franco wasted no time in confessing to his parents that he had disobeyed his mother, and so went through a really hard time on the road. They both hugged him, and even as they all wept, he promised that he would never disobey his mom again.

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The 7 wonders of ‘The Ancient World’...

THE Hanging Gardens of Babylon was reputedly located on the east bank of Euphrates, south of Baghdad in today’s Iraq.

King Hammurabi was the most famous king of the Babylonian kingdom. Under his rule, the entire kingdom flourished. His son, Nebuchadnezzar, was the one who is said to have built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Marvels of World.

Legend has it that the Hanging Gardens rose hundreds of feet into the air, but archaeological explorations have since proven them wrong. The gardens did not really hang from the roof, using cables or ropes, but rather derives its name from the fact that it was built on top of the roof.

Legend also has it that King Nebuchadnezzar built the garden to alleviate his wife's homesickness. He was married to Amyitis, daughter of a Median king who seems to have had a passion for mountainous surroundings. Babylon's flat, desert-like landscape made her pine for the mountains of Media, where she was brought up. So Nebuchadnezzar, her husband, decided to build an artificial, terraced hill lushly cultivated with trees and flowering plants. However, some attribute this wonder to the Assyrian queen, Semiramis.

The ancient accounts on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon are scarce. Although several ancient Greek writers describe them, none ever saw them. And, "hanging gardens" were never mentioned on any of the numerous clay-tablet records that archeologists excavated from Babylon.

What remains today of the famed marvel is red brick rubble. Its estimated lifespan was only a century or so.

The chief cause of its destruction was reportedly the lack of maintenance.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

An artist’s impression of what the Hanging Gardens of Babylon might have looked like

Let’s eat

We think you’ll like this crossword puzzle; it covers a wide assortment of well-known foods, and most of them are easy to spell.

Crossword Clues: ACROSS 1. Ground beef patty in a bun 5. Another name for drinks 8. Large fruit with fuzzy skin and a solid pit 10. Meat from a hog's thigh 11. Frozen dairy delight (2 wds.)

14. Food grilled on skewers 18. It grows on a cob 19. Small, flat baked sweet snack 20. Green nut 22. Fresh green salad vegetable

23. What French fries are made from 26. Pickled cabbage 28. String-shaped pasta 29. Dried grapes 30. Acorn and butternut are varieties of this DOWN 2. They're good scrambled, fried or boiled 3. Fish used for salads, casseroles and sandwiches 4. Final course 6. Smooth, sweet brown food made from cacao 7. Devil's food or angel food

9. Purple root vegetable 12. Also known as a "starter" 13. Refreshing citrus drink 15. Edible green flower head eaten as a vegetable 16. Dessert with strawberries and biscuits 17. Baked dough topped with cheese and more 21. They're used for cider, sauce and pies 24. Sauce made with meat juices 25. A bulb with strong odor and flavor used in cooking 27. Spicy tomato dip

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DID YOU KNOW? 1. There are 206 bones in the adult human body, whereas that of a child has 300 bones.

2. Located in the middle ear, the stapes, or stirrup, is the smallest human bone.

3. Brain cells are the longest living cells of the human body.

4. The heaviest recorded weight of the human brain is 2.3 kg.

5. Approximately 50,000,000,000 galaxies exist in the entire cosmos.

6. Sound travels four times faster in water than in air.

7. With an estimated surface temperature of 864 F, Venus is said to be the hottest planet in the solar system.

8. The common housefly transmits more diseases than any other animal.

9. The snake is a true carnivorore, as it only eats other animals. They don’t eat plants.

10. The loudest sound produced by a living animal is 188 decibels. It is produced by blue whale.

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Aries There might be a power struggle this week between you and your mate concerning each of your professional goals. If one of you has the idea that his or her ambitions are more vital than the other, you've got a problem on your hands. Perhaps you or your mate is struggling with an insecurity connected to your partner's success. If any of this rings true, you'll need to address it -- stat!

Otherwise, it could easily turn into a relationship-killer over time.

Taurus Either you or your partner might be so passionate about a religious or philosophical view that it might come across in an almost intimidating way. While you or your mate may very well intend to be inspirational and helpful, remember that forcing one's ideology onto another can never work. If it resonates naturally, then the both of you will likely make great strides this week in your relationship as your bond ultimately strengthens. If this is not the case, however, it might be a red flag that requires your attention.

Gemini This might be a profitable week for you and your sweetheart. One of your joint investments might have matured, and if so, you'll discover that it did so quite nicely. Another possibility is that you and your partner are ready to take the plunge and make a big-ticket item purchase together. This might be a home, car, or anything else you consider major. In terms of intimacy, the two of you are on a whole new level this week.

Cancer You won't have any light and fluffy interactions with your mate this week. Nope, that's just too boring and predictable. Instead, the two of you appear more interested in kicking things up a few notches and adding a significant depth of flavor to your love life. Exploring a taboo sexual fantasy might be one way to quench this thirst, but it doesn't have to be anything out of the ordinary. You might simply share a part of each other that you never have before. Sometimes a naked soul is sexier than a naked body.

Leo You and you lover will have a unique ability this week to share your most imaginative ideas and then find a way to make them real. Mercury is currently touring your romance sector, improving communication with someone you're dating. Mercury will link up to both Jupiter and Saturn this week, allowing you to support each other's most heartfelt thoughts by backing them up practically.

There won't be any pie-in-the-sky idea the two of you can't bake up together.

Wonderful!

Virgo Matters of the heart are rich, powerful, and transformative for you this week. A luscious Venus-Pluto conjunction will peak on Friday in your romance sector. If you're dating someone, expect an all-or-nothing situation to crop up in your relationship. Either you or your lover are in it completely, or you'll realize that you're both wasting your time. What's more likely is that you'll feel a possessive pull toward each other that's both magical and intimidating all at once. Go with it.

Libra Matters of the heart are rich, powerful, and transformative for you this week. A luscious Venus-Pluto conjunction will peak on Friday in your romance sector. If you're dating someone, expect an all-or-nothing situation to crop up in your relationship. Either you or your lover are in it completely, or you'll realize that you're both wasting your time. What's more likely is that you'll feel a possessive pull toward each other that's both magical and intimidating all at once. Go with it.

Scorpio A deep conversation with your partner might lead to a life-altering decision by the end of the week. The two of you might decide to move to another state together, to support one person's decision to go back to school full time, or stand behind a choice to leave an unfulfilling profession. Another possibility is that you will deepen your relationship, and if you are not yet living together or married, make a stronger commitment to one another. Whatever happens it'll be intense -- and will link you closer together.

Sagittarius You and your partner can make serious progress this week fleshing out a shared aspiration. Perhaps you'll enlist the help of a mutual friend or will seek to expand your social network together in order to achieve this dream. Making connections that can have a positive impact for both of you is quite likely now, so consider attending meet-ups or other get-togethers that will support this possibility Capricorn You might be obsessing over someone, and if so, it's going to become quite obvious to him or her this week. Perhaps you have no reason to feel ashamed of your intense affection for this person. If he or she is single and interested in exploring what might be a major attraction, then you're in luck. If, however, you end up feeling rejected, it might be a difficult blow to recover from. That's only because you're likely to be extremely public about this fixation. Rethinking that approach might help you save face if things go sour.

Aquarius A secret crush might become more than you can handle. If you are having a less-than-savory relationship with someone, then this might be a difficult time. Falling for a person who is otherwise committed or who doesn't feel the same as you do can be heartbreaking. By Friday, you'll know for sure if you're wasting your heart on this person or if there's really a chance. If you're already in a healthy relationship, then you and your partner might have a top-secret business venture going. It looks promising.

Pisces An undeniable fascination you have for one of your friends might take an unexpected turn. The two of you might realize that the level of passion you feel for each other is pointless to ignore. A deep and intense affair might begin, and quickly develop into something more meaningful than either of you anticipated.

Feelings of possessiveness, jealousy, and even obsession are likely to crop up.

While exciting, it could also be difficult to manage. Handle with care

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English

Chronicle Pepperpot November 20, 2016 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Because it is there. Answer to the question, “Why do you want to climb Mt Everest?” D. Robertson, George Mallory (1969), p. 215

2016-11-20

STUDY SUCCESS Dear Student, The following reading activities can be useful to you if adapted to your individual situations. Do assignments based on specific information to build up knowledge.

Read much print whether it is in television guides and advertisements or manuals for electrical equipment for the lot affords you different types of reading strategies.

Do not be caught among those persons away from tuition who cannot read and are virtually unemployable today!

Be wise.

Love you.

THE PASSAGE In the early days of Tarama, I did want just one Tababa all my own, I could not get the brutes to take any kind of trolled bait or cast lure, so I had to fall back on the villagers, techniques with a one-man canoe, a twelve-inch iron wood hook bought as a curio, and a lovely loaded club.

My cook-boy immediately doubled up with laughter ….. in watching me attach the hook to a trace of steel dogchain, and in putting up an idiotic burlesque of magic ritual over the finished work.

His antics had the other servants hooting with him in the end. They clung to my arms, gurgling, “O, the Man of Matang…the Man of Matang, ooh…! To show no offence was meant. But nobody would tell me exactly what was the great joke behind it all.

The next day, when we got to a sandpit where my little canoe lay waiting, the beach was crawling with sightseers.

They were all immensely courteous, but the shining of their beautiful eyes gave them away. I was wafted on to the canoe and pushed off in a silence that throbbed with joyous expectation. I found this more than a little embarrassing, but it was nothing to what followed.

Eighty yards offshore, I dropped the baited hook, made the line fast and, following instructions, set the canoe drifting beachwards with a paddle-stroke or two. I had certainly hoped for a quick bite, if only to save my face, but I was altogether unready for the fulminating success that fell upon me.

I was not yet settled back in my seat when the canoe took a shuddering leap backwards and my nose hit the foredeck. A roar went up from the crowd as I was drawn whizzing away from it on my face.

I picked myself up with much care and was in the act of sitting again when the shark reversed direction.

The back of my head cracked on the deck behind me; my legs flew up; my high-riding bottom was presented to the sightseers shooting at incredible speed towards the In the next fifteen minutes, without one generous pause, that shark contrived to jerk, twist, bounce from my body for public exhibition every ignoble attitude of which

a gangling frame, lost to all self-respect in a wild scramble for handholds, is capable. The climax of its malice was in its last act. It was floated belly up and allowed itself to be hauled alongside as if quite dead. I piloted it so into the shallows. There I totted to my feet to deliver the coup-degrace. But it flipped as the club swung down; I missed, hit the sea, somersaulted over its body, and stood on my head under the water with legs impotently flapping in the air.

This filled the cup of the villagers. As I waded ashore, there was not a soul on his feet… I crept silently from their presence to the seclusion of my home.

(Sir Arthur Grimble: A Pattern of Islands) Questions Together with two or more study partners try to make good responses to the questions set.

1. Explain the meaning of the following italicised words and phrases in the passage: a) trolled e) fulminating b) cast lure f) ignoble attitude c) curio g) gan-

gling frame d) idiotic burlesque of magic ritual 2. Who or what are the ‘brutes’ referred to in the first paragraph?

3. What effect does the author’s description of the cook-boy’s reactions in the second paragraph?

4. How does the author build up suspense in the reader?

5. Read the third to fifth paragraphs carefully, then list the details selected by the author which create humour for the reader.

6. What other means does the author use in the passage to create humour?

GEORGE LEIGH MALLORY (1886-1924) 7. Why did the author creep away silently to the seclusion of his home?

GRAMMAR Pronouns How many sentences can you get right?

Copy the following sentences choosing the correct form from those in parentheses. Give the reason for each choice.

Work along with at least two study partners.

1. Don and (me, I) are going to the basket ball game today.

2. (Those, Those there) are men (which, who) volunteered their time.

3. It was (we, us) the next door neighbour saw at the theatre.

4. You are certainly more ambitious on this matter than (me, I).

5. Emma wrote Eva and (I, me) a long letter from the Netherlands.

6. (Them, Those) are not suitable clothing for a real young gentleman.

7. (Who, Whom) do you think will win the next Million-Dollar Lotto draw?

8. For that one hour I shouldn’t like to be (him, he) in the witness stand.

9. She didn’t say (who, whom) she would invite to her birthday party.

10. (Who, Whom) did you say went with you?

11. The (coach, coach he) asked Frank and (I, me) to keep score.

12. Has anybody in the class finished (their, his) term report?

13. Neither of the girls brought (their, her) hat.

14. I need six more (foot, feet) of wire.

15. Somebody placed (their, his) books on my sun glasses.

16. (We, Us) three – Paul, Dean, and (I, me) – sold tickets at the game.

17. (I and You, You and I) aren’t needed. (Let’s, Let’s us) not stay.

18. Helliger says he went to the game all by (he self, himself).

19. I’ve lost my book. May I use (someone’s else, someone else’s)?

COMPOSITION The organisational skill of this composition is one of comparison.

The same water brings food and flood to the people of Quaku Country, and the same ebb and flow of tides along the banks of all rivers on the northern flat low-lying coastlines of South America, to keep them geographically one. The floods are deeper in some areas of their three counties, but the food and the soil enrichment happen much the same in abundance and richness all along the coastal plain. The Atlantic Ocean belongs as much to one county as another, so that the Ratterden, to Detterden, and to Betterden, it is something in common. It’s all in the wake of how you view the floods!

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Bollywood Movie Review

Force 2

(Reuters) In Abhinay Deo’s sequel to the 2011 film "Force”, John Abraham returns as angry, beefy cop Yash who is out to catch a mole working for the Chinese. Packed with action shorn of cliched romance and full of breathless chase sequences though the cobbled streets of Budapest in Hungary, “Force 2” could have passed the action film test with flying colours if not for that pesky thing called storyline.

Writers Jasmeet Reen and Parveez Sheikh seem too pre-occupied with championing the rights of spies and

wondering why the government doesn’t acknowledge them to bother injecting some logic into the film.

Yash’s close friend, an agent for RAW (India’s external intelligence agency) is killed after a mole tips off Chinese authorities. Determined to avenge his friend’s death, Yash reluctantly teams up with Karanjeet Kaur aka KK (Sonakshi Sinha), a RAW officer who is leading the investigation to find out who the mole is.

In the world of “Force 2”, far-off Budapest is the hotbed of an espionage war between India and China, Hindi dance numbers are all the rage in Hungarian dance clubs, and Indian spies are so averse to asking for help that they would rather see their mission fail than ask for backup.

What works for the film is that the pace doesn’t falter - Yash and KK are always chasing the bad guy and hunting for the next clue, which makes it easier to ignore the gaping holes in the plot and focus on John Abraham’s action moves.

Deo borrows heavily from the Bourne and Mission Impossible franchises and doesn’t go overboard with jingoism, which is a big point in his favour. Abraham is required to flex his muscles to the point where it looks like his veins might burst and mouth minimal

dialogue, a task he seems to have perfected over the years. Sonakshi Sinha seems completely out of place as an upstart agent, bumbling her way through the action sequences and never mustering enough spunk to bring KK to life.